I’ve been feeling a little sorry for myself this week because I have “too much on my plate”. I don’t know about your world, but in mine (particularly in the office) that is said a LOT. The current state of the real estate industry and the general plight of the economy makes working for a financial services company a little more tense than usual. Add to that picture that my boss, and very good friend, has temporarily moved to the UK to handle some family business leaving me to run a Department that was already overloaded.

Poor me, right? Not even. I force myself to remember just how good I’ve got it.

My husband and I are genuinely happy to be married to each other. We have two of the most beautiful, funny, charming children EVER. We have a warm, comfortable home with a bed for everyone. We’re blessed to have two cars to drive, clothes to wear and food to eat. We have an amazing support system in our families and friends that we treasure. And most of all, we have each other and every day together to cherish.

My Mom’s good friend, Cherie, recently her 18 year-old son in a tragic car accident at the end of September. Her husband died of a heart attack exactly two weeks later. I sent her a sympathy card this week and was so struck by how there was NOTHING I could say or do to make it better. If I were in her shoes the only thing that would make it better for me would be to have them back. I pray for her peace every day and for her two surviving sons.

If you’re like me and you can barely muster the energy to smile some days. Please take five minutes to remember why you’re lucky. You may have to stop and physically force yourself to think of it, but I know from my own experience you’ll be glad you did. From a toast that my brother-in-law gave at his wedding this weekend . . .

“Tomorrow is a blessing. Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present”

God Bless you and yours. Please keep those less fortunate than you in your prayers.

School Day Storage

Does anyone have a brilliant suggestion for how to store school projects/art? My heart is overrun with spelling tests (already!), sponge painting masterpieces and paper mache renderings. What do I do with it all?

Please help if you're a scrapbooker/collector/saver of all things. I am not ready to let good work go, but it can't continue to live on my desk in the kitchen. Any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Super What?

It's official - my cape has been lost. I took it off earlier to help me wade through the 8 million loads of laundry littering the baskets in my house and I just can't seem to find it again.

Sometimes it has an enormous M on it for Super Mom. That's definitely not today. Max is struggling with being a first grader in a fifth grade world (at recess, that is). Pia is not sleeping as punishment to me for working too hard. And I am certain that I have no idea what is best for either one of them and I will be directly responsible for ruining their lives.

Sometimes my cape has a fancy little f on it for friend. That's not today either. I did devour sushi with my dear, dear friend Amy, but I think my cape was already lost by then. We just shared calories today! It's my Ya Ya's birthday and we sang to her on the phone this morning, but I didn't get around to getting a card in the mail to her from Arizona this week and feel terrible. I don't think I should be looking for that cape today.

There are even days when my cape has a big, bold W on it for Super Wife. Seeing as how today is my first day in town since Monday I think the title is lost. It seems somehow when the other party is not available to make life easier, say something sweet and end the day together the "Super" label needs to be re-earned. I'm sure that's not the cape I was wearing before I got buried in laundry.

Then there's cape with the B. It could mean Super Boss, but after this week's trip, I am confident that there's no one on my team thinks the that Boss is what a Big B stands for. It's my least favorite of the titles I wear, so I can live without finding that one right now.

So where to go in search of my Super Hero, Super Fun, Super Charged cape to roll into a Friday night? It's definitely not in the bottom of our laundry baskets, I have tried that - several times so far. I didn't find it at the grocery store, but that was a good start. At least we have vegetables in the house again. Maybe I'll find it when I pick up my babes from school. We seem to lose a lot of money there, our dignity sometimes and our kids for several hours a day. That might be the ticket. If the cape's not there, I give up.

I will have to settle for wearing Max & Pia's hugs, Ed's warm smile and a pair of flip flops through the weekend. Sometimes that's all a San Clemente girl needs at the end of a week like mine! Love and hugs to you and yours for a Super Weekend, too!

9/11/01 ~ We will not forget

My dear husband left for the airport at 4 AM this morning and was catching a non~stop flight from LA to New York City. I would not be honest if I didn't tell you that my heart dropped and I flashed back to that terrible time in 2001 where our whole country watched in horror as our own Commercial aircraft were used against us. Will my heart let me believe that it's going to happen again 7 years later? Not entirely. Does it make me sad to think of all of those families who started their days like any other and had their lives changed forever? Absolutely.

Max was happy to put on his red, white & blue for Patriot Day at school. The Principal said he should and he took it as gospel. I don't know how or when to share with him the terrible things that happened on this date the year I was pregnant with him, so I just hugged him tight and told him that I was proud of his patriotism. Pia, of course, got in on the action. I am a proud American this morning and felt good walking the kids to school.

Please say a quick prayer for Ed's safety today (and my Ya Ya who's flying here from Tampa) and those families who dread this day coming around every single year. God Bless the USA

Back to School

We officially have two KIDS ~ one in First Grade, one in Pre-Kindergarten. No more babies, no more toddlers ~ kids! Max cruised right into first grade this morning with a wave over his shoulder and a thumbs up to me (as I choked back tears). He was part of the student body as they started their morning with the pledge of allegiance and then filed into their classrooms.

