I Am Fearless ...Sort of

Post VBS Bliss

2010-07-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Last year I was a big baby and blogged about the hellishness of having vacation bible school and swim practice on the same days. This year I grew up a little, which is good considering I turned 40 last month (more on that later). I enjoyed both VBS and swim practice tremendously and wouldn't have given up either one for more sleep, and that is saying a lot.We're talking over 2000 kids!Originally

All About the Husband

2010-06-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

...from the kids' perspectives.1. My dad's job is...to work with computers, paint walls, and cook dinner.2. He enjoys...going out with us, taking me out to Toys 'R Us, and talking to Mommy.3. Dad looks handsome when...all the time, he is at a meeting, and he is nice.4. His favorite dinner is...Mediterranean food, McDonald's, and chicken.5. The thing he likes best about me is...that I'm sweet,

The Last 3 Months

2010-06-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

There have been half a dozen times in the last couple of months that I started a post and then ran out of time to finish it. Or maybe that's just how my brain works now, a fleeting thought and then that's it.I could go on and on about what my life has been like these few months, but I think pictures would convey it best.Activity 1 - BaseballLittle boys dressed up to watch grass grow on the field.

Barfy Birthday

2010-04-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to tell my sisters how lucky I am to have my hubby. He's tall, dark, and handsome. Plus he's got genes for good teeth to pass on to my kids and evenly divided X and Y sperm. How lucky could a girl get?Oh, but there's more. Because this past weekend, he spent a good chunk of his birthday scrubbing out vomit bedding and clothing

Gratuitous Kid Picture

2010-03-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Not just because I have nothing to say but because I love looking at my kids and assume the whole entire world feels the same. addthis_pub = 'FearlessMom';

Why is the sky blue?

2010-03-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Everyday I walk four times to our neighborhood school: early in the morning to drop off my son, later in the morning to drop off my kindergartener, early in the afternoon to pick up the kindergartener, and later in the afternoon to pick up my son. Lucky for me we live in Southern California.I don't mind the frequent treks. The walks are a nice break in my otherwise agoraphobic existence. Nothing

Warts, Moles, and All

2010-01-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

This year I resolve to be less paranoid about having my picture taken. It's some sort of phobia that I have, except I can't find it on the official phobia list. Photophobia, the most likely candidate, is the fear of light, so that's not it. After screening down the whole list of P's, past pagophobia (fear of ice), papaphobia (fear of the Pope), and pteronophobia (fear of being tickled by feathers

A Bright Spot

2010-01-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

in an otherwise gray day.addthis_pub = 'FearlessMom';

My Way Back

2010-01-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

The reason I haven't blogged lately, despite having two kids in school, is because my mornings are occupied now. Mornings were the only time I could blog before because it was quiet, and my brain was alert after just awakening. It was and still is my best thinking time. I save that time now for something better. Someone better, I should say. Everyday, after walking off the grogginess in the brisk

The Long Road to Assertiveness

2009-12-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

1976:Kid #1 asks me something, Kid #2 responds, "Oh, don't bother, she can't talk." The school labels me as a mute.1979:All my friends abandon me because a girl claimed that I stole something of hers. I don't deny it even though it's not true.1987:The first boy ever in my whole life "likes" me. I end up going with him despite him being a total loser.1989a:The first

Update

2009-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's been so long, I don't even know where to start. I guess a quick update is as good of a place as any.My son started off public school really well. And by really well, I mean that he was only a shell of himself, with an alien on the inside. An obedient, quiet, and calm alien that all schools and teachers love. Not to fear - through willpower (he always did have

Our Halloween

2009-11-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

The kindergarteners on their trick-or-treating fieldtrip. Because the school knows there's nothing cuter than a bunch of kindergarteners.The princess holding up her underwear which kept sliding down.The brave dad who let his daughter paper mache his face to make a mask.The other princess.The superhero who ran around scaring the princesses and ended up breaking a nail.The baby monkey who had to be

