Adventure

I love what I do. The work I do satisfies my spiritual self, my physical self (I run and play all the time), and my mental self. On sick days I call into the office and chat with my girl Anna, on school breaks I plan slumber parties with my teen mentors. My work fills my heart. I recognize how lucky I am, I practice gratitude and thank God every day that I go into my office, and I smile soo much. With that said it can be hard for me to take a vacation. I do weekends away with Marty occasionally, I take a random day off when there are other breaks, but I haven't been gone from Tahoe for more than a few days in I'd say a couple years. I needed a vacation! 

And I found one in Texas. 

My beautiful cousin Monica was married April 20th; her wedding was so colorful; both literally, as her color choice was rainbow, and figuratively, because we've got quite the family! I haven't laughed and smiled and felt so surrounded by happy in such a long time! I didn't take Marty this time but I promised him I would the next time, I can't wait to see him and Liam play together! 

My cousin Nicole and I are very silly girls so I'm so happy she was there to out dork me when I embarrassed myself! Aunt Connie said we should write down all the memories from the weekend so we can look back on them; what a great idea! I have a really limited view of the entire week as I was on vacation and not taking note of anything (and maybe my memory was just a little hindered by red solo cups I don't know), I recommend vacations to everyone and make sure your vacation is an adventure!!

My Texas adventure:

* I love that Nicole called me just as I got off the plane! 

* Michael told me, Aunt Connie, and Aunt Theresa about his fetish for Nicole's toes

* $2 drinks, because we know financials 

* I bought an entire store worth of candy bars but not before I danced through every aisle (I like to dance)

* Uncle Mr. Craig shaking his head at me (this happened over and over during the course of the week)

* Running on the beach and realizing if I were home it would be 7am and wondering why I don't get up early all the time

* Laying at the pool in April! 

* Finding that a Texas Tan might actually mean sun burn (ouch!)

* Meeting baby Vivian for the first time (be still my heart)

*Meeting Liam gave me happy heart

* Considering a side job as an assistant wedding planner 

* Cousin Donald's butter fingers

* Crying a little (weddings do that to me) 

* Monica and TJ got married!!

* And then we danced! We even did the piggy back, it's all the rage with the cool kids

* And we danced! 

* I did a keg stand and my cousin told all my secrets! (classy, but it's off the bucket list)

* Aunt Connie and her red solo cup!

* I after partied! And I danced again...and I swooned a little...

* We spent time girl talking with my Aunt Carmen, I don't think Uncle Mark was a huge fan of the conversation though

* I entered a frozen t-shirt contest (it's not what you think)! Oh and so did my Aunt Theresa, we weren't winners :(

* Got to see the largest master sand sculpting competition in the US...Sand Fest so cool (even a sand Eiffel tower)!!!

* Got to experience redneck nachos...will never do that again! 

* Had a slumber party with my cousin Nicole (we've never done that before)

* Experienced the evil twin side of my cousin: almost pushed me into the river, and pushed me onto an air vent while I was wearing a dress...rude just rude

* Remembered the Alamo

* Went on an adventure! Lions and tigers and bears oh my!

* Came home to Marty 

There's so much more to the story but I wouldn't bore you with all the details, unless you really want to hear them! I haven't stopped giggling to myself since I got home, it's bittersweet I hate leaving my family. But I was so happy, and that happy stays, and I brought it home to spread the love a little! And as for taking vacations, I think I'll make that a regular practice! I also realized I have some amazing, crazy strong ladies in my family! My Aunt Carmen, Aunt Connie, and Aunt Theresa are women that I look up to. I want to be like all of them when I grow up! 

Miss you family, can't wait for the next hurrah!

30 days of amazing!

I turned 30 officially 2 days ago...I thought I'd end my 20's well or at least be cognitive of all the amazing day to day or extraordinary things I was doing at the bitter end! I chose to make sure I recognized my 30 day countdown with 30 days of amazing! I had such an adventure in my 20's, if I could do all of it over again I would! In my 20's I became a mom, a college graduate, a teacher, a counselor, a friend, a good sister, a strong woman, an advocate; I experienced life, laughter, heartbreak, creativity, sorrow, complete joy, passion, fear, gratitude, miracles; I loved with my whole heart, I lost loved ones, I was broken, I was contented, I sang my heart out, danced like no one was watching, created something to be proud of, created someone to be proud of, fully relied on God, asked for help, was too stubborn to ask for help, went on adventures, made lifelong friends, and loved my life. To everyone who has been a part of the ride thank you, each and everyone of you has touched my heart and changed me for the better...here's to the next decade I hear 43 is something to look forward to...we'll see!

