Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Wow, it has been a while...

Just a quick picture to share...

James has taken to wearing this lovely ensemble.  3-D glasses and a sweat band.

I am making a promise, hopefully not an empty one, to be back full force soon.

I miss my writing and I miss you all! 

happymommy

Thursday, April 14, 2011

I am cRAzy... and needy...

If you read my last post, you will know I have been having the time of my kids' life adventuring around San Francisco and beyond.  We are "celebrating" Spring Break.  So, really what this means, since we went nowhere, we have to do a lot more than if we had actually gone somewhere.  If you ever attempted a "staycation" you will understand.

On Tuesday, we ended up on a ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco and my phone was dead.  I had no camera, but I REALLY wanted a picture of us riding the waves.  So, what does this happymomy do?  She found some tourists to help us capture that picture.  I asked nicely, handed them my business card and begged them to take a picture and send it to me when they got home.  Lo' and behold what was in my inbox today?

The kindness of strangers... 

Thank you sweet people from Colorado.  I am forever grateful to have this picture, but more imporatantly being shown that kindness is still a personality trait and not everyone is out for themselves.  Well, except for the mom who has no camera and begs others to take pictures for her.  Except for that, I do believe in kindness and humanity.

happymommy

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Spring Break...

The kids are on spring break this week, and with the help of my fabulous parents, it has been just like a regular week.  Well, kind of...

As soon as I take the time to download a program for editing pictures on my new laptop, I will share with you the wonder that is the happymommy house these days.  Yesterday, the kids and I had an adventure to end all adventures.  We boarded a bus at 9:50 after standing at the wrong corner of the intersection for ten minutes.  I managed to drop my wallet, lose all my money before finally boarding the bus where the nice Tibetan monk wouldn't move his seat one place over so I could sit next to the kids while wielding a HUGE stroller that refuses to stay snapped together.  We did manage to catch the right bus to the SF Ferry Building but we missed the ferry by minutes.  Well it would have been by minutes had I gotten the time right.  Needless to say, we had to call in the Armed Forces, otherwise known as Opa, to come get us to take us across the bay to the small beach that is Shoonmakers.  We had a great three hours of fun in the cold sun with friends.  Then we walked about a mile to the ferry landing in Sausalito to make sure we we on time. We got ice cream, saw the Dr. Seuss exhibit at a tourist trap art "museum" and then sailed the bay back home to catch a bus without incident.

We are really enjoying traveling the city by bus, train and boat these days.  I do, however, miss my home.  The home that allows my children to run amok and make noise without us worrying about the downstairs neighbor.  The house that doesn't have a stoop to the entry that sometimes houses a random person, shoes or an unknown object or fluid.  The house that allows the dog to roam free in the backyard without one of us having to put on shoes and clothes to allow him to relieve himself.  The house that has an ICE MAKER.  I miss many things and will be ready to go home.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

I will say that if we didn't live in the city for this temporary amount of time, we would have never had a random opportunity to walk three blocks, end up at Amoeba Records on Monday night to meet a kindergarten friend, watch his cousin in a band and eat GREAT Asian food at a moments notice.  We wouldn't have been able to take the bus at the last minute after Lilly's bike camp was cancelled today to spend the day at the Metreon, watching Hop and then perusing Bloomingdale's and buying clothes at H&M.  The city is so wonderful, but it isn't home.  I miss home.

This is a 1st world problem.  Not even one that deserves mentioning, except that it is my life.  And in my life, besides the ridiculousness that is me missing an ice maker, I have many good friends.  OK, wait, I don't have many good friends.  I have a few good friends.  I have tons of acquaintances who fill my life with fun and giggles.  But not tons of friends whom I consider close.  There is the one that went way above and beyond to help me with my new job.  There is the one that I consider my BFF whom I never see anymore, but I love like a sister.  And then there is the AV.  (I am calling him this to give him some privacy.  You know, because my blog is so very popular and I must maintain my friend's anonymity.)

I have known AV for five years.  We first met when Lilly and his daughter were 10 months old.  I was craving friends in the crazy world of stay at home moms and he was a new stay at home dad.  Our paths crossed through various events and playgroups over the years, and we finally settled into a comfortable, settled friendship.  Some found it weird how close we had become, but in my world, friends are friends.  That is it.  Our girls were close and we were close.  He became someone I count on to this day to be there if I need him.  Mostly, he just makes me laugh!

AV lost his dad in the last 24 hours.  He sent a lovely and heartfelt email to everyone who knew his dad or knew AV personally.  He wrote this... "For those of you who never met him, try to do the same with me, and the times we have in common.  Preferably something that makes you smile.  After all, he was responsible for those too. And do it about your own dad, as often as you can ..."

So today, I am sharing this with my readers.  Take the people that you love, think about them and remember the smiles.  Remember them for AV, for his dad and for everyone in your life.  Don't let the day pass you by without thinking of the time in your life that your loved one made you smile.  Do this today and everyday!

happymommy

Thursday, April 7, 2011

So sorry...

I am not really around, because well, because I am not around.  How is that for an explanation?  The happymommy house should really be called the busymommy house with a few trips, stresses and remodelings!  I really miss sharing our lives and hopefully, soon, this will change.  Jeff is going out of town, the wind is blowing the city away and the kids keep getting sick. 

For now, I am furious and ashamed at our government.  The impending shut down should infuriate every single American.  What has happened?  Who is to blame?  There are so many dissenting opinions.  Mine is that this is ridiculous.  The most ridiculous part of this, besides the happymommy family not getting their tax return any time soon, is the fact that our soldiers:  the brave men and women of our armed forces who are fighting for our freedom in so many foreign countries around the world WILL NOT BE PAID!  How is this ok?  How can our politicians look themselves in the mirror as they drive through DC in their town cars and eat expensive dinners.  OUR SOLDIERS ARE DYING WHILE YOU ENJOY YOUR BEVERAGE AND STEAK.  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!

One family's story...

On a less political note...  I love my mommy!  That is all!

Mother.......
When you're a child she walks before you,
To set an example.

When you're a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.

When you're an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..
- Author Unknown.

I am waiting on one of my dedicated readers (known as anonymous with her signature attached to her comments) to write my first ever guest post.  Since I failing at posting these days, she offered to write something.  She mentioned it would be things I love about the city, or what I hate about the city, or something like that.  Or it may be about raising children.  It was girls' night out when we came up with this idea, so it could be anything.

Hope to see you soon.  Remember to voice your displeasure at the state of affairs.  It doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you find yourself.  It is unacceptable to be at this stage.  UNACCEPTABLE!

happymommy