A New Beginning

2009-10-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

First off, I apologize. I'm so very sorry for dropping off cyberspace suddenly without a word. I realize that my dear readers, all three of you, wondered if I perhaps died. Not quite but I'm sorry if I caused anyone to worry.At this point, I have to physically force myself to quit apologizing, because otherwise the husband will ask,"why do you keep apologizing?" He is very sensitive about me

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-09-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

Last week, my baby girl started school. For the first time ever. In her entire life.Sure, she went to speech therapy all last year. But those sessions were only 45 minutes each, and the therapist had to pry her off my leg almost every time. She's also been to Vacation Bible School twice, which is a week-long half a day program. The first time, she cried so badly when she glimpsed me walking by

Hail Patriot Day

2009-09-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, my boy and his troop went to raise the flag at our neighborhood school. That's one of the best things I like about the Boy Scouts of America, that they teach patriotism and love of country. As opposed to the fundraising, which I despise. I also adore their uniforms. My boy was not even born when 9-11 happened. But he and his troop are the hope that sprang from it's ashes. We

First Day of Homeschool

2009-09-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Here's how it went. The kids woke up at 10 am. An hour later, my oldest was sitting nicely at the table doing her math worksheets. My son was upside down on the couch chanting,"I don't wanna do homeschool, I don't wanna do homeschool..."I actually caved in and gave him the choice of going back to public school or homeschooling. Just tell me, which one do you want to

Summer I Hardly Knew Ye

2009-09-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Summer is over. I figured it out last night as I was busy cleaning out a year's worth of paper crap in our file. You know, the file that supposedly has all the report cards, school notices, and let's not forget the bane of homeschooling - records and logs. People see the nice flat surface of the file, which is the only clean flat area in the room besides the floor, and just start piling stuff on

My Life in Song

2009-08-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Six o'clock already I was just in the middle of a dream I was kissin' Valentino By a crystal blue Italian stream Back to life, back to reality Back to life, back to reality Back to life, back to reality Back to the here and now yeahWe've got to hold on to what we've got 'Cause it doesn't make a difference If we make it or not We've got

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Lazy

2009-08-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ahem, is this thing still on? Feels like it's been ages since I've had a coherent thought.Swimming ended about two weeks ago, and along with that, my drive to wake up in the morning. For the first time in maybe 3 years, we had nothing on our schedules. No school, no soccer, no swimming, no music, no agenda.It was such a shock to our systems after running around for so

The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

2009-08-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Before and After

2009-08-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

BeforeMy younger daughter has always had short hair. Her hair is thin and fine, so any untrimmed growth appears scraggly. At least, that is what my mother-in-law says. Any time my daughter's hair has grown out just a little bit, there my MIL was with the scissors.We would drop my daughter off to be babysat, and when we picked her up, her hair would be hacked off. It got to the point where the

A Different Take

2009-08-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

My turn, my turn! I do, I do!When Mommy and Daddy were running around the house throwing stuff all over the place, I had no idea that they were busy packing and loading up the car, and that I would have to sit in the carseat or stroller for a whole week. Good thing I don't like to walk on my own much anyway.The drive was kind of fun. I got to kick the dvd player and eat a lot of junk food (yummy

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

After the Grand Canyon, we drove straight home. But first we stopped in hell for dinner.This was in Needles, CA, the first city in CA on highway 40, which is the old Route 66. For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would choose to live here. Unless they're in the air-conditioning business.We sweated through dinner, as it was a balmy 90 degrees inside the restaurant. The

The Last Stop

2009-07-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

We drove through Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. I would love to tell you all about those states, except I mostly slept through it all. I'm like a baby that way: put me in a car, and I end up with my head tilted back and mouth wide open. Many a person has taken a picture of me like that, hoping to blackmail me or something. Hey, I freely admit that I have a lot of cavities in my mouth.In my

