God is Good

This afternoon P and I were in the yard, getting fresh air even though he's sick. I looked up and saw that the clouds looked weird. Then P started coughing more than he had been. I looked up again and ash was falling from the sky, smoke filling our nose. I got us inside just in time to answer the phone, hearing a message that asked residents south of the road to evacuate. I didn't know if that was us or not but I figured out what was important to take and started loading up the car anyway. Then our power went out and another fire started. At that point we could see 2 fires (the smoke from them) and lots of dry lightning while sitting at our dining room table. I called my parents to ask them to pray and said a quick prayer with P. Then I went back to put another load in the car, with P hot on my heels. The wind had picked up so I tried to get P out of the way but the door smacked him right in the middle of his back, throwing him forward. When I picked him up to comfort him he threw up on me, on himself and on the carpet. Without power we had no hot water to get cleaned off properly so I gave us both a sponge bath. While all of this was going on, Rob was stuck at the bottom of the hill because the fire was along the road. The police officer told him there was no access into our development so he was not happy to say the least. After a couple hours of being powerless and watching smoke with a sick toddler all seemed to come to a halt. The smoke cleared, the power came on and we heard Rob's truck in the driveway. Although we are not completely out of the clear I feel confident in saying we're safe for tonight. Thank you to all that prayed and offered help. It's been a crazy afternoon, one that I'm glad is over, and I have no doubt that I'll sleep good tonight!

Summer Storm

I love, love, love Summer storms! I love the thunder and lightning. I love when the power goes out and all is calm within the house. I love how everything smells so fresh afterwards. So last night I thoroughly enjoyed the storm that met all of the above criteria for a great storm! Here are some pictures from the night.....

Hard Week

I started back to work this week. Every day this week has seemed like a long day, especially the first three because of a dumb assessment symposium I had to attend. Not only has it been long for me but it's been long for Rob and P as well. Rob is waking up at 4:30, working 10 hours, picking up P from daycare then coming home and doing things around the house to help me. P is the one having the most difficult time with this week. It breaks my heart when he asks to cuddle and watch Thomas with me after breakfast and I have to tell him no because we don't have enough time. He has cried every day I've dropped him off, today being the worst. Tonight when I put him to bed he just cried and cried. So I picked him up out of his bed and sat in the rocker with him for awhile. He was more than happy to let me hold him and tell me about his day. I'm glad I got that time with him because missing him has been the hardest part about the week. I would like to say that I only have to work tomorrow and then I have the weekend with my boys but I fear that I'll be working a lot this weekend to get ready for the first day of school. But come Tuesday morning you will be able to find me in my recliner with a cup of coffee, holding the cutest toddler in the world, watching Thomas the Train.

Back to Reality

This morning reality set in when my alarm went off early. Today I had to go back to the working world. That reality was hard enough but it made it even more difficult after such a fun weekend with my boys. Saturday morning Rob called and suggested we go support a friend at the Truckee rodeo.

We also decided to make it a spur of the moment mini vacation by staying overnight. The rodeo and hotel were nothing to write home about, so to speak. But the memories were priceless and enough to last a lifetime! When we got to the hotel P and Rob decided to take advantage of the heart shaped jacuzzi. Rob got P to like the jacuzzi bubbles after several attempts, all ending with P yelling, "No bubbles Daddy!". Finally, "No!" turned to "More please!". Although P and I didn't sleep well that night that didn't stop us from enjoying the morning once the sun made its appearance. We had the hotel's continental breakfast then walked along the marina to look at the boats. We also looked for trout and fed ducks.

Then we found a small, hidden treasure....a train museum in Truckee. P played with the Thomas trains/track for awhile but we had to leave to get to church. We then had to leave church early to go to a birthday party for one of P's little friends. After a super busy morning and little sleep the night before P took a long afternoon nap. Once he woke up and we had had dinner we finished the fun filled day by talking a mother/son walk around the neighborhood with the dogs. So, as you can see, this great weekend made it that much harder to go back to the working world this morning.

Perfect Way to End....

