Bring On The Rain

Apparently the inner writer in me has been waiting for a little watering. It seems as soon as the rains came back so did the ideas. Most of you know that here in Washington we get our share of rain, and most of your share too. That's okay I'll take it. Without the rain we wouldn't have all of these amazing trees that I'm so in love with.

The other day we were riding along in the car. It was raining. And I happened to hear the kids. As I was listening I smiled, hearing them talk to each other always brings back memories of when I was a kid. Me and my little bro are 28 months apart--Mad and Ty are 22 months apart. It amazes me how often their conversations mimic the ones Jon and I had.

There was a pretty good rain going on, were zipping down the road, they kids were quietly chatting and laughing. As I started really listening I heard them involved in some competition. they were racing rain drops. As the beads of water gathered on the window they would each pick one, and then wait for it to start making it's journey across the pane, gathering momentum as it absorbs the other drops around them. Eventually the drops went faster and faster and finished their journey. Then the race would start all over.

I still find myself watching raindrops on the window, usually I do it while someone else is driving but every once in awhile I MIGHT get distracted while driving.

And I kept driving...

I left town last week. I had work in Spokane. It's about five hours away by car. I was looking forward to the drive. I had my iPod. I was going to rock whatever my heart desired, as loud as I wanted. It was going to be a good day.

Both of my kids were sick. My mom, who had broken both collar bones the week before was watching them for us. My dad had just left town for a work trip.

I went to the Seahawks game. They lost--BAD.

Then I hit the road.

Water bottle-check
Gum-check
Tunes cranked loud-check
Seatbelt-check

On my way out of town I tried to call my Grandma to let her know that I had gotten started an hour earlier than I had thought I would.

I tried her house, no answer, slightly odd.....So I tried her cell, no answer, VERY weird.

An hour later I got a call from my Grandpa. He had taken my grandma to the emergency room. She was having severe pain in her abdomen, and she was puking. She had just had surgery the week before and he wanted to make sure everything was okay. I told him that Ty had woken up with a 104.5 degree temp. (they had been sharing a water bottle the day before) I asked him to let me know what was going on, keep me updated.

And I kept driving. In the opposite direction. Away from my sick kids, my broken mom, and my grandma who was in this horrible state of limbo.

Running through my head was-- This is what I do for my family. I work. This is my job and this is just what I have to do.

Every mile as I worried about my grandma it got harder and harder to keep the car heading east.

I finally called my mom, okay it seemed like forever but it was probably only a few minutes. But it had been long enough to get all sorts of things running through my head.

My mom hadn't heard about my grandma yet so I filled her in. I managed to get to the end of the story before I started crying. Then the thing that started the tears, I told my mom that the only reason I was still driving was because I KNEW she would call me if I needed to come home. I said a few times. I needed her to tell me it was okay to keep driving.

I drove, but I cried for miles and miles.

I'm very protective of my family, I hold them very close to my heart. Don't mess with my family.

I kept going. heading away from my family when all I really wanted to do was go home and scoop them all in to my arms, kids, mom , and grandma, and protect them. Comfort them. tell them everything was going to be okay.

This is what I do. I work. It takes me away from my family at the most inopportune times. Sometimes I hate that I work. Sometimes it the hardest thing I do. But it's what I do for my family.


I'm home now, my kids are healthy, my dad is back in town, my mom is still broken but mending, and my grandma--not sure what was wrong with her, but she is off an adventure in China right now.

Everyone survived the week that I was gone.

A "Got to Share!"

A little while ago Kami had this little treat on her Friday Favorites. I had to re-share it with all of you. Katie is truly inspired, fun loving, quirky, and one of the most creative people I've "met" in the bloggerhood. That, or she REALLY needs to share.

She makes me smile. And I think she makes the world a better place. A happier world. A joyful world. A place I want to be a part of. I just want to give her

A BIG THANK YOU!!!!!

I would love to stumble across some of her projects!

