Happy HALLOWEEN and HAPPY Birthdays

Three years ago, I walked into my OB/GYN and said I think I am pregnant. I had the home test to prove it. He says come back on this day and we will get a ultra sound to check how far and a heartbeat. I say great, bring it! I had been through this before, no sweat, and for the husband, babe, don't come to the first appointment, all it is going to be is the set up, ultra sound and find out how many pounds I am not supposed to gain. Later on I will need you to come but no worries, I know what is coming.

Appointment day arrives, I bid my co-workers a goodbye and say see you in an hour, just going to get a check up. A round of good lucks, and just as I am walking out the door I hear, "you know you may have twins". I say "yeah right, in your dreams" well, no one told me that a prophet was housed in my office. The seer of seers. I confidently walk into the office, strip, hoist myself up and into the ever loving stirrups, girls you know what I mean. Ready. Waiting. Letting the wahoo hang out there for the world to see. Looking at the great mobile on the ceiling thinking this is going to be nice for Em, she will have someone to be close to, not be the only kid, perfect, a family of four. I think I am ready. Doc says hey you look good, the test is confirmed now walk over and have this highly trained professional wand the wahoo and get some pictures of the little money maker. GREAT! LET'S GO!

I dress, strip again and wait. Hi, how are you? Oh I see Doc wants these pictures, how long since the last, how you feeling, ok this is going to be a bit cold, hold still, click buttons, punch pictures, ok Ms Whimsy, here is the heart beat, good and strong and here is the heartbeat of the second baby, excellent.

What? You must be mistaken, what did you say? Two, no, no, no, no, no, you must be pulling my chain. Two?! There can't be two, you mean one, just one, right? "Ms. Whimsy, I NEVER pull any one's chain, now you either be still or I will have to use the wand". There it was, in picture, two, count them, two little spaces with two little peanuts housed in their own room. There was not a peep out of me except the rush and the tears rolling out of the corner of my eyes. Two. Two. Two. I am having two babies.

Now, my babies are three years old. It seems like yesterday, I held these little precious loves in my arms. Three, I can't imagine my life without them. Em, I know now you will always have someone, I love you so much and this is as much your birthday as theirs.

Now lets rewind a bit, try 27 years ago, I am 12 going on 13, I have been demoted from only child to middle child in less than a year, my cousin came to live with us and frankly I was a total BEASTLY BRAT to my cousin, I am not proud but very sorry for that cousin. It's three o'clock in the morning and I have been awaken by my grandma to say, you have a little brother!

Can we trade him for a girl? I wanted a girl, I told mom I wanted a girl, why is it a boy? Pissed to say the least I had a brother, what the hell am I going to do with a brother?

No worry folks, he grew on me, threw up on me, drew with permanent marker on all my bedroom furniture, telephone, books, umbrella, whatever didn't move. I am totally in love with my little funk soul brother.

He is amazing and he has crossed over the quarter of a century mark. He celebrated his 27th birthday with the kids and I could not have ask for a better uncle to my children. I love his so much for that. Ladies, huh? Good Looking, single, good with kids. Let me know.

Part of the festivities was a trip to the zoo for the annual tradition of the Howl-o-ween event. The kids get to dress up and learn about animals. Perfect for the kids they had a ball, here are some snap shots. Tonight I will take more pictures, this will be their first year to trick or treat around the neighborhood. Happy Halloween Everyone!

One down, 19 to go

Can you believe it? This little face is growing up and she has lost her first tooth. Oh man, I was not ready. I knew it was loose but the dentist said don't get too excited, it could take up to six months, it's only been 6 weeks. Maybe she was looking at the wrong calendar. I have been told, but have no proof that kids baby teeth drop out in the same order they came in.

She could not be more proud of the gaping hole in her smile. Oye, time moves so fast when you are not looking. One down, 19 more to go!

Feast your eyes on this beauty!

Be prepared to laugh out loud

This may be the funniest thing I have seen to date. I thought I may share a laugh after all the seriousness.

See more Bill Murray videos at Funny or Die

Love is Everywhere

This is an unusual moment for me, I don’t like to take my political thoughts and put them out there. If I do discuss what I am thinking I do so in a close circle of friends. However in this case, this is just not political, this is personal.

This election year is full of words and no answers. I am thinking, how is this any different than any election year, the pontificating, hammer banging, I think I even saw a shoe come out. The soap boxes are lining the streets. I have carefully placed my soap box and I am ready to orate.

Back a few years, about eight to be exact, the considerate and thoughtful voters of this state, in efforts to moralize this country back to decency, decided to it would be in the best interest of the “moral, ethical fiber” of this country to only recognize the “institution” of marriage between a female and a male. As we all know, males and females are the only individuals who can provide a loving, happy, balanced home, right?. Are you ready to hurl yet? I think I just puked in my mouth. Fortunately, the Supreme Court had an epiphany and remembered one of the “radical” foundations of this country, we as a people fought so hard for:

”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. “

My point to all of this is to get back to basic speak. I want to share with all of you how offended I am that there are still people in this country who are intolerable and not accepting of where love chooses to reside. Proposition 8 is narrow-minded, hyper religious rhetoric, chipping away our basic bloodshed freedoms of the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

Relationships are hard, and everyone is in one. Between parents and kids, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, grandfathers, friends, co-workers, bosses, cats, dogs, the local barista at the Starbucks (trying to order there is almost impossible for a coffee neophyte like me), listen I don’t have a clear cut answer. I just know that in my relationships, I have to work hard to keep them happy and healthy. I have kids and a husband, my home is no more important than another family who may have two fathers or two mothers, one mother, one father, one grandparent, aunt, or uncle for that matter. In fact, I believe families who are outside the beaten into our heads; institutionalized “norms” of this society are awe inspiring.

