I think I’ve mentioned before that Hudson has major OCD tendencies. It’s really strange & scary so I don’t talk about it a lot. He just seems to freak out about the strangest shit & I am actually quite worried he may be crazy- but for now I will chalk it up to him growing & learning what he likes & dislikes. Anyhow, this video was taken of him in the balloon room at this place in the mall on Saturday. He loved it. But, at the end he freaked out because the people give the parents & kid a matching bracelet so when you leave they can compare to make sure you aren’t stealing kids. Anyways, Hudson refused to play until I took the bracelet off of him. Like crying FIT because he didn’t like it on his wrist. So I tied it on his pants. At the end of this video he realized it was on him still & he freaked out AGAIN. Why is he so weird?!

As evidenced from these pictures he had a great time. He even enjoyed falling face first into a mud puddle. He came home covered in dirt & mud and had a festive twig stick in his curls.

Aren’t boys the most fun thing EVER!?!

We parked & unloaded all the kids & walked around the cyclone fence barrier into the park. The amazing smell of chocolate that accompanies every summer afternoon of my childhood in that little neighborhood was thick in the air.

Hudson immediately took off through the grass & under the cluster of redwood trees. As I chased after him on his way to the play structure- I just had one of those moments.

I’d call it Deja Vu, but I just wiki’d that & found that I have been using that term wrong basically my whole entire life. So, it wasn’t deja vu. It was this floodgate of memories that just OPENED.

I could almost see my 12 year old self high in redwood trees chatting about boys & who could ride their bike faster down the street with my neighbor friend. Except now? The bottom branches were too far overhead for the 27 year old me to reach. 15 years of growth making those trees that were perfect for climbing into nothing more than scenery.

Hudson ran to the swings & as I pushed him high as he laughed & screamed, I could picture my friends & I swinging for hours while singing “Black Hole Sun” at the very top of our lungs.

The memorial bench that was saved when they remodeled the park that I used to sit on to eat endless amounts of ice cream from the the ice cream man.

The basketball court I spent hours on playing Horse & working on my layup.
The picnic benches we’d sit on top of and hang out with cute boys with too-long hair.
The way we would always sing “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” when we’d walk along the cyclone fence on our way home.

And the chocolate.
Living a mile from a chocolate factory, when the weather got hot- the chocolate just permeated.

It’s so funny when memories are triggered like that. I hadn’t been to this park in years. And I never realized how fond of a memory I had of it until I was there with my kids.

I am so grateful for such a wonderful childhood. Sometimes for me, it’s easier to remember the harder parts. But, Thursday- I was fully immersed in how wonderful my memories are. And how lucky I am that I still live in my hometown. That all my memories will now be my own children’s memories. That the ice cream man hasn’t changed in 30 years. That my children will go to the only dentist I’ve ever been to in my life. That we have an amazing community around us & our children. People we’ve known so long you can’t remember when you met. Experiences that Scott & I will share with our children, even though 2 decades will have passed in between them. But mostly, that Hudson got to run through the grass under the redwood trees in the late afternoon summer sun & smell chocolate.

Today, we were up & out of the house by 9. There was Starbucks & Noah’s. It was yummy. We met up with Scott’s aunt & strolled a farmer’s market downtown. The twins napped in the stroller, which was perfect, since Hudson was taking center stage.

Hudson & his ‘cousin’ Bentley.

Then we took Hudson to Central Park. It was something I have wanted to do for quite some time. He had been once to the Japanese Tea Garden when he was about a month old, but obviously that doesn’t count.

Central Park is kind of a staple from my own childhood. As well as Scott’s. And even his aunt’s- who played there as a child in the late 50′s & 60′s. The coolest part is that not much has changed. They updated a few of the play structures because obviously safety standards have changed. But some of the structures- the monkey bars, rings etc are original. And the train!! It was installed in the 40′s & is still all original. Scott’s Mom & Aunt rode it as a child. I rode it as a child. Scott rode it as a child & now- Hudson has it in his bank of sweet childhood memories.

After riding the train, we visited the Tea Garden to check out the Koi fish. Hudson was highly impressed.

It was a great morning. We were home by 12:15 so Hudson wasn’t too late for his nap. Then Krust, Lisa Steph & I went to lunch & on a thrift store spree! I spent $6.00 total. Which is awesome since I got a few little treasures. Can’t wait to do it again. It was fun to roll through as a gang.

My other sister-in-law, Krust, BFF Lisa & a few other friends were actual guests of said wedding. They drunk dialed us & insisted we come hang out. So we did- but I didn’t have my ID because Krust has my wallet at her house. (I forgot it in her purse at the movies last night) I tried to get in the bar without an ID & they basically laughed.

