Another "to do" down

I will be starting my 4th week of vacation.

I can't believe I've been out of the office for 3 weeks -- well I popped in a few times -- but really off now for 3 weeks. Seems crazy.

All the things I thought I'd do while off....well haven't really been done. I did straighten my closet, but I was really supposed to "clean it" out. It sucks. Have I been that lazy?

One of the things I wanted to dip my time into is scrapbooking. Well, today was the day.

I got up at an okay hour ... got Sofia ready for a birthday party. I helped her make the card, which inspired me to start. I got her off at 2pm and then I started fiddling. The first page I made was one of Lilia at the ocean. It was spring 2007, so she was nearly 2 years old. She had a ladybug on her hand. She was fascinated.

I made a total of 5 pages. I'll share one here and then off to bed.

Tomorrow will be filled with a day at Dash Point with the kids and No Doubt in the evening. It should be good!

What next?

So I'm supposed to be off for the next 3 weeks or so. But, day 1 at home, and I don't really know what to do with myself.

I've finished laundry. I've unpacked from the lake. What's next. I had hoped to be out and about during my time off, but JH's summer school combined with Sofia's soccer is keeping me somewhat homebound.

There are things I can do .... weed through closets. Clean my closet. {scary} Organize paperwork. Scrapbook. Clean, clean and clean. Or do some WEA work. I kind of miss work already. I think I miss the chattin' with B and the routine. A week of staying up until wee hours and sleeping in until 10am has got my schedule in a funk. I've felt hungover the last few days with insomnia. So, work and routine is a good thing.

So I'm going to go to bed shortly. So I can wake up pleasantly. I want to fit exercise into my routine. I need to make some more definite "to do" lists. September will be here in no time. Then the cycle begins, again.

Packin'

You know the excitement you get before an event? Christmas...Easter....birthday....tooth fairy coming....I love pre-Sun Lakes excitement. My kids are about ready to climb out of their skin they are so excited. Counting down the days, counting down the hours. We have our lists. We've layed out our clothes. We have the "themes" down. We pack a little bit each night. They would love it if we loaded the van now.

I love it!

But it will be done so quick. I will be over in a flash. It will be a memory.

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday. I turned 43. Another year gone by and I don't weigh in at 140. That's how I see time fly, it's not that my kids are 11, 11, 4 and almost 8. It's that another year zoomed by without getting to 140. Day 1 starts again tomorrow.

I have been getting up early and walking a mile every day. It's something. My calorie counting has gone by the "weigh" side in the last week. As I stuffed candies in my mouth from Lilia's pinata, Sofia asked, "are you entering those in your calorie counter". Umm, no. Thus, another year, not at 140.

I am still down 14 lbs since 4/21/09. It's something. I will keep chugging along, entering calories, walking and trying.

So people ask what I had planned for this special day. Nothing really. I treated myself with a coffee (venti) and bagel from Starbucks this morning. Worked the full day, no lunch time special plans.

Then spent the evening at Rhea's graduation. Just the girls, Lilia, Sofia, Lita and Slov, went out for dinner at a crappy mexican place on the Harbor. Then watched Rhea "graduate" from 8th grade.

Not too eventful, but it's what I chose to do ... so happy birthday me!

Ruben was the first to wish my happy birthday at 7am. Jodie was the last at about 9pm. Jen forgot. Ashli only texted me. That's what happens when you turn 43.

Women

Another amazing women's retreat.  I long to be back there, no cares in the world, only what I would eat next and if I'd have to share it with Jen.

I think next year it will definitely have to start on Friday night.  So much talk, eating, reading, wine, jacuuzing, walking, eating, eating, eating and relaxing needs more time.  Just the ability not to worry about anything for 24 hours was heaven.  Well, I did think of my kids back home, moments of guilt for leaving them, but only for moments at a time.  

And how can I forget bonding, bonding with amazing women in my life, I'm blessed.

And I worked on my signing, thinking of every word that came out of my mouth, and so many I didn't know the sign for ... but I asked.  And Jen, the ever-so-patient teacher taught.  And Tiff, ever so patient, "listened".  There is still a ton I don't know.  It's like any other language, you don't use it, you forget it.

I look forward to our next getaway -- a weekend at Lake Joy....energy work and sweat, whatever that is ;)

8 feet and 4 hands

I left work later than I had hoped today.  I really wanted a pedicure before going away for the weekend with women who might look at my feet in disgust.  My kids don't care, but other women might.  I decided what the heck, I'll be late to get home and swing by the new salon off of 21st & 356th, next to the Fruit Market.  I arrived and asked if they had an opening, yes, in 5 minutes.  I decided to wait.  It was all of 45 minutes and I was done, feet shiny and new and I got to watch Family Fued to boot. 

I'm amazed at these women (and men) who work on feet all day long.  There was a man sitting next to me, with probably size 15 feet and they were scary.  His nails were grey/black.  Ewww.  I'd definitely wear gloves.

When I arrived home, my ever-so-observant Lily Pad noticed my toes, "I want toes like that, how did you get toes like that..."  So vein at such a young age.

I promised I'd do her feet, after a loooong trip to Fred Meyers.  

So there they sat, four chairs, 8 feet and one hot bucket of water with suds.  Alex loves to have his feet rubbed.  JH just giggles.  The feet were soaked, exfoliated and massaged.  40 toes were polished.  My boys are entertained by this, they get a rainbow of colors.  JH wanted his fingers, but I stopped there, he has a BB game in the morning, please.  Sofia and Lilia got the manicure too. 

What a night of luxury.

I'm off to bed....I will fall quickly to sleep with the smell of cookies in the air.  (I baked for our retreat, can't wait!)

Rain Rain Go Away

You would think come May that we would start to see some sun, NOT!  JH and Sofia had games yesterday and we were soaked.  But we won both games.  It was Sofia's last game of the season.  Whew.  Now on to tryouts for next year, which starts in about 2 months.  There is no break with select.

JH is doing quite well with baseball.  His hit and catch are improving and he is figuring out where to "play" the ball when it's hit directly at him.

The weekend was not long enough, another day would suit me well.  Painting, baking, shopping, working, yard work .... nothing I really enjoyed doing but was on the list.  I long for a day with nothing on the agenda.

By the end of today we ran a successful lemonade stand and had dinner with the neighbors.  I'm not ready for tomorrow.