I was just marking some things on the calendar and realized that we have all sorts of good stuff already lined up for the rest of 2011.
T-ball starting tomorrow. Easter. Birthday parties. Baby showers. End-of-the-school-year celebrations. Dance recital. Summer camps. A trip east to Myrtle Beach. Yosemite. Back-to-school. Blog Sugar. Fall goodness. And then the holidays all over again.
As much as I love having lots of things on the calendar, I love to be home almost as much. I really do love my Mondays & Wednesdays around the house getting caught up so that we can have fun on the weekends. Laundry, cleaning, organizing, sitting out in the patio having breakfast and lunch with Holden. I am happier when the house is in order and I am caught up on the laundry ~ yes, I am that mom. I know that chores and cleaning can wait ’til tomorrow, but I just cannot let our little nest get too out of control. That is when I get irritable and all around unhappy.
It’s daily that I try to find the balance between {having fun} and {taking care of business}.
A busy calendar vs. productive days at home.
I am content with both, but one cannot take place without the other.
A couple months ago I ordered Wendy Hagen’s, Totally Desperate Mom, from my local Barnes & Noble.
I immediately began reading it and noticed right away that it’s a very quick and easy read if you don’t have to deal with sippy cup refills, short order mac n cheese requests, wiping butts, cleaning up dog vomit, sopping up spills, crustless pb&j’s, cleaning, vacuuming, laundry, time outs, picking up dog poop, practicing sight words, helping with homework, unloading the dishwasher and the like.
I {finally} finished up this book over Spring Break and wanted to offer my review…
This book is a necessity and full of {nutrients} for ALL moms.
Wendy offers faith and hope for moms who have suffered the loss of a child or women having difficulty conceiving, encouragement and support for {present} moms and a raw, honest warning of what is to come for {future} mamas!
There were many “oh good, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks/does this” moments along the way in this book for me. Some tears and giggles preceded and followed these thoughts, too.
This book is a must for your mama library and a nice read if you have a couple hours {alone} out by the pool or at the beach!
Please visit Wendy’s blog here and order your book here now!
You are more than welcome to borrow mine as long as you don’t have any outstanding library fees. 😉
Checking into your {hotel} and finding this on the dresser:
Sitting out overlooking a full Lake Hodges, flipping through months of Coastal Living mags and sipping wine while Gramma and the kids are at the park.
Putting the Sea World passes to good use:
{if a wedgie prevents your child from ending up in the dolphin tank, I’m all for it}
Spring Break means meeting up with dear friends from back in the day and realizing that you could stay up all night chatting:
{OK, so some cell phone pics are better than others…..}
Spring Break means visiting your {almost} 102-year old great great cousin at the old folks home and forgetting the camera {shame on me!}. The kids blew bubbles in the dining room while the residents looked on, laughed and waited for lunch to be served.
I overheard two little ladies exchanging thoughts and information…one asked, “How long have you lived here?” The other answered, “Forever and two days!” then laughed a little as if she knew there was nothing she could do about it but make the best of it all.
{Pardon me while I go off on a little tangent}
When Elliott was only about 2 months old, Jay accepted a job in San Jose. It was a new chapter we were excited about, but at the same time leaving San Diego was hard. We wanted to share all our favorite things about America’s Finest City with our new daughter, but soon found ourselves creating new memories in the Bay Area.
Moving from SD was the LAST thing I wanted to do after just having Elliott, but it’s what came to us and with no regrets we made the most out of 3 years in Nor Cal. Now, after two and a half years back in So Cal, we’re knocking that out, too. But it’s always good to go back to visit and reminisce.
{OK, we’re back on track}
Spring Break in San Diego also means grabbing Happy Meals and sushi and heading to the very park that you rollerbladed by a million times back in the day {15+ years ago to be exact}…
Spring Break means doing a drive-by of the {beachy slum} apartment you used to rent and finding out that it’s getting a facelift NOW {rather than 15+ years ago!}
Haines Street
Spring Break means stopping at Mr. Frostie for a chocolate dipped cone {the same one mommy went to 30+ years ago!}…
Double-frosty fistin’ it…
And while in Pacific Beach, we drove by the little townhouse that I lived in until I was almost 8 years old…
Wanna know something cah-razy about this little townhouse? Per zillow.com it was valued at almost a million dollars a few years ago!