Good-bye Colorado

2009-07-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my animal-crazed son, no trip to a city is complete without a visit to the zoo.Baby Boy was better. He didn't throw up at least but refused to be happy for the camera or anyone. Almost two weeks later, he still hasn't recovered from the last part.Good-bye, Denver Zoo. You had some cool animals, especially in your tropical section. Your gorilla exhibit was very nice too, because it

Downtown Denver

2009-07-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

By our second day in Denver, my fever was gone and the kids were no longer entertained by Squeaker, so we decided to venture out. Of course, right before we left, the baby came down with the same bug that had hit everyone else and threw up. Two hours later, we finally left the hotel and headed downtown. By that time, tours for the US Mint were all filled up, so we decided to go across the street

Hello Colorado

2009-07-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

After Zion, we had intended to stop by Bryce Canyon and maybe Arches, but time ran short, what a surprise, so we had to skip them and drive straight to Denver. We drove through the entire state of Utah, pretty much, except for the big cities. Because of the landscape and possibly the insane heat, there weren't a lot of towns to drive through. We managed to find a McDonald's that was apparently

Hello Zion!

2009-07-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

On the first day of our trip, we drove. We drove some more. Then we stopped and let the kids run around. Then we forcibly strapped them all back in. Finally, we had to stop in Las Vegas to buy a DVD player. But not before we all melted in the parking lot.Travel tip: Don't ever, ever, EVER go to Vegas in the summer. Even if it is free.During all this excitement, my boy and I came down with the flu

On the Road

2009-07-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

I know you're just dying to hear about our time had the conference. And I will get to it eventually, right after I get home and stuff the knowledge back into my head review our notes. We're on a road trip right now. We left immediately following the conference, even missed the closing keynote speech just to get a head start on our trip. Good thing we did because we ran late anyway.I had my doubts

My Baby Sister (Emphasis on the Baby)

2009-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is my youngest sister. The one who used to stalk her crushees. The one I had to drag out of bed every morning in high school. The one who leaves all the bizarre comments, like your niece says meow. Today is her birthday. To commemmorate it, I offer two extremely rare pictures of her: her working, doing a chore. Even more shocking - twice in the same day! We never thought we'd see the day.

So-Called Date Weekend

2009-07-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

I'm excited. For the next two days, I will have the husband all to myself. With no kids. Wait, is that a foreign phrase? I repeat...NO KIDS! I know what you're thinking (get your head out of the gutter), and all I can say is I wish. Because this is no second honeymoon. Or even a dinner out.Today we're going to our first CHEA convention. It is not a convention

A New Love

2009-07-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

I am in love all over again.I have been secretly and not so secretly wishingAnd dreaming of the possibilitiesFinally, it's come true.I am in love all over againBecause you gave me my heart's desire.Because you are my heart's desire.

Fourth Fun

2009-07-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

We started our 4th of July with our traditional parade around the neighborhood.I'm laughing at all the poor suckers who walked the entire way. Getting a free ride on wheels is much better.Later on, we went to a pool party. I thought the kids would be tired of all that swimming. Not even close.We ended the day watching fireworks and passing out in the car. All in all a fun day. Hope your holiday

My Son's Take

2009-07-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

A few months back or maybe longer because I lose all track of time, my oldest girl answered these questions about me. I then posed these questions to my 6 year old son. I'm only posting them now because it took that long for me to drag the answers out of him. I can hardly wait till he's teenager.1. What is something your mom always says?I love you; Good night.2. What

Big Girl

2009-07-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

My baby girl turned 5 last week.She's going to start kindergarten in the fall. She who has never been to preschool. The closest thing to daycare for her was VBS. And I was her teacher. For the longest time, she was the baby of the family. We thought she would always be and treated her as such. Boy did she have a rude awakening.She's our girly girl. She loves to put on makeup I never realized I

