the boxed Sprinkles cupcake mix, was a good as the real thing,

I wouldn't still have half of them on my counter.

Oh and by half, I mean six. Yes, the boxed mix only makes 12 cupcakes! Although I still enjoy them, there is something about the ones that "they" make that is just oh so much better. I do get it that however much they are charging for a cupcake is absurd, but not really. I mean have you ever had one? Have you ever noticed how you can NEVER make cupcakes taste that good at home- no matter what box they are from (hmm maybe I should try some from scratch...). Sprinkles cupcakes are damn good and I think that is irrefutable. On a side not-I have never paid for one personally, in fact the only time I have ever had them is when my mom snuck home a dozen for me from a friend's 50th birthday party. We had like 5 different kinds, and I would eat a half of a cupcake a day- they were all AMAZING. And they weren't bad 4 days old either.

So sadly I say to you, the $14 cupcake mix (which only makes 12) is NO better that the $1.50 Betty Crocker stuff at Target. Now the icing recipe... mmmmmmmm! Definately better than canned. Unless of course you are talking about my birthday cake, then I would like boxed yellow cake with caned chocolate frosting, but only if you make it a day in advance and leave it out on the counter over night to get the proper "crust" on the frosting!

I wasn't a terrible person,

I might have been better about updating my blog this week.

Seriously, I finally go tell people I have one and then don't update it as often as I did when nobody knew about it? I'm messed up. I guess I could blame it on the fact that this week wasn't the most fun. The oven broke, I had to do all the laundry for the boys for camping, I had to make sure the house was immaculate by Friday because the landlord was coming over, and as per usual I procrastinated on EVERYHTING!

I will have to post about the oven though...

the kids didn't love eachother so much,

I wouldn't have woken up to Sophia crying, "Joe, Joe Jooooooooe!"

Sure it's really cute, and sad at the same time. You see Joe left yesterday with Tim to go camping in Big Sur-which Sophia and Lilo weren't too happy about. The two girls kept climbing into the car while Tim was packing up all of the camping gear. Once the boys left it was time for Sophia's nap thank goodness, but she woke up cranky and didn't change too much before bed time.

It was apparent why her mood was so off when she woke me up this morning. She really does miss her brother, Tim too I'm sure. She was trying to call to him to come down from his bed, take her out and play with her. This poor girl is spoiled by her brother.

The thing is, the love doesn't go one way. Joe really loves her too, it's cute (borderline disgusting). He will try to do anything for her. The kids were getting ready for bed the other night and finishing Nemo (it was just the credit at the end- don't ask me), Sophie brought Joe some of his toys, normal right? Joe takes them then puts his arms out so she can climb onto the couch with him and sit in his lap-WHAT?!?! Crazy cuteness that's what that is.

Today I have found myself wanting to say "Joe, where are you? Come back and play with your sister...please!"

I could tell the difference between cilantro and parsley,

I wouldn't keep buying the wrong one!

Seriously this is bout the 3rd time in a week and a half I have bought cilantro instead of parsley for the dinner dish- first for the chicken picata, then the chicken marsala and now my balsalmic glazed drumsticks. Luckily it is always a garnishy type thing but still-haven't I learned yet? I swear I do go to the store and think I HAVE TO GET PARSLEY. I even looked at the price tag and got the herb below the one that said "flat leaf Italian parsley". However, I am at home, finishing up my chicken by chopping up the parsley to find myself thinking-"hmm, this smells a bit like soap". So, I look at the twist tie and sure enough CILANTRO. Ahhhhhh!!

Screw your garnishes food network, I'm done!

Tim had shown me how to upload pictures...

there would be some on this site.

Let's be honest it is all his fault. Or perhaps mine? I really would rather blame him. Besides his tips on "better blogging" are bugging the hell out of me so it is definitely all his fault that I have not put any up here yet. Well.... maybe I just haven't had time, and I'm tired, and it was Bunco tonight so I'm a bit tipsy and have even more "TMI" than last month, but it's all good. There is always tomorrow.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, you're only a day away!!!

(Shit! 2 hrs and 5min away- crapper)

the dishes and laundry weren't my arch nemesis

I might actually get them done.

Now I understand that one usually fights their nemesis right? A true hero would do everything in their power to stop him/her/them. However, the lowley human that I am is no match for these two dueling chores.

In our house we usually go by the rules: whoever cooks does not clean. Makes sense right? However there are days that when I cook Tim says at night: I'll do them tomorrow. Right... And that happens only if I can stand looking at them all day, if it is a day I have off- fat chance. Also, this week Tim has cooked every night. This means dish duty for me. And not fun dish duty either. I have been tired all week and leaving them for the next day, which makes it worse. Ugh!

