Dirty

Three day weekends are great for an impromptu front yard project. I blogged about my front yard a while ago and have finally had it with the juniper. One thing led to another and here we are, knee deep in soil, pavers, and new plants. The neighborhood kids flocked to our dirt patch and showed me how much fun kids can have playing in the dirt. All of them would yell with delight each time they discovered weird things like centipedes or pulled out odd shaped roots. Too bad we can't keep it a dirt patch! Off to sleep so we can get back to it tomorrow.

Hard work:


Little helper (I think the neighbors were a bit taken back by how dirty I let Reade get):


Thank goodness Andrew's parents have a truck:

Crawl

Someone crawls now:










Right to mama.

Here is a mother. Here is one of the top role models in society today. Do I love her? Yes. Do I wish I was her? Yes. Some people would say I am following a pipe dream not set in reality. Then why did I open this email tonight and wince? Dreams might be closer than we realize. The worst part is, these are things I think of often.

From the parents group I belong to (over 3,000 members):

Mother's Night Out
When: Jan. 22nd 7-10pm
Speakers:

* Looking your best for 2011 by (omitted name), professional image and style consultant

Wine appreciation by (omitted name), mom, lead for (omitted company) and a gal with great sense of humor
- Wine for your health: Calories & carbs, benefits and justifications
- What's in a glass? Selecting the right glass for the job, why it matters and when it doesn't
- Selecting wines: Price, Preference, and Pairing
- Leftover wine: Don't let it go to waste!

Girl Friend's Guide to Plastic Surgery by (omitted name), a Stanford and fellowship trained Plastic Surgeon, mother of three, private practice for over a decade. She believes in education and subtle, natural looking results. Come and ask your questions about anything from noninvasive ways to surgeries. She will be honest and informative.

Dance moves for 2011 - get your groove back(no dance skills required) by (omitted name), dance instructor

Light dinner and drinks served


I am trying really hard to love this area, but it is slowly dragging me into the "should be" category instead of the "can be" way of thinking. It is up to me to put down the wine glass, forego the plastic surgery pamphlets, and walk right by the Sephora store at the mall. Then what? What the heck am I supposed to do with my time/energy. I hope I figure that out before my sons really understand the world around them.

By the way, the new season of the Bachelor started (wink, wink).

Blessed

I am blessed that these two things were in my life tonight.

Chocolates from Paris:


Chocolate cake from America:


Only nine days until I meet with a nutritionist to curb my sugar cravings/eating habits. Yeah, good luck with that. Thank goodness I only have to pay a $10 copay. I figure it is worth a shot.

Farm To Parking Lot

Oh, the experience of a farm in a parking lot. So much to ogle.

Hot chocolate because it was cold:


Mmm, temptation:


Better choices:


Land 'O honey:


Back at G'parent's house. Ellen made some yummy toast with fresh bread, tomatoes, and cheese. Relaxed minds and tummies:

Brothers

They are now brothers. They have always been brothers, but these days are filled with two-way conversations and actions. I just sit back (and intervene when needed) and watch the show. Their connection makes me smile.

Drive By Beaching

We took the van to the mechanics this morning for one last (minor) thing to be done before we sell it. That meant we had to drop Andrew off at work on our way back to Palo Alto. The kids were all dressed, fed, and antsy from being in the car so I decided to push the envelope and keep driving to the beach. What a great winter trip to the beach. The waves were so big they were crashing onto the sidewalks. It was great to teach Blake the difference between the winter ocean and the summer ocean.

It was gorgeous:


Reade touching his own version of the beach:


Daydreaming:


We ate at a cute cafe, combed the beach, and then headed to the local library to read some stories about the ocean. I love old, small libraries with adorable children's sections:


The beach air helped clear my head a bit.