Wrote this yesterday

So. I got a laptop and have not had enough time to use it. But since the husband is on the other computer, and I can’t seem to borrow internet right now from my neighbor across the street, even with the window open and no cars parked in front of our houses, I’ll just write this as a document and cut and paste. Presto.

My little snookums of a Celia is done with kindergarten this Friday. I guess no big deal but big deal. I’m glad they are not doing a Graduation thing because I think Kindergarten graduations are lame even though I had one. They are having a pot luck. Pot lucks are better than graduations anyhow. Wait a minute. Celia graduated from preschool. That was cool. Oh whateva.

And Effie is big. But not too big, and not mature yet that’s for sure. She’s funny. Becky knows exactly what I’m talking about. A few others do too I’m sure. She has this thing to her. She rolls her eyes back and puckers her lips while smiling when she talks. There is something so strange and hilarious about her demeanor that makes me want to just sit in front of her all day long and watch her.

Today she flipped because she wanted a German Simpson’s comic book in her hands while eating spaghetti and meatballs. Alex didn’t want her to have comics at the table. We’ve never been good at enforcing those types or rules – like no toys while eating, no jumping on chairs while eating, no showing off your butt while eating, no playing with play-doh while eating, no reading German Simpson’s while eating, etc. So in the end the only way she’d eat the food is if she could read, so she won, yes bad bad me. But afterwards I had a little chat with her and her dad told her it was important to understand that we had to say “no” sometimes and that it would be best if when we said “no” she’d respond with “ok Mom” or “ok Dad”. We told her she was a big girl and had to understand that it was for her own good when we said no. Her response was “I pwomise I’ll undustan when I’m a gawon up”. At least she’ll get it sooner or later. Or much later.

We’ve been super busy. Not too many outings. But some manageable walks around the neighborhood. We are trying to teach the girls to sing do-wop songs while they sit in the stroller and have them sing backgrounds for us. They are not too good at it yet. They do like holding an ipod in the stroller and its cute to see both of them listening as they each hold a speaker to their ear and sing. They did that song Voulez-vou by Abba and they say “Voulez-vou….. A HA! Baby Celia!!” The real song doesn’t say that. Maybe you have to hear them sing it for it to be funny.

I got that trader joe’s vanilla cake mix today and mixed in banana and walnuts and topped it with a homemade frosting made of milk, melted butter and chocolate chips, and powdered sugar all whipped and it was so good. There’s the recipe. Go try it. It’s da bomb.

Since I’m on a random writing thing. Guess what? I know over 20 people who are pregnant. I’m not one of them.

My parents came back after abandoning us to visit friends in Texas. I’m super excited to hear about it. Once while looking at our globe I told Celia about the entire world and all the people I knew around the world, and how we could visit any one of them someday. You name it – Australia, Ireland, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, Hawaii, El Salvador. After we finished talking about all the places I asked her where she wanted to go most. She answered a very quick “Texas”.

Speaking of Texas. Aren’t people in Texas more patriotic than people in California? Well, maybe Effie should move there too. Effie had an American flag that an old teacher of mine gave me, because she said how much kids love waving flags. True that. Little Effie held it out the car window from Glendale to Eagle Rock and back, and for some reason it was the funniest thing to me. Here we are in Glendale, and to see an Armenian Flag, or a Laker’s flag riding high out a car window or on an antenna would be normal, but to see a little teeny arm holding out a big American Flag out the back seat is not. I’m surprised she held on so tight that it didn’t even fly out of her hands on the freeway. I told you she was strange.

Ok. Have a wonderful day. If I find an internet connection I’ll post this right now. Even if I have to go out on the sidewalk.

Aye Caramba!

Aye indeed. I just finished using a fancy chop-stick to stir my lovely ice coffee with a little extra sugar tonight. Alex and I both get a sweet tooth in the night-time - and it stinks when you have no sweets in your house whatsoever to calm those cravings. I think he opened up a bag of chocolate chips to toss a few in his mouth - and I opted for.... extra sugar in the ice coffee that usually just has milk. So there.

And it's Monday. Monday. Almost time to think about Tuesday Tuesday. Monday for me... well.... hmmm... wasn't the greatest Monday of all time, nor was it the worst. I thought Celia had a dentist appointment today. But she didn't. I got to spend 3 hours in a music studio this morning - which was FUN. And I had no kids with me! MORE FUN! Not that my kids aren't fun, but when you are with them all the time, and the youngest always tugs on your shirt at all times or your leg, or butt, or whatever, it's nice to be free of anyone either on my back, being held in my arms, or doing that tugging stuff.

