The Water Fight

I have the best kids in the world. Really. Hands down the best.

The other night we were all at the fair having a great time. It was a big group, my cousins had come for a visit and we had allowed each of the kids to bring a friend which of course meant they also brought a friend. We were a small cyclone meandering through the fair and rides.

It wasn’t intended to be that big, but somehow in addition to our already large group we became the dump all of all other parents at the fair that evening. We would simply run into adults we knew and then suddenly the kids where with us and the parents were nowhere to be seen. It was eery really if you thought about it. Though we didn’t mind horribly. It was the fair, and we were having fun watching the kids absorb it all in. besides it was Orange County and everyone had there own phones should they have needed to contact anyone.

One particular child was one of the youngest and most shy. A sibling to an older child and friend of our daughter. In the excitement this child had an accident. The worst kind, since all the other kids could obviously see the dark stain upon his previously dry jeans. My husband did his best to comfort and walk in front of the child, but it was inevitable that someone would notice.

That is about the time my cousin and kids began the water fight. I yelled at first unaware of their plan, I had just paid ten dollars for ONE bottle, throwing it on anyone was out of the question. I was rationing as it was, this bottle was going to be with me till Christmas!

I was explaining this when it dawned on me what they were doing. My cousins and children had positioned themselves in front of and behind this child who had had the accident. Then they were each tossing the water back and forth towards each other in a mock water fight.

Within minutes not only did ALL the children have splashes of water on their clothes, but the child with the stained pants could no longer be deciphered from the rest of the group who had been in on it unless you looked really close.

It was a simple act that left me prouder then any other parent could be.

Kids- you rock!!! (and I won’t really take the ten dollars out of your allowances.)

ORANGE COUNTY (picture Swarovsky crystals sparkling so much you need your sunglasses to gaze at it)

There are a plethora of wonderful advantages to living in Southern California. Not only do we enjoy summer all year long but we have great sandy beaches and lush green mountains that turn white and bring us snow within an hours drive.

Living in Orange County California takes that simple beauty and exploits it, injecting it full of Botox creating an over the top exaggeration of life.

Not only do we have malls with valet parking, we have GYMS with valet parking. You can drop your child off at day care, and just a short jaunt down the road you can also drop your dog off at their own day care- complete with lap pools and play group hour. In fact right next to the Sprinkles cupcake store, is the dog bakery where your pampered pooch can have a treat of their own.

With so many “enhancements” to everyday life, raising children in Orange County is even more difficult when it comes to keeping them grounded and teaching them what is normal. Normal to them could so easily be their own iphone, flat screen TV (in their room), individual Mac Notebooks, and like the bottomless fries at the local restaurant, endless itunes downloads. Because well you know everyone else has those things.

Except in our house, where if you want an iphone you have to pay for it yourself, we have one TV (for all four kids), and its embarrassingly in the living room, along with the computer and oh yeah itunes? better hope you did your chores and Mom likes the song, because its her password that you will need to get it on your ipod.

For a few years now I have wanted to take the kids on a pilgrimage to Mexico so they could work with kids there and see that their lives are a vast difference to many others. Of course the war on drugs (and subsequently war against Americans) and the Swine Flu have halted that plan for now. So its back to more creative parenting in showing them a valued life doesn’t mean a material life.

I understand that living here was our choice, that although every house matches the one next to it, across from it, and down the street from it, diversity could have been found much easier had we decided to live elsewhere. I'm also painfully aware that for us, as a blended family, it isn’t just about our house, but our ex’s houses as well and for now, at least, here is where we stay.

Still, I am not complaining about being here in the “OC” as with many things in life, its all how you play the game. After all with all the kids at their other homes this week, where else can someone make but just one quick call to the Poop Butler and have all their pets waste picked up for them?

Orange County, what a place.

The Trampoline

It was just a normal day. Busy as always.

Running around, spending more time

in the car then out of it.

You were all tired. Cranky. Hungry.

I am not sure who saw it first, but suddenly the three of you were on it.

Laughing. Taking turns. Smiling.

I pulled out the camera and fell into your glee. The sun went down, it was time to eat.

It was no longer a normal day. It was a great day.

Honor

I Honor:

My beloved Gramps who served in the Army during the Korean War.

My wonderful Step Father who served in the Navy during the Korean War.

My amazing Uncle who served in the Navy during Vietnam.

My incredible Husband who served in the Navy during the Gulf War.

