superheros

sometimes being a brother is better than being a superhero
~ marc brown

finn recently went to a friend's birthday where all the kids were asked to
come dressed as superheros. i thought it was such an adorable themed party!

a generous mom friend donated her child's old halloween costume for finn to wear.
the costume was 'dash', the character from the pixar film the incredibles.
if you haven't had the pleasure of enjoying it, rent it!
it's fun even for adults and will keep you laughing.

finn put on the costume this morning and ran around the backyard acting
tough and asking if he runs FAST like dash (quickness is dash's super power).

scout ran around after his big brother mimicing his every move and trying to keep up.
eventually, he opted for a hug and to sit and watch him from the backyard deck.

fortunately, my batteries were charged this time and my camera close.

finn oliver (aka 'dash')

thank you for the music

thank you for the music, the songs i'm singing
thanks for all the joy they're bringing
who can live without it, i ask in all honesty what would life be?
without a song or a dance what are we?
so i say thank you for the music for giving it to me
-ABBA

i heard this song for my first time when i saw the musical mama mia with my girlfriend maia.
she's a HUGE abba fan and knew every word to every song.
i knew a few, but this one was brand new to me.
i instantly fell in love with it and ordered the CD the next day.

i was pregnant with finn at the time and sang it over and over during my pregnancy. 
i think he came into the world humming it.
he and christopher know every word to the song and have had the pleasure (or torture)
of watching hollywood's movie version numerous times as we own the movie and i play it often.
the text above is the chorus which to me is the best part of the song.
it is a reminder that music plays an important role in my life - it brings me joy!

i grew up in a home where music was appreciated, enjoyed and encouraged.
my father is *passionate* about it and would spend his free time in the family room
listening to music and sharing his records/albums with us kids.

he listened to all types - choirs, classical, johnny cash, peter, paul and mary,
elton john and my personal favorite, paul simon and art garfunkle. oh, how i loved them!
to this day, when i go back to florida to visit,
i find dad sitting in his comfy reclinder listening to music.
he's always anxious to share a new song or piece with me.

my parents allowed me to start taking piano lessons when i was about 8 years old
and i continued with it until i was in high school.
i look back and realize what a financial sacrifice that was for them with 7 kids to raise and feed.

music was important to them and since i was the one that expressed the most interest in piano
(i think all or most of us took lessons at one point), i was allowed to continue.
though i never had much natural talent, i enjoyed playing and still do.

when i sit and play these days, i have little people that squeeze in next to me or sit on my lap
and drown out my music with their banging. this won't be forever, but this my life now.

i am so thankful to my parents for those piano lessons and for sharing their love of music with me,
especially my father.

living in san diego

on my drive to work this morning i was thinking how much i LOVE living in san diego.
i started listing all the reasons in my head and thought that will be my post tonight.
(because again, this is my little journal for me as well as for your enjoyment) *smile*

some of my reasons: 

1. perfect weather - well 99% of the time. san diegans don't talk about weather and it's because there's never anything to talk about. i joke that the weather people sometimes predict rain so they can report something different. some don't know it, but san diego is a coastal desert and on average, rains just 10" a year.  since the temperature is so moderate, we can wear most anything year round and be comfy. the boys and i  LIVE in flip flops.  if only i could wear them to work. (i did once on accident - but that's for another post)

2. the beach - there's alot of sand here and it's just 6 blocks away from home. the beach is basically our backyard and it's a BIG part of our families life.

3. the natural beauty - from beaches, mountains, deserts, inland areas.
san diego offers them all and all the activities that go with it. all within a 2-3 hour drive away

4. neighborhoods - there are so many amazing walkable neighborhoods within the city.
pacific beach is only one of them. walkable cities offer so many benefits, including knowing all the people who help make our lives easier - postman, the indian couple at my drycleaner, and yes, even the baristas at starbucks.  {they know c and the boys by name}.  san diego offers great neighborhoods which means our family is able to connect with the community we live in.