We stayed home all afternoon. The weather made me feel not so guilty about doing so. We .... ate grapes. Watched 2 episodes of Pee-Wee's Playhouse .... ate more grapes. Played "cook fake food and pretend you don't know how to eat so Effie can use a miniature spoon to put grapes in your mouth so you can pretend she's giving you purple medicine". We played - "let's fight for covers on the bed and kick eachother" (Oh, maybe that's what they played that I had to stop) Then they did homework. Effie gets homework too now. I have no idea why. Then Celia made a map. It said something like "Estamos en el cuarto. Estamos en una foto en una foto" I have no idea why. There were three boxes on the map. One with an "osito" then a "manzana" then a big "osito". Just thought I'd let you know. Fascinating or what? Then the girls took their one hour ducky (bath) so I could fold laundry. Oh yeah - and as I posted on Facebook today, I thought I was all bad-ass and this amazing cook, and remembered eating homemade pizza from my mom's old Italian buddies. Yeah - they are in their 90's and cook these super good meals all the time supposedly, and so I wanted to be just like them, so I rolled out some dough from a recipe I got (which totally totally sucked - excuse my french) - and topped it with a layer of hot bacon grease from the bacon I had been cooking, sauce, cheese, feta cheese, garlic, jalapenos, fresh tomato and mushrooms, and baked it at 425 degrees until it looked like the most amazing pizza creation ever to set foot in my kitchen. And I ate it and it was.... not very good. I'm not going to go into detail about my disappointment - or disenchantment of making my own amazing pizza. I will just say the crust tasted like I should have cut it off and mixed it with apples for a nice "pie" type dessert with vanilla ice cream. ???

And... or course the weekend was very fun. Much thanks to Rebeca Patricia for getting a Masters degree and providing some lovely festivities. Did I mention I broke the pinata?? Well, there I was sitting around chatting Skot's ear off when Becky yelled "Sara's turn!" and I grabbed that stick, and wacked the patooty out of the Chilindrina until her body broke off from her neck, and BAM! I did it! Apparently, not many people had the chance to hit that thing, and our new family member Joel said that he didn't get a chance to hit it, and now he knows not to ever make me mad. Apparently I kicked the crap outta that thing? Maybe I'm exaggerating. I'm just trying to entertain you.

Yeah - and Saturday. I can't even remember what we did! OH! Drum circle again! (FUN!) Join us if you want - email me for detailssss.... and we have a new Saturday morning tradition. Pack lunches. Go to drum circle. Drive through the boonies. Get to Sun Thrift shop in the boonies. Buy toys. Eat packed lunches. Effie nap. Go home. Play wedding. Play quinceaneara. Go home. Cook. Visit someone. Go to target. Go to store. Go to bed. Sound fun? Yeah... it is. No rest for the... non-resters.

Yeah - and Sunday! Are you ready for this! Another party? Alex and I had fun DJ'ing and I have no idea if anyone even listened to all the hits we were turning out for the Q's. Either way - it was fun. Somehow we ended up in San Pedro. For some reason, in Burbank it was sunny. Then we got on the 110 freeway and at about the 105 it got cloudy. And it was gloomy. Then we made it to San Pedro. The Korean Friendship bell had closed so we hit up that perty park that overlooks the ocean. Have you ever been there? It's nice. They have this stage where the girls played an hour long game of presenting which meant that all four of us had to do a choreographed danced to a song called "Got the world by the tail" about 8 times because Effie told us to. Wouldn't you have liked to been there watching us? Well... there were a few people in the park, none of which seemed interested in watching these people dance on a stage with their kids. Effie would send us out to the audience and then demand us back on stage immediately. She's strange. It had been awhile since we played "presenting". Effie would stand up at the edge of this stage, and fold her arms and say "Hi ebewyone. I'm Effie. Tank you audience. Dis is my mom. Dis is my dad. Dis is my sistew. Wes awe goins to sing a song fo yous. Tank you" Then she'd scramble to get us in our places. We did this whole little show after they played at the playground and some little punk ass two year old with a stinky diaper threw an acorn at Celia's face giving her a small welt on the side of her eye while his parents were making out on a blanket about 100 feet away. Yes. I talked to them and was mad. Whatever.

