Friday, October 31, 2008

H A double L O W double E N spells Halloween!

From Pictures for Blog

H A double L O W double E N spells Halloween!

That was a song I sang in the 2nd grade. Try it. Say it out loud. It's kinda hard, and kinda funny all at the same time. I remember singing it in class and we each had a letter to hold up, when we got to our letter in the song. The things the mind remembers.

From Pictures for Blog

PJ wanted to tell you all Happy Halloween!

Our Halloween night was fun filled and jam packed. First was our dinner. I made Pumpkin Cream Sauce Tortellini's. Super good!
From Pictures for Blog


Then I tried taking a picture of everyone all dressed up, but umm... that didn't work so well. Here are my attempts.
From Pictures for Blog

From Pictures for Blog


That was it. I gave up. I knew I was racking leaves in the wind. Jazmin was a 'Ancient Egyptian Goddess'. I think her make up turned out pretty well, if I can toot my own horn for a minute.
From Pictures for Blog


Audrey was a flapper from the '20's. She must have thought that it was totally obscure because she kept asking everyone if they knew what she was. And was totally shocked when they all knew she was a flapper. (shh... it is her tap costume from last year repurposed. All we did was add a boa, head band and boots, and took away the tap shoes). But in the end she really loved it!
From Pictures for Blog


So, obviously PJ did not 'do' trick or treatin'. I pushed her in her stroller as we walked the neighborhood. But still, she looks so cute. This is the same costume as last year... still too big.
From Pictures for Blog

From Pictures for Blog


Thursday, October 30, 2008

Drop and Roar Dinosaur

Another toy that was given to us, minus the balls. I also ordered some for this very exciting dinosaur. For PJ thus far however, her favorite part seems to be climbing on, over, and around him. I don't think the dinosaur minds much.


Posted by Picasa

Blast Up!

PJ received this Ball Blast Up, from a friend at church, minus the balls. I did a bit of research and ordered some. I understand why there were no balls when we got it. I am not sure I know where all 8 of them are, and we have only had them since Thursday. You put a ball on the top, and it spins and then the ball falls to one side and rolls down the whole thing, and comes out one of the four holes at the bottom. There is also a button on top, that will make the lights and sound go. PJ does not quite get the idea of the whole thing yet, but she sure does love the music and the lights and the sounds from the button, and holding the balls, and then when I make them come out the bottom, she is very interested. PJ will lay on her tummy and reach her arm inside one of the holes on the bottom I assume in hopes of finding one of the balls or answering the question, "Where did that come from"? She also seems to want to climb on top of it.


At the end of the song that plays when the whole things 'goes' is says "Wow'. Every single time PJ seems to try and repeat WOW back to it. It does not sound anything like WOW. She does however make the same 2 syllables after 'WOW' every time.
Posted by Picasa

Filling the Soul

Last night I was able to spend sometime with two good friends. Sonia, who was just in town a few weeks working at Naval Medical Center Balboa. Fingers crossed she will get to come back in June for a full peds rotation. Kelianna, who lives here in town but between my/kids schedule and her work/school schedule had not yet gotten together. But last night that all came to an end. Sonia leaves today, so it was yesterday or nothing. And the girls and I were all willing to skip soccer so I could have a few hours with my girlfriends. It turned out just great.
I pulled Jazmin out of soccer 15 minutes early, fed them McD's, and jetted home to take a shower and change my clothes. At 7:30 both my friends arrived and met PJ. We chatted a bit, and caught up, we left for The Cheesecake Factory. I had no idea the it would be busy at 8ish on a Wednesday night. After a short wait we were seated and just like it should be with true friends not a beat was missed, in having not seen each other in sometime.
PJ sat and ate with us, and then because it was getting late, she was super tired. I put her in her sling thinking she would fall asleep, but she was so tired she started to play with the back of the booth seat. I had not had much of a chance to eat yet. Sonia, ended up taking PJ. She, meaning PJ not Sonia, fell asleep. And the three of us had wonderful conversations, covering everything from politics, marriage, kids, vaccines, traveling, cell phones, school, family, change(how change is the only thing that never changes0 and so much more.
Sonia even made me feel better about PJ's vocubulary. Not that I was feeling bad about it. I have been concerned that she has not really started to talk yet. Sonia was able to see her talking. And explained to me that she was right on track. PJ says words, but that they are not completely understandable, but there is definite word there. She makes a sound something like dog, and it is clear to me (and now Sonia and Kelianna) that she is talking about Patch, the Dog. So, while I know PJ's doctor has told me she is right where she should be, now my friend, who happens to now be a Doctor, has told me that PJ is not behind.
Spending time with my friends, connecting with them helped me connect to myself, and fill my soul. PJ and I are tired because we were up so late, but I (and she) know it was worth it! And we would do it again in a heartbeat! Can't wait to see you again ladies!
Our group is a group of 5, last night we were 3, we will be together when we can, and someday, all 5 of us will be in the same place at the same time, and we will all sit together and fill each other's souls.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Water Water Every Where Water


