The other weekend it was just me and my girl, Avery. Ash was with Hubby camping with the boy scouts. I love it when I am able to spend time one on one with my one of my kids. So of course we did as many things as we could together that only we , (Avery and I) could enjoy.

Those things included shoe shopping, flower shopping, mani/ pedicures, eating hot and oh so fresh donuts from Krispy Kreme, and driving around in a totally cool car.

A great fab weekend with my most fab daughter.

By the Way.. we were driving around Hubby's 1968 Chevy Cheville. He took the "family" car, I usually drive daily, to the scouting trip. (Acura MDX)

So we ended up in the Cheville for the weekend.

No AC, no airbags, no radio, no proper seatbelts.... No Problem.

But lots of personality and lots of togetherness in the front seat.

And lots of staring from peeps on the street.

I absolutely love this photo of Avery up above.

Doesn't she look like someone from the film, "The Outsiders" or "Rumble Fish"?

In other words.. don't mess with her..

Krispy Kreme donuts to the left. Get em while they're hot. And yes...we certainly did.

Flowers from LOWES. I love gardening. And I do love fresh dirt underneath my fingernails.

Maybe that's why I can't keep a good manicure?

Must be a growing up on a ranch kind of thing.

A Little Bit of a Fighter

We all got a bit of a fighter in us don't we?

Even my sweet lil boy Asher.

He is seriously smoked in the above picture..

But I love his spirit. Gloves up and ready. Ready to tackle that bag.

Asher workin it out.

Who knew he was so aggressive?

Guess there is more to him than meets the eye.

Like all of us.

Taking out all his cares and worries and troubles on a bag.

Go get em Asher!

What a great example of where our frustrations need to go.

Not towards our family and friends, not towards ourselves.

Not through unhealthy obsession.

But through sweat, tears, and working it out.

We all gotta fight the good fight.

I'm just trying to make sure my fight is isn't hurting the ones I love.

Because Heaven knows.. I've got a little bit of a fighter inside of me too.

A Most Excellent Adventure

RAGING WATERS SAN DIMAS STYLE!

TOTALLY AWESOME!

Today was Raging Waters in San Dimas. Yes the Raging Waters in San Dimas from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".

DUDE!

It's a great park. Tucked away in the hills surrounded by trees and a reservoir. Today was the final culmination of Avery's 12th birthday. Instead of a party she chose Raging Waters and invited two of her good friends. I admit, I didn't feel up to doing a big party by myself without Hubby.

Everything went smoothly until the bees. I noticed there seemed to be an unusually large amount of dead bees on the sidewalks. Turns out the park had a beehive problem up on one of the slides. Three of us stepped on bees. Myself included. Avery's required special attention though. The rest I was able to pull out the stingers.

The bees were the beginning of our little mishaps. One of the girls didn't tell us she had never been on a waterslide before and was scared to death. She went on a few. Soon she was sick. Then she was pale. Then she had to lay down. Poor thing.

Then it was little things like stubbed toes, torn fingernails, bloody elbows, cut up feet from the sidewalks.

Thank goodness for wonderful dipping dots ice-cream and funnel cake.

Sometimes I wonder if I try to do too much without the Hubby. Should I have done the easy thing and gone to a film or something?

Hmmm....But where's the excellent adventure in that? Water parks are definitely a most excellent adventure. I am happy I am young enough and let's face it...Cool enough to do it. In fact, I had an awesome time.

I'm thinking of doing a sequel.

After only one ride, Avery stepped on the first bee. I could not get the stinger out so first aid was called. He had to cut the lil bugger out. Avery was very brave. After all, she just got her ears pierced didn't she?

The kids all loved the big wave. They had a great time on it and the wipeouts were spectacular!

It was mostly cold for my taste. High was 78 degrees which, water park weather, that is not! the bright side is nobody got a sunburn.

I kept my sweater on mostly. Until realized I would be "one of those moms" if I didn't go on the rides. I went on all of them. Yes, even the ones that give you a serious wedgie. And Yes, even the really big, scary ones.

Dippin Dots are seriously one of my fav things about amusement parks. I always order some. I get banana split flavor.

I had a hard time sharing with the kids.

The kids got funnel cake as we were leaving the park. They forgot all about their boo boos and upset tummies.

Funnel cake will do that to you.

I even had good traffic there AND back.

That was seriously excellent.

Happy Birthday Avery!!!

Phew!

Is your 12th bday celebration over yet?

I'm a bit tired

Ummm..

I'm just wondering if anyone noticed my oh so modest swimsuit. It's the one I talked about in a previous post. So what do you think Karen? Am I a lady yet? Is it modest enough?

Have to admit, was happy to wear it in cooler weather and no top malfunctions on the slides :)

Avery is growing up and I might be too

My daughter turned 12 on Sunday. Since I can remember she has wanted her ears pierced. I always said 12 was a good time. Last year on her 11th birthday she said, "Only one more year until I can get my ears pierced!"

Oh No! That came too quickly! Where has the time gone??

I thought about changing the event to 14 yrs. old but Hubby said that wouldn't be fair.

