Like an Amex

We went to Sonoma last weekend and we did two things that made our trip enjoyable:

1. We stayed a place with a full kitchen (a cottage)
2. We brought my mother with us.

I wasn't so sure how the weekend would turn out because my mom and I fight like cats and dogs. But, I didn't fight with her at all. The only disagreement I had with her was over her letting my four year old daughter watch Predator (yes, the one with Arnold Schwazenager and yes, I know you agree with me). Other than that, it was great. It was like bringing a baby sitter and a chef at the same time! My mom cooked all my favorite foods and she watched our kids at night while we went drinking. How awesome!

If my mom found it tolerable, I think we'd like to take her with us on all vacations. She's like an Amex card...we shouldn't leave home without her!

The Proverbial Question

As a stay at home mom, the one question that bugs the crap out of me is...

What do you do all day?

My answer? The same thing that everyone else does...I work. I do the job that I would have had to pay a Nanny 10-15 dollars an hour for. And of course, just like all other working stiffs that work for pay...I get my internet time in during the job (so don't question my blogging!).

You want to know the biggest difference between my job and the traditional job? It's that I give up my life for these kids. As all my friends without kids (or that work) move on to bigger, better and higher paying jobs, I get stuck in a job where there is little appreciation, no monetary pay, no promotions, minimal adult conversation, and maximum whining. People also seem to think that when the kids become independent and go to school...we can just go right back into the work force. We CAN'T! It's almost like we have to start over again...things change in the work force, we have to explain our employment gaps, we need to polish our skills. The worst part about it is...we NO LONGER fit into the work clothing we kept from before we became SAHMs.

And of course, nobody seems to sympathize with me (queue the violins)...least of all the Breadwinner. I think maybe the only other people that empathize with my plight are other stay at home moms...I guess that's why I joined my mom's group and started blogging. It makes me feel better to know that other people are going through the same thing...

I'm Back!

And newly tanned (not that I wasn't tanned before). Me n' my Peeps (The Princess, Jr. Peanut, and the Breadwinner) flew to paradise (aka Maui). Despite the impending threats of Hurricane Flossi and the tsunami advisory, we managed to have a good time (I think...vacations aren't really vacations for a stay at home mom...unless no kids are involved).

This was the view from our hotel room:

While we were there, the Breadwinner and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary (only one more year to the 7 year itch):

My Island Princess:

Mi Familia:

Me and the Princess looking for sea shells (her newest obsession):

The "sun challenged" (due to lighter skin tones) duo waits for the shell seekers:

The future booze hound sippin his virgin fruit punch

The princess learns the huki lau with her mau mau (I mean dad)

Some photos that rival Shauna's avatar. Even though I don't like chocolate, it doesn't mean that my daughter doesn't...

Gross!

Jr. Peanut, the Princess, and I were hanging out on the Princess' queen sized bed playing with one of Jr. peanut's new toys.

We were playing and having fun. Then the Princess said to her brother "Ooohhh, you look tired baby brother." She proceeded to pull down her shirt and then said "here baby brother, you want my boobie?". She proceeded to try to feed him while I giggled.

Then she stopped and her shirt went back up. Then she turned to look at me.

She moved over to where I was, pulled down her shirt, and shoved her nipple toward my face. "You want my boobie Mommy?"

Aaaah! yuck! It's not pleasant having the mosquito bites shoved in your face.

I told her "No thank you. I'm not hungry. Maybe when you're older, you can nurse your own baby when you're older.

Kids are weird like that.

Are PG and PG-13 Movies Safe For Your Child?

I think I'm feeling better after last week. I've decided to post something informative that I wrote in the Newsletter that I edit. There's been a lot of buzz about it in my Moms Groups because of that Transformer movie...

It’s often difficult to gauge the Motion Picture Association of America’s movie ratings. Although a movie may be rated, it doesn’t tell you exactly how it got the PG rating as opposed to the G rating. It is also often surprising how much violence or latent sexual innuendo there is in a PG movie. If you’re looking for a great place to get the REAL scoop on the violence, sexual content and profanity in movies try the following very helpful websites. They detail the questionable sections of the movie for your young ones so that you can make better choices for your children:

Kids In Mind: http://www.kids-in-mind.com

Family Media Guide: http://www.familymediaguide.com

MPAA Rating Info: http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp