Daily thought

A hug is a handshake from the heart.
— Anonymous

So, hugs to all my family and friends who stop by our blog. I appreciate all of you. Family and friends are important and you are always in my thoughts :)

Think we are back to our routine after returning from Florida. Laundry is done and put away, suitcases put away. Only a few more things to put away and to finish going through the mail and emails. Still on a different time zone though. Back to work today for Tom and I :( Not fun. Oh well. Kids went off to their UCI writing and math program till 2:30. I have to make my time at home very productive.

We have to get the rest of Greg's football gear and finalize Evelyn's birthday plans. Can't believe my little girl is almost 11. Yep, 11. Planning on dinner, movie and sleepover Friday night for a few of her BFF's. Then it's time to plan Greg's birthday. He will be 9!! Growing up too fast.

Greg got his hair buzzed yesterday before getting fitted for his football helmet. He has been wearing around his helmet, pads and game pants. We have a lot more gear to get. Will need another closet just to put it all in! Practice starts July 30, next Monday. Yikes!

Well, back to work for me. Have a wonderful day and hugs to all of you who stop by :)
Will get to the Florida pix sometime.

We are home!

We are home! Had a super fantastic time! Have been up since 12:15 am CA time (3:15 am Florida time) and are tired, tanned, bug bitten and full of great stories to tell. Will post pix and stories when we get settled in.
Kaydee had fun redoing the landscape in the back yard for us while we were gone. Well, guess the gophers were there again to encourage her.

Ready to go!

Well, I did it! All ready to go! Just the last minute things to pack up in the morning. Weighed our suitcases too to make sure we are not over the limit. 50 lbs per perosn. I have room to spare too (he-he).
Kids had their dentist appointments this morning. I cancelled the lake as I wanted to have an easier day today. Got some antibiotics too although the dr. didn't see anything wrogn with the ear, but I sure feel it.
Animals are all set for our absence. So all that's left for today is Kumon, gas the car, vacum the house (like to leave a clean house when we go) and to bed early. We have a 7:45 am flight from John Wayne. Need to get up before dawn!
We touch down in Tampa around 6 pm. Hope to make it to the baseball game if all goes well getting luggage and the car. We have a layover in Denver.
Won't be on the computer while we are gone. so looking forward to a nice long break and relaxing. Have lots of books packed too. Any my camera and plenty of disc space.
Will report in when we return. :)

Why am I feeling so cruddy just days before we leave on vacation? Stomach all in knotts and kept me up most of the night, headache that makes me want to bang my head into a very hard object and what I am diagnosing as yet another sinus infection. I can not fly in this condition! Heading to the dr. this afternoon and hopefully the antibiotics will kick in prior to Thursday morning. Major dose of tylenol before getting into that plane. Well, at least my official vacation starts tomorrow so I can relax and go slowly as I am almost done packing. Trying to have a productive work day but kids are just not letting me, neither is my stomach, head and ear. I'm a mess! And I need to plan Evelyn's birthday party before we go so we can invite her friends! Yikes............................

Yo, June Bugs, didn't you catch the buzz..............it's July. July 10 to be exact. So, why are you still buzzing around my house? Yes, I do enjoy flicking you off my screen doors but don't like having to pick you up off my carpet in the house before the dog tries to eat you for a snack.
And it's July, so why is there June gloom? I don't know?

2 more days then it's vacation time! Kids have been counting down for more than a week. Think it's almost time for Greg to start counting hours.
Just about packed and know I am bringing way too much. But you never know. Going through the kids suitcases tonight, then mine tomorrow.
Still can't get pictures put in here or do titles. Oh well, least of my worries for now.
Finished my book last night and then started another and already 1/2 way through. Read way too late last night. "I know this much it true" by Wally Lamb. Great book! Highly recommend it. Now I'm reading "The Reckoning" by Beverly Lewis. She is a wonderful Christian writer. Love her books about the Amish.
Ok, back to packing and then getting some sleep. :)
Catch y'all later.

