Ten Things to Smile About: February 2014

Ten Thing to Smile About: February 2014

Discovering Winter Dream Tea Lattes at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and using a 5 year old gift card that I thought had $5 on it and actually had $25.  This double revelation made me smile a few times!

Sticking with my new found love for running and staying focused on being totally present in our neighborhood and in my own life.  I love the scenery, I love how I feel, I love the chance to think without interruption.

Bringing home a stack of books from the library and Bob being just as excited as if I had appeared with a giant stack of candy bars.

The seriously thoughtful, slightly too extravagant gifts that Mr. Montoya gave me for Valentine's Day.  I am a little embarrassed by his generosity, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it.

Our weekend getaway to Yosemite and the first time for the kids to ski and snowboard.  The getaway was perfect for us and everyone loved our time in our favorite place.

Celebrating the Athlete's 12th birthday.

An impromptu girls night with the cousins.  Good wine and great company is a big treat on a school night!

These darling little boys and their Mama being in town.

Bob and her constant canine companions.  She even borrowed her Aunt's dog for a little puppy loving after soccer!

A blessed morning with my dearest friend.  We have seen the seasons of each other's lives change multiple times and I am elated that she is in a place of peace and happiness in her journey.  I love being with her and loved our morning together. 

Emmy Mom always reminds me to count down and I am grateful for her organization and steadiness of schedule.

Emmy Mom

Happy Birthday, my tween!

Last week marked the 12th anniversary of our special boy arriving in this world and it was special for us all. The last couple of months, shoot the whole last year, have been busy for us and it was important to me for him to know how much we wanted to celebrate him turning twelve.  This boy is SO worth celebrating and as he slips towards his teenage years I want more than ever for him to know that his biggest fans live right here.  

The older he gets the harder it is for me to articulate just how much I adore and cherish him.  No one is more worth the effort, though and there's probably no one who will treasure the sentiment more as the years go on so it's certainly worth the try. One last Happy Birthday to our amazing son.


To my dear boy,  

Twelve!  I thought it was a big deal when you got to double digits at ten, but never anticipated how I would feel about twelve.  I see, and hear, and sense the differences in you and can hardly believe it.  One the one hand I love it.  Everything about you as a little dude that we loved is just bigger and better as you grow. You are kinder, smarter, harder working and more engaging than ever.  

At the start of the sixth grade a lot of my Mom friends were asking around to see if other kids were struggling the way theirs were and struggle was the one word that can't be used for you in sixth grade.  You LOVE middle school.  Your teachers are so complimentary towards you and even in the subjects that don't come as naturally to you, you are excelling because you're learning how to focus your energy in the right ways and ask for help when you need it.  That is a wonderful skill that will take you a long way in a world that doesn't freely offer help.  You were honored last trimester with Honors for your outstanding GPA.

You stopped running track last season because your schedule just didn't allow, but there is definitely no grass growing under your feet.  You and your Dad just finished your school basketball season and the last game of your regular season basketball season ended with a hard fought win at 43-38 yesterday.  Baseball season started on Saturday and although we are all bummed you are playing for The Dodgers you went 2 for 4 in your first game and played first base brilliantly.  You are a gifted athlete with an off the charts sports IQ and a laser focus that seems uncommon to me for someone your age.  You make us very, very proud as an intense, yet respectful Athlete.

We took a family trip to Yosemite last weekend and you took snowboard lessons for the first time at Badger Pass.  We all had such a good time and I hope we started a new tradition of heading North for a fun and easy day in the snow together.  Those times with you and Bob mean a lot to Dad and me.  It's so fun to watch you learn something new and have a good time.  You have said that you also want to surf this year and we are happy to support you in any way that you need.

At twelve I worry that you will stop wanting to be My Guy.  You are the warmest, most loving, wonderful boy and our date nights are one of my favorite things.  I take you on dates because I very selfishly want to spend time with you, but I also want you to have one on one time with a lady that wants to hear what you have to say and values respectful conversation.  It seems to me that relationships will become very complex for you very quickly and it's imperative to your Dad and me that you never compromise the remarkable person you are merely to meet a temporary need for someone else.  While I am busy hugging you and playing games I am also carefully watching your mannerisms and listening to your words to know that your heart is being protected.  You absolutely mean the whole world to me and I want so much for you to go through your life reaping the rewards of being the wonderful person you are.  You are exactly as delightful and precious to me as you were twelve years ago when I held you the very first time.

