Ardent Peace

Is it Wednesday already?

2012-01-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

Things are mostly back to normal here at Chez De Haan. I am having little bouts of anxiousness, but part of that, I think, is the adrenaline overload from last Friday. It was interesting to me to realize that it was hard to take the kids to school on Monday. Driving past everything I went past on Friday when I thought that Rhys was missing. I took two colossal cookies to school that said Thank You on them for the staff. Many people stopped us on the way to the classroom, lots of people were very happy just to see Rhys. It was good.

Yesterday and today I've kept Rhys home. He's been fighting something, nothing awful or huge, but a bug of some sort. He had a slight headache on Sunday and had a runny nose that started on Monday but got worse Monday night and Tuesday. He has no fever. I had a sub job yesterday afternoon, so, happily, Mom was able to come over and watch Rhys for the afternoon while I worked. He had nearly no computer time and no TV time all day. He and I worked on his Lego Hogwarts Castle, then he worked on it with Nana. It was a quiet and thoughtful way for him to spend the day. I had high hopes that he'd go back to school today. He went to bed earlier than usual and slept really well. Alas, this morning, he sounded snarfly and was coughing. I figured the better part of valor was to keep him home one more day. We've got his math book, so he's all caught up there. Not sure what else he is missing today. We went through all of his lines for the 3rd grade musical/play. He's doing great with it!
I got a call to work in 4th grade today. Sad I couldn't take it. I don't like having to say no to jobs.

It's been hard for me to go walking the past few days - happily, Irene is 12 and able to watch Rhys while Rob and I go for quick walks after dinner (just here in the neighborhood - Irene with her phone, us with ours - always just a max of 5 minutes away), so that's good. I will need to walk more this weekend to make up for the short walks :)

I need to head to the grocery store to get some butter - thought I had plenty in the fridge, but that is not the case. I'm going to make some toffee crunch for the school police officers that helped on Friday. Had hoped to do that today, but now it's on the docket for tomorrow.

And on a completely different note -- today, Joshilyn Jackson's book A Grown Up Kind of Pretty launches! Hooray hooray!! I can't wait to get mine! And perhaps tomorrow, I will go to BN and find her books and make sure they are all facing outward - not just the spine showing, but the beautiful picture. Perhaps I should call the independent book stores around here and see if they have it already too. Then I will go in and talk her up in a big way. Because I've actually met her in person and talked briefly with her on the phone and been on a yahoogroup with her for *gasp* 11 years, AND I've read all of her books and I have the audiobooks for Between, Georgia and Backseat Saints which just happen to be read by Joshilyn, I feel like I can talk her up honestly and vociferously!

Lost and Found and Humble Thanks!

2012-01-20T21:57:00.000-08:00

This afternoon Rob and I had, what I believe was probably, the *worst* 3 hours that felt like days of our lives. Rhys was missing. I will state right here, right up front, that he is fine, he never knew he was lost, he was with a dear friend, and they both did exactly what they were supposed to do.

It started yesterday afternoon. Mom, Irene, and I were planning on going "over the hill" to my sister's so that we could celebrate my nephew's birthday. So I called my dear girlfriend to see if she could pick up Rhys and then Rob would grab him after work. Late in the evening, Mom and I decided that the weather was going to be too awful to drive in safely, so we'd stay home. It was late, so I didn't call.

Next morning, early, I got a call to sub. Did the quick groggy run through in my head, remembered we were NOT heading to the Bay Area today, and said yes. Totally and completely forgot about other plans other than, I need to get showered, get the kids breakfasts and lunches, and get them out to the bus. I told Rhys and Irene that I was going to pick them up from school (previously, I'd told Rhys that our friend was going to pick him up).

I got to school. There was Irene, with her friend, by the flagpole. No Rhys. No biggie, it usually takes him a bit longer to get around the school. Nope, still no Rhys. Checked in briefly with his teacher, she saw him walk out the door with his great good friend. Okay. Well, I just need to get home before the bus does because he's going to be worried that a) Irene's not on the bus and b) that I won't be home. So off Irene and I zoomed. We got home just before the bus. I went to grab him...no Rhys. Came home, called school, spoke with Margaret, the wonderful secretary. She did an all call at school. No Rhys. Then she called transportation. No. Not on the bus. Serious panic begins to set in. Where is my child? He is my worrier. My "gotta know the plan" boy. My "hey! the busses are leaving and mama's not here, so it's time to go into the office because she's subbing and sometimes it takes a minute or two more to get here" boy. He is not the boy who goes wandering off with a friend, walking home by himself (does he even really know the way home?). I called my mom to come to my house to be with Irene (who was really really getting more and more concerned by the minute) and tried to stay calm for her. I was then on her phone, my cell (with margaret), and Irene's phone calling Rob to say that Rhys was missing. Come home. I then went to a friend's house who maybe, just maybe, if Rhys had been on the bus and realized I might not be home and Irene wasn't on the bus, he'd be with her...nope. not there. Went to another friend's house to see if somehow, just this once, Rhys went home with someone else without thinking about calling or telling me. No. Not there either. Margaret stayed on the phone with me the whole time. I then headed to school. I was met with people already combing the school and looking outside. I think Carrie met me outside where I broke down. The principal, Prim Walters, was right there too. Rhys' teacher was already in the office trying to piece together what could have happened from the moment it happened.

So much now is blurring in my head already. It felt totally surreal. This stuff doesn't HAPPEN in real life. This happens in movies. My brain was on overload and I was trying to stay calm, but as more friends and more people were coming to help, I would hug and hold and cry. So many people were there asking what they could do. I sent Carrie all the recent pictures I had on my phone of Rhys. She put it on facebook. Suddenly people who didn't know me or Rhys from anything were ready to help too. The school police came and started asking me questions. I couldn't remember which sweats he was wearing - his teacher absolutely remembered. I knew he had on his super cool sweatshirt that Mom had made for him and was pretty sure he had on a green shirt (his favorite color).

I just can't say enough about our school and friends and the school police. And I was awful. At one point, I said (and truly, it kills me that these words came out of my mouth) "When can we call the real police in?!" Ms. Walters came out and let me know that they are real police and I KNEW that - good lord, whatever possessed me to say it?! I quickly apologized, but that doesn't take it away. As another friend said, these are the people that deal with these kinds of things on a regular basis and I'd just treated them in a horrible and horrifying manner. Please, when you see those school cops around, THANK THEM for being there for the kids! There is nothing I can do to take back those words, and I feel truly awful. Meanwhile, Ken (my step-dad) arrived, Rob arrived, Cub Scout friends and Girl Scout friends came and were doing everything they could - they were driving the streets, they were calling friends, they were walking the neighborhoods. Teachers came back from their homes, or never even left school to help. There were 4 different people who thought they saw him on a bus - on their bus, on the wrong bus, getting off at the Raley's bus stop, he realized that I wouldn't be home, so he was going to go with the neighbor kids on the bus to their house.

