My baby

Well, Happy Birthday, Julie! I can't believe my "baby" is 25 years old Tuesday 11/8. Time hasn't flown, but it's just hard to believe. I have loved you since the day you were born and you will always be my baby. I have enjoyed watching you and first Maren and then Emma "fight" about being the baby. I have enjoyed watching you playing with the newest baby -- Carter. You are beautiful and talented woman. Never forget that (but don't brag either). Your whole family is here for you whenever you need us.

Love, Mom xoxoxoxox

Baby Carter

Just trying to get a little video up for everyone, since our family website needs to be replaced.

Apple Hill follow-up

I'm just going to have to blog about my grandson B. He says the funniest things. So when his mom picked him up from school this week he started asking her about making a jack-o-lantern from his pumpkin (the one he picked out at Apple Hill). She was telling him that would be fine when he said "I just didn't have a lucky day at Pie Hill." She said uh-huh and he said they ran out of cheese. hahahahahaha He was just stuck on the fact he couldn't get his grilled cheese sandwich. The rest of the day was just wasted I guess. And then to call it pie hill -- too funny. Maybe you had to be there.

Wow! Fall is here.

I'm loving this time of year. It's cooler here in Folsom (not that we had a particularly hot summer) and beautiful. I have been working way too much for my liking -- 4 and 5 days a week, until last week -- 3!!!!! Love those weeks. Not taking any new clients that require me to go to their workplace.

Anyway -- new babies on the way!!! Sherri is due in only 17 days and Joanna is due March 1st. Sherri is expecting Carter and Joanna is expecting Brynne/Jack. How exciting. Seriously. New babies to love and spoil a little. I have decided to visit Sherri/Graham/Julie/Carter? on 10/29. No pressure to have that baby on time!

Another great point of fall is Apple Hill. Joanna and I went with the kids (it's getting to be a tradition, although it was not Dave's fault he did not go). We had apple pie, polish dogs, caramel apples, and fudge. The kids rode the horse/pony, went through the hay maze, went on a little train (car kind of pulls it), and we shopped for crafts and pumpkins. We went kind of late in the day and by the time we went in to eat they were out of -- just about everything (chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheese sandwiches, and french fries). How distressing for B! He just kept saying (after he stopped crying when they didn't have a grilled cheese sandwich) that it was not his lucky day!

All in all, a great outing! These kids are great! I love them all. So M is in a recital in December and best of all (according to Craig) she gets to dance in the main parade Christmas parade at Disneyland. So off we go! We found a REALLY cheap flight if we start in Stockton and go to Long Beach ($110 for 2 people round trip) with Allegiant Air. Hope it's safe. Anyone familiar with this airline?

Jacob and Anna are celebrating 10 years of marriage by actually staying in OUR Waikiki condo. Can't wait to hear about it. They had a friend/couple come out to stay/watch all the kids. Anna has never been to Hawaii so hope she enjoyed it. I heard the weather was pretty nice.

Julie is becoming adjusted to actually working a real job. It's great to hear after all this schooling that she likes what she does. Although she is looking forward to planning and going on a big vacation to Europe next year. I'm going too. Dave is not complaining so far. Let's see how long that lasts.

I redecorated the guest bathroom this past month and that has kept me a little busy around the house. Nights can be boring watching TV. Love to change the house a little at a time. Other small changes coming up. I've now made the following plans: 1. Trip to Seattle 10/29. 2. Trip to Seattle 11/23. 3. Trip to Disneyland 12/11. 4. Trip to Utah 12/22. 5. Trip to Europe 5/20. 6. Trip to Greece (?) 9/11 sometime. 7. Trip with Dave's family next summer (not sure where).

Do we like to travel? Duh.

Tax Season is Crazy!!!!!

We're about half way through tax "season" and life is hectic -- more for Dave than for me. Isn't life weird that there is actually a fifth season of the year to celebrate paying money to the government??????
Dave works 6 days a week and I'm still averaging 4. It makes life and work bearable to be able to count on a few days off. But he only does it for 3 months so........workable!
I'm taking off next week to go visit J before she starts an externship that is full-time in a hospital setting. That's the one she really wants to shine at because she wants to get a job (but first that pesky 9 month training stuff) in a hospital setting. Here's hoping it's everything she thinks it will be (and that she gets the job after the externship).
J sold his house and now gets the pleasure of immediately packing everything up and then finding a rental to live in for 3 months while they build his house. Lucky guy! I'm visiting them next week in Utah too.
So even though my dad died and tax season is crazy, I'm enjoying the time spent with friends and family. My grandkids and kids are the light(s) of my life. I can't tell you all the funny things they do and say that make me smile.
What can I say?

Life goes on.......

My dad died 9 days ago. I can hardly believe that I won't see him if I go to his house. It all seems unreal. My kids all came home to "grieve" with me. They have jobs that allow them to have paid time off. I took off TWO hours this last week. I even worked the morning of the funeral because rescheduling regular clients is just plain too tiring to want to even attempt it. I just can't seem to grieve properly. I can only get weepy. Nothing more. What's wrong with me? I want to sob and sob and I can't. I will miss him even though we were not super close. You just knew he would be there. I can't believe he's gone.