Splish Splash

Finally! The clouds spread and the sun appeared on Sunday, and brought with it decent weather...80 degrees! A sign that the water park was on our list of things to do and boy were the boys excited. We packed up our swim gear and headed to the Ravine to brave the chilly water. Okay, let me rephrase that, the boys braved the chilly water. I simply spectated! There's no way I was putting foot in the frigid kiddie pool if I didn't have to. Thank, Jim! We were met by Mike and Michael Mazur about an hour into our adventure which gave ample opportunity for some little boys horseplay. We are so lucky to have such a fun summer spot to play at and to keep cool. Matthew and I watched from the lounge chair for most of the trip, but he did get a chance to splash around for a bit. I enjoyed the sun and the warmth that came with it.

When Push-Ups happen to good people

I think he got more on his face than he did in his tummy

Want a lick, mommy?

Joshua is getting a bit big for the kiddie pool, don't you think?

Dominic was having a blast!

Yay brothers!

Here's looking at you, mommy

Is it time to go home yet?

Free Makeover

For those of you who do not know, my husband is a very thrifty man. While driving down our street last Sunday, he saw a sign that read "FREE" on an over sized, wooden framed mirror. He didn't blink an eye as he sped down the street and backed into a neighbors driveway to load it up. I'm sure visions of grandeur were running through his mind, but at that moment all I could think was, "great, another item for our already cluttered garage!"

On Friday his vision was complete....and might I add to my overwhelming satisfaction. The mirror ended up being the perfect size for our Western themed bathroom. (Albeit the darn thing weighed about 75 pounds and took two of us to hang it on the wall.) It's like it was meant to be.

Before

forgive the Christmas decorations - it's the only photo I had

Out with the old...

.....in with the new (after a few coats of paint on the wall)

I am truly blessed with an artistic and creative husband. His handyman skills are second to none. Thanks, honey, for all you do around the house and yard. You make me proud!

Staying Busy

I've enjoyed a very adventurous few days with the family, and am looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I arrived home at 8:15am on Thursday and quickly unpacked before taking the little boys to school. Dominic was happy to see me and Matty just wanted to push my suitcase around. I dropped the boys off at daycare and had to summarize my defunct Nashville trip multiple times before I made it out the door. By then, I was pretty much over it and resolved to have a much better day. I was able to visit Joshua's classroom in the morning and enjoyed a few rounds of Bingo before I helped Joshua with his nutrition book. He was absolutely excited to see me and was even more anxious for me to return in the afternoon for his ice cream sundae party. Jim and I enjoyed a late breakfast at Cowgirl Cafe, my second of the day since I had a bowl of cereal at 3:30 before heading to the airport. I took a quick nap while Jim hit the gym and then we attended the ice cream social for the 1st grade classes.

......and then on to a visit with Tim, our Barber. Matthew was a bit overdue so we decided today would be a good day for a trim. Matthew did so well and enjoyed munching on two different suckers while he got his hair cut. It's all we could do to keep him from turning his head constantly. It just amazes me to see the transformation from baby to little boy when babies get their hair cut. Matthew looked handsome in his new 'do and wears it well. After a quick trip to Wal-Mart, we picked Josh and Dominic up and headed to the pizza parlor. Overall, Thursday turned out to be a good day.

Friday was the last day of school for Joshua and his class participated in Field Day in the morning. Jim and I joined his class and enjoyed a fun round of activities. We arrived a few minutes late so we missed the water table, but we arrived in time for everything else. Josh and his friends took a turn at dodge ball, donned colored scarfs for a round of dancing, participated in a playground obstacle course, use pom-pom balls for a game of tag, played underneath a large parachute, enjoyed a competitive round of fill the bucket, and drew pictures using chalk on the blacktop. Jim and I followed the class around and enjoyed a little fun too! We returned at 12:35pm to pick Joshua up from his last day of first grade. His classroom was barren as Mrs. Spencer had done a great job of filling every nook and cranny of the cabinets with the multitude of items from the classroom. We are all looking forward to a fun and exciting summer before returning for second grade, and the "big school" across the street. (Joshua's school has two campuses; Bauer houses K-1 and Speck houses 2-5, hence the name Bauer-Speck school)

Best Buds - Julian, Rafael, Joshua, and Jose

Joshua's Class - Room 9

Joshua's team races to the finish....and WINS!

Jim and Joshua play a game of hangman

Room 9 gets the Sillies Out

Katie and Mrs. Spencer joined the fun too!

Yesterday afternoon was spent at the movie theater. We offered to watch Joshua's friend Cole for the afternoon, so we took all three boys (Cole, Josh, and Dom) to see Up. Wow! My sister warned me that this was an emotional movie, but nothing prepared me for the roller coaster of emotions it brought on. What a great movie! It really brought out the priority of friends and family in our lives. The boys enjoyed it too....especially the part where they each received popcorn and candy!

Last night we visited our neighbors house for Jessica's High School Graduation party. We had homemade tacos (YUM!) and visited with a house full of their friends and family. We certainly do love our neighbors. Fabian and their youngest daughter Jennifer were absent as Jennifer had a softball tournament in Vegas today. I had to laugh. Peg's sister Dorothy (both are neighbors - Peg lives next door, Dorothy lives on the hill above us) had to return to her house to pick up the cake. Dominic insisted on riding with her, even though he does not really know her. She was shocked....apparently he talked her ear off the entire time. He was telling her about how much he loved his mommy and daddy, but that he didn't really love Joshua since Joshua didn't love him. What a ham our Dommy is!

Here's to another fun day filled with laundry, house cleaning, and maybe a trip to the waterpark depending on the weather.

You've Got to be Kidding me!

