tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51961662736731346342024-03-13T03:10:13.924-06:00olds ninety-eightCathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comBlogger863125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-89647557482186893082015-06-21T22:59:00.000-06:002015-06-21T22:59:25.371-06:00happy birthday to my catie bug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few nights ago I heard Dan and Cate having a little chat in the bedroom. I asked Cate about it when I tucked her in for the night. She told me they were talking about what she wants to be when she grows up and stuff.<br />
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I give you her top three choices:<br />
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Artist (most likely a painter)<br />
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Professional Bike Rider (if she chooses this one she'll have to explore waaaaaaaaay more than just around and around our block)<br />
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Ballerina<br />
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On our drive home from bowling at BYU yesterday (113 for me!! I totally kicked everyone's trash!), she asked to hear the story of how she was born. Again. <br />
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"Tell me how I was born because I've been thinking about having a baby and I'm feeling a little nervous."<br />
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So I told her about how my body got sick and I had to stay in bed for a few weeks before she was born. And about how the doctor said I could only get out of bed to shower and go potty. After a few weeks I went to the doctor and he told me to go to the hospital. They checked me overnight and the next day told me that my body was too sick and she needed to be born.<br />
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I told her about how I got a big shot in my back so I didn't feel any pain when she came out. But she was so tiny anyway. And I pushed once, maybe twice and there she was. The nurses scooped her away to check on her. She was born a month early so she needed help breathing and eating so she stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks until she got it all figured out.<br />
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I'm not sure if that helps with her nerves but she's got at least a good 20 years before she really needs to worry about the joys of childbirth. <br />
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I sure love that little Catie Bug of mine. She's so very different from me in so many ways. But that's part of why I love her so. I love that she's cheerful (most of the time but watch out if she's tired and doesn't get her way) and carefree. She's a talker (but not at school or church where she's a very good listener). She loves to entertain and be entertained. Never a dull moment with her around. And what a creative little artist she is. Some days the first thing she does after waking up is head straight to the table for paper and markers and a masterpiece.<br />
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She's a happy little miracle and I'm so glad she's mine.<br />
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Happy 7th birthday to my best girl!<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-46951480357730851732015-03-31T22:32:00.002-06:002015-03-31T22:32:35.331-06:00like a lion it comes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh, March. You totally kicked my trash. You only gave me one snow day and pretty much zero rain. What the heck? Go to your room. You're grounded. The only reason I'm sad to see you end is that it means summer is one month closer and I'm not sure I'll survive that beastly season.<br />
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Don't even get me started on that stupid daylight saving time thing. I need my evenings dark so I can feel like the day is over and I can give myself respite from the laundry pile. If the sun is up, I feel like I have to keep on working. It's painful. If the sun is up, my kids feel like they need to keep on keepin' on too. That's the opposite of doing homework, baths and bedtime. Oh, heaven help me.<br />
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BUT the good news is that Dan and I made it to 17 years on the 27th! The traditional gift for the 17th anniversary is furniture. We didn't get new furniture though. Dan did buy me a much needed new phone though so that's good. The celebratory weekend away from the kids didn't happen due to family commitments so I tried not to be too dramatic and sad about it and decided to just include the kids instead. So we went bowling and watched the BYU men's volleyball team lose.<br />
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None of that really matters though because I've got two beautiful, healthy kids and a kind, loving husband. I kiss them and hug them and thank my lucky stars for them.<br />
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p.s. That up there is why I hate smiling in pictures. Wrinkles, crooked smile and chiiiiiiiiinnnnnnssss! But I'm posting it anyway because we made it to 17 years and I'm proud of us.<br />
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p.p.s. How am I old enough to have been married for 17 years? </div>
Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-58353943394900110102015-02-28T21:38:00.000-07:002015-02-28T21:38:29.393-07:00the secret to eating the perfect hard boiled egg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I try to eat 2 hard boiled eggs every day for lunch. They have to be cold out of the fridge though or else I'll gag. And lots of salt must be involved or more gagging. I'm sure there are other things I could eat for lunch that would make for a more pleasurable experience but eggs are cheap and fast and healthy. I don't like to waste time. So it's hard boiled eggs and baby carrots. Mostly every day.<br />
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Today I figured it out. The secret. Part of the gagging problem with my hard boiled eggs is the whites. They are a necessary evil. I'd much rather just eat a bowl of cooked egg yolks but that seems weird and a little bit gross too. I hate eating the egg and having a bite full of white and a tiny bit of yolk. Ick. Here's the secret: BUY SMALL EGGS! I mean duh. Big eggs for breakfast when they get fried up in the pan. Tiniest eggs I can buy for making hard boiled eggs. The whites are barely even there and the yolk feels huge. It really is the simple things in life that can bring such happiness.<br />
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And now the family update for February:<br />
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Cate has been wearing pants again. It's been strictly dresses for months. The pants are actually leggings. I think those count as pants for a 6-year-old. She stretches them all the way down to her toes and then puts on her flats. It looks like she's wearing tights. She's crazy and I let her do it because I pick my battles. She went to her first BYU sporting event last weekend. We went to a men's volleyball game. She was pretty excited to hear the fight song sung by the crowd. And then she got smacked on the cheek with a stray ball.<br />
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Danny is pretty much a basketball-watching fool. There's plenty of it on tv right now so he's a happy boy. This morning I asked him what his plans were for the day. "Watch basketball from 10 until 10." I told him that was 12 hours and a lot of basketball watching. He replied, "Maybe 10 until midnight then." He goes to his job every day (second grade is hard work) and expects to do his thing on Saturdays. Right now his thing is basketball.<br />
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Dan has been doing a good job of folding towels and socks and keeping up with the ironing. He gave me a box of See's chocolates for Valentine's Day. How is it that he does that every year but I forget and feel happily surprised every time? Cate helped herself to 4 of the chocolates but didn't like the insides and spit them out. She's grounded.<br />
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I'm going on 2 months of drinking a gallon of water every day. I'm quite proud of myself. <br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-82597318911036703332015-01-31T21:18:00.000-07:002015-01-31T21:18:04.123-07:00new normal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was reading way back through this blog last week. I read about the day kindergarten Danny made me play Uno with him one morning before school for an hour and a half. Down came the tears because I'd love to rewind and have slow mornings before school to play Uno in my bed again. I hope I enjoyed it. I'm a little sad to think that I was probably just annoyed to be getting a late start on the laundry and toilet scrubbing. I've made up for it now because I hardly ever scrub the toilets anymore.<br />
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My kids go to school all day and I go to work. I park across the street and walk over with them. Cate stops in between sidewalk cracks 6 and 7 because she's 6 and a half years old. I give her hugs and kisses and tell her I love her. Danny stops on sidewalk crack 8 because he's 8 years old. Hugs, kisses and I love you's to him too. Then he tells me to check him out 30 minutes early (pretty much every day) and I tell him I'll try. Then they walk the rest of the sidewalk to their school and I turn and walk back to drive away. Most days I turn around and watch them walking together and sometimes they turn around and wave. And that's when the lump in my throat comes (pretty much every day) and I blink back the tears. I'm pretty sure this will never be easy. I mean really. I'm a mess. I'd much rather be playing Uno.<br />
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I'm not much for resolutions or goals or choosing one little word for the year. I have anxiety just thinking about meal planning for the week. How can I possibly think about an entire year? But I want to be better at coming here and writing something about our lives. I'm aiming for once a month. That feels doable.<br />
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Cate the Great<br />
