10 Things that have made me smile recently...

10. My DH's unbelieveable, yummy, decadent weekend meals.
9. Eating the yummy Halloween Sugar cookies with butter cream frosting I made with all the neighborhood mommies and kids.
8. Watching a very sappy chick flick - "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" and actually shedding a tear at the end. (HA HA HA! Yes the thought of this alone makes me laugh - not just smile)
7. My DH almost crying because his alma mater will likely make a bowl game for the first time ever!
6. An advanced yoga student told me she 'Loved' my class this morning
5. DH found two Thomas long sleeved t-shirts for B and both B and DH were soooooo happy!
4. Two seperate dinners with special friends where I felt really really connected to them
3. I was searching for an abandoned milk sippy cup... all over the house, when B came up to me and said, "Mommy, the milt is in the frid-ger-a-tor." (I cannot believe I was worried he was a slow talker ;))
2. Dh and B's ' I love my Belly' song
1. Cozy time in bed with my two men this morning

Back in the saddle....

B is super clingy and whiney this week. Gosh that is so hard to take sometimes. I know it is residual from my four day training last week.. but geez. Preschool was tough yesterday - I couldn't even go to the bathroom alone!

Last night I taught my first official 'Vinyasa' Class. I thought I would just go for it. I was nervous and a little off synch at first... but by the middle of the class we were all in it! I was dripping sweat from my nose!!!!!!!! The class seemed to like it but many of my regulars said they were 'tapped.' I actually think that is good... new experiences and a new way to test your body. It is good for us all.

Today we went for a long long walk with the neighborhood moms and kids. It was a nice fall day and a nice time... but I am sore sore! we will see how tonight's yoga class goes :)

Exhausted and Rejuvinated

When I told a dear friend how my weekend was - I said - ' it was amazing. I feel exhausted mentally and physically, but at the same time, Rejuvenated and excited. Is that possible?'
she said. "yes, it sounds like childbirth!" and you know what? It was!

I had the opportunity to be trained in Vinyasa (Flow) yoga by the AMAZING yogini - Shiva Rea. I already am certified in Yoga therapy - a form of Hatha Yoga - and this training adds to the spectrum of class I can teach. At first I was so over-whelmed. I felt like I had no business teaching a yoga class. I have been trained many, many hours in yoga.. and I have not even scratched the surface! In many ways, it is incredible to learn so much, but in other ways, it can be scary! I still have so much to learn. But I guess, much to share too. That is why I teach. I love yoga - I love the message, how it makes me feel, and what I can give to others. It was such a gift to be trained by Shiva - I will never forget it. (Gosh, I am getting teary! - yep, I'm, Tired!)

B did great with my mom for two days - they played together and had a fun time.
Then with his dad for the other two days. The last day was a little hard for him... but he did so well! I am so proud of him... but he is growing up so fast!

Okay - I will write more later... but this is all I have in me for now.
:)
OM Shanti!

Mind, Body, Spirit

Two yogic philosophies that are speaking to me today:
'Only After Death can there be a Rebirth...'
**When I am in the midst of a difficult time - I try to remember growth and change and rebirth usually follow....

'Be Present.'
***Enjoy each moment, each day, to the fullest. Try not to dwell on the past or worry about the future. Embrace each new moment - and let it go once it has passed.

I will be getting another yoga teaching certification this week. Beginning tomorrow, I will be at a training with Shiva Rea. The focus: Vinyasa yoga. The flow yoga. A beginning, a rebirth for me as a person and as a teacher...

It's the little things....

The weekends are such a fun time of family and bonding in our house. I feel so lucky to have my Dh and B. They are my world. Saturday, I brought B in for a flu shot... and after I took him out for a treat - a donut and a trip to the Locks. We saw boats, fish and a train! It was nice just to spend time with B. I know I do that everyday... but somehow it is different on the weekends. When we got back - we just hung out with my DH. Then during nap, a long nap, I got to read and relax and DH did the same. Last night, we all just talked and played... we all put on puppets and talked. Then we played on the bed and made a tent (see pic). B was having a great time with both his mommy and daddy - just thinking about it makes me teary! I know, sappy, but I love the little family moments. That is life right there!
Today I made a big breakfast - pancakes- and we all hung out together and talked. Then I taught a fun yoga class... challenging, but fun! and I came home and B and DH were gone. They came back after I got in a shower... They had gone out to a park and played together. They even saw Lance Armstrong! I guess Sheryl Crow is in town... it was so sweet to see them come in from the cold! I made B a quick lunch - read him books put him down for a nap. Then snuck out (while DH was home) to see the movie "In Her Shoes." I loved the book and you know what? I loved the movie too. I saw it with one of my dearest friends, Erica - who bought me the book last Christmas! It was awesome.
I came home - B was still sleeping! 3.5 hours! He woke when he heard me - DH made a huge, rich, yummy dinner and here we are... what a weekend! AHHHHH!!!! Do I really have to return to that stress of last week? oh well.!

