Kid Catch Up George

Since I haven't blogged regularly for so long I'll do a kid catch up. Starting with the baby George. He's no baby...that's for sure. He's WAY bigger than his sis and almost as big as Moses.

He is developing his political views...and they are strong. The picture is of a ripped up newspaper article about Trump....or Mr. Rump as George would prefer.

George is working towards his black belt in TKD. He is about half way there. His enthusiasm comes and goes but we are encouraging forcing him to finish since we spent a ton of cash on his sparring gear and black belt club. Once he is at class he likes it but getting him going is hard. 

George and Sis have always been great friends....my almost twins. But, this year George has moved towards wanting to do more with the big boys. He loves to be included with his brothers and dad. He plays more with neighborhood boys than his sis too. He likes to ride bikes, play swords or nerf guns or legos. 

George is an amazing reader. Ya gotta love a book worm. 

He has a zany side to him and has been exploring his sense of humor. He likes to read joke books and try them out on us. 

And he's tender hearted. He doesn't like it when kids are sad or are in trouble. He thinks about social justice a lot.

This pic is my beloved Uncle Larry. All my kids adore him. We recently got to have dinner with him. Such a joy. 

And he's serious too. He loves to hear Cam talk about the military. He reads a lot about it too. He had Cam teach him how properly salute.

The kids and I were at a basketball tournament near where Cam's dad is buried. I took the kids to see the grave. George was very serious....it was a military cemetery. 

I like to ask the kids periodically what they want to be when they grow up. George wants to be a nurse practitioner. Great choice! 

Valentine's Day 2017

Valentine's Day....my favorite holiday. 

We continued our tradition of dinner in our pj's. We all look forward to the event. I set the table with everyone's treats which makes for a festive time. 

After dinner we had a cozy time by the fire. 

A simple yet fun time. 

Ouch!

See this sweet face?! She really is a sweet girl...mustache and all. She's a tell it like it is kind of girl too. I like that quality. But, sometimes the truth hurts. Yesterday she informed me that my butt cheeks are huge. Yep. Wow. Ouch. She then went on to say that my butt cheeks are jiggly and dimply. Double, Triple ouch. In her defense she was not saying it to be mean. She was just making an observation. 

I took that (accurate) observation and headed straight to Weight Watchers. I need to take off some pounds. Again! Oh how I am annoyed at myself for letting my weight creep up. Again!

So, here I go. Day 1 of get going....lose some lbs....get moving...clean up my eating...exercise regularly. My WW meeting topic today was "All or Nothing". I could really relate. I have an all or nothing process when it comes to food and exercise. If I have an off day and eat more than I should or eat a lot of sugar I tend to mentally throw in the towel. Well, there goes the day I might as well not work out or I might as well eat more junk, etc. 

I recognize that is not a healthy was to think and act. It's how my bad habits spiral...and my weight creeps up. I am going to make a conscious effort to change that thought process. 

I'll be blogging more on my success and challenges. Anyone else working to take some weight off or beginning a new workout routine? 

Moss

Look at this beautiful photo! I took this pic on a walk near our local beach. We are blessed in the PNW with lots of rain...and moss. I din't use to like moss, especially the kind in my lawn. But, it is beautiful and prolific here. I have started to notice all different kinds and all the various places it grows. I enjoy watching it seemingly disappear in the sunny summer but then magically reappear in the fall. It never really left. The vibrant colors draw me in. I'm loving moss. 

5 other things I'm loving...

Iced green and mint tea

Succulents

Rustic garden art

Mary Kay lip gloss

Sauteed zuchinni

20th Anniversary

In January Cam and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We spent a beautiful morning hiking a local nature trail that we had never been to. The hike started up high and went down through a forest of trees. There was a stream that ran along the trail too. The hike ends at the beach....our favorite place. 

The beach was empty and the view was amazing. You can see the Olympic Mountain range across the water. 

It was freezing cold but the hike back up got us nice and warm. Actually it got Cam nicely warmed and it got me hot and sweaty and breathing hard. It was a 1 mile straight uphill and I am not in as good of shape as my billy goat husband. I took the opportunity to stop and look at moss and ferns and birds....and anything....to catch my breath. 