My two brave Cousins who served in the Coast Guard together, though apart.

I love each of you not only for who you are to me but for unselfishly dedicating yourselves in honor of this country and protecting the Freedom we hold so dear.

Tons of fun

I have a new hobby. Well actually I guess its an old hobby with new avenues. Its pictures or more eloquently, the art of taking pictures.

Since the kids were merely days old I began shooting pictures of them laying in their cribs, left side, right side, rolling over on their back- oh it was endless the angles I could get out of a sleeping baby. It was such a passion for me that Brian at the then Price Club knew me by sight and merely had me write the first initial of my last name on the form when I dropped off my daily roll for processing.

Seriously my kids knew to hold a pose long before they knew how to tie their shoes.

Recently my wonderful Mom gave me her old digital camera when she upgraded to the latest and greatest. For a few weeks it sat in its case big and intimidating, but gradually it won me over and now much to the kids dismay it has seldom been away from my side.

Of course once the kids get older there are less chances to take photos. Last week I asked the oldest if she thought her driving instructor might be up to driving her past the house so I could run outside and shoot some shots of her on her inaugural event. She looked at me and laughed texting to her friends and shaking her head on her way out of the room. It was  time to look for subjects outside my own front door.

This last weekend Canon had a day for photographers in coalition with the San Diego Zoo and the new opening of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit. On hand they had loaner cameras and lenses along with some super cool gear at select stations throughout the zoo. It was an amazing day which culminated in an evening lecture by wildlife photographer, George Lepp.

Thanks Canon for helping a novice in such a huge way. Now if I could just get the elephants to hold their pose.

It’s My Party

I love birthdays , each year on each of the kids birthdays I stay up late and decorate our dining room. Banners, fanfare and balloons- tokens for the morning excitement always await the happy birthday boy or girl.

Today is my birthday...

... I don't need the banners and hoopla cause I have a little secret.... All morning I giggled to myself as each child was ceremoniously dropped off for a day at school. With teenagers voluntary exclamations are few and far between so I did feel pretty lucky when I got a somber “happy birthday Mom” as my eldest son exited the car when I dropped him off at school. It was quick and quiet least any of those passing by should hear, or maybe I wanted to hear it so bad it was merely imagined. Who knows, i’ll take whatever I can because it’s my party.

...and I am going to Disneyland!!! No work. No kids. Just me, other honored adults (husband and wonderful Mom) and a magic button that is quite frankly- Awesome!!! Should you be at the happiest place on earth on a day as wonderful as one honoring you, let me tell you about the most amazing thing. They have these buttons that you get at the front gate. It says on it “Happy Birthday” and a space to write your name. Now the best part is that anyone who sees the button and is an employee of this happy place HAS to say to you, in the happiest voice ever, “Happy Birthday!”. Everyone.

It is pure heaven.

Now I am a pretty confidant woman. Loves my family and is quite content with most things in my life, but truly there is nothing like a full day of endless strangers stopping in their tracks to say nothing more than a jubilant happy birthday. I absolutely beamed each and every time!

Down fall is it only seems to work at Disneyland itself- the kids just looked at me and rolled their eyes when I tried to wear it to dinner and the lady at the bank nervously looked for her supervisor when I kept looking from her to the button and back to her.

Momgyver

Time: 8:00 a.m

Mission: Buy birthday flowers for daughters friend

Deadline: Start of school day, 8:45

Budget: As little as possible.

8:05- Stop one, Ralphs grocery store- its quick, its open, its close to the school. 

Result- Its is also overpriced and smells oddly like my old gym locker.

8:15- Stop two, Vons grocery store - its right down the road, its also open, most importantly it has a Starbucks!

Result- It is incredibly void of any Lilies (the name of the friend and thus the reason for this particular gift). Ask daughter if maybe her middle name is Rose since they are only $2.00 per stem. (result, first eye roll of the day)

8:30- Driving across parking lot fresh out of ideas since no one else but WalMart is open at this hour. When I notice the lovely landscaping - can it be? Yes! Lilies.

Result- Pull up to the curb, pick three Lilies and take a sip of wonderfully brewed coffee.

8:35- Have an idea to make the bunch look less like we just picked them from a parking lot and pull into WalMart.

Result- One yard of satin fabric tied around the flowers and  $.27 cents out of pocket (coffee expense doesn't count, its always in budget)

8:45- Pull up to the school and drop off happy child.

Result- I am the hero for one more day through the eyes of my daughter.