1. Do you like blue cheese? Nope
2. Have you been ever drunk? Yep - and anyone who says not is either lying, currently drunk or needs to be in short order.
3. Do you own a gun? Sort of vicariously now - my dad does and since I'm living in his house..... I have mixed feelings on owing my own.
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Fruit Punch
5. Do you get nervous before doctor's appointments? No.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Hebrew National only.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk or OJ
9. Can you do push ups? Um, no.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring.
11. Favorite hobby? Reading.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
13. What's your weight? Way too personal--and not what I would like to claim it to be. ( I steal Kate's answer)
14. Middle name? Nicole.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?? I would only take one of these surveys because I love you Kate; I need to go to bed soon; I wonder how many times I'll be up with my children tonight?.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Iced Tea, water, V8 splash
17. Current worry? Finding a job
18. Current hate right now? Being so far away from my husband.
19. Favorite place to be? With my family.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? Singing Kareoke with my family!
21. Where would you like to go? Italy, Ireland and back to Hawaii.
22. Name three people who will complete this. I have no idea.
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Black
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't think I ever have, and I don't think I want to. Two words come to mind: cold and slippery
26. Can you whistle? Yep
27. Favorite color?? Blue
28. Would you be a pirate? Only if it involves Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower.
30. Favorite girl's name? I'm a fan of Emma and Kathleen (my daughter's names)
31. Favorite boy's name? Matthew
32. What's in your pocket? 2 business cards from the daycare I checked out today. Although I did find $15 in my jacket pocket today....how awesome is that!?
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My best friend leaving me a message with the sound of her breast pump on it.....it sounds like a dying cat....and strangely enough I've really missed that sound.
34. Worst injury you've ever had as a child? Chin split open....needed many stitches.
36. Do you love where you live? I do. (By the way....what happened to question 35?)
37. How many TVs do you have in the house? Four.
38. Who is your loudest friend? I stand with Kate....Tara wins!
39. How many dogs do you have? I have 1 vicariously again....my dad has Jake.
40. Does someone have a crush on you? The question here is who doesn't have a crush on me? I'm all but irresistible...ha ha ha!
41. What is your favorite book? I have too many to have a fave....but I'm currently reading the Twilight Saga and LOVING IT!.
42. What is your favorite candy? chocolate ( apparently question 43 didn't make the cut either)
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? As long as it's not "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" I really don't care.
Here are some more or less intriguing questions from another email survey:
What is your occupation right now? I'm unemployed.........urgh!
What are you listening to right now? Myself typing
What was the last thing that you ate? chicken, broccoli and cauliflower and french fries
Can you drive a stick shift? In theory
Last person you spoke to on the phone? My best friend Kate.
What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Baseball all the way.....go Padres!.
What is your favorite drink? iced tea
Favorite food? my grandma's cooking
What is the last movie you watched? Marley and Me.....super cute
Favorite day of the year? Christmas
How do you vent anger? Cleaning.....it's amazing what my house can look like when I'm working off a mad.
What was your favorite toy as a child? Dolls.
When was the last time you cried? Last night I had a small squabble with my dad over something stupid.
What did you do last night? See previous question
What are you most afraid of? Drowning and losing people I love.
Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheese
Favorite dog breed? Golden Retriever
Favorite day of the week? Saturday
How many states have you lived in? Four states: 2 Texas, then California and now back to Texas
What is your favorite flower? Calla Lilies
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
So This is What It Feels Like To Fall Off The Face Of The Earth....
I am a horrible blogger.....seriously horrible. We just went through the what could probably be the biggest set of changes for our family in forever and I didn't write about any of it....I suck! I did Twitter a few times....but that's hardly enough to absolve me. So here's the run down on this last month:
1) We packed the POD: What an adventure that was! First off, let me say that I have discovered a superhuman talent I never knew my husband ( who I already find amazing) possessed. He's a super- packer. To this day I still do not know quite how we got everything we own into that POD ; and I've even seen it unloaded again (we moved everything into a storage unit). It took about 3 days.....but Robby and I managed to box, load and/or sell/donate every single thing in that apartment. We have quite a bit of furniture to buy once we move into a house, but you won't hear me complain about that. You should have seen our car as we were driving away.....we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies...there was barely room for the kids! We stayed the night in a Best Western in Escondido (oddly enough it was the same hotel that we booked for all our family to stay in for the wedding and the place where I spent my last night as a single gal...sorta cyclical huh?). Then we headed east for Phoenix for the Thanksgiving holiday. The girls were great on the drive out and we an a really great time with my mom and step dad.