I've been excited for today for the past 6 weeks or so. Excited to see Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Reba, Nashville, but especially my friend Brandie. Thanks to United Airlines today is not going to happen. I awoke at 3am to prepare for my day and arrived at the airport at 5am to check in. I received a call last night reporting that my flight had been delayed and that instead of arriving in Nashville at 1:47pm, I would be arriving at 4:44pm. I didn't think anything about it since I would still arrive in time to see several of my favorite country acts tonight. Imagine my disgust when the ticketing agent at the counter informed me that I would arrive at 4:44pm TOMORROW, not today. She tried feverishly to find me an alternate flight into Nashville with no luck. Because I was scheduled to leave at 9:30am Sunday, it hardly made sense to fly all day tomorrow and miss two days of the event. The airline industry really does a disservice to people, and the biggest issue I have is that they really do not care. Don't get me wrong, the agent at the airport was pleasant and willing to assist me. She was very apologetic and understanding. Because I used airline miles to buy the ticket, I had to contact their reservations department to have my miles credited. The lady on the phone was in no way apologetic to the fact that I was not able to take my trip....simply saying "let's see, since your Bakersfield flight is delayed due to mechanical issues, I can put you on a flight....blah, blah, blah." I just wanted to tell her she was a complete idiot if she thought I had not already tried to rebook the flight. She never apologized or empathized with me.

So......now am I not only grounded in California, but I'm out $168 on the ticket I purchased to attend CMA Fan Fair. I suppose it does no good to book trips in advance since you end up getting screwed either way. I will make the best of my weekend off and enjoy some quality time with Jim. Hey, at least I won't miss Joshua's last day of school tomorrow.

June 9, 1931

One day; one wish; one very special woman. Happy Birthday, Grandma. May the angels celebrate you today, your would be 78th birthday. I will forever cherish the memories of carrot cake, big dinners, and a room full of love and laughter. I love you and miss you more than words can say.

http://huestisfamily.blogspot.com/2009/06/first-birthday-in-heaven.html

Must Haves

I've seen many of my friends blog about their "must-haves," so I thought I'd entertain you with mine. Aside from the necessity of my husband, children, family, and friends, there are a few things that I cannot live without. Of course there are quite a few more, but these are the staples....the things that I reach for daily without fail. Here goes...

My Blackberry Bold

I do realize that I work for AT&T, and that at times this thing is a nuisance, but I really cannot function without it. Aside from the multitude of contacts on the device, I organize my life with the calendar, and I love that I have access to both my personal and work email AND my blog and facebook. I can do so much on this little thing. What did we do before cell phones?

Folgers Half Calf Coffe

This is a staple in my household. Oftentimes I switch it up with regular Folgers when Jim is home, but this blend is just enough to do the trick. Not too much caffeine to wire me for the day, but enough to get me going.

Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover

Although I do swear by Mary Kay products overall since I use their skin care line and their makeup, this little bottle is one I cannot do without. It quickly wipes away the dark mascara circles around my eye and is oil free so it doesn't leave my face or hands greasy. It's a steal at $14.

Anything Love Spell from Victoria's Secret

I love, Love, LOVE this fragrance. My friend Brandie introduced me to it about 7 years ago and since then I have been addicted. I use the lotion, body spray, and every now and then the wash. I've committed to trying new scents and recently purchased the Romantic Wish scent. I will let you know how I like it.

Big Sexy Hair Spray

I found this in a two pack at Costco a few months back and I have decided that it is a staple for me. It does the trick on providing a little lift in my hair, and has a hold that lasts all day without weighing my hair down.

Nimbus Toothbrush

For anyone with sensitive teeth or gums, this is the perfect tooth brush. I look forward to visiting the dentist every 6 months just to get a new one. They come in a variety of colors and are only available online or through your dentist.

A Night Under the Stars

Jim and I are recovering this morning from a fun evening with our friends, the Mazur's. We all attended our day care's annual Winemaker fundraising dinner and this years was at the Mondo Winery. The weather was just perfect (with the exception that it was a bit windy) and the company even better. We got front row seats at the "fun" table. We met another couple, Jeremy and Michelle, and have declared that they are joing our circle. We spent the entire night laughing and cracking everyone else up, and the auctioneer (along with the Directors of the daycare) clearly labeled us their favorites! We ate WAY too much food and drank WAY too much wine, but it was all delicious and well worth it.

There was a silent auction and a live auction. We bid on several items in the silent auction and I made one last round right before the bidding ended to ensure that we won everything. We spent $215 on the silent auction, but got the following:

1. Tobin James gift basket with 4 wine glasses, 2 bottles of wine, 2 plates, 2 candles, and a cool faux rose plant that will look nice in our bathroom. Winning bid - $70 (might I add that Tobin James is our favorite winery!)

2. Pet Care basket with $70 in grooming gift certificates, multiple dog toys, Nail file and grooming brush, a variety of dog treats and sample packs of food, and a dog bowl. Winning bid - $45

3. A date night basket with Dinner for two (at a special event on 6/26 valued at $110), $20 Gift Certificate to the Movies, $20 Gift Certificate to Coldstone Creamery, and a bottle of wine. Winning bid - $100

In addition, Jim bid on a bottle of wine for $150. We had donated a 32" Flatscreen TV for the event and they were using the bottles of wine as the "raffle tickets" for the TV. I'd say they made a grip of money on the TV since they auctioned off 15 bottles of wine and all went for $75 or more.

Maybe next year we will auction off seats at the fun table and donate the proceeds to STARs.

Mike and Jill Mazur

We will sure miss this family when they move to Florida in two months

We were just being funny - no, I don't drink from the bottle

I wonder where the good picture of us went? Mike?

The rolling hills of Paso Robles - breathtaking!

Overlooking the event at Mondo Winery

Thanks, Mike, for sharing the pictures! I'm now wishing I had brought my camera.