tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66906485263663370962024-03-05T23:13:44.735-08:00triothe life of a woman with her husband, identical triplets, and pekingneseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-53374992867542745842010-03-09T08:38:00.000-08:002010-03-09T08:38:31.523-08:00random quotes<strong>n ~</strong><br />
<br />
n was speaking to e, and i eavesdropped.<br />
<br />
<em>me: what did you say? i don't understand.</em><br />
<br />
<em>n: that's why i was talking to e.</em><br />
<br />
lesson to self: don't invite yourself into others' conversations.<br />
<br />
<strong>j ~</strong><br />
<br />
j touched my (herniated) tummy (that remained the shape of a basketball after birth).<br />
<br />
<em>j: your belly is broken.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: yes, it is.</em><br />
<br />
<em>j: you need to go to the mechanic.</em><br />
<br />
... then i'd need a major overhaul!<br />
<br />
<strong>e ~</strong><br />
<br />
we were briefly discussing age ...<br />
<br />
<em>e: but mom, we're not old. we're not 9 yet ...</em><br />
<br />
so how <strong><em>old</em></strong> does that make me?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqR9po6FxXbDDe8pBZKrOISgDubQv4jos_PDg7eYUO1_XzS7vkQERexJefut6KM9aXJlNCES_UvtHbKwxmSiMjgE9VjRS7L4xdy5nf1b-Cw8w-vFkwF1IffYJlQtm3h76jFiQaNRW7Us/s1600-h/randomquotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqR9po6FxXbDDe8pBZKrOISgDubQv4jos_PDg7eYUO1_XzS7vkQERexJefut6KM9aXJlNCES_UvtHbKwxmSiMjgE9VjRS7L4xdy5nf1b-Cw8w-vFkwF1IffYJlQtm3h76jFiQaNRW7Us/s640/randomquotes.jpg" vt="true" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-44891687524524449832010-03-06T09:08:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:11:08.590-08:00novice bakinglast year, as it happens every year, i've been longing for a mental challenge. surely, with triplets, there are a myriad of trials to be had daily - some minor, some major, some new (which then winds up consuming a decent chunk of the little energy i have), and some repetitive. yet, i yearned for a different kind of challenge, and definitely one that was not triplet-related. i needed an outlet to my sanity, so i chose to bake. <br />
<br />
my decision arrived around the middle of 2009, when all i asked for my birthday was a $30 hand-held mixer. a stand mixer is a true beauty that i've admired from afar for a long time, but i didn't deserve it yet. i've never truly baked before. i often invested in boxed cake and brownie mixes. as for cookies, i hardly even settled for cookie dough and merely bought them already made and packaged. pepperidge farm double-chocolate milanos are my favorite! occasionally, though, i would crave for something really good, and hubby would be nice enough to oblige and pick up a slice or piece of something for me at a nearby bakery. <br />
<br />
i grew up adoring sweets and pastries. my family often had get-togethers, and of course, there would always be dessert. stand-alone bakeries were also prominent in hawaii - you'd pass by at least one wherever you headed. however, i hadn't become interested in the act of baking and its art until i was in new york several years ago and introduced to specialty bakeries, like cupcakeries or french bakeries, which adorned beautiful little packages of sweets. i wasn't crazy enough to jump into that kind of stuff, though. the initial goal of my newly-claimed hobby was to learn how to make good and basic goodies such as cookies, brownies, muffins, and cupcakes. i was also determined to make cupcakes for my sons' birthday a few months later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULuNhrRl-1P3dQdLMxd9jgTP-yQlPANLXlQqzGMFhHjTk3h2_41ggbTBVg-qq-1j0FCM7qmivbHC-_oGSziH7HqdbHXAXltu9tVeYRKmulaQjTOWBr3Cr_pMu1Pfgv7ONayLTzOIz69Q/s1600-h/bdaycupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULuNhrRl-1P3dQdLMxd9jgTP-yQlPANLXlQqzGMFhHjTk3h2_41ggbTBVg-qq-1j0FCM7qmivbHC-_oGSziH7HqdbHXAXltu9tVeYRKmulaQjTOWBr3Cr_pMu1Pfgv7ONayLTzOIz69Q/s640/bdaycupcakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">the first cake recipe i tried was a semi-homemade cake one (boxed mix + other ingredients). it was chocolate, my first pick in flavors. it was simple, inexpensive, and unbelievably easy. i found it on <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Default.aspx">allrecipes</a>, and i made it a handful of times experimenting with chocolate, yellow and butter-flavored mixes. my family appreciated each version. i chose to frost the cupcakes with one from a scratch recipe, and looking back, i could not believe i ever bought the ready-made frosting in the can. i always considered them way too sugary, even for my sweet tooth!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">certainly, i had already made up my mind from the get-go which flavor to make for my boys' birthday - chocolate. my sons loved them, and the cupcakes were a hit with our guests. to top it all off, i was rewarded with the gratification that i made them myself.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">you can find the recipe <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Too-Much-Chocolate-Cake/Detail.aspx">here</a>. i baked my cupcakes for about 20 minutes. enjoy!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-62070047497935503942010-02-26T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-26T08:00:03.859-08:00supermodelquins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2SlUN2u1Yk_r1lcPvqKf5lgMpIsDr2UAllZl4jY4egxefSJfrv4qLIoBsRp8GVZtDohFRwpbPNr-wTU8joqGdiL-tqek7O39EvqtnWBkcbc-dK1EbFgX5GANMGR59qtzFC53uffEq-s/s1600-h/oldnavycollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2SlUN2u1Yk_r1lcPvqKf5lgMpIsDr2UAllZl4jY4egxefSJfrv4qLIoBsRp8GVZtDohFRwpbPNr-wTU8joqGdiL-tqek7O39EvqtnWBkcbc-dK1EbFgX5GANMGR59qtzFC53uffEq-s/s400/oldnavycollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12954#challenge1[12954]">noah the unflinching commander,</a> <a href="http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12984#challenge1[12984]">jonah the sweet prince,</a> <a href="http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12990#challenge1[12990]">elijah the ravishing dude</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-30351660405135905012010-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:002010-02-25T22:58:40.152-08:00old navy photo contesti just discovered old navy's supermodelquin search contest the other day. i really should have realized it sooner as i subscribe to its emails. i guess that's what happens when your inbox becomes so inundated with subscriptions and junk mail - sometimes you miss the interesting and important ones! the photo entries of the children all looked adorable, and my sons were excited to view them with me as they happen to be sitting next to me. so i whimsically thought that it would be fun to drop by an old navy store and take pictures of my boys with those notorious mannequins too. and why not enter them in the contest? so i did. unfortunately, the voting period ends in a week, and there are entries out there that are way ahead of the game. but we can't hurt to try, right?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S4cR8O4pqgI/AAAAAAAAALc/hi_B746ar3I/s1600-h/old%20navy%20model%20search.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S4cR8O4pqgI/AAAAAAAAALc/hi_B746ar3I/s320/old%20navy%20model%20search.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>we do need your support, though! please vote "10" for my boys - you're allowed to vote daily until march 3. i was told by jay's aunt that she was able to vote for all three in one day. you will have to register, although you will be rewarded via email with a 15% off coupon for your next purchase.<br />
<br />
noah - <a href="http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12954#challenge1[12954]">http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12954#challenge1[12954]</a><br />
<br />
jonah - <a href="http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12984#challenge1[12984]">http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12984#challenge1[12984]</a><br />