I then had to drive home and try to drag Pia out of bed and get her dressed for her first day. She is not as big a fan of school as Max and wasn't quite as interested to get up and out. After several tries we found something that she was willing to wear, we slicked her hair to her head and agreed on a pair of shoes. These are MAJOR accomplishments with Pia. Once we left the house she happily went on her way and joined her class (already in progress) quietly.

Ed and I have started researching private schools for her to begin Kindergarten next year and for Max to start second grade. I don't think we'll have an opportunity to get them started this year, but after this morning, I think a uniform sounds mighty good . . . And, of course, the faith based curriculum, special interest offerings and controlled class sizes.

I am sure we're going to miss the casual schedule of summer sometime soon, but I am pleased to get everyone back on track. Happy Back to School to you and your gang, too! Have a great week!

Happy Birthday!

I know I am long overdue to get back on the blog horse and share all of our funny stories about life in San Clemente and the escapades of Max & Pia. I'll get there, but today I just want to wish my amazing husband a very happy birthday! I am so lucky that I married the right guy for me, the very first time AND he is the best Dad I could ever wish for my children. We are getting away this weekend without our favorite tiny people and I am super excited to celebrate!

Happy Birthday, E. All my love is yours ~ K

Sweet Summertime

The old saying “time flies when you’re having fun” just couldn’t be more true. Our family has officially kicked off summer and the last three weeks have flown by.

Max lost another tooth and finished Kindergarten on the same day that I flew to Hawaii for a program. He loved his first year of school and is already showing apprehension about starting first grade and trying something new. I think I have figured out about him that he’s pretty relaxed about most things unless it’s something he sees as being important. Thus, the anxiety about school. I just read the comments on his final report card this weekend and I am so proud of the impression he made in Kindergarten. He is reading and writing well and is a “Math Whiz”. Clearly he’s his Father’s son. He gets his exotic good looks from me : ) You would only believe that if you’ve never laid eyes on the Senior version of him, my handsome husband. The two of them are identical to me sometimes. Both physically and in their attitudes.

Pia Grace is a golden goddess. She got multiple two piece bathing suits for her birthday (my baby girl turned 4!!) and she wants to wear one every single day. I didn’t expect her to have terrific Montoya skin when she sprouted her shiny blond hair and her crystal blue eyes, but she is brown and beautiful. I coat her (and her brother) heavily in sunscreen when we go out, but their genes take over somewhere and she glows. She is doing her best lately to cover it up with the eye shadow she got for her birthday (thanks a LOT David & Annie!!) but you just have to love a girly girl! She finished her first round of swim lessons last week and is a newly christened water bug. She LOVES swimming and I love seeing her confidence soar as she learns something new. Today was her first day back to school in two weeks and according to her Dad she was not thrilled. I’m sure she’ll get right back into the swing of things after she gets to tell all of her little friends about her vacation adventures.

Ed rounded up the kids, found a sitter for the dogs and flew to Hawaii to meet me at the close of my program and we spent a week in Honolulu. His Mom & Russ came too, which we love, and it’s our third vacation with them in the last twelve months. Lucky us!! They are fabulous travel partners and Max & Pia love vacationing with Grandma and Grandpa. I don’t think any of us will be in a rush to go back to the island of Oahu, but we did have a great time relaxing on Hawaiian beaches and being tourists in a VERY busy city. I think it’s been 10 years since Ed I were there last and a lot has changed. We still have a soft spot for Maui but will leave Oahu for others to enjoy. We’re all geared up for lots of summer fun and just from looking at our calendar I know the time will pass all too quickly. Ed and I have committed to ourselves and to each other that we will take full advantage of our beach neighborhood this year. Our golf cart is already proving to be a great aid in that campaign. We drive it to the bottom of the hill and then ride/run/walk on the beach trail or just have a picnic and watch the sunset. There’s something about being that close to the ocean and the sand makes us happy. Ed and I were running on Saturday evening and loving seeing people out and about with their families and friends and enjoying a summer afternoon. This week is the start of summer camp for Max, we have three birthday parties this month, five more weeks of swim lessons and hopefully plenty of beach days in between. The end of this month will take us to Palm Desert for a few days with our friends the Grays. We love summer!

My sweet sister-in-law, Stacy, has wedding plans that are moving full-steam ahead and we are starting to get involved with that. She was a beautiful bride-to-be last night when she cruised by to show us her veil. Max and Pia are very excited to be part of the wedding party and Max told me this morning that he was “honored” to be in his Aunt’s wedding and that he would be sure to get a hair cut before he put on his wedding suit. I’m not so sure about Pia, since she seems to get a case of stage fright lately. At the very worst we will put her in a frilly dress and get her some new shoes. Shower season will start on August 3 with a family shower and a fun couple’s shower at our house on August 23. Let the fun begin!!

I was feeling a little guilty for not blogging lately and this should be more info than you ever wanted on what’s up with us. It’s back to work for now, but the weekend is just around the corner . . . HAPPY SUMMER!!