I can’t find our camera battery charger.

And it is driving me C-R-A-Z-Y.

I just used it. Right before we went to the zoo a few days ago. It is always by the kitchen sink plug sitting in its own little charger bowl just waiting for use. But when I went to pack it, it was gone. Vanished. Kevin and I torn apart the house last night looking for it. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Arrrrgh. Nothing makes me more frustrated than items being misplaced. I have a place for everything. A box, a drawer, or a room. Important stuff, like chargers, are kept up high were little hands can’t reach them. Kevin has learned not to mess with my bizarre organizational tendencies. When he needs something, he asks me and I find it. This is how it works. Chargers are not suppose to move. So not acceptable.

I’m going to have Kevin order a new one but I know once he does, we’ll find the old one in some odd place. But I gotta tell you, this missing charger is keeeling me dude.

Aside from the wayward charger, we are packed and ready to go. Yippee!

Just a short post today. I’m attempting to pack everything I need for myself, Leina and Kulia for two weeks into two suitcases. Wanna come help? Yeah, I didn’t think so. In two days we are heading to LA to visit the grandparents. Yippee! The girls are so excited they can hardly sleep. Leina in particular. Kulia is still stuck on the fact that daddy isn’t coming with us.

As much as I love visiting family, I dread taking my kids to the airport. All those people and lines and business. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get through the metal detector with two toddlers? Just taking off and putting back on their shoes takes 10 minutes are a good day. (My girls are very particular about how their socks go on. Sigh.) Then we have to unload all our carry-ons, fold down the stroller, and gather it all back. Bleck.

As for packing, my mother insists it is “cold” in LA. I have to take her assessment with a grain of salt. Today, our high was 50 degrees and we are all in short sleeves. For this reason alone, I have packed the following types of clothing:

Shorts and t-shirt with sandals.
Pants and long sleeves.
Vests.
Windbreakers.
Heavy coats.
Tights.
Sunglasses and sun hat.
Light night gowns.
Footed PJ’s.

So if our plane gets re-directed to Hawaii, we’ll be ok. (Please oh please oh please send us to Hawaii.) On the other hand, if we land in Wisconsin, we’d be just fine. This breath-taking range of clothing items means a very full suitcase so my original plan of packing Christmas presents has to be scuttled. Looks like I’ll have to brave the post office like the rest of the population. Drat.

My five minute rest is over. I now have to figure how many socks, undies, and hair clips we need over the next two weeks. At the rate my girls lose hair clips, I’m thinking 2 dozen per child ought to work. Socks? That’s a whole other ball park.

The weather has taken a serious turn. The wind has stripped the trees of all their beautiful fall leaves and it appears that winter is on the horizon. Leaving the YMCA this morning, I had a moment or two when I was sure the wind was going to pick up Kulia and whisk her away to Oz. She may have been under the same impression because she practically climbed up my leg and into my arms.

So what do you do on a cold and stormy Oregon Monday? Well, lets see. Some of us like to work on art projects.

Others prefer to hone their musical abilities.

But I think the smartest move is to curl up with a quilt and take a nap under the grey and gloomy skies.

Poor Josh. Every time he leaves town, we make plans to have Kat over for some fun. He was heading out of town this weekend so we decided on a Buster’s run for ribs and then some card games or crafting while he was gone. When he heard the plans he was, justifiably enough, a little grumbly about missing out on the fun. Even better, Kat was going to bring down Melo puppy so she could be worshiped and adored by my children as a princess puppy should be. So imagine my alarm to learn that Melo has pulled a muscle/strained a joint/pinched a nerve or done something that required lots of rest and no activity for a week. When I told Leina that Melo couldn’t come visit this weekend she was sad. When I told her Melo was hurt and had to go to the vet, she began crying.

Yes, crying.

This girl loves Melo almost as much as Kat does and for those of you who know Kat, you will realize how much love this is. To calm Leina down, I told her she could send Melo a special message to help her feel better.

Melo, this one is for you puppy. Get well soon. (Toward the end, Leina actually starts tearing up again thinking about Melo being sick. Ah, my sweet sensitive girl!)

With my girls, you never know what the day will bring. Some days, they rise from bed grumpy and obstinate. Other days, they are sunshine and happiness. Today, I would have to categorize them as barely controlled balls of energy.

Each morning, Leina wakes at 7am and runs into our room to roust Kevin who heads downstairs to start breakfast. I usually lie in bed another 20-30 minutes gathering my strength and giving Kevin some quality time with his girls. So when I do lumber down the stair around 7:30am, I never know what will greet me. This morning, however, as I lay in bed fortifying myself, I could hear the distinct sounds of pounding feet, shrieks, and giggles coming from below.

This is what I found.

And they haven’t stopped since. I’m thinking they are liking the extra hour of sleep in the morning. Either that or they have begun sneaking sips from my coffee cup when I am not looking. Wouldn’t you love to have this much energy before 8am? I know I would.

(As you can see from the clip, Kevin has recovered from his horrible day. Baby kisses can erase just about all forms of heartache thankfully!)

This was Leina’s first try at her school photo. Needless to say, we signed up for a picture re-take today. I’m hoping round two yields something a little better. I can only guess that Leina was talking during the entire time. I can’t really complain because I have a hard time snapping a decent shot of her myself. It really is a rare moment when her mouth isn’t going a mile a minute. I shudder to think about our phone bill when she reaches her teen years.

Poor Kevin is having a truely terrible day. Awful would be an understatement. Too many demands, too few resources, and too much of a work ethic on his part have all collided. He called me early today after storming out of work. I guess he totally lost his cool and let fly. He was so mad he actually left the building, got in his car, and drove off. My only suggestion was that he go somewhere to blow of steam – talk a walk, get a cup of coffee, drive mindlessly. I’m not sure where he went or how he’s doing but I hope he’s able to shake off his rage and make it through the day. Sometimes, being a hard and conscientious worker means caring too much. It ain’t fair, but it is true. I’m sure Kevin will work through it but I find myself falling into mommy mode – I want to wave a magic wand and make it all better. Somehow, I don’t think a Hello Kitty band-aid will make it right though. If only you could have a retake day in life. Wouldn’t it be great? Things go horrible wrong and turn out topsy-turvy and everyone just smiles, shakes their heads, and says, “well, we’re gonna need a retake.” Only in preschool I guess, too bad.