A Day in the Life...

Tale of Two Janets: Growing Up in the Shadow of Amazing Grace

2011-07-14T00:30:00.001-07:00

In the beginning, I imagine, it was clear about which one of us people were referring to… If someone said Janet needs her diaper changed, I doubt there was any clarification needed.

However, as time went on, and I was a child able to respond, it became apparent there would need to be some manner of distinguishing us. It may have been Grandpa Rae's decision (perhaps with guidance from Grandma herself) that he call for "Big Janet" if he needed her, and that I would be referred to as "Little Janet".

That served us well for many years… through the house at Canyon Lake, on various boats and into my teen years in Irvine, with them as our neighbors.

When I finally reached adulthood (and was for all intents and purposes as tall if not a hair taller) Grandma and I decided that perhaps we would switch to Janet S and Janet B. She also was the first to address me as Janet H upon my marriage to Robert.

Regardless of what I was called to distinguish my being from hers, I always wanted to grow up to be just like her. She had both quiet grace and a flash of fire when she needed it. As I grew older I realized what a rarity it was that she had traveled abroad and graduated from a prestigious college. Her ability to find numerous ways to entertain and teach was immense, her resourcefulness without limit.

That resourcefulness served her well throughout her life: war time rationing, small business ownership, parents to four outstanding children, self employment and community service were all taken in stride, with an emphasis on finding the right person for the job and matching talents to tasks.

When Rob and I learned we were expecting our first child, I bought a card for Grandma and Grandpa, with a notation that said you have always been wonderful grandparents, but soon you will be officially "GREAT". While Grandpa teased that he had always considered himself to be great, Grandma understood the message and was clearly tickled that she would soon have a new baby to nurture. When I learned we were expecting again, just 6 months into our new life as restaurant owners it was Grandma that said you will find the right person to help you, and told me of her challenges and the gifts of people and resources God put in her life at the times she needed them most. She assured me that there would be answers sent to help me through it. By this time my family had dubbed her Great Janet, and I no longer needed the distinction of a letter or adjective - I had become "Mom".

As Rob and I struggled through the many challenges of business ownership and raising small children she would often call with suggestions for us - had we tried this? Or maybe that? Always wanting to help us navigate the tricky road of balancing self employment with family time.

In recent years, she started her own not for profit enterprise for our family - Great Janet's clipping service. Frequently we would get envelopes filled with articles reflecting our individual talents and interests… We were kept well informed on the restaurant scene here in Orange County, as well as supplied with numerous recipes, and articles about teaching children with hands on projects - something she did so well when I was young.

I credit her with instilling in me a quest to learn - about others, about myself, about how to improve a product or service, and most challenging of all for me - to learn to care for others unconditionally, as there is good in every one of us, even if it's not readily apparent. So many people have told me these last several days that they never heard my grandmother say an unkind word about anyone... because of course, she never did.

The following verse is the perfect summation I gained from having had the privilege of growing up in her shadow:

Philippians 4:8-9 – Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Vaya Con Dios, Great Janet. Thank you for everything, I love you very, very much.

Gluten Free Girl???

2011-03-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

This is for those of you that have been asking about how that "gluten free" thing is going... The title IS a rip off of the real Gluten Free Girl, and if you are interested in GF cookery, read her blog. She's engaging, funny, brilliant and also married to a chef. (We've got that chef thing in common...)

I've been gluten free for nearly three months. Not ONE bite of Rob's breads, ravioli or gnocchi. Not even any cinnamon roll goo (just in case). Certainly no Girl Scout Cookies (torture, I tell you). And how is it going (you may have already asked...)

Well, it didn't change my life. I've heard stories of people losing 40-50 pounds in a year after going Gluten Free. Me? I gained weight. WTH? So, was it fair of me to expect that making a small (although in my world SIGNIFICANT) dietary change would transform me? Probably not. And I did notice that my congestion significantly diminished, my joint pain wasn't quite as bad (despite that extra 7 pounds - again, WTH??) and my mental fog was a little less... prevalent. Also my "tummy trouble" that has plagued me for a LONG time... was better.

So this weekend, while Rob and I were at the coast for nearly 48 hours of downtime (it took us about 26 hours for the realization that we really weren't going to be disturbed and we had NO obligations to do anything for anyone, anywhere), we had dinner. Not just any dinner, but we splurged on two MONSTER Dungeness Crabs from Local Ocean Seafood, where we had lunch. (I had the Garlic & Crab soup and Crab Cocktail. No such thing as too much crab, right?).

Our usual accompaniment for such a treat (pre GF me) would have been a really good loaf of sourdough. Well my friend Lisa told me about a bakery in Nye that might just have such a loaf... of course she didn't realize I was GF at the time... but I threw caution to the wind, grabbed a couple of mini boules (one whole wheat, one not), a bottle of Elk Cove Pinot Gris for Rob and headed back for the feast. (The bread is dead center at the top...)

The crab? Amazing. So sweet and TONS of meat. The bread? Just as good as promised. So SO yummy. I only had two pieces, since my crab was so freaking HUGE... and I felt good about just indulging a tiny bit. And yesterday? I felt fine. So I was thinking that maybe I can get away with a little every now and then. Now, I wasn't thinking I was going to toss back saltines or manufactured cookies (I'm looking at you, Thin Mints in the back of the freezer...) just for the heck of it, but for something really REALLY good? I'm in.

This morning? Oh. My. God. The pain. (anyone not interested in my tummy trouble should move along now...) For those of you keeping score, we are currently at Janet: 1 (the bread was so good!), Gluten: 5 (payback is a bitch). So today, I've been feeling pretty bloated and none too social (my kids have to love me, right?). Also, it could be my imagination, but the brain fog seems to be creeping in (or it could have been here all along, hell, I can't remember...).

Back on the Gluten Free train for me I guess.

Unless it was the crab...

Insured White Guy Driving Car

2011-03-02T01:14:00.000-08:00

So, Rob's new (to him) wheels are, well, old. His Montero was starting to require more daily care than an ICU patient. So, when I heard of an available and affordable '89 Honda Accord Rob jumped at it. Which is to say, he said "If it can get me to work and home, I'll take it."

