Just Another Day in Paradise

Saturday, April 11, 2015

New York, New York

Jake had the opportunity to travel to New York over Spring Break with the theatre group from his school. We thought this was an opportunity of a lifetime and we were happy to let him go! They were gone for 5 days, 4 nights. Jake isn't much of a picture taker, he says he takes them with his eyes and stores them in his memory. But, I did get a few pictures from him. They visited the Empire State Building, the 911 Memorial, attended a Broadway Show and workshop. He said his favorite place was Central Park. We are happy he had a great time and perhaps one day mom and dad will get to visit as well!

At the airport waiting to board. Jake and his friends Trey & Collin.

Central Park

Times Square

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Cali, 2015

I was able to accompany Brian to Los Angeles for his meetings at the Jet Propulsion Lab, for the second year in a row! Last year we went in late March, this year, the first week in February. The weather was absolutely perfect! Mid 70s during the day and cool mid 50s at night. Only complaint, it was very hazy, most days, not at ground level, but in the higher elevations. We left on Sunday morning and returned the following Saturday.

We arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Rented a Mustang, (Brian was happy, me not so much, hard to get in and out of!), drove to the Westin in Pasadena.

The hotel was luxury at its finest. Very elegant. The grounds were beautiful, the views were awesome! While Brian worked, I slept, shopped, walked, napped. Pasadena is a neat city as everything was in walking distance.

We enjoyed seeing the homes with unique architecture and inviting landscaping. We even enjoyed finding homes from movies!

Father of the Bride (Steve Martin)

Brady Bunch

We left the Westin on Thursday morning and headed to Burbank for the remainder of the trip. We stayed at the Residence Inn. Although not elegant or luxurious, it was very nice!

While in Burbank, we went to the coast via Tapaenga Valley. The roads were very curvey!

We decided to visit El Matador beach this trip since last trip we visited Santa Monica and Malibu. El Matador beach is just north of Malibu.

This beach was the most breathtaking beach I have ever visited! The long hike down the cliff to the beach was well worth the struggle coming back up!

We also visited the Griffith Observatory. It was on top of a mountain and although foggy, we could see the greater LA area!

6 nights gone, time to come home! We missed our boys and our beds! Although my back was at its worst, I was determined to make the best of it!

See you next year, maybe, who knows!

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Decisions Aren't Always Easy

After 17 years of raising my boys and staying home and/or working part time, I have decided to join the corporate work force again. After retiring from my part time job in May, I thought I just wanted to stay home, relax, take care of the house, etc. Staying home wasn't quite as much fun as I imagined it would be! Sure, if we were disgustingly wealthy, it could have been fun. Who wouldn't want to shop all day, have massages and pedicures! Well we aren't, and staying home wasn't all I thought it would be. Funny though, I think I was born to be a wife and mother. I'm good at it and I love it! But, now that the boys are almost grown, I have found myself not really needing to be home all the time. We have great kids and they are making their own path without much guidance required.

The thought of having to dress up for work every day almost made me change my mind. I love my sweat pants in the winter and my swimsuits in the summer! Wear makeup everyday!?! Oh, that will take getting use to again! Time to ditch the sports bras, tshirts, pony tail holders, and stretchy pants. Hello high heels! Time to shop for grown up clothes!

I plan to help save for Jake's college! Tyler was given a college education thanks to Brian's diligence to stay on budget. It will feel great to offer financial help after all the years the burden was mostly on Brian. I know the gifts I've given to my family are more than any monetary amount, but this too will feel good!

It hasn't been easy accepting that the boys are all but grown now. They don't need me home 24/7. There are no more boo-boos to kiss, pb&js to make, toys to organize, play dates to schedule, taxiing to extracurricular activities, and a million other things. It's almost as if my job is done, the contract is over, and the pink slip is inevitable. You're rewarded for a job well done, and what's left is a box of memory's.

Now, I know they STILL need me. I hope they always will. It's just different now.

Dinner will not be on the table at 5 pm. The clothes that were worn yesterday won't be back in your drawers today. There probably won't be endless pizza rolls in the freezer and powerades in the refrigerator. No time for daily inventory!

But, change is often good, and I will embrace this new opportunity! We will all adjust and find a new normal. I thank God for seeing my heart and hearing my prayers, he knew what decision I should make even before I asked.

I will be joining these wonderful ladies who make a great team!

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Monday, January 5, 2015

Look who's 4!

Little miss Sophia turned 4 on 1/3/15! We had the pleasure of attending her family birthday party at her "Honey's" house! Thank you, Kim for inviting us! Tyler is her favorite cousin! We had such a great time! We don't get to see our Louisiana family very often! Happy Birthday Sophia! We love you!

Tyler and Sophia. She just loves him!

Sophia, Ross and me!

Shelby, Tyler and Sweet baby Ella!

Remembering Christmas ~ Welcoming the New Year

I just love the Christmas season! I can't wait to decorate the yard, the tree, and the house! It's a lot of work, but always fun! Christmas always seems to bring out the best in people. Most seem happier, more polite, more tolerant, more giving. Remembering the birth of Jesus, our savior, is really why we celebrate. One of my favorite traditions is making cookies! The one time a year the kitchen can be messy with flour everywhere and that's okay with me! We had a quiet Christmas this year, but a Christmas full of love and blessings!

We also get to celebrate two birthdays in December. Mine on the 20th and Jake's on the 29th. I can't believe my baby is 16! Oh dear, Father Ćlock, slow down the time!

2014 wasn't the best year, but certainly wasn't the worse! I'm excited to see what God has planned for me and my family in 2015! Happy New Year!