Preschool Graduation: because 5 graduations in one lifetime just weren't enough.  I was rather smug that I didn't dress him up. There were 2 other kids who were not dressed up. Almost all of the girls had floor-length satin numbers and several sported tiaras. He couldn't have cared less, and I was glad. Hi sweetie!

we needed to trim his hair for swim lessons, so the goggles would fit right. just a trim.  but he insisted on using the buzzer (he hates to stand there while I slowly snip away). We argued and argued and he won. I told him that it would make his hair super-short. He didn't care. 

Until he saw himself in the mirror. Then his little face crumpled and the tears came instantly. 

"Oh no Mom! Not this short!" 

sigh.  Oh my sweet boy.  I had to call Daddy and warn him to say nice things about it when he got home (last time Daddy saw his hair all cut off, he actually cried). 

and, thus begins our summer! sheesh!

this is the last week of school! i'm so glad!

we have lots of things planned - swim lessons and trips to the hollywood bowl and classes at the aquarium.  in between i'm sure we'll go to the beach as much as humanly possible.  On top of my list is getting a beach umbrella to protect sweet little baby's sensitive skin!

what are your plans?

My apartment feels very empty today.

The Case for Barbie

(image found here)

Recently in the news and magazines, articles have been popping up about Barbie's 50th birthday; which is being celebrated this year by Mattel and by collectors everywhere.  However, her birthday does not come without it's share of opposition. For years now people have railed against Barbie as an unhealthy and unrealistic role model for our daughters.  

Mothers and psychiatrists alike came out against the impossibly-curvy-while-being-impossibly-slim (according to sources, her real life measurements would be 39-21-33) doll, stating that she was largely to blame for the rise in eating disorders and heightened sexual awareness in young children. 

(Image)

I have to disagree. My mother, single until I was 8 years old, allowed me to play with Barbies.  My mom is not a girly girl. Sure she likes herself some fancy heels and she curls her hair before she goes out, but she's more likely to be seen in cotton and flannel in her free time and I could probably count on my fingers the number of times she has allowed makeup to touch her face. She has caught her own fish, killed her own deer, changed her own tires and helped build her new house after she got married.  

I am a girly girl. I love makeup and fashion and the one time my dad took me hunting I humiliated him beyond description. I had several Barbies and boxes full of clothes and a Ken doll for all of them to fight over. My 3 younger sisters also played with Barbies. They range from "almost as girly as me" to "touch me with that curling iron and you die". 

(image)

Last Christmas my friend, who had previously been opposed to letting her daughter play with Barbies, allowed us to buy her one as a present.  Her husband had decided it was high time his little girl get some fashion sense. (heh) My sons picked out "Barbie for President" Barbie. Score one for females around the world, I say.  Barbie now has had so many uniforms and held so many positions, a young girl can hold this doll and see before herself a world full of possibilities. 

And about those eating disorders: What has happened to women, teens, and young girls since Barbie began to be ostracized a couple of decades ago? We have gotten fat. The term "muffin top" has been coined and it does not refer to anything so warm and delicious as a freshly baked blueberry breakfast food.  

The last time I saw a Barbie with workout clothes on, it was 1984.  Is it possible that having an impossibly beautiful and curvaceous icon to look up to (down upon?) helps us to see the possibilities in ourselves? Helps us to make goals of beauty and health that have been tossed aside in favor of a milkshake and french fries? 

Happy Birthday, Barbie. May your youth, beauty, and impossible curves last another 50 years!

my boys have been spending days on end reading these fabulous books.

fletcher will go up to connor, holding this book half as big as he is, and beg him to read it out loud.  i love listening to them laugh and laugh. 

thanks Bill Watterson. Anytime you feel like coming out of retirement is fine with us!

one of connor's friends from school told us about the Natural History Museum's yearly bug event. naturally, the boys were eager to go and let giant bugs crawl on them. naturally, I made daddy take them.

they got there early, which is good because when they left the line was nearly all the way across the park.  I should have known that they could not attend such an inspiring event without coming home with some.... souvenirs. 

now we get to find some appropriately sized shadow boxes for display.  woo hoo!

oh my heavens

A couple of weeks ago I decided I'd had it and that our balcony needed to be made into a useful space instead of an extra junk drawer. Craig told me that I could plan a Family Night around the Balcony Makeover and I was very excited.  Here is 'before':

I: 

moved the scooters to a new storage place

got rid of the white chairs (they smelled funny)

tossed that huge box

organized the flowers

planted a bunch of herbs

and got some cute patio furniture (half off!!) (THANK YOU AMY! - she saw me at JoAnns and made it possible for me to check out and get said furniture into my car without completely losing it)

my ficus tree is sad. I don't know how to make it all pretty and bushy again. 

the boys have eaten almost every meal outside since we re-did the balcony. It's just too cute. I really really love having the extra useful space. Hopefully our plants will grow. I don't have a lot of luck with that. 

