random acts of kindness

no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - aesop i stood in line at henry's (our farmer's market-like grocer) tonight and was almost done checking out when i realized i forgot to get milk. since cereal is the staple at our house during the week, i sighed and commented outloud that i forgot the milk. i had both boys with me and they were tired and scoutie was fussing so i was contemplating if i should run and get it or just pick it up later that night. a young man behind me said "don't worry, i'll grab it for you. just tell me what you want." he was back in less than a minute with a gallon of 1% milk. i thanked him - more than once. as i walked to the car, i thought about what a great 'teaching moment' that was for finn. i reinforced it by letting finn know that what the young man did was nice and helped mommy out so much. a stranger's simple act of kindness went a very long way tonight.

love languages

i just finished a fantastic book that a girlfriend recommended to me called the five love languages,
written by gary chapman. apparently it's been out for years but i had never heard of it. i expressed my desire to christopher that we both read it and he agreed to it. he read it in a few days and i just finished it. WOW!

 it made me think about love in a way i never had before. in a nutshell, the author believes in order to truly show love to someone, we need to know what their 'love language' is. most often, we love people in 'our language' and rarely are they the same. he notes there are thousands of ways to show love but believes there are only five love languages. these are:

1. words of affirmation
2. tokens of appreciation (gifts)
3. acts of service
4. quality time
5. physical touch

after reading this book all the way through, i realize my love language is quality time.
gifts aren't really important to me and though i enjoy acts of service and the other languages,
*quality time* is by far my main love language. since our time together is less frequent since we've had children, i realize that's what i need more than anything.

when my mom was visiting, c and i were able to get a night away together. the timing couldn't have been better. he had just finished reading the book and said "we need to do this more - at least a few times a year." it was like a light went on and he realized how important it was. he understood that quality time was my main love language. i think i know c's love language (it's different than mine), but i'll know for sure tonight.

we're going to discuss the book and do the little quiz in the back of the book. i'm looking forward to it. this book has opened my eyes to so much. not only how to express love to c and the boys, but also to my extended family and friends. i recommend this book to anyone. it's enlightening!

********

on the subject of love, i have some very happy news.  
my brother todd got engaged to his sweetheart heather this past week in paris!!
he proposed in such a romantic way too.

when he shares photos, i'll be sure to post one or two and share the story.
the picture above reminded me of the text message i received from him just before he went on his trip. knowing that he was going with heather, i asked if it was going to be significant in any way.
he responded with a text message that said 'love is in the air...'

(i had a hunch he'd come back with a fiance) *wink*

those baby blues

blue eyes, baby's got blue eyes.

like the clear blue sea, on a clear blue day.

- blue eyes by elton john

i took a few photos of scoutie while he and i were out with my girlfriend and her family this past weekend and thought i'd share with grams and gramps. i'm really trying to remember to lug the slr camera with me whenever i go out with the boys. it's heavy and a pain compared to the point and shoot camera, but the quality of photos is so much better. when i don't bring it, i always regret it.

it's true, the second child gets the shorter end of the stick when it comes to being photographed. it's not that parents love the 2nd, 3rd or 4th children any less, it's just the *novelty* of being a parent is no longer there and well, we are busier. i admit (sadly) that scoutie has a quarter or less photos compared to finn at the same age. even christi mentioned we didn't have many photos of scoutie around the house. i am trying now - i promise.

here's a sampling of a few i took of my blue eyed little boy in and around la jolla shores.
(yes i know, he has his daddy's eyes - exactly).  oh i love him so!

a weekend with an old friend

ah, how good it feels! the hand of an old friend.

~henry wadsworth longfellow 

my longtime friend karen and her family visited from orlando this past weekend. 
it was a whirlwind - packed full of activities and fun. our time together should carry us 
over until the next time we see each other again. somehow through the years and across the miles, 
we've remained friends, and i realize how rare and special that is anymore.

i must mention her husband, the amazing chef and grill master. 
he prepared a delicious meal of grilled salmon, chicken and veggies the last night of their stay. 
it was truly scrumptious! 

c and I grill, but our food has never tasted as good. chef don shared a few of his secrets - i just hope i can remember them. it's no secret c and i aren't big cooks so any 'tips' i get are welcome. 
i joke that it's the blind leading the blind in our kitchen. 

karen and i with our boys: shad and scout

boys' backsides: shad, scout and finn

for visitors to san diego, a great way to see the city without renting a car is to take a tour. 
karen's husband was new to san diego so this was the perfect way for him to see the city without 
having to rent a car and worry about parking. 

the trolley goes to all the best places - downtown, seaport village, little italy, balboa park, coronado and old town. 
riders can jump on and off and catch the next trolley after they've seen what they want to see. it's perfect.
i'll be recommending this to everyone who visits for their first time.

artists

all children are artists.
the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
- pablo picasso

i came home from work today to find fun and bright artwork taped to our kitchen cabinets.
it brought a BIG smile to my face and i thanked the boys and their supervisor (christi) for brightening my day. christopher arrived home and i watched his reaction to it as well... it was the same as mine.

