Viva Las Vegas!

The birthday party bash in Sin City was a complete success!

Our first evening was spent at the South Point Casino. The hotel was nice. We began with a few drinks in Jaci & Gj's room.

GIRLS GONE WILD!! ---- not!

A photo or two to help preserve the evening. And yes, even Brad joined us for the festivities!

WOW a gift bag from Suz?!? Hhhmmm it was Eric's birthday, but she gave all the invitees a gift. Oh, so sweet and thoughtful. And yes .. I fell for the phony scratch card ... hey who couldn't use $5000? Wishful thinking .... darn you Suz! I'll get cha back!

After a quick bite to eat and a little table playing we all (most of us) went to the dance club where an energetic '70s band was playing. We gave new meaning to dancing the night away!

Oh what a night! The next day was spent lying by the pool at the Bellagio and relaxing ... oh ya I can't forget the most wonderful massage ever! Sorry ... forgive me for not posting pool pictures ... but I'm sure you'll understand why ... I am a woman after all ... and my worst critic!

We all joined up for dinner at YOLO'S for the official birthday dinner celebration! From there we went to Suz and Eric's suite at the Bellagio to enjoy the debut of Suzanne's movie tribute to her husband! Then Mr. Ramos managed to arrange a reservation at the Fountaine Lounge for front row seats to the famous Bellagio fountain show!

Does it get any better?

So here is to good times, GREAT friends, and many more memory making opportunities!

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!!!

Really?!?!

I saw this on another Blog and had to 'borrow' it. It made me giggle!

Same name ... but that is ALL we have in common ...

Knowledgeable Nonsense

Shannon set up a fun event for us 'girls'! She arranged a wine pairing party with Knowledgeable Nonsense.

They brought 7 fantastic wines for us to try and made a terrific salad with feta cheese (mmmm I love FETA) and they cooked up yummy Tapia Fish and Chicken.

We learned to swirl and swish. We had great food, fabulous wine, enchanting conversations and a wonderful evening! Any excuse to get together is good by me!

That was 2 weeks ago ... next stop ... SIN CITY .... yup -- you heard it ... we are all off to Las Vegas this weekend. A group of 20 or so are going to try and win over Lady Luck. Stay tuned for all the juicy details....

UUuuggg! a Grub!

Oh my gosh! What next?!?

I have had many lessons on the trials and tribulations of taking care of a lawn. I naively thought when I bought my house that all I'd have to do is mow weekly and water regularly and I could keep my lawn looking beautiful and green.

But oh had sadly I was mistaken. My first battle was with the milk weed. After two applications of Weed-Be-Gone I finally took control back of my yard. I have, however, been struggling to keep my lawn green and not brown. My huge back yard has no trees, no shade and with the heat of the hot summer I concluded the brown spots could be eradicated with more water. I watered and watered and watered. I watered so much I could now add the growth of mushrooms to my growing list of lawn issues. And yet, my lawn continued to die ... and the brown, dead spots grew.

I finally called for help. And what is the problem. Grubs! I did not even know what a grub was before last week ... but oh do I know all about them now.

The lawn has been treated and hopefully by next Spring all the damage they caused will be repaired and I can once again enjoy my beautiful back yard.

UUuuuuugggg!!

Good Friends

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." ~Flavia Weedn

I have the most wonderful, loyal, outstanding friends ever! It is no secret that this has been an emotional week for me. I have not been myself and have been stuck in a funk. I have had phone calls to check on me, flowers on my desk to make me smile, and spontaneous hugs to give me strength. My friends know when I need support, they know when I need to be left alone, and most of the time they know even when I don't.

I read a quote once that said a woman's character can be determined by the friends around her. If that is true I must have one hell of a character!

Thank you ... each of my dear friends, [Suzanne, Jaci, Robyn, Heather, & Shannon] thank you so much! Because of you I will never be the same ... you give me strength, you give me peace and I love you!

One More Day

Today I found myself fiddling with my hands like Mom did when she was nervous. I have also noticed I run my hand across my children’s cheek like she did to me. And my hands look just like hers. I wonder have I always had these similar mannerisms and features … and if so why have I not noticed them until now? Or have I began to imitate her … in a subconscious effort to keep her memory with me?

I’ve heard people say that after they have lost someone close to them they start to forget little things … but I still remember so much very vividly! I can still remember her smell and her touch. I can still hear her voice and her laugh. I guess I’m lucky for that.

Have you read the book, “For One More Day’ by Mitch Albom? What I wouldn’t give for one more day with Mom. For a chance to ask her a few more questions and tell her a few more things.

For now I will have to settle for my one sided conversations that I have with her and hope that somehow she’ll find a way to answer back.

A Boy and His Toy

Ian has a motorcycle! Oh my gosh! He was such a big little man. He works the gears with his foot. He goes nice and steady. And likes to come up and have ya fill him up (gotta love his imagination!)