The teachers and staff called every parent from Rhys' class, Ms. Walters talked with Rhys' best buddy in his class (bless that sweet boy) who, as we found out later, was spot on. Rhys walked out with J, then a "girl" called his name, and Rhys walked over to the "car circle." Ms. Walters had put the Connect-Ed All Call out to all parents in the school. Pictures were printed of Rhys, what he was wearing was added to it. Teachers and parents were going door to door. People were canvassing everywhere and I was attempting to keep it together and feeling totally lost in my head. I thought of other kids who might know, Margaret made more calls. Still nothing.

After way too long, I looked at my phone and thought of my friend - I said "I KNOW WHERE HE MUST BE!!!" and proceeded to call her. No one called anything off just in case I was wrong. Then, the blessed voice of my dear friend answered and told me what I'd been longing to hear - "Of course, Rhys is here! I told you I would pick him up." I explained the situation as best as I could to her and told her I'd be on my way. I told everyone and the whole office erupted in cheers. You can probably imagine how I felt (and how Rob felt) when we heard that he was safe and sound and exactly where he was supposed to be. I felt awful that I'd started this whole mess - that I didn't even know where my sweet boy was when I SHOULD have thought of that.

The school police were already on their way over to the house and they brought Rhys back to us, while we waited knowing everything was miraculously okay. I was so totally overwhelmed by the outpouring and love in our community. Carrie said it best. I was humbled. I hugged just about anyone who would let me.

When I saw Rhys, I gave him giant ginormous hugs and let him know that he had done everything right - because he had. It was my mistake - first that I didn't call last night, that I didn't remember this morning to call, and then, why didn't my brain turn on and remind me that I should absolutely call her first thing?

While Rob and I were doing that, Irene was home with Mom - both comforting one another. It is not easy to be the big sister. I just knew I needed someone here just in case somehow Rhys was late getting here to the house.

I want to thank my friends far and near who called, texted, posted on facebook, sent up prayers and thoughts. It means the world to me. More than the world. Thank you to all the staff at Spanish Springs Elementary School for zooming to action so quickly and for brainstorming different possibilities and places to look. For answering and making calls. To the police - all of them, thank you. I know that many of you were working from the wee hours of the morning and were not getting to go home tonight for quite a while. And to my dear sweet friend who did exactly what she had told me she'd do, thank you to the ends of the earth!

I know that there are similar stories that don't end up nearly so well. I send my prayers and thoughts out to those parents and the friends of those parents.

Right now, I'm happy to have my family all snuggled in.

Thank you.

weight & health & ramblings

2012-01-17T11:13:00.000-08:00

I can't remember many times in my life when I've not been worried about my weight. Maybe when I lived in Spain and walked everywhere and lost quite a bit of weight. Definitely not when I was pregnant - man, did I ever LOVE being pregnant! Never did I feel so good as those 18 months! There have been a few other times off and on.

I often wonder what the heck I was thinking back in high school when I was sure I was fat. Amazing what a person's head does to us. I love the fact that I have curves. I love having an hourglass figure - even if it is a larger hourglass than I'd like to have. I am content with the knowledge that if I ever got to the BMI weight that is supposed to be healthy for me, I'd look like Skeletor, and there is nothing pretty OR sexy about that.

One of my goals is to get more fit - more healthy. I'm working hard at that. I'm using the map my walk app (http://mapmyfitness.com) on my iPhone. I'm greatly enjoying going on walks with Rob. It is nice to walk and talk and just enjoy one another's company. It is also nice to have a twelve-year-old daughter who I trust to watch Rhys. I can remember that Jeremy and I would argue when our folks were home, but when I was watching him, everything went smoothly. It seems like that is the case for Irene and Rhys as well.

While the kids were off track, Rhys and I went on many walks together. It was something that I greatly enjoyed. We did shorter and slower walks, but they were precious and dear to me. It was time that he could just talk and I could listen. There were lots of discussions about the animals, particularly lizards and snakes, but also bees and colony collapse disorder, and ants. We talked about heaven and what he thinks it might be like. We talked about The Warriors books that he loves and wants to discuss and talk through, but it tends to drive Irene a bit insane. Now that they are back in school, I'm missing that time we had. But he's doing karate (and LOVING it!) 2 - 4 times per week, and it's hard to figure out where to fit it in. We will figure it out in time.

Today, it was 10 degrees when I put the kids on the bus. I knew it was going to be cold. When Rob left for work, it was 7 degrees. Yes, seven. So I had to plan what I was going to wear to make my walk successful. I put on my cuddle dud top, another long sleeve fitted shirt over that, a sweatshirt, my wool hoodie, a lovely handmade scarf, my jacket, and gloves with mittens over. On my lower half, I decided that because I couldn't find my cuddle dud bottoms to wear under jeans, I'd suck it up and wear the LL Bean fleece lined jeans that I've had for 6 years now that have never fit comfortably. They always took me laying down flat on my bed or hopping around to get them up and zipped. Once on, they'd be fine, until I had to sit down, then I'd have to think about the setting and figure out if I could tactfully unbutton the damned things or not. So, today I put them on. They fit. I didn't have to take a deep intake of breath to make my lower half skinnier than usual - I didn't have to wriggle them over my ample hips. I just put them on. And right now? I'm sitting on my bed cross legged and still wearing them. They are still feeling fine! As if they were any other pair of jeans that I own. Astounding. This morning, I was 3 pounds heavier than when I got pregnant with Rhys. That's still a good 20 - 25 pounds heavier than my happy happy joy joy weight (which is still probably considered overweight according to my BMI), but it is less than I've weighed in a really long time. So - yea me!

So - back to my walk in the 10 degree air...Taking those first breaths outside in the 10 degree air was sort of crazy. felt like breathing in ice. But I had Pandora set to the Erasure station and blissed out on *MY* kind of 80s music (erasure, depeche mode, the cure, duran duran, new order, naked eyes, thompson twins, yaz, OMD, when in rome, etc etc etc), and focused on walking and not falling on the ice. It was good. I went farther than I thought I was going to go - and I know it looks funny if you see the loops and twists and turns i make, but it works for me - and faster than I've gone to date (probably because it was cold!).

For me, it never did. Give me the curves and some extra flesh.

I got the above picture from Carrie's fb page. I really don't think it is the men that feel this way. Men that I know like for women to have curves. So, I'm just going to look at that bottom half and think of that. And, I'll keep on working on healthier living and being.

