I just booked our flight home!!! December 19th to January 5th. I am very excited.
posted by Jenny at 8:16 PM |
0 comments
Happy 30th Birthday Mikey!!!
posted by Jenny at 6:54 AM |
0 comments
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Mike and I are going to the Jay Leno Show tonight for Mike's 30th Birthday!!!!! Be watching for us!!!!
posted by Jenny at 12:09 PM |
1 comments
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
A Story of Capitalism...
Little Red Hen by Lyn Calder
One day Little Red Hen was scratching around in her garden when she found some grains of wheat. "Who will help me plant this wheat?" asked Little Red Hen. "Not I," said Duck. "Not I," said Cat. "Not I," said Dog. "Then I will plant the wheat myself," said Little Red Hen. And she did.
Day by day the wheat grew. When it was tall and yellow, Little Red Hen asked, "Who will help me cut the wheat?" "Not I," said Duck. "Not I," said Cat. "Not I," said Dog. "Then I will cut the wheat myself," said Little Red Hen. And she did.
Once Little Red Hen had cut the wheat she asked, "Who will help me thresh the wheat?" "Not I," said Duck. "Not I," said Cat. "Not I," said Dog. "Then I will thresh the wheat myself," said Little Red Hen. And she did.
The wheat had to be ground into flour. "Who will help me take the wheat to the miller for grinding?" asked Little Red Hen. "Not I," said Duck. "Not I," said Cat. "Not I," said Dog. "Then I will take the wheat to the miller myself," said Little Red Hen. And she did.
When Little Red Hen returned with the flour, she asked, "Who will help me make the dough and bake the bread?" "Not I," said Duck. "Not I," said Cat. "Not I," said Dog. "Then I will make the dough and bake the bread myself," said Little Red Hen. And she did.
Finally, the bread was ready. "Who will help me eat this warm and tasty bread?" asked Little Red Hen. "I will!" said Duck. "I will!" said Cat. "I will!" said Dog. "Oh no!" said Little Red Hen. "I will eat the bread myself." And she did.
This is how we explained capitalism/socialism to Lily last night. It's amazing how much a 1st grader can understand.
posted by Jenny at 12:54 PM |
2 comments
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!!!
(More pictures added to older posts below)
posted by Jenny at 3:29 PM |
1 comments
This is probably the most powerful political video I have ever seen in my life.
I cried. Sobbed, more like it.
posted by Jenny at 8:29 AM |
0 comments
Monday, October 27, 2008
So this morning, I woke up to a text from Mike in Orlando that states, "You need to post." No good morning, no how was your sleep, no greeting of any sort. Just "You need to post." Now I know I am getting lazy.
So here is a lame attempt at a post...
I miss home. There is no question about that. I think that is what is mainly to blame for my posting habits. When I have lots of happy news, it flows like water. But yes, I miss home. I miss the cool fall days (it's been 85 degrees daily here). I miss the people (people here have an edge to them which I can't quite figure out). I miss St. Barts, that to me was home. I miss Lifetime. I miss playdates. I miss normal, well behaved playmates for my kids. I miss Girl's Night Out. I miss my friends. I miss New Reflections. I miss WCCNS. I miss Foss. I miss Summit. I miss the Co-Op. I miss the medical facilities. I miss the Luce Line. I miss Parker's Lake. I miss date nights. I miss my daily rhythm. I miss my little house, for as much as I have complained about it.
A home is more than four walls, it is the community it sits within.
I seem to be the only one having trouble with this and maybe it might be a little exacerbated being that Mike has been gone for a week, but nonetheless. I've talked to some people that says it takes a few years. I think they might be right. I thought that if I came out here and gave it a really good effort, I would see results right away, but I am learning it takes a while. After all, it took a while to build what I had in Minnesota.
The kids and Mike are adjusting great.