We had reached the point where we could not afford to be picky, because we REALLY couldn't afford to be a one car family. So, car is acquired, and after a few weeks some necessary paperwork issues finally start to resolve. Now mind you, this car was available and affordable. I did NOT say it was legal (to drive). The tags were 18 months expired, and getting the title transferred proved to be a major challenge. (No offense to my friends that work at the DMV, but seriously? Not the same answer, in three different encounters.)

So Rob was tooling along, with all the necessary paperwork in said car (oh, by this point, we've named her Daisy), and he's pulled over. He knew it was a possibility, given the condition of the tags, but finding time to get BACK to the DMV had been tough. So, the office walks up and asks for his "license and regist... errr, ummm, license please". Yeah, good recovery.

After patiently explaining aforementioned paperwork snags, cop scratches his head and says, well, you need to get this taken care of, I'm documenting that you received a warning. Right, okay thanks then. And Rob starts Daisy, waits the requisite 8.3 minutes required for her to get her self "presentable" and ready to move, and heads on about his business. A couple days later, Rob makes it a priority to get to the DMV, and get said paperword stamped, notarized, sealed and blessed by the appropriate civil servants. (Yeah, he got my tags too. As Pederson kept reminding me, "Hey Janet, your tags expired yesterday", "Hey Janet, your tags are still expired" to "Hey Janet, you know your tags are 2 weeks expired?!??!!". Yes, thanks Ryan. I do appreciate the reminders. And thank you, Honey, for actually remembering to take care of mine while you were there too.)

Any hoo, Rob's new stickers are on the car, but the title may take 4-6 weeks (see above reference to complicated title transfer paperwork and DMV). So Rob is tooling along, minding his own business when he sees a cop pull out behind him, and follow him until he parks in United Grocers parking lot. He goes in and shops, loads aforementioned supplies in the car, and once he pulls out on the street, WHOOP WHOOP, the light show starts.

"So, you just buy this car?" Officer Dos asks. "Yessir I did." "Got the tags just recently did ya?" Quieries Dos. "Yessir." Rob explains complicated paperwork and DMV situation to Dos. Rob offers all copies of processed, stamped, paid and blessed paperwork to Dos for review. "Nah, it's good. I guess they just haven't had time to update their system yet. You have a good day now."

Okay, so at this point, I'm asking Rob - "Why didn't you ask WTH he pulled you over to begin with? I mean, what's the deal? You had your tags on, right???

Rob says, "Yes, Honey. I did. But apparently the '89 Honda Accord in Frost Blue is frequently viewed by cops as a 'auto of potential interest'. In other words, my car is being profiled."

At this poing, I haved realized that I'm going to make a million. Selling bumper stickers. Because if you show me proof of insurance, and I provide you with a bumper sticker for $5 that says "INSURED _____ DRIVING CAR" that cops will acknowledge as vetted by me, and therefore not worth pulling over (just for a "looksee" that is), you will save time and money by not being pulled over for no good reason, and the municipality will save money because I'm pretty sure it costs the City Police Department more than $5 to pull someone over and not get a decent fine out of the deal. So, my friends, I think this is a WIN/WIN/WIN.

Please send your orders (along with valid proof of insurance) to me so I can get your personalized INSURED DRIVER ON BOARD sign or bumper sticker right out to you. Special font & color requests are welcome.

Oh and of course, all products will have a Daisy on them.

Life's Little Lessons, See also: Mom's (ALMOST) Always Right, Chapter 6, Lesson #37

2010-09-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Drop off at school went smoothly, wrote a couple of checks to the kids' teachers for pre-purchased school supplies (while I'm sure that was hard on the teachers to lay out money ahead of time and then rely on getting reimbursed, I LOVED it!). We hadn't met either of the teachers the kids have this year yet, but all seems to be well after the first day. Linzy and I met the kids at the bus stop so that she'd know where to find them from now on. The girls were anxious to get home (and use the bathroom!) but Jack wanted to walk down to the house with Nathan (another first grader that lives across the street). I said fine, but "don't run downhill". Then I had to stop again, and remind him... and then AGAIN, I stopped (because the boys? were playing "Red light, Green light" down the hill) and said, "DUDE! Don't run DOWN hill..." and no sooner had the words left my mouth (for the 3rd time, you were counting along with me, right?) Jack went ass over tea kettle. Thank God he didn't scratch up his face or knock out a tooth, but his bendy points (knees and elbows) got some really good road rash.

Linzy jumped out and scooped him up, and I ran the girls to the house (cause now they REALLY had to go!). Once we got him inside, Linzy started to get a towel to clean him up, and my maternal instincts kicked in too... I grabbed my camera! Well, I for one, was not going to let this little incident pass without having physical, photographic proof that sometimes, Mom knows what she's talking about. Yup - these babies are going in the scrapbook for SURE.

About a half an hour later, Jack had picked up my camera and was looking through the pictures I had taken... and he looked at me and said "SERIOUSLY Mom!!??!! You took pictures of me CRYING???" and then he asked for permission to delete them. Sorry, Bud, permission DENIED. But thanks so much for asking. Love you!

Stage Debut - NTAC

2010-08-06T11:09:00.001-07:00

OK how FREAKING cute are they??? According to Grandma they did great and the audience loved them. I can't wait to go see it in person!!!

Stage Debut - NTAC

2010-08-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

OK how FREAKING cute are they??? According to Grandma they did great and the audience loved them. I can't wait to go see it in person!!!

41-55

2010-06-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

What is this? Score for a really good defensive basketball game?
Nope.

Perhaps it's a homework assignment? As in "Read pages 41-55 by Friday"?
Nope.

This? Is now the age range I have to check in Marketing Surveys. WTH?

When did I get lumped in with (no offense intended here, my FABULOUS friends in your fifties) women with grown children??? I'm a different demographic. I still have small children. For Pete's sake, ALL my kids are still in Elementary school... doesn't that mean anything?

