Back to School

How did this happen? My girls are too big. Victoria started 2nd grade and Julianna Kindergarten. They were so excited to start, especially Julianna who has been dreaming of this day. Emma is enjoying the time with mommy, but especially the free reign of any toy that she wants!

Good Times

Just posting a few pics from our vacation. We rented a house on the Russian River. We spent many days at the river, enjoyed some wine in Napa, and saw family that I had never met before. It was a fun time had by all.

Happy Birthday Booga!

Today my Booga turns 5! It is a number that she has been waiting eagerly for. Next is Kindergarten, she is just so excited. Here are a few of my favorite pictures over the years. Happy Birthday my sweet girl, my shrimp, my booga. I love you.

Regular Days

Yesterday was a regular day. All the regular stuff that is not worth mentioning, because it would bore you. Yet there was something not so regular about it. It was a night that started with a trip to urgent care with Victoria. Now every mother out there knows that any great ailment that afflicts your child never occurs within normal business hours, when a simple and fast trip to the doctor is possible. So, after big crocodile tears and a little googling (I knew it was swimmer's ear), I cave and make the dreaded trip to urgent care. And can you even believe that we were seen and sent out the door, prescription in hand, in 25 minutes? It might actually be a world record. Next stop, the pharmacy (which all only have 1 employee working the line of 45 people). Needless to say we had to wait. Here is the funny thing about this time.......it was fun. Victoria and I strolled around the store, looked at all the silly things that CVS sells. Where else can you get some Croc knock-offs and a souvenir San Diego t-shirt in neon green? As we walked, we talked. One on one with my 7 year old. She asked questions, some which were hard to answer (and that occurred in the feminine product aisle), and some that were just plain funny. I asked her if it was ok with her when people told her she looks like me, and the pride in her smile said it all. On our way home we each enjoyed a Reese's (the cups), which she said she deserved for being a good patient. We sang along to the radio, and she told me that I sang better than Hannah Montana!

I sit here now and realize that someday she will roll her eyes when she is told she looks like me. Someday she won't think that being at CVS at 8pm is fun. Someday she won't ask me questions, because she will know everything. Someday mom singing in the car will just be ridiculous. Last night I was reminded to cherish my girls, and our regular days together.

Girly Girls

Had to document Victoria's new haircut, she just looks too grown up. And it was a good excuse to take pictures......during which they were begging to go to the pool and be done already.

Summer Days.......

Emma rolling in the leaves.

They all got new scooters from grandma, and they LOVE them (so does mommy for the summer entertainment).

Zoo day with our buddies the Martins.

You can never be too safe around water!

Tyson.....A Much Loved Dog

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."
— John Grogan

Tyson Veling (Big Boy Handsome). 1998-2009.
He was a love, but only on his terms. When petting was needed he would nudge the closest hand, never mattered who. He much preferred people to other dogs. His days were spent gazing out the window, hoping for bunny sightings and avoiding the girls. On Tuesdays he would follow the gardeners from window to window just daring them to get out that maddening blower. He loved running in the nearby field, hunting quail (yes quail) and never giving up on that squirrel hole. He was terrified of thunder, and electronics.....which he related to the thunder and the power going off then on. He could sense earthquakes coming, and twice protected me from a coyote. No matter how grumpy he became, he was always a good boy. He was a great walking buddy. Never pulled. Never tugged. He was my shadow. He loved my slippers, not too chew on, simply to carry around. But perhaps my favorite thing about Tyson was his "love piles". On occassion, and especially when we were gone too long, he would collect pieces of clothing and pile them up. We always thought that the person who's clothes were chosen must have been his favorite for that particular day. There were times that he would have items from all of us. Picturing him now, rummaging through dirty and clean baskets for a little sock here or a shirt there makes me smile. These were his love piles. Not meant for chewing, just collecting. I think I will miss those the most.