10 Reasons I haven't blogged lately

10. Discovered that all I do is drop off/pick up kids from school, with a 2.5 hour break to myself when they are both at school.

9. Been too busy writing numerous emails and letters, and having parent/teacher/principal conferences in an effort to get Sammy into a different Kindergarten class. So far, no luck.

8. Had to fix a flat tire on the van.

7. Almost had to take Samuel to the ER in the middle of the night because he had a his intestine tangled up in some scar tissue, again. He decided to just tough it out at home and wait for it to work itself out.

6. Spent over 2 hours with Hannah at the doctors office because of a UTI. Ever tried to get a urine sample from a newly potty trained 3 year-old, who peed just before the appointment? Good times.

5. Being depressed about losing out on $250K due to a decision made 4 years ago. (I actually found this out last month, but I am still lamenting the loss.) Yeah...don't even get me started.

4. Spent 2 hours at the car dealership while I had the brakes replaced on my van.

3. Watching the season premieres of Heroes and How I Met Your Mother (although Heroes was pretty uneventful and almost boring)...and watching Project Runway and Mad Men. I've actually got 4 shows that I am watching every week instead of my usual 2.

2. Spent 2 hours at CHLA for a post-op appointment for Sammy. (Why does every appointment this week take 2 hours?!)

1. Goofing off watching random stuff on You Tube.


Here's hoping next week is a little better than this one.

Hannah's first day of school!

Today was Hannah's first day of preschool--my little girl has grown up so fast! She is going to the same Pre-K program that Sammy went to. I was a little sad taking her there today knowing that Sammy was at a different school for Kindergarten. And it's annoying to have to drive back and forth to two different schools since they aren't both at the same one, but we love the teachers and love this Pre-K program, so it's worth it.

Love the pose...

I wasn't sure if we would even make it to this point as Hannah needed to be potty trained before school started and we weren't doing so well with that. All of a sudden--it clicked for her and she's been accident free since the morning of Sammy's first day of school. I've been putting a pull-up on her at bedtime, just in case, but she has woken up dry every morning and even woken up in the middle of the night to use the potty. HOORAY!! I'm so glad we finally made it!

I was glad that she was so excited to go, and it really helped that everything was familiar to her since we've been taking Sammy there for 2 years. There were no tears and no hesitation at all. She asked me while we were driving to school if I was going to go with her. I told her that it was just like nursery at church--I would drop her off and then come back in a little bit. Then she asked what was I going to do while she was there. I smiled--thinking of how blissful 3 hours with just Helene would be. I told her nothing exciting, just running some errands and doing some things around the house.

This was her face when I picked her up. She had such a great time and was so proud of herself. I am excited to see how much she grows this year.

First Day of Kindergarten!

Sammy had his first day of Kindergarten today. We stopped by his classroom yesterday to meet his teacher--and figure out where to go before the totally hectic and crazy first day. So we met her...and let's just say I wasn't impressed.

I was hoping that my opinion of her would change when I went back for his actual first day, but no, she was still just as bad.

I made sure not to let Sammy hear what I thought of her so he wouldn't be influenced by my opinion, but as soon as he got into his classroom, Samuel and I both talked to the principal (who happened to be roaming around the Kindergarten area at that moment) about our concerns. The principal actually agreed with my assessment and told me that "last year was not a good year personally or professionally for Mrs. ****" and that she "had a difficult time bonding with her students the first few months."

Are you kidding me with this? This is a group of 5 year olds, not troublesome 13 year olds. How hard is it to "bond" with a bunch of Kindergartners? If you don't like kids, then don't teach. It's that simple. I looked around at the other teachers when they were meeting their students this morning and I saw them getting down at eye level and saying hello and telling them how excited they were to have them in their class, etc. Sammy's teacher never made one comment or even a hello to any of the kids, she just got basic info regarding emergency numbers and lunch and then went on to the next parent.

There was no "hi, so nice to meet you"or "I'm so excited to have **** in my class" or even acknowledging the child, etc. I mean, would it kill her to act excited about Kindergarten? I have such fond memories of Kindergarten and my teacher, Mrs. Rosell, and I just hate to have Sammy miss out on that because of a lame burned-out teacher.

The principal asked me to bring her a letter explaining our situation, but said that nothing would be done until next week when they know what their numbers are for each class. And even then, they may not be able to move him.

Anyway, I was debating whether to walk or drive to school this morning since it's only a few blocks. I figured that there would be no parking since everyone would be driving their kids on the first day, so we walked. Of course, just as we are walking out front, Hannah pees in her underwear. (That pretty much sums up our potty training experience right there in case you were wondering). Luckily, she was wearing a dress and not pants AND we were outside, so I just ran back inside, put her in a diaper and off we went. Two kids in the stroller and Helene in the Moby Wrap and 15 minutes to walk 9 blocks. Did I mention it was 78 degrees out? I was so sweaty and gross by the time I got there.

My annual "first day of school" shot

Big smile for the first day

Hannah wasted no time checking out the playgroundHanging out in front of the classroom doorOne last picture with mom before heading into class
(this is what my hair looks like curly,
for those of you who had asked about it) On his way into classWaiting for class to begin

It's an all-day Kindergarten, so at 3:10 I picked him up from school in the van as there was no way I was walking since it was 100 degrees this afternoon. I arrived 20 minutes early so I would be sure to get parking--and I had to load Hannah and Helene into the stroller. It was total chaos picking him up as the teacher didn't have a good system and was trying to coordinate with the YMCA people who were there to pick up kids, as well as the district after-school program people AND the parents. She asked me three times who I was there to pick up. Whatever.