2) We drove to Texas: Here's another thing that I can hardly believe we did....even after we've already done it. All I can say is "thank God for portable DVD players...and my friend Michelle S. for giving me the idea"! The girls did great. It took us 2 days....the total driving time was 15-16 hours......but we made it. We stopped the first night in Van Horn, Texas.....yikes! I thought Yuma was bad...but this one beats all. (If any readers are by chance from Van Horn, Texas....I'll just say sorry for trashing your town and I really hope you've gotten yourselves out!) Both girls decided that sleep wasn't really that necessary that night so we got a very early 6:30am start on the road the next day. We stopped in Midland at Cracker Barrel (California is seriously missing out there....that place has the best freakin breakfast I've ever had). As we sat down at the table it suddenly hit me that the people here really look quite different, not to mention sound different...and I wondered if we blended in or stuck out. We arrived about 3:00pm that afternoon and the girls were so excited to see my parents and my sister.
3) I live in a town with a "Main Street": What a trip huh? There's quite literally a Main Street and it goes straight through town and all the major businesses are on it. I find it quaint. My first trip to the grocery store was fun....when I was done checking out the nice guy who bagged my groceries started to walk us out. I told him that wasn't necessary, but he insisted saying that they walked each customer out and then returned the cart back to the store. I was floored! He helped me unload my bags into the car, said "Have a nice day ma'am" and then away he went with my shopping cart. Sure enough there are none of those metal corals in a parking space to return carts anywhere in the parking lot. Amazing! I opened a bank account at the local bank. I've become a frequent visitor to the Super Wal-Mart (which is way way nicer than any Wal-Mart back in CA). I am blown away at how much lower the cost of living is here. The price difference in groceries is unbelievable!
5) It Snowed!: It was so awesome......about a week or so after we got here we woke up to a thin layer of white on everything....and then it began snowing throughout the day. We ended up with a few inches. I have pics that I'll post soon. This was the first time that the girls had seen snow and Emma was thrilled. A few days ago however it was close to 80. Emma was playing outside in shorts and a T-shirt. 2 days later it was 32 and EVERYTHING was covered in ice....crazy weather!
4) Christmas was great: Robby flew in on the 20th....the reunion was almost overwhelming. I don't think any of us realized how much we had missed each other until we saw each other again. The girls were over the moon to have their Daddy back with them. We had a wonderful holiday and then he flew home on the 28th. That was way way harder than having him leave the first time. The first time I knew I just had to make it 19 days until I saw him again. I could tell the girls exactly when Daddy was coming home. Now I don't have that...and it's so much harder than I would have thought possible. Those of you who know Robby and I know that we're two halves of one whole....we don't do well being separated for long.....but yet somehow we are. I have a new and unbelievable respect for single parents and military families.
5) I'm looking for a job: I've been job hunting for the last few weeks but to no avail. So I'm putting out a formal prayer request. The sooner I have a job the sooner Robby can be out here with us. I know the Lord will provide for us. We prayed long and hard before making this decision and we both feel that this is where the Lord has lead our family. But your prayers are appreciated to speed up the process! :-)
6) My car is no longer a California resident: today I registered my car. They give you the plates immediately...I put them on today. Now I look like a local....at least in my car. I haven't done my driver's license yet....so I'm a foreigner driving a local car. For some reason I'm a little sad to let go of this last piece of California. It's like changing some vital piece of me. For some reason they make you surrender your license when you apply for one here...so I won't even get to keep it for nostalgia purposes. On top of that I love my DL pic.....I don't see how I'll be able to take another one that's as good....I think there's a limit on that kind of thing.
7) Finally..........I have fallen off the face of the earth: I feel like such a loser. I had 12 voice mails today......12. That's how many people have called me and not been able to reach me over the last few days. I feel like I'm ignoring my best friend ( who I am missing to the point of it being painful at this moment), my mom calls -I can't answer, my other sister probably thinks I'm purposefully ignoring her....I'm in a sad state right now. I will answer texts because that's about all the time I have is to write a few sentences and I'm off again (thank God for my Blackberry). I decided today that I am going to make a list of all the people I need to call and actually set the dates in my calender of what day I am going to call them. How sad am I? It also has occurred to me over the last few days that I have no friends out here....and that the idea of finding any that I like even remotely as much as my California friends just seems like such a daunting task. I know it will all come in time....it's just my latest revelation.
By and large I am very very happy with our decision to move. Being able to spend so much time with my family has been amazing. I was able to go to my Grandma's birthday dinner the other night....something I miss out on every year. I got to meet my brother's darling girlfriend last weekend...and see him take Emma to the park to play....that was very cool. The girls have already formed strong bonds with their grandparents and great grandparents out here....and that has made everything worth it. To see the look on Katy's face when my Dad or Michelle comes home from work and how she reaches her arms out to them - or the way Emma calls out "MeMe - Grandpa" and goes running to them when my grandparents come over is just awesome!