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She's given up on wearing pants, in all shapes and forms and fabric. Skirts and dresses only if you please. And even then the sleeves have to be just the right length and no seam at her waist or else it'll bug her forever and the world is coming to an end!!! I feel much frustration on school mornings. I'm sure you can imagine. And her hair. No more ponytails or piggy tails because there's not enough hairspray in the great state of Utah to make it feel juuuuuuuuust right near her ears to make her want to leave it alone. So her beautiful locks get to be free flowing every day, getting tangled by the wind. Hooray. And guess who's the lucky one to brush them out every morning.<br />
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Aside from the daily anxiety she gives me every morning, she's a gem. She loves school and homework. She's happy (pretty much up until about 7:30 every night). She craves people and interacting and playing. She can go to Grandma and Grandpa's house and play games, sing and dance for hours. Grandparents are a great audience for her. She loves her friends at school. Her favorite day is Friday because that's when they do Dance Party at lunch. There's music playing outside and she and her friends dance the recess away. I would love to see that one.<br />
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Oh, Danny Boy<br />
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Danny's the best little boy. He's a hugger and a kisser. Most of the hugs and kisses are for me. He loves basketball and football. He got a hoop for Christmas. Thanks to the complete lack of snow in our neck of the woods, he's got a clean backyard driveway spot to practice. He loves quiet time in his room playing with his Legos or bouncing a pink ball off the wall above his window. He likes to talk to himself in there and sometimes I stand outside his door and listen.<br />
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He hates school. It's too long. He loves his teacher because she doesn't talk to him. I don't quite know what to make of that but as long as he's happy, I'm happy. He's super smart and quite a math whiz. I wish he'd figure out how to enjoy reading more. Hopefully some day. He loves going to Grandma's house too, but mostly just if Cate isn't there. He works on whatever puzzle is currently set up on the folding table or plays on Grandma's iPad. He does not like Dance Party Fridays at school because he hates dancing. He goes to scouts on Wednesdays and is sometimes the only boy wearing the uniform. He's been mad at me about that more than once but I don't care.<br />
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Dan the Man<br />
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He goes to work and then comes home and tries to make his family happy. Tickle torture and professional wrestling with Cate. Basketball and football with Danny. And for me, he folds the clean towels I leave in a pile on his side of the bed. That's love.<br />
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Me<br />
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I'm tired. I need to hire a cleaning lady. And a personal chef. I worry a lot. I wash dishes a lot. I miss the snow.<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-35837324835397853832014-11-20T06:19:00.000-07:002014-11-20T06:19:00.184-07:00it's great to be eight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every night when I tuck him in I tell him these three things:</div>
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I love you.</div>
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I'm proud of you.</div>
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You are special to me.<br />
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Every night he tells me these three things in response:<br />
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I love you waaaaaaaaay more.<br />
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I'm proud of you too.<br />
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You are special to me too.<br />
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Then we have a little smooch and I'm outta there.<br />
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Last week at tuck-in, after he said the "i'm proud of you too" part, I asked him why he's proud of me.<br />
<br />"I didn't do anything for you to be proud of me. I'm just the mom."<br />
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<b>"Yes you did! You gave me my life! You are my gift!"</b><br />
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That might just be the best thing he's said to me ever. It pretty much made all the less-than-stellar moments of parenting him so completely worth it. What a gem he is.<br />
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I just really really love him. He's the best. I get him, you know? He's me, in little boy form (except I don't love basketball and football nearly as much as he does).<br />
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I'm just so glad he's mine.<br />
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Happy birthday to my favorite Danny boy. <br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-27108212257711924782014-09-14T15:00:00.000-06:002014-09-16T21:05:25.739-06:00ming's and other things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we visit Santa Cruz, we eat at Ming's with our good friend Eve and her good friend Dale. Eve is a regular there. We are too now I guess. The once-a-year-in-the-summer kind of regulars. When Dan and I visited Eve in July of 2007 with an adorable 8-month-old baby Danny, the owner lady said, "Ahhh, his cheeks look-uh like-uh egg with no shell on." (in your best non-offensive Chinese voice, of course) He was so white and soft I guess. We've been back three more summers since then. Every time the same owner lady comes over and talks to us and remember us and our cute kiddos.<br />
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I was worried Danny wouldn't like Chinese food because he's super picky. Cate loves everything so I knew she'd eat. Turns out Danny loves the noodles (not a big surprise) and also the fried dough balls with the sesame seed coating. I have no idea what you call them but he loves them. On the inside is a little blob of black bean paste. It kind of tastes sweet, like chocolate. Danny thought it <i>was </i>chocolate and I pretty much didn't correct him.<br />
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When we ate at Ming's this summer he mentioned that he'll miss this food when we go back home to Utah. I told him that we have Chinese restaurants in our city too. His jaw dropped and he said, "We have this food near our house? What? Why did you not tell me? I've been waiting 365 days!"<br />
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Panda Express, here he comes.<br />
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*****<br />
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I've been cleaning out my phone, erasing notes that I make to myself. I'm going to jot some of them down here so they're not forgotten forever. I do have a journal for each of my kids that I've been keeping since they were born. Sadly, they will find some day that their dear mother neglected to write faithfully and huge chunks of their childhood are missing. Sorry, kids. I tried.<br />
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>>We went swimming at the hotel in Carlsbad this summer. It was actually my birthday and I was hoping that my gift would be to <i>not</i> have to go swimming but my mommy guilt was strong and I did it anyway. It was a wee bit chilly and the sun was setting so we tried to stay in the sunlight. We had a pretty fun time having underwater tea parties like I used to have when I was a kid. You try to cross your legs and sit on the bottom and pretend like you're holding a teacup and saucer. It was hilarious because none of us are any good at sitting with crossed legs at the bottom of the pool. We had some good laughs at that one. And we got water up our noses too.<br />
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>>Before we made it to Carlsbad, we stopped in San Diego to check out the Mormon Battalion site and walk around Old Town San Diego. Oh, man. You would think we were torturing those poor kids. Go on vacation and walk around and look at stuff? Horrid. They were tired from being in the car all day so I expected a little resistance. Sheesh. We tried to check out the streets of the Old Town part and Danny declared it "the lamest thing ever." Next time we leave them home. What a teenager.<br />
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>>Our friend, Savannah, spent the night several months ago. She came to church with us on Sunday morning. Cate whispered to me, "I'm going to be so proud of myself when I go to primary today because I brought a friend to church."<br />
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>>I was telling Danny once about how he's been to Hawaii. He was a teeny tiny little thing in my belly at the time but he was there none the less. Cate overheard our conversation and said, "I wonder where I was when you went to Hawaii. Oh, I know. I was in heaven. I hope I wasn't playing knick-knacks with Jesus." I don't even know where she comes up with this stuff.<br />
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>>I saw on a friend's Instagram this week a picture of color coordinating outfits laid out with the caption something like, "Christmas card clothes are pressed and ready for the photo shoot." And I got to thinking that maybe I need to add that to the list of stuff I'm doing all wrong. Holy moly.<br />
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>>Cate loves to draw and cut and tape. It makes her happy to let her creative juices flow. One day she said to me, "I like making better than just getting because getting is just not much fun." She's obviously never gotten a new car.<br />
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>>I can't even remember when I wrote this one or where we were. I know Danny is the one who said it though. From the looks of it, I wanted him to go in somewhere. He didn't want to. He said, "I can't go in there either. I'm too much of an I-just-sit-here man." Ha!<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-51964850648179155062014-09-07T22:07:00.003-06:002014-09-07T22:07:48.299-06:00sugar makes everything better<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today after Primary, the singing time lady's husband was passing out store bought Rice Krispie treats. Cate took one and said thanks. Danny didn't want one. His reason: they're too sticky. I told him it's the sugar that makes them sticky and that it's the sugar that makes them taste so good.<br />