Not that I'm resenting my age, mind you... I actually mentioned to my friend (who gloated that she is LOVING her 40's - yes, YOU Cyn) that I might have to wait for my 50's to enjoy the freedom and flexibility she is given that my kids are still so young... And yet? Marketing experts are now considering me to be one of what I'm going call 'Post-Dependent Child' Moms. PDC Moms do not have to worry about carpooling. Their kids can drive themselves (or, at least ONE of their kids can drive the younger ones). They do not have to worry about hiring babysitters so they can go out for a drink. They do not worry about daycare. Their kids can feed themselves, and for the most part, bathe, clothe and groom themselves independently.

And yet? I had to check the 41-55 box today. And I? Am not yet enjoying the life of a PDC Mom. Yep - life (and marketing surveys) are SO unfair.

What a year...

2009-12-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

This year has been a hard one for us and many of our loved ones. Rather than dwell on all of the sad endings - lives, friendships, and so much more - I wanted to share something that was a new beginning... Maddie started voice lessons just this fall, after performing in her first musical production down in California last summer.

This video isn't great quality and there's plenty of background noise and camera jogging (yeah - you try filming steady with 2 wiggly five year olds on your lap!).

The most amazing part to me is that this was her first time singing solo in front of a decent size crowd and she did great! Please feel free to send any comments for her - she would love to hear encouragement (from someone OTHER than her parents!)

Enjoy your week - cherish your loved ones!

Wha... it's MARCH already?

2009-03-02T23:46:00.000-08:00

oh man... how did this happen? March? 2009 right? Gosh I hope so...

Ok - I vaguely remember something about a new restaurant... a lot of paint... and people. SNOW. LOTS OF SNOW. Food. Schedules. Staff. MAJOR HEADACHES.

ohhhh... it's all coming back to me. That was NOT a really bad, vivid nightmare. It's all real.

I'm sure I should have posted some pictures of our new endeavor... maybe if I could find the cord thingy that links my camera to my laptop... ohh - yep - that's it... we could have pictures by the end of this post!

So, Maddie is playing softball this year. We took last year off - but she was enthusiastic about trying out this year so we made it happen (well, Teacher Susan made it happen... Thank GOD for Teacher Susan... tryouts, multiple reminders to sign her up...). Fortunately she is on a team with at least ONE of her friends from Susan's... and lucky for me, Rena's mom Jen is one of MY best buddies. Games are always more enjoyable when I have a friend there too.

The girls are both in dance, and Jack likes going to Sophie's ballet class cause he has a buddy there who's sister is also in ballet. Jack also had his first "play date" with Braedon (sp?) from his pre-school... again thanks to Teacher Susan. Apparently Braedon's mom was hoping to catch a glimpse of a parent to set up a playdate... but we aren't ever there at pick up (in our defense there's that whole restaurant thing... and they get released at 11:30!).

The new restaurant is doing really well at lunch... but sometimes dinner is... well... disappointing. We are really hoping that this is just due to the slower time of year, and that things will pick up as they have in years past. Gosh - a crystal ball would be really handy right now...

Well, I'm managing to only be about 2 or 3 days behind on the really important stuff (like the restaurant newsletter - which is supposed to go out on the 1st to tell everyone about the awesome specials we have...) so maybe, just MAYBE... well, I'm not going to make any promises.

Ooop - looky there... PICTURES to upload. Yay me. Multi-tasking just before midnight... yep, this is definitely my productive time. Quiet and dark. Lucy at my feet just in case I decide to move even a SMIDGE. Ok... here we go...

Hmmm... ok picture of the family from Thanksgiving (thanks to Sister Susan for snapping this shot...). This was SUPPOSED to be in Christmas Cards. ****SEE BELOW**** Not a bad pic of all five of us. Not bad huh? Damn those are some cute kids.

And this picture of Lucy... She's SMILING. ARRGH... will try to get this one on later.

OMG I'm seriosly cursed - my network ALWAYS fails when I'm trying to upload pics to my blog. No WONDER I'm so frustrated! OK - will go try to re-boot the network again... then I have to HURRY and sneak pics on one at a time...

***BELOW*** (OOOHHHH Colored Text! FESTIVE!!!)

Okay - here's the thing... I realize I set myself up for failure. I used to make cute handmade cards and mail them out every Christmas. And some of you really looked forward to them (or so you said...). And then, they stopped coming. And some of you (you know who you are...) probably thought, "Gosh, what did we do to them to get booted off the list?" and "We sent THEM a card... HOW RUDE." Well - GET OVER IT. You're still on the list. (chances are...) And the cards? Oh, I had the best intentions. Even bought the paper. Designed them. One year I even got them all cut out and "sticky" so they were ready to be assembled. And that's where it ends. Those cards are in a box labelled "Christmas Cards 2007 - 08". Yes, the "08" was added. No - they aren't ready to go out. And now it's March. Ain't gonna happen.

Hey - Check these out! PICTURES!!!

2008-12-08T22:16:00.000-08:00

Ok - so last time I posted I tried to upload some photos from our trip(s) to the pumpkin patch(es - count 'em - five trips in all) and I was thwarted by my not so reliable wireless configuration... (where have all my computer geek friends gone??)

So I'm going to attempt to re-post them now. Because? Well apparently, some of you care! And I re-connected with an old friend (sorry - he's not really old... but we knew each other BEFORE we could drive!) and I thought it might be nice to have some more current photos up. Yup - for those of you reading this thinking, oh sure - she's worried about some friend she hasn't seen since... well about 15 years ago but not us... hey - sucks to be you. You know I love you. But you all KNOW how cute my kids are. He has no clue. Besides - he was my original computer geek - and I'm secretly hoping he'll offer to come by and fix my stupid wireless internet. Yep - I've always had a soft spot for the smart geeky ones. Love 'em. What can I say. :)

ETA: Stupid wireless internet keeps crashing when I try to add pictures.

ETAA: Sometimes cursing under your breath and cutting their power WILL coerce bad computer components in to cooperating...

My Name is Janet...

