Sweetness...

A perfect time in life captured by an amazing photographer !!
The sweetness is almost too much to bear

They make my heart explode with love and gratitude
My sweet son has been so blessed with this family of his and we are overwhelmed with joy for us all  !! 
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted
Job 5-9

Amelie Jewel

Our precious new grand baby  arrived August 29th at 743 am weighing 9 pounds 1 oz
And she is beautiful !!!
A perfect gift straight from the lap of God and we all fell in love at first sight
Ashlyn is a rock star and delivered her naturally just like she did Beckham
To hear Travis tell the birth story was one of the funniest things I ever heard
They labored in a tub in a birthing center at UCSD, and when it came time for her to be born Ashlyn stood up and delivered her right there. Trav was wearing his board shorts and said it was way "gnarly" and they felt like hippies !
I am so proud of these guys for being such a team and such a support for each other
When we arrived Ashlyn looked incredible and was glowing !!

A hour after she had her...Gorgeous !!

It has been the happiest month with lots of visits to help, and bond with this sweet baby !

We feel so incredibly blessed and  love these grand babies with a  
love like no other
Amelie I pray you always feel this loved and cared for !! 
Welcome to the world sweet girl ...........

And wait until you get to know your big brother !! He is the sweetest boy and loves you already

Dittos and Wallabees

This past week  my mind has been so nostalgic.
It all started with a cute new top I bought, I thought it was darling and I had to have it !   

It immediately brought me back to my childhood when all I  wore were " angel tops"
And I wore them with my saddleback dittos which I had in almost every color
I probably paired them with " Wallabies"  or Dr Scholl sandals !
Funny how something can trigger a memory and you are brought right back to another time
I remember when my mom insisted that I have my own room and moved the boys in a room together so it could happen.
I got a beautiful canopy bed with a yellow bedspread
I LOVED it !! I would sit on my bed for hours  and dream and read
I felt like a princess and she had so much joy that she was able to make it happen
With four kids such luxuries were not the norm, and I know how much she saved to get me my new room
I wish that I could find a picture of it, but I am thankful the picture in my mind is so clear.

We lived in a very simple house with a "Osborne6-0626" phone number. I remember having to make emergency breakthroughs because she was on the phone too long with her family
We would call the operator to make a "break through" or a "collect call" if you were somewhere without a dime   
We would often get a party line and my mom would make us hang up but I loved to secretly listen in. I begged to have a "jack" put in my room so the boys wouldn't listen to my conversations from the kitchen phone
Funny how operators and busy signals are things our kids will never know ?
Or Blue Chip Stamps !  Pasting them to take to the " Blue Chip" store to pick out a new ironing board or toaster and maybe a "bean bag"  ashtray with the leftovers 
I used to ride my bike to Food Giant with my friend Renee with a note from her mom to buy her a pack of cigarettes { we were maybe all of 12? }
Dr Pepper Bonne Bell ...Ice cream cups with wooden spoons...My Holly Hobbie lunchbox with hopefully a space food stick inside !
I always had a "Frito Bandito" eraser on my pencil that was tucked into my Pee Chee folder.  

And I hated to have to dry my hair with this , so I would just sit in front of the wall heater in the bathroom until it dried

All these thoughts from a simple trip to Macys ......

Wishing you all a week of joy & giggles and a memory that takes you back and makes you smile !!! 

With a grateful heart

If you know me , you know I am a horrible, ugly crier and if there was a pill to keep me from  crying at every single thing happy or sad I would take it! Just last week I was telling my boss a story and the tears flowed and I was stuck there trying to swallow and recover
{ although he is so sweet his own eyes filled with tears }
But I'm also thankful that my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for so many things in my life. When you look at things with a heart of thankfulness it changes the way you live and you always feel like you have more than enough and way more than you ever deserve !

