kat

Garden

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Mon, 2 Apr 2012 11:50:00 GMT

I just realized it's been a REALLY long time since I've had an entry here.

This past weekend was spent building and planting a raised garden. I have to say, I'm very impressed with us! My father's Christmas gift to me was to come out to work on the project with me. On Friday we built the frame and filled it with the dirt. Saturday, we built the trellis. Sunday was planting day.

While putting the last board on, we realized that we'd placed the posts wrong and the last 2 corners would be open instead of overlapping so we put it in the back. It turns out that that saved the day. While building the trellis, the 2 side supports are 2x2s that fit perfectly into the open corners. Genious!

My garden now has 3 tomato plants (1 cherry, 2 regular), 3 pole green beans, 4 bell peppers (1 red, 3 green), 3 english cucumbers, spinach, assorted lettuces, rosemary, sage (no parsley or thyme), cilantro, green onions, and 2 strawberry plants.

I hope the birds don't take all my strawberries.

Children and atheism

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Tue, 5 Jul 2011 13:42:00 GMT

My children are atheists in the truest sense of the word. Their only real exposure to religion has been as an explanation of myth. When they ask questions about beliefs that their friends hold, I explain them to them the same way I explain the Greek myths they were asking about after watching "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief."

Yesterday, I really realized it's more than just atheism. For example, we go to Disneyland a lot. Yesterday, Alex and I were waiting while everyone else was riding Big Thunder Mountain (he doesn't like it) and were watching the crawfish, ducks, and "robot fish" in the pond next to the ride. We first discovered this little area a couple of years ago and the kids were thrilled by the live crawfish and jumping fish. After watching for awhile, I pointed out to them how the fish always jumped in the same places and went first one way, then the other way, and they realized they're "robot" fish. Similarly, while they love seeing the characters (though Alex is a little frightened), they always feel the need to remind me that they're actually people in costumes. This one they figured out on their own.

Sometimes I feel bad for not leaving them with some of the magic of childhood make believe. Their teachers encourage them not to tell other kids that the characters are just people in costumes (Alex got into quite the argument with one of his friends about it) so I know it can alienate them from their peers at times. But on the other hand, I think the ability to look at things logically and realize when something isn't what it seems will be valuable to them in life.

Families

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Tue, 5 Jul 2011 10:47:00 GMT

We had a wonderful 4th of July yesterday. Marcelo and I took the kids to Disneyland along with some good friends of ours who also happen to work at the day care that our kids go to. One of them (Krystal) has known Celo since he was 2 and Alex since he was born. She's practically part of our family. When Alex's class does "My Family" drawings in class, they usually include her.

The kids had a wonderful time yesterday - they were the only kids with 5 adults who all love them. It also meant that there were 5 adults to trade them back and forth and therefore our patience and energy didn't run out, even on a hot, sticky July afternoon at Disneyland. It made me realize - the people who say that two-parent families are "better" or whatever than single-parent families are utterly wrong. It doesn't matter what a family looks like, it's simply that the more people around that love and care for a child, the better. It can be parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends of the family, whatever. It's the love that matters.

Growing Up

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:25:00 GMT

My babies are growing up. I'm so proud of them, but can't help but be a little sad at the same time.

This past Sunday we went to Disneyland. Alex has been dying to get on Star Tours since Celo was first able to go on it (about 3 years ago). They closed it down last October to do a huge revamp and add 3 new movie adventures. Last year this time, Alex had 4 inches to go to meet the height requirement to ride (40 inches). We told him he had to eat lots of protein and eat every meal so he'd grow. He didn't make it by the time they closed it in October, but he'll be able to go on it by the time it opens on June 3rd!

We went to California Adventure at Disneyland and took him to Soarin' Over California which also has a 40 inch height requirement (and happens to be my favorite ride there :) and he was tall enough! He LOVED the ride and as we were getting off told me "I think, let's go on it again, right now!" That ride was also Celo's first ride after he reached 40 inches. For some reason (different measuring sticks), it was another couple of months before they thought he was big enough to get on Star Tours and we had to stuff napkins in his shoes, but Alex still another month and a half before the ride re-opens so I know we'll be there opening day. :) :)

Also while we were there, Celo decided to get measured for California Screamin' (the big roller coaster) which has a 48 inch height requirement. Even though the ride was broken down, the staff measured him for next time and as long as he takes a deep breath and stands very straight, his head touches the measuring bar.

Add to all of that that Alex is starting Kindergarten in 5 months and both boys are playing Little League - Alex in T-Ball and Celo in Rookie division. They're boys now, not my babies! And just because I can't resist, here are some baseball pictures. :)

Alex sliding into home

Alex on the field

Celo on first base

Celo playing catcher

Back?

