Ten Things to Smile About: May 2014

It's not like I mean to NEVER blog anymore, but a whole month passes and  I realize that it's over again. C'est la vie - -

Ten Things To Smile About: May 2014


Running, running, running.  The weather was amazing this month and running is getting so much easier and one of my very favorite things.

Even better than running alone is running in races.

Bob and I ran with friends in The Color Run.  She loved it more than me (read: hot, flat, blue powder EVERYWHERE) but I loved that we were spending our morning with friends doing something good for us.

At the end of the month I ran in the Camp Pendleton World Famous Mud Run.  That I actually did love.  I ran with some other moms from school and we really had a blast.  The run itself was fun because of the obstacles that are unique to an active military base and the atmosphere is insane.  Really, really fun and something I will definitely do again.  The Athlete says he's doing it with me next year.  We'll see.

Confirming plans for our summer trip to Tallahassee.  We are all thrilled that the plans are a DONE DEAL and the kids are counting the days until we touch down in my hometown.

The Athlete and his team finishing their baseball season in first place.We teach sportsmanship, teamwork and perseverance in our home, but we also think winning feels good.  Way to go!!

A beautiful Mother's Day spent with my favorites.  We had a great lunch and an easy, joy filled day together. There's really nothing more I could wish for.

The motivation that our girl has to do good work in school and how beautifully she manages her own inspiration.  The Girl Scout cookie box below was re-purposed as a diorama of a one room schoolhouse complete with desks made from toothpicks and cardboard.

My dear Mom celebrating her retirement after 28 years in the same office.  She can FINALLY slow down a little and take some time for herself.  And her work family sent her away with a little spending money to get started.  That's the cutest wreath, no?

Rescuing this sweet little man and opening our home to him and his ears.  He is crazy funny, sort of adorable and the cuddliest guy around.

Going with Bob's Girl Scout troop to watch their rescued seal being released back to the ocean after their contributions went to rehabilitating him.  He was rescued weighing around 30 pounds and was released at more than 70 pounds.  It was a remarkable to be a part of the release.

Ten Things to Smile About: April 2014

Ten Things to Smile About: April 2014

Being present by consciously enjoying where I am and running as much as possible.  LOVE IT

The specialness of the Lenten season.  I only make it to one service of Stations of the Cross each year, but   it touches me every time and is a Lenten tradition I will always cherish from this time in our lives.  The significance of Lent is really a special time in my heart. And I made it ALL THE WAY through without one mishap in my sacrifice of shopping.

Weekly bouquets of fresh cut roses from our garden

 

Spending a couple of nights in San Diego.  The kids and I have loved joining E at the end of the week now that he is working on a San Diego based account and we especially love hopping on the train on a Friday afternoon.

they pack for themselves and YES she is wearing a bathrobe

Our first Padres game of the season

A home cooked dinner that our sitter helped my people prepare for me.  Very yellow and delicious 

Stumbling upon the greatness that is Kid President. I shared his video earlier in the month HERE and found more that I shared with the kids later.  They especially liked Pep Talk.  He's my new hero!

This photo of our kids and our two dogs.  We lost sweet Kate the day after this was taken and I am so grateful that I snapped this photo before they all hopped out of the car.

Giving some extra love to our Hope.  She's gotten lots of attention, car rides and exercise this month!

Happy, healthy kids who delight in a milk shake after practice and prayers at bedtime.  We are blessed beyond words that they're here and they're ours.

  The world seems particularly cruel and unsettled to me right now and I am holding onto what's mine as tightly as I can.  Every month is a gift that may never come again.  God Bless all of the dear families all over the world that are missing their kids tonight for whatever reason.

 #bringbackourgirls

#redballoonsforryan

#PrayforMH370

Linking with Emmy Mom - late, like always.

Some days you get ice cream

If I weren't already a mother of two incredible children I would seriously consider seeking out this adorable child to see if he'd like to join our family.  He is very charming, but his message is absolutely the best thing I've seen in a long, long time.

I'm really glad he's here.  God Bless you today.

Ten Things to Smile About: March 2014

Spring is in the air and the year is 1/4 done.  Wow!  March was another great month and there were way more than ten things to smile about.  Here are some of my favorites.

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile.  ~Author Unknown

Discussing our commitments at Lent as a family and holding each other accountable for our sacrifices and our purposeful prayer.  Everyone is especially enjoying holding me accountable for my sacrifice of any personal shopping.  It seems so trivial, but it is a wonderful reminder of God's sacrifices for us each time I see something on sale that I want but do not need.

My little girl who loves, loves, loves rain having a dance party in the rain early one morning

Giving our time and some very light labor to a local charity with The Athlete's classmates.

The third month of my commitment to self improvement through running and being present.  Every month has been better than the last and it is SO good for my soul. Not to mention the scenery!!

Using some rare weekend down time to do some planting and small household projects.  Down time is such a luxury to us and it's always nice to enjoy the work we do at home.

Using the remaining down time to enjoy our sandy backyard.  We walked to the beach two days in a row and enjoyed a picnic dinner to end a beautiful weekend.

Ladies Night cooking class

Celebrating the blessing of two STRAIGHT A students' report cards with Friday night at Disneyland

A super fun family birthday party.  Getting these cousins together is always such a blast.  They're all growing up so fast!

 Baseball season in full swing

Linking up with Emmy Mom for everyone's monthly recollections of goodness and smiles.

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