So, now that I've caught everyone up on the last 6 weeks....I have found my place back on the planet and can hopefully keep it that way.
1) We packed the POD: What an adventure that was! First off, let me say that I have discovered a superhuman talent I never knew my husband ( who I already find amazing) possessed. He's a super- packer. To this day I still do not know quite how we got everything we own into that POD ; and I've even seen it unloaded again (we moved everything into a storage unit). It took about 3 days.....but Robby and I managed to box, load and/or sell/donate every single thing in that apartment. We have quite a bit of furniture to buy once we move into a house, but you won't hear me complain about that. You should have seen our car as we were driving away.....we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies...there was barely room for the kids! We stayed the night in a Best Western in Escondido (oddly enough it was the same hotel that we booked for all our family to stay in for the wedding and the place where I spent my last night as a single gal...sorta cyclical huh?). Then we headed east for Phoenix for the Thanksgiving holiday. The girls were great on the drive out and we an a really great time with my mom and step dad.
2) We drove to Texas: Here's another thing that I can hardly believe we did....even after we've already done it. All I can say is "thank God for portable DVD players...and my friend Michelle S. for giving me the idea"! The girls did great. It took us 2 days....the total driving time was 15-16 hours......but we made it. We stopped the first night in Van Horn, Texas.....yikes! I thought Yuma was bad...but this one beats all. (If any readers are by chance from Van Horn, Texas....I'll just say sorry for trashing your town and I really hope you've gotten yourselves out!) Both girls decided that sleep wasn't really that necessary that night so we got a very early 6:30am start on the road the next day. We stopped in Midland at Cracker Barrel (California is seriously missing out there....that place has the best freakin breakfast I've ever had). As we sat down at the table it suddenly hit me that the people here really look quite different, not to mention sound different...and I wondered if we blended in or stuck out. We arrived about 3:00pm that afternoon and the girls were so excited to see my parents and my sister.
3) I live in a town with a "Main Street": What a trip huh? There's quite literally a Main Street and it goes straight through town and all the major businesses are on it. I find it quaint. My first trip to the grocery store was fun....when I was done checking out the nice guy who bagged my groceries started to walk us out. I told him that wasn't necessary, but he insisted saying that they walked each customer out and then returned the cart back to the store. I was floored! He helped me unload my bags into the car, said "Have a nice day ma'am" and then away he went with my shopping cart. Sure enough there are none of those metal corals in a parking space to return carts anywhere in the parking lot. Amazing! I opened a bank account at the local bank. I've become a frequent visitor to the Super Wal-Mart (which is way way nicer than any Wal-Mart back in CA). I am blown away at how much lower the cost of living is here. The price difference in groceries is unbelievable!
5) It Snowed!: It was so awesome......about a week or so after we got here we woke up to a thin layer of white on everything....and then it began snowing throughout the day. We ended up with a few inches. I have pics that I'll post soon. This was the first time that the girls had seen snow and Emma was thrilled. A few days ago however it was close to 80. Emma was playing outside in shorts and a T-shirt. 2 days later it was 32 and EVERYTHING was covered in ice....crazy weather!
4) Christmas was great: Robby flew in on the 20th....the reunion was almost overwhelming. I don't think any of us realized how much we had missed each other until we saw each other again. The girls were over the moon to have their Daddy back with them. We had a wonderful holiday and then he flew home on the 28th. That was way way harder than having him leave the first time. The first time I knew I just had to make it 19 days until I saw him again. I could tell the girls exactly when Daddy was coming home. Now I don't have that...and it's so much harder than I would have thought possible. Those of you who know Robby and I know that we're two halves of one whole....we don't do well being separated for long.....but yet somehow we are. I have a new and unbelievable respect for single parents and military families.
5) I'm looking for a job: I've been job hunting for the last few weeks but to no avail. So I'm putting out a formal prayer request. The sooner I have a job the sooner Robby can be out here with us. I know the Lord will provide for us. We prayed long and hard before making this decision and we both feel that this is where the Lord has lead our family. But your prayers are appreciated to speed up the process! :-)
6) My car is no longer a California resident: today I registered my car. They give you the plates immediately...I put them on today. Now I look like a local....at least in my car. I haven't done my driver's license yet....so I'm a foreigner driving a local car. For some reason I'm a little sad to let go of this last piece of California. It's like changing some vital piece of me. For some reason they make you surrender your license when you apply for one here...so I won't even get to keep it for nostalgia purposes. On top of that I love my DL pic.....I don't see how I'll be able to take another one that's as good....I think there's a limit on that kind of thing.
