This Blog is Private...

This blog is private, but not really. Actually, private is my other way of saying that only a handful of people read this blog and that those who do, already know what I am about to actually document in this post.

A Personal Post

Father's day just passed a couple weeks ago and reading through posts on Facebook and Twitter, I ran across many people taking a stand for absentee fathers.  Posting things like, "Happy Fathers Day to ALL fathers, even absentee fathers..." blah, blah, blah.  Well, I didn't respond to those posts then because everyone is entitled to their own opinion and when it comes to a touchy subject that is based solely on personal experience, it's just not something I feel is appropriate to discuss via social network.

Juicy Finds

Have you clicked through my "Blogs I Devour" section to the right?  If you have time please do, you will not be disappointed!

Everyday I spend an incredible amount of time window shopping.  And sometimes, just sometimes I find something that I absolutely believe I cannot live without.  Like, this or these or even this entire collection.  See what I mean?  Anyhow, here is a brief list of things I'd either like to purchase or make myself.  Go ahead and look, be inspired!

PS. Isaac and kids, if you're reading (I know you're not but if you are) I would not be upset if you purchased this entire list for me for Christmas--complete with the beach rental getaway.  Thanks in advance!

Swinging Ponies

A little bit ago I wrote a post about the Things I Love.  Clearly, I was on some corny, sentimental, "my life is great and I'm running through a field of daisies" type high.  Just for proper balance and for the sake of keeping it real I decided I'd share with you a few things that really, really irritate me.

1. Bicyclists who ride their bikes (full speed) on city sidewalks-FAIL. You know, the sidewalks where pedestrians walk because they don't feel like getting hit by cars? In college I was run over by one of these cyclists. I won't go into excruciating detail but let's just say I learned the value in using more than just a couple bobby pins to secure my (fake) ponytail. There's nothing more humbling than having to search for your hair on a busy college roadway after being plowed down by a neurotic bicycle freak. No, I'm not bitter at all.

Yesterday Was Hard!

If you could have snapped a picture of me last night after finally putting my kids to bed, I would have looked something like this.

Yesterday I had an internal meltdown, I think I combusted just a little on the inside if that's possible.  My children took me to the edge of insanity and it seemed like forever before I was reeled back in by my poor and unsuspecting husband.  Luckily he was home before I could take my aggression out on the GIANT chocolate bar with roasted almonds and sea salt lurking in the pantry.  He must have seen the fire raging wildly in my eyes, the salted crumbs around my mouth leftover from attacking the last few tortilla chips I could find.  Either way, he rescued me from a downward spiral that could have ended in a really bad tummy ache and regret.

Finally, More Space!

The month of June will mark the beginning as well as the end of a lot of great things.  First, school is finally out as of June 13th, YAY!  My daughter is officially finished with kindergarten and will be attending school with her big brother next school year.  My son is saying farewell to the 2nd grade and will be moving on with the big dogs to third grade.  Nice.  PLUS, we finally (after lamenting at the smallish size of homes in our current location) found a three bedroom, two bathroom, 1900 sq. foot home with get this...a ROOF TOP DECK!  Yes, paaaaaartaaaaay!  The only drawback is that instead of driving every morning three and a half minutes to get to school, we'll be driving (in traffic) a torturous 11 or so miles.  Small sacrifice if you ask me compared to what we are getting.

Also, June 2nd is flag football playoffs and we are over the moon excited!  My husband coaches my son's team, The Headbangerz, and of course I am team mom.  I am amazed and so proud of all the effort my husband puts into this team.  And it pays off, our team is 4 and 2 and will hopefully clench the championship this year.

And one last feel-good thing for the day...

My daughter, who takes art classes at the Crocker Museum, received a great compliment from her pottery teacher.  She said to my husband, "Your daughter is a real artist."  Then she mentioned something about focus and attention to detail, but honestly my husband's heart was so swelled up with pride, that things are a little foggy from there.  Basically, my daughter is a genius.  LOL (kinda just kidding but not really).

Pushing Through Bushes

I was cleaning out my phone yesterday, ridding it of all its chaos, when I stumbled upon a short video of my daughter singing a song she'd made up just minutes before.  I love the song, but my favorite verse goes something like this, "Going through days is hard, hard, hard.  I'm pushing through bushes to get to the rainbow."  Have you ever had to push through bushes to get to your rainbow?  Such insight from my five year old princess!  

On another note, we are in the throws of planning an impromptu family vacation.  Actually, the truth is we were all scheduled and reserved to spend an entire week in Seattle and for reasons I cannot elaborate on right now, we had to cancel.  Phooey!  But not so phooey at the same time...oh you'll get it soon enough.  Anyway, we're thinking of attempting an extended road trip.  My mom did it with my sister and I when we were little and it's the one (out of several) road trip that I happily recall.  And understandably so, I mean, what parent wouldn't want to spend countless hours of drive-time listening to your children argue over every minute thing?  Hmmm... 

So far I found a GREAT deal at Knott's Berry Farm for the kids and we'll throw in some fancy things for the adults and a few cool things like dinner at Medieval Times and Venice Beach for my very cool teenage niece who'll be joining us as we trek the uncharted land of, well...California.  And a road trip would not be a road trip without hitting up some of the famous eateries of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  I'm excited--mostly because of the food we'll be consuming but all the other stuff is great too if you're into that sort of thing.  It's all good!  

And lastly, here is something that popped in my head last week as I was pulling out of my driveway, headed God knows where, rolling my window down because the dirt was just too thick to see through:

I like not having enough time to have my car washed and detailed.  My dirty car is an homage to the amount of time and energy I put into being a mother and making a modest home into a house that is fit for a king!

And that, is a good thing!  (In my Martha Stewart voice)