Ahhh Friday....

I love Fridays... just the promise of the weekend and some family time. I am so tired right now and B is napping, so why am I not napping? Um, I get wrapped up with online stuff... I am so lame.
anyways, lots of stress this week....nothing I can talk about now, but hopefully it will get better soon. on to better stuff-
I took this picture of B last weekend. So Cute. He loves to build stuff now and look at his face
he is so so proud. This morning, B and I went to an indoor playspace with all the neighborhood
kids. It only cost $2 and they had a ton of those big blow up structures that you take your shoes off and jump in. Gosh, B had a ball! he loved it. He really loves the little girl who lives across the street. He followed her all over the gym! Since she is so adventurous... I loved it. It really encouraged B to be a little more wild!
He needs to be a little less cautious. :)
well, that is all the scoop for now. I will check in again soon.

City Adventure and Straight Hair

B and I went to the Science Center today with a dear friend of mine and her son. B really loves hanging out with her son... and I love her, so it was a great time. B loved the music section of the science center. here he is playing the piano. I swear he was singing his own made-up song. I really think he will be a musician.
There is a section of the center that is all real-life looking (and sounding) Dinosaurs. Um, that really freaked B out. After we left he said "Momma, Dinosaurs SCARY! But they are pretend" I do not think he knew what that meant but I kept saying it... I cannot believe how great his speech is now. I feel so happy and glad for him, phew!
Okay when I was in SF, Steph had one of those really really expensive flat-irons. Gosh I looked like I just left the salon the whole time I was there... with such little effort. So I decided I needed one. But I really didn't want to pay $150 or $200. So I wrote down the brand name of her flatiron and found a slightly lesser version on EBAY. It retailed for $100. I got it for $30.

I gave it a test run - I didn't let it heat up long (I shouldn't have to) and I decided to rush it and only dedicate three to five minutes - because let's face it - that is all the time I do have regularly. This pic is the result. I think it worked really well. Not as awesome as Steph's but close... and a lot cheaper.I hope it stands the test of time :)

Gosh, I look goofy!

Six Years and a Date

What a great weekend. It is our 6 year anniversary! On Saturday morning, we all went to the Locks together to watch, as B would say, "the boats, Gates and locks!"
It was nice to get out all together and spend time doing a totally Seattle thing.
B then napped... and decided to take the last hour and a half part of his nap on his dad (see below)

So so sweet! We actually had to rouse B a little so we could go out on our date at 5pm!
Dh adn I went to a great restaurant, Volterra. It was a fancy Italian place. I ate every last bit of everything that was placed in front of me. I was really really yummy... and we brought a wine and paid the corkage - it was worth it! we had great conversation and generally, just a great time together - just DH and I.
B had an awesome time at our neighbor's house... he actually cried when I took him away!
Then today, Dh and I exchanged gifts. For six years, the rule is IRON and CHOCOLATE. Well, I got these Chocolates:

Fancy Godiva Chocolates! I have never had them! So so yummy and such a treat. Then I got these Iron Candle sticks.....
Just so lucky! I am that is. I feel lucky to have my two men... B and DH. I feel lucky to have great friends and a great life... just a good weekend. Here is a pic of B from Friday... I just thought it was cute with his new winter hat.

