Remains of Spring Break

Spring Break is over and The Tweedles are back in school.  This is what it looked like after drop-off this morning.

Okay, not really.  And actually, I admit to being a little sad that it's over.  The Tweedles and I had a pretty good time after a rather rough start.  

There was some time at the beach to play in the waves.

Play in the sand.

And get a little wind blown..

and water logged.

And then we went to an Army/Navy store and this happened.

And of course, not to be outdone by his sister, this happened.

There was a lot more fun including movie nights (Frozen and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2), pool time, games, hanging out, staying up late, Armenian dinner with family and lots and lots of giggles, but I was too busy enjoying it all to take photos.  All in all, not a bad Spring Break.

Seriously.. Thoughts?

An Exercise in Persistence

When the economy turned 5.5 years ago, The Hubs managed to hang onto his job for multiple rounds of layoffs until the final one in August 2008.

Wow, let me just process that for a second. 2008.

Anyway, he lost his job but got a pretty nice severance package that we both were pretty sure would hold our household together until he got a new job.  Little did we know.  After sending out what felt like a bajillion (yes, that's a technical term) resumes with no resulting job offers we knew we were going to be in trouble.  At this point I'd like to tell you it was out of some sort of insight into the current job market or a real understanding of the state of the economy and the projections for the next five years that prompted me to encourage The Hubs to go to college (his first time ever) and get his undergraduate degree.  I'd LIKE to tell you that, but really just him being home all the time bored out of his mind was getting on my nerves.  I did it out of self preservation because if he didn't get out of the house and do something, anything, it was going to get ugly up in our house. The Hubs will never be allowed to retire.

Regardless of the reason, he enrolled in the local community college full-time with the intention of just getting an AA/AS so he could put 'some college' on his resume.  He graduated in 2011 with both associates degrees and with no change in the job market he enrolled in a local University to finish up his degree in Computer Information Systems.  Somewhere along the way, he decided to dual major with International Business which we knew was going to push out his graduation time, but we both felt like the Computer major combined with the Business major would give him even more job opportunities in this very uncertain economy.

For 4 years, with the help of student loans, unemployment, a few government programs, and a lot of extra contract work on my part, he'd managed to stay focused just on school.  For the last year and a half though, when all of that ran dry, he was forced to not only work a full time job, but also attend school full time in an attempt to finally complete all the credits required for his degree.  It's been an exercise in persistence for not just him, but our whole family.  And a pretty good example for both the older girls and the younger kids about what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.

I am happy to report, The Hubs has just completed his last final for his last class.  He has finally completed all the required courses for his degree.  His official Graduation Ceremony won't be until the end of Spring but I can't begin to express how proud we all are of him, of all of his hard work, his persistence and his commitment to do what he needed to benefit all of us.

Congratulations Hubs.. You did it!

Seriously.. Thoughts?

DANGER: SPRING BREAK AHEAD

This morning was the first official day of Spring Break.  The kids and I have a plan pulled together where Bunny will complete her book report project Monday through Wednesday and Bug will leave her alone long enough to do it.  As a reward, we'll take ourselves down to a friend's house who has access to a pool (and wifi so I can work) for Thursday and Friday.  This was the plan. However, several unplanned things have come up and again, I can't stress this enough, we're only on the FIRST DAY of Spring Break.

The first unplanned event was a 4.7 (downgraded to 4.4) earthquake that rocked us awake at 6:25 this morning.  I was NOT amused.

The second unplanned event... well, let me give you a little background. Bunny adores her older sister GG.  ADORES.  She watches her put on make-up every chance she gets.  Watches her do her hair and pick out outfits.  Bunny loves every bit of it. So, this afternoon Bunny decided she wanted to put on eyeliner just like big sister GG.  She didn't talk to me about it first.  Clearly, at 8 years old, she doesn't have eyeliner.  So what's the next logical step in Bunny's head?  Marker.

Yes.. you read that right. Marker.

It's only the FIRST DAY of Spring Break.

Someone save me.

Seriously... Thoughts?

Q&A:How Well Do you Know Me? Bug - Age 6, Bunny Age 8

A very good friend of mine has been asking her kids the same questions every few years for awhile now, and I loved it SOOOOO much, I thought I would shamelessly steal her idea (question for question even!). It is really interesting to see how the answers have changed as her kids have gotten a little older.  So I'll probably do this again, even if just for my own amusement, in another year or two.

But today, for your amusement, read below a Q&A session with The Tweedles about how well they know me. And honestly, they're not too far off on most of these. Enjoy!

