Little Scrapbook for 2011

I made this yesterday afternoon. Totally fun mini album kit by Mellie. All I have to do is add photos from each month and by year-end I'll have a snapshot of "Our Family 2011".

First Day of School

Matthew is in Jr. High this year. First pimples, first laptop and a whole bunch of new friends at this school. He's 12 and says he has NO interest in girls and it's fine with me if he keeps it that way until he's 20.

Zak is 10 and starting 5th grade. The boys are at different schools this year and won't be together again until high school. Zak is taking up the drums this year and wants to play football and wrestle.

I'm hoping for one great school year! Fewer days in detention that last year and lots of good grades.



Happy 2010/2011 school year

April is Birthday Month

Zachary is 10 this Month. We celebrated his birthday with a Fun Time at Cal Skate!! Zak invited a few friends from School, Summer Camp, and our old neighbors. We all had a great time and everyone (even Richie) got on rollerskates that day.
It was a fun way to celebrate Zak!








Matthew turns 12 on 4/26, we celebrated his birthday at Boomers this weekend. The boys had a great time on the cars, bumper boats and playing mini golf and video games. We took Matthew out for dinner afterwards, to Marie Callendars, then had ice cream cake for dessert here at home. I love family parties and I'm happy that he wanted to keep it small and low key this year. We all enjoyed the day of celebration! It was a fun time for the 4 of us.

I'm the Lucky one!

I used to tell people that, "I'm not much of a dog person". That is until this little sweet creature came into my life. He's the dog that turned me into a "dog person". My life is richer, fuller, happier since he came into my heart. I cherish this loyal doggy, he makes me feel like the lucky one!

Lucky is now about 5 months old. He's great with my kids, sleeps next to Richard (who initially said, "getting this dog is the worst decision you've ever made"!) and loves to take walks. He also loves to interrupt my computer time to kiss my cheek and beg for treats! His favorite place to be is on someone's lap or in a sunny corner of the backyard. Lucky is a great family pet, we adore him!


Welcome Spring (soon after this rain I hope!)....happy Month of March!!

150 Things To Do In A Lifetime

A fun list of 150 things to do in a lifetime sent to me by a friend. The actual stories behind some of these things are pretty funny! ... My “yes” answers are BOLD.

Bought everyone in the bar a drink
Swam with dolphins
Climbed a mountain
Driven a Ferrari
Been inside the Great Pyramid
Held a tarantula
Taken a candlelit bath with someone
Said “I love you” and meant it
Hugged a tree
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
Seen the Northern Lights
Gone to a huge, nationally televised sporting event.
Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
Grown and eaten your own vegetables
Touched an iceberg
Slept under the stars
Changed a baby’s diapers
Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
Watched a meteor shower
Gotten drunk on champagne
Given more than you can afford to charity
Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
Had a food fight
Bet on a winning horse
Asked out a stranger
Had a snowball fight
Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
Held a lamb
Seen a total solar eclipse
Ridden a roller coaster
Hit a home run
Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
Adopted an accent for an entire day
Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
Had two hard drives for your computer
Visited all 50 states
Taken care of someone who was heavily inebriated
Had an amazing friend (and lost her/him)
Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
Watched wild whales
Stolen a sign
Backpacked in Europe
Taken a road-trip
Gone rock climbing
Midnight walk on the beach
Gone sky diving
Visited Ireland
Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
Visited Japan
Milked a cow
Alphabetized your CDs
Pretended to be a superhero
Sung karaoke
Lounged around in bed all day
Posed nude in front of strangers
Gone scuba diving
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Played in the rain
Gone to a drive-in theater
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
Toured ancient sites
Taken a martial arts class
Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
Gotten married
Been in a movie
Crashed a party
Gone without food for 5 days
Made cookies from scratch
Won first prize in a costume contest
Ridden a gondola in Venice
Gotten a tattoo
Rafted the Snake River
Been on television news programs as an expert
Got flowers for no reason
Performed on stage
Been to Las Vegas
Recorded music
Eaten shark
Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
Had a one-night stand
Gone to Thailand
Bought a house
Been in a combat zone
Buried one/both of your parents
Been on a cruise ship
Spoken more than one language fluently
Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
Raised children
Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
Had plastic surgery
Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
Wrote articles for a large publication
Lost over 100 pounds
Held someone while they were having a flashback
Piloted an airplane
Petted a stingray
Broken someone’s heart
Ridden a bike
Won money on a T.V. game show
Broken a bone
Gone on an African photo safari
Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
Ridden a horse
Had surgery
Had a snake as a pet
Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
Visited all 7 continents
Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
Eaten kangaroo meat
Eaten sushi
Had your picture in the newspaper
Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
Gone back to school
Parasailed
Touched a cockroach
Eaten fried green tomatoes
Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Skipped all your school reunions
Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
Been elected to public office
Written your own computer language
Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
Had to put someone you love into hospice care
Built your own PC from parts
Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
Had a booth at a street fair
Dyed your hair
Been a DJ
Shaved your head
Caused a car accident
Saved someone’s life
Given birth to a child

