Fingers can't get sick

My 3 year old gets a cut on her finger and I put a bandage on it. Later on that day as we are in the car riding to the store she tells me that her finger feels better and wants to take the bandage off. I explain to her that she has an open cut on her finger so to keep her bandage on. She says huh. I attempt to explain in preschool terms and it goes:

Me: I want you to keep your bandage on so your finger doesn't get sick.

J: What?!? My finger can't get sick, it doesn't have a mouth.

Me: But germs can enter through your cut and make your finger sick.

J: Huh?!? That doesn't make any sense.

I still haven't figured out how to explain to a 3 year old how a bandage protects cuts from getting infected.

Luckily this one didn't get "sick" :)

She said that!

The other day, sun shining and warm, Julianna and I decide to have lunch on the back patio. I bring our plates out along with the Crystal Light Fruit Punch drink I made for myself. Julianna asked to have a drink.

Julianna tastes it.

Her: hmm, this tastes funny.

Me: It tastes funny??

Her: Oh! I know! You must have put Funny Juice in it!

Her: straight face

Me: laughing hysterically

I ran that mile -- #42

I ran a mile today! I ran the entire mile!

I know this must sound silly to most but my entire life I've hated to run. I played sports of all kinds and I could swim around the world as long as you didn't ask me to run at any portion of the trip. In grade school I would never get an A in P.E. solely because I refused to run the stupid mile test. So today I made every P.E. teacher of mine proud, well maybe just myself.

Today after 15 minutes on the stair machine I thought to myself how tiring this is, so I'll go walk briskly on the treadmill. I wanted to start preparing to train to run this mile (Project 622 task #42) so I started slow with a run of 1 minute. After successfully running for the minute, let's go a little further and run 1 1/2 minutes. I got to that mini goal and just kept running one minute at a time until I ran 15 minutes. It really is like Forrest Gump; I just kept running. Technically I ran a little longer than a mile but the Kid's Playarea was closing and my kids would be really mad at me I'm sure if I chose the treadmill over them.

Now that my task is completed, I realized it was all in my head that I couldn't run a mile, my entire life. I want to do it again.

Finished a book -- #11

Without regret or hesitation, I would like to announce that I have actually 100% completed the book, The Measure of a Man. From the beginning to end, Sidney Poitier is an exceptional writer and man. I truly enjoyed the selection from Oprah's Book Club list.

I was only able to find time to read when I was working out on either the stationary bike or stair machine. Otherwise, despite my efforts, the book did not get opened. It all worked out just fine but it meant my reading time was limited.

As from my previous post regarding Sidney's Legacy, the book is phenomenal. I recommend the book to everyone to read. But you've heard that from me before. So what's next? I can't go back to reading mom magazines now while working out.

Any good recommendations? I'd like to hear it.

San Francisco Zoo

Project #56 Day trip to San Francisco Zoo

The weather is getting nice and I was itching to get out of town. The brilliant idea came to me to get my two best friends from high school together and let's get outta here. The three of us used to travel and have the best adventures. I bet you didn't know there are hip-hop skaters that dance in the middle of Golden Gate Park, neither did we until one of our adventures lead us there. Well now that two of us are mothers we sure were in for an adventure when I suggested a day trip to San Francisco Zoo.

The six of us piled into the Highlander with toddlers in the 3rd row seats coloring and eating snacks, which worked well until Angelo bonked Julianna in the forehead with a cup. Its okay we solved that problem with some "quiet time" as I like to call it; Angelo took a nap and Julianna never made a peep.

We made it with only one potty break and no Bay Bridge traffic! Unheard of, right? We stumbled upon rockstar parking, ie. free and close to entrance. Tip #1 Search for street parking before pay $8 for parking lot.

As we continue our journey pushing two strollers, three lunch coolers, two diaper bags, backpack, and the three little ones, we arrive to see the gracious giraffes. I think on my next list I will be to see giraffes in the wild, as in go on African Safari Tour. The giraffe exhibit has hills and tall trees as well as other giraffes to interact with, gorgeous but must move on. Tip #2 Try to resist spending 2 hours in the African exhibit.