1. What is something I always say to you?
Bunny: I love you.
Bug: I love you.

2. What makes me happy?
Bunny: When I don't mess around when I'm doing my chores.
Bug: Playing outside with us.

3. What makes me sad?
Bunny: When I yell at you and say mean things about you.
Bug: Maybe when we don't win the lottery.

4. How do I make you laugh?
Bunny: Tickles
Bug: Funny Faces

5. What was I like as a child?
Bunny: Good.
Bug: Friendly

6. How old am I?
Bunny: 39?
Bug: Yeah, this is hard - 25?

7. How tall am I?
Bunny: Really tall - like 5 or 6 feet tall.
Bug: Okay that's more harder - 25"

8. What is my favorite thing to do?
Bunny: Read books and play.
Bug: Read- that one's not even hard.

9. What do I do when you're not around?
Bunny: Read and work.
Bug: work

10. If I becomes famous, what will it be for?
Bunny: For making a book.
Bug: Dollars!

11. What am I really good at?
Bunny: Reading! That was easy!
Bug: Reading.

12. What am I not very good at?
Bunny: Hmm.. Basketball.
Bug: Hmm.. let's see here - running.

13. What do I do for my job?
Bunny:  Architect?
Bug: Work so you can get money.

14. What is my favorite food?
Bunny: Kit Kats
Bug: Deer meat.

15. What makes you proud of me?
Bunny: When you say I love you.
Bug: When you get $100 from your work.

16. If I was a cartoon character, who would I be?
Bunny: Wendy from Peter Pan
Bug: Cinderella

17. What do you and I like to do together?
Bunny: Snuggle, read, play.
Bug: Can you give me a hint? Hmm - Snuggle!

18. How are we the same?
Bunny: We both have blue eyes and we both like painting our nails and we both have blond hair.
Bug: We both get goosebumps.

19. How are we different?
Bunny: You're taller than me and get to do bigger things.
Bug: You jog and I run.

20. How do you know I love you?
Bunny: Because normally you just say it and hug me and do nice things.
Bug: Because you give me kisses.

21. Where is my favorite place to go?
Bunny: Ooooh.. the Farm!
Bug: Easy - The Farm!

Seriously.. Thoughts?

Another Day At The Beach

Hat? Check.
Shorts? Check.
Field trip t-shirt? Check.
Sun block? Curious George Pink - because pink is cool mom - Flip flops? Packed lunch with store bought ham sandwich because they're way better than homemade?  Check. Check. Check.

It's just another day at the beach for this kid.

Read Across America - Dr. Seuss

The Tweedles are celebrating Read Across America this week and in celebration, they're dressing up today as their favorite Dr. Seuss characters.  Okay, let me back that up.  I remembered that little tidbit of information at 7:30 this morning (45 minutes before they have to actually BE at school while they were both still in their jammies, unfed, and unwashed).  As a multiple time WME (Worst Mom Ever) award winner, it was a mad dash this morning to make sure my kids had something.. ANYTHING... to show up in school with.  Thank GOODNESS for the internet!

I found these:

Printed them up, cut them out and taped (yes, you read that right, don't judge me, I had 45 minutes!) them to their red shirts.

I don't think it came out too badly.  What do you think?

Seriously.. Thoughts?

Jack Daniels

In the summer of 1994, I was walking past an empty cage in a pet store when I somehow managed to catch my sleeve on it.  When I turned to untangle myself, I found myself the victim of a pouncing from a small ball of fluff who apparently had been ghosting around the cage.  It was love at first sight and since I had apparently been chosen, my mom and I both agreed I had to take this cute little guy home.

As soon as I got him settled I noticed what appeared to be a problem.  He cried every time he used the litter.  He came with a certificate to see a vet so the next day I took him down to find out what was wrong with my new little guy.  I was surprised to find the vet had seen him already the week before.  Apparently he was purchased and returned to the pet store because of this same issue.  The vet assured me, as she had assured them, that he was healthy.  He just wanted everyone to know he was taking care of his business and he'd either grow out of it, or not.  So I took him back home and he's been with me ever since. (He did eventually grow out of the need to let everyone know he was taking care of his business).

My little man eventually grew into a big game hunter bringing me mice, lizards, frogs and birds - even a parrot once after we moved down to So Cal. He managed to survive countless cat brawls, mixing it up with a coyote - he almost died that time, and as many of you know last year after shattering his front leg, an amputation.  And he did it all on his terms, while still ruling our house and being like most cats, part arrogant and part love.

Now, I believe everything happens for a reason.  That this little kitten and I were meant to be.  He's been with me for the last 18 years.  And while he was MY pet and I took care of him, fed him, and kept him safe, I was HIS person and I can guarantee after divorcing, moving, remarrying, step-parenting, crazy bosses and a few kids, he saved me more than I ever saved him.

In the last few weeks he stopped eating completely and was having more and more trouble getting around our small house.  After a lot of conversations, tears and soul searching I realized I couldn't make him better, but I could help him sleep, so I did.

So if there is a God and heaven and justice in the world, then my sweet old guy is sitting on my sister's lap about now and they'll keeping each other company for a while.

1994-2013