Back to schoooool

Time. There is not nearly enough in the day. List form update.


Work

I went back to work 2 weeks ago, with staff meetings all week our first week, and the first week of school last week. This school year has promised many positive changes. The new Administration (Executive Director, etc) is a breath of fresh air.

Our goal is to become the first charter school, actually, the first SCHOOL in the state to be technologically advanced. Upon the completion of our new campus by next school year (as well as the merging of ALL grades at one campus), we will use Apple products and be trained to use the tools available to us, making both our staff and our students ahead of the game.


The local news featured our school in an almost 3 minute segment, and of course our phones have been ringing nonstop. It's great that our school is finally getting some overdue exposure, but this means that my job is ten times busier.

Here is the article and video clip from the news last week:

http://www.8newsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=13092762


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Personal Me

As always, I've been keeping busy. Get togethers with family and playgroup friends. Delving into books and cookbooks. Racing. Volunteer work. I am also going to enroll in school in the Winter or Spring. I missed the Fall deadline by 2 days. Too much was going on.

I won't have a Major. I have my ECE degree, as well as being licensed to sell Insurance. Going back is strictly for self enrichment. I plan on taking philosophy, astronomy, culinary, photography and auto mechanics. If something interests me specifically and they offer a certification program, I may pursue that. I want to show my kiddos that there is nothing wrong with constant learning and enrichment in your life.



Me and B

He is sweet and strong. Sweet to me when I need him to be, and strong for me when I need him to be. We aren't perfect. He drives me fucking angry sometimes. My moodiness annoys him. But it's what makes it interesting. When the annoyance and anger has subsided, we laugh at the ridiculousness of our petty little arguments, hug it out, and move on.

What can I say that I have not said about him? He has my heart, he occupies my mind, and he is my soulmate. I truly believe that.

I am reading a coffee table style book right now, full of black and white glossy pictures of couples who have been together for more than 30 years. True, real, bittersweet, humorous, heart wrenching stories. I smile and think how I hope to be able to be in a book like that one day. 70 years old and being able to tell 'our' story to someone.

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Kiddos

Forever growing by leaps and bounds. What did I do before them? Almost 32 years old and only having been a Mom for 10 years. I've done and seen so many things before I was a Mom, but it feels like my *life* didn't start until I became a Mom.


Kai

He is in the 5th grade now. His last year in elementary school. This makes me anxious. He is a sweetheart, a great student. He's caring of his classmates. He always has stories about classmates who get made fun of, and he worries for them. He is quite the softie in comparison to the typical 10 year old boy. I hope he doesn't get eaten alive in middle school.

Kai has quite the schedule this Fall. I am very glad that he is able to have these wonderful opportunities:

- Baseball tournament this weekend here in Las Vegas

- Trip to Utah with his Dad & Stepmom to stay in a cabin at the end of September

- 1st week of October-school field trip to California to attend the Pali Institute. This is their big 5th grade tournament. This is an overnight trip (2 nights!) with all of his classmates

- 2nd week of October-Trip to Washington DC with my Stepdad to watch a Redskins game. This will be his 2nd NFL game. He will also enjoy sightseeing and get to see many historical monuments.

- Halloween weekend-baseball tournament in California with (another) trip to Knott's Berry (Scary) Farm.

He deserves everything his heart desires. He's not perfect, but he tries his hardest. He has maintained his Principal's List/Honor Roll status since Kindergarten. He is a great helper and an amazing older brother.


Jewel

Jewel soaks up all the attention she gets from being the only girl in the family. My sister takes her out for lunches and girl days that involve manicures, pedicures, and new clothes. My MIL takes her out for Grandma/Granddaughter days as well.

Jewel has excelled in gymnastics. She has moved up another level. She has always been very thin, but now she is gaining a muscular figure. She has mastered back bends, and is working on perfecting her cartwheels on the balance beam and her head stands.

But of course, NOW she doesn't want to be in gymnastics. So I've signed her up to start Hip Hop dancing on Monday nights instead. Luckily her school is the Conservatory of the Arts so the location stays the same as where her gym was, except dance class is on a different day. She has also been signed up for theater at the same school. She didn't want to participate in the current workshop, which is Aladdin. The next 'production' will be sometime in November/early December, so she will start then.

