Leaving San Diego Breezy

Our last day in San Diego was a doozey! We hit Balboa Park and the Zoo in the same day. It was hot today, but not as hot as it has been thank goodness. I'm really glad that this is our last day because showing my face at Balboa again would be very difficult as I seemed to have ripped my pants right up the back and have NO idea when it happened. Well, I heard them rip, but had no idea it was as bad as it was. Good god. of all places, SAN FREAKING DIEGO CALIFORNIA! Why not, oh I don't know, Mineral Point Wisonsin or Marquette? COME ON! Well, here's the lovely photo. Needless to say, these pants are going into the garbage, they've failed me.

Brighton had a good time at the zoo despite the fact that he has been exhausted and hot for the last week. He especially liked the girraffes and elephants. He liked the pandas, but not as much as mom. I'll upload those photos when we get home. Until then, goodnight and God Bless.

Sittin' in San Diego

Here we are in beautiful San Diego, sitting in our hotel room on a SATURDAY NIGHT! Well, we did have a big day. I finally got a day to myself and Jill, Jackie and I went to the Swap Meet and Brighton and Daddy went to Pacific Beach. Then we came back here and had to jump into the pool. It has been terribly hot here, hotter than usual according to the locals. I think we were all dehydrated the first couple of days then finally got ourselves back to normal, then yesterday and today wiped it all out. It was a scorcher! This afternoon, we went to the Marston House in Balboa Park. It's a 1900 (1909 I believe) Arts and Crafts home. Mr. Marston was a business man and one of the men who was very instrumental in creating Balboa Park in San Diego. Anyway, the house is incredible. We lucked out and got in on the last tour of the day. Literally. We were the last three people there. Someone was holding a wedding in the formal garden. So many beautiful places to get married in San Diego! Then we went to eat at a new cafe on Adam Street in Jill and Jason's neck of the woods. It was great. Brighton and I shared salmon patties and Dad had calimari fettuccini. Blech. No squid for me, thanks. But the scallops were good! So that brings us back here. Bright was SO tired this afternoon. He didn't get much of a nap it sounds, and he had a bit of a nap after we went swimming but we woke him back up to go to balboa park. So he was at his wits end at the cafe. So we decided not to go see the sun set on PB and just came back to the hotel (after stopping at Starbucks). But we all need a restful night I think. Andrew fell asleep on the couch shortly after lying down, and thanks to Guatamalen blend brew, I'm still awake enough to blog.

SUN Diego!

Well, here we are in Sunny San Diego. Brighton and I have been touring the countryside and getting tan while daddy is cooped up at work. Monday we stayed in and rested, went to the pool in the afternoon then to Jill and Jason's and out for a great dinner of creole cuisine. Tuesday, Brighton and I went to Mission Beach, walked around for a bit before we decided we didn't want to stay there. We went from there to Coronado, a more family friendly beach. We hung out in the surf and ate our sandwich, got a bit of sun, then when he got sand and salt water in his eyes, we decided to call it quits and came home. That night we went to the San Diego Padres game. Wednesday Brighton and I made our way to Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook. BOY was that an adventure! Mom spent too much money, bought too many gourds that Dad and I are still trying to figure out how we're going to get them on the plane...then we all went back to Coronado to the beach and for supper. Today Brighton and I went to the Aquarium and then to La Jolla (La Hoya). We saw the harbor seals on the children's beach and the beautiful coves and shopping district. It's nice to drive through but I didn't DARE place my 30.00 crocs on their floors that usually only see 500.00 Jimmy Choos. We didn't stay long, but the beach and coves are beautiful. And the water is blue blue blue! Working on getting photos uploaded, but until then, email me or andrew if you want to see some.

Up, up, and away...eventually

Well, we're sitting here in the airport waiting for our plane to arrive and waiting to board. My lovely husband insisted on arriving 2 hours early...at the Cedar Rapids airport. Wha?! Oh well, we weren't doing anything at home and were able to stop at Target for a bagel and coffee (and some airborne, and a syringe for Brighton's benadryl which has already been dispensed) before we left. I was able to make it to the bathroom and change Brighton's diaper, give him his benadryl, and finally go to the bathroom myself.

