Constant Change

In the months since Max died, I've been going through a time of constant change. New jobs, new relationships, new homes, new friends, new hobbies - my life, as it exists today, is something I never could have predicted.

I'm lucky, because I have a lot of good choices available to me. I sift through the choices - some work out, others do not. I try to remain flexible and I've simplified things to a point where I can live with a lot less money coming in. Sometimes something seems like a good idea or I make a choice, because to pass it up seems stupid. For example, I left the market and went to work at the center because it meant twice as much money. I wanted to save my minivan. Unfortunately, I am unhappy working there and I still can't save my minivan. So, I'm giving it up. More changes to come....

John drove me to work 3 times before he decided I needed a new vehicle asap. Thanks to a loan from my in-laws, I am now the proud owner of a 1992 F-150 pickup truck. Perfect for my life as a....  Landscape. Ta-da! I love that work. AND I'm going back to the market part time, because I loved that job. Bagging groceries - who knew how fun it could be. Good exercise, too.

It is important to me that I am not just making money, but enjoying my work, because I've found that when I'm miserable, I'm not that much fun to live with. There's a good amount of truth to the saying, When Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.  I'm the one who makes the home and it's important to me to make it a happy one. Family is my focus.

On that note, check out my handsome grandson, Gavin P, who came to stay with me last weekend. He's a charmer and a half.

Gavin and his big blue eyes.

A Family Reunion

I'm in the midst of an extended family reunion. I don't know if I've made this clear before, but I LOVE family and I LOVE family time. I have 6 nieces and nephews and anytime I can be with all of them at once, it's corny, I know, but it's truly bliss for me. They are all so cute and sweet in their individual ways. This Summer I get to spend time with an extra cute and sweet kid - my cousin Tristan. He's here with his mom, also my cousin, Teri, and our Grandma Artie.

Tristan and the kids are really hitting it off. Sarah loves hanging out with him - they enjoy a lot of the same things and she's enjoying getting to know someone who shares those interests (for example Greek Gods, she loves that stuff).

I've been taking some photos and not getting a whole lot of work done, but we've been eating pretty well. My brother made 3 differently marinated smoked tri tips last night. I can begin to explain how incredible they were. I have got to get a smoker.

In other news, I have a weekend trip planned. Next weekend I am going to see a man. Out of town. Without my kids. A grown up getaway. Yeah, I'm shocked, too.

Bliss at the Beach

How is your Summer going so far? Lots of fun around here. Max started Summer school, the weather has warmed up a bit, although still oddly cool for this time of year.

My sister's kids have been visiting this week. We are at the tale end of their visit - my sister arrives tomorrow and they are heading home at 5am on Sunday.

While they were here we did some really fun things - creek floating (my favorite), a visit to the National Yoyo Museum, a visit to the Bee and Honey exhibit at the local Chico Museum (not sure official name), a picnic at Wildwood Park, a walk through the California State University Chico campus, and lots and lots of time at the pool. Tonight the kids went with Grandma and Aunt Shawna to the Observatory.

When the kids are here, I usually get to see my brother's kids, too. The other day, I sat at the creek, surrounded by little people that I love. It was truly a moment of bliss. :)

Home Again

I am back home after spending the weekend with my sister's family in Southern California. I had a fun, but super-short trip. While I was there, I ran a 5K with my sister, well I walked part of it, I had the hardest time running and I shot some photos of the kids. Chance, above, is the boy walking along the creek in my header photo. He's about 3 and a half years older now.

I sat out back with Trinity and Casey for awhile. Casey used the camera to shoot the plants and later the dogs. It was fun to explain my limited knowledge of the camera to him. Casey had a basketball game and a baseball practice while I was there. That kid's body has changed so much since the Summer. He's grown solid and muscular.

I love his freckles.

Trin was climbing around the outdoor bar when I took this one. She had a bunch of those candy Valentines, the type with the packets of sugary candy and you stick a candle stick into them. Her eyes are the same color as Mom, Robin, Sarah, and me. We have Grandpa Harold's eyes. I miss my Grandpa.

I've got so much to do - work to catch up on, brunch to cook, unpacking...... I just want to be lazy and read my book, watch my Supernatural rerun. I need to get to the grocery store and stock up on vegetables, because we ate so much junk food while spending 12+ hours in the car. Chips, cornuts, Diet Coke, Diet Coke, Diet Coke.....ugh. I think I'm going to rest for just a little bit longer.

Teri's Photo

This is my cousin Joy, my cousin Teri, my sister Robin, and me in Carlsbad, CA, probably in 1978. Joy is littlest, I am biggest. I was 12 and that was the first swimsuit that I was allowed to pick out for myself. I thought it was the coolest suit ever.

I remember the day this photo was taken. My cousins, sister, and I played outside in the sun, danced - Teri remembers learning how to do The Bump from my mom. I think we did some running in the sprinkler, something I still love to do.

My sister and my youngest daughter look just alike in this photo. Robin would have been about 9 here. Look how we all have matching legs here. My brother, he has the same legs, too.

Something about these old photos that I've seen on Facebook lately, they remind me that I sort of lost that girl along the way. The girl in this picture, she was so excited about starting jr high. She had no idea that it would be two of the worst years of her life. Darn jr high.

Making Up For Tuesday On Wednesday.

The above goldfish, Goldie, has been a member of my family for 6 years. That's a long life for a goldfish. He thinks that he's a puppy - wags his tail when he wants me to feed him. It's adorable.

Just now, I looked at his tank and he's watching me. I'm everybody's mommy around here. Hey fish, take a picture it lasts longer! (Proof above). What a cutie, that Goldie is.

The photo below is my 5th 365 Project photo. Met the school bus with a camera. I like the big mirror - it makes the front of the bus look funny. Whoosh..... doesn't the photo look like it should have a "whoosh" sound effect?


I'm off to work now. That means, I'm closing this window and opening another one. My neck and shoulder are a mess today. Very annoying and painful. Dang. Oh well. I must (sore) shoulder on.......

Friday and the Waterslides

The kids and I are going to the waterslides in Redding today. It's a delayed birthday party celebration for Bay. I'm excited becasue I've never been to any sort of waterslide park before.

Earlier this week, I got to spend some time with my extended family. Here are some photos of our trip to the pool.

My nephew, Hayden is so cute. Cute just isn't a big enough word to describe how adorable he is.

They did some work on the area around the pool this Summer. They moved the fences back and added a mixture of trees, flowers, some new umbrellas. It looks nice and will look even better when things grown in a bit thicker. Another thing they did was pull out the bushes along the workout room and replace them. I bet that was a job. They were as thick as trees.


The picture here shows Casey, Ashlee, Brad, Sarah, Hayden, and Shawna, my sister-in-law. Look how brown Sarah looks. That kid, she has my Grandpa's skin for sure.

I wish that they would have put a hot tub in when they did the remodel. I would love to sit in there in the Winter time.

Ten Things I Hate About You is on. Oh, that's sad. Heath Ledger. I remember when I saw him in A Knight's Tale and then I went out and looked for any other movie he was in. (I did the same after watching the first Spider-Man. Tobey Maguire is my favorite actor.) There's a guy on an FX show that looks a lot like Heath Ledger. Has anyone noticed that.

Okay, I have to get going. I have to fit the last of my work in and get Max ready before we take off for the slides.

If you like DKNY's Be Delicious, I'm giving a couple of bottles away at Splendicity.

Oops, one last shot of Hayden splashing. So darn cute!

Kitty In A Box

I had to show you this before I went to bed. I looked at the box sitting next to me and look who is in there...... Kitty. Earlier, Sarah found her in the box and she brought her out to the living room. She left the box on the couch and apparently it's one of her new favorite places. She fits into the tiniest spots. There's this area in Bay's closet and it's about the size of a shoe box. She climbs in there at least once a day. You can't even see her at first.

She likes to sit on the towel shelf while Bay showers. Bay says that she mouths, "Help me, help me..." to Kitty when she is in there and Kitty looks all concerned. What a personality this cat has.

I told Jackie today, I said, they've only been with a few months, but I cannot remember what it was like to not have Greg and Kitty as part of our family.

Ruby Tuesday - Ruby Ashlee

Happy Ruby Tuesday!

Today I have my niece, Ashlee, at her birthday party. She is a little shy and had a hard time getting going with the presents. Didn't bother me, it's her day, after all. Here she sits on the lap of her pretty Mommy, Shawna.

Doesn't she have the sweetest profile? Her little nose and you can't really tell from this shot, although if you've read my blog before you might have seen another shot, her eyes have this little tilt upward at the outer corner. It's like when she was created, the creator said, oh she's cute, but if we tweak this (little nose) and we tweak that (up-tilted eyes), she will be truly stunning. And so she is!

After the party, she came over to our place and spent the night. She's a fun sleepover guest. She always leaves me beautiful works of art.

If you'd like to take part in Ruby Tuesday, then please click here.

Ruby Tuesday - Hanging With the Diggles

Here are some Ruby Tuesday shots from my trip. There are glimpses of red, not super bold-splashes. I hope that is okay. I just wanted to take part, since I have not in so long.

Below see Sarah shooting baskets with red on her hat, shoes, and hoop. Check out her hands. She has worked hard with her coach learning how to shoot properly. I love the way the one hand is sort of floating and any second that bowl is going to go "swish."

Greg in far background, Casey blurring by, Chance resting on couch, and my brother-in-law Matt, giving me a look. Red candle and clock on the table beyond Matt. Sorry this one was pushing it, but I love the action here and my bil's look.

Check out Trin's shades! Her new room is so pretty with big windows and a window seat. This was inside, no lights on, no flash, (that I remember) just pretty light from the windows.

The Little Mermain hanging with the gang. It looks like the Cabbage Patch dolls is singing. Also Trin's room.

Trinity and Sarah in the game room. Sarah asked for fruit and it makes me happy when my kids request healthy snacks. I'm not sure if you can see it, but the dot on Trin's nose is a rhinestone sticker. Her "nose earring."

Boy, I miss those guys!!

If you'd like to see more Ruby Tuesday photos or if you'd like to jump into the fun yourself, you can find it here at Work Of the Poet.