Every day is a struggle and if you have a person in your life you can count on, rely on, trust, love, be a partner with, figure things out together than BRING IT! That stability of a loving family, and I mean every combination of people who make a family THAT is what makes us as human race strong. I am not so arrogant as to say I KNOW what Love should be and who should only be allowed to express the feeling. Look in Merriam Webster Dictionary, there are four different definitions of the word marriage; what they have in common ARE THESE words RELATIONSHIP, UNION, MUTUAL RELATION OF INDIVIDUALS, INTIMATE OR CLOSE UNION, JOINED. My goal for my kids is for them to find someone who respects them, loves them, cherishes the gifts they can bring to the relationship, and hopefully can inspire the same in their partner. Love the heart, love the person, it does not matter the gender. They are my children and I will love them and welcome their partners.

This proposition is an attack on our unalienable rights. This proposition is an attack on acceptance. This proposition is an attack on tolerance. Sure, there are some who will come back at me and ask me if I am accepting and tolerant of child abuse, molestation, rape, murder. On those issues in our society, no I am not. Inflicting pain, whether it is physical or emotional is not ok with me. Nor should those acts be in any situation, but tell me, how those acts of violence compare with a home and relationships which is nurturing, stable, and may or may not have same gender couples? A happy home, a happy relationship is just that. It is not defined by gender and should never be. Vote NO on 8, you will be glad you did.

Thus end my oration.

Day trip to H*E*Double Hockey Sticks - Part 2

We travelled, miles, minutes, seconds. Across the dry brush land, hoping for a sign. The sign of obedience, the sign of others, the poor unsuspecting families caught in the valley triangle of Cal Trans maintenance schedules. Will we ever find our way out?


Eye spy with my little eye.................Nothing



Whahhh, oh wait........... Nothing.


After several failed attempts of Eye Spy with three year olds, folks, this game only partially works for kids this young, because you get stuff like, "I spy with my little eye, something that is big, green and is a tree. ok guess mommy". Uhhhhhhh. A tree? :o) Oh Sweet Jesus, there it is, we are 10 minutes away!


The crowd is pleased. The gallery squeals!



Finally we have landed! The Spookamotive is waiting for us to board! Look, Look kids! Look at the decorations, oooohhhhh how sppooooky! Are you all ready to get aboard?




Yes Mama!


Does this pose work for you? Yes, ma'am I am ready!


What?! Get on? The train? That train? You have got to be kidding me!


This is where you want me to go? Are you serious? Have you lost your ever loving mind? When is the last time you had your eyes checked? "Why in August Itsy Bitsy. Why do you ask?" She says, have taken a look on the ceiling? You do know you can permanently scar me emotionally, oh there are other kids on the train.


After many minutes of convincing, and several "trust me's" we boarded. Finally, after hours of travelling a distance that only should have been maximum of 40 minutes. The Big Easy was happy. Transfixed by the scenery, the movement, the promise of treats from the wonderful "skeleton crew".




Sisters, what sisters? Is there anybody else on the train?


No better friends than sisters.



More evidence for Itsy for her emotional scar suit.


Pure bliss of a boy and his "train"



and his "loco"motive engineer



The kids were treated with wonderful balloon swords and belts. Perfect for what was to happen next. Poor dad, he never saw it coming. This might be a preview of what is to happen when they are teenagers. Lawrd help us!




Say the ole man, he still has some moves. Kinda sexy, whoa, did I say that out loud?


After many hours of fun, ice cream, horse carriage ride, hot links, and hi jinks we finally made the smooth ride home. Look, all clear and just in time for family dinner and movie night. Oh, we did let grandma ride IN the car on the way back even though she got kind of squirrely earlier. We gave her a stern warning and told her to start acting her grandma age. Geesh, a woman her age should not be getting her lip pierced.



Tune in for our next adventure of the former "so sad, too bad family" to the "wholly cow it's two day til Christmas family and we have NOT even begun to shop for gifts family".

Here is a teaser.........................

Day trip to H*E*Double Hockey Sticks - Part 1

Started innocently enough, just a simple family trip to have fun with the kids and secondly have fun with the kids. We packed the grandma up, strapped the kids to the seats, snacks, drinks, blankets (we NEVER leave home without the blankets) and for the most part relatively good moods. Oh and yes, grandma did have her own seat, we tried the luggage rack but it makes her hair look crazy and the bugs don't help either. Off we go, family fun day, no pressure on time, piece of cake yeah? See, here is a picture to prove the ease in which I was riding in the van.

B-Man giving me blue steel. You may ask "What is blue steel?" to which my reply will be "something that comes from the coal mines in Pennsylvania with Jon Voight". Look it up, it's true and that Ben Stiller verified it in his movie.

The Boy given the grandma kisses. Yes, he gives kisses by rubbing his noggin, I say what happened to the lips boy?

A view of the big truck riding ever so graciously 3 second rule behind our vehicle. Thanks big truck or as my brother used to say "Big Fruck", now that I think about it, he may still say that and that we all must salute the colonel. Ask him sometime.

My dear little itsy bitsy, with the startled deer in the headlights. This look is only to lull you into submission, she waits until the time is right to strike.

Then I saw this for 45 minutes. As well as .....

This and ........

Inching our way, every second was multiplied by 60. I could see the route of our escape so painfully just out of my reach.

Wait I can see the turnoff......


Ok, I think I can breathe again, maybe we will roll faster than 5 miles per hour so I say let me take a look at the ole gps unit.


What the HELL? We left early? Are you kidding me? Another hour in the car? Kiss my ever loving grits, this is unacceptable.



WILL THEY EVER MAKE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION? WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THIS UNSUSPECTING FAMILY? STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE OF THE SO SAD, TOO BAD FAMILY!