Disneyland Momma

The last couple of weeks have been so much fun!  Here is a re-cap!

Hubby & I snuk away for a night out on the town while my friend Jewels took care of the kidlets!  SWA had an employee special at the Palazzo so we stayed there super cheap and got 2 for 1 tickets to Blue Man Group!  It was rockin' - especially since they were overbooked and upgraded us to a 2000 sq foot suite (that's as big as my HOUSE, people!) complete with a baby grand piano (I really should practice more so I can play in those situations - cuz you know they happen all the time…..)  and a pool table (I really should practice that too, a shark I am not!)  We had such a great time and stayed out half the night and acted like newly-weds!  It was so much fun and oh-so-indulgant!  Yipee! I love me some couple time with my man!

I took Bella on a trip to Disneyland! Yes!  Just Bella & me!  It was so fun to spend time with her and be silly, crazy, giddy for a few days!

The purpose of the trip is actually to spend time talking about what I like to call the "Sex, Drugs & Rock-n-Roll" conversation we all have to have with our kids.  About four years ago, my pastor's wife (who is one of my parenting mentors) told me how she had taken her daughter on a Disney Cruise for a few days and had the above referenced talk and how wonderful it was to spend time talking and making good memories one-on-one BEFORE the hormones and boy-craziness hits that we call Junior High!  So she made me promise I would take my kids on a trip (and Hubby would take our son) to do the same.  Shortly after that conversation, I was at a Marriage Conference called Weekend to Remember when I saw a display for a program like Pastor's Wife had described called Passport to Purity  - Perfect!  I bought it and saved it for a year when Rose was getting ready to start Middle School.  She had chosen to go to Six Flaggs Magic Mountain and we rode roller coasters (and I got my brains mushed) for three fun filled days!  So Bella has been planning her Passport to Purity trip for the last three years!  

Some things I loved about my Mommy / Daughter trip with Bella:

• Bella planned for weeks which rides we would go on and in what order 
• As soon as we arrived at our room in the hotel, she unpacked her bag, arranged her cosmetics, potions & lotions and turned down the bed
• I was able to spoil her rotten and buy her gifts and treats and not feel a bit guilty! 
• It was a  once in a lifetime weekend and I lived fully in the moment
• We skipped through Disneyland and acted like 11 year olds
• We ate chicken strips and fries (her very favorite) every single day, most days twice a day
• We played in the ocean, splashing and drinking too much salt water and getting sand everywhere, including all over the rental car
• I left her gifts on her pillow (bracelets, books, bookmarks, cd's) to shower her with love
• I got to visit my birth-place and the beaches I always heard my older siblings talk about surfing at when we lived in California
• I got to see my daughters love for her siblings as she carefully and thoughtfully picked out gifts for all of them
• We had the best conversations about the purpose of life, love and discussed her hopes and dreams

I love you, my Bella!  

Since I'm in the mode of the Disneyland Fairytale -

May all your dreams come true!  

Daddy Day

What our Daddy means to us by the Q-Crew:

• How old is Daddy? (LaLa) One!  Giggle Giggle; they all knew cuz he had the big 4-0 party this year!
• What makes Daddy happy?  (Fred) Playing the tickle game with his children.
• What is Daddy's favorite thing to do? (Bella) Watch NASCAR!
• What is Daddy really good at? (Rose) Playing Bass Guitar.
• What does Daddy do for work? (LaLa) go to work, fix "elicoptors" and airplanes.
• Where is Daddy's favorite place to eat? (Fred) McDonalds!  very funny, son - Daddy will eat anywhere but McD's!
• What does Daddy teach you? (Bella) Baseball!
• What makes Daddy sad? (Rose) When we are obnoxious.
• What do Daddy's do?  (LaLa) Do nice things for their children. (Bella) LaLa's a kiss-up!
• What does Daddy want for Father's Day? (Fred) A Motorcycle.....  (Momma) oh, sorry Pops! A new cross necklace is much safer than a bike!
• What is Daddy's favorite color? (Bella) Red!
• What does Daddy do for quiet time? (Rose) Read the Bible (!! love this !!)
• What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? (LaLa) Hug him (Fred) Go to NASCAR (Bella) Book Club!  (They are reading / discussing the Lightening Thief series right now) (Rose) Watch NASCAR!