So, there you go. My life story as of last Friday. I hope the rest of the week is as wonderful as the last. I hope you guys are all happy and doing something interesting, so that when we talk, I can hear what you have been up to since you already know everything I do practically. Have a superb week. Don't forget to go to Celia's school for World Fest on May 22nd. Be there at 1:45 - her class sings at 2pm. Peace out.

Cositas

Hello world. The small world of people that find a way to read this. How are you? I hope you're happy - cuz if you are not - that must stink. Just think right now of something really crappy..... go ahead - just think for a minute about something that happened in your day that didn't go perfectly. I'll give you a second. Now....... think of something amazing!!!!!!!! Think of something that one day made you SOOOOOOOOOOO happy!!!!!!!!!! Feel better? Good.

A lot of things made me happy this week - month - day actually. You know the sound of uncontrollable laughter from a 3 and 5 year old is the best. I have tricks to make my kids laugh. In fact - what's funny is that I had some minor aspirations as a kid to be an actress or comedian. Well, I definitely am glad I felt I had a bit of talent - because it pays off daily. My kids will point to me and say "you are NOW .... a..... girl... GORG!" and BooM!!! I become one. Or they say "Mom..... do your.... Myxlplick voice! Now Rhinokey! Now Italian man! Now.... Miss Lily!" (Myxliplick is the cosmic villain from the Super Friends and Miss Lily is a Russian mouse who teaches ballet) It's pretty fun. And it's always fun to watch Alex talk like a girl with a skirt on his head trying to convince my kids that he is me. Then I hide behind him and he lips the words that I say to make them laugh - and it's really funny. Maybe you just have to be here to get it. But either way - making my kids happy... is wonderful. (Especially when the children find a way to test every bone in your body that reserves a spot for patience and it seems virtually impossible to see the bright side in a tragic tantrum encompassing moment)

So last night - while I was putting my dear little darlings to bed Effie kicked me on accident and I said in Spanish "Eyy... me lastimo' " Then she said ...."Mom..... whats uh-steem-o?" And today she so cutely said "Mom... I wants to gos to Costa Weeka - because it sounds like da wurd make-up". What a weirdo. SHE'S SOOOOOOO cute. If that doesn't make sense or is not funny to you... well- I don't even care - cuz it's funny to me. She's so serious too. Man - I wish posting video were easier and didn't take so long.

I'm really too tired to write anything else... so I'm gonna go to bed. There's always a lot to say and write - but my brain is on "I'm about to shut down mode" so I'll just say hi to you people who happened to stumble upon this today and wish you a wonderful rest of the week. There's gonna be some partying (RPQ) this week I'm looking forward to so maybe I'll have some interesting things to write about soon. Until then. Peace out.

April Showers

Hey everyone... uhh.. how are you?
I've been pretty bad at finding time to write. I think once I get on the computer I just start staring at Facebook, and then an hour passes and all I have done is read things that don't even interest me that much, or comment on things I shouldn't even talk about, or whatever. No biggy, but I'd like to be a bit more productive - so maybe this is productive. Or maybe it's not. Who cares!

So, this month - has been wonderful so far. We made it to the beach last week, and it was cold. We haven't gone to Disneyland. I finished teaching es-spanish - and now I'm in an in-between state of sorts. It feels weird to me when I don't have a hundred things to do. I don't have lessons to plan this weekend - except to try to figure out how to teach music in Italian for half an hour on Tuesday even though I don't speak Italian.

And as usual - my kids get funnier by the day. I'll have to start uploading videos - because in all honesty, I really - haven't met anyone as funny as Effie. I used to babysit - I've taught quite a few children in my days - and no one has matched the comedy that is Effie Rose. She is sooooooo funny. I really will just have to carry a notepad tomorrow and report back, because I should just write down everything she says. Do you think it's because she's my kid that I think so highly of her? Well, that is likely - but I have a feeling that even if she weren't mine - I'd still think she's funny.

