My Pet Spider

So....I have a pet spider. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but its totally true. She lives in the corner of the ceiling in my shower....and she's dying...and I'm sad. Every morning when I shower I look up and there she is. She used to drop down on her spidery web and look at me and now she's hardly moving.

I'm losing my mind because I actually have grown to care for this spider and now she's dying.

The Next Best Thing

I’m the daughter of a working mother. When I got out of school I didn’t come immediately home. Thankfully my “babysitters” were pretty much always family members. Sure, my mom didn’t have fresh out of the oven cookies waiting for me, but looking back I realize that I had the next best thing. I will always remember watching Channel 7 Soaps with my Grandma and I will always have fond memories of my Aunt Patty driving her minivan like a little old lady (Oh, and I’m pretty sure she still drives like that). Heck, I even have fond memories of my bossy Aunt Bonnie belting out “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha and the Vandellas.

Its memories like these that remind me that despite the fact that I’m not a stay at home mom (SAHM), my girls will turn out okay. I won’t be the sole person memory maker with them…and that’s okay. I know Irelyn and Ellie are in good hands with Granny and PopPop. I know without a doubt, that like me with my grandma and aunts, having their grandparents with them during the day is the next best thing.

But today…just for awhile there…I was totally and completely jealous that I’m not the parent at school with Irelyn today. The Lizard Wizard is visiting her classroom and he’s bringing all sorts of critters! Scott will be there though and at least I know he’ll capture plenty of pictures for me! Anyways, its lunch time and this is what is currently on my mind.

Laundry, lots of Laundry…

I’m a full time working mother to two young girls. I also happen to cloth diaper. What one word sums up a good chunk of my free time? Yep, you guessed it, LAUNDRY.

I’m off of work today (thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and rather than doing something fun (that was the previous couple of days), today I’m buckling down and tackling the heap of laundry that is chilling in front of my bathroom door. If you’ve been to my house, then you know exactly what the hill, um mountain, of dirty clothes I’m talking about. Oh, and no, the dirty diapers aren’t in that pile! (just throwing it out there in case your mind went there)

I’m estimating (by the height of the mound) that I have about, oh, um, 7 loads of laundry to do today. Envy me much?

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

We rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway today! Definitely not your typical trip to the mountains. 

I'm terrified of heights, but surprisingly I didn't freak out on the tram. I did stay in the center of the tram car and I did NOT look down.

Irelyn LOVED seeing snow! A bit of a back story...one morning around Christmas Irelyn woke up and ran out to the living room and looked out our front window. She looked at me exsaperated and asked, "Where is the snow Mama?" I was like, "huh?". She explained that on all of the Christmas cartoons she's watched she's seen snow. I was amused and felt kind of sad for her. I explained that we live in California near the ocean and it doesn't snow in our part of California. So...when I told her we were visiting snow today she was like, "But Mama, we live in California!" Too cute!

Today was also Scott's first snow adventure! :) 

Here are a couple of memorable pictures from today.

Excited Snow Bunny

Trying hard to make a snow ball

Ellie didn't seem to thrilled about the snow...

Slightly freaked out....trying to smile through it

Great view of the back of Ellie's head :)

Rossmoor Park

We are experiencing unseasonably warm weather right now. Its been in the high 70 to low 80s at my house, absolutely PERFECT weather to be outside. I decided that I wanted to take the girls to the park this afternoon to blow off some steam. When Scott came home from work off we went!


Scott decided to switch things up and visit a new park. We were going to go to Target after our park adventure, so Scott looked for a park near the Target in Seal Beach. As we pulled up I just knew we discovered a park that we'll revisit over and over again. Its beautiful! The playground is large and partially shaded, the families were friendly and I just overall loved everything about it.

Irelyn went on the TALLEST slide!

And swung like a monkey...

Look at how Ellie's grown! 

Ellie discovered sand for the first time!

Pretty Ellie

Mama people watched. (there was an interesting group of Muslims having a family bbq not too far from where I was sitting. I loved noticing each of the beautiful scarves the women wore)
Daddy pushed his girls on the swings.