It does have a gorgeous view of SD bay, coastline, downtown skyline and beyond.
Location, location, location! View, view, view!
Hard to believe that is where I came home from the hospital to…
Spring Break means watching your kids b-line it to the pool and find that they’ve remembered {how to swim} from last summer. Still not water safe by any means, but didn’t forget what they learned 8 months ago.
*****
Spring Break is just a little halfway over and already it has been more than I ever imagined.
Getting together with friends that you haven’t seen in {YEARS!} like it’s nothing. Just meeting up at the same hole-in-the-wall, bellying up to the same place at the bar and getting caught up. Pure and simple. That’s how all friendships should be.
Taking your children back to where you lived and showing them where you went to elementary school, for me, is such a treat. Spending a couple hours at the “beach park” beats Shamu any day!
These things that we did with Elliott and Holden are a mere drop in the San Diego bucket. But the older they get, the more fun it is to show them {my town}.
Although it has been {forever and 2 days} since our address was in SD, it feels just like {yesterday} when you meet up with good friends and return to the places where beautiful memories were made.
And that’s just the way it should be!
Off to see what fun we can have during the rest of Spring Break…
No practical jokes from me today…just some good ‘ol stuff from the book of {LIFE}.
Today I decided to {take time} to do some things. Not rush. Not do them half ass. Not ignore them. But take the time to DO them.
We took the time to leisurely get to and from school this morning. Elliott on her scooter, Holden on his trike and me juggling my ladybug coffee mug while balancing Elliott’s backpack on my right shoulder AND keeping the little orange tricycle rider out of morning traffic. We chatted with friends who passed us in cars along the way. Waved as neighbors left for work.
We got home and I told myself that I was going to take time to fix myself a healthy breakfast rather than just grabbing a Luna bar or slapping peanut butter on some toast and inhaling it.
I scrambled three egg whites with a little red onion and added some salsa, lowfat cheese, a little dollop of sour cream & a sprinkle of cilantro. I toasted a piece of this:
{my new fave ~ the kids don’t like it so it MUST be good}
I took the time to pour myself another cup of coffee and Windex the glass table in the patio. Holden enjoyed his Honey Nut Cheerios and I enjoyed my egg whites. He saw a hummingbird. I thought about my Gam who loved hummingbirds.
I took the time to {finally} dump the rain water out of the big tub, rinse it out and toss old toys…getting the backyard ready for some Spring Break action and more meals outside. Took the slip and slide off the fence before the HOA sent us a note.
Took the time to rerun the load of laundry I left in the washer for 2 days {2 HOT days}…the load that had essentially already dried and didn’t smell so pretty. Jay hates when I do this {which isn’t often}, but I can usually get away with tossing it in the dryer and telling myself not to do it again!
I’m taking time to carefully pack our suitcases for a quick trip down south instead of just throwing a bunch of stuff in that doesn’t end up getting worn and takes up space.
Taking time to sit and soak in a bubble bath and reintroduce my PedEgg to these feet!
Taking the time to put things away where they belong and tidy up because I am happier when this happens.
Taking time this week to chat with friends from across the miles. It always brings a smile to my face and makes me remember “the good ‘ol days”. Lots of “I miss yous” and “Gosh, I wish we could get together soons”.
Taking time to {hopefully} see some old faces this weekend and do some more reminiscing.
*****
I feel like I am always in a rush. Telling the kids, “Hurry up…we’re going to be late!”
While I feel it IS important to be {on time} and realize that with two young children things DO take longer and you WILL rush, I am going to start making every effort to slow down when I can. Take time when I can. For me. For them. For US.
Today I am wearing my charm bracelets to honor Joanne on her birthday.
