Divine Intervention

You might be disappointed to find out that this post will have nothing to do with the kids -- no swim class vomit or nakedness today.

Just a cute little story I had to share.

I am in full JBF mode right now. My sale starts in TWO weeks and I am working around the clock. Much to my dismay this season, I didn't have the foresight to think about the fact that schools would not be in session this summer, so distributing 10,000 postcards up and down the Peninsula to schools that are NOT IN SESSION proved to be difficult. My work days a few weeks leading up to the sale are usually me in my car with a box full of postcards mapping out my next location on my phone, hoping that when I arrive at the next school that a) they will be open and b) the Director will just happen to have time to give ME the time of day.

You can imagine sometimes it doesn't always work out that nicely.

When I arrive, I usually tell (whomever will listen) about the wonderful thing we're doing for Shelter Network and that last May, we donated over 1,500 children's and maternity items to this wonderful organization. I've uttered this "speech" so many times that it rolls off my tongue these days without a single stutter.

Anyway, today was not going as well as I'd hoped. I had LOTS and LOTS of postcards to still get out and I kept hitting school after school where the Directors weren't present or I'd just have to leave the postcards in hopes that someone would approve them. Someday. (I'm not fond of doing this as I never know if they will actually be distributed.)

I pull up to a red light, stop, and was literally banging my head against the steering wheel when out of the corner of my eye, I notice this particular image that looked familiar. As I looked up all the way, I noticed it was a HUGE Shelter Network logo. The one and only (ONE AND ONLY) donation truck that Shelter Network owns was sitting at the red light directly in front of me. I was on a residential street in the middle of Redwood City. It's not like I was on the highway and coincidentally passed one of 20 trucks they could have owned. They own ONE. And it was waiting patiently for that red light too. Right in front of me.

I had to laugh.

It was as if someone (someONE) up above was saying "Pick your chin up kid" and "go get 'em tiger". I was suddenly motivated to visit 5 more schools and in which, met 3 of the sweetest preschool Directors I've met so far. And it was better that school wasn't in session yet, b/c I got to meet them without a distraction and have their full attention. AND I got out more postcards than I had expected.

Life is funny like that sometimes. :)

The 2nd child syndrome

When Jacob was merely 6 months old, we were enrolled in a music class in Chicago. I remember thinking how silly it was that these little babies were just laying there staring at the ceiling the whole time. But that's what you do when you have your first baby. Because you have the time. And you are dying to get out and do things with other adults -- even if it is singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" amongst a class of strangers.

I started Jacob at The Little Gym when he was 15 months old. He loved it. He loved everything about it. I have to say, that kid really loves a structured class. He listens to instructions well and follows directions very clearly, most of the time. He always has. 3+ years later, we are still at The Little Gym enjoying their teaching and activities. Jacob has been at camp there on Mondays and Wednesdays all summer and I have developed a relationship with Merry, the owner, since I now partner with them to do JBF Open Houses.

Anyway, I say all of this because today The Little Gym had an "end of Summer party" and it was the FIRST TIME Maddie had actually stepped into the gym. She's never had a chance to play there. We've been in there a hundred times but she never got to play. Until today. WHAT A SHAME. She is almost 2! I feel as if I've neglected a big part of parenting her as a toddler. Why, do you ask, have I not done classes with her like I did Jacob? Oh let me count the ways...

I do say to Mark often "there needs to be more than 24 hours in a day". That pretty much sums it up.

So, today I got to see her finally explore all those playmats and climbing structures she's only admired from the lobby window. And I signed her up for a Fall class beginning next week. I am sure she's going to love it and glad I finally pulled the trigger and enrolled her. I will say this -- she will have an injury in that gym. I'm certain of it. While Jacob was terrified of climbing and swinging on high bars, she had no fear as she tried to climb and swing on everything without a bit of caution. She fell OFF of the higher balance beam today without me even knowing about it (don't worry, it's only about 4 feet off the ground) because she seemingly felt confident enough to climb right on it and walk right across it without any assistance! Is this also the 2nd child syndrome?!

See what I mean?



Pure joy





She listened well and did exactly what the instructors said



And of course, Jacob had to show Maddie ALL of his tricks. I think he was as excited as she was that she was finally in the gym with him.



This absolutely shocked me. I had no idea he could do this!



I'm sure there will be lots more gymnastics fun to follow. Now that I've opened this new door to Maddie's world. I'm looking forward to every minute.