My VBS Kids

2009-07-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

This is one of the girls from my VBS group. Isn't she adorable, with the most amazing eyes? I loved holding her hand as we walked from one activity to another. Unfortunately, my daughter did not. They argued frequently over who got to hold my hand or sit in my lap.There was another girl who liked just being teacher's pet; she also fought for my hand and lap. Then there was a boy who cried over

Suffer the LIttle Children

2009-06-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Back to my wonderfully mundane life where the kids sleep in and then wake up and do nothing, leaving me plenty of time to do the same.I love Vacation Bible School, but I love it even more that it's over. My son was the only one who thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. He asked me, "Aww, how come VBS is only a week?" I told him it was because

Where in the World is Pam This Week?

2009-06-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';Running around with 1900 kids at Vacation Bible School.

Snapshots of Fatherhood

2009-06-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to everyone! And most especially to the best father ever.addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

Summer of Swimming

2009-06-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Don't tell anyone but I've been a neglectful mother up till now. I have elected not to put the kids on a swim team for the past 4 years. As a result, our kids are the only ones in the entire county who don't know how to swim. In the desert climate of Southern California where Olympic athletes are born and bred for all manner of water sports, this is an egregious offense.So to avoid a visit from

I Will Rise

2009-06-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

The first time I heard Chris Tomlin's song I will rise, I thought, it would be perfect for my funeral. So I told the husband that if I die before him, please play this song at my funeral. He responded by rolling his eyes because he can't handle the thought of me dying. Or possibly he thinks I spend too much time on pointless thoughts.Now, I think of dying whenever

A Boy and His Sister 3

2009-06-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

Advice for College Applicants

2009-06-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Watch out, world, another Asian is headed for college. That would be my cousin who is finishing up his sophomore year in high school. He'll be a junior in the fall, otherwise known in Asian circles as the single most important year of a life. During the junior year, SAT's are taken, AP tests are taken and counted on transcripts, essays are written, and college

Fun at the Hardware Store

2009-06-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Not really. A trip to the hardware store is never fun. How could it possibly be when the husband takes a whole hour (I'm not exaggerating here) to find a part that matches his 2-inch blob? Even after I've walked around the entire store, he's still standing there in the aisle of doodads staring at his doodad.Then we get home and he realizes he got the wrong size.This time, I had the kids to keep

Almost 40

2009-06-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

I once thought by this age I would have it all down, that this would be the climax of my life. If 40 is all downhill, then 39 must be the peak, right? And sometimes, if I think hard enough, I do think I'm at my best ever. Except for my health, of course. And my ability to remember things. And my looks. And my...I used to be seriously insecure. Probably it had a tiny

Another Year, Another Brain Cell Gone

2009-06-06T10:25:00.001-07:00

This week I turned 39. Being 39 is like watching one of those long drawn out movie scenes where a clueless woman is showering, and there's a guy rounding the corner of the long empty hallway, not to mention some creepy music playing along with a heartbeat in the background. By the time the hapless woman is killed, you're like finally! It's

Favorite Camp Pictures

2009-06-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

This is the last post about our camp trip, I promise!One day into our trip, I was thinking how I was never going camping again. This was after a scurrying mouse freaked me out (ironic considering I used to dissect cockroaches) and hours of packing followed by hours of unpacking. It was my thought going to sleep as my baby twisted and turned on my body, trying to find a good spot to sleep. His

Our Camping Trip

2009-06-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Enough with the gabbing, let's see some pics!My daughter fishing. Unfortunately there were no fish in the pond.So she waded in and tried to catch fish directly using the net.Her baby brother decided to pitch in and help.Right after he scared the fish away by throwing rocks and sticks into the pond. They ended up catching quite a bit of seaweed.The family on a hike. Along the way, we picked up

On Camping

2009-06-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

We went camping this weekend. It wasn't complete camping. We stayed in a bunkhouse with beds, a common kitchen, and common bathrooms. In some ways, it was actually worse than totally roughing it. All the messes left by other campers attracted mice, flies, and ants. Plus, the other campers kept eating our stuff from the frig.Still, it was nice that we didn't have to pack a tent, although that was

Good to Remember

2009-06-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went camping. More about that later but for now all I have to say is what was I thinking.We went to Saddleback Church after we came home because they have evening services. Rick Warren preached (over the TV monitor) and reminded us of something important that bears repeating.Jesus never got angry at any unbelievers. He talked to them, let them walk

A Little Jealousy is Good, Right?

