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Learning

I always thought I loved Halloween....

then I had children.

You'd think I'd like it more, but I didn't

and you want to know why?

Because I would make myself crazy (and everyone else) trying to MAKE my kids have fun.

(you know that saying, Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy....it's SOOOOO true!)

I thought if I made them look cute and wear great costumes and drag them to the right houses (to get great candy because it's for them...right) and, and, and....then they would love me more and think I'm a great mom and be SO happy...........

WRONG!

I was a crazy lady! Yelling at them to stand still so I could do their hair or makeup or whatever. And they always seemed to hate the costume because it was itchy, uncomfortable, not what they want. I was psycho!

Then after I forced them to do want I thought would make them happy, I would force them to smile for the camera and again stand still.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I would always try to get (okay....force) my hubby to dress up or decorate the back of the truck...let's say that would never go off well.

I'VE CHANGED! (Well, for now.)

I let my girls do whatever they wanted. If they asked for makeup or for their hair to be done I would do it, but if they didn't....no big deal! I didn't even take the camera to the trunk or treat. And guess what....we all had a great time. All of us. My girls, Julius, and...

ME.

I really hope I remember this for the next holiday when I'm going crazy and trying to force people to do things I want...which I'm sure will.

(I need to save forcing for the things that I really need to enforce.)

Here's a pic of Lucy at school. They got to dress up in the morning and have a parade. I did take pics here, but there was no forcing going on at all.

ellie.three from julius ludovico on Vimeo.

Seriously? Really? What?

So I'm asking for you help. I might not like what I hear, but I want your opinion.

I'm going to tell you a little story.

In Dick and Jane style.

Someone let me borrow a breastpump. 

She offered, I didn't ask.

She moved away.

To a different country.

She didn't take breastpump with her.

She came back to visit.

Asked me to meet up with her.

She never called.

She came back to visit, again.

Asked me to meet up with her, again.

She never called.

Again

She came back to visit.
Asked me to meet up with her, again.
I was going off island.
I left breastpump at mutual friend's home.
She never picked it up.
She asked me to send it to her.
It cost a buttload to send. 
Told her I would keep it here until she came to visit again.
Emails started to get ugly.
Jamie started to get pissed.
She is blaming.
Is this my responsibility?
The End.
But not really.  Read the latest e-mail she sent to me.  Names have been changed to protect...I'm not going to say innocent, they are just changed.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Hi,

To say the least, I am rather miffed with this entire breast-pump-
return fiasco. Quite frankly, regardless of the fact that we never
seemed to "meet" whilst I was in Hawaii, I am going to point out that
in my opinion, YOU should have been coming to me, not vice versa.
After all, I was doing you the favor, NOT you doing me a favor.

So, when Dick (named changed) arrives in Hawaii next month I expect you to drive out
to where ever he is staying and return the pump to him in immaculate
condition. I hardly got to use my pump, so I would appreciate it's
condition being near new.


Jane (Named changed) 

________________________________________________________________________________

Am I wrong for being pissed and feeling like it's not my responsibility to get this thing to her?  Now I'm even more pissed (after this last e-mail) and want to write her and tell her off.  It's as if I am keeping this damn breastpump away from her. What the hell? Really? Over a freakin' breastpump.  I'm not going to pay to ship it to her (though I should have to get her off my back), but that was the whole point of borrowing (might I remind it was she who offered!) I am a cheap son-of-a-gun.  I borrow so I don't have to pay for something.  And when I let people borrow things I don't expect them to be at my beck-and-call with whatever item it is. 

So please tell me exactly what you think.  I need a sanity check here.

Oh, by-the-way I've had the breast pump since Lucy was born.....almost 5 years ago.

Still Simple. Now Stable.

4 + 1 = 5

We are now the Ludovico 5. I can't believe I have

3 children.

I don't know how people do it. I am still trying to get used to school for Lucy and early risings with Jack and remembering to get breakfast, lunch and dinner ready at appropriate times. My parents were here for 10 days and I thought I was doing great; my house was always clean, food was always on the table, everything was really easy................................

Then they left.

Well, I am slowly but surely getting my crap together. I am still trying to keep life as simple as possible and Yes,

I am stable. (Although Ellie still likes to tell me I'm not).

I enjoy not being pregnant. And I enjoy even more having this

wonderful little person

in our home.

Jack is a sweet boy. He loves to pee on Daddy and Mommy and anyone else who takes too long changing his diaper. Lucy and Ellie are great big sisters and love their Jack Jack. Ellie has turned out to be a great little babysitter. She doesn't give up even if he's crying.

Jack is gaining an ounce a day. He is already 9lbs 13oz (born 8lbs 9oz) and grown an inch....all in 3 weeks.

More pics to come, but I have found that I took a million of Lucy when she was this age and I forget with Jack....will try to get better!

