Moms dinner night!

I have the best kind of friends, the kind that come over, bring yummy things to share, and then make themselves at home on my couches!

I have so much joy in seeing people happily doing nothing while talking and laughing under my roof!
My bunco girls have come over for this kind of fun and last week my moms dinner night friends did
We decided to make our dinner at someones home instead of a restaurant so we could chat more easily and not feel rushed.  It was wonderful!  We sipped Sangria, ate outside and laughed and talked for hours.
This is the group who all have boys the same age and we have been friends since the boys started kindergarten
It's so refreshing to be with people who accept you for who you are, don't care about the 10 20 pounds you've gained or if your house is perfect
We just love being together and getting caught up with life!
What a blessing !!! 
Come again soon girls and next time just wear your Jammies!

Where we grew up!

I was looking through old photos on my computer and found this one of the house we grew up in . It's a recent photo without the big tree out front ,and the paint is different but its still my childhood home

4482 W 133rd Street 

It always felt so big with a really long hallway! Looking back it wasn't but it sure felt like it then
So many childhood memories are tied to this old house...

My dad would drive up and honk his horn and we would all come flying out to see him

I remember my mom called the TV station and  Hobo Kelly told me where my birthday present was. She said "Happy Birthday Karen your gift is in the hamper"  And by golly it was

Our dog Zorba laid out on the grass and watched over us 

We had the VERY best neighbors and to this day I remember every single name 

Saturdays always meant donuts

We would ride our bikes through the alley to Thriftys for ice cream cones

Or to Food King for a "large white sliced" loaf of bread from the bakery  

The sweet man at "Toffels"  shoes let us kids come in and pick our shoes and my dad would settle up with him later

We loved records and would save our money for "45's" and run to Melody Music to buy them

My YaYa would come to help my mom clean and the house would smell like bleach and pine sol

We would beg to eat dinner on TV trays and watch Startrek, but were never allowed to watch  "Laugh In" because it was too racy

Our sweet Annie lived next door and she was the cuddliest, kindest lady who always had treats for us and plenty of love to give!

Adeline lived five houses down and she would hem and mend our clothes. She had the most immaculate yard and made Pazelles every year at Christmas

My mom insisted I have my own room with a yellow canopy bed and pretty furniture
I would spend hours in there reading Beverly Cleary books with my feet up on the walls
And I begged for a phone jack but it was never in the family budget so we all shared the yellow kitchen phone whose cord was stretched to the max  because we all wanted a bit of privacy

The can opener was mounted on the cabinet and every time our cat heard the clank she would come running!!

There was always a bowl of nuts with a nut cracker on the counter

The back bathroom had pink and green tile and towels all over the floor! My mom did more laundry than anyone I know and she never complained

But mostly there was so much love and joy in that house! We always had tons of kids over and lots of freedom to be young and adventurous .Sometimes I can close my eyes and still remember the smells and the sounds of laughter

I hope someday my boys will look back on their years in our house and have the same warm feeling! 
I think we may have been a little more poor than I thought economically but we sure never knew it. We had everything we ever needed! 
And that is the sign of GREAT parenting 

Joyful images from a happy week !

A few of my favorite moments this week.....
My friend Jodie had a BBQ / Chili cook-off party and it was such fun! For me one of the highlights was seeing Miss Kendal! Just like seeing Missy Franklin in the Olympics restores your faith in young people, so does this sweet girl. She is just the most loving, well mannered, faithful, life loving  girl ever! I remember when she was born and cant help but feel so proud of who she has become

This little guy just gets cuter and cuter! I got to see Beckham for a while this week and I loved every second of it. He now "sings" and his little voice is so high and cute! He has the chubbiest thighs and they are what remind me most of Travis when he was a baby!
He is all smiles and has the sweetest disposition. 

I love a vase that Ashlyn uses at her house and have been on the hunt for one.It's actually a mint julep cup but I just love the simple beading and the silver color. So sweet Ash came home from her errands with one for me! So as soon as I got home I picked  roses from my moms bush and put it on my table. I LOVE it and I love her for being so thoughtful ~  

I met Thia Mary for lunch this week! We chatted for a few hours and I always leave smiling.
She has so many awesome pictures of stars that were candid shots from my uncle Nick. This one of Marilyn Monroe Dave loved , so he made Mary a canvas oil print and it is beautiful!
She was so thrilled to get it