And now, I *really* need to get some things packed up so that I can ship some woefully late presents out as well as ship the ebay item to the winner so that I can head to school and work in the kids' classrooms.

Books read, reading, and to read

2012-01-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

I've seen other people do this and I have yet to remember to do it, so I'm going to write down the books I've read this year.

So far I've read:
Gregor the Underlander series (5 books) by Suzanne Collins (of Hunger Games fame)

These were fun and well written books. Not as intense as The Hunger Games. More of a Hunger Games "light," I suppose. The books were a quick read - I read them in 5 days. Helps that I was able to stay up quite late and read them.

Discussion of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

This is for my book club. I read it in a few days. It was a very interesting read. It's written from the point of view of an autistic teenager. It's probably not a book I'd have picked up for myself, but I enjoyed it very much.

So - six books so far. I want to re-read The Hunger Games before the movie comes out, but I'm waiting for Rob to finish them the first time around. He's on the last book. I bought my sister, nephew, Irene, and I Hunger Games shirts from teefury.com. Irene and I are REALLY excited about this movie and desperately hoping that it's good and doesn't add a bunch of bologna that isn't necessary and isn't in the books. The actors I know in it, I think are spot on for the characters they are playing. That's a good sign.

On my Currently Reading list I have:

Book 2 of Game of Thrones. I had to stop reading this for a while because it was giving me graphic dreams when what I really needed was rest.

The Anxiety Cure which was recommended by Dr. C-H.

The two books I am most anticipating this year?

Lydia Netzer's Shine Shine Shine which comes out in July (AND, I am hoping beyond hope that she really is able to come to Sparks and do a book signing - it is my desperate and fervent hope, not only because I want EVERY SINGLE ONE of my friends and acquaintances here in this town to meet her and buy her brilliant book, BUT, she is also a very good friend of mine and she lives far far away in Virginia, so we don't get to see one another nearly enough). By the way, the first Shine link is to the FB page. The second link is to the goodreads.com contest to WIN Shine Shine Shine

The second book I am greatly looking forward to owning is Joshilyn Jackson's A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Joshilyn (the h is silent, for new readers of ardent peace) has also written gods in Alabama, her first published novel which started out with quite a bang! Next came my very favorite so far, Between, Georgia, then The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, and her last book (previous to A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty) is Backseat Saints. One of the very very awesome things about Joshilyn's books is that if you choose to get the audio version, she has been the one to read all of them except for gods in Alabama. She is amazing.

A goal or two

2012-01-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

In the past 4 - 5 months, I've lost close to 30 pounds. Some of this was because of not feeling hungry/feeling nauseous/worrying. Some of it has been from paying more attention to what I'm eating, some of it was from surgery and being in the hospital for 4 days and not getting to eat for most of that time. But, I've been *out* of the hospital now for 8 weeks. And in that time, I lost 5 pounds(ish). So...
One of my goals is to average 5 walks per week. I'd like them to be at least 30 minutes long. Last week I walked 10 miles and did indeed walk 5 days and 6 walks.

Now I just need to keep it up. Because of the weather, it's been easier to do - no snow/no ice. I'm sure that at some point, the snow will come pouring down and it will be trickier, but it's a goal. I will do my best to achieve it.

Update

2012-01-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

So - I decided I needed to have some outside help. I found a therapist. She was able to see me right away on the 26th. I've seen her 3 times and it has helped tremendously. I am still dealing a bit with the anxiety - it really is more anxiety than panic. I've had true panic attacks, but didn't really realize the difference until talking to Dr. C-H. When Rhys was lost at Hendy Woods, what I had *then* was a panic attack (breathing too fast, feeling like something was pressing down on my chest, feeling like I had tunnel vision). Panic attacks are relatively fast. This that I was dealing with seemed to go on for a long time.

I've been listening to some relaxation tapes (is it still called a tape if it is on my iPhone?), reading a book called The Anxiety Cure, and working on different techniques to keep the anxiety at bay. Right now, I seem to be winning.

The Bloggess recently posted about anxiety/panic/self-harm. It is an amazing post that I highly recommend. A few days later she posted this - another good one.

So - school starts back for the kids on Monday. I will miss them. It's been nice to have them home during their track off time - even if I was down and moving slowly for a good chunk of it. Rhys and I have gone on some lovely fun walks together - he's 8 1/2 now and needs opportunities to just talk, so the walks give us about 1/2 hour of talking time (well, talking for him, listening for me).

And now, I need to leave. The Cookie Rally is today - that's right, GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME IS UPON US!!! Beginning tomorrow, let me know if you have any cookie needs - Irene will be happy to supply them if you don't have any Girl Scouts in your neck of the woods.

Long time no post

2011-12-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

Wow - it's been well over a year since the last time I wrote anything on here...and i'm just going to be all me me me here for today's post.

On 11/11/11, i had surgery - it was a resection of my colon. 1' of it was removed - hopefully all the diverticulosis in my intestines is now gone. It's been quite the recovery. I thought it would be like my c-sections. um, yeah...no. Much more difficult - partly, I'm sure, because I don't have a sweet baby to hold, nurse, love, and care for.

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in October 2009. That is when my panic/anxiety attacks began as well. I'd thought I understood what people meant when they said panic attack/anxiety attack. Boy. I knew nothing. Not A Damn Thing. After having my first one, I understood. Holy hell. They are awful and debilitating.

So - had my surgery. Things seemed to be going well, then, out of nowhere, I had a reminiscent pain that I shouldn't have that is what i associate with diverticulitis. It threw me into a panic attack. I'm now trying to drag myself out of them. Last night I finally took one of my generic xanax pills. It's only the 2nd time I've actually taken one. I took another one today because my mom offered to come over and make cookies with the kids. I slept for a good 3 hours.

I had a few friends call with a few ideas. I will try them and see how it goes.

wow - this was a happy and uplifting post...it'll be better next time.

I'm trying to figure out ways to talk myself out of these panic attacks. it's really hard to be an

2011 - the year in pictures!

2011-12-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Irene in the snow fort

2011-01-15T23:45:00.001-08:00

cool snow fort

2011-01-15T23:44:00.001-08:00

warm in the snow

2011-01-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

California State Park Junior Rangers

2010-08-24T19:18:00.001-07:00

last bit at the beach

2010-08-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

Rhys in chilly Donner Lake and Irene on the situpon

Rhys standing on a rock

2010-08-24T13:25:00.001-07:00

Irene in our cool tube.

today at Donner Lake

2010-08-24T13:23:00.001-07:00

2010-08-24T13:22:00.001-07:00

Nana working her magic

2010-08-24T13:20:00.001-07:00

side heart for Jennie

2010-08-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

Nana had the brilliant idea

2010-08-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

of wrapping marshmallows in crescent roll dough. Here is Irene with her's.

