Snack Time w Mama

The other day, I came across the news that Mother's Cookies is going out of business. Pretty sad, considering every kid in America has some childhood memory with these guys, whether it be the pink and white animal cookies, the Iced Oatmeals, you name it. So, I read the article about it, and I've been craving these little guys ever since. I resisted the urge to stockpile in the wake of the company's annoucement, and only bought one bag.

So today after school Ella and I sat down to milk and cookies. Cookies by Mother's, glass provided by McDonald's of Hawaii, and given to me by my own mother when I got my first apartment.

So, let's recap.

Ella and her mom, eating milk and cookies (an American mom's after-school tradition), cookies by Mother's cookies, drinking from glasses from my mother to me.

Someone start the Twilight Zone music.

Note to Self:

Before freaking out and calling the doctor becuase of horriffic findings in baby's diaper, try to remember that you fed him carrots less than 24 hours ago.


























Sorry, Dr. Chen.

Bill me.

Orange Hill

So lately I've been in a "my-life-is-about-everyone-else-first-but-no-one-cares-about-me" funk. That is the clinical term, by the way. Also known as "Mother of Two syndrome". And sensing this, in addition to listening to me scream it at the top of my lungs while standing on the toilet seat and shaking a jug of fabric softener, Ivan surprised me with a beautiful brunch at Orange Hill Restaurant. Ivan's not big on surprises, but he pulled this one off beautifully, and it was EXACTLY what I needed to maintain sanity.

The brunch buffet included such offerings as lamb osso bucco, king crab legs, a sushi station, an omelette station, breakfast fare, stir fry station, dessert bar, mochas with fresh cream, it was a stunning spread. And, considering my usual lunch of Grab Anything While Baby Sleeps, it was a hell of a recharge, culinarily speaking.

Not to mention the fact that it's on a hill (duh), and has the most stunning views of Orange County. That may sound like an oxymoron, but it really was beautiful.

Here's proof.

Sometimes that guy surprises me.

And I forget that I just picked up his underwear out of the bathroom for the fifth time this week.

A little dinner conversation.

Me: Ivan, you like Shephard's pie, right?

Ivan: I looooove shephard's pie. Almost as much as I love that waiter with a lisp at Orange Hill restaurant.

Me: Okaaaaay. Ella, do you like shephard's pie?

Ella: I looooove pie. What's a shephard?

Me: A man. Who watches sheep.


Ella: (looong pause....) Can I have a turkey and mayo sandwich?






















She ate the potatoes from the top and left the rest.

Numero Uno

Well, I finally climbed onboard the technology train. We're gonna give this blog thing a shot, and see where it goes. I figure, it'll at least be a good, centralized spot to archive and to share all our pictures and day to day stories as a family.

So, let's catch up, shall we?

There is too much. Let me sum up.


Ella is four years old. She just started preschool, learned to read and write her name in the first week, and loves every single minute of it. She loves broccoli, dancing, the musical Wicked, and her liddle brudder. She looks like this:
















Noah is almost five months old. He loves breastmilk, the color red, bathtime, and pooping on a regular basis. He can sit up straight, grab his toys, and will smile at anyone who will smile back. He looks like this:
















Except when I'm making him pose for pictures instead of feeding him, in which case, he looks like this:


















Either way, we think he's pretty cute.


Ivan's working too hard, as usual, playing softball once a week, and generally being Dad of the Year. I think he's got the competition wrapped up, considering he changed every one of Noah's diapers for the first two weeks of his life.

Ivan looks like this:















(pretty pensive, eh?)


And, as for me, I've been doing this stay at home mom thing since March, and I have my good days and my bad days. It is, without a doubt, the hardest job I've ever had, but (caution- cliche ahead) also the most rewarding. I wouldn't trade these days of being with the kids for anything. I'm absolutely sure that I'm learning more from them than the other way around.


I pretty much look like this:






















Anyhow, this concludes the update summation. Thanks for tuning in.

See you next entry.