Disneyland ;o)

We went and returned already from the happiest place on earth and it truly was!! I have not a single complain about the trip except that we had to come home. We saw everything, rode everything, and enjoyed everything we set out to. My daughter had her visits with each character she wanted to. I must add each of them took their precious time with her and gave her their full attention. Answering her every little question. It was the sweetest moment to have her meet Snow White. I loved it!!! Maybe a bit more than her. Our son on the other hand didn't want to have anything to do with the characters..."they are just people dressed up in costume, they aren't real" SInce when did he grow up so fast...he is only 6. UGH!! But he LOVED riding the rids. I was once again in heaven. He was tall enough to ride pretty much everything in Disneyland except Indiana Jones & the cars. He even rode the tower of terror in CA Adventure. & We have the photos to prove it. He had a great time without the whole character stuff & she had a great time visiting and meeting them all. Hubby went along for the ride simply enjoying his family I assume. Enjoying the kids being kids in the happiest place...I'm also sure he laughed here and there at his wife's enjoyment of the park!!!

Well we are back to reality as we know it. Still struggling with change...I think I might have a break through though!!! I read Kal's blog And she talked about how hard balance is and how we should really stive for harmony rather than balance. I must say that sounds so good to me. I feel as if I'm constantly needing a new hat on, a mom, a wife, a friend, a teacher, a crafter, and me someplace in there. I always want structure and balance but rather I think I need harmony. I need things to flow together and work together, overlapping when they need to but not crowding. SO I'm going to think of harmony rather than balance. Balance suggest you have an equal segment of this and that....not so in harmony...we shall see how this new idea works...I'll let ya know.

WOW I'm 35 & Our Family Reunion

We just got home from our 2008 Family Reunion...we had an awesome time I might say. We had a few bumps and surprises but it wouldn't be a trip if that didn't happen. A quick recap...

We arrived on Wednesday...
We said hello to Yogi Bear...
We hunted for crawdads & tadpoles...
We played "Iron Chef"...(winner was a hash brown potatoes baked in tiny muffin tins with sour cream ..yum)
We had wine tasting... bubble boy won...with his Walmart Shampoo Bottle of wine...we sort of through the competition heeheehee
We played a ton of water games with the kids...
We played Pirate Bingo...
We played our version of Jeopardy...
We ate like kings everything in site...
We sang songs around a campfire...and ate smores...
They sang me happy birthday...
We (well I) read my new book "Breaking Dawn"
Hubby sprained his ankle on said book...
We got completely dirty...
We tossed balloons, balls and horseshoes...
We popped everyone's balloons...
We won awards...
Some played golf...
We took a ton of photos...
We left on Sunday...
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And then I turned 35 on the 7th...without much whoopee....which was actually fine.
I'm happy turning 35
I'm content with where I have ended-up thus far..
I'm incredibly lucky to have a great hubby, great kids, great friends, and great family
I could sit and list 35 things at 35 but that isn't to original so I will by pass the boring stuff and simply say I'm happy really happy!!! I'm not looking forward to the changes in my near future but it will be fine in the end. And the end is what matters not the how ya get there junk.
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Changes in the near future

I quit my job after 16 years...happy birthday to me from my hubby
The kids go back to school...bubble boy in 1st grade, sweet pea in 3-days preschool
I pulled myself off the mother's club board...
I dropped out of one of my playgroups...
No soccer this season...what will we do with our sat. free...
Hubby has a bunch of training coming up...
I'm going to see Madonna in concert...
& I'm going away with my girlfriends again soon....

Fast Moving Summer....

We sure are enjoying this summer ;o) LOVE IT!!!

We just bought a membership to East Bay Regional Park...I'm so excited!!! It gives me an insentive to take the kiddos on a regular basis. We did another trip up to Chico..I think it was our best trip yet. We got out and about so much. We had planned to chat with my dad, he came down from OR...but the conversation was sadly few and far between. SO we set out on our own adventures with my aunt, uncle, & cousins.

* 1st we hit the creek...clothes and all
* Then we played on the lawn with HUGE chucks of ice
* Then the following day we saw Space Chimps (a big waste of time)
* After the movie we ran through the city fountain...again clothes and all
* We ate dinner at the beloved Chuck E Cheese
* Then we headed to Chester & Lake Almanor the following day so hubby could play in a golf tournament and we could play in the lake.
* We headed home on Sunday and were left with great photos & great memories!!! I can't wait to head back up!!!

