Rage Against The Minivan

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remembering . . .

September 11, 2009

. . . insomnia that had me awake at 6am. . . bleary-eyed, flipping the channels. . . watching a horrible crash, thinking it was the worst accident I had ever seen. . . another crash, realizing it was no accident, waking Mark. . . watching helplessly, people jumping, towers falling. . . feeling numb, going to a friend's house and learning we could still laugh. . . feeling helpless, flying to volunteer. . . entering Ground Zero and losing composure. . . the smell - dear Lord the smell. . . . . .

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much ado about nothing

September 9, 2009

Here is the transcript of the dreaded indoctrination back-to-school speech Obama gave to students today. That is, after a good portion of the conservative contingency got their panties in a wad about the president giving a pep talk about hot-button issues like perseverance and staying in school and setting goals. Of course, it sounded a little more exciting when the extremists were using words like re-education and brainwashing. Comparisons to Hitler are always a little more provocative then the . . .

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GOT MILES? (’cause I ain’t too proud to beg)

September 8, 2009

Every once in a while I will be in conversation with somone who travels a lot, and they will say something like "Gee, I've racked up so many frequent flier miles, I don't even know what to do with them." And I will think about how badly we want to visit our son in Haiti, but feel too embarrassed to ask them to share the wealth. So I just smile and nod, and hope that maybe one day they will think of how their excess might be of use to an adoptive family like mine.Since this technique of silence . . .

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Things We Learned in Seattle

September 7, 2009

We live entirely too far away from Michael and Jodie. Getting out of Orange County is refreshing. There is a whole world out there where you won't run into people wearing Ed Hardy t-shirts and driving Hummers with these things attached to them.There is something entirely satisfying about picking your food from a garden in the morning, and then eating it that night.Humbolt Fog is an excellent goat cheese, and not, in fact, a brand of marijuana as the name might suggest. If you post a sign that . . .

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we saw attle

September 4, 2009

We are back from Seattle . . . the entire week before we left Jafta talked about how we were going to "See Attle". I guess you could say we did.We had a great trip. Still unpacking, both literally and figuratively. There is nothing like travel and a little time with nature to make you start rethinking everything you know. One thing I do know for sure: we miss our family in the northwest.Karis's first plane ride I think this photo accurately captures the essence of my little boy and his awesome . . .

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The New “Mom Jean”

August 31, 2009

Hello dear readers. Our family is still in Seattle, acting like tourists and discovering nature. But lest my blog go blank for a few days, I am reposting from the vault. Since not posting would make it totally obvious that we are on vacation, which is a very unsafe thing to broadcast to the internets. The New "Mom Jean"I went shopping for jeans the other day, and I'm still reeling by some uncomfortable revelations.My shopping quest started because I decided it was time to venture out from . . .

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dispatches from the OC

August 27, 2009

We are hanging in Seattle for a few days. As we venture away from our below Orange County, a few highlights:I had a garage sale this weekend. The tacky MILF maternity top that was sent to me for review? It was the FIRST THING THAT SOLD.I picked up a copy of a magazine called OC Health, thinking that it might have some info about 5k races in the area. Instead, it was a booklet full of ads for local plastic surgeons, weight loss clinics, and day spas.At the tanning salon next to Pick Up Stix, . . .

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in case you were wondering

August 26, 2009

In case you were wondering what happens if your Tivo fails to "place a call" for over one year :NOTHING!!Nothing happens. Except those annoying daily reminders that you have failed to place a call.In other news of rule-shirking rebellion, we are still collecting data on what happens if you ignore your jury summons notices and fail to upgrade your computer's Norton Utilities. Will report back on those shortly! . . .

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pooping for Disney

August 25, 2009

The backstory: I have been trying to potty train India for five months now. She has done really well getting the #1 part down. She hasn't had an accident in months and does really well at home and at school. The #2 though . . . not so much. I know that she has control over it, though. She doesn't really have accidents, she just waits until naptime every day when I put her in a diaper. (She is very regular). Every day for weeks now, we go through this routine where I put her in a diaper, leave . . .

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emotional about STUFF

August 24, 2009

I'm not one to get emotional over stuff. I used to be more sentimental. I used to be a "keeper". I would keep any cards or notes I received. I even had a huge file cabinet full of notes passed in class in junior high (you know, the kind you specially folded with the pull-tab?) until my mother made me throw them out. But then I met Mark and his purging ways rubbed off on me. I try not to get too wrapped up with "things" in any way. If you give me a beautiful note, I will cherish it for a day, . . .

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Hi, I’m Kristen. I’m a mom of four kids via birth and adoption and a writer living in Southern California. Read More.

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Rage Against the Minivan sometimes earns revenue through sponsored posts, which are clearly labeled, and occasional affiliate links to recommended products. I only feature products that I truly like, and my opinions are always my own.

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