7) Finally..........I have fallen off the face of the earth: I feel like such a loser. I had 12 voice mails today......12. That's how many people have called me and not been able to reach me over the last few days. I feel like I'm ignoring my best friend ( who I am missing to the point of it being painful at this moment), my mom calls -I can't answer, my other sister probably thinks I'm purposefully ignoring her....I'm in a sad state right now. I will answer texts because that's about all the time I have is to write a few sentences and I'm off again (thank God for my Blackberry). I decided today that I am going to make a list of all the people I need to call and actually set the dates in my calender of what day I am going to call them. How sad am I? It also has occurred to me over the last few days that I have no friends out here....and that the idea of finding any that I like even remotely as much as my California friends just seems like such a daunting task. I know it will all come in time....it's just my latest revelation.
By and large I am very very happy with our decision to move. Being able to spend so much time with my family has been amazing. I was able to go to my Grandma's birthday dinner the other night....something I miss out on every year. I got to meet my brother's darling girlfriend last weekend...and see him take Emma to the park to play....that was very cool. The girls have already formed strong bonds with their grandparents and great grandparents out here....and that has made everything worth it. To see the look on Katy's face when my Dad or Michelle comes home from work and how she reaches her arms out to them - or the way Emma calls out "MeMe - Grandpa" and goes running to them when my grandparents come over is just awesome!
So, now that I've caught everyone up on the last 6 weeks....I have found my place back on the planet and can hopefully keep it that way.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
We've Lost Our Minds.....Maybe We'll Find Them In Texas....
My life if a tornado....there is so much going on I'm just going to jump in and share:
1) I just got back from a fabulous weekend visiting my best friend from high school who lives in Indianapolis. I got to meet her fiance', see her cute new house, visit with her family (who I have missed dearly) and help her go wedding dress shopping. I had so much fun....and I'm so excited for her. She's going to be an absolutely beautiful bride.
2) While I was gone, my husband - a.k.a my new hero - held down the fort; a fort which included a sick Emma. Two trips to the doctor later all is quiet on the home sickness front once again.
3) BIG NEWS!!!! Robby and I have decided to take the plunge....we're moving to Texas. I will be heading out with the girls over the Thanksgiving holiday and Robby will stay behind to keep the moola coming in until I find a job, at which time he'll bring up the rear. Thus far we've bought boxes (none of which have anything in them at this point), reserved our POD (to move our stuff out there) and booked Robby's plane ticket home. Here's the plan: We're heading out to my mom's house in Phoenix (6 hour drive) on Wednesday 11/26, spending Thanksgiving with her, then continuing the drive on Saturday 11/29 (an additional 15 hour drive) to Texas - where if all goes as planned we should arrive on Sunday 11/30. Robby will then fly back to California on Monday 12/1. Ok, go ahead and say it..... "WE'RE NUTS!!!" We're trekking halfway across the country with our 3 year old and 1 year old in one car. If we end up there with half our sanity and both of our children it will be a miracle!
4) Robby and I will celebrate our 4 year anniversary on 10/30.....very exciting
5) Emma turns 3 on 11/3
6) Katy turns 1 on 11/8
7) Robby's birthday is 11/15 (we won't mention age...he he he...I love you honey!)
8) My mom and Step dad (Mike) are coming out 11/7-11/9 to help us pack and visit.
9) Meanwhile - we've got family and friends galore that we need to see before we leave.
How all of this is remotely possible I don't know. So all I can say is....pray for us!
I'm kinda freaked out by all this change...very excited...but also freaked out. I'm sad to leave behind all that we have here....but I'm also very much looking forward to living near my family. I've been away from my family for so long I don't really even know what it will be like to have them in such close proximity and not have to spend $1300 on plane tickets just to spend a few days with them. Also, it's a huge change for my family. To uproot them and transplant them somewhere else is going to be a big deal. I started making a list the other day of all the things I'll need to do once I'm in Texas. From finding a new job, to finding childcare, a new bank, a new pediatrician......it's amazing what really goes into living your life in a new place.
I'm also a little sad because this move will take us farther away from my mom and sister who live in Arizona. Right now it's a one hour flight (and only $50 bucks if you can nab a good deal on Southwest Airlines) or a pretty decent drive. Part of me feels like moving closer to my dad is taking me away from my mom. If/When my mom reads this she'll tell me that's ridiculous....but it's how I feel. I miss my mom.....we're so close....oh well.....you can't have it all huh? I'll just pray that one day we can all live in closer proximity to each other.
Ok enough of the sadness......overall....I am super excited! This change means a lot of really cool things for my family. So definitely stay tuned for lots of updates to come!
1) I just got back from a fabulous weekend visiting my best friend from high school who lives in Indianapolis. I got to meet her fiance', see her cute new house, visit with her family (who I have missed dearly) and help her go wedding dress shopping. I had so much fun....and I'm so excited for her. She's going to be an absolutely beautiful bride.