5. culture - san diego isn't nyc, boston, or san francisco, but it is the 8th largest city in the US and offers AMAZING theater, music, museums (balboa park has over 15). oh i can't forget the restaurants - they are thousands, and even in pacific beach, we can find mexican, peruvian, japanese or thai restaurants within blocks of our house. with good restaurants, fast food isn't even a thought. i take that back, rubios is the exception.

6. people - they work hard, but play hard too.
as a general rule, san diegan's care about the environment, being healthy, and are open minded. most seem to be happy too. i believe the weather does factor into this. on any given day, i can find surfers, skaters or runners from age 5 to 85 on the boardwalk smiling and saying hello. this is so refreshing. there's nothing more motivating than trying to get through a 5 miles run and having an older person pass me while running saying 'good morning'.

Note: i was reminded by a friend that not all of sd has perfect weather - ok it's true. if you live coastal, the temperature is moderate and nearly perfect, but inland (a few miles east) it is usually 10 degrees warmer and in the summer months, it can climb into the 90s. ok, so it's not perfect, but even inland, it's still pretty darn close. factor in no humidity or bugs and it would be a safe bet to say the weather here is nicer than anywhere else in the country.


the boardwalk along pacific beach where i run



the belmont park rollercoaster
(a pb landmark and also my running turnaround place)




an adorable all ladies surf boutique

taking care

if i'd known i was going to live so long,
i'd have taken better care of myself.

- leon eldred

my sister jen and my coworker tina ran the carlsbad half marathon this past sunday.
i wasn't able to be there to cheer them on but i am SO proud of them.
this particular run is special to me as it was the first race i'd ever done.
christopher and i ran it together in 2002.

13.1 miles is quite an accomplishment and the girls inspired me to sign up for a few upcoming runs,
including a 'mud run' in march. i'm excited!

congrats ladies!

tina & jen (pre race)

tina & jen (post race)

our special day

i took today off work so finn and I could have a mommy and son day.
i wanted to do something extra special to celebrate his 5th birthday (which is actually tomorrow).

so what did we do? i took him to legoland. i had planned it weeks before the big day, but i only told finn about it a week ago as waiting any longer that he had would just be torture for him.

though it was forecasted to rain, it was a perfect day. the threat of rain kept most away and we almost felt like we had the park to ourselves. we rode every ride except for two - finn was too short for one and the other well, he said it was "too scary" i was secretly happy for this as it looked like one that might make me ill the rest of the day. he was tall enough to ride a smaller rollercoaster and we rode it 6 times! finn screamed at the top of his lungs the entire time - just for fun.

for most of the day, finn was beaming and holding my hand everywhere we went, so happy to have me all to himself (a rare thing these days). i equally enjoyed being by his side - just mom, with no other people competing for my attention. out of the blue, he said, "mommy this is a great day. i love you" *sniff*

finn may never remember today, but i don't think i'll forget it.
happy birthday sweet finn.

give me a J

for auntie jen!

scoutie is 18 months now and his vocabularly is increasing. a few nights ago, i was listening to my voice messages over speaker so i could have my hands free while i was preparing dinner. my sister jen's voice came across the speaker and scoutie's face lit up and he said "aunt jen". this was the FIRST time he's ever said her name (at least that i could distinguish as her name), but it was clear enough and in context. he said it again and reached for the phone. i quickly said let's call aunt jen. we did and then put her on speaker phone so she could hear her nephew say her name. it was a celebratory moment. jen loved it, i loved it and scout was all smiles. he's on his way to speaking. we love ya aunt jen! see you soon.