There was a light breeze and it reminded me of my childhood. Kids these days don't spend nearly enough time outside being kids. Everything is digital, requires a game control and batteries. Irelyn loves her "adventures" outside....I really hope Scott and I remember to foster those feelings in our children.

Queen Mary

Earlier this evening Scott and I took the girls down to Queen Mary to walk around. Irelyn loved being on the "big boat". Ellie just loves being outside and the weather was absolutely perfect for a short little jaunt. Granny gave Irelyn $2 earlier in the day. Irelyn got thirsty and decided to wanted to buy a bottle of water from one of the vending machines. I showed her how to use the machine and she thought she was so cool!


Off in the distance the water sparkled.


These are the kind of memories I never want to forget.

When I'm Gone...

Slightly morbid, but I love this enough to share. When I die I want the below shared at my "Life Celebration". Oh, and I like the term "Life Celebration" way more than the words funeral or memorial.

Oh, and I don't have an author to attribute this too. I'll have to google and see what I come up with.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Having it All

A few facts; I grew up really poor, as a child I moved around a lot and I’m very lucky/grateful that I have the education I have. Now that those tidbits are out of the way I can get on with this post!

Irelyn participates in a Co Op Preschool. The school functions through parent volunteerism. The only paid employees are two teachers. Everything from accounting, to budgets, event planning and making play-doh is done through volunteers. I love the school model and I love the entire environment. As a working mom I am unable to volunteer as one of the parents in the classroom and my responsibility instead is to serve as my school’s representative to the county council of co op preschools.

Last night we had our monthly meeting and I drove 30 miles away to a school in South County. If you are familiar with Orange County demographics, then you’re aware that South County = Affluence. The topic of the evening was fundraising. Each representative shared what their school does to raise much needed funds. The big fundraiser for each school tends to be a live/silent auction of some variety. One of the schools shared that they raised $30,000 at their auction (gasp!) and that a play date with one of the teachers auctions off for about $1,000 (double gasp!). As I drove home I kept thinking about all of these details…and somehow a delayed light bulb went off in my head.

My children won’t grow up in the world I did.

Yes, everybody wants their children to live in a better world then them, every parent wants their kid to have opportunities they didn’t have. I get that, and I totally agree, but in that moment last night while I drove on the freeway, I wanted to shield my children from this world of enough, of “seemed privilege.” If life continues as it is, then there will likely not be a day that my girls go to bed worrying about where their next meal come from or if mama and daddy can keep a roof over their head. I’m INCREDIBLY grateful that I have what I have…but with it comes a new, different challenge, a challenge I never conceptualized or previously thought of before. I look at the world around me and I don’t take an ounce of it for granted. I know what its like to have nothing…and without having my children go through what I did, how do I give them that appreciation? How do I let them know that $1,000 play dates with their teachers aren’t the norm?

I’ve always sought to raise socially conscious aware children….if you’re my friend then you’ve probably heard me go on and on about this topic a few times…this isn’t a new topic for me, but the $1,000 auctioned play date just hit a nerve and maybe I just realized (again) how overwhelming being a parent is sometimes. I want the best for my girls…and in giving them the best I don’t want them to not appreciate the worst.

Sigh…lots of mumbo jumbo babble and its LATE!

Unexpected Smile

We went to Disney’s California Adventure today. Irelyn was super excited to go to breakfast (we didn’t tell her about the Disney portion of the adventure, it was a surprise until after breakfast was completed), but getting her out the door turned into the “Brush your Teeth 2011” standoff. She under absolutely under no terms wanted to brush her teeth and I, equally, absolutely under no terms was going to let the kidlet get her way…..so finally, after she realized Mama and Daddy weren’t budging she gave in.  

I’m a People Watcher. I capitalized it, because, well, that’s what I am. I am constantly observing my surroundings and have a strange fascination with people watching. Going to Disneyland for a People Watcher is akin to an alcoholic going to a bar or a fat dude getting his grub on a buffet. Whether it be absurd, comical or sweet tender moments, eye candy is everywhere at Disneyland!

