Back to School Interview ~ The Athlete

He wouldn't let me walk him to his class line.  I was allowed to park and walk as far as his sister's second grade line but I could NOT go past that.  He blew me a kiss and threw a peace sign over his shoulder as a farewell on the first morning of school.  He had been complaining about it being the first day of school but he was thrilled to see his buddies and get back into the swing of things.  And don't tell him I told you, but he has a GIANT bit of a crush on his teacher.  I'm sure that little tidbit also helped with the spring in his step on Monday morning.

It's his last year of elementary school and he is trying out for the school football team next week. He's still my guy, but I think this might be the start of Version 2.0.

MEM ~ 8/27/12

Name & Age: The Athlete, age 10
Grade Level: 5th grade
School: St Edward the Confessor
Teacher's Name: Mrs. Iseley
Best friend: Grant
Favorite color: red
When I grow up I want to be: rocket scientist for NASA
Favorite snack: pretzel thins
Favorite cereal: Cheerios
Favorite book: Kingdom Keepers series
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite food: bean & cheese burrito
Least favorite food: black pepper
Favorite game: Battleship
Favorite summer memory: visiting the Ronald Reagan Library
3 words that describe me: smart, short & athletic

You are the coolest kid around, my love.  It is so fun to watch you being you.  Have a great year!

Back to School Interview ~ The Princess

The Peter Pan collars and Mary Janes are gone.  She's a second grader and she wanted high tops and a new belt for her back to school look this year.  Just looking at this photo of her chokes me up.  I don't know where my little pigtailed toddler ran off to.

In honor of school starting I did interviews with The Princess and her brother.  Thank you Pinterest for pointing me to a free printable that I can use as a keepsake for them, too! 

SGM ~ 8/27/12

Name & Age:  The Princess, age 8
Grade Level: 2nd grade
School: St Edward the Confessor
Teacher's Name: Miss Rego
Best friend: Emily
Favorite color: turquoise
When I grow up I want to be: an artist
Favorite snack: pita chips & hummus
Favorite cereal: Frosted Flakes
Favorite book: Ivy & Bean series
Favorite holiday: my birthday!
Favorite food: chicken tacos
Least favorite food: crab
Favorite game: Monopoly
Favorite summer memory: My Nana visiting from Florida
3 words that describe me: tiny, smart & creative

You are so, so loved baby girl.  Have a great 2nd grade year!!!!

Big Deal

We had only met a couple of months before his birthday but I was frantic to find a great gift for him.  My future husband was back in California and I was in Florida.  Birthdays are big deal for me and I couldn't let his pass without him knowing how head over heels I was for him.  Later I figured out that he didn't care a thing in the world about anything that I sent him, but at least he'd known that HIS birthday was a big deal to me.  Eighteen years later his birthday is still a big deal to me.

He is handsome and ridiculously intelligent.  He is kind and patient.  He is witty and sometimes he's downright hilarious.  His eyes are still my favorite thing about him and he is an amazing dancer.  He married me with all of my faults and has made me better.  He is the most amazing Dad to the most amazing kids in the world.   He is everything I wanted then and more than I ever thought I could hope for.

He's my husband and today's his birthday.

He's a big deal to me.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Montoya.  I love you

Around the loop

We are back in the land of milk & honey and it's not a bad gig.  I am not complaining. 

After a LONG drive back from the wilderness we happily slept on our down pillows and woke up to watch the Game Show Network on the big ol' TV on the wall in our bedroom.  No complaints from me  . . .

but there is this one thing.

Roughing it makes us better

 

the sunrise view from site 135

Our kids are bright eyed and giggly and beg to ride just two more loops on their bicycles before dinner.  They sit at the picnic table and eat with us and chat about squirrels and tomorrow's hike and the horses they rode that day.

Yosemite National Park ~ Mist Trail

He takes the trash bag to the bear proof cans and she gets more water so I can wash dishes on top of the cooler.  The four of us go to bed at the same time and zip into our sleeping bags and say "good night, I love you".

There is not one thing in the world wrong with high thread count sheets and unlimited amounts of hot water, but at least once a year it's a good, good thing to want to ride your bike around the loop just one more time.

Checking out

No phones. No television. No computers.

Four bicycles.
Two tents.
Just me and my three.

One week.

Vacation . . .

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Ten Things to Smile About: July

Blink.  It's gone.  July was was last month. 

{Insert gigantic sigh}

Ten Things to Smile About: July 2012

My handsome little Athlete finishing All Star baseball with a smile.

The Princess' eighth birthday celebration being worth the wait.

Many small children singing and dancing together is truly a gift in itself.

Being able to see my little loves with FaceTime while I am traveling.

Adding a little business to pleasure and spending the day in Tampa with my Ya Ya and her wild and crazy little girl.

The kids learning how to eat with chopsticks. 

A terrific visit with my Mom.

Seeing The Dark Knight with E.  Any movie that's more than 2 hour long and starts after 9 PM has to be good if I stayed awake for the whole thing.

My sweet cousin's bridal shower.  I can hardly wait for the wedding.  I know she will be the most beautiful bride ever and I love an excuse for a good party!!

Visiting the Reagan Presidential Library

A breathtaking neighborhood sunset

Thank you, Emmy for keeping me on track.  I never want to lose sight of all my beautiful reasons to smile.