Group Therapy

My girlfriend Kristin is getting married in two weeks and this weekend we headed for Tahoe for a Bachelorette weekend. It was the most relaxing, fun, entertaining, and educational weekend.

On Friday night when we arrived, within five minutes I had a cocktail in my hand and that is pretty much how the rest of the weekend played out. We had a great dinner, sat around talking, played some games, and stayed up late talking. The next morning when we all got up, we just vegged out reading, drinking coffee, and talking about whatever major story was on the cover of People or UsWeekly. I did not get off the couch but to refill my drink and grab snacks. We made ourselves feel productive by going to the outlets for a while, but then came right back home to again pick up our cocktails and conversation. Saturday night we headed to the casino for maybe an hour or two to at least tell our spouses that we did something other than live in our jammies at the cabin. Again, with cocktail in hand and the hottest damn dinner I have ever eaten (thanks Kristin), we cozied up on the couch and talked until about 3:00am.

Back to my title of the post---Group Therapy. I don't think many men would understand how twelve woman can come together for a single weekend and pretty much talk as if they have known each other for years. There was not one topic we didn't discuss--in incredible detail--all weekend. For myself and my friend Lynn, we came in not knowing most of the girls, but clearly that did not matter. We talked about EVERYTHING! We started laughing toward the end of the weekend that at the wedding, we will be introduced to each others husbands and they will have no clue all of the stuff we now know about them...that's our little secret.

What was my favorite thing about the weekend was that most of us were mothers and even though we missed our families, it was fabulous to just sit around and do nothing and have no responsibilities for anybody other than ourselves. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was made whenever we got to it. We could sit and read an entire magazine without interruption. Napping was not only possible, it was frowned upon if you didn't try. There were no plans, no schedule, no responsibilities. It was perfect.

So as we were packing up today, we realized this can't be a one time thing. This experience begs to be a repeat affair. We will just all have to put on our thinking caps to find a creative reason to show up at the same time next year!

I will post all APPROPRIATE pictures at a later date.

Beat the Heat

I wrote this a week ago, but did not post it simply because Rich had the camera's memory card and was apparently holding it hostage....

When it turned over 100 this weekend, we did the only thing we could do to beat the heat....get the heck out of town. It was either that, or melt. I hate the heat. I hate being hot. I hate the feeling of being sweaty and dirty. This is why I will relocate to the coast as soon as it is monetarily available....can anyone say "marine layer"?.


To be honest, do you know what sent me over the edge? Matthew's soccer game. It was miserable, and it was only 8:30 in the morning. MISERABLE!!!! As we stood observing the game, not moving...mind you, just observing, we all were sweating like crazy. I felt like the witch on Wizard of Oz that melts when she comes in contact with water. I think part of my DNA is still on the soccer field. And Ryan wanted to be held the entire time. He was complaining that he wanted to leave and go home, I simply told him to join the club. Patience gone, sweat consuming every inch of my body, I gave in and took Ryan home. Did I mention that he wanted to be carried the entire way? And that when I put him down, he wrapped his body around my leg and I proceeded to drag him a little bit until a car drove by. Fearing a call to authorities, I picked him up and finished the walk with him on my hip. The highlight of this whole morning was when Rich and Matt decided not to come immediately home and let us into the house, they went to a garage sale instead. Let's just say when Rich and Matt pulled up in my nicely air conditioned car fifteen minutes after the game had ended, I had a few choice words for both of them.





On to Tahoe. IT WAS GORGEOUS!!! Simply said...it was perfect. It was a sunny 68 and breezy in the shade. The kids played at the arcade in the casinos and believed us when we said they were kid sized slot machines. We had a great dinner and then headed to the beach where we had spotted a playground. Then walked around town after dark with goose bumps on our arms from the chill in the air...GOOSE BUMPS!! It was fabulous! The next day we woke up late, took the kids miniature golfing, back to the arcade, and then we drove around North Shore. The kids feel asleep so we pulled over on the side of the road and I read while Rich just relaxed. We finally headed home and were greeted with the valley heat of 93 at 7:30pm. Needless to say our goose bumps were gone.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all. I had a great Mother's Day. We woke up early and went to breakfast. There is a restaurant in town that serves crab eggs benedict and we were there at 7:45am to beat the rush. Frankly, I am never up that early on the weekends because it is usually my turn to sleep in, but I woke up early and we were off.
After breakfast, we came back and relaxed. I went and had a pedicure(happiness) and went to the bookstore(double-happiness). The lady at the bookstore is suspicious of me. I can feel it. She doesn't think it is possible that I can go through 10-12 books in a week to two weeks time and she just watches me while I am in there. Also, I think she hates to take my buy-backs, but I don't care...I am merely working their system. Believe me, it is wise to keep me as a customer. I have a crack addiction to my books and they are my cheap supplier.
We capped off our evening by taking my father-in-law out to dinner for his birthday. All in all a very nice day.

