This weekend my niece, Allison, came over for a sleepover. Her mom had a chiropractic seminar she needed to attend all day for her yearly credits and my brother, the cop, was on duty from 2pm on. The girls always have fun together playing. But, boy oh boy is this girl bossy and full of attitude. She's in a preschool class with 5 year olds now even though she's only 3. The reason is she does better with older children. I think they tolerate her better than the younger ones.
We had one time-out and a few threats of time-out this weekend, all which were not received well. Go figure.
Apparently, peanut butter on a spoon is her favorite snack, which was a surprise to her mother.
I spent most of Sunday working on Shawna's scrapbook project for her 4th grade mission. She has Mission Santa Cruz. Whoever thinks these projects are done by the children is sadly mistaken. Whoever thinks a child of the age of 9 can do this without parent help and produce anything worthy of a decent grade, is also mistaken.
Two years ago Paula did a scrapbook for her mission. She gave great input and did a lot of the work herself but I definitely helped the entire time. It took us 8 hours but we did it together.
Shawna was available only in spurts. Her concentration level is less than her sisters. She did help pick colors of paper and used some of my scrapbook supplies to punch out shapes to add to the book, and placed those shapes on the pages. She pulled off every letter and handed it to me to apply to the paper. But mostly she wanted to play with Allison or go outside, or watch tv, or do anything other than sit at the table and help with the scrapbook.
I was determined this scrapbook would be complete this weekend so I trudged along. It came out nice and it's DONE.
We have a model that she did too. Their class has to do two projects. Her dad helped with the model. I got to do the scrapbook. Teamwork. We have it.
I need to complain about my coffee mug. I have an old Thermos brand coffee mug I use for work. Sometimes after I wash it, water gets trapped under the plastic and drips each time I take a sip. Today my keyboard & desk are getting wet. Why why why. So annoying.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Christmas 2012
This year Christmas went very well. Having a full weekend before Christmas arrives is KEY. I wish that happened every year.
The week before Christmas my brother's family joined us on the Niles Christmas Train of Lights. His daughter is 3.5 years old so watching her experience this event is pretty fun for all of us. I only have iPhone pictures to share so forgive the quality.
My brother Alan, Todd and Santa and Mrs. Clause coming down the train
The girls worked together to build mini gingerbread houses. I vowed to buy normal size ones next year.
Overall this Christmas was enjoyable and not too stressful. I'm very grateful for my family and friends. Hope everyone reading this (all 4 of you) had a wonderful Christmas too! xoxo
The week before Christmas my brother's family joined us on the Niles Christmas Train of Lights. His daughter is 3.5 years old so watching her experience this event is pretty fun for all of us. I only have iPhone pictures to share so forgive the quality.
Shawna and I
Paula, Shawna and niece Allison
My brother Alan, Todd and Santa and Mrs. Clause coming down the train
Paula and I
My sister-in-law Jennifer. See how pretty the lights are inside the train.
Allison at my house after. We were trying on snow wear.
My husband's sense of humor attached to my light fixture
My brother (the cop) and his sense of humor.
Alan sent this to me saying another cop sent it to him. He said this is what cops do when they're bored with Christmas stuff.
Shawna pretending to make a phone call on the antique phone at my in-laws house.
There is actually a dial tone!
My in-laws house, where my husband grew up, is practically all wood inside. It might explain why my house is too.
The husband ADORES OAK.
My table scape with my Spode Christmas China
This is a 66 year old Elf on a Shelf my mom has from when she was a child.
The face appears to be carved from wood. My kids had fun looking for him one day when Grandma hid him several times. Like hide-n-seek.
Both girls were part of the nativity story at church on Christmas Eve. They did very well. Shawna was an Angel and Paula was Mary. The priest asked all the kids questions and both girls answered correctly on all counts. Did you know sheep herders were considered BAD? Yes, apparently they were the low man on the totem pole and were not considered "good". When the priest mentioned this the entire church hummed. I don't think anyone knew this fact. If it is in fact, a fact. Heh.
Overall this Christmas was enjoyable and not too stressful. I'm very grateful for my family and friends. Hope everyone reading this (all 4 of you) had a wonderful Christmas too! xoxo
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
DUST IF YOU MUST
DUST IF YOU MUST
Dust if you must but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed.
Ponder the difference between want and need.
Dust if you must but there’s not much time.
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear and books to read,
Friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must but the world’s out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.
Dust if you must but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go and go you must,
You, yourself, will make more dust.
