MIA

Well I'm still here, barely...things have been so hectic - Mike was in China for 2 weeks - for obvious reasons I don't like to broadcast when he is gone but after he is back seems okay. I always make sure our alarm is on 24/7 and have lots of help from friends. One day I will have to go private too I'm afraid but not quite yet....

It was a tough couple weeks but we made it through. He said it is really congested there - no wonder there is global warming!




He also found the Hong Kong Temple - he missed the last session but he gets points for seeing it anyway. It is built on top of a regular building with accessible floors beneath it. Good use of space I guess!


Mike came home on Thursday then on Friday we left for Lake Tahoe for the weekend - my friend Louise's sister got married - it was really nice - it was really cold already - unfortunately it rained before the wedding and it was very cold so it was supposed to be an outdoor wedding, they had to move it inside - but that is okay - it all worked out in the end. Mike's parents watched the kids so it was nice to get away.


The next morning we had breakfast with Louise & Max - I'm so sad they are going back to Italy next Saturday - our summer was so short together!

The kids have been great - the chore chart isn't working so well - I have to figure something else out.

I have to catch up on all my blogs and thanks hotmama - I've got some good sites to check out!!

Ready, Set......Shop!

Well I had a good day at the mall today - first real time since before my accident - I was sore by the end but drugs are great - I still take 800 mg of ibuprofen.

I went to the torture-chamber for my quarterly treatment (aka - Macy's brow bar) and got my S&M treatment on my face - looks pretty good for not having it done in 3-4 months.

Linda & I met Meressa (get a blog girl) for lunch at CPK and had yummy BBQ Chicken Chop Salads. My mother & father in law came into town - they went to Monterey for a couple days and then came here - which is nice because they always help with all the homework and cooking and bedtime - so nice.

Mike & I are actually going to Lake Tahoe for the weekend - my BFF Louise's sister Michelle is getting married. Michelle is 2 years older than us - so when we were in high school - she used to go to the library (across the street from HS) everyday - so we knew if we wanted a ride home we had to make sure we were there by 4pm everyday! We used to run to make it after our practices or whatever!

Well we have had a super busy week here - I'll fill in more later - but hope everyone is having a great day!

I'd Like to thank the Academy

I'm speechless - I never would have thought I would be nominated!!! Okay, end of my pre-Oscar acceptance speech.

Very fun - Thanks Christina & Linda for draggin' me into this cyber-world - it sure is nicer keeping my hands on a keyboard than shoving popcorn in my mouth every evening. Although - I think I'm getting carpal-tunnel syndrome from all the blog-stalking I've been doing.

It's nice to know there are people just like me out there! You know who you are, wink wink....there are so many really talented & beautiful new friends out there - and it's nice to know we're all on the same ( sometimes sinking) ship.

So here's to all of you - in the words of Sally Field, "you like me, you really like me!" Thank you!

Tag you're it you blogging rock stars! (I have to ditto many of the ones already chosen, so here are some new stars)

1. Jenny
2. Christina
3. Lauralee
4. Stephanie
5. Michelle H

Thanks for all your love on my spot - I always enjoy reading about your days and you always help me with mine!

Status

I guess I haven't given an update to my leg in a while. It has become such a daily occurrence that I hardly notice anymore. I've graduated from my crutches and only use my leg brace when I got out. I did get a renewal for my handicap sign though through Oct. - I've been going to therapy twice a week and within the last 2 weeks really feel like I've turned a corner. It doesn't hurt (as much) to bend down anymore - I can actually put weight on my left knee now as well.

At PT I start with 5 mins on a stationary bike - which the first time terrified me - but now it is much better - however after 3.5 minutes I have pinchy feelings in my hip flexors.

It's funny the kind of exercises they give you to help build up strength. I have to sit on a stool with wheels and using my heels - scoot myself around the room. Then I have to do it only with the bad leg - now that is hard! But I feel better and I take less Ibuprophen, (yea for my kidneys!) I cannot run the Nike 1/2 Marathon next month - but I'd love to start walking around the neighborhood soon. Well actually the mall - Linda & I are going to try it next week ;)

But I'm excited to give up the nickname "Hop A Long"

Lucas' Big Day

Well yesterday was Lucas' first day of Preschool - my how time flies - it is just so sad to think he is my youngest!!! It was very funny to see all the new mom's out there, they couldn't leave their kids - one mom the director had to reassure her that her daughter would be fine - it was cute.

Yikes I need to learn to stand straighter!