It's funny how when you come into the airport now, you automatically look at everyone to make sure you're not riding with the next shoe bomber or the next highjacker. But I tell you what, I could exhaust myself worrying about it, so I'm not going to. I think the only thing Andrew is worried about is when, how, and where Brighton is going to poop his pants. He's afraid of a big blowout on take off or landing and we'll have to be stranded with the fragrance of it until we can escape and change it. Maybe we should have brought a car air freshener to hang around his neck. Oh well, we thought of everything else, I think.

The Pox is FOREVER...Ever...ever....ever....

Good grief do these chicken pox hang on and on and on and ON! I was just looking at my previous posts about me being "suspcious" about the "wart" on his back. Yeah well, believe it or not, it's STILL THERE! Along with about 20 of his ugly, scabby little friends. Andrew took Brighton to the doctor today beacuse I wanted to make sure they weren't infected because they're just not going away! And she said they aren't infected but they are still contagious. So that means no photo shoot for us tomorrow :( Oh well, maybe I'll be nice and tan and rested up when we get home from sunny San Diego! Bright has a few new ones on his head, he got them yesterday but they're all scabbed up already. I gave him a baking soda bath yesterday, I wonder if that helped. The ones we're having trouble getting rid of are the ones in his diaper area! They're right where his little leg folds are...poor baby! Well, that's all for tonight. I'm pooped. I was up stressing again this morning at 2:30 and couldn't get back to sleep until after 5. So I'm ready for bed!

Predatory Practices of Toddlers and Their Prey, the Neatly Folded Laundry

Sometimes it's best, I've learned, to pick your battles and sometimes you have to sacrifice one to save the multitude. Such as it is with folding laundry while a toddler is anywhere in the house.

Upon movement of the laundry basket, tiny atoms of fragrant fabric softener is released into the air and immediately picked up by a predatory toddler. (The shepherdess has attempted to leave the laundry in the basket for a week or more to evade the toddler, but to no avail. The toddler's sniffer is acclimated to the smell and can pick it up from at least 200 yards). So folding and hanging as fast as she can, the faint "slap slap" in the distance lingers. (Incase you aren't versed in toddler ritual and predatory behavior, this is a sure sign that the prey will soon be seeked out and destroyed.) Alas, the toddler (in this case his name is Brighton, a name given by his parental units who are keeping watch over him until they can release him back into the wild) finds the unsuspecting hangers (set out in hopes that the hangers can take the brunt of the assault and the predator will tire and move on) he begins beating them against one another in an effort to stun the folder of the laundry. Upon hearing this, the laundry shepherdess (aka Mommy), attempts continue on her quest denying the hangers call for help. (It's not mean it's natural law). The neat pile of pants and shorts are now taking assault from the toddler. The shepherdess wasn't quick enough this time, but she continues on in hopes that natural law will prevail and the strongest will survive (those items on hangers). Finally, sensing the anxiety in the Shepard, the toddler looks at her, she back at him and at the same time they lunge for the items on hangers. The toddler manages to wrangle one item to the ground while the shepherd scoops up the rest and quickly replaces them in their pasture (the closet). Thanking the gods that only one item needed to be sacrificed to save the rest. And in the end, the pants, shorts, and one lone hanging item show minor remnants of their battle with the toddler in the way of a little slobber on the shoulder or cuffs. All in all, it was a good day in laundry land. Until next time.

The Laundry Shepherdess of All Good Downy.

The Pox

I think my big boy has the pox. That is totally unconfirmed, but he was exposed, had the vaccination, then about a week or so later started becomming feverish, now the fever's gone, and he had these little red blips on his face, arms, and legs and now one big bump on his back. It looks very suspicious, but he's not itchy and the bump is almost more like a wart than a pox but what the heck do I know? I mean, I had the chicken pox, but I was what, 5?

Anyway, Bright and I had a busy day today. We went shopping for Fourth of July food and such. After his nap that is. He likes to sit on Daddy's lap to read. For some reason, he doesnt' like to read on my lap. Which kind of bums me out but what am I going to do. Right now I'm going to go back to bed. I'm barely able to keep my eyes open. But here's his pic. see more on his website :)