Monday, October 31, 2005

Oops, I accidentally erased the first video...

Here is a new one..

Upload Video at JussPress.com

Does anybody really know What time it is? Does anybody really care?

Daylight savings.I used to love it. I loved the long winter nights with a fire. It gave me a good excuse to get into my PJ'S at 6:00 PM afer work. Fast forward to life with children. It messes with their schedule. They get up at 5:00 am and want to take a nap at 11:00 AM and go to bed at 7:00 PM, thus starting the whole thing over again...and why is this so hard for me to figure out what time it really is?? It doesn't help that half the clocks in the house are right and half are wrong. I got into the car this morning and the clock said 9:00- I almsot had a heart attack thinking we were so late!! On Sunday I said to Scott"Oh great, now the kids will not go to bed because it will really be 6:30 instead of 7:30." He says "No, actually it will really be 8:30" "Oh." Why can't i figure this out?

Trick or Treat! Posted by Picasa

I think I finally did it!

I posted video to my blog...maybe I am getting the hang of this...let me know if You can view it...

Sunday, October 30, 2005

A great weekend in the mountains!

We had so much fun in the Trinity Alps this weekend. Sorry so many pictures, I couldn't pick my favorites! Cameron and Gracie enjoyed the hiking, feeding the horse carrots, making s'mores, and the deer,(no bears, thankfully!). The fall colors were beautiful and we went on hikes where we didn't see another person once. I think we will make it an anuual event...

Scary pumpkin Posted by Picasa

We carved a pumpkin! Posted by Picasa

More fall leaves Posted by Picasa

Hiking with mommy and Buster Posted by Picasa

Hiking Posted by Picasa

In the backpack Posted by Picasa

View from the bridge Posted by Picasa

Beautiful trees in the Trinity Alps Posted by Picasa

Thursday, October 27, 2005

We are leaving for the mountains...



So I won't be posting for a while. No phones, T.V or internet...Just the great outdoors. We are going to the Trinity Alps. We aren't camping, it is a little too cold, so we are staying in some really cute cabins.We will hike and fish and makes smore's! I can't wait. I write more on Monday...

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Rain and other ramblings...

Today we had our first rain. I was caught off gaurd. That is what I get for not watching the news(like they can really predict the weather) . I woke up and the deck was wet and I thought "that can't be, it must just be the fog and mist..." I got the kids ready for school and we left and it started to pour, causing This.You see, here in Sunny California, we are not used to rain, especially the first rain of the season...We got to school late with no rain boots, rain coats or umbrellas...Gracie splashed in every puddle on the way to her class(wouldn't you?) and was soaking by the time we got there...On another note, I had a rare day "off" today. I did not have to work in either of the kids classrooms, so I went for a walk around school and ended up at Peets.
I just sat and drank my coffee and watched people. Who are these people who are sitting drinking their Nonfat-decaf-vanilla Latte(I am not making fun of anyone, this is what I actually order!) at 10:00 Am on a Wednesday? Some of them are stay at home moms, like myself, but not all. Ther was a student working on their computer, a bussiness person and some young men in jeans and sweatshirts...There was a stay at home Dad with twins who were soo cute! Now, when I had a job, I was not at Peets at 10:00 Am, I was at work. So I ask, where were youat 10:00 this morning?

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Look out for those goats!

We went to the Pumpkin Patch (yes, again) with Cameron's four year old class on Monday. We were pretty much the first group there, so maybe the goats had not been fed yet (or ever??). So the kids open the first gate and start to enter the second gate with their little cups of food and the goats start to stampede them and come into the little area between the gates where the kids are!! The girls are screaming, the goats are still coming and now are knocking them down...I am on the other side of the first gate and can't open it because of the screaming children/stampeding goats. So I jump over the gate, as does the teacher of their class and start trying to herd the goats back into the pen. I literally have to pick up the smaller ones and throw them into the pen...Some of these kids will be traumatized for life, I swear....Where is the person who works here, you ask? Standing at the front watching the whole thing...Beware of goats.

sure, they look nice now... Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 24, 2005

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Party, Party

Today we had two parties to attend. A birthday party for one of Cameron's friends and a Halloween party that I was in charge of planning and running for the Mother's club. And in between the two, we went to Costco to pick up Pizzas. The kids had fun at both parties, but with no nap and cake and candy all day, apparently two parties is one too many and everyone lost it when we got home (mommy, included) . So they both went to bed at 7:00 and I will not be far behind...Pictures tomorrow...

