Denial

We got a mini van.


No, it does not mean I am a soccer mom.

Because I'm not. I am not a soccer mom.

Our mini van is a "previously owned" fully equipped 2009 blue Honda Odyssey. It has the leather seats, DVD players and a navigation system.

But I am not a soccer mom.




It has plenty of room for three car seats, a stroller, an overstuffed diaper bag, lunch boxes, tricycle and scooter. Soon it will probably be adorned with crushed cheerios and stale raisins.

But I am not a soccer mom.




It's big. It's wide. It's hard to park. It has the room we need.


But I'm not a soccer mom.

My kid's don't even like soccer. They prefer T-Ball.

Duh.

Email to a friend

Dear Friend,

I totally agree, we absolutely need to get the families together ASAP. I know that most of the month of May is out for you because you are traveling and then hosting out of town guests. I suppose I'm having a baby the beginning of June, and that will likely knock me out of commission for the month. Then of course I have my family visiting in July for several weeks to meet our newest addition. August could work, but you did say that you had weddings every other weekend this summer.

Fall? I know that seems awfully far away, but maybe fall would be better? I have to be honest, I doubt I will feel up to hosting anyone those first few months I am back at work. Balancing the the baby, the kids, the job and little sleep-I know that the housework is going to fall to the sidelines, and I will be in no shape for dinner guests. Of course then we get into the holidays and we both know how that goes....

So I am thinking how about a Friday night in 2026? Any Friday night. I think we are available. Think of it this way- we can go out to dinner someplace without a children's menu, we won't have to pay a sitter, and we can probably even sleep in the next morning!

What do you say? Are you free?

Love,

Rachel

Heartbreaker

I always knew that you would break my heart. It's just that I thought it would happen much later in life.

I assumed that you would fall for a pretty girl. I envisioned what you would look like together. You in a handsome tuxedo, her in a strapless ball gown. I would be left on the sidelines. An observer, someone you knew you had to leave behind.

I didn't think it would happen so soon.

I thought maybe someday, years from now, you might find me overbearing. I understood that there would be a time when you would seek independence and search for your "true self." Perhaps you would fancy a flashy car. You might grow tired of our family life and look to someone else for comfort, I would no longer be enough.

But really now? Right now?

You're only five and a half for Pete's sake! And already you favor someone else? You prefer your daddy all the time? I knew you were a papa's boy from early on, but in my heart I thought you would always come to mommy when you were in need of emotional comfort. Last night as you stood there shivering, naked and hysterical with a small gash under your chin from a slip in the bath you wanted daddy. It had to be daddy who took you to the emergency room. It was daddy who would keep you safe and sound.

While your chin was easily put back together with a little super glue my dear, mommy's heart is busted.

Sunday Kvetches & Kvells

Sometimes a picture says it all.

The Bump:

Kvetches

Kvells
Easter Sunday

Kvetches:

Kvells

Soon Enough

Today was one of those days where I earned my keep as a mommy. It's 6:00 pm and I am so worn out that I don't know if I even have the energy to write about it.

The boys woke us up early, as has been the routine the past few weeks. Each morning we hear a little pitter patter of feet, followed by an explosion of giggles and then a hard thump, as we are clobbered in the head by a toddler and a rowdy five year old who want to "cuddle." Then there is the bickering between boys about who has the most space and who bumped who. We lie there for a few minutes before giving in and getting up. Today was a bit different. Today the kids came into our room and Evan immediately fell into my arms and lay there breathing softly on my neck. At first I was in heaven. How often do I get a hug like that? Then I realized how warm he felt. Hot. He was sick.

And the day began. I canceled my 10am (much needed) haircut and dropped Zack off at school. Evan threw up on me on the way into the building. Lovely.

The rest of the morning was filled with vomit and laundry. The afternoon improved, but I decided that we needed to stay at home, since Evan was not well, which meant entertaining two kiddos when what I really wanted was a nap. We played cards (resulting in an absolute temper tantrum when *somebody* lost), and made Easter cupcakes, which was a huge, albeit messy hit.

And now, I am spent. Exhausted. Afraid. How on earth would I have handled today if I had a fussy newborn to tend to on top of this all? I suppose I will find out soon enough.....

Yelp Restaurant Reviewers: Zack & Evan

Yelp Restaurant Reviews, By Evan & Zachary

Zachary's Subway Review:

Location: Lakeshore Ave, Oakland California

Stars *****

Comments:

If I could give Subway 100 stars I would. This is my absolute favorite place for a dining out experience! To start with the food is out of this world good. I always order a ham and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread with pickles and a dollop of mayo. Perfect every time! What's better? Subway has a great selection of Cheetos. Crunchy and delicious. Their bottled chocolate milk is also spectacular, smooth going down and sugar forward. The ambiance is classic. Comfortable wooden booths, bright cheerful florescent lighting. With the comforting crumbs and dirt on the floor, it feels just like home.