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He replied, "When does sugar make anything taste better?"<br />
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Whaaaaaaaa? Is he serious?<br />
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My jaw dropped and I gave him a confused stare.<br />
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I don't know who that kid is.<br />
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Sugar probably doesn't make broccoli taste better (thanks for pointing that out, Debra) so I guess he's got a point.<br />
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And way off the subject, happy grandparent's day to all the grandmas and grandpas that we love and adore.Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-57613737404495376092014-08-30T22:14:00.000-06:002014-08-30T22:14:41.311-06:00here i am<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I almost forgot my blog password. Lucky for you I remembered.<br />
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I don't have a computer. Well, I do have one. It broke several years ago and I still haven't taken it in to get fixed. I got an iPhone and decided I didn't really care about my computer. I could just use Dan's. Somehow I managed to hijack my mom's computer over the summer. This is just a random picture she had in her photo album. My sweet little Danny when he wasn't even 2. This will be my blogging standard from now on: random picture and random thoughts. I seriously do not have the brain power for more than that.<br />
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Several times this summer I stared at our beautiful Mt. Timpanogos and envisioned myself hiking all the way to the top, all by myself. I'd stand there looking out at the valley below me and then scream at the top of my lungs, "I CANNOT DO THIS ANYMORE!!!" But more like this, "IIIIIIIIIII!!!! CAAAAAAAN!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!! DOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! THIIIIIIIIIIIS!!!!!! ANYYYYYYYY!!!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!!" So long and so loud. And then I'd stay up there and have a nice long, purging cry and hike back down.<br />
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Summer makes me feel like something is wrong with me. Well, I always feel like something is wrong with me. Summer just makes it even worse. Why does everyone around me seem to be enjoying the heat and the sun and every single water related leisurely activity known to man? Why? I hate all of that. I can't do it. Something's wrong with me. There was actually a dusting of snow on that Mt. Timpanogos last Saturday and I cried. I am crying again thinking about it.<br />
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It rained the first two days of school. Danny cried the second day. "I am not going to school!" It was horrible. I carried him to the car. Good thing he's not big on kicking and hitting along with his crying. First grade was hard for him, all the way up to the very end. He'd say stuff like, "Isn't there such a thing as home school? Like Home. School. Kids just go to school at home?" Ug. I cried a lot last year. He did too. I prayed a lot too.<br />
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I hoped this year would be better. I am an anxious wreck every morning before school. I feel like I'm walking on emotional eggshells around him. Say positive things about school but not too many so that I irk him and send him the opposite direction. I hug him and kiss him and tell him that he's brave and strong and I believe in him. I hold him on my lap every morning before school and say a prayer out loud just for him. I pray for his teacher and for his classmates. I even pray for the recess duty ladies.<br />
<br />
I've at least figured out that Danny's biggest worry about school is not being safe. He needs to be where he can see an adult at all times. On Monday I mentioned to the duty lady that he gets very worried before school starts and they are lined up outside if he can't see an adult. You know what she said, "Oh, that's no problem. I'll just stand over here where he can see me. And I'll wait until all the second graders are in the building before I leave." I walked away from that and cried in the car. And I decided then and there that if you have the chance to just be a little kinder to someone who needs it, do it.<br />
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And of course Cate just practically skips to her classroom. She's happy and chatty all morning before school. No tears. No worries. And I wonder how they can be so different. And I also wonder what that would've been like last year to have no tears and no anxiety about school. All those parents with happy school kids, they're lucky. <br />
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This doesn't get easier. It just changes. And so do I and so do they. They're mine and I love them and I'm doing the best I can. <br />
<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-72099604399627821452014-06-25T23:30:00.000-06:002014-06-25T23:30:13.299-06:00Hashtag OldsFamilyVacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We went on a trip. <br />
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We stopped for gas and drinks in St. George.<br />
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It was there that Dan told me I don't use enough commas in my writing.<br />
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I told him that I don't really care.<br />
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I start each post with an imaginary "Dear Diary."<br />
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I'm writing all this nonsense to myself. <br />
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She doesn't care if I use commas.<br />
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Dear Diary, commas are dumb.<br />
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Hey, there's a comma!<br />
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And another!<br />
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Love ya, Dan! (another comma!) <br />
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* * * * * <br />
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I'm a horrible road tripper.<br />
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If it were up to me we'd fly everywhere.<br />
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It's not up to me.<br />
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* * * * *<br />
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We spent the night at our halfway point in Primm.<br />
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I woke up and collected my birthday snuggles.<br />
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I'm 41 now.<br />
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* * * * *<br />
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I've been watching episodes of <i>FBI Files</i> while I fold laundry lately.<br />
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I'm even more paranoid than I was before.<br />
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I'm especially worried about my children being kidnapped.<br />
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Stopping at gas stations along the way to pee and get drinks has caused me enormous amounts of anxiety.<br />
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Danny thinks it's ok for him to just wait outside the bathroom door.<br />
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I don't think so.<br />
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I told him that people get kidnapped every day.<br />
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I told him I need to see him and he needs to see me (or at least be inside the bathroom door waiting patiently by the paper towel dispenser).<br />
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I think he got tired of my kidnapping anxiety.<br />
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He said, "Who gets kidnapped anymore? Nobody!!"<br />
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I think he needs to watch a few episodes of <i>FBI Files</i> with me.<br />
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Clearly he is not afraid enough. <br />
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* * * * *<br />
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There's more to report.<br />
<br />
I've been working on this for almost 2 hours so far.<br />
<br />
My children are very needy.<br />
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Food.<br />
<br />
Reminders to go pee and brush their teeth.<br />
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More food.<br />
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Drinks.<br />
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Food again.<br />
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Help with the DVD.<br />
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Cate puked chocolate milk and blueberries all over the toilet.<br />
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Some of it went in but most of it on the seat and the floor around the toilet.<br />
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Heaven help me.<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-45017585066353915962014-06-10T22:38:00.001-06:002014-06-10T22:38:41.102-06:00Nine on the Ninth on the Tenth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>one</b> ::: We went on a little getaway this past weekend. I like to lovingly refer to it as Hades but it's real name is St. George, Utah. No offense to the lovely city or the lovely people I spent my time with while there (my sister and her family, my parents and my own little family), but it was not my idea of fun or vacation. Aunt Judy and her clan have a condo dealio there and they invited us all along for a week of fun in the sun. My kids drove down on Monday with them since Dan and I both had to work that week. (Dan's school didn't get out until Wednesday and I'm teaching summer preschool...yes, I should have my head examined.)<br />
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I was dreading it but after 4 days away I really missed my kids and worried nonstop about them getting sunburned (even though my mother is perfectly capable of smearing on loads of sunscreen) or drowning (they pretty much lived in the pool from what I heard) or kidnapped (I worry about that every day, not just because they were away from me). <br />