Craig was more than a little surprised with the results (he had to stay at work super late that night and so Family Night ended up being Craig-less) - apparently he imagined my plans to include reorganization but not shopping. heh. whoops.

Here's looking forward to summer!

Mangoes and Soda

or

Recent Lapses in Judgement

It was one of those weeks last week - too many demands and not enough sleep equalled one crazy mom who forgot all about New Year's Resolutions. 

Con and I were at Target,  just after a dental appointment for him, running the first of a long string of errands before their camping trip.  I had had about 4 hours sleep the night before and was feeling a little bit like bursting into tears for any (or no) apparent reason.   We walked by one of those mini-refrigerator drink holding machines that they keep at the checkout lines to lure poor schmucks like me and I had Con grab me a caffeinated beverage. 

The day went wonderfully. I wasn't tired, I had all this energy, my attitude was soaring. "Wow, today has been awesome. I'm not even feeling sleepy! ... It must have been that sod- Dang it!

So I had soda. And I wish I could say I'm sorry for it but really I'm not so there world thpppbt. 

And now for the Mango Story.  My friends who remember the Episode of 2006 are all cringeing now.  

I discovered mangoes and their awesomeness right about then, the spring of 2006. I bought many, and ate them regularly for weeks. And then I got MRSA in my leg (I had a blister that got infected) and more blisters here and there and then one day my lips were covered in little welts that lasted for weeks and I (and my doctors) wondered if I was turning into Job or what? and then it all went away and I was fine and I had a mango again and the blisters came back! 

nooooooo! I had become allergic to mangoes. 

or so I thought.

But this spring, I have noticed that I got a few little blisters and my face was feeling a little bit rashy and I didn't have any mangoes. So wait - am I allergic or am I not? Is this blister thing just a Spring Thing that happens to me?  I threw caution to the wind and bought two on sale the other day. I took them home and inhaled them like a recovering mango addict.  heh. 

and now my mouth is feeling kinda funny.... 

a-camping they would go.

mother's day weekend our stake always holds it's annual Father/Son campout to celebrate the priesthood in the church. it is possibly the highlight of the boys' year.

fletcher very much enjoyed the rope swing.

and there was some very important moving of large objects.

craig was in charge of the campfire activities and felt like it was a bit of a bust, but everyone says he did a wonderful job. This is possibly because he took up 10 (yes, TEN) laser tag guns for everyone to take turns battling with. 

fletcher and daddy found this the morning before they came home:

and daddy decided to get close enough for a good photo - despite it's being the most poisonous snake in our forest.

ugh.

Some random photos and thoughts and all that.  Look at this guy! He's still cute! :)  At his  7 week check he'd gained 5 lbs and 3.5 inches. Little tank. Now I'm trying all his clothes up to 6 months 0n him to make sure we don't miss anything.  A couple of 6 month items are already looking snug. Yikes. 

The boys are still having fun with Aunt Nancy.  They get all excited when she comes home from school and it usually doesn't take much to convince her to get on the floor and hang out with them for awhile. It's strange that she's been here 3 months already. Just one left!

Connor took this picture of himself and Fletch on one of those car rides when little brother had once again fallen asleep on his shoulder: 

Today at the grocery store, in checkout line, Connor says, "Mom, what are these?"

"Those are cigarette lighters."

"Really? My favorite pencil maker (Bic) makes cigarette lighters?"

ouch.

"I'm sorry, honey. Maybe you could pretend they're campfire lighters..."

"But that's not what they really are though." 

Poor kid.  He was very disappointed in Bic.  It was totally sweet. 

And here's my honey on his birthday weekend, playing with his new present. He's even found a place that gives group beginner lessons.

and this post is me pretending to catch up on the blogging world for the moment.  Mothers day was a beautiful and relaxing day. My mom's present is still sitting here waiting to be mailed.  Is 7 weeks too long to still be using the new-baby excuse?  sigh.

This evening when the sun set behind our building I turned of the A/C unit and opened the glass door, expecting to feel the cool rush of wind from outside.  There WAS a rush, but it was hot hot hot. 

(image found here.) 