I never knew they made training wheels for a motorcycle. But as you can see they do! Ian can ride a two wheel bicycle; however the motorcycle is just a little too heavy for him ... I'm sure by next summer he'll be buzzing all over!

He controled his speed. Took it nice and easy and even attemepted a hill or two. Although he did confess later that he only went 'slow' because grownups were watching him. If no one had been watching he told me he would've went 'so much faster'. What a turkey!

Anna just can't wait to be big enough to follow in her big brothers foot steps (or should I say tire treads).

365 days = 1 year

Time ~ (Noun) A non spatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.

It is said that “Time Heals All Wounds” … But time is not tangible … if we can not see it, touch it, or taste it, how can it heal us? It doesn’t! Time simply passes. That is all time does … “in irreversible succession”.

It was a year ago today that my beautiful mother slipped from the bonds of this Earthly life to embark on her next great journey. 1 year … it seems like it was only a moment ago … the emotion, the sights, the smells, the whirlwind of events are still so vivid in my mind and I miss her more and more everyday. When Anna started walking I wanted to call her … when Ian lost his tooth I wanted to show her … and I when I feel like I cant do all this on my own I want to hug her.

Time has gone by so quickly. I can’t help but think about the things I wish I had done with her or the words I did not say to her. Thoughts of all the milestones my children and I will have that she will not see sadden me. But I am lucky. I believe in love enough to know she knew. The bond between a mother and child is a great mysterious miracle. As my mother she knew … she knew I loved her, and needed her. She was proud of me and it was her guidance and love that helped me to become the strong, resilient, compassionate woman that I know I am. I can’t say I don’t have regrets … I do; but I am wise enough to accept them and learn from them. I will not dwell on what I cannot change … it is what it is. (thanks for the mantra Suz)

I have learned not to take time for granted. I will tell those who mean the most to me that I love them. I will always share with my friends and family my gratitude for the gifts of faith, love, and wisdom they give to me. I will share the memories of Mom with my children so they will have a sense of who their grandmother was. I choose to remember all the time I had with mom (good and not so good) and to honor her for the woman she was. So you see, while life may throw a few challenges my way I am still the lucky one. I have health, love, family and friends. I am truly blessed.


Time simply passes … it is what we choose to do during that time that heals us. I choose to dance as if no one is watching, sing as if no one is listening, to love as if my heart will not be broken and live everyday as if it were my last.
I love you Mom!

POEM OF LIFE
- Author unknown

Life is but a stopping place,

A pause in what's to be,

A resting place along the road,

to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys,

Different paths along the way,

We all were meant to learn some things,

but never meant to stay...

117=45

I know what you are thinking ... I've totally lost it and can no longer do simple math. But I discovered this evening that with 120 volts and a helpful 2 year old it takes 45 minutes to sharpen 117 pencils. Why would anyone sharpen 117 pencils in a single evening you ask? I volunteered to Ian's teacher that I was more than happy to help with projects to help the class, especially if I could do them from home. When I signed up for pencil sharpening I knew for a class of 20-something 6-7 year olds there would be lots of pencil shavings flying ... but I was a little surprise with the gallon ziploc bag of pencils Ian pulled out of his backpack. So yes I had to count them. And Anna patiently sat on my lap and produced each new pencil from the pile and put it in the pencil sharpener for me. Nice little bonding time for mommy/daughter. Well I can rest well tonight knowing I have helped a class room full of youngster perpetuate their wisdom with freshly sharpened pencils.

MileStones~

August 18th was the first day of 1st grade! Wow, where does the time go?
As you can see by the pictures Ian was excited and proud to be starting school.

All of the children were full of energy and happy to be with one another again.









It was so hard to leave ... there should be a room for parents with a two way mirror where we can sit all day and watch our children grow.








Our second big event was Ian finally lost his first tooth! So many of his friends lost teeth in Kindergarten and he was very excited to finally say he lost a tooth.

The tooth he lost was actually two teeth that grew in fused together as one ... so the Tooth Fairy was fooled and thought she gotten two teeth and paid Ian $5.00!








He is feeling pretty rich ... even offer to pay for a movie we went to see today.

Everyday is such a wonderful adventure with children ... I look forward to more excitement to come!

It's a good life

Hello and welcome to my world. I've been envious of my beautiful step-daughter's blog for some time now and thought I'd finally take the time to create my own. So here goes.

Here's a recap of how good I've got it ...
I have a thoughtful, smart, funny, very helpful 6 year old son, Ian ...

And a beautiful, silly, loving, energetic 2 year old daughter, Anna ...



I have great friends that I can count on for anything. I've got a job I love doing working with fun and exciting people. We live a good life and I look forward to sharing our milestones and triumphs with you here!

Check back often ...see ya soon!
~Odijo