2) While I was gone, my husband - a.k.a my new hero - held down the fort; a fort which included a sick Emma. Two trips to the doctor later all is quiet on the home sickness front once again.
3) BIG NEWS!!!! Robby and I have decided to take the plunge....we're moving to Texas. I will be heading out with the girls over the Thanksgiving holiday and Robby will stay behind to keep the moola coming in until I find a job, at which time he'll bring up the rear. Thus far we've bought boxes (none of which have anything in them at this point), reserved our POD (to move our stuff out there) and booked Robby's plane ticket home. Here's the plan: We're heading out to my mom's house in Phoenix (6 hour drive) on Wednesday 11/26, spending Thanksgiving with her, then continuing the drive on Saturday 11/29 (an additional 15 hour drive) to Texas - where if all goes as planned we should arrive on Sunday 11/30. Robby will then fly back to California on Monday 12/1. Ok, go ahead and say it..... "WE'RE NUTS!!!" We're trekking halfway across the country with our 3 year old and 1 year old in one car. If we end up there with half our sanity and both of our children it will be a miracle!
4) Robby and I will celebrate our 4 year anniversary on 10/30.....very exciting
5) Emma turns 3 on 11/3
6) Katy turns 1 on 11/8
7) Robby's birthday is 11/15 (we won't mention age...he he he...I love you honey!)
8) My mom and Step dad (Mike) are coming out 11/7-11/9 to help us pack and visit.
9) Meanwhile - we've got family and friends galore that we need to see before we leave.
How all of this is remotely possible I don't know. So all I can say is....pray for us!
I'm kinda freaked out by all this change...very excited...but also freaked out. I'm sad to leave behind all that we have here....but I'm also very much looking forward to living near my family. I've been away from my family for so long I don't really even know what it will be like to have them in such close proximity and not have to spend $1300 on plane tickets just to spend a few days with them. Also, it's a huge change for my family. To uproot them and transplant them somewhere else is going to be a big deal. I started making a list the other day of all the things I'll need to do once I'm in Texas. From finding a new job, to finding childcare, a new bank, a new pediatrician......it's amazing what really goes into living your life in a new place.
I'm also a little sad because this move will take us farther away from my mom and sister who live in Arizona. Right now it's a one hour flight (and only $50 bucks if you can nab a good deal on Southwest Airlines) or a pretty decent drive. Part of me feels like moving closer to my dad is taking me away from my mom. If/When my mom reads this she'll tell me that's ridiculous....but it's how I feel. I miss my mom.....we're so close....oh well.....you can't have it all huh? I'll just pray that one day we can all live in closer proximity to each other.
Ok enough of the sadness......overall....I am super excited! This change means a lot of really cool things for my family. So definitely stay tuned for lots of updates to come!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Our Second Family
I've had a hard time thinking of what to write about...after all who cares what I have to say about....well.....whatever? But then it occurred to me that the blogs I enjoy reading the most are ones where people just talk about whatever is on their mind, or happening to them in their regular lives. I like that a blog can be the voice of your thoughts in an informal way. So I'm going to make it a point to open up a little bit more and write more of what's on my mind. I guess you'll never know who might want to hear what you have to say.
This particular post has been on my mind for a while......
As you may know, my best friend Kate is moving out of the state very soon.....a fact that I have worked very hard to repressing my feelings on until absolutely necessary. That time is fast approaching as I have to take her to the airport next Thursday. The ways that Kate has influenced, changed and shaped my life and person are far too great for a mere mention here...but needless to say I cannot begin to count the many gifts she has given me. One of these being my second family.....or to be more precise...her family. Robby and I are, for the most part, on our own out here in California. His parents live in Colorado, my parents in Arizona and Texas. This has been the case for just about as long as Kate and I have been friends, which is going on 9 years now. That being the case I have been welcomed into Kate's family (and now my husband and children as well) in the absence of our own and I would like to take this opportunity to speak to whomever might listen about what I know about these wonderful people and to say thank you for all that they have done:
Dr. & Mrs. M are two of the most kind and generous people I have ever had the privilege to know. Between the two of them they have raised 5 highly successful and equally as kind children. Those 5 children have gone on to marry (actually the youngest will be married in January) people that have enhanced their core family and have given them many grandchildren who I have been able to watch grow over these last several years. That is the kind of success I want Robby and I to know. I have learned much of what I know about a sound marriage and family structure from their fine example.