Lastly I love this photo! I have not worn my original wedding ring for years. One night when my kidneys stopped working  and I couldn't pee Steve had to cut it off my finger. And he had to do it right that second!  So he used wire cutters and it looked pretty bad. We put it away and I have been wearing a newer,more stylish platinum set that he bought me.
But for some reason with our 30th anniversary coming up  I got sentimental and wanted my old rings back. So we got it fixed and picked it up on Saturday. I cried right there at the jewelers!
I flashed back to when we went to John Crandall jewelers at the Del Amo mall and picked it out together! They took a Polaroid picture of us and had it on their wall.Even after the kids were born I would stop by with them in the stroller and see it up there. I once lost the diamond out of the middle at work and spent hours digging through the broom trash and actually found it! So this ring and I go way back.
I love having it back on my finger where it belongs. Its not big, its not fancy but its sweet and
I love it!

All these pictures were taken with Instagram, my favorite app ever! It is so fun to take and share pictures with the people in your life. If you haven't tried it do so
If you have Instagram find me! I would love to see the photos of joy that make up your life
Wishing you all a wonderful week filled with love and giggles and snap shots of fun! 

The good, the bad and the ugly

That pretty much sums up my last weeks
The good...
The hubby and I took off for a fun play day in our new car. We had so much fun chatting and being together in the car with no distractions . We went out to Palm Springs and had lunch and did a little shopping. We also visited with my aunt Sylvia for a few hours. She was a RIOT!
She is so gorgeous and is 89 years old today! We met up a beautiful hotel and after about two hours she said " I probably should go park my car" So of course I asked her where it was?
She said " oh I always just pull up to the valet curb and tell the people I will be right back I'm just picking up some people"
She doesn't like people driving her Mercedes and she says it takes too long to get her car when she is ready to go?
Now that is Greek 

Thia Sylvia~

But she is so darling ,spry and totally with it. I have interviewed all the Greeks for a blog/book I am writing and she never wanted to sit down and answer any questions. But little did she know I am half way done after Saturday  

The bad...
It was one of the worst weeks I have ever had as far as pain goes. I knew I had two stones and the problem with them is that you never know when it will move. Saturday I was cleaning berries from the farmers market getting ready to go to some friends for dinner and cards. And within 10 seconds I was on the floor in agony. Thankfully my Dr lets me keep pain meds on hand so there is no waiting in a crowded ER for a Dr to see me.I can get some relief within 20 minutes.
 I was miserable for a day and half. Poor Steve just kept bringing me meds and water and looking at me helplessly.Well one finally passed on Tuesday night but for some reason I was not feeling any relief. So I went to see Dr McDreamy to find out why. He thought maybe it had scraped on the way out and that was the source of the pain or it was from the other one. So he sent me for a Xray to see what was wrong and that night I passed the other one

So here is the ugly....

Two horrid jagged rocks!
If only they were pearls...or diamonds...
I am on such a search to find out WHY I keep getting these nasty buggers
If you have any advice, I am listening
I keep thinking about people who live in chronic pain and I truly pray for them whoever they are. That kind of pain is  
drop you to your knees God awful

But for today I am thankful for so much! I always have to end on a high note looking at my blessings rather than the bummers
And you simply cant stay discouraged long with this little guy in your life!
Happy 5 months Beckham Paul !  

YaYa loves this boy with her whole heart and then some..

Mommas got a new ride...

Yes this laid off worker who probably has no business getting a new car 
Just got one!! 

My old car was purchased used 12 years ago and I fully intended to drive it another five years!

But it died, darn it  YIPEE

Big time engine work was going to be needed and it's simply not practical to put money into a 99 Ford Explorer

So my sweet hubby sent me off to pick out a car that I wanted !  He didn't want to drive it , didn't want to know how much it was, he just said  
"you deserve it, so go get one"

 {Yes this is the kind of man I was lucky enough to marry }  

I love the Ford Edge and have many friends who are huge fans of the Jeeps
But we knew at the end of the day we were going to buy a Toyota !
Our  friends own the "Toyota of Temecula" dealership and you simply cant beat the sales and service you get when you buy a car from them! Travis drove here a few months ago to get his new Highlander and Chad and I both bought our last cars there. I would say no matter where you live, it's worth the drive for all the extras they make sure you get spoiled with!
So I drove in with my old Ford and a couple hours later drove home in this!

Venza

It is so sporty and fun and it smells divine ! They hooked up my blue tooth for hands free calls and it has XM radio and plays Pandora right from my phone.
I haven't had a new car in over 20 years and I truly appreciate every single thing about it!
The dash feels like a cockpit and I feel a little Judy Jetson driving such a fancy car
I NEVER want to come across as braggy but truly just want everyone to know how thankful I am !
And promise me if you are in the market for a new car....
Try Toyota of Temecula Valley  first!
You will be glad you did !

