Ornament # 3

I love the homemade ones the best!! Made by Cameron age 4.
Also, Connie changed my blog for me, thanks, Connie! I have been wanting a header forever! I love it!

Gracie's first Christmas ornament

I love this one! Well, I am actually down in Orange County visiting my sis. So far I have read half of a book (not a literary masterpiece, but still!0 and slept until 9:00!! Now off for a day of shopping and then a bloggy friends gett together! I miss you, Scott, Camerron and Grace,

Ornament # 2

Ornament # 1

My Mom. I don't think I need to explain why this one is special to me.

A new challenge...

I have a new challenge for everyone...I love to see other people's Christmas trees and decorations, so Starting Friday the 1st, I am going to post a picture a day of one of our ornaments. I totally stole this from Ninotchka, by the way (HI!)So start taking pictures of those ornaments! We'll call it the "25 days of Christmas!". You don't have to do it every day, even once a week is fine...If you don't celebrate Christmas, just show us your decorations that you do put up....

Christmas tree at night

 

 

Christmas tree

I haven't been able to take a photo of our Christmas tree for family foto Friday challenge, so here is the Union Square Christmas tree, instead!

 

 

A great weekend so far!

Thanksgiving was pretty mellow, with just the 4 of us for dinner. In the morning we went hiking in the Marin Headlands. It was such a beautiful clear day. We hiked and then played at the beach. Today we went Hiking on Mount Tamalpais. We hiked about 4 miles total and the kids were such troopers! From the top we could see the ocean, the golden gate bridge and San Francisco. I haven't gotten my disposable camera developed, yet, so no pictures. But trust me when i say it was spectacular! Just when I think we are crazy to live here, that we can't afford it, we drive 30 minutes from our house and do that. And it makes it all worth it. Now we are working on the Family FotoFun Friday Challenge #8. I'll have my pictures up as soon as I get my camera back on Monday! I hope everyone has had a great weekend so far!

happy Thanksgiving!

You guys know that last post was a joke, right? I don't get depressed about such trivial things!(or at least, I try!) I have so much to be thankful for...I hope you have a great day...

A Crisis

I left my Camera at work. (sorry if I scared you!) That means a 4 day holiday weekend with no pictures... This is serious! (I can't help but think of the wonder pets when I say that). No pictures of our Thanksgiving day hike, no pictures of the Christmas decorations going up. I am depressed. Also, the neighbor beat me with the Christmas lights, his are up already! The nerve!

I changed things around...

I can't decide if I like it, but I was so sick of dots. I switched to Beta and It is supposed to be easier, but I can't even seem to get my bloglines in...I am lame and I don't have time to work on it right now, I have a meeting...I'll try to fix it tomorrow. any help???

Christmas picture success...

We headed out to Crissy field with the camera and tripod and with the Golden Gate in the background, we proceeded to take our Christmas picture. They turned out pretty well! Here is a cute one of the kids I got, you will just have to wait for the one we used on the card...

Autumn

I have already posted most of these pictures, but I love autumn. It seems everyone does. Next to Christmas, it is my favorite time of year. This is for Donna's Family FotoFun Friday Challenge #7


 
 
 
  

Nobody told me I'd spend this much time in the bathroom....

When you think about having kids, you think about the diapers.There will be lots of diapers. You are prepared for this. No one tells you how much time you will spend in the bathroom once the diapers are gone. I mean, really, it has to be a least 2 hours a day, between the two kids. And a lot of these are public restrooms, and God knows you don't want to spend any more time in there than you have to. We must know where the bathroom is at all times. Between the cries of "I have to go peep pee" and "can you wipe me?" (really, when should a child do this alone??), that is a lot of time in the bathroom. Then there is the time that you would normally spend in the bathroom and the times I go in there just to be alone and lock the door. With all the time I spend in there, I think I will re decorate...

Cry baby

For Donna's contest. (a little late) Ahhh, the 3 year old tantrum!

An impromtu visit to the beach

It was a beautiful day, so we decided to go to the beach. We didn't have bathing suits or sand toys or snacks. But it didn't matter, we had a great time anyway! And we found a starfish on the rocks! A fun day...
 
 
 
  

Did you vote?

I hope so. you will never guess who called me at home last night. Clint Eastwood! To tell me to vote! Am I lucky or what?? I have decided to join the Peace and Freedom party. Just because I like the name. I have no idea what they stand for, but it must be good, with a name like that. We just got back from voting and Gracie did really well until the end when she began to scream "ME WANT A BOAT!" Apparently, she thought we were going to get a "boat" instead of vote. She was disappointed.

Happy 75th(!) Birthday, Dad!

Cameron wrote this himself (which is huge) Happy Birthday Papa!
 

Overheard this morning...

Cameron in Grace's room at five this morning. "I'll cut your hair, and then you cut mine". I have never gotten out of bed so fast! Then at 6:30, I hear them come up the stairs as I pretend to be alseep and Cameron says "Why is Mommy still alseep?" and Grace Responds "Sometimes Mommy have tired." LOL LOL! That is my new mantra. Sometimes Mommy have tired...

And the Answer is...

A bunch of matches! Right there on the floor where my child could have gotten them and burnt the place down (And don't think he wouldn't have). To Kristin, I wish! To Michelle, gross! get your mind out of the gutter!

Let's play a game...

Try and guess what I found on floor at Chuck E. Cheese. Just Guess...

Caption" Let's pretend the pumpkin is attacking us!"

 
  

My new favorite thing...