The zoo starts with the Africa exhibit there are gorillas, lemurs, zebras, and others. We looped around and stopped for an unexpected delicious lunch at the Lemur Cafe. Even though we had enough food to feed a small classroom we forgot the staple items as in sandwiches. I would suggest the cheese pizza as a yummy giant slice to share. Tip #3 Lemur Cafe--pricey but money well spent.

Now after potty break, we stopped at the Children's Zoo. There is a petting zoo inside with goats, sheep, and chickens. The goats did bully their way to some snack pellets, but that was nothing compared to the squirrels we found rummaging through the strollers when we returned to stroller parking. Tip #4 When leaving your stroller unattended at petting zoo, the squirrels WILL chew through lunchpack zipper to get your cocoa-covered almonds.

Tip #5 The zoo closes at 5 pm. Your day will fly by, please keep an eye on the time.

Leaving the Children's Zoo we realize we have about 45 minutes left so we buckle the kids into the strollers and run to the other side of the park. We are proud to say it was worth it. In the very back of the park is the Australian Outback and bears, polar, grizzly, and black, and brown.

Tip #6 Don't forget to take pictures. My camera never left my diaper bag. I had a great time enjoying the zoo with a few of the greatest people in my life but a couple pictures are needed to document. I do believe we did capture the work of the squirrels; I'll have to check on that.

The ride home wasn't bad considering tired, grumpy toddlers in the back and exhausted baby in the middle of it. We pulled out the DVD player and "Bolt" saved the day! Tip #7 Bring a movie player.

The day was marvelous and I hope we can do it again. 13 years later, marriages, kids and we are still three women that are loving, warm, kindred spirits, brave, and silly. That trip was perfect for Project 622.

Next stop--San Diego Zoo.

Sidney's Legacy

In reading Sidney Poitier "The Measure of a Man", the chapter titled Legacy, I expected to read about the actors, screen writers, directors, producers all the people that Mr. Poitier has had the honor of meeting and befriending. But it was the very last paragraph of the chapter that touched me the most. It reads:

I must ask myself what I've done to support that vision of the future. I know that one can never do enough. "To whom much is given, much is required" the Bible says, and I give money to this and to that and lend my name to certain causes. But where I've invested most in the future of this planet-- unreservedly, and from the deep heart's core-- is through the lives of six talented and intelligent young women, truly beautiful human beings, whom I burst with pride to call my daughters.

Every parent should have that perspective that their children are their legacies. I want to provide for my children so they have a better world to live in and are capable of improving the lives of the next generation. I hope to have the strength and support that Mr. Poitier carries with every word in the book.

Even though the world views Mr. Poitier as a legacy through the work he has done in and out of the entertainment industry, he views his legacy through his children. And for that I believe I love Sidney Poitier.

I could be done reading the book at this point and think it was one of the greatest books I've read, but I have three more chapters to complete.

Here's to happy reading!

"It's My Heart", so we ran

Early Saturday morning Feb. 27th, my girls and I woke up to support a friend of ours, Melissa and her family. We woke up ready to walk in the rain for "Its my Heart" in Fresno but Mother Nature came through for us because despite my pancho covered double jogging stroller, the rain stopped just in time. The five of us, Melissa, Courtney, Julianna, Amaya, and I (Amy called to check in on us several times and totally there in spirit) walked that Saturday morning to support children born with Congenital Heart Defects, including Alyssa.

This Saturday morning was such an adventure, nevermind the 3 hour drive with the 2 kids, but supporting someone for something completely unselffishly. Congenital Heart Defects effect 1 out of 100 children, we weren't 1 but still effected in another way. I want to help make Melissa's voice louder, so I tweet about it, run for it, research it, and talk about it.

Melissa is a kindred spirit and each time I see her it feels like I am seeing my best friend. Melissa's daughter was born premature and with CHD, I urge you to read her stories at http://happymom4life.wordpress.com