making time

people always make time to do the things they really want to do. - anon i read this somewhere a few years ago and i remember it when i find myself saying i don't have time to exercise or to do this or that. the truth is we choose how we spend our time - whether it be sitting in front of a computer, reading, exercising, sleeping or spending time with loved ones. i am really making a concerted effort to be more aware of how i spend my time - both at work and at home. it's always a challenge and there will never be enough hours in a day to do everything, so i am going to strive to do things that are important to me. these are my priorities: - be more prompt - listen more, speak less - exercise 3-4x a week - spend at least 30 minutes in true conversation with christopher every day - get more sleep - go on date nights at least 2x/month - check in with friends and family at least once a month - sit down at the piano once a week to play - spend one on one time with Finn & Scout

looking ahead

a recent conversation with finn one evening before bed finn: mommy, when i get big i am going to marry you so i don't ever have to leave you. me: (sigh) you can't marry me honey because i'm already married to daddy. someday, you'll meet a really special girl and want to marry her and live with her in your own house. finn: well since i can't marry you mommy, i'll marry christi. she's not married. me: (laugh) i can only hope that finn meets a young woman as lovely as our christi. she has all the qualities that i'd hope my boys will look for in their soulmate. she is kind, loving, fun, hard-working, honest, patient and she loves her family. i know it's years away and it sounds cheesy, but i'd be a happy mother if finn or scout brought home a girl like her.

how it goes...

you get what you get and you don't throw a fit - miss melissa, finn's preschool teacher - at st andrews this is a line finn used when one of his buddy's was over and was complaining about the color of popsicle i gave him. for guests i'll usually go out of my way to accomodate their preference in popsicle color or sandwich type, but this particular day i was out of the color he wanted and he started to whine. finn quickly said "xxxx, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit." i loved this phrase from the moment i heard it and i use it regularly. in fact, i used it with scout tonight.

faux hawks

wikipedia:: an approximation of a mohawk,
made without shaving or buzzing the hair on the sides of the head,
allowing an imitation of the look of a true mohawk without having to
commit to removing most of one's hair.

at least once a week, i come home to find my little munchkins sporting the coolest faux hawks on the block. christi, our amazing nanny attends the prestigious paul mitchell hair school and has a way of getting them to sit still for a minute so she can apply a little gel to their hair. for years i've tried to put just a little gel in finn's hair and he refused. somehow christi found a way. this 'do] seems especially fitting for scoutie as he's become a little booger over the last month!

 

inspiring hope

first, i'd like to preface this by saying i am not into politics.
but here we are. a moment in history,
and no matter what the outcome of the next four years,
this day will forever be remembered and talked about.

i found myself glued to public radio on my drive to work this morning.
the reporters were in dc to cover obama's inauguration and all the  fesitivities
leading up to it. people came from all over the country to be part of this historic day.
i listened to a 70 yr old retired schoolteacher from florida being interviewed.
she was using a walker and said she was "cold as hell but wouldn't miss it for the world."

she went on to say she believed this day will inspire children not only in this country
but around the world. her words moved me.
next i heard a children's choir singing 'god bless america'.
i found myself with a lump in my throat and very proud to be an american.
i haven't been able to say that for a very long time but today inspired hope in me.

even though finn will most likely never remember this day,
i wanted to do something special - something symbolic to welcome this new era.
since he loves to bring his glass up to ours for toasts,
i gave him milk in a wine glass tonight and over dinner,
we toasted to president obama and to peace.

if you haven't had a chance to read or listen to president obama's inauguration speech,
it's worth taking a few minutes. if anything, it should make you feel good and inspire hope.

things i love

my girlfriend charlotte recommended a website to me a few months ago and i *love* it. everything is handmade. if you can think of something you want that is handmade, i'm sure you can find it here.

have you discovered this amazing movie once?
it's a irish love story with music,
but it's not a musical - at least not in the traditional sense.
it's a simple story with lots of heart.
this movie and the music won't leave me.
someday i hope to add it to my movie collection here at home.
it's that good.



christopher came back from starbucks a few weekends
ago with a different drink than my beloved chai tea latte.
the first words he spoke when he came through the front door
were "this is NOT chai, but the gal at starbucks
(who he and finn are on a first name basis with),
was SURE i'd love this brand new drink they just got in.
she told him it was much healthier than my usual chai -
less fat, sugar and had more antioxidants, yet it was still sweet and had a creamy foam.
well i must say, christopher did well.
the vanilla rooibos tea latte is my new favorite drink!
i must limit myself to just one a week.