Hubby, you are the best Daddy our kids will ever have :) 

I love you, my whole world is with you and our Q-crew

Dolphins & Kisses!

Here are some pics of Daddy doing his ride-along for his 40th birthday that we finally did a couple of weeks ago:

Love you, Daddy!

Birthday Madness

Fred is six (6!) and Rose is fourteen (14!)..... wow how time goes by in the blink of an eye.  Seems like Rose was just turning six, and now she's getting ready to start high school. 

I decided to make our birthday celebrations a little less of a production this year (to save sweet moola and teach contentment) so our parties were low key and no-stress!  Fred hung out at his favorite park with his buddies, and Rose went to the movies with friends (sans parents or siblings, eeekkk) and then hung at her favorite park with her buddies (sans parents or siblings, eeekkk)..... I laugh at the differences AND the similarities in their choices of party venues!  giggle giggle

Enjoy the pics of days gone by!

Her love of reading begins...

Rose turning 1 and diggin in!

Halloween 1998 cheering on Momma's school!

Halloween 1999 - she wore that bunny costume every day for at least a year!

Jelly Belly 2001

Seaworld 2004

chilling with friends 2006

We met Josh Groban 2007 (He has pretty teeth!)

becoming a photographer 2008

......and now.....

a beautiful, smart, talented, crazy silly

wonderful daughter that I am blessed with.

I love you, little one
________________________________________

Now Fred's pics of days gone by

our little man (aka squirt) arrives!

My 2 fav men! 

Yes, his thumb is always in his mouth!

It was in his mouth during ultra-sounds and

went back in right after birth! 

I'll be a sad momma when he stops....

2007 with his "Adventure hat" he wore everywhere

Halloween 2008 whudduya mean I can't eat it all now?

Summer 2009 

2010 Fred & his little dudes

Oh how I love you Little Man,

you are already reading and have your own little life.....

but you will always be your momma's boy!

another year older... another year wiser?

Hubby and I had Birthdays at the end of March!  What a fun week it was!

I was totally spoiled by my family and friends and co-workers!  My office was decorated and I had a huge cake and balloons waiting for me when I got to the office on my birthday!  My girlfriends took me to Milo's for wine tasting complete with a cheese & fruit plate.... yum!  They gave me clothes, jewelry, sweet cards and lots of laughter.  I just love them and thank God for their friendship every single day!  They are amazing!!!

Hubby bought me an i-touch; which I needed!  I am sorry to not be using my old i-pod, though.  I loved it, I ordered it from the Apple web-site 4 years ago, it was red and had the inscription "The Lord is my Strength and Song" on the back and i enjoyed watching it travel from China to my house... eagerly awaiting my first i-pod.  Sadly, it doesn't hold a charge anymore and i will miss it terribly.  Luckily, my i-touch has stolen my heart and I love that I have a nike chip for my running shoes that the i-touch will track: pace, miles, and record workouts for me and I didn't have to invest in an expensive GPS watch!  Apple Rocks!  (Thanks, Hubby... you are super-techie cool!)

Speaking of Hubby.... he turned the big 4-0 this year and I threw him a surprise party!  It was a smashing success and he loved having friends and family surround him with love (and gag gifts galore!!).  I had told him we were meeting our friends for dinner and drinks and when we showed up, 30 of his friends were there!  His mom even made it to celebrate the occasion!  I am so thankful that everyone was there to love him up and we love you all!

Yes..... we are getting older, wiser, and more blessed in life and love every year!  Life is such a gift!

family, friends, lots of fun!

Hubby's Momma wanted to get him a Camaro for his b-day!  

He loved it!

The 88 car came with a coupon good for one Petty Driving Experience!

Which means he gets to DRIVE a Nascar!  Woo Hoo!

Don't ya just Love love?

My Book Bender

Read

by Ann Turner

Do you remember

learning to read?

That book full of squiggles

like ants, escaped.

the teacher's big thumb

on the page,

your heart beating inside

afraid that all you'd ever see

was ants---

Then a word popped out.