Sunday night already? What happened to the weekend? Well, I'll tell ya.
Slept in Saturday (love doing that!), took K on her walk and then I went on my run. Did tons of laundry (washing machine broke last weekend and it was fixed Friday morning). Cleaned out my car, started packing for our trip, got the oil changed in my car and the car washed, did more packing, finally put away all the stuff that was deposited in the back pack basket on the last day of school, did some shopping. Even did a little scrapbooking. Whew. Goes by fast.

Saturday afternoon the kids and I went horseback riding at the Ortega Equestrian Center in San Juan Capistrano. My mom told Evy she would take her horseback riding, so she treated me, Evy and Greg. It was a nice ride too, perfect riding weather. Greg's horse, Luther, just wanted to eat. We went through some pretty high bushes and his horse just dead stopped to munch. Greg couldn't get him started up again. Evy looked like a pro on her horse, Peanut, kept the horse from eating and right in line. Guess that weekend at Rawhide Ranch paid off! My horse, Cassie, was such a slow poke. Kept egging her on and as soon as she caught up, would put it in low gear again. But hey, I got to run her a few times when I really fell behind. Yee Ha!!
Thanks Mom, we had a fun time. :)

So, Thursday, July 12 we leave for Florida. We come back July 21. Have the kids mostly packed and my stuff mostly ready to go. Think I have everything we need for the trip. Lots of sun screen and bug spray, hats, bathing suits, new flippers and snorkels for the kids to bring too. We are flying to Miami then driving to the Everglades and down to Key Largo and Key West and possibly Miami. Greg really wants to see a baseball game when we are there. Got some great deals on hotels on Hotwire. We went to Disndyworld in 2000. Not going there this time, but will have plenty to do and see. 9 days of free time! No computers, cell phones, work, housework....... Ahhhh. Now that's a vacation!

Well, time to put away my scrap stuff and get some dinner. Just having a relaxing Sunday afternoon. I am almost done with my book and can't wait for the end. No I have not read ahead. "I Know This Much is True" by Wally Lamb. Great book too.

**Don't know what's happening here, but blogger won't let me put a title here or pictures :( Will upload the horse photos when I can.**

Our 4th of July

What an awesome day we had. And of course I took way too many pictures.
I overslept, but that was ok. Got up and took K for her walk (but I didn't run) and then got ready for the day.

We left at 9 to head over to the parade. Found a primo parking spot in a neighborhood near the parade route. A little investigating on my part the day before. Just a short walk up Lake Forest till we found where Diane and Rick had set out chairs and blankets for the parade. (Thanks for saving us great spots!!) Our neighbors Traci, Steve, Harrison, Halley and Hope came along too. They boys were brought their scooters so had something to keep them busy. Tom and Steve walked to Bagels N Brew for some bagels and ice tea and made it back in time for the parade.
Evelyn spent the night at Marissa's and of course they were up late so they slept late. We had a nice crowd for the parade.

This is the 9th year we have gone to the parade. Some entries are still the same and there is always some new ones. But I still like going, and so do the kids.
The highlights are the cars, horses and of course anyone who hands out candy.

The pictures above are Evy and Marissa, Rick and Diane, Halley, Hope, Greg & Harrison, My favorite car (hint hint) and Our church Youth Ministry

After the parade we headed home and chilled for awhile. Greg swam in the pool and I sat on the couch and watched some HGTV. Around 3 my mom came over and Evelyn and Marissa came over as we had plans to head to the Street Faire in Mission Viejo. Our first time. We headed over around 4 and were able to find a fairly good parking spot and didn't have to take the shuttle. Lots of booths with crafts and items for sale, food, drinks, activities and some rides. The girls rode in a very small Ferris wheel and did the inflatable rock climbing. We had some dinner, watched the BMX bike show and then headed back home.



















Pictures are Evy and Marissa on the climbing wall and the BMX guys upside down and doing jumps. Greg took most of the pictures of the bike show.