Lily is doing awesome in 1st grade!!!! She hit the 100 Spelling Word club last week, she is very proud of herself. She continues to do great in math and reading and loves school. Everyday she comes talking about a new friend she met at school. She even has two "boyfriends," Ben and Liam. Ben is in the 2nd grade and is the brother of a boy on Peter's soccer team. She says he is always looking at her funny. She always tries to sit on him at soccer games. They even sit together on the bus. Liam is in her class. He also rides with her on the bus. Apparently Liam and Ben don't know about each other. I never realized that 1st grade is the age of romance, but when I think back I kissed Ricky Ferguson on the school playground under the tire in 1st grade.
Lily still has a loose tooth and asks me everyday when it is going to fall out. She is going to be Tinkerbell for Halloween (third year as a princess) and she even gets to do a costume parade at her school! We also have a Brownie Sleepover planned at our house for the end of November, which she is very excited about.
Peter got his first goal in soccer this past Saturday! He kicked it from the middle of the field all the way into the goal! He was so excited. He had to remind Mike that he owed him a dollar for putting on in. He has been growing like crazy...none of his pants fit him! He has been getting really good at swimming lately. He can now swim the short length across the pool. He has also been showing more of an interest in books, which is great! My boy is growing up. He is going to be Black Spiderman for Halloween, since we didn't have enough Spiderman last year.
Other than that, we went on a Wildlife Cruise out to the Anacapa Islands last week with my Mom. We must have seen 30-40 dolphins!!! The school came right up on our boat and was swimming along side of it. I thought those things were rare and only made for t.v., but it was awesome! We also saw lots of seals. It was great.
We've also been to our share of Halloween parties, school carnivals and normal family stuff.
I'm happy the election will soon be over. Like everyone else, I am sick of it. I sent in my ballot this past week. I wrote in Mitt Romney for my Presidential selection. I know it's a wasted vote, but my vote is one of principle. I also wrote in Mike's name for my senate selection. And for most of my other selections, I voted out incumbents. I am not happy with the quality of people in office. The California ballots are kind of cool in that you get to vote on Propositions. For instance, whether to approve money for children's hospitals, school unification, gay marriage, victim rights, animal rights, prison upgrades, senate districting, term limits, etc. It actually makes you feel like you have more of a say in your government.
Got to go get my banana bread. Have a good night!
posted by Jenny at 4:23 PM |
4 comments
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Star Sighting!!!
We took my Mom to the Santa Barbara Zoo today. While we were sitting and watching the kids play on the penguin slide, I recognized a mom playing with her kids. It turned out to be Molly Shannon a.k.a. Mary Katherine Gallagher from Saturday Night Live. We Wiki-ed her and confirmed her by her children's names.
Another day in the life of a Californian...
posted by Jenny at 7:16 PM |
2 comments
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
So, I've been pretty lazy about posting. I guess I am getting comfortable here.
Here is a quick update:
- Lily's two bottom teeth are loose. Yes, my baby is growing up by leaps and bounds. She jumped off the bus on Monday so excited to tell me. Her adult tooth is nearly fully grown behind it. She is so funny. She has told everyone at school and called many relatives. She can't wait for it to come out.
- Lily has a boyfriend. His name is Liam. He rides her bus. I guess he is also the boyfriend of another girl on the bus. He think that they are "freaky." She just laughs and laughs about it. She says that he won't talk to her and that she chases him all over the playground. It is so darling.
- It is hot here!!!! 95 degrees. I guess the fall is the hottest time of year. Who knew?
- My Mom comes tomorrow. The kids and I are very excited. I have been quite homesick lately, so it will nice to have some familiarity. It will also be nice to have another cook in the house... I am sooo sick of my own cooking.
- Did you see the debate last night? It totally sucked in my opinion. John McCain will not get my vote ever. Neither will Obama. I mean seriously, does anyone have a brain??? Are we doomed to idiocracy? Do you really think these dim-wads have enough marbles to run a large corporation, let alone the United States of America? Obama says he is for "change," well his change scares the crap out of me. Right now we need to set things right, not pull further off course. And John McCain is not the answer... Hillary Clinton was more conservative that this erratic self-loathing idiot. Tell me where I can find a brain to fix Washington, and then I might vote.