I would LOVE to have her take my picture! (although Tiffany is quite talented as well)

Apparently, I'm not the only one who does dishes this way!

Seriously folks, this is one that you don't want to miss out on. It will surely brighten your day!

Two weeks ago.....again

So this two weeks ago is the week after last week's two weeks ago. If I would have started this last week it would have been titled "last week...." But now this two weeks ago is actually....



Dang , now I'm lost and confused....



Oh well, here it is. I guess if you have to be lost and confused Laguna Beach is the place to do it...



After a week of relaxing and a wedding I went a little further south. The best part, it was paid for and I got paid to be there. It was training for work.



The training was actually in Irvine, CA but I scored a sweet hotel right on the beach and it was so worth the whopping 15 minute drive.

La Casa Del Camino

The rooms aren't the largest things in the world. I stood at the corner of my bed and my hip touched the sink, but hey, I was right on the beach.



But there was the rooftop lounge. We hung out there lots. It was a great place to enjoy the sunset with an appetizer and your choice of refreshment. People may have been packed in like sardines but it sure was one happy tin of fish.

And the restaurant downstairs, WOW. So they serve "petite" sized portions. For petite prices. The best part, that means you can get portions of ALL the things that sound good on the menu. A $3 appetizer or three, shared between two people. A couple $10 entrees, and a $4 dessert. I was in Heaven. We ate there multiple times. It was GOOD! REALLY GOOD. If you and I were to roll in to town together I would take you there. My treat. Standing offer.

I had to sit in a classroom from 8-5 daily but as soon as we were out of class, happy bliss set in......There was the street to stroll down and shops and art galleries to stop and peek into. There were restaurants to discover. And there was the beach.

I played in the ocean. I raced the waves, dashing around the rocks. I ate some amazing food. I enjoyed the sunshine. I had a week, with no stress......

I watched this EVERY night--

On our last day we cruised on up to newport before heading to the airport and found my next house! There was this row of houses on a deep water channel with yacht after yacht tied up to a personal dock that led to patios, with amazing houses attached to the patios...these were not your standard bayliners, these were some NICE boats.

Someday....... Yeah, someday maybe I'll talk my Daddy into buying one.....House, boat, either on works for me.

Two weeks ago...

My family, Ben and the kids, along with the entire half of Ben's family--and once again, when I say Ben's family I mean the other half of MY family-- went down to the coast in Oregon for the wedding of Andy, Ben's twin, and Lindsay. Yea guys! Congrats!


But before the wedding came there was playing, and sleeping, and playing, and playing. Oh and shopping too.

Those are my dogs in the background. They did a GREAT job on the drive down. And they LOVED the beach. They ran and ran and ran and ran. And fetched and fetched and fetched and fetched. In the water and on the beach.

It all happened in Yachats, OR. Just south of Newport, OR. Don't ask me how you say it, I still don't think I have it down.... pretty sure its along the lines or "yaa-hots"

We flew kites, played in the sand, had fish and chips, and spent LOTS of time in a couple different glass blowing shops. We actually took a glass blowing lesson and the kids and I got to blow our own glass--Ben was off on a "Bachelor Day" so he missed out on the awesome fun. While Ben was off riding quads in the sand dunes and surfing, then off to a BBQ me and the kids picked out colors, put on safety glasses, and stepped in the "hot zone". The guy teaching us was amazing! He was so patient with the kids, he answered all of their questions. He let them get down and dirty putting the glass in the kiln and turning it. The kids got to help him roll in the color. Ty even got to use the big shears, pinching and twisting the hot mass, to put swirls in the glass. The guy even let Ty start blowing the glass, I got to finish it! It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. Right up there with skydiving. Really.

Madison did a great job of taking pictures, If I ever get them off my camera I'll have to share them with you.....

Then came the real reason for the trip........

The amazing union of Andy and Lindsay. Which actually happened at Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Congrats you two! I can't wait to see how cute your guy's kids are when they roll around!