Through the years this family has welcomed me as one of their own. We have shared holidays and family celebrations that I'll always remember. There has been help in moving (lots of help as Kate and I transitioned through numerous apartments), family vacations and lots of love and support. During the fires here last year, we were welcomed with open arms. While most evacuees were hunkered down on a cot in a high school gym, Robby and I could take our children to a place where we had a home to stay in, hot showers, gourmet meals and a feeling of complete security that if something happened to our home (and something very nearly did) that there would be all the help that we needed. Emma fell totally in love with Mrs. M; going so far as to call her Monna (which is what she calls Robby's mom). To this day every time we drive to Auntie Kate and Uncle Jared's house she asks if Mrs. M will be there. What's so great is that I know the feeling is mutual. For my sister's wedding (which was held in Kate and Jared's back yard), they were there to help make it a fantastic event. Mr's M made all the food, Dr. M took fantastic pictures and Kate's youngest sister was there to just help out. All of this simply because I or someone that was important to me needed them. I can't count the number of times that medical advice has been freely given....and there's no one that Robby and I trust more than Dr. M....if he says it's true...it must be so.
What got me thinking about all of this, is that for the first time in many years, I will not be spending Thanksgiving with Kate's family. As I had that thought it also occurred to me that with Kate and Jared moving there might be fewer of those opportunities to get together than before. The more I thought about that the more I realized that I very much did not want that to happen. I love being a part of that family. I want to make sure that we drop by for visits to the M. household. I'm fairly certain that Emma has found her long lost twin and best friend in one of Kate's little nieces. Katy lights up whenever she sees Kate's older sister as though they have some past history in another life or something. I enjoy spending time with Kate's brothers and sisters and their families and being apart of their lives. So that's what I'm going to keep on doing. Because gifts like those aren't something you should have to give up.
Robby and I are more grateful than we can say to Kate and her family for all that they have given us and our family. The relationships that I have built with them have been one of the true blessings in my life.
To say thank you just doesn't seem like enough...but I suppose that's all there is
This particular post has been on my mind for a while......
As you may know, my best friend Kate is moving out of the state very soon.....a fact that I have worked very hard to repressing my feelings on until absolutely necessary. That time is fast approaching as I have to take her to the airport next Thursday. The ways that Kate has influenced, changed and shaped my life and person are far too great for a mere mention here...but needless to say I cannot begin to count the many gifts she has given me. One of these being my second family.....or to be more precise...her family. Robby and I are, for the most part, on our own out here in California. His parents live in Colorado, my parents in Arizona and Texas. This has been the case for just about as long as Kate and I have been friends, which is going on 9 years now. That being the case I have been welcomed into Kate's family (and now my husband and children as well) in the absence of our own and I would like to take this opportunity to speak to whomever might listen about what I know about these wonderful people and to say thank you for all that they have done:
Dr. & Mrs. M are two of the most kind and generous people I have ever had the privilege to know. Between the two of them they have raised 5 highly successful and equally as kind children. Those 5 children have gone on to marry (actually the youngest will be married in January) people that have enhanced their core family and have given them many grandchildren who I have been able to watch grow over these last several years. That is the kind of success I want Robby and I to know. I have learned much of what I know about a sound marriage and family structure from their fine example.
Through the years this family has welcomed me as one of their own. We have shared holidays and family celebrations that I'll always remember. There has been help in moving (lots of help as Kate and I transitioned through numerous apartments), family vacations and lots of love and support. During the fires here last year, we were welcomed with open arms. While most evacuees were hunkered down on a cot in a high school gym, Robby and I could take our children to a place where we had a home to stay in, hot showers, gourmet meals and a feeling of complete security that if something happened to our home (and something very nearly did) that there would be all the help that we needed. Emma fell totally in love with Mrs. M; going so far as to call her Monna (which is what she calls Robby's mom). To this day every time we drive to Auntie Kate and Uncle Jared's house she asks if Mrs. M will be there. What's so great is that I know the feeling is mutual. For my sister's wedding (which was held in Kate and Jared's back yard), they were there to help make it a fantastic event. Mr's M made all the food, Dr. M took fantastic pictures and Kate's youngest sister was there to just help out. All of this simply because I or someone that was important to me needed them. I can't count the number of times that medical advice has been freely given....and there's no one that Robby and I trust more than Dr. M....if he says it's true...it must be so.
What got me thinking about all of this, is that for the first time in many years, I will not be spending Thanksgiving with Kate's family. As I had that thought it also occurred to me that with Kate and Jared moving there might be fewer of those opportunities to get together than before. The more I thought about that the more I realized that I very much did not want that to happen. I love being a part of that family. I want to make sure that we drop by for visits to the M. household. I'm fairly certain that Emma has found her long lost twin and best friend in one of Kate's little nieces. Katy lights up whenever she sees Kate's older sister as though they have some past history in another life or something. I enjoy spending time with Kate's brothers and sisters and their families and being apart of their lives. So that's what I'm going to keep on doing. Because gifts like those aren't something you should have to give up.
Robby and I are more grateful than we can say to Kate and her family for all that they have given us and our family. The relationships that I have built with them have been one of the true blessings in my life.
