Greetings from Camp Mom

Another summer has come and gone.  Every year I run my exclusive camp to guilt-trip the kids into hanging out with me. 

50+ club

...HOO.  Sniff Sniff.  I've reached the end of my 40's and the last of my tulips.

Truman leaves for college

We moved Truman into his dorm 17 days ago. 

I've got skills

Last Sunday, the trio woke up before noon to spend all day and night with me.  That's dutiful teenage love on Mother's Day.  

Lifestyles of the sick and suffering

The medical care system in California is infamously expensive. Doctors overcharge, insurance coverages are selective, and big pharma continue to balloon the cost of prescriptions.  I know a little something about this when we took a deep look into the healthcare industry when Portia was sick.

 

Unwrapping the holidays one pic at a time

Feliz Navidad! 

Summer break in no particular order

Is it just "the teenage years" that some of my kids (particularly one) have decided they no longer like me taking pictures of them? And on the off chance I get the green light I rarely get smiles.  

Just a short time ago

Just a short time ago these passing moments became prevailing memories...

Work hard, play harder

Eighth grade Grad Night, a private ticketed event exclusively for thousands of middle school kids allowed to let loose without parents or guardians yet deemed "safe", is a rite of passage unlike any other.  Culmination is near.  And high school is on the horizon.  

Goodbye winter, hello spring

Is it time to put away our corduroy pants and argyle sweaters yet?

Current mood

Started the year off with hope and promise.

Pics I forgot to post in 2021

I always like to write a post to sum up our last-few-months-in-review.  But I never made the time at the end of 2021 because making sh*t happen x 3 on a daily basis is a full time job - to put it bluntly.

Portia on silks

My little eleven year old doing a little aerial routine.  I had dreams of her becoming a ballerina.  But my heart is beaming when I see her doing what she loves. 

Thank you Belle for recording this gem.

First tech job

Did I ever tell you about the time my 16 year old son got his first tech job? It was the summer of 2022 and Truman got paid to code.  

So far, so good summer

Need a break? David and I have come up with places to escape the kids.  Stroll down aisles at the Korean market.

May and more

Every year I look forward to my all-inclusive day of good behavior, less backtalk, and yes nods.  

The bright side of COVID-19

Parenting is so hard.  But nothing can prepare you for quarantine parenting.  It's been one year, many days, and a lot of hours since we've been confined under one roof balancing this work/school life.  I'm exhausted and I know David is too.  Kids will be going back to in-person learning in a few weeks.  I'm aware of how much I have to be grateful for but for everybody's sanity I hope the bus is on time.

Out with the old, in with the new

Hello 2021, it's so nice to finally see you.

A pandemic Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at my sister's which included my dad, my brother's family and my sis-n-law's mom.  We've been each other's social pod during the pandemic still gathering for birthdays and even continued Halloween's tradition of dressing up, trick-or-treating and handing out candy.  Being with them helps ease my anxiety and overall pandemic stress.

Happy juice & poison drip

What's your poison?

I'm behind in posting all things pumpkins and kids Halloween disguises from 2018.  That's right, two years ago! I found these photos on my phone when I was swifting through this years Halloween photos.  From what I remember I was really tired and there were no folding origami pineapple rinds or fitting into ramen bowl costumes like years before but I did manage to...