enjoy them now

I always hated when older moms would look at me wrestling with my 4 little kids and they'd say "Enjoy them now because soon they'll be gone."  It truly irritated me.  


Did they not know how tiring it was to take care of the kids?  


Could they not remember what it felt like to get no sleep and have little bodies constantly hanging from you demanding more food, more of your time, more whatever?


Did they not ever feel like I did when at times I thought "I can't wait until these kids grow up and leave the house."?


Look at these two.  They were trying to be serious but man were they struggling.  Emily couldn't hold it together for more than 2 seconds.  They continued to hit modeling poses and laugh out loud.

I love them!  They were my demanding little babies and disobedient toddlers and now they are all grown up and I am very sad about it.  I think back to all the ladies that said "enjoy them now" and how I hated that phrase but now I wish I had listened more.

I can't believe that they will start to fly the coop in a few short years.  I miss them already!

"it was my happy place"

That was Megan's reply when asked how she liked her first class at a local art school.


Megan loves art.  She has been drawing for as long as I can remember.  She has never had lessons but has read lots of art books, spends lots of time pouring over her cousin's blog and creates away with her pencil and sketch book.  


She has wanted to take a class but has been unable to fit it into her high school schedule.  Just recently however she was lucky enough to have her name drawn as the winner of a free month of art classes at a art school near by.


Tonight was her first night and she LOVED it!


She said she felt a bit intimidated at first by the work of those around her but I think for her first night of class she did great...

This isn't complete yet - she says she has more work to do.  I can't wait to see the finished work.


It is always fun to watch your children be excited about something and art is the something that Megan truly gets excited about (that and turning 16 in less than a month)

overwhelmed

I am overwhelmed by how behind I am on posting.  I have tons of pictures to post but I want to add witty commentary to make it more interesting - therein lies the problem...I'm not witty, have no time to try and fake witty and so I just don't post.


It's boring to look at someone else's pictures and not have an exciting story or funny caption to read but I got nothing.  I have no desire to think or write but I have lots to share.  So you're getting pictures and some sorry little commentary.  That's it.  Don't complain.  You can take it or leave it.


On to the pathetic posting...

our connection to the island

Remember when I mentioned these educational plans for the first day of the teachers strike?


Heading out to the Happiest Place on Earth (which was definitely not our schools that day) turned out to be a brilliant idea.  Disneyland was free of crazy crowds.  We couldn't have had a better day at the park.


We ended up seeing lots of friends from church and school - it seems we weren't the only ones that thought Disneyland was educational.  However the person we were most thrilled to see had a connection to THE island.  Yes, that island...the one with the crazed black smoke running around killing people.  The one with the cool Darhma packaged food.  The island where people say "hey Freckles" and "brutha"


Here is photographic proof of our brush with fame...

Do you recognize him?  If you don't you have some serious issues.  The guy has an action figure even.  Only really famous people have action figures.

We met Dr. Arzt of LOST fame.  So what if  he blows himself up pretty early in the show and we don't see him often.  He does show up in the real world, or is it an alternate reality or is it some spirit world?  I'm too confused.  Whatever world it is he is a teacher at a high school with Benjamin Linus - he helps Ben hack into the school computers.  Now you know who he is.  I knew you'd get it.

Since most of the kids/youth we were with aren't fans of LOST (my girls tried watching it one night but now refuse to even be in the room when we watch it - Megan is creeped out by crazy Claire) they were more impressed when he mentioned he has been on Sunny With a Chance and Wizards of Waverly Place.

olvera street and chinatown

During Spring Break we boarded Metrolink and headed off to Los Angeles to spend the day at Olvera Street and Chinatown.

Lunch was the always yummy taquitos.  When at Olvera Street you must eat these and a churro - it's part of a gringo pack made with the people of Mexico billions of years ago.  Failure to eat these fried golden rolls of love is punishable by time in jail.  I warned you!

At the end of the day we stop for an impromptu photo shoot.  Megan and her friends...

Our family.  Notice anything off?  Take a look at Nathan.

He's sporting these...his big purchase from a gumball machine in Chinatown.  Two mustaches (one ripped in half for eyebrows)  The looks he got from people was hilarious.  

I always love a trip to Olvera Street and this was an especially fun one.

ok so i lied

There was more commentary than I thought there would be.  Not witty but at least there was something to read.

going on strike

While the teachers are away the family plays.  


Since this is what is going on in our district at the moment we are off to Disneyland to brave the cooler temps and rain.


Before you judge me on not sending my kids to school let me mention that the teaching plan during the strike is to group kids by grade (elementary) and last name (middle and high school) and let them work on generic worksheets for hours while a sub tries to keep control.  Not the most worthwhile educational activity.  I realize Disneyland's not either but it will be a heck of a lot more fun.

now accepting donations

Please send cash or checks made payable to Denise Baker so I can get my family here.  The video kills my geeky Harry Potter soul - I so want to go!