Evan's Subway Review:

Stars *****

Comments:

I love the chocolate milky! I want to eat at Subway because they have good chocolate milky.

Zachary's McDonald's Review

Location: Downtown Oakland

Stars: *****

Comments:

You can't go wrong with McDonald's, and this holds true for the location I visited recently in downtown Oakland. My family and I arrived for dinner on a weeknight and the place was hopping. It was a very vibrant crowd. Lively conversation mixed with some people who found the booths so comfortable they were sleeping in them! Wow! The food is divine. I like the hamburger happy meal, it is such a great deal! The happy meal not only comes with a hamburger, french fries and milk but also a high-quality toy, usually one that lights up or makes noise! A great place for a toy, er I mean meal!

Evan's McDonald's Review

Stars ****

Comments:

I like McDonald's. I like the toys. Sometimes they break. Then I cry.

Zachary's Kargas Kafe Review

Location: Oakland, CA

Stars *

Comments:

The location can't be beat because it is right downstairs from my bedroom, however that may be the only thing that Kargas Kafe has going for it. To be fair, breakfast is often acceptable, if not served too late. I enjoy the selection of fine cereals which is often accompanied with fruit topping. Dinner is a lot more miss than hit! Over-cooked hamburgers, bland chicken and vegetables, always served in portions far too large. The food never comes with a prize and the beverage selection is usually limited to milk or water. If the quality of your meal is poor, the cook will not make you a new dinner, don't even bother asking. I often have left my food untouched, that is how bad it is. The service at Kargas Kafe is not as attentive as I would like. I have literally had to scream "napkin!" four or five times before one is presented to me. Give this place a pass.

Evan's Kargas Kafe Review

Stars: **

Comments:

I like the milky! Lots of milky. The blueberries are my favorite. I don't eat the dinners -YUCKY. I won't eat the dinners! I won't! I won't! I won't! They can't make me!!!!!

Sunday Kvells and Kvetches

I'm going to attempt a special Sunday edition for the next few weeks. I have noticed that a lot of bloggers do "Wordless Wednesdays" or "Thanksgiving Thursdays." I have decided on "Sunday Kvells & Kvetches." This way I can reflect back on the good and the not-so-good of each week. I suspect that some Sundays there may be more kvetching than kvelling, but we shall see. Let's give this little experiment a go.

Kvell: It was a beautiful weekend and for the most part my boys were reasonably well behaved. In fact they got on quite nicely with each other. Saturday the boys and I hit the ever famous Fairyland while daddy shopped for mini-vans. For those of you who do not live in the bay area, let me fill you in on Fairyland. It's a scruffy, old-fashioned kiddie "amusement park" created sometime in the fifties and never renovated. It follows a fairytale/nursery rhyme theme, Alice & Wonderland, Little Miss Muffet, The Three Pigs, etc. It is incredibly low budget and low tech. There are only a small handful of "rides" and many worn out play structures. However, it would be hard to call it anything less than charming. The kids love it. Evan and Zachary had a grand old time and Zachary was the ever helpful big brother, taking Evan on the slides and rides he was too scared to do solo. I was so proud of him.

Kvetch: I am an enormous whale of a person. I am certain that the pregnancy whining has grown quite old and may frustrate readers who feel I should just be thankful, so apologies in advance. I can hardly bend over. I am feeling nauseated at the moment. My clothes don't fit. I consume about 20 Tums on a daily basis. The baby is kicking so hard it hurts. I feel massively unattractive. Boo. Boo. Boo.

Kvell: While touring the hospital last week I visited the gift shop. I purchased each of the boys an"I'm a big brother!" button. My husband was skeptical, he didn't think that the present would go over well. Boy was he wrong! As soon as I presented Zachary with his button he yelled "Just what I have been wanting!" He has worn the button every single day since, and in the evening he keeps it "safe" on his bedside table. How cute is that?

Kvetch: I am a very, very bad Jew. I was already aware of this, however since having children I have made an effort to expose my kids to the culture. We have had Hanukkah parties, attended Purim celebrations and Rosh Hoshana services. Now Passover is here, one of my favorite Jewish holidays. We aren't doing a thing. Nada. Not even a family Seder. I had originally planned on inviting another family and hosting a kid friendly Seder, but bailed because I simply didn't have the energy to get it together. Passover is a big deal. It's cooking and cleaning and in our case planning an actual ritual from scratch. My husband is not Jewish and has never lead a Seder before, and I am also fairly clueless. So we are sadly letting the holiday pass with little acknowledgment. I feel a little guilty and a bit disappointed.

I'll leave it at that. A nice neutral balance of the ups and downs. Let's see what the next week brings....