Lindsay was beautiful, Andy was charming...It was a sunny, cool, chilly breeze kind of day. A gorgeous day on the Oregon coast. Pretty much picture perfect. Fairytale. A

great way to start a Happily Ever After.

Then the party started. There was food, there was cake, there was dancing. Really good food. Really good cake.

And I even had a dancing partner!!!!!!!!! (Ben only slow dances.) Me and Ty rocked the night away. Hopefully he dances with me for years to come.

And I got my once every 9-10 year dance with Ben. Okay, it's not that few or far between, but I pretty much have to wait for someone to get married. Ty couldn't resist the chance to grab some snuggle time with the two of us.

So Frustrating!

Why is it that I always think up the bestest posts ever while I'm no where near a computer to put it all down? How come I don't write this stuff down? For a while I had a notepad in my purse so I could write down ideas I had. I'm not the most organized person in the world. That didn't last very long.

Ugh!

I promise if I remember it later, I'll share.

By the way, I'm back. I know, I know, two weeks away. It was a long break but don't worry, it wasn't you, it was me.

Give away-not mine, but worthy

Kami has a giveaway going that was to scrumptious to pass up! Sam, I SO thought of you when I saw this one! 75 buck-a-roonies for Saaa-weet clothes. Hurry, you have till Monday the 24th at midnight.

C lick the pic to go check out the giveaway!

Going MIA

Okay, not that I haven't been already, but now I'm going to have a reason to be MIA.

I'm heading out for two weeks of Beaches.

Week 1:

Just down the road a bit along the central Oregon coast.

There will be a wedding.

There will be surfing.

Hopefully no sharks. No offense Tib, but free swimming with great whites MIGHT be a little much for me.

There will be fun.

There will be girl time. I'm bringing the glitter.


Week 2:

Then there will be training for work a little further south in Cali.

And more Beaches.

And more fun.

And I'm sure I will find an amazing restaurant or two!

Oh, and SHOPPING!!!!! Laguna Beach style. Maybe I'll be able to afford a ponytail holder or two..........maybe some gum..........Or I could splurge on a bottle of water.

there may even be a spontaneous post or two, no promises.

My life according to Nickelback

So I saw this one over at Tiburon's and thought it was way too much fun to resisit!

**Knowing that this is Nickelback, it should go without saying this is my censored version**

My Life According to...

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)"



Pick your Artist:
Nickelback

Describe yourself:
I’d Come For You

How do you feel:
Not Leaving Yet

Describe where you currently live:
Far Away

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Hollywood

Your favorite form of transportation:
Sea Groove

Your best friend:
Someone That You’re With

You and your best friend are:
Diggin’ This

What's the weather like:
Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good

Favorite time of day:
This Afternoon

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Where Do I Hide

What is life to you:
Gotta Be Somebody

Your relationship:
Never Gonna Be Alone

Your fear:
Fight For All The Wrong Reasons

What is the best advice you have to give:
If Everyone Cared

Thought for the Day:
If Today Was Your Last Day

How I would like to die:
Old Enough

My soul's present condition:
Deep

My motto:
Learn The Hard Way

I knew they spoke too me. Who knew they spoke for me so well...

The Battle of the Oak

Last night on the menu for dinner:

Roast with gravy, from Costco

Baked Mac n' Cheese, from Target

Green Beans, picked 30 minutes prior form the garden and steamed

Then there was this boy:

And a table:

(this one is more along the lines of my *next* table)

And 3.5 hours!!!

The boy would not eat his green beans. He went back for seconds on meat. He wasn't full, just picky. That doesn't fly at my house. There were tears. There were pleas.

It didn't work.

He sat. Until the beans were gone.

It took him 5 minutes to eat those beans once I leaned against the wall and started the out loud mantra of "Put one in your mouth." "Put one in your mouth." "Put one in your mouth."

5 Minutes! After waiting for 3.5 hours!

Maybe we need to work on math skills.

(p.s. I so won.)

Thankful Thursday

This week there are a couple things to be thankful for that are kicking and screaming and jumping out at me.