Underwater....

My new favorite place to be....

I always loved swimming when I was a little girl and suddenly found the exact same joy now when I am in the water
The freedom and sense of peace I have while I'm swimming is one of the BEST feelings in the world
I have a few kidney stones { which is another depressing story } and sometimes when the pain gets bad it feels so good to float and it helps my back totally relax.

So my sweet friend Casey allowed me to borrow her community pool key and off I went to float one afternoon and I have been back at least five days a week ever since. It has been hot and nothing beats that feeling of diving under that cool, clear water. There is hardly anyone there and it is right by my house!  Plus its gorgeous....

snapped this last week with my camera phone...

But the bad news is

I have become one of those old ladies who takes her paddle board and does laps like I'm at the Del Bocca Vista retirement home. I even shower there to get the chlorine out of my hair so my 'tint' will last longer? Last week I left there with my floppy hat, big Jackie O sunglasses, wet hair and sundress and stopped by Henry's on my way home for chicken...
And I didn't even care??

Chad swims laps everyday and he kindly offered me a pair of his goggles but I have to draw the line somewhere
Although....
It would be nice to see under water 
I am one step away from a flowered bathing cap with a strap
But I LOVE it !
And I feel anonymous and I know I am burning calories like crazy plus I sleep like a baby!
So if you ever want to join me for a swim..........Call me
If I'm not at the pool I am probably playing rummy at the senior center with my new best friends

And its only been a month since my "forced retirement" 
Lord help me ...

Celebrations!

We had two really fun celebrations this last week !
Travis turned 28 and Ashlyns little sister Lia got married to a darling boy Chris! 

Travis wanted to spend most of his birthday at the beach after a early morning golf game!
So we all met up there and had such a great time with the kids and the baby 

Happy Birthday sweet baby of mine!

Proud Uncle Chad

After the beach we went to Coronado for dinner at a great Italian restaurant and it was such a beautiful night so we ate outside with a view of the harbor.Travis has been telling Steve for so long about a guitar player at the "Hotel Del Coronado" so we went there after and sat in the bar and listened to him play
The guy is amazing!! If you ever have a chance to be there on the weekend night GO!
It was awesome...
And Beckham was such a  good boy the whole night long. Even with us keeping him up way past his bedtime he never gets grumpy. He has the sweetest  disposition 

Then we traveled to Ventura this last weekend for the wedding

 It was so beautiful and meaningful !

LOVE these two~

Travis and Ashlyn were both in the wedding and Beckham was the Jr ring bearer
The cuteness factor was off the charts !  

They looked so cute ! Travis being silly and Ashlyn finding him funny! 
It was a beautiful venue and my talented daughter in law did all the flowers and tablescapes !
She amazes me~

It was a precious wedding and we had so much fun celebrating the sweet couple! 

My sweet boys tuckered out

We also had a fun  4th of July with my brother and his family....

Lindsay and I did a 5k { yes, crazy I know  } and then we had a BBQ and slumber party ! We played cards and hung out a bit with the neighbors at a block party
We also took Cooper to the dog wash and gave him a bath!  He is so darn cute and he and Brody are
BEST FRIENDS ! 

Life is sweet....We are so blessed....
And I am one very thankful girl!

Aww "shucks"

Of corn that is 
We love corn on the cob ! 
I have so many memories of eating corn on the cob with my parents. My daddy LOVED corn and he would always bring home big bags of it and we would sit on the porch with a grocery sack and shuck it
And we were allowed to use the whole stick of butter to "roll" it in   
Once my mom and aunts Mary and Kay ate so much they had a belly ache for days
They said it was so good they just kept eating more. I think Mary ate four ears!
I do come from a long line of Nebraska Cornhuskers so maybe it's in our blood
So when I saw this video, I LOVED it and couldn't wait to try it out.
The corn turns out perfect!!
I don't think I will ever cook it any other way ....
Go get some corn, cook it, roll it and thank me later ...
Happy summer!

 Don't you agree this guy is just the cutest?

There is NOTHING cuter!

Than Beckhams first belly laugh
I have seen him smile which is absolutely heart warming but this just about broke my heart wide open!
His very first laugh and it was a belly buster...

Watch it and laugh along ...

I cried with the sheer joy of seeing him so happy   !
These are the moments that give my life meaning
And this little boy, just like my own has stolen my heart forever!


clip-2012-06-24 0 from ashlyn carter on Vimeo.