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Dan drove us down there on Thursday (4+ hours and the stupid setting sun was in exactly the right spot the entire drive so that my sun visor never ever got it out of my eyes...yes, I'm a dream to take on road trips). The next day was spent doing nothing (except for the swimming and family bonding). And then the next day Dan woke up saying that he had puked all night and he slept THE ENTIRE DAY. I got to go "hiking" with Aunt Judy, Cate and cousins Kris and Raymond. We pulled up to the sand dunes in Snow Canyon State Park (interesting name that's for sure), got out and walked on hot sand so we could sit and dig in the hot sand. I'm baffled by this one but Aunt Judy said it's fun. <br />
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Then we drove a little further down the road to let the kids climb on rocks to see pioneer names carved in the stone. I was pretty sure someone would plummet to their death but it didn't happen. Then on down the road to Jenny's Canyon for more rock exploring. Oh, good golly if it wasn't freaking 100 degrees outside it might have been bearable.<br />
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Dan woke up Sunday morning feeling somewhat better which is good because he got to drive home with my Dad. I rode in the minivan with my mom and all 5 kids. Oh, what fun times we have.<br />
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<b>two</b> ::: I am telling myself that just because I hate summer and all the long hours of daylight that never seem to end, I am not a weirdo or a bad person. Everyone is different. Summer makes me so grumpy. I can't do it. Really. I'm struggling right now. All you crazies who hate the cold and snow and winter, I'm feeling that right now. And that's ok. You be you and I'll be me. Just do your best to leave me alone until about the middle of October because that's when it cools off enough for me to start getting happy-ish. The looooong days of summer remind me of the first month of Danny's life (which was actually November into December) when he cried every day from 5:00-7:00 in the evening and then woke up every hour and a half the rest of the time. No naps, only if I held him. I thought I'd die. The days never ended so a fresh new one could begin and I could feel a renewed power that I could do this new mom thing. It was not a happy time for me and summer reminds me of that. Days that never end. And when they finally do and sweet darkness comes, it's 9:30 and all I can do is go to bed. Blah.<br />
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<b>three</b> ::: I am also telling myself that this is not the time in my life to have an awesome garden, although I deeply want to. There are weeds. I can't even give a hoot. I mean really, I planted parsnips and radishes. Those are totally for my mom. I'm not eating that. I'm praying that my watermelon make it this year because that's all I'm looking forward to. Well, that and the zucchini. Those are good. I think when I'm 60 and I have time and the space in my head to care about gardens and weeds, look out. It'll be grand. And also when I move and my garden spot isn't in the hot summer sun in the evening. Blah.<br />
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<b>four</b> ::: Cate and I got a birthday pedicure yesterday. Our birthdays are this month, only 2 days apart. I thought it would be fun to start a birthday tradition with her. She was very excited and really wanted hearts on her toes too. It turned out to be a lesson in waiting for her. They were busy and only 2 workers were there. The guy started with me since I'm sure he knew it would take a while to file away all my hideous cracked dead skin. It did. Cate had lots of smiles when it was finally her turn though, mostly because it tickled her so much. I asked her if she wanted to do it again next year for our birthdays and she said no. Too bad. I'm forcing her. She was mostly looking forward to the special flip flops and she did get those so I think it wasn't a total waste.<br />
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<b>five</b> ::: I think I might need to spend some time every evening from about 5:00-9:00 in my mom's walk-in closet in her bedroom. No windows so I can hide from the blazing sun. That would be a bit extreme, I realize that but in all honestly the thought has crossed my mind. <br />
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<b>six</b> ::: I've been struggling for a while with this dumb blog. I used to enjoy writing stuff and sharing pictures of my cute kids. I think some people actually read along and were slightly interested in my life. The enjoyment is gone. So is my time. Having a job can do that to you. The only chance I have anymore to come here is after kids are in bed. And then I have to decide if I should go exercise (which I never choose) or watch tv because my mind just needs to turn off for a little while before bed. And then I'm too tired and all I really want to do is one (or more) of three things: cry, run away from home or sleep. Those things are not conducive to collecting my thoughts and putting them on the screen. <i>Who even cares anyway?</i> I ask myself. Most of my faithful readers have abandoned me (I say that knowing full well that I'm a big nobody and I'm totally ok with that. Can you even imagine the horror of being an awesome blogging somebody and going to events and blog conferences where you interact and socialize and talk to people? I don't even want to think about it.) So I quit for a while. It's hard to have a desire to be here when I'm not happy and a lot of the time I'm not. It's true.<br />
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And then my kind friend brought over a jar of her yummy strawberry jam and a thank you card for driving her son to school all year (which was totally my pleasure and on the way and I was very happy to do it so that Cate didn't have to walk into school alone). And that friend wrote something about how she likes reading my blog because reading about my crazy makes her feel less alone in hers. So I guess I'll keep doing it. This one's for you, Debra.<br />
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<b>seven</b> ::: I'm not a very good friend. At this point in my life I feel like I'm giving everything inside me to take care of myself and tend to the constant demands of my family. I've got nothing else for anyone else. I'm hoping that at some point this will all get easier and I'll be a good friend again (I've had times in my life when I had lots of friends, in case you thought I was a horrible person). How it is that I still feel like I'm in survival mode at age almost 41 (holy crap!) with a seven-year-old and an almost six-year-old is beyond me. But it is what it is and I just get to keep on plugging along because I just really love my family.<br />
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<b>eight</b> ::: I don't bake much anymore. No time. Plus I think my will power to not eat an entire loaf of chocolate chip banana bread has left me so it's all good. I just feel bad about it sometimes because I want my kids to learn kitchen stuffs. This summer we're going to have cooking school and we're going to give the food away so I don't get fatter than I've already gotten.<br />
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<b>nine</b> ::: Cate and Danny took naps Sunday and yesterday around 5 or 6 in the evening for a few hours each. It was disastrous for their bedtimes. I get up at 6:00 for work and not going to bed on time isn't good for me. I fell asleep around 10:30 last night and Cate woke me up at 11:35 because she wanted to sing a song to me. Seriously. I was still awake at 2:00 this morning. And I woke up at 6:30. This is the blog post you get when I've had four-ish hours of sleep. You're welcome.<br />
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<b>and a little p.s. just because I can</b> ::: I watched a show on Netflix today called something like <i>The Mortified Series</i>. I don't know exactly but I'm not going to look it up because I'm already up past my bedtime. It's a show where a guy talks to actors and famous people about their past. They look at old pictures and journal entries and it's just really interesting to me. Today's episode was Rick Schroeder. I used to watch <i>Silver Spoons</i> and I'm not ashamed to admit that I thought he was pretty cute (back then he was Ricky). He cried when the guy asked him about his grandma. Then he cried again when he was talking about meeting his wife because he loves her so much. Then he cried talking about the anxiety he feels every day and how much he worries about stuff. Him crying made me cry and I think I like him all over again. We could be friends, bonded by our ability to cry easily and our anxiety. That's why it's good to tell your story I guess. It makes people feel not so alone in their crazy. Right, Debra?<br />
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the end<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-19740251494880102052014-05-31T23:10:00.002-06:002014-05-31T23:10:16.465-06:00On the Last Day of May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Cate finally got the hang of riding her bike this week. That brings the percentage of people in our family who can ride a bike without training wheels up to 75%. Awesome. I'm pretty sure the thing that pushed her over the edge was watching 3-year-old cousin Ray Ray riding his bike without training wheels this week too. That'll do it every time. A little peer pressure.</div>
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I'm aiming for 100% bike riders by November. It's good to have goals. After all the pouting and stomping and quitting and throwing down of the bike this week I think I'd rather potty train Cate all over again 5 times than teach her how to ride a bike. My back never hurt this much from the potty training. </div>
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Anyway, she was up and out for a ride before 8:30 this morning. She's not allowed on the street without a parent and since Dan was still in bed at that time (zzzzzzzzzzz), it was my lucky day. I started out just walking beside her because she's not very fast. Then I guess she got confident and I was having to run a little to keep up. I was getting tired and wishing I had a way to go faster without having to run (since running is clearly not my thing) when it dawned on me that I have a bike too. Duh. That was a much more enjoyable experience. </div>