it's funny how the littlest things mean so much.
i love anything the boys create - whether it's a block tower, a sandcastle or a drawing,
i treasure them. when they get a little older, i'm sure i'll be the mom who saves *everything*
or will try to.  it will be tough with a hubby who is a minimalist though

anyway, i love today's beautiful masterpiece created by my little artists,  .

grandma is back in florida now, but the little cottage won't be empty for long.
my girlfriend karen and her family are flying in tomorrow afternoon through monday.
i'm really excited. i haven't seen karen since my trip to orlando last year.
she was a first time mommy then with an infant, and now her little guy is over a year.
it's hard to believe.  he'll be running all over the place (literally).

there is some concern about this weekend though.

we think scoutie might have 'pink eye'.
christi sent an email to me at work explaining his symptoms,
which appeared mid-morning. they certainly resemble pink eye.
fortunately, his pediatrician called in the prescription to our local pharmacy
so we didn't have to make a trip to see her - yay!!
hopefully with these eyedrops, he'll be out of the *contagious* stage in 24-48 hours
and ready to play hard. we have some fun activities planned for this weekend.

*********

a cute 'finnism' i wanted to share.
he said this as we read through this month's 'san diego zoo news' publication

me: look at the monkies scoutie
scout: ooh ooh aah aah
me: and check out these lions
finn: cool
scout: roar
me: i wonder what this is? (pointing to an unusual animal). mmm, it's says it's a tapir.
finn: now that's something you don't see every day!
me: *laugh* you certainly don't

a tapir (image: google)

good times with grandma

a house needs a grandma in it.

- louisa may alcott

my mom has been with us for the past 10 days and it's been wonderful having her here. the boys and i see her probably twice a year (3x if we are lucky), so we treasure the time we have with her.

unfortunately, i couldn't take much time off work, but christi got a little vacation so finn and scout could get lots of 'grammy time' in. she brought lots of love into our home and though she left just ten hours ago, we already miss her.

our days were full and i hope to remember some fun things we shared: cooking together on easter sunday, getting pedicures at qticles, shopping, a harbor cruise in san diego's bay, the 'bodies' exhibition in balboa park, seeing the musical 'swing', driving around charming point loma and gawking at the unique homes, late night movies, and just hanging out by the pool with the boys.

thank you for everything mom. we love you and look forward to seeing you soon.



jen, mom and ang, april 2009



children learn what they live

if a child lives with criticism. . . . . . . .he learns to condemn.
 if a child lives with hostility. . . . . . . . he learns to fight. 
if a child lives with fear. . . . . . . .he learns to be apprehensive. 
if a child lives with jealousy. . . . . . . .he learns to feel guilt.
BUT
if a child lives with tolerance.......he learns to be patient. 
if a child lives with encouragement . . . . . . . .he learns to be confident. 
if a child lives with praise. . . . . . . .he learns to be appreciative. 
if a child lives with acceptance. . . . . . . .he learns to love. 
if a child lives with approval. . . . . . . .he learns to like himself. 
if a child lives with recognition . . . . . . . .he learns that it is good to have a goal. 
if a child lives with honesty. . . . . . . .he learns what truth is. 
if a child lives with fairness. . . . . . . .he learns justice. 
if a child lives with security. . . . . . . .he learns to trust in himself and others .
if a child lives with friendliness. . . . . . . .he learns the world is a nice place in which to live.
~ dorothy louise law nolte, written in 1950s




my parents had a frame with this saying hanging in our home for all of my childhood. 
it lived on the main corridor wall that led to all the kids' bedrooms.
 i walked by it everyday and i remember reading it a couple of times, 
but i didn't appreciate it then. 


i guess i never forgot it because i came across it printed somewhere recently, 
i googled it that night so i could read it all again. 
i love it so much and understand why mom kept it up all those years. 


because the message is so powerful,
i am going to find a place in my home to display it too. 
not only will it connect me to my past, 
but it will be a constant reminder that the future of our little guys is in our hands. 


that how we we live every day and what we teach in our home shapes the adult they will become. 
i don't know about other parents out there, but i certainly appreciate a visual reminder.

my sunshine

you are my sunshine, 
my only sunshine,
you make me happy when skies are grey.

you'll never know dear, how much i love you

oh please don't take my sunshine away.

i sing this song to scoutie every night before bedtime - 
after we read a few stories. he snuggles in close and sits still for me - a rare thing anymore. 
sometimes he tries to sing along but most nights, he just sits and listens.

i love the bedtime ritual as much as he does and i get a little 
melancholy  when i think about the day when he will be too big for it. 
i won't think about it for now and just try to take it all in - 
all his sweetness and innocence.

i haven't posted any videos or pictures of scout for a while and it's not intentional.
i don't use the little point and shoot camera often and it's the only video capability we have. 
i've never been a video girl but i should do better - especially since it's so easy and will be fun
 to look back on. i did capture this clip a week ago or so and thought i should share.