About 2 months ago Joanne suffered a massive stroke. I have been following her story through her blog, The Simple Wife, which I found through No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane.
You must read her story…her husband Toben {and their two precious daughters} has been blogging for her and does a remarkable job of documenting her tremendous recovery, displaying undying LOVE from family & friends and restoring FAITH to me and thousands of others around the world.
Her sister, Kristen, also documents Joanne’s road to recovery through gorgeous photos on her blog here.
Happy, Happy Day to you, Joanne! I have a charm in mind for you to add to your beautiful bracelet…and when I find it, I’m going to send it your way!
Put on your charm bracelets today and {Jingle for Joanne}!
Lots of LOVE & PRAYERS from So Cal!
P.S. Janna, put together a collection of charm bracelets that will be jingling today to honor of Joanne. Click on the {Praying for Joanne} button on my sidebar to check it out!
I was going to mention this in Holden’s birthday post, but I forgot.
I’m glad because I think this topic deserves it’s own post {better yet, it’s own category!}.
Every time we host a party or gathering that my family attends, when all is said and done and the guests are gone, both my folks and my in-laws have always said, “You have the NICEST group of friends!”
This comment has travelled from San Diego, to the Bay Area, back to So Cal. I know I have nice friends {wouldn’t have it any other way!}, but it’s nice to hear wherever we may settle through the years, that others notice our choice of friendships along the way.
Friendships are so important to me. Some come and go. Some are forever.
I love friendships that stand the test of time and can be renewed after years of dormancy as if no time has passed. Picking right up where you left off. No uncomfortable feelings. Just hugs and tons of verbal exchanges covering the happenings of the year{s} that may have gone by.
But then there are also the {everyday} friendships of the people you see more often. The ones that share laughs, lend an ear or even help wipe tears. The ones that you can invite over and not worry about the dog hair in the corners or the dishes in the sink.
*****
“Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” Muhammad Ali
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” Oprah Winfrey
*****
Of course, I hope I am the friend to others that they are to me.
I’d {take the bus} with any of my friends any day!
Thank you, friends, near and far, for being in my life…each one of you, in a different way, makes a difference EVERY DAY.
And I must add that my friends reciprocate the same feelings towards my folks and in-laws.
I love you, Mom & Pops and Mom & Dad!
I couldn’t ask for a better family or friendships.
In kindergarten there is a color system used in class for behavior.
From what I understand, everyone starts off on GREEN at the beginning of the day.
From there you can go down to YELLOW.
Or RED.
Red is not good.
Or, you can go up from green to PURPLE.
Purple is good.
We like purple.
Then, at the end of the day, if you are on green, you get one sticker on your card.
If you’re on purple, you get 2 stickers on your card.
When you have 15 stickers, you get to pick something out of the treasure chest.
I love the days when Elliott runs to me at pick-up and yells, “I got to go in the treasure chest!” and holds up her {treasure}.
As far as I know, she has never landed on red. I would know, I’m sure. And I would not be happy.
*****
For me, today was a PURPLE day. One of those days where everything goes just right.
[Received an invitation to the Kindergarten Award Ceremony next week. Elliott is receiving an award!]
[Ran a quick errand and snatched up 3 birthday gifts in under 20 minutes!]
[Made great time in the Starbucks drive-thru as I picked up 2 tall skinny vanilla lattes ~ one for Elliott’s teacher and one for me!]
[Got to her parent/teacher conference a few minutes early and didn’t have to wait]
[Received a glowing review from Mrs. H…SO proud that she is excelling in reading and received beautiful citizenship marks]
[60* and sunny!]
[Noticed that our tax return was deposited! Jay neglected to tell me…ha! Wonder why!]
[Finally “sold my old gold” ~ you know the old stuff sitting around in your jewelry box…one earring here, a messed up herringbone bracelet there. It all adds up….cash money in the wallet. Cha-ching!]
[Chatted with a friend across the miles]
I would definitely say that my Thursday ended up on PURPLE.
Still need to make a spaghetti dinner and play tennis at 7:30.