It reminded me of when I was a kid, and the hot summer winds would sometimes blow through northern California.  For an instant I was four feet tall with dirty bare feet and long stringy hair, smelling the dust stuck in the screen door and watching the trees blow out on the ranch. In the next I was a gangly thirteen year old, still with dirty bare feet and stringy hair, watching Mom pull weeds in the garden and listening to the chickens settling in the coop; the smell of hot pine needles permeating the air. (oh, how I miss the smell of pine in the air!) 

I picked up the baby and stood by our balcony, swaying back and forth and reveling in the memories that kept washing over me each time a new breeze would blow by.  It made my night, my week, put peace in my heart. 

I needed some there. 

How is it possible that I did not know yesterday was Star Wars Day?! 

image found here.

I could have made my boys walk around in jedi costumes all day (I bet I could even have fit into my Princess Leia costume. Which I have to get rid of by the way - - anybody want a white Leia costume? Size 8-10 ish?).  I could have forced my family to play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with me. We could have had a IV-VI marathon! (i will not watch I-III. absolutely NO.)

I'll have to mark the calendar for next year...

Aunt Nancy sat next to us on the couch with the camera aimed at him until we half-caught a couple of smiles.  Good times.

I think my baby has gained 5 lbs. this week alone! He's suddenly so big and sturdy!

My oldest officially gets the "Big Brother of the Year" award. His place of residence when we travel is now the middle of the back seat - which means that he is often sandwiched between a sleepy 5 year old and a fussing 5 week old. The other day he had Fletch sleeping on his shoulder on one side and Van clutching his hand which was holding the binky on the other.  And he was fine with it.  Such a sweet kid. 

Dh went to see Wolverine yesterday. He said it was "alright".  Kinda took the wind out of my sails. I'm still entertaining hopes that I will like it more than "alright".  

I got an impromptu Girls Night Out last night. Yes, we saw 17 Again; and it was hysterically funny and very endearing.  I'm glad that we all ignored the raised eyebrows of our husbands to go see "that movie".  It was just what we all needed!

Hey guess what?! It's Craiger's birthday today. He's 33. 

Hi, honey! Happy Birthday! I love you!

so, so much.

This time of year is always a good time for entertainment. I do so dearly love to be entertained!  When Connor was a baby, we went to so many movies. The kid slept right through them all. For 9 months. It was fantastic. 

When Fletch was born, we barely had enough money to get by - movies were not even an option. So I have no idea how he would have done. 

With #3 here now, it's slightly impossible to take them all to see certain things that I want very much to see:

They want to see Origins, but I'm not letting them.  Which means Craig and I have to find a way to switch off. *sigh* 

And, do not mock me please, but I also want to see this one:
It just looks super cute to me.   I am fully prepared that it will also make me feel completely old and out of touch. *sigh. again*

This super cute pillow was in my latest Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  They said it was $30 at Pier1.com

The good news? It's actually $23. The bad news? you can't actually shop Pier 1 online. I have to go to the store. When, I ask you, am I going to manage to get out to Pier 1 to go pillow shopping?  

Having 3 kids at home is not a big deal. It's fine. It's the same adjustment one would expect with simply having a baby in the house. But the going-out part, the running-errands part; this has become far more complicated. 

My love went back to work yesterday, after a month at home with me and the boys. 

I survived it - I even accomplished a few chores, besides doing homeschool and letting the boys get out to swim for an hour (it was 95 degrees yesterday!).  He did have to run out at 9:30 last night for me though.

Because we were completely out of diapers. 

But hey, so far so good.  

Now, if I can get more than two showers a week we'll have some real progress! 

 

This is the closest thing we've come to catching a smile. He throws 'em at us all the time though. Oh, man, he's so cute!

Last week Nanette and her family came down from seattle to visit us. we talked and hung out lots and it felt just like old times. I felt very loved. 

nan?

uh, nanette?

hello?

anybody? elle?

hmph.  kinda hard to compete with that kind of cute.

See my new blog header? That was a birthday present to me from my Very Dear Friend, Piglet! 

sorry, those quotes just roll out of me.... I mean, My Dear Friend Karalenn!  Thanks Kare! I love it. Now, if I can just figure out how to get those cute sheep all over my blog background.... ;)

You're awesome. 

How can it already be a week into April?  It's almost Christmas! 

what a week - I'd post new photos of the love-bug but Daddy must have taken the camera to Disneyland with him today (it's a boys' day out, courtesy of friends visiting from Seattle).  

Our middle kiddo had to go to the dentist monday for some work and has felt crummy ever since. Not sure if he's got a separate virus or if he's allergic to something he's taking but the poor kid is all-over hives today. He just about lost it when we mentioned not going to Disneyland.  Have been praying all day that he's managing to be well and happy and have fun. Poor little guy.