Remember, a house becomes a home when
You can write “I love you” on the furniture……
Author unknown
Dust if you must but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed.
Ponder the difference between want and need.
Dust if you must but there’s not much time.
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear and books to read,
Friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must but the world’s out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.
Dust if you must but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go and go you must,
You, yourself, will make more dust.
Remember, a house becomes a home when
You can write “I love you” on the furniture……
Author unknown
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Israel not so far from home
I work for an Israeli owned company with our HQ in Tel Aviv. I talk to my Israeli folks almost daily for one reason or another. I’ve met some in person when they’ve come out here for sales conferences or projects. We've gone to lunch, hugged, kissed cheek to cheek. Shown each other pictures of our kids, told stories, laughed.
Last week when this war with Gaza started I was on a conference call with Israel. I was remotely working on one Dawn's computer in test mode so her emails came thru to my side. Emails saying that "we" bombed Gaza. I did not receive those same emails here in the US. I wasn't on that distribution list. It was odd to see those emails flashing in front of me while I worked to run the testing I needed to finish.
We also have several Israeli’s here in our Sunnyvale office who have either been transferred here or are visiting.
The situation over there is very close to home is what I’m saying.
Monday I emailed someone in our IT department who handles Oracle issues for us on a regularly basis. I've met him during a visit here. He's a really nice person. His name is Guy. Guy is fast to fix problems. I've worked here for almost 1 and 1/2 years and he's the 'guy' to go to, literally. Thankfully our group figured out the problem on our own so we told him to ignore.
He still responded. “I'm on RD (Reserve Duty) anyway, so I couldn't really help...
No clue when I'll be back. Will inform you once I do.”
Yikes!
I replied to him to "STAY SAFE. Hoping this ends quickly and safely for all of you."
He just replied to me this morning
I feel like this war is not so far from home.
Last week when this war with Gaza started I was on a conference call with Israel. I was remotely working on one Dawn's computer in test mode so her emails came thru to my side. Emails saying that "we" bombed Gaza. I did not receive those same emails here in the US. I wasn't on that distribution list. It was odd to see those emails flashing in front of me while I worked to run the testing I needed to finish.
We also have several Israeli’s here in our Sunnyvale office who have either been transferred here or are visiting.
The situation over there is very close to home is what I’m saying.
Monday I emailed someone in our IT department who handles Oracle issues for us on a regularly basis. I've met him during a visit here. He's a really nice person. His name is Guy. Guy is fast to fix problems. I've worked here for almost 1 and 1/2 years and he's the 'guy' to go to, literally. Thankfully our group figured out the problem on our own so we told him to ignore.
He still responded. “I'm on RD (Reserve Duty) anyway, so I couldn't really help...
No clue when I'll be back. Will inform you once I do.”
Yikes!
I replied to him to "STAY SAFE. Hoping this ends quickly and safely for all of you."
He just replied to me this morning
"Thanks, doing my best."
I feel like this war is not so far from home.
Monday, November 12, 2012
November Update
I need to update this thing or I'll forget simple things.
Paula has started babysitting for 20 month old twins who live around the block from us. Boy/girl twins. The mom or dad or both are always home. Paula is more of a mothers helper right now but she wants to be able to babysit them and other kids alone some day. She gets paid but not much, although money does make her feel like it’s a real job. In December she’s signed up for a Red Cross babysitting class in Palo Alto from 9am-6pm. That’s a long class. The list of what they get taught is lengthy.
Volleyball started up again at school. There are two 5th/6th grade teams and the one she was on last year (coach) she did not get on this year. This time her team has a lot of new players and although they can hold their own for awhile, they end up losing in the end. She’s discouraged.
For Halloween she dressed up in 80’s clothes. Some from the Halloween super store and some from Goodwill and Walgreens. She wears the legwarmers quite frequently. She may bring them back in style. Heh.
Parents at school asked me if I had those clothes lying around. Ha! I actually did have the black shirt buckle in my hope chest. I just could not throw it out. Good thing!
Paula's grades are very good also. Almost all A's. During parent teacher conferences we were surprised to learn she gets distracted easily in class. Yet she has A's so the teacher is not sure what to make of the two. Paula is working on paying more attention.
Shawna is doing really well in school. She also has almost all A's. Her teacher started the year tutoring her then said she no longer needs it. She's all caught up from summers lack of reading. Not that we didn't try to get her to read, she just refused most of the time to pick up a book. She does better when a teacher makes her read, apparently.
