One Month Down, 9 to go!

So not much is happening here in california. School is school. Tay is doing very well so far (fingers crossed). She started Faith formation (catholic high school here we come!)She might play basketball if they change the practice date. Still waiting for that phone call. Oh and the big news we finally started the steps towards braces. As seen in the picture below:


Headgear is the first step to fix the jaw then the actual braces go on. We expect some time this year 2008 but it might not be until 2009. Tay is the only kid I know looking forward to braces. Crazy!

October is looking to be a busy month. Birthday parties every weekend. Including a trip for mom to so cal. to see the nephew for his birthday. Also looking forward to seeing the cruise friends again. Keep your fingers crossed for an ocean view room too. That would be nice.
We had our first rain or sprinkle. But since that happened I have turned off the sprinklers and will hope it starts raining enought to keep the lawn green.

All the shows are starting back up again. Totally hooked on Hero's and still very confused. I haven't really seen a new show that has knocked my socks off yet but there's still time.

Cya all next month.

Erika's getting OLD!

The gangs all here! Gathered together on Saturday in St. Helena for Erika's 35th Birthday. It was a fun day all around. We met the birthday girls hubby at a park to drop off the minor child (hahaha) and then headed over to merryville winery for some wine tasting. I discovered a dessert wine I liked, something new! After the wine tasting we headed over to the park to meet up with the grandparents and children and Erikas sister made up some food. I don't want to downplay lunch, but I've been looking forward to it as soon as I heard elisa was coming in to town (from Denver) to cook for her sisters birthday. What a wonderful present for us all! She is such a great cook and I have missed her food for years. Although my body hasn't. We had a great time and taylor and annalise bonded again. They begged for a sleepover, but we had plans on sunday already and so did annalise. Those girls are so cute together! I can't believe how big they are. I'd have pictures of them but my batteries died after the crappy shot above. Oops...

5th grade Rules!

Taylor is too cool for her desk!
Today was the first day of school for taylor. The last year of elementary school. She rules above all the lower grades...or so they'd have you believe. We had a beautiful argument this morning over uniforms. It's funny to me that for the last 5 years she has worn a uniform with no issues and now in the LAST YEAR that she has to wear one a simple argyle vest ruined her day. She wanted to wear it over her uniform shirt and I simply informed her that it was not in the dress code. That was it...a happy morning turned into a chore. Now this is not news to her which was the frustrating part for me! We eventually left our house and arrived at school nice and early. Plenty of parking! Taylor beat her teacher in and bounced around visiting people. I chit chatted with a ton of moms...catching up on summer plans and looking forward to the school year. I hardly got anything accomplished today with all the visitors and new moms coming in to check on their account...sign up kids for stuff etc. The day FLEW BY! This month ought to fly by and then next and so on...just kidding. Hope everyone elses first days were great!
Taylor and Caroline...kinda twin like..not even planned!


Look how cute my litte leah is..my favorite kindergartner!

She's Home!

My daughter returned from camp today! I am very excited to have her home. She is currently in bed resting from her long trip home. I had a fun drive down with Alex's parents and brother. We stayed at a hotel close to camp and ventured over this morning to meet the girls. I couldn't believe how I started crying when I saw her at camp. Good thing I was wearing my sunglasses! After the hugs and catching up we went up to the rec room for their awards ceremony. My daughter and her friend cleaned up! Tay got alot of ribbons and certificates and her best ones were "all around girls" camper and 1st place in animal care and horsemanship. Her friend got a ton of awards too but her favorite was the "all around" camper. That was fantastic. She thought taylor was going to get that one too but she pulled it out and it made her very happy. She lost grand champion horse by 1/2 a point so the plaque she got for the all around made up for it. The girls had a great time and taylor can't wait to go back next year. She's already informed me that she wants to go back for 3 weeks next year!

Now it's time to get ready for school! We're getting a hair cut and some new uniforms and shoes during the next week and then off to school after labor day. Hope everyone had a great summer. I look forward to this year and the challenges that 5th grade will hold for my daughter.

I've discovered the Bay Area...and I like it!

