Goodbye Disney

On Wednesday we took our last trip to Disneyland for the year. 

We had season passes and had been going a lot this year.

 We both REALLY love Disneyland and California Adventure, but after going so much over the last 7 years, we decided to take a break in 2011 and try out the other theme parks in California.

Being that it was the day before Thanksgiving it was unusually packed with thousands of people.... but we really had a great day. 

Goodbye Disneyland.... 

See you in 2012.

Thanksgiving for 36

In case I haven't mentioned it before, we have a very large family. On my mom's side there are about 56 of us (give or take a cousin or two) with my grandparents, their 10 kids & spouses, and all the grand and great grand children. This year for Thanksgiving there were 36 of us.... all in one house!!

Like every other family, we begin our day in the kitchen...mostly it's the aunts and a few of the older female cousins, and of course, Grandma... it is her kitchen after all. 

Each family (of the 10 kids) brings a specific dish and my grandparents make the hams and turkeys. But some how there is still tons of work to be done in the kitchen before we sit down for lunch.

 

And sitting down to lunch is another process all in itself. My grandparents have what we all call "The Big Room" which used to be 3 separate bedrooms when their kids were young. Now it's just a HUGE room where we all get together. We put together a bunch of tables and chairs, my mom decorated the table, my nephew and I set all the place settings and name tags up, and then came the food.

Thanksgiving (and every holiday actually) was once again a lot of work... but totally worth it. I LOVE having such a huge and close family. This is tradition for us in every sense. I'm so glad that my son is experiencing the same family traditions with the same family (plus about 20 more people) as I did when I was young.

Justin - Drew - Jake

My favorite little turkeys!!

All I Want For Christams

I've really been trying not to skip over Thanksgiving in our house.. but I have to admit its been tough. Last week Drew and I were both sick.. he has bronchitis... so we spent a lot of time at home, and I had to fight back the urge to decorate the house for Christmas. 

By this time last year Drew already had his Christmas list going... and was singing Christmas songs ALL DAY LONG. This year he's decided to ask Santa to just give his gifts to the homeless kids since his mom already buys him enough stuff (right now I am beaming with pride... all while being smacked in the face with the reality that I really do spoil my baby) as soon as his letter is done I'll post a picture. 

So while I'm fighting back my Christmas urge to buy Drew a new $50 video game tonight that I think I really want more than he does.. I'm going to give in and announce the ONLY thing I want for Christmas... 

These pink fuzzy slippers from Target. $15... and worth every cent!

They have little sequins all over them and they just look super cute & warm to me! I've been reminding Drew multiple times a day, at any given opportunity (like while burning his waffles in the toaster), of my NEED for these slippers. 

But I think I'm just going to go ahead and buy them for myself tonight. Call it an early Christmas present... call it retail therapy.. call it what you will, I want my freaking slippers!! 

Happy Early Thanksgiving!! 

I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

 Who wouldn't LOVE a Hippo for Christmas? 

Drew's 2nd grade class is singing the song "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" at their winter program in a few weeks. We were so excited when we found out because it's one of our favorites and he already knew most of the words. 

The teacher has a little Hippo costume for one of the kids to dress up in, but we're on the look for stuffed hippos for the rest of the kids to hold while they sing. So if any of you happen to see a hippo while you're out shopping, please let me know... or have an old or extra one lying around your house that you'd like to send us, we'd appreciate it!

Looking for something like this

Why I Will ALWAYS Live In So. Cal.

Just checked the weather report for Newport Beach tomorrow and it's supposed to be 80 degrees!!!! Seriously.. in NOVEMBER!! I am so stinking exciting... and can not wait for Drew's game to end tomorrow so I can head straight to the beach! 


This will probably be the last time this year I'll be able to stick my toes in the WARM sand... and I get to do it kid-less!! This is one of the extremely RARE occasions I am thankful for visitation weekends. 


Now all I need to do is find a great book to read out there, pack my little beach bag and wait.... 

Weekend Warriors

Last weekend was a bit of a busy one for us. 

It started off with a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Drew is a big fan of this place but couldn't care less about anyone else's birthday. As soon as he got there all he wanted to do was play the games. We seriously spent about 90% of our night on our own playing games... yep, we suck as party guests... 

Then bright and early... and freakin' cold.. Saturday morning Drew had a baseball game. He got a good hit and their team won so I'd say it was a good game. Afterwards we went to lunch with one of the other baseball families. Then headed to Wal-Mart for our weekly shopping trip. 

 We hung out at home for a couple hours before going to Drew's first ever cooking class. 

 Drew didn't like having to wait on the other kids (only child syndrome) but he behaved very well and never complained (verbally at least)

 There were 14 kids in the class with 2 instructors. It was a Sponge Bob themed class where they made Krabby Patties, Bikini Bottom Fries, Kelp Shakes and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Drew did very well, and even cut up a whole potato all by himself with the sharpest knife ever! He said he enjoyed the class but it took too long. He's so used to being the only chef in a kitchen.... mom's lucky to be an assistant. 