Volleyball is happening for her too. She's loving her first year. I really like her coach, who has a scheduled movie night for the team. We got her new sneakers yesterday with white soles for the gym. A new rule or old rule, I'm not sure. She wanted to test them out by jogging but I don't job. haha Todd took her to the school by our house for her to run around.
This past weekend Paula went to two different sleepovers so Shawna and I got to pal around. We watched Soul Surfer together on the couch. She's a snuggler that girl. Love my Shawna time.
Todd turns 45 in a couple days. I'm throwing him a birthday party with our close friends. I wanted to invite more people than we are but I started to hyperventilate. Thankfully he wanted something smaller. For Christmas maybe we'll have a big one, who knows.
Alrighty, I'm off to go dress shopping at Macy's for my company holiday party coming up in a couple weeks.
Paula has started babysitting for 20 month old twins who live around the block from us. Boy/girl twins. The mom or dad or both are always home. Paula is more of a mothers helper right now but she wants to be able to babysit them and other kids alone some day. She gets paid but not much, although money does make her feel like it’s a real job. In December she’s signed up for a Red Cross babysitting class in Palo Alto from 9am-6pm. That’s a long class. The list of what they get taught is lengthy.
Volleyball started up again at school. There are two 5th/6th grade teams and the one she was on last year (coach) she did not get on this year. This time her team has a lot of new players and although they can hold their own for awhile, they end up losing in the end. She’s discouraged.
For Halloween she dressed up in 80’s clothes. Some from the Halloween super store and some from Goodwill and Walgreens. She wears the legwarmers quite frequently. She may bring them back in style. Heh.
Parents at school asked me if I had those clothes lying around. Ha! I actually did have the black shirt buckle in my hope chest. I just could not throw it out. Good thing!
Paula's grades are very good also. Almost all A's. During parent teacher conferences we were surprised to learn she gets distracted easily in class. Yet she has A's so the teacher is not sure what to make of the two. Paula is working on paying more attention.
Shawna is doing really well in school. She also has almost all A's. Her teacher started the year tutoring her then said she no longer needs it. She's all caught up from summers lack of reading. Not that we didn't try to get her to read, she just refused most of the time to pick up a book. She does better when a teacher makes her read, apparently.
Volleyball is happening for her too. She's loving her first year. I really like her coach, who has a scheduled movie night for the team. We got her new sneakers yesterday with white soles for the gym. A new rule or old rule, I'm not sure. She wanted to test them out by jogging but I don't job. haha Todd took her to the school by our house for her to run around.
This past weekend Paula went to two different sleepovers so Shawna and I got to pal around. We watched Soul Surfer together on the couch. She's a snuggler that girl. Love my Shawna time.
Todd turns 45 in a couple days. I'm throwing him a birthday party with our close friends. I wanted to invite more people than we are but I started to hyperventilate. Thankfully he wanted something smaller. For Christmas maybe we'll have a big one, who knows.
Alrighty, I'm off to go dress shopping at Macy's for my company holiday party coming up in a couple weeks.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Leaving on a jet plane
Tomorrow Todd and I head out to Cabo for a weeks vacation sans kids. My mom is arriving today to stay with them all next week. Todd is texting me now saying the suitcase is already at maximum capacity with the booze we're taking so I guess I don't get to bring any clothes. Heh. I'm sure he'd love THAT.
We're going to Playa Grande Resort where we have a timeshare. Last year we had to skip the vacation due to my new job and all. No vacation time plus I was covering for someone on maternity leave.
I'm looking forward to getting away. Wishing the temps weren't going to be 91 though. I'd prefer 80's. It's not as fun laying out in 91 degrees for a weeks time.
We'll hopefully get some free activities by listening to more timeshare spiels. They have an entire system down in Cabo where you get free activities or resort credit just for spending a couple hours of your time with them. Even your own resort will give you activities for NOT listening to some other resort spiel. The game of timeshares down there is crazy but Todd and I have almost fully mastered the plays.
Obviously since we have a timeshare or two the spiels sometimes work. Luckily for us we're too poor to buy anymore. Heh. This time around I want someone to offer us a swim with the dolphins again. Todd and I did that many years ago and it was the BEST feeling ever. If you ever get the chance to swim with dolphins take it. You won't regret it once.
Kid wise volleyball just started up again. There is drama though which sucks. There are two teams this year for Paula's grade. Actually, there are 5th and 6th grade combined becasue not enough 5th graders for their own team and too many 6th grade girls to fit on one team. The powers that be didn't divide the teams equally off the start, which has caused parents and the players to be quite upset. Paula especially is sad because she didn't get her favorite coach and most of her classmates/friends are on the other team. We were told last night the diocese has required the board to divided the teams up again. This is the result of parent complains I'm sure. We're hoping for the best.