My 30 days of amazing:

Dec. 5 Committed to 30 days of amazing

6 Girls Project with my little littles (K-2) soo cute

7 Survived the first Marty wrestling practice...it's hard to watch as a mom

8 Had a meeting about growing a program I strongly believe in (nailed it)

9 Friday Girls Project first lesson about appreciation

10 Delivered presents for the Church Christmas program (I'm so glad Marty and I shared this experience)

11 Sunday lunch after Church with 2 amazing people/ created a shopping list for Christmas Program

12 Made ornaments with Girls Project and Ashlee visited she always makes my day more amazing

13 Saw Cl's at the middle school

14 Christmas shopping for 80 or so kids

15 Evening of Giving at work my teen mentors made me proud

16 Decorated a float in freezing weather/ Played Quelf (best game ever) and laughed till I cried

17 Rode in a parade (add to amazing we had a giant blow up snowman, thanks Deb)/ Snuck into Tosh

18 Technically it was still a part of the 17th but had so much fun with friends!! in a very random night

19 Christmas dinner with families of Girls Project (this was my favorite I'm actually tearing up thinking of it)

20 Had happy hour with Pete for the last time before he was married 

21 Wrapped hundreds of gifts (with lots of help from my friends!)

22 Christmas party at work/ Uncle Rudy time/ having a fun family day

23 Had time with Anna Banana on our day off! 

24 Christmas Eve...had a long conversation with Santa, Marty might have been peeking...

25 Christmas with family...Skype is amazing thank God for that!

26 Sat down...my first break all by myself...took a deep breath (it was amazing I even woke up this day)

27 LASER TAG! I love my job

28 Ice skating with my amazing boy

29 Made Marty wear pink fuzzy socks...it's a long story but the fact he wore them amazing and hilarious

30 Took care of a dog that was the best!!

31 Danced on a bar...

Jan.1 Slept all day and tried to forget I danced on a bar!

2 Put Christmas away...I have learned dealing with Christmas trees by myself is a very difficult thing

3 Worked and accomplished some things at the office (amazing I finally had time!)

4 Experienced an 8 year old in a hotel when the pool is closed...amazed he didn't break his neck jumping from bed to bed (oh it's amazing I didn't kill him)

5 I turned 30 now that's amazing!

I'm...doing lots (and loving the season)

We all seem to get busy this time of year, what are you doing to slow down and take it all in?
I'm baking, crafting, and wrapping...must be that time of year again! I love Christmas, I usually love it more with snow but, hey I'm optimistic how cool would it be if the storm of the year happened Christmas morning? It would be a Christmas miracle!!

I'm missing my brother lots and wishing he and Luci would surprise us again (last year they pretended to skype with us for our Christmas morning and then pulled into the driveway all the way from Denver, made Christmas)!
I'm taking in every moment of Marty's Christmas spirit, I know he'll learn the truth about the magic all too soon and I want to enjoy every second we have left  of it!
I'm giving with my whole heart, many gifts are homemade this year which means I am making super special gifts for the people I love (or having Marty make them), don't worry Holly I bought real presents too :)
I was blind sighted by generosity this year for my Christmas program at work, what an amazing community I live in, I was speechless!

I was able to celebrate a dear friend aging with grace, style, and beauty...and she was glamorous!
I'm making every day in my count down to 30 matter..make everyday amazing (I'll post the 30 days of amazing after I turn 30)!
I'm taking it all in as it rushes by. I get silly and sentimental this time of year, and I think if there's ever a time to do so it's now, so here's  the sappy part, I feel so blessed to have amazing people in my life, you have all touched my heart in some way and I hope I do the same for you.


To all my loved ones
Merry Christmas

Stress: A dirty little word

Busy, bustling, hustling, stretched thin, swamped, overwhelmed, and on, and on the words that come to mind for how things have been since my last post. On one hand I love being busy and on the other I like to feel as if I can breathe...
I'm trusting that this too shall pass, this every second filled with tasks, each as important as the other. It will pass won't it?

The Busy but Happy at work

The busy at work has been so rewarding, several goals I set for myself are coming together...
The busy at home has been fun as I redecorate and paint furniture etc. (it's my obsession with www.pinterest.com that I blame)...
The busy mom has been my favorite, I love this role most, there's something amazing in holding together the owies,the dentist appointments, the school projects, the volunteering in the classroom, the making favorite meals and treats, the everything in it...
The busy as a friend has I'm sorry to say been slacking, I'm sorry I've fallen off the face of the earth lately I hope I can begin to make a comeback soon...
The busy as a daughter of God has been present but lacking, I admit I have been forgetting to fully rely on God to help me with time management, that may be where I've been failing most, haven't I learned by now that I can't do it all by myself? Ok working on that starting now...

Marty the busy mom is my favorite hat to wear!

I'm glad I'm giving myself the opportunity to write it's one of my favorite things, it helps me think, makes me calm and reflective. I write now feeling as though everything else can wait. I need to go clean a dirty little word out of my life: goodbye stress!