2008-11-10T23:53:00.000-08:00

...and I'm a poor excuse for a blogger. I think I may start BBA - Bad Bloggers Anonymous. Of course, we aren't so anonymous when friends berate us publically for NOT posting frequently (Anne). I mean really? I didn't think anyone cared. Anyway, starting a new support group for people like me has been on my list for sometime now... might as well get started with that one.

So... what have I been up to for the past 10 13/15 months (HA - Math? I'm good at.)
Weeellll.... let's see....

There was that consulting gig I took where I was supposed to have time to blog some more... (and I'm guessing you have figured out by now how THAT worked out for me...)

Then there was a lot of kid stuff over the summer...

And that cute little restaurant I own...

Oh - and the twins. Handfuls - both of 'em.

Maddie? She's actually quite self-sufficient. If you don't count the constant reminders to Do your homework-Brush your teeth-Brush your hair-FLUSH the toilet PLEASE-Turn your homework IN today please. Smart kid though. Pretty too.

So... really the most exciting news lately is that one of my dear friends just had a baby yesterday - Beautiful Gracie Joy Schmidgall joined us in person yesterday morning - wee little thing - just 7 lbs 3 oz. Beautiful baby - of course she has it in spades in the gene department... so it's not like we were expecting a troll.

And even better??? I'll get another new baby in the next few days (I'm guessing maybe Sunday now Sarah... sorry - you still look too good to be delivering any sooner...)

That's the really big news for now... although if all goes well, I'm hopeful we'll have some more exciting news to share of our own. (and... if anyone out there that knows me at ALL thinks I'm hinting at an addition to our family? BITE. YOUR. TONGUE.)

Home Again...

2007-12-14T06:08:00.000-08:00

and once again I'm so grateful for our wonderful friends and family...

Our trip down to California for Grandpa's memorial service was long and busy. The service was so perfect for Grandpa... some of his artwork was used for the program and we had a reception following the service featuring - what else? - ice cream. Just as he would have wanted it. We also got to spend a really nice time with Aunt Madeleine, Uncle Joe, Kate, Dan & Nana... The kids got to have an early Christmas - and now it's going to be hard to live up to the royal spoiling they got! We also spent a day at Knott's Berry Farm - the little kids loved the rides, even the fast ones that they were tall enough to go on. Maddie, well, she kept the benches warm with Grandma. Someday kiddo - you'll realize what all the fun is about, and then we won't be able to stop you!

It was really nice to see extended family and long time family friends... many of whom I hadn't seen since my wedding. It was also so comforting to know that my friends back here at home were keeping an eye on things for us. From the animals that didn't travel to the daily operations at the restaurant, we knew everything was safe and cared for.

Now it's back to work... not just my job, but preparing for the holidays. I was so excited to be able to stay home and help my kids establish some traditions of our own. Guess I'd better get on with the show... I know you are all anxiously watching your mailbox for my Christmas cards (oh the pressure...)

A Day of Mourning on a Day of Thanks...

2007-11-22T23:01:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for so many things... my beautiful family, healthy kids, sweet dogs and the best friends I could have ever hoped for.

But on this day when I had so much to be thankful for, I also had to mourn the loss of someone that has always been a part of my life. My grandfather, Henry Rae Simonson passed away last night surrounded by his wife and children. He was nearly 93 - just 3 months shy of that actually - and had been so fragile in the last few months it was hard to believe he was the same man that built houses and lived on boats several times in my life...

His influence in my life extended far beyond the typical grandfather role - I grew up living with my grandparents for extended periods of time while my parents separated, and divorced. By the age of 12 they were living next door and were part of my daily life for the next decade. My grandfather was not always sweet and kind, but he was a great example of what a person can do when they put their mind to something. An entrepreneur from a young age, his adventuresome spirit and faith in God and humanity was evident.

His love for his grandchildren (8) and great grandchildren (he had 7 at last count) was evident by the pride he showed when telling of their lastest accomplishments. While he was never big on lavishing compliments or praise on the child he was lauding, he would tell the world of his love for them.

He taught me how to swim, how to sail and quietly - scratch that - LOUDLY encouraged me to be the best person I could be. My nickname for him when I was young was Old Faithful - just like the geyser at Yellowstone - also something he showed me. It was understood he'd lose his temper about something on a regular basis - but he was always there and ready to help build a bookshelf, a playhouse or a coffin (he still owes me a pair from a visit to their home on Lake Tulloch).

He will be missed - Jack will want to know where Boppa Rae is when we go down to California next week... Sophie will look around and ask quietly for him as well. Jack will miss playing ball with him, and Maddie will miss his jokes.

All my love and prayers go out to my family - aunts, uncles, cousins and especially my mother, for she has been their constant caregiver and support for many years now. My grandmother - my namesake - has been such an inspiration to me in recent years - her patience, kindness and ability to make the best of a difficult situation are what I constantly strive for (often falling short). Now in the coming days I only hope I can provide some strength and solice for her as she mourns the loss of her life partner... my grandpa.

Halloween Photos

2007-11-06T22:29:00.001-08:00

Ok... thanks for being patient! Here are a few photos of the kids... er, I mean, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Cleopatra. They all had a blast, and even Lucy got in to the act by dressing up as Nana (the dog from Peter Pan). The photo of Sophie with her face painted is from their Harvest Party the day before Halloween. Then there is Carter & Maddie, and Tink & Peter Pan. They sure were cute! More to come I'm sure. With kids these cute, how can I not take pictures?

Okay... so MAYBE weekly was a bit optimistic...

2007-10-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I promised in my last post that I was going to try to keep it more up to date (for those of you that read it and/or care...), and for misleading you I apologize.

In my defense, that was probably a bit ambitious given that I was spending very little time on or near a computer. But things are looking up for me! I have 2 new clients that I'm going to be working with... I'm going to step away from the restaurant a few days a week (and let someone else handle the lunch crowd!). I'll still wait tables a couple (or three for now!) days a week, since I know Rob likes for me to be there... but I have to find something that gives me a little more satisfaction than whether or not I got a good tip from Table 5!