I'm Not Stable!

A few weeks ago my girls were trying to crawl all over me when I was kneeling down. And being pregnant I don't have good balance. So I told the girls,

"Mommy's not stable..."

Well, that just started a whole conversation (almost daily) about how

mommy's not stable.

(Yes, I put this on my facebook update, so if it looks familiar...that's why.) Wow, if I had known that I would have to eat those words I would have never said them.

I could have said something about balance, maintaining equilibrium, staying upright, keeping steady, being wobbly....oh the options are endless.....

But noooooooooo, I had to say,

"Mommy's not stable..."

I hear the girls saying it all the time.

One day they were outside playing with the neighbor girl (who's mom was close enough to hear) and I heard them mention,

"my momma's not stable."

Then last night Ellie (she's 2) was laying in bed ready to go to sleep and here's how the conversation went:

Ele: "You're not stable, right?"

Mommy: "Well, only because I'm having a baby and it's hard for mommy sometimes when I'm kneeling down or bending down."

Ele: "But, you're not stable, right?"

Mommy: "Only because my tummy big and it's hard for me...." (she didn't let me finish).

Ele: "But, you're not stable right?"

Mommy: ".....right..."

Ele: "Cause you're so big, right?"

Mommy: "...right..."

Ele: "But, Daddy's stable, right?"

Mommy: "...right..."

A few minutes later she was asleep.

So, I've learned a few things:

Watch what you say to your children, even if you think it's safe.....nothing is safe!

And

When having a conversation with a 2 year old, stop trying to explain, because they don't care about long explanations (does anyone really?), they just need a one word answer.

Simple and to the point.

I'm sure I will have to explain about why I'm not stable to a few people, but I'm sure the damage will have already been done.

This is my husband and his obsession

Surf from julius ludovico on Vimeo.

The Simple Life

Nothing to write about.

My life is pretty simple. I don't have my kids involved in tons of daily activities.

Geez, we don't even have cable.

How boring!

I love my simple life.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Isn't this a great photo. It's of our cute little house (with the black truck in the carport).

It has been raining everyday, but as I remind my children (and they remind me back if I ever say anything negative about it) that rain makes everything beautiful. Gotta love rainbows!

(Thanks to my neighbor, Author Cheryl Okimoto, for the the fab pic. www.cherylokimoto.com)

Bag Lady

Yep, this is my little bag lady. She carries around 5+ purses, bags, backbacks, etc. on her little stroller. You wouldn't believe what's she got in each bag, it's filled to the brim with anything and everything. Underwear, socks, jewelry, books, little tiny princess shoes, knik knacks...etc. She just takes it around the house and pretends to go to work or to school or shopping or wherever else little girls pretend to "go". She wont let anyone touch any of the bags or the stroller. I have tried many times to put things away, but I'm not very sly and it never works.

Gotta respect a girl and her bag.

Here's her stroller when she's not carrying it around. Too much stuff for the little thing to handle.

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. (Coco Chanel)

Lucy is both!

Happy Everything!

Wow, I have neglected the blogging world for toooooo long.

Here are a few of the things we have been doing.

The girls and I went to the Discovery Center. I wont go on about the price, but man, if I'd known...let's just say it was only kinda worth it.

I don't know how many square feet there are to this place, but everything there is for children and the size of children. Guess what my girls played with almost the entire time....

The freakin' kitchen play stuff. Guess who has tons of kitchen play stuff at their own home? Lucy was totally obsessed with the plastic pink frosting donut.....she has asked for it numerous times for her birthday. So easy to please.

There are little rooms with places from around the world with something to do from that country. The girls had fun trying to use the chopsticks on the fake food in Japan.

There is a little store, with little carts and a little cash register. Guess what my girls filled their carts with...hmmmm....can you say ice cream? (I would do it, too.) They also loved the bubble blowing area. Mommy doesn't like blowing bubbles or being a part of anything to do with bubbles, so they were loving this and so was the little boy they were blowing them for..yuck, I hate bubbles.

This is just a sweet pic of Ele Bell. Isn't she cute. Gotta love them when they are asleep!

We went to Kauai with Julius and had a great 2 weeks. Here is Lucy on a tree swing outside of the place we were staying in Kohala.

We stayed with some friends at the Marriott in Waikiki for New Year's Eve. It was so great. I think we might make it a tradition....It's a little crazy in Hawaii on New Year's Eve. Staying at the hotel made it not so bad.

We were able to go and visit my family in California. We had so much fun! Playing games with the fam, eating with the fam, playing Wii with the fam....it was a blast.

I can't believe it's already March. The time goes quickly. We are safe a happy and enjoying life. Hope you are, too!

Oh, by the way we are having another baby, due September 11, 2010.