Coronas, trains and paints

I'm just going to preface this with the fact that this is a bunch of rambling. And pictures. And stuff.

This weekend was so relaxing. We initially had planned to go to Camarillo to visit family, attend a birthday part and go to a bridal shower...but then we got tired and didn't. Of course we wanted to attend those things, but we just felt like we'd had a lot going on recently, so we chose to instead enjoy a weekend with very little commitments.

We pretended to have friends again on Friday and it was so fun! In fact, we might aaaactually have made friends with a family; nevermind the fact that they are twice our age and have children only a few years younger than me. We went over to their house for dinner on Friday night and it was so nice to have a long conversation with someone not obligated by relation (aka, my sister or husband, who both live with me).

On Saturday, we randomly went to a kids' fair at the park, but it was so hot we had to run home and play in the sprinklers! My brother came over and so the three of us made lots of funny faces together.

For my brother Mikey who is hopefully, finally getting out of the Navy in July...

Because it was so hot, we bought an above ground pool. It's still not done filling up because there's like, 2349828309 gallons of water that have to be put in. Last night we were so excited to have it that we busted open some Coronas, suited up and sat in the six inches of water that had filled. Our water bill might be somewhere around $2,349,828,309, too, but at least we'll be cool!

In other news, Jonas is officially rolling over from his stomach to his back and eating oatmeal now and is an old man, or at least it feels like he's aged light years in the last few weeks. He's doing all sorts of new things like grabbing at toys and cracking himself up. It's so weird how different my babies were and how different I am as a mother...more on that later.

Yes, those are homemade pop tarts. Yes, I will be posting a recipe. Yes, they are delicious, except - shocker - Adrian didn't like them because the crust was too "wheat-y," aka, he hates whole wheat flour. Because he's a brat and balks at healthy crap.

Now I'm just desperately awaiting news of where my college besty/soul mate is planning to relocate. She lives near my in-laws and I haven't spent nearly enough time with her lately, which totally depresses me. It's sad how you take for granted their presence, thinking that they'll always be there, until they aren't...sad face. She may or may not be moving across the country and as much as I want her to stay in California, going to New York would be such an amazing adventure - one that I think if I was presented, Adrian and I would probably go. I've already been checking out the cost of flights to visit if that's where she chooses...

Oh yeah, we're thinking about starting an Etsy shop because I was browsing all of the cool furniture stuff and kept saying "Adrian, you could totally do this!" "And this!!" "Oh, and make me this!!" He's actually gotten pretty great at wood-working and some of the stuff on there that was extremely similar to what he's done was selling for like 234234x the price it takes to make it. Seriously.

This headboard?

It's not crooked, it's my inability to take pictures, by the way. He made it for like $80 bucks including hardware, wood and wood stain. On Etsy, something like this sells for $500+. So we'll see. It could be fun.

Anyway, if you've made it to the bottom, kudos to you. This really was just a compilation of crap. Tell me about it Tuesday WILL return tomorrow...the past two weeks have just been too busy/I'm forgetful.

I'm headed off to the vag doctor to ensure that I won't be having any babies within the next five years and let me tell you, I am quite excited.

Happy Monday, folks.

Sending my baby to preschool

We've been ready to send Gabriel to preschool for about three months now, give or take. I've been the one spearheading this whole thing, calling school after school, getting quotes, taking tours and making sure we were sending him to the right place.


In fact, I've been really excited to have some "free" time in the morning (there's still Jonas, but at least he takes less brain work) to do housework, shopping, catching up on shows, etc.

This morning I called the school we chose and asked them if it would be okay for me to drop off his application and a check so he could start next week.

Let's just say, I was very unprepared for my feelings as soon as I got into the car to drive over to the school. There were butterflies. Lots of them! And some major second guessing going on in my head. What if his teacher sucks? What if the kids at school are mean to him or teach him bad things? What if he cries every day that I leave him and I have to feel like an awful, mean parent for making him go?

When he went to daycare, I knew the woman who watched him and she was fabulous. We were totally lucky to have her. I knew some of the kids who went and I felt like I had a little control. Once he walks away from me and into that school next week, he is out of my bubble of protection, left vulnerable to the world of baddies (and goodies). How am I to keep him safe and innocent - my baby?

He starts on Wednesday and I know he's nervous, too. He was shy when we went today, not wanting to talk to anyone, and that makes this even worse. Maybe this is a sign. Maybe he needs a few more months at home, sheltered, with me so I can keep him snuggled under my wings for just a a little longer.