And as for you idiots who think being Republican means that I am homophobic, anti-environment, heartless, pro-war and anti-women's rights, grow up!! It is plain old insulting on every level.
Now I'm done ranting.
posted by Jenny at 1:24 PM |
2 comments
Monday, September 29, 2008
Student of the Month
Lily came home with a letter from the principal today. Lily's teacher and her classmates have selected her to be Student of the Month!!! The award "is in recognition of Lily's outstanding attitude and effort in classroom work and overall behavior."
The whole student body will honor all the Outstanding Students at an Assembly and Awards Ceremony on Friday.
Way to go Lily!
posted by Jenny at 9:37 PM |
2 comments
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
America's Educational Systems Rocks!!!
I love Lily's teacher. This afternoon I had a meeting with Lily's teacher to discuss a differentiated curriculum. I was a little nervous and I didn't know what to expect. I didn't want to one of "those parents" apparently. However, my concern was not unmet. Lily's teacher had accessed the same need that I had. She was so welcoming and listening to my concerns that I was very impressed. She had prepared weekly spelling lists for Lily, instead of phonics cards. She had an assigned chapter book with reading comprehension questions, instead of a phonics library book. She also had the idea of individual book reports to do instead of more phonics reading. She even listened to my ideas (borrowed from a friend) of doing a book club with high achieving kids, an individual interest presentation and a Lily binder (with higher ability worksheets and activities). She thought my ideas were great and said she would work on them. She even expressed the desire to be able to do this for more kids like Lily. I feel so at ease. I don't know what I was so worried about.
And on a funny note... Lily came home and did 3 weeks worth of spelling words in one night. I don't think Mrs. Maxim knows exactly what she has on her hands...
posted by Jenny at 7:09 PM |
2 comments
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Life Just Got Busy...and I'm Loving It.
With school in full swing, life has returned to normal...better than normal I would even say.
Peter is loving his preschool. I switched him into a 5 morning Pre-K program that he is totally loving! The class is 12 kids with half girls and half boys. I had to get them to waive the age cut off, but once they did, I knew that this was the place for him. After Lily gets on the bus, he keeps asking, "Mom is it time for school yet. Can we go to school yet?" The kids in the school are a bit older than him, but with his social & emotional skills, he fits in perfect. The boys in the class have really glued together quickly, so there is already quite the comradeship. Even with him going to school 5 mornings a week, we are still getting plenty of Mom & Peter time. We ride bikes in the morning together and he has become my garden helper. I think he really is enjoying the singular attention.
Lily, surprise, is also loving school. She has grown accustom to the new schedule and is getting to know her classmates. Her new friends are Syanna and Jocelyn. They are shy and soft spoken, the kinds of friends Lily usually picks. Lily's school work is coming very easy to her. She is well above her class in reading and is in the top math group. I never have to help her with her homework. I am in conversations with her teacher to start some differentiated curriculum with her. It's so fun. I love it that she loves it. There is nothing worse than pushing your kids...but Lily is different. Tonight she kept wanting me to ask her how to spell things.... like the days of the week, the months, everything. She is such a bookworm. Last week she went to B&N to pick out a book and what does my 6 year old go for...pocket animal & gem encyclopedias. You should have seen her squealing in the rows of books when she founds books on snakes, crocodiles, mammals & ocean life. My Lily. She learned how to do cartwheels today. She is very proud.
Outside of school we have Peter in swimming, soccer and "Little Church." He is getting really self sufficient in the water. It's amazing the jump he has made since we left Minnesota. I think the change in teaching instruction might have made a difference. And as for soccer, he is hilarious. He had his first game this weekend. It was so funny. They run and play for the first 15 minutes, but as the game dwindles the teams start arguing about who is mean and what the other person "said." Boys are so different than girls.
