We're MOVING!!!!

So it's official: after waiting for so long, we are finally moving to __________! Yep, I can not wait.  I always told myself as soon as Eli was in kindergarten, we'd make the move to ____________ to be closer to work, school, friends, etc. 

Pros
Close to work
Close to school
Close to friends
No commute
Not so rushed in the morning
More time in the evening to spend at home
I can walk to work
Easier for playdates, momdates, etc.
One story house
Big backyard
Culd-a-sac
Quiet neighborhood

Cons
Further away from my parents - there is only one con but it's a huge one!  Being so close to my mom and dad is a dream.  Not only when it comes to their help with the kids, but also just as simple as things like going to dinner and then only having to drive 5 minutes home, knowing they are so close for any reason, having the comfort of my mom being able to come over at a moment's notice, the list goes on. 

But aside from the one negative of moving, the positives are so worth it.  I have been waiting for this move for so long and I can't believe it's finally here.  We have found the perfect little house: it's a one story, on a court, on a quiet street.  The neighborhood is so kid-friendly.  I hope to be in this house for awhile. 

In the past 8 years, I have moved four times already.   That means Sophie has also moved four times.  That's enough.  She is going to be in third grade and has already established good friends.  I feel it's more important now than ever that she is able to settle into a community with her friends.  And now that Eli is entering into K, he will also begin to build friendships and settle in. 

We move in three weeks and boy is there a lot to do!  Thankfully, a friend of mine has given me all of her moving boxes (Thanks, Donna!), so that is one less thing I need to worry about.  I figure that between now and moving day, I will pack little by little.  This will also be a good time to clean out and purge all of that stuff that we no longer need or use.  Oh, that's another PRO to moving - a chance to really go through stuff and discard. 

Keep you posted........

Happy Father's Day

Here's to the best Daddy in the whole world.  Thank you for always loving me, supporting me, allowing me, encouraging me, advising me, comforting me, trusting me, understanding me......  I love you lots!

 You're the best Papa in the world, too!

 

Blog a Day Posts are DONE

I have decided to stop doing the whole "Blog-a-day" thing.  I felt like I had an assignment to do everyday and it made blogging not as much fun.  Although some of the topics are fun, I still started to dread having to do them.  That is NOT what I had in mind when I decided to start up my blog again.  I want to WANT to write, not feel like I have to.  So, from now on, I am  no longer following the "Blog-a-day" format.  Instead, I'm just going to write whenever the heck I feel like it.  Dunzo!  And with that, I'll leave you with this little pic:

Always take the time to relax and enjoy the silence.

Monterey is like a little piece of heaven on Earth.

We have just returned from our annual trip to Monterey, CA.  Anyone who has ever been there knows how beautiful it is.  The weather was perfect (mid 60's) and the house we stayed in this time was amazing.  The views from our living room windows were spectacular! My children and I are lucky enough to be able to go with my parents.  They have generously offered this trip to us for the past few years and my children have come to love it just as much as the adults do.  From the Aquarium to the Wharf, there is so much to see and do.  And as the kids get older, it only becomes that much more fun and enjoyable.  Here are just a few of the MANY pictures that I took:

 The beach that was right across the street from our house

Visiting the Aquarium

Fisherman's Wharf

 A random piano was set in the middle of the pier for anyone to play.  So cool!

Other random pictures from our trip

This was the amazing house we stayed in!

Blog a Day #7 - The things I'm most afraid of...

So I wrote a post to go with this topic, but then I deleted it.  It made me sad and anxious. Dumb topic, dumb post.  I'm skipping it. Blah.

Blog a Day #6 - If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?

I am a Mommy.

 

 

That just about says it all. 

Blog a Day #5 - Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends.

This one was easy!  The minute I read this topic I knew exactly who I was going to write about! I'm writing about my good friend, Liz.  I first met Liz in 2000-something.  I was lucky enough to have her daughter in my class.  Then, two years later, her son.  Throughout the past few years, we have become each other's therapists, doctors, advice givers, sounding boards, and "phone-a-friends".  I wish I could say that all of our talks revolve around unicorns and rainbows.  And thankfully, some do.  But unfortunately, a lot of our talks do not.

The reason I chose Liz for my "blogger friend" is because she has the most amazing, yet heartbreaking blog.  She writes about her daughter, Kaitlyn.  Kaitlyn is one of the strongest (and sweetest) individuals I know and she's only 11!  The way Liz writes and the sadness and humor she brings, is both amazing and inspiring.  She has a way of writing  about her life, the good and the bad.  And although she writes about things that are so desperately heartbreaking, she also writes about the good things in life.  Her children are incredible and she is one tough cookie! I could keep writing about her but instead, I'd like to give you the blog address.

For the Love of Kaitlyn

 

http://kaitlynleanne.blogspot.com/ 

 

 

Forever 15

I am 38 years old.  Most of my friends are between early 30's to mid 40's.  A couple of them are babies at the young age of 27 (baby honey badgers)! I am surrounded by family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. that are of all ages.   But what I've come to realize is that despite our real ages, we are all forever 15.  What I mean is that although we strive to act our age, be mature, make good choices ..... at some point or another we all revert back to when we were those awkward, pimply teenagers.  Whether it's how we talk, what we do, where we go, how we dress, decisions we make - we all have a bit of teenager still embedded in us. And I think that's just fine as long as we remain kind and responsible. Leave the girl drama at home and come out and play.  I enjoy letting lose and being silly.  I feel like I deserve it.  I work hard, take care of my family, pay my bills.  But every once in awhile (or more!), it's fun to get together with my gal-pals and have fun.

 

I am lucky to have some great friends.  My BFF and I have been besties for a long time.  We talk on the phone or text almost daily.  My kids consider her an Auntie as do her kids to me. We have been through thick and thin together, some of which we cannot ever mention to anyone, EVER! wink wink.

 This picture is from a billion years ago - why don't I have any recent photos of us???

 Within the past year, I have come to know and love another great group of women.  I get to work and play with them.  And together, we have had the best year!  From the Giants game to the Color Run, it has been so much fun!  So this is a shout-out to my homies.... you know who you are! I love you all and thank you for being my friends.  Okay, isn't that the theme song to the Golden Girls?

This could be us in a few decades, girls!

 

Who wants to be Blanche??

Blog a Day #4 - Favorite Quotes

I have three favorite quotes.  

Here is my first one.  It's a conversation between me and Sophie.

Sophie:  "Mommy, I love you."

Me: "I love you, too."

Sophie: "I love you more."

Me: "I love you most."

Sophie: "I love you most-er than most."

My second quote comes from Eli.  He says this every night, I mean EVERY night before he goes to sleep.  And if he suddenly remembers he forgot to say it, he will call me upstairs just so he can.

 "Goodnight I love you, I love you goodnight.  

I love Mommy and Daddy, Mimi and Papa, Jimmy and Tiny. 

Goodnight I love you!"

And my last favorite quote is written by my mom on the first page of my baby book.  It's actually a poem.

Fleur Conkling Heyliger

 

These three examples are the ones that are nearest and dearest to my heart.  And anyone that has children knows that they say the sweetest and funniest things all day long.  I could write a book just with quotes from my kids.