On A Clear Day

Bay and I took a ton of pictures of Trin last weekend. She's so darn cute. That's Bay up at the top, taking shots of Trin skipping. I took them from the bottom of the drive. She's so cute. So bold and confident. This one has a "Keep on truckin'" posture to it. Remember that? The "Keep on truckin'" guy - I think he was a pimp or something, back when pimp did not mean dressing fancy. For some reason I have him lumped together with "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown." He was the "baddest man in the whole damn town......badder than ol' King Kong.....meaner than a junkyard dog......" How did I get started on this.........??

Sarah is getting more comfortable with the basketball every day. Here she is wearing one of the boy's hats, dribbling the ball.

And Casey takes a shot. Look how long his hair has grown. He's getting so grown-up.

And here's Sarah again. She had another game today. I wasn't able to go, I was taking care of something with Bay, but Mom went. She loves watching the girls play. Sarah says that they won. I'm in this one, can you see me?

Okay, it's late and I'm off to bed. Happy Sunday to you......it'll be Sunday in only a few minutes.

Speedy Weekend

This was a super speedy weekend.

Friday night, Max started throwing up. The teenagers were bickery until late, which stressed me out and kept me up. I finally fell asleep, then Max started throwing up around 3am - okay, I guess that makes it Saturday officially - and I had to change all his bedding. I went back to bed and read Revolutionary Road until I fell asleep. Sarah woke up early and ........well I gave up and got out of bed.

Mom took Sarah to basketball, along with her friend Kayla, and they came home very excited. Mom said that it was one of the most thrilling things that she had ever watched. Really, watching these girls get out there and get after that ball, it really is thrilling. She was still talking about it today.

Mom stayed to dinner and we watched "Nancy Drew," with Emily Roberts. I fell asleep during the movie and woke up crabby. Put everyone to bed, woke up early again. Sarah went to a movie with Kayla's family. I got brunch for me and the teenagers. Max appeared about 90% recovered. (yea!!!!) Sarah came home. We watched tv and I took the teenagers down to work out at the gym. We came home, ate dinner, and then I cut Greg's hair.

That was my weekend. I worked in between doing things. Oh, and I put up a personal ad for my mom. She came over with the cutest new 'do. She had highlights and a great cut, so I had to take her photo. Lets see if I can add that photo on here. Okay, as you can probably tell, it's at the top. I can't control where it goes in this writing box. Kind of frustating. She looks cute, though, doesn't she? :D

Hayden is One

We celebrated my nephew Hayden's birthday this weekend. He's now one year old. Yay! He likes my camera. Gimme. :D See his little runny nose? I heard that he was really feeling low the day before the party, but a party will perk any little guy up.

He got this cool train thingy. It has all these blocks and things to push. It's two pieces, but you can disconnect them and use the front part as a walker. Wow. I wish I had a train like this when I was a kid.

Shawna made a cake with a little airplane. He ate it one finger-tip taste at a time. He is so cute. He got very tired and leaned to the side, but he kept sticking that finger in again and again. :D

After his bath, it was like he had a second wind. He was smiley and goofy and played a tricky round of hide and go seek.

After the party, we got to take Ashley home for a sleepover. It was such a fun day.

The Days Following Christmas Kind Of Run Together...

My nephew, Brad sitting quietly, studying Sarah's technique with the Guitar Hero. Look at his little fingers. My brother, also named, Brad, has the sweetest hands. He is a grown man and he uses his hands for his work laying tile, but there's something very young and child-like about his hands. I noticed yesterday that they look like Sarah's hands in a way. Maybe it's the roundness or them or the dimples. Anyway, I looked at them and instantly I remembered him as a baby. He was the sweetest little baby. Seems like it was just yesterday, not almost 30 years ago.

Here's his youngest son and his lovely wife. That baby, he has such an expressive face - smile, frown, smile, terror, smile, bigger smile. Very entertaining. :D

Here's another shot of Guitar-Hero-ing. Big hit, that game is.

Hayden in motion, pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down, pick it up, taste it, put it down, and on and on and on. He's got a job to do and he's darn serious about it.

A momentary rest, some eye contact and then he's back to work. See the one bare foot, he was gripping those toes over and over. Just thinking about it cracks me up.

Max and I are home alone tonight. It's so quiet without either of the girls. I think I'll go to bed and read.

The Day After Christmas

I have to make this very fast, because Sarah and I heading to bed.

My brother's family came for a visit today. It was the best day after Christmas that I've ever spent. Here's a shot of the kids playing with some moon sand. I got Brad Jr a set that includes this little plastic truck.
Hayden was in constant motion, until he fell asleep on his mom's lap. He's got the blur-thing going here.

Here's the whole family. Brad Jr by the front door, Ashlee leaning over talking to Dad, mom Shawna, and baby Hayden. And my feet. Can you see them? Pretty silly looking.

Here's a close-up of Hayden. He is such a handsome little guy. I couldn't use the flash - it made him cry, so it was hard to see if these shots were in focus. As you can tell, they really weren't, but my family is beautiful in spite of my faulty photography.

I hope you enjoyed your day, as well. Thank you for reading. :D