As for Lily, she has quite the social calendar. She's in swimming, learning the butterfly and the breaststroke. She's also in soccer (and has become quite the defensive player), ballet (so she can dance like Barbie & the 12 Dancing Princesses), Brownies (so that she can go on animal adventures) and Faith Formation (because she loves to talk about God).
As for me, I signed up to be Lily's Brownie Troop's co-leader and well as her Faith Formation 1st Communion teacher. I also am volunteering in Lily's class as a reading instructor. I am meeting a lot of people...and am even recognizing some people around town. I put myself into two book clubs in the neighborhood, so slowly but surely we are joining the community.
This past weekend we joined the Padre Serra Catholic Parish in town. I was dragging my feet on the matter, being that neither church in town TOTALLY fit us or felt like home, but I think we made the right choice for our family.
As for Mike, he is working like crazy. He likes his job and is enjoying himself. He has quite a bit of travel coming up in the month of October, so I am glad to be busy.
Not to mention, I love fall t.v.
Good night from Ventura County!
posted by Jenny at 8:08 PM |
1 comments
Monday, September 08, 2008
Yet More Famous People!!
Saturday, we took Barb & Rog to Solvang to explore. While finishing up our lunch, a man tapped me on the shoulder and asked if this grandfatherly man could play the harmonica for Peter and Lily. I accepted, of course. The man playing the harmonica turned out to be Robert Muller, Assistant Secretary General and "Philosopher" to the United Nations! He is a war hero, an author of 23 books, an 11 time nominee for the Nobel Prize, and has dedicated his life to world peace.
Below is his bio from his website:
Robert Muller was born in Belgium in 1923 and raised in the Alsace-Lorraine region in France, he experienced constant political and cultural turmoil during his youth. His grandparents had five successive nationalities (French, German, French, German, French) without leaving their village as a result of three wars (1870-1871, 1914-1918, 1939-1945). Often as a child, Robert Muller would look out of his window at the border he could not cross and long for the day when he, like the birds, the clouds, the sun and the stars, would no longer have to observe the imaginary line. Today, thanks to the dream and effort of his compatriot Robert Schuman who similarly hated these borders, Robert Muller's passport reads, "European Union" with the sub-title France, and he is free to cross all western European borders.
Robert Muller knew the horrors of World War II, of being a refugee, of Nazi occupation and imprisonment. During the war he was a member of the French Resistance. After the war he returned home and earned a Doctorate of Law from the University of Strasbourg. In 1948 he entered and won an essay contest on how to govern the world, the prize of which was an internship at the newly created United Nations.
Dr. Muller devoted the next 40 years of his life behind the scenes at the United Nations focusing his energies on world peace. He rose through the ranks at the UN to the official position of Assistant-Secretary-General. He has been called the "Philosopher" and "Prophet of Hope" of the United Nations. Robert Muller is a deeply spiritual person. From his vantage point of a top level global states-person he has seen a strong connection between spirituality and the political/cultural scene.
Robert Muller created a "World Core Curriculum" and is known throughout the world as the "father of global education." There are 29 Robert Muller schools around the world with more being established each year. The "World Core Curriculum" earned him the UNESCO Peace Education Prize in 1989. Based on this curriculum and his devotion to good causes, Dr. Muller has recently drawn up a "Framework for World Media Coverage" as a public service, as well as a "Framework for Planetary and Cosmic Consciousness" and a "Framework for the Arts and Culture."
Now in active "retirement," Dr. Muller is Chancellor of the University for Peace created by the United Nations in demilitarized Costa Rica. He is in great demand to make speeches to educational, environmental, spiritual and political conferences around the world. Dr. Muller concentrates his efforts on promoting greater human understanding and global awareness. He was recently the recipient of the Albert Schweitzer International Prize for the Humanities and the Eleanor Roosevelt Man of Vision Award.
Dr. Muller lives most of the year at his small farm overlooking the University of Peace, on a sacred indigenous hill, Mt. Rasur, from which according to indigenous prophecy, a civilization of peace will extend to the entire world. His traditional Costa Rican house is located just up the hill from the Peace Monument of the University. In addition to his duties at the University, he devotes time to his writings and is an internationally acclaimed, multi-lingual speaker and author of fourteen books published in various languages. He has published his Testament to the UN as well as his plans and dreams for a peaceful, happy world.
