The Fancy Lady...

Goes Shopping:

While Shopping at Nordstrom Rack:

Rosie- Mommy, is this where Fancy Girls shop?

Mommy- Yes, Rosie. It defiantly is. (Fancy Girls who want a deal, that is)

Rosie- O.K. Great! I'm going to look for some more Fancy Clothes, like, you know.

Mommy- Yes, I know. You could use some more school shoes Rose.

Rosie- Hmmmmmmmmm. Let me see. (after several attempts to find fancy shoes that were appropriate on the preschool play ground, she found these, and it was love at first sight...can you blame her?)

Gets Fancy:
Rosie (at 8:00 a.m.)- Nana, when are you coming to take me for our special day like Lizzy?

Nana- Ask your Mom when you can go, I can go on Monday or Tuesday.

Rosie- When is Monday or Tuesday? Is that today? Is that tomorrow day? No Max, you can't come, it's for girls, not BOYS (Max is devastated).

Goes to Preschool:

(The Mother goes in to wake older sister Lizzy D. for school and finds a surprise...)

Mommy- Rosie!! What are you doing up so early? And getting dressed? And Bed already made? While Lizzy is still sleeping?

Rosie- MOMM-Y don't you remember that I have preschool today and we have to Be Prepared?

Mommy- Oh, yes, Rosie, I do, but your school doesn't start until after Lunch.

Rosie- I need to get ready, so I'll be ready first. Before Lizzy (that shouldn't be a problem).

Mommy- O.K., Rosie, way to be prepared!

Rosie- I need my lip gloss that Nana gave me for my back-pack.

Mommy- I completely understand, my Fancy Girl (LIZZY WAKE-UP!!).

Rosie- I just can't find what purse it's in!

Letter of the Day....

P.

A dear friend and mentor once taught me a valuable lesson. Ms. Peck, a fine educator and an even better teacher begins her 3rd grade class the same way everyday. During roll call, her students answer with a "PREPARED" or "NOT PREPARED" reply. Why not the traditional "Here" you may ask? I asked the same question. Her response: "Because I expect my students to come Prepared to school everyday. We need to start the morning Prepared and ready to begin the day. Students don't want to answer "Not Prepared" so, they are more likely to (on their own) Prepare for school." BRILLIANT, I thought, so I tucked that away in my mothering memory bank, to be used at the most perfect time......which happens to be now.

I obsessed about what our Family Back to School Goal would be. Looking back at last year's morning routines helped me see where there was definite room for improvement -for all of us. Reading Nie Nie inspired me to 'step-it-up' in my own mothering abilities and responsibilities. I realized that our family needed a good lesson on 'Being Prepared'. So, thanks to Ballet Amy and Family Fun, I was able to 'plan my work and work my plan'. We made "Be Prepared" place mats for FHE, and developed better organizational strategies. I have made it a personal goal to be more prepared in all aspects of my life. Already, it has paid off for our family. Hopefully, with a little luck, and a lot of thinking ahead, we'll be able to answer "PREPARED" to life's roll call this year.

School Girl

Dear 2nd Grade,

I present to you a professionally manicured & pedicured (Thanks Nana!), newly outfitted, sun-kissed, mom-kissed, excited and well prepared, Lizzy D. Treat her kindly. Enjoy her. Fill her mind with "virtuous, lovely,...praiseworthy," things. And please send her home promptly at 3:35 with a smile, and plenty of exciting news to share of the adventures you two will have together.

Warmly,

Her Mother.

P.S.- If you could also teach her to remember to bring home her lunch box each day from school, that would be fabulous.

P.P.S- Also, it would be nice if you didn't send home any homework over the weekends, holidays, or my birthday, or Lizzy's birthday, in fact, the whole month of May should simply be avoided. Thank you for your understanding.

Rewind

Is July really over? Truly? It was so fun. I felt busy. But, it was a good kind of busy. The kind of busy out having fun. July is so Grand, for many reasons:

Reason #1- Growing.