It was!

2010-08-24T13:03:00.003-07:00

cooking dogs in croissants

2010-08-24T13:03:00.001-07:00

over the fire. Some friends had pictures of this and it looked fun AND yummy.

very cheeky golden mantled ground squirrel

2010-08-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

Irene's new helmet

2010-08-24T12:57:00.001-07:00

Rhys' new one is white and silver.

Irene in new bandana

2010-08-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

and jr ranger pin

Rhys in new survival bandana

2010-08-24T12:48:00.001-07:00

and Junior Ranger pin

Rhys found a pocket knife

2010-08-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

He is learning how to whittle. Rob is guiding him.

2010-08-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Found heart

2010-08-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

I saw this while caching.

all

2010-06-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

plus the buttercream for Rob and Rhys. it didn't work on the cookies.

yoda

2010-06-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

darth vader

2010-06-10T13:28:00.001-07:00

Book Arts Bash Thank yous!!! (TAKE TWO!)

2010-05-12T07:51:00.001-07:00

I have talked about my dear friend, Lydia, many times. She is truly amazing. And when she joins forces with other amazing people, she makes magic happen. Lydia and Sherene got together again to have homeschooled children write novels or stories. To say that magic happened is really an understatement!

I was lucky enough to be part of a team to do a pre-read of a group of the stories/novellas before they went to the off to the big time judges (Sara Guen, Holly Black, Joshilyn Jackson, Karen Abbott, and more). The writing was really really good! It was a joy to read what young people are writing. I can't wait to see what they do in the future!

Things like this don't happen without the help and sponsorship of some wonderful people, groups, and companies. I would like to give a big giant shout out to the amazing sponsors of Book Arts Bash 2010:

Big thank you to our generous sponsors:

Dreambox: Visit Dreambox for an incredible interactive math curriculum for kids from preschool through third grade. For kindergarten math, Dreambox is unparalleled in fun and pedagogical value. Check out the free trial and see what you think!

Shurley Grammar: A grammar curriculum that takes your child from first through seventh grade, using drills and jingles to teach writing skills (and also reading skills!) along the way. A trusted name in home education, Shurley will not steer you wrong.

Classical Academic Press: If you're contemplating teaching Latin or Greek in your homeschool, you definitely need this system. With audio, video, fun activities, and online Latin games, as well as standard workbooks and quizzes, anyone can teach Latin.

Prufrock Press: Parents of gifted children often have difficulty finding work that will challenge their kids' abilities while still being fun. Prufrock's gifted education materials are a godsend. Kids see them as a treat!

Explode the Code: Many of us have used Explode the Code workbooks with our kids and enjoyed the progressive phonics curriculum. Now Explode the Code has launched an online version, taking their reading education to a whole new level.

Can you help Lydia and Sherene by republishing the results and sponsor links on your blog, supporting homeschooled writers and this novel-writing contest? Please email them to let them know you can help. They need twenty blogs to participate. Would you donate a post on yours?

Thank you to all of you who helped to make this happen!

The winners for 2010 are:

Kindergarten and First Grade:

Winner:
A Big Problem by Brianna T.
Runners up:
Adventures of Big D and BMC by Emma W.
Zoo With A Strange Zookeeper by Vivian L.

Second and Third Grade:

Winner:
The Adventures of Blue Flame the Heroic Giant Squid-Fighting Heroby Sage M.
Runners Up:
Ruby, A Twisting Tale by Emilie M.
Mittens the Cat by Melea von T.

Fourth and Fifth Grade:

Winner:
1 by Nicci M.
Runners up:
One Girl Revolution by Sadie Z.
Blaze by Alexandra S.

Sixth Grade:

Winner:
The Princess by Lena G.
Runners up:
Becoming Callie by Lena G.
Trixie by Lydia A.

Seventh Grade:

Winner:
Happy Ending is a Place by Mandy H.
Runners up:
Violet Fire by Bryn B.
Kite by Hannah S.

Eighth Grade:

Winner:
Hollin by Garrett R.
Runners up:
Common Animals by Thomas B.
Little Angel by Adayla S.

Ninth Grade:

Winner:
Why I Missed the Second Set by Rose C.
Runners up:
Untitled by Larissa S.
Tales of the Humbats: The Seventh Piece by Raven M.

Tenth Grade:

Winner:
Children of the Stars by Holden M.
Runners up:
Shattering Darkness by Vienna H.
The Scouser Cap by Emily V.

Eleventh Grade:

Winner:
Cadence by Scout G.
Runners up:
Vengeance: 25 cents by Kathleen M.
Don't Look Down by Tanya S

Twelfth Grade:

Winner:
If Pearls Could Sing by Pamela C.
Runners up:
Broken Things by Emily D.
Falling Night by Anna W.

Irene's paper of persuasion.

2010-05-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad I subbed in her class today so that I would see this!

page 2

2010-05-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

for my reader

2010-05-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

who sees hearts as she goes along. I saw this and thought of you. it
is in our yard.

a letter to the fairies

2010-04-26T23:05:00.001-07:00

Rhys wrote this tonight by himself with no questions or input from
anyone. it says:
Dear fairies, Sprinty Fast died today. I'm very sad. We buried him
with a plant. please write back. From Rhys.
The picture shows Sprinty's pot inside the plastic box with the
Frazier pine planted above Sprinty. it also shows how sad we are.

a letter to the fairies

2010-04-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

it says:
Dear Fairies, Sprinty Fast died today.

Missing some of my loved ones

2010-04-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

It's been more than 2 years since Pat died. Almost 2 years since my gramma died. Funny how neither of them are ever really far away. I think about both of them a lot. Just a week ago, I went to pick up the phone and call my gramma. Sometimes it just hits hard that they are gone. We have things that remind us of both of them. Some of the things wouldn't be special to anyone else - but they have meaning and depth beyond what they are for me - or for Rob - or for Irene and Rhys.

Bob worries that Irene and Rhys will forget Pat. I don't know that she's far from them either. Rhys will sometimes say something about Grammie - Irene will put on some Paris by YSL and smell like her. We talk about her. We talk about Great Gram too.

So - some days I just miss them both very much. today was one of those days.

micro cache at Galena

2010-04-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

bug hunt

2010-04-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not dead yet!

2010-04-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

To my lovely follower - I'm so sorry that I've let this go for so long...it's that facebook thing, you know. It sucked me in -- it's where I do a lot of my posting, and then I forget to post here as well.