But maybe it means that he needs to stretch his boundaries a little, establish himself outside of me and this little pocket of sunshine that I've kept him so safely tucked into. I have a feeling I'll drop him off and he will cry a little, maybe a lot, but by the time I've picked him up with his belly full of lunch, he'll cheerfully hop into my car and tell me about all the cool, fun things kids do. And I'l totally be happy wit that.

Be warned though, if on Wednesday morning from 8am - 12:30pm, you speak to me and I'm a weepy, sobby little mess - you know why.

*Side note, maybe some of you have seen this already since I've seen it posted three or four times around, but I couldn't help but share because just, wow. This is how I feel about Gabriel. Like I can feel his life speeding by me and before I know it, he'll be 12 years old. It made me laugh and smile and then cry and then put an emotional pit of something gooey in my tummy that I can't explain.

The naggies

It has been brought to my attention that I have recently had a major case of the naggies. Let me explain...

Jess, can you grab my wallet out of my pants over there? I'm sorry honey, I cannot find your pants because they are not in the laundry basket where they belong. (When in fact I'm looking at them sitting next to the laundry basket)

Wifey, do you know where my boots went? Why don't you try the front basket where I move them every single night since somehow you don't know where they belong?

I know, the bitchiness is kind of astounding. I annoy myself just typing out some of my responses. Anyway, nag does not work. Well, sometimes it does but it takes about 234,984,023 tries and then we're both angry with me because I repeat myself so often my voice gets to be...annoying.

I'm afraid if I keep it up, this might be my husband:

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Okay, not really. But I really don't want the thought to cross his mind. And I also really don't want him to think I'm ungrateful for him because frankly, he's pretty awesome. He clothes us, feeds us (indirectly), pays our bills and carries the load around here. As much as I do, he is the one who enables me to be at home with the babies and if it weren't for him, I would have gone back to work as soon as Jonas was starting to get all cute and fun. I would really be missing out.

So I'm going to try to put the naggies away for a while. A loving wife does not use attitude or meanness to get her way, nor does she make her hub feel bad about himself. That's what I want to be, so it's what I have to do. It's not going to be easy.

Please tell me I'm not alone. Anyone else have a case of the naggies?

Beginning each day with intention

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One of my struggles as a stay-at-home mom has been finding a routine, getting into the routine, and then sticking with it. I have an awful habit of starting my day without a plan and then being disappointed at the end of the day when I've realized I've accomplished nothing.

This off-the-cuff attitude is great every now and then, but living like this daily means a perpetually messy, disorganized house and a bored, lazy toddler. Neither are things I like and I'm vowing to change my ways.

Several years ago, I started reading a blog called Money Saving Mom and she talks a lot about setting goals, both daily and weekly. I scoffed at her, thinking that it is so easy to accomplish "stuff" during the day when you're at home. Clearly, I was working because I had no idea how hard it really is to keep a clean, happily cared-for home while managing children and a husband.

Up until recently I used the excuse that I had a newborn (who is no longer new) and he didn't sleep ever (which he now does), but I've used up all my reasons why I cannot properly care for my home. In an effort to be more intentional with my day, I've started to brainstorm things I want to accomplish, writing them down or making a mental note, and then here's the shocker...doing them.

Some of the items on my list have been finishing up projects that I've had lying around while others are general cleaning tasks that need to be taken care of around the house.

Here are some of the things I've accomplished in the last few days:
-Clean out the junk drawer in my kitchen
-Organize all of my jewelry and finish the jewelry holder project
-Sweep and mop the kitchen
-Vacuum upstairs
-Clean all bathrooms thoroughly (I have 4 - it sucks so I put it off)
-Begin organizing my pantry - my goal and obsession

Yes, I used to keep my jewelry in a wipes case.

I am going to start posting regularly about how things are going in terms of how I am choosing to live with intention each day. I want to bring organization, cleanliness, ease and happiness to my home and I think this is the answer. We'll see how this goes!

Is there anything in your life or daily routine that could use a little more intention and a little less habit?

Vacation blues

We're happy and sun-kissed and home safe from Mexico, but I think we're all suffering from the vacation blues. You know when you need an extra day to recover from your vacation? That's us.

We're moving a little slower and I've pushed my to-do list to tomorrow because I just can't seem to get moving today. I'm downing the coffee likes it is nobody's business and Gabriel is utterly exhausted, so much so that he slept in until 8:00am. Poor Adrian had to go out to San Diego to meet with his bosses and is starting a caffeine drip to get through the day.

But it was all worth it. Our weekend was so relaxing and fun and full of good food and friends. It was a great way to celebrate Adrian's 30th year of life and I'm just so thankful to have such a sweet and amazing husband.

