Family, food, fun, and fireworks!

We had a Forth of July staycation this year!  Rick's brother and his daughter came to town to visit.  It has been a long time since we have had the time to enjoy this beautiful place we live!  But this last weekend, we took full advantage of some free time and hit the town!

We have never walked the Golden Gate Bridge.  And, I still haven't!  But I dropped the gang off at one end and drove to the other and waited!

They made it across and were glad that now they can say they have walked the bridge.

After the bridge experience we went to Fisherman's Warf and Pier 39.  

Emi got to experience In and Out for the first time.  

Emi really wanted to go to the Zoo.  It was a perfect activity since we hadn't been to the Zoo 

since we moved from Seattle.  

This picture is just to prove I was actually a part of the weekend!

What would the 4th be without Baseball?  Well, we compromised since it is virtually impossible to get tickets to the Giants' games these day!  The A's were playing the Mariners.  It was a fun time and we had plenty of seats to ourselves!

The boys put on quite the show between inning!

I failed to mention that it was HOT!!!  So there was plenty of swimming and water 

basketball in between activities!

It was a wonderful weekend!!!

Promotion.....Let's Talk When You Graduate from College

Back in the day when it was time to move from preschool to elementary school, or junior high to high school, it just kind of  happened without much fan fair.  It was sort of an expected passage.  Somehow these milestones have evolved to grandiose events requiring fancy new dresses, mani/pedis, pretty shoes, hairdos, and gifts of recognition.  Now, if you know me, you know I am all about a reason to celebrate!  But, at the risk of sounding cynical, I am perplexed at what we are celebrating.  I say, talk to me when you graduate from college!  That will be something to celebrate!

Regardless, K did look gorgeous in her fancy new dress and very high heals!  I can't quite say that my motherly cup of pride overfloweth because she "graduated" from 8th grade, but it does because of the lovely young women she is becoming both inside and out.  Truth is, maybe I am just bitter that I am old enough to have a high schooler!

Broken Bones/Broken Hearts

So, once again I am behind on my blog.  I don't know that many people read this, but Rick did send me an email last week telling me it was time to update.  So, for those of you that might be paying attention, or if nothing else, for posterity sake, here goes.....

After 14 years of crazy rambunctious kids, we have our first broken bone :(  

Due to an unusual late Spring downpour the first weekend in June, baseball tournaments were canceled for the day.  During a momentary break in the weather, the boys and Poppy headed out to catch some fly balls to get some pent up energy out.  Well, one thing led to another, and a broken left radius and 6-7 weeks in a cast was the result.

There really isn't a good time of year for a broken arm, especially when you play baseball all year!  But, no time could be worse than the weekend before school gets out for the Summer!  

Last week he was able to upgrade to a short arm cast.  He was hoping no one would notice..... (!!)

I feel lucky as a mom that up until this point I have never had to witness one of my children in such pain.  My heart broke for him.  I have never seen his face so pale.  It is a little disconcerting to watch your 9 year old slowly loose consciousness while going under with the help of anesthesia.  I guess that was better than the alternative of him screaming bloody murder while the Orthopedic Surgeon tried to realign the bone.

Selfishly I was also sad to think that he was out for the rest of his season and I wouldn't get to watch the little guy on the mound.  He also has to miss baseball camp.

Like in most situations, there is always a silver lining, and in this one, we have to be grateful that it is his left arm and not his right!  And the doctor assures us he will be able to swing a bat in time for Fall Ball!

A Room With A View

We decided a few months ago that it has been WAY too long since we have gotten away together, just us, no kids.  We have done a fair amount of traveling, but either with our kids or friends.  It was time!

Due to Rick's school schedule and lack of much vacation time, we decided we didn't need to go far or for long.  So we booked a room at Half Moon Bay and headed to the coast for 2 nights.  It was wonderful to reconnect and just be together!

This was the view from our room!

Not too shabby!

Thanks to those that gave us the hotel suggestion!  It was amazing!  If anyone needs a weekend getaway, I highly recommend the Ritz at Half Moon Bay!

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HalfMoonBay/Default.htm

Girls' Staycation

My boys went to Seattle for Spring Break to go to Basketball Camp at PRO and get some skiing in with Poppy.  I decided that it was a perfect opportunity to get my Seattle Girls to Cali to enjoy some sun and relaxation.  All it took was one quick text and they organized and made it happen!  (Thanks Bec!)

We had a fantastic time and the weather totally cooperated!  Of course I wish I had
more pics, but once again, I am a slacker!  

We shopped, slept, laid out, hung out, worked out, caught up, and ate good food!

We got a hike in, followed by some lunges and arm dips!

I was there but was behind the camera!

Some of my D'ville friends joined us!!

It was a perfect 3 days, besides the fact that it went way too fast!!

Lastest and Greatest

So I have been getting some flack for my lack of blogging.  So here goes.....

What have we been up to?  BASEBALL, of course!  What else?  

In March we even went all the way to Arizona so G could play with his team in a tournament (via Newport Beach and Palm Springs, where we got to spend some much needed catch up time with the Ingersolls!)

The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed getting to spend time with the team, friends, and family!  We got to spend lots of time with the Dressers (no pics though!)  Rick's parents came too and we enjoyed lots of family time with them!

Had to document the love!!!

I wish that we had taken some pictures of the awesome water park that was

 part of the hotel we stayed at.  

We were able to hit a few Spring Training Games but, of course, not pics of that either!

At the end of a great week, Rick took the kids and headed home.  I stayed and spend some more time with Hilary and her cute kids and then a couple of days with my college roomie, Rachel!

And that is what we have been up to!

CHRISTMAS 2010

I was planning on being so good and taking lots of great photos so that I could write an awesome Christmas Blog!  Unfortunately, life was just too busy and the Season past too fast!  I will work with what I have!

I love Christmas time!  The lights, decorations, presents, magic in the air, and the opportunity we have to reflect on the "Reason for the Season," the birth of the Savior.

I tend to start decorating much earlier than most!  Due to my one week a year job that occurs the first week of December, if I don't get things up before Thanksgiving, it would not get done.  I wish I had some photos of the lights on the outside of my house!  They looked great this year, thanks to my neighbor who was willing to get on my very highest roof for me!  Next year I will make sure to get a picture, although that would mean I either have to convince Rick or him to do it again!

Here are just a few pics of the inside of the house.

The Christmas Village I inherited from my sweet Grandma Ruth!

My mom made each of those stockings by hand!

With Rick back in DC until the 19th of December, the festivities this Season were much more minimal than years past.  I couldn't handle the thought of not having a Christmas Party at our house.  So we threw together a fun Christmas Eve with friends!

  

The kids had been swimming so some were topless!

We did fondue, played games, hot tubed/swam, and decorated Ginger Bread Houses!  It was a fun night!

The kids all slept in the boys room on Christmas Eve!  I love this!  I remember doing the same thing with my brothers every Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is always a late night for me!  Rick was not too happy that I was taking a picture of what he was doing while I was putting the finishing touches on things for Christmas Morning!

This year was the first time that we weren't up before 7am!  It was great!  The kids opened their stockings and then we had breakfast before digging into the rest of the gifts!  I am not sure how thrilled they were as they waited for breakfast to be made!

    Everyone was excited about their gifts!