Spring came early this year and I am so very grateful.  Everything is blooming and growing.  Sun shine mixed with spring rain.  It’s all good, really.

Except, of course, for the kidlets.  I swear, every week they bring home a new sickness just in time for the weekend.  I’ve had to sit inside and look longingly out the window for the last few weeks while I nurse a snotty and feverish kid.  Nothing nasty.  But it knocks them off their feet for the weekend.  I get them all patched up and send them back out into the world where they promptly ingest a new germ de jour.  As a result, I’m feeling a bit hampered.  I’d love to kick into spring cleaning, attack the garden, get the deck ready for use.  Instead, I find myself stuck on the sofa watching an endless stream of Pokemon.  Thank goodness for books!

Between the illness and cancelling cable, my book reading has gone a bit wild.  This is a good thing.  I snuck out to Powells yesterday and stocked up.  For Leina I found The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and I cannot wait to get her started on it.  I remember being home sick from school and reading this series all in a row.  I just couldn’t get enough of it.  That was eons ago and I’ve forgotten most of it so rereading it to her will be a pleasure.

I need to unearth the camera a post some more pictures.  I need to get back to updating this blog.   But with the sun shining and the flowers glowing, it’s going to be a hard thing to do!

Man am I tired.

It’s not getting back into the routine after vacation.  It’s not the laundry or cleaning the house.  It’s not that I’m sick or under the weather.  No, the reason I am so worn out is this dog!  Last night I fell asleep at 9pm.  I’m going through multiple cups of coffee each day and still I find myself nodding off to sleep in the afternoon.

The sorry truth is that this dog is kicking my butt.

I walk her in the morning.   I walk her in the early afternoon.  I walk her in the late afternoon.  I walk her at night.  And still she is bouncing all over the place!  How?  How is that possible?  Ok, actually, it isn’t quite that bad.   As I type this she is snuggled up at my feet looking very sweet.  But the only reason she is doing that is because she has gone for THREE walks today at it is still before noon.  I do not think it is possible to tire her out.  She is indestructible.  I, however, am pooped after waddling about for 10 minutes.  These 45 minute power walks are going to be the death of me I know it.   Forget the gym.  If you want to get in shape, come to my house and I will lend you my dog while I lie on the sofa and cat nap.

I guess getting a dog is kind of like kids.  You forget all the tiring early days.  Now that I think about it, I remember having to do this same thing with Artie back when he was an energetic 3 year old.  When Leina was tiny, I would walk him 4 times a day and Kevin took him twice on top of that.  I’m thinking I’m going to have to re-adjust my attitude.  Artie, at age 13, was happy to lie around the house all day and go for one nice leisurely evening stroll.  Jada, at 3, requires a much higher level of care.  Gone are the days of lying about tossing popcorn to my dog.  Ah well, I suppose I could do with getting back into shape but man, it sure is a painful process!

Christmas was fabulous and our house abounds in Pillow Pets.  Our biggest present came, however, the day after Christmas when Jada was given to us by a friend of Josh.  She’s a 3 year old chocolate lab who was in need of a new family.  We were a family in need of a dog.  Voila!  She is beautiful and the girls adore her.  She is also very very fast so getting a good picture of her has proven difficult.   I have had better luck with video however so here she is.  The newest McLaughlin. Jada.

It finally fell out.  Well, actually, I pulled it out.   But either way, Leina’s first tooth has officially fallen.  Her new tooth is practically already in place and ready to go so no cute gapped-tooth smile for me.  Sigh.  They just grow so fast….

Finally! It's out!

It seems like Christmas starts earlier and earlier each year.  At school, Leina’s teacher took a poll to find out who had their Christmas tree.  Everyone had theirs up except Leina and one other girl.  Mind you, this was on Dec 4th.  The 4th!!!!  Being the stubborn Taurus that I am, I refused to be rushed.  We waiting until this weekend to go hunt our tree and had our usual fabulous time.  Hiking through the misty tree farm, warming up with hot cocoa, visiting Santa, and purchasing a very large amount of homemade fudge is our family tradition.  This year it went off without too much of a hitch.

We found a lovely tree….

Kevin the Lumberjack

And two sweet little wood-elves…..

Peek-A-Boo!

It was very very very cold so we quickly high-tailed it into the store for some hot cocoa.  And who did we spy on his sled?  Santa of course!  Kulia was all big round eyes and awe while Leina looked at me and said, “that’s not the real Santa, right mom?”  As he had a very obvious fake beard/mustache, I quickly assured her that he was, in fact, merely a “Santa helper”.  As we spoke, Santa hit a lull in the kids so he whipped out his iPhone and started sending text messages.  The skeptical look appeared in Leina’s eyes so I quickly assured her that the “Santa helper” was texting the elves the toy requests before he forgot.  This made perfect sense to her, thankfully, and she went back to her hot cocoa.  Once full, we got in line to meet with the big man himself.  Now, both girls decided way back in November that they wanted a Pillow Pet for Christmas.  It’s on this infomercial and they were mesmerized by it.  It’s a pillow AND a pet!  Amazing!  So, Kevin ordered them and they have been hiding in the closet waiting for Christmas.   While we stood in line, I decided to prep the girls so they wouldn’t clam up when their turn came.  I asked Leina, “so, what are you going to ask Santa for?” all casual and assured-like.

