My Career

My dad gave me a pile of things that he had found a few weeks back. There were a ton of notes that my friend, Gina Dinucci, and I wrote to each other in the 5th grade. They are HILARIOUS! W/B stood for "write back" and it was written at the end of each note.

There are also several stories that I wrote; some are true, others are the most random, weird, "how did she come up with this?". I'll have to scan them and post them later.

Then I found this picture from my 4th grade field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Thank goodness I got my teeth fixed, learned how to do my hair and now wear clothes that fit.


Michael Esteban is in the center and the other girl is Alicia. She got breast implants during our Senior year of high school, was a Raiderette for a few seasons and is now a news anchor in Fresno.

The Lime and I went to visit my mom at her work today, after my Orthodontist appointment. As soon as I walked in, I saw one of my good friends from 8th grade. We were both shocked to see one another, gave each other a big hug and caught up. She's now teaching 6th grade at the same middle school we attended. Her twin sister is an Optometrist at the V.A. hospital in San Diego.

I was excited to see her but left feeling a little down. "What have I done with the last 10 years of my life?!" ran through my mind the whole way home.

10 years ago at this time, I started my Senior year of high school. I had no plans of going to school out of state or to a big university. After graduation, I worked part-time and attended a local community college where I took a couple classes. I never met with a Counselor to discuss my major or what path I needed to take to graduate. After 1.5 years there and nothing to show for it, I decided to attend Culinary School. After a mere 7.5 months, I received a certificate and began working for the local school district, doing nothing related to pastries.

7 months after that, I began working at my current job and have been there for 5 years. I was also married that year and The Lime joined us 4 years later.

That's it...that's what I've done in the last 10 years. I've started my family.



I know we've all seen this video, but I needed the reminder today. Especially after The Lime wouldn't stop putting pennies in his mouth.

Unser Kleiner Junge Deutsch

When we were in Munich (almost 3 years ago...wah!), we bought a pair of lederhosen and a dirndl (in the same fabric as the one I had when I was little) for our future kids.

Now we have 1 of those kids and he's JUST ABOUT the right size for the lederhosen.

My mom went to a garage sale yesterday and found the perfect shoes for the outfit. We decided to try everything on for kicks and instantly got toothaches. Our little German boy is too sweet!

Crotch Rocket

The Lime and I were playing outside this afternoon, enjoying the sun and the street sweeper going around the neighborhood.

I don't know how The Lime knew that our neighbor had a motorcycle but he ran up to his garage and started saying "Mo mo! Mo mo!"


Our neighbor just happened to be pulling up to the house at the same time so I quickly explained why my kid was trying to break in.

He's a nice guy (the neighbor) and keeps to himself. I don't know much about him except that he's been here for like 15 years and drives a limo. I think his name might be John.

Anyway, he graciously offered to get his motorcycle out and let The Lime sit on it.

We started off with the gloves...
Looks thrilled, doesn't he?


I think he was more afraid of our neighbor than the bike.

Plus he had a poopy diaper and if I was sitting in one, I'd be screaming too.

Our Little (His Big) Adventure

Would you believe me if I said I've lived in the Bay Area my entire life and never been to Yosemite? It's true. Until now.

The Lime and I took a little trip to Yosemite this morning, to drop LaVor's older brother off for his 2 week backpacking trip.


Since we were there, I thought it'd be fun to do a little hike of our own. It ended up only being about 20 minutes, as The Lime on my back was harder than I expected and I really needed to go to the bathroom. Then The Lime played with my keys and ran around the car, while saying "Hi!" to any person that would listen, for a good half hour.


We were about 50 miles away from Yosemite Valley and I didn't drive all that way NOT to see it. The nice views were interrupted by a 19 month old that woke up from his too short of nap, screaming his head off. I literally took the pictures, turned around and went right back the way we came.


The drive home was much harder and not as fun, since I didn't have another adult to talk to. But it was our little adventure.


Now I need to visit Alcatraz.