To say thank you just doesn't seem like enough...but I suppose that's all there is
Friday, September 26, 2008
Trust Me Mom.....
So, the last few days have not been the most fun in our household. Both girls came down with a cold on Monday and it's gone down hill ever since. Emma proceeds to tell me every ten minutes that she doesn't feel good. My sharp daughter has caught on to the fact that such a statement elicits a loving response from Mommy, or possibly some yummy flavored medicine. It has been determined that, for her, right now, all "I don't feel good Mommy" means is that her nose is all stuffed up. Unfortunately, she has had to realize that Mommy cannot fix all that ails her...there will be things that I cannot make better. Come to think of it, this is a pretty hard fact for Mommy to come to grips with too.
Katy had taken a turn for the worse Wednesday night, so yesterday I hauled she and Emma down to Clairemont for a visit to the doctor. It was revealed that Katy's cold had morphed into an ear infection - this explains the inconsolable baby I was faced with in the middle of the night. It really sucks to have something wrong with one of your kids, but I have to say that it's kind of nice to know that my instincts where my children are concerned are on the mark.
Right now Emma is practically obsessed with the idea of an echo. She loves shouting something (usually the sound "wuuuhhhh" ) almost at the top of her lungs in an empty garage, parking structure, or public bathroom and hearing it echoed back to her. As we got off the elevator to head back to the car, the shouting commenced. This time it was some little made up ditty that only comes from the mind of an almost 3 year old. I got Katy put into the car and then it was Emma's turn. As I open the car door she starts her usual repetitive "I can do it Mom, I can do". She climbs up into the car, then into her car seat. The "I can do, I can do it" starts again as she wants to buckle herself in. In all fairness I must admit that she has gotten really good at it and can even tighten herself in fairly well.
It also seems that in the process of climbing into the seat she found a yellow crayon...something which pleased her immensely and consequently worried me as she starting asking "What can I write on?" and I had visions of yellow crayon all over my car door. I explained that she could not write on anything and to my surprise she said "Ok Mommy" ***cue mom's suspicious look*** We're driving along and Emma starts breaking the crayon into smaller pieces. She then proceeds to chuck one at Katy ***cue indignant yell from younger daughter*** The thought occurs to me that the first thing Katy will do when she finds one of the pieces (perfectly sized as a choking hazard) thrown at her is to put it into her mouth. I had promised Emma a lemonade to drink for her good behavior at the doctor's office, so I pull into a Burger King parking lot, hop out of the car, retrieve the crayon piece from Katy and then proceed to the other side of the car to confiscate the remaining pieces from Emma. Here is the conversation that followed:
- Mommy opens car door -
Emma: "NOOOOO Mommy, don't take them!"
Mommy: "Give them to me Emma, now."
Emma: "Please Mommy, I won't throw them."
Mommy: "Honey, this could be very dangerous. If Katy got a hold of one of those pieces she could choke, or she could swallow it and it could make her very sick. Please give them to me."
Emma: "Moooommmm"
Mommy: "Emma - "
Emma: "Just trust me Mom!"
Just trust me mom......just trust me mom! I stood there for a minute looking at her and her big, pleading blue eyes knowing she had no idea what those words really meant. I finally, said "OK" and reiterated the importance of her keeping her promise not to throw them again. She kept her promise and drank her lemonade peacefully for the remainder of the car ride home. However, I was forced to think of hearing those same words from my daughter when she's asking to go out with friends for the first time, go on a date or wants the keys to the car. I hope when that time comes the outcome is as positive as it was with the pieces of yellow crayon.
Katy had taken a turn for the worse Wednesday night, so yesterday I hauled she and Emma down to Clairemont for a visit to the doctor. It was revealed that Katy's cold had morphed into an ear infection - this explains the inconsolable baby I was faced with in the middle of the night. It really sucks to have something wrong with one of your kids, but I have to say that it's kind of nice to know that my instincts where my children are concerned are on the mark.
Right now Emma is practically obsessed with the idea of an echo. She loves shouting something (usually the sound "wuuuhhhh" ) almost at the top of her lungs in an empty garage, parking structure, or public bathroom and hearing it echoed back to her. As we got off the elevator to head back to the car, the shouting commenced. This time it was some little made up ditty that only comes from the mind of an almost 3 year old. I got Katy put into the car and then it was Emma's turn. As I open the car door she starts her usual repetitive "I can do it Mom, I can do". She climbs up into the car, then into her car seat. The "I can do, I can do it" starts again as she wants to buckle herself in. In all fairness I must admit that she has gotten really good at it and can even tighten herself in fairly well.
