Notes

 I often write about my grandkids, but, frankly, they are a constant source of hilarious material for my blogs. I had an appointment today, so Pa picked Abbey up from school and, apparently, attempted to do homework with her. Clearly, she did not appreciate his style. If you need interpertation of this note, it reads:

Papa you suck!

This one is also pretty easy to read. Think like a kindergartener who phonetically spells words and you can probably figure it out. It reads:

Fine, I will just wait for Grammie to come back.

I love the fact that the only correctly spelled word in this note is Grammie!! I guess I rate!! With Abbey that is a sliding scale that can change from moment to moment. Give her what she wants and she is your biggest fan. Tell her no and you...well, you suck!!! So there!!!

Things Change

 A few short years ago, we always welcomed Memorial Weekend as the kick off to summer with a big BBQ at our house. Usually, we hosted between 90 and 100 people, families with kids of all ages. The smoker worked overtime that day laden down with tons of racks of ribs and pounds of chicken. The eats were always good and the day was filled with fun. From the pool, to basketball, to horseshoes or just chillin' on a lounge chair, there was something for everyone to do.
This year, we spent the weekend running from a hockey tournament in Corona to a baseball tournament in Irvine and back and forth more than once. Jack E. Boy is a star athlete who seems to love and excel at all sports. We happily cheer from the sidelines. Pa was even asked to be the scorekeeper at the baseball games, a job I know he seemed to love.

Here's a scene from a Memorial Day past. That's Jack on his dad's back cruising across the pool.

Here he is today, our little Tustin Mets player.
Yes, the only thing constant is change, but the only thing that remains the same, for sure, is our love and joy at watching them grow and being able to share in their life's adventure.
Funny, their adventure becomes our adventure. Lucky us!

Don't Quit

When I saw these word today, I thought first of running and then I realized, it is probably true for most things in life. We are a society of the "quick fix". This is very evident in the commercials on television each evening. They promise a pill to change just about anything you need, and in a hurry. Actually putting in the time and effort to make changes is not as easy, but can be so worth it.
A new job may seem overwhelming. Give it twelve weeks and look how much you've learned!
The idea of running a half marathon may seem impossible. Train for twelve weeks and you are almost guaranteed to finish!
Watching the food you put in your mouth can feel depriving. Looking at the scale twelve weeks later makes it all seem worth the effort!
The fact is, the twelve weeks will pass anyways.
Pick your path.
Don't quit!

Our #3

Abbey started gymnastics last week and I have a friend who's mom makes leotards. We went to her house the other day so Abbey could check them out. She chose one that was already made and then proceeded to rifle through the woman's huge piles of fabric and found some she HAD to have! When I gave it to Abbey today, she immediately pulled off her clothes and put it on. I had no idea when she picked the fabric that it was velvet!! Yeah, blue, leopard AND velvet!! Jackpot!! She looked at me and said, "I know what I like!"
Well, yes, yes she does!!! And trying to sway her any other way is a complete waste of breath, so why try?! Gotta love our Abs...one of a kind!!

Mother's Day

 Sometimes it really is better to give than receive. I have been bugging my husband to "help" me make a new bench for our daughter for Mother's Day. My husband is very handy, he can make or fix most anything...as long as he wants to do it!! Otherwise, he never seems to find the time for what I want done. Finally, just two days before Mother's Day, I got him to make the bench. "Mr. Safety" made sure it was made with pressure treated lumber and over bolted down for it to be secure and to last. As much as he grumbled and groaned, I think he really enjoyed making it and was pleased with the outcome.

I actually did a lot of the painting, but I was the one taking the photos so I have no proof! Beside, he prefers to let me paint first and then proceeds to go over everything I have done so it is just how he wants it!

 This is the awful bench we replaced. If you tried to sit on it, you risked falling through or perhaps the need for a tetanus shot!!

 Here is the new bench, in its new home. I love how it looks like a mini park bench. I think our daughter liked it and was happy to see the old one go away.

Here's my loves sitting outside on the new bench, which you can barely see! They all fit...for now!!

Can It Be True?

Sunday was my 15th half marathon. It was a tough course with a few hills (I hate hills), especially the one at mile ten. See, when you've already run 9+ miles, a hill is your total enemy. You wonder how you'll ever get to the top. Somehow I did. Painfully, but I did. I stuck to my plan which was to run a mile then walk a minute. You'd think that, overall, this would really ruin your pace time, but, in fact, it is the opposite. Many people (me included) start out too fast and hard in a race and then run out of gas towards the end. When you allow your body that one minute of recovery, it keeps you stronger longer. It lets you run hard even in the last mile or two. Yesterday was proof of that for me. When I crossed the finish line, I looked at my watch and it said I had finished in 2:22:00. To a non-runner, that's two hours, twenty two minutes and no seconds. My PR (personal record) up to that race was 2:29:30, a time that took me 3.5 years to achieve! I couldn't believe my eyes!! Had I really shaved 7.5 minutes off my time?!?! I didn't truly believe it until the official times were posted on the OC Half Marathon website. Yes, it was true! I was on cloud nine all afternoon just thinking about it!
To some people, races, records, times, etc are totally overrated and unimportant. For me, it is the challenge I set for myself and the desire to achieve. I am not famous. I am not rich. I am not a world class runner. I am an older woman who finally found something that sparks her interest, pushes her to do more, silently asks her if she can do better and let's her try again and again.
Toss in a cool medal to hang on the wall, and you got me!!!

Sew with Jo

 Evangelical is defined as:  "marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause". My friend, JoEllen, is truly an evangelical! Her cause? SEWING!!! It is not enough that she is a creative, expert quilter and seamstress, she wants everyone to take up this hobby. She LOVES to teach sewing to others and my two granddaughters we lucky enough to be her students yesterday. She decided that making pajama pants was the perfect first project. She had done a little work ahead of time and had cut out their pants and got the project prepped. She is a big proponent of creating success for her "students" so she has things ready for them to make an entire project in one sitting.

Abbey, only six, is a great listener when something is explained. She understood everything JoEllen explained about the machine and refused my help (as if I could help much!!) I love this photo of those tiny fingers guiding the fabric. She chose monkey soccer material and it was adorable.

 She also made a panda headband from scraps and wore it until bedtime. When she got up this morning, she immediately put it back on her head! I don't see it coming off any time soon!

Here's the girls modeling their new pj pants. They were so proud of the fact that they made them. I am pretty sure I could have bought pajama pants cheaper at Kohl's, but, as Jo said, the experience of doing it yourself is worth more than the pants.

Actually, it is PRICELESS! Look out, JoEllen, if there is a knock at your door soon, it may be your two newest students asking, "Have you heard the Good News?? Sewing is awesome!!"
Nothing like an evangelical!!

Sparkling Cider?!?!

 So, I left the house at 3:45am this morning so Pa was in charge of breakfast for the girls. I knew we were out of apple and orange juice and was getting some today. When I got home, there is an opened bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider on the counter, or, as we like to call it, children's champagne. Apparently, Pa thinks this is an appropriate school morning beverage!!!What was wrong with water for one morning?!?!

I wonder if Abbey went to school and told her teacher that Pa gave her "children's champagne" for breakfast!!! Oh, the things a kindergarten teacher must hear!!! Yikes!!!

Day 2 of 6...they are still alive!!