Last night, after we got home from work/school, I was cooking dinner, and the kids asked if they could ride their scooters for the last 10 minutes of light… “sure” I said.
Not five minutes later, Max comes running in and says “Hurry, come see, quick quick”… who knows what i expected, but it certainly wasn’t what i saw. Max had, that quickly, convinced Mady to try his bike, as she has been deathly afraid of riding a bike. She got on, started down the street and didnt stop. She was so excited, it was as if she had known how to do it all along.
I almost wonder if learning to ride at almost 9 years old, is easier than learning at 5. She had figured out the balance thing with the scooter, so that probably made it a heck of a lot easier last night.
It was exciting, but i truly think the most exciting part was just how proud Max was of his sister!
I know she will ask if she can ride it this morning before we head off to school, I will try and snap a photo at that point 
Nice to have a big brother…
January 28, 2009 at 8:15 am (Uncategorized)
Fun in the Snow (pictures)
January 22, 2009 at 11:27 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: kids, snow, tahoe
Here are a few pictures from the time D and the kids spent at the Tahoe house… in the snow.
there are some really cute shots.
have fun, let me know what you think
 |
 |
| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Time in Vegas
January 22, 2009 at 12:55 pm (Uncategorized)
Sunday I traveled to Las Vegas, for a training conference for work. Sunday night we were fed and had a keynote address, and back to our rooms. The rooms at the Palazzo were nice, they considered them all suites. Monday morning we met for breakfast at 6:45am and then had classes all day… dinner was at 5:30 and after dinner keynote lasted till 8pm. Monday there was a party at the TAO nightlclub, which was part of the Venitian Hotel (sister to Palazzo). The club was super unique, and pretty swank, but too late for me… and off to the room I headed.
Tuesday morning we were off and running again, same schedule 6:45am-8:00pm then the team party at the conference center. Not too impressed, big warehouse feel, not enough people at the beginning, so a few of us walked over to the Wynne to get some air… it was a nice walk and from there we walked to the Encore (sister hotel), I wasnt that impressed with these hotels, but it was a nice walk all the same.
we then headed back to the party, a few more people had shown up, but it just wasnt my gig… so I split about midnight, and headed back.
Wednesday morning was all mine, i was able to wake up at 7am, watch some Oprah (special on Inaguration, which was fabulous), then I headed out on a walk, went down to Paris hotel, took some pictures, then walked back through the Forum Shops at Ceasar’s Palace. I found FAO Schwartz, and bought the kids some cute little “classic” toys. and each of them a pez despenser
Home again, happily! Now this morning Im at the Volvo dealer awaiting their verdict on a noise i heard in the front engine area (before i left for Vegas). been here 2 hours now… hoping it gets done quickly. At least they have wireless
Happy Birthday D, and a Classmate PC
January 17, 2009 at 9:11 pm (Uncategorized)
Birthday for D… we got him a new GPS, and made a framed peice of art with the kids handprints and a Poem… also a small table book of all the Blue Dog paintings… D loves Blue Dog! We took him to Cattlemens Restaurant, always been one of his favorites… they sang, and brought treats
we had fun:
Oh and we got Max a classmate PC for Christmas, we got a pretty good deal through work and it just seemed like the right time for him to have his own computer, At first we had some issues because we couldnt get some of the websites to appear on the screen at the right resolution and we couldnt get one of the features to work… but now we are very happy with it and Max ordered his free Skin-It… and check it out!
is that not the coolest looking computer you have ever seen?
Always a dilemma, Safeway or Raleys
January 15, 2009 at 2:46 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: raleys, safeway
Ive been griping about the service at Safeway for so long, not to mention their lack of product selection. But I have to say the convenience, most of the time, outweighs the gripe that I have.