I do not like the additional stress of stitches...he's crazy, and all boy!!

Less hair = less stress!!!! I love it!

Step slowly and gracefully...

I've been suffering from writers block these past few months. It's not that I don't want/love/need to write but I've let all of the too busy, stressed, burdened, riding through life stuff take priority.
I came across an amazing simple blog tonight. It inspired me.

Here's what the blog said:

"Whenever I feel like I need to change something and improve, I have to remind myself to take it slow. Change doesn’t come over night. It’s a process. Baby steps. Don’t dive right in. Step slowly and gracefully.  Be okay with imperfection.
I aim for being better than yesterday, not as good as tomorrow."

My brother and me the beginning of our process (my grandma on mom's side)

I love the reminder of taking it slow, I don't know about you but when I rush my steps I don't have much grace, I usually look clumsy and stumble easily. I guess it's a fancy way of saying "be patient." My favorite is how she closes it "better than yesterday, not as good as tomorrow." I will learn from today just as I've learned from every day before this, and I get the opportunity to do it better. It's a comforting thought, and a reminder to not dwell on the past or even the future but learn the most from this moment.

Speaking of blessings

my grandpa (on dad's side)
and me 

I'm grateful I have loved ones and God with me through the "process." I'm enjoying the journey and am everyday surprised by the blessings I have. But again I'm taking it all in, one day at a time, kind of slowly and gracefully!






find the blog at:
http://www.remodelingthislife.com/2010/10/10/31-days-of-living-simply-day-10-better-than-yesterday/

I have a boy...oh boy!

It still boggles my mind that I have a boy. I think when I imagined having children I truly saw butterflies and daisies, and was excited about getting to play with barbies all over again. Don't tell Marty but I called my belly little girl until the sonogram in which with no uncertainty Dr. Kobalter told me "Oh yeah it's a boy!" And then I fell in love with the idea! My twin brother was one of the first to hear the news and he said "cool he'll be a football player!"

...and I suppose he was right...

Can't get around it he's all
boy!

 Having a boy has been wonderful, it has surpassed my dreams of butterflies and daisies! There is nothing more powerful than the mother son relationship I feel! He brings me smiles every day!

In my family I was the first girl and the only one for six years until the night I wished on a star when my mom was pregnant, "star light star bright first star I see tonight please give me a baby sister, please, no more boys!!!"

"please, no more boys..." I guess they're not so bad!

It would be years before I would know how to show appreciation for the gift God had given me in my baby sister who came from my wish on a star.

Sister from a star and my aunt Carmen
who happens to have a great dad!

I'm reminiscing a lot lately as I always do around Father's Day. I miss my dad and every time any of my adult friends talk about their dad, and talk about memories with them I always think about the what ifs in life. I am lucky though to know amazing women who have equally amazing fathers, who have loving relationships! I'd like to think my dad and I would be that way too. I think he'd laugh to see how I've adapted to enjoying slimy, gross, disgusting, and ultimately hilarious times with my boy! So it's a short but sweet post thanking my Heavenly Father for the beautiful blessing in Marty and hoping I'm giving my dad a good laugh!

If I only Knew...

This is Marty in time out. If only my consequences
 for bad choices were this simple

I want more insight! If I could live life knowing if the decisions I am making are mistakes or not I'd find things much easier. I can only imagine the kind of parent I would be, far better I'm sure. The fact is as a parent I have the responsibility for several decisions regarding Marty's life and that's somewhat scary, correction thats outright terrifying. When I make decisions for myself I am the only one who faces the consequences for those decisions (at least I hope that's the case); but when I make choices for Marty I risk pain and heartache for him and his future development.I can't be sure that the choices I make are going to bring the best results for Marty, or that the costs won't be severely emotionally damaging It's the riskiest part of being a parent. Yet Marty always trusts my decisions. Not to say we don't have some conflicts because he doesn't want to go to bed at a certain time, or wants to play something, or watch something that I disallow, those usual parent child disagreements; but ultimately he's well behaved and follows my leadership.
I was thinking a lot about that this week as we've been going through a difficult time at home and I'm making tough calls regarding Marty's life. As I contemplated how much he fully trusts me I thought about how I've been a difficult child to God. I realized God has all the insight, when He decides my life He knows the outcome, He knows how difficult some things will be, and He knows what I'll look like on the other side of the tough stuff; but I fail to trust Him. I'm stubborn in my belief that I have all the control, and fail to recognize what a mess things would be if I did. I'm working very hard to let go of the reins. And as always Marty inspires me.

I've loved watching him Grow!

and I can't wait to see him grow into an amazing man!

So I'm giving it all to God and realizing that maybe as a parent it would be easier if I only knew what the outcome would be, but as child of God I have to trust Him because He already knows!