Jewel has gotten A's & B's always, but this year she seems to have a new attitude about school. Last year, she got very frustrated easily, and in my weekly email communication with her teacher, she was always missing an assignment. We determined that she had completed everything but didn't always turn it in because she was afraid it was incorrect. Leading to the frustration on not being able to figure it out. Her weak subject seems to be Math (she took after her Momma). Jason & I had considered getting her a tutor, but B worked with her and figured out a way she was 'learning' to do things in her head, and we rolled with it. Tutoring is still an option, if the same issue arises this year.

I think Jewel's positive attitude has to do with this year's teacher. She was the teacher that Kai had for 3rd grade, and she is one of my favorites. Jewel is excited to please this particular teacher.


Jake

He is 3, going on 18. I've never had a child *think* the way Jake thinks. It's not normal toddler logic. He spends a lot of his time 'figuring things out'. He'll take apart tires, or vehicles (he calls them vehicles,not cars). He always wants to know how things work. He also has a very strong personality. He has strong opinions on how things should be done.

He's officially potty trained and sleeping on his own bed. We co-slept up until a few weeks ago. Is it strange that we kinda miss being able to cuddle him at night?

Jake wants to be treated like an older child. Of course, it's because he has older siblings and when they're not around, mine and B's friends give him all the attention he could ever want.

We've been researching preschools for him, and we've decided on a private Lutheran school that is literally right across the little street from my school. Conveniently, I've been in their classrooms, because that's where Jewel's Girl Scout meetings were. He is VERY excited to start school.

Jake will be going to preschool most likely on Mondays, for a few hours. I feel more comfortable teaching him at home (SOOO many resources donated to me from my school and parents that I have enough to have my own classroom at home). I just want him to get a feel for the social setting and schedule in school, so Kindergarten won't be a shock.

Kindergarten isn't for another almost 3 years, but I know that he will be attending my work, if not, Kai & Jewel's school. I am more than confident and happy with both choices.

Jake starts T-Ball on Monday. He is THRILLED to start. Kai started when he was a few months older than Jake and his attention span was pretty so-so, and I think Jake will be the same way. It's a comical thing to watch-a bunch of older toddlers trying to grasp the concept of a game, as well as its rules, AND try to coordinate themselves to hit a ball and run to a base. I think B & I are just as excited as Jake is.


Jake and Jewel's activities are both on Monday evenings, and Kai's had practice on random days, depending what tournaments they are going to be in. This is on top of working part time, dinner, homework, cleaning, racing and fixing cars, doing little home renovation projects, doing Admin stuff on our race team website, and attempting to still volunteer once a month. Oh, and I signed up for the PTA. Life has been crazy hectic since the return to school schedule. I've been waking up at the buttcrack of dawn to get a moment of peace, and to enjoy some coffee before I wake the kids to start our day. My favorite part of the day is waking the kids while the sun is rising, so the sunlight hits their faces perfectly. It's a simple pleasure, and I love being their Mom.


Here are a few from the first day of school. All 3 kids are anti-camera but I got a few

Wordless Wednesday

With Summer coming to an end, I thought I'd do a wordless Wednesday post with some of my favorite photos of our Summer. It was a gorgeous, HOT, fun, and BUSY Summer. Just the way we like it. From camping in our favorite national park in Utah, trips to the lake to enjoy our boat, to trips to California, stays at local hotels for their swimming pools, baseball tournaments, birthday parties. We've enjoyed and have been thankful for it all.

The kiddos start school on August 30th. They are excited to go back.

Summer breeze makes me feel fine

Summer has been well, HOT, first and foremost. Other than that, it has been amazing. Birthday parties, playdates, get togethers, as well as:

- Jewel's 8th birthday was a success. We had over 50 people over at my Dad's, swimming. My Dad rented an enormous water slide that everyone would climb up and slide right into the pool. We had a baby pool set up in a shaded area, an ice cream sundae DIY buffet, pizza, music (Jewel and I made a custom play list that my sis played on her laptop), a face painter, and games.

- We bought a boat. Well, Billy kind of just told me he had bought a boat. I was a little hesitant on his purchase but it was already a done deal. It's a 20 foot pontoon boat that we've taken out on the lake. The first time we took it out, we ended up having 10 people on it (all of us, my sis and her BF, my Dad, and a few friends). It was more fun than I had anticipated and we look forward to taking it out again. B has taken it out a few times without me with his friends while I bask in peace and quiet at home. The area of the lake that we have docked at is about a 45 minute drive from our house.