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:59:00 GMT

We were over for our regular Tuesday night dinner at my in-laws and playing with the baby (my 7 month old nephew). My father-in-law asks me, "did either of the boys that strong with their legs at 7 months old"? I thought so, but couldn't remember for sure so I logged on here to see if I'd blogged about what they were up to at 7 months old.

It made me realize that in avoiding blogging to avoid thinking about some things that have happened over the past year and a half, I've also neglected recording things about my life with my children that I'll want to remember as they get older.

So, here I am again. I'll try to keep it up but who knows. I know how much I love reading old entries about my babies. :) They might not be babies so much anymore (Alex just turned 5 last Friday! And Celo is in 2nd grade!) but when they're teenagers, I'll look back with fondness.

Proposal

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:44:00 GMT

Apparently I'm going to be a mother-in-law. And she's only about 18 years older than him. ;)

Yesterday when we picked the kids up at day care, Celo's main teacher stopped us to tell us that Celo had proposed to her. LOL She was reading a story to some of the kids and he asked if he could sit on her lap. Then later he asked if she was married and when she said no he said "Good, then you can be my wife!"

At least he's realized finally that he can't marry me! LOL I thought it was very sweet though. :) She's such a sweetheart, it bodes well for the kind of woman he will eventually marry when he grows up.

Books

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:34:00 GMT

Last weekend we went to the library to get new books for this week's reading list. (The teacher doesn't want to see the same book read over and over and the only thing that can tempt the kids from reading their old favorites repeatedly is new books)

We have officially moved to the section of the library with all of my favorites from my childhood. Our current bedtime books is "Fantastic Mr. Fox" by Roald Dahl which is one I remember my 2nd grad teacher reading to the class. As I was looking through that section, it's the same area as the Little House books, The Chronicles of Narnia, and some of my other favorite Dahl books. I'm so excited! :) I've been waiting (somewhat patiently) to be able to share these books with my kids. :)

Just thinking

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:35:00 GMT

A number of things have been rattling around in my head, so forgive me if this entry is a little stream of consciousness in format... (I also haven't gotten more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night for the past 3 or so weeks so my brain isn't working as it should)

Alex's best friend is a girl who he's been friends with since they were about 3 months old. She's a tough little girl (she has 2 older brothers) which makes her an interesting mix of tomboy and girly-girl. Also, their birthdays are only 2 weeks apart and we live close to her family so it's likely they'll continue to go to school together when they reach elementary school. The interesting effect it's had on Alex, though, is that he doesn't perceive any stigma about "girl things". At this age, there's a lot of "you can't play with that, that's a girl toy". But Alex doesn't see any problem with playing with girl toys or putting on a girl's dress-up costume because Ava does it and he'd never think twice about her doing it. When he sees "girl toys" on commercials, he tells me he wants to buy it for Ava. (Probably mostly so he can play with it too LOL) So he knows the difference but doesn't see anything wrong with "girl" stuff.

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My first trip to Disney World was over my 11 birthday. We lived in the midwest, so a trip to Disney World was a big undertaking. My parents wanted to make sure my brother, who is 3.5 years younger than me, would remember the trip. So, we waited until he was 7.

Every birthday until we actually went, I remember that going to Disney World was my wish when I blew out my candles. Of course, I never told anyone because then it wouldn't come true. Sometimes, though, I'd say "I hope my wish comes true!". I remember when I said that, my mom would often tell me "Wishes don't mean anything unless you *make* them come true." At the time, I found that very frustrating because how can a grade schooler make that happen?

I've been thinking maybe that's where my love of Disney comes from. This year marks 13 consecutive years I've had a Disneyland annual pass. And yes, my oldest child is 6 years old so the first 7 years I had the pass were just for me. Just because I enjoy it. I'd say we go on average once every other week and I never get tired of it.

Bursting with pride

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:57:00 GMT

Yesterday, Celo came home from school with a library book. This sort of confused me because library day is Wednesday. He told me that he got to go to the library by himself yesterday.

On our last trip to the public library, he discovered the kids non-fiction section and we came home with at least a dozen books about sharks, volcanoes, and dinosaurs. The book he got from the school library yesterday was also about sharks.

He read the whole book to us while we were in the car on the way to dinner and only needed help with unfamiliar words like "denticles" and "pectoral". As he was reading, he'd stop and discuss the facts presented with us so I know his comprehension of the words was also good. After he'd read it, I took a look at the book and noticed that it was marked as one of the books that's part of the Accelerated Reading program at his school and is marked with a reading level for kids in the 8th month of 2nd grade. And he's only in the 1st month of 1st grade! :) :) :)

I'm so so proud. We never pushed him to read early, but I've been excited about it for so long. I've always loved reading and I've been looking forward to sharing that with him. Now that he's able to read, he reads everything he sees - he can't get enough. I'm so excited! :)

Fire Season

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:15:00 GMT

Fire season has begun again. Water dropping planes and helicopters are circling overhead waiting their turn to fill up from the lake at Bonelli park. Smoke is in the air and a brown haze is blowing across the sky.