The laundry is another story. It is my fight and my fight alone (except when I can beg help). I HATE LAUNDRY! It never ends, the process takes too long and folding/ hanging little kids clothes sucks. Sure I can throw the stuff in the wash, switch it to the dryer and proceed to put it in a basket or on the couch in either our room or in the living room. But it will stay there for days, literally. I can't stand folding it and putting it away-grrrrr. I would rather -gasp- do the dishes than fold the laundry.

I give up Nemesis you win... so can I stop the battle now?

I wasn't allergic to strawberries,

I wouldn't have nasty red bumps that ooze on my ring fingers.

At least I think I'm allergic to strawberries. So this is a fairly new development, though not as new as my revelation. After I had Sophie and had put my rings back on-pregnancy bloat can make your rings not fit anymore :( - I began to get these weird red bumps on both of my ring fingers- starting with my right hand. I took off my Grandmother's rings and it seemed to help- it was also turning to fall quickly (non-strawberry season). The next spring/summer, I had to take off my rings because the nasty bumps began appearing on my left hand. I thought that perhaps I developed an allergy to white gold or something, but I have had the rings off for MONTHS and low and behold- nasty red oozing bumps.

I first discovered this on Monday night. Tim had bought me chocolate covered strawberries (two of my favorite things) for Mother's day, so I did the only I could do- I ate them. Well a big one dripped on my hand (not surprising) the juice ended up in between my right ring and pinky finger. Not ten minutes laters- red bumps! I could not beleive it. So the idiot that I am brought strawberries to the Zoo and um well today, nasty red ozing bumps on both ring fingers. This leads me to believe I have developed an allergy. Wierd b/c strawberries usually give you a rash around your mouth or make your throat close up if you are allergic to them (Keneth the page), but it can not be the rings! So, proabably no more strawberries for me :(

Next step, get the rings cleaned and re-rounded (one is kid of ovular from me banging it on the counter)!

all of the animals weren't always asleep when you go to the zoo,

things night be a little more interesting.

I mean seriously, all of the animals-minus birds and fish- are almost always asleep, at least when I go to the zoo.

We went to the Santa Barbara Zoo today with Joe's class, and all of the first graders at Peach Hill. So let's go through the lineup: Asian small clawed Otters=asleep; reptiles = um I wouldn't know, don't look at them much but all the snakes seemed to not be moving, which is a good thing in my opinion; Ring tailed lemur = oooooo they were awake but meh; Snow leopard = asleep, American Alligator = asleep, Crested porcupine = asleep and not viewable (in his house maybe), Red Panda= couldn't find him in his cage, Gibbon= HALARIOUS- awake, swinging and making loud noises; Anteater= asleep and in the Capibara's habitat; Capibara = awake, in another section of its habitate and totally a gross overgrown hampster; African Lion = both basking in the sun atop a rock-at least we could see them; Gorilla = asleep RIGHT NEXT TO THE GLASS; Giraffe = awake and eating (no more croocked neck though RIP); Elephants= awake, playing a bit too, but at the other end of the habitat; Channel Island Fox = asleep.

So let's see 10 out of 15 were asleep. Come on I want my money back!

we hadn't had so much fun at Disneyland yesterday...

I wouldn't have woken up tired, gone to the gym sore already, had to listen to my six year old talk even faster than normal on the way to school and well, I wouldn't have had so much fun at Disneyland Yesterday!

I decided that I wanted to go to Disneyland this Mother's day. I wanted to just watch the kids have fun and be at Disneyland. Unfortunately, my mom didn't go with us, however, Tim's mom did come.

After grabbing lunch at subway at 7:15 in the morning, getting some severely unhealthy breakfast sandwiches and Mickey D's, we picked up Madeline and were off. Well, sort of. We got two exits down the freeway and Tim asked if we had the tickets. So, we got off, went back, got the tickets, and then were off. The traffic was not bad since it was a Sunday morning, so we made good time. We got in and parked on the first level, score! (only our spot was in the 3rd to last in it's row, and second to last in the structure- we had a ways to go to get to the tram) Ah the Disneyland tram, that wonderful device that drives you to the gates, that magical ride that let's you know you are almost there, that TERRIFYING thing that makes you scream and want to run- at least in Sophie's opinion. She hated it, wanted nothing to do with it. It was so sad, here was her first Disneyland experience and she wanted O-U-T.

