The Ramblings of Mom

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Whale Watching

Friday Jacob's sixth grade class went whale watching. We left out of Balboa and cruised around the Newport coast for a couple hours looking for whales.

Saw lots of seals, sea lions, pelicans, seagulls. Still looking for whales ...

Saw many pretty homes and beach cottages on the way down to Laguna Beach before we turned around. Still looking for whales ...

Two hours later, after many pictures, and a few kids losing their lunch over the sides of the boat, we saw no whales. Have to try again next time!

Sam called me in December telling me that he had been chosen to perform in the Military Academy Assoc. national military honor band. He and four other kids got to fly up to a school in Wisconsin for a weekend and play with kids from other military academies from around the country.

So Cal boy was quite impressed with the snow that was everywhere. (They did get to play in the indoor waterpark in the evenings, though.)

They each had a chance to practice the music and then had to audition for their chairs on the first day. Sam ended up second chair, which was very exciting. They practiced as a group for a day, then had a concert the last day. A long weekend, but a good experience with exposure to kids from other schools. Silly mom, making him play an instrument...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Civil War Stuff

There were some Civil War re-enactment groups that got together for a campout this weekend at Knotts Berry Farm. We took the two youngest boys (Kevin had his own campout with the Scouts) and walked around.

This guy was explaining in great gory detail about how he as a doctor would use this operating table and tools to cut the leg off a wounded soldier... "and I would use this here saw to cut the bone, and this here to file off the rough edges, and then cauterize any arteries or blood vessels that I didn't tie off..." Yeah, I kinda didn't listen so close after that, but it was really interesting.

We got to see their camp, their tools and costumes, and talk with folks about their pistols, muskets, swords, and horses. We also saw lots of soldiers from different regiments from both sides.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Jan 15 '09

So last weekend, which happened to be a holiday weekend, we had an extra day on our hands. (Why I get MLK day off from work, but not either of the two President's day holidays next month, I don't understand. But that's a different story.)

Instead of letting the kids devote all 36 hours of the weekend to Playstation and computer games, and since it was 85+ degrees out, Stephanie and I met up and took everyone for a walk. We let the kids climb in trees, throw rocks, and chase squirrels.

We followed this creek for about 3/4 mile before turning around to go back and eat lunch.

The other side of that bridge is the MainPlace Mall and then the 5 Fwy. I guess if we kept on going, we could have walked to the beach. That's the next excursion planned - bike riding to the beach...or maybe drive to the beach with bikes and ride around down there.

Last night the Cub Scouts held a "Drive-In Movie" nite. The boys were all given cardboard boxes to make their cars. They could add items on, but they had to be cardboard. Matt made a pickup truck, flames and all. The boys snuggled down with their snacks and sat in their cars to watch the movie.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Matt's Big 9

Matt decided he wanted a birthday party this year. Wait, take that back. Matt talked me into having a birthday party for him this year. Between costs and weather, this time of the year isn't conducive to renting bounce houses or going to the beach - so we held a slumber party.

After riding their bikes and skateboards around the cul-de-sac a few times, and playing a few rounds of ping-pong, the boys made their own pizzas washed down with lemonade.

We played other "classic" games like pin the tail on Master Chief (don't ask me who that is, but they all think he's cool); charades (ask Matt to show you how the Grand Canyon was made so he could jump over it); "Who Am I" (do I have a mask? do I wear boots? can I fly? am I green?) and the birthday version of Santa's scavenger hunt (Jesus was put in the basket on the Nile, did you know that?)

After present, cake and ice cream, they settled down to watch a movie before passing out for the night. Only 30 minutes of Playstation was had by all, which was only to give me a sanity break.

My Latest Reads - for the Book Club I never got to join - courtesy of the Library of Mom

THE BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK - by BSA - How to tie knots, give first-aid, hang a sleeping bag, and a funny way to shake hands. Includes items for moms to read and say "did you do that YET?" and references to many tiny cloth patches called merit badges. I have another year before I get to start reading it all over with the next boy.
THE WEBELOS HANDBOOK - by BSA - All things activity-wise to make a young Cub Scout broaden his horizons. I have another year to finish it up.
READ? IT STINKS NOW! - by Me - Ever since turning 40-something, any my vision suddenly and drastically changed overnight, it has been most uncomfortable to read. Especially with those tiny little glasses.
PARTS PER MILLION - by Joy Horowitz - Erin Brokovitch is at it again, this time uncovering the deception behind the unusually high cancer rates among Beverly Hills High School students, faculty, and alumni. Could it be from the oil well on the school campus?
TWILIGHT (ALL OF THEM) - by Stephanie Meyer - Teenage girl meets vampire family, falls in love, discovers childhood friend is a werewolf. Three books of her being chased by other bad vampires before becoming one herself. Good? Yes. Swooning over them? No.
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES - by Sue Monk Kidd - Young girl, a gun, a trio of Southern black women, a black Virgin Mary, and beekeeping. Good story, highly recommend.
THE GLASS LAKE - by Maeve Binchy - Another tale by this Irish author about growing up in Ireland. Honestly, all her books are pretty similar, but very easy to read. Great beach book, especially since the price was right.
RISE AND SHINE - by Anna Quindlen - Famous morning show host speaks her mind, and gets the opportunity to fall out of society. Her little sister, her total opposite, gets to step up to the plate.
TRADING UP - by Candace Bushnell - Is she a model, a hooker, or a screenwriter? A lady's journey to high society.
THE APPEAL - by John Grisham - Big corporation ruins water supply of small Southern town, loses lawsuit for millions in the first half of the book. I won't spoil the ending by saying who won the appeal.
HOLD ON, MR. PRESIDENT - by Sam Donaldson - Anchorman's view on his career with ABC on the White House press corp. beat. Lots of insight on campaigns and presidencys of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS - by Lorna Landvik - Now this is my kind of book! The AHEBB group forms a book club and through the years read many books while raising children and growing older together. Gotta find me one of these groups.

Some Cool Quotes

"Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead." - Scottish proverb
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Jill a rich widow." - Evan Esar
"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph." - Shirley Temple
"The obscure we see eventually. The completely apparent takes a little longer." - Edward R. Murrow
"May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house." - George Carlin
"If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." - Woody Allen
"Next week there can't be any crisis. My schedule is already full." - Henry Kissinger
"You can lead a boy to college, but you cannot make him think." - Elbert Hubbard
"If you're going through Hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill