tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48670817332987575372024-03-15T18:09:46.023-07:00one brick shy (ish)Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.comBlogger1698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-36595383050333229322018-03-15T13:37:00.002-07:002018-03-15T13:37:36.988-07:00HEAR YE.<br />
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I need to document the fact that I ran 3 miles and didn't feel like death. So just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I did it the next day. STILL DIDN'T FEEL LIKE DYING.<br />
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I think the only chance I'll get to run today will be on the treadmill, which is a heckuvalot harder than running outside, but I'll take it.<br />
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So, who the heck am I???????Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-55473375956160193332018-02-06T14:11:00.000-08:002018-02-06T14:11:01.998-08:00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDb_d4HuZ3a0qWNPuvgwFs-sox-pSDL0O7GImP0CRn5N6d5mEpBFV0s_ga0a0CzKzUqyG6stmogq08TdspeAUUhK3LPScH04TfwbKZ9j3aBq0MFdnWcpFGmh6M2VpbQeUq14YMMeKcBM/s1600/20180206_101439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDb_d4HuZ3a0qWNPuvgwFs-sox-pSDL0O7GImP0CRn5N6d5mEpBFV0s_ga0a0CzKzUqyG6stmogq08TdspeAUUhK3LPScH04TfwbKZ9j3aBq0MFdnWcpFGmh6M2VpbQeUq14YMMeKcBM/s640/20180206_101439.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today was one of those days where I threw my to-do list out the window and headed to the children's museum with Thing 3. This is my last year of having a kid at home at least a few days a week. </div>
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He's SO different than my first two. He's what I think other people's kids must be like. I have WonderGirl who is ... extra. Extra everything. And the Dude who is so much more than autistic. But also autistic. Thing 3 is imaginative and does things like parenting books say children usually do. They are all brilliant, but smarts come out in different ways. WG obsessively creates and codes, the Dude reads nonfiction nonstop, and Thing 3 plays with toys like kids in toy commercials do, and also has started memorizing times tables.</div>
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I'll never know what it's like to have a gaggle of average children, and I kind of envy those who do. It's tough for all of us, and the grass is green and glorious everywhere. (I'm typing that to remind me of that for later.)</div>
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Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-70838844468696732242018-01-25T12:44:00.001-08:002018-01-25T12:44:52.448-08:00I'm super lazy. Some people are go-getters, and I'm the kind of person the go-getters go and get. And I'm totally fine with being got. I'm quite the follower - case in point, any church calling that involves me being in charge has generally been a disaster. If it wasn't a disaster on the outside, it sure as heck was one on the inside.<div>
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But, I don't like to do extra if I don't have to, you know. I don't like inserting my head where it doesn't belong because 1. I don't want responsibility for anything and 2. I don't like drama. So you know what super gets me confused? People who have the energy to leave negative/snippy comments on social media. Oh, I'll say something punchy to my screen, but the act of typing it out and knowing I'm entering The Drama Zone makes me nauseous. I barely blog any more, why on earth would I spend any precious keystrokes on anything I don't HAVE to be involved in? </div>
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Do I sound 87 yet? Case in point, WG came home upset about her bus driver, so I asked on a local moms group how to get ahold of the district's bussing dept. And a few helpful people pointed me in the right direction, while a few others questioned my parenting. Who has the energy? This is why I get a little queasy whenever I pop onto social media, because opinions are lurking. Drama is hiding out somewhere. And I spend a lot of actual physical energy actually dodging drama in my real life.</div>
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Now, as a pallate cleanser from the talk about drama, here is how we spent our anniversary:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3gn7mE0qkjPDaHJB_ht7xgVXvaNDld0hEYINjoRh85ntYSMSp9HKZWJ_p5QgubYIuH4b2ykNAxpOuy8WfEwbX2N2P9CaGZjhKl1S9Yyz27aB0kYpK-VUyhERm-0wq6PhWTpDZBu8OKQ/s1600/20180115_082533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3gn7mE0qkjPDaHJB_ht7xgVXvaNDld0hEYINjoRh85ntYSMSp9HKZWJ_p5QgubYIuH4b2ykNAxpOuy8WfEwbX2N2P9CaGZjhKl1S9Yyz27aB0kYpK-VUyhERm-0wq6PhWTpDZBu8OKQ/s640/20180115_082533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Note - I was the only person in the house who did not throw up that day. I saved it all for the next day, woo!<br />
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And here is a butterfly on my hand next to a butterfly on WG's hand:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Af4co8y93QYdnSlsrU7GMek1HGiMY08QFH1g7k2SJQy8KPOqjKoIZ5gLNz5kiEHP-oqLJ5fKIknk94aEUhnKzWnkq78Gz1tWQ6L4Gj7NoMgBHOdGGW8AOjhBO4KA4vJGou4joe0PSpU/s1600/20180115_114009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Af4co8y93QYdnSlsrU7GMek1HGiMY08QFH1g7k2SJQy8KPOqjKoIZ5gLNz5kiEHP-oqLJ5fKIknk94aEUhnKzWnkq78Gz1tWQ6L4Gj7NoMgBHOdGGW8AOjhBO4KA4vJGou4joe0PSpU/s640/20180115_114009.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Just out of the frame - a sobbing Thing 3 who couldn't get any butterflies to land on him because he wouldn't stop jumping up and down.</div>
Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-25333124284342199092018-01-21T09:46:00.002-08:002018-01-21T09:46:56.824-08:00How was year 13??The short answer is, it's all here in the amazing annual anniversary video!! 13 YEARS, whodathunk??<br />
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The long answer, good. When I go looking for music for the video, I try to get it to have the feel of the year, and so a peppy OK GO song it is. Not a lot of eath changing stuff happened this year, although we did live through Hurricane Harvey and the Dude got baptised at the same time. And then husband and I jetted off to Mexico for a trip I was terrified to take but it ended up being freaking amazing of course. I really should start to take his word on things. Oh, and I did go play 3 shows in New Freaking York City with my band. No biggie.<br />
