Hail Mary Passes and Plan B

I found out last week that we would likely NOT be getting the space we have been waiting on for 3 months - because of unforseen costs to build out the space. Last week I was feeling sorry for myself and MAD. I was mad that I had let this go on for 3 months without grabbing the bull by the horns and ro either make it work or walk away.
In less than an hour the Mayor and Asst. City Manager will be walking the space with me and the developer to see if they have any suggestions on how this deal could work. I know it is a Hail Mary Pass... I keep thinking about how Montana and how he always pulled things out in the last seconds of the game.... to win. Today though I feel more like I'm punting, and that my quarterback didn't play his best game,and is hoping for a miracle. We all know this is farther than I've punted before.
So chances are when the buzzer sounds in an hour - We'll be looking to win the next game - to find an alternative space and make THAT be the home of reCREATE.
So - I'll hold my chin up and go find plan B if I must. I have another friend looking for a plan B at the moment and I wish her all the best to find it. If the door slams shut, climb through the window!

Grrrr... my heel is killing me

Summer comes and I kick off my shoes and traipse around barefooted - a couple of years ago this was a tad problematic with minor pain in my heel.

Fast forward - I'm running now- summer hits and suddenly my heel is so tender I can hardly walk on it. I've iced it, and researched it. Apparently I am doomed to buy orthopedic approved flip flops (at least they are cute!) - at $70 a pop, and I'm going to have to cross train until the pain goes away. I'm grumpy I want to RUN!

7 miles... 6 more to go

I logged a 7 mile run last Saturday. I felt powerful and strong through most of it.
Everytime I thought to myself this is too far - I would just think of my running buddies - all in different places in the US, and push on. I do wish You all lived closer... the post run glass of wine would be so much fun to enjoy together!

One Step Forward three steps back

Today I learned that the developer that was courting us to house our Art Center is likely stepping away from the deal. It is 12:40AM and I am sitting here AWAKE with knots in my stomach. There is a solution. There is a solution.... I will find the solution.
For 3 months they have been telling me this will happen, that they will make it happen... and today they simply said - We can't make it happen. blah blah - AC unit blah blah Stairs blah blah blah.
We left the meeting agreeing to try one last walk through meeting with city officials... but they were supposed to get me dates for the meeting and didn't. I'm seeing the writing on the wall.
Must go to sleep so tomorrow I can start fresh again.

Zach's Graduation

 

 

 

 

Our Zach had his kindergarten graduation yesterday. Mark and Sela and I got there early so we could get a front row seat. It was pretty cute. They sang "You Are My Sunshine" and "Take Me out to the Ballgame". There was a slide show and then the graduation ceremony. 80 little children who now know the basics they need to move forward in their lives. 80 little children whose lives can be ANYTHING. Keep dreaming big my little man - and you can be a submarine driver and a astronaut and whatever else you dream of. We love you and are so proud of you!

Yesterdays Gift

Yesterday I got this short email sending me to this blog, and told me not to roll my eyes...


My friend B is one of the smartest people I know. For her to say we are the same was a huge compliment.

This path I took... the one that first I got married on... then chose to have kids, and finally founded reCREATE has been the most wonderful path. The path I thought I had wanted when I was younger was filled with important titles, big big jobs and big big paychecks. I worked hard and climbed the ladder, and when I got to the place where I was earning more than I ever imagined I felt completely empty.
When I founded reCREATE, I knew I would take a significant pay cut. But every day when I "work" rarely does it feel like work. Most of the time I giggle to myself and think I found the best of all worlds - a supportive husband, a gig that helps me teach our kids to tread lightly on the earth while still having fun, and the amazing feeling that I am making a difference. Changing the world.... I don't know... but I suppose we all change the world each day in our own ways, right?
Thanks B for reminding me how very lucky I am on this path I took.