<br />
elijah - <a href="http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12990#challenge1[12990]">http://www.iwannabesuper.com/?challenge_id=1&entry_id=12990#challenge1[12990]</a><br />
<br />
my family and i appreciate your participation and support!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-36303946963994492602010-02-24T08:00:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:10:38.968-08:00dear johnjay and i have recently been priviledged to an occasional day off together during the work-week, which means afternoon dates while our sons are in preschool! on our most recent outing, i chose to watch the film <strong><em>Dear John</em></strong>. nicholas sparks + channing tatum = how could i resist? <br />
<br />
i love nicholas sparks' novels. he is extremely eloquent and classy in his writng. he never fails to illustrate the perfect love - timeless and unconditional. i find myself rooting for the couples that he's created, in that their love will prevail!, as much as i rooted for romeo and juliet when i was a teenager.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i first discovered channing tatum in <em><strong>Step Up</strong></em> a few years ago, not that i hurried to the theater or movie rental store to see it. we subscribed to hbo at the time, and it seemed like the only movie on t.v. that was worth giving a try. <em><strong>Step Up</strong></em> didn't make an impression on me; however, channing tatum sure did. he won me over with his later roles in <em><strong>Stop-loss</strong></em>, <em><strong>Fighting</strong></em>, and particularly, <strong><em>A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints</em></strong>, for which he was nominated a Gotham Breakthrough Award and an Independent Spirit Award for best supporting male actor.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S4S9qDIzGHI/AAAAAAAAALQ/-vLcZIKncHA/s1600-h/photo_16_hires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S4S9qDIzGHI/AAAAAAAAALQ/-vLcZIKncHA/s400/photo_16_hires.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/">http://www.rottentomatoes.com/</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i haven't read <strong><em>Dear John</em></strong>, although i was tempted to. but i had longed to see the movie (it's been some time since i saw a good romantic drama, and i am a sucker for such sappiness) that i didn't want to ruin it for myself by previewing the novel. the movie was good, though not nearly in the ballpark of <em><strong>The Notebook</strong></em>. while it contained the elements of a nicholas sparks' love story - wonderful laughter and heart-wrenching tears, i didn't care for the twist in the plot. the choice that savannah, the lead female character, had made wasn't very realistic for a modern-day woman of this era. i didn't agree with the ending either. after all that was said and done, i thought, "really?" in reference to the story portrayed in the film, i don't feel that <strong><em>Dear John</em></strong> is one of nicholas sparks' best. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">channing tatum, on the other hand, was pretty awesome. tatum, who usually plays the macho, tough guy, proved that he can hold the role of a loving and loveable character. he and his co-star, amanda seyfried, who is truly adorable, were a perfect match. the way they eyed each other, touched each other, and spoke to one another - you could tell they shared real chemistry, more than what i could remember between tatum and his wife, jenna dewan, in <em><strong>Step Up</strong></em>. (actually, i was surprised that they married - who would've thought?) it was tatum's and seyfried's acting and their partnership that made the film <em><strong>Dear John</strong></em> worth seeing.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-89990595270427121142010-02-21T17:03:00.000-08:002010-02-21T17:03:56.274-08:00cupcakes for breakfastmy sons and i have breakfast at home.<br />
<br />
<em>jonah: i want a muffin.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: those aren't muffins, they're cupcakes. they're just not frosted.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah: no, those are muffins.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: they're cupcakes, not muffins. daddy made a mistake when he gave them to you for breakfast yesterday. </em><em>cupcakes are for dessert. we can have dessert after dinner.</em><br />
<br />
<em>elijah: this is dinner. </em><br />
<br />
<em>me: no, we're having breakfast right now. we have breakfast in the morning and dinner at night.</em><br />
<br />
after he was done, elijah got up to place his dish on the kitchen counter. jonah and noah continued to have their meal.<br />
<br />
<em>elijah: i don't want to go anywhere today. i just want the sun to go down already.</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-23011058849841472952010-02-20T21:46:00.000-08:002010-02-20T22:00:10.897-08:00valentine rewind<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S4DLRYu5tiI/AAAAAAAAAKU/taViGSrlUos/s1600-h/vday2010collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S4DLRYu5tiI/AAAAAAAAAKU/taViGSrlUos/s640/vday2010collage1.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">left to right: top - elijah diligently ices his heart-shaped cookies while his brothers decide to skip that step and go right to eating theirs; bottom - jonah arranges the cards he distributed to his preschool classmates; after a shrimp scampi and linguine dinner at home with our sons, jay and i enjoy one of our favorite dessert wines, icewine.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-61766933100785283162010-02-16T08:47:00.000-08:002010-02-16T23:44:01.744-08:00presidentsin honor of our national holiday yesterday, i gave my sons a brief overview of three of our presidents using their pictures.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S3rHYrAiL7I/AAAAAAAAAKA/svsUaeQnC7Y/s1600-h/GeorgeWashington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S3rHYrAiL7I/AAAAAAAAAKA/svsUaeQnC7Y/s200/GeorgeWashington.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.eartohear.net/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.eartohear.net</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><em>me: who is this? </em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: uuhhh...</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: what's his name? george ...</em><br />
<br />
<em>elijah: washington! george washington!</em><br />
<br />
the other two repeat after him.<br />
<br />
<em>me: yes! that's george washington, our first president! ... now who is this?</em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: uuhhh ...</em><br />
<br />
<em>noah: he's on the penny!</em><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S3rJCpLe82I/AAAAAAAAAKE/zbECZiK-6Xc/s1600-h/abrahamlincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><em><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S3rJCpLe82I/AAAAAAAAAKE/zbECZiK-6Xc/s200/abrahamlincoln.jpg" width="152" /></em></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>photo courtesy of </em></span><a href="http://www.fookembug.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>www.fookembug.wordpress.com</em></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><em>me: yes, he is on the penny. what's his name?</em><br />
<br />
the boys all show me their pennies and chant, <em>"he's on the penny!"</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: a-bra-ham ...</em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: a-bra-ham ...</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: lincoln!</em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: lincoln!</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: a-bra-ham lin-coln!</em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: a-bra-ham lincoln!</em><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S3rJ4V6rtmI/AAAAAAAAAKI/m4Vt5DGCyU4/s1600-h/barack-obama-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><em><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S3rJ4V6rtmI/AAAAAAAAAKI/m4Vt5DGCyU4/s200/barack-obama-2.jpg" width="147" /></em></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>photo courtesy of </em></span><a href="http://www.barackobama.net/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>www.barackobama.net</em></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><em>me: who is this? who's our president now?</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah: the happy man!</em><br />