The "4's" Group

Jaemie and friends told me about a summer group that had formed called the "4's" group consisting of kids age 4 (original, eh?) They meet on Thursday mornings and plan fun outings each week. You may remember those photos from the San Carlos fire station a few weeks back. That was with the "4's" group. Luckily, most of the 4's also have younger siblings in the "2's" so it's a great fit for us. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, they planned a trip on the Caltrain from the San Carlos station up to Burlingame. I've ALWAYS wanted to do this with the kids but to be honest, I have never rode the Caltrain out here so the task was daunting (again, alone with 2 kids). So when I found out that this was our next playdate, I was super excited. As were Maddie and Jacob. Those kids love themselves some trains!



Apparently, Jaemie and I didn't get the "floppy sun hat required" notice.



Maddie LOVED the train but was also terrified on the platform. She had her arms and legs wrapped around me as tight as humanly possible when the train came and was crying "on the train! on the train!" I think she understood that ON IT was a much safer option!

I love this picture of them when we first got on the train. Holding hands. Pure joy. (By the way, thanks Grandma and Grandpa for Maddie's adorable outfit! We love it!)



The Robins opted to go up to the second level. Maddie kept screaming "Jaemie! Owen! Nathan!"



Not sure Nathan was really enjoying Jacob's affection. But it sure is cute!



When we arrived in Burlingame, we walked to the park and hung out there for a couple of hours and had pizza delivered to the park for lunch. We then loaded back up onto the train. I don't even know what to say about this photo other than it cracks. me. UP. Owen is about to kick some butt and Jacob is apparently the saddest kid on the planet. Don't be fooled my friends. He had an awesome day on the train and at the park!



Poor Nathan was tuckered out. I could NOT believe this kid fell asleep like that! So stinkin' cute.



More "4's" adventures to come! I just don't have time (or the energy) to post them all. Rest assured, we are having a great summer!

Almost Famous

I got an email today from my friend Kristin with the subject line "SC Park and Recs Guide". Inside the email she said "Did you see it?"

I immediately thought something was written up about JBF in the magazine and that's why she had asked me about it.

I responded "No, why?"

She wrote back and said "You guys are the cover photo!! At the Goblin walk last Halloween! We got it in the mail this morning."

WHAT?! We are on the cover? What was she talking about? Like a little photo in the corner? Among a bunch of other photos? My mind was racing...

Jaemie happened to be online so I instant messaged her (gotta love technology). And even more, gotta love this IM exchange between her and I:

aildebrando: Go to your mailbox!
BUZZ!!!

Jaemie Robins: ok
Jaemie Robins: outside my house?
aildebrando: is that where your mailbox is?
aildebrando: I want to see if you got the SC parks and rec guide
aildebrando: I have to know something
aildebrando: right now
Jaemie Robins: oh ok! hold on
Jaemie Robins: HOLY SH%&
Jaemie Robins: HOLY SH%&
aildebrando: Is it the Broxtermans?!
Jaemie Robins: Did they ask you???!?!!??!
aildebrando: NO!!!!!
aildebrando: What picture is it?!
aildebrando: I have to know!
aildebrando: Kristin emailed me and said "Did you see the SC parks and rec guide?"
aildebrando: I said "no, why?"
aildebrando: and she said "B/c you guys are the cover photo!"
aildebrando: She wasn't kidding?!
Jaemie Robins: YOU ARE THE COVER!
aildebrando: Oh, I am so going to need that issue
aildebrando: where can I get it?
aildebrando: I'm a belmont resident damnit!
Jaemie Robins: my house
Jaemie Robins: you haven't seen it?
aildebrando: no!
aildebrando: What picture is it?!
Jaemie Robins: do you want me to take a picture!
aildebrando: This is so bizarre!
aildebrando: yes!
aildebrando: yes!
aildebrando: Yes!
Jaemie Robins: YOU'RE IN YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
aildebrando: Well, kristin told me that part!

And there you have it folks. The City of San Carlos featured us on the cover of their parks and rec guide and never even asked permission. They most surely don't even know who we are! But it certainly does make for a cute story.

By the way, this is not the first time the Broxtermans were featured on the cover of a local magazine. Here's a pic of Mark and I on our wedding day that was the cover of the "Here Comes the Guide" magazine the following summer. Glad to know we still got it. *wink*