SD Vacation Pics #3.

Right before we left San Diego we stopped at the beach for one last romp in the ocean. Here's a short clip that shows Wyatt getting bowled over by one little bitty wave.

This last group of vacation pictures includes our visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Mission, and lots of fun on the beach. Our hotel had a beach, but it was on the bay without the big waves. So when the kids finally got a chance to play in the surf, they went beyond loving it.

The dinosaurs and fossils and such at the museum were really cool. It was very "hands-on" so even the little ones had to be dragged out of there. Emily and I also paid the extra admission to the exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Amazing and beautiful, the exhibit was nicely put together.

The exhibit began with displays of where and when and how and who had anything to do with the scrolls and their discovery. There was lots of really pretty photography of Israel and other natural, religious, political and archaeological displays that drew you slowly trough the exhibit building up up to the last section where we got to lay our eyes on the actual scrolls themselves. It was complete with an enlarged photo of each scroll (hanging on the wall above the displayed item) that had translations and explanations about the significance of each one.

I thought it was pretty cool, Emily did too. Looking at something that is many thousands of years old with my very own two eyes always gives me chills. We originally intended going just for the dinosaurs, but Em was the one who insisted that we view the DSS exhibit. I probably would have drifted through it more slowly if I had been alone, but it was pretty special that we saw it together.

[Pause]

Aaawww.

[ Go on, click out, they're so much better that way! ]

One more funny story. At the mission, an old but spry looking tourist guy yelled at Wyatt for running around too loudly for his taste. Franky, mine too but what to do, the kid was having fun and not really doing bad. Tony was all over that old spry guy. Later Tony told me that he was glad that the old guy wasn't a tall hulking young guy! I'm going to remember it as: "Big fish eats old fish who ate little baby fish."

SD Vacation Pics #2.

Ok, so we made it through Legoland without losing a child. Let me tell you that was a great accomplishment. Wyatt is my wanderer, he gave us a little bit of grief that day.

Legoland was excellent. For kids under ten, maybe the best. The rides were perfect for our kids ages, all the Lego's were cool and the company of our friends made it even more fun and so memorable (wink).

Now ladies and gentleman, we're off to Sea World!

SD Vacation Pics #1.

Now this is where I give you the opportunity to bail because I'm putting up large quantities of vacation pics. I promise to hit you in waves so as not to overwhelm you as much.

Ok I warned you, if you're still here anyway, enjoy this first group!

[ The pictures really look better if you click (on a pic) to go out to Picasa Web Albums...just a suggestion, hey, that's what I'm here for! ]

Sneak Peak.

I couldn't resist sharing one of the low resolution images/proofs that Maria Bowman, our lovely photographer took of us Friday evening. Our photo shoot was at Torrey pines beach in between La Jolla and Del Mar. I wish I had spent more time on my hair ;).

Oh well, at least my kids look great! More to come, including the 10,501 photos I took myself! Maybe tomorrow, I gotta go take care of my sick kids!

My Nephew Ulysses.

Actually we call him Sam. His name is Ulysses Samuel. (Sounds oh so presidential, don't you think?) He started kindergarten today. Renee told me that all the children were looking at name cards to find each of their desks and Sam couldn't fine his name. Renee pointed to the desk that said Ulysses and said to her son,

"Sammy, that's your name honey."

Just then the teacher walked over and said to him, "Good Morning Ulysses!"

Renee said that Sammy looked straight at her and replied, "My name is Sam."

[ I totally wish I could have witnessed that exchange! ]

You GO Sammy boy, have a GREAT year in kinder!

Home, Back to School and Blaaaaagh!

I'm back, yay!

We left our hotel at 11 a.m. Saturday. We arrived home from San Diego just before midnight. You can't do the math, it doesn't work out. To understand the timeline, you have to add in SD traffic, two hours of last chance frolicking in the ocean near Del Mar, lunch, SD to LA traffic, gas, LA traffic, coffee, LA traffic, more LA traffic and dinner. Our vacation was 7 days and nights long. It was so freaking hard the most fun we have ever had. I'll put up some pics as soon as I get the chance.

Sunday was unpacking, digging out, getting organized, cleaning up, starting the 413 loads of laundry, attending mass, getting groceries, and, oh yes, making a doctor appointment for Wyatt who was on his third day of fever and was whining a lot about not feeling good (without specifics of course).

Wyatt and I got home from the after hours clinic at 9:30 with antibiotics, which I was not truly convinced he needed but started them anyway. Basically along with the fever, his glands were swollen and throat bright red. He had blood tests and strep test all negative. I think we got to bed about 11.

Tony's cell phone rang at 7:30 Monday morning. I said to him:

Shhhhh, don't wake up
the kids.

Wait.

Wait!

Wake up the girls! They have
school... first day of school! First day of school!

Here they are in all their day 1 happiness and glory. My fourth and first graders with a happy Mama taking the photo to mark the occasion!



All that happiness and glory ended when Sarah came home from day 1 with a 103 degree fever. Aw man!

An hour later Eva woke up from a nap with the same. Then the vomiting started.

Emily had her first soccer practice last night and then came home with fever. I took Sarah and Eva to see the doctor. Everybody's home today. No school. No first meeting of Junior girl scouts for Emily.

All the good news: Emily has not vomited. Wyatt is doing much better.

Oh, Baby!

Yes, my baby has a heart shaped abrasion on her nose. And yes, she has a hitleresque abrasion below her nose. If you look closely, you'll also notice that her forehead is also hurt. Poor baby. She fell face first while running around on a basketball court. A friend had taken my kids to the park to play yesterday while I had a Dr. appointment (no, I am not pregnant, four is my number!). I was only gone a little over an hour and when I returned all I hear is my baby screaming in the backyard as the application of ointment was being attempted. I feel worse for the friend because if anyone knows that these things do happen, it's me, so I hope she doesn't blame herself!

We are getting ready for our trip to San Diego and I have hired a photographer to take our family pictures on the beach. I sure hope Eva can shed that heart and moustache before that! It actually looks a little worse today because it is now much darker versus the pink of yesterday. The photo shoot is still over a week away so there may be hope, if not then we'll just go with it!

Here she is again gettin' a little extra lovin' from sister Sarah.

The Dark and the Light.

I should have covered these windows years ago, especially if I had known what an incredible impact it would have on our sleep. With little kids you are never guaranteed anything when it comes to getting enough zzzzz's... that, I have learned to live with. What finally broke the camel's straw were our new neighbors behind us and their 10 thousand million kilowatt lights blazing through our upper uncovered bedroom windows until the wee hours of the morning. That recent development put me on a mission.

I found these at IKEA [thanks Mom & Jim for helping me that day] and they are super GREAT! The picture is only showing part of the two smaller windows, the bigger french door one looks great too. They go all the way to the floor...kind of dramatic. I love the color, I love that they are dark and the best part is that we have been sleeping SO much better. Do not underestimate the power of sleeping in a really dark room. It's been revolutionary! Now I just need to figure out what color to paint this bedroom!

As I was trying to get a good picture of the new curtains, my little Jesus on the cross caught my eye and I felt like I needed to take this picture. He has been on this little angled wall for almost 10 years now. You don't often have an opportunity to view sort of a profile from this angle and I think it's beautiful. He was a gift from my grandmother 18 years ago and I'm sure at that time she knew how much I really needed it! I appreciate that gift more and more all the time.

He is the reason that His name was one of the first words ever spoken by each of my children. As babies, they'd pass Him, touch Him, and say His name.

I love Him.

Maybe you have one too? The handwritten inscription on the back of the cross reads:

Melxoxo, I Love You

- Meme

"Medjugorje 1989"