To summarize some of the events that I can actually remember from this month - let me list:
- Alex and I had a double date last week - just so you all know and it's on the record.
- I rollerskated - thanks to Lucena last week for 2 hours straight. It was rad-i-cal. More than anything because I rollerskated solo to some fancy Soul Jams as my kids and husband were asleep. I should do that more often.
- We saw Betty White at the zoo which caused a big commotion among a school group that made 3 big black girls get down as they danced and sang to the theme song of the Golden Girls as they screamed how much they loved "Rose". It was really pretty awesome, because at first I thought these girls were just randomly singing "Thank you for Being a Friend", and I was like "Wow, how awesome, these girls are so amazing - just randomly shaking their butts to the theme song of one of my favorite TV shows", then Alex pointed to Betty White....(did that make any sense?)
- Stephanie and Dan and Eillen came over, and Dan told some funny ass stories about a drunk named Kenny who talks in the third person and hangs outside a liquor store in Pac-Town (Pacoima) and calls 911 a few times a week so he can just go to Olive View hospital for fun.
- We had two dogs in our house.
- We saw a rabbit this morning - and Effie freaked out - and said "it must be Spring!"
- Then we saw an orange and white cat - and Effie freaked out and said "it must be Spring!"
- Plants are taking over the house.
- We ate at King Torta twice.
- Went on my first field trip with Celia. She came home singing "Who Let The Dogs Out" ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL DAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY and ALLLLLLLLLLLLL NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHT - and she was able to sound just like the guy who sings it, and ignored every person in her path so she could focus on those "hoo - hoo -hoo - hoo- hoos".
- Celia learned how to use the ipod - I know kinda late - I'm sure a million 2 year olds can use them already, but she is able to navigate through it, which means we have listened to the Los Lobos cover of Grim Grinning Ghosts from the haunted mansion about 148 times today alone. You people may think I'm joking - but I do not exaggerate when I speak of these things. Come on - this is the same girl who chewed on my arm out of terror during "UP". She takes things seriously.
- Ok - I'm feeling boring - and Yeaahhh... I have to do the DISHES - and my dishes partner fell asleep - so I have to do them on the solo tip.... oh well. So good night peeps.

Until next time.

Geez

So it's 12:16 am, and I have been chatting on Facebook with my cousin about all these strange apocalyptic things he gets neurotic over for way too long, and I don't want to go to bed without at least writing a blog. Not that chatting on facebook is a complete waste of time - it's just... well, chatting about how to survive two different types of nuclear explosions is not really that interesting to me. I told the guy I'd rather chat about what he ate for dinner - but he wasn't impressed. Well, seriously, on a daily basis - I think A LOT about, well, what I'm gonna make for dinner - or what my kids will eat, or how I'll get the - yes - yes - dishes done - or if there's toilet paper in the house, or if the lint dispenser was cleaned out, or if the lights in the backyard are turned off, or if I can make sure that the dead markers in the marker bin are appropriately disposed of. I do not have time to think about nuclear explosions. Plus, I don't really care. If I die in a nuclear explosion - that just could make my life that much easier right? Well, really, I am not a worry wart at all, and I'm glad my cousin is, because if he weren't then I would have never even written the word Nuclear in my blog, ever, never, never.

And this past MONTH - the longest month ever - which was the month of MARCH was so so so long. Which is good. Things dragging out to me are a blessing especially when I do not have recollections anymore of changing diapers or walking around the house at 2am with two kids in my arms trying to calm them down. Nope, I just don't remember. Boring to me - is a blessing - but a blessing I am rarely blessed with because ... well, I'm never bored. But if I WERE bored, even for a moment, I'd happily, sit and fold clothes, or read something other than ingredients on a food label, or a flyer that asks me what movie I'd like to see at the PTA family night. Not that I don't like reading those things, but reading a book - a real real book - not a baby book, not a nutrition book, not a giving birth the natural way book, not a breastfeeding book, not a children's health book, not a baby/mommy/parent/or even teaching related book - I mean a REAL book with fake characters who are not animals and who are over the age of 5 in it - would be so nice. Any recommendations? Anyone? I mean - there IS a chance that in the next few years I might HAVE the time to read one of those kinds of books. (I hope)

But I meant to say - March was crazy. My sister was gone - and for some reason her life adventures play a large roll in my life. Well, she was gone as my mom prepped her soul and body for surgery. And she's doing VERY well, I must say. (Hi mom - I'm so glad you're better.) And that was a little crazy ... but not as crazy as I thought it could be. Plus, my sister had birthday adventures. Plus I watched the movie Urban Cowboy - which was so so fun - because I was SO into John Travolta - and hated him for beating up his wife - but couldn't believe how I kind of - kind of felt forgiveness in my heart for him by the end of the movie... but that's lame - anyway - what else... March... March.... March.... well, whatever happened in March is OVER.... and that's good - because we are another month closer to summer vacation when I can spend every day with my little little ones, and I can hope that Effie never learns to pronounce the letter "G" because everything is that much cuter when your kid says "dass" instead of "grass", and "dapes" instead of "grapes" and "deen" instead of "green", and when she can't say "C's" because "dat's toot" is better than "that's cute".