<br />
<em>me (giggling): yes, but what's his name? </em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: uuhhh...</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: ba-rack ...</em><br />
<br />
<em>boys: ba-rack ...</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: o-ba-ma. barack obama!</em><br />
<br />
they form a chorus of different pronunciations that resemble "barack obama", though not quite<em>.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah: why is he so happy?</em><br />
<br />
and that was the end of our lesson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-84953010270019299462010-02-08T08:34:00.000-08:002010-02-20T22:02:14.799-08:00car accidentafter accomplishing some chores, i decided to take coby out for a peaceful walk and meet jay and the boys at the nearby playground. within a few minutes, though, elijah and jonah came zooming from around the corner on their plasma cars. they were happily surprised to see me, and i to see them return so soon. but where were noah and jay?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEij4V2llbNSItpFInbnKnHb0_p0IIzpfwMKdeSYJbEmX4heOcUuOF9jMFD6LcGpGD4hJcnqnsF41ctY4ty73w-Jt0Zxe7s2ZRbKHV07gtjnG0dkRsqgoHLr6IQ9EB5UqFr1G1MYbkIEc/s1600-h/020710.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEij4V2llbNSItpFInbnKnHb0_p0IIzpfwMKdeSYJbEmX4heOcUuOF9jMFD6LcGpGD4hJcnqnsF41ctY4ty73w-Jt0Zxe7s2ZRbKHV07gtjnG0dkRsqgoHLr6IQ9EB5UqFr1G1MYbkIEc/s320/020710.4.jpg" width="209" /></a>they eventually emerged from around the corner too, except jay had carried noah, and our neighbor, who walked along side them, had carried the other plasma car. uh-oh. </div><br />
<em>jay: noah had an accident.</em><br />
<br />
<em>neighbor: but it wasn't jay's fault.</em><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">don't men know when they say that, we women instantly believe that it was???</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkCaQyEwsYgdO_7qk71CvUNNZ9lVk1iy5_7SNGjxRtNRibBUOdOy4LgPwav5kfzb8Y5qxue6aWQNzABmjqUAi4Fc8cEw1wGQnX8t3O5Yb0lXMgS2uIMZzOE-L-axE4gs042Xz4Yc5Wqk/s1600-h/020710.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkCaQyEwsYgdO_7qk71CvUNNZ9lVk1iy5_7SNGjxRtNRibBUOdOy4LgPwav5kfzb8Y5qxue6aWQNzABmjqUAi4Fc8cEw1wGQnX8t3O5Yb0lXMgS2uIMZzOE-L-axE4gs042Xz4Yc5Wqk/s320/020710.3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">apparently, noah leaned forward while riding his car, which had lost one of its front wheels. the car tipped forward, noah fell off, then the car flipped out from under him, did two 360 degree somersaults, and whacked noah in the back of the head. ok, the somersaults didn't happen, but the whack did.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>jay turned noah around so that i could see the wound. there was blood. great, just great. i was somehow crossing my fingers for a mere lump. however, there wasn't much, and the bleeding appeared to have stopped. still, with all the hair obstructing my view, i couldn't get a good look at the injury. noah had a little frown on his face, but his tears were already drying up. he seemed to feel better as soon as i took him from jay.<br />
<br />
<em>me: are you okay?</em><br />
<br />
<em>noah: mm-hmm.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: okay, then why don't you try to walk. </em><br />
<br />
not only did noah walk as soon as i put him down, but he jumped back onto his car and zoomed towards his brothers who were already riding ahead of us! my eyes bulged out of their sockets, and my jaw dropped to the ground. the kid just hit his head enough to bleed! ... composure, composure, composure.<br />
<br />
<em>me: i guess he's okay... ?</em><br />
<br />
i was indecisive of whether or not i was making the statement or asking the question.<br />
<br />
<em>neighbor: wow! he's tough and brave!</em><br />
<br />
i wasn't sure what to do at this point. i needed more time to assess, so i let my sons play for ten more minutes. jay and our neighbor didn't think there was a significant cut, though i didn't quite believe them yet. i caught up to noah to ascertain that he remained careful as well as to look at his head more closely. i could make out a tiny open wound but couldn't tell the severity of it. we went inside in attempt for me to clean the area and get a better look. the damp cloth i had in my hand wasn't necessary after all as i immediately realized beneath the bright kitchen light that noah's wound required fixing.<br />
<br />
i called urgent care, who was much closer to us than the hospital, to see if they were equipped to handle the laceration. they weren't and advised us to the ER. that call saved me a trip!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
noah and i were at the ER for over two hours. i forgot to bring books and toys to keep him preoccupied but happened to have the camera in my bag. it was a fantastic alternative to a toy, and it helped me show and explain to noah about the cut on his head.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBusKCkHNP3sDWW_4nyK3p4HFJWPeCnZNPZ6HO38eH_QCE6BcuyYLqtuLV0SGqd0oWLn_jI44uvCab-4j75KuxzmK5590PGXVWoMbfSUMR48JcrellT8OgK3DhJpsojKxeaETrnpJrT8/s1600-h/020710.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBusKCkHNP3sDWW_4nyK3p4HFJWPeCnZNPZ6HO38eH_QCE6BcuyYLqtuLV0SGqd0oWLn_jI44uvCab-4j75KuxzmK5590PGXVWoMbfSUMR48JcrellT8OgK3DhJpsojKxeaETrnpJrT8/s320/020710.2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggHdYF6zqQTbg7E3O39WjgSnzWj8yKUP67GyuUdMKephMDf_AnVKHRhyphenhyphengclzvf6nns0w61r7WGrUdoj_gAx_pOryacMFYN1Iz_1yKezshs_1-N43I75PyNqApjXA7ypoSnoLU_65iTNM/s1600-h/020710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggHdYF6zqQTbg7E3O39WjgSnzWj8yKUP67GyuUdMKephMDf_AnVKHRhyphenhyphengclzvf6nns0w61r7WGrUdoj_gAx_pOryacMFYN1Iz_1yKezshs_1-N43I75PyNqApjXA7ypoSnoLU_65iTNM/s320/020710.jpg" width="320" /></a>the administrator, a couple of nurses, and the attending physician were in and out, to complete paperwork, review the accident, and provide me with an overview of the on-coming treatment. everyone pleasantly filled in the time, and their purposeful cheerfulness helped uplift both of our spirits during our uncomfortable visit. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">a nurse cleaned his wound after we waited 20 or so minutes for the topical anesthetic to take effect. she interrupted herself to get a bottle of distilled water to irrigate the wound.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>nurse: there's another hole that's deeper.</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>me: you mean there's more than one?</em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i began to worry. actually, freak out was more like it.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>nurse: no, there's just one, but a part of it is deeper than i thought.</em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>me: will he still be ok? will he require more staples?</em></div><br />