2009-05-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

The semester is officially over, thankfully. It has been a really, really, really tough one. Work took a surprising amount of time outside of class, time that I had to take away from the kids and the house. Even when I wasn't busy doing actual work, I would be thinking in the back of my mind all the things I had to do, and that took up precious remaining brain

My Mantra

2009-05-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

The first thing I do every morning when I wake up is pray. Right there in bed, which is why sometimes I fall right back asleep. I pray for the kids of course, but I also pray for my upcoming day. There's one verse that I always run through in my head but in a different version. I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not

So This is What Soreness Feels Like

2009-05-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday for the first time this entire year I exercised. Now that school is out, I couldn't find any more excuses to put it off, and I figured it was time to get some of my money's worth. I asked the husband to watch the kids, and he was more than eager. I know he's been wanting me to start exercising by the little hints he gives (eg. shouldn't you start exercising

My Baby!

2009-05-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

I have to jot these things down because he's changing so fast. Every day he's exchanging some of his baby sweetness for toddler tantrums. It is like watching Jekyll turning into Hyde.Each day I have to pick him up and let him play with the security console on the wall. He loves to flip the panel and push the buttons. While he's busy doing

How to Get an A in My Class

2009-05-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's final exam time! Time to start making up the exam for tomorrow. Also, time to start thinking about grades and what it takes to get an A in the class...1. Come to class.2. Take notes instead of watching The Office on your laptop.3. DO NOT CHEAT!4. Do not lie if caught cheating.5. Tell me I look too young to teach.6. Ask me if I teach anything else because you

Earthquake Survival with Kids

2009-05-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, we had a small earthquake, around 4.something. It was a nice one, as far as earthquakes go. We could definitely feel it but it wasn't scary. It was like being on a short ride...back and forth, back and forth, is it over yet?I've experienced earthquakes with the kids before, and I quickly gauged that this one wasn't worth the trouble. However, the

The Pain of Motherhood

2009-05-18T10:14:00.001-07:00

Pregnant women frequently ask me, how in the crazy world did you go through four pregnancies? Because my back hurts, my feet can't fit into their shoes anymore, I have acid reflux, I also have stabbing pains in the pelvis, I'm tired all the time, I'm throwing up all the time, I'm so sick of being ginormous...I used to be one of these

81 and Counting

2009-05-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Was it merely a year ago that we were living it up on a big ship in Cabo San Lucas? Must be, because my father-in-law just celebrated yet another birthday, his 81st. He's in great shape, still able to watch 3 kids by himself. Only one kid he can't manage, but then again no one can manage that kid, which is why he's the only one off at school during the day. The day my father-in-law can't babysit

Hillbilly No More

2009-05-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

The tooth fell out during dinner. She gagged and regurgitated it just for the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy couldn't find it but left $1 anyway. So there's a regurgitated tooth somewhere in her bedding. Hopefully our stayover guests will find it before our girl finds out the truth.addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

The Future of America, Part 2

2009-05-12T11:21:00.001-07:00

Actual conversation with a student who is about 5' tall, with blonde hair, a perky nose, cute freckles, and innocent appearance of a 10 year old.Her: Here's the lab assignment I missed last week. I went to another lab to make it up.Me: Oh, great. Which lab did you go to?Her: The one at 7 pm.Me: On which day?Her: Tuesday.Me: Hmm...who was

