Here Comes Summer

How about a bit of a synopsis of the last couple of months? Addy's Daisy Scout Troop used some of their cookie money to go to Friends2B Made which is a Build a Bear store where you make a doll. The store was closing and I'd never heard of it before. The girls had lots of fun. Addy and I came home and painted our nails silver to match her doll.

We ate lots of peanuts and Crackerjacks at a Padres' game with Grandma Wendy and Grandpa Paul. It is was a beautiful night, the Padres' won, and they had a great fireworks show. It really was a blast.

The Sat. before Memorial Day, we went to Fort Rosecrans and joined hundreds of Scouts to put a flag at each grave. Flags were put 6 inches from the headstone to not cast a shadow and Scouts were to quietly thank each person for their service. It was not a race, but a thoughtful expression of appreciation. We were so glad we took part. We then went to visit Grandpa Bobby's grave and put a flag and metal star. We saw his headstone for the first time. It was a great reminder of what Memorial Day is. Then we ate humungous breakfast burritos which here delish! Good deeds make us hungry.

Today the boys are at Bates for a town wide Yard Sale. I help collect stuff and will go and shop around. I am not a fan of being a Yard Sale seller and Shawn is a good sport about handling that part. We have lots of ideas of how to spend the money... movie tickets, ice skating, toys... The kids like getting a large sum of cash.

We ran away last weekend to Indian Wells for our 13th Anniversary. We took the kids and spent the weekend hanging out at a pool. No laundry or junk to take care of. I finished reading "Last Lecture." What a great book. So inspiring!

I am working on helping close out VC Adult School which is closing it's doors. I have worked there for 5 years. Fortunately, Escondido has asked me to teach more classes for them. In the fall I will work 3 days a week and be off by 1:30 to get the kids from school at 2:15. Just enough time to grab milk etc. and be with the kiddos. I am grateful to have such a great schedule with all of the school cutbacks. Poway has closed the parent ed classes I taught and made lots of cuts. The opportunity to have good steady hours and finish before the kids are out of school is a huge blessing!

Getting Cheap and Creative

I am a big advocate of goals and making plans for your life. I truly understand that challenges come along and plans and goals have to be readjusted. It's just a normal part of life. It happens to everyone. Although it is a pain, opportunities to learn come too. It has been months since Shawn was laid off and I am proud to report, we are still totally fine! We aren't planning a big trip to Hawaii or anything, that may be a couple of years. The truth is, we are having lots of fun still and are hopeful. There are moments we are down and feel crummy. We have tried to use that energy to find solutions rather than wallow.

Creative solutions are key. I have a lot to learn still but here are a few things I've learned...

• Walmart has iron on patches in different colors. When patched from the inside, jeans look pretty cool.
• Allowance saves the day! We have made an agreement with the kids. If they clean their rooms and feed the animals they earn a couple of bucks a week. I automatically enter the money in Excel in the "Bank of Mom." The kids withdraw money from a pencil box for candy, the book fair, toys, movies... I then withdraw the money from the "bank" in Excel. The kids don't go without things I might say no to and the kids learn to choose wisely because it is their money.
• Marketable skills = food on the table. Learn a variety of marketable and useful skills. This has saved us. We are currently adding to our skills. I am taking an class to learn about online marketing this week. Shawn is in a 10 week course for ESRI arcgis certification. He is also finishing up his MCSE certification.
  
• It is great to have a trailer or motorhome. In case of a fire or if we want to rent our house out- we can at least have a roof.
• How can you afford a pedicure? Well, it just looks like I went to the spa. I got fancy nail stickers at the drug store and I put them on my toes after I painted them. Then I did a top clear coat. I learned that from Shannon.
  
• Library- Movies and books can be requested online from the local library. You receive an e-mail when they arrive and you pick them up at the local branch. Brand new movies take awhile because so many people request them. You can request a lot of items so you'll get something. Ask your librarian for a login ID.
• Less is more. Less junk around the house looks good, even stylish. I don't even go into stores unless I need something otherwise I'll probably buy stuff. I don't need to spend the money and I don't need the junk.
• Bean and cheese burritos with enchilada sauce are delish. Kate gave me a great recipe. We eat it almost every week. It is so inexpensive and it the kids' favorite.
• Sell extra junk on craigslist. If you post it cash will come.
• Geocaching is fun and free, except for the gas you spend driving around.
  
• A garden and fruit trees are must haves. I can give gifts from my garden and feed my family. We are thinking of seriously expanding the garden beds.
  
• Not having credit card debt is liberating, the stuff isn't worth it. Now if the car breaks down, that's another story.
• Best friends call when they see a sale on stuff you buy. I love it when friends tell me about good deals!
  
• The best dates are the cheap ones. Shawn and I just rode our bikes 13 miles from Carlsbad to Encinitas. Then we got carne asada burritos and watched the sun go down on a bench at the beach. It was fabulous!

What are your best tips?

Spring on Woods Valley

Do you love craigslist? The fountain is a fabulous craigslist find as well as the vintage style metal chairs and dining table. We re-used adobe brick from the property and are still looking for fabulous treasures to add to our back yard. I picture some fabulous outdoor lighting including a chandelier to top it off. The wrought iron chairs are from Matilda's Mouse and oh so comfy! We still need a top for the arbor but we are plugging away.

My sister, Lolo, gave me some suggestions for the back yard when she was here from WA on vacation earlier this year. We have been using her suggestions and working on the back yard. It has a ways to go but we have made some improvements. It is nice enough that I hang out in the back garden to read or have a break. I am posting some pics from my garden and flowers.

I could use a manicure because my nails constantly have dirt under them. I love digging in the dirt. Mostly I am weeding but it is therapeutic. I can take out frustrations on icky old weeds.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! We had a wonderful Easter Break. I read New Moon, we watched Bedtime Stories and Bolt. We visited Quail Botanical Gardens, had sleep overs with the grandparents, ate pizza, played outside, and snuck in for the last hour at Legoland.

We ate a big lunch today with Grandpa Wally, Grandma Heather, Grandma GG, Grandpa Paul, and Grandma Wendy. Everyone pitched in to make an amazing meal. We had honey and brown sugar glazed ham, homemade applesauce, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with French onions, strawberry shortcake.... mmmmm. It will hard to get back into the swing of things. I teach 4 classes this week which is a ton for me. I am also taking classes. This week I start a 4 week class on writing and publishing. Weds. I have a one night workshop on internet marketing. I hope I learn a lot!

Baseball Pictures!

Check out pictures of the kids. There are some pictures of Tyler pitching. Cole's in the orange so he's easy to spot. Addy is on the Blue Diamonds. Baseball is in full swing! Want a hot dog and soda?

Disney's CA Adventure

It was great to run away just before my birthday to Disney's CA Adventure. We looked interesting in our Bug's Life 3D glasses. We checked out our family bricks- our family's version of remembering those we love. Want to run away with us to Disneyland?

Erin's Wedding

Just putting a few pictures up from Erin's beautiful wedding for those of you far away. The wedding was at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas. Cole is checking out a cactus. Weird.