Lifes a little sweeter in a home by the sea...

A Leap of faith...

Although I didn't chose to leap
Today it feels more like I was pushed...

But either way I am flying off a secure, comfortable cliff and praying God opens my parachute and enables me to softly land right where He wants me

After working for Albertsons for 32 years  , I am no longer employed
Our area had massive layoffs and because of a two week lapse in my seniority I landed on the lay off list
32 years down with only 5 to go...
I started when I was just 17 and really don't know any other way of life
Am I mad?
To be honest...I  am
Mostly I feel sucker punched
The fear of losing my health benefits when we need them most almost takes my breath away
And I will miss the job that I took so much pride in and knew I did well
But mostly I will miss my peeps! 
So many great friendships have taken root there
Every morning at 9am we would call out a 353 and take our breaks together
Sharing the daily mix of reality tv and local news. We shared stories of our marriage and kids as well as our pet peeves.I learned how much they hate barking dogs and they learned how much I cringe when girls pop their gum !
Just the normal everyday things that friends share
That's what I'll  miss most
I don't really believe in horoscopes but every morning our friend Steve would do the "reading" Always ending with us because we are both Virgos. So many times it hit dead on for what was happening in our life
They text me this morning with today's reading. My first day of "retirement"         

Deal with life's actual events instead of stressing about the possible scenarios that might happen. All you can do now is handle today's work and trust in the spirit of goodness that guides your tomorrows

 

Today I hope horoscopes are a little bit real......

Lastly I cant begin to express the joy of working for my sweet boss ! He is an absolute dream. Always fair, consistent, and kind. I worked for him almost 25 years ago and I was so thankful to be back working for him these last few years! He has become such a important person in my life and the respect I have for him is unwavering

I'm sure going to  miss seeing him every week  { and he's sure going to miss my cookies  : ) 

So now what?
I wish I knew...

I have a business idea that has been brewing in my heart and when I told my kids about it a few years back they were so encouraging. Travis even named it for me!
So I am  praying about going in that direction
But today I am just trying to process not setting my alarm for work, not having to put on my uniform and clock in, and not seeing these faces every day

I'm lovin

Random things I have been loving lately !

I used to buy this soap all the time and then kinda forgot about it. I saw it at my friend Katies and also at Ashlyns and decided to get some at Target the other day. I love it ! 
The grapefruit is so fresh and the green tea is really light and nice. And I just love the old fashioned look of the dispenser

Last week our moms group met up at our friend Sheries house and we had dinner out by her pool. It was wonderful !!  We decided we much prefer being at one of our homes so we could mingle easier and talk for hours without feeling rushed. Susan brought some delicious  homemade cookies and we were all shocked when we found out how easy they were. Here is the link to the recipe { although she used 1/2 cup butter instead of oil and so I did too }  I made them yesterday when Kenny and his family came and they were so good and so EASY !  I like the chocolate with peanut butter chips the best but there are lots of options      


Another new love...MIO
I NEED to drink a lot of water for my kidneys but sometimes get so tired of it. I tried the Strawberry Watermelon MIO and fell in love with it!  It is so refreshing,sweet and yummy. And because it is drops you can make it as strong as you want. I tried our store brand and it is just as good. The cherry limeade is sooo refreshing and it has zero calories!

My niece Chloe rescued the most loving pup! She drove all the way to Vegas to pick him up from a shelter there and he is the sweetest love bug ever! He has such a good temperament and she is going to train him as a therapy dog for her work. Brody LOVES his new friend 
We are all lovin Cooper!    

 

I love  going to the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. It is so fun to get fresh veggies and fruit and always see my friend for flowers. He calls me "beautiful lady" and it keeps me coming back to his stall every time! It has such a old town feel and it feels good to support people rather than big companies. It doesn't hurt that the strawberries have been like candy!

I also love these ladies! 
We had such a fun Memorial Day BBQ with the bunco babes

So many little joys in life isn't there ?  How about you, what things have you been loving lately?

Wishing you all a wonderful week filled with love and giggles!

And lots of things to love

The boy has swagger, I tell ya

I love this picture
And I love these boys

Happy Weekend    !

You cant just blog the good

I didn't know how to title this post and it has taken me so long to write it
It has taken me almost six months to even process the pain of losing a friendship that meant so much to me 
I struggled with the idea of sharing such a personal story but my blog is my life and I don't want to only share the good
We all have days of rain along with the days of sunshine!

