Blissfully Unaware of the Chaos the Surrounds Me

Birthday Blathering . . .

So I turned 38 this weekend. I had to actually do the math to figure out how I old I really was. That's pretty sad . . . or great, depending on how you view it!

We did our typical modus operandi , although I tried so very hard not to let it occur . . . it still did. I. Wasn't. In. Control. Dammit.I  strove to have a relaxing day. But John needed to get some minor/major projects done. God love him. So our day got progressively more stressful until it exploded at 4:30 pm. When he unloaded my beautiful birthday gift and began to assemble it. We had people coming over at 6:30. And needed to get our kids packed up and delivered to my Mom's. And food prep to finish. And blah, blah, blah! So it wasn't blissful . . . . but . . . and this is a big but . . . . we redeemed it!

At 6:30, my dearest friends began to arrive. For my birthday potluck. With amazing entrees and appetizers and salads and sides and desserts . . . I'm telling you, friends, this is the year of the potluck. Done and done! We had shrimp. We had pasta. We had meatballs. We had cheese. We had salads. We had soft tacos. And fruit and pie and chips and dip and ????

And sangria. Oh my. I finally learned how to make good sangria. It's all about the pre-soak. (In vodka, nonetheless!)

A sad as that is as an update? I don't have time to post more! That's a sad reflection of what this week has looked like! This weekend, however, I'm likely to draft a real post or two. Promises, promises . . . right? 

 

Ironic Wish-Listing . . .

For yesterday's post, I grabbed some images from my Lovely Bits board over at Pinterest and a couple of images from a Google search for "floral cowgirl boots". 

Yesterday afternoon, my Mom and I ran into the Boot Barn to see if they had any cute, flowery boots. For although I still think they are slightly ridiculous, I love them so. I dream about them. I think it's the contrast of them . . . all flowery and lovely, yet tough and ready to work. I'd like to think of myself in the same manner!

First, you have to know that my Mom and I have some serious shoe issues. (And purses, if the truth be told.) We like nice shoes. And boots. (And purses.) We tend to be drawn to them and make emotional connections to them.

As soon as we walk in, my Mom grabs a pair off the shelf and says, "these are adorable. Try them on." She was right. They were adorable. They also fit perfectly. We kept looking around and I tried a few more on, but nothing fit or looked as good as the first pair. It was love at boot-sight. 

That's when it dawned on me that I didn't know what brand they were. Or the price. Cue the awkwardness. We had picked out a pair of Old Gringos. A $500 pair of Old Gringos. 

Dammit.

The saleswoman offered to polish them for me - as if a free polishing job would make up for the $500 price tag. We sadly put the boots back on the shelf and bid adieu. Because there was no other boot that was going to stand-in for our favorite, ridiculously expensive, adorably floral boots.

Goodbye, darlin! I'll save up my birthday money and maybe start couponing and possibly sell my eggs (dammit! I forgot that I don't have any more eggs!) and I'll come back for you. Cue the music from the Titanic to adequately accompany my melodrama over a pair of over-priced boots.

After I returned home, I thought I'd do a little Google action and see what I could find. Someone, somewhere must have these beautiful boots on sale. Right? Wrong. But I was amused to find that the exact same photo I'd used in my Birthday Wish List collage? Was the identical pair of boots.

At least I'm consistent in my boot-lusting!

Birthday Wish List . . .

Let's be clear . . . I don't expect any of these lovely items for my birthday . . . but it's fun to dream, right? And really, who has a pom-pom maker, a Coach bag, a stamp, a robe, inspirational art, outdoor furniture and some jewelry on the same wish list?

Apparently, I do!

1,000 . . .

blog posts! Can you believe it? For someone who has had any number of failed diaries and journals over my lifetime? I've never some close to jotting down 1,000 entries anywhere else before!