Audrey during the YMCA outreach swimming program. Can you see what is wrong with these pictures?


Well, there seems to be a lot of goofing off



So much so, that her swimming teacher, splashed her and told her 'this is swimming not a photo shot'. TeeHee, PJ and I got her in trouble, as Audrey is clapping with PJ here.



Umm... This is a pool and not a tub, stop blowing bubbles.



Nope, none of those are what is wrong with these pictures.


Ready?







Her goggles are on upside down!
Posted by Picasa

Waiting for Godot




Audrey's elementary school participates in our local YMCA's outreach program. In the fall, each class gets 2 week of swimming lessons, and in the spring, 2 weeks of gymnastics. We are members of the YMCA, so after my morning work out, PJ and I went to the park to 'Wait for Godot', or in our case, 'Wait for Audrey & her class', to support her in her lessons.




Developing her musical talent already!
Posted by Picasa

Where is... ?

I just had to tell everyone this story!
This I was sitting on the couch, on the laptop, with Patch next to me, and PJ was walking around the room picking up toys, finding new places for them to sit, and so on. I asked PJ where Mommy was, and she looked up at me and giggled. Then I asked her where PJ was. She didn't do much beyond just look at me. Then I asked PJ where Patch was. She took about 5 steps to be standing just in front of him, pointed at him, and pursed her lips together and kissed the air just in front of his noise.
It was such a precious moment. I feel honored that PJ let me witness her love for Patch.

Morning Schmorning

I am comfortable in the fact that I like it quite in the morning. I like to sleep in. I like to wake up on my own, not to an alarm. I like to get dressed only after I am awake. I like to stay up late. I like to exercise in the morning. None of this works very well as a Mom. For the first two weeks of September, I was in morning routine heaven. For the first two weeks the mornings around here looked something like this:

6:30 Wake Audrey
7:30 Audrey leaves for school/ wake Jazmin & PJ
feed myself and PJ
get both of us ready for the gym
8:30 drive Jazmin to school then on to the gym
9:00 join a yoga or pilates class
Home by 10:30 or 11

Then it all came to an end, as orchestra started, and Jazmin began to ride her bike to school. Orchestra starts at 7:50. So alas, no more wonderful routine.

So I was left wondering what to do for my morning schmorning.
All this rambling is getting somewhere- to my new proposed morning routine.
That starts today!
6:30 Wake Jazmin and Audrey
get dressed
7:15 Jazmin leaves for school
7:30 Audrey leaves for school
eat breakfast
8:00 PJ wakes up on her own - you could set a clock to her waking at 8am everyday.
feed and dress PJ
go to gym
join pilates or yoga class
home by 10:00 or 10:30.

So... here goes. Day one. I am already dressed, and now that the house only hold PJ and I at the moment, I need to go eat breakfast!

Nameste!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Telecommuting Already


Goofy kid. She loves to play on my laptop. I turn on her games at kneebouncers.com and away she goes.



Or maybe she is video chatting with someone.