At the end of the day - he's happy!

Ms. Lyn - she's been there a long time - what a Saint!

After preschool we signed up for Bumper Bowling - He was so cute - I wish I had my camcorder - he was doing a happy dance after each one - so cute - we'll be doing this for the next couple months

Last night we had the Ice Cream Social at the Elementary School - it was fun to see all the old friends - better than back to school night because you can visit. Louise, Max & Sophia came to visit and got to have Ice Cream with us. We had to stick the 2 stinky kids in the tub - so the pictures are for ransom for when they grow up - oh la la~


I already put on Christina's comments that Linda & I went to have our Hump Day Lunch today at the fine restaurant Chuck's (as in CEC) today - they served Flatbread covered with Frommaggio - all you can eat Salad & Diet Coke. We sat there while the entertainment came on every 15 mins and the boys sat like Angels in their seats no moving a muscle (ha ha yeah right)

The best part was it was so uncrowded and the babies could care less about getting a prize!
So here's what Lucas looked like when we got home -

But actually before we went there - thanks to carpooling I didn't have to pick up today! Lucas & I ran into the newly opened Ranch 99 - Asian Market - I got some asian candy -

My mom & dad are drooling I know (see move back - california = good, las vegas = bad) - I got - Roasted Duck, BBQ Pork, Steam Buns, Siu Mai, Haw Gao & Chow Mein - oh yummy yummy yummy for me!!! It's what's for dinner!

It's called Jute

Well here is the picture of our house - I love the new color - it is called Jute by Kelly Moore - I really like it - I finally got my lights too - thanks Jules - at Lowes - although it is a trek to go out there and get it. We're getting one built closer so I am so so so excited! I totally agree that Lowes has a better selection - I also like Home Depot Expo but they are too expensive.

Lauralee the cutie boys were a snake - they are Sidewinder snakes - the soccer league has a cute system of having all the same age groups start their team names with the same letters - so you run out of "S" names after a while - makes it a little more challenging to make costumes and banners. So you know they don't have names like, Spitters, Slashers, Slimeys, Slugs..... they have to be tough like Scorpions, Sorcerers, Snakes & Sidewinders :) The girls are always funny - Dots, Daisies, Dalmations - you get it...I could go on with less flattering names :)

Today was nice - we had a real FHE - we talked about our "Chores". and I'm trying to figure out a reward list - I think we are doing a point system. I'll see if it workds after a week and then I'll let you know - it might be too complicated!

Thanks for all the love last blog - hope school is going well for everyone - our homework is going to kill me! Tomorrow is another busy day. Today went to the dermotologist by 8:30 and Costco with Linda - gotta love the hot dogs - so it was nice.

Soccer, Football, Dance... Oh My!

I'm tired!! We had quite the day today - if you're reading I hope you comment - I love to see who's actually (if anyone) reads my blog! Besides my mom - who never comments - hint hint wink wink

I've been having my house (outside & doors) painted all week so it just compounded the chaos in my life. Here's how the day looked in our house today

6:15 Wake up alarm
6:45 Ian & Mike to Soccer Parade
6:55 Painters Arrive (so my front door & back stay open ALL DAY)
8:10 Mike & Ian come home
9:00 Holly to grocery Store
10:00 Mike picked up
11:15 Tyler to dance performance (Thanks Christy)
2:30 Chandler to Football (Thanks Janeen)
3:00 Tyler just makes it home. We go to Home "Despot" to look for lights for house (long story - hate going there sometimes! Oh, and came back empty handed)
3:50 Late to soccer warm-up (thanks Home Depot)
4:00 Football Jamboree 2 miles away - missed most of it!
5:20 Soccer late - finally go to Jamboree for Chandler
6:00 FREEZING our buns off - watch scrimmage
7:00 Leave, get movies at Blockbuster
7:30 Yikes - take kids to Jack in the Crack (but I did order them Milk)
8:00 Katie & Sophia come over to sleepover, showers, movie on
9:00 Holly finally eats
10:00 Ah, the blog

That's one big snake!

Sidewinders! Ian had his front tooth pulled yesterday - it was horrible, he must have hit his mouth on something so the trauma killed his tooth. Poor kid we had to give him Happy Gas. There is a reason why I am not a Dentist - it wasn't pleasant - but I was basically the 2nd nurse/hygenist. Luckily Lucas slept in his stroller, I couldn't have done both kids.