Six years ago, John and I were barely engaged. Dylan was seven. We were looking at houses and finally bought this one (peak of the market, anyone?). We were also searching wedding locations. I was having hormonal issues. (Some things never change!) I was looking at wedding dresses and wanting to be pregnant. I was nervous about all of the changes that we were in the midst of and overwhelming excited at the same time! I was in love with the man I was about to marry and adjusting to life together as a family of three. I was in the midst of major drama at work.

And now? John  and I have been married for 67 months. Dylan is 13. (Thirteen!) We've painted and switched out hardware and landscaped and slowly, but surely? Made this house our home. Not only did I get pregnant? Our little girl is 4.5 years old! We still have our moments of adjusting, but for the most part, we're doing pretty OK together. 

And because of this blog, I have a record of it all. 1,000 records, actually! Some of my favorite posts? Of the 1,000 to choose from?

Halle @ Two Months

Halle's Birth Story . . . The Gory Parts

My Man Child

Ode to a Father

Losing It

Random Blathering About Self-Control 

Posting From the New State of Matrimony

40 Weeks and 6 Days Pregnant

Balance and Wholeness

What Karissa Calls the Wedding Manifesto

Rainy Days Camping

None of the above-mentioned posts are my favorites because they are some amazing example of wit and elegance in writing. Nope. Rather, every one of them triggers in me the exact emotion that I was experiencing while writing that particular post. And isn't that, ultimately, what blogging should be about?

Thank you for the comments, the re-posts, the links and for reading my often-random blathering of the thoughts that occupy my head. I am very blessed indeed . . . 1,000x!

Happy Birthday . . .

to Our Shannon!

We wish we were in Maui celebrating with you! We hope that the sand is soft, the waves are gentle and the sunshine is warm upon your face; just like our love for you.

Thank you for being you. Kind. Loving. Generous. Caring. Sweet. Thoughtful. Funny. Beautiful. You.

This year is certain to be your best year yet. We can't wait to see you love your upcoming addition. We know that you will be an amazing mother. There's simply no doubt!

Happy birthday, sister-friend.

Random and Scattered . . .

so all-over-the-board!

First and foremost, The Fresh Beat Band was amazing. Amaze-balls! And it totally deserves a post of it's own. Tomorrow.

 

Getting to spend time with Lauren and Prince Bobby? Beyond fabulous. Their home is adorable. Their puppies are adorable. And it felt so very good to enjoy their company.

Coming home from our our trip? I got the call that my Gram had a likely GI bleed. So I went straight from Fresh Beat Band!!!/Lauren and Prince Bobby!!!!! to oh-shit-I'm not-ready-for-this-please-Jesus-give-us-more-time and then, thankfully, to relief that yes, this time, we found respite and yes, a little more time.

GG is currently recovering at our local hospital and should, bearing any bad news, be headed home tomorrow. A couple of units transfused, an ulcer clipped and an awfully lot of talk about bloody stool . . . and she should be back where she started. With a little more of me being a lot farther up in her business about medications, doctor's visits, etc. 

John's birthday was lots of fun. We started with breakfast out, then a family-chiropractic appointment, a visit with GG at the hospital and then (blessedly!!) home for the rest of the day. John  got a little nap in and then we met up with some great friends for a fabulous dinner at 5th Street. Our sweet friends even chipped in and bought our dinners. How cool is that? The only sad thing? I didn't take a single photo until the guys were changing a tire (A &E's) just prior to us heading home. And the guys were acting like high school idiots and made all of my photos look like low-dollar porn. So no posting of those lovelies!

John received a Roku (from Dylan), some Amazon credit (from Halle) and from me? He got five gift choices. All he had were hints on five sealed envelopes. It took him 16 hours to finally choose! Ultimately, he choose Option #2. Hello, weekend Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay! (Hello, Shannon! I need a favor!)

Today, we continued our lazy-catching up-cleaning up mojo. Man, I love a holiday weekend! I cleaned 2/3 of Halle's room. I organized Dylan's drawers. I did laundry. I visited GG a couple of times. I went to Target. I snuggled my kiddos. And my hubby. It was good. Really, really good!