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But the most important thing I learned was to not be so blasted nice. I'm always accomodating other people and trying to set them at ease (because I'm a stereotypical girl and unfortunately have my own share of #metoo stories, blegh), but if someone is negative about people I love, I don't have to apologize or make nice. That seems like a no brainer, but I'm planning to be on earth a long time, so there is a long list of things I need to learn so I won't get bored. At some point, I may even take up accounting! Hahahaha no. No I will not.<br />
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So that was a great lesson I had to learn this year the hard way. But it's a lesson I needed to learn eventually, and it reminded me of how blasted lucky I am to have my tribe to protect and that has my back. Every now and then I take a step back and look at the people I have in my life and it makes me catch my breath. How did I end up so lucky?? I don't feel worthy. But I'm aware, and that's a huge blessing in itself.Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-82884150395018810202018-01-07T19:01:00.001-08:002018-01-07T19:02:02.925-08:002018 official<p dir="ltr">So these were the New Year's resolutions that I picked this year. I'm about halfway done with Duolingo, so I think that's doable. But running 10K... We'll see about that. As my mom says (and my dad for that matter) it's better to shoot for the moon and miss, then to aim for a crap pile, and get it!</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d7RSBbTSA4sfz_NeNsI0UuSJx7OSvQlm0Lp-_gg0NlSr_jQ-LcJUgsqoI2FXYThQ6PKiXzQD4EVbzVAglJPCtmla_SuocxE7TBDTlWMJACQUdOGYAAFvvCr_uP31hufgpw_rjiD9Yc4/s1600/keeva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="1365" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d7RSBbTSA4sfz_NeNsI0UuSJx7OSvQlm0Lp-_gg0NlSr_jQ-LcJUgsqoI2FXYThQ6PKiXzQD4EVbzVAglJPCtmla_SuocxE7TBDTlWMJACQUdOGYAAFvvCr_uP31hufgpw_rjiD9Yc4/s640/keeva.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, if you have the acnes,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Treatment-Blackheads-Salicylic-Formula-Keeva/dp/B077NW366Z/ref=pd_sim_194_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CXKQB4VR087CHWJ612Q4" target="_blank"> this stuff has done magic on my face</a>. I just use it where I generally break out (chin, ugh) and I haven't had a zit in months. Look at the reviews, try it out, whatever. It's your face, and I loves it.Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-73627121878359532662017-12-25T10:45:00.001-08:002017-12-25T10:45:25.832-08:00Happy Merry Pretty Things!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Merry Christmas, y'all!! Instead of a diatribe on how much mental illness bites, I thought I'd share some of my favorite finds. I'm a sucker for Buzzfeed lists of Awesome Drugstore Beauty Products!! or Great Gifts for Weird People Under for $5!! and I've found some genuine Not Crappy Stuff that I'd share. These have been Reva Tested and Reva Approved. Links to this stuff are click-on-the-pic.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Skinfood-Black-Sugar-Exfoliator-Ounce/dp/B01H6EHVK4/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1514224895&sr=1-2&keywords=skinfood%2Bblack%2Bsugar%2Bmask&th=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1247/4607/products/62_BLACK_SUGAR_MASK_WASH_OFF_large.png?v=1465920815" width="320" /></a></div>
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This Skin Food Black Sugar Mask is soooo fabulous. You clean your face, then rub the goo on, which has sugar granules in it so it exfoliates, then you leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash off. Usually when I exfoliate I feel dry and blurg, but this has nice oils in it that leave you feeling Moist. Yeah, I said it. Okay, actually Smooth is a better word, but I don't get to use Moist often. Because it's gross. But this stuff isn't! There's a Strawberry version too that's nice, but this one is my go to. Husband has not mentioned anything about how I look like a diseased zombie when I use it, so that's bonus.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pantene-Repair-Protect-Miracle-Conditioner/dp/B0193G14QU" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://www.superdrug.com/medias/sys_master/side-zoom/side-zoom/h2d/h65/9191652098078/Pantene-3-Minute-Miracle-Repair-Protect-200ml-736304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The article I read on this said you'd have Rich Girl Hair. I don't know what that is, but I do know I use Suave shampoo then this stuff, and my hairs feel awesomesauce, better than any combo of fancy shampoos and conditioners I've tried. And if it can make Suave hairs feel silky, then booya. I saved myself 4 bucks with cheap shampoo and my hair feels good anyway. So I'm 4 bucks richer!</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/LOr%C3%A9al-Paris-Revitalift-Concentrated-Treatment/dp/B008FZ562E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1514224828&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=revitalift%2Bserum&th=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="214" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71vpXz7z10L._SY679_.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>
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This is a serum thing that the fancy magazines I read in the waiting rooms at the Dude's MANY appointments say I should put on after toner and before moisturizer. I don't think it lifts anything or does anything age/gravity defying, but of the different serum things I've tried, this feels like smearing satin on my face. It's so smooooth. So I feel nice, and that's good enough for me.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/John-Frieda-Brush-inch-packaging/dp/B0056GDG90/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1514224955&sr=1-5&keywords=brush%2Bhair%2Bdryer&th=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="522" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71xf0kGHCsL._SX522_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A hairdryer brush!! LANDS. This is for lazy people who are tired of holding a brush in one hand and a hairdryer in the other. And since I have a bob, this Is Awesome. I still dry my hair upside down with the big one after my shower to bring the moistness down a notch (I'm on a roll, had to use it) and then this to smooth out the hairs and turn in the ends. And then maybe a flat iron to tame flyaways, but that takes 2 minutes tops. This thing does most of the work so my other hand is free to make shadow puppets. If it wants.