Either way, it is super cute, and she is gonna be a wiz on computers. Maybe the next Bill Gates. Who knows?
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Random thoughts

As I lay in bed, while sleep eludes me, I find that I have several random thoughts. I suddenly remember why I don't like watching the news. The news started about 45 minutes ago. There has been about 5 minutes of actual news, and the rest have been split between sports- why are the Chargers and other football teams playing in England? and weather- give me a break, we live in San Diego, it's going to be sunny! and finally commercials- all political. ALL OF THEM! Which brings me to my next random thought. I am excited to vote in this election. There are a lot of issues this time around, that I feel passionately about. I am however extremely tired of the campaigning, on all levels! (well, except for SNL!) Do these late night, last minute commercials really make a difference? Did the debates really make a difference. After the last presidential debate, on The View, Barbara Walters asked if the debate made anyone in the audience change or make up their mind about who to vote for. Now I don't know the max capacity of the audience, but there were only 3. THREE! I don't think the debates and the commercials make that much of difference. I feel like I am part of a demographic that no one really speaks to. I am a military spouse. I am a member of Gen X. I am a member of the group that Rock the Vote started out targeting. Now that they have some of us voting, why do the politicians not speak to us? Which brings me back to what I have always felt about politics that I don't want to get involved... but I think I am going to update my feelings on the issue, and take my que from my brother-in-law Chris, who says, "Shhhh. We don't talk about politics'.

Give me a break, the last 10 minutes have been on the Chargers playing in England. WTH? Why are they in England and why does the new have to continue to discuss it this long? Not even a shooting was talking about for this long. Nope, that got one whole minute at the start of the show. Which by the way, I think I may know someone who was involved in it. But I will have to check with my Mom and get back to you on that.

Watch Out, KNIFE!


What do you do at a pumpkin patch? You get pumpkins! What do you do with pumpkins at Halloween time? You carve them. So we carved our pumpkins.


Ummm.... when did she get this tall?



I am not sure that I will ever get used to them using my sharp knifes to cut pumpkins, but I have to let go, as some point.
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Oma's Pumpkin Patch: revisited

Last year, just about a week after PJ was born, Robert and I took all the girls to Oma's Pumpkin Patch. This year we went again, but with a few differences; Jazmin brought a friend, Hailey, and PJ is walking.
From Pictures for Blog
First we started with the Hay Ride around the farm.
From Pictures for Blog
Today the one new thing that I learned was that about an hour after birth is when a calf takes it's first steps. In this picture Audrey was able to capture this calf's first attempt at standing up, and if we would have taken a video instead, you would be able to hear the Mom's sounds of encouragement.
From Pictures for Blog
The CottonSeed hill
From Pictures for Blog

From Pictures for Blog

PJ's version of playing on the CottonSeed Hill was to sit here, watching ALL the kids, and clap for them when they slide down the hill.
From Pictures for Blog

A present moment
From Pictures for Blog

The Great Conquerer
From Pictures for Blog

I want to say that Oma's added a fun playground, but in truth, I have no idea it is was there last year or not. I honestly don't think I was all that present in the moment.
From Pictures for Blog

From Pictures for Blog

From Pictures for Blog

After this one, she tried to put her leg up on top of the side and either climb on top further, or climb over the edge. So I put the camera down, and turned her around and she slide down the slide, right into the dirt.
From Pictures for Blog

It was a bit heavy.
From Pictures for Blog

This one was even heavier.
From Pictures for Blog
I got all my sisters with!
From Pictures for Blog

She is trying to climb on top of the pumpkins... I guess the apple stayed close to the tree.
From Pictures for Blog

SO HAPPY! TRUE! That is no fake 'say cheese' smile!
From Pictures for Blog

Now if only they had the keys.
From Pictures for Blog
Yes. She is actually 5 feet.
From Pictures for Blog
This is Audrey version of a mug shot.
From Pictures for Blog

Just over 2 feet, and barely stood still long enough to get the shot.
From Pictures for Blog

It's the Great Pumpkin, Paytin Pushkar!
From Pictures for Blog

Think Think Think! Which one should I get!
From Pictures for Blog

Happy Halloween!