Happy, Happy Birthday Punky. Whether you're snowboarding, surfing, playing baseball, talking about the Aztecs stats with your Dad or watching old episodes of M*A*S*H I hope that this year delights you in every way and brings new challenges and rewards to your heart.  We are here for you anytime and in every way, but if you can't get to us fast enough I hope you will go straight to your knees and pray for the guidance that you need.  God is the only person who will ever love you more than we do and he knows you even better.

All my love to you,

Mom

Ten Things to Smile About: January 2014

New year: new beginnings.

January was a great beginning to a year full of well intended smiles and being in the moment.  This is the year to count our blessings.  Every day. Every month.  Every moment.

Ten Things to Smile About

Choosing my One Little Word for the year and making a solid effort to live it

My Florida State Seminoles winning the BCS National Championship after an intense bowl game played at the Rose Bowl

Our darling Bob getting her braces off

Lots and lots of exciting basketball games

The Athlete bringing home all A's on his mid trimester report and being awarded "manner of the month" for showing respect through eye contact.

The breathtaking scenery that is right outside my front door.  Being present for me is all about being right where you are and not always moving to something else.  Right where I am has proven to be pretty magnificent this month.

#mybeachtrailyear

Bob proudly delivering her Indian project to school

Focusing a little more these two lovable beasts and giving them some exercise and fresh air

A late night date night with my {almost} 12 year old first born

An easy, drama free life.  It is worth noting (and smiling about) a month that doesn't include anything hurtful, intensely stressful or dramatic.  We're just here doing our thing and loving it.

Ten Things to Smile About; December 2013

Ten Things to Smile About: December 2013

Well, true to form I am way, way late on this post.  Again.  But December is so full of goodness for us it is impossible to move away from doing the good stuff to writing about the good stuff.  Any day of the week I'd rather be late to my blog than to miss enjoying life.  We are so blessed to have such a good and plentiful life.  Last month was so good it was hard to pick just ten things that were worthy of a smile.  Happy New Year!

Much to my dismay, I do enjoy how much the kids love the return of Arthur the Elf.   Their happiness does make me smile.

My sweet Athlete being recognized with high honors in his first trimester of middle school.

The beautiful Christmas cards we receive from friends and family.  I love, love, love Christmas cards and save them all.

An overnight in Santa Barbara for a business event.  It was a grueling drive home (5 1/2 hours!!) but it was so fun to see my close friends who I used to see every day in the office

Taking Bob to see Frozen on ladies night.  The cutest movie!


The start of basketball season for both of my boys.  It is a serious time commitment for Mr. Montoya and a lot of work for The Athlete but even I am surprised how much I love to watch basketball.  It's my favorite sport of the year!

Even after five years of fighting for a seat, hearing the same songs and seeing the same production at school I love the annual Christmas pageant.  Now that my first born is too old to be in it the hassle of it is a little less and I can cherish the opportunity just a little more.  I know I will be heartbroken when I don't "have" to go anymore. 

The safe arrival of Nana.  It is always the OFFICIAL start of Christmas when she's here

Touring model homes with my Mom and Bob.  It was fun to get inspiration from brand new, perfectly decorated spaces and someone sweet and sassy was ready to move in.

Seeing the Rose Parade floats up close as they were being built.  AMAZING!

 

Those polka dots were cranberries and blueberries.  All applied by hand!!

Hard Lock Down and Tough Love

Thanks to Facebook, Instagram and even the occasional IPC (in person chat) with a girlfriend I realize that I am not the complete lunatic that I sometimes think I am as a Mother.  I mean, sometimes I behave like a lunatic but it's not a chronic condition.  There's only so much you can do to protect yourself against the necessary lunacy required against a strong willed, sharp tongued nine year old girl.  Seriously, this girl could have pushed Mother Teresa to the edge.

So yesterday there was an email that circulated to school families about an Emergency Lock Down that happened on campus.  The message was brief but the closing message was that the suspect was removed without incident.  I was relieved and crushed all in the same sentence.  Relieved that no one in our school family was harmed and crushed that this is the place in time that we live.  Even in our tiny, parochial school, ocean view bubble on the Western edge of the continent. The kids filled us in after basketball that hard lock down meant that they turned off the lights, couldn't speak and all action stopped in anticipation of someone who shouldn't be in their hallways being there.  Even to type the words brings big, fat tears to my eyes.  I love that my kids are protected and hate that I am raising them in a world that even knows the words "Hard Lock Down".  The ultra crazy Mama Bear in me wants to run far and fast to somewhere . . . underground maybe . . . that things like this don't happen and eat ice cream and play board games with my sweet people all day for the rest of our lives.  Lunatic.  I know.  