I had to use Lisa’s ID since she wasn’t feeling well & went home. It totally worked, but it feels so hilarious to have to use a fake ID to get into a bar. I wanted to say to the bouncer “Look, BUDDY. I am at least 5 years older than you. I have three kids. I don’t even really want to be here & you have the balls to turn me away even though I am CLEARLY 21 & I’m willing to pay your ridiculous $10 cover AT A HOTEL BAR!”

Needless to say, Sarah & I stayed for one drink.

I was 3000 miles away in the suburb of San Francisco I grew up in. I didn’t personally lose anyone. I didn’t lose anyone in the resulting military action. I was lucky. But still? It changed my life. I know it’s trite. Saying 9/11 changed my life sounds stupid when I write it aloud. But it did. Because it’s one of those moments in history where time STOPS.

My husband & I had been in our very 1st apartment for about 6 months. We still owned a RADIO ALARM CLOCK. And that alarm clock was tuned to KSJO. There were two dudes who had a morning show called LaMont & Tanelli (not sure if I spelled that correctly). They were funny guys. Their schtick was elaborate crank calls on Friday mornings. But, every morning we listened- half sleeping because neither one of us actually woke up to turn off the alarm. Which is why our alarm went off at 6. 14 minutes after the 1st plane hit.

And they said it a few times. That the WTC was hit by a plane. It registered after just a minute or two & we raced to the living room to turn on the TV. Where within minutes- I saw another plane enter the picture.

I said to Scott “holy shit! Is that anoth…?”

Just as the plane hit. We watched it hit. And my heart sank. On live TV, I watched it happen. And though I wasn’t standing in NYC- in fact I had never been- I was heartbroken. Heartbroken. Because at 18 years old I had never seen something like it. Because at 18 & a political enthusiast- I knew before I turned on the TV that it was no accident. Up until this very moment in time, I had never had a second thought as to the United States power to protect us. We were the US & things like this just didn’t happen.

And we were glued. We got dressed and drove to a local diner for breakfast. Everyone there was talking about it. How we had watched the bodies fall from the sides of the buildings. How we watched literally with suspended breath as the towers fells and the cloud of debris rose. The Pentagon. Flight 93. How everything was different.

We got to work, which was probably the worst day I ever had at that job aside form the day I quit. (I normally loved that job, for the record.)  It was pretty much like business as usual- like nothing had happened. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me sort of angry. It was like the twilight zone. “HELLLLO!? DID ANY OF YOU JUST SEE THAT!?!”

Today, as all three of my children & my husband nap in the living room, I am watching MSNBC “As it Happened” It is basically the exact news footage as it happened on 9/11/01. And I am watching it all over again. The fear and confusion in the newscaster’s voices and faces. The second plane hitting The South Tower. The Towers crumbling. Live on TV, 9 years later. And I am crying.

The world changed. It really did. Even though I wasn’t an eyewitness- I witnessed it.

It took me till 2007 to see Ground Zero in person, it was still a crater in an amazing city that everywhere else you looked was busting at the seams. And it was bigger than I had imagined. It was more moving than I had imagined. With fresh roses & letters attached all over the cyclone fence surrounding the massive area. My days in NYC prior to visiting Ground Zero made my experience more emotional in the way that I really did LOVE New York. The people were nicer than I imagined. The city was cleaner & more beautiful & more rich with culture and wonder. I actually felt safer at 2AM in NYC with my 16 year old brother- than I do walking my dogs at 11PM in my quiet crime-free San Francisco suburb.

I returned in 2008 & saw it again. The rebuilding had made progress. But, people were still mourning. There were still fresh flowers on the fence. Letters to lost loved ones. And in the park just South of the towers there is a clock. One that was found in the rubble. It stopped upon impact.

Proving that this national tragedy did in fact stop time for us as a country.

So, today- remember all the people who lost their lives on 9/11 & the days, months & years that have followed. The firefighters. The unsuspecting occupants of the hijacked planes. The New Yorkers just arriving to work. The police force. Our military. Because I just have no words for their incredible valor. VALOR is the only acceptable word to describe them. So thank them. Bring food to the fire department. Send thank you cards to the military. Don’t curse that cop who wrote you that ticket. THANK THESE PEOPLE who protect you everyday. Who will run towards danger so you don’t have to.

This day, 9 years ago has reshaped our country. It will continue to influence us for the foreseeable future. It really did change everything.

I’d also like to take a moment to also thank the firefighters & police officers of San Bruno, who on this day of Memorial have just discovered two more people who were killed in Thursday night’s gas line explosion- leveling an entire neighborhood in my parent’s hometown. My thoughts are with the members of the community who have been affected. I am still raising money on my blog for the City of San Bruno Fire Fund. Please donate if you can. Every cent helps. These people in our community have lost everything. I cannot even imagine. Please help.

I’d also like to share that Baby Gap in Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo is taking 25% off your purchase if you donate clothing to the children affected by the San Bruno Fire. You can bring in your own gently used items or purchase a new item. They are specifically in need of shoes in toddler sizes.