- we've had a few staycations-we've stayed at the Golden Nugget Hotel, where they have a 2 story slide that slides right through a huge salt water aquarium filled with sharks and fish. It's nice to be able to swim next to the aquarium. We've also stayed at the Hard Rock where they have a beach entrance pool and a water slide as well.


- The kids have been FISH. We go to my Dad's to swim, as well as meet my friend Becky and her son at a Lagoon area near her house.


- B, Jake & I went to California this past weekend. It was a short little trip to Santa Monica Pier. We played on the pier and swam in the ocean, then watched stock car racing at the track at Irwindale, CA. It's amazing what a small world the racing community is. We recognized a lot of the drivers who were out there, from when they also race here in Vegas.

- been spending a lot of time with the ladies and kiddos from playgroup. The friend vibe I have is still positive, considering all the friend drama I had in the past year. My faith in friends had almost completely diminished, but I am comfortable with the people I've been surrounding myself with.
* my circle of friends has changed a lot in the past year. Friendships have faded and people have drifted. I've also strengthened relationships with others in my life who I didnt expect to get close to. Of course I'm always disappointed at the drifting/fading, but such is life, I suppose.


- I never mentioned the Bake for Hope (for breast cancer) bake sale that I did on Cinco De Mayo! It was a blast! basically, it was a bake sale and the proceeds went to the Susan G Komen foundation. We ended up getting SOOOO many baked goods. Not a lot of customers, but the experience was amazing and I look forward to doing it again next May.

- RACING has taken up a lot of family's time. B is FINALLY finished with his new car, which is why I get to race his old car. Between completing the new car AND painting both of them and still maintaining both cars, it's been a sweaty bunch of hard work!

- if it's not racecars, it's BASEBALL. Kai's Little League season is over, finally. His team made it to the championship game, then it was the tournament of champions for 2 weeks, THEN he had made it on the All Star team which was another whole week of games. Now that Little League is over, of course his year round team is in full swing. I sat in the sweltering humid heat of 104 on July 2nd to man their team's fireworks stand for a fundraiser. Then last Saturday, I woke up at the buttcrack of dawn to do a team flapjack fundraiser at Applebee's.

- Kai left for California this morning to spend the weekend with a friend from his baseball team. They are going to Knott's Berry Farm on Thursday, to Huntington Beach on Friday, then on Saturday they are meeting my ex (Kai's Dad Jason) in L.A. because Jason's Aunt is coming from Hawaii. I'm nervous about Kai traveling with this family to somewhere that I'm not immediately able to get to him.

- Been doing a few photoshoots for my sister, brother and Katie and her fiance. It was the first time I did an engagement session. The photoshoot of my sister was the first time I did a shoot at night, and the lighting aspect was SO tricky. This is why I'll not pursue this as more than just a hobby.


- still chugging away at the whole house redo. Projects are still slowly being completed. The current project is the kitchen lighting. It was a really harsh fluorescent light fixture in there and as much time as I spend in the kitchen, I really wanted it replaced. This involved sanding a great deal of ceiling, retexturing and repainting. The whole downstairs has been a mess because of the dust from the sanding. It's finally almost done. I've finally decided to tear out the carpeting in the living room and continue the dark cherry wood from the dining room into the living room. This will be B's next project, after the kitchen lighting. Did I mention that every single project we've done to the house, B has done himself? After the living room flooring will be a complete overhaul of the backyard. It's a jungle out there, literally.


I am looking forward to the month of August (in dated order)


- August 5th-9th-camping in my favorite area of Utah: Pine Valley.

- August 14th-17th- my Texas bestie, Hope, is coming from San Antonio to stay with me!

- August 21st- my next race in the dirt. B's racing that night too of course, so he can lap me with his new fast as lightning car.


I'm SO excited to show Hope around my 'spots' in the city. We both need this time together. I have a feeling the days she is here will be late nights involving lots of talking and laughs <3

Late night babbling of a lovestruck wife

"He loves you a lot, you know. I can tell because I see the notes he leaves you, I see the way he does anything and everything you want, just so you could have an easy day".