My new favorite song is by Brad Paisley, "Love Her Like She's Leaving". It talks about cherishing your wife and spoiling her every day. Well, that's what the past 2 days have been like for me. Last night, after starting my day with a sweet note, Rob brought me home gorgeous flowers just because. It was a perfect way to end the day.
This morning I woke up in a great mood, knowing today would be the perfect way to end the Summer vacation. I packed a bag and lunch for me and P then headed to the lake to meet up with a good friend and her two kids. We spent the morning catching up, playing in the sand, rafting and enjoying a picnic. P was so tired that he fell asleep on the way home and proceeded to take a 3 hour nap!

When he woke up I quickly gave him a bath to wash off all the sand. Then we went down the hill to start our next adventure...miniature golf. He is obsessed with me and Rob playing golf, talking about it daily. So we thought it'd be fun to go play putt putt as a family. It was!! Rob and I laughed so hard at P because he'd start whenever he wanted on the green and 99% of the time he would pick his ball up to throw it the rest of the way or drop it next to the hole. He is not a patient golfer but he sure gives each "whack" his best! He loved golf so much that he just came out to tell me, "Mommy, Daddy golf. Good job!" (Gotta love the freedoms of a Big Boy bed and being up past bedtime!)

Today was absolutely perfect! I know that it was a sacrifice of love for Rob to make tonight special after the crazy day he had at work and the pain he endured with his arm. But, between friends and my boys, I couldn't ask for a better way to end my Summer vacation!

Last Day

Tomorrow is my last day of Summer vacation. I can't believe how fast the time flew by! At the beginning of the Summer I was worried that I'd get bored with 7 weeks off from work. But 7 weeks later our house isn't incredibly clean. In fact, it may be dirtier than before. I didn't go on any vacations other than a day away here and there. I didn't see any more friends than I normally would've seen. I didn't get any big house projects done. Nor do I have a nice tan (other than my arms) from laying out, sunning myself. I didn't catch up on a lot of books that I've wanted to read. After my race I didn't even really run much. There are a lot of things I didn't do but there is one thing I did do....I HAD FUN!
I also learned something this Summer. I learned that I can do things by myself and be ok with it. A few years ago I would've been mortified if you would've told me I'd go to lunch by myself or ponder going to the movies by myself (which I never did this Summer). Although it's not my preferred method of doing things, I've learned I can be ok doing things by myself. I've also come to the realization that P is fun company. He makes me see things in a new, often fun, way.
On top of being bummed that it's my last day of vacation, I'm very nervous about this upcoming school year. Last year I had found a match made in heaven at my school. As a newbie, I had never felt so welcome. I loved all the kids and only called in sick if I had no other option with P. But a lot of the teachers struggled with the new principal and consequently transferred to other schools this Summer. Rumor has it that the class coming up is difficult and that has me worried because shared contract teachers typically get the "problem kids". I have no issues with difficult kids but a classroom full of them on a daily basis gets to be overwhelming. We only have 2 days to get ready for the school year (a process that usually takes 2 weeks minimum!) and we got an email saying that we probably have to move rooms. To top it off, a schoolwide parent vote mandated uniforms beginning this year. I am not a fan of school uniforms for SOOO many reasons so that in and of itself would cause me not to look forward to the year. On the bright side, I LOVE my teaching partner and only work a few days each week so almost anything is bearable when you look at it that way.
Time to call it a night so we can enjoy our last day of Summer vacation at the lake with friends. G'Night and enjoy your Friday, whatever you may be doing.

Big Boy Bed

Last night we took another gigantic step closer to boyhood and away from babyhood. We converted P's crib into a toddler bed. Usually I like assembling/disassembling things but last night was kinda crazy. The directions weren't very clear so we had to switch it up a couple times and even had to use a hacksaw to get rid of one of the bolts after deciding the railing wasn't secure enough. After it was all said and done it still looked very similar to his crib did but it's a transition....more for mommy than P.
He was so excited about his new bed and his Thomas bedding that he spent most of the night playing on his bed. He kept asking me to cover him up and then he'd pretend he was asleep. He'd run out of his room and then run back in, yelling "Thomas!" as he pointed to his bed. He closed the door several times and when I'd go check on him he'd be sitting on his bed with a grin ear to ear.
I thought bed time would be hard but it wasn't in the least. Rob checked on him about 45 mins after we'd put him down. He said that P was just sitting on his bed, looking around. I feared I wouldn't sleep and worry all night. But my back and neck were hurting and the half of a muscle relaxer I took knocked me out. The first thing I did this morning when I woke up, however, was snuck out to check on him. He was curled up in his bed sound asleep. Ah, our lil baby is growing up way too fast! The next hurdle to overcome....potty training!