A family friend of ours was over earlier this week. She works at the RWC library & told us about this event. If you are in the area it sounds like a great thing to check out. Food! Crafts! And “rock n’ roll” music aimed at kids. Of course there will be BOOKS & who doesn’t love THAT? It’s a great FREE event in our area that families can enjoy together!

Here is a link to DIRECTIONS

he event takes place at beautiful Courthouse Square.

We hope to see you there! <3

& while the Fourth of July is all about celebrating the adoption of The Declaration of Independence- to me it celebrates so much more. I don’t know why but it is just a special day. I love the excitement of planning the day for my family & friends. I love the happiness & laughs- but most of all- despite everything that has happened in this country and to the country and by this country- I am so proud to be here. To be American. To grow up and have my children grow up in a place where we have been afforded SO MANY THINGS. And while some quintessential “American” traits are less than desireable, I am proud that I have the ability to be a strong, opinionated woman. To make my own choices. To vote. To do so many things that women in other countries STILL aren’t allowed to do. To not be STONED TO DEATH if I decide my husband isn’t the one for me.

I am proud that after 244 years- we are still standing. That we haven’t been broken. That there are still people willing to fight for my family. To defend a document written that long ago. Seriously? I don’t care how many times I curse taxes and the government and the fact that I can barely keep my family afloat. Because I am damn lucky that somewhere aong the lines a distant member of my extended family got their asses over here from Austria and Poland, and more recently- Italy. They came here to give me this. They came here so my children could grow up here. And I thank them.
I also would like to extend thanks to the service men & women of the United States for all they do & even more thanks to their families. Many, whom I have gotten to know from this blogging business: THANK YOU. Thank you for standing by the men & women in your families so that they can fight for me & mine. Thank you for the sacrifices that you must make as husbands & wives, as children, as parents to allow my own family to have what we have. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed, at least by me.

…and so… We fire up our BBQs in unison and say “Americaaaahhhh- FUCK YEAH!” Okay, maybe we don’t say THAT, but the sentiment is there. Me? I’m pretty proud to be an American.

A few of my adorable kid & my 4th themed picnic table all set up & waiting for guests.

Hudson. With his foot in the dog bowl. He does this pretty much everyday.

My twin babies taking a break from the heat. And looking damned adorable while doing it.

We had about 10 people over for a potluck BBQ. It was kinda awesome because HOLY FOOD! But, as I was rushing around tending to babies & cleaning and setting things up etc, I didn’t actually eat much, save for the GLORIOUS chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips Harley made. I may have to make him come live with me so I can have those on demand.

We started at 4 & then around 7 (woah! 47!) we walked downtown for the city’s big firework display.

They block off about 5 blocks of the main street in our city & then 5 blocks of another busy side street and they shoot the fireworks out over the lagoon. We sit about 100 yards away from the people shooting them off. So, they are basically directly overhead. The display is always amazing. We live about 5 blocks away. The city actually pays for & puts on the fireworks, which is pretty much Disneyland status. It’s pretty crazy since the population is about 30,000 people. It’s a very small city. They don’t even have a high school! Even though we only live 5 blocks away we are in another city. Our city doesn’t have any fireworks- even though it’s population is about 100,000. I guess none of that matters. The city is genius for going this display & since fireworks are illegal in our area & even the few cities that DO allow fireworks only allow sparklers & small ground flowers & things. Since no one can do their OWN fireworks- this shit draws a crowd into the downtown area. Probably making the businesses in the area a shitton of money.

I was worried about how Hudson would handle the fireworks this year as last year he was still pretty young to fear thing like loud noises. I hoped the twins would act much like Hudson did last year. I was prepared for a meltdown times three but had no reason at all to be worried. Sawyer sat with Auntie Krust & stared intently at the fireworks. No crying. Krust said she only fussed between the fireworks. Scott held Truman & he was also loving it. I held my Hudson hoping that he wouldn’t freak out. After the first few explosions he started CLAPPING. He was so happy. I was so proud. Somewhere around the middle he wanted to get up and go to “dadeeee” so Scott & I switched our boys. It was a great time. Although somewhere towards the end a flying rock smacked me in the arm. It hurt and I was looking around getting PISSED. I was ready to lay into some rock-throwing idiot. Then? I found the rock. And GUESS WHAT!? It wasn’t a rock. It was a piece of firework schrapnel. As in: they shot the fireworks miles into the sky, it went off except for this giant pellet of gunpowder and then? The ball of gunpowder fell from the sky, I suppose gaining speed until it hit. my. arm. I mean, it hurt but not bad. It’s just the RANDOMNESS!? I mean, I got hit with fireworks out of thousands of people huddled there on the street. It never fails to amaze me that I have such STRANGE luck. I mean, I can’t win the Lotto- but I can be allergic to pregnancy, have twins out of nowhere and get hit my fireworks. Is lightening next? I mean, my stepdad survived getting hit by lightening. Maybe I would too?