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hair-Volumizing-Texturing-Powder/dp/B003U7CXUA/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1514225372&sr=1-5&keywords=big+sexy+hair+powder+play" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/JCPenney/DP0414201617023141M" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is for hairs with no body. I don't know what this stuff is, but it is a friggin miracle. One review I read said it kept one person's hair from looking flat and gross after a whole day in Florida - that alone made me press Buy It Now. And I don't get it - I sprinkle it on my roots after styling it, and it looks like I teased it just a tad. And then it looks like that 8 hours later! Or more! If the heavens blessed you with hair that has a mind and a zip code of its own, cherish it. If not, buy this stuff.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075FWN6V7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="511" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91SU1QRB57L._SL1500_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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These patches are awesome. I got a creepy mega zit and I put on of these little stickers on and you can actually see the stuff it sucks out of there. In 2 days the inflammation was way down and it was barely there. I've been using this new tea tree oil moisturizer on my Zit Zone and have been lucky to not have any flare ups recently, so these patches haven't been used up fast, but I have an 11 year old kid. I think they may come in handy soon enough...</div>
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Unfortunately the tea tree oil moisturizer was available on Amazon, but it got removed and now I can only find it for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Treatment-Blackheads-Salicylic-Formula-Keeva/dp/B077NW366Z/ref=pd_sim_194_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CXKQB4VR087CHWJ612Q4" target="_blank">$50</a> which is a lot of moolah. But I'll keep an eye out and if it appears at a decent price, I'll link to it here.</div>
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Have a Happy Rest of 2017!!</div>
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<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-70161382469537862592017-12-04T07:09:00.001-08:002017-12-04T07:09:23.842-08:00EAT THISCan I just vent for a second?<br />
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My full time occupation is Worrier in Chief. I worry. Sometimes I wonder what it's like to have normal kids - but I'm sure someone would say "No kid is normal." But then they meet my kids. And they offer their condolences. This has happened more than once IRL, no joke.<br />
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They aren't bad, but they are definitely high maintenance. And I'm not a full functioning adult, so it takes all of me to keep this family working. My main job all weekend was keeping them from literally murdering each other. NOT HYPERBOLE.<br />
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The other day mom asked why Thing 3 isn't playing violin. I gave a genuine effort with The Dude, but now, with everything going on, I just can't manage it. I did teach him how to read AND teach hin piano. That's something.<br />
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So yesterday while I was fasting and praying about WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP THESE KIDS ALIVE AND ALSO PIKA, I got panicked about the eating thing. I have a whole list of things to panic about with each kid, so I attached my brain to this one for the day. And I did something dumb. I Googled "how to help picky autistic eaters."<br />
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Now, for the LOOOONG suffering readers out there, you will remember that we had the WORST trouble getting WonderGirl to eat ANYTHING. From birth. It was miserable, especially because I was trying to nurse and wasn't aware that every time I nursed, my dopamine would drop through the floor and I'd get suicidal. (Google DMER. It stinks). So it was emotionally a mess. <br />
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In fact, 8 years ago when I was blogging regularly, I had a baaad day about her eating that was so bad, I didn't want to even type it all out. So I vlogged it.<br />
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And guess what? NOW she eats sushi! And also paper and erasers, but we're working on it.<br />
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So I should have known better than to search out answers the eating problems for the Dude. But I thought, He's autistic! This has to be common, right?<br />
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YOU GUYS. The answers were all the same. Try introducing things gently, etc, BLAH BLAH BLAH. Everything I tried with WG but didn't work. But replace stubbornness with autism, anxiety and a whole bunch of other stuff. I just don't want him to get osteoporosis.<br />
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What I'm saying is, sometimes the internet is an amazing place.<br />
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And sometimes, it's a know-it-all jerk.<br />
<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-13982347173721410382017-11-23T10:57:00.001-08:002017-11-23T10:57:33.536-08:00Resolute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back in 2015, I woke up too early one morning, tired and miserable. I said a wee prayer for guidance to help get me out of this haze. Clear as day, a voice said - "Do yoga." So, I got out my mat, found a channel on youtube and rocked shivasana. And child's pose. The others were kind of a disaster, but I felt a kajillion times better. I could BREATHE. I'd get up early in the morning and stretch and be present. But after years of not doing yoga, I found my body had the elasticity of a yard stick. Downward dog was especially bad. So, that year, I made a New Year's resolution - and one that I actually kept:</div>