this japanese children's film 'My Neighbor Totoro' is amazing!
the boys and i watched it last summer and fell in love with it.
we enjoyed it so much, we had to share with others so we
hosted a 'kid's movie night' and invited a slew of kids to watch
it in the backyard. this was the first movie we've ever shown
that kept EVERY child seated the entire time. this is almost unheard of. 
if you haven't seen it yet, do!
you'll understand why it's so popular and has won so many awards.
thank you uncle todd for sharing it with us. love it!
(oh and the music is gorgeous)



i discovered these shoes at a little children's resale boutique shop
here in pacific beach about a year ago. the store only stocks new pairs
and they have so many cute styles! i had a tough time deciding which pair
to get for scoutie. they are perfect for early walkers - so comfy and durable.
the little girls shoes are even cuter -
i couldn't resist purchasing a pair for my friend's new baby girl, paige.

i can't omit my family in my list of things i love,
as they are the only thing I couldn't live without!
i love my boys. they are a breath of fresh air and renew me every day.
my extended family is great too and i feel lucky to be part of
two amazing families - the shappards and the gerber clan. both are
big and can be overwhelming and challenging at times,
especially since there are so many dynamic personalities.
i remind myself that's what makes life interesting and what makes them special.
even with all our idiosyncrasies, we still accept and love each other.

promise me dear friend

promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
- christopher robin to pooh

i received a very long email from a dear friend today.
a wonderful woman i've know since I was about 8 years old.

i don't think there was a period of time growing up that we were apart for more than a week's time.
we were two peas in a pod - the tomboys of the neighborhood and like sisters.
we've been through so much together and over the last year or so, i hadn't heard much from her.

she explained that she had taken some much needed time for her -
focusing on her education and raising her young son.
i understood completely and had never once questioned her friendship.
i reassured her that no matter what challenges come our way and how infrequent we talk,
our friendship will remain.

to my dear friend, promise me you'll always remember how amazing you are.
i certainly will.

my funny finn

the best things in life are silly.

- scott adams

since finn turned four last year,
being silly and trying to make people laugh has become his favorite pastime.

he's forever making faces into the mirror and asking "mom, am i funny?"

most of the time he is.

his complete and utter lack of inhibitions almost never fail to make me laugh.
if only i had more of that.
i love his self confidence and hope that no matter how old he is,
he never loses all of his silliness!

here are a few photos i took a few days ago of my funny four year old
(who's soon to be turning five).

ander arrives

the moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
she never existed before.
the woman existed, but the mother, never.
a mother is something absolutely new.
- rajneesh

i am a new auntie (again) and to another BOY!!

my sister leslie gave birth to her second son on wednesday, jan .14.
his name is ander and he and mom are doing great.

he weighed in at 7 lbs. 13.6 oz, and was 22.5" long.
leslie shared this photo with me a few days ago and I admit,
my eyes grew moist, seeing her smiling and looking at her little miracle.

as a mother, i can say there's nothing more special than meeting the little
person you've been carrying around for the past 9 months.
there is an overwhelming love that words simply can't describe.
what a happy time it is.


i can hardly wait to meet him. congratulations sis. xo





ander and big brother soren

 

new year

and now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been. - rainer maria rilke i've always enjoyed writing. since i was a little girl,i kept a diary. i wrote about everything - my friends, my siblings, the cute boys in school, and my parents who just didn't understand me. it wasn't until i got older that i realized how therapeutic journaling could be. i continued to journal on and off until the birth of the boys and since then, my journaling has consisted of recording special moments in their lives. i've missed journaling for me - recording my thoughts, my dreams, desires, frustrations, etc. over the last year, i have been inspired by blogs of busy moms who's words and images truly brighten my days. so here it goes. i'm officially a 'blogger'. i don't know how often i'll be posting, but this is a start. here's to a wonderful 2009!

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finn's kindergarten class

finn's assistant teacher, miss casey, sketched out caricature-like images of the entire class and gave to each student as a christmas gift. it was so cute i wanted to post so i can look back on someday. (i can't keep everything you know).

note: elizabeth is the little girl finn said he is going to marry someday. he said "we've already discussed it and she agreed mommy." *grin*