My gift will arrive on Tuesday...a limited addition Bon Jovi tee shirt :-) and a picture of my tulips is below.

Matt vs. Rich

I am getting ready for work this morning, way behind as usual, and I hear Matt and Rich going at it in the kitchen. I stop doing my make-up and sneak out of my bathroom to hear the discussion. Here it goes...

Matt: I want cereal.
Rich: Okay, which kind?
Matt: Um, this kind.
Rich: No, it has too much sugar in it.
Matt: But Dad, I want this.
Rich: No, I said it has too much sugar in it.
Matt: But, but, but, it says right here it has seven different vitamins in it.
Rich: (dead silence....)

When I walked out, Matt was eating a "Pop-Tart". Now, I know what your thinking. I had the same thought....What in the world does Rich think the number one ingredient in a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pop-Tart is...FRUIT??? Nope, that's right...SUGAR! So, kudos to Rich for winning the argument and making his point about too much sugar in the cereal. Even bigger Kudos to Matt for winning the sugar war no matter what.

By the way, is anyone else wondering how cookie dough could possibly be a flavor for a Pop Tart?

Field Trip

I hate a love hate relationship with Field Trips. I hate them because I am pretty much responsible for thirty kids for an entire day, off campus, at a remote location...and oh yeah, I can't lose them or let them get injured in the process. I always assume their parents want them back in the exact shape they left them when they got dropped off that morning, rightfully so.

OK...but I love field trips. Because the kids need to get out once and a while and go places where they might not ever have the chance to go. I love watching their faces, love seeing the toys they buy at the ridiculously over priced gift shop, and I love them telling me how much fun they had at the end of the trip. Makes it all worth the stress and no sleep for me the night before.

So, today I took my kids to Alcatraz. I have been there before, but not with a class and I was almost as excited to go as they were. The plan was to take the boat out to the island, walk around for a few hours, then finish off the day at Pier 39. And that is pretty much how the day went, after this....

We were ten minutes from the Bay Bridge. The kids could see the city in the distance and were getting excited by the minute. All of a sudden I look up and a car that was in the lane next to us, ran into another car causing it to fly in the air, land on it's side and skid down the freeway. As it is skidding, it is heading into our lane and our fabulous bus driver hit the breaks. We came to a stop at the exact time this car then corrected itself back down on all four tires and stopped within three feet of the front of our bus. HELLO!!!!!!! Needless to say, I could not breath. I immediately turned around to check on my class and the kids in the front of the bus are now standing up to see this car that almost cut our day incredibly short! I calmly...in a loud voice...simply yell "SIT DOWN!"

Here we are in the far lane of the freeway, right next to the cement wall, and the guy starts freaking out. Let me tell you that his car is completely sideways facing IKEA as we are facing the Bay Bridge. The bus driver and I clearly recognize that he is in shock and most likely stoned out of his mind because he backs up...in on-coming traffic...then puts it back into drive and drives head on into the cement wall. WHAT??! After he bounces of the wall, he backs up again...yes in on-coming traffic, puts it in drive, turns the wheel just slightly and rams into the wall AGAIN!! In the mean time, a car has pulled over about thirty feet in front of us to see if everything is okay...that turned out to be bad, because this guy finally turns the wheels enough that he doesn't hit the cement wall and hits the gas and plows right into the back of this poor girls car who just pulled over to see how everyone was.

We called the police and got the answering machine four times in a row. NICE! So, with a boat to catch, other on-lookers still there, sirens on the way...we took off!

