The boys got me this insane balloon that sings. That was the best. It’s a gift that just keeps on giving…like this morning at around 6 am.

Jason bought me roses and took me out to a surprise brunch. He also let me go wild in Williams-Sonoma. I love those days! He holds the baby on his shoulders and stands out of the way, and just watches me shop. Then he steps up to the counter and pays for it all. Could there be anything better in the whole world?

It was a great weekend, to say the least. We had a lot of fun, mostly dancing around to my ginormous singing balloon. Hope you all had a great Mom’s Day…now, it’s Monday…and back to Kid’s Day. Isn’t it always? :)

I was in the post office the other day and there was a lady all freaked out, yelling at the postal workers, because apparently someone stole her mail and ripped her off. A case of identity theft. Who knows if it was real, but she seemed to be telling the truth. She was frantic. The workers kept telling her to go to the police and she was saying that the police told her to come to them! In other words, she was getting the runaround. It was really scary, though. I mean, it can happen so quickly, you know? I’ve talked about it before, because some old checks of mine were once stolen out of the trash and somebody wrote themselves a few in my name. I was too dumb back then to know to shred everything! Now I’m like a nut about it. I shred all the credit card offers I get and everything else. Even magazine subscription offers. People are crazy and I don’t want to ever be in that situation again. For more information about how you can protect yourself, check out the lifelock website. They have all kinds of information on identity theft and how to avoid it.

What’s gross is when there is a person at the gym who has really bad breath. And they are breathing all over the place and in really loud, disgusting puffs. “Hooo! Hooo!” It’s bad enough having to hear people breathe like that when they’re working out, but then when they smell like onions and death…I can’t handle it.

Because summer is almost here and everyone starts getting geared up for camping trips and water activities, take a look at this site which has all kinds of great Magnalight products such as work lights, boat lights and more. My dad is the king of having way too many flashlights. One year, for Christmas, he gave Jason three different types of lights! It was insane, but it turned out we totally needed them. We got the one that you wind up and it recharges itself (awesome for when you don’t have batteries handy) the work light that stands up and rotates, and the heavy duty spotlight-type that has it’s own plastic briefcase handle! It’s funny…guys and flashlights. What’s up with that?

Anyway, last summer we went camping with some friends and their kids…and one of their little boys very nonchalantly threw one of Jason’s flashlights in the campfire. Jason flew out of his chair and put his hand (yes, his HAND) in the fire and grabbed the flashlight. Now if that’s not crazy I don’t know what is. There are worse things than losing a flashlight, but to guys, it’s like losing a best bud! It was hilarious. He was all rubbing it in the dirt and smothering it in a wet towel. Then he said, “See, it’s fine!” and dusted it off. It still worked. He held it up, all proud.

Wow.

So, if you are really stuck as far as Father’s Day presents go (it’s next month), just get your dad (or your man) a flashlight. It will probably make his year.

‘Cuz it’s Mother’s Weekend. At least it should be. So, I think we’re starting tonight by going to dinner. At least that’s what Jason suggested last night. And tomorrow I get the full blown celebration, since my stepson has to leave us Saturday night. Then Sunday is the actual day, so I get to extend the special treatment all the way through the weekend. Yay! Happy Mother’s Day Weekend everyone!

I was going through my closet the other day and found about 15,000 purses, wallets, backpacks and overnight bags. Why do I accumulate so many? I don’t go to nearly enough places in nearly enough outfits to accommodate my bag collection. I’m getting really anxious, though, about our trip next month. I started sorting through all my stuff, trying to figure out what I’m going to bring. We’re going to be doing lots of different things: a ferry ride, the Space Needle, Pike Place (of course), and I want to try and get one of my family members to babysit the kids so Jason and I can go out to a nice dinner. It’s so beautiful up there, too, and I’m definitely an ‘outdoorsy’ type, so maybe we’ll end up going hiking or biking or something like that. We’re there for a week…it’s possible.

Anyway, my brother is a sports/outdoors columnist, so I know he’ll be able to point us in the right direction. He’s always going on some excursion or another up in the Pacific Northwest. The last time I was in the area was five years ago. I remember it being windy, but sunny. Hopefully it won’t rain. This is going to be our only summer vacation (besides the occasional camping trip), so I want it to be perfect. And Squid has never really been on a vacation at all. He’s only gone away with us for the weekend in the past. Oh, I can’t wait!

For the longest time I was getting Gymboree flyers in the mail. Not from the store Gymboree, but from their partner play centers. So I finally went down there today and signed Squid up. I think it will be good for him. They have all these different classes that he can participate in where he can run around and play with other 2 year olds. And it will be his first experience with having an actual teacher. I’m still not quite sure what the teacher is going to do with a bunch of hyper toddlers, but it will be interesting to find out. Our first class is next Monday. I think it will be fun, too, to just sit back with the other moms and take a break while the kids do what they may.

I really only have one other friend with kids, and luckily her son is around Squid’s age. But other than the play dates we schedule with each other, Squid’s sort of left out when it comes to socializing with other toddlers. Which also means I’m left out when it comes to socializing with other moms. When your friends don’t have kids, it’s kind of like talking to an alien. They don’t really understand what you’re talking about and don’t appreciate the poop stories. They just think they’re gross and look at you kind of funny when you start talking about it. Yeah. Anyway, it will be good for both of us. I’m excited!

Oh man. I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday. I’m kind of dreading it. I just don’t like going to the doctor, but as soon as I go, I always feel better. It’s just a basic check up, but you know…just having to get ready for it and go get examined…it’s so uncomfortable! But anyway, I really do have to say something really quick about Kaiser Medical Center. I love it! Everyone is so nice, so if I absolutely have to go to the doctor, at least I know that I won’t totally hate the experience. I really love taking Squid, actually. The pediatrics department is awesome. It’s so cute - all the Chinese nurses call me “Mommy” and there is a huge area with toys and books that Squid loves playing in. He goes up to all the kids and says, “Hi, baby!” even if the kids are much older than he is. Ha.