The kids are off track this month - we've done some things - not a lot yet, but, in general, enjoying time off of school. This week, Irene has been attending Nana's Sewing Camp with my mom. That's my name for it. I will post some pictures of the girlie in her new finery soon. I wish I had their talent to just go and do! I get all pent up with the making it right thing, that it loses fun for me and makes me tense. It's why I tend to do free motion quilting on whole cloth rather than needing to make points match and whatnot.

A little more than a month ago, I started going to a Cardio Kickboxing class (actually, they spell cardio with a K, which sort of grates on my nerves). One of my friends convinced me to join her at 5:45 AM at a gym that's about 12 minutes away from my house. It's good to have someone there to hold me accountable for getting my ample ass there. I am looking to be much more fit by the time I reach 40 - and that is only 6 months away -- so! The owner of the school suggested I join the UBC (Ultimate Body Challenge). And, while that would be great and all, I can't get there 6 days/week. I just can't. I know this. I don't know that I could even do a full 5 weeks. So, I'll stick with my Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and see where I get with that. I'll try to add in other things on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The kids, my mom, and I are supposed to head to Donner either Friday or next week - either Monday or Friday. Irene's class has just done a big unit on the Donner Party (they read _Patty Reed's Doll_). Growing up in Southern California, we did a big unit on the missions. I knew there was a Donner Party that had to resort to cannibalism to stay alive, I didn't know that there were more people than Donners, that they were SO close to being where they'd have been okay, and that it was such a series of missteps - oh my! Mom said that in Northern California, the elementary schools did learn a lot about the Donners. The pass is much closer to that part of California than it is to San Bernadino County. Anyway, in past years, the 4th graders have done a field trip to Donner to see the museum, some of the remnants of where the cabins were, the monument, etc. Well, that's not happening this year. This year, Irene's teacher is planning a trip to Virginia City...That's all well and good, but we've done Va City...twice...and really? We don't need to do it again. We went into a mine, we rode the train, we saw the cemetery. Ah well. So, I've decided that we'll go ourselves b/c we're off track and we can. :)

Hmm - what else? We have a new camera. Our old (5 years -- sort of old for a digital camera) gave us the fatal E18 error (i think it's e18). So, it is dead to us. Not worth $250 to put into it to fix it for us. We now own a Canon Rebel T1i. It's a bit intimidating. It can do a WHOLE lot. Mostly, I put it on super auto and just go with it like that. Or I put it on the sport setting and take a bizillion pictures like the paparazzi. Need to use it a lot and get our money out of it :D Also need to make sure it's totally awesome and fully functioning before the 90 day warranty is up!

Okay - this is more than you've gotten out of me in months. I'm going to shush now.

Tristan's Amazing Giveaway!

2010-01-16T13:49:00.001-08:00

that will teach me not to check on my blog! I had a post written about Tristan's giveaway - which ended on the 22nd - Tristan is an amazing artist - his quilts? To Die For! I am lucky enough to be on a few yahoogroups with him and have been watching all the things he's done for several years now. I highly encourage you all to go and check out his blog - it's delightful and sure to have something to thrill your senses!

The Twilight books

2010-01-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I decided I needed to read these books because I was just filled with all sorts of judgement when I saw VERY young girls reading them. As a substitute teacher, I work in grades pre-k through 6th. I've seen girls in 3rd grade reading the Twilight books. It was shocking to me - but it was based on hearsay. So, I decided to read them myself.

I really enjoyed the books. The story is told well and I enjoyed the characters. Bella was not as anti-life as I'd imagined her to be nor was she a poor student. I was sorry to see the books end. I enjoyed all of the characters and how Ms. Meyer built them up and showed them to us.

I still truly feel that just because a child is able to read the words, they shouldn't read the book until they are much older. Perhaps when Irene is in 7th grade I might let her read them. I know that understanding and maturity vary, but 3rd grade seems much too young. And with some of the 6th graders I know, I feel that is too young for most of them as well.

View all my reviews >>

Junebug

2009-12-31T21:59:00.001-08:00

When we told the kids, at the last rest stop before home, that Cleo had died, they both sobbed. The first thing Rhys did, when he could talk, was ask me for his wish list because he needed to add something to it. He quickly wrote "new cat pleas." When we got home, we all cried some more. There really is nothing quite so heartbreaking as having your children being so sad. Irene and Rhys both asked Santa to bring an orange tabby for Christmas. Santa wrote to them saying that he couldn't do that, but that he was letting the fairies and elves know that we were looking for a kitty. We have found that the best kitties are the ones who find their people.

On Christmas Eve, one of the books that Irene chose for us to read was The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes & illustrated by Tasha Tudor about a cat who is caught in a snowstorm and found by a family and brought home.

Yesterday, Rob saw this post on The RGJ (our local newspaper) online:

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klm1717 wrote:

That's awesome about Ollie and Lala-I was referred to Dr. Tom a few years ago when I adopted a cat from Wylie Animal Rescue-he does a lot of charity work, as I understand it. As I'm in school & considering going into the veterinary field myself, he allowed me to come in & observe one morning. He took great care of my (now) oldest cat when he was having issues (turned out to be a bladder infection)-great follow up! & bent over backwards to try to find out what was wrong w/my shepard mix when he was sick. I've never seen a vet who really cares as much (& I've seen a LOT of vets!) They're great people!

12/30/2009 10:17 PM PST

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SparksRob wrote:

We picked up Lala from Alpine Veterinary Hospital this afternoon and brought her home. Thank you so much to Kristina and Dr. Tom!

Our 15 year old female tabby (Cleo) passed away just before Christmas while we were in Disneyland. Our kids (6 and 10) were devastated. Talk about going from a big high to a deep low! We vowed that our next cat would be an orange tabby (preferably a kitten!) and that one way or another, IT would find US. Orange tabbys have a wonderful personality; like no other cats I've ever owned. We saw this story in the RGJ yesterday and we immediately contacted the folks at Alpine. After meeting Lala we were smitten and, like we knew would happen, SHE found US!

She is hiding away in our house, getting adjusted to her new surroundings. The name we're thinking of giving her is Junebug (after Mama Junebug Jones from the Skippyjon Jones children's books). Our house is a happy one this New Year's Eve!

12/31/2009 1:22 PM PST

I quickly sent an e-mail to the vet's office.

We went to meet her this morning. She is a love and while she was really nervous (her tail shaking), she went right up to both Rhys and Irene and sniffed their faces and started to calm down. The vet tech, Kristina, said there was someone else who wanted to meet her, but that she was pretty sure that we were The Family for this kitty. I wish you could have seen the joy on Irene and Rhys' faces. Rhys went with Rob back to work, Irene and I went to get kitten supplies. Rob called soon after to say he was on his way home with our kitten. She's about 6 months old.