<em>nurse: no, he'll be fine.</em><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i saw the laceration clearly after the nurse was done with the irrigation. a part of it looked deep enough for the tip of noah's pinky to fit. ouch! ew! oh, my baby! ... composure, composure, composure.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr-yL51sE_rmhJ6285HqM0DJP5UzPdRGsAHutZCDa3kKzc2_sIJhmyZsNF9N4lLFFYjleJE0RF8B4Z1pSCcj9py_NEC6GAx6YZmI9Ke4yJ-hl_9RPEd69_wb08_og8nvSG722PmT2FPc/s1600-h/020710.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr-yL51sE_rmhJ6285HqM0DJP5UzPdRGsAHutZCDa3kKzc2_sIJhmyZsNF9N4lLFFYjleJE0RF8B4Z1pSCcj9py_NEC6GAx6YZmI9Ke4yJ-hl_9RPEd69_wb08_og8nvSG722PmT2FPc/s400/020710.1.jpg" width="305" /></a>shortly after, the doctor returned. in her hand was a stapler, a mini one, like the size of the personal stapler i toted around when i was in college. and to my surprise, she stapled noah's skin back together the way we staple paper! and the staples looked like regular mini staples, only thicker. unbelievable ... seriously! unfortunately, the two staples that the doctor initially intended didn't suffice to close the injury, and four staple were applied instead.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">noah was the most patient, calm, collected, and toughest person ever. EVER. he did not complain or cry about the wait, the head examinations, the anesthetic application, the cleaning, nor the stapling. noah's demeanor was simply admirable and amazing. he made the entire situation as easy as ordering a pizza.</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and that's what we did. we went home, where noah was ecstatic to see his brothers again. then i set on the table before him a couple of slices of pepperoni pizza, his favorite.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-26337141106824655312010-02-06T00:08:00.000-08:002010-02-06T00:13:34.529-08:00no longer filipinoafter dinner ...<br />
<br />
<em>me: k, guys. change your clothes. we'll clean up your toys and put on pajamas. then we'll talk with mama and papa on the computer again. they're not in the phillippines anymore. they're back home in hawaii.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah: mama and papa on the computer?</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: yes, we'll be skyping with them.</em><br />
<br />
<em>noah: mama and papa are not filipino anymore?!</em><br />
<br />
<em>elijah (turns to jay): dad, mama and papa are not filipino anymore!</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-65511322901079745352010-02-02T22:30:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:11:41.404-08:00one month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S2kctxvRaQI/AAAAAAAAAI8/TRFZlUNZ8Vc/s1600-h/020110.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" kt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S2kctxvRaQI/AAAAAAAAAI8/TRFZlUNZ8Vc/s640/020110.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>i survived <a href="http://thetriomom.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-new-blog.html">my first month on a blog</a>! first, let me rewind a lil bit. after christmas, i joined fb. for the few of you in this day and age who are still clueless as to what fb stands for, it is <em>facebook</em>. don't worry, i was in your boat. over the past several years, i've been invited and encouraged to join social networks like friendster, myspace, and eventually, the almighty fb. i always refused, denying my friends and family that gratification and willed myself to not get sucked into that social fad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>then the holidays of 2009 came and went, and i began to wonder about various people, like i do every year. i was also looking for something to fill the little extra time i recently acquired. so i succumbed to the one and only F.B.<br />
<br />
i was immediately awestruck! i found so many people that i haven't seen or heard from since high school. in the first couple of days, i checked my page every few hours. <em>who confirmed me as a friend? i got a friend request!</em> <em>let me see if so-and-so is on fb</em>. i was able to update myself on their families and careers merely by reviewing their pages. i received quick greetings and comments and reciprocated. it was really interesting and fun. however, by the fourth day, i realized that fb actually wasn't for me. i wanted to be able to connect, i mean <em>really</em> connect, with others. that's the impression i got about social networking whenever someone recommended it. but you really don't, not with <em>everyone</em> who claims to be your friend. (by the way, i've seen 100+, 300+, even 500+ friends on various pages. c'mon, who truly has that many friends?) anyway, yes, i've been in more contact with a several people that i've lost touch with, which makes it worthwhile to keep my page and check-in a few times a week. but the longer your friends, acquaintence rather, list is, the more difficult it is to keep up with all of the posts and comments that appear on your homepage. some of those comments are also trite and meaningless - <em>do we really need to know this?</em><br />
<br />
hence, the blog - well, after i watched <strong><em>Julie and Julia</em></strong>, in which the challenge of julie powell's blog and goal intrigued me. <a href="http://thetriomom.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-new-blog.html">as i mentioned before</a>, though, my mere purpose to blog was to share my life with the freedom to write more than 420 characters at a time, unlike in fb. and i love it. i've been challenged with a variety of topics for posts, an array of photos to select from, and layout capabilities/inabilities that drive me insane but keep the wheels in my head turning. and trust me, i've often felt like my wheels have remained parked for too long at a time. certainly, my sons constantly keep me going, but that's another kind of wheel-turning.<br />
<br />
my blog has been visited several times, and i've earned the respect of a few followers (thank you!). while i still have long a journey ahead of me before i can make my mark in the blog community, i enjoy blogging. period. and at this moment, that is good enough.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-2705323731026054812010-02-01T09:22:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:11:59.354-08:00the grammysthe 52nd annual Grammys incorporated one of the hottest line-up of performers in years - lady gaga and taylor swift featuring legends elton john and stevie nicks respectively, the oh-so-cool black eyed peas, jamie foxx and his energized crew, and bon jovi with my all-time favorite, <strong><em>Living On A Prayer</em></strong>, to name a few. hands down to pink, who redeemed her risque outfit (if you can call it that) with her amazing Cirque Du Soleil-like acrobatics!<br />
<br />
<br />
<center> </center><center style="visibility: visible;"><object data="http://assets.myflashfetish.com/swf/mp3/mp-sk.swf" height="180" style="height: 180px; width: 400px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://assets.myflashfetish.com/swf/mp3/mp-sk.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="TL" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="flashvars" value="myid=42933877&path=2010/02/01&mycolor=003E6E&mycolor2=8a0707&mycolor3=968e8b&autoplay=false&rand=1&f=4&vol=50&pat=0&grad=false&ow=400&oh=180"/></object><br />
<a href="http://www.mixpod.com/playlist/42933877" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://mixpod.com/">MixPod.com</a></center><center style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S2cHPDL9x1I/AAAAAAAAAIg/sexYcaZ916U/s1600/ricky-martin-2010-grammys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S2cHPDL9x1I/AAAAAAAAAIg/sexYcaZ916U/s200/ricky-martin-2010-grammys.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
and a bonus, just moments after i had spontaneously asked jay, "what happened to ricky martin? the last i heard of him was when he adopted twins." i've had a crush on ricky since i was 10 years old, and he was the youngest of the puerto rican pop group, menudo. then there he suddenly was, at the grammys as a guest presenter and looking as classy and slick as ever. below - grammy revisited: ricky!<br />
<br />
<right><br />
<br />
</center><center><br />