Terrific Twos!

Wow, two blogs in one day?? It's your lucky day...ha! I've been meaning to blog about P for a few days but get easily sidetracked every time I sit down at the computer. Anyway, I just wanted to brag for a few minutes about how blessed we are to have such a smart and witty 2 year old. It amazes me that 2 years ago we were dealing with a super sick newborn, wondering what his future held. Fast forward 2 years and I can personally tell you that God provided miracle after miracle in making him as perfect as one can get. He continues to amaze us on a daily basis with how smart and funny he is. His vocabulary continues to expand and he has a memory like an elephant (something I'm jealous of).
Our poor lil guy has strep and a stomach virus that's going around so he hasn't been himself the past 24 hours. But, even when feeling punk, he's still on his game. At the doctor's office today he was on the climbing area. When he decided to jump down he proudly- and loudly- counted, "2..3..6..5..GO!". Everyone in the waiting room that was above 3 feet tall laughed. That got him going so he continued to show off until we were called back.
If you read our blog you are aware that P's most favorite thing in the world is Thomas the Train. He is starting to sing the theme song and has a favorite video, "Splish Splash Splosh". In the video Thomas and his buddy, Rosie, have fun going through water puddles, getting other trains and people wet. On the way to the pharmacy to get his prescription he asked for my water bottle. When I gave it to him- with minimal water in it-he tried to put his Thomas and Rosie toy in the water bottle. When they wouldn't fit in the small opening he proceeded to pour water over Thomas and Rosie, proudly saying, "Splish Splash. Thomas, Rosie bath". I was laughing so hard I thought I'd need to pull over.
The wonderful thing is that he constantly makes us laugh! They say laughing is good for the soul so being around him is definitely good for MY soul! We are aware that we are blessed to have such a wonderful two year old son, one that makes us laugh and entertains us every day. Thank you Lord!

Travel Bug

I realized with a start that my Summer vacation officially comes to an end Sunday. Next week will be grueling with 3 days of assessment training (Just shoot me now!) and 2 days of frazzled prep to get ready for the new school year. I'm nervous about the new year with all the changes that have taken place the past few weeks but that's another blog for another time. Back to what I started out saying....my Summer vacation is almost over and, although it's been fun, I haven't done anything HUGE! I haven't done any big projects around the house nor have I taken any fun trips. It feels as if my life is a perpetual cycle of cleaning, errands and being a mom. I love those aspects of my life but feel as if something is missing. While P napped today (He's sick and has been sleeping a lot the past couple days) I've reflected on the past 4 years. Rob and I used to travel a few times a year, aside from seeing family, and do a lot around town. Since P turned one it's the first year that Rob and I haven't taken any trips other than to see family and we rarely do anything. So it's no wonder I feel as if something is missing. P is at the age that he takes everything in and enjoys life so it'd be fun to do something new with him...a trip to the coast or to the many attractions in SF or a local ball game or miniature golf (That's be funny!) or ANYTHING! I want to get the "heck out of dodge" so to speak and go on a trip to somewhere new before the year is over. This rut is driving me crazy, making me claustrophobic. So, hopefully with the official end of my Summer vacation, will come a chance for a real vacation because I'm dying to go on one!