Ian playing Goalie - he was really good - especially for the fact that no balls ever came to him - LOL

Chandler is playing center - he also had the most "tackles" or belts

Lucas my future player - oh no!
He saw himself right now and said, "Ucas and my cocker ball" I can't understand much of what he says lately - good thing Speech Thera;y starts soon - he sure is animated - right now he's telling me about an "olcano tha ona s'plode" "aaahhh boom"

This Week's Obsession

I love Pride & Prejudice - Colin Firth is so yummy. So Mike was away and when he is gone I cannot sleep so I watch shows and movies - well when I got hurt my friend Christy gave me her Pride & Prejudice DVD's from A&E - I remember watching those on TV - I forgot how much I loved that show - then I moved on to the Kiera Knightly version, I love when Mr. Darcy says "I love, love, love, love you" Ahhhhhh.


So I've moved on - I watched something about Being Ernest last night when I should have gone to bed. I watched Sense & Sensibility but had Hugh Grant - who is also very cute - and next I'm going to watch Shakespeare In Love - so this week - I'm an Anglophile!!!!

The bummer is he is married to a really cute Italian woman that is my age - that sounds utterly smart, talented & beautiful. Why can't they just married regular old plain jane's????? Although he is a little older than I would chose in real life ha ha.....I guess it's just all about the accent and the character - good actor, I fell in love with Mr. Darcy!

Last weekend

With the Birthday I have a little catch up to do on my blog. Friday night of course was a huge highlight with the ball game, but the weekend was just terrific in general.

Saturday I took my friend Laura to a cooking class my sweet husband paid for 2 Christmases ago!!! We made French Onion Soup, Spinach Souffle, & Beef Wellington!!! Yikes, no lo-cal diets here! I love to take cooking classes - I love new techniques and fancy dancy foods.... We had such a good time - the only bummer was after we rolled out of class after eating our feast - we missed all the good movies times - so we came home....

Yummy!!!!

We gave Chandler a skateboard for his Birthday

We had a bunch of friends over for Labor Day/Chandler's bday - we were smart this time though and BBQ everything earlier in the day so Mike didn't have to slave over the fire. I think we had 10 families come and countless kids - I think there were 60+ if you counted everyone. We have such fun neighbors & friends. Linda where are you?? You'll have to get the kid action pictures from Linda's blog....

Okay - now this is just freaky - Ian & I went to our allergy shots today - he gets a "prize" each time we go - they got new ones this time - he picked out this crazy giant tatoo - I've never seen one so big!!!! He was just itchin' to get it on his arm....totally crazy! But since it was from the Dr's office I guess it's A-OK - ha ha

Happy Birthday Chandler!

I can't believe Chandler will be 9 - his real birthday is tomorrow - Labor day....here are a few things about my boy

1. Chandler love to play games
2. He is very kind and caring
3. He shares and is polite
4. He is very smart
5. He has lots of friends
6. He is very sporty - I can't wait until he plays professional baseball :)
7. He is very soft spoken
8. He follows rules
9. He likes to cook
10. He likes to hang out at home
11. He is very loyal
12. He is learning the piano
13. He surprises me often
14. He LOVES to tell jokes
15. He has a fabulous smile
16. He loves to write
17. He likes superheros - and watches them with me
18. He likes his back and neck scratched
19. He likes to make things up
20. He likes to figure out how things work - future engineer I'm sure

Chandler is very caring and is such a good boy. He helps me in the house and I cannot believe how old he is getting. He has always been my serious child - he thinks things through before making a move. Some people thing he is obstinate - including myself - but it is just his style - his more deliberate and thoughtful - he has much more patience than I do so that is probably why I get frustrated when he doesn't move as quick as I like - because he is figuring out the solution in his head - future wife beware - but I love him and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

Friday night Mike got the best A's tickets EVER from his work - we had 2 seats and another 4 seats seated separately. The 4 seats were 7 rows behind 1st base. We let Chandler choose for his birthday - he chose his mom to sit with him with the 2 tickets - we sat in Row 2 behind Homeplate - we walked in at the same hallway as the visiting team - they told us not to talk to the players - all our food & drink were free - and SERVED to us. Best yet, the game was great - they A's won after extra innings - and even better - there were fireworks! What a great birthday present!
Mike Piazza at bat - we were about 20 feet away. The on deck circle was right in front of our seats - you could reach through the net to touch them!
If you can read it - you'll see it's true - $225 per ticket!!! Yikes, good thing they were free! We were in the Diamond Level.....