We decided to sit and watch some Disney Channel Rocks dancing show. The selection was not really my thing, but I knew Irelyn would enjoy it, and again, there’s the people watching factor. I scanned the crowds of observers, looked over the random details of the dancers’ costumes and then my gaze settled onto the sign language interpreters. Little known Wiski fact; I took a Sign Language class in college. I wasn’t good at it, but I fell in love with the language and there is a special spot in my heart for deaf culture. I forgot the dancers and even briefly stopped watching my kidlet wiggle her butt in her seat and I got lost in the hand movements and smiles of the interpreters. Their joyful expressions were almost tangible. Without pretense, they genuinely appeared to fully enjoy their “job”.

I’m used to creating happy memories at Disneyland, and I’m used to observing happy moments of other people enjoying their Disney trips, but today…for those few minutes I witnessed something unexpected and it made me smile =)

A few of my favorites…

Twilight sparkles, dusk, my favorite time of day. The exact brief moments after the sun has set and night has yet to capture the last twinklings of light. This magic window of promise, energy and allusion.

Coming home from work and seeing my daughter’s eyes light up. Ellie will start to babble and Irelyn will say, “Mama, you’re home!!”

Exchanging goofy banter with Scott. He always has the ability to bring a smile to my face.

Ice cold Dr. Pepper. Iced tea with extra lemon. Ice water with extra lemon. See a trend?

Getting off of work on Friday and feeling the electricity in the air.

Going to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm with the kidlet and experiencing the parks through her eyes.

Washing the day away with a really hot shower.

Crying it out...

I know plenty of my thoughts and opinions will be shared via this blog, so with that in mind I figured I should add a few disclaimers. Yes, I’m very opinionated, but my goal and desire is to never be disrespectful or rude. My thoughts and opinions are my own, that doesn’t mean that they are better. What works for me doesn’t work for all.

With that said, my friend Lea posted linked this blog on Facebook. I read it and thought I’d share. Here’s the link.

Its comes as no surprise to anybody that I personally don’t believe in having a baby cry it out (CIO). I think babies cry for a reason, crying is their way of communicating. I don’t prescribe to the line of thinking that asserts babies cry to manipulate their caregivers. Evolutionarily speaking babies cry because they need something, whether its comfort, reassurance or nourishment, there is a perceived need that needs attention.

Yes, I think there is a difference between whining and actively crying. No, despite popular belief I don’t immediately pick up and console my child in response to every whiny cry, but if I did, that’s my choice too! ;)

Still Sick...

Yep...no words to share really, but I do have plenty of snot. Super GROSS, I know.

Scott made me homemade chicken soap for dinner. Did I mention he has the cold too? He's a keeper.

I'm sick...

I have nothing good to write about. I actually went to bed at 6:30 and I'm posting this at 3:30 in the morning. I slept wonderfully and now I'm wide awake. My throat hurts and my nose is runny. I'm like a walking advertisement for Nyquil....oh, and yay, Nyquil is something I can't take...sigh.


So, here's my cop out post. I must admit that I'm surprised that this blog has already more than 200 views we're only a couple of days into January. Am I really that interesting?


While I'm sniffly, sneezing and coughing, indulge me and comment, what is it that you want to see me blog about on here??

Irelyn & Ellie, the smack down!

I’ve always wanted a big family. I daydream about baking bread, growing green beans, raising chickens and having a gaggle of kids. Then I wake up, remember that I live in Orange County where green bean growing and chicken raising doesn’t really happen and remind myself of the real world I live in. I’ve always been realistic when it comes to family size. As much as I want a bunch of kids, the truth of the matter is that  having more than two really isn’t in the cards for Scott and I.

I think siblings are the best. My brother and I are almost seven years apart in age and while we’re very different people we are very close. He’s honestly one of my best friends. He understands me in a way nobody (not even my husband) can. He remembers the snotty whiny girl called Sissy and he loves me. After having Irelyn I just couldn’t imagine NOT giving her a sibling. When my mom is gone, I like to think I’ll still have my brother. If God forbid anything happens to Scott and me, I’ll take comfort knowing that my girls will always have each other.
I love watching my children interact with each other. The first person Irelyn wants to talk to every morning is Ellie. She’ll walk into the living room and squeal, “Hi Ellie!!!” and then Ellie’s face lights up. Irelyn gives Ellie a hug and Ellie gives her big wet open mouth kisses back. When Irelyn is away from Ellie for a couple of hours she’ll randomly look up at the adult she’s with and say, “I miss Baby Ellie” and then she’ll insist that its time to go home. She even said this to me when we were at Disneyland on date! I was like, “You want to leave Disneyland?!” She looked at me, shook her head and said, “Baby Ellie needs me and I miss by sister!” So um, yeah…we left and went home.