He said he was hungry so we went to Taco Bell for a quesadilla as a treat. When I asked about his day, he said it was fun, and when I asked what he did he said "played outside". So typical, right?

I checked his lunch box and he had eaten barely anything--I guess that explains why he was so hungry. When I asked why he didn't eat his lunch, he told me that they only had 10 minutes for lunch and it wasn't enough time to eat. Not sure what that was all about, but hopefully he'll eat more tomorrow.

And I've written my letter and just need to give it to the principal tomorrow morning. Let's hope something changes next week.

Last few days of summer

Well, summer is officially over as school starts tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about it since I am not happy about the school Sammy will be going to (not the same one he went to for Pre-K the last two years)--and even more upset about it after I found out his teacher is one whom I've not heard good things about.

However, I am excited for Sammy to start Kindergarten and make some new friends. He loves school and I hope that being at a new school doesn't change that. He has asked several times if his friends from his Pre-K class are going to be there too and it breaks my heart to have to tell him no, that they are all going to his old school.

Hannah will be going to the same Pre-K class that Sammy went to the past two years. It had a waiting list, so I wasn't sure we were going to get in, but I got a call last Monday that there was a spot available, so I took it. She has to be potty trained before school starts, so we've been working on that all this week. It's been okay. She totally gets it--and has for almost a year now, but as everything is with Hannah, it's a power struggle. So she'll do it when she wants to, but not necessarily when I suggest she go.

Anyway, here's what we've been up to the last few days of summer.

We met up with Danielle and April at Descanso Gardens and did some exploring.

There happened to be an exhibit of Ford Model-A cars that day

Helene was pretty content to just hang out in the stroller

We also took a little road trip out to Ventura to visit Kristen and her two adorable boys, Noah and Milo. Little Milo just turned three months old--Helene loved having someone her size to hang out with for once!

The kids had fun playing at the park while Kristen and I gabbed for almost 2 hours. The time just flew by!

They made a few new friends while they were playing

Hannah and Noah hung out in the bark--what was I thinking putting her in white pants?

Sammy has been doing his Physical Therapy for almost a month now. We really like his therapist Jill and they have a lot of fun together. Here are a few pictures from one of his sessions. I forgot to bring my camera on the day that they did some really fun stuff--he got to ride this special bike around the hospital and outside in the courtyard and play a little soccer and wiffle ball.

Here he is doing a few "exercises"

And Helene has been hanging out with the most tolerant cat in the world.

Here's hoping it all goes well with Kindergarten tomorrow and getting Hannah fully potty trained by Monday when her school starts.

End of Summer Trip

I decided to take a last minute trip up to Oregon to visit my friend Heidi and her family. The last time we were there was in July of 2008--you can read about it here.

Samuel had to stay and work, so my mom drove up with me and the kids. We actually had a smooth drive up with very few stops. I think I had to stop and pee more times than Sammy did. The older kids did really well thanks to the DVD players in the car--and Helene had her moments, but was pretty content overall.

We lounged by the pool and read while the kids played...

Helene had her first taste of prunes...mostly due to a severe case of constipation. Poor little girl--it was so sad...although she LOVED the prunes!

We hung out with Louie the dog...

and a few chickens...Played with wire whisks at a kitchen store...

Helene found a new toy...

So much fun!

We had lunch at the pharmacy, complete with an
old-fashioned soda fountain counter...

and then browsed though an antique store to walk off the milkshakes...
Helene got some tummy-time in...

and even did a few baby push-ups!
She'll seriously be crawling any day now! YIKES!

We went to Wildlife Images and got close to these animals...

Seriously close, as the only thing separating us
from the grizzly bear was an electric fence...

a bald eagle...again, just the electric fence separating us
from these 5 black bears...
Sammy needed a break from all the walking
and took a rest with Grandma

We decided to sit for picture

Then we had lunch again. I had the best chicken sandwich with avocado and blue cheese--and some fried zucchini on the side. Good thing Heidi and I went on a few walks at night to counter all the food we ate on this trip!

On Monday night for FHE, we had a family band and played instruments and sang.
It was so much fun for all!

It turned into a marching band around the house...

We had such a good time, as always. So relaxing and fun. The kids loved having Scott and Kjersten to play with 24/7 and I loved they were totally worn out from playing at the end of the day. We spent the evenings painting our toes, watching Flight of the Conchords (so hilarious), Mamma Mia, and Pride and Prejudice--and eating either brownies, cookies, or ice cream, depending on the night. Yep, a total girls night for an entire week. So great!!

I missed a few photo ops of the beautiful scenery, the kids playing Wii, the kids playing outside (besides the pool)--I'll have to be more diligent next time.

The trip home was a bit crazier with more potty stops than I can count--plus Helene was crankier due to a severe diaper rash from the constipation problem. I've definitely learned that she can't handle bananas very well...maybe I'll try again in a few months.

And we just HAD to stop in here for an authentic San Francisco hot fudge sundae treat...in Lathrop of all places. Random, but delicious.


It was a great end to a looooong summer of Sammy being in casts, and I'm glad we had a chance to hang out with such good friends and play for a bit. Thanks so much to my mom for braving the long drive and going with us--we loved having you!! And thanks for babysitting the kids for Heidi and I so we could get in a few of those desperately needed walks after dinner.

The best part was coming home and finding a spotless house. Samuel steam cleaned the carpets, scrubbed the stove (which needed some serious help) and the rest of the kitchen including the fridge and pantry, AND cleaned the bathrooms. YAY for Sam! I need to leave town for a week more often apparently!

School starts next Thursday! Wow--summer really is over.