Easter Slideshow

Kids can turn your life upside down and inside out, but this right here is why it's all worth it. Yes, even when they are trying to use you as a human rock wall in church.

Click to View Easter Slideshow

Seeing the joy in your child's smile can fill your soul like nothing else can.

Food Faves II

A little over a year ago I posted about the kids' favorite foods and how my own childhood favorites bring me joy. Now, recently Austin has discovered a very unique new food fave and it looks like this, or a variation of this:



A plain bagel slathered with crunchy peanut butter, bbq sauce and Sunchips. YUM, right? The concoction changes all the time...whatever condiments he can find in the fridge are fair game and the crunchier the better. I can get down with that, since, as I've mentioned before, I'm in heaven once you slap on some potato chips or Nacho Cheese Doritos onto a tuna fish or egg salad sandwich. But guys, the other day, he took a See's Candy nougat and walnut St Patricks Day "potato" that is coated in cocoa powder and doused it in worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.

The dude needs an intervention.

Harlie, on the other hand has adopted some more conventional favorite foods. Currently her favorite breakfast food is waffles and if given the chance would probably eat soup or pizza every night for dinner. She also still enjoys avocado, frozen blueberries and yogurt as much as she did as a baby. And boy does she loooooove chocolate, almost as much as I love hearing her say "chocolate."

Springtime with Stinkerbell

Wishing all my days were sprinkled with ladybugs, dandelions and Toy Story snuggles.

Sizzle to Fizzle

What started out so great last weekend...











ended so so bad...



But it was fun while it lasted. Happy 36th birthday baby! Here's to our wacky wonderful unpredictable crazy making life!!!!

Someone used the potty!

Tonight, as we were chatting in the living room with Scott's dad, who was in town visiting from Mexico, I caught a whiff of what I thought was a poopy diaper and whispered to Scott "Your turn!" Although, as it turns out the smell was just a teaser, but a clear sign that a dirty diaper was on it's way. Then Steve made mention of how potty training was probably on the horizon and Scott laughed and said, "Uh yeah, we thought she'd be potty trained by now". Harlie could tell we were talking about her and so we asked if she needed to use the potty. She hopped right off the couch and ran to the toilet, as Scott followed. Shortly after, I heard Scott cheer, so I raced to the bathroom, thinking there's no way she actually did it. As I rounded the corner, I saw Harlie's huge smile and the proof in the potty. Hooray! And then as I bent down to congratulate her, Harlie says to me "Mama, wanna smell it?"

Missing You

I just got off the phone with Auntie Keri, it's 11:17am, and I have two hours of taking calls to get through before my lunch break. I still feel guilty that I left you crying as Daddy and I left this morning and I'd kill for a sloppy kiss and death-grip-around-the-neck kind of hug from you right about now.

--

Now, it's 6:33pm and I'm trying desperately to get dinner on the table before 7:00. You are hanging on to my leg, wanting to help, or be held, or play with the knife, or climb into the oven and all I want is some goddamn space so we can get through the must do's and get you to bed at a decent hour. And let me tell you, bedtime is it's own monumental struggle. You fight it tooth and nail as if to say "Uh, guys, didn't we just get home, I thought we were gonna hang out?! No Fair!"

--

My own bedtime is approaching and like always I get weepy that soon I'll be waking up and scramble to get to work on time, just to sit there and wish I was somewhere else all over again. I peek in on you for the 3rd time tonight and wish I could crawl into the crib with you...but instead I just straighten your pony blanket and touch your cheek.


This is how it goes most weekdays. When you're pushing, I'm pulling. When I kneel down for a hug, you run right past.


I want to apologize, Bubs...for this. For today especially. You were sick and Mama was cranky. And in typical fashion, I didn't put the puzzle pieces together until it was too late.

I love you.

Love in Sparkles

What I expected to be a pretty ho-hum Valentine's Day, turned out to be kinda awesome all thanks to:

A $5 bottle of Trader Joe's wine

Homemade chocolate chip cookies

A box of chocolates

It's Complicated on DVD

An X-box for the teenager

and best of all, a handmade card full of love and sparkles.

I guess romance on a budget isn't always so bad.

Familiar

Today, as I was sitting at a picnic table, singing songs with Harlie and waiting for Scott to come back to the park with lunch, I had a familiar feeling come over me...a hopeful, peaceful feeling. The same one from just over two years ago, when Scott and I brought Harlie home from the hospital and we had three or four days to spend just getting to know her better before Scott had to go back to work.

And even now, after we've finished our PB&J's, apple slices and chocolate milk, the feeling lingers. Harlie is napping, Scott ran to get his haircut and Austin is helping his friend haul all of the necessary gaming gear to our house for a sleepover tonight.

Now, maybe it's just the sun and that soothing warmth on your back that fills you up after weeks of damp and dreary days. Because, indeed, the promise of warmer weather and a new season is exactly what I need right about now.

Or maybe, this is how it was supposed to go after all.

Here's to hoping...

2010 Recap

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Go on an interview. Baskin Robbins doesn't count.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


I don't remember making any.

This year I resolve to be kinder to myself and those around me that deserve all the love I can give them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Although not literally close to me, Emily and Lenette, who are dear, long time friends of mine each had a baby. Asher was born in July and Mia was born in October.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Not that I can remember, but my mind is mush these days

5. What countries did you visit?

None.


6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

Financial security.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 19th. The day our life was turned upside down.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


I think the most obvious would be landing a J-O-B, however, there were little victories throughout the year that made a big impact on my life. Signing the lease last week on our rental felt HUGE.

9. What was your biggest failure?
The short sale. And also the way I took my frustrations out on Scott.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had bronchitis that lasted about a month. That was annoying as all hell.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A security deposit and first month's rent.

12. Where did most of your money go?
GAS!!!! And food.

13. What did you get really excited about?
Trips out of town, to Livermore, Napa and Tahoe. My job. Scott's job. The email from Scott that said WE GOT IT!!!!

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I'm a believer

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? About the same, but for different reasons. Life is so different now.
– thinner or fatter? Probably fatter.
– richer or poorer? Richer in opportunity, about the same cash-wise.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?


Blogging. Reading. Memorizing. Traveling. Exercising.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?


Fretting. Nagging.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

At (my parent's) home with my family. It was perfect.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Brothers and Sisters...it's extra good this year.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

Don't Say a Word by Barbara Freethy and Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton

21. What was your favorite music from this year?


My favorite song would probably be The Weary Kind from the Crazy Heart Soundtrack.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

I really liked Crazy Heart and Easy A :-).

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 and spent my birthday with the fam in Tahoe.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not having to move.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

Slouchy.

26. What kept you sane?

My friends and sister. Hands down

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.


Home is where your heart is

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year