“Ummm, either a Pillow Pet or a DS,” she replied just as easily.

“Wha? Eh?” My tongue was tied.  A DS! Where did this come from?  I quickly launched into a desperate song and dance extorting all the virtues of a Pillow Pet. It’s a pillow!  And a pet!  I even stooped so low and to start singing the jingle.  I was that desperate.  Still Leina vacillated.

“Oh honey, don’t ask for a DS.  If you get one and Kulia doesn’t, there will be fighting and then I’ll have to take it away,” I reasoned desperately.  Out turn was approaching.  I had seconds left to make the sale.

“Oh, yeah,” Leina said thoughtfully.  Then she turned to her sister and said, “Kulia you ask for a DS too.”

Santa gestured and let out a jolly bellow.  I felt sick.  I had just reasoned myself into not one, but two DSess!  Thankfully, Kulia came to my rescue.

“No, I want a Puppy Pillow Pet,” she replied, humming the jungle and walked toward the sleigh.

“OK, I guess I’ll do a Pillow Pet too,” Leina grumbled as she trudged after her sister.

The next 10 minutes were nail biters.  Santa decided to be all jolly and convincing and chatted with the girls about how big they’ve gotten since he saw them last year and how much he liked the cookies we left for him.  ”Yadda yadda yadda,” I thought, “get to the good stuff already!”  And then, the big question……

“What do you want me to bring you this year?”  Santa asked.

I held my breathe and crossed my fingers.  Leina hesitated, tilted her head and squinted her eyes.

“A Pillow Pet,” she replied and I let out a deep sigh.

“A Pillow Pet!”, Santa chortled, “we make those at the North Pole.  They’re a pillow….and a pet!”  Dude, this guy was good.  I felt a smile returning to my face and I thought I had dodged disaster.  Until……

“So, is there anything else Santa can bring you?” that horrid bearded man asked.

Leina turned to look at me, her eyes huge.  Something else?  What!  No! No!  Abort on the something else!  My sweet victory from a moment ago was dissolving be fore my eyes.  We had told the kids Santa only brings one present!  Not two!  One!  What was this bearded fake doing?  This was a disaster!

Shaking my head, I tried to hold Leina’s eye.  ”Um, no,  just the Pillow Pet”, she replied dutifully.

“Are you sure,” that wicked Santa fake asked.  ”You’ve been a very good girl this year!”

Another big eyed appeal met with more desperate head shaking.  But Leina stuck to the plan and politely declined another request, took her candy cane, and hopped down.  I was giddy with relief and vowed next year, we were skipping the quack in the red suit and sticking to old-fashioned letter writing.  I know when to stop pushing my luck!

We had a fabulous trip down to LA for Thanksgiving.  Although we were only there for about a week, we really packed in the fun.  I’m always amused at what my girls remember.  What stands out to me isn’t always what stands out to them.  During our vacation, we went to Disneyland, played with the cousins, ate a delicious turkey dinner, and explored the beach.  All very memorable, right?

Well, it turns out that on Monday, Leina had to talk about what she did over Thanksgiving.  She went on and on about playing with her cousins and eating mounds of mashed potatoes with gravy.  She did not, however, mention Disneyland at all.  For her, seeing her Papa, Tutu, and cousins where the highlight of the trip.   When I was chatting with her teacher at pick-up and mentioned our Disneyland adventure, she was surprised.  Leina had not said a word.  For Leina, this trip was about family.

The Cousins

Tutu and Leina

If I thought that was funny, imagine my surprise when I went to pick up Kulia from preschool.  Her teacher asked me how long the flight was to Hawaii.  Huh?!?!  Turns out Kulia told everyone she went to her Papa and Tutu’s house in Hawaii on the airplane.  Um… yeah.  I had to explain that we actually took a plane to LA where we walked along a beach in Palos Verdes not Hawaii.  I wish!

Papa and His Best Girls

If you asked Kevin about our vacation, he’ll tell you all about Disneyland.  Kevin has been to the happiest place on earth three time.  Once as a child.  Once during our college days.  Once last week.  Yup,  that’s right.  So for Kevin, getting to Disneyland with his kids as magic.  They were more than willing to go in Dumbo with him and the Teacups.  He loved every minute of it.

Kevin and Kulia on Dumbo

For me, I was happy to meet up with some old friends from high school and reconnect.  There is something about old friends and remembering old times.  Although we have all grown up, I can still see the kid behind each face.  It’s amazing how such gawky teens could turn into such beautiful swans.  It makes me smile to remember us all on the JV basketball team that managed to go an entire season without winning a single game.  We might have sucked at basketball, but man did we have a great time trying.

My Old Pals

Four different people, four different vacation memories.  But for all of us, a truly wonderful stay.