Duh Nuh Nuh Na Nuh Nuh, They Say it's My Birthday...

It's been a whirlwind week.

We celebrated K's birthday for four days including the party, her fun day at preschool, her special day at dance, and the evening of her actual day.

She chose McDonald's for her birthday meal and was okay we didn't let her play in germplayland, phew.

Then over the weekend, yours truly said hello to my 37th year.

Remember that wine tasting/limo plan. Well I put it into action.

I invited a few friends that are in the +4 hours away in distance by car category and the pessimist I am thought, they probably can't make it, but to my utter delight they were able to!

9 of us total and this little gem came and picked us up.


Am I so old to just have expected a black stretch sedan.

4 wineries...averaging 6 tastings at each spot.

Good friends, great wine. Bliss.

Thank you to my friends for coming to share my special day!

So sometimes you break out these great heeled boots and then regret wearing them for more than 20 minutes.

Some wineries have just the best decor.

Photo opps galore.


You have to stop for snacks! YUM!!

And, to take in the scenery.


Thanks to my friends for making my special day just incredible. Your presence, your gift, your love, means so much to me.

Thanks so much to Yaya and Papa for hanging with the kids so we could enjoy an adult's day out!

I had the best birthday! ♥

My Baby Girl is Four. (A Thousand Words Thursday)

I swear I was having contractions last night. A memory of 4 years ago.

My sweet little K was born.


She's growing into a fine young girl.

Her K-lish, becoming more and more articulate.


Her demeanor more her own.


She is playful as a kitten.


And can hold her own against anyone.


She has a heart of gold.

Over the weekend, we prayed for sunshine, and we were blessed with it.


A birthday party wild and fun.


With family and friends.


Memories and wishes were made.


Pinatas broken.


And, Today, K turns four.


Happy Birthday sweetheart.

You're not a baby anymore.


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The Bachelor: The Awkward Edition

So the Bachelor is really not as fun to watch without wine. (But I tune in for the gun show...wow).

Tons of eye-rolling this week, and I even had to cover my eyes a few times at the plane wreck I saw coming.

What an awkward episode right?

So the RV makes it's final vacation destination in sunny San Francisco. Sunny...really? Wow they timed that right on the one day a year it looks like that.

I like to think SF is Portland's dreary southern cousin.

Anyway, 5 girls, 4 dates this week and Tenley is chosen for solo-date number one.

Now, I seem to recall that a few episodes back there was a preview...that someone that squeaked like Tenley told Jake she was pregnant. Was I drinking too heavily or did anyone else remember that.....SO when is THAT going to happen!?

Back to the date. I can't seem to think straight.

Jake and Tenley head to Coit Tower, yadda yadda and he throws out the million dollar question ....what did she do wrong in her marriage that would be different next time!? Her whole answer just dripped of missing her husband, believing it was all her fault he cheated, and she still loved him. Awkward Moment #1.

I'm not a Tenley fan.

Next, Gia and Vienna get a double date to a castle/winery in Napa. Awkward Moment #2. Vienna is stealing all the attention and Gia feels like a potted plant. UNTIL...Jake whisks her away and proceeds to tell her he's really into her. They mega-makeout and here comes Vienna to ruin their moment claiming she was lost in the dungeon, oh the drama.

After escorting both of them back to their room for the night, Vienna sneaks out and visits Jake in his room with wine. Awkward Moment #3 Jake is NOT into this at all. Although in his recap, he admits she looked smokin' sexy and he was thinking dirty thoughts, his body language screamed Get the Hell Out! By the by, I'm not against Vienna. I think she's incredibly immature, but I don't dislike her as much as the girls on the show. Her eye make up does scare me though.

Next, Jake takes Corrie for a walk in the park, a boat ride, and to a science museum after hours. Um, I don't know about you, but science museums don't turn me on....really, what the public library wasn't available? Even the crickets were bored.

So Corrie admits she's saving herself for marriage and other than that, they had no chemistry and the whole date was Awkward Moment #4.

Ali lives in SF and got to plan their one-on-one date, showing him around her city. She seemed to grow up a little on this date and hopefully can get over her loathing of Vienna. Hubby thinks she and Jake have a brother/sister type relationship going on. I don't know who kisses their sibling like that...but we'll see.

Jake gives roses to Ali, Gia, Tenley, and...VIENNA. What the what!? I thought thought he was going to pull the "dump 2 for the price of 1" gig, but alas he will meet Vienna's daddy...who she claims hates everyone she brings home. Great, good luck buddy!

Of course a teaser to next week and what I think is the whole pregnancy scandal. Can't wait.

Those Cute Little Italians

I confess.

I love playing Mario Brothers on my kids' DS machines.

So nice!

It started as my gambling addiction, I played Mario poker and got a full house, 3 stars and 2 Luigis.

I could not put it down.

My son would be all..."MOOOOOOM! It's my game!" and I'd send him to his room.

"Moooom, it's my toy!" Technically what's yours is mine, my turn!

Yes, I'm sorta a brat.

Then I started playing the regular game. The ching-ching-ching of those shiny gold coins made me think of casinos and slot machines, music to my ears.

Back in the day, when the game was on those dinosaur systems with the joysticks and such, I was a rockstar. My friend Crystal and I actually finished the WHOLE game!