Great Weekend!!

We had a great spur of the moment weekend...

* Visited & stayed with Auntie Stacy
* Visited the Monterey Aquarium (FREE) thanks auntie stacy
* Ate Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
* Went to the Airport for lunch
* Visited Hubby's Grandmother's old house (they had to sell it a few years ago...so sad in my book) It is an awesome log cabin house deep in the Carmel Valley.
* Went to eat almost every meal (yippy for not cooking)
* Played in the Hotel Pool
* Ran Around Dennis the Menace Park

Loved spending quality time with my family!!! Pure Heaven in my book ;O)

long time no post...sorry

This afternoon little buddy helped his little sister put a band-aid on....it was the sweetest sight I have ever seen. All of a sudden the sweet bug has hit him and compassion, love and a flood of other emotions have come out of my little boy. A level of maturity I haven't seen before....it is really amazing.

Last weekend I had a grand adventure with my girlfriends. A weekend full of 1st for me. We headed to Six Flags early in the morning...4:30 to be exact. We rode rides and got the thrills scared out of us all day. It was an adventure in and of itself. I don't think I have ever screamed as much as I did on Tatsu...you are litterally flying through the air. One scary ride!!! On Sat. morning we leasurly got up and headed to Santa Barbara, again a 1st for me. We shopped for a few blocks and enjoyed the surrounding area. I found a scrapbook store since it was national scrapbook day. Loved shopping, loved walking on the beach, loved hanging out with my girlfriends, loved having pina coladas. Then on Sunday we got up and headed home with a stop in Solvang. The cutest little town I have ever seen. We shopped and snacked for the afternoon.

Got Gold??

We had a great family quicky vacation this past weekend. We hit gold country, the snow, and visited with Family. It was quick and oh so perfect!!!

* 1st we hit Sutter's Fort in Sac for a bit of a history lesson.
* Then to visit cousins & dinner at Chili's
* We hit the snow early Sat. am Yuba Gap a great place to play
* Bowling and dinner followed a quick afternoon nap.
* Sunday morning after breakfast we went to Marshall's Gold Discovery Museum where we panned for gold....real gold!!

The whole time we had little bear with us. Bubble boy got the privilege of being Kindergarden Kutie this week. His teacher, Mrs B chooses one child a week to be a "kutie" for the week. It includes bring home a special bear, filling an estimation jar, writing a paper about himself, being at the front of the line, getting to run the attendance to the office, and a bunch of other exciting kindergarden things. He was so excited and happy to have his turn it was fun.

Check out my flickr for photos!

Quick Post...

We had an AMAZING weekend...well Saturday!! We went with our friends, the Duggs to the snow and sledded all afternoon!! We got up early headed out and played for hours!! The kids had SNOOOOW much fun!!! It was great to be with friends, the weather was perfect, the kids were perfect, the snow was perfect!!! It was the perfect little day trip!! We are so lucky to have great friends!!!
On another note I just have to say 2 little quotes from sweet pea today!!!

*1st she came into the office declaring that she has a "power butt" and made tooting noises. Not very becoming for a 3 year old little lady but oh so funny.

*Then later that night she told Daddy that bubble boy "broke her feelings" instead of hurt her feelings...so sweet and so cute!!

Happy Family Visit

We spent the last 2 days in Chico visiting with family...my cousins, aunt & uncle, and my grandma (the kids great grandma.) It was a GREAT visit, I love to hangout with them!! We headed up to Mt. Lasson to play in the snow. Bubble Boy dug a HUGE hole for him and Sweet Pea to play in. They rode all over the place on snowmobiles, and tossed a few snowballs here and there. When we got back we crashed with movies and pizza. In the morning my aunt & uncle enjoyed my kids!! I LOVE to watch them interact with my kids...they made pancakes, walked the dog and headed out on a little adventure to the "creek", tossing rocks and getting dirty. The signs of a great day. Afterlunch we poured over a TON of old family photos and learned some interesting family stories.I love just being with family. Just spending time playing games, talking and sharing. I'm so lucky I just wish they lived closer!!

Here is to a day of GO!! I need to clean-up from the snow, and our little trip. Then get ready for school to start Monday!!! So sad that vacation flew by so fast. But first I think I'll pile up the pillows and blankets in front of the window, so we can watch mothernature at her best. A big storm just came in and I love to sit cozy with the kids and the rain. Just enjoying!!!