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family: My 26-Year Old Baby.....Happy Birthday Sweetie - 02/16/12 03:45 PM

 
 
This little guy....sweet baby face is 26 years old today.
I love this picture, it was the day I really started living life. The day I truly fell in love. At 7:30am on February 16, 1986 I realized that nothing I had ever done before mattered at all; Not where I'd been, nor who I'd been with, nor what I owned, nor anything at all.
I became a mommy that day!
Since then, I've added 4 other sweet-loves to my life and each one has been as wonderful. Yet there is something magical in the first time … (12 comments)

family: After 24 Years.....I'm Off The Clock - 01/30/12 10:54 AM

 
 
It has finally happened...after 24 years. My youngest child left the house under his own power....well, our power, a Toyota Truck. I am no longer responsible for getting ANY child to school. No more carpool!
It's been a long time since the morning was completely my own (although I did get up out of habit and try to make him breakfast).
My husband and I raised 5 children. My oldest began preschool at about 2 years old. That was 24 years ago. Since then, I've been involved in some form of child-transportation. My step-kids went to school near … (23 comments)

family: Some Bragging Is In Order - 12/10/11 01:42 PM

I am the proud mommy of a New Member of the California Bar. My son found out late November that he passed the California Bar the very first time. We are so proud of  him!! 
Last night we attended the swearing in ceremony at Pepperdine University. This video is nothing special...but so proud. He is in the back in the middle. 
Just had to share this moment of "mommy happiness"!
… (12 comments)

family: My Best Gift To Myself Every Year! - 11/23/11 04:25 PM

 
 
This is the beginning of the Holidays....my favorite time of year. I love how my house sparkles and the smells from my kitchen. I love shopping for gifts for those I love and the occasional "good deal." Every year I give myself a very special gift....
I SLEEP IN AND STAY HOME ON BLACK FRIDAY!!!!
I can't do it...the craziness and crowds. I don't want to pull myself out of bed at the crack of dawn still lugging the extra portion of turkey I had and too much pumpkin pie.
I'm staying in bed!
And when I'm done … (5 comments)

family: Funny Things My Family Has Done This Week - 11/03/11 03:57 PM
I have a really funny family! And this is just some random things they have done this week.
Daughter to me: "Hey mom, I brought you cantaloupe....it's from California so it's not deadly."Ah the days when we think our fruit is out to kill us.
#3 Son: "How do you spell Paris in French?"mon dieu
My #3 son wanted to call into a radio station. I kept walking by him and he was holding the phone. I asked him if he was on hold....he said "I think so there is a funny noise." So I picked up the phone...it was a … (26 comments)

family: Life Is Lived, Not Learned - 09/04/11 06:00 PM

 
I'm preparing for my next road trip...in less than 2 weeks. I already wrote a post about the great places we'll be going. It's been in the planning for quite some time. Originally to be my mom and I celebrating my 50th birthday on a road trip. But then last week I realized I really HAD to bring my son.
It was just too amazing for him to miss!
My son is an avid US History student. He knows so much more than any class he's taken thus far and in particular loves early US History. So the … (11 comments)

family: Random Thoughts About Gratitude - 08/09/11 03:15 PM

 
Some days are made for gratitude! This is my day!
I'm grateful for my parents who raised us with love, discipline and respect.
I'm grateful for my husband who took a hike he dislikes to watch over me today.
I'm grateful for my daughter-in-law for looking past my flaws to love me.
I'm grateful for my cabin.
I'm grateful for my grandmother who never raised her voice.
I'm grateful for my kids who still love to come by and just "hang" with us.
I'm grateful for my Liberal friends who can debate me and then love me.
I'm grateful … (16 comments)

family: A Generation Of Insecurity In America's Children...Another Casualty Of the Housing Crisis - 08/03/11 03:46 PM

 
Look at this picture...do you remember from your own childhood? or the family you've already raised? I do! But more and more children are finding that the kitchen table is not a secure fixture in their own childhood.
ForeclosuresShort SalesDivorce
These are common place terms in home listings these days, so much so that when we see "standard equity sale" we are delighted. It makes me wonder if a home purchase....or retention....should be considered only a financial decision. 
I see question after question on public forums about whether it makes more sense to rent vs buy at this … (61 comments)

family: Random Thoughts For A Sunday....My Son Can Be So Odd - 07/17/11 04:22 PM

 
 
Did you watch Seinfeld? the hysterical comedy show from the 1990s? Oh we did....and do...my son and hubby in particular watch rerun after rerun, and it's still funny.
So this blog....for you Seinfeld fans...is really a "blog about nothing." No better way to say it.
My 15-year old son is enjoying his summer...he's in his Renaissance period. I know not every 15-year old boy HAS a Renaissance period, but mine does. As such he's reading about Michelangelo and Da Vinci and learning about that period, with the great hope his mamma will take him to Italy on her … (12 comments)

family: My "Little" Guy Heads Off For Summer Camping.....sigh - 06/26/11 12:23 PM