Saturday Morning...

Zak (almost 10) and his puppy Lucky and me......cuddled up on the couch, so cozy and watching cartoons together. It's a typical way we start our Saturday, it's love to me. I will remember these mornings for the rest of my life. They are filled with sweetness, little boy childhood moments. Just us.

Happy Hearts Month!

Snow Play Day - January 9

We got up to Fish Camp for a little snow play day and took our dog with us. It was a fun family day. We came back to Bass Lake, built a fire, made a few burgers and smores....a great time spent at the cabin, just the 4 of us (plus the doggie).

Sleepless nights

I sit and wonder
toss and turn
and think of you
sleepless minutes that
turn to hours
of wondering
what to think
of you
over and over
I ponder
on and on
about how much
to say
when to stop
and when to
turn everything
toss everything
long hours
I find one second
becomes forever
in my thoughts
between the lines
I find peace
love
solitude
I crave you
I long for 10 yrs from now for
6 months from now
over and again
I wonder
if you crave
and read
between the lines
my story
begins
with you
me
us
all of us
and no more
sleepless nights
alone.

A favorite poem from the journal of 2009 by reen 6/11/09

His Eyes

If I ever had a rock to keep me steady,

it is you.

If I ever had a light,

it shined brighter around you.

If I ever felt loved,

it was near you.

If I ever wanted to be held,

it was by you.

If I ever dreamed of loving eyes,

they were yours.

Staring into my soul.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas.....

....and all through the house".....little boys were stirring and excited for Santa..

December Daily

12/13 Cookie Swap at Lisa's and Cruising around to see the lights
12/14 Doggie Shots, Lunch with the Girls
12/15 Checking the list - still need wrapping paper
12/16 attempt a photo shoot with the boys for the Christmas Card...these should really be out the door by now!

December daily

12/6-HillCrest Christmas tree farm
12/7-Matthew's Christmas concert at Clovis North
12/8-wish list - xbox 360 elite
12/9-visit from So Dakota cousin Kevin..trimming the tree...Jen's open house/jewlery party
12/10-shopping and getting it all done in one day
12/11-sweet zak fights a winter
cold..matts sleepover...pizza night with family
12/12-haircuts, red robin, game stop

December Daily

I'm keeping a few pictures and notes for my December Daily 2009 Album. It's coming together and I know that posting an update on my blog is a great way to track the happenings of each day in December. It flies by all too quickly and I really want to remember this time, it's precious to look back .....I truly treasure the holiday season.



On the 1st day of Christmas my Tru love gave to me....Kelly Clarkson Tickets...a suite seat with friends....and beautiful music to remember the season!

On the 2nd day of Christmas my Tru Love gave to me.....My sweet friends at work that I adore! and a great part-time job for which I'm so thankful!

On the 3rd day of Christmas my tru love gave to me.....The heart to volunteer in physician recruitment. To help a friend, to help the hospital bring in great new Drs., to help the Children of our Valley that need the best care.




On the 4th Day of Christmas my tru love gave to me....My big Sister's Birthday! and a chance meeting with my Aunt Hopie, Berta and her girls. The hope in my heart for Rissa and many prayers for her good health. My Matthew and his Lucky dog...and an afternoon visit to PetSmart.



