Notes to Self…

Sharpie takes a long time to wear off skin.

 

Look into log rolling lessons.

  

Kids look cute with their heads crammed together.

Little boys look adorable in baseball uniforms.

 

They also look adorable with their hands propped under their chin.

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?

We went to Florida in December to visit Barbara and Paul, aka. Grammy and Grandpa, aka. Mom and Dad.  Sis-in-law Liz and family were there also.  One evening, Rose and cousin Sophie asked Grammy of they could play with some of her old make-up she doesn’t use anymore.  Rose was in heaven as Casa de Stitzer is generally a make-up free facility.  And here they are in all their glory.  Too bad computers don’t have scratch and sniff….they smelled about as good as they looked!  BEAUTIES!

Security

Who needs an alarm system with these guys around?  (the boys started karate….yet to be determined if they like it or not… depends on when you ask them)

A Nice Memory

I have a constant narrative running through my head.  I think to myself: blog this soon so you remember.  Easier said than done.  I’m a super great writer in my head… so many witty things to say.  Just ask me!  But then the day gets snowballing and suddenly it’s time to put the kids to bed and start it all over again. 

I was snooping on some random Mom’s blog where she had a picture of herself pushing a jumbo-size shopping cart at the grocery store.  The kind with the car on the front, with her 2 small boys inside.  I wish I had someone snap a picture like that for me.  I want to be able to remember all the times that were so routine, that I never even thought to document.  I distinctly remember a shopping trip where I had Joey strapped to my chest in a snuggly, David strapped into an infant car seat in the shopping cart (must have been asleep) and Rose sitting in the cab of the car at the front of the cart.  I wish I had a picture of that.  I do, in my head….even remember what I was wearing… a blue and white stripe polo shirt.  My standard ‘Mom’ uniform.   I also remember the time I did a full grocery shopping trip while holding a sleeping David, slung over my shoulder.  I hope I never forget those times.  I would however, like to forget all the times when we had a bad day and I would get so angry at the kids.  I have tremendous guilt over times like those.  But, tomorrow is always a new day.  A new day to start fresh and make good memories to replace the bad.  So, before I make myself start sobbing, I will wrap this up. 

I was able to get on here and post because right now Joey is napping on the couch.  He rarely takes naps anymore, so this is a nice treat for me.  He will be in kindergarten next year, so I’m trying hard to enjoy this last year with him.  With 1 last child in school only part-time.   Andy….you better watch out.  I’m starting to think about adopting that little Chinese baby!  Good thing for you my bio-clock has retired. 

Thanksgiving 2011

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you!   I have much to be thankful for…. especially kids in school-made hats. 

11/11/11

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven
It's ok.... It's ok....

Hey Jack… Love Your Lantern

  Here is proof we did indeed have Halloween this year.  David was sick, so he and I stayed home handing out candy, just Joey and I did last year.  (we figure it will be Rose’s turn to be sick next year)  David actually had a pretty good time staying home.  He put on his Green Lantern (pronounced lanter-ren) costume and held the bowl each time the doorbell rang.  (I’m pretty sure he wasn’t contagious by that point…the real sick day was the day before… not to be too graphic)  He saw a few friends from school come to the door, and they all thought that was pretty cool.  Joey and Rose were sent with Aunt Karen to make the rounds with Owen and Madeline…and they thought that was pretty great too.  Halloween is Karen’s birthday, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to celebrate with her.  (but she turned 47 just the same)  The kids went to the Monster Mash at school the Friday before, we had our annual block party Saturday then Halloween on Monday…. we certainly got our fill.  It was another successful spooky season! 

Rose, Bella and Allison:

Rose, Emily, Leah, David & Joey

Isabella & Rose (school friend and soccer teammate last season)

Joey’s last Halloween party at Garden Road preschool (this was his 6th one counting the other years with R & D)

Joey’s Class: Top L-R;  Austin, Joey, Roxy, Dylan, Drew, Mrs. Martin, Christopher, Hayden, Samantha, Quinn  Bottom L-R; Chloe, Carter, Rylee, Ashley, Allison, Addison, Lilliana, Katelina, Erin

David on Halloween night

Hey FRANK!

G is for Glasses

Lost Lips (SDSU Homecoming & Alumni Band)

When the hell did I lose my lips?  And what’s with my teeth?  They look brown and chippy….  in my next life I will come back as a plastic surgeon’s wife.

This is my good friend Lori from college.  We were in the SDSU marching band together and were roommates for a brief time.  (Wow….I met Lori 29 years ago!)Lori told me about  SDSU’s homecoming game a few weeks ago, and asked me to join the alumni band for game.  What the hell… a night out from the kids?  Count me in!  So I rummaged around and found my flute, cleaned off the tarnish and attempted to play.  I had music I was supposed to learn, but when I had to get out magnifying glasses to even read the notes, I decided it was probably going to be a lost cause.  I had sort of forgotten how to read music… so I decided to just wing it.  We had a GREAT time.  By the end of the night, I was sounding better and better!  (better to all those around me who were drinking a lot of beer)  Lori and I hung out with our friend Rhea who also was in band with us.  (We looked super cool when all 3 of us had to bust out reading glasses to see the music.) 

It was of fun… we got to join the band on the field at halftime to play for the homecoming court.  I haven’t been on the stadium floor in YEARS!  Well, 25 years I guess.  I saw a lot of old faces I hadn’t seen in as long.  There were about 120 alumni who showed up to play and another 60+ who came to watch the game and festivities.  We sat in the stands with the band to play during the game.  I think the young girls, also alumni, sitting behind us in the flute section (who looked like I could be their Mom…. biologically that is) thought we were super-cool as they snickered about how out of tune we were… or perhaps they were just talking about me…..  Oh, and band geeks are still band geeks and forever will be.  I told Lori I didn’t think we were so band-geeky when WE were in band.  She assured me we were.  I will definitely do it again next year.  And more more Oh… the Aztecs played TCU, and we lost, by a lot.  It was Marshal Faulk hat giveaway night.  They gave him an award at halftime and had some little ceremony as he had just been inducted into the football hall of fame.  I’m not a Faulk fan, but that’s another boring story for another time.

On a side note, I kept looking at a girl during rehearsal who is a current member of the Marching Aztecs.  She was very familiar to me and I couldn’t figure out why.  She turned and looked at me and said: “Hey, you’re David’s Mom!”  Turns out Melissa was an aide in David’s PEPP (kindergarten) class last year.  That made me feel old when I told her I was in the band from 1982 through 1985.  She wasn’t even born yet.  This is her below:

I hadn’t remembered Kenny Rogers being a Marching Aztec…

Lori, Rhea and I with, and sans granny glasses:

Scott Stewart (Rhea’s husband)

105 degrees of Separation

Joey’s class recently went on the annual preschool trip to the pumpkin patch, and wouldn’t you know, it was only 105 degrees there that day!  I thought we had it bad 3 years ago when we went with Rose’s class and it was 102.  I guess I should know by now it can always be worse.  The kids all got to load onto the Big Yellow school bus for the drive… which was a real treat for them.  I forgot to snap a picture of that.  (I drove separately with some of the other parents.)  It was toasty, but a good time was had by all!

Carter & Joe

 

 

Top Left: Carter, Joey, Hayden, Rylee, Erin, Ashley, Roxy, Allison, Addison  Bottom Left: Samantha, Chloe, Ashton, Lilliana, Austin, Quinn, Christopher, Drew, Dylan