Disney Adventure #1

Sooo...we just returned from the happiest place on earth...three decadent days with Disneyland and California Adventure. We stayed in a hotel, swam in the pool, rode the shuttle to and fro, and ate ourselves silly. Adventure divine! So why am I showing you stock photos of Disneyland when we ourselves, the White Family, graced the walls of theme park mecca?

Sigh.
Oh just one minor detail.

On the last night, amid fireworks, and numerous Thunder Mountain runs we lost our beloved camera. It was quite a blow. And I mean this in the complete literal sense. Why does one go to Disney? Well, to enjoy ones family amid laughter and thrills...but to also RECORD the whole beloved moment through numerous pictures and videos. Sigh. My stomach still hurts at the loss. We've called everyone we can think of...we think it's still rattling around on Shuttle #7 doomed to remain in a never ending circle of Disney Limbo.

So no adorable pictures of the family with Mickey, or Donald, or the lovely Mary Poppins. I can still remember every photo I took. Wish I could just hook my brain up to the printer and create the photos myself.
I must admit. I've been leaving hints to Adam about Disney trip #2, just so we can document it properly. I know. I know.

And PS...we also spent wonderful cousin time in San Diego with Terresa and her family. And we had a whole video camera fiasco there. But that story's for another day...only one crisis at a time.

West Meets East

My little Qatari children. Adam had business on the other side of the world...Dubai, Abu Dhaubi, Kuwait, and Qatar.

And now we have our own little Middle Easterners...aren't they adorable? I just love it!




Adam fell in love with these countries and with the people. He said they were so nice...Hope I get to go with him next time.

So I'm Trying to be Sneaky...

So I'm trying to be sneaky about this whole Easter Basket thing. Yesterday I took the baby with me while I purchased a few little odds and ends for the Easter Baskets. And I was determined to get something in particular for Lucy and then she found this:

Yes. Nemo. She is obsessed with Nemo. And the whole time at Target she would not let him out of her hot little hands. She traded everything she ever threw into the basket (because she does that now, we get all sorts of things in our basket) for the swimming Nemo (and it does say for 5 years and up, but really how could a Swimming Nemo not be for a 2 year old? Tell me how?) So...had to smuggle Nemo into the house...without disturbing the axis of the earth.

And I was successfull. REally. I was. And I hid it perfectly in my dresser drawers that are empty since I reorganized my closet. No one EVER looks in those dresser drawers.

Until today.

Lucy had Nemo ESP. How did she know? And I couldn't get it out of her hot little hands. Maybe the Easter Bunny should just come early? I am on Divert Lucy Mission #2. And I need a new hiding place!

(Oh and totally destroyed Sophie's dreams of the REAL Easter Bunny, because she wondered what Lucy was doing with a Nemo...oh and, she heard me talking to Adam on the phone about "getting all the Easter stuff done." Whoops).

We're on the Mend

Hip hip hooray! I feel giddy like a penguin. Don't these penguins look happy? I wonder what they're talking about? Perhaps they're amazed that we survived Adam's surgery aftermath. Aren't you surprised? :)

Thank you for your encouraging words about Adam's recovery...he is already doing sooo much better. Thank goodness for all of us. He has been hobbling around going on business trips, riding in wheel chairs, and losing his crutches. Hopefully he won't reinjure himself as he crosses many time zones. Right? Please tell me he WON'T reinjure himself! He is on the mend. I am determined that he will be on the mend.

My Non-Florence Nightengale Syndrome

Okay, So have you ever had a day or a week where you realize something about yourself that is not that great? I consider myself quite compassionate, sympathetic, and nice. In general, I think I'm pretty nice.

But this whole taking care of AW 24/7 has thrown me off my game. Granted, he is a lovely patient. Very sweet. Alot of "Could you please's" "So sorry to bother's" and "Thank you very much's". I mean, he couldn't be more nice. But it has been hard to take care of the family (without his help, mind you) and to also take care of him.

Sigh. So it turns out,I'm really not that nice.

I hate to admit I've been tired, grumpy, and longing for the days of a daddy who can climb stairs and give babies a bath, or even a daddy who can bathe, get dressed, and fix himself a meal. And for the times when I could sneak away to Target without worrying the entire time whether AW needs meds, or food, or maybe he has fallen and cannot get up.

Really. Wish I were better. And my hats go off to all of you who have taken care of someone, or who are still taking care of someone. I've been thinking about a few friends and family who are doing just that. Bravo. You really give Florence Nightengale something to be proud of. Me? I'm nothing to shout about.

Lemon Cake and Surgery

You'll all be happy to know I am no longer HUNGRY. Whew. That was rough...and let's just say my 11 day diet turned into an 9.5 day diet. Sorry. How could I resist a decadent slab of lemon cake placed on my door step by my practically gourment neighbor for my birthday? Well. I couldn't. At that point my willpower was practically non-existent.

AND.


AW just had his knee surgery...and trust me that has been enough to drive a girl to eat (In-N-Out is my new BFF). Not that he's a bad patient--- he's just a 38-year-old-male-patient. Last night I felt like I had a new born again with all the getting up in the night. Sigh. But he will get well. Hopefully sooner than later.

Hunger

Have you ever just had one of those days when you were HUNGRY? Not just: hmmm, I think I'd like a little nibble of something. Not: I might like to share a dessert with my husband after dinner. No. Nothing like that.

I mean serious HUNGER.

Like: I want to eat this entire ice-box cake by myself, with no helpers, no sharers. Me. Only me.

So.

I may have felt that way on occasion...

Like, NOW.

I have been on this 11 day diet thing for 7 days. Today is day 7. And people, I am HUNGRY! And I'm supposed to be writing my book, but all I have been doing is surfing through my favorite cooking blogs noting recipes I will try once I can actually eat again...in 5 days. Actually. On my birthday. So people, this is the birthday cake I want. Doesn't it look divine?

If you too are HUNGRY...check out the Smitten Kitchen and I guarantee you will find something that will satisfy. No calorie counters, fiber percentages, fat caloric notes in sight. This is a serious cooking blog that creates food that will satisfy.

And tell me what you ate. I'm totally into living vicariously through other happy eaters. Yesterday I made Adam tell me in detail what he had for lunch at The Olive Garden.