I'm going to be consulting with a new office here in town, and also doing some work for my dear friends that own Willaby's Catering. I even have a desk in a really cute office that I can call my own! No more snatching W-4 and I-9 forms out of the twins hands after they've already colored all over them... no more late nights searching for paperwork that "was just here on the desk a few days ago..." I'm so relieved!

Of course, now I'm going to be near a computer more... well, let's not get our expectations up, right? You just check back every now and then... and I'll do my best to keep information up to date and relevant. Oh, and maybe next time I'll post some pictures of those cute kids of mine...

NO... SLEEP... til BROOKLYN....

2007-09-26T03:50:00.000-07:00

why oh why is this song from the Beastie Boys (white Jewish rapper boys from New Jersey, popular in the late 80's and early 90's for those of you that may read this and not recognize that group) running through my head at 3:30 am???

Ah yes... because at 3:30 am lots of things that are unimportant and ridiculously random seem to pop in to see if I'm awake. And... apparently this time I am. And so now, "Who needs sleep?" from the Bare Naked Ladies (again, pop culture reference here - Canadian band popular in the early 90s) rattles around. When I was pregnant with Maddie, Robert and I used to joke about making a "lullaby" CD with some of our current fave music that had insomniac themes... here I am nearly 8 years later contemplating it. Sigh.

Maybe it's the guilt that I'm not very good at keeping this blog up to date... That must be it - so I'm going to attempt to keep this updated at least weekly - and we'll see if that assuages the sleepless guilt. :)

On to the recent news... (or lack of it, seeing as how it wasn't really all that important until sleep eluded me...)

Last week I got to spend several days with one of my favorite people - Jean. She had a couple big events (she & her hubby own Willaby's Catering, and have been friends of ours for nearly 10 years now) and asked if I could help her out. Thursday I got to mix Italian Sodas for a luncheon out at the winery... that was a blast! And then on Saturday (Jean's b-day no less!) I helped her get a wedding set up out at the Oregon Garden (someplace I hadn't been since I before I was pregnant with the twins... but was a regular part of my daily life when I used to manage Wooden Nickel Catering). I got some beautiful pictures of the wedding - set outside in the Bosque Garden which features raised ponds and some spectacular views.

Pretty huh? The band was really good too... and the guests all seemed to have a really good time. Jean did these absolutely gorgeous Mango Martinis to greet the guests after the ceremony and they practically glowed during the sunset... I got some great shots of them all set on the table - before I dropped my camera in to one of the aforementioned raised ponds while trying to get the floating candles lit in the gusty wind. grrrrr....

And so... (Saturday Night Live - pop culture reference #3 for those of you that are counting... or care) with that, I think I'll try to get a little more sleep... seeing as how I have to get up with my little beasties in a couple of hours. Oh, and they are loving pre-school. No big surprise huh?

Back to School...

2007-09-20T22:06:00.000-07:00

Okay - so back to school (well, Back to School for Maddie - NEW to School for Jack & Sophie!). The pics above are Maddie at her new desk in 2nd grade, and Jack & Sophie getting introduced to the other kids in Mrs. Tibbot's room at West Salem Baptist Preschool. Sophia walked in like she owned the joint, and Jack was fine... until he realized that Mom & Dad weren't going to stay and play with him and all those fabulous new Little People toys.

Now everyone is getting settled and acclimated to our new school routine. Trying to make it a point to look through back packs on a regular (semi-weekly instead of MONTHLY) basis... This is all new to me - I mean really, homework in 1st grade??? How was I supposed to know? So now going forward we are having back pack time after dinner. So I don't miss any of the important stuff.

This also helps avoid those last minute embarrassments, like oh, I don't know, not knowing when PICTURE DAY is... I think we are going to do a lot better this year. :) But then again, sometimes I'm just a glass half full, sunshine-y optimist! yeah right...

Big birthday LUAU bash at Carter's house for his birthday last Sunday... Jean even hired some hula dancers to come and perform - ostensibly for Carter, although I think the dads that were in attendance got a much bigger kick out of them than the kids did! Jack also professed his love for coconuts to me - and I don't think it was just because we had read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom a few nights before and the coconut tree climbing alphabet was fresh in his memory... see last pic above... Carter is the birthday boy surrounded by 3 grown up dancers and 1 very young hula girl.

Hey - who stole AUGUST??

2007-09-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

ummm... My name is Janet and I've been an absent blogger. It's been 34 days since my last post. Sigh. So much for confession being good for the soul... I just feel guilty. The above pictures are some cute ones from the last month or so... Love the one of Sophie in her new swimsuit - what a ham, huh? Then there is "the fashion show" when they both had to try on all their new clothes that Nana Dolly sent them for their birthdays. Cute stuff - thanks so much!!!

That last one - well, one night we decided to take the kids to the park, have a picnic and then get some ice cream... the picnic didn't work out so well (the yellow jackets were swarming EVERYWHERE... we beat a hasty retreat and ate in the HOT car!), but then the kids got to play at the park and got their ice cream... chocolate all around. What a MESS! Good thing I keep a package of baby wipes in the car! (and just in case you haven't seen it... Jack's shirt says "Monkey See, Monkey Do, Monkey Get in Trouble TOO!)

Maddie is back to school on Wednesday. She will be in a 1st / 2nd combo class and I'm not sure how I feel about that... especially given that she didn't have any areas of "needs improvement" from her 1st grade report cards. I will be patient and will see what they have planned... for now.

Sophia and Jackson will start pre-school on Thursday with Miss Mary (different Miss Mary than Madeleine had - but same pre-school). They are very excited to wear their backpacks and new school clothes. I will post some first day of school pics later this week... Sophie will also start ballet classes soon too... I'm sure there will be some serious blog fodder from those!

Ok... The long awaited Hawaii photos...

2007-07-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

I will probably have to figure out how to add Flickr (Sarah???) so that I don't overwhelm the post with photos. I will post a few for now. The update on the trip? I learned that I would probably cruise again, although I'd like to check out different cruise lines. While NCL was great for a first cruise - and if a bargain is found, it can definitely be a great value - the overwhelming consensus I found from fellow cruisers was the food was the worst cruise food they'd had.