Welcome to late summer in LA.

For those who have asked, I'm close but not that close. There's no danger to us over here.

This is where the fire is and we're near where the 210 and 57 come together.

Good luck to all of you in other fire areas - I hope there aren't too many fires this year!

First Grade

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Celo (Marc) is officially a First Grader. I'm still not used to him being in kindergarten, how can he already be in first grade?

He didn't get the teacher he wanted, but after his first day, he decided that "she's not mean" which I'll take to be a good sign. LOL He's got a good number of kids from his kindergarten class in his class this year so he has kids he knows. Unfortunately, his best friends from last year changed schools, but his best friend overall just started kindergarten. He's very excited Aidan will be there to play on the playground and have lunch with.

I met the teacher briefly and she seems nice. I volunteered to help in the classroom and since I'm a computer person she's excited that I'll be able to help in the computer lab. She's also going to have me help with Friday morning homework stuff.

Here he is on his first day:

Videos

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 15:17:00 GMT

I hope this works...

Vacation 2009 = beaches, rain, books, and poetry

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 13:39:00 GMT

We got back on Saturday from a wonderful week away. The kids and I, and even Marcelo for 3 days(!) went with my parents to visit New Hampshire. To me, it's the best kind of family tradition. My Nana went to Silver Lake every summer as a kid, then when my Dad was born, she took him and my uncle and aunts, then my brother and I with our parents, and now my kids.

Even though it rained more days than not, it was heaven. One whole week of time that I had nothing else to do than spend time with my kids. No phone calls, no work, I didn't even bring a computer.

Family pictures are here
General pictures of Silver Lake taken from the cottage 2 doors down the lake from us (not my pictures)
I have some videos uploaded to Facebook, but I can't share those like pictures so you can only view them there.

One of our sunny days, we went around the lake to a little beach that you can only get to by following old defunct railroad tracks through the woods, then a short hike. It's south facing so the water's a little warmer and it's shallow pretty far out. Another day, we went to Jackson falls and played in the water and climbed up the falls. Marc never got enough of the water, so we went to the public beach down the street too. (Our beach was too rocky and dropped off to deep water too much for his liking)

On rainy days, we read a lot and played games and did puzzles. The kids walked the dog in the rain a lot too. We discovered a new book of poems for kids that the boys keep asking for - "What's the weather inside" by Karma Wilson. It's great! And very clever with enough adult humor to keep the parents or older kids involved.

I got my fix of warm summer thunderstorms too. :)

My baby is 6! Time flies...

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:36:00 GMT

I know I haven't been around much, it's been a kind of crappy few months for me. I've been really stressed out and then I lost my cat that had been with me for 15 years to kidney failure last month. I just haven't been in the mood to post much.

But today deserves a post! My baby is 6 today! I just can't believe he's so grown up. I remember his birth so clearly and it seems like it just happened and now I have this wonderful, sweet, intelligent, kind, grown up kid.

We had his birthday party on Sunday. It was Star Wars theme (of course!) and all of the kids got a foam lightsaber to take home. We also had a waterslide jumper to keep the kids cool. It was awfully hot. It got up to 104 I think - at least it didn't reach 117 like it did 3 years ago. But it went very well! And he had tons of fun.

Gardening

figueroakat@yahoo.com (kat) — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:13:00 GMT

I have really been enjoying my garden recently. I started last year just because I thought the kids would enjoy being involved in and watching how plants grow from seed. Also, having organically grown veggies in the garden encourages them to eat good foods.

This year, I changed up what we're growing based on what kind of veggies we actually eat. One of our friends has been growing pumpkins and they were so excited to have them at Halloween time. And pumpkin pies and pumpkin bread are yummy. :)

We've now got the male flowers on the pumpkin plant blooming and I can see the female flowers will be blooming within the week. Our watermelon plant and canteloupe plants are also blooming and I think some fruit has set on them. Unfortunately, I think I've waited a little too long to move the watermelon plant from the windowsill to a pot outside. The little feelers on it (is that the right word?) have started to attach themselves to the cord for the blinds. They've curled all around the cord to support itself while it climbs up the window in the sun. I'll have to be very careful in moving it.

But I've decided on my next project. I'm going to build a hydroponic system. :) Totally geeky, I know, but I'm so excited about it! I've been doing a lot of research and I think I'm going to do either a system using the nutrient film technique or an ebb and flow system. When my Dad is here at the end of the month, I think I'll ask him to help me build it. I could probably do it myself, but he'd very handy and loves gardening.

I'll be sure to post pictures when I've got it set up!