Well Read

When I was a little kid, I always wanted to seem 'smart.' The way to be that, I thought, was to be well-informed and well-read. So I decided to be a journalist because, let's face it, they seem like they know a lot! And I fell in love with my DH because, while being totally adorable, he is brilliant. I really think he is. He is informed and well-read, for sure. (he would kill me if he read this!)
So, even though I am not earning a living as a journalist anymore, I still want to seem smart. I hardly ever get to watch TV news (occupational hazard having a two year old). But I do read. I read a lot! At least a book a week - sometimes more. I love to read. I love to be able to talk about a book with a group of adults.
So I wanted to list here some of my favorite books and I want you to tell me yours.
Here are a few of mine:
1. The Kite Runner. (I read it a few months ago and I am still impacted by this book. It may very well, be the best book I have EVER read)

2. Girl with a Pearl Earring (a classic - but I just read it!)
3. Charlotte's Web (I know I know - but it is REALLY good)
4. Their Eyes were Watching God
5. The Saving Graces (A sappy women's book - I cry everytime I read it!)
6. Tales of the City (all of them!)

Right now I am reading a book many people are talking about, "A million little pieces." It is Dark and amazing... a hard read, just because of what it is about, but I can tell already really good.

Okay, your turn... tell me what books do you love.

The pictures...

I am a bit backwards here - starting with Sunday morning breakfast - here is steph and I -


Steph and I before dinner Saturday - I am on the right.


Mike and I before dinner... Saturday Nite.


This is Mike and I at dinner....

this is a pic of Diane (front), Me(middle) and Steph.. at Harry's bar.

Fun Times

Okay feeling much much better today (HA Karen!) - I do have a bit of the sniffles but no biggie at all. so much to say here... I will start. But wanted to warn you - no pics yet - possibly tomorrow!

Looking back at the weekend first -
Saturday morning I snuck out of bed with B at 4:30am - my DH snuck in... I got ready and headed for the airport. when I got to Cali - Steph was there and looking amazing, as usual. God I love her! We went right out for breakfast (Bagels and Coffee) and then SHOPPING. I have to say I normally like Anthropology okay - buy a thing here or there but this time I could have bought out the whole store... seriously. I bought some beautiful, embroidered jeans (on sale) and an amazing coat. But after we left I was having buyers remorce so I returned the coat - oh well. we shopped more - got lunch and headed back to Steph's house to get ready for her neice's first bday party.
It was great to see Steph's whole family again... I really miss them. And I swear I am such a sap - whenever I sing happy birthday to a kid - I get all misty and teary... Steph's sister handled it better than me! but it was really a great party.
Then we went back to Steph's to get ready for a big night out on the town - on the way there I called B and my DH. B was bawling. I guess he'd just woken up from his nap and realized I was still not there. It was horrible listening to him. I cried. But my DH assured me all would be well. And 10 minutes later they called back and B was fine. We sang a couple songs together told each other we loved each other and he was fine - PHEW!
Steph and I had just enough time to get ready and head out to "town hall" in the city. We met another one of my best friends - Mike (half of matt and mike) and steph's other good friend Diane. Gosh she is beautiful AND sweet. I really liked meeting her. We had an amazing meal - topped with a dessert with a candle on it for Steph. it was great. Great conversation, great meal, great wine. Mike was so generous and surprised us all by secretly picking up the tab. WOW.
it was midnight by the time we were done dinner but that didn't stop us. Diane, STeph and I headed out to the bars. I was DD so Steph could have a great time for her Bday. Plus, let's face it , it is a treat just to drive her BMW!
We went to Harry's - wow it was packed - people were wasted, and singing fun 80's tunes. a great time. We hit two more bars,,, neither as exciting, but still fun. we got back to the car - drove Diane home and headed home. I had Steph open her present - she loved it... and we got to bed at 3am. That was almost 24 hours straight for me.
Sunday Steph and I went to breakfast and then were able to visit with other great friends of mine - Dean and Karen - and their sweet little two year old. We had a nice time just sitting and talking to them. Nice to catch up. Far too short of a visit - but I was glad I got to see them. We left - did a little more shopping and I got to the airport in time to take a flight one hour earlier than planned.
It was an amazing time.. pictures to come.

Today at preschool - B was great! He is really starting to love it there... and I love that!
His speech is getting great too. Our Speech therapist ran a test on him a couple weeks ago and told me monday that a normal score is between 85-115. B scored 100. YAY. He is in normal range. He will still be tested by the school department. But I think we are done with speech therapy in January - I am so excited!

That's everything... thanks for reading!

recouping

so this will be short just because I am wiped out! I had a great time in sf! I have tons of pics I wil share and lots of stories.. but I am so tired... I cannot do it now. B is napping so I may nap too. but I will just say I was awake from 4:30am on saturday until 3am on sunday... almost 24 hours... it was a blast.
more to come...
love to you all!
JL