And, on the flipside of my lunacy a mere 18 hours later was me turning around in the middle of the street and driving my daughter home to ask her Dad for a ride to school after she lied to me about her school uniform.  The uniform wasn't such a big deal, but I have a zero tolerance policy on dishonesty and I simply couldn't tolerate the disrespect.  In hindsight, she will grow up and tell her therapist what a crazy bat I was always flying off the handle and doing super dramatic things like dropping her on the front porch and telling her to figure it out, but she can truly get to me like no one else can.   

All of that has been eating at me while I am home sick today and the bottom line is that even though I'm a wee bit crazy there is nothing in the world I want more than to send wonderful humans into the world from our home.  I want to protect them from lock downs, drunk drivers, sun damage and mostly themselves and send them to their futures overly prepared and flourishing in the cruelness of the world.  Several hours of downtime haven't given me the answers to exactly how to do that so I'll just hold onto my lunatic card for now.  Sorry, Bob!

Ten Things to Smile About: November 2013

Ten Things to Smile About: November 2013

30 Days of Thankful
It is my favorite time of the year when I intentionally choose to find the good in every single day and choose to see the beauty of laundry, bickering children and food.  It is truly good for my heart to remember how blessed we are.


A surprise note from my sweet girl on my phone

A weekday trip to Disneyland.  We enjoy ourselves the most when we are reminded that these days with our children are fleeting.

A gorgeous family wedding.  

Seeing the sweet tags added to our Thankful Tree.
Bob is thankful for ice cream and her hamster.  The Athlete is thankful for basketball and his friends.

A girls night with Bob and her girlfriends at a live performance of Ivy & Bean.

Celebrating the 13th anniversary of my marriage to Mr. Montoya. 
LUCKY 13.  It's going to be a good year!

Date night with my sweet middle school guy

A peaceful, meaningful Thanksgiving Day with just me and my three complete with a homemade apple pie and an afternoon walk at the beach

A wacky night out with sweet friends that ended with these clowns wearing adhesive moustaches all the way home.

Thirty Days of Thankful: Part Three

The month is over and my heart continues to be full of thanks for all of the little, and not so little, things that fill our world.  November is always a special blessing to me.

11.21.13 - Day 21

Today I am thankful for my girls.  These women know all of my deepest secrets and love me anyway. They've been there for the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and are each such treasures to me.  I am deeply thankful for them and blessed to call them my dearest friends.

11.22.13 - Day 22

I am thankful for the gift of time.  The kind of time you need to take a deep breath and the time to enjoy cheap wine and pizza with friends simply because you have no other commitments.  This is a gift that should never be taken for granted.  You'll never know how special it is until you don't have it.  I'm so thankful!

11.23.13 - Day 23

Today I am wholeheartedly and deeply thankful for this wonderful little creature.  She is equal parts sassy and sweet, but most importantly she is healthy and thriving in the world.  This girl never makes parenting easy, but she always makes it worth it.  Bob for President!!!!

11.24.13 - Day 24

I am thankful for forgiveness.  I have tons of experience with saying "I'm sorry" and tomorrow will be no exception.  I am cranky and entirely unreasonable today, but I am thankful that they'll still love me when the sun rises again.  Everyone has THOSE days and today is mine.

11.25.13 - Day 25

I am thankful for a day with no lunchboxes, no homework and no pouting about bedtime.  'Tis the season for family!!

11.26.13 - Day 26

My heart is abundantly grateful for my amazing son.  He is a great student, a talented athlete and an exceptional human being.  I didn't think I was ready to be a Mom when he came along, but God knew better.  Every day of my life has been richer since this precious child entered the world.

11.27.13 - Day 27

I am thankful that today is my Friday and it's almost over.

11.28.13 - Day 28

Today I am thankful for the whole dang thing.  The beautiful Thanksgiving mass this morning, my sweet little helpers in the kitchen, a bountiful meal and a family walk to the beach for playtime.  We are deeply and beautifully blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving friends!

11.29.13 - Day 29

I am thankful that there's not one thing on our list that required me to go shopping in the middle of the night, trample anyone or curse my way through a parking lot.

11.30.13 - Day 30

I am thankful for this month that draws to mind our need to give Thanks in all that we do.  Our little Thankful Tree was overflowing when we took off the tags to make way for another tree today.  We have so, so much to be grateful for all year long and my family's hearts are well prepared for the beauty of Advent tomorrow.  I have been abundantly blessed and am deeply thankful all year long.