Then at 8:30, it was off to fireworks. We decided to drive to the top of Vista Del Lago and see what we could see from there. Janet and Paul came along with us too. We found a great spot! Parked almost at the top of Vista Del Lago and then followed some people up a dirt path. Wow! Talk about a view. We set out our blanket and chairs and the place started filling up. We even saw Christian and Travis from Greg's baseball team. What a great view for the fireworks. We could see the Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Irvine fireworks! Spectacular.

End of the day and we were all pooped. Felt like I had walked 10 miles that day. But it was well worth it. And the day just kind of fell into place.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!
Hope everyone has a safe and fun day, and night.
I love July 4th. One of my favorite holidays. This year I am passing on the 5k run in Lake Forest. But still going to the parade in Lake Forest. Have gone for the last 8 years!
This year we are meeting Evelyn's friend Marissa and her family at the parade. They live near Lake Forest (the street). Evy is staying over there tonight. They will get some seats in the morning along the curb. We plop down and wait for the parade to start.
This year we are going to hit the Street Fair in Mission Viejo. Never been before. Then fireworks somewhere. We can see them from our back yard. The kids said they wanted to see them from the lake. Will see how the day goes.
I remember going to Palos Verdes for the parade when we were kids. We would always go to a park by our house for fireworks. Things don't change much.
Looking forward to a family day tomorrow.
Let's also not forget the men and women who help keep our country the Home of the Free and the Brave!
Have fun everyone! and God Bless America!!!!!!!!!

Lobster tails and clams

The kids and I were at Henrys Sunday. Over at the meat counter, Greg spied the clams. "Can I get a clam?" Ok, we got 4, and 3 lobster tails.
Tonight for dinner we had clams and lobster tails. Yummy (not the clams)
I looked on the internet and found the easiest way to cook both. Steam. And it was easy.
The kids tried the clams, but didn't really like them. Greg loved the lobster, Evy said it was just ok, but she likes shrimp better.
The lobster was so juicy and sweet. Didn't really need butter.
So now that I know what I am doing, will have to cook some lobster again. Next time on the bbq.
Bon appetite!

A birthday party, a ride in the limo and airplanes overhead

Saturday was our friend Tricia's 40th birthday. Glenn (Tricia's husband) and Tom have been friends since they were kids. The party was at the King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach. Great place for party, right in the harbor, outside at sunset and so nice to see friends we have not seen in such a long time.

Before the party, we met at Patty and John's in Long Beach. John bought a limo several weeks ago and wanted to take us all to the party in the limo!! Of course we will go. The kids could hardly wait. Let me tell you , we sure went in style. The kids had sparkling cider (in sippy cups) and Tom, Patty and I had champagne. (no sippy cups). The kids got a kick of making faces at the people driving on the freeway who were staring at the car trying to see who was inside.

Evy and Greg ready to head out

Me, Tom, Patty

Tom, John, Patty

King Harbor Yacht Club

A beautiful sunsetAfter the party we headed over to LAX (Los Angeles airport) to watch the planes come in. There is the neat little park (by In and Out) under one of the run ways. We stood out in the dark under the planes watching them land, and could also see them take off. It is so neat to watch the plane when all you can see is a light in the sky until it is directly over you and then land on the run way.

The kids and I fell asleep on the way back to Long Beach. It was nice to have someone else driving. Evelyn is making plans and hoping for a limo ride for her birthday.

Thanks Patty and John for a very memorable Saturday afternoon and evening. It was perfect!

Summer Pool

Every Summer we put up a pool. Normally it's a big blow up pool and that's all the kids need for hours of fun. A few years ago we bought a larger one with a pump, cover, deeper. Didn't put it up last year for whatever reason. So, we dug it out from the rafters in the garage and set it up on part of the patio. It's bigger than I remember and this time on flat ground so works better. Saturday morning we filled it up and the kids couldn't wait to get in. The neighbor kids came over too for a swim in the pool.



The kids swam tonight until about 8:30. They couldn't wait to get home from Peyton's birthday party and get into the pool to swim some more.