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A few hours later Danny had a soccer game where he scored the first goal! His team went on to win the game. That's the first time he's been on the winning team in his entire outdoor soccer career. I think he's played on 3 different outdoor teams but I can't remember now. Anyway, it was so nice to see him happy after a game for once. Only 6 boys showed up on his team so he got to play the whole time which he totally loved too. As an added bonus for me, the sky was just cloudy enough and there was a lovely breeze. My favorite.<br />
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We headed out for a celebratory burger after the game. Our favorite.</div>
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Then a birthday party for Cate, Grandma's house for Danny and Costco for me (not my favorite place to be on a Saturday afternoon but it had to be done). Dan weeded my sad little garden space for me (what a guy) and I planted tomato plants, carrots, radishes, turnips, parsnips and beets. I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm pretty sure I've gotten a late start but whatever. Dirt, sun and water and good things are bound to happen right? </div>
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Kids in bed and I headed to the grocery store because I needed avocados and you can't get just 3 at Costco. As luck would have it, Ben & Jerry's was way on sale so I bought 2. Saturday couldn't have ended better.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-60177184260513057572014-05-11T22:10:00.000-06:002014-05-11T22:10:17.103-06:00The Goodness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoAaGMgO-qfvsj9ho7KNr1DiYoReu9CwGay6WOOB46IFZDgeg4-ILqzEyZ1isADG52O-KMdPwzxcz8SEZD6cSS-n_MQMcwGgbFl4tGxBgJYHEi0SFFZqAjxuDK7AOsJYwb7dgRPjJckg1/s640/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoAaGMgO-qfvsj9ho7KNr1DiYoReu9CwGay6WOOB46IFZDgeg4-ILqzEyZ1isADG52O-KMdPwzxcz8SEZD6cSS-n_MQMcwGgbFl4tGxBgJYHEi0SFFZqAjxuDK7AOsJYwb7dgRPjJckg1/s640/photo-4.JPG" /></a></div>
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Just taking a little opportunity to document the goodness of this day.<br />
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I woke up sometime before 7:00 thanks to my stupid bladder. Then Cate came in just as I was getting back into bed. She gave me some good snuggles and then when she was done, I sent her out with Dan so I could go back to sleep. I can't be expected to get out of bed and entertain little people on Mother's Day. And the miracle is that I actually did go back to sleep. It was lovely.<br />
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The kids brought me cards and presents in bed. A blue lei from Cate and new pens from Danny. I'm super spoiled and I love it. <br />
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I got out of bed at 9:00 and ate Ben and Jerry's for breakfast. It was a new flavor for me, peanut butter and chocolate fudge. I was taking a risk by straying from my usual New York Super Fudge Chunk (which I've been choosing almost exclusively for the past 20 years!) but I'm glad I did. And in true motherly fashion, I shared it with my babies. Ice cream for breakfast for everyone!<br />
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I soaked in the tub with my yummy smelling bath salts. They're supposed to relieve aches and pains and sooth your soul or something like that. I don't think they make me feel any better but the eucalyptus smells so good.<br />
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Then blah blah blah until church at 1:00. I'm thinking 1:00 church is the way to go on Mother's Day though. Especially since I'm much more likely to sleep in than I am to ever take a nap.<br />
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Then yummy dinner at my parents' house, birthday cake for Dan (again because it's still his birthday week) and a round of Ticket to Ride (which I did not lose). Cate didn't even cry her head off when it was time to go home (which she usually does). Another Mother's Day miracle.<br />
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Danny and I snuggled on the couch and watched tonight's episode of The Amazing Race. It's our thing and I really love it. Too bad it's the season finale next week.<br />
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One more item of goodness of the day was the weather. Chilly and cloudy. My favorite. I even got to wear a sweater to church. It was lovely.<br />
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I've spent many a Mother's Day not feeling any goodness at all. I'm doing better though. I only had to tell myself a few times at church today <i>don't be sad don't be sad don't be sad</i>. I've got two great kids who think I'm pretty amazing even when I know I'm doing a craptastic job. They don't care about my gray hairs or my wrinkles or all the fun stuff you're doing but I'm not. Lot's of times I feel like I'm still just surviving and going day by day but who cares. If they feel loved and cared for and special day by day then I think I'm doing a pretty good job. <br />
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And on top of all that I've got my own mother who's pretty great. I'm happy to let the day be about her anyway.<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-79440307394171704602014-05-09T22:23:00.000-06:002014-05-09T22:24:01.265-06:00Nine on the Ninth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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∞ Dan had a birthday today. I am married to an old man. He's a good one though and he puts up with a lot of crazy around here (most of it from me). </div>
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∞ The kiddies are sleeping at my parents' house tonight. Dan and I went out to dinner. I ate a bleu bacon burger and beer battered fries. Yum. </div>
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∞ Danny finished another round of swim lessons today. He passed. Yippee! His lessons are an hour long. Cate swims by herself while he has his lesson. Today Ray Ray joined her. It was a joyous day because I didn't have to get in the pool with them. They did it solo. I figured with a lifeguard every 5 feet there's no reason for me to get in. I hate wearing a swimsuit so this is working out very nicely for me. I tried not to think about it too much because I didn't want to be crying tears of joy at the city pool.</div>
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∞ Cate and I fed our neighbor's lambies today before her school started. They were born on Easter and their mama died so we give them a baaa-baaa of milk (formula?). Our neighbors are very kind to let us help them. It's a highlight of our day. Those lambies are so dang cute.</div>
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∞ I ate 2 hard boiled eggs and some carrots for lunch today. I was preparing myself for the burger and fries I was hoping to eat for dinner.</div>
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∞ I ate a tomato and 3 eggs fried in coconut oil for breakfast. That was also to prepare myself for the burger. It was worth it.</div>
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∞ Danny told me this morning that our backyard has lots of weeds. It's true. It does. Cate got upset at me last night because I pulled a few dandelions in the front yard. I told her they're weeds and she said it's ok because there's plenty in the back yard for her to blow. And <i>that's </i>why our backyard has lots of weeds. If I was an old retired lady with 9 hours a day to dedicate to yard work, things might be different. </div>
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∞ I gave myself the morning off today. Instead of waking up at 5:45 and folding laundry or washing dishes I slept until 6:15. And then I got up and washed dishes. Awesome. Some people treat themselves to nail polish or perfume or new make up. I treat myself to nice smelling dish soap. It's true. I buy the good stuff. I've got 4 different flavors under the kitchen sink right now. </div>
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∞ I'm going to eat some dark chocolate chip gelato now. I bought it last night and I'm proud of myself for not eating it for breakfast.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-18481540482108361222014-01-19T21:40:00.000-07:002014-01-19T21:41:58.066-07:00Be Kind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"I think probably kindness is my<br />
number one attribute in a human<br />
being. I'll put it before any of the<br />
things like courage or bravery or<br />
generosity or anything else.<br />
If you're kind, that's it."<br />
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~ Roald Dahl<br />
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I finished reading <i>The Magic Finger</i> to Danny this past week. It's a short one, only 57 pages. His daddy read most of it to him but I got the pleasure of finishing it one night when Dan came home late. I'm glad I did because I found this quote on one of the pages in the back. </div>
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I like it. Like a lot. And I totally agree. </div>
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After a few experiences at work this week and more than a few very frustrating moments with Cate before school (I swear if someone would just invent shirts, socks and pants without any seams whatsoever I'd buy them all!) I'm going to focus my all on being more kind. Because pretty much, that's it. Everything else is just gravy as long as you're kind. Maybe. We'll see. I like a good challenge at least. </div>
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And it never hurts to be a good example to your kids right? I won't count because I think I'd be too depressed and I'm sure you'd never guess by looking at his sweet angel face BUT the #2 most frequently said words out of my mouth to my firstborn are "BE NICE TO YOUR SISTER!!" (the #1 being I LOVE YOU, of course...I hope). Please don't tell me stories of how your son is so kind and loving to his little sister because we are working on it and I already feel like a semi-failure. So yeah. </div>
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Here's another quote from Mr. Dahl but I'm not sure I agree with this one half as much seeing as how I loathe summer.</div>
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"If I had my way, I would remove</div>
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January from the calendar altogether</div>
