Hate is the new Love

scene: naptime as i leave the room

me: i love you, buddy.

nash: i love you better.

scene: my bedroom as i'm contemplating how to dress

me: i don't think i'm going to the gym today.

husband: why not?

me: laundry and stuff...i just don't feel like it.

husband: i'll do the laundry. you should go to the gym.

me: i don't want to

husband: {insert meaningful comment that i won't share}. go to the gym. you'll feel better after.

me: i hate you.

i dress for the gym

scene: a few minutes later in the kitchen

me: nash put your shoes & socks on.

nash: no.

husband: come on, nash, i'll help you get your shoes on.

nash: no! i hate you!

me: see. it's not just me. he hates you, too.

scene: 10 minutes later outside. husband standing next to my car as nash & i are about to drive away

me: bye. i hate you.

nash shouting from the back seat: i hate you better.

7th grade - check!

Ok, so the year isn't over, but this week Emma and one of her besties, Amber, got inducted into California Junior Scholarship Federation for their hard work, good grades, and time spent volunteering. Aren't they lovely?

That and her progress report was stellar and there are only 3ish weeks left of the school year and she was doing a big ole happy dance yesterday as she informed me that her math teacher is recommending her for honors math next year. She happy danced over math.

I am not going to be so lucky with my boys, am I?

Mom's Choice Saturday

Last weekend Har had ditched us for a roadtrip with his BFF, Norman. We had no birthday parties, school concerts, church activities...nuthin. I love that rare Saturday where no one expects me/us anywhere. Love it.



Take that Saturday and add some beautiful, sunny weather. What other choice do we have, but to go to the coast?

So I grabbed my latest issue of Family Fun with an article about Ventura - one of my favorite places to hang out when I was a kid - and decided to do some things in Ventura we haven't done before. No solid plans except to hang out with my kids in the beautiful weather. Emma & Nashers. Why do I love these things you put your head in?

Dedan the octopus

We beached, we boated, we ate...it was a lovely, fun day. My children are amazing. I'm so blessed to be their mother. I love hanging out with them and watching them play together and enjoy each others company. As a mother, there is no greater joy than to see my kids love each other...is there?

Fantastic day. I wish every Saturday was so perfect. Well, it could've been more perfect....if Har was with us, but we won't fault him for hanging with Uncle Norman.

There was this little hat store where we tried lots on. Emma seemed to prefer the funny food hats.

My gator boys.

Ice cream tastes better at the beach, especially if there's a giant cone outside the store.

We got to the beach and my kiddos played together in the sand "dunes" by the parking lot for 20 minutes before we even walked down to the water.

Emma is a big nerd who is teaching her brothers her "model" pose. Seriously.

Nash & me at a little hole in the wall fish & chips place on Seaward...

the whole place is decorated with dollar bills that people wrote on. Pretty cool.