The Living Desert

Last month our home school group took a trip to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. We had a great time.

They have a neat butterfly exhibit where you can go in and butterflies land right on you. While Michelle is way too much for butterflies, Catherine made some new friends.

And we got a lot of great pictures.

Michelle also got to ride a camel. She loved it.

And feed the giraffes. Again, loved it.

There was so much to see and do there. It was great. The weather was nice. The people were friendly. We were the only school group that day and it wasn’t crowded.

I tried to take Charlie on the carousel, but he did not seem to like it.

On the way home we stopped and got pizza for dinner, which made David happy.

Just another day of making memories.

Rocket Man

The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was one of the best books I read last year. It was funny and exciting. I loved the humor. You would think that one might go to a dark place being alone on a planet with little hope of rescue or survival. But no. It was fun to read. He was so optimistic.

The movie however, not so good. They cut out the humor. It was an okay movie otherwise, but it had more of a sci-fi suspense thing going and I really missed the humor and the optimism.

David and Catherine both read this book as well. Both of them liked it a lot better than the movie.




View all my reviews

Sing For The Moment

Yesterday my Aunt Sherri and Lin took Catherine, Michelle and me to see Sing. It was pretty cute. It was no Disney movie, but it wasn’t the worst movie I ever saw in a theater. (FYI… The worst movie I ever saw in a theater was Drop Dead Fred.)

Michelle liked the gorilla that sang. I was more partial to the pigs. Catherine liked the porcupine.

I give it a 3 out of five.

The best part was spending time with family. Especially since today my Aunt Sherri is undergoing knee replacement surgery.

We are sending her lots of love and healing thoughts.

A New Year

6 years ago I started a new job that would forever change the ideas I had of what I was going to do with my life. I was excited to begin and learn. Excited about the opportunities it was bringing to my family.

6 years can really change things.

I still have the same job. I no longer am excited. I am usually frustrated by the whole thing. I used to care about my coworkers and now I find a lot of them are no better than inmates themselves. I don’t see good in people. I see inmates.

Not too long ago, I decided to go ahead and try and remove that awful negative part of my existence. Nope, I am not going to get a new job. This one does still provide for my family and provides a lot of great benefits. I just am choosing to not focus on my work.

It made me laugh, because it made me think of it like a call girl and “you are just a paycheck to me”.

It’s just a paycheck.

This is not my life; this is how I pay for my life.

And truthfully, I have a pretty awesome life.

Days Of Wine And Bacon

They say you shouldn't cook with a wine you won’t drink. I don’t drink wine. So where does that leave me? Buying the cheapest wine I find, that is where.

I found this pork chop recipe a few months ago and it has been a hit around here. Pintrest… is there anything it can’t do?

It calls for white wine.

I was going to make it a few weeks ago and I was out of white wine. Around the same time, Carolynn wanted me to make her and Michelle’s favorite, bacon fried rice. We were also out of bacon. So I ask David to pick up those two items on his way home one day.

He picks up the girls from school and heads over to the Winco. He picks up a $2.97 bottle of white wine and a pound of bacon. Quite the combo; Less than $6 purchase.

He takes it up and the cashier won’t ring it up for him. He shows his ID. Okay, he looks young. Good for him. But he has his ID so no big deal… Or so you would think.

But the checker won’t sell him the wine. She insinuates that David is buying this wine to give to Carolynn and Catherine who are with him. Because they are under aged and he looks like the kind of guy who buys $2.97 bottles of wine for minors. Or so he can get them drunk and take advantage of them. Whatever.

The manager is called and basically tells him the same thing. He tries telling them that they are his kids but no one is buying that. We just cook with it. They aren’t buying that either. They eventually let him make his purchase, after making him feel like a creepy child predator first.

I know a lot of dumb criminals.

But in this case…

If you are planning on buying alcohol for minors, why would you bring them with you? Why would you make the purchase in broad daylight at a large market? And why would you buy a cheap bottle of white wine? And why would you need bacon?

Bacon…

Sick

Everyone got sick.

Catherine had it. She was in her room coughing and sniffling and falling asleep at 2:00 in the afternoon.

David had it. He was in bed coughing and blowing his nose feeling miserable for days.

I had it. Coughing for days. Endless tissues. Nyquil to the rescue.

Michelle had it. Snot running down her face, humidifier in her room constantly. Lots of wiping. Lots of naps. Lots of cuddles.

Somehow though, Carolynn is fine.

I want her immunity.

Wordless Wednesday

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Shaver Lake, California
January 1, 2013

Irony

So it's Labor Day.

I am not laboring. Not even a little. Not even a hint of labor. At 42 weeks into a 40 week process...

You could say I am a little frustrated.