</center><center style="visibility: visible;"><object data="http://assets.myflashfetish.com/swf/mp3/mp-sk.swf" height="180" style="height: 180px; width: 400px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://assets.myflashfetish.com/swf/mp3/mp-sk.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="TL" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="flashvars" value="myid=42977831&path=2010/02/01&mycolor=312d3b&mycolor2=4f93b0&mycolor3=99bfbe&autoplay=false&rand=0&f=4&vol=100&pat=0&grad=false&ow=400&oh=180"/></object><br />
<a href="http://www.mixpod.com/playlist/42977831" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://mixpod.com/">MixPod.com</a></center><center> </center><center style="text-align: left;">by the way, congratulations to all the winners!</center><center> </center><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy of </span></em><a href="http://www.justjared.buzznet.com/"><em><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">www.justjared.buzznet.com</span></em></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-9138361071842403862010-01-31T21:22:00.000-08:002010-02-01T07:50:49.850-08:00my husband, the haterwe were in the car heading home.<br />
<br />
<em>me: i think i lost a little bit of weight again.</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S2Zk5_0NHfI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Wx8JaK6aFuw/s1600-h/013110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" kt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ib9e9WFDQ8U/S2Zk5_0NHfI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Wx8JaK6aFuw/s320/013110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em>jay: how much did you lose?</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: oh, i don't know. i can just tell by my jeans. they're a little loose again.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jay: i don't understand how you do that. you eat all you want. you eat a lot of sweets like cakes and pastries and ice cream. but you don't gain any weight, and you can lose a few pounds really easily. if i ate like you, i'd be huge!</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: are you hating me? are you hating your wife, honey, because i have a quick metabolism?</em><br />
<br />
<em>jay: i guess.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: (thinks for a moment) well ... at least you have clear skin. i don't.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jay: (a bit of relief in his voice) yeah, that's true.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: so now we're even.<script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=xa-4b65ba4127e08031" type="text/javascript">
</script> </em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-14516983265201553492010-01-28T00:02:00.000-08:002010-01-31T13:49:21.035-08:00ouchy earsjust when we were at the end of the sickies (this round, anyway), and we thought the sleepless nights were behind us, jonah woke up just two hours after bedtime. he tossed and turned, whining all the while. i asked him what was wrong, but he didn't respond. so i stayed with him and patted and rubbed his back in hopes that he would return to sleep. instead, he put his hands, both of them, over his ears. that was the confirmation of what i dread about every single time any one of my sons are overcome with congestion. ear infection.<br />
<br />
my family has been haunted by ear infections since the boys were babies. i can remember noah's first time, he wasn't even three months old. it was an awful, awful, excruciating night. he was burdened with a mixture of a stuffy and runny nose, accompanied by a fever. despite the tylenol, he could not sleep and fussed and cried throughout the night. my heart ached because i didn't know what was bothering my child, and i felt helpless. it's one of the worst feelings in the world to not be able to comfort and ease your baby.<br />
<br />
we brought noah to the doctor the next morning and discovered that he had an infected ear. little did i realize that this bacterial infection that was new to me would become notoriously common in our household. <br />
<br />
at one year, we resigned to surgically inserting tubes in noah's ears, which kept the bad guys away until he turned two. then he resumed having the infections repeatedly, although his last one was almost a year ago. i'm crossing my fingers that he's out of the woods.<br />
elijah was the next chosen one. he began his battles with ear infection after he turned three years old and continues to have them to this day. however, he's a tough little cookie, or at least a stubborn one. he dislikes going to the doctor, so i believe elijah endures the pain and conceals it as much as he can so that i wouldn't necessitate a doctor's visit.<br />
<br />
now it seems to be jonah's turn. i took him to the doctor on saturday, and he chose to sit on the examining bed as soon as we walked into the room. jonah sat there staring straight ahead, not allowing his eyes to look anywhere but at the wall across from him and, occasionally, at the door whenever he heard the slightest noise coming from the other side of it. his hands debated whether or not they should remain on his lap or settle down to the sides of him. i smiled to myself as jonah looked adorably anxious and nervous. i tried to distract him with words and comfort him with hugs, but he preferred not to converse nor did he reciprocate any affection. i quickly got the message and returned to my chair. after a while, jonah fidgeted with his hands again, this time, tapping them on the bed, then keeping them still, and tapping them once more until finally, the doctor walked in.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHPoMQ68nCwGoyQoL0ixolh1du_PY_U9PWqqoAmPZF3fG58A-ffnfiPZEXKAmk5vjPiXT8kEgt0RPJOHfHw1JkM43N49h_P5jlITDt3K2EeMu9rx5blLJlVVvr761J5RZRP5RV00w_tg/s1600-h/011910.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHPoMQ68nCwGoyQoL0ixolh1du_PY_U9PWqqoAmPZF3fG58A-ffnfiPZEXKAmk5vjPiXT8kEgt0RPJOHfHw1JkM43N49h_P5jlITDt3K2EeMu9rx5blLJlVVvr761J5RZRP5RV00w_tg/s400/011910.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>of course, she confirmed the infection in his left ear, and there i was with a flurry of questions to follow. i decided to make good use of the twenty minutes or so ride to the clinic by pre-evaluating and preparing for the prognosis that i was expecting. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>me: i thought the chances of ear infections reduced the older a child became. jonah's had a couple when he was about a year old and younger, but he's already had two in just the last few months alone.</em> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>doc: yes, children are more prone when they're babies, and not as much at this age. but there are individual cases like these that are the exception.</em></div><br />
why do i feel like my kids are often "the exception"?<br />
<br />
<em>me: i suspect jonah has developed allergies. could this contribute to ear infections?</em><br />
<br />
<em>doc: yes, it could, the same way a cold can.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: could allergy medication help?</em><br />
<br />
<em>doc: they could soothe his symptoms, but there isn't anything that has proven them to prevent ear infections.</em><br />
<br />
right.<br />
<br />
so did any good come out of this situation? certainly. amoxicillin. the pink antibiotic that my children enjoy taking because it tastes so yummy (as elijah once described it). they all like it so much that elijah wanted some for himself after jonah had a dose and attempted to retrieve another bottle of the pink stuff from the refrigerator. the only difference is, it was much larger and labeled Pepto-Bismol.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-91113099778979201382010-01-24T11:27:00.000-08:002010-02-16T23:44:31.362-08:00vocabulary lessons~<strong> noah on "busy"</strong><br />
<br />
his brothers were playing with their v-tech v-motion while noah and i watched.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWsFqHvxi7OEUIhtybSvF9jRXa8LYiKEGfPWjpk6-lwjlT2aoIMHOOE6-eidGLba5mRqLn4kx1VbtkgYGXujxMnemhl5phtpc8a6reB989PDuHwU_qALBvnf1MmjUK-bsE79JJqQfC7o/s1600-h/0124101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWsFqHvxi7OEUIhtybSvF9jRXa8LYiKEGfPWjpk6-lwjlT2aoIMHOOE6-eidGLba5mRqLn4kx1VbtkgYGXujxMnemhl5phtpc8a6reB989PDuHwU_qALBvnf1MmjUK-bsE79JJqQfC7o/s320/0124101.jpg" /></a></div><em>noah: bus-sy. (as in "bus")</em></div><br />
