Too kind

I think I blushed three different shades of red when I opened up my email and saw that one of my most favorite bloggers, mommytherobot, bestowed the following award to me:

recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing.

I really, truly think she gives me waaaaaaaaaaay more credit than I deserve! But I am still very honored - thank you oh so much!

And now to pass on this award....

Momisodes

Busy Dad Blog

Raising A&C

Wat da Wat?

A Fiction Made Real

Terri Rainer Published Author

MommytheRobot would have topped my list if she hadn't already presented the award to me... you rock, girl!

Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away...

Jacob went to Sea World for his very first time, thanks to his godparents who hooked us up with free tickets! Ok, actually, his godfather's brother hooked us up with free tickets (thanks, Jay!) and he ALSO hooked us up with free churros, cotton candy, drinks and employee discounted lunch! The only perks I miss of being a Sea World employee!

We were not very prepared for the Halloween Spooktacular event - the kids didn't wear their costumes - but that didn't keep them from trick-or-treating! And I think we spent 90% of the day at the new Sesame Street Bay of Play.... so... it was sort of like we actually spent the day in "Sesame Street World". I think we only saw two sea animals the whole time we were there. And neither of those sea animals were Shamu, as Katelyn so astutely noticed as we were leaving Sea World. Ah well... it was still a good time!

The kids waiting to get into Sea World.

Watching the new Sesame Street show.
Going for a ride!
That's the furthest he'd go in...
Dad and his mini-me (eating candy for the first time and loving it!)

He could barely keep his balance in here but was having the best time!

Something was really, really funny! Or it's the sugar high from all the candy he ate!

Their biggest fans...

I took my girls, Desiree and Alana, to go see America’s Best Dance Crew (the tour) on Saturday. We joined my girlfriend, Sa (aka Word is Born), and her family. The following MAY or MAY NOT have happened that night….

• Everyone was so excited about the show that we got to the venue 15 minutes before the doors were going to open (an hour and 15 minutes before the show was scheduled to start). I’m still not sure what we thought we were going to do there that early?


• We all packed into Sa’s mom’s van and it brought back memories of being in high school. I was tempted to say “Thank yoooou, Auntiiiiiie!!” in the same sing-song voice of my youth when we got there.
  
• Sa and I walked to the nearest AM/PM, bought a 6-pack of Bacardi Mojitos, stuffed it into Sa’s bag so we could sneak it back into the parking lot. We downed two bottles each while we chit-chatted in the van before heading into the venue to meet up with our family. Anna called us from inside the venue to tell us that the show was starting. When she asked what we were doing, Sa told her “Getting drunk.” and she responded “Ok, well, hurry up and get in here.” I told Sa it was VERY questionnable, how Anna was not even the slightest bit surprised that we were drinking out in the parking lot.


• We didn’t realize we were buzzin’ until we got out of the car and started walking. Talk about being a couple of light weights!


• We got inside just in time to catch the Jabbawockeez first performance - hotness!! And to get the backstage passes that Sa’s sister hooked up for us!


• Unbeknowst to us, Desiree videotaped me, Sa and Anna dancing Soulja Boy’s Superman dance. Later, Alfred asked Desiree if the adults were really chaperoning the kids or were the kids actually chaperoning the adults – ha!


• After the show, we all had the best time during the meet & greet backstage with all the crews (Jabbawockeez, Supercrew, ASIID, Fanny Pak and Break Skate). The kids worked the place – getting autographs and pictures with all the crews.


• On our way home, we saw pink elephants flying in the sky.
  

Like I said… the above events MAY or MAY NOT have happened. I’ll let you determine which one(s) I’m lying about… haha!

I mentioned in a previous post that Sa’s sister is married to one of the members of the Jabbawockeez. A bit of additional trivia is that these boys are practically like brothers to her, as her house has always been (and will always be) the “hang out” place for us all and they used to be at the house daily when they were teenagers. So I know that seeing them on stage meant something extra special to the family and all their close friends who came out to show their support. All their hard work and diligence has finally paid off.