It turned out to be a fabulous day. The weather was gorgeous. The kids had a fantastic time. The city simply looked romantic. I think somewhere in my heart I was meant to live in a big city. They are certainly not ideal for families with young kids, but the allure is always there. I felt the same thing when we went to DC. I remember thinking what an amazing place for people to live with all of the history and museums and the White House. Maybe in another life...

The Language of Ryan

Ryan has his own language. It is darling. I love it. I wish he would sit for hours and talk...well, maybe we'll take a breather here and there, but seriously...it is too cute. The biggest problem I am facing is turning my teacher brain off. Because I am constantly wanting to correct him, teach him how to form his mouth and tongue to help himself. But, the fact that he is only two won the battle in my head and I am taking my teacher hat off now...for the time being.

Here are some of my favorites:
"Mama, you yook at how big my are."
"Mashew, you tome eat dinner right now! MASHEW!!!"
"What my doing?"
"I pease have tome Cocco Peddles?" (Cocco Pebbles)
"See my ecercising" (excercise)
"You no hurt me?" (when taking off his shirts)
"I need my buddy and nani"
"My do it. My DO IT! I a big boy!!"

Bed Wetting 101

So, here is the deal. I hate it when Matt pees the bed. HATE IT!! Because it is something that could have been easily prevented by him following through with his bedtime chores of 1. Brushing his teeth 2. Go to the bathroom. I think I have muttered these words from a sound sleep at some point. The same chores have been in effect since boyfriend could skip the pull-ups.

This morning, as I was diligently hitting the snooze button on my alarm, Matt walks up to the bed wearing different pajamas. CLUE 1! Here is our dialogue:

Mom: Matt, did you wet the bed?
Matt: Well, I don't remember.
Mom: MATT! Did you wet the bed?
Matt: Sort of. I only did a little bit though.
Mom: How little is little bit?
Matt: Well, maybe it is like a medium size.
Mom: UHHH. JUST SHOW ME!

So we went to his room, and there is a wet spot the size of Lake Tahoe. It pretty much was the biggest spot that could be from a small child emptying out his entire bladder from the last 12-15 hours.

What did I do next? The most logical thing I could do. I made him strip the bed. I made him make piles of pillows and a pile for his comforter. I made him carry his sheets and dirty pajamas and under ware down to the laundry room. I made him put everything into the washer. I made him measure out the laundry soap. I made him turn the knob and choose the right cycle. Because if you remember from before when I said there is a blessing and a curse to showing Matthew how to do something once. The blessing is he remembers everything, the curse is he remembers everything. So, now the kid knows how to strip his own bed, carry it to the laundry room, choose the cycle, and add soap. This was the last time I will be changing his bed.

Today when we get home.....Bed Making 101. Should I start with the importance of a tight fitted sheet or simply move on to "hospital corners" with the top sheet?

Easter/Vegas/Pool

OK, so I hate playing catch up....but I am totally behind and there are a couple of things I need to post about.

1. Easter---Easter was great. The boys spent the night at my mom's because Rich and I had friends over the night before and we were in no condition to care for small children as the night went on. Anyways, the next morning Rich and I went over to my mom's and the kids went hunting away for eggs in her backyard. As the boys ran around looking for eggs, I am almost positive they successfully woke anyone within a two block radius who was still asleep. Ryan was so cute this year. He was so excited to look for eggs and then crack them open to eat the white part only. I swear, it will be hysterical one day when we are having breakfast at a restaurant and my boys both order egg white only omelets. After our fun in the morning, my dad stopped by with some baskets and the kids had fun playing with their new cars. And for an early dinner, Rich and Sharon came by and we had another little egg hunt to cap off the day. Very fun!!!





2. Vegas---Trip one of ??? for the year. So, a couple of months ago Rich got a rewards offer in the mail from the Palazzo in Vegas. This is where we have stayed the last couple of times we have gone to Vegas and it is one of our favorites. So, the rewards offer was a few free nights and free slot play. The kicker to the free slot play was that we had to bring our tax return their to the casino and cash it, then depending on how much our return was worth, we got "x-amount" in free slot play.
Okay, those of you who know Rich....this is like the ultimate gift you can give him....FREE MONEY TO GAMBLE!!! I have another take on it. To me it is like taking a friend to an AA meeting, helping him through that "Hi my name is &%$# and I am an Alcoholic" and then taking him to a bar to celebrate after. The last thing Vegas should be doing is giving this man free money to gamble. Bless his heart, he couldn't help himself. I really think it consumed his every thought while we were there. However, he is very smart when it comes to making money, so understand this guy knew our running total of our winnings down to the penny. And yes....we were successful in bringing money back from Vegas for the first time in a long time.