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And I DID. Not a bunch of times, but I was definitely better, which was the point. So, I actually made another one last year: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYvSrB_Sb4yAUbTV_VHmnZgvc2QWvC7IypJ4CxxEIE3oEsxgR7Ni57UB6U-P1QuafTySmkgofksfaIwmtbJkKPqRSG9eRx53BDfQ2E7zp8JBoUbof8IZPtRHaBLN-_GaEewz01k_6l8I/s1600/15776685_10158027791365603_8157539137466246834_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1296" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYvSrB_Sb4yAUbTV_VHmnZgvc2QWvC7IypJ4CxxEIE3oEsxgR7Ni57UB6U-P1QuafTySmkgofksfaIwmtbJkKPqRSG9eRx53BDfQ2E7zp8JBoUbof8IZPtRHaBLN-_GaEewz01k_6l8I/s640/15776685_10158027791365603_8157539137466246834_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one was big because if I was super bad at yoga, I was a complete disaster at running. I got winded going up the stairs, down the stairs, across the room, everywhere. I wanted to see if I could push my body to achieve something, and it had to be something attainable. It took until August, but I finally managed to run one mile WITHOUT STOPPING. I know that's nothing to my friends - most of whom run marathons like it's a stroll in the park, but my bar started suuuuuper low, so I kind of climbed Mt. Everest. Kind of.<br />
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After that, I got up to 3 miles. SERIOUSLY. I don't know if I can try for more, because I rarely have more than 30 minutes, and I really like running in the evening. Morning running makes me angry, which is kind of the opposite of my goal. So I started something else...<br />
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Any of you ever use <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank">Duolingo</a>? I've used it off and on to try and work on my Portuguese - it's a free app or website that has lessons/quiz stuff. And around the time I hit my mile goal, I had a life situation that whacked me that precipitated the need for me to take a step back from social media - it's wasn't huge, but I needed a break from drama outside my own family. So I deleted the FB app and put the Duolingo app in its place. It's right up front on the home screen, and it tracks streaks and how many days you can go without skipping doing a lesson. I've gotten up to 28 days before forgetting, and right now it says I'm 47% fluent! That's probably wildly optimistic, but I surprise myself sometimes with the words I know - wolf, costume, shark... random stuff!<br />
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In fact, we were in the car the other day, and husband was listening to some Brasilian punk music, and I saw the title and screamed - "WHY ARE WE LISTENING TO 'I WANT TO SEE THE POOP'?!?!?!" I swear I saw "Eu Quero Ver O Coco" - but on second view I realized it was not Coco but Oco - Hollow. Whatever. But I read that super fast, so someday I may have a situation where a crazy Brasilian asks to see my poop and I'll know what he's saying and can hit him with my purse.<br />
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ANYWHO, the point of all this is that I'm thinking about the next year, and what I might be able to accomplish. And I'm thinking I want to try practicing violin every day - I practiced super hard for years (hellooo, masters) but I haven't in a looong time. Teaching my own kids has been helpful, plus the occasional gig, but I want to see if I can manage to practice every day, and achieve something. Maybe I want to learn all the Bach Partitas or Sonatas? Or learn the Sibelius Concerto... naw, that's more than a year... but I want to find something to learn and achieve it. Any violinists have any ideas? <br />
<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-75833571042798965642017-11-20T05:51:00.001-08:002017-11-20T05:51:23.780-08:00What's the opposite of pride AND humility? Self flagellation?This weekend at our<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stake_(Latter_Day_Saints)" target="_blank"> stake conference</a>, our leaders spoke a few times about pride and the importance of humility. So I did a good ol' soul scan to see if I had any pride that I should take a soul Swiffer to, and I came to the conclusion that I <i>could</i> have a pride problem - except the Powers that Be have kindly and constantly afforded me with opportunities to prove how completely incompetent I really am. I'm constantly trying to convince myself that my latest shenanigan wasn't <i>that bad</i>, so I don't really have the time or energy to stockpile up a whole bunch of Hot Dang I'm Cooler Than Thous.<br />
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I'm not going to go into a list right now to prove my point, but from giving a vegetarian a meat assortment as a Christmas present, to forgetting what song I was actually playing while onstage at a paying gig and had to stop the entire band because I couldn't even fake my way to the end and I'm pretty sure some members of Jump Little Children were in the audience at the time, rest assured, I have a personal stockpile of evidence to keep me company at 2am. Every night.<br />
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So instead of wallowing during the daylight hours, I've consolidated my interaction with the outside world as much as possible to my current job - the mom thing. And with a special needs kid, a tween *SERIOUSLY*, and a 4 year old (who is my last baby and is entering school next year so I spend as much as time as possible snuggling him and teaching him EVERYTHING I can before school steals him from me BAAAAAAAAAAUGHHHH), it's pretty easy to do almost nothing else.<br />
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Here's the family of late:</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba2kMUvFkb7/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The Pagets Kind of Do Halloween.</a></div>
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A post shared by Reva Paget (@onebrickshyish) on <time datetime="2017-10-30T00:47:44+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 29, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT</time></div>
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The WonderGirl is super pumped to try out the goth thing, the Dude is still as determined as ever to declare his loyalty to the crown (No joke, the kids at church were supposed to draw a picture of their hero, and he drew William the Conquerer), Thing 3 demanded to be a Honey Badger, which, by the way, is pretty much a skunk - I think - the husband is Man With a Wig So He Put on Some Other Stuff That Goes With The Wig, and I'm Woman With a Wig So She Put on Some Other Stuff That Goes With The Wig.<br />