Volleyball is Paula's favorite sport and she literally wanted to quit when all this happened. I want her to be happy. I'm not opposed to her making new friends and there is nothing wrong with different coaching syles. What irks me are the parents who could have prevented this issue from happening in the first place. I think that's what bothers me the most. My family didn't make the "cut". We're not part of the "click" that was chosen to stay together.
There are league guidelines to follow for a two team split but they didn't follow those guidelines. On purpose. Even with the caveat "these teams are not set in stone" is not enough to make me, and some other parents, feel better.
Shawna's team has zero drama. Thank God. This is her first year playing and she's sooo excited. I watched practice last night and she had fun bumping the ball. She bumped too hard a few times causing the ball to flyyyy over the court.
Both girls have colds right now. Paula's seems to be the worst of the two. We all received flu shots last week. They probably got sick from the doctors office who administered the flu shot. I swear, as youngsters, any time we went for a well-check visit the child would be sick a few days later. Never failed. Germs germs germs.
Todd and I hoped we wouldn't get sick before the trip. I'm still hoping. Thankfully Mexico has pharmacy's where you can get everything under the son without a doctors Rx. You can buy Viagra right over the counter. We don't and won't but you can. Penicillans too. My nurse friend warned me though that their products might not all be kosher.
Looking forward to hopefully releasing some baby tortoises into the ocean. This resort has nests on their beach protected by fencing. The resort patrons get to release the babies after hatching. I did it 2 years ago. So awesome.
We're going to Playa Grande Resort where we have a timeshare. Last year we had to skip the vacation due to my new job and all. No vacation time plus I was covering for someone on maternity leave.
I'm looking forward to getting away. Wishing the temps weren't going to be 91 though. I'd prefer 80's. It's not as fun laying out in 91 degrees for a weeks time.
We'll hopefully get some free activities by listening to more timeshare spiels. They have an entire system down in Cabo where you get free activities or resort credit just for spending a couple hours of your time with them. Even your own resort will give you activities for NOT listening to some other resort spiel. The game of timeshares down there is crazy but Todd and I have almost fully mastered the plays.
Obviously since we have a timeshare or two the spiels sometimes work. Luckily for us we're too poor to buy anymore. Heh. This time around I want someone to offer us a swim with the dolphins again. Todd and I did that many years ago and it was the BEST feeling ever. If you ever get the chance to swim with dolphins take it. You won't regret it once.
Kid wise volleyball just started up again. There is drama though which sucks. There are two teams this year for Paula's grade. Actually, there are 5th and 6th grade combined becasue not enough 5th graders for their own team and too many 6th grade girls to fit on one team. The powers that be didn't divide the teams equally off the start, which has caused parents and the players to be quite upset. Paula especially is sad because she didn't get her favorite coach and most of her classmates/friends are on the other team. We were told last night the diocese has required the board to divided the teams up again. This is the result of parent complains I'm sure. We're hoping for the best.
Volleyball is Paula's favorite sport and she literally wanted to quit when all this happened. I want her to be happy. I'm not opposed to her making new friends and there is nothing wrong with different coaching syles. What irks me are the parents who could have prevented this issue from happening in the first place. I think that's what bothers me the most. My family didn't make the "cut". We're not part of the "click" that was chosen to stay together.
There are league guidelines to follow for a two team split but they didn't follow those guidelines. On purpose. Even with the caveat "these teams are not set in stone" is not enough to make me, and some other parents, feel better.
Shawna's team has zero drama. Thank God. This is her first year playing and she's sooo excited. I watched practice last night and she had fun bumping the ball. She bumped too hard a few times causing the ball to flyyyy over the court.
Both girls have colds right now. Paula's seems to be the worst of the two. We all received flu shots last week. They probably got sick from the doctors office who administered the flu shot. I swear, as youngsters, any time we went for a well-check visit the child would be sick a few days later. Never failed. Germs germs germs.
Todd and I hoped we wouldn't get sick before the trip. I'm still hoping. Thankfully Mexico has pharmacy's where you can get everything under the son without a doctors Rx. You can buy Viagra right over the counter. We don't and won't but you can. Penicillans too. My nurse friend warned me though that their products might not all be kosher.
Looking forward to hopefully releasing some baby tortoises into the ocean. This resort has nests on their beach protected by fencing. The resort patrons get to release the babies after hatching. I did it 2 years ago. So awesome.
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