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and have an extra July instead."</div>
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Oh, the horrors.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-27672731388648384222014-01-12T14:35:00.000-07:002014-01-12T14:35:46.946-07:00State of the Union<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At last, the thought of people checking this blog and seeing my Cat in the Hat muffin top has proven triumphant and a new post has arrived. I haven't felt much like visiting here lately. What used to be fun for me, now isn't. I can't seem to make myself focus on much of anything. The back burner seems to be the perfect spot for this blog, vacuuming and visits to the gym (amongst a plethora of other worthy pursuits). </div>
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I've tried a few times to post something. Danny's birthday came and went in November. I had something ready but didn't publish it. It's still there and he still turned seven and most importantly, he still knows I love him even though I didn't profess it publicly in this little space of mine. </div>
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Instead of going backwards and trying to play catch up on our lives, I'll just start from here and maybe go forward. We'll see. Here's my state of the union address for our family.</div>
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<b>DAN</b> :: He leaves for work at 6:30 every morning to teach a bunch of hooligan teenagers and shape them into productive members of society. On Monday evenings he's the student. I think he's taking classes for his reading endorsement but I'm not sure. Something like that. He gets home around 8:00, just in time for prayers and good night kisses and if they're lucky, a few tickles. Mondays are freaking long. Other days he stays after school for basketball practice (he's the coach at his middle school). On Fridays he stays late and plays basketball with his teacher friends and Tuesday evenings he has church meetings. When he's not doing all that other stuff (or sleeping) he can be found reading bedtime stories to Cate, practicing basketball with Danny and putting up with my craziness. AND doesn't he look smashing in that family photo up top? Hubba hubba.</div>
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<b>CATE</b> :: Recently we were at a family Christmas party. My brother-in-law asked me if I still think about Cate's time in the hospital when she was a tiny newborn. And you know what? I do. I think about it every single day. Because every single day I look at her and I can't believe that tiny sweet baby is now my beautiful little girl. I just really love her. She's loving and good and kind. She plays with cousin Ray Ray and Grama Bama pretty much every day. She loves kindergarten and I'm sure she is her teacher's favorite. I can't see how she wouldn't be. Her best friend at school is a boy named Hank. She'd color all day every day if she had the time. She loves to dress up in her princess clothes. She has also become quite particular about seams on her clothes. Socks drive her crazy (even though I turn them inside out so she doesn't have to feel them). She's even started to be bugged by the seams on her leggings. She's thinking she can just wear them inside out but I told her that won't be happening. Summer can't come quickly enough. Skirts and sandals will be a relief.</div>
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<b>DANNY</b> :: First grade has been tough for this one. He thinks it's sooooooooo long. It's really just 6 hours but compared to kindergarten, it's long. He has a very sweet teacher who has been so good to him. He says she only teaches the dumb kids because he already knows all the stuff she says (humility isn't his strong suit). Waking up in the morning isn't his strength either. I'm crossing my fingers it gets easier because he's got a long way to go before he graduates. He's such a good snuggler and Christmas break was such a needed break from the alarm clock. Danny had 2 missing front teeth before Christmas but finally one has started to come in. That was a big deal. He loves his Legos and playing with his cousins Jarrett and Kris. And of course he loves playing at Grama Bama's house and would probably live there if we let him. He still hugs me whenever I ask and will only kiss me on the lips. I'm thankful for that every day because I know he's going to be a teenager soon enough. He tells me that he will still love me and hug me even then and I make him pinkie promise just to be sure. </div>
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<b>ME</b> :: I got a job. I thought about doing something part time while Cate was at school in the afternoons. My neighbor asked me to work at the preschool where she's the boss. I told her no a few times and then I told her yes. I drop off Danny at school and then go to work. It's only about 4 blocks from my house so it's not much of a commute. Cate spends her mornings with Ray Ray and Grama Bama. Sometimes I feel guilty about leaving her but then I snap out of it because if I wasn't working, guess where she'd want to be every morning. Yep. Grama Bama and Ray Ray. And you know what else, my mom and dad moved here from Alabama to be with the grandkids so I'm just helping them fulfill their dream. I come home and eat lunch with Cate and get her ready for school. Then I go back to work after I drop her off. I'm done 30 minutes before their school gets out. My house isn't very clean but it wasn't very clean when I stayed home with my 2 kids plus my sister's 2 (or 3) kids plus a few neighbor kids every day either. I'm tired and I have no Me Time but that's not much different from pre-job life either. I'm just doing my best and trying to figure things out. Even though honestly, sometimes I'm not doing my best. I'm just doing and hugging my kids and trying not to be mean to my husband. </div>
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So that's us. I love my little family. They really are the best. </div>
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-29924377480465044102013-10-31T03:14:00.000-06:002014-01-18T21:15:31.110-07:00Random Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No family theme here.</div>
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I'm pretty sure this is our first family Halloween picture wherein I am in costume. </div>
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Look at those precious babies of mine. They are just the cutest little creatures ever.</div>
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And Dan is the great Jay Gatsby in case you didn't know.</div>
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He borrowed the suit but I'm thinking he might need one of his very own.</div>
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Hubba hubba</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-34018018820224112472013-10-12T22:00:00.001-06:002013-10-12T22:02:52.238-06:00Fam-uh-lee Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a pretty good day and thus, it deserves to be documented. I know I've been the laziest of all lazy mommy bloggers lately so this shall count as my turning over of a new leaf (hopefully...I make no promises). </div>
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We headed down to Provo for the annual Homecoming parade. <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/10/homecoming-weekend.html" target="_blank">We went last year too</a>. We wanted to go the year before that but Cousin Andrew decided to get married that day so we had to miss it. The kids were 4 and 3 then so maybe they wouldn't have endured it well anyway. I certainly know that they didn't endure the wedding festivities very well so who knows. </div>
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I took that picture up there just after the parade had finished. I made them get in the middle of the road (which Danny was a little freaked about because he is very big on rules and obviously a very big rule for a kid is don't stand in the road). Danny's making that face because he could see the policeman on a motorcycle headed our way and I'm sure he was sure that we were going to get in trouble for being in the road. Yikes. We didn't get in trouble though.</div>
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Have you seen those pictures of people recreating old pictures from their childhood? They float around facebook and they make me laugh. The people are dressed mostly the same as they were in the picture, in the same spot and same pose but they're 20 years older. Some of them are so good. I think I'll save this one and force Danny and Cate to recreate it in 20 years. I can't wait.</div>
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Before the parade started (at 10:00 but it was more like 10:30 by the time it got to us because we sit near the very end of the route) we stood in a little line for some free blue pancakes. The kids scarfed them down while watching the ducks swim about.</div>
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We had left our chairs and blankets all set up to walk down a few blocks to the duck pond. Cate was so concerned that someone would steal our stuff if I didn't stay with it. She's funny. </div>
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The parade was good. The best part is the band of course. There's nothing better. Dan and I did some pretty good hootin' and hollerin' so as to get the parade guys to throw us lots of candy. We didn't get much, maybe because we sit at the end of the route. </div>
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Just as the parade was finished Cate leaned over to me and semi-whispered, "Know what this is called, Mom? Fam-uh-lee tiiiiime." How cute is that? </div>
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We walked up to campus for some bowling. Dan stood in line at the bookstore to buy a few Halloween books for me while I took the kids to get started. Danny won. 92. I don't remember Cate's score but mine was 88. I'd like to say that I threw the game so that Danny wouldn't be completely depressed (he really likes to win) but I don't think that would be very honest of me. I just sucked. No excuses. It was fun anyway. </div>
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We drove to Cocolito's for lunch and then went across the street to a park to play. I pushed the kids in the tire swing enough to make Cate's tummy hurt. She told me that maybe she feels the same way about spinny rides as Daddy does now (meaning she thought she was going to puke). </div>