20 months

 

365 day journey

a birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. enjoy the trip.
-unknown

today is my brother todd's birthday and i have to take a minute to write about how terrific he is.
he is always there for me when i need to talk, vent or just simply express my concern about something.
he is a great listener, rational, a true world traveler and someone who's opinion i value on several topics.
besides this, he also 'gets me' or at least does a pretty good job pretending to, and for this i am grateful as well.

today i am thinking of him and wishing him a happy day and 365 day journey. i should mention that this birthday boy has a trip to paris planned in a week or two. he's travelling with his girlfriend heather - whom i'm anxious to meet. i'm excited for them and yes, a little envious too. it's been 10 years now since c and i travelled there - we were 28 and it was our first trip outside north america. it seems like a lifetime ago - so much has happened in between. two kids and 10 years later, we still have a soft spot for paris and dream of going back.

so as todd and heather trek all over the paris seeing sites, visiting great museums, eating delicious food, taking walks along the river (seine),drinking good wine, and making the rest of us jealous, i'll have to look at the pictures i've downloaded of paris and dream. happy birthday bro. enjoy your upcoming trip. i can't wait to see pictures and hear some stories! xoxo   



eiffel tower at night




the river seine







cafes are the perfect place to eat crepes and people watch

 



notre dame cathedral



MUD Donnas: mud run

i convinced three of my cool and crazy coworkers to sign up for the san diego mud run with me a few months back and the run took place two sundays ago, 3/29. to get us *psyched* about it - one of the girls came up with the name MUD donnas and created a sexy graphic and had it printed on tanks for all of us to wear. cute!

though we didn't run as an official team, we started together and kept a partner throughout.
the race was challenging with 30 mud pits to run through and a small mountain to scale.
thank god, it was only in the mid 70s because the race was held in east san diego,
and it could have been hotter. i had a great time but it wasn't called a MUD run for nothing.

i was covered in mud - it was in places it shouldn't be!!

i ended up tossing the tennis shoes I wore but managed to save the tee and the capris.
the race was so much fun and it motivated me to commit to do the bootcamp challenge this fall.
for fun, i asked c if he was interested and he said yes.  i am holding him to it!

some pixs from our day:


the MUD Donnas - rebecca, ann, angela and tina



tank designs (designer: rebecca)




we duct taped our shoes to keep them on

rebecca, ann, angela and tina

to clean or not to clean

most couples have not had hundreds of arguments; 
they've had the same argument hundreds of times.

- gay hendricks

i came across this quote a while back and jotted it down because it's SO true.
i think any couple who's been together for any amount of time, would agree.
i dug it up for today's post because my morning was the perfect example of this.

c and i spent the morning arguing about how to spend the day.

we have company coming for the majority of april {grandma first and arriving in 2 days}.
i wanted us to spend a few hours getting caught up on house chores that we've neglected
over the past several weeks.  he wanted to go to the beach or play tennis - not spend a few
hours of his day cleaning.

he detests cleaning and frankly, i do too.
i mean who *likes* to spend their free time cleaning??!!
regardless, it has to get done.

in the end we did get a portion of our cleaning done, but there is still more to be done.  

c and i discussed getting a maid - at least once or twice a month for the deep cleaning.
as working parents of two young boys, it would be a wise investment if it will make our
weekends more enjoyable and free up more time. we agreed neither of us want to revisit
this again. i should note, pre-kids this was never an issue.

looking forward to the day the boys can help with this

**********

beside the cleaning topic, we had a nice and full weekend.
we managed to get to finn's soccer game this afternoon and auntie jen was there to cheer him on.
she thought his 'pose' after his one and only goal today was the best part.
if only i would have caught it on film!

on friday night, finn had his outdoor movie night with about 15 kids over form the neighborhood.
they watched the classic chitty chitty bang bang and chomped on popcorn and girl scout cookies
(no, not the thin mints). they had a great time.

on saturday night, c and i both got a few hours of tennis in,
and that evening we celebrated our friend bonnie's birthday with our long-time pb friends.

beautiful bonnie's 30-somethin' birthday celebration

**********

oh i almost forgot, we received the official letter from explorer elementary letting us know finn is in!
it's starting to feel a little more real - a mom of a school aged kid - crazy!!

smash shack

my brother shared a link with me today about a place right here in my backyard of san diego.
the place is sarah's smash shack. i've never even heard of it. the idea?
for a fee, customers come in to this business to take out some agression (or just have some fun)
and SMASH things - plates, glasses, vases, etc. they supply 'em.

what a novel idea! it looks like fun and after another crazy work week, i could use something like this.
the weeks seem to get busier - daily fire drills and back burner projects that are piling up. i could use a vacation - i'm exhausted. i know my marketing colleagues feel the same. i even cancelled tennis with a girlfriend tonight and i love 'tennis thursdays'. i just need to rest. i'm going to read a little and be in bed by 9pm tonight.

buenas noches amigos.