<em>me: that says biz-zy.</em><br />
<br />
<em>noah: but it looks like bus-sy.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: i know, but you say it biz-zy.</em><br />
<br />
<em>noah: then why does it look like bus-sy?</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: i don't know.</em><br />
<br />
<strong>~ jonah on "won"</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmY0-jenIxBdSrwRY4dRs3fGpQvtv8TFa8Y3TMuBsq2RthN2Ovc3qmWXhkjBghccRJDAMAgtOzeNhtYOL27pW4-sQTou6uYmF9ofByGQnwW4fEiUnbJwo2ZYhPOix-U98Md9K2XHbRcfg/s1600-h/012410.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmY0-jenIxBdSrwRY4dRs3fGpQvtv8TFa8Y3TMuBsq2RthN2Ovc3qmWXhkjBghccRJDAMAgtOzeNhtYOL27pW4-sQTou6uYmF9ofByGQnwW4fEiUnbJwo2ZYhPOix-U98Md9K2XHbRcfg/s320/012410.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>we were all reading a book together.<br />
<br />
<em>me: so who won the race?</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah: mistress mouse winned the race.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: yes, mistress mouse won the race.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah. it's winned!</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: actually, you say won. did mistress mouse win the race? yes, she won the race.</em><br />
<br />
<em>jonah: it's winned!!</em><br />
<br />
<strong>~ elijah on "bertram"</strong><br />
<br />
we were playing with their thomas and friends trains, and elijah was looking at the name of one of them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2stVk8SOG34oNyxP2NgCzEDgyx5_rmRCzAEqnLWfSbtwt0v7x_jf7oyZbtGYJU_nVO-eQ8guPY3488OfOoq0KKaJUIJ-bUfMJi0S7Ge6KTQv0tzJ-QYM_gpL0EftOyw4IfyfHeQZJwE/s1600-h/012410.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2stVk8SOG34oNyxP2NgCzEDgyx5_rmRCzAEqnLWfSbtwt0v7x_jf7oyZbtGYJU_nVO-eQ8guPY3488OfOoq0KKaJUIJ-bUfMJi0S7Ge6KTQv0tzJ-QYM_gpL0EftOyw4IfyfHeQZJwE/s320/012410.3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em>elijah: what does this say? bert-ram. (like the animal "ram")</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: that says ber-trum.</em><br />
<br />
<em>elijah: but it doesn't have an h. it says bert-ram.</em><br />
<br />
<em>me: i know it doesn't have an h, but it's pronounced ber-trum.</em><br />
<br />
<em>elijah: it doesn't have an h. it says bert-ram, i said.</em><br />
<br />
can you say, "are you smarter than a preschooler?" my boys certainly don't think i am. ... okay then, guys, you winned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-4191378640147864332010-01-21T22:30:00.000-08:002010-01-29T14:20:56.648-08:00songs and spirits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaynDx4nasQhQBGRCY3e2_RQxOGYyfXjQmwaGBkw43bx1MI9bvz3eNIHrjimYQhkRfQcKWfJgfGXkpxGOBnlZwN0e_WlRi6oNZVK5Iac17-HGX9SBNKKBK7eV0Dd68Jqo7qc9lGTCRkZI/s1600-h/sickday-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaynDx4nasQhQBGRCY3e2_RQxOGYyfXjQmwaGBkw43bx1MI9bvz3eNIHrjimYQhkRfQcKWfJgfGXkpxGOBnlZwN0e_WlRi6oNZVK5Iac17-HGX9SBNKKBK7eV0Dd68Jqo7qc9lGTCRkZI/s640/sickday-1.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
</div>we were cooped up in the house for three days. <em>three. whole. days</em>. we haven't been stuck indoors for this long since my sons were less than two years old, when i wasn't yet willing to take them anywhere by myself.<br />
<br />
my kids were singing the tune of a bad cold, or was it a mild flu? i'm not sure which. they've been vaccinated with both the seasonal and H1N1 nasal mists, though i have read and been told that they're still not completely immune, which just plain sucks. nonetheless, the house carried the hum of low-grade fevers, melodies of sniffles, and moreso, choruses of forceful, uncontrollable coughs.<br />
<br />
to add to the misery, it was nothing but cold, wet, and dreary outide. we couldn't open the windows or step out for the fresh air and natural light that we all so desperately needed. <br />
<br />
but through it all, my sons were troopers. not one complaint from any of them - no whining, no crying. they willingly took their medication, set themselves on the sofa whenever they felt weary, and played without care when they felt the slightest bit of energy.<br />
<br />
it always amazes me how their spirits keep each other lifted, no matter the weather or the storm. and it is their spirits that have kept me going through all of these sleepless nights and all of the symptoms that i am now singing myself.<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">caption: elijah covering his cough; jonah napping on a fever; noah playing as he improves</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-54976774020581772322010-01-19T10:43:00.000-08:002010-01-30T09:18:35.970-08:00new diggsso this is it, my new place. like it? i do. it's bigger, brighter, more comfy, and hopefully, easier to locate. i brought all the old stuff with me from <a href="http://www.thegisttripletfamily.blogspot.com/"><em><strong>five men and a lady</strong></em></a> ... well, minus a thing or two. there's also still more furnishing and touching up for me to do. but go ahead, take a look around. when you're done, let a friend or two know about it, then y'all come back for a visit. until next time ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYG8FHhWcogzpYcfbZpRwhsXWmYEpTp1BiZ3MicIfvoiMBU1wW3yEqyq6TgKi-9KgmAS0rjj45D9G34FSIpn6Umw3twQrKtc-8Jh5eLEpqx2KIZwV4O9T_vNTdwsYDxZwuf_rKDVnGyTo/s1600-h/tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYG8FHhWcogzpYcfbZpRwhsXWmYEpTp1BiZ3MicIfvoiMBU1wW3yEqyq6TgKi-9KgmAS0rjj45D9G34FSIpn6Umw3twQrKtc-8Jh5eLEpqx2KIZwV4O9T_vNTdwsYDxZwuf_rKDVnGyTo/s640/tree1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-53708298837751257702010-01-17T11:08:00.000-08:002010-02-01T09:32:04.017-08:00tacosi had just put my sons to bed, and i met jay downstairs in the living room. jay was laying on the sofa nursing a bad cold, and i sat next to him. we chatted, like we usually do every evening as it's probably the only time of the day that we're allowed to have a real conversation. tonight's subject: food. poor hubby, he must've been craving since he hasn't been able to eat normally the last few days.<br />
<br />
jay: rob told me about a taco truck in downtown that stays open all night on the weekends. he says the tacos are sooo good!<br />
<br />
me: oh yeah?<br />
<br />
jay: yeah! <br />
<br />
he glances at the clock.<br />
<br />
jay: in fact, we can go there right now.<br />
<br />
<em>sure, honey. let's hop into the car and go. the boys are sound asleep. we can leave them home all by themselves for a little while. we'll just lock the doors. they won't notice we're gone.</em><br />
<br />
on second thought ... jay: what am i saying? maybe some other time.<br />
<br />
me: yes ... maybe next time we can all go.<br />
<br />
must've been the medication talking.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-35360187155811588432010-01-16T14:12:00.000-08:002010-02-01T09:33:14.623-08:00help haiti<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">lots more aid still needed. <a href="http://primewriter.com/news-1246-headlines/?p=2699">Prime Writer News Network</a> provided a list of trustworthy charitable organizations participating in haiti's relief. please help by donating.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADQ1001E1D01" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Support Doctors Without Borders in Haiti" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/images/donate/button-emergency-relief-160.png" width="160" /></a>we've chosen to donate to <a href="http://doctorswithoutborders.org/">Doctors Without Borders</a>.</div><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>thank you.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-86871418207901328562010-01-14T00:07:00.000-08:002010-01-29T14:28:50.173-08:00mickey helpsi was on the computer in the dining room, engrossed in the layout of my blog and wanting to make some quick changes. my boys were playing all around me, though elijah stopped to wash his hands in the kitchen. suddenly a deep-sounding crash emerged from that direction. my eyes popped up, and elijah was at the sink looking down at the floor. i walked over and saw hundreds of black-painted pieces of ceramic splattered across the tiles. i had forgotten that the hand soap dispenser was empty, and apparently my son decided to use the heavy dish soap dispenser instead.<br />