There really, really, seems to be so so much going on - and the year is flying by again... but I'll try to keep you posted on what April brings our way. And let me just say, that I have the most amazing, beautiful, cute, funny, and wonderful little kids on this planet (I think), and I'm so so so so lucky. I just hope they stay toot forever.

Quehaceres

Quehaceres- be da things we gots to do.

I always have things to do. Too many things to do. And tonight - the angels in heaven are singing out loud. Sara got lots of things DONE! I wish my accomplishments would include getting all my Spanish students to pass my tests - or doing a real special activity with my kids, like some cool Hello Kitty craft with felt and glitter glue, but at this moment - my big accomplishments include:

Getting my kids to eat dinner before knocking out in the car after going to Disneyland.
Getting the kids to knock out in the car and avoiding the whole bedtime routine at home.
Cleaning up the kitchen.
Washing every dish.
Washing most of the clothes.
Sweeping all the floors.
Wiping the dirt of the doorway and some walls.
Getting to Disneyland and watching Captain Eo.... (yeahhooooooooo)

And that's it. Not much more than that. Nothing heroic - and that's ok. Cuz I feel very good right now.
(Even though I'm coughing too much) - but if you know me - that's normal. UGG.

But all day, I thought I had all these really great things to blog about. I guess I was wrong. I wish I could write another blog where I'd pretend to be Alex. That guy has such funny stories sometimes, that I wish I could share with you - but I just may not. So, short story short, - I have nothing else to say right now. I'll just post a couple of pics to at least make this interesting ok? Peace out. (guess which ones Effie took!?)

Why Not

I don't have anything specific to say or write about today. I just know it's been awhile since I've written.

We've been a little on the social side lately. We've had guests for dinner at least twice a week for a month it seems. And play dates, outings with friends, school, work, work, music, school, la de da de da da da.

So lots to do.

And when there's a lot to do, and when it rains, and when your kids don't like the stroller anymore, and when it is so hard to get two kids outta the house because they are building statues on top of chairs, or throwing frozen peas on the floor, or when they take about 2 hours to get dressed, or when they cry because they don't like the way the tip of their sock feels, then it's hard to:

take a walk.
talk to a spouse.
go anywhere.
clean anything.
do anything.
think straight.
get things done.
remember things.
write blogs.
stay up late.

But when there's a lot do do, and when it rains, and when your kids pretend they are Mrs. Brisby, and the old auntie from the Secret of Nihm, and when they think their grandpa is the duke from Cinderella, and they think that their Dad is Darksied from the Legion of Doom, and they think their mom is the old Rat Nicodemus, and when they dress me up in ugly hats, and when they pour gallons of water out of a bathtub, and when Effie washes a yellow shoe diligently in the sink for 30 minutes as she scrubs the sole with a toothbrush after she rubs the toothbrush on a bar of soap, and when Celia and Effie play computer chess and write down neighbors phone numbers into the "search" fields of an old computer, then it's definitely easy to:

have fun.
be silly.
not clean.
make music.
watch them dance.
not write blogs.
feed them ice cream for being so cute.
take lots of unnecessary pictures and video.
watch and watch and watch.
let the day go by - and be happy that my kids are alive, safe, happy, strange, and being the cutest of kids.

The other night, Effie giggled uncontrollably, like a little teeny baby that hears a fart noise for the first time and can't stop laughing, and her little laugh in the dark cracked me up so bad, and her laugh got harder cuz I was laughing, and I felt like I was with Monica at church in 5th grade when we'd just be laughing at the dumbest things and can't stop. Effie is a clown. And I think she just may be the one to live out my dream of being a comedian. Hahaha. I made her say a different prayer the other night cuz her and Celia had been fighting a bit too much so I told her to repeat after me. It went like this:

me: "Dear God"
Effie: "Deeoorr Gaawts"

me: "Help me to be kind"
Effie: Heolp mes to be tines"

me: "and be very loving"
Effie; (long long pause)........ "and helps me to be veweeys... verweeys... FUNNIIIEEEE!"

What a wierdo.

I love them so much, and I wish I could just play more. I wish that I wasn't as sleepy sometimes to miss out on their cuteness that's gonna be gone one day. I wish I never had to leave to work to see Effie cry cuz she needs me to put on her socks the right way, but even though I'll get beat, tired, busy, or have to leave - I'm so lucky I get all that amazing time I do get to enjoy my FUNNNIEEEE babies.