Today, it's back to reality...

How was your weekend?

Cars suck, seriously

I took us three hours to get home from San Diego today. Basically, we could have driven almost all the way to Camarillo in the amount of time it took us to get back to our house, all because cars suck.

I'm honestly so sick of dealing with car drama, I would almost consider taking public transportation, but then I remember that there are stinky people and I have a toddler and infant. I'm pretty sure it might be an even uglier experience than having a non-functional car with no headrests.

Wait, I mean it's functional. Sometimes. As in, it drives at 45 miles per hour as long as we stop every 20 miles to add water to some tank because there's a leak. Or a broken hose. Or a fuse or something. And it does have headrests, it's just apparently taken the stereo people five weeks to insert the screens for the DVD player. You really don't realize how much you enjoy the comfort and pleasure of headrests until they're missing, believe me.

On the plus side, my new navigation system is kick. ass. Bomb.com. Cooler than your mom (not my mom, because she's really cool). It'll be even bomb-er.com-er when I have my headrests and can actually play movies.

They're coming soon...I think.

This one time we went to Salvation Mountain

Adrian won a job out in Niland when we first moved out here. After driving out there a few times, somebody took him to the Slabs. It's a place out in the middle of the desert where people go to get off the grid, maybe run from the law, lead a simpler life or simply because they've been forced into it due to poverty.

There is no electricity and they live off of solar or none at all. A truck comes out weekly to sell fresh water to the squatters who have made the area their home. It gets its name from the old concrete slabs that are leftover from a World War II marine barracks.

One of the most unique things about this area is "Salvation Mountain," an art installation that covers a partially man-made, partially natural hill at the entrance to Slab City.

Believe it or not, this little "oasis" out in the desert has been highlighted in several movies, most notably is one of my favorite movies, Into the Wild. Not only is the movie totally inspiring, but it also has the best soundtrack ever!

If you haven't seen it, I absolutely, 100% recommend watching it right this second. I wish I would have been Alexander Supertramp in another life, minus the whole depressing ending, but I won't spoil it for you. Go. See it now. But watch this clip first...

I love the love story he talks about. I love the quotes and scripture that spread across the mountain. I just love it.

This is where the creator, Leonard, lived while he built the mountain.

We've been out there to look around and the most recent time we went, we spoke to one of the Board members who told us about a small art exhibit in the little "city," so of course we had to check it out!

We brought Jimmy along this time. 

It is made of found art so there were displays made of old wine bottles, shards of glass, plastic ducks, even some small action and other figurines! It was interesting to see how most of the things we would have considered to be trash were used to create rather beautiful displays.

We had such a great time checking everything out!

What do you think? Pretty cool, right?

Light-ish Buffalo Chicken Dip

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My cousin, Leslie, introduced this dip to our family several years ago and I just loved it, but kind of forgot it existed for a while. Then, a few weeks ago my mom decided to bring a lightened-up version of it to my Nana's birthday and I rediscovered my love affair...

I brought this to our Easter picnic at the park with my in-laws last weekend and it was hit; in fact, it was gone by the time I had planned to go back for seconds. It's so simple to make and just takes a few minutes in the oven, you just can't go wrong with it. 

Ingredients

1 package light cream cheese

1 16oz. container fat free sour cream

Approximately 1/2 to 1 cup of Frank's Red Hot Sauce

1 ready made rotisserie chicken (you could make your own or do several chicken breasts but hello, we're talking easy)

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella + some sprinkled on top

1/2 cup cheddar + some sprinkled on top

Cucumbers, celery and chips for dipping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shred entire chicken into small pieces and set aside. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, Frank's Sauce and and both cheeses together until smooth and blended. Add the chicken and mix well. Smooth into dish, sprinkle a small (or liberal?) amount of extra cheese on top and pop into the oven. I didn't time it but if I had to guess, I would say it was in there for about 15 minutes, just enough to melt the cheese well. I made this to fit shallowly in a 9x13 dish but you could make it in something smaller so it was thicker, it's really up to you. I'm not sure of the points, but I would guess somewhere around 4 points for about 1/4 cup or so?

Serve with cucumbers, celery and chips - smother, eat and repeat!

Happy Friday!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. We'll be enjoying lots of baby giggles...

I dream of travel

Some days, especially while browsing Pinterest and checking out pictures of luscious landscapes or glistening waterfalls, I get this urge, more like need, to travel.

There are so many landmarks I want to see, so many unknown streets I long to discover, so many fields I want to run through...

Before I had Gabriel, I had dreams of moving away, out of California, to places like London, Boston, Seattle, Australia, really anywhere new.

