Summer days

The weather is weird and cloudy here so it's not exactly summery outside, but it does feel like summer because there is no school and a hundred fun things to do every day: farmer's market, art classes, beach, free crafts and storytimes, sprinklers on the lawn, movies in the park, etc. We are trying to do some of it. Today we got up just in time to say goodbye to Mark (I know it's not fair), ate breakfast, got dressed, and did our workbooks (mostly Audrey, Claire pretends, and I was actually sweeping, washing dishes and putting away laundry - maybe that makes Mark feel a little better). By the time we finished with all of that it was 10:45 and we went to the gym where I work out and the kids play/watch TV in the gym childcare center.

The gym is part of my new goal to get back to my active self but that goal is affected directly by my other goal to be a sweet mom who bakes cookies with her children for fun memories and learning fractions. I ate about 6 cookies yesterday. After the gym we went to lunch at Ws - chicken with broccoli - I eat the salad and egg roll that come with the lunch special, Audrey eats the chicken and rice, Claire eats the broccoli and rice, the waitress thinks I'm crazy because I only order one dish. But it's plenty of food. Now we are home and I need a shower, Claire is in her room supposedly napping, and Audrey is playing in her room. I should be doing my freelance but this is more fun.

Later today we are taking our dinner to the park. Then maybe watch a kids movie at home or take baths. I'm just writing all of this for myself, so I will remember how it felt to have two little kids. They are changing fast. They are so cute and lovable and then so annoying and demanding. Every day is a roller coaster trying to keep them busy and handling their various needs. They want to eat every 10 minutes and they seem to run into the walls very often, then cry and need a hug and tell me about it how the vicious wall came out of nowhere and whacked them on the head. Does every kid do that and am I the only mom who is over feeling sorry for them and sometimes can't stop herself from saying "Good grief, watch where you are going next time." Thump, cry, thump, cry, all day long the walls are attacking my children.

Yesterday we went out for lunch at this really good Mexican dive (yes, out to lunch is a pattern). Audrey was eating her burrito and doing the funniest dance/wiggle - call it the upper body Salsa - to the Mexican music. She also said she wanted to date me and I was flattered. Today Claire was eating rice with both hands, swaying to the music in her head. I crack up. They do fill my heart - and sap my energy.

Good times in Hemet

My parents have moved back to my hometown and I am very happy about it. No more staying in hotels or wandering around town with nowhere to go before check in. They also have a pool and that makes the girls very happy. We headed there as soon as school got out and stayed a whole week. Audrey took a day to remember she could swim and Claire just hung out on the steps. We got to see my Tata and take a sweet 4-generation photo and brush up on my Spanish a little. We ate at the Taco Shop every day, my kids couldn't understand why, and visited a panaderia for wonderful piggy cookies and gigantic macaroons. It was nice to spend time with my parents and get away from housework for awhile. We've been back twice and will keep going until they take away our key.

Knott's Berry Farm

I have many things I'd like to say about Samsung, but one of the nicer ones is how much fun we had at the company day at Knott's Berry Farm. You can't beat free entrance, parking and lunch. We started out in one of the conference rooms for some fried chicken and games. Claire nearly won musical chairs for her age group. We were surprised how quickly she figured out the game and how competitive she was about it. Second place did not sit well and she cried bitterly until they gave her the second place prize - a giant lollipop. After that we went for the kid friendly rides - the log ride not being one of them with that huge drop at the end. Mark convinced me to go ahead and desert him and the kids to go on Montezuma's Revenge twice - it was thrilling.

Sometimes Disneyland is horrible

Don't be fooled by these cute pictures. I took the girls to Disneyland on the last day before our passes were blocked out for the summer and it was the most hideous day at Disneyland I have ever experienced. The heat and the crowds were tough but we would have been OK if my kids had not formed some secret and devious pact to visit every bathroom in the entire park during our short visit on a 15 minute rotation. They never had to go to the bathroom at the same time, there was a major "accident" not involving the most recently potty-trained of the two, and by the time we'd been there two hours I was hoping I'd suffer a heat stroke so I could pass out. Then, I imagined, I could luxuriate in unconsciousness for a few minutes, the people at the park would have to watch my kids while I recovered, and Mark would have to come and get us. But I did not faint and I could not leave, because I'm stubborn that way, and I did not want to face 5 pm rush hour traffic. Oh, I know I'm like a celebrity complaining about the price of fame, we are really spoiled with our Disneyland passes, but I'm griping anyway. So we trudged along, experienced hunger and thirst on a familiar 15 minute interval and watched the parade - and then left. I'm not sure my kids will ever think of Disneyland as a happy place again. Much family therapy to come - maybe Mickey will have to attend.

School's out

June was a blur of end of the school year parties and activities all complicated by Claire going back on breathing treatments because I gave her my bad cold and she started wheezing. She's back to normal now and we will see how she does during the next few months and pray she does not have a chronic respiratory problem. She handled Mr. Cloudy much better this time around - treats and TV helped a lot.

Obviously, we did not slow down much. Audrey had a princess party for her Daisy Scout troop, the family picnic at school, and her class party. Everything was fun with lots of food, bounce houses, reptile shows and goodie bags. Unfortunately, her teacher, Ms. Schrank fell and broke her hip during the class party and it was pretty traumatic - for everyone - and devastating for Ms. Schrank. All the parents and school staff rose to the occasion. But we saw her just yesterday and she is holding up well, surrounded by cards and books, and, now that she is home from the rehabilitation center, about to be inundated with food and favors from all the kindergarten moms and kids who have been so worried about her.

The family picnic - Mommy and Claire


Audrey with her friends Angelina, Sarah and Sochy


The class party

More sculptures

Audrey loves to put things together and I love to see what she comes up with. Claire is getting in on it too, just a little. The worst part is making them clean up these works of art - we can't leave them out indefinitely.

The watermelon bridge.


The jewelry still life.


The junk from our garage "car" with bicycle wheel steering.

Claire's new bed

Claire got a real bed in June. Mommy was the only one who cried about it - Claire didn't even hesitate. She has only fallen out once and hit her head once on the wall while jumping. It's a good thing - just a very definite sign Claire is growing up so I can only be ambivalent. I soothed myself with the purchase of pretty new linens, dust ruffle and micro-weave pillow and mattress protectors.

I had to add this picture of Audrey from December 2006 when she got her bed. My kids have the same poses.