 
This is my "little" guy, might be tough to tell that he stands 6'2" tall. This is his new "Swag" look, don't know what that means.
We headed out early today to the airport and I barely managed to get a gate pass to walk him to the plane. Sheesh, don't people understand that 15 year old boys have no minds of their own, and he was more likely to get to the gate when he was 10?
But I got through.
He is heading out for a hiking/water rafting trip with the youth group he is working with … (15 comments)

family: Just For Fun: Do You Ever Move Just Too Fast? The Thai Salad Did Me In - 06/04/11 01:23 PM
I make a killer Thai Chicken Salad.....one of my favorite low-cal meals because I can load it with great tasting vegies and crunch. But.....sometimes I move too fast for my own good.
Ok...so the picture is not quite an accurate picture of me, but I am typing with a bandage on one finger and I'm missing half a tooth....that darn salad got the best of me.
Sounds like we were wrestling! Not quite!
Part of the salad (recipe below) is chopped peanuts....just about a Tablespoon (50 calories). Well while finely chopping the nuts, I also chopped my finger. The wedding ring … (12 comments)

family: The Fast Blog Post - 05/20/11 09:09 AM

 
I've been preaching that blog posts are pretty easy to write...and consistency is key. So I joined the 31 Day May challenge and today is the challenge.
My son graduates today and I'm out the door in 15 minutes....so this is going to be fast.
How?
I'm just writing the conversations which pops in my mind. Ironically one of my first Active Rain leads came from a quick rambling post I wrote that had nothing to do with real estate.
Today?
Off to intimidate meet my ex-husband's fiance and see my dear son graduate Law School....I'm sure this will … (9 comments)

family: Graduation Cards.....Harder To Choose Than I Thought - 05/14/11 02:56 PM

These little faces are graduating within the month. My daughter, Kendall, from college and my son, Richard, from Law School.
Wonderful accomplishments both....
So I was browsing through Hallmark cards yesterday. I thought I'd grab a couple while I waited for my sandwich next door....I thought it would be a fast errand. I was wrong. By the time the sandwich girl came to find me in the store with my Pastrami on rye, I was in tears.
I had an equally tough time choosing the music to dance to at my son's wedding. I wanted the words to mean … (13 comments)

family: My Parents Are Kind Of Funny People....And It All Works - 05/02/11 01:07 PM

 
My parents have been married for over 50 years. They are a perfect example of how wonderful marriage can be if we just accept the other as they are and enjoy them for themselves.
This picture was taken at my son's wedding!
I was thinking about Mother's Day and the many, many funny stories I have about mom...but the subtext is how my dad has handled them.
My mother has embraced her "blond-ness" in her life. A brilliant woman who often does pretty silly things. Growing up the cousins used to come over and ask for "Bobbie stories." (we … (23 comments)

family: Mission Viejo Drivers Watch Out....My Son Has His Permit And Is Hitting The Road - 04/30/11 02:36 PM

It might be tough to see but that's my youngest son with....drum roll please....bababababab....His Driver's Permit.
We were a little worried after the first attempt was a misfire...but yesterday he emerged with errors to spare (he could miss up to 8 questions and only missed 3).The waiting was horrible. The DMV is a terrible place to spend an afternoon. What could have taken just a few minutes was a full 45 minutes to wait for results.
We second guessed all his answers and by the time they called his name we were convinced we'd be back next week. In … (14 comments)

family: Did You Think Before You Cut Off Grandma In The Slow Lane? - 04/28/11 11:55 PM

 
I witnessed an accident today! A large white SUV was racing down the freeway and did the old "swerve right in front of the car it was wanting to pass to make the point" thing. Yeah ok, this made him a jerk....and then we saw something horrible, the car he bypassed slammed on the brakes and spun out, crashing into the wall.
She was fine...well, shaken up. Very scared and a bit confused. But physically, just fine.
We stopped to make sure..along with many others. And it has really bothered me all day.
This jerk.....who felt the need to … (94 comments)

family: Happy Easter To All - 04/24/11 04:43 PM

 
Taking a break from Basketball and Yams to stop by and wish everyone a Happy Easter. Today was the first time in 25 years that I didn't hide Easter Eggs for the kids.
Truthfully? I kind of forgot!
I think I've always really used Easter Eggs as an excuse to make Deviled Eggs. (Am I the only one who finds it funny that the "devil" shows up with Easter Eggs?)
I've been on a very strict diet lately...and mayo and egg is not on it. Ugh...2 months at 1200 calories a day just doesn't make room for popping 200 … (10 comments)

family: Simple Instructions....Oh Really! - 03/21/11 11:22 PM

 
 
 
My sweet husband is sitting on the floor amid boxes and instructions for a new shelf from Ikea. My son really needed more storage and so we picked up one from the self-service aisle.
Let's just say my son might have learned some new words tonight. :). Simple instructions were included....but....
I had originally thought about tying this into real estate, but every few minutes I need to go over to hold something, or bang something, or pull something out....so my thought process is a bit off.
Just thought I'd drop by and say "hello"...and perhaps a … (29 comments)

family: My Baby Is 25 Years Old Today.....It's Hard To Believe - 02/16/11 03:19 PM
I tear up at the Trace Adkin's song "You're Going To Miss This" gets me every time. This is one of those days! My first born sweetie turns 25 today. I don't get to make him birthday breakfasts or dinners anymore...he has a wife who does that! But I remember every precious moment of that day....and the days since. He's a wonderful son, husband, man! Here are some pictures of his life.....

First week at home

Bath Tub Richard

My Cutie Pie

Pirate Richard.....He loved the Peter Pan Movie, from Broadway with Mary Martin, we had a … (28 comments)

 
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