Saturday, October 22, 2005


Girls can be fire fighters too Posted by Picasa

I have nightmares about this... Posted by Picasa

Hopefully not a preview of things to come... Posted by Picasa

Thursday, October 20, 2005

some pictures for Aunt Michelle

I am still feeling sad. Our house seems quiet without Libby. Cameron keeps asking when we are going to die...He laid on the floor when it was time for Scott to take her and would not say goodbye. We tried for 20 minutes and he wouldn't. We were all crying. then about 15 minutes after Scott left with her, he cried hysterically that he wanted to say good bye to Libby and give her a hug...it is hard to be four and loose your pet. Gracie just keeps saying "Libby Bye Bye"...

crazy dancing... Posted by Picasa

do not leave your toddler unattended with jello... Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, October 19, 2005


For Mary-Mia Posted by Picasa

For Mary-Mia...

I found this for Mary-MiaAfter reading this! It's just a joke, by the way!!I was hoping to meet her yesterday and give it to her, but some other time! sorry i missed everybody!

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

If you're looking for happy thoughts, you'll have to go somewhere else...

I was really hoping to be able to post normal, happy thoughts today, but I can't. We have to have Libby put to sleep later today. They found a tumor. Gracie and I spent two hours at the vet and made the decision that this was best for her. (well she actually wasn't much help making that decision...)We got to take her home for a couple of hours so I am going to go spend some time with her...Maybe happy thoughts tomorrow, but I doubt it

Libby's last day Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 15, 2005

9 Years ago today...

My Mom passed away. I miss her everyday. I wish we could have talked about infertility and adoption now that I understand it so well...I wish I could call and ask her how to get my 2 year old to eat. I wish Cameron didn't have to ask "why don't I have a Grandma?". I wish she had known Cameron and Gracie and they had known what a great Grandma she would have been...I miss you, Mom.

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

Corinne Markussen
April 17th 1933-Octber 15th 1996

Friday, October 14, 2005

Where Gracie is from...


Maoming China, Gaungdong province

Leave your marker on my map!

Since I have nothing exciting to report, I am finding new thigs to add to my blog...so click on the bravenet link on the left and put in your location! Thanks!

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Monday, October 10, 2005

Sibling Rivalry

I went to a talk about this last week and thought I would share my findings with you. For those who have no or only one child, it may come in handy one day. For those who have two or more...I hope it helps.
To keep things in perspective: Children engage in fights with peers or siblings an average of NINE times per hour! Your Kids are normal. (her #1 tip was to lower your expectations)
  1. Resist the urge to compare
  2. Treat your children Uniquely rather than equally
  3. Try to stay out of your children's arguments
  4. Intervene when fighting can't be ignored(i.e someone's getting hurt)
  5. Spend alone time with each child
  6. Don't force togetherness
  7. Allow for some private property and private time
  8. Children learn a lot about compromises by having siblings
I hope that helps someone! I hope it helps me!!

Patience is a virtue...Just not one of mine...

Contrary to what my children and the neighbors might think, I DO NOT LIKE TO YELL...I don't not want to be that kind of Mommy. I don't not want to be that kind of person. So why do I? Because it feels as if no one listens to me. Ever. Gracie doesn't listen because,well, she's two. Cameron doesn't listen because-I don't know...Here is how our conversations begin. "Sweetie, it is time to get dressed" No response. "Cameron, it is time to get dressed, almost time for school" Nothing. "Did you hear me? It is time to get dressed" Nada. "GET DRESSED RIGHT NOW OR THERE WILL BE NO T.V. FOR A WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He starts to get up and 20 minutes later he MIGHT be dressed...
I'm working on it...

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Fleet Week

This weekend was Fleet Week in San Francisco. We walked about 3 miles to Aquatic Park to see the Blue Angels and other planes fly. It is an exciting show. (and loud, as Cameron and Gracie found out!) Cameron enjoyed the planes, Gracie wasn't as impressed. I love the City in the fall and it was a fun day.

Fleet Week Posted by Picasa

ice cream Posted by Picasa

The Blue Angels are loud! Posted by Picasa

Blue Angels Posted by Picasa

Blue Angels Posted by Picasa