After the fireworks we walked home & some of the group went home. The kids went to bed & the few that stayed sat around our firepit & drank tall boys of High Life. I put on my sweats. It was a good time.

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th. Stayed clear of rouge fireworks & spent time with those you love. Also?? I hope you didn’t contend with a mess like THIS in the morning:

Hey Guys! I’m so glad you made it to my place for the Twitter House Party! I got a question on my formspring asking for a tour & I somehow wrangled some other great bloggers to join in the fun. After my tour- be sure to check out the other homes featured! AND feel free to join in and add your home tour link at the bottom!
Oh, Hi there! I was just doing dishes & I noticed you coming up the stairs!

Love this WONDERFUL California weather, right? Geeze- it’s been hell outside. And inside? Yeah, I’m locked up with 3 babies so I’m glad you’ve stopped by! (All pictures are clickable to enlarge!)

In our entry hall you’ll find this:

Right next to the front door. I’ve done a whole post on this framed poster- but we love to share our love for each other by writing done reasons on this board.

This is my kitchen. It’s a little galley style & sucks because it has very little cabinet space & I have more kitchen gear & gadgets then a French restaurant. I worked at a culinary supply store for a few years and because we could charge “on account” I never got a paycheck. I basically spent all of my 40 hour a week paycheck on all the nicest kitchenwares I could find. My chinois has no where to live. And my cast iron fondue pot? Yeah, it’s in the attic- with my baking dishes. I have a rack set up with all my kitchen stuff in the ATTIC PEOPLE. I really do go upstairs to get kitchen items. Anyways- so yeah. That’s the kitchen. That ugly scenic tile? Yeah, one of the main #1 things I freaking HATE about my house. The scenic tiles make me want to puke every time I see them. Too bad after 3 years we haven’t done shit to fix them. GOD! They are ugly.

More kitchen stuff. That’s about a forth of my crazy knife collection. I am OBSESSED with culinary knives. It’s a serious problem. Those are the ones that aren’t too nice to use. & just because it was cute- my husband’s favorite organic wine & a box of Sprinkles cupcakes. YUM!!

On to our dining room:

I love our Modern Asian feel throughout the main living area. It makes me feel super calm & I love not having clutter. We have very little on our walls.

A few things I LOVE in our dining room? My giant (as in taller than me) money tree that I’ve had since before I got married. It THRIVES in our house because of all the light. It just keeps growing!! And that picture? Yeah, that’s my Horsie in a Jar. I got that print at Indie Mart SF last year on my first ever outing without Hudson. Scott spent the day with him while I went out with my girlfriends. That print makes me smile all the time!

Here’s a shot of the room from another angle:

As you can see we have a very open modern floorplan. I love it because it is the suburban version of a city loft. If I could live anywhere it would be in an industrial space or an Eichler. Plus, this way I can still see water, have a target nearby & have plenty of parking.

Ok- what’s next?!

Well, I guess here is the few of the living room from the dining room. And my china cabinet.

And here? It’s my coffee table that now serves as a HUGE side table because we thought it would be beter to give the coffee table’s home up in exchange for more playroom for Hudson.

If you look out that window, you get to see one of the main selling points of my little house:

Two words: WATER. VIEW.

This is one of the only cluttered spots in my house. I decided that rather than having frames spread all over the house, I’d use this nook as the family wall. We have our favorite pictures framed and all crammed together in a mosaic of memories. I love this wall. I only wish I could fit more frames!!

Here is an aerial view of my living area from the loft:

Here’s a sneak peek at one of my gardens. This is our side patio. It’s very zen, with a waterfall & 99% of the plants being green & without flowers. Budda figurines abound.

I’m gonna save you the ugliness of our very basic 1/2 bath & laundry room. But, I do have these posters from a more punk rock era of my life hanging in the 1/2 bath:

We also have this little wooden art piece I got at the MAKE fair last year. LOVE IT! The girl & her little gas mask are awesome.

OK- onto the last room in this tour- our bedroom. Right now, it also houses the twins in a pack n’ play. I’m crossing my fingers that they will be upstairs with their brother in the next month or so.

And through this window we have a HUGE patio area that is about as big as our living room. It’s great- but of course you’ll have to see that during the garden party in May.

And now? The BANE OF MY HOUSING EXISTENCE. I said I hated the tile in my kitchen. That’s #2 on my most hated list. This bathroom? Holy crap. I HATE IT WITH SUCH PASSION. I cannot even express. SO. NOT. MY. STYLE.

So, I think that’s it for this post. If you missed my nursery tour- go ahead and follow me up the stairs to see.

NURSERY TOUR

Thanks so much for stopping by!!