<br />
"aw, elijah, you should've asked me for help," i whined. "are you okay?" i remembered to ask, though with obvious frustration, as i tip-toed across the floor to transfer elijah from the stool to the living room. "keep out of the kitchen while i clean this up," i advised them all, as the other two, as well as coby, arrived to view the situation.<br />
<br />
i began to boil as i gathered the ceramic pieces and silently vented in my head. <em>why am i always bothered whenever i take some time during the day for myself? why is there always an extra, out of the ordinary mess to add to the usual messes that i already have to deal with every single day? why, why, why?! </em><br />
<br />
at that point, the other voice in my head, the one that i'm really supposed to listen to, interrupted. if it could've, that voice would have given me a hard shake, or more deservingly, a slap on the face. <em>how could you get upset over this? the boy wanted to clean his hands. it was an accident. he's only four years old!</em><br />
<br />
jonah interjected with a few words too. but i could barely hear his little, sweet voice over the one screaming in my skull. "what?" i asked squatting with my back facing him as i continued to wipe the floor.<br />
<br />
"mickey can help, " he repeated.<br />
<br />
"mickey?" as in mickey mouse? for a moment a blurred vision of mickey in his black tuxedo jacket and red pants came over me. i felt drunk, but i wasn't even drinking! dazed and confused by jonah's statement and my mind cluttered with voices, i decided that i wasn't going to try to figure that one out on my own. i finally turned around, and lo and behold, there was mickey. jonah stood there with his familiar, gigantuous smile, wearing his silver and green mickey mouse ears.<br />
<br />
his smile was contagious as i caught it, and so did his brothers. i laughed, and all of my boys did too. and the mess was cleaned up and gone.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="478" src="http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww201/edomingsil/january2010A071-1.jpg" width="640" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-54951906192270087772010-01-10T21:41:00.000-08:002010-01-29T14:27:24.480-08:00arguement #333<em>i was in the kitchen making dinner, so i didn't see what went on. but this is what i heard ...</em><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="320" src="http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww201/edomingsil/ChristmasEve122409008-1-1.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">noah to elijah: "stop it!"</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">noah moments later: "haaaarrrrhhhh!"</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">elijah to noah: "haaarrrhhh! ... now we're both upset!"</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>seconds later, they both giggle.</em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>i smile.</em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww201/edomingsil/ChristmasEve122409007-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-27396304422786874812010-01-07T13:17:00.000-08:002010-01-29T14:26:28.432-08:00their second christmas"santa made it christmas again!" noah exclaimed when he and his brothers saw the snow through the window. my children's eyes widened, and all their little faces lit up so bright. their expressions were identical (get it, <em>identical?</em>) and made me warm and fuzzy all over.<br />
<br />
i wished i had a camera to capture their picture-perfect expressions. that little voice inside my head - you know, the one that you dont always listen to but <em>should</em> always listen to - bugged me about the camera that morning, telling me to charge its battery every time i passed by it. we planned to go to pump it up, jr., a place filled with bouncers and inflatables, and which we've been to countless times since the boys were two years old. there wasn't a special event scheduled that day. why would i need the camera? ... then it snowed, the <em>first</em> snow of the season. for all that i can remember, it might have even been the first snow of 2009! and it happened while we were at pump it up, jr.<br />
<br />
where did the snow come from? i tracked the weather on the web all week and looked at it that very morning. all i saw was rain! but there they were, out of nowhere, large, ivory, beautiful flakes floating down from the sky. isn't the science and technology of meteorology dependable?<br />
<br />
shortly, all but one family at pump it up, jr. disappeared. like a naive, young woman (though i'm actually not that young anymore), i said to the grandmother, "i guess everyone's gone out to play with the snow."<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsvxEkWuz9-H2R9Zl12ULIm1-uEGvO25rJj435hrCzerXp5GoI5wzbjBEprTnvQG7RZ_mWozLYkI7NvhEUFc4UYxG2K5IO6cUNUFtyf0TXKbz_6Ik_muNjosccAbIQIAy45w86L6205s/s1600-h/P10304141-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsvxEkWuz9-H2R9Zl12ULIm1-uEGvO25rJj435hrCzerXp5GoI5wzbjBEprTnvQG7RZ_mWozLYkI7NvhEUFc4UYxG2K5IO6cUNUFtyf0TXKbz_6Ik_muNjosccAbIQIAy45w86L6205s/s320/P10304141-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">like a wise, older woman, she replied, "nope. they're all worried about how they're getting home."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>of course. when it snows here, even the slightest, everyone reacts as if the state has just declared an emergency. it doesn't help that the city and its surrounding metro areas share a total of only two or three snowplows either. consequently, the roads were congested <em>everywhere</em>, and commute time compounded exponentially! we had to pick up jason from work that afternoon, and the drive home usually takes no more than five minutes. but on this day, it really would have been quicker if he had walked home! sadly, though, due to the traffic, the sun set before my sons could play outside.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i was worried the snow would melt overnight. yes, worried. i was probably the only one who felt that way while the rest of the state's population felt relief. my sons love, love, love the snow. they truly wished for it this past christmas. but in the immediate forecast were warmer temperatures and rain. just our luck.</div>elijah jumped out of bed the next morning and looked out the window. we were so elated that our backyard was still heavenly white. after breakfast, the boys gathered at the sliding door gazing at the snow that they so longed for. like puppies, they whined and rapped at the door to be let out. or was that coby? i was having my coffee at the moment, and my children had already learned that i should <em>not</em> be bothered when im still sitting with my cup of kona. however, the predicted weather threatened to melt the snow, so i had to compromise. but only this <em>one</em> time.<br />
<br />
i went to the closet and dug out their snow outfits. it's been a year since my kids have had to wear them that i forgot how long and tedious they take to put on. so i formed an assembly line in hopes to speed things up: <br />
<br />