He was right.

So instead of resisting change and trying to not let my daughter grow up. I decided to embrace change and embrace growth.

I got my ears pierced too!

Yes, I am a 33 year old woman whose father never let me pierce my ears. After I was 18 I thought I was cool and hip to not have my ears pierced. It made me different and "unique". So I thought. Now I realized that part of my journey to becoming a lady isn't about using outside to affect the inside. If am cool and hip or unique...it's not because my ears aren't pierced. And to tell the truth, I always secretly wanted them... but I didn't want to be like everyone else.

silly, I know

Avery making sure the marks were just right

So brave and excited!

Uh oh.... She got nervous and wasn't sure she wanted to go through with it. But did I mention I went first so she could watch me? I was a great example.

That was my brave face. The anticipation was the worst. And that was my second ear!

( That's my brave anticipation face in case you were wondering)

I know, bad example. Maybe that was the problem.

Avery, after her first ear, got queazy and passed right out!!

I guess her anticipation was too much as well!

And I wasn't even there to catch her. Down she went on the floor. I think I just caught her head.

Mother of the year that day I was not.

The poor thing didn't even know what happened and she swore it was only because she leaned too far over in the chair.

It took 10 minutes for her to get the courage up to do her second ear. She hugged onto the teddy bear the lady gave her and I hugged her from the back.

And this time I held on tight in case she went over again.

I'm a quick learner.

Yep! All grown up now.

This ladylike thing is a growth in progress...

Memorial Day

Spent most of my day with the kids putting flowers on relative's graves.

And to tell the truth, I wasn't quite interested to do it. My mother asked me to stop by my grandpa's, great grandpa's, and great great grandpa's and wife's graves today. I could come up with a few more enjoyable activities than searching for old graves and crypts.

And I was a bit grumpy today. Hubby is gone for a month or so doing his Army job. It seems he is always out of town doing his Army job during Memorial Day. I find that a bit ironic.

But then this morning I saw this picture.

This photo breaks my heart.

I feel it's almost inappropriate for me to put this photo on my blog. It's an intimate moment that I'm sure wasn't meant to be captured on film. But I'm also grateful for it.

It helped me remember that I have not sacrificed too much. If my Memorial Day is about missing Hubby and feeling a bit lonely that's ok. He has always come back safe and sound. The kids and I do miss him terribly when he's gone. But we also are comforted knowing he is doing important work. Work that most people wouldn't do nor most wives let their hubbies do.

(I must be crazy!)

So instead of staying grumpy and ungrateful I took the kids to get some cheeseburgers, bought some flowers and off to the cemeteries we went.

Thank goodness for a beautiful LA day. We spent hours searching for graves.

Those maps are not as easy to read as they look!

Our own taste of Glee

On Thursday night we went to the Burbank High School Pop Show. We had some kids from our church performing.

Show Choir is just like the TV show, "Glee". I was absolutely blown away by the performances. The stage, sound, props, lighting, was so professional. I had to remind myself that these were true teenagers and not adults playing teenagers

(Glee)

I was so proud of the kids in our ward. They had solos and definitely stood out as some of the best performers.

I have to admit...I got a wee bit emotional watching them.

I try so hard to eat healthy and provide healthy food for my kids in the home and for lunches, but waiting in line for Pop Show...not so much.

And besides, the money goes for a good cause!

Burbank High School is actually one of the top high schools in the nation for show choir. They have consistently been in the top 3 for many years.



The kids enjoyed the show and sat
glued to their seats.

Already Asher and Avery have been bugging me to get them an agent and audition for commercials.

(GULP

Not sure if I'm ready for that but seeing the show planted more seeds for them.

Yes, I got caught with a piece of cheese pizza.

This is what happens when you don't make dinner before you go.

I have a confession to make.

...........................

I absolutely hate the TV show Glee. What's all the fuss about anyways? I think I'm the only one who doesn't love the show. Tried it a few times...couldn't get into it.

Don't hate me.

Fab Lunch Date

Today I had a free day. No clients,no errands to run. So I chose to wear "normal" clothes. I am usually wearing workout clothes so it become enjoyable to put on jeans and a tee shirt. So what to do on a free day?

Have a lunch date of course!

I absolutely enjoy my lunch dates. To me they are a huge luxury. I do not take them for granted. I am absolutely aware of how fabulous lunch dates are. Especially with fab friends.

Melissa and I try to get together as often as we can. Which usually ends up once a month. Melissa is a fab friend who makes me laugh so much my face hurts! She is also a fabulous actress and singer. She was in the national tour of Jersey Boys.

We chose to eat at a Thai food place. Wonderful food with wonderful ambiance. Summer seems to be officially here in LA and we took advantage of it and sat on the porch.

Melissa...dreaming of her pear salad

I love this shot of her up above. She looks like a 70s bombshell. Can't you just see Charlie's Angels in this shot?

We couldn't resist. We got a bear claw with pecans at the next door chocolate factory. YUMMY!

(Reason #642 why I LOVE Los Angeles)