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I see other women - amAZEBALLS women who raise fabulous kids and also do something productive in society, and I can't help but wonder HOW THE HECK, because I can't do much more than parent these 3. I mean, I parent the bejeezes out of them - I know every assignment WG has due at all times, I take the Dude to therapies at least twice a week, I just taught Thing 3 to read and now he's learning piano - plus I teach the other 2 piano and there's the violin for WG and every now and then I do laundry and if I'm feeling chipper, I clean off a counter in the kitchen and feel like Wonder Woman. Seriously, if I clean something, the husband knows to fawn about it because that was NOT EASY. But other than that...<br />
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In other news, I've been feeling off lately - and part of that is definitely due to stabilizing meds, and part of it was missing bloggering. Other social media has too many opinions and people I try to avoid. But this corner of the internet is blissfully dusty. Just typing this up as felt juuuust cathartic enough to get me out of bed today. So who else is still blogging?? If you are puleeeeze comment so I can keep up with you! I'll never forgive google for taking away their super handy dandy RSS feed :( So darn convenient! Poo. Anywho, HAPPY TODAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-21423049037062827112017-04-07T07:58:00.001-07:002017-04-07T07:58:06.161-07:00<p dir="ltr">It doesn't matter how old I get, having my parents leave always calls for me and hang up crying on the bathroom floor.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* also, there are many other things that end up with me crying on the bathroom floor. I should probably clean it more often.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFAxk9gg3O4SijCkQTIVoY4_msmfViY-FGhaUjsMB8AgwU_HM2ZqRZ9gDpNDMXAmAai0KmLns4WzXMH6ryXZNItPdQdee2As6E1X00fpObeh8P6wHpfbu-sK0m8EPMQ6QZB6AGX1kuaM/s1600/20170407_092835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFAxk9gg3O4SijCkQTIVoY4_msmfViY-FGhaUjsMB8AgwU_HM2ZqRZ9gDpNDMXAmAai0KmLns4WzXMH6ryXZNItPdQdee2As6E1X00fpObeh8P6wHpfbu-sK0m8EPMQ6QZB6AGX1kuaM/s640/20170407_092835.jpg"> </a> </div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-16586301754734413692017-04-04T13:05:00.001-07:002017-04-04T13:05:17.421-07:00Pictures you probably don't have of your family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Father and Daughter Making Sausage - by Moi</div>
Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-70833536999602549232017-04-02T08:28:00.001-07:002017-04-02T08:28:38.779-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was looking for something in my past posts and found myself eating up the gazillions of posts in my Tumblr days - back when I had just the one or 2 kiddos. Good golly life was very very different then, but I appreciated the massive amount of insight I had into that totally different life. Blogging has gone by the wayside because I rarely sit down in front of a computer, and FB and Insta have much quicker gratification, delivering feedback quick as a wink. When I was posting back then, those comments were fuel in my new mommy haze to help keep me going. Looking through, I wasn't aware of who the audience had been, just thankful I had documentation. So, I have a renewed goal to chronicle. Stuff. And I need to remember that once, my 7 year old made a Magna Carta to protest my unfair governship. (spell check doesn't think that is a word, but Ima going to run with it.)Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-15781951221891307642017-03-07T11:41:00.002-08:002017-03-07T11:41:29.352-08:00Thing 3 is 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear Mom,</div>
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Life would be a lot easier if you joined FB. I'm so informative and awesome there. It's so easy to load things. You have your reasons, I get it it. But sharing a big batch of Thing 3's birthday bash would be a lot easier if you'd just drink the koolaid... Whatevs. I'm the best daughter ever. I'm going to blog about it like a cavemom, since I know you can find websites.</div>
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I casually mentioned the Construction theme to a friend and she revealed that it was a life goal to build a deconstructed construction birthday cake. I'm kind and magnanimous, so I let her make it.<br />
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There are birdhouse kits under the hats. Also there are hats.<br />
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I used our For Magic to make an archway - I like having some kind of entrance for a party, and hot dang I'm doing this from now on.<br />
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The UPS guy was kind of worried about all the caution tape. Ha!<br />
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This was an unexpected hit - a warm up activity as people arrived was to hammer golf tees into cardboard boxes. The girls especially got pretty violent - kinda funny, it's always the quiet ones who are into hammers.<br />
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Hammers! Extra adults! (I've taken to inviting the entire family of the kid's friends - not just a huge pile of kids their age. So there are kids of all ages, I get to hang out with my friends and the kids are all comfortable with each other.)<br />
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Life is good.<br />
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Not pictured: While the other adults cut up the cake, we had a freeze dance party. I worked off at least half a bite of cake. <br />
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Aaaand, there's our 4 year old. Every blasted picture was blurry because 4 years old, duh. These were the least blurry:<br />
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You are now welcome to call me up and gush about how awesomesauce this was.<br />
Love, RevaMaster Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-61118454934790213112016-12-08T03:05:00.001-08:002016-12-08T03:05:29.241-08:00BarftasticNothing like waking up to a puking kid at 2am to get you in the blogging mood!<br />
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I can't fall back asleep and I need to stay vigilant for round three (already had round two). It's the Dude, poor thing. He isn't much of a puker so this is unusual. He also feels and processes things differently, so he's not 100% sure how his body is feeling and I honestly think he doesn't feel pain in the same way as the rest of us. So in between puking fits he was trying to have a conversation about something completely unrelated, but his sentences would be interrupted by gakking.<br />