This past Saturday, as my Dad and I sat under a big shaded tree watching Kai's baseball game, we have a conversation about my marriage.



You've read our story a hundred times. Newly turned 21 year old boy meets 26 year old Mom of 2. The odds were against us. Yet, it's turned out to be something so intense, so passionate, so loving, caring, trusting. So RIGHT.

I spend my weekdays yearning for him while he's at work, sending him 'I miss you' or 'I want to fuck you' texts. I hear his truck pull up and sneak a look out the blinds, beyond excited to just get a glimpse of him. He always comes into the house, grins, and greets me with a "Hey". Usually, I shoot a smile back and hug him. Sometimes, my restraint goes out the window and I'm grabbing him all lustful like I'm a teenage boy.

He gets to me like no one else does. My worries don't last long when I'm with him. I take pride in being a strong, opinionated person. With him, I don't mind being taken care of, or depending on him emotionally. He has enough strength for us both, and I trust him with all my heart, in every way possible.

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm impossible. I'm an overachiever, a neat freak. My expectations are high. I strive for perfection. I am possessive and have a bad temper. He is the exact opposite of me. He has a way of regarding me with such love and understanding that my worries and anger simply evaporate. He is my kryptonite.

He became a Stepdad at the age of 23. He had an important place in Kai & Jewel's life even before that. He has made the same parenting decisions that I would make. He is loving, fair, firm, and fun. We share values and dreams. I've never felt like him & the kids were two separate parts of my family. The way he interacts with the kids is the biggest part of why I love him.

I never pictured myself with someone like him. Raised on a farm, up early to feed the animals, and home late after baseball, basketball or football practice. Dirty blond and blue eyed. Works on cars, rides dirt bikes, races cars, plays ball, and can fix ANYTHING. I love my hardworking dirty boy. His grit is so sexy to me. He attempts to clean up and get dressed up on the occasion that dressing up is needed, but I'd much rather see him in jeans and a t.

We do things we both enjoy. This past weekend, I raced in the same division as him, on a dirt track. It was intimidating as hell, with him speeding past me because of course he was in the lead (AND won both of our races that night), but that huge interest that we have in common has definitely fueled our passion. We love being outdoors camping, riding our ATVs, watching races, and sitting back watching the kids, in amazement that they belong to US.

He brushes my arm with his fingers and that effortless gesture from him feels like electricity running through me. Not to mention the sex is still fucking amazing.

So how in the fuck does someone like him love ME? I mean, he must, right? he wouldn't have stuck around this long if he didn't. I know he doesn't appeal to everyone, but he fits my soul, my heart. A love story not out of the ordinary, but feeling like a fairy tale. I daydream about us. I make plans for us, as a family.

I don't want to ever not be with him. I want us to always be this way, the way we are now. I love him so much that I refuse to think about any part of us changing for any reason. It's too painful for me to think about.

I will love him for my lifetime, but mine nor his lifetime is not a guarantee. So tomorrow, I'll kiss him goodbye in the morning, miss him all day, and melt into his arms when he gets home. Because I love him, and, somehow, he loves me.


You and I, forever ever.

Dear Dads

It's hard for me to sum up how I feel about my Dad. Not because I don't have a relationship with him, but because my Dad has always been the #1 man in my life. It's hard for me to put into words the bond and powerful love I have for the man who has ALWAYS been there for me.

As much as Dad has been the most important man in my life, I am lucky to say that I also have a bonus Dad, who has also been there for me.


...and so begins my attempt at describing just what they mean to me. This only skims the surface, as I have been lucky enough to be blessed with them both for many years and through many memories, both good and bad.





My parents divorced when I was 5. Shortly after, my Mom got remarried. I lived with my Mom, but every single Friday afternoon right after school, Dad was there to pick me up. I never truly felt like a child of divorced parents. They always kept the kids as their top priority.

Dad was the one who I have fond memories of, growing up going to the beach with every weekend, the one I called when I just wanted to chat. I'd watch him play basketball at the Halawa gym for hours, when I was in elementary school. From as early as I can remember, we'd put on music in the car-Hawaiian music or the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack in the car, and sing our hearts out. We knew all the words to the songs on Natalie Cole's 'Unforgettable' album, we belted out every song from the movie 'Mermaids'. Every single Sunday, we'd go to the mall and watch a movie together. He was the heart of the family-always putting together Holiday events, being the one to hide hundreds of Easter eggs at the park, or the one buying every single person in our huge family a gift at Christmas.

