Papa

We celebrated Papa's 76th birthday yesterday. His actual birthday is not until tomorrow -- 9/21! Can you believe it, he's going to be 76.

My dad is an amazing man. I get teary when I think how much I love him.

He is so giving.

He is generous.

He has a warm heart.

He loves the conversation.

He is social.

He is patient.

He loves his family.

He is proud of his family.

He is a humble man.

He is a great grandpa.

He will help you out whenever you need it, at the drop of a hat. He'll run errands, pick up kids and give you his opinion. Yeah, yeah, it may rub some the wrong way, but that's my dad. I love him for who he is and who he isn't.

I don't like to think of life without him. But we do talk about it comfortably. Talk about the years to come. How he wants to be buried. What he wants for those he has left. How he wants to be taken care of. It may be morbid. But as I tell him, I want HIM to plan it out. Us kids don't need that stress.

The reality is, my dad is in okay health. He complains of this and that. His dad lived past 90. That's the plan I have for him. Like it or not.

Love you dad.

Bittersweet

Another summer has gone by, can you believe it. The kids start school in just 2 days. Sofia and Alex start middle school at Illahee. Alex isn't worried, so it seems. Sofia is a bit anxious. We've itemized her schedule in detail and added a campus map. It's laminated and ready for her back pocket.

We will have to be out the door at 7:10 am, school starts at 7:20 am, that may be rough considering they have been sleeping in to nearly 10 am most days.

JH will have a new teacher this year. Mrs. Norton. She happens to be the same teacher he had for summer school. I think it will be a nice fit, although he already said he wants his old teacher back. I hope for a successful year.

Lilia will be in prekindergarten. She will have Mrs. Arrata. I like her. She is excited some, but also admits she does not want to go. I think Mrs. A will warm her up. We're working on the 1st day of school outfit.

It will be nice to have a routine back. Bed at a certain time. Up at a specific time. Homework, packed lunches. But add to that soccer 2 times a week x 2. Boyscouts. Weekend games. Remind me in December why I like routine.

I will miss the heat, flip flops, no nylons, late nights, late mornings, camping and spontaneous adventures.

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 ;)