At the prompting of many of his friends, admirers and non-governmental organizations Robert Muller was a candidate as a global citizen in 1996 for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations.
posted by Jenny at 3:22 PM |
1 comments
Last night after going with Barb to the Santa Barbara zoo and dinner, we took a walk out on the golf course at dusk. While walking across the fairway, Lily said,
"Mom, a snake, a snake."
Literally 5 feet from us was a California Kingsake!!!! It was roughly 4 feet in length and was hanging out on the grass. We quickly exited to the path, but were quite shaken up. The kids were super excited. Apparently, Kingsnakes are immune from rattlesnake venom and actually eat them!!! Harmless to humans, thankfully.
I picked up Barb from the airport this morning. I drove her around Rodeo Drive and then over to Hollywood to see the Kodak Theater.
We were stopped at a light in front of the Chinese Theater, when who should cross the street but...
DAVID COOK!!!
At first I did a double take, but was quickly reassured when I saw his profile. He was dressed all in black with black designer sunglasses and he just crossed the street in front of our van. It was soooo cool.
Officially my first star sighting in CA!
Ahhhhhhh... I love David Cook.
posted by Jenny at 1:20 PM |
2 comments
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The first day of school report came back good. She shared quite a bit.
The biggest item was that she got lost after lunch. She told me that I packed her too big of a lunch, so she kept eating and eating and the class went to recess without her. That mom....always packing too much lunch. But she found her way back to her classroom and met up with her teacher again.
Then at snack, her yogurt was frozen, so she had to wait FOREVER for it unthaw. She even had to go to the cafeteria for a spoon, because she didn't see hers until lunch.
Also, a boy asked for some of her strawberries and an oreo. And she shared. "But he better not keep asking," she said.
At recess, some girls found a flying spider!!! Apparently.
And then a boy got a "W" on his good behavior chart. I guess he wasn't paying attention and was talking when the teacher was teaching.
They read some books, they sang some songs, they wrote their names.
I guess most of the girls in class knew each other, but there is one other new person.
She learned that if she gets good behavior marks that she gets something from the treasure box.
They had quiet time, "where you lay your head on your desk!!!"
The bus was hot. But she met a friend. She jumped off the bus so quick to tell me that the bus driver had to remind her to go back and get her backpack. She wanted her phone number right away to give to her new friend.
posted by Jenny at 8:34 AM |
1 comments
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Lily's First Day of School!!!
So, Lily's off to her first day of 1st grade!!! We all went to meet her teacher this morning. She sits in a pod with 4 boys and 1 girl. Her teacher is Mrs. Maxim, she comes highly recommended. She is quiet, which Lily has always liked in a teacher. There are 20 kids in Lily's class, 8 of which are girls. About 1/4 of the class is younger than Lily. We explored the class, took a peak in her textbooks, and met some parents.
It was all smiles this morning. She was very excited to go. Today she will ride the bus home and tomorrow we will start the whole routine. So expect a bus video tomorrow.
I got a little misty eyed this morning when the whole class waved goodbye to the parents. So, now it's just Pete and I. He has been getting plenty of mom's hugs and kisses today. Only one more year until he's on that bus...
Happy 1st Day of School!!!
posted by Jenny at 9:58 AM |
6 comments
- We went to the Camarillo Airshow on Saturday. Peter really liked the micro jets and the M2s. They had mostly war planes. It was very neat to see both American and Japanese WWII planes. The kids really enjoyed the army helicopters.
- On Sunday, we went to Zuma Beach in Malibu. It's one of the beaches that Baywatch was filmed. It was gorgeous. The kids had a blast. Peter even said to Lily, "I love having a big sister." Afterwards we drove through the Santa Monica Mts back to Thousand Oaks. OH MY GOSH was it a spectacular drive. We're talking hairpin switchbacks, driving on the side of a cliff and steep inclines in a minivan!!! It was awesome. We capped it off with our first visit to In-N-Out, an iconic CA burger joint.