Although, last time I was at Safeway, I was unloading the cart (something you do at Safeway and not Raleys) I was getting it all complete with just two items left (at the bottom of the cart) and the bagger came over and said… OH look “checker’s name” she has these two items as well. He said this in such an accusatory way… as if I were trying to walk out with them on the bottom of my cart. I was so put off by that. And said to myself… “I will not shop here again”. Of course I still did.
On my way home last night, I needed to pick up a few things at the store, and made the conscience decision to go to Raley’s due to my attitude towards Safeway. I walked in, in a great mood, found the few things I needed, and then I entered the checkout area. It was just after 5pm, and the lines were ok, maybe 3 people in each. I was ok on time, so didnt worry too much about it.
I chose a line closest to the door I would exit out of, and waited. Now, I love babies like the rest of you but, the lady in front of me had a newborn, and of course.. everyone was oohing and ahhhhing at him. But when the checker is one of the oh’ers and ah’ers it gets a bit annoying when it is causing me to get impatient. And of course in the time that I was standing in line, I now has 4 people behind me!!! So, kinda hard to leave.
I kinda gave the “look” to the checker and she just smiled and kept chatting. To top it off, there was not a bagger in sight, of course after the lady figured out how to pay with 8 different gift cards, the checker had to bag all the groceries herself, and it was obviously something she didnt do often, and took her another 7 minutes. At this point I had made the decision that Safeway wasnt all that bad at least they get me through the line quickly.
Finally up to the checkstand I went… I got the standard, “Did you find everything?” and I said, “yes, except the baggers seem to be missing!!”
Anyway… to make a long story EVEN longer… I was so irritated!
And as I sit here, contemplating the differences between the two and what I will do… Ive decided… When i need specific things, I will go to BelAire (although its a sister of Raleys, their staff is much much nicer and more efficient, but its well out of my way), and when I need convenience, I will continue to go to Safeway, i will just choose my checkers wisely.
I guess I should just be happy i have a choice.
thanks for listening to me rant.
January… February… March…. hectic
January 14, 2009 at 9:02 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: kids, school, work
the first quarter of every year is always the most stressful for me. We have 80% of all our family’s birthdays in this time frame, along with making sure the taxes get done… oh and on the work front, the first quarter is always the most difficult, as we are preparing for our reviews (writing them ourselves, most typically) and awaiting the outcome. So… if we could just skip this quarter, life really would be a lot easier
But then I wouldn’t get to create an awesome invitation in a bottle for my son’s 11th birthday Pirate themed party, and my daughter’s very first birthday sleepover with slippers as invitations would just be lost. So… although this is the busiest quarter of the year, I guess I really do enjoy, SOME of it.
Max is working on his very first research paper. He’s doing it very old school, where he has to do the thesis, then the outline, then 3×5 cards with notes for each outlined item, now on to a rough draft (needs to be 15 pages). Oh and he already had to do his bibliography and one of his resources has to be an interview (taped!), luckily he chose El Salvador Civil War for his topic, and his interviewee is his dad.. so does make fact finding a bit easier, but wow… for 5th grade, seems extensive. Although, on the bright side, Max is VERY interested in it, and is learning a lot, which i know makes D very proud!
Next week I will be at an internal training for our sales and marketing teams, in Las Vegas. Good to get out every once in awhile, but wish it wasn’t with a bunch of co-workers. Oh well, $50 on red
Happy New Year 2009 is here!
January 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm (Uncategorized)
What a great day we had as a family. We cleaned, played, shopped, watched movies, cooked, ate, counted down, popped poppers, drank… and most of all appreciated… each other!
We hope you had a memorable turning of the year, and that you enjoy our few pictures of our memories.
Here are My Wishes for You…
H ours of happy times with friends and family
A bundant time for relaxation
P rosperity
P lenty of love when you need it the most
Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures
N ights of restful slumber (you know – dont’ worry be happy)
E verything you need
W ishing you love and light
Y ears and years of good health
E njoyment and mirth
A angels to watch over you
R embrances of a happy years!
——author unknown
 |
|
| Make a Smilebox greeting |