This WAS my background on my work computer for a long while......


This is my back ground right now. It's where I met up with Ben last time he was on a trip to San Diego. I had two amazing weeks in Coronado with my husband and kids!

Thankful#1--- In August I am heading to Cali for some training. I'm staying in Laguna Beach, my hotel is right by the ocean, they take chairs down to the beach for you. I'm going surfing. I am SO california dreamin' right now. Sometimes I just sit and stare at my computer, nothing up, just the picture, waiting to be there again.

Thankful#2--- In December I have some more training to attend. Also going is Tiffany!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This time it's off to San Diego. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MY FAVORITE PARTS OF SAN DIEGO WITH HER!!! One of my best friends, one of the best towns, and some of the best mexican food you can get. Does it get any better? Oh yeah it does! It's paid for! SAA-WEET! Hold on for a wild ride Tiff. :)

Passion

My passion of late..... Iced Passion! I am so grooving on unsweetened iced tea. Herbal and fruity and wonderful. There are a few flavors that I like, but the Passion is rocking my world!

And I don't think it's any coincidence that my favorite tea is also purple. Pretty sure they did that just for me.

Why I've been absent....

Between the pain that I feel right before popping these babies and the shakes that I get afterwards I haven't had it in me to think too much. Yup you heard me shakes. From the 65 mg X the 4 pills that I pop at a time. How sad is it that a tiny amount of caffeine......wait tiny amount let me check........ So 8ozs of Mountain Dew has 36mg of caffeine and everyone knows that no one drinks 8ozs of anything at a time. (thankyou pepsi) A double shot mocha, regardless of size, can land you somewhere around 144mg. (thank you energyfeind.com) Hmmmm, I guess I would have to be double fisting 20oz mochas to keep up with my double dosage of Excedrin. Maybe that explains the dizziness. :)

If only two worked than I would have no prob cutting back a little, but sadly even with my fail safe, glory drug, Midol, I have to resort to 4 pills at once--60 mgs of caffeine a pop there. Stinkin' headaches and cramps!


And while I'm at it........
This stuff, has the EXACT SAME STUFF as the migraine formula.......see:


From the Excedrin Website itself.....


EXCEDRIN® Migraine Product Information
Drug Facts
Active ingredients (in each tablet) Purposes
Acetaminophen 250 mg …………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Aspirin 250 mg ……………………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Caffeine 65 mg ………………………………………………………………………Pain reliever aid
Uses
• treats migraine


And then......

Excedrin® Extra Strength Product Information
Drug Facts
Active ingredients (in each tablet) Purposes
Acetaminophen 250 mg …………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Aspirin 250 mg (NSAID)* ………………………………………………………Pain reliever
Caffeine 65 mg ………………………………………………………………………Pain reliever aid
*nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Uses
• temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to:
• headache
• a cold
•arthritis
• muscular aches
• sinusitis
• toothache
• premenstrual & menstrual cramps


And when I went to the Walgreen's site and looked up the 100 count gel-tabs forboth varieties, the migraine style costs 50 cents more. Why? is it because if you have a migraine your that much more desperate? But the poor, poor people with the cramps, muscle aches, arthritis, colds and headaches aren't?


I was trying to explain this to Ben last night. His words....."I don't care what the ingredients say, the migraine works better."



Really? You think so?


If I just handed you a handful of pills would you really know the difference.


(I might. Being the connoisseur of medication that I am. )


But Ben, let's face it, he takes what I buy. I think I see an experiment coming up.

Why is it I can never get a speeding ticket when I desperately want one? You know, like right after I have a not so mild disagreement with my husband.

Mmm Breakfast

Oatmeal with chocolate chips in it. Yum! I just felt right this morning. It came to me as I was walking up the stairs.

It was pretty yummy when I first put the chips in and they instantly got nice and gooey. But now at the end after some scooping and stirring......It's all chocolaty everywhere! I think I need another helping.

Except maybe just a slightly bigger helping of chocolate this time....... :)