Multi-tasking? What is that?

Why is it that men, and I know this is not just my husband, are completely incapable of doing ANYTHING while talking on the phone. Instantaneously their hands must go completely numb and their knees must lock in place. Because I cant think of any other reason Steve could not possibly put silverware away into the drawer while talking on the phone. It's not that it needed to be done at that exact moment, that's not the point. I just don't get it. The only explanation I can think of is that he has a penis. Somehow this "dangling participle" (movie quote, "Oscar") prohibits him to accomplish two or more tasks at once. Either that or the presence of breasts makes it possible for us to multitask. Either way, I just wanted the freakin silverware put away. I wasn't asking for him to change the oil in our car, or install a ceiling fan or even change a diaper, just remove one piece of silverware at a time from the tray and place it in it's appropriate location in the drawer directly in front of him, he wouldn't even have needed to move his feet at any point during this task, it's not rocket science! Thank God he doesn't talk on the phone often.

Yeah!!! Hurray for Arizona, it finally got some rain, what was the record? Something like 140 days with no rain. I would have gladly sent some your way but it seems to like it here, the rain of course. You know, I'm going back to AZ in April, with my luck, it will rain the whole time I'm there. My dad loves Murphy's law, it's the outline of my entire life.

Cailin quote of the day "When I'm bigger I'm going to drive safe, I'll be a good driver, not like daddy." I'm not sure where she got the idea that Steve is a bad driver, he really isn't, although he has misjudged the middle lane when merging into traffic, more than once, he likes to play chicken with oncoming traffic in the middle of the night, not on purpose, no, that's just the way he drives :) He has, however, taken on a couple driving characteristics of the Seattlites. Most of all, he is starting to become a slow merger. The people here drive like complete morons. They have no sense of urgency. Not that I have anywhere in particular to go at any given time but at least I act like it and am considerate of others behind me that might. They are all just...stupid!! Today, an emergency vehicle was coming down the road, a divided road, in the opposite lane as myself, my entire lane of idiots slam on their brakes, veer to the side, almost cause accidents themselves, and for what? Nothing!!! It was a divided street!!! What's the ambulance going to do, hop the obtrusive concrete wall? Come on people, get a brain, a little common sense, some driving 101 courses, something, but one of these days I'm really going to have a nervous breakdown driving alongside these imbeciles.
Going to go and search for our remote control now. Bye
PS. I just did a spellcheck and it wanted me to replace freakin with foreskin, I giggled a little like a kid in Junior High.

Adventures of Steve's Toothbrush

Every morning I wake up, get Cailin dressed, fed, teeth brushed, hair done and then she is allowed to fill her brain with mindless TV watching for 1 hour while I get ready for the day. Avrie, however is not as easily entertained except for with 1 item...Steve's toothbrush. I have tried giving her her own toothbrush, she has a princess one, a Dragon Tales one, a purple one, but they are all quite inferior in Avrie's mind to Daddy's toothbrush. I have thrown my hands in the air and given in. So, as I wash my face, brush my own teeth, put on makeup, do my hair. Avrie has her morning ritual with Steve's toothbrush.
First she brushes her own 6 teeth...



Then she brushes her hair...



Then, of course, she has to clean up after herself, so she gives the sink a little scrub down...



When we are both finished with our morning routines, we replace it back in its original location, and nobody knows a thing. Steve goes right on using that toothbrush and Avrie goes right on sharing it with him...he has no idea. At least he didn't until he reads this. The funniest thing about all of this. If I know my husband, and I know I do. He will go right on using that toothbrush with no hesitations about it. For two reasons: 1. He's too lazy to buy a new one 2. He really doesn't care.
What a great dad!

Good times at the local Volcano

For those of you who know my spirited 4 year old and our family, this picture makes total sense. For the rest of you, let me explain. We have added this picture to our photo album we like to call "Pictures of Cailin crying in fabulous places". We have pictures of Cailin crying in San Diego at the beach and Sea World; the beach in San Sebastian, Spain; Paris; New York City; The Renaissance Festival; Christmas; Birthday Parties; and now this picture at Mt. Rainier, Washington.
She has a habit, a very annoying habit, of taking a wonderful experience, a time when everyone is having a great time and making it all about Cailin throwing a temper-tantrum. This particular breakdown involved purple gloves which she continued to insist were falling off. They, in fact, were not. But, who am I to judge.
Prior to this picture we actually were having a fabulous time. The weather was perfect, and she was having so much fun sliding down the hill, which, by the way, they have designated specifically for children 5 and under. How smart is that. So much different than my days as a kid being forced to play in the snow.
My dad would drag us all up to Northern Arizona to a place called the gravel pit. Sounds like it's full of great times. Just a huge pit with snow in it. We would wear sweatpants on top of Jeans, with socks and tennis shoes. Perfect outfit to repel water, yeah right. We were walking sponges!! Frozen to the bone, sopping wet and freezing cold. And I'm really surprised no one ever had to be transported to the hospital. Like I said, at Mt Rainier they have designated sled hills. At the gravel pit in Arizona, it was every kid for himself, slide wherever your little heart desires. Here is proof that the kids had fun. See, she's smiling!!

We could have gone to play in the snow much closer to our house (20 min) but we didn't think that was risky enough. No, we like to live our lives a little more on the edge. We drove closer to the volcano (Mt Rainier - 2 hrs) that, as I have been told, could erupt at any given moment. There are actual signs that tell you to visit at your own risk. Actual hot ash could spew down the mountain and kill us all! But, who has time to care about that when you are playing in the cold, wet snow. In the brochure, it tells you the longer you visit Mt Rainier the more risk you are placing yourself in. A couple other funny things in the brochure "If you are attacked by a brown bear, fight back aggressively" "If you are attached by a mountain lion, fight back aggressively" Well hell, I'm not just going to lay there and enjoy it. Duh!! And the good time was all solidified by the amazing Salmon with a lemon/dill sauce I had for dinner at the Mt Rainier National Parks Inn Restaurant. It's always about the food.

Okay, I'm going to end this blog now because I am very distracted by a Law & Order: SVU episode I have never seen and I thought I had seen them all. Blog later. Goodnight

Strange child

Okay. Why is it that my 4 year old will eat an entire bowl of rice and fresh spinach with an orange sesame dressing on top, but wont even think about touching the piece of chicken I made to go along with it.
She'll eat an entire bag of Pistacios but goes insane if she is even in the vicinity of popcorn. All the crusts (or as she calls them skins) of every piece of bread she eats has to be taken off, courtesy of her Abeula. She likes Broccoli but won't even think about eating corn. Isn't that every child's favorite pseudo vegetable?
She loves cottage cheese but looks at you funny if you try to hand her a piece of craft sliced cheese.
All the skin has to be peeled off of every piece of fruit and her absolute favorite lunch... Vietnamese spring rolls with shrimp and pork, with a peanut sauce to dip them it.
But, she is obsessed with gum and candy (can only have 1 a day), and could watch TV all day long and be completely content if I let her. (only 1 hour a day).
So, don't think she is perfect!