This past weekend I had a friend from out of town come in to visit. Plans were made and I was to be a tour guide of the SF Bay Area. Now I don't know about you, but I haven't really toured around the bay area. Growing up here you really take advantage of the amazing places we have to offer. That said, here's the run down of my tour guide abilities!
We started off by going straight to the Apple campus in Cupertino. I'm not an apple fan but my friend was and wanted to see the "mothership". Additionally, they have a company store there that sells items only available at the company store. It really wasn't all that exciting and in the end even the apple freak wasn't that impressed. BUT we took pictures and got some "available only" souveniers. After that we headed to my favorite local restaurant, Lark Creek, and had a great meal. I love the meatloaf there and their Lemon Drops are outstanding.
The next day we headed to Alcatraz and SF. Again, haven't been there in years but off we went. It was very cool. They have an audio tour that is included in your ticket price and it was very interesting. Then we walked down to Pier 39 and the wharf. We walked all over. Looking at the crazy souveniers. Down to Ghiradelli square and back to pier 39. We saw the sea lions..they were cute. I had planned on walking the Golden Gate bridge but we spent so much time at the wharf that we just went up to Coit Tower, Down lombard and then over to ocean beach, where Brian went into the Pacific ocean for the first time! I know it was only feet, but it counts. After that we headed over to Oakland to see the A's play the 1st place white sox (Bris hometown team). After the white sox had developed a lead, I am proud to say that our hometown team pulled ahead with a walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th to win it. Someone was bummed about the loss, but don't worry the White Sox came back and won the next 2 games on saturday and sunday. Saturday we headed down to monterey. I have to say that was the most boring part for me. It was cloudy and cold. Not so much to see. We went to the aquarium, which saved the day. It was really neat. Lots of otters! After that we headed to Santa Cruz and luckily saw some sea lions just milling about on a pier. We stopped and took some pics and then travelled on. The Boardwalk was crowded with lots of people. We rode the Giant Dipper and then the Carousel which was fun. Like riding it with a 4 year old! Then got free tickets to a new ride. Some shoot out computer generated one. It was fun. I came in 2nd, Brian came in first. Someone gloated over that for a while.


Sunday we headed over to Marin. It was foggy and cold but we went over to the Golden Gate bridge. I took a wrong turn, which ended up being a right turn and discovered an overlook I had no idea existed. Beautiful views of the bridge, city etc on the pacific and the bay side. We then headed down and parked and walked out a 1/3 of the way. I haven't done that for 20 years. It was very interesting. I wouldn't take the kid out there cause it's scary being up so high, but it'll be fun one day. The weekend is over..time to start getting back into the real world. Work and picking up tay from camp this weekend. Soon enough school will start and 5th grade will bring on a whole new challenge!
Hope everyone had a great summer.

Our first sleepaway camp!

Sunday morning we got up and got ready for Taylors first time at sleepaway camp. She was going with her BFF alex for two weeks and Jacinda and Hannah are going to be there for one week. It was very emotional for ME! Not my child she was all...ok mom cya while I wanted to hug her and unpack and stay there for hours. Her camp is down in So cal right across from the beach. Well night right across but you up in the hills. A beautiful view driving down.








We took some pictures, got her registered and settled and then I left.




I headed back up to nor cal on the long drive home. 6 hours later I arrived at my house and gave my cat some attention, took a nap and finished this blog. I hope taytay has fun at camp! I'll miss her, but I have an exciting week coming up..more to come.


Tay and Sad mommy Alex and Steph

Birthdays and Bull Riding?!?

Saturday we had a lazy morning and waited for the rest of our crew to join us. Heather, Cameron, Lori, Tim, Kristen, Emily, Marr, Jacinda, Dom, Aaron and his daughter Hannah we all expected to arrive after 10am. Heather and Cam arrived first followed by my partner in crime Lori and family which included taylors BFF from the cruise Kristen. Marr and clan didn't make it to Bubbas before leaving for lunch but they were going to meet us at the restaurant. It was a big birthday party for Dom (5), Emily and Brooke (both 6) at a local pizza place. The kids played video games, ate pizza and impatiently waited for marr and clan to show up. Luckily she made it just before we were going to cut the cake without them. The birthday kids had a great time and happily opened their presents.
Thanks for the cake BandV! It was great. After lunch we headed over to the beach to park and take the shuttle to the Ventura County Fair. This is where the fun began. Carnie food and lots of it. I was not feeling so great from all the crap I had eaten over the weekend, but I had to have funnel cake. We all split up and hit different parts of the fair. Lori and I took Kristen and taylor to the big rides first. Then we found tim and emily and went off to find the livestock. I went to my very first rodeo and saw the bull riders.
I was impressed. My first rodeo...so many people who would be impressed by that! After the rodeo we finally found the livestock. I took pictures of the grand champion heifer and swine and we walked around and saw all of the other animals. Then Lori took emily to use the last of her tickets. Tim and I and the kids found everyone else sitting down and we got my funnel cake, corn dog and beer and relaxed. We all decided it was time to leave and headed back on our special yellow bus shuttle to the beach. We took some time at the beach to let the kids run around and play in the sand. It was a beautiful evening and the kids had a great time. Then we headed back to the house to start our evening of reminising of vacations past. Of course it included drinking and plans for our next vacation. Repo anyone!? Summer 2010! We had to say goodbye to heather, cam, lori, tim, kristen and emily as they were just down for the day.
Taylor, kristen and emily. too cute!

It was sad to see them go but it was great to see them! Our night ended a little later than the previous night but we were all tore up and tired and bed was calling our names!