Left out

Due to the boys' poor behavior the boys are now in separate classrooms. I was really hoping to not to have to deal with it until Kindergarten, but I agree they have to be in separate classrooms. Unfortunately, the preschool they are at only has one pre-K program so one child is "repeating" the class he did last year. Not ideal, but we couldn't find any other options at other centers. Placing 2 in 2 classrooms for pre-K is very hard to do especially this late in the year.

With separate classrooms, the inequality begins. Poor AJ, today PJ was able to participate in a child's birthday party at school and ate cupcakes. He of course asked if his brother could have one and his request was denied. In the car ride home, AJ was very upset when he found out about this. To make his brother feel better PJ told AJ that next time that there was a party he was not going to eat anything unless his brother gets some. He said he was going to tell his friends to do the same. Then when PJ got home he emptied both his lunch box and AJ's. He thought it would make AJ feel better.

Meat is still Murder

From my vegetarian P:
"Pigs eat mud and poop. If you eat a pig then you are eating mud and poop."

Neither boy would eat their burger last night because it came from a cow. I had to convince them that eggs were not dead chicks for them to eat their breakfast. They are now horrified that people wear dead animal skin (leather).

Good things that I subscribe to Vegetarian Times. Now I must look for some vegan kid friendly recipes.

Meat is Murder

On the way home from school today we started talking about the food we eat. I think it started with the boys asking me if I liked to eat crab legs. I said I did like to eat crab legs. They wondered what happened to the crab once you cut off its legs. I told them that the crab is dead and then you eat the crab legs. Then that lead to who kills the crab and I told them people kill animals for you to eat. That got the boys thinking and P wondered if the chicken he ate was chicken from the farm. I told him yes it was and then he started to bawl that killing is wrong and was just horrified that he had been eating dead animals. He told me that he is never ever eating animals again. AJ wondered what steak was from so I told him it came from cows. PJ just kept crying and saying he didn't want us to talk about it anymore. After that talk I took them to the garden store to buy new veggies for our garden.

3 Day Weekend Bliss

After a tough week of training in DC and even a FDA meeting teleconference I was very happy to have a 3 day weekend. Since Tim was heading with his buddies to LA to watch the UCLA/ SDSU game. I took advantage of this opportunity to invite my mommy friends over for a swim play date. We had a great time with 15 children and 7 mommies enjoying the great weather and reconnecting. It was fun to see how big our babies have gotten. In the evening the fun didn't stop and we had Dina and Jessica with their kiddos come over for more swimming and dinner. It was so much fun for us! I also had no problem getting the boys to go to bed that night.

On Sunday we headed to the beach and enjoyed the almost 75 degree ocean. Both boys were really enjoying riding boogie boards. PJ even caught a wave himself and rode it all the way it. I think I am definitely going to have some beach bums on my hands. I got to get away for a little while and swam out past the breakers with Jessica. It was so beautiful and peaceful with the sun setting. I love summers in San Diego.

Midwest wrap-up

We had a lovely trip out to visit friends and family in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Everyday was a highlight (ok maybe not the trip home). The boys were very well behaved on their flight out there thanks to the portable DVD player and Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham DVD. When we got there we were whisked to Melissa's 30 birthday party filled with Swedish fish, swimming, and campfire. PJ told everyone that he was going to be a spaceship surgery doctor when he grows up so he can buy a beach house. He is going to drive a lot of Ferraris (all the colors) and even drive a tree. AJ said he was going to live under Patrick's beach house in a hole in the sand and will pee on the ants that live under the beach house. PJ informed me that I will be coming over and cooking dinner, cleaning the beach house and taking care of his 5 children (and AJ under the house). He will be buying me either a yellow or purple Ferrari for my transportation needs. What a sweetie.
The rest of the week we had fun hanging out with friends and family, playing with Jenny's dogs Cali and Foster and enjoyed the new twin cousins, Hunter and Savannah. We ate custard and cheese curds, roasted marshmellows, grilled and enjoyed a trip to the lake front beach. The boys were blown away that it wasn't an ocean and it was so cold! They really wanted to know what happens when snow falls on the lake.
I had a special treat when my great friend from High School, Madeleine, came out from Madison with her sweet baby, Caroline (http://niebauerfamily.blogspot.com/). It was so fun to reconnect. While the men golfed, we (Mad, Caroline, my MIL, SIL- Jenny, and her twins, me and my twins) spent the day in historic Cedarburg. All of us had a great time eating crepes , doing a little shopping in the toy store, playing in the park and finishing a great day with relaxing having a beer overlooking the creek- gorgeous.
Then Timmer and me headed of to Todd and Meredeth's wedding Thursday. We were lucky to stay with our great friends, Pete and Erin who were so sweet to invite folks over so we could reconnect with friends that we had not seen in a while. I was even lucky enough to get invited to Ann's house and have a fantastic home cooked brunch with friends including Kristi and Erin. Yum! Ann had a fantastic garden complete with a large veggie patch- her zucchini bread is awesome. The rehearsal dinner was fun, but the wedding was a blast. The boys drove up with their grandparents from Wisconsin and was very proud of the way they behaved during the ceremony. The rest of the time they were pretty wild, but a highlight was watching them spent the night dancing with all the pretty ladies. They sure have a lot of charm.

