I am back ... I am just completely out of sync

with me.

:O(

the trip was amazing, and i absolutely fell in love with San Fran.

*love*

i have pictures, and commentary, but it has to wait .... i am struggling with returning to the kids who seemingly decided now would be a great time to go through one of those developmental phases. you know, one that you hope glides by with the speed of light?

work was hard to jump back into. (shocking, i know)

and we opened the pool which inevitably means the backyard needed some work to make it purty.

so, i will be back ... perhaps tomorrow night.

:o)

Mom has a day

once a year. it's a day that gives those that love mom a moment of reflection, a moment of love, and a reason to spoil mom.

i was. {grins}

yummy breakfast in bed. freshly picked flowers from my own garden in a vase.

2 squirts sharing my bed with me, eating with me.

homemade cards, treasured gifts made by their little hands .....

and a beautiful bracelet from Pandora, with birth month charms of my kidlets that i've wanted for years ... :O)

told ya, spoiled. :)

had a lovely day in the yard, spring cleaning, and summer-readying. getting happier as the moments passed ... heard the kids giggling all day, and playing all day.

good moments.

love days like this.

San Francisco

so i've mentioned it a time or two in a post. we've booked the trip, and we're all set to go! this is the sales trip i won/earned for being top 10 last year. typically, they send you and a spouse on a company paid trip with all the muckie mucks, but they instead paid us what the trip would cost, and we get to go where we want, and spend what we want from that gift. so,yep, frisco - bound!

i'ma headin' outta here~!

the big guy and i are taking a few days of r&r with uncle b and autie s, before he's shipped off to iraq in july. we just *needed* to see him before he went, and auntie s and i needed to connect while the brother's connected, too. surround him (bryan) with love, and give him some qt with this big broher and his wife from the east coast. we haven't seen them in about 9 or 10 months. way, waaaaay too long.

so ~~~~

fisherman's wharf
easy dinners
lazy breakfasts
golf
sun
talking
being
napa valley
wine
beer
relaxing
canoodling
e.n.j.o.y.i.n.g.

we leave next wed and i am already counting the days down .. down ... down :)

i've been exactly once to that fabulous land, and i was 1. yes, one year old. not too much recall from that trip, however.

so, readying the kids, readying the house, the dogs, and the details here in our lives is certainly beginning to shake. i have mostly everything written down for my parents, and the kids are looking forward to all they 'get to do' with mimi and poppi. mostly, stay up later than normal, eat some things they only get at their grandparents house (even though they'll be in their own house, they still want the spoiling ... can't blame them right?) and they are looking forward to the 'presents from where you're going' when we return.

funny thing is, they have some activities that will be happening while we're gone, so my parents get to participate in the "parenting" thing again with them! baseball games, practices, softball games and practice, gymnastics, birthday parties. you name it, it's jammed in there in those 5 days. (may parents will be exhausted and happy to give the kids back, right!?) they do love it, and they too, are looking forward to having the kids all to themselves without 'our rules'. {it'll take me a week to get the kids back to our routine! ;) }

on another note, or two:
i've got some neat spring shots i've been taking, and will post soon, looking forward to the nice long flight to read heavily on my digi camera, too ... been a busy week, looking forward to mother's day, and the nice weekend.

anyone else experiencing the 8 year old boy fascination with burping? {sigh} attractive. hoping that the novelty will pass.

soon.

had the windows cleaned today in the house. yeowza! there was a whole world beyond that winter weather-markers of rain/snow/wind! love the cleanliness of the shiny glass!

happy mom's day to one and all!

moment of pause

often i am reminded of the incredible gifts i have: two healthy, beautiful children; a wonderfully loving, and devoted husband; a great home; awesome family and friends; a good job, etc. and always, health. that's the one that gives me the *pause* i speak of in the title up there.

i am posting this to each of you in hopes that through word of mouth, and by the incredible network of the internet, we can help someone reach his goal and grant this wish. it isn't money, not one red cent. it isn't toys, or even material things.

you get to be creative, and make a card. then send it to this little guy who will turn 8 on May 30th.

did you read that? 8 years old. the age of my first born.
he's dying of cancer. c.a.n.c.e.r.
that wretched, horrible monster of a disease that takes people too soon.

i know we're all busy, and we've all got loads of things on our plates. but if you would take just a moment, click on this link and read the note there.

www.shaneswish.com

and then maybe make a card or two from your family, and send it to this little guy.

kendall came home from school with this page printed, and a note from school. they have participated and made cards for Shane in her classroom, and the other classrooms are also participating, and will send them out as an organization participating in this effort.

we are also going to send our own from our family.

if you can't make a card, tell someone about this, and see if they can. pass this on .... i think it's worth it.

one word ....