Tally Mark 19

-Has started sitting on the potty but nothing comes out.
-Can tell when we're getting close to my sister's house. He starts singing, "Yaya, Yaya, Yaya" (Claire's name).
-Likes to feed himself breakfast. I'm not a fan. It gets everywhere except his mouth.
-Seems to enjoy driving Mommy crazy; lifting the "thing" up so the shower turns on during his bath, putting his hand directly underneath the faucet so the water gets everywhere, grabbing his wiener while I change his diaper. None of that happens when Daddy does the task.
-Has figured out how to climb out of porta cribs, which explains why he had a mouth full of blood today.
-Can open the bathroom door that's connected to his bedroom.
-Is almost big enough for his lederhosen.
-Can tell you what a truck, tractor, car and motorcycle say. "Vroom! Vroom!"
-Still isn't so sure about nursery.
-Has to point out any baby we see, whether it's an actual baby or a stroller or car seat.
-Is sporting the "80's surfer look" as Daddy likes to call it.
-Is officially closer to 2 than 1.


(Always an entertaining look on his face)

Flat As A Pancake

I remember being in 4th grade and noticing at least 3 girls already wearing bras. I could hardly believe it! Then I got to 5th grade and I'm sure most everyone was wearing one....except me. Until 7th grade. You should have seen the look on my niece's face when she asked me how old I was when I started wearing one. I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head.

It was Christmas of my 7th grade year and we were going around, each opening a present and then showing everyone what we got. I was mortified when I opened this tiny little bag, peeked in and saw two bras, neatly folded up. I tucked the bag behind all my other presents until it was time to put everything away. Then I tucked it into the very back of my underwear drawer so nobody could find it.

14 years later, I'm not so shy about boobs. Obviously, since I stand on the street corner with a sign that says, "Like boobs?" while collecting cash.

We were at the mall last night, looking for some shoes for LaVor, when we walked by Forever 21. I stopped in my tracks and said, "Look at the mannequins!" They all had tiny boobs!

(Picture from Google. Purple tank top mannequin shows hers off the best.)

Despite their awkward positions, I was very pleased to see a store that can represent all kinds of body types. So for that, as soon as we got home, I had to send Forever 21 an e-mail, expressing my appreciation.

I'm all about letting companies know when they do good or bad. I also had to write a bad e-mail to Zumiez, but we'll save that for another post.

Mow mow

The Lime is currently attracted to lawnmowers and weed whackers.

He made me stand at the back door and in the front yard last week, while the Gardner cut our grass. I'm not sure if he understood me when I said, "He likes to watch you cut the grass." Nonetheless, he smiled and waved.

This afternoon, as soon as he got up from his nap, he heard our neighbor across the street, mowing his lawn. I couldn't change his diaper fast enough! He wanted to go outside and watch all the "action".



The Lime stood on our side of the street, with his, "What in the heck is that guy doing?" look on his face, while waving and saying, "Hi Mow mow!"

Then he heard a doggy bark and did just what we practiced...

"Doggy! Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!"
(Much more polite than Daddy's, "SHUT UP!!!!")

Break Me Off A Piece

I wish I was talking about a Kit Kat bar.

But I'm not.

5 years ago I had a bridal shower (and didn't receive any lingerie BUT got some "sexy" cotton pajamas that went straight into the D.I. pile) and received this darling pie dish from my mom.
(Did you know the difference between a pie and tart? A pie is served in the dish it's baked in, a tart isn't. My culinary education DID make a difference!)

A few weeks ago, I came home and saw my darling pie dish was no longer darling.
I think The Lime is the suspect since he was playing in the cabinet it was in (and I'll be suspect #2 since I let him play in it).

Good thing he's much more darling than the dish will ever be.

It's The Truth

I'm not lying when I say we've had a crappy week. Literally.

The Lime's bowels went haywire last Thursday and haven't stopped since. I've changed more diapers/outfits and done more laundry in the last 7 days than I think I've done the whole year.

Now we're trying to cure the worst case of diaper rash I've ever seen. I don't envy The Lime...at all. Poor bum bum.

I'm crossing my fingers we're on the mends and will be able to leave our house soon (and Dr. appointments or lab runs don't count).

On a happy note, I was daydreaming about Holland while getting ready for work yesterday. The cute shutters and yummy pastries we enjoyed in Bussum made me want to go back, just for a second.