I am always looking for things that save time, especially after going back to work. I started ordering my groceries from S@feway.com. No dragging two screaming kids to the store! Then I found these. Once in a while, I will buy these. Not very often, though, because they don't come in wheat. Then I found Dream Dinners. I am so excited! I went today for the first time and made 6 meals in 40 minutes, for $50.00! My freezer is stocked for those "what the heck are we going to eat tonight?" nights. Basically, you go there and they have all of the fresh ingredients and you assemble the meals and package them to freeze. You can go with a friend and split 12 meals, and get 6 each (which is really 12 meals, because you can split those). I suggest you try it if you are short on time! (aren't we all?).

It's the plague! Stay away!

Last week, Cameron got some kind of stomach bug. Up all night throwing up. Then I got it. I thought we were over it, and then tonight he Does it again. I have seen more puke in one week than I need to see in a lifetime! Thank God for the carpet cleaner...

Pumpkin Patch

I decided to get a little more creative with it...

Potty Training-revisited

Well,
I had completely given up on Potty Training my child. After this post, I just decided to lay off. Well, Gracie kept saying "I go potty when I free (three)". That came and went. She started lying to people when they asked her. She would say "I go pee pee in potty!" (Liar). Then she started refusing to wear diapers and saying "I no wear diaper, I BIG girl!". Okey Dokey. Then why did you just pee all over the cart in the middle of Target without saying a word? So I insisted that if she didn't go in the potty, then she must wear diapers. Well, now we are trying it again and it is going well. So far two days without accidents. I know not to get too excited, though. Last time she went 6 weeks before she changed her mind!

10 Years

I can't belive it has been 10 years since I lost my Mom. I almost forgot. For some reason, I was thinking it was tomorrow. And on Tuesday, it will be 10 years since Scott lost his Dad.
10 years. Wow

Look Mom, no training wheels!

  

Fall leaves

I got nothin'.

Sorry, but true. Nothing to say. Work, eat, sleep, play with kids. Repeat. Nothing interesting at all. And yet, I still write about it. They are considering kicking out the really aggressive kid at school, which would make my life (at work) easier, but I am feeling guilty. Where is he going to go? I just wish we could help him in some way. My kids are not perfect, and Cameron certainly has his issues. What if his teacher just decided to kick him out? Now, his issues are nothing compared to this child, but still. It is hard. Oh, and I might be out of a job next year because they may combine the pre-k classes and the pre-k aide might take my job. I was surprisingly sad about it. Oh, look, I did have something to say after all.

Cool new bed

Cameron has been wanting one like this for a while and I finally found one on Craigslist. Craigslist rocks! Also, I think that anyone considering marriage should have to put one of these together. If you are both still alive at the end, go for it!

Fleet Week

This weekend was Fleet Week in San Francisco. Thousoands of people come out to see the Blue Angels. Cameron wasn't as impressed as I thought he would be, and Gracie just thought they were too loud! But we enjoyed it and We had our usual gorgeous fall weather.

 
 

Gracie was so tired that she fell asleep while on Scott's shoulders!

  

Autumn Moon Festival

These were taken two weekends ago at the Auntumn Moon festival in China town. it was a lot of fun, however, the last time I saw that many people in one place, was when we were in China! This is one of my favorite holidays...

 
 
  

TGIT (Thank God It's Thursday!)

Thursday. My only day off during the week. What should I do? Go to lunch with Gracie? Go to the Gym? I'll probably clean the house. Sigh. I realized that every time the babysitter came, the first thing I would say is "sorry the house it such a mess". After 10 or so times of this, I just told her "I won't say that anymore, you can just see for yourself!!"

MMMMM

this is what I do instead of going to the gym...I love fall!

  

Children of the corn

We went to a fun corn maze yesterday. It took us a while to get out of it!

This doesn't even need a caption...

But look how gracie's horns are glowing. Coincedence? I think not.
 

Indecisive

So Gracie and I are at the Disney store and they are having a sale on Halloween costumes. She walks in and sees all of the Princesses and says "OOOHHH, Pretty!" So I tell her she can pick any one she wants. She goes right for this one. I was so excited! How cute is that? Then she sees this one. Still cute and she has the hair to go with it! We are almost out of there, she is even trying on the cutest boots to go with it. Then she sees this. It's all over. It was too good to pass up. Too many Princesses, too little time...

What Princess room is complete without a Princess bed tent? Gracie loves it!. Thanks to her Aunt Carrie, Uncle Braden and cousins!
 

I HAD to borrow this!

OK, so after an hour phone conversation with Cameron's Pre-school teacher about his behavior (when they call you at home, it isn't good!) I was reading blogs and saw this. I laughed so hard I cried and then cried some more. So I Stole it from My favorite blogger.ARRG Blogger wouldn't let me upload it, so you have to go there.. Here it is:

What I do all day...

I got this from an E mail joke, so you may have heard it, but I thought it was great!

"What Do You Do All Day?"
A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know everyday when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?" "Yes," was his incredulous reply. She answered, "Well, todayI didn't do it."

Birthday pictures

 
 
 
  

Mirror,Mirror, on the wall...

Gracie got this princess wand for her birthday. It says things like "you are adorable". You have pretty eyes" Blah blah blah. You see, I am not really a "princess" type of girl. I had my share of Barbies growing up, but I was really more of a tom boy and would climb trees and ride my horse, too. But somehow, Gracie Loves Princesses. I am not even really sure where she first saw them. I know some people who will not even expose their girls to such things. "What does this teach them?" they ask. "To wait for their prince to save them?". But I don' think we can shield our children from everything, and I really do not see any harm in the Princess stories. I feel like I can still teach her that she can be strong and not have to depend on anyone. But if I could make a magic wand for girls, here is what it would it would say. "You are a strong person". "You are so smart!". "You can do anything you want to do". Well, the party is over and we have more princess stuff than I have ever seen. And it will be fine! I'll post pictures tomorrow.