Where I like to be..

I love Sundays. Getting up reading the Chronicle - it's the day it takes 30 minutes to read rather than 10. We have a system, Dennis guts the ads and grabs Parade and I get the rest. Then leisurely swap.

Not this morning. It's Niles Flea Market and Antiques Fair. Mr. Jeske was to be up at 4am to open the school gates and rent out the yard to a variety of colorful characters. The school uses the monies for sending sixth graders to science camp. Yes, I'm married to a good egg.

This morning, things not so smooth. My eyes popped open and peeked at the clock. 6:20 am, to my left, Mr. Jeske. Trying not to scream "you're laaaaaate" I nudged him up. After a colorful streak of vernacular he was out of bed and out the door.

I followed him out grabbed the paper and came back to start a pot of coffee.

Got a texts from Hillary, the other parent volunteer/hero, keeping Mr. Jeske in check. No to the electric guitar.

Mr. J was home by ten and I was off. Where does one go Sundays at 10 am? The Farmers market of course.


It doesn't look like much, but let me tell you the reasons why I go: white nectaries, pluots, tomatoes, strawberries, lunch box apples and enough veggies to keep a herd of rabbits happy.



Plus, a few of the vendors are from Hughson. Yep yep yep..saves me a 174 mile drive. Of course any time I've tried to ask them about Hughson they look at me like I'm insane - somehow I don't mind. J&J, Rodriguez and Inzana Farms.



Inzana nuts.



And I don't know how you get this gig, but it's pretty sweet; "dude, I killed the Farmers Market".




And these.. Long beans? Anyone know how to prep and cook them?

And as for the flea market, I got on my bike and did a ride down town. Now, I'm not looking for anything so I wanted to get out and see who was selling what. Okay, totally lying, I wanted to see my Mommy buddies.

Peeled out up the street to main and check out the 'antiques'. I'm pretty sure some were fresh off the boat from China and others were straight out of someones dead neighbors house. The food booths smelled amazing. Visited lots of friends along the way, even let someone ride my bike. In short, it was an awesome day.

Now I'm home with two kids cracking out on the computer.

Two more days until school..

Mrs. Grossmans

Oh yep, thought I'd blog about Mrs. Grossman's because, it was Awesome.


The fabulous Mz Gail drove like a champ. We started out trying to follow Elizabeth and Amy but quickly lost them on the 880, no worries all heading to the same place. Took us about an hour and twenty to get there. Picnicked on the side of the road down from the factory. The kids had seen an awesome playground that turned out to be a Montessori school - bummer but no worries we had -the grass on the side of the road- with shade. Lunch eaten, shared and smushed during a wild game of tag. Fueled and 'wiggles worked out' we peeled out for the factory.

We checked in, you have to have a reservation, all eleven of us, four Moms seven kids, many of us Mrs. Grossman fans from childhood. (One even had an album AND went to sticker swapping parties-Did you hear that? Sticker swapping parties-Freaking awesome childhood).

$7 for adults $5 for kids. We forked over the cash and were invited to browse the latest line of stickers. But wait, there's more.. just insiiiiiide the door are the discount stickers. Did you hear the $5 of allowance in my children's purse explode in flames?

Our tour started with a video quite like this one with some discrepancies - Mrs. G's semi retired and the plant is half it's original size.

No pictures were allowed of the factory, which kind of a disappointment-but don't drag that lower lip, at each stop of the tour you get stickers!
(note: I'm not going to post pictures of the stickers because it should be a bit of a surprise.)

Sticker at the video room - classic Mrs. G's heart sticker
Die cut - glitter hearts
Paper loading - puppy stickers
Packaging - retired cowboy boots
Recycling/green stop - PG&E LED key chain
Storage - Photo Op



O & P


D & K


M & J


Miss A
Embossing - 8 ball
Laser cutting machine - roller coaster

~But wait, there's more. Back in the video room they hand out scenery cards and Eight more sheets of stickers..