3. On Easter, Richard and Sharon brought over a pool as part of Matthew and Ryan's Easter present. Today, the temperature hit something above 70 and that meant it was time to put on our suits and head out to play. Ryan loves the pool filling up with water, no so much getting in and playing. Matthew thinks it is an actual pool, so he was surprised time to time when he jumped in and it bottom six inches into his landing. This did not go over too well in the injury department.

R & R at Disneyland

So, I thought it was unfair to post Matthew and I's trip back east, without posting Rich and Ryan's spring break fun.

While Matt and I were gone, Rich took Ryan to Disnelyand. They had a blast going on the same old rides, and some news ones since Ryan has met new height requirements. I am sure it was a great trip for Ryan because he did not have to negotiate what rides to go on next with Matt and who was going to sit with whom. It was very low key and the boys had a great time.

I will say this, though. When Matt was this same age, I went away for a weekend with some friends to San Francisco and while I was gone, Rich took Matt to Disneyland...by himself. I really can't count the number of people who stopped me after I spoke the words, "by himself", and said...."What? Rich took him ALL by himself? With no one else?" Yes. Yes he did. Because it's like this. He's the dad. That does not make him any less of a parent than I am. Rich does everything I do and other than breast-feeding, it has pretty much been like that since day one. Does he do things the way I do them? Of course not, but it gets done. Because listen, if something were to happen to me (God forbid), no crash course in parenting needed. The boy has it covered.

East Coast

Well we are in West Virginia visiting with my sister, my niece, and brother-in-law. We are having a great time not only visiting with family, but we are also taking the opportunity to see some other states while back here. Matthew is in heaven playing with his uncle Greg who took him to his job yesterday and bought him gifts....need I say more? He is also enjoying Noelle's cats and plays with them constantly. They have become his obsession and he frequently says, "I wish I had a pet."

On Wednesday, we headed out for Washington DC. I have been so excited about this for a number of reasons. The first, of course, is going to the White House. I was all geeked out by going and seeing it and knowing that this was going to be the closest I will have ever been to a sitting president....even though he is a couple of thousand feet from me, I would still be that close to him. Well, that is until Rich burst my bubble and told me that the president was making his first trip to California (that's right, that state in which I live and I had just left to fly across country to be the closest I will ever be to the president!) and would actually not be back to the Whitehouse during the time we were in DC. Lovely! The second reason I have been so excited is that fifth grade core curriculum is US history and government, and I simply can't wait to share all my pictures with my class.

The second day we were in DC, we took the Metro all the way to Arlington to see the cemetery. This was one of the highlights of the trip fro me. When we got to Arlington we looked up my great-grandparents grave sites and set off to find them. It was cold, raining, and a bit miserable, but we figured that we had to do this while we were here. So, a fifteen minute walk in the rain and wind brought us to their grave sites. As we were taking pictures and carefully describing this place to Matthew and it's significance, we heard a marching band start to play. We looked up and saw funeral procession coming right toward us. All of us later commented on how is was amazing that we could get so emotional and cry within a 45-second time period for someone we had never met, nor knew what their history was that brought them to this point. It was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but incredibly sad and emotional as well. I turned to Noelle and said videotape as much as you can without them seeing it so we are not disrespectful, but I wanted to share with others what we had seen. I hand my camera around my neck and I had no idea whether it was focused or even if the picture would be lined up, but I just kept snapping away in case I could get a few shots of what was going on.







With the rest of the day pretty much subject to rain, we decided to head back to get our car and just drive around to see all of the sites we could possibly get in. Forgive me, but most of these were taken with Noelle driving and me snapping away as fast as I could. At one point I hopped out of the car, on a very busy street, to run up and see the Lincoln Memorial and snap as many pics as I could. We drove all over the rest of the city and hit all the major places that we thought we couldn't leave without saying we had been there to see it. I really could come back and spend an entire week here and hit two to three major sites a day. We certainly made the most of our trip, the short time we were there.