Square Foot Garden Update

The garden is in full swing. We had a little trouble with me neglecting it on my latest business trip, but it is looking like we are going to have a great year. Right now we have: pumpkins, watermelon, musk melon, honey dew, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, eggplants, bell peppers, hot pepper, squash, artichoke, tomatillo, Swiss chard, and various herbs (and a lone Brussels sprout that I will dig out soon). We have some big tomatoes and even our watermelon is coming in great! Our grape/cherry tomatoes do not last long as I keep eating them every morning. mmmm.

Washington Wrap-up

I was in the DC area again to meet with FDA a few weeks ago and haven't really posted due to the fact that I am still recovering from that experience. We worked insanely long hours through the weekend. At least this time I was able to have my coworker friend, Allison, go with me from San Diego and experience the insanity of a FDA meeting, prep and debrief . It is painful, but very rewarding, if that makes any sense.

On my last night there (even though I was crazy brain dead and tired) I was lucky enough to have the client invite me to go with them to see the DC monuments and government buildings. We headed out on the metro and it was very funny that the only American (me) had no idea where I was going. Even though I have been to the DC area multiple times lately, they have all been for work and I have never seen any attractions or even the White House up close. (I know- so unAmerican of me). It was very ironic (right word?) that we saw cockroaches outside the United States Treasury building. Is that considered poetic justice?

We had a lovely dinner outside at the Occidental. This restaurant has walls and walls of pictures of historically relevant people adorning its interior walls. Allison and I were a little silly from all the stress from work finally being behind us (and maybe a glass or two of wine) that we decided to make up stories behind the pictures on the wall. This picture is of my "boyfriend". I love his picture. I thought he looked like he is asking the camera person "Are you done yet? I really am not down with this portrait thing." I love him. I wonder who he really is.

Take Me Out to the Ball game and more

This weekend was especially busy. We headed out into the desert to celebrate my grandfather's 88th birthday. We had a great time seeing my family and meeting some long lost relatives that only new me as a baby or I have never met. It was also great to reconnect my more familiar relatives: my parents, brother and fiance, uncle, cousins and grandpa. The boys were pretty well behaved considering they didn't nap the whole time and had to endure a 12 hour car ride there and back. I know they just really enjoyed playing with their extended family. They even were brave enough to go on the water slide with their uncle and great uncle at the Biltmore Resort. After a few times they went all by themselves down the slide and were so proud of themselves. They are becoming great swimmers. We have been practicing in the pool practically every day.

After we made it back to San Diego, we were able to do something very special on Sunday- Our first family trip to the ball park to watch the Padres take on the Brewers. Originally this trip was suppose to be just me and Timmer with our friends, Beth and Joe, but unfortunately they had to cancel last minute due to family reasons. They were nice enough to let us have their tickets and the tickets were phenomenal- right behind home plate. (thank you Beth and Joe!!!)We dressed up for the game with Mommy and PJ rooting for the home team and Pops and AJ supporting the Brewers. We had a blast and even stayed until the top of the ninth. The boys especially loved singing Take Me Out To the Ball Game (they know all the words) and telling the batter when he should swing (Aye, Batter Batter; Saw-wing Batter). Daddy loved teaching them all the rules and at one point they refused to go to the bathroom because they might miss something. We only had a little rough housing at the end (they did have no nap and a tough weekend), but I am willing to try this again (that is saying a lot!). I think that this is the start of many more baseball games to come.

More Jette Rock Band

Some fun pool videos:

The "sosa".

P has a bit more intensity.

Weekend fun with Moms

The old Timmer was away at a bachelor party this weekend so Mommy had fun with her men. We got to go to the Quail Gardens for the Insect Festival. Who knew they would have birds and let us hold them? PJ was apprehensive at first and then he saw AJ was ok with it and agreed to hold the bird. We had a great time seeing the new children's park which included a tree house and stream that we loved to play in.

At home, we went swimming and even recorded videos of their favorite song. Later they performed in full costume. I am glad their Halloween costumes haven't gone to waste. Watch out world- the Jette Rock Band has arrived.

P has such a hard life that he has to sing about it solo.

Now their next favorite song is MJ's beat it. Music video coming soon....

Tiny Tim

Look Ma, No Cavities

The boys had another successful dentist visit. They were so excited for their appointment that they couldn't take a nap at school. Mommy and Daddy had a very hard night. At least no cavities!

When I Grow Up

AJ: Mommy, Jack at school is a boy, but he wants to be a princess when he grows up.
KKJ: Well, some boys can be princesses when they grow up. Would you like to be a princess too?
AJ: No, I am going to be a king. Then I can lift up all the girls dresses.

