Amusement parks are not so amusing

Saturday, I turned 33 and spent the day at 6 Flags with 4 of our kids. The husband's company picnic was held there and we thought "wow, how cool is THAT? OMG, the kids will have so much fun!" 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. 

That foolish optimism makes you think I had never taken multiple children anywhere before, right?

Hey, give me a break here. I try to just go with things. Life is supposed to be an adventure, right? Well, 6 Flags with a 4, 7, 9, and 15 yr old was certainly interesting. Let's just say, the husband & I are really happy we decided not to take the family to Disneyland this year like we had planned. 

6 Flags was a smashing success, in that we learned that this family is not amusement park ready. 

Well, that and also because this happened:

BOOM.

33

This Saturday, I will be 33.
So, here are my 33 resolutions for the upcoming year:

1. Grow my hair out a little. Between chin & shoulder length sounds good to me
2. Take a bicycle maintenance class
3. Wear more hats
4. Be less flaky
5. Spend more one on one time with each of my 4 kids
6. Take a dance class
7. Visit my family in my hometown way more often
8. Have a family picture taken
9. Build up my savings account
10. Go to a professional football game
11. Have people over for dinner
12. See live music once a month
13. Always have my nails painted
14. Remember to take movies back on time
15. Re-learn to drive stick-shift
16. Get that Sylvia Plath tattoo I've always wanted
17. Go to the DeYoung museum
18. Put the laundry away as soon as it's done
19. Go to a play
20. Have more picnics
21. Buy a real camera & learn still life photography
22. Take/teach my kids (and husband) to ride a horse
23. Learn to hit a baseball
24. Return phone calls & messages
25. Say no when I need to
26. Hike Mt. Tam again
27. See the Sundial bridge in Redding
28. Volunteer somewhere
29. Teach my teenager to drive
30. Lose 33 lbs
31. Take an all girl's trip
32. Write more
33. Watch a sunset from Muir beach with my family

I like the number 33, it has a nice ring to it. I think it's as good a time as any to get going on some simple life goals, don't you? :)

Flashback Friday: 1,2,3 Happy Birthday to my Baby

Shrinky, age 5 months

I wrote this little poem for all of my children, but just for today I dedicate it to my daughter.
Happy 3rd birthday, my sweet girl.

Before you

There were nights to sleep in uninterrupted bliss
And no boogey-men to dispel of
No wet sheets to change hurriedly
or emergency midnight baths
I had no crayon drawings for my fridge
Or paper bag puppets
No sand in my shoes
Or snot on my sleeve
I had friends and fun
and you were not there
to ask me questions and interrupt
private conversations with silly dances
and made up jokes that nobody understood
there was no “Mama, can I?”
there was no mama at all
before you.

My goofy, smart, sweet, crazy, beautiful, amazing girl, age 3

31 Trips Around the Sun

It only seemed appropriate that we celebrate my birthday with one of my favorite things: Fair Food.

But I couldn't let you think I was completely uncultured & food obsessed, so I threw in some of the amazing art that's being shown at the Exhibition Halls at the CA State Fair:

funnel cake instead of the traditional birthday cake

chocolate covered bacon. amazing.

beautiful sculpture, I would love to have this

Wall of individual lucha libre paintings by a local artist

rad art car, by a local Sac artist. fully drivable!

Lucha Libre & funnel cake. How could I have anything but an amazing 31st birthday with those components?