Tomorrow, we will go to church. Monday? No plans. NO PLANS! That is some kind of good stuff, peeps. NO PLANS! Happy Presidents' Weekend!

Weekend Recovery . . .

Wow . . . it was one of those weekends. Lots of highs and some hard things too. I'm tired and still looking for that pause button so we can all take a deep breath (or three) and recover.

As for the really good stuff of the weekend . . . Dylan rocked his basketball tournament! He ended up being the All-Tourney pick for his team and I was so proud! It caught us completely off-guard and I'm kind of glad, because otherwise? I might have cried! I was so incredibly excited for him. He deserved it . . . I've never seen him play better. He was beyond solid. What a great way to end the season!

After Dylan's tournament was over, I was able to do one of the hard, yet really good things. I had the honor of photographing Cindy Chalmer's Celebration of Life. It was hard. (Hard to focus when the tears are blurring your vision.) But I was so, so honored. Cindy was the mom of one of my best friends in elementary school. (Are you following me here?) She was one of the woman in my life who really showed me - by example - what it mean to be a good Mom! She was an amazing Mom, a generous donor and giver in our community (of her time, talents and resources) and a wonderful wife. I am am beyond sad that she passed away. I do, however, believe that she survived a late-stage Ovarian cancer diagnosis for 10.5 YEARS by way of sheer will, determination, good healthy practices, pure kindness, out-of-the-box treatment regimes and most importantly? Out of total love for her family. She lived to see both of her daughters married to good men. She lived to see all of her five grandchildren born. She lived to travel lots of journeys that she, statistically speaking? Shouldn't have experienced. And I am so glad that she did! Anyway . . . long story short . . . it was hard to do. But a true blessing, indeed.

Through all of this, John was gone for his Air Force drill weekend. And Halle-boo brought the attitude full-force while he was gone. I was, admittedly, too tired to fight most of it. So we just pushed through . . . and skipped anything not super-important!

As for now? I am coming off the sugar-high that is Valentine's Day. Tomorrow we head to see the Fresh Beat Band (!!!!!!) Live. We also get to see and visit and hang with and crash with (!!!!!) Lauren and Prince Bobby. Then Friday is John's birthday. And then . . . blessedly, we have a four-day-weekend. Amen.

And that's all I've got for now!

Thirteen . . .

Years 6 through yesterday . . . 






Tomorrow . . . I swear that John will hook up the scanner (right, honey?) and then I will have birthday photos 0-5. And then you will be stunned, along with me as to how quickly the time has gone, how immensely our lives have changed (for the better) and how big/old/amazing/smart/blessed my boy is! Happy 13th birthday, (not-so) baby boy!

P.S., if you have any thoughts as to borrowing these photos and claiming that they are yours/your boy? Piss off. And don't even think about it. I will bury you in the depths of your lies, injustice, blatant falsehoods and ridiculous detachment. Just saying.

Ignoring the Obvious . . .

I am now the parent of a teenager. It is seemingly impossible, so I am chosing to ignore that my baby boy is now much more man than child. At least ignore it for a moment or two (or blog post or two more)!

We rung in the New Year with friends, fun and ease:

and tequilla, sparkling cider, Prosecco, silly string, Just Dance 3 and the hot tub. (Just covering our bases!)

I even manged to pull together some (slightly better than what I threw out there the other day) goals/statements/reflections/jibberash/assorted bits of life:

31 December 2011

Name: Amy

Age: 37 (I actually had to figure that out!)

Favorite Color: Chartreuse

Favorite Meal: the Nick’s Grill at 5^th Street

Favorite Activity: Hanging with my Family

Favorite Book: The Help

Favorite TV Show: Parenthood

Three Most Played Songs on my iPod: I See the Light (Tangled Soundtrack), Hosanna (Bob Singleton Kids) and Great Big God (Little Angels) . . . all are obviously Halle’s. My actually Top 3 are Marry Me (Train), I Will Follow (Chris Tomlin) and Fairest Lord Jesus (Ross Parsley) which show up as numbers 5, 11 and 13, with more of Halle’s songs in between. Yes, I’m a Mom.