(Oh dear... I swear he has never seen History of the World Part 1)

I want to ride my bicycle

The boys got a special treat this holiday weekend. BIG BOY BIKES! AJ picked the blue and gold super charger bike with a red hot wheels helmet. Meanwhile, his brother wanted the Star Wars bike because it matched his Yoda lunch box. Then he found a matching Star Wars helmet and that sealed the deal. (Remember, he [and AJ too] is too afraid to watch Star Wars the movie or even the TV cartoon show.) Their daddy put them together with ease and they were ready to go after nap. The only problem was they were not fans of the training wheels. Too wobbly- according to them. Now that Mommy's own bike is fixed she can't wait to take them on a long bike ride. They just have to get brave enough to leave the cul de sac.

Patriotic P

" It means never fight."

Fun at the Fair!

Dahlias bigger than their head!

Love the ice-cream.

Very brave with the animals!

This weekend we went to the San Diego country fair- our first time ever! Although we were disappointed by the food (the fried avocado was not as delicious as we thought it would be), we had a fun time. The boys thought it was so silly to take a school bus back and forth to the free parking lot at the fair. Mommy loved the garden exhibit and plans on getting her gladiolas in for next year. The boys really enjoyed the animals and even sat and waited over a half an hour for the piggy races to ensure they had the best seats. They are really growing up!

Art Obsessed

P's art.

P's art.

AJ in yellow and PJ in red.

I just love AJ's legs in this pic.

My boys have been converted from art haters to art players. Now they are almost compulsive about their "art". (yeah- knowing them I shouldn't be surprised.) They wake up and run downstairs to do their drawings. Perhaps, they just had to get their fine motor skills a little more developed so they can actually get what they want on the page.

It's 3 am and I'm up again

Can't sleep once again. Too many thoughts running through my head. I thought maybe tonight/this morning I'd try to get some out here. Maybe that would help.
Basically, things at work have been stressing me out. I try very hard to do a good job. Yet, lately there have been some things going on that have been causing me additional stress and losing sleep. Then I get upset that I can't sleep and frustrated that I am going to be exhausted the next day and unable to effectively deal with all these additional stresses. When I am tired and stressed I get more emotional about things which I hate about myself because it is so non-productive and I have too many things I need to accomplish.
Meanwhile I lie awake at night thinking (after I have checked my work e-mail, again)- How did I get to this point? Why am I doing this to myself? Did I make bad life choices and now I am stuck with the consequences? Why is my job so hard? Am I making my job too hard? Is it because I don't have the talent for this kind of job? Why did I pick this career if I don't have the talent succeed? Is it because I have to do things the hard way? Why must I do things the hard way?Am I making this harder than it is because I have to do things the hard way or is it because I just do not have talent to do my job effectively? Why am I kidding myself with this career choice if I am not cut out for it to begin with? Did I mislead myself thinking all these years that work needs to be hard because it is called work? Did I erroneously think that all these years of sacrifice and dedication would somewhat be rewarded as I slowly climb the rungs of the ladder? What if there is no real reward for the hard work? What if I just fall off the ladder because I was never meant to be on it in the first place because I can't seem to handle it and that I am kidding myself because I am not really working that hard and I should be even more dedicated if I want to succeed? What is the definition of success for me? Is it even attainable given the unpredictability of the future? Why am I getting upset over all this it is only a job after all? Why can't I be a Real Housewife of San Diego?

Fun at Stone

Now that the boys are getting older and more well behaved, we can go out to eat more. We went to Stone Brewery this weekend with Auntie Debbie and had a lot of fun. The boys even commented on some other children's bad choices (standing up on the bench, climbing on furniture, and shouting). The weather was gorgeous and the boys enjoyed playing with their pops out in the garden.

Competition Woes

I worry. I am a mommy so I worry.
AJ has a big complex of always being first when it comes to athletics. I hate that PJ lets him win or lets him go first. I try to tell them to take turns in who can go first. I remind them that it is ok if your brother beats you in a race or makes more baskets than you. I want them to be proud of each other when they do well and always try their hardest no matter who wins. They do not seem to listen. AJ gets so overworked and upset when he is not "first" that he quits, cries and pouts. Much to my dismay and against my advice, PJ almost always gives into him and lets him win or have his way.
Lately, his thirst for being number one has spilled into other areas of his life. For example, he will only wear the Wisconsin jersey that has is number 1 on it, he has to be the first one in and out of the car, the first one to get a glass of milk etc. The hardest part lately has been when we are playing games with him. If PJ pulls away and starts leading in Candyland or Chutes and Ladders (for some reason I am always in last when we play, go figure) all hell breaks loose. AJ flips out and has a tantrum. This results in the game being over and a time out for AJ if he can't control his temper. The funny thing is that the behavior is the opposite with more individual activities such as doing puzzles, math, spelling, sight reading, etc. PJ has to be the fastest and best here and AJ is fine with it and even asks P to tell him the answers!
UGH. What can I do? I think healthy competition is fine and I want the boys to both push each other to do their best and be happy for each other no matter the outcome. I don't want the boys to give up if they are not first or let their brother win. And I don't want one twin to just be lazy and wait for his brother to give him the answer. I hope this is a phase. Their lives are going to be so hard if it is not. So I worry.