When I entered high school, Mom moved to Las Vegas from where we lived in Hawaii, and my sister and I stayed behind to live with Dad. He was officially a single Dad with two girls. We definitely had our moments. I grew even more rebellious, I skipped school, spray painted walls, stole cars. Our father-daughter bond was definitely being put to the test. I was a horrible teenager, but I always knew Dad loved me. He tried hard, balancing having a life of his own, and mixing that with being a single Father. His girlfriends and him never worked out. Sometimes I still feel that it was too much responsibility for them to try to help raise my sister and I.

It took a few years and a life changing experience for me to realize just how much I was putting my Dad through, while I was in high school. Throughout all the disappointments, the rough patches, and the good moments, Dad has ALWAYS been there for me. Never judging, always encouraging and always putting his children first. I read through a box of cards that my Dad has given through the years. He has always started off with 'Dear Brat'. I read them and laugh at how impossible I was growing up, I laugh at how I can feel through his writing just how much he has always wanted the best for me. I admit, I was a brat, both in behavior and with material things.

Since I was a baby, I have always ran to my Dad in my time of need. From cuts and scrapes, to friend problems, boy problems, female problems while I was growing up, which has now turned to marriage problems and parenting problems. I have always depended on him to be my rock, and he has always been there, without a doubt, full of love for his oldest child. He was the first one I called when I got my period, when my best friend and I would fight, when my boyfriend broke my heart, when I needed a ride from anywhere at whatever time; the first one I called when I went and got eloped one night, the first one I called when I found out I was pregnant, the first one I called when I knew my marriage was over. He was the first one I told when Mom died. The first one I called when I knew I was falling in love again and the most inappropriate time in my life. The first one I told when I was proposed to again. The first one I call when I'm proud of something my kiddos have done.

Dad is a wonderful grandfather. He never misses a baseball game or a performance. He is loving and always eager to come over to hang out, or have the kids spend time with him.

I'm the one he calls when he wants to just say hello, or to talk to the kids. Not that we talk on the phone much, because he lives right up the street from me. He is still very much a part of my life, and I can never have it any other way.

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As much as Dad has been the most important man in my life, I am lucky to say that I also have a bonus Dad. Mom remarried when I was 6 years old. I call him my Pops. Pops and I had a very rough relationship while I was growing up. Understandably so. He was trying to earn the love of a 6 year old girl whos father meant the world to her. I felt that I had no room in my life for him. Things didn't get better as I got older. He was more strict than Dad. He had higher expectations. He dealt with the homework and the chores, since I lived with Mom during the school week. I never understood why he was so mean.

Not to say that we never had our good moments. We had amazingly wonderful moments. If I wasn't with my Dad, I'd be with Pop's family, who instantly loved my sister and I like their own family. I love and adore Pop's family and have many, many fond memories of them growing up. I can honestly say that I might be closer to Pop's family than any other part of my family (Mom and Dad's).

Aside from all the fond memories with family, Pops and I had our own private moments. Him & I would collect Transformers and GI Joe. He taught me to surf when I was 6 years old, even showing tough love when I would wipe out and get gashes on my back from the coral reef. We'd make up crazy songs and sing them to my little sister (and then my baby brother when he was born).

Pops and my relationship only truly changed when I moved out, got married and had kids. I would be commended at how clean and tidy my house was, and how neatly my clothes were folded. I set high expectations of myself. I realized that trait was from Pops. He wasn't being mean when I was younger, he was teaching me how to be responsible and tidy. I was terribly shy when I was a kid, so Pops would send me alone into the store to buy a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk, to get over my fear of speaking to people. When Mom got sick with cancer, I helped her go through all her old high school keepsakes and love letters through the years. We came across letters that Pops had written her when they first got married. He would always mention just how much he loved my sister and I.

Pops is a wonderful grandfather as well. He instills the same values and teaches the same responsibilities to my kids as he did me.

Pops and Mom were married until the day she died, in the fall of 2004.