Lizzy is getting bigger, older, and a little braver.

Reason #2- Facepainting.

Reason #3- "Fire WERKS" in the Mountains.
("That go BOOM BOOM then CHHHHHHHH, like that") Max


Reason #4-Children's Bike Parades.
(FOR FREEEEEEE)


Reason 5- Swimsuits.

Reason #6- Family Bonding.
(anything will unite a family if it involves swimming suits and a cooler)

Reason 7- The 4th Of July Festivities.

Reason 8- SHOPPING & COORDINATING.

Shopping for the perfect summer outfit.

Shopping At The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Shopping on Vacation.

Ahhhhhhh, retail therapy!

If you Lead...

I will Follow.

It's this man I prefer to follow-always.

Today we celebrate 10 years of marriage bliss. I count my self more than blessed to be Kelly's wife. I have followed him to new places, discovered with him new things, leaned on his strength when I had none, trusted his judgement during crucial times, learned through his example and reached a greater potential being 'we' instead of 'me'.

Looking back on 5 moves, 5 jobs (collectively), 3 cars and 3 children, we can truly say that: These are the best days of our lives!

Now, if I could just get him to understand that doing the dishes means: dishes, counters, table & SWEEPING...... maybe that can be our goal for the next decade.

Made for You and Me

One Saturday afternoon in late May:

Lizzy- Rosie, I can give you bike riding lessons today!

Rosie- OK, what level am I on?

Lizzy- I think level 2.

Rosie- Really?!? I've got to go tell Mommy!

Lizzy- But, before I can teach you, we have to start the lessons with the Pledge.

Rosie- Lizzy, I only know the pledge of alli-chance, not the bike pledge!?!

Lizzy- ROSIE, it's the SAME THING.

Rosie- OK! I should say it with my Helmet on.....right Lizzy....??

Happy 4th of July!

My 'Pal'

Warm Water, Warmer Red Rocks, 'Forgotten Canyons',An Abundance of Sea Shells (don't ask me how they got there)
Very NICE friends to save us when 'Family First' (my Dad's boat, his pride and joy)
became Family Last and broke down on Day ONE (that's right)!
Thank Heavens for NICE friends who have a
NICE boat and were NICE enough to say they actually enjoyed hanging out with us
and completely saved our trip!

The feeling of warm sand squishing between our toes

Time spent with the Greats

A beach all to ourselves.........

These are just a few things I love about my good friend, Pal.

At the young age of 2, I made a life long 'PAL'. Traveling down south to a warm and beautiful lake has become a expected tradition my entire life. We didn't make it down every year, but we went enough to develop a close friendship with this magical place in the dessert. She has taught me much on the subject of beauty, discovery and family bonding. It was on her 'glassy' early morning water that I first learned to water ski, behind my Grandfather's boat: 'Paul's Ark'. My earliest memories in the extreme sport of tubing happened as a young girl skidding across her warm waves and holding on for dear life. Dusk boat rides into Pal's beautiful canyons opened conversations with my brothers and husband that I still think about today. Luckily, my family was the first to introduce my true love, Kelly, to our friend, and he in turn became very fond. So fond that is, that he did indeed make 'Studs of Pal', a dvd complete with pictures and video from 9 years spent on the lake. We enjoyed his digital masterpiece on the first night of our trip, laughing at how much we've aged and how much longer men's swimming trunks are these days.
Now, 29 years later, she still lives up to her reputation. Lizzy, became a little braver on the tube and hiked a mountain without breaking a sweat. Rosie didn't let the cooler than usual weather and water stop her from enjoying the lake's spoils. Max, oh Max, he enjoyed being next to his Dad, while wanting to do everything everyone was doing......at once. He, like usual was hard to keep up with, and is still asking to return. I love spending time with my family, especially my parents who want so much for their children to remain close and continue a family tradition. Pal's peacefulness and tranquility fuel me. She, like a best friend, never disappoints, and I think always looks forward to my next visit.