My son was less than impressed, "mom, that game was so easy, this one is way harder."

Hey stop smack-talking me boy, I'll goomba-stomp you and shoot you with a firebolt!

Yah, I know, it's a sickness.

So during the week, the kids are not to use their DSs...I'm a hardass like that. It's homework, reading, chores, saving the whales, the usual.

Weekends they have a few hours to play.

But the other day, I was on level 6 and totally stuck. These crazy studded metal balls were coming after me and dry bones were all over and the screen moves up and if you don't go with it you'll die.

So I cried out, "HELP!!" and my son dropped his math book and came to my rescue! In fact, I blinked and he was on level 8.

LEVEL EIGHT.

There's like bouncy bugs and it's night time, and it's way cool.

But, I totally suck at it.

K and My Boy are helping me, and even my Hubby can rock a level or two.

I've been going to bed lately with the theme song in my head.

AND THE THUMBS!!

Oh man, one morning I woke and thought, "what the heck!" My wrists, hands, and thumbs were SORE.

From playing too much DS!

Now I know why my kids yell when they die, or shrink, or get eaten by Bowser.

I may need a 12-step program.

A Thousand Words Thursday

June, 2006 Our Dear in the Headlights. Can't believe she'll be 4 next week.

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The Bachelor: On The Road Again...

Despite feeling like crud, Hubby and I indulged in another drama-filled episode of the Bachelor.

Last week I didn't chime in.

I don't know, maybe I was uninspired...same garbage different night...wait, creepy Michelle got the boot, or booted herself, or ...anyway she's gone. Elizabeth's gone. Moving on.

In reality TV true-form, last night's episode scored some points with us, Jake is really holding his own on this show.

Showing some power as the man in charge of his love life, Jake sent 4 girls packing last night! FOUR! He was only asked to dump two. Go dude.

So on the road they go, all the girls in two RV's headed up the California Coast for a dysfunctional "family" vacation.

Finally stopping for some vineyard camping, Jake choose Gia for his one-on-one date. Gia is a city slicker, so immediately everyone believes she'll fail at the date and be sent home in her stilettos.

After acting age-5 with their games of hide and seek and spin-the-bottle, turns out the couple is really compatible. And sorta cute together. Well, cute in a Joker-meets-Calista Flockhart sort of way.

BY THE WAY....can anyone tell me how Jessie fits into this whole gig?! Yeah, Jessie, the dark haired, doe-eyed girl. WHAT?! You don't know who that is? Truly she hasn't had a second with Jake, and he's keeping around because...??

Anyway, the group date is next and more driving down the coast to Pismo Beach. The cast includes Vienna, Jessie (yes there is a Jessie on the show!), Ashleigh, Ali, Tenley, and Corrie.

The group plays in the sand by way of dune buggy, sand-boarding, and just rolling down hills on top of eachother. Corrie scores her first major points here with Jake and he's impressed. Later they head to the Madonna Inn to clean up and have some fun in the themed rooms.

The girls all hate Vienna, they think she's loud, obnoxious, and keep tattling to Jake how he needs to watch out. When alone together, Jake comes out and tells her he's starting to see what they mean, he basically says you are asking for it.

Tenley shares with Jake a bit more of her divorce story and while he's laying in her lap (hubby said it was like he was nursing...ew) she asks him if he's comfortable around her. "I'm laying in your lap!" he retorts. Yeah, duh. She ends up with the rose.

The last date is a double-team, Kathryn and Ella. Ella's the one with the son that Jake met last week. She is really pretty, there was potential there, but tonight he said goodbye to her, don't know if it was the instant-family, but she left. This left Kathryn giddy, but there was no connection there. Jake sent her home as well.

At the rose ceremony, more Vienna garbage and when Jake got down to his last 2 roses, he bolted to look for Chris. He cannot keep one more lady around that he doesn't see fit. The girls are shocked when Vienna is chosen to stay around and it's good bye to Ashleigh and Jessie.

I don't know who i'm going for anymore, I originally liked Ali, but she's stirring shit about Vienna left and right and made such a scene at the rose ceremony she was ridiculous. Tenley or Gia have my vote right now. Can this show take any more drama!?

Black-Eye Twins

What a weekend.

While Hubs and I stayed home with the sick girls, My Boy got to spend the weekend in the snow.

He and his cousins, my brother, SIL, and my parents headed to the Sierras for a Snow Park weekend.

Unfortunately they had no electricity until late Saturday night, but overall it was a fun time.

Saturday after about 15 runs back and forth on the hill, my son collided with a girl tube-er and got a near-concussion.

From my mom's words he was pale, though answered all the questions from the medic, felt a bit sleepy, but mostly just ended with a scraped up cheek and swollen eye.

His glasses are tweaked, but he didn't lose or break them (phew).

Then in familial fashion, Hubby got a little boo boo in his basketball game today.

After removing his finger from an opponent's eye, he got a little nudge to his face as a little "payback" if you will.

Luckily my boys wear their badges of courage proudly and gives them a little something to talk about to their friends.

Mommy is the only one this weekend whose eye doesn't have a pretty hue to it. (remember the girls have pinkeye).

I think I'm going to get creative with my eyeshadow this week, just to fit in!
Oh and I'll dye my hair pink too, just for the hell of it.