PLEASE NOTE: The food was fine. Most of it was perfectly acceptable (notable exceptions would be the lunch / dinner buffet - very low standards) and the upscale restaurants (where you pay a small per person upcharge to dine) were anywhere from good to great in my opinion.

The Freestyle Cruising approach on NCL was a welcome intro to cruising, since we were free to dine whenever, where ever we chose, and with whomever. If we wanted to nap in the afternooon and eat late, we could. We mostly chose to eat lunch in port, and then have dinner on board. We did go to a Luau and to see a Hawaiian Cirque du Soleil type performance - called Ulalena - in Lahaina. Both were very entertaining.

Only spent time by the pool a couple of times - this particular ship we were on was not very well equipped with lots of extra-curricular features - small pools and a few hot tubs were present, but not a lot to entertain / challenge more active folks or kids.

We had a blast exploring the port cities as we docked - just walking around and finding cute little shops and places to enjoy lunch.

One of the nicest things for me was to be able to relax and read (lots!) and spend time with a great friend who also got to RELAX and enjoy the freedom of a true vacation.

Pics: The Ship - Pride of Aloha (christened 07/04/04 - how WEIRD is that???)

Susan & I at the luau on Kauai

A HUGE sea turtle lounging on a beach near North Shore on Oahu. There was a red velvet rope and signs posted everywhere for people to stay back. Must be nice to be a celebrity! ;)

Apologies & Excuses...

2007-07-20T04:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so most of you know that I've been home from my 2 week sun-worshipping sabbatical for a few days now...
And I'm quite sure that a few of you have been diligently checking in to see if I've posted ANYTHING - any little scrap of information to fill you in...
Well, I'm sorry. (That's the apology part...)

The desktop computer (you know, the one that has all my pictures, photo editing software and those little slots I can plug my memory card in to???) apparently took a little sabbatical of it's own while I was gone...
So now, it is at the rehab center for naughty computers and is HOPEFULLY being tended to in a timely manner. (that, for those of you that haven't caught on yet, was the EXCUSE part...)
So, just as soon as my friend Chris gets my computer up and running again (for those of you that may have contact with Chris and can influence his speed, feel free...) I will be posting plenty of photos and stories from my journey.

I can report that the twins managed to turn three with nary a hitch, and seem to have mastered that *difficult* transition from the Terrible Twos to the Throttle-worthy Threes with no issues whatsoever. And Madeleine - what a trooper... she has been well trained in the loading and unloading of a wheel chair in order to facilitate Grandma Carleen's movements since her arrival. Latest news is that the wheelchair is soon to be a distant memory and the *fun* grandma will be back in play in no time.

That's it for now... sorry again (double apology for those of you still smarting at the apparent lack of photos...) and I'll be in touch ASAP. :)

(uh Sarah... WHY am I feeling so guilty that I am up posting this at 4:30 am???)

Mother-Daughter Day / Father-Son Day...

2007-06-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

So, Sophie and I went on a Mommy-Daughter day with some of our Mother-Daughter friends... some scrapbook stores, lunch and some more scrapbook stores all in Portland for our itinerary. Rob & Jackson stayed in Salem, and I think they got in to more "trouble" than I did! :)

So, when I got home, I see Jack, kickin' back in his shades watching a Blues Clues video (see above - how CUTE is he???) and there's this case in the living room...

As it turns out, Rob's mid-life crisis is not a blond, nor a fast car, but a six-stringed instrument... kinda cool actually. It would be nice if one of us had some musical talent to inspire the children (I have good rythym but NOT one musical bone in my body).

So... stay tuned (ha - a musical reference!) for more information on our family's budding maestro. Might turn out that knives and fire are not his only passions!

Newest Family Member...

2007-06-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

My cousin Sarah, and her husband Ryan welcomed their first daughter, Harriet Rose Miller, last week on June 16th! Her nickname will be "Hattie" or "Hattie Rose", continuing our love of the middle name "Rose". When I told the Sacramento Simonsons (my Uncle Rick, Aunt Sue, Cousins Sarah (not yet married), Stephen (also pre-marriage), Deven and Mary Rose) that Rob & I were expecting our first child (WAY back in 1999!) Mary Rose very wisely suggested that we use Rose as the middle name (if we had a girl), and since we had been considering a few first names that worked beautifully with that, it stuck. So now we have a Mary Rose, a Maddie Rose and the newest... Hattie Rose. Can't wait to meet her in person (they live in San Luis Obispo, so hopefully it will be before she's in Kindergarten!) - she looks absolutely beautiful.

Madeleine's Travel Adventure

2007-06-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well, Maddie made it to California - flying all by herself for the first time. Of course, in typical Janet fashion, there is a "story"!

We had it all planned out - dinner with Diane & Devin in Clackamas on our way to the airport, Jack & Sophie would stay with D & D while I ran Maddie up to catch her flight (getting through security would be so much easier without the twins, right???).

So, after a nice dinner and chat, I realized we had best be on our way, so we hit the road (yes, I left a little later than I had planned... quite frankly, WAY LATER, but how hard could it be?).

Well, just for those of you that haven't ever done this, there is a LOT of paperwork to fill out for an Unaccompanied Minor. And, when that Minor needs to pee - REALLY REALLY BAD - you have choices to make. I sent Maddie off around the corner to use the restroom while I completed the shipping manifests for my daughter's first solo flight.

Back she comes, a few minutes later - about ready to unleash her bladder with a stricken look - "Maddie honey - why didn't you wait for me at the bathroom????" (I had given her STRICT instructions to go potty and wait for me IN the restroom!!!). "The line was REALLY long Mom - and I have to GO BAD!!" (forget trying to question the wisdom of not STAYING in the line at this point).

