Life with Dylan

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  • The Irvine Park Railroad Easter Eggstravaganza is Eggsellent!

    Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail train track, hippity-hoppity Easter’s on it’s way!

    Well, that isn’t exactly how the song goes. However, if you head over to Irvine Park Railroad that is the song you will be singing.  It’s springtime and the park is filled with flowers, bunnies, chicks, and your favorite bunny of all is visiting to wish you a Happy Easter.

    In true Irvine Park Railroad fashion, there is something for everyone … games, bounce house, cookies, hay rides, train rides, and an Easter egg hunt .. Oh my!

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  • Wordless Wednesday – Dylan’s transformation

    Last weekend on a visit to Irvine Park Railroad, Dylan wanted to get his face painted. What did he choose? Well, a white lion of course. 

  • Why didn’t someone tell me that parenting involved a four-letter word?

    Ah, the joys of becoming a parent – I can still remember the day I heard my son’s heartbeat for the first time. I was a mom. Wow, a little person was growing inside of me. The showers followed with cute clothes and toys – diapers and blankets. I remember thinking ‘what fun this is going to be’ …

    Then I got the book. You know, the book that we all read when we are pregnant and assume the worst when we read about a symptom that remotely resembles how we feel. The What to Expect When Your Expecting book. Come on, you know it was on the table next to your bed.

    Now I remember talking to friends about how I would never sleep again. How I would never go to the bathroom alone again. How I would grow to loathe laundry.

    But nobody ever told me about this …

    Math? I have to teach somebody math?

    Are you kidding me?

    In four short months Dylan has gone from simple adding and subtracting (with borrowing, of course) to multiplication, to division, and now fractions. Talk about a flashback to math anxiety. Not only do I have to be calm and try to explain this, but I have to explain it in a way that my son doesn’t burst into tears out of frustration.

    And I fear this is only the beginning. Algebra and geometry are soon to follow. Not to mention science and the dreaded periodic table, biology and our friend the amoeba, and the building of a California mission. Oh my, I’m having anxiety just thinking about it.

    I can handle the attitude of an 8-year old going on 14, the arguments about taking a shower (because we know boys don’t like showers) – I can even handle the selective hearing that all boys must be born with. But school – again? I mean really, I did this when I was a kid and then went back to school a few years ago to earn my bachelor degree. Why in the world would I want to do another round of school?

    More importantly, why don’t people tell you this stuff before you have kids?

  • Spring Fever

    It’s that time of year. The days are longer and the sun seems to be shinning just a little bit brighter. Gone are the jackets, sweaters, and boots. Now the stores are filled with sundresses, bathing suits, and sandals.

    The leprechauns have come and gone – soon Peter Cottontail will be hopping down the bunny trail.

    Flowers are blooming and the butterflies are bountiful. Yes, Spring has sprung and I couldn’t be happier.

    The only problem I seem to be having is the bout of spring fever that hit me last week. No, I’m not a student and I don’t party over Spring Break. I’m 41 years old and have a kid, so why in the world do I have spring fever so badly?

    Maybe the theory of spring fever being an illness of teenagers and college students is wrong. Maybe, just maybe adults – moms – can get it too.

    I’m guessing working for the school district doesn’t help my chances of contracting the spring fever bug. So I did the only thing that seemed to make sense. I booked a staycation for a few days over Spring Break. Nothing fancy. No airplanes. No luxury hotels. Just lots of fun times and smiles planned with Dylan.

    Do you have spring fever yet?

    What are you doing for Spring Break?

  • Wordless Wednesday – Little black rain cloud over the ocean

  • Kind words go a long way

    A smile can be contagious and can lift your spirits.
    A hug can make you feel better from head to toe.

    Both can do wonders, but both are temporary. Words linger … words make you think … words can do more than you realize.

    The other day, completely out of the blue, I got a message on Facebook from an old friend. The kindest words I have heard read in a long time.

    “You’re a rad mom!”

    My reply, “Thanks, what did I do?”

    “Just doing your thing, being a proud momma! Love it! It’s the most endearing and attractive quality in a woman. And I love that you are setting a great example and installing faith in your child’s life. You’re doing all right and you should be reminded of that.”