I was telling him about my sweet Chad.....
I didn't share too much about this situation but kept it close to my heart and we simply prayed our hearts out over it. Steve was asked to join a new company with a guy he worked with for years and they knew each other well. This man offered him a great job with less driving and Steve decided to take it. He gave his notice and was going to start the following week. But instead he got news that the job was postponed.
It could be as long as three months.  We felt sucker punched and kept wondering  " did we step out without knowing Gods will ?  He couldn't file for unemployment because he quit so there was zero money coming in. I was so ANGRY that someone would do this, to have him leave a good job if it wasn't 100% certain. Steve said the guy felt bad enough and he couldn't add any pressure to speed up the process  { he is a much better person than I am , I was beyond angry }

Well in the interim of job searching he took on a remodel of a home in Solana Beach. Mind you he has been a project manager and has not done physical labor in years. He didn't even have a truck. He drives a Chrysler 300 "pimp daddy" car.  So he needed to switch cars with Chad so he could get materials. So Chad came to the job site to let his dad use his truck

And Chad came to the job site every week after that !! 
He would just "show up" to help

Steve was overwhelmed with gratitude to have his help but more than anything he was blown away that after working a full week ,he would drive up on his days off to hang with his pop and help in any way he could
Steve told  Chad he would never forget that in one of the darkest times in his life Chad reached out that way. 
He made him laugh and kept him company  and worked his butt off ! When I asked Chad why he kept going he said he couldn't let him do it alone, that it broke his heart to see his dad working so dang hard 

This boy of ours has a heart of pure gold !!

So fast forward a month, Steve thankfully has a great new job, the remodel is done,he sold the Chrysler and found a nice  "used"   truck

But mostly he still wells up with pride when he talks about the incredible man his boy has become !  
We are truly successful with the things that matter
Our kids and Ashlyn make us proud every single day of our life
God is good and He often has lessons to teach us that cant be learned in the sunshine but He uses the storms to change us, to draw us close to him and to trust Him !!
And I am so proud of my husband for being such a great provider and being humble to do whatever is needed to provide for us !  Those "rainy days" your parents tell you to save for really do come, and thankfully one of us is a good saver and shares his umbrella

Wishing you all days of joy and enough days of challenge that you can only survive by clinging to your faith and each other.

I am so thankful we have each other to cling to and that they lovingly cling to us !! 
 

Summer 2014

I  dont love Summer...
I  LOVE Winter, Spring and Fall
But Summer... not so much
But I remember loving summer when the kids were home and we had long lazy days ! The pool,  beach , staying out late, smores and camping in the back yard.
Or when I was a kid just knowing you had those three months to play  !
Nothing better than being carefree and doing whatever
Well guess what?
I am going to have that kind of Summer this year
I decided to make a list of all the fun things I want to do and be deliberate about filling the days and making great memories
We dont have any "vacations" on the books but who says we cant have fun right here ! 
So Carter and I both wrote down some ideas and put them up on the fridge and hopefully will be checking them off

We started yesterday off right with a spontaneous  trip to Carlsbad ! We packed a lunch, some drinks and our boogie boards. And it was such a blast !
One of my favorite episodes of "Friends" is when Phoebe runs with Rachel .She runs like a dork with such abandon and joy !
Well that's kinda like me when I swim. I feel like a big dork and I love the freedom of knowing  I can have fun without always being self conscious and nervous. I do handstands, I twirl and I dive to the bottom then float to the top !
I'm just not going to listen to that voice that says " you're too chubby" or "you're too old"  "people might think you're nuts"    
Yesterday it felt so good to get in the salt water and play !

Yep thats my summer tag phrase
"Lets go somewhere"
Here's a peek at some of our list~
Knotts Berry Farm
Reagan Museum 
Rose Bowl swap meet
Swim in the ocean at least once a month
Attempt Paddle boarding { Travis thinks we can do it? } 
Take Beckham to Sea World
Read three books 
Kayak Mission Bay
Have The Greeks for a family Crab Boil
Getty Museum
Have my friend Sandy out for a sleepover 
Rent a camper for a weekend and go to the Lake
Play a golf game or two with my hubby
Fly my niece Sara out for a few days of pedicures, movies, swimming and fun !

Whats on your summer bucket list?
Any fun ideas ? Let me know...
I have lots of room to add more fun ! 
 

Just thinkin ...