I have always strived to be a good friend and be available for my friends when they need me. I have never been perfect and I am sure I owe an apology for times when l have let them down

I realized when I had my surgery that  I have such sweet friends and family ! They called , dropped by with meals,or to vacuum, or just sent a text asking how I was. And all those outstretched arms meant the world to me! They were my lifeline and I said before I don't know how I would have gone through without their love and encouragement.
But  I never heard from my best friend
I got more texts from the guys at my work than I did my very best friend?  After a couple months she finally text me and said she had been busy and wanted me to call her

I couldn't....

I text her and told her I was just too hurt to reach out. She text me back "why"

She finally called and we hashed it out and I tried to explain my hurt reminding her when she had her surgery how I drove up to take her to lunch and called her almost every day to see how she was doing She apologized and said she had just been so busy...
I get that
I do
But inside I kept thinking If you are too busy for your friends
You are too busy
She has often gone underground and we have gone months without talking because her life gets so "crazy" and I always say its OK and we go on from there....

But this time it wasn't OK

When I needed that friendship more than any time in my life,  I had to figure out why I didn't have it. Where was my friend? Why didn't she even once call?   

I decided to have my heart break once by walking away then to stay and have it broken over and over again. I simply cant keep going back ! The last time we spoke she wanted my help with a project and she was going to call me with the decided time. I was going to put it all aside and start fresh again....She never called 
That was January...
This is May
She doesn't know about Beckham...She doesn't know about Steve's new job...
She doesn't know that I have cried  with missing her so much that I thought my heart would break

But I am getting better. I am learning to live without her as hard as it has been

But there are still days when I miss having a best friend!

I had a old mitt that was all broken in and wrinkly and was a part of my life for so long that it felt like part of my hand. It was always able to catch the balls of life. To think about breaking in a new mitt feels like too much work and it just wont ever be as comfortable. But I gotta do it because the game isn't over and there is much more life to play...
I have got to figure it out and I pray I will
There are no hard feelings, no un-forgiveness and I wish her and her sweet family all the best


And to you my friends who read my blog , If I ever make you feel like I am too busy to be the friend you need, please let me know
If you need a ride, a chat, a lunch out to share your heart
Please call me ....I am here for you
I will drop everything to be there
That's what friends are for

            

Mothers Day Blessings!

What a great week it has been ! I thought of my mom so often and I found another dime so I know she was thinking about me : )  I went to the new Nordstrom rack here in town and while I was there Steve called to tell me that a job he applied for and we had been praying would come through did. They had just called him and offered him the position. I teared up right then and there because I knew how much he wanted it and he was trying so hard not to get his hopes up. After hearing the good news I decided to get him a pair of work pants, and as I went to pay there on the register was a dime! Seriously what are the chances??
Not a penny, not a quarter but a dime....

Another sweet blessing this week was my visit with Chad ,Ashlyn, Travis and Beckham! Poppa Steve came down with me and he and the boys golfed while Ashlyn got her hair done and I held that baby for three straight hours of bliss! He is soooo sweet, and he smiles like crazy now!  
We had so much fun with him! When the boys finished we all met up for dinner at Sammy' s for my  favorite grilled chicken salad!   The kids gave me beautiful cards that of course I had to read later by myself because they are so heartfelt and tender that I get overcome with emotion!
Ashlyn and Trav got me the most beautiful framed pic of Beckham and some wonderful night creme I have wanted since I saw it on Dr Oz. { I will let you know if when all my wrinkles disappear!} And Chad wrote me the most heartfelt letter that I will cherish my entire life! He is taking me to lunch this week for my gift!   
I love lunch dates with my boys
I cherished every minute of my Mothers Day celebration and sharing it with the sweet new momma  for her first mothers day!

asleep on my chest

proud poppa

Poppas hands

I miss my mom so much but am so thankful for the promise of seeing her again. And in the meantime I will love being a  YaYa knowing she taught me everything I know about unconditional love and spoiling them rotten with kisses and time! My boys learned so much from her. Friday when I saw Chads truck he had a case of water in the seat. He told me he likes to keep them there so he can give them to the homeless people when he sees them...
Yep he's his YaYa's boy !!!  
I reminded him that my mom would always have McDonalds gift certificates to give them and he thought that was a great idea. Wont surprise me one bit if I see those in his truck next time. 
The boy has a heart of gold...
So for all my blessings this Momma says Thank You!!!  
And for my sweet hubby who models everyday what it is to be a GREAT dad and husband and made me the Mom I always dreamt of being