~But wait, there's More, beautiful laser cut small scrap book that you can stick your stickers!

~(bare with me) But Wait Theres More..when you're back to the lobby/ store when you spend more than $30 in product they give you back your tour price in a discount. Not that anyone I know spent that much in stickers.
I do have an excuse, I picked up a 'teacher pack' for Hilary. Chock full of sticker goodness. I'm dying to rip it open and rifle through -note to self, call Hilary to come get them soon.


The girls found great stickers, so did their Mom :) I'm not even going to tell you about the $2 scissors I picked up. Oh wait..

Long hot ride home, the back of Gails van was awash in a sea of sticker backings. Three out of four couldn't wait until they got home to start their books. Seven happy kids, four happy Moms.

If you want to go, check them out at their web site mrsgrossman.com

The long road

Started out in Isleworth up at 6:30 couldn't sleep. Brewed my last pot of coffee in the French press (last time!) checked email and facebook. Dennis was up by 7:30 showering and finishing up the last bits. We crammed the last bits into our suitcases. Found a couple stray socks. We left two bags of kids clothes -mostly P's that were shot due to lack of mommy's lack of stain fighting knowledge. I'm hoping they won't notice. If they do i'll play the 'sticker book' card. "we needed room for your sticker books.

The girls were up by ten dressed and ready to peel out. "we get to see Cody!" followed by a list of names of kids they want to have play dates with. Basically if you live within a 150 mile radius, you're in :)

Nick our go to guy for the house came by at ten. We had broken a chair and wanted to let him see we hadn't trashed the rest of the place -ala Airbnb. The break was an old one that had been repaired badly. (whew) Apparently the leasing place had another renter coming by to see the place an hour after we left.

The cab got lost - not an unfamiliar issue, we had learned to ask them to come half an hour earlier. We got to the airport by 11:30 our flight was at 1:50.

Went through the "family lane" security check. Rainbows on their metal detectors! How could we resist. We should have. Dennis pegged it when he said "I bet some business dude thought 'how can I get all these families and children out of my way'". One family in front of us -thinking it's all good. Not. One family of three, five bins. Five plastic bins. Our turn with the security lady speaking slowly like we're maroons "put everything in a...bin. No you.. Put everything in the bin.. Do you have any liquids? Annnnny liquids".

We had lunch at Giraffe Cafe -plastic giraffes are a huge draw and the foods good. Well, let's back up. I'm dying for Mexican food. Have not seen a taco or a real nacho anywhere. Nachos in London are made with dorritoes. Not even joking.
I know better than to order Mexican food any where but Mexico or California. I do, I just can't resist. And so I pay the price; my veggie burrito was 3" with chunks of potato and zucchini, doesn't sound too bad until you add a tomato sauce and.. Goat cheese. Now, I love all that I just listed, but not together. Meh.

Both girls had promised, promised us that they could carry their sticker books in their back packs. Each had at least an added 10lbs on their backs. No shock, guess who had the packs? One for Dad and one for Mom.

We peeled out, headed to our gate. Down the escalators, on the subway, up the escalator. Up another escalator and finally to the gate. Spent our last ten pounds on cadbury chocolates. Sorry Deb no violet crumbles to be found.

The flight was long. Finally saw "Paul" tried to watch "Thor" juust couldn't get into it.
The food was exceptionally bad. P ate a packet of butter and a couple shots of apple juice. Not to worry we had packed Smarties.

I'm loosing steam here so I'll wrap up. Plane flew in air. Plane landed safe. Took van home. TiVo good. Shower and pajamas good.











Shout out to Ms. Gail, bag of Cheerios, coffee, juice and milk.








Massive thank you for the adorable cherub art work welcoming us home; cannot tell you how grateful we are, we're feeling the love.

Right, so off to bed with us.. Will we see you in the plaza? Music starts at 1pm.