 And Sunday we attempted to deal with the time change. After waking up way too early and having 2 hours to kill before he went to his dad's to watch the Miami game, we decided to make some breakfast. Drew made cinnamon rolls from his new cookbook and they game out great. Then we kinda just laid around in the living room watching Charlie Brown Christmas and playing with the dogs. 

While Drew was at his dad's I went to see our friends new baby girl. I could have sat there all day holding this sweet baby. After I picked up Drew that afternoon I took him out to spend the gift cards from his birthday then we headed home where he made me a yummy pasta dinner. I sure do love having my own private chef!!

This is the result of realizing that we didn't actually "Sleep In" until 7:45.. 

and that because of the stinking time change it was actually 6:45!!

Doing it MY way

Every single person is different in so so many ways. Every mother parents their child differently than the next... even differently than their own mother.. and their own sister. 


Every woman dates differently... if she even dates at all. People marry (or refuse to marry) for their own individual reasons. Everyone's likes and dislikes are unique... 


While I am very aware of these previous statements, it seems to be a daily (if not multiple times a day) thing for someone to question the choices I make in MY life. So I just kinda need to vent a minute and state a few of reasons for the most "questionable" choices I've made. 




1. I have ZERO desire to ever be married. This increased even more so after I had Drew, but ever since I can remember, there has never been a husband in my future plans. It's just not my thing... I have no desire to take the bad with the good.. I want good ALL the time... I'm pretty positive I'm allergic to compromise.. I get bored VERY easily (and this applies to most people that try to make a permanent spot in my life).. and my son is my ENTIRE world, there's just not room for anyone else in our lives.


2. Going along with number 1, I don't date. Ever. I think dating is done to get to know potential mates... partners.. husbands... and since I don't want one of those, what the heck do I need to date for? I have friends and we hang out, we can go to dinner, the beach, a movie, Target... whatever... and there's never any "US" talk... the only US in my life is Drew and I. 


3. My 7 year old does not play at his friends houses unless I'm there with him.... his friends do not come over to play at our house unless their mom stays too. This is just the way our friends and I have always done it. No, I do not trust others with my son very easily (or even at all). Things were different when I was growing up and my sister and I would wonder from house to house and just come home when it got dark out.... but things have CHANGED... and I am not my mother... I am Drew's mom. 


4. I do not, have not, and will not consume alcohol in the presence of my child, or if I will be seeing him any time that day after taking a drink. There are a bunch or reasons for this, but really it just comes down to Drew's safety, best interest and general responsibility on my part. Alcohol isn't a necessity in my life... or rarely even a desire. 


5. There isn't anything I can't do myself. I can change a tire on my car, sit in the ER for 7 hours with a sick kid and never leave his side, change the light bulbs in the ceiling fan and do my taxes. Being dependent on ANYONE for anything just isn't my thing. I'm actual terrified of ever getting to that point in life. 


6. Drew sleeps in my bed with me. Every single night. He's happy that way and so am I. He has his own room and his own bed and it'll be there for him whenever HE'S ready. 


7. I will not ask you how your weekend was, or how you're feeling unless I GENUINELY care. I'm not one for small talk at all. Unless I actually WANT to know, I'm not asking you anything. And I prefer when people do the same with me. I'd much rather sit in silence then have fake conversation about something I'm not even the slightest bit interested in. 




I think that's enough for now. 


It's our differences that make us unique. I'll be the first to admit that I'll never understand some choices people make... and I'm VERY quick to judge EVERYONE.... so I can understand when others do the same with me. 


But as long as I'm happy and Drew's happy.... that's all that matters in my book. 

Dear Hasbro,

Dear Hasbro,

We are a serious Board Game playin' family. At least three times a week we spend an hour or so playing which ever random game my son pulls off the shelf. We have monthly game nights with extended members of our family too. Over the last few years we've acquired quite the collection and are eager to buy every new game that comes out. 


And here's where my dilemma.... and frustration begin. A few months ago we started seeing advertisements for your new U-Build games. They looked cool and were a different version of some of our current favorites, so I thought they would make the perfect gift for my sons seventh birthday. I purchased the U-Build versions of Monopoly and Connect 4 to start with. And I made the mistake of suggesting we start with Connect 4 on the night of his birthday. 


BIG MISTAKE!! I am aware of the name U-BUILD.. which clearly implies there will be some building involved.... HOWEVER, I did not know I would need a freakin' Lego construction license to build the stinkin' game! Seriously the building process for CONNECT 4 (one of the simplest games EVER) was insane! 

And once it was completed it just wasn't all that fun anymore. Who wants to go through all that WORK to play a GAME?? Not me.... and not my sweet kiddo either! Lucky for you I couldn't find my receipt, otherwise that game would have gone straight back after the first 2 hours of work!

Our next attempt at the U-Build drama will be Monopoly... which LOOKS a lot simpler to assemble, and for all involved I sure hope it is.

Please do everyone a favor and stick to PRE-ASSEMBLED games.

Never-Building-AGAIN,

Drew's Mom