Vacation No Go

Don't you just hate it when a plan doesn't work out? P and I were supposed to be in the Bay Area right this very minute. I was really looking forward to getting away and visiting a new place, exploring with my favorite little man. On Wednesday we took off, heading West. The plan was to stay at my parents' overnight then make the rest of the trip yesterday, staying until Saturday. But Wednesday P woke up not feeling 100%. By the time we got to my parents' he had a fever. Then yesterday he threw up. I was beyond bummed to realize we wouldn't be completing our trip as planned. I did spend a fun morning with P at Fairy Tale Town, a toddler's dream place. He had fun running, climbing, playing. He also enjoyed feeding the ducks next to the park. Although we didn't get to go to Discovery Museum and the SF Zoo we still had fun on a mini vacation. And I'll look forward to our real vacation in the future!

Mountain Morning

Once the sun came up I woke up, curled up in the covers, slightly chilled by the morning breeze. I laid there, listening to the birds outside and enjoyed the noises floating in from the open window in our room. Once I got up I had a little sore throat and was congested. But, as ironic as it sounds, I knew if I got outside and got some fresh air in my system I'd feel better. Once Rob woke up I got my running stuff on, grabbed Ruby and my iPod and headed out. As I listened to praise music, I watched the morning mountain life. Squirrels and bunnies ran in front of me, darting back and forth to the trees and bushes. Birds took flight overhead, singing their songs. Butterflies danced around me. Mustangs grazed in the distance. The sun was high in the sky but not too high to make it outright hot. The air was thin but not so thin as to make it hard to breathe. It was a PERFECT morning for a run! Back when I started training for my half marathon, I had struggled with the course I ran today. This morning I could've run it if I had pushed myself but I was enjoying God's beauty so much that I didn't want to make the run miserable. I definitely wouldn't have won any races but I ran at a pace that allowed me to take it all in. After my morning run with Ruby I knew it was going to be a great day with my guys and I was right. I'm so thankful that I get the chance to start my mornings with a gorgeous mountain run once in awhile.

Some Days You Win.....

and some you don't. Yesterday P had a great day! We went swimming for an hour or two in the morning with his friends then played outside after his long nap. He laughed a lot and thoroughly enjoyed life. Today has not been like that. It started with him crying hysterically when he first woke up. When I asked him what was wrong he said, "Hurt". He's good at communicating for a 2 year old but there's still a lot he can't tell us. At times, like this morning, the communication barrier causes frustration. When I asked what hurt he said his head, but had his hand on his little butt. When I asked again to clarify he said his knee but held out his hand. So, after inspecting his body, I came to the conclusion that it all hurt based on what he told me. He had a hard time eating his waffle and even asked to turn Thomas off at one point....both are sure signs something is off in his little world. Since he's not running a fever I decided to go to his make-up gymnastics class and his first swim lesson. At gymnastics he did GREAT! He followed directions, did a "bear crawl" on the bars and really did well on the trampoline. On the way out to the car he peed all over himself and me (gotta love swim diapers!). That should've been a clue as to what was coming! Swim lessons were a nightmare. He cried from the moment he saw the pool. After 5 minutes I decided not to fight it and took him out. Normally I would persevere but my "mommy instincts" were telling me something was not right. On the way home he fell asleep and he actually let me carry him from the car to his crib and lay him down without fussing. He asked for his blanket, llama and cow then curled up in the fetal position and just laid there. I checked on him about 10 minutes ago and he was just laying there, not asleep but looking relaxed. I hope our little man feels better soon because I don't like days like this. :(

~Patriotic Pride~

One thing I learned during the 30 Day Photo Challenge is that I LOVE taking pictures of flags. I love what they represent, how they look no matter the backdrop and how they are beautiful whether flying proud or hanging still. So, today, on my way to one of my favorite places on Earth I was going to take a picture of beautiful Lake Tahoe. Instead all the flags grabbed my attention. I don't know if it's because it was just the 4th of July or because the small town is patriotic but I loved seeing flags on most businesses and homes. It brought a tear to my eyes to see so much patriotic pride. I thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful lakefront lunch with a good friend and was going to take pictures of the lake on my way back home but I ran out of time. So here are the pictures I took today, after a great time at one of my favorite places.