You would think I would have expected this. Catherine was due on Labor Day. She was born on the 21st after they had to induce her too.

Apparently Tony Stark designed my uterus.

I have wasted two weeks of my maternity leave. Which sucks since I won't have more baby time. But was good because I think the stress of worrying I would go into labor at work, the general stress of working in a prison, the heat and the exhaustion are what sent me into the false labor that made me go on maternity leave in the first place. This has been a nice break.

It would have been even nicer with a baby.

Tomorrow the girls go back to school. After a year of home school, Catherine is ready to go back. They both have back packs full of supplies, books and brand new lunch sacks. Carolynn got her hair cut and then dyed it. She meant to die it like an auburn brown but it came out more purple maroon.

David has been back in school a week now.

And tomorrow night I check into the hospital and I don't check out again until I have a baby.

And then....

We begin a new chapter.

Until then....

Wordless Wednesday

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I can't even believe how many of us there are!!!!
July 2011
Apple Valley, California
Picture Taken By My Cousin Wendy

Showing Those Nazi Jerks Who's Boss

Several weeks ago, David and I were watching a show on the Smithsonian Channel about Iwo Jima.

No, I don't know why. These are things we watch when David has the remote.

Anyway, after that came a show about World War II Victory Gardens and how the Smithsonian still grows one. Then it had another show about Native American gardening. We watched that too.

Then we decided we too could plant a Victory Garden.

It took us a few days to get the area ready. We weeded it. We threw bags of manure on it. We put up fencing to keep certain fat beagles out. Then two weeks ago, we planted.

We divided our garden in to 4 parts; 2 large rectangles and 2 smaller squares. In one rectangle we planted things that spread- zucchini and watermelon. In the other large area, where Catherine is planting in the picture, we planted alternating rows of corn, green beans and peas.

Corn.

Green Beans.

Corn.

Peas.

Repeat.

We got that idea from the Smithsonian show about the Native American garden. Green beans and peas need a place to vine up. Corn stalks give them a place to go as well as keep the corn moist.

In one of the smaller squares, we planted various herbs, onions and peppers. And so far nothing in the other square, though we will probably buy some tomato plants to go there.

One week later, we had our first sprout. Zucchini. Yum.

Now it has been two weeks. Yesterday. And this is what the garden looks like.

This one is the corn, beans, peas.

This is the Zucchini patch.

So far so good.

Take that Nazis.

33.3333333

We have officially made it through the first part of this baby journey. In just 6 short months, the little bundle of joy will arrive. We are getting ready.

Well, in all of our own special ways.

We get the keys to our new, bigger house on Thursday. After a long process. We were supposed to move in last week, but the house was not ready. It still had a broken window, among other things that were supposed to be repaired. But they told me today it is going to be ready in time. Keep your fingers crossed.

The girls are super excited. Carolynn can't wait to get started decorating the nursery. Catherine is excited about not being the littlest any more.

David has been amazing. No matter what I need, even if it is ice cream at midnight, he is on it. Though the morning sickness has really been minimal compared to both of the girls, if you find me tossing me cookies, you can find David standing right there with tissues and water. He is my hero.

I am doing pretty good. Working is hard. I have never been pregnant and had to work before. But my work is being surprisingly wonderful about this. My assignment this quarter had been in a rather dangerous area. Without me even asking, they offered to move me some place safer. And they have been being great about it. In a few weeks, when the next quarter begins, I am assigned to minimum security women. About as safe as I get.

Like I said before, the morning sickness has been minimal. I only threw up about half a dozen times over all. However, I was nauseous a lot of days. And certain smells made me want to run and hide. (Peanut butter one day, corn flakes another) My little baby bump is just starting to show. I am tired a lot.

I will try and do better at keeping this up. They say the second trimester is easier....

A Christmas Carolynn

*************************
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

Yesterday Catherine's tae kwon do had a Chritmas party. David and the girls got to go. I hade to work, as usual. (As a matter of fact, I am working 16 hours today.) They had a great time. The demo team showed off their skills. The instructors performed. There was plenty of food and fun. Catherine took some video. Enjoy.

All I Want For Christmas

Catherine and I began our holiday baking extravaganza today. So far we have chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies. We plan on several more kinds of cookies. We are making mini loaves of pumpkin bread and banana nut bread. We are making mini cupcakes in our homemade shipping boxes. We need to get these things done so we can get them shipped to people for the holidays.

I got most of my Christmas cards ready to go. I just have to pick up some stamps.

Most of the items I purchased online over Black Friday weekend have arrived and been wrapped. If I don't wrap right away, I get snoopers.