She's (Nichole) at it again, folks ... the one word game. And there's a spin at the end too. Play along, fun stuff.

Your Shirt: blue
To Your Right: printer
To Your Left: laptop
The Most Recently-Placed Object On Your Desk: glass
You Detest: dishonesty
Have Been Thinking About: SanFran!
Would Like To Buy: umbrellas (outdoor on the deck)
Will Never Buy: Porsche
Your Upcoming Week's Biggest Negative: conference
Your Upcoming Week's Greatest Plus: no travel
Part Of Your Last Meal: soup
Something You Won't Tolerate: fresh kids
Something You Can't Turn Down: love
Your Mind: busy
Your Preferred Flavor of Toothpaste: mint
The Location of Your First Kiss: pool
Your Favorite Part of a Picnic: sharing
A Favorite Type of Tree: weeping willow
The Last Thing You Completed: laundry
You'd Love To Be Invisible For One Day In a Room With: grandmother

Number 9: High School Edition, Yo

The name of the game this time is HIGH SCHOOL, FOOL. Oh yeah, I'm gonna make you rememember all of those great things about that most hormonal and akward time of your life right at the beginning of the week, no less. After you read mine, copy and paste the list into your comment and replace my answers with yours...AS YOU WOULD HAVE ANSWERED THEM AS A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR. You only get ONE WORD to respond. Have courage, may the force be with you, you are the wind beneath my wings, and all that crap.

Your Shoes: pennies
Your Hair: curly
Your Worst Fear: disconnected
The Gym: daily
Your Greatest Talent: laughing
Your Parents: super
Your Favorite Food: meatballs
Your Greatest Fault: talking
Your Friends: rocked!
The Opposite Sex: who?
What You Want to Be In 10 Years: Sports Medicine
Your Means of Transportation: Volvo
The Name of Your Current Crush: Joe
Your Grades: good
Something You Wish You Could Do: sing
Your Favorite Fast Food Chain: McD's
Something Your Parents Won't Let You Do: disconnect
How Many Boyfriends or Girlfriends You've Had: two
Someone Who Has Had a Crush On You: Kevin
Your Favorite Subject: anatomy
Where You Have Made Out Most Often: my mind
A Prized Possession: rings
Something Your Parents Won't Let You Have: misery
A Favorite Movie Star of the Opposite Sex: Costner
Your Wardrobe: uniform
What You're Looking Forward To: senior year!

Fun stuff, and GREAT walk donw memory lane!

*****************************************************************************

On another note, 10 days until we leave on a jet plane ... wooohoooo! :O)

more on that laters ....

Happy Sunday night !

when you chose your mom, how was it i got so lucky?

really ... in all the world, of all the moms, why me? what lucky star fell on me, and gave me this angel?

you came along 8 years and 4 months ago, and magically, effortlessly, brought your father and i from a couple - to a family. the power of that *position* is one that you relish in, without even knowing what it's truly made of.

i can't imagine or remember what our lives were like without you in it.

why would i want to?

your wit, and silly demeanor entertain us, and delight us. and yes, can drive us crazy at times. mostly your sister, but she reveres you as the "best thing in the whole world, all for me!" you are charming, and coy, and reveal that sensitive side to the safe people you give your heart to. you are happy, and fun to be around. you have enough energy to light a small city. you are fundamentally all boy. you posess charisma, and character that draws others closer. i love being with you, and around you. so many others feel the same way. people feel alive with you nearby. it shows in their faces, and their hearts.

that is a special gift. a rare gift. one i hope never, ever goes away.

your spirit and soul are a page from your daddy's book. the one, and only, thing that separates you both right now is height. and that won't be for too long. the identical image of the two of you takes my breath at times. your athletic ability is amazing to us. it's almost as if you tell your body 'do this, this way' and your body responds easily. neat to watch, and i can imagine more neat to DO.

you are a treasure, one in which i am so proud to call mine. one in which i deeply hope i will be able to cherish and nurture for as long as i can .... you are beautiful, and amazing, and spirited, and loving, and enjoyable. you are so much - for so many.

i love you, buddy. with everything i am.

thanks for choosing me.