It also seems that in the process of climbing into the seat she found a yellow crayon...something which pleased her immensely and consequently worried me as she starting asking "What can I write on?" and I had visions of yellow crayon all over my car door. I explained that she could not write on anything and to my surprise she said "Ok Mommy" ***cue mom's suspicious look*** We're driving along and Emma starts breaking the crayon into smaller pieces. She then proceeds to chuck one at Katy ***cue indignant yell from younger daughter*** The thought occurs to me that the first thing Katy will do when she finds one of the pieces (perfectly sized as a choking hazard) thrown at her is to put it into her mouth. I had promised Emma a lemonade to drink for her good behavior at the doctor's office, so I pull into a Burger King parking lot, hop out of the car, retrieve the crayon piece from Katy and then proceed to the other side of the car to confiscate the remaining pieces from Emma. Here is the conversation that followed:
- Mommy opens car door -
Emma: "NOOOOO Mommy, don't take them!"
Mommy: "Give them to me Emma, now."
Emma: "Please Mommy, I won't throw them."
Mommy: "Honey, this could be very dangerous. If Katy got a hold of one of those pieces she could choke, or she could swallow it and it could make her very sick. Please give them to me."
Emma: "Moooommmm"
Mommy: "Emma - "
Emma: "Just trust me Mom!"
Just trust me mom......just trust me mom! I stood there for a minute looking at her and her big, pleading blue eyes knowing she had no idea what those words really meant. I finally, said "OK" and reiterated the importance of her keeping her promise not to throw them again. She kept her promise and drank her lemonade peacefully for the remainder of the car ride home. However, I was forced to think of hearing those same words from my daughter when she's asking to go out with friends for the first time, go on a date or wants the keys to the car. I hope when that time comes the outcome is as positive as it was with the pieces of yellow crayon.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Under Construction....
Just a quick snipet to let all of you know that there will be pictures and fun items posted in the coming days. I'm learning how this blogging thing works so while it looks simple now.....a masterpiece is in the making! Check back often the see what's new.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
And So We Begin...
After much prompting by friends and seasoned bloggers....we are starting a blog of our own. Where do you start? At the beginning I suppose....
Robby and I have been married for almost 4 years and have 2 beautiful daughters; Emma who is almost 3 and Katy, 10 months. We lead pretty normal, average lives in sunny California; which translates to barely being able to afford living in said beautiful state. If I hear one more person say "...well but the weather here is great..." I'm going to kick them. Who wants to pay $500k for a home in a place where it's sunny alot? The sun shines in other parts of the country and you can afford to enjoy it!!!! I digress...... Robby and I are hoping to move our family to Texas so that we can be closer to our family. Grandparents start getting antsy when they go too long without seeing their grandbabies....and it really stinks never having a babysitter (ha ha - just kidding!).
Being the parents of two little ones means that there's always fun and interesting things being said and done that we would love to share with all of you. We hope that this blog is a way to keep those we love a closer part of our daily lives as we navigate through the maze of being married with children. Also, one of the neat things I have noticed from other friends who are avid bloggers is the way that they have met new people who share similar life experiences. There are amazing people in the world and you never know who you might cross paths with and how you can positively impact someone else's life or how they can impact yours.
So to kick things off I'll share with you the experience that told me it was finally time to get started down the blogging road: Each day after work one of the first things I do is change out of my work clothes. I was all done and about to leave the room when Emma locates one of my bras, puts it on (under her dress mind you) and explains to me: "Mommy, I need this so my boobs don't fall out." Huh - so that's what those things are for....you learn something new everyday.
Robby and I have been married for almost 4 years and have 2 beautiful daughters; Emma who is almost 3 and Katy, 10 months. We lead pretty normal, average lives in sunny California; which translates to barely being able to afford living in said beautiful state. If I hear one more person say "...well but the weather here is great..." I'm going to kick them. Who wants to pay $500k for a home in a place where it's sunny alot? The sun shines in other parts of the country and you can afford to enjoy it!!!! I digress...... Robby and I are hoping to move our family to Texas so that we can be closer to our family. Grandparents start getting antsy when they go too long without seeing their grandbabies....and it really stinks never having a babysitter (ha ha - just kidding!).
Being the parents of two little ones means that there's always fun and interesting things being said and done that we would love to share with all of you. We hope that this blog is a way to keep those we love a closer part of our daily lives as we navigate through the maze of being married with children. Also, one of the neat things I have noticed from other friends who are avid bloggers is the way that they have met new people who share similar life experiences. There are amazing people in the world and you never know who you might cross paths with and how you can positively impact someone else's life or how they can impact yours.
So to kick things off I'll share with you the experience that told me it was finally time to get started down the blogging road: Each day after work one of the first things I do is change out of my work clothes. I was all done and about to leave the room when Emma locates one of my bras, puts it on (under her dress mind you) and explains to me: "Mommy, I need this so my boobs don't fall out." Huh - so that's what those things are for....you learn something new everyday.
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