Eastern Washington

We left the house this morning at 8am, heading east, first stop Richland.   I love the drive.  The morning sun shined on us, sunglasses in October are the best.

We listened to Adele, over and over and over again.  Singing our lungs out.  Not a bit in tune.  When we wanted a change, I found a "classic" station...102.1 the Quake.  Heart, Billy Idol, Chaka Kahn...Sofia called it old people music.  I sang, she read.

It was a beautiful drive.  I love the transition from evergreens to rolling hills.  We stopped atop Manastash Ridge.  I've always wanted to stop at the "look out" to view the valley below, but it's remote and desolate.  When I drive through the pass for work, I'm usually alone and fearful of truck drivers attacking me and dragging me to their cab.   But I felt safe with Sofia.  So we stopped.  There were only two trucks, but I parked far away from them and checked the bushes before I got out.  What can I say, I'm morbid.

We made it to Richland by noon.  The girls played well, but lost 4-1.   Back to Yakima for the night.  A quick order from Olive Garden "to go" for dinner.  Sofia just left with 11 teammates, coach and a number of parents to a local corn maze and haunted house.

I passed.  I'm decompressing, alone, in the hotel room.  It's quiet.

Checkout at 10am.  Game at 12 noon.  Ravae's 16th birthday party at 4pm.  Home by 8pm.

XC

Sofia finished her last cross country meet for the year.  I could probably say for her life too.   Although she's participated in cross country for two years now, she hates it.  So why does she do it?  She wants to ensure she is a four-season athlete at school.

She wants to get called up on stage at the end of the school year and be recognized for this achievement.

Crazy.

I love her determination and commitment.

I love that even though she hates running, she pushes herself to do better, to improve, to win.

She ran 2 miles in 14min, 36 seconds, placing her 16th out of 42 fellow eighth grade students.  I am proud.

I will miss cross country.  The gold and purple sweats.  The sideline cheering.  The excitement.

Good thing there is three more seasons of sports.  Next up, basketball.

Christmas in October

I thought I'd try Christmas shopping early this year.  Hey, why not, the stores are full of decorations, the only thing missing is the music.  My hopes is to get it done soon and be relaxed come December.

I am making a dent.  Sofia has asked for clothes, nearly exclusively.  I went to Forever 21 tonight, spent at least 45 minutes collecting various outfits and accompanying necklaces.  It's not the best quality, but it's reasonably inexpensive.  Leggings, shirts and skirts for under $6.  Sweaters under $15.  Two necklaces at $5.80 each. I was proud of myself.  As I waited in line, the long line, listening to the only cashier open continually remind the customers of the 21 day exchange policy.

21 days, with a receipt, exchange or credit only.

Um, Christmas is nearly two months away.  So I clarified with the cashier...

ME:  you mean if my daughter does not like her Christmas gifts she can't exchange them?

CASHIER:  yes

ME:  then you can keep your clothes

I walked out.  I realized after, maybe I jumped to quickly to that decision.  I think it was the hot store, the irritation for the wait, my heavy purse and my 20 pound bag of Old Navy purchases.  Maybe I should have just bought the things I knew she'd like.  Too late.  I guess I will be shopping for Forever 21 gifts on December 21.

So I came home and comforted myself with online purchases at Toys R Us .... buy 2 game videos get one free.  Chaching.

Lilia has less than a month left of soccer.  She loves to go.  She loves her friends.  She hasn't "got it" yet.  She's a great runner.  Runs back and forth.  But doesn't touch the ball.  Surprisingly, even though she is competitive, she doesn't fight for the ball.  But she has her sights set on something bigger, like who can pick up the most orange cones at the end of the practice.  She wins every time.

BIG game tonight -- Decatur Gators vs. Peninsula Seahawks.  We were rebels.  We sat on Peninsula's side of the field, even though we knew some Federal Way girls.  Peninsula lost.  They were outplayed.  Hmmph, we raise some good local soccer players, eh?

By the end of the night we were frozen.  The fall crispness and fog were here tonight.  We felt it's presence on those cold bleachers.  I welcome you. 

Daffodils and Tulips

Every spring I drive through neighborhoods, with pure joy (and jealousy) of the yards that have a bounty of spring color.  It's at that moment I wish that I would not have been so lazy in the fall.

Fall planting bulbs bring beautiful spring flowers.

I vowed this fall not to be lazy.

Lilia and I planted 90 bulbs.  I got a bit lazy in the end and packed the holes with many bulbs.

I hope it's all worth it come April.

My life is full

Fall is my most favorite time of year.  There is comfort in the chilly days, wrapping up warm, and all the traditions that come with it.

Fall is also the time of year where it's hard to catch my breath.  The weeks fly by as every night there is a taxi run of sporting events.  It leaves me the weekend to play catch up.  As the weekend arrives, my sights are set on clear spaces in the calendar.  I look forward to checking things off my list.  You know, that list that's in my head, on my phone, on pieces of paper in my purse or written in a notebook.  It's the list that has so much creative inspiring things I want to do.

But...another weekend has gone by and nothing has been checked off my list.  I try not to get discouraged.  My life is just full, and that's not all that bad.

When my siblings and I were younger, we used to get together often with my mom's family.  My grandparents had a house with a small farm.  I have wonderful memories of my time with Salazar family.  With 9 kids, there were a lot of cousins.  We ran around that farm.  I love to tell my kids the stories of the adventures we had.  Our family would talk, play and eat (my favorite part).  As "life" happened and families grew, the gatherings became less and less frequent.

Early this summer we began having a weekly Sunday family dinner.  Getting us all together for one day a week, away from the chaos of our busy schedules.  But as summer set in, vacations and conflicts emerged and we skipped a week, then two...then three.  

So, as I reviewed my calendar late last week, I saw white space come Sunday.  You don't know how much I wanted to bunker down at home.  To have no plans, except maybe some sleeping in, watching a movie, and just being cozy and relaxed in the comforts of my home.  But instead, we ventured out.  

And as the sibling that seems to be the organizer...I made an all call.  First up a family trip to the pumpkin patch.  Check.  I could only get Rhea and Mateo.  Boo.  But I'll take what I can get, even if I had to drive them home myself at 10pm.

Second, family dinner at the padres.  Check.  Can you say FRESH tortillas.  I hadn't spent much quality time with my parents lately.  We walked in and there were hugs and kisses for all.  I love how that makes them feel.  They are so happy with the company.  It makes me happy.

To me, what matters most is my family, my home and the traditions and stories we hold dear to our heart.  I know that it's my role to carry the rituals of tradition that I love, for my family.  And I love that role.  I take huge pride in that role.  I love to create the stories that will carry them in their life.  

And tonight, as much as I was sick to my stomach to go to the Haunted House with my kids and their cousins, I did.  Yeah, I was scared.  No, you don't get it, I was really scared. But as we drove home and they retold the stories of the night, over and over, with excitement in their voices and body...I smiled.  A new tradition.   I love it.  Check.

Listen

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  Steve Jobs