- I frenched my own beans!!! I opened back up my macrobiotics books and got cooking again. I really miss putting out the whole spread. It's much more effective than looking in the fridge at 6 o'clock trying to make dinner in 15 min.
- I posted family rules and a star chart again. I think we need it... All of us.
- I started running in the morning again. It takes a mountain to get me there, but once I'm there I enjoy it. Otherwise, I just feel like a loser all day, being that I failed at the first task of the day. I'm just trying to pull myself forward, in all ways possible...
- Yesterday, I took the kids to the Zimmer Children's Museum in LA. It was really a nice museum, but only an eighth of the size of the Minnesota Children's Museum. But we got in free and we parked for free, so it was great! The museum is of Jewish origin, so the kids learned about prayer walls, synagogues & such. They made windsocks, which was neat. They also had an airplane and an ambulance for them to play. On the way home, we passed Rodeo Drive. I saw the Jimmy Choo store, Barney's New York & Saks. I also drove past the Plaza Hotel, from the Price is Right. So cool.
- Lily is learning the butterfly!!! After 2 lessons, she's almost got it licked. It's amazing. Peter is showing great improvement too, he is getting pretty good at flip breaths and his front crawl.
-Soccer started up for the fall. I put both the kids on a team. I still miss PSA though.
- My CA drivers license came in the mail, so I'm official.
- We got tickets for the Twins versus the Angels in Anaheim on Saturday! So be watching for a MN Twins family of 4.
- We had our first thunderstorm. Apparently, they have not had one in years. It was SOOO loud. I don't remembered a thunderstorm that loud since I was a kid. The sound was bouncing off the mountains around us. We were getting power surges with each bolt. It was awesome. It only downpoured for about 5 minutes and that is the extent of rain since I got here.
- We checked out a Catholic church in town. And in some ways, I don't want to find a new church or new friends. I already have them. I miss you.
Lily STARTS SCHOOL IN 7 DAYS!!!!! She is soooo excited. She's already sharpened all of her pencils and packed her backpack. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It makes me sad to look back at the last 6 years and see the finality in her babyhood. I'm really going to miss that part of her life. I can't believe I have a grade schooler!!!
posted by Jenny at 9:29 AM |
1 comments
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Our Trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo
posted by Jenny at 10:43 AM |
0 comments
My Muffin Girl
posted by Jenny at 10:34 AM |
1 comments
The Lemonade Stand
posted by Jenny at 10:31 AM |
0 comments
Monday, August 11, 2008
Things I Miss Most About Plymouth, MN
1. Family & Friends, obviously.... 2. The kid's friends 3. Lifetime Fitness. There is nothing remotely comparable here. 4. Our pediatrician, doctors & medical facilities. I mean seriously, we are living in the dark ages here. 5. Parks... There are none in walking distance. For real... 6. Close proximity to the bank, Walgreen's, the dry cleaner, etc, etc... I feel like I am driving all the time. 7. St. Bart's. That place rocks. 8. Faith in the school system. I have no idea what to expect come September. 9. WCCNS. I love that place. 10. The feeling of safety & familiarity. I feel so vulnerable everywhere I go.
Things I Like Better about Camarillo, CA
1. Beautifulness... It's breathtakingly beautiful here. From the mountains to the ocean, it cannot get any better than this. 2. The weather, sunny and 80 every day with a light breeze 3. The house - from the backyard to the driveway... 4. Freedom in my own house 5. Fresh produce. Food is sooooo much better here. 6. The ocean 7. The kinship that is forming between Lily & Peter 8. No mosquitoes 9. The feeling that I am on vacation 10. All the phone calls & mail we get from family & friends.
I am sure there is more, but I haven't discovered it yet....
posted by Jenny at 10:46 AM |
1 comments