My Daughter's Take

2009-05-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

1. What is something your mom always says?Her: That she loves me.Me: Close runner-up...NO.2. What makes your mom happy?Seeing us everyday.Does she have insight or what.3. What makes your mom sad?When she knows she hasn't treated us very nicely.So true.4. How does your mom make you laugh?I know she makes me laugh but I forget how.I'm subtle

The Future of America

2009-05-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Newsflash about college students...they are sex maniacs. But then who isn't?Last week, during the genetics lab, the students had to simulate having babies with someone. A lot of giggling, a lot of innuendos, too much fun considering the subject. More giggling when I explained the prefix homo means same, as in homosexual and homozygous, and hetero means different, as

Our Little Star

2009-05-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

This week, students all over California are taking the state-wide test called Star, which helps somebody to rate the schools each year. The Star test sets a lot of the standards for school curricula. Teachers have to make sure that their students are ready for it, and they take some time each year starting with the second grade to prepare for it.I could care less how my daughter does on it and

Why I Love My Haircut

2009-05-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

1. Five inches off + tons of thinning = 10 pounds off my head.2. I can just fall back on my pillow and go to sleep without adjusting my hair over and over (this was the biggest annoyance).3. No more ponytail pain, for this week at least.4. The stylist did not cut herself and bleed on my hair, unlike the one from last year.5. It looked cute, even my students said so. Unfortunately, it doesn't look

8 Things

2009-04-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged with "8 things." Actually, I think she tagged another Pam, but what the heck, how many Pam's are there out there anyway.8 Things I Look Forward To1. The semester ending for work2. The next novel I'm going to read3. Our family vacation, which I'm supposed to be planning right now4. My next trip to Target5. Mother's Day because I told them to get me ice

Please God Please

2009-04-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

Every Guy's Favorite Word

2009-04-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Our church services have been covering a series about marriage. I just can't believe how timely God speaks to us. Usually I'm raving on and on about marriage (it elicits such a lovely response from my sisters), but if you were to ask me right now to rate ours, the score would be not very high. It's nothing major, definitely fixable, just another tale of a marriage

Easter Snapshots

2009-04-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, now I remember what we did over spring break, at least the events that were caught on camera.addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

I'm Back...Sort Of

2009-04-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

I'm back, just to say that spring break is way too short. They really ought to extend it by a week, especially since we were sick for half of it. I don't know if it's just me, though, because some of my friends were dying for the break to end. Their kids were running them ragged. I'm just more used to the craziness, since my kids are home more than other kids.Gee,

Random Thoughts

2009-04-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

1. The other day, I was griping to my mother-in-law about my crazy schedule. I told her that I overdid things this semester by taking on too much at work. Her response: yes, it's too much for Kevin to take care of all the kids that much by himself. Thanks for the sympathy, Mom.2. We love our charter school for many reasons but most especially because we get to go on

And He's Only in Kindergarten

2009-04-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

One day after school on the playgroundMy son to his classmates: this is my sister and other sister.Adam: they are your girlfriends!Everyone: K has a girlfriend, K has a girlfriend!K and his sisters are highly insulted and begin chasing everyone.******************************************************The next morning, K lines up behind Adam.Adam: K has a girlfriend!K:

Fun With Balls

2009-04-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

There's something different about my girls...what could it be?I know they're growing up fast, but this is ridiculous.addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';They didn't get the idea from me, that's for sure.