This was the update on the RGJ site:

Update: Lala the cat, who was found unconscious in the snow, has found a forever home

Posted by MarkRobison at 12/31/2009 12:49 PM PST

Yesterday, there was a blog post about an orange tabby named Lala who was found unconscious and half-buried during a recent Reno snowstorm. She was taken to Alpine Veterinary Hospital on South Virginia, who had been caring for her and socializing her and seeking a forever home. A number of inquiries resulted, including this email sent to Alpine from Kristen in Spanish Springs:

I'm sure by now (when I'm first seeing this story) you've gotten a number of offers to adopt Lala. I would like to put our name in the ring as well. On Friday the 18th, our beloved Cleo died at age 15. It left an enormous hole in our family. Our two children both asked Santa for a new cat. He let them know that he's put it out to the fairies and the elves that we are in search of an orange tabby kitty. On Christmas Eve, we read a story called The Christmas Cat which is about a cat that is lost in the snow and found by a wonderful family. Anyway, I just wanted to put it out there.

Lala (in the middle of the photo, taken at Alpine) will be joining Kristen's family. Here's hoping it works out! Thanks to all who wanted to help.

She had hidden herself really well after we got here. I just found her in the kids' bathroom in between the shower curtains. She is now downstairs looking at everything, keeping low to the ground. We are trying out the name Junebug after Mama Junebug Jones in the Skippyjon Jones books (we really love Judy Schachner's books). A few other names - also from that book - are Jillyboo and Jujubee.

so pretty

2009-12-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

GUESS Homeschool Science Fair!

2009-12-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Firstly, I apologize for neglecting my poor blog and my fabulous follower (::waves to Jennie::). Recently, Lydia and her homeschool crew had their GUESS Homeschool Science Fair. Every time Lydia does these things it makes me deeply want two things -- first and foremost, it makes me want to move right next door to her house and 2nd, because I'd be living right next door and because she's funny, smart, and fabulous, and because she has lots of homeschooling friends who are much the same, it makes me want to homeschool mine! I'm sure I could add something to the mix..

The Homeschool Science Fair could probably happen without sponsors, but I don't know where everything would fit. I don't think as many people would be able to participate, and so, without further ado, I would like to say a big and giant thank you to the following homeschool-friendly businesses for supporting the GUESS Homeschool Science Fair and the young scientists of Hampton Roads!

Green Olive Tree is an internet company based in Portsmouth, Virginia and owned and operated by a homeschooling family. They offer a broad range of internet services, from reliable web hosting to corporate infrastructure solutions and server administration.

SKS Science supplies homeschoolers and other educators with all the science supplies you need to turn your dining room table into a proper laboratory. Browse their site for test tubes, bottles, face masks and other lab supplies and books.

Book Exchange is the largest used bookstore in Eastern Virginia. Unlike most musty and confusing used stores, this one is clean, bright, inviting, and has a huge selection of used homeschool books. There's always an interesting curriculum find on these shelves! Please click on the link and just LOOK at this amazing book store! I think I could just live there happily with the comfy couches and the books.

Folkmanis Puppets makes the most delightful animal puppets available outside Santa's workshop. Meet their most unusual creations like llamas, Chinese dragons, ostriches, flying squirrels. Unusual materials create realistic textures, and they all move in very realistic ways. Irresistible. We have several of the Folkmanis Puppets and have never been disappointed by them. They have so much expression even before you put your own magic into them.

The Happy Scientist, Robert Krampf, hosts an online wonderland for budding scientists. With online science lessons, experiments to try at home, a science photo of the day, and new content added all the time, you'll love setting your kids loose on this site.

Mad Science is Hampton Roads' premier provider of science enrichment classes for children. Summer classes include "Crazy Chemistry" and a space camp developed with NASA! New homeschool science classes are being offered in Norfolk and VA Beach, with more planned for fall. Have you seen these scientists in action? Rhys and Irene went to Mad Science camp here in Sparks and they LOVED it! They had so much fun and were soon telling me all about thrust and gravity and rockets. They really share the joy of science with kids.

Moore Expressions is a homeschool bookstore in Virginia Beach, VA. They sell used and new homeschooling curriculum, host a support group, and publish a newsletter called the Bayith Educator. They are the premier source for homeschooling books in the Hampton Roads area.

Norfolk Karate Academy offers classes in Tang Soo Do (Korean karate) and Gracie Jiu Jitsu (Brazilian grappling and self-defense). With classes for children, teens, and adults, it's a great way for anyone to get in shape and kick things in a socially acceptable way!

Brooks Systems offers standalone software and web applications that check legal compliance in all municipalities in all fifty states, and create truth-in-lending documents for residential lenders. Using Brooks for your automated mortgage compliance, you can be sure your loans are safe.

Virginia Air and Space Center was host to the homeschool science fair this year, and delivered awesome science classes for homeschoolers from their education department. The VASC is the educator resource center for the NASA Langley Research Center. I find it so wonderful that VASC was the host for the science fair! Can you imagine? They are truly putting our future first by showing how much they value these young scientists!

Mad props to all of the sponsors and all of the children who participated in this fabulous events and the homeschooling parents who really made it happen!

You can check out pictures and winners right here.

September 11, 2009

2009-09-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that we do our best to do something for the local firefighters. We've made them signs expressing our thanks, we've made cards, and cookies. Today, at one point, for just the smallest of seconds, I was thinking, that I didn't know if we had time to make cookies for our local station. How awful is that? My next thought was - if we don't do something to show our appreciation this year, it would be that much easier to do that next year. So I whapped myself in the head a little. Irene and Rhys made wonderful cards, the cookies were super chocolatey and warm when we delivered them. The firefighters were delighted with all of it and I'm so glad we did it.

good sleeps on his new mattress

2009-09-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

something making me happy right now.

2009-07-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

My Keds arrived today! I love them. I especially love that they were
on sale! I love the plaid and the shocks of bright pink. yea!

celebrating a great first day of school

2009-07-06T15:50:00.001-07:00

Klunker's is a great place to go to celebrate a fabulous first day!

watching the parade

2009-07-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Wedge and Irene

2009-07-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

best friends

2009-07-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

AWESOME!

2009-07-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

my reward!

2009-06-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

Irene enjoys her ice cream cone

2009-06-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

Rhys is SIX! gasp!

2009-06-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

emergency giant doughnut

2009-06-26T09:15:00.001-07:00

now THAT is a doughnut!!