I stumbled upon a blog of a fun, young writer who is the daughter of a friend of mine
And she did this cool post " If we were on a coffee date with you " and shared what she would be filling you in on if she was sitting across from you sharing a coffee.
I just liked the concept so much that I decided to try it too

If I were on a coffee date with you ....
I would be drinking a Apricot Ceylon iced tea from Coffee Bean because it is by far MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE !  It has been for years, and I don't get to enjoy them near enough
I have them brew it fresh for me and then ice it because it is extra strong that way
And I  love their crunch ice ...perfection

I would tell you how much I have LOVED reading lately ! I devour one book and move onto the next with such excitement. I am on Goodreads so come find me ! I love this site so much because it keeps you organized and allows you to see what your friends are reading and loving !  I can spend hours browsing for new books and getting excited about what to read next. This morning I found the 2014 Beach Read guide and already added a few to my list.  I am currently reading " The invention of wings " and so enjoying it 


I would also tell you about my day with my best friends. Last week  I spent a belated Mothers Day with the boys and Ashlyn. We had such a nice day. Ashlyn had gotten us all  lunch from my favorite place in San Diego " Con Pane"  {The Turkey club is the bomb}  And they all gave me the sweetest , most tender cards. And Travlyn gave me a beautiful framed pic of Beckham and I and some amazing Meyer lemon olive oil. I have been obsessed with Meyer Lemons this year ! It was a fun day and I always drive away with the happiest heart and a smile that lasts for days.

And lastly I would tell you how much I love Tim McGraws new song " meanwhile back at mommas"  There is something about that song that makes me happy ! If you haven't heard it click here and give it a listen. So sweet, and nostalgic  

Well thanks for meeting me for coffee
I am off to go float in the pool and swim !  I feel terrible for ditching out on church today but am wiped out and needing a little bit of quiet time. My sweet hubby just left without me. I love that he is such a Godly man who will go alone even if I dont. Please forgive me Lord
But I will chat with Him while I float and thank Him for all the blessings in my life.  I am overwhelmed with thankfulness  !
Wishing you all a beautiful week filled with love and giggles!!   

And speaking of giggles, sadly this reminded me of me ....

Bunco Joys !

We had a bunco wedding !!
And wowowow was it incredible !

Sweet Katie and Dan have a daughter Bridget who married a great guy Cameron
And we all were so blessed to attend this fabulous event ! It was a bit emotional as we have all known Bridget since she was 3 or 4 and watched her grow up into this lovely young lady
It was such a meaningful service by their sweet pastor 
And lets face it ...the Atwoods know how to throw a party.
Complete with Dom Perignon at every table and the best food and drinks I have ever had !  
They were the most stunning couple and Katie was a vision as mother of the bride. I only have  a couple snaps from my phone but am anxiously awaiting the professional pics from The Crandalls  {Who I think are the BEST photographers ever}  
I love these ladies so much and feel like I have sisters when we are all together.

There is nothing more tender than a daddy daughter dance, and yes this beautiful bride rode in on her horse

It was all right out of a movie and we felt so blessed to share this day with them ....
Wishing you kids a lifetime of joy and love !! We love you

Then the following Thursday I hosted bunco at my house ! Of course we never played. We just ate and chatted about the wedding! It was all we could talk about
I decided to have breakfast for dinner and it was so yummy  !
We had yogurt parfaits, mini BLT sandwiches, a donut tower, egg casserole and potatoes, fresh berries and banana pudding. It was so fun and I loved designing the menu and cooking for my friends.

 We also celebrated Jodies birthday !! 

Paula Deens banana puddin 

 It was a wonderful night sitting aorund my dining room table sharing life stories and being friends
 I am so blessed by these girls and their friendships !

Here's to the friends who became family !!
Who knew my life would be forever changed and blessed by dice !  

Catching up,,,

I just hate when I fall behind on blogging and so much has happened that I haven't written about. 
Of course first thing is Beckham is 2 ! 
Ashlyn had the most darling brunch/ party for him with a pancake bar, donut tower and lots of beautiful details. That girl amazes me with what she can put together. Even though it poured rain and she had to move the whole thing inside  it was picture perfect and he of course was darling !
And we found out that day when they popped the balloons and pink confetti came out that they are having a GIRL!!
YaYa is in heaven with the idea of that  !!!  God is so good  and I love her so much already 

We also had such a fun family dinner down in La Jolla ! We all met at Chads house and walked to a restaurant nearby and laughed and ate. Beckham kept leaning into me and hugging me so tight. I couldn't help myself and started crying with the sheer joy of his love for me !  He truly loves his YaYa and Papou ......We are putty in his hands I tell ya

This family of mine is my biggest joy and every minute spent with them are my
 very favorites

And in other big news guess who is potty trained?
At two !!!