What are your favorite holiday treats? Cookies? What kind? Let us know. We might get some new ideas. Or if we know you, we might make you some.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Catherine started this project in August. I thought for sure she would have killed it by now. But no. It's multiplying. They are everywhere. The original plant has gotten huge.

She took one of the first babies to my dad in Fresno. But all the rest are here.

Taking over the kitchen window.

Catherine has plans to take one to Chris and Sherri. I am sure Mary and Tonya would be glad to have one. But the rest...

TAKE THEM! TAKE THEM NOW!

The First Noel

Well, we did it. With the help of Carolynn and Catherine, we wrote 30 posts in 30 days! Now, can we continue this trend? Can we keep up the momentum?

Sure, why not?

Catherine and I have some good posts coming up. Carolynn might even get a few in. She is going to the town tree lighting on Saturday to take pictures for her current school project. Carolynn's tae kwon do studio is having a holiday party in a couple of weeks so there will be pictures of that too.

There should be so much fun holiday activities to talk about and photograph. Doesn't that sound like fun?

And of course, there will be some great prison related stories. Be careful of penises in the windows.

See you tomorrow.

How Hard Can It Be?

I mentioned yesterday that the girls and I were trying some yarn work. We got both crochet hooks and a book and knitting needles and a book as well as several small balls of yarn.

We went over the directions. We watched videos. We had this.

After 24 hours of frustration and hard work...

After all the videos and all the careful examination of diagrams and directions...

We have a knotted ball of yarn.

I just don't get it.

Obsession

Right before Catherine's birthday, she decided that for her birthday she wanted scrapbooking stuff. She never did scrapbooking before but she likes art stuff so it made some sense. Everyone got her scrapbook stuff for her birthday. Especially my dad who works in a craft store and went crazy. She has made a ton of scrapbook pages. She has a whole scrapbook devoted just to her guinea pig.

So I decided to try it too.

And now I can't stop.

I made this page with pictures of my sister's visit.

These are my Carolynn and Catherine pages.

Here are some pages I made at Halloween.

Even Carolynn got in on it. She is sitting at the table scrapbooking right now.

Like The Sunrise

Last night, after months of hard work and dedication, Catherine received her yellow belt in tae kwon do. It's her first belt with color. (She was previously a white belt. Next comes purple belt.) She tested last week. She was so excited to get her new belt.

Here she is getting ready for testing.

And here she is last night receiving her brand new yellow belt from Instructor Tuan.

And here she is, officially a yellow belt.

In other tae kwon do news... David is starting tae kwon do tonight. He will have to work hard to keep up with the other moms and dads... and Catherine.

The Surprise Of The Century

Tomorrow is David's birthday. He will be 24. He is getting old. Just 5 more birthdays and he will have caught up to me. We are not planning anything special. We are tight on money right this minute and we are spending our extra money on car repairs and maintenance. Having two working vehicles is a must.

Of course, that is what we told Catherine for her birthday in September. We told her we were so broke she wasn't even getting presents. Then we bought her Ginny Weasley. She was so surprised. But really, that wasn't the end of it. The Saturday after that, we threw her a surprise party. She had no idea.

We had actually been planning it for weeks. Catherine's friend Brittany helped me pick out invitations on the sly. They were tea cups and when you pulled out the tea bags the party information was on them. That was our theme, a tea party. Catherine's friend Dalia helped me with the guest list.

On the day of the party, while Catherine was at tae kwon do, Carolynn and I cleaned the house. We started the food and got the decorations ready. Catherine's dad sent her a corsage of orchids that came while she was out and we stored it in the refrigerator. When Catherine got home she saw us decorating and getting out the fancy tea set. She thought that we were just having fun. When we lived in San Diego, we often threw ourselves silly parties when we were broke just for us. It was fun. That is what Catherine thought we were doing then. So she joined right in and helped us decorate and make food.

Then she had an idea. Maybe she could invite over a friend. She wanted to invite her friend Robyn. I said sure. Robyn was on my guest list but I didn't know where she lived or how to find her so she never got the invitation. Catherine was happy to invite the one friend and was ready to go get her and start the tea party.

Then she looked out the window as our friends Adrienne and Serenity drove up. She looked confused. Then her friends Dalia and Brittney (and their little sister) came and brought cake pops. (I tried to make some but mine didn't work out to well. Luckily Dalia and Brittney's mom had it covered.) Catherine was so excited. She finally was catching on it was a party for her. She and David went to pick up Robyn. While she was gone 2 more friends showed up. She couldn't believe it when she got back. Later Chris and Sherri came too. The girls played games, ate and drank tea. Catherine got to wear her corsage. They all wore plastic tiaras. They opened presents. Catherine got a lot of cool scrapbooking stuff. It was quite the surprise.