<em>helped jonah put on his bib (jumpsuits, i have no clue why they're called bibs). told jonah to put on his socks and boots. helped elijah put on his bib. jonah's foot got stuck in the middle of the boot shaft. told elijah to put on his socks and boots. held jonah's boot and tried to shove his foot down into it. tried again. told jonah to keep trying by himself. helped elijah with his boots. elijah's first foot made it all the way in, but his second got stuck. tried to shove it in. got it. jonah got his boots on too. helped noah with his bib. told him to put his socks and boots on. helped jonah and elijah with their jackets and told them to put on their gloves. shoved noahs feet into his boots and helped him with his jacket. told him to put on his gloves. let the other two out into the backyard. let noah out into the backyard.</em> <br />
<br />
total time = 15 minutes, give or take a few. not bad! whew!<br />
<br />
this time, my camera battery was charged, and i captured my sons' picture-perfect expressions as they relished in their gift of a second christmas from santa.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61fsw7Uu9F_sxOZ54MP8GHm_asSDolqcuh-fy_671lQxXfM36-thXJbWfcSZxAXko8rQEkbe42MXNje4bQCoO2ogIcFKVfy7BSSBYhiWIya-wRTNJerw7X8vyVriT3sIb663h7M13_Ok/s1600-h/P1030419-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="489" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61fsw7Uu9F_sxOZ54MP8GHm_asSDolqcuh-fy_671lQxXfM36-thXJbWfcSZxAXko8rQEkbe42MXNje4bQCoO2ogIcFKVfy7BSSBYhiWIya-wRTNJerw7X8vyVriT3sIb663h7M13_Ok/s640/P1030419-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivS2tz6dMdOGfDDfDS9Wokd7oBOkUzMhWec2a5QrXPru6Gnj9a15S7mvMvmozUOGkiMyAn_zEmbIDDrlzxDSAO_tO0Cym0uoY0M-7fDbsEUS39e4mNzn8qvbAYc-DJXoPZdQgP4uP4S-8/s1600-h/P1030402-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivS2tz6dMdOGfDDfDS9Wokd7oBOkUzMhWec2a5QrXPru6Gnj9a15S7mvMvmozUOGkiMyAn_zEmbIDDrlzxDSAO_tO0Cym0uoY0M-7fDbsEUS39e4mNzn8qvbAYc-DJXoPZdQgP4uP4S-8/s640/P1030402-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-64792383918357663712010-01-03T21:53:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:12:24.064-08:00resolutionssure, why not? new year, new you, right? i havent invested much effort into resolutions over the last several years, though. that sounds horrible, i know, but really, they take a lot of work. to achieve the initial goal in the new year may vary in levels of difficulty, but most resolutions require maintenance for a lifetime. say i wanted and needed to get fit. sure, i could get my body mass to where it needs to be within the year, then what? let it all go? nooo ... well, i shouldnt. id have to keep fit for the rest of my days on earth; otherwise, whats the point? been there, done that. no thanks. (feel free to argue with me on this one.) so, i figure ill just tackle each issue of my life one at a time, at my own pace, when im good and ready. ... apparently, im ready to tackle one now.<br />
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<b>here is mine:</b><br />
<i>more time for me</i><br />
jason, my family, and a handful of friends (you know who your are *hugs*) have provided me with opportunities to make this possible. still, its not the easiest thing for <i>me</i> to actually do. if i run errands or take care of responsibilities when others are with the boys, then fine. but everytime i choose a leisurely outing, guilt follows me out the door! its as if, when i close the door behind me, i can hear my children scratching, pounding, and pleading, "mommy, dont leave! how dare you go out and enjoy yourself without us!" of course, that never happens and when i return home, the boys are perfectly okay. i know, i know, ... so whats the problem, right?<br />
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<b>one of jasons:</b><br />
<i>no procrastination</i><br />
i asked him in regards to what, and he said "everything". wow! i suggested that he be more specific about it because to not procrastinate on anything is <i>huge</i>! you might as well not have any other resolutions on your list for the next few years with that one! we have triplets who only attend school a few hours a day three times a week. jason works full time and attends college at least half-time. i work part-time. we dont have daily help with the kids or the household. with all of that said, somethings gotta give. <br />
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jason, on the other hand, is an overachiever at the beginning of <i>everything</i>. he likes to start off with a clean slate and try his best to keep it that way. good luck, hon! im behind you!<br />
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to the rest of you with resolutions: i wish you the best!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690648526366337096.post-16803919260600479962010-01-01T10:58:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:10:10.602-08:00new year, new blogi decided to start off my 2010 with a blog. not sure why yet. its been on my mind for the last few years. ive been to many mommy blog sites, especially ones with multiples, and a couple of years ago, i thought i should try it. it would be a great way to let families and friends know how and what we're doing. if mommies of triplets and more can do it, i can too! but i quickly put it out of my head. i tried to think of something to write about, the only thing that would pop out of my mind was a blank page. i just didnt have the time or energy. two or three years earlier, if you asked me something after ive put my sons to bed, i wouldve looked at you with confusion and responded, "huh?". <br />
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then last year i created a newsletter of our autumn events and activities and emailed them to family and friends. it was surprisingly easy, and i managed to finish it within a week. i received raved reviews. it was supposed to be an on-going quaterly thing until a friend suggested that i do a ... you guessed it, blog. she thought what i did in the newsletter was worth doing on the internet. i was shocked by her compliment, though thrilled and excited. <br />
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so on the free blog searches and pages i went. i signed up for a few - maybe a handful, i dont remember which ones they were. unfortunately, i was quickly discouraged. i didnt have the kind of control and freedom i wanted with the layouts. pictures would appear too big or too small. i was limited to pasting or including things on one side of the page but not the other. i dont know, there were just these little things that irritated me. but a free page is a free page, right? what more could i ask for? and that was that.<br />
<br />
then i saw the movie <b><i>Julie and Julia</i></b> a few nights ago. loved it! it was cute, and a really down-to-earth success story, the kind that anyone could truly live - not one of those success stories that happens to only one in a gazillion people. anyway, so the movie brought me back to the blog thing again. it was my <i>inspiration</i>, if you want to call it that. <br />
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unlike julie powell, though, im not a writer. i really dont know how to write - at least not well enough to believe that i can captivate an audience. the only experience ive had were with school newspapers and yearbooks, which were XX years ago. what good is that? heck, im not even a conversationalist. i am the <i>listener</i>. the one who maintains the eye-contact, nods, asks questions, and giggles or laughs (depending on what i think is expected of me) on cue. i dont volunteer or divulge much information. i dont know how to be clever, witty, humorous, or sarcastic either. <br />
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julie powell also had a project to blog about. i dont have a specific goal or subject. no special talent or skill. no "wow" experience or knowledge to share. my life is pretty ordinary. its just me, my husband, our three sons, and our (boy) dog. dont get me wrong, i love and appreciate this life of mine. the question is, will everyone else?<br />
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as the saying goes, "you wont know until you try" or something like that. so, here i am world ... hit me!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3