He has always been an important man in my family, but he became the most important man to me during that time. I would not have been able to go on through life as I did, if it weren't for him. He stayed as strong as he could for my siblings and I. As Dad is the one I call during most of my strife, Pops is the one I always call when I think of Mom. All I have to do is call him and say, "I miss Mom". He knows.

When I got married to Billy, my Father walked me down the aisle. We danced to Natalie Cole's version of 'Unforgettable'. Pops said the blessing that night, which was just as important as walking me down the aisle. He mentioned Mom in the blessing, and how she was there with us that day. I needed to hear that. He knew.

Dad was the one to be loving, caring supportive no matter what. Pops was the one to practice tough love. Such different parenting styles and personalities, but a perfect blend that I was lucky to have.

Pops and I don't talk much on the phone either, because he lives on the same main street as Dad, just a few minutes away from us. I am very grateful to say that Dad and Pops are still very much a part of my life, and I can never have it any other way.





Dad



Pops

Summer thus far

- Summer's here! We've definitely been soaking up the sun and having a blast! We've been swimming like fish! We have a blow up pool in our front yard, we've been making frequent trips to my Dad's pool which is right up the street from us. We've been visiting hotel pools and having a blast. I love the smell of sunscreen and sunshine.

- I have 4 kids home with me all day Monday through Friday. I keep them on a schedule so as to not get bored. It's been pretty easy. Well, except the day that I had SIX kids home with me.

- Had a lot of photoshoots with family and friends. Of course, I am nowhere NEAR professional caliber and reiterate this fact to everyone who approaches me to take photos of them.

- Been planning our vow renewal ceremony. Got my dress. Well, B bought it after him & I looked at dresses together. Booked the photographer, got my cousin to help me coordinate since I'm doing it long distance. Got the favor maker (she's a local baker in San Diego). We have FINALLY decided on a venue. No Elvis themes in Vegas, no vow renewals before a Nascar race at a Speedway (these were our 2 previous plans). We are renewing our vows near our 5 year anniversary. It will be on the sand at the beach, on Coronado Island, San Diego, next September.

- Summer heat has sporadically kicked in. We have days of 100 degrees, then it cools back down to the 70's. We've planned a few Summer trips-one being a trip alone w/ B to California. We are watching races at Irwindale, then we are going to enjoy the Santa Monica pier. We *may* squeeze in Disneyland. If not, that will be saved for another trip. We also have another trip to Utah in September. We are renting a cabin in the mountains and just hanging out away from home.

- Kai and Jewel have ended their second year at their 'new' public school, once again earning A's & B's, and being on the Honor Roll, every trimester. They are doing exceptional in school.

- Kai is kicking butt in baseball. He had a strike out streak, but he's improved his batting and is back to playing amazing again. He mostly plays as the pitcher, but he likes to play whichever position he is needed. Little League season has just finished, but now he is practicing with the All Star team, which he has made this year.

- Jewel has officially quit Girl Scouts. It was too slow paced for her. She is enjoying gymnastics. Her Dad signed her up for a talent/model search at a local casino last week. She went to the first 'audition' on a Tuesday, and she got a call back for the next day. She was one out of 4 kids that got a call back. She WORKED the runway, and did a little skit on laundry detergent (script for a commercial). The 'judges' enjoyed her and said she had attitude. The night she went back for a call back, they offered her a contract to start classes, etc. Not surprisingly, it was a whopping $1300 every two months, twice a week. Jason and I discussed it and we didn't think it was something we should do. Jewel wasn't particular into the whole thing, so that confirmed our decision.

- Jake is growing like a weed. He is currently heavier than his older sister. At 55 lbs, he recognizes but a few of the alphabets, can recognize numbers 1-10, knows all shapes and colors, and has started recognizing words in books. My next goal is to have him start writing his name. Since we have no plans of putting him in school in the near future, we figured that we can put my degree to use =)

- we've all been social butterflies. The playgroup Moms are a blast. I really feel like they are becoming genuine friends. We hang out at each others' houses, have Holiday get-togethers, and enjoy Girls Night Out IMMENSELY. Jake has been learning to socialize and it's also another step in preparing him for school (whenever that may be).