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Enough about puke though - (although, I'm a mommy blogger, so that's kind of why you came here, right?) on to the update of random current facts!<br />
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* We moved! 3 blocks away. During the summer. I did leave for a few weeks there and the big stuff was moved then, but I think I took about 1,743 little trips of loads in the van. It was different from a cross-country move, but just as exhausting. We weren't planning on staying in the neighborhood, but the house came on the market and just felt right. So the Dude got to stay at his school and I didn't have to learn new routes to get places. Woop!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y_e6SdjSKkKz5QvBAKw1O2YsIVf6whJ1aChzWH3ITdmSEDtmA6hyzyNDRfWDWORvUJ-CgQh0EMM4Pe0fh8FA7Q3H1NF2vFjvRm60KpnRr0icECXhyphenhyphenCgtkB6Q-6JT4Q0xHiR5HNAe0s8/s1600/10-17-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y_e6SdjSKkKz5QvBAKw1O2YsIVf6whJ1aChzWH3ITdmSEDtmA6hyzyNDRfWDWORvUJ-CgQh0EMM4Pe0fh8FA7Q3H1NF2vFjvRm60KpnRr0icECXhyphenhyphenCgtkB6Q-6JT4Q0xHiR5HNAe0s8/s640/10-17-16.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
* WonderGirl is in middle school - and I din't know if I mentioned it, but last year was awful. Her classmates were cruel and her teacher didn't do anything to stem it until I finally sent the husband in. I'd sent countless emails to teachers and counselors, all sticky sweet because that's how I roll, but I finally asked for husband's t write a letter and it was kind of terrifying, but it got the job done and the last few weeks were bearable. I pity the people he has to negotiate with at work. But this year, she is a changed girl - coming home every day with positive adventures and stories of the science class lizard and tales of Drama club. I asked her what the difference was this year from last, and she told me it was that she wasn't being bullied anymore. Yeouch, and oh thank heavens. It was heartbreaking to watch, but it makes life sooo much sweeter now.<br />
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* I got a fisheye lens for my birthday!! And the kids got a trampoline for the new house. No one has broken anything so far, and it is so, so awesome.<br />
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* I stumbled on these pics just now - the Dude is totally into history right now, and requested an American Revolutionary War party. My genius? I set up an obstacle course through the house that I called "Minute Man Training" and at the end, there was a pic of King George on the fence with shaving cream for hair - and the kids took their "muskets" and sprayed off the shaving cream, or as I called it, "Shooting the Wig Off of Old King George."</div>
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And no kid's birthday party is complete until they all start chanting "No taxation without representation!!" at the fence.<br />
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I'm pretty sure that this totally voided the warranty on the trampoline, but then we threw all the kids on it with a massive amount of water balloons and let them have at it.<br />
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Bonus - cleanup was a cinch.<br />
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And here's a fun twist - since then, the Dude has switched sides, now considers himself British (he actually prays with a British accent now) and deems the American rebels as traitors. Yay!<br />
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* This Christmas was so sorely needed for our family. We needed a season of giving and service and focusing on each other. A friend gave us a <a href="https://www.thegivingmanger.com/" target="_blank">Giving Manger</a> and it has been such a blessing!<br />
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<a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0859/1138/products/The_Giving_Manger_a_fun_family_tradition_about_giving_and_service_to_others_bring_the_true_message_of_christmas_and_christ_back_into_your_home_this_holiday_season_let_the_giving_begin_1024x1024_b13f30ae-7d25-4007-8d1d-1500df4269dc_1024x1024.jpg?v=1443126552" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0859/1138/products/The_Giving_Manger_a_fun_family_tradition_about_giving_and_service_to_others_bring_the_true_message_of_christmas_and_christ_back_into_your_home_this_holiday_season_let_the_giving_begin_1024x1024_b13f30ae-7d25-4007-8d1d-1500df4269dc_1024x1024.jpg?v=1443126552" width="320" /></a></div>
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The idea is to place straw in the manger every time you do an act of service for someone, and at Christmas the baby Jesus arrives in the manger that is now filled with good deeds that soften his bed.<br />
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It's now 5am and I am going to try and organize some 365 shots before the family gets up. I'm only a month behind, I can get that done in an hour! Maybe! Anywho, have an awesome day :)<br />
<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-19053246193509368052016-11-13T13:26:00.000-08:002016-11-13T13:26:47.511-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the first year in 10 years that I didn't post for NaBloPoMo, and it wasn't an accident. I promise I've felt guilty about it every day. But if y'all send me fan mail (hi Kim!!) then I have motivation to post. Ironically, I was just telling WonderGirl she HAS to write in her journal at least a week, so maybe I'll take a bit of my own advice. Starting with now, dagnabit. Halloween 2016 recap, yall! </div>
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The Dude: - Revolutionary War soldier - for the BRITISH. He has started faking a British accent and insisting people call him London, or Joe Cool. Because reasons.<br />
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WonderGirl - Captain Literally. She's currently obsessed with Studio C, so duh. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9jh4Mpgbi4A" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Thing 3 - a lion, because we have a lion costume that fits him. (Poor youngest child)<br />
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Husband - Tape Face. Because with duct tape over his mouth, he didn't have to talk to ANYone. It was kind of the best church activity he's ever been to.<br />