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Next up for our day of fam-uh-lee time fun, back across the street for a cupcake. It was all their idea but by the time we got there, Cate just wanted to sit at the little kid corner and play with the toy kitchen stuff and Danny had no interest in a cupcake. Dan was too stuffed with Mexican food so he went out to lay in the car. I ordered a cupcake that I was in no way hungry for and sat there and ate it because I didn't think it was right to just sit on their couch while Cate played. The things I do for my kids, I tell you.</div>
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The rest of the afternoon the kids played outside (because the weather was perfect), Dan parked it on the couch (because fam-uh-lee time is exhausting and he had a homecoming football game to watch), and I made another stinkin' trip to Lowe's to buy drywall screw thingees so I could finally get my hallway makeover project finished. I've been working on this in my brain for 10 years and in real life for over a month. Doing stuff like this with a family to take care of is a joke. That's just the honest truth. </div>
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But it's done and I am so proud of myself. </div>
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I like to call it Operation Camouflage the Big Huge Fuse Box. We don't have a basement so there it is in the back hall. Big and huge and gray. I like it much better this way. I also painted all the trim and the ceiling. The trim needed it badly since our naughty kitties used the door frames as scratching posts. </div>
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I made places for coats and backpacks because we were using the knobs on our cabinets near the side door for that job and it drove me crazy. Like super duper crazy. I feel so much better now. I still need to paint the new back door. Do I really even have to since it's white and I want to paint it white? Maybe I'll get around to it in another 10 years.</div>
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And I spray painted the doorknobs. They're oil rubbed bronze now instead of ugly. Cate was very disappointed though. She kept asking when I would take the black off so she could see the beautiful gold again. Oh, how about never? She's funny.</div>
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And then I made <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/07/pioneer-recipe-brown-sugar-cake.html" target="_blank">brown sugar cake</a> for Sunday dinner dessert tomorrow. I swear I don't relax. Ever. </div>
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It was a good day. I love BYU. I love going to a parade in October when the weather starts out chilly and then turns into perfection. I love being with my cute kids who are both big enough to not have diapers or strollers or bottles. I love that they remember when we came to the parade last year and that hopefully they're looking forward to it next year. I love Cocolito's and stuffing myself with chips and salsa. I love that Dan is happy because our team won the game too. </div>
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I love a good day with some real good fam-ul-lee time.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-704455613181117812013-10-06T10:19:00.001-06:002013-10-06T10:23:22.485-06:00Swanton Berry Farm<div style="text-align: center;">
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After our little jaunt at <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2013/09/wilder-ranch-state-park.html" target="_blank">Wilder Ranch State Park</a>, we were off on another adventure. </div>
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We stopped to see the cement church in Davenport. According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport,_California" target="_blank">Mr. Wiki</a>, the St. Vincent DePaul church was built entirely out of cement from the nearby cement factory. And there it is. We didn't go inside, just parked so I could take a picture and off we went.</div>
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Our next stop was <a href="http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/history.html" target="_blank">Swanton Berry Farm</a> just up the road. Of course we were there on a day that they weren't doing the you pick it thing. Oh, well. We had a nice time anyway.</div>
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We just hung out inside the cute little shop area. Danny had fun using the honor till to buy our berries. </div>
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There's a corner filled with toys and books that the kids are free to use as long as they clean up after themselves. </div>
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The kidlets had a good time trying to figure out this slide slide the ball toy. They never quite got it but they sure worked hard at it.</div>
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We ate berries and yummy strawberry shortcake. The kids played with toys and Dan got to read the paper. It was lovely.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-52781502865032305772013-09-15T16:37:00.001-06:002013-09-15T16:37:47.050-06:00Wilder Ranch State Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dan is pretty good at finding family friendly stuff to do on vacation. I love the amusement parks. Obviously we planned on those. The kids like the beach but I'm not one to enjoy spending all day every day of our vacation there. Not gonna happen.</div>
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Dan likes to explore so off we went and arrived at <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549" target="_blank">Wilder Ranch State Park</a>. It's not far from where we were staying in Santa Cruz. There are hiking and biking trails there but obviously with four kids age 6 and under (we met up with Michelle and her kiddos again), not much of that was going to be happening. Plus, I was wearing flip flops.</div>
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We explored the old buildings. Unfortunately, we happened to visit on a day that they don't give tours and the historic home was locked. Drat. We just walked around the grounds instead. </div>
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I realize I've already said this but do you even know how happy it makes me to be wearing sweatshirts at noon on a sunny day in July (or August or whenever this was)? </div>
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VERY!</div>
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I'm not so sure Danny shares my excitement.</div>
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Once the kids found this amazing tree their spirits perked right up. Can you even imagine having this thing in your back yard? </div>
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It was a fun place to explore. Maybe next time I'll wear proper footwear and the tours will be running. </div>
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When we were leaving the kids were asking when we could go back. I'm pretty sure they only cared about that tree.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-25948594669039880492013-09-14T21:53:00.000-06:002013-09-14T21:53:28.671-06:00Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ISXspT4fqXmFKg7yOQMFxLmd1wgka4arWMcsC9CvDmxo1qih4TAwr7M6x2UHLdA5uK38XRySRXy_expzDhyphenhyphenD4ku3ok1Bvnz14jCU0Qd5ejj99dzzCvSxxp0Y6PLEGN8h4JgX8NsfW-Tl/s1600/covered+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ISXspT4fqXmFKg7yOQMFxLmd1wgka4arWMcsC9CvDmxo1qih4TAwr7M6x2UHLdA5uK38XRySRXy_expzDhyphenhyphenD4ku3ok1Bvnz14jCU0Qd5ejj99dzzCvSxxp0Y6PLEGN8h4JgX8NsfW-Tl/s800/covered+bridge.jpg" /></a></div>
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While we were on our vacation (yeah, almost 2 months ago but whatever, I'm doing the best I can) Dan found a park with a cool covered bridge. I feel like this picture makes my body look very long. Maybe it's the bridge. But the best part is that I wore a sweatshirt in July! That just makes my heart happy.</div>
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>>my bestie Michelle<<</div>
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After playing at the park for a bit we headed over to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. There's a train that goes through the forest (if you want to pay like $200 for your family to ride it) and a park with the goofy cut out photo op things. So we forced the kids to participate (in the goofy cut out things, not the train ride). </div>
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I love those ginormous trees. Nature is so amazing sometimes.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-87979275712120959662013-09-08T09:11:00.002-06:002013-09-08T09:12:45.335-06:00a day at the beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGMqih0tmaXobLrgsRZzpZEUFYVSK0vNsPuMpX-UsugzIJp1XnI6WgTOJxRc9ZZy50RoCwuAnL-eKDTRqo3zL_IW6ah84NtVSOmamroAz3aY9zhvBYcW52Pw96r9U4tfskebUsj-Fmxny/s1600/santa+cruz+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGMqih0tmaXobLrgsRZzpZEUFYVSK0vNsPuMpX-UsugzIJp1XnI6WgTOJxRc9ZZy50RoCwuAnL-eKDTRqo3zL_IW6ah84NtVSOmamroAz3aY9zhvBYcW52Pw96r9U4tfskebUsj-Fmxny/s800/santa+cruz+beach.jpg" /></a></div>
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That's all I've got. Taking pictures at the beach wasn't my top priority. Feeling anxious and completely unsettled because I was sure my kids (plus Jonah) were going to be swept out to sea took over my brain and the camera sat mostly untouched.</div>
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But it's ok because that first picture of Dan and Cate could not be any more precious to me.</div>
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I'll have that hanging on the wall poster sized some day. </div>
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If I could go to the beach under the cloudy Santa Cruz skies every day, I might not hate the beach so much. The sand is still a little annoying but I could get over it.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-5645157726597769222013-09-07T20:15:00.000-06:002013-09-07T20:15:29.989-06:00Gilroy Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVN5STRXs-KT94OZiuLpYUujRO4c6sS7l1SdH5b1iakCrGPotDJHKNG_GA1pHCGS6sYZdroVi6wgFoWqaPGZotp88Zc14QYqNsr5vZDXbkpUGub8Bc-hdi6_7rqCW3lUWglk9iYCCpJER/s1600/gilroy+gardens+paddle+boats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVN5STRXs-KT94OZiuLpYUujRO4c6sS7l1SdH5b1iakCrGPotDJHKNG_GA1pHCGS6sYZdroVi6wgFoWqaPGZotp88Zc14QYqNsr5vZDXbkpUGub8Bc-hdi6_7rqCW3lUWglk9iYCCpJER/s800/gilroy+gardens+paddle+boats.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ah, <a href="http://www.gilroygardens.org/" target="_blank">Gilroy Gardens</a>.</div>