My Daughter Says Hola

2009-04-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

I know there will be much disappointment, but I have no soccer update for today (awww). Our game was cancelled without notice because we had no referee signed up. It's just as well, though, because my daughter would've missed it anyway.Instead, she went with her dad on her first outreach trip. They went to Mexico to help out at a children's home. The trip was

A Toddler's To Do at Sea World

2009-04-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Watch dolphins frolic from the perfect vantage.Horn in every picture and steal it.Walk every curb in the park without fear of cars.Attempt to climb the playground net, then just relax while Daddy carries you up.Lead siblings through tunnel by screaming and crying which way to go.Rest head for a bit while continuing to look at animals. Reject comfy stroller at all times.Sit on Mommy's lap during 3

Rebuttal

2009-04-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

My online rating as a teacher took a major plummet this week when a student gave me the lowest score possible across the board. I know exactly who wrote it because of her description. And it's not like I teach too many classes.This student had been caught cheating with her lab partners earlier in the semester. They copied someone's work verbatim, including the

Snippets

2009-03-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know I've been MIA lately. I'm on pseudo spring break at work, just off from one school. While we can't physically go on vacation because the kids are still in school, my brain has already taken off. Hence this post.1. The girls had another awesome game on Saturday. My daughter let in one goal as goalie but blocked a couple of crucial plays as defense. She took a

16 Years and Counting

2009-03-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

The husband and I celebrated our anniversary this week. 16 years of being together, 12 of those years in marriage. Dang that is a long time. I'm happy to say, we are way better now than when we first got married. That's because we were stupid and immature before. Luckily, marriage followed by parenthood has matured us. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for marriage,

Not About Me For Once

2009-03-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

I saw these questions over at a-nut-in-a-nutshell.blogspot.com and just had to steal it. It is all about my mom. She definitely deserves the spotlight.1. What is something your mom always says?The word eat. As in "what do you want to eat" or "did you eat" or "do you want something to eat" or "what do you want me to make you to eat."2. What makes your mom happy?

Terrible Two's

2009-03-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has hit our household. Again. I was really really hoping that one child would bypass this stage. Just one out of four, is that too much to ask? Apparently so. I know it's his way of expressing independence and growing into his own, but does it have to be so difficult? And loud? All of a sudden, he's throwing himself on the ground at the mere suggestion of

Soccer Rundown 1504

2009-03-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Another weekend has passed, and you know what that means. Another exciting soccer game for us, although not so much for the opposing team. Usually our girls are just warming up the first half and don't do that great. Then during the second half they kick into high gear, making goal after goal. If they haven't allowed too many goals during the first half, then we win.

Name That Tune

2009-03-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Feel free to listen to it all day long. Because I have to.

Yet More Proof that I've Lost My Brain Cells

2009-03-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ever since we got that truancy letter from my son's school, I've been very careful to wake him extra early so that we don't wind up late. I tickle him, bribe him, threaten to take him in his pajamas, and sometimes literally drag him out of his top bunk.Digression Warning: This reminds me of my high school days when I had to wake up my sisters and drive them to school.

Our So-Called Date Night

2009-03-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last night I went with the husband to a bible study on family life. It's the first time I've been able to go with him since September because I usually work during that time, but this week I'm on spring break. They should really really extend spring break.Anyway, the topic was handling conflicts in your marriage, like how to fight, and more importantly how not to. It

Scary But True

2009-03-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did my bimonthly volunteer stint in my son's kindergarten class. Once again, I was in charge of the students completing a phonics worksheet. And once again, I have renewed respect for teachers. I walked away from school in shock. Because I see now that the teacher wasn't kidding when she raved about my son being well-behaved and doing his work well. I

A Collective Groan Goes Up

2009-03-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

It begins again. The return of the soccer blog.addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

More About Me, Me, Me

2009-03-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

My sister told me that my posts are a little lackluster lately. This is the same woman who sent an email to the whole family saying that she's going to starve to death just because my mother is going to Texas for two months. But she does have a point. My life seems a little boring lately. Of course boring is good compared to my friend whose daughter fell off the

Reason 2478 Why We Love California

2009-03-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Wild Animal ParkSad that the cheetahs are so inbred that none of them show any immune reaction to skin graftsThe best seat in the parkaddthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

My Son the Truant Scholar

2009-03-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, my son's kindergarten teacher flagged me down after school. I thought, uh oh. Much to my amazement, she raved about what a great student he is, how well he listens, reads, and does his work. I looked at her suspiciously, like she had some ulterior motive for telling me this, then asked her,"Are you sure you're talking about the right kid?" After all, she is still relatively new

The Secret to Your Child's Success

2009-03-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I usually don't quote passages straight out of books, but this one touched me."More than anything else, it is love that separates those who thrive in life from those who do not. Love is the main ingredient of the recipe that makes for happy adults. So revel in your love for your child. Enjoy your child. Spend as much time together as you can. Have fun with each other.