Hangin out on a Saturday

 

I decided that we have been over-scheduled and needed a lazy day. We stayed in our pajamas late into the morning, we relaxed and watched cartoons... the kids taking turns snuggling with me, and we just chilled out this morning. I think we all needed it. After lunch, we went outside to get some fresh air. Here are some pictures... I love Sela's new dress, and how pretty it looked against the lawn... so I snapped a bunch. Zach was having fun posing on the new patio furniture. Zach has his kindergarten graduation in a few days... where does the time go?
I can't believe how fast they grow up - Sela has figured our how to pump her legs to swing, and even though it seems like such a minor thing, it kinda choked me up to realize my baby doesn't need to be pushed anymore. She skips like a 6 year old... bouncy and perfect.

On the other hand they still have incredible sweet innocence. Driving in the car the other day they said this...
Sela - "Zach will you marry me when we grow up?"
Zach - "No Sela. We will be living in differnt houses."
Sela - "But I love you and always want to be with you."
Zach - "Well lets just live with Mommy and Daddy forever!"
Sela - "Ok - but we all need to move to a castle, because I'm going to be a Princess!"
Zach - "Seeeeelaaa!! Princesses aren't real!"
Sela - "Yes they are, Right Cinderella?" (Her imaginary princess friend.)

I just love them so much.

So I've been running....

Woo Hoo... I've logged 100 miles since I got my Nike +. It is the coolest little gadget... it works with an ipod to collect info on pace, distance, etc. I just love it!

Sela turns 4!

 

After the excitement of Disneyland - we opted for a small celebration for Sela's birthday.

We went to a fun indoor gym here called Wacky Tacky, and she invited a few favorite classmates, and her best pals from down the street.

I can't believe my little girl is four already. She is my sunshine.

Happiest Place on Earth? Really?

Fav Trip Pics

 

Standing in Line

 

So I had this anxious feeling that we were missing the window in taking our kids to Disneyland. Sela was about to turn 4 and Zach at 6.... I was worried we wouldn't get them to see Disneyland with magic in their eyes if we didn't go soon.
So Mark was a sweetheart and arranged the entire trip. We stayed at the Disney Paradise Pier Hotel - which I liked a lot. We got a 3 day pass to both parks, and hit the road.

If you have kids that are 6 and 4 - you are by NO means missing the boat if you haven't taken them to Disneyland. There is plenty of time!
We chose not to stroller them - they never use a stroller at home anymore... so they walked... except when we carried them... all the way bak to the hotel from the back of Disneyland Park. On the bright side - my arms are looking buff these days!
Some kids may really love it... but my kids were a bit overwhelmed. Too many things to see... even on the kids rides - there was stuff jumping out in so many of them - Sela just hid her face on the ride... I felt like I was torturing her. Zach cried because there were too many choices. It really is alot for kids to take in.

Overall it WAS fun... but we defintiely could have waited a few years.

Ride Highlight: Soaring over California - at California Adventure. For the Kids - What Else - Its a Small World.
Parade Fav: The parade at California Adventure... just expect to get squirted with their water guns.
Show Fav: Taking Sela to have breakfast with the princesses...it isn't really a show per se - but it was like a show coming alive for Cici.
Food Highlight: Napoli's: good! - decent servings and prices.

Open House

 

 

 

 

Zach's school had open house last night. He was wound tight as a top all week long... I guess he wanted to be sure we would be proud of him (Of course we were!).
He was very proud going around the room showing us all his hard work. He finally got to one thing and got a sad look on his face because he hadn't finished it - He was quick to tell us they did that project when he was out sick. He was so serious about the whole thing, and very proud of his hard work, as he should be... he did a great job!

Our Weekend

 

We were on the party circuit this weekend. Princess Sela was invited to a high tea at the home of one of her classmates. Complete with a visit from Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Ci has a great time with all her froneds dancing, listening to stories and getting her face painted.