2009-06-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

black light frisbee

2009-06-25T17:30:00.001-07:00

at cub scout camp

2009-06-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

waiting for his turn to use the laser gun.

tie fighter cookies

2009-06-16T14:31:00.001-07:00

to celebrate Rhys' birthday before school ends.

yea me :)

2009-05-29T20:45:00.001-07:00

it's hard to read, but I received a Girl Scout Award from our service
unit tonight. It is the Valued Volunteer Award *beam*

overwhelm? anxious?

2009-05-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to explain it (and we'll just pass over the elephant in the room - you know, the one where people wonder why i haven't been updating this with any kind of regularity), but every once in a while, I just feel anxious and overwhelmed. Like I'm forgetting something of vital importance.

Part of this could be that I'm meeting with the principal today. Part of it could be that I'm frustrated with some girl scout stuff having to do with my troop. I also have financials due soon and i'd give my right arm for a treasurer. I don't enjoy using other people's money and making sure that I know where it all goes/went and being accountable for it.

The school stuff is frustrating. Irene and Rhys have been retracked. I didn't want them retracked. I was happy knowing our schedule. It's now changed. The only good part of it is that Rhys might have Irene's first grade teacher. That's really all that will make it okay. I need to think of what to say to the principal. I feel like I help the school quite a bit in the ways I am able. I volunteer in the classrooms, I can sub almost always at a moment's notice (since both kids go there, it's easier than when I have to go to a different school), I volunteer for PTO things, I do my best to be supportive of the teachers. And, because I don't LIKE being the squeaky wheel, I feel like my kids got ewed-scray.

I'm trying to keep it together and just don't like this fast heartbeat slightly queasy feeling.

sprintyfast sleeping

2009-04-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

orange inspiration

2009-04-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

with nachos from Jaye :)

crazimus!

2009-04-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

A Black Easter Egg for Sensei

2009-04-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

I like the reflection in this.
happy Easter!

this is what happens when the car is cozy

2009-04-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

ready for our night out.

2009-03-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

cool model fun at the library

2009-03-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

"it's from the late cretacious period. so it IS a t-Rex"
it was fun putting it together.

Missing Pat

2009-03-02T20:11:00.001-08:00

It's funny when it hits me. Tonight it was when I opened up my browser and there was a picture of her. The picture was taken after her first fight with ovarian cancer seemed like it was over. Her hair had grown back and she had the slick new doo - I loved it. Anyway, I saw the picture and a wave of missing Pat came over me.

We didn't always see eye to eye, Pat and I. But I know she loved me very much - as I did (do) her. I was, what she called, "her nother daughter." I am almost always wearing the necklace she gave me after Rhys was born. It's actually Bob's baby ring. Bob's mother gave it to Pat when Rob was born. She almost always had it on - from the time I met her until she gave it to me. Here I am at Disneyland with a wee bitty Rhysie and the necklace from Pat.

I have a special ring that was hers as well. I need to get it resized so that it fits me a bit better because I'd like to wear it more often.It's the green ring. This picture is from our trip to Disneyland in November 2006. It was a good trip. Anyway, I'm just missing her and thought I'd write it down.

Cool little video

2009-02-26T12:42:00.001-08:00

My brother works for The Press Enterprise in San Bernadino County. He edited this for the PE's online paper - it is a nice story - especially in these times when there is so much negativity in the news.

West Zone | Video On Demand | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern Californi

let me know, please, if the link doesn't work.

one potholder made.

2009-02-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

muahahahahah
now I have to figure out how to finish it off.

about 5" in Fairfield

2009-01-31T12:05:00.000-08:00

progress...

2009-01-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

questions questions questions (a meme)

2009-01-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

there will be more that I put up here - lots of folks are doing the meme thing on facebook. I figured I'd do it here too b/c not everyone is on FB.

1. Where is your cell phone? in my pocket
2. Your significant other? Rob
3. Your hair? dark brown
4. Your favorite thing? er...vacations with my whole family.
5. Your dream last night? dream? dude, I was so tired i just slept and slept and slept
6. Your favorite drink? in the nonalcoholic category? root beer - the real deal, no caffeine added
7. Your dream/goal? i have several. The first is to run/walk the Honolulu marathon with Jolie and Ted this year. Farther down the line? getting my teaching credential and masters in 0-5 special ed. what I think about most dream? moving back to the North Bay - maybe Rob could telecommute...IGT really is a great company.
8. What room you are in? the living room
9. Your hobby? quilting, though I don't get to do it nearly as much as I'd like
10. Your fear? something happening to my kids or husband.
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? working in one of the developmental preschool classes OR working directly with parents and special needs children focusing probably on deaf kids.
12. Where were you last night? in bed. sorry it wasn't anything more exciting, but it was a tuesday. who am i kidding. it's rarely someplace more exciting than in bed.
13. Muffins? as long as there is no fruit in them, i like 'em. actually, i like banana muffins if there are no nuts. god, no wonder Rob thinks of me as Sally from When Harry Met Sally
14. Wish list item? just one? Oprah sending someone to help me organize my house so that there isn't so much clutter and giving me some ideas on how to keep it very kid friendly (I love all their art on my walls!) but clear of things on the floor or on other flat surfaces.
15. Where you grew up? most of the first 15 years in Riverside and Redlands with time in Oakland too, the next 19 in the Bay Area.
16. Last thing you did? sang a few songs with Rhys on Rock Band
17. What are you wearing? cuddle duds under, a brown v-neck that I love, jeans, and a pair of socks.
18. Your TV? Vizio. I'm fine with whatever and while it's nice (especially for Rock Band and movies, I was just as fine with our little 12" TV from when Rob and I first moved in together.
19. Your pets? Just Cleo. Merced died 1 1/2 years ago now. We still miss him, but he's in our backyard making our plants happy.
20. Friends? are the family we choose and I'm lucky to have some amazing friends - a few I've never even met in person (though we have video chatted)
21. Your life? In many aspects it is good. I have a husband who loves me and is an amazing person and father. He makes me happy every day in some way - whether it's the kiss when he gets home, smiling at me in that special way, or doing something with the kids. I have 2 children who, while occasionally make me crazy, I love without limits. I try to let them know it many times per day.
22. Your mood? happy but with another damned headache
23. Missing some one? yes. more than one someone. My MIL and my gramma both died last year. I miss them both. I love it though, when I come across something that was from them as I do things throughout the day - sometimes it's a note my gramma wrote to me, or using my MIL's crochet hook.
24. Car? I usually drive my almost 12 year old RAV4. Rob mostly drives his Prius (but I got to do my big 4Kplus drive with the kids this summer in the Prius.
25. Something you're not wearing? panties. hahahahah! i am kidding! i don't know - i'm not wearing LOTS of things. what a silly question.
26. Your favorite store? Etsy
27. Your favorite color? it often changes. to wear, probably deep crimson or deep browns, or deep greens.
28. When is the last time you laughed? about an hour ago when Rhys and I were outside.
29. Last time you cried? a few days ago when I was talking to my cousin, I got teary.
30. Who will send this? i don't know. I don't tend to "TAG" people, though on the last note, as people tagged me, i'd add them as a tag so they'd see I'd done it.
31. One place that I go to over and over? besides the kids' school? the Bay Area
32. One person who emails me regularly? like every day? probably all the spammers promising to enlarge my penis. Rob's family is really great about sending out weekly updates. They are fun to read.
33. Favorite place to eat? when? Black Rock Pizza. Unless I'm in Redlands. Then I'd have to go with my Gramma's. Moni's rice, Gramma's beans, homemade enchiladas, and if I ever happen to be there at the right time, nopales!
34. What are you doing tonight? hmm, it's wednesday, which is one of our dessert nights. so, I'll make some dinner, hopefully the kids will enjoy it and get dessert. Tonight is my night to read to Rhys, so we'll read some Wind in the Willows, I'll tell him our ritual "I love you" R: I love you too, mama. "Have good sleeps!" R: have good sleeps too. and then, if I haven't said "See you in 5 minutes" fast enough, he'll say "See me in 5 minutes, mama!" Then I will head downstairs, play on FB or some such thing and watch LOST.