With spring break this week and not having to take anyone anywhere I've managed to wear my pajamas most of the time, and do very little besides eat, feed baby, and change diapers.  It's nice, but at the same time I'm eager to be able to go out into the sunshine for some long walks. The spring weather here is just beautiful right now.

Happy, peaceful and contented. Looking forward to what spring has to offer.  Spring is when I feel most like sewing, and this year is no different. I'm fairly itching to get my fingers back on the fabric and my foot on the pedal. 

no, this entry is not about how I have to drink bottled water when everyone else has Guarana at the local churascurria:

see his arm? see what he's still wearing? yeah - that's the hospital bracelet. 12 days later. 

totally cute. 

the very first thing I did when I got home was find a pair of scissors. daddy declares he's keeping the bracelet on for his whole vacation; because that is the reason for his vacation and he doesn't want to lose his focus or something. 

(again. cute.)  I heart him.

many of you have already seen this photo, and are used to the horror.  I still get a chill whenever I look at it. ("no, no! I could never really look that bad, right?! it's somebody else...")

but Emily posted a "worst hair ever" question for her challenge this week - and I figure it can only do me good to be humbled every once in awhile. 

so this is for emily:

and yes, that IS me. it happened about two years ago.  when my mom saw the photo she said she would have passed me in the street and not known who I was. In fact, she said,  she would have not even thought I was female. 

We had all these big plans...

there was so much that we were going to get done over Daddy's 4 week vacation time. The boys were going to wrestle with him, and go to the park and the zoo, and take turns each week getting a Dad-and-Me day. 

but all we're really doing is sitting around and waiting for Van to open his eyes so we can turn into big puddles of lovey goo.  We're not getting anything done, and even the lack of dad-and-me time for the older kids isn't bugging them. They just want another turn holding the baby.

He's enthralled every single one of us.  (also, after about 5 minutes straight, he gets a little annoyed about the flashbulb on the camera...)

We're starting to get into a schedule - and he's sleeping really well at night thank heaven. Doesn't go to sleep until around midnight but then he sleeps until 7 or 8 with just one wake-up in between.  The mild sniffles that a few of us had when he was born seem to be going away with no sign of him getting sick (yay!) and as long as I stay down I'm also feeling really good. Overdid it a few days ago and really felt it the next day. Have been very careful since!  Thanks for all your comments asking for more pictures of the cutie - because that's pretty much all we're taking pictures of... :)

i can't stop staring - so i might as well just keep sharing, right? 

still trying to figure out how I feel about this:

some more pics; for Mom...

glad to be home again. trying not to forget what day of the week it is. very grateful for dinner from friends...

He's Here! 

check out daddy's blog for pics. 

(7 lbs 13 oz; 19 1/2 inches)

Well, Shoot. Why Not?

Pay It Forward

This little bloggy thing has been going around and I've been avoiding it but then I realized that it's always good for me to have some kind of motivation to make something - SO:

the first 3 people who comment on this post will get something from me that is handmade this year. Those 3 people must then post a post like this on their blog and commit to send 3 other people something. (handmade/homemade can totally mean food-treats, as far as I'm concerned). 

Just put a post like this on your blog, comment in this blog, and wait for something fun from me! 

woot.

when a friend calls and says, "we should come over and hang out tonight! we'll bring dessert." it usually just means she wants some pants hemmed before you go into labor. 

and then she'll be bored while you sew and do this to your pin cushion:

now it's all cute and I'm gonna feel guilty if I ever mess it up. 

on another note:

we went to Round Table pizza yesterday for lunch - since it's my favorite pizza place ever and located too far away for us to order in after the baby comes. none of that trendy, thin crusted pizza for me, thank you. This stuff you can sink your teeth into - and the garlic twists are simply without compare. 

D-s-u had his last day of work for a MONTH on Friday and excitement abounds here at home. There has been much fun-planning and spontaneous woo-hoo-ing the past couple of days. He has also started his own blog HERE to document his month-o-fun at home. :) 

I'm addicted. baby clothes are SO much fun to make.

one might even say, UBER-fun! 

we tried the beach yesterday - it was going to be the last nice day for awhile and I figured the kids (and sister) should get a chance to go to the beach one last time before the baby is born. 

which is assuming he's going to come 2 weeks early like his brothers did.  which would be very nice. I don't want to be pregnant for two more weeks.  Also, today is d-s-u's last day of work before his month-long vacation and I'd like to be able to use that time recovering with a baby instead of waddling around! 

I'm just saying.

but it was rather cold and foggy, as it turned out, and we lasted barely an hour before we bundled back up and headed for home, where the sun was shining. 

I think it was worth it though, for little sister. You can check her blog for why.