So, cutting in line to drop off her checked luggage (thank you grumpy lady and her husband for letting us in!), and then racing off to the security line (oh no - it's LONG...). A LARGE family in front of us was going to California too *albeit NOT on Maddie's flight* that was leaving in.... AAACKKK - 15 MINUTES!!! Excuse me... would you mind if we cut in front of you? She's flying alone and we are running really behind... Oh thank you so much... NOOOOOOO.... the grandma of this little (read that with sarcasm) group had already handed her boarding pass to the very gruff TSA employee checking identities before we are permitted to be screened. Sigh - unfortunately, grandma doesn't speak much English (family was Asian - wasn't relevant until now, which is why I didn't mention it earlier) and she didn't understand why this large black woman is yelling at her to provide her ID in order to "pass". Who has grandma's ID??? where is it? Mom? Dad? Please, someone find her ID...

Okay - so the large, angry TSA lady (maybe she needs a new job?) finally turns to me and says fine - give me your stuff while they look for her ID. She goes through the paperwork, looks at Maddie's boarding pass and says "YOU didn't get a boarding pass for her, YOU need to go to the TICKET COUNTER" well, I had, and I was told we had everything which I tried to explain very nicely, but she was loud and angry and I was scared Maddie would miss her flight (did I mention she still had to pee...) so back to the ticket counter we ran... of course, the ticket agent that had helped us was no where to be found... but I managed to get someone's attention and quickly tell her that we didn't have the correct boarding pass to get Maddie past security according to the very thorough TSA agent at the screening check point. She (the ticket counter lady) went through the paperwork and found the correct boarding pass (apparently the TSA lady found the one that said "not valid for security" thought I was trying to pull a fast one, and didn't bother to find the REAL one). Running (for those of you old enough to remember the old Avis commercials) like OJ through the airport (NOT like OJ on the 405 freeway, for those of you NOT old enough to remember Avis, but old enough to remember a White Bronco) we raced back towards the security line, hoping we could cut through AGAIN, when the ticket agent came racing up to help us get through the "Special" line with her badge (thanks again!). So she runs us through the (MUCH NICER) TSA checkpoint for employees, etc. and we get in line to be screened.

Maddie - get your shoes off honey - put them in the box... OK - walk through slowly, I'm right here. I get through (but had forgotten to take off MY shoes! OH NO!!!) and I guess I had touched Maddie's shoulder to get her to move to pick up her bags coming out of the x-ray machine (that's apparently a BIG no no...) some other TSA lady starts screaming that I touched her and that she needed to come back through and be screened again too... (like I might have transferred some explosive device in that brief nano-second - never mind that I hadn't set off the detectors EVEN with the forbidden shoes on my feet....). So back through - shoes off and through the x-ray... and off go the bells (how is it that I did that?) Back up again, and go through S L O W L Y... deep breath - okay, that time I made it through without any musical accompaniment.

Run Maddie Run... no, don't worry about your shoes - just RUN. Barefoot... like OJ (see above - think Avis NOT Bronco). Didn't think I could move that fast... OK - thank goodness she was leaving at gate C1 (and NOT C23!!!). Gate agent says I can take her to the bathroom before they take her on board (in hindsight, this was probably a very good idea on her part!). So we run to the bathroom, and Maddie heads in to pee (finally). Except she didn't follow my directions (just go honey - don't worry about the door... I'm holding it shut). Yep - she locked the door. Never been a problem before... but of course she couldn't get it unlocked. OK - so crawl out - we'll deal with that later. (Attention Airport Housekeeping staff: I am deeply sorry for not notifying you about that fifth stall from the end being locked from the inside... I was a tad distracted. I will make it up to you somehow. Maybe next time I'll drop a $20 bill and leave my latte behind.)

Back to the gate - with 4 minutes to spare! Maddie starts to cry... "I miss Grandma" (are you KIDDING ME???) well, good thing that's her issue - and not that she misses Daddy, Lucy, Jack or Sophie huh? "Honey, don't cry now - you've done so GREAT! Grandma will be there to pick you up in just about 2 hours... I love you!" Kisses and hugs, tears dried and she trots off with the VERY nice gate agent, who starts to chat about her kitten, to which Madeleine starts to elaborate on Lucy, doing her very best Ricky Ricardo impression "Lucy... you got some 'splainin' to do...." down the jetway.

The plane backs away and I wonder to myself where the "point of no return" is...

The gate agent returns several minutes later, "She did fine, she is SO smart and beautiful... and very poised. She settled right in and met her flight attendants graciously, acknowledging them as her "special flight attendants" on her first solo flight. Don't worry mom - she's going to be just fine."

And she was - 2 hours and 20 minutes later, she was on the ground in The OC, with Grandma and Great Janet. Phew - glad that adventure is over with. :)

Maddie's Birthday, Dance Recital and...

2007-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Well since we got Lucy, things have been blurred... what was I thinking? "What's one more?" I guess... We celebrated Maddie's birthday, had a party for her last weekend and then she had her dance recital today. Last day of school is Wednesday, and she will fly to California that night to spend some quality time with Grandma before the rest of us arrive on July 1st.

April Showers bring...

2007-05-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

Well, now that's something to ponder, isn't it? Seems like they maybe bring more showers! Here it is... already the middle (well - it's still TECHNICALLY the middle) of May, and I haven't posted since April 1st. sigh...

I have a good excuse though - I just had SURGERY... (well, I got away with that for a few weeks at least...) April 17th I had my gall bladder (and the accompanying 2.5 cm stone) removed. I'm fine now. Lucky for me, Grandma Carleen took the twins to CA so they weren't climbing all over my incisions.

What else is new? Well, May 12th, Madeleine had the best softball game of her career! She managed to field all THREE outs in the first inning (against a team that was WAY older than her team - they were mostly 5th graders!!!), then she got a couple great hits and managed to score a run for her team! (did I have my camera? uh... no. The guilt is bad - don't make it worse!)

And, that afternoon, my Mother's Day present wormed her way in to Rob's heart... Her name is Lucy and she's a Golden Doodle (1/2 Golden Retriever & 1/2 Poodle). She's got a curly face and a sweet disposition. Since I was leaving for Southern California to retrieve the twins, we decided to wait to pick her up until today. She's acclimating very well - of course our household probably approximates the chaos she experienced with her litter - 8 puppies! Josie is remarkably accepting of this new addition to the family... Perhaps she is recognizing that the kids are more interested in playing with the puppy and she might actually get some peace and quiet!