shadow fun

2009-01-27T16:35:00.000-08:00

what chocolate?

2009-01-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

ready for the cocktail party

2009-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

3 busy boys slowing down for ice cream

2009-01-23T19:06:00.000-08:00

What a day!

2009-01-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Just some of my thoughts as I watched the 44th president of the United States get sworn in...

I'm watching the inauguration with tears of joy streaming down my face. A feeling of profound pride and joy and hope in my heart. I am enjoying watching that same feeling projected through the eyes of all the people in washington and around the United States. Watching the musical performances (I'll need to remember to tell Rhys that it was John Williams who composed the music peformed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill) and the joy in their faces as they played and enjoyed the moment and beamed, the joyous dancing by the people, President Obama's girlies dancing their little dances of happiness - it's just huge. Huge in ways that I can't even put to words. I feel a pride I've not felt in a long time.

I love the way President Obama and our new first lady walk together - holding hands, walking with purpose, stopping to say hello, sharing *their* joy with their girls.

I know that not everyone shares my joy - but I hope that they too will feel some of the hope I feel. President Obama has a hard road and I am ready to get my hands dirty (always have been).

Looking Forward to Tomorrow

2009-01-19T22:27:00.000-08:00

That's what I'm feeling right now - Hope!

and, because it's a special day for two other people not becoming president tomorrow, but still, very special, I'd like to wish Jaye and my nephew, Jake, VERY VERY happy birthdays! Pretty cool to have a day of celebration on a day when so many people will be celebrating.

good sleeps

2009-01-16T22:38:00.000-08:00

we two

2009-01-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

sacked out

2009-01-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

trying

2009-01-09T17:03:00.001-08:00

silly kisses

2009-01-09T17:01:00.001-08:00

Clearly Insane

2009-01-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

My sister, Jolie, asked me on Sunday, if, perhaps, I'd like to noodle over the idea of running/walking/bothing the Honolulu Marathon with her in December (december 13th in fact). So, I noodled it over and decided, what the heck.

We are going to re-evaluate in the summer - look at finances, where we are in our training, etc. But, as of right now, I'm saying we're doing it. And my brother, Ted, might do it as well!! Our kids and spouses and whomever else might want to come along will be our cheering crew and cheer us at multiple places on the course. There is no time limit. There is no rule that says we must run the whole thing. So -- it will be done!

Wish me luck!!

dad is great!

2009-01-02T09:06:00.001-08:00

Rob made the ultimate sacrifice...he made cinnamon rolls for all of us
for baking this morning...but he had to go to work.
boy! do I love that man of mine!!!

all nicely risen

2009-01-02T08:35:00.001-08:00

A Rhys in a pile of presents

2008-12-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

Santa ROCKS!!!!

2008-12-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

Irene's picture for Santa

2008-12-24T13:42:00.001-08:00

Rhys' picture for Santa

2008-12-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

keeps on falling

2008-12-23T02:45:00.001-08:00

The Klunker

2008-12-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

too cute!

2008-12-22T09:55:00.001-08:00

thank you for the very sweet accessories!! Irene loves them!!

opening present from the Denver McRaes

2008-12-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

yea!!!

Irene opens some fairies

2008-12-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

from Nana, Sensei, and Jalen

Ardent Peace

Is it Wednesday already?

Lost and Found and Humble Thanks!

weight & health & ramblings

Books read, reading, and to read

A goal or two

Update

Long time no post

2011 - the year in pictures!

Irene in the snow fort

cool snow fort

warm in the snow

California State Park Junior Rangers

last bit at the beach

Rhys standing on a rock

today at Donner Lake

Nana working her magic

side heart for Jennie

Nana had the brilliant idea

It was!

cooking dogs in croissants

very cheeky golden mantled ground squirrel

Irene's new helmet

Irene in new bandana

Rhys in new survival bandana

Rhys found a pocket knife

Found heart

all

yoda

darth vader

Book Arts Bash Thank yous!!! (TAKE TWO!)

Irene's paper of persuasion.

page 2

for my reader

a letter to the fairies

a letter to the fairies

Missing some of my loved ones

micro cache at Galena

bug hunt

I'm not dead yet!

Tristan's Amazing Giveaway!

The Twilight books

Junebug

so pretty

GUESS Homeschool Science Fair!

September 11, 2009

good sleeps on his new mattress

something making me happy right now.

celebrating a great first day of school

watching the parade

Wedge and Irene

best friends

AWESOME!

my reward!

Irene enjoys her ice cream cone

Rhys is SIX! *gasp!*

emergency giant doughnut

now THAT is a doughnut!!

black light frisbee

at cub scout camp

tie fighter cookies

yea me :)

overwhelm? anxious?

sprintyfast sleeping

orange inspiration

crazimus!

A Black Easter Egg for Sensei

this is what happens when the car is cozy

ready for our night out.

cool model fun at the library

Missing Pat

Cool little video

one potholder made.

about 5" in Fairfield

progress...

questions questions questions (a meme)

shadow fun

what chocolate?

ready for the cocktail party

3 busy boys slowing down for ice cream

Rhys is SIX! gasp!