"See," and another, "cat,"

and my finger on teacher's

we read "I see cat."

I ran around the room

so happy I saw words

instead of ants.

I just love this poem!  Fred is learning to read and it is so fun to hear him reading EVERYTHING and sounding out the words on signs, buildings, shirts, bags and of course, books EVERYWHERE we go! 

I just love reading, too.  So, I am starting a book blog... I hope you will check it out and I hope you enjoy my musings.  I haven't quite figured out how I am going to format it, so it will be a work in progress (just like me!). 

http://www.mybookbender.blogspot.com/

Christmas 2009

Happy Birthday, Jesus! The Q-Crew had a wonderful day

celebrating your birthday and getting presents in your honor! 

Thank you for this season to indulge in food,
toys, music, and each other! 

The twinkling lights, a tree decorated
with ornaments from years gone by;

 the food, the !Candy! the spirits :)
the presents wrapped with ribbons,
the candy canes, hot chocolate and the carols sung off-key!

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring on our piano keys;
tiny hands playing with our Little People Nativity.
Advent candles and calendars decorate table tops and walls;
Christmas Cards arriving daily with pictures of loved ones
to hang on our bulletin board for the year to come.

Butterflies in tummys and ribbons in pretty hair
Princess dresses for dainty girls is a treasured indulgance every year.
Handel's Messiah played by an orchestra,
Christmas Cantata by the choir;
and an annual Nutcracker Suite Ballet night out.

Christmas Eve traditions include the Children's Worship Service
some dress as angels, shepards, wisemen and even Mary and Joseph.
 We sing beloved songs as well as listening to the story of Jesus' birth.

Then Smore's, laughs, lots of speculation and anticipation
proceed cookies left for Santa as we snuggle in new PJ's.
Lots of lullabyes to lull little one's to dream of sugar plums,
as busy elves finish preparation and perhaps a glass of wine!

Christmas Day dawns after children have been up
and sent back to slumber;
finally time to share our bounty, stockings are stuffed to overflowing!
Things long wished for, worked for, bought with much care and love;
a day full of joy and laughter, dreams come true, a Christmas Feast!

These are the moments we hope and pray for;
treasure always, live for, love.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!
The presents were wonderful, but not as great as Your presence!
The gift of importance is our Messiah, King of Kings, Emmanuel.

God with us!

Rock-n-Roll-n-Runnin'

I did it! 

My first race ever!  The Las Vegas Rock-n-Roll 1/2 Marathon!  I think I may be hooked on this running thang!  I had the best time, it was a lot of hard work, but oh so much fun!  The race started out bright and early, I had to be there at 5:00 to prepare for the starting gun at 6:15.  There were 27,000 runners with running Elvi, a run through wedding, people dressed up in costumes (my personal favorite was a guy dressed up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz - including bright red ruby slippers instead of running shoes! or maybe they were be-dazzled running shoes?), there was also show girls, tigers in cages and rock-n-roll bands every couple of miles!  Including a couple guys from church playing with their bands! 
The run was very well organized ~ I am so glad I joined the running group though.  I would have been a mess without the guidance of the coaches and my team mates and I couldn't have done it without the support of my hubby and kiddos!   

Here's some training and race memories:

• Saturday Morning Running Group: 5:30 every saturday from June to December
• Two pairs of running shoes - Saucony all the way!
• Lots of running clothes - gotta make it fun to keep motivated, right?
• Shin splints for 4 months, so glad I figured out I had the wrong shoes for my tootsies by race time!  (So much for the fancy gait analysis, I hated those shoes)
• Logged 250 miles in 6 months!  Never thought that would happen!
• Couldn't do it without my I-pod and my mantra "the Lord is my Strength and Song and is become my Savior"
• Bananas are the sweetest reward after a long run!
• New friends and coaches (and a LOUD alarm clock!) depending on me helped get me up in the morning!
• Lost 10 pounds - 6 from running and last 4 stubborn ones by cutting out candy... boo hoo.
• Running is the best stress reliever I have found, yoga (my first passion) is a great reward afterwards!
• Cars really do not watch for runners... keep on your toes!
• Gel is so yummy and gives much needed pep in your step!  Vanilla, vanilla, vanilla....
• Race Day is so much fun!
• Racing in December is a tad bit cold - 36 degrees to be exact.  Love Under Armor, gloves and headbands!  My toes finally thawed out at mile 3!
• Running on the strip was a blast!  A whole new view of Las Vegas (and a reminder that it isn't so glam in the daytime, haha!).  City Center looks like Gotham City, I'm a little scared of it.
• Miles 1-11 rocked! 
• Mile 12 was tough, I couldn't figure out why I was so tired, I had trained hard and was prepared....
• Mile 13 - saw the family and a bestie in front of the Luxor - they cheered me on and energized me!
• Finish Line!  Cross one off the Bucket List and add to the yearly to-do list!
• Now I know why I was so tired - finish time of 2:19:28!!  I had projected to finish in 2 1/2 hours! 
• Sweet, sweet endorphins, family and friends.  Life is good.

Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving Day!  I love this holiday!  It means a long weekend at home, lotsa leftovers and naps!  Hubby is home this year, too ~ Yay!

My girls are complete opposites of each other.  Rose doesn't care to cook, doesn't care about decor and would stay in her PJ's all day everyday if she could and Bella loves to cook and decorate and dress up.  So guess who helped prepare Thanksgiving Dinner, that's right, my 10 year old Bella!  They had the funniest conversation about what Thanksgiving will be like when they are grown up and have their own homes, here it is:

Momma:  Someday you two will have to cook Thanksgiving for me and I will just come to your house and eat!
Bella:  I'll prepare a Thanksgiving Feast for you Momma!
Rose:  Not me, I just wanna eat it! I'm too lazy to cook all day.
Bella:  I'll have the fancy plates and wine glasses and the table will be all decked out and beautiful!
Rose:  I'd have to order food in and serve it on paper plates.
Bella:  OK then, I will cook dinner for everyone and then we can go to your house for dessert!
Rose:  I'll serve Ice Cream and pie, but Bella, you have to bring the pie!

Love them. My only request is that they don't live to far away from me when they are grown up.  Is around the corner too much to ask?

All Saints Day

Today is All Saints Day, which up until today meant absolutely nothing to me.  After today's sermon, I see it all much differently and much more personally than I did before.  Our Pastor, and new Associate Pastor (a 25 year old woman; fresh out of seminary and oh so amazing!) had placed two tables on the stage with lace coverings and about 200 lit tea-light candles on top.  It was beautiful and seemed very traditional, so I knew a surprise was in store for the sermon! 

The Pastor started off talking about saints and those that have gone before us who have made significant impacts on the Christian faith.... this is a little unusual for my protestant church... we don't worship or pray to saints like other religions do.  We believe that we may have an intimate, personal relationship with Christ Jesus and do not require intercession. Then he asked us to make All Saints Day more personal by looking into our own walk with Christ and people or persons who led us to Him.  He asked us to come forward and say their name and light a candle for them because this day represents their being in the presence of our Savior.  I named my Step-Mother (Smother!) because she was integral in my becoming a Christian. 

My Father & Smother 2002

Smother and I had many conversations about religion when hubby and I lived with them after transferring from Utah to California for a job in 1994.  We stayed with them for a wonderful 3 or 4 months and had marathon "Spite and Malice" games and popcorn by the bucketful!  Over the years, I attended Midnight Mass with her on Christmas Eve and drilled her on religions, culture, musicals, books and anything else she would tolerate.  I loved that she was so smart and could remember vivid details at the drop of a hat and loved to tell stories of her many insurance fraud investigations.  And that woman could COOK!  Oh, just thinking of her jumbalaya, cheesy scalloped potatoes, seven minute frosting, coffee smoothies, mimosa's.... makes me gain ten pounds!  She passed away in 2005 from Lung Cancer and I miss her so much. 

My family has a "theme song" that we play before and after family time bible lessons and I would like to dedicate it to Nanny / Smother's memory today because her Lifesong gave me a glimpse of what My Jesus looks like.  Thank you for sharing your faith and your love with me.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEwB0pkes7U