Well, we got into the park, put lunch and a bag in the locker and were off to the Matterhorn as per Joe's request. Let me tell you Sophia-and all of us- were lucky that she was just too short to go on-that would have been hell. Anywhoo, next up was Nemo. I was so excited for her, since this is her favorite movie-well only movie other than Wall-E that she watches. Of course the little scarredy cat didn't want to get on at first, but once we saw the Nemo characters she was into it! We proceeded to Star Tours (which my lameness prohibits me from going on now) where Sophie and I shopped for those twirly light things for her and Joe-she got a Cinderella and he got a stitch. We went on many more rides, ate lunch, more rides and then as Joe was saying he wanted to do Haunted Mansion I told him that it was the last Jedi Training session in 20 min so if we wanted to do that we would have to go on the Haunted Mansion later. He grudgingly said o-k.

Let me tell you it was SOOOooooOo worth it. We got situated Joe behind a dad and son and us in the back (while Tim went for Pineapple whip). Then the boy Joe was kind of behind scooter closer to his dad making it harder for Joe to see but opening up a spot where he could fit in the front. As I went to tell Joe he could sit next to the boy and two others, the "other" mom stretched out her feet right in that spot. I was bumped for him but it wasn't starting yet so I thought -maybe she'll offer to have him come sit up closer since he is behind another family. Ha! that's funny! Just as the whole "training" was about to start and all of the kids were standing up getting ready to try to get picked (they pick about 20 kids to come on stage wear robes get light sabers and "train" to be Jedi), I asked the mom if Joe could sit next to/stand next to her sons so he could see better- not too much to ask right? This is for the kids right? Um, guess not. She said no. What?!?! So I said "Oh, ok, thanks" -kind of snotty but I think that was my prerogative. So her husband nudged her and said- "sure, have him come up here"- decent fellow that man. So Joe get's up there and while all of the other kids are jumping and screaming and waving their hands, my "Stepford" child stands tall and raises his hand waiting quietly to be picked. They picky kids on both sides and I'm trying to tell Joe to get excited and wave his hands. He waves his hands a little and gets picked- YAY!!! How fun, so cute! Then I think - "CRAP" those other two boys have not been picked- shit! So when they start picking kids from our area I'm waving behind them and pointing thinking "please, please pick one of them, I really don't want the dirty looks that are going to be shooting my way". Thank goodness one of them got picked- phew! Needless to say it was very cool, the kids "trained", then go to fight Darth Vader and even got a "diploma"!

We continued out Disneyland journey- Oh, Tim did get his Pineapple Whip and made it back in time to see Joe, though not next to us because of the crowed, but was unimpressed with his treat. We wasted some time-unfortunately-in Inventions (not as cool as it was a few years ago). Sophie and Joe both got to "drive" Autopia cars and then we went into Fantasyland.

We did the carousel, Snow White and Dumbo. Interesting this about the Dumbo ride- there were two Tim's. Yes not twoDumbo's, two TIM's. I swear his twin was there you will just have to look at the pictures. We were in line and Tim says to me "look at the guy in the green sweatshirt behind you". It was creepy. It was Tim with his over grown hair, shaven with the goatee and about 4inches taller. I proceded to take sneaky pictures from the back which I'm sure he noticed.

After this we still hadn't made are way to Pirates or the Haunted Masion so that was next. Upon exiting the Haunted Mansion-where Sophia fell asleep from pure exhaustion, we hear "the Disneyland fireworks show will begin in 15 minutes" Wait, WHAT?!? That means it is past 9 o'clock, we so hadn't planed on staying that late but oh, well (oh we had pizza for dinner at the Pizza port-not bad). So, Madeline had wanted to treat to dessert and we decided sundaes and fireworks were a good idea. We found a spot where you had to crane a bit to see near the carnation cafe and waited for Tim to come back with ice cream. Well at 9:23 (the fireworks start at 9:25) Tim comes back with no ice cream- the line was far too long, too amny people with the same idea. Oh, well. So then we hear that it is going to be delayed so Madeling jumped up to get the ice cream- this time no line, too many people were thinking like Tim. So we have ice cream and are watching fireworks when a spot with a better view opens up for Joe and Madeline- PERFECT! The show is a-mazing, seriously.

Well after that we were definately ready to hit the road, when low and behold Timmy's clone apears again. We contemplated shortly then went up and asked for a side by side picture- you know we would be kicking ourselves if we hadn't.

Well it was an awesome day and if only I weren't so tired I might have elaborated more, but then you would have had to read it!

I hadn't forgot about the diet coke I put in the freezer lsat night.

Then I wouldn't be cleaning up the LAST one that exploded in the middle of the night!

The last diet coke, that means I didn't get one this morning. Add insult to injury there were none at my parents house- WHAT??!?! Oh, and I had to clean up that mess. It was horrible there were coke crystals all over the top shelf and the can had adhered sideways to it. Pictures to come- ridiculousnes.

Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up suddenly remembering that forgotten Diet coke. Perhaps it was at the moment it exploded because Tim says he swore he head it and thought someone was breaking in. I lay in bead thinking F! (I don't actually curse in my thoughts) I was so not going to go and check on it. I mean what was I going to do, it had already exploded for sure and I wasn't going to clean it right then. So, later I woke up thinking crap, I really wanted that Diet coke...

I still do.

I could crochet faster, and while slightly inebriated,

then I could get a blanket done lickety split.

So mostly I get to crochet at night. Sometimes during the day if the kids are taking some downtime watching Nemo or Wall-E, but mostly at night. So, while we are watching TV I get to make my blanket. But I am distracted because I am doing two things at one. If you add in a glass of wine or some other "Mommy/Daddy" drink I go even slower. I have been able to keep up a pace of a 6.5 inch square a day for this guy (I'm 3 days in-should post pictures). This means that if I want a decent size blanket I made need 24 plus squares, so I really need to step it up!

every day were as b-e-a-utiful as today.

Well perhaps a tad cooler.

It was an awesome sunny Californian day today. When I was driving to work I couldn't help but notice how clear, sunny and blue the sky was. It was just very relaxing to look at. Then when I actually got to work, I had to do very little- another plus. Instead of meeting with my Math kids, I was on bathroom escort duty for STAR testing. I sat in the office crocheting and talking to the office ladies waiting for teachers to call up that students needed to use the restroom. When there was a call I would go to that room and walk them to the designated restroom. Now the school that this is at sit up on a hill at and you can see most of Moorpark, the surrounding hills and on a good day a glimpse of the ocean (through some binoculars- but still). So, not only did I not have to do much I got to enjoy the beautiful day.

When I got home and picked up Joe from school I deemed it hot enough to pull out the slip-n-slide, and baby pool to cool down. The kids were adorable and I will have to post pictures soon, Tim will have to help (I finally told him about the site ;) ).




The cuteness lasted about 45min. That was when the boys around the neighborhood started turning up. It was fine and all but I realized I am different than some of their Mom's. I won't continuously say, "don't do that, I'm not going to ask you again...I'm serious...This time I mean it". I AM serious. I won't look at another Mom and say "oh, kids what can you do". I'll tell you what you can do, you turn the damn water off until they listen, that's what you do. So after 2 hours and a few hose turn offs the boys all had to go. Not because they were in trouble, but because we were off to dinner at Tim's Grandma's house.

But seriously it was a beautiful day out!

Tuesday's were really Thursdays.

I mean I've been thinking about it and the only good thing about a Tuesday is that it is not a Monday. There are never good shows on Tuesdays, you are only a teeny bit closer to the weekend, and well you can only think "we are not even half way through the week yet?" Never mind that on Mondays I'm usually in crazy mode and don't get too much done that I have to make up for it on Tuesday. So, Tuesday is just Monday part 2. Blech!!

I had taken the time

to make MY cookies, I wouldn't have my house smelling of burnt bag cookies.

So, I have decided that there are four basic types of home bakers (home cooks for that matter too). There are the from scratch bakers/cookers -usually this is me, cakes are almost always an exception I mean sometimes you gotta let Betty do what she does best!- there are the from a box/bag bakers and cookers-these require you to add perishable items to the "box"- there are the "break and bakers" or "frozen mealers" where all you have to do is make sure the oven is at the right temp, or microwave for the correct amount of time. Lastly there are those who simply are at their culinary best with cash, check or card in hand- in other words this is not their expertise so leave it to someone whose it is.

All this being said I like to make my chocolate chip cookies for people whenever I can, so when I saw that the new neighbor across the street was going to start moving in I immediately thought cookies. I get home and I have no chocolate chips-none! This is a rare occurrence but I forgot to re-up after making them for my husbands fishing trip last weekend. Oh no, what to do I had my mind set on warm gooey chocolate chip cookies to bring over. Then I see it a bag of chocolate chip cookie mix-true it may be kinda old but I was sure it would work. The bag says 20 min to homemade cookies-perfect!! And that is about the last time that thought went through my head. First off it's supposed to make 3 doz-ha! Exactly 2 doz. Then I put the in the 375 oven and set the timer for 7 min-always best to start at the lowest time. Um about 5 min in I can smell it- these are going to burn. I open the oven and they are sooo not done, they haven't spread but you can see the bottoms are on their way to a lovely brown-not the golden brown and delicious type. What could I do but hope to heck it was my imagination. Alas, it was not true they are burned. And while they do not look terribly burnt they did not spread and are raw in the middle with the taste of burnt cookie-and I am never one to complain about an underdone cookie, I love them, but they should not taste burnt I mean that just makes no sense. So while I the from scratch cookie baker can make good cookies if I do say so myself, it looks as though I fail with the bag...

...but I think I have some boxed brownies in the cupboard...