After our hike we went to lunch at our fave spot. The view was gorgeous! 

20 years!! That's a good solid amount of time to be married. 

What I've learned about my marriage in 20 years...and am still learning.

It takes work. We put time and effort into making our marriage strong. 

When you feel disconnected from your spouse, say so, and do something to reconnect. 

We love each other AND we annoy each other.  Being annoyed doesn't take away from the love. 

It's the little things that mean the most.

We are still learning about each other. 

It's okay (and beneficial) to have time apart or alone. 

You have to be the "soft place to land" for each other. 

Shared history is important to both of us.

For us it's better to go to bed mad. In the morning things will feel different. 

Say sorry even when you don't feel it. 

Take time to hold hands, kiss hello and goodbye and sit together. 

Be each other's biggest cheerleader. 

Zip your mouth. 

Make time for dates. 

Show appreciation for one another. Verbalize it. 

Laugh together. Be silly and crazy and wild. 

I'm excited for the next 20 years and beyond. It's work but it's worth it. Happy 20th to my favorite, my person, my partner, my love. 

Writer's Block

I've been absent from my blog. I've tried to write here and there but mostly I've just posted pics of our family and tried to keep up with major holidays.

I'd like to write more. But, I'm blocked. I like it when I can just say what is in my mind. I call it "off the cuff" writing. I don't plan it and it's fun to just start and see where it takes me.

Part of the reason is that I've added work to my life. That creates less time for writing. That's not the whole of it though. Really what it comes down to is this year's presidential election. The results hit me like a sledgehammer in the gut. I literally couldn't breathe. In time I could take small breaths and leave the house without sobbing. But I couldn't write. I couldn't say anything because I couldn't say EVERYTHING!!

I have always had friends/family that didn't vote the same way I do. It never bothered me too much. This year was different. This year I couldn't reconcile that people I knew...and loved would vote for such a person. I still can't.

This has caused me deep grief. And anger. And turmoil. And caused me to pull back and inside of myself.

I miss writing so I thought that maybe if I just wrote about why I'm blocked I could begin again.

Now...some beautiful peaceful photos I took on a nature walk.

Part of getting my mojo back has been to spend time outside in nature. 

There is beauty in the world.

Sissy's 9th Birthday

Sis was LUCKY! She got to celebrate her birthday while we were at the beach just after Christmas. She loved it...and now says that we have to go every year for her birthday. 

9....NINE!! This sweet little baby girl is getting so big. She loves American Girl Dolls and spends most of her time playing with them...doing their hair...dressing them.

Since we were away from home Sis got to go pick out a cake. She picked an ice cream cake. Yummy! for dinner she requested a nacho bar. Lots of toppings to choose from and so delicious. 

She got lots of new AG doll things. Very fun! 

After her birthday at the ocean we planned a bowling party for her friends to attend. Bowling, pizza, cake and disco music with lights. Woot! 

She invited boys and girls. At first she wanted to have an AG party but I told her most of the boys probably wouldn't want to come to a doll party. So she decide on bowling and everyone had a fun time. 

More cake...actually cupcakes. 

Happy birthday to my sweet tender hearted girl. You are a good friend and have such a heart for anyone that is sad or in need of a friend. Your social conscience is very strong. You ask many questions about homeless people. You think about them and want better for those you see struggling in our city. You often ask if we can give them something to eat and drink. I love that about you. 

You loved playing soccer...both outdoor and indoor this year. You are the fastest girl out there. By far. You haven't even reached your full potential for speed yet. Look out! You still cartwheel through the house...and wiggle and dance. You also sing LOUDLY all day long. This annoys your brothers but you do have a great voice.

You have a wonderful sense of humor and you like to laugh...especially funny is potty humor. Oh grief. You have a great time playing with your brother George. The two of you love to build lego and forts and play outside together. 

And like I said, you LOVE AG dolls. It's really fun for me too. 

You are a beauty, inside and out by baby girl. I love you and cherish you. XO