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Me - Sleepy? I dunno, I had footy PJs and a sleep mask. I wore it last year. I was busy enough sewing up WG's and finding duct tape, I never thought about me, so sleepy it is. Cuz I IS.<br />
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<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-62780549175930301202016-09-26T12:37:00.002-07:002016-09-26T12:37:46.223-07:00whoThe older kids are at school... the preschooler (just on Tuesdays and Thursdays) is napping... probably. And I?<br />
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I'm almost 37.<br />
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I put that picture up instead of a selfie because I'm realizing I am kind of uncomfortable being anything but their mom. I've been that for so long that being anything else doesn't feel... right. I went into motherhood kicking and screaming louder than the kids came into this world. And now, it's a shield. I'm bad at life? That's cool. I stand behind the spastastic half-nekid toddler to distract from my own crazy. Or the dizzying autistic kid. Or the loud tween.<br />
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I was a teen once. It took a while to take myself seriously and realize that I was old enough to be expected to have the capacity to drive myself across the state for rehearsals, auditions, etc. And to be responsible for so, so much knowledge - that if I didn't get and retain it, I'd have no shot at college and the life college brings.<br />
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Then I was a college student, which is what I'd always wanted to be. It was hard, but I loved it.<br />
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Then I was old enough to graduate and it took a while to recognize that I wasn't just a college kid anymore. Teaching high school was so confusing and difficult. I just couldn't picture myself as that person and I was a ball of nerves and contradictions the entire time.<br />
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Then I got married. That was a hard transition, but the plus side is I got a husband who loved me and wanted to be with me forever. That's kind of awesome. <br />
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Then I got pregnant. And moved to Brasil. The day we went to get visas and junk, the lady processing us asked me what my occupation was and I couldn't answer violinist - violin teacher - or anything familiar, because I wouldn't be doing those things there. So she put "Homemaker" on my form. I turned to Jared and started silently yelling. Not that there is anything wrong with that job - but I had no experience with that, no history, and it was not something I'd ever, ever had to come to terms with.<br />
<br />
In Brasil, I was alone with a baby. I was suicidal, scared, sick, and a total mess. I couldn't come to terms that I was now a mother. Being a mother meant that I had given up everything familiar and was now going through the worst physical and emotional pain I could imagine. A few years down the road, with experience and medication under my belt, I started feeling less like a liar when I said I had a daughter. And then a son. And then another son. I was and still am a mess of an adult - I don't understand mortgages, or the stock market, but no one really judges you on those things when they see you chasing your half naked son through a library. They are just like - "that's a mom."<br />
<br />
So I am a mom. It's safe and protective. It covers a multitude of my inadequacies.<br />
<br />
But for 3 hours a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm not a mom. I'm a woman who has their 3 year old in preschool. I don't know what to do with myself, and it makes me panic to think that in 2 years, I'll have 8 hours a day 5 days a week where I won't be able to hide behind a spastic child.<br />
<br />
It's weird how terrifying that is. <br />
<br />
<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-33674454891052406822016-04-14T12:00:00.001-07:002016-04-14T12:00:44.855-07:00we vacay right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2acJgcrU1P2qwYRGU1ROmHRWg06u4MNQpri3c3K47LrT1nkbdwYtx2xIHLFeTrrWJCt12oqzgfqi1nuHMK0TqDSELt3dpvuzbRNOH7vPptUd_TR0XMu80fS5G-N8UB4-i2yBu6hVAIpE/s1600/2-19-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2acJgcrU1P2qwYRGU1ROmHRWg06u4MNQpri3c3K47LrT1nkbdwYtx2xIHLFeTrrWJCt12oqzgfqi1nuHMK0TqDSELt3dpvuzbRNOH7vPptUd_TR0XMu80fS5G-N8UB4-i2yBu6hVAIpE/s640/2-19-16.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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Around year ago, a friend posted an Instagram pic of her and her kid at Disneyland for an apparent birthday trip. I was like, how fun is that?? And she was like yeah - this is a family tradition - the 8th birthday is a big deal because our kids get baptized, but for their 9th birthday, they felt it was one of the last times their kid could go to Disneyland as a kid. And that struck me because - I'd never taken WonderGirl to Disneyland. Because she has 2 younger brothers who can't be trusted in public. I adore them, but they are regularly just one step away from licking a stranger. Someday, heck yes, we are going for a fun vacay, but not until the husband and I don't have to switch off "Dude/Thing 3-duty every time we go outside of our own house (and actually, we have to pull sifts at home too).<br />
<br />
So I spent a year pouring over maps and plane schedules, and made it happen. It was... unbelievable. So awesome. As I walked into the park, I could feel my awed 17 year old self in the summer of '97 walking Main Street at my first job - and I was overwhelmed with the reality of walking the same steps 19 years later with my 9 year old daughter.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I cried on and off all day. I enjoyed every second with WG. I rented a Kia and they gave me this instead:<br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BB8sWxnl-zG/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Her idea. Obvs.</a></div>
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A video posted by @onebrickshyish on <time datetime="2016-02-19T00:49:39+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 18, 2016 at 4:49pm PST</time></div>
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... So that video was absolutely necessary. And the 45 minute wait so this could happen?<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BB_kELMl-6u/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Eat saber, Vader!</a></div>
