out of the mouths...

***warning - not for the weak***
I'm getting Brandon ready for bed tonight, he's naked. Naturally, he's um, checking out the parts. Anyhow, he goes "Mommy, I think I feel balls in here. Why are there balls in here?" My first reaction (an audible gasp) goes unnoticed by him. He's just staring at me, waiting for a response, I guess. Then he goes "I think that's where the gnocchi is." I did all I could to not spit my laughter in his face. It was awesomely brilliant! I was proud and disgusted all at the same time.
Happy thanksgiving!

priorities

We had a lovely, crazy weekend a day or so ago. Saturday was our God-daughter's 9th birthday party. Saw a fun movie, had some good food, chatted with some peeps, then headed to Elk Grove to sleep on a marshmallow. I swear, I do not know how people sleep on such soft cushy beds. It was HORRIBLE. Then Sunday spent 3 hours with an agent touring homes in the area. Found the perfect house, yard, and neighborhood, only not within one specific house. We are in the fact finding portion of our journey. Finding what we agree on (pool)(big yard) vs what we don't agree on (proximity to Dos Coyotes, for example). Caylynne and Selene watched the kids for us - they think we were out Christmas shopping. Which is sort of true - momma wants a really BIG present this year. Then it was off to Novato for dinner and grandchild drop off. Matthew is out of school this week while Brandon and I are not. Which reminds me, I need to call him right NOW and say good night. Ok, done. He sounds beat. Excellent. Anyhow, then it was back home by about 8pm, and I was snoring by 815pm. Hectic hectic weekend. And we get another one in just a few days. More house hunting, bad sleeping, a birthday party, and Thanksgiving right around the corner. Can't wait!

the light bulb came on

I had an epiphany today while driving. It really was an ah-ha kind of moment. I was driving back from Sacramento, after an annoying chat with a nursing school person, and it hit me. The reason I want to move. I actually side tracked a little through Davis and got on the 113 there to head back home, and the sheer beauty of their own little highway just really overtook me. There was this huge green grass area between northbound and south bound lanes. Then on the sides there were trees, with leaves changing colors. The freeway wasn't 8 lanes wide, with industrial buildings and billboards along the side. It was beautiful. Then I got to 80, and on the sides of the freeway there, was farmland. Green unadulterated land. It just kind of caught me off guard for how much I missed seeing areas without buildings. Then I thought about growing up in Santa Maria. If you traveled south from where we lived, it was hills, cows, shrubbery. And I mean, like one mile south. I thought about it and realized I don't want to live on a farm. That's not why I want to move. It was the simplicity of everything when I lived in these places. Growing up seemed rough at the time, but it was simple. Homework was short, and then it was over. School was what you did to be social and see your friends that you didn't see on the weekends. The weekends were for part time work to earn some money to go see a few movies after work. No health insurance woes. No "can't lose my job or else how will we eat" struggles. No "where should we raise the kids" discussions because we were the kids and our parents picked a great place. Then there was Davis and Sacramento. Even then, I worked mon-friday and my money was my money. Sure there was rent, but I never worried about it. I guess if I had lost my job, I would have asked the parents for help until I found another job. Still pretty care free. Then I moved to Oakland and everything changed. It's hard to grow up, with the glory days of my youth behind me. I just can't help but believe that it we get back to a town where I have heart, things will be simpler and easier and more carefree for my kids and their parents.

Happy halloween!