ALL the members of all the crews were so very, very nice to everyone. They all signed autographs, took photos and even took the time to try to have a conversation with everyone that approached them. What an awesome thing for all the lucky fans that were able to spend that time with them.

Desiree’ camera was screaming “low battery” at us so she decided she would focus more on getting autographs than photos. I told her I’d just keep taking pictures until the battery died but she went off on her own so Sa and I took her camera and had pictures taken with US and the various crew members instead. Seriously… we’re such teeny-boppers at heart. It’s kind of ridiculous.

Ronnie Boy is my FAV from Supercrew... I told Sa that even if I didn't get any other pictures that night I HAD to have one with Ronnie. I told you... I am seriously a sixteen-year-old at heart.

Since when did we have SEASONS in California??

Other parts of the country have their "hurricane season" or "tornado season".... looks like California has it's own season now... "fire season". I've never experienced a hurricane or a tornado but I do assume you get enough of a heads up to prepare for when it hits you. Too bad fires don't give you that warning. One minute you are doing your regular day-to-day thing, next minute you get that recording on your phone telling you to get the heck out! Fast! Grab whatever you can, dump them in your car and head for dodge! Don't forget to grab your kids, your pets and your insurance policies! It kind of sucks. I thought the reason I was putting up with this ridiculously high cost of living was because we DIDN'T have any "seasons" to worry about and our weather always stayed in the mid 70's no matter what time of year it was. Now we're getting these crazy hot and humid summers, abnormally cold winters (where we even get snow flurries in some places that never saw snow, ever... what???) and "fire seasons"???? Heck, we might as well pack up and move to a state where we'd get the same at HALF the price... at least!

The fire in this photo is two streets away from my in-laws' house. My mother-in-law is babysitting Katelyn and Jacob today. Desiree is at her friend's house, which is not threatened by the fire but still close enough that I'm sure they can smell and see the smoke. Alfred has left work to go to their house in case they need help evacuating. I'm outta here too!

"Maybe in a better economy."

One of the many things I love about Alfred is how he can make me laugh. He's either the funniest person I know or I'm just easy. Alright, I'll admit it, I'll laugh at just about anything. Here is an example of our conversations lately:

We were at a wedding the past weekend and I asked him, "Do you want to dance the money dance with the bride?" He answers, "Maybe in a better economy."

I mentioned at dinner, "My cousin was asking if we wanted to get together for dinner this weekend?" He answers, "Maybe in a better economy."

I ask, "Do you want me to renew out newspaper subscription?" He answers, "Maybe in a better economy."

Ok - this is how lame I am. I crack up EVERY SINGLE TIME he says it! Oh lordy... blame my dad. I inherited his sense of humor.

When it rains, it pours

Sometimes, when you start becoming complacent, life likes to throw you a curveball just to keep things interesting. Maybe to test your coping skills. To see if you still have it in you to make difficult choices or to adapt to change or have faith in the unknown. When life is too good for too long, you start to get soft. Any little change or stressor you are faced with becomes this almost-to-big-to-handle thing. You lay awake at 2 am, trying to sort it out. You try not to take it out on your spouse or your kids. You have to remind yourself to breath. As if you had never had to deal with anything harder than this before. The funny thing is... you have. You have faced much, much harder things and have lived to tell about it. Or, even if you haven't told many people about it, you at least lived to LEARN from it. At least you HOPE you learned from it.

I've gotten soft. I should be much more stronger than I feel today. Maybe it's more difficult because it's not just my boat that is being rocked, but that of people near and dear to me. If it didn't feel like there were so many others that are struggling to stay strong right now. If I weren't hurting for them, too, then maybe I could feel less.... sad. I have learned that sometimes it's ok to be sad. Sometimes it's ok to feel weak. That's how I feel today. I'm sure tomorrow I will be fine.