- the bestie and I have been planning a lot of her wedding. G chat has become our addiction. Katie has most of the major things planned, now we are working out the smaller details. She chose her dress, and we chose bridesmaid dresses on the same day. I took her engagement photos yesterday, and I will share some of them whenever I get around to posting pics =)

- I really miss my friends in other places, they know who they are. Funny how you can become such great friends with people you meet online. I really loved being able to visit Hope in San Antonio. I also was excited when Beth and Christine came and saw us in Vegas. I got to see Abby and her kiddos the other night. She is moving back to Houston. While I am happy that she is able to move back to where her family lives, I will also miss her and her kiddos. I wish we got to hang out and know each other better.

- the kids have been spending a lot of time with family. My Dad has Kai & Jewel sleep over almost every night of the week. He's been off of work for a month or so. He got rear-ended by a police officer, so his neck has been hurting. He's had to go to therapy and also recently got an epidural in his neck to relieve the pain from two herniated discs in his neck. If my Dad isn't with the kids at his house, he is over here hanging out, or at the park watching Kai's baseball games and baseball practice. My sister and her boyfriend are always at our house on Sunday, when they both are off of work. They make it a point to always come see the kids. The kids really look forward to that every Sunday.


- Billy and I are doing great. I am thankful for this man. We just work. Of course, our relationship isn't without 'work', but it's amazing, the level of which we just 'get' each other. I just fucking love him.

March & April

March was beautiful. We went to many baseball tournaments, to the mountains to play in snow, Jewel's gymnastics were in full swing, and Jake was growing by leaps and bounds. Of course, the highlight of my month was going to San Antonio to see a close friend.

Hope & I have been friends for almost 10 years. We met through livejournal, and hit it off. We had many things in common and through the years, we've been there for each other in some of our most difficult times. I can't believe it took so long for it to happen, but we finally met in person, after hundreds of emails and phone conversations. Like many of my LJ friends I have met over the years, it was like I knew her, and there was so awkwardness or uncomfortable moments. After all, I consider her one of my best friends. I didn't get to meet her son C, because he was away at school. I did however, get to meet her daughter K, and she opened up to Katie and I a lot more than I was expecting. It was wonderful. Hope showed us around San Antonio, since we've never been there before. We ate at spots that we don't have here in Vegas, she showed us some of the tourist spots in town, and some places that hold memories in her life. We didn't take many pictures, because we were too busy spending time together. I am glad that I made that trip and am already figuring out when next year that I am able to go back and see her. She may be coming here in December, and that opportunity has me excited.

April was lovely as well-baby showers, the engagement of my best friend, Easter, more baseball, Moms night out with the playgroup Moms. The kids got straight A's and perfect attendance this past report card. Jake can identify more alphabets. They all love reading and playing outside. Spent a lot of time with family and friends.

Pictures of course, because what's a long post with pictures?


At Lulu's in San Antonio, where I insisted on going after seeing it on a TV show. They have HUGE cinnamon rolls, which of course Katie and I hauled back to Vegas for our loved ones to try =)





San Antonio's River Walk and the boat tour we took:






The Alamo. It wasn't what I had pictured in my head. I thought it was in the middle of a field, and that it was hugely massive. Instead, it's in the middle of downtown smack in the middle of tall, historical, beautiful buildings. Vegas doesn't have a history like this city does.



Randoms of places she took us-beautiful parks with lakes, and Kate's Frosting, a delicious cupcake place (because a vacation isn't a vacation unless cupcakes are involved!), and me in front of a really huge pair of boots outside North Star Mall.





..and us goofing around at Hope's casa, complete with a shot out of some of our girls on Twitter =)




Katie and Hope, and Katie, Hope and I.


I'm always amazed at how we live in the middle of the desert, yet we have beautiful mountains that are snow covered, just 45 minutes from our house. It's one of our favorite late Winter/early Spring activities. We had lunch at the lodge and played on the mini slopes. It was a gorgeous 60 degrees that day.














Randoms of the kiddos with their friends during playgroup activities (birthday parties, Easter basket exchanges), baseball games, at the Sesame Street Live show, watching the fountains at the Bellagio and looking at the Spring display at their Conservatory, and playing at the park:

























Some of when I went out with the Mommies to a restaurant at Lake Las Vegas and the Ritz Carlton. LOL this was a fun night.





..and a few from my cousin Christine's baby shower. She's having a baby girl named Tatum. Yesterday was her due date.