The Language of Friends

2009-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from an actual conversation between two old friends...Grace: Have you talked to Susan lately?Lisa: Nooo!Grace: But wait...Lisa: NOOOO!Grace: Amy is so mad at her.Lisa (jumping up and down): NO WAY!Translation: Susan, who already has 4 kids, is pregnant. With twins. They're both boys, which is why her only daughter is mad at her.addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

The First Time

2009-03-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

On Facebook, people are always passing around one survey or another, like 25 random things about yourself (sorry, that is too hard for me).Here's one I can answer because it's all about the birth of my firstborn.1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Joy. Then went out and checked out every single book on

Scenes from the Weekend

2009-03-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, a tornado did hit. Two tornadoes, actually, ages 2 and 4. They had freedom over the house like they've never had before. Their dad and two older siblings were out of town, while their poor tragic mommy mostly slept on the couch with a 103 degree fever (that is what dying must feel like) from strep throat.I learned a couple of things through my suffering: (1) the human body is an amazing

Conversations

2009-03-02T06:54:00.000-08:00

Over dinner the other day, my parents grilled me about my marriage. On one hand, it's kinda sweet because they clearly have an attitude that the husband is not good enough for me. On the other hand, I wish they'd let it go, as we've been together almost 16 years already. They asked me if I would take back the husband if the husband ever cheated on me. I didn't even

Is That a Typo?

2009-02-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

No, it's not a colossal typo. It's a golf line by Nike. The previous line fell under Ball Go Far, and some genius within Nike decided to market the new line to be fun (funner, as they would say) and light-hearted. Apparently, improper use of language conveys funness. Farer! I don't even know her! addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';

What Makes Me Drool

2009-02-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

addthis_pub = 'KennyMoney';addthis_pub = 'KennyMone

How Not to Cheat

2009-02-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I busted a group of students for cheating. They had copied someone's lab word for word, right down to the grammar and spelling mistakes. Their excuse was that they're lab partners, so naturally they would have the same answers. I might have let them off with a warning, except they had filled in the answers for this one activity that we ended up omitting.

Oscar Movie Guide

2009-02-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I hung out with some old friends. I stuffed myself insanely, only to find out too late that our next stop was dessert. But did that stop me? Nooo. Soon afterwards, we went shopping and tried on some clothes. I wonder why I never realized two simple things: (1) never go clothes shopping right after eating, and (2) clothes shopping is a really good motivator

Message From Our Daughters

2009-02-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

One of the most touching parts during this last conference was a segment where the teenage daughters of the speakers got onstage and shared what their mothers did right. There were about 5 or 6 of them, ranging from ages 13 to 18, and they all praised their mothers. (What planet are these girls from?)From all their different talks, one thing stood out as being the

The 10th Shot

2009-02-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

My current project, besides everything I have to do for home and work, is selecting and organizing pictures for our 2008 Photo Book. There are so many pictures! And since I took virtually all of them, I love them all, even this one where only one kid is looking into the camera (but of course not smiling).My purpose in doing this is so that I can whip out the Photo Book at the first sign of

Cult of the Knitters

2009-02-18T10:02:00.000-08:00

It's been two weeks now since the conference but I'm not done sharing about it. I haven't even mentioned the uniqueness of the setting. Like how cool it was to be surrounded not just by homeschoolers but God-loving homeschoolers. Out of the 500 or so attendees there, nobody was interested in training their kids for spelling bees or early college admission. And no one