Greatest Lesson Learned in 2011: A lot of people willing to make small gestures individually can make a very large impact together

Hardest Thing of 2011: Time Management, Calendars and Schedules, Oh My!

Favorite Memory of 2011: Our trip to Hawaii . . . super-relaxing, nothing crazy, but lots of downtime, beautiful weather, good food, great company . . . sand, sunshine, warm water and my family . . . there’s nothing better!

What I Loved Most About 2011: Learning to live in the moments as they came, whether I expected them or not. Being more at peace with the present instead of focusing on what’s to come. Really feeling like I have come into my own and liking who I am, although I certainly still have faults to work on!

In 2012 I Want to Learn: Calligraphy and Guitar

In 2012 I Want to Get Better at: Being more active and making healthier choices

In 2012 I Want to Do More: Camping and Hiking

My Biggest Goal for 2012 is: To go deeper in relationships, in conversations and with my intentions.

Happy New Year!

How lucky am I to have this man to kiss at midnight? Blessed, am I, indeed! even if we are covered in silly string.

The 30th and 31st . . .

of December. These days are probably some of the most influential and the most conflicted days on my life calendar. At least in the later portion of my life!

14 years ago, just after 10:00 pm on December 31, 1998, my water broke. Excitement, joy, anticipation, a full moon, anxiety and trepidation all traded places throughout that evening.

The following year, on December 31st, I along with the rest of the Western world worried about Y2K, with no lasting effect or issue. I remember sitting in my little house in Ukiah, rocking a cute little Dylan, wondering how everything would change with that one tick-tock of the clock. Again . . . lots of hype, not a lot of change! 

In 2001, I spent the New Year in Lake Almanor. One of my best and memorable holidays with then-friends and then-family. (Note to self . . . rent Almanor cabin next year for New Years!)

2002-2004 were more mellow. Me and my little guy. Usually prepping for his birthday. Nothing earth-shattering on those years. Just mellow love of a Mama and a very sweet little boy.

On December 30, 2005; I met John. Enough said. That one changed my life. Big time. Good time.

In 2006, John and I had been married for a few months. (Yes, we really did move that fast!) Faster yet, I had just found out that I was pregnant with Sissy. Just barely-moments-pregnant. Against the doctor's advice, we headed up to Tahoe and spent the New Year with our good friends the Gomersalls in the snow. That was fun. Really fun.

In 2007, we were home with a 3-month-old, sleep-deprived and cranky. Getting ready for John to head to Texas for a six-week Air Force training assignment. I shed a few tears those evenings.

In 2008, we were aboard a lovely cruiseliner, headed to the Mexican Riviera with all of John's family. (Note to self, that was the best way to celebrate New Years ever!)

In 2009, there was nothing outstanding to report. Low-key celebrating and preparing for Dylan's birthday. (Hey, I had a toddler! Standards were low!) 

In 2010, I got really, really drunk on the 30th, thereby limiting any fun or enjoyment on the 31st.

And then this year, 2011, we again hit the town on the 30th. I had a bit too much to drink, but NOTHING like my preceding year's overindulgence. Thankfully. (Forever and ever, amen!) We joined our friends and headed to the El Rey for a comedy show with a former local as the headliner. As he was also a PV alumni, there were lots of jokes especially for the Chicoans. It was pretty funny, really. We headed to Crush and enjoyed some cocktails with friends and actually stayed out until after midnight. Holy smokes! That's late for me!

Tonight, we will stay home with our little family. Some neighbors and friends will come over. We will eat some yummy appetizers and sip some bubbly. Play some games and have some laughs. It's really the best kind of New Year's Eve. At midnight we will ring in the New Year and sing Happy Birthday to our 13-year-old. THIRTEEN! How does that happen? Ah, well, that's a post for tomorrow . . . 

"A happy New Year! Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye when this New Year in time shall end. Let it be said I've played the friend, have lived and loved and labored here. And made of it a happy year. " Edgar A. Guest