Sunday we went to San Jose to help celebrate Sean and Ricks' birthdays. We went Miniature golfing. It was Zach's first try and he got 2 hole in ones! Poor Zach cried about leaving all the way to Walnut Creek. "I miss Seany!" "It's no fair - I wanted to stay longer." you get the idea. Ir was great to spend some time with Cheryl and her family. I feel so lucky to have such an awesome friend.

Snowball Trees

 

I actually have no idea what these are called... we call them snowball trees because the blooms look like a fluffy snowball from far away.

Ornamental Plums

 

One of my favorite things in spring. So Beautiful!

Springtime Fun

 

We have had some lovely weather recently. I wanted to catch the trees in bloom this year - every year I seem to miss it, and I was determined not to miss it this time, so the kids and I went on a walk. I love taking pictures of them just playing at the park, they are so happy there.

I'll post my spring pictures next!

The Little Pink Blanket

 

I realized recently that I had a VERY few number of pictures with Sela and her beloved Little Pink Blankey. She loves this blanket. When she was about a year and a half old, it got a little hole in it... I tried closing it up, but my little one was fascinated with the hole, and before we knew it the little hold was a medium sized hole, and then beflre long the hole also could be used so the blanket could be used at a poncho.
Now after my failed attempts at getting the hole fixed, I tried to swap it out for a new and improved version of the blanket. I tried and she said that one wasn't soft enough - It looked the same but the yarn was indeed slightly different.... so as you can guess I was quite excited when I found the exact same blanket. I bought it - bonus - it was even 50% off! Tried to swap it out... and she said it was too pink! I washed it a few time to try and replicate the original... and tried one more time to give it to her one night when she was half asleep... even then she knew it was an imposter... She said, "that isn't my blankey - it doesn't smell like my blankey."

I gave up and decided to let her keep that blankey - complete with a huge hole!

Zach's 6!

 

We had a great party for Zach's 6th birthday. We held it ia the Maidu Interprative Center - a n Indian Museum here in Roseville. There were 23 kids there - 25 with Zach n' Sela. It was very fun. The kids learned to throw spears, made bracelets, sang native songs, had dinner outside, followed by roasted marshmallows and cake.

Here is the camping theme invitation and s'more party favor. They also got an arrowhead and polished stone of their choice. I think the kids had a blast.





You may notice that he decided to ask for a donation to the Monterey Bay Aquarium instead of gifts... He still ended up with plenty of gifts... but he was able to donate over $200.00 to the aquarium and he was REALLY excited about that!! We are excited to take him to see the Seahorse exhibit when it opens.

What a Difference a Week Makes...

Did I really say my life was carefree on Monday? That must have been before I had to take Zach to the doc again for his Asthma, Sela threw up on me, and I practically begged the doc on the phone for cough medicine with codeine so that I might someday get over this cough that is BACK.

I guess I was still caught up in the high from our new president!

So now I am looking down the barrel of a week that includes:

*Planning/purchasing/prepping food for a gazillion kids at Zach's b-day on Saturday Afternoon
* Finishing my presentation for a group of teachers at the IMAX theatre on Saturday Morning.
* Finishing and prepping materials for a Valentines Craft for Saturday morning for reCREATE.
*Praying that this cough will miraculously go away by tomorrow and that the kids will be healthy this week.
*All this and Mark will be gone for most of it. This is taking some getting used to.

I'm going to bed. I'm tired just thinking about it. Have a great week and wish me luck!

Random January Pictures

 

Birds nest we spotted out on a walk.

 

 

Fun on the slide.

 

Zach Helping Ci put on her shoes.

I woke up this morning, The sun was shining, the family is happy, and I was reminded how blessed I am to have such a wonderful carefree life.

Thanks for stopping by!

I have been meaning to post these pictures for some time... and finally got around to it.

Sela's New Knit Vest

Thanks Namie for the pretty vest you made for Sela! Sela loves it. It wasn't easy to get a picture though. She wanted to play "swimming ballet" - and insisted on wearing it over her swimmng suit ...in January, ...while it was raining outside. I finally coaxed her into a tutu.