    The lesson here – kind words are always appreciated. We may be thinking them, but how often do we actually say them?

  • Meringue Bake Shop’s PushCakes Winner is …

    Congratulations Kathleen! 

    It was your lucky day and one dozen delicious PushCakes will soon be arriving at your doorstep.

    Please contact Kristin by email kristin@meringuebakeshop.com to place your order and arrange for delivery of your PushCakes.

  • My obsession with organization meets LEGO

    Yes, LEGO is my son’s thing – but organization is mine. Aside from stepping on little pieces of plastic and coming to an abrupt halt midstream when I’m vacuuming, I have no problem with LEGO.
    Well, wait … maybe one little problem … organization.

    The majority of his LEGO pieces are nicely organized in plastic bins by color, but these tiny ones always seem to end up in a mish-mash of tiny containers and baggies. There has to be a better way to store the smaller LEGO pieces that will be easy enough for my son to keep up and satisfy my desire for organization.

    These are not the average LEGO pieces – these are the teenie-tiny ones. The ones that are so hard to find when needed for the finishing touch on your LEGO masterpiece.

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  • Why I’m loving the #marchphotoaday challenge

    After seeing all the pictures my friends were posting on Instagram last month I decided to take the #marchphotoaday challenge created by @FatMumSlim this month. The challenge makes me think about the photos I am taking and it’s fun to get creative with them too. I love seeing others Instagrams, who are taking the challenge and seeing how they interpret the prompt of the day.

    I have made it halfway through the month and thought I would share some of my favorites –

    Day 2: Fruit
    Day 3: Your neighborhood


    Day 8: Window
    Day 9: Red
    Day 10: Loud

    Day 14: Clouds

    Are you taking the #marchphotoaday challenge? If not, you should give it a try – I would love to see your photos!

    By the way, Chantelle’s blog is pretty awesome too.

  • My open letter for all the single moms out there

    Dear Doubter,

    You know who are. You are the one who told me when I was 6 weeks pregnant that I should consider giving my child up for adoption. That there were plenty of wealthy families in Orange County that would love to have a new baby. People that could provide a much better life for my child than I could.

    Why? Because I was a single 32-year old woman and couldn’t possibly offer this child what he needed.

    Why? Because I didn’t own a home or have a six-figure income. Because we all know that money is what buys love and happiness right?

    You doubted me. You doubted my abilities.

    Money does not buy love or happiness. Sure, it helps when you’re not struggling paycheck to paycheck, but a child does not know the difference between a brand new toy and used toy. It’s a toy. A child does not care if their clothes are brand new, designer labeled or if they come from a consignment store. The important thing is that a parent provides clothing for a child.

    Yes, I struggled and sometimes still struggle – but I have friends and family that have always been there to help with babysitting and moral support when I need it.  My son never suffered or wanted for anything when he was a baby, a toddler, and now an 8-year old boy. He is loved more than you will ever know.

    Why? Because I don’t think you know what love is or what it means to be a mother. You may take your family on vacations across the world and my vacations may only be to San Diego for the weekend, but I bet we have more fun than you do. Why? Because we appreciate the vacation and don’t take anything for granted. We don’t live in a big house on the hill or drive a fancy car, but we have a roof over our head and a car that doesn’t guzzle gas.

    I have wanted to write this letter to you for some time now. My son, you know the one you wanted to me to give away, just had a report card that blew me away. More than the one last year.
    He is reading at a 4th grade reading level (reminder, he’s in 3rd grade) – he is excelling in math and science – he is a Cub Scout – he will be getting his 3rd grade Bible in a few days – he’s an artist – he loves animals – he is everything that he should be and more.

    Why? Because I loved him and gave him things that money couldn’t buy.

    So the next time that you see a single woman, an unwed woman, who is pregnant think twice before you open your mouth. Single moms work harder than you do. Single moms don’t have everything handed to them. Single moms know how to love. Single moms are strong.

    We will fight harder for our children and protect them from people like you more than anyone I know. Never doubt the love of a single mom.