Gosh I think my kids were almost three? But this sweet boy is rockin his super hero underwear and telling his Momma " pee pee momma"  Good Job Becks !

We also had a fun moms dinner night with the girls and our sweet friend Vickie flew in for a wedding and was able to join us. It was so fun to all be together and  it makes me realize how much I miss seeing her every month.

I still have so much to share !! A trip to Kentucky and Nashville with my sis and niece that was a absolute blast is next up on the blog !
But I will end with this....
As some of you know I had a really sad parting  with my best friend Sandy
It was a hurt in my heart that never ever went away and I missed her in my life more than I ever admitted. I thought being away would be easier, but when you love someone and have shared such a long history and so much of your lives it just felt like I had lost such a big  piece of my heart. We had both text each other "happy birthdays" and then she one day text " can we meet for lunch " Of course I said yes and was a nervous wreck.It had been more than two years. We met at a restaurant half way between our houses and  laughed, cried, prayed, and talked for five hours.
We left there wondering how our friendship would be from that point forward ? Could we pick back up and be good friends again?  But we were happy that at least we had settled things and truly forgave each other.
It has been a month and I cant tell you how happy I am that she is back in my life !

We both were wrong, and stubborn and  thought the best thing was to let it go
But I am so thankful for a God who wants us to work things out and give grace and love to people in our lives and restore fellowship even though we may be hurt.  
I was so sorry and so was she...
And I cant tell you how happy we are that us crazy Greek/ Portuguese  girls are back burning up the phone lines and texting our crazy random thoughts
This precious , long time friendship was worth fighting for 

True friendship isn't being inseparable, it's being separated, and nothing changes

So I end this post with a encouragement to reach out to someone if you are estranged from them. Call or text and make a move to love even though you may be right or justified not to. Life is so short and we may be right but being loving is what God calls us to do !
And who knows that restored relationship might be such a huge blessing to your life !!

Things are changin around here

And not in a  good way !
Its my house ! 
It used to always be CLEAN!
Like who's coming over clean ? 
But lately.....
Not so much
The other night we had some fur balls so big I thought we had a possum in the house !
Brody has been shedding so much and I really need to vacuum every single day , but some days  I simply pretend I don't see it
And today behind my cute white hamper in the laundry room I reached behind for a sock and it was ensnared in dust. I used to clean behind the washer and dryer and now I just kinda dustbuster around it and pretend its not that bad. But after seeing it today I busted out the rags and scrubbed probably a year of grime off the floor

Its a cry for help I tell ya....I used to Windex the counters and mirrors every single morning  before work and today you could grow guppies behind my bathroom  sink

I would always hang all our clean laundry and put it away and now we are back to "stacks" in the hallway. I just tell Steve to check his "stack" when he asks where a shirt is
What the heck?   

It was a slippery slope I tell ya, but as I always say I will drop everything to go play or to be with Beckham or to read a great book. And somehow even my imaginary maid  quit showing up ? { her name is Consuela and I call for her all the time to no avail }  
So on this rainy Sunday I am going to tackle this mess !
I am hooked on Fabulouso cleaner in lavender that my sister in law Sandy turned me onto so I fill sinks with hot water and pour some of that in and go to town. It makes it seem even cleaner when it has that fresh smell.  
Pray for me that my joy of having a clean house returns and once again I look like her !

But lets be honest she never had to take her turn on words with friends, or answer email or wipe up dirty paws on a dog who loves to go out in the rain. She is never distracted by Facebook and instagram or the Bachelor just waiting to be watched. Also Survivor started this week and its a GREAT season So its going to be a miracle if I can find the time I had  before!
These dust bunnies just might need to be named and become part of the family !

Post Script....I swear no sooner than I hit Publish and Carter said "come on lets get out of the house for a bit , so we went and got pedicures and had lunch at his favorite spot Temecula Pizza Co "
See what I mean??  Who can say no to that??  At least when my housework does get done my toes will look pretty on the hard wood floors