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Sure, it's no Disneyland but I don't care. Don't tell anyone but maybe I love it more.</div>
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We went there on <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/08/gilroy-gardens-and-pleasure-by-seashore.html" target="_blank">our vacation last year</a> too. The kids loved it then and they loved it again. </div>
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Cate was tall enough this year to ride the artichoke all by herself. As you can see from her expression, that was quite thrilling.</div>
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The park is open from 11-5. We got there just before the gates opened. Of course we headed straight to a roller coaster since we knew nobody would be in line yet. </div>
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And then we rode that roller coaster.</div>
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Five times in a row without getting off in between.</div>
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Five.</div>
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That's a pretty cruddy picture but that's what you get when the teenage guy running the ride is your photographer. </div>
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I tell you what, five times in a row with lots of giggles and smiles and wheeeeeeeeee's is just about as awesome as it gets. I am so blessed to not have roller coaster sissies for kids. Seriously. I really can't wait for them to get big enough to experience Six Flags with me. </div>
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Cate was also tall enough to ride the spinning garlic bulb by herself. And then again with Danny and me. Twice I think. No spinning garlic bulbs for Dan though. He's really missing out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVupNppYTuMs25OqZ3iiIFBLamIyDDrl7z69RDrDDKpXJkvQp_OfwJQCuRD8Z7vF7VwnGYIw5OOqI4Q3Y9yPJz8JDmCjvT8try_a3bxQ2EGkcNSEmqNUHtxT2UOAgQRRywdYytLN5I3yqf/s1600/gilroy+gardens+hot+air+balloon+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVupNppYTuMs25OqZ3iiIFBLamIyDDrl7z69RDrDDKpXJkvQp_OfwJQCuRD8Z7vF7VwnGYIw5OOqI4Q3Y9yPJz8JDmCjvT8try_a3bxQ2EGkcNSEmqNUHtxT2UOAgQRRywdYytLN5I3yqf/s800/gilroy+gardens+hot+air+balloon+ride.jpg" /></a></div>
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Doesn't she just have the sweetest little face? I love that kid.</div>
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No fear with that one. Hands in the air and wheeeeeeeee the whole ride. Pure awesomeness.</div>
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We made it out of the park without seeing Gil the dancing garlic bulb.</div>
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Maybe next year.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-5303326965860606992013-09-03T01:24:00.000-06:002013-09-03T01:24:00.501-06:00it's called labor day for a reason<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMeJTZOKHHvaWaSsGnHE07sQQwsgQ89W_PjzL187DKi-FUJI1qIR90I89A33tM7g5NNq3N6OtD49W9LO4Xojkbf8sEioviCIz8s51CmwiuDPw_VGdhF_-_yB7BunYXk69JsLgqfGgPp67/s1600/labor+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMeJTZOKHHvaWaSsGnHE07sQQwsgQ89W_PjzL187DKi-FUJI1qIR90I89A33tM7g5NNq3N6OtD49W9LO4Xojkbf8sEioviCIz8s51CmwiuDPw_VGdhF_-_yB7BunYXk69JsLgqfGgPp67/s800/labor+day.jpg" /></a></div>
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A few days ago Danny asked me what this whole Labor Day thing is all about. I guess he figured it must be special since they get the day off school.</div>
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I told him it's like an end of summer celebration day. Telling a kid it's a day to celebrate people who work is kind of lame. He wanted to know what people do to celebrate Labor Day. I just said they go to parks and have picnics with their families. He thought that was a great idea. I knew he would which is why I didn't mention anything about going to the pool (which I'm pretty sure is a popular thing to do too).</div>
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I pulled up all my scraggly looking flowers and Dan chopped down a tree (how's that for some hard labor?) and somehow we made it all the way to dinner time (you know how they say the days are long but the years are short? they aren't kidding.) and our picnic at the park. Grama Bama and Grandpa came with us. We sat at the table wondering if there's a Labor Day parade somewhere with people dressed up as workers. Grama Bama thought there probably was one in Chicago with all the Irish people there. (Don't ask.)</div>
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Cate was grouchy because we had to wake her up to go. Danny just wanted to play basketball but there were other kids on the court for a while. We set up our chairs and just all sat watching other people play. Someone wondered out loud when the fireworks would start. (Don't ask.)</div>
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We came home and bedtime darn near killed me. If I turn up dead one day that will most likely be the cause. I know there will come a day when bedtime will be just fine and dandy because my parents have 4 daughters and they certainly don't worry about bedtime anymore. I might have to wait until I'm 70 but I know it'll come.<br />
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Happy Labor Day indeed (aka So Long, Summer!) </div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-10492919435571055202013-09-02T14:33:00.001-06:002013-09-02T14:33:40.117-06:00California Science Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3sMYweX1ER4al4DlAZeO_iZZ7_rgRJFRXg0arztIqG6w7rNYnQxRq46ZEj66IPebpZPsepLGBgqhCMkMW93WEcjCVk3DIezADnHLM93v-0NR7NSIf7E8AyfPgf-v-lPll_Ji8gMeplZk/s1600/california+science+center+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3sMYweX1ER4al4DlAZeO_iZZ7_rgRJFRXg0arztIqG6w7rNYnQxRq46ZEj66IPebpZPsepLGBgqhCMkMW93WEcjCVk3DIezADnHLM93v-0NR7NSIf7E8AyfPgf-v-lPll_Ji8gMeplZk/s640/california+science+center+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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The day after our <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2013/08/legoland-california.html" target="_blank">Legoland</a> <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2013/09/legoland-driving-school.html" target="_blank">adventure</a>, our friends took us to the California Science Center in L.A. They wanted us to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the other fun stuff there. The center is actually free which is awesome because it is huge and has lots of cool things to see and do. I remember going there on a field trip when I taught second grade our first year of wedded bliss.<br />
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As you can imagine, the Space Shuttle is huge. It's amazing to think that it was floating through space. Science is mind boggling sometimes. I don't think the kids were very impressed but I sure was.</div>
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We found a big wall of ice to pose in front of. If you stand there long enough you can make a hand impression. Or stick your finger in it and make a hole. It's pretty painful though. I must warn you.</div>
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We sat outside to eat our lunch and watch the pigeons. </div>
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Here's Cate with her possible future husband, Jonah. His dimples are adorable. I wouldn't mind being his mother-in-law in 20 years (or more but hopefully not less).</div>
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I just love this picture. Ashton's little hand on Cate's belly is too cute. Right before I took this picture Danny had been spinning himself around so that's why his eyes look a little kooky. We had a fun time with these little boys (and their parents too of course).</div>
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The kids spent the rest of the evening swimming in the backyard pool while the adults busted out some karaoke. It was fun to perfect our Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash duet of "Jackson." And Michelle and I had fun torturing the men with all the Les Mis songs we could find.<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5196166273673134634.post-69042578073062934042013-09-01T15:59:00.002-06:002013-09-02T13:57:57.035-06:00Legoland Driving School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The best part of <a href="http://theoldsfamily.blogspot.com/2013/08/legoland-california.html" target="_blank">our trip to Legoland</a> this summer was their driving school. I seriously could not get over the cuteness of it all. I think it has something to do with my love of miniature stuff. It was like a mini city with mini cars and mini stop signs and way too much cuteness for me to handle.</div>
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Danny is such a serious driver too. I hope he stays that way. The kids are divided up by age. Cate's group was on a different track that was just an oval. Danny's age group drove around the bigger streets that looked like a real city. There were stop signs and traffic lights that actually worked.</div>
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It was so stinking adorable to see all these little kids drive up to the red light and stop. Then they all just watched the light and waited to go until it turned green. It was all so orderly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXb79v_pfqF7wIvFsaQSmorQMKfMYCfKltbyaHS5BX4RrfG9coYkII29X3eRPThovM7nwW57YDwOfSwQV5HGoMzleD2LnqQxGEEa_gNbmHzv0xI_qZhbkTqD-wYNXYCxO_G2Zm0Q9xoZp/s1600/legoland+california+driving+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXb79v_pfqF7wIvFsaQSmorQMKfMYCfKltbyaHS5BX4RrfG9coYkII29X3eRPThovM7nwW57YDwOfSwQV5HGoMzleD2LnqQxGEEa_gNbmHzv0xI_qZhbkTqD-wYNXYCxO_G2Zm0Q9xoZp/s640/legoland+california+driving+school.jpg" /></a></div>
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There's a big empty lot behind our backyard. I started dreaming about buying it and converting it into my very own driving school for kids. Wouldn't that be great? I've also dreamed about having a big swimming pool back there and a little red schoolhouse where I could teach preschool. I dream big.</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11966944940244716284noreply@blogger.com2