Earlier this evening I witnessed the funniest exchange. Ellie was in her jumper and Irelyn was listening to Johnny Cash on her cd player (what can I say, the kid has good taste). Irelyn walked over to Ellie and the next thing I know Ellie is SOBBING! I knew immediately that Irelyn had done something, but I wasn’t sure what. Irelyn looked at me with fear, runs over to her sister and starts kissing Ellie all over telling her, “I love you Baby Ellie! I love you! I’m sorry! I’m sorry, please don’t cry Baby Ellie!” Ellie stopped crying and starting cheering up. Irelyn was still tore up about it all though. I asked Irelyn what she did and she put her head and looked embarrassed. She then walked out of the living room and put herself into timeout!

She sat in her time out chair for about 5 minutes or so…got up and said she was all better now. I asked her if she did something to her sister, she said yes, but that she didn’t want to talk about it. I asked her if she was going to do it again, and she was like, “No, I don’t like to see Baby Ellie cry.” Later it came out that Irelyn swatted Ellie on the head. She says she didn’t think it would hurt Ellie and that she’s unsure why she did it in the first place. The look on Irelyn's face during all of this was priceless!

Oh, the joys of having kids! Made for good evening entertainment! =)

Just one of those days....

Looks like I may be coming home with a new car tomorrow. Scott and I went over to the Honda dealership earlier to look around and have them run our credit. I don't need a new car, but for a bunch of reasons (that I won't bore you with) getting out from under my current car loan and trading in Skate (my 2003 Jeep Liberty) is a good idea and advantageous for us in the long run. Soo....I have the details  and I'm going to sleep on it tonight and go from there.


In other exciting news it was a typical Sunday on the Trep Family front. Went to breakfast in the morning, had a Costco run and came home and were bums the rest of the day. I thought about cleaning...and I thought about going through a bunch of the girls' clothes that they've grown out of...but I didn't do any of it. I think sometimes you just need a lazy day, ya know?


I got to admit, I'm pretty surprised so many people are interested in reading this blog. I promise I'm really not all that interesting.


I had another blog idea earlier today, but with rain, needy children and my desire to actually bit a more articulate, that blog will need to wait for another day.

Till tomorrow....

Tangled Emotions

Today Irelyn and I went on a date and saw Tangled. She was excited and surprised that we were going out together, just me and her. We got sodas and popcorn and settled into the theater. As the movie started she looked up at me, puckered her lips and leaned in to kiss me. Its amazing how my children can make me feel like a million bucks!

Tangled is the fourth movie we’ve seen in the theater together and once again I found myself sitting in a kid’s movie with tears running down my face. The first time this happened it was in the first 10 minutes of Princess & the Frog. It was as if I could reach out and physically touch and feel the magical wonder Irelyn was experiencing enjoying her first theater experience. The second time was throughout watching Toy Story 3. The playback of an old movie of young Andy playing with his toys did me in. I know my kids are going to grow up, and I look forward to my girls maturing into young women, but in that moment it was if the world was moving at the speed of light. I cried knowing that these days of toys and make believe are so short and precious. And as crazy as it sounds at the end of Toy Story 3 I had a special grin on my face with the comfort knowing I took some of my toys to college with me.

Tangled hit a different nerve this time, an unexpected nerve at that. Rampunzel is a pure, vibrant and naïve character. The premise of the movie involves her being kidnapped as a baby and raised by an evil old lady. As the movie progressed I experienced it through the eyes of my three year old. She was excited, scared, happy and enthusiastic to see what happened next. Its moments like these that put everything in perspective. I went down that rabbit hole and imagined what life would be like if somebody kidnapped one of my girls and I couldn’t do it. I simply can’t imagine my life without either of them. I can’t quantify or express the lengths I would go to protect my daughters.

The date was a success, the kidlet got some special one on one time with mama and I enjoyed every precious moment!