Check out the picture of Maddie & Sophie - look carefully at the book Sophie is "reading" to Lucy... (Go Dog... GO!) Sooo cute! :)

April Fools indeed...

2007-04-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I won't say I didn't think about it... I just forgot. The stroller that is... the trip to Seattle was back-breaking... literally. Rob and I feel like we are in our 80's after lugging the twins all over. While Jack outweighs Sophie by quite a bit, he helps because he holds himself upright and strong... Sophie... well, let's just say she's like carrying a 25 lb. boneless chicken. Floppy. Out of balance. Unless you get her balanced just right, with her head on your shoulder and her bum on your arm, you get tired VERY quickly.

Jack loved the street performers at Pike Market... we even stopped for several minutes while he and Maddie watched a duo playing the flute and guitar. He was mesmerized. He was also a big fan of the "Socialized Cat" guy... why in the world anyone would want to put a down vest on a furry animal and put them out on a street corner to prove their "sociability" is beyond me... (Sorry Sarah... )

We rode the monorail, the carousel and hiked to lunch (NO - not a beautiful outdoors hike to some little remote cafe... we HIKED through downtown carrying children from Seattle Center to Buca di Beppo... boy, I sure am sorry I forgot the stroller...). The Children's Museum was a big hit, and so was seeing Auntie Cyn... but in the end, the kids were ready to come home.

Last question for now... WHAT IN THE WORLD am I doing up at 4 am posting on my blog? SARAH!!!???!!! I'm not a young woman any more... I'm quite certain there will be a hefty price for this sometime later today.

It's March WHAT???

2007-03-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

Ummmm... okay, so it wasn't hard to set this up. But apparently having even a few spare minutes to keep it (even REASONABLY) up to date was the big challenge.

I can't believe it's already Spring - Softball season will be going full swing in a few weeks and then there will be no time at all before Madeleine is turning 7.

I had the best of intentions when I started this blog - so I will not give up **YET**. Sarah has promised to help me keep things updated at least once a month or so (she is so good to me!) so I really won't have much of an excuse (unless she decides that I'm too old to hang out with soon!).

News from the first quarter... Hmmm...

I've finally gotten free of other commitments and will be working full time at the restaurant (and NO WHERE ELSE) for the next few months. There are so many ideas we have had, but with no reasonable time to implement them so far, we are feeling fortunate that people still show up and pay for the food!

Kids are all healthy - Jack & Maddie are growing so fast... Sophie still maintains her girlish figure (weighing in at a whole 25 lbs. soaking wet).

Jack & Sophie are registered for pre-school in the fall (how did THAT happen??) and will go to the same local pre-school that Maddie did. We loved it and the teachers were so great with the kids.

Maddie is on Spring Break right now - kids all went roller skating today with Teacher Susan (13 kids and she manages to keep them all in line - unbelievable!!!).

I'm scheduled to have my gallbladder removed on April 17th - I've apparently been carrying around a LARGE (2+ cm) stone for some time and it's giving grief so out it comes... of course most other things have been created in my body give me more grief once they are out, so I'm hopeful the stone will be an exception.

We are taking a quick weekend trip to Seattle this weekend - just the five of us (geez - FIVE?? I don't think we can legally stay in one hotel room anymore...) so we can hopefully enjoy some time off as a family.

Doesn't it just figure?

2006-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to get used to the fact that I am no longer in control of my life... between having 3 kids, 2 of which are 2 year old TWINS, 2 jobs (well, maybe its really more like 3 - not counting the family...) and a whole lot of personal commitments, I'm trying really hard to learn to be flexible.

And yet, when my carefully planned (but yet still flexible!) timing for our trip to Southern California to see family and friends was all screwed up I have to admit, I almost lost it. Now with the van still in the shop, a rental parked in the driveway, patiently waiting for me to buy it snow chains and load it with enough underwear and snacks to provide for a small army, I wonder if we will make it through the holidays this year!

If you were expecting to see me and my bright shining family, and we don't show up... check the Super 8 in Central California, somehow I feel this might be my destiny this year.

Twins on Thanksgiving

2006-12-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Took this picture before we went to our "Oregon folks" Thanksgiving dinner. We are so grateful that Jen's family has adopted us for Thanksgiving, Easter and all the other holidays that we would have normally spent with family back home.

Dinner at Grandma Line's is always a treat - a buffet overflowing with delicious food, and a special table for the little girls to sit at. And of course, the men (varying ages) all fall asleep in front of the TV after the meal. :)

Jack looks so much like our nephew Dan did at this age, and Sophie looks a LOT like my cousin Mary Rose... I hope she turns out as beautiful - inside and out!

Sophie's Boyfriend Nate

2006-12-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, so he's not really Sophie's, but Sarah shares when they are here. She wants to know Soph's secret - Nate says it's how she asks... "Nails?" in her sweet little voice...

Either way, Sophie's got Nate wrapped around her pretty little pinky toe!

2006-11-29T22:58:00.000-08:00

Back in August we went to a "Doodle Romp" to meet a local breeder of Labradoodles. Jack and Sophie found a couple of pint sized chairs and watched the pups play in their cage. The Labradoodle? Well, we're definitely getting one when we are ready for a new dog... but Josie isn't done with us yet - so we'll wait. :)

Sarah will be SO PROUD of me...

2006-11-29T22:53:00.000-08:00

Okay - so I had asked for some help to set this up... but apparently I didn't need the help - just a few free minutes!

This may be a bad idea (i.e. too time consuming to maintain!) but I'm willing to give it a shot in order to keep friends and family (both near and far) SORT of up to date on our lives (if you care) and to share photos of the kids - since that is the most requested and most difficult to fulfill multiple times!

So, as I cruise along on this journaling journey bear with me... I'll TRY to keep it up! I suppose, worst case scenario, I can ask Sarah for help again! :)