Friends

Growing up, my favorite song was a friendship song by a christian artist. It talked about nurturing friendships that will last a lifetime. Once I make a friend, I do what I can to maintain that friendship. After going for a walk with a friend yesterday, I got to thinking about my friendships in life. Most of my friends I've known for at least 10 years. Some I've known all my life. Although my friends and I are busy with our own lives and schedules, when we do see each other, we pick up exactly where we left off. That's why I'm glad the busyness of June is over and I have time to meet up with friends for the rest of my break. I thought I'd get bored with 7 weeks off but that can't be further from the truth. Now that all the big events are behind me for the Summer, I have time to get projects done around the house and spend time with friends. In fact, I get to enjoy a beautiful walk in the Sierras with a friend of mine today. All this friend time is good for the soul and I'm blessed to have such great girlfriends in my life!

Happy Independence Day!

(I didn't take this picture but wish I had. Love it!)

For several years today has been my favorite holiday. I think it's because the 4th of July is one of the few holidays that is the same as it was over 200 years ago. It's about celebrating freedom. It's about time with family and friends. It's about the more simple things that Hallmark hasn't gotten ahold of yet. I enjoy all things 4th of July! My favorite part of the 4th is the fireworks, hands down. The only bummer part about having P so close to the 4th is that I've missed fireworks the past 2 years. So I'm excited to say that I will get to see them tonight if all goes as planned. This morning Rob, P and I went to watch the local parade. It was during P's naptime so he didn't make it the whole time. But he's been sleeping for almost 3 hours, which I'm hoping ensures fireworks watching tonight with our good friends. Whether you're staying at home or spending time with friends and family, hiding from fireworks or enjoying them, I hope you take time to thank God for the freedoms you are able to enjoy and by all means please thank a soldier for serving for our country!

2 Years Ago Today.....

2 years ago at this very moment I had just been checked into the hospital....for the 3rd time due to contractions. But I knew without a shadow of a doubt that today was the day that we'd welcome our lil man into the world. At 3:57 on July 3rd we did just that. He was perfect coming out and is not too far from it 2 years later. P is a miracle child in every way possible, from beginning until now. He has defied odds and is one happy, healthy, smart toddler today. God knew the perfect child for us when he created P in my womb and I'll be forever thankful for that. He can make me laugh at the drop of the hat, has a memory like an elephant and learns things way too fast. P is my world and there is nothing I wouldn't do for him. He makes my heart swell with pride and the sweetest thing to my ears is hearing the word "Mommy" come from his lips. That is a title that I take seriously because it's the best and biggest job I've ever held. I want to make every moment in his life special, knowing that when he's an adult he's had the best life I can possibly provide for him. Time is going by way too fast though and I want it to slow down even if just a little bit. Just yesterday I was holding him in my arms for the first time and now he's so independent. He brings me joy beyond belief and I thank God daily for blessing us with such a sweet, happy, energetic, HEALTHY boy!

Birthday Fun

Birthdays have always been a big deal to me and my family. Even as an adult, Rob teases me about making my birthday celebrations last an entire week. But I love it and, although he's only turning 2, I want P to love his birthdays the way I do. So yesterday we started the birthday fun celebration. It's one of those days that I wish I could've captured in a bottle to last a lifetime. We started our day the usual way with coffee/cuddle/Thomas time. I had a lot on my agenda to get ready for his party but realized that in a couple years he won't want to have morning cuddle time. So I dropped what I was doing and cherished the moments we sat together, watching Thomas. After we had adequate time together I thought I had talked him into going swimming. Last Summer he was a little fish but this Summer he's not into pools. Either way I was excited to swim. But when we got down the hill to run one errand he really wanted to go to the park. Although it wasn't my first choice, we had a lot of fun going down the slides together and climbing structures. He was one pooped puppy but after a super long nap he was ready to go again. We were waiting for my parents to get to town so we just played in the yard. He kept going to the neighbors' to see their horse. Then he and Ruby (our dog) got into a water "fight". Both of them were drenched and P was laughing hysterically. I'm so glad I had a camera with me to capture it on film because it's one of those moments I want to cherish forever. We ended the day with a BBQ feast and angel food cake. P got to open one early birthday present from our neighbors, which he played with until he went to bed. It was such a fun day and I'm looking to celebrating him and what a miracle he's been all weekend long!