We haven't really had the opportunity to travel since having the boys, but someday I want to go back to Europe with Adrian.

Today, I'm longing for this...

Greece
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Italy
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Turkey
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Arizona
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Peru
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What are you daydreaming of today?

Parenting, the second time around - Part 2

I've learned a little bit about baby rearing lately. Mostly that a cup of coffee can cure anything. And locking myself in my room for five minutes alone is as rejuvenating as taking a whole hour.

Here are a few more things I have picked up along the way:

• Putting a baby down while you do something else is OKAY. When I moved into Nana's house at the time we moved down from Ventura, she reality checked me by telling me to putthatbabydownrightnow. I was convinced that he needed to be in my arms all the time, that he wouldn't be well-adjusted if I let him fuss on the ground, or something like that. What really happened was that he didn't ever want to crawl, and God forbid he cruise/walk on his own. Jonas is leaps and bounds ahead of him and I think it's because I let him be by himself every once in a while. 


• Babies are not breakable, they can handle a lax routine and they're kind of like clay. As in you can mold them, make them do what you want. When I had Gabriel, I was always at the mercy of his mood and nap schedule. I need groceries? Oh, the baby is napping, can't go. Have to meet a friend for coffee? Too bad, he's in a crappy mood, can't leave the house. I don't know if Jonas is more relaxed than Gabriel is, but we just go. We just do what we have to do. He sleeps, he eats, he does his thing. We all are happy. I took him to get a pedicure with me the other day and he was fawned over by all of the little Asian ladies. It was great.


• It's okay to sit around and snuggle your baby all day. Some days I am really productive and get tons of stuff down around the house, but then there are other days like today where I want to soak up both of my boys and leave the kitchen full of dishes. It's okay. They'll be there tomorrow, I swear. This goes hand in hand with #3.


• I might just be okay with only having two kids. There. I said it. I might not want anymore kids. I always thought I would want more and maybe in three years I will, but right this moment, I'm kind of okay with the idea of having only two. I will admit that I teared up a little when I started putting away the clothes Jonas is too big for and I thought that this might be the last time one of my teensy little babies uses them. And then I got over it.


• I am much more capable than I think. Sometimes I think, dang, I must be a shitty mom. I can't get Jonas to nap in his bed, I just snapped at Gabriel and my husband is expecting dinner on the table but I totally lost track of time. The damn ants are back in the living room (I really fricking hate ants) and the baby has been fussy all day and Gabriel just had a meltdown because he doesn't like napping anymore but still really needs one. I cry into the phone to my mom and say I just don't know how to do all of this. I'm losing my mind! And then I pull up my big girl pants, take a huge breath, drink a glass of wine after the kids go to sleep, wake up the next day and do it again. Because that's what we mamas do. It's kind of like if at first you don't succeed, try, try again...or something like that.

Tell me about it Tuesday #6

How was your Easter/holiday?

We had such a nice weekend up in Camarillo, but I am so very happy to be back at my house (if only for a night, boo for so much traveling). We left Friday afternoon around 1pm and we didn't hit any traffic, it was great! That evening we spent some time with my in-laws and then left the boys so we could have a few drinks with some friends at a nearby pub.

Saturday was wonderful because I got to visit with my BFFF from college and her husband, so they were finally able to meet little Jonas, we drank some coffee, ate muffins and yogurt, and just enjoyed spending some time together. I miss her so much!

Later that afternoon, we visited with our good friends, the Bonellis, went back to my in-laws to eat dinner, color some eggs and put the boys to sleep.

Sunday morning I was up at 5:30am to play Easter Bunny and had such a hard time waiting around for Gabriel to wake up! I heard him roll over and ran over there to ask him if he was awake but he told me, "Mommy, I'm still sleeping, I need to rest!" Once I pointed out the trail of Easter eggs leading to his basket, he perked right up.

Later, we went to mass and then my father-in-law took us out to breakfast at one of my favorite local joints, Eggs n Things. After cooking up a yummy dip (which I'm going to post the recipe for later!) and frosted sugar cookies, we packed up the car and headed to the park for lunch, lots of playing, Easter egg hunting, and some delicious food and treats.

All in all, it was such a fun weekend!

What did you do?

And now for a special treat, here's some pictures from our weekend...

Such a precious picture with the grandparents.

First Easter as a pair.

Family.

Gabriel was so excited to search for eggs.

Jonas, not so much. He said eff that, I'm sleepin'.

 He found a fire truck and wouldn't get off.

Lots. I meant LOTS of confetti eggs were smashed. I still have it in my hair.

Hah!

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