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A video posted by @onebrickshyish on <time datetime="2016-02-20T03:34:56+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 19, 2016 at 7:34pm PST</time></div>
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<br />
.... all her idea, and the best idea ever. We were walking past this long line that morning and couldn't see what it was for, so we asked someone and they told us it was to sign up for the Jedi Training show later that day. I figured it was a long wait and we should move on, but she insisted it was worth it. Right on, girl.<br />
<br />
Anywho, but the time the Dude turns 9, the new Star Wars land should be open.<br />
<br />
Can't wait!!!Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-57092717926534522182016-02-26T13:23:00.000-08:002016-02-26T13:23:18.341-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6M97dFwXKD1Z3IlaIhdZbn_rsEq8nAiPxadV9af-9bkrlGngYwb4-6uXZeARPwVlzubnwfrRsRiYzdcq0N4xc2QTd1GfN0XrB6Ms4P7p057bS3aAImYjrqB2YVqmix275r9cfO4WsaI/s1600/IMG_9720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6M97dFwXKD1Z3IlaIhdZbn_rsEq8nAiPxadV9af-9bkrlGngYwb4-6uXZeARPwVlzubnwfrRsRiYzdcq0N4xc2QTd1GfN0XrB6Ms4P7p057bS3aAImYjrqB2YVqmix275r9cfO4WsaI/s320/IMG_9720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-4732349205348329982015-11-29T07:25:00.001-08:002015-11-29T07:25:18.336-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rmX9X315mXQ/VlsY2b4NU2I/AAAAAAAAY8k/iAGCNcVRlvs/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rmX9X315mXQ/VlsY2b4NU2I/AAAAAAAAY8k/iAGCNcVRlvs/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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Missed one day because I was too busy enjoying my family! And making sushi! <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JCgjlWr5zak/VlsY3L5oKYI/AAAAAAAAY8o/dbTD6vizVwk/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JCgjlWr5zak/VlsY3L5oKYI/AAAAAAAAY8o/dbTD6vizVwk/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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Missed another day because I got Ebola! Happy winter season!</div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-86486969422468160462015-11-26T20:14:00.001-08:002015-11-26T20:14:22.526-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O36iogmAC6k/VlfYnDfT_LI/AAAAAAAAY8E/zd0umQOPAs0/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O36iogmAC6k/VlfYnDfT_LI/AAAAAAAAY8E/zd0umQOPAs0/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eGHW7HxA4_k/VlfYl8CT8zI/AAAAAAAAY78/Eh--9F0Mqa8/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eGHW7HxA4_k/VlfYl8CT8zI/AAAAAAAAY78/Eh--9F0Mqa8/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-UHu_e3dcQ/VlfYk3BVJtI/AAAAAAAAY70/HZ0FFGF7Pdo/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-UHu_e3dcQ/VlfYk3BVJtI/AAAAAAAAY70/HZ0FFGF7Pdo/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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It was Thanksgiving! I didn't cook anything! I'm thankful for all these people! And you! And exclamation points!</div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-77554943794836961422015-11-25T19:52:00.001-08:002015-11-25T19:52:14.710-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>No one threw up today! We went out for lunch with the girls to celebrate my mom's birthday! Our waiter Gilbert photobombed us! <br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j4Ib8tv1X1M/VlaB61V20JI/AAAAAAAAY7g/AVJgo_yRLLo/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j4Ib8tv1X1M/VlaB61V20JI/AAAAAAAAY7g/AVJgo_yRLLo/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
And now there is a picture of him on the Internet! <br/>
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Happy Wednesday!</div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-44991119153392964752015-11-24T20:25:00.001-08:002015-11-24T20:25:53.867-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>We're in Colorado! Yesterday the hubs got sick and today WonderGirl and Thing 3 spent the entire day throwing up! So I'm going to bed now, totally wiped out! Happy Tuesday!</div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-41864436246744469252015-11-22T17:55:00.001-08:002015-11-22T17:55:33.168-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SMD44rLHUuA/VlJyCy239jI/AAAAAAAAY68/_BZMt6MRCcs/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SMD44rLHUuA/VlJyCy239jI/AAAAAAAAY68/_BZMt6MRCcs/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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We just played a party for some friends and now we have to get the kids to bed so we can be up at 4am for a 6am flight. So pray for us...</div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867081733298757537.post-35626027006282785702015-11-20T19:03:00.001-08:002015-11-20T19:03:47.573-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cdZorMKPoMw/Vk_fEGg76pI/AAAAAAAAY4c/mnWrodkIIo0/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cdZorMKPoMw/Vk_fEGg76pI/AAAAAAAAY4c/mnWrodkIIo0/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ojkLDXUDO78/Vk_fCHQzLuI/AAAAAAAAY4U/LWxNimRTups/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ojkLDXUDO78/Vk_fCHQzLuI/AAAAAAAAY4U/LWxNimRTups/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C1qcibEMO6M/Vk_fAs0S2xI/AAAAAAAAY4M/O-AxQ_MmivQ/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C1qcibEMO6M/Vk_fAs0S2xI/AAAAAAAAY4M/O-AxQ_MmivQ/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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Enjoy these random phone pictures. <br/>
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I'm going to be bold. At some point - possibly in 2015 - I'm going to be able to touch my toes while standing with my knees straight and all that. I've been googling it and it seems mixed - some places say you can loosen up tight hamstrings, and some say WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?? ABORT ABORT!! <br/>
But since Monday, I'm pretty sure I've gotten a millimeter closer. <br/>
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Oh, and on a totally unrelated note - the whole family is flying to Colorado for Thanksgiving next week. For a week. It is so surreal to be packing sweaters while wearing shorts. Have I mentioned how much I am digging living here??</div>Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508738847528153442noreply@blogger.com2