On the 5th Day of Christmas my tru love gave to me.....Motorcylces on Ice Tickets and a suite full of 9 kids, friends and snacks, and an ice cream sundae bar! I love Jen and Steve!



On the 6th Day of Christmas my tru love gave to me.....sweet Sunday morning with my boy and a little doggy!


stay turned for more updates from Dec.
Thanks for visiting me :)
reen

Boo! and a Happy Halloween

We had a safe and insane Halloween. The kids have way too much candy on their hands right now and I've been sneeking my fair share!


Me and My Matthew in one of our Halloween Self-Portrait moments. I love our self-portraits that we do together. They are always so fun, Matthew really enjoys it. I'm so happy he's such a good sport, rarely will he refuse a self-portrait moment with Mom.


My little phantoms! Matthew's "last year of trick or treating". He says he'll stay home and scare the little ones next year and hand out the candy. Only time will tell. *sigh* growing up so fast!


My unknown phantam :)

Happy November and a Happy Fall season to you my friends. Thanks for visiting me!
reen

Finding Balance

I'm back to working part-time again. I'm in the midst of finding a balance between work, home, kids, family. It's better to have more time for these two sweet boys. They are much happier when we're together, when they can be home after school with me.

Matthew is in the 6th grade and playing the trumpet for his second year. Zachary is testing for the Gate program next week and will join the school's Wrestling team once their season starts. They are doing great adjusting to being back in school.



I've found a little time for my photog and scrapping hobbies. I'm enjoying having "me" time again while they are in school to create. I'll add these little layouts to their scrapbooks this week. Some are inspired by magazine layouts, most are my own creations.










I've also found time to Volunteer at Children's Hospital. I have to say that it's one of the most rewarding uses of my time. I only Volunteer one day a week, but I look forward to it each time.

Finding balance in life...again

My first Blog post from the iPhone

This was another typical kinda relaxing..kinda boring Sunday. The best part about today was Chinese take out and a visit to inlaws. Kids are to bed early tonight as school is back in full swing. They enjoyed a little boy hike to the river, nerf guns included (to ward off any houdlems).

Looking forward to a busy week ahead.

Oh shoot....blogger does not yet have the capability to let you upload iPhone photos....an enhancement I need to request.

Happy Sunday! I'll be staying up to watch MadMen tonight :) one of my favorite shows.

Have a great week!
Reen

Last Weekend of Summer

Hi Friends,

Gosh it's been a busy summer and once again, my blog was sadly neglected. So sorry blogger friends and little blog.

I have missed my hobbies and doing the things I really enjoy during my leisure time. Updating this blog is just one of those things that I had to push aside due to other priorities. Mainly, work. I worked full time from May to August, filling in on the job share at Children's Hospital, while Brooke delivered a heatlhy little baby boy named Luke! I was happy to fill in and really got used to the routine of being at work everyday. Honestly, I miss it now that I'm back to part-time! I guess it is kind of nice to have some balance in my life again though. I'm blessed and thankful for my job and for this time I can be home as well.

My kiddows were troopers and ended up at a day camp for most of the 10 weeks they were off from school. They never once complained and rather enjoyed being with their "summer friends". They got to take a lot of outings to the waterpark, summer movies, archades. They loved it!

The kids are back to school now and I thought I'd take a moment to share some photos of our last weekend of summer at the lake!

I hope this post finds you and your family doing well.

Thanks for visiting me,
reen


Taking time for a Summer Hike above Bass Lake - Way of the Mono Trail is a short 30 minute hike above the lake. It's short enough for small kids and educational too. It has stops along the way with signs that detail the types of trees in the area. It also gives accounts of the Indian Life that once lived along the basin floor of what is now Bass Lake.


At the top of the Trail you can find a most gorgeous view of Bass Lake. This was taken at around 8:00 in the morning, so it was still a little bit dark and the sun was just rising over the lake. Gorgeous to watch!


A great trail to use for introducing kids to hiking. It's short enough that they don't lose interest. Long enough for them to learn about nature along the way. And pretty enough to make them want to go back again.


Our home away from home at the lake.