Fine! I'm Home! Are You Happy Now?

I'm home, and tired, so I'll be brief. Today was a good day. Found an awesome scrapbook store in Rancho Cucomunga and got home without a tire exploding. Being away from the house for 2 weeks, makes things look weird, like I forgot what the house looked like or something. I'm off to bed.

Where's Byron?

In case you were wondering why my Prince Charming never came to rescue me.... he's hunting.  Big surprise!

Enough is Enough...I'm Coming Home Already!

Yes, I'll be home on Tuesday.  I found a tire company who could order my tire.  The problem...they could get in in 3 to 4 business days!  I begged with the man, "Is there anyway you can help my find the tire at another location?  I'm trying to get back home to Vegas."  That is when he very seriously informed me that a local vendor may have the tire, but that I would be required to pay a shipping fee.  OK, how much, $50, $100?  Nope, $7.95.  Um, that isn't a problem.  The nice man called me back in 5 minutes and said, "We've got it.  It'll be here this afternoon."

Well finally!  So, going home today is out of the question.  Now let me think... how in the world am I going to spend this lovely morning while waiting for that tire?  Packing, nah.  Cleaning, nope.  Watching the same Diego and Dora movies that are VERY VERY overdue from the library, ah, no!  Let's go the beach... again!  Where, by the way, we saw dolphins, a sea lion, and a has-been reality star, Cyprus, from MTV Real World years ago.

So, I promise, I may be hitting some scrapbook stores on the way home, but I will be coming home!

I Meant To Come Home, Really...I did!

I promise, I had everything packed up.  I had accepted the fact that my adventure was over, it was back to reality.  But then I saw it, the biggest flat tire in the history of flat tires.  I don't think any more air could have gotten out of that thing.  Here's a little list of this morning's events:

• Try to change it, fancy rims prevent us from doing it
• Call AAA...wait
• AAA can't budge the lugnuts.
• AAA fills the tire with air and follows us to the tire shop, we thank him and wave goodbye.
• Fill out the paper work and start to walk away.  Peter says, "Do they have the lugnut bolt to unlock the tire?"  Nope, walk back.
• Search for the bolt, search more, then more, can't find it.
• Call AAA again...dispatch the AAA guy.
• "He put it in the back."  "No he didn't, please ask him again."  "He says it is in there, ok?"  "No, it isn't ok, please have him check again."  "Oh, it is in the back of his truck.  He'll be right there."  "Thank you!"
• Very embarrassed AAA guy brings back bolt.
• We walk away again.
• Phone call 15 minutes later, "Yes Ma'am, the puncture is in the sidewall, we can't fix it.  Shall I put the spare on?"  "(Sigh) Yes please."

Oye!  Let's all look at the positive aspects of this day, shall we?  Well, at least the nice tire people didn't charge me, I gave them a $10 tip.  The weather was cool, so much better than home, we went to the Abbott Kinney Street Festival, watched rich CA hippies sell scarves and dance to Indie music with hula hoops.  We ate homemade french fries, fried chicken, and ooh, ooh,  ice cream sandwiches made with WARM cookies!  So yummy!  I'm going to try that at home.  And I saw actress Courtney Thorne Smith cooing at her adorable baby, twice!  Maybe I'll go home tomorrow!  Maybe I won't!

Home So Soon?

Our trip is winding down to an end.  Some of you are thinking it is about time, but these 2 weeks went by way too fast, and I don't want to leave.  It makes it hard to leave when my brother-in-laws told me I could stay as long as I wanted, they keep helping me find reasons to stay.  But I don't think they intended for Wyatt and I to move in.  So, with one last day on the pier, one last nap by the open window, one last delicious meal made by Peter, I reluctantly pack my bags.  For the most part, many friends and family were supportive about my little adventure, traveling alone with a 2 year old.  Others thought this was the dumbest idea in the world.  Thank you to my supporters, and I don't care to those who didn't support me.  I learned that I needed to go on this trip.  By spending time by myself, I kind of learned what I wanted in my life.  Time with my son, and to feel creative for myself, not others.  I'm feeling courageous to stand up for that, and scared too.  I may upset some people, and that will be hard for me.  But the happiness of my little family and myself is what matters most to me.

This Is Why I Came...

The Beach

I really, really love the beach. Beach cities can seem so hectic, with the traffic and the noise, but once I reach the sand and surf, I feel completely relaxed. I have made it our first priority to get to the beach for a little bit, everyday this week. I have felt so much better after going. My skin is warm and sandy, the knots in my muscles have relaxed, and I am sleepy and calm. This is why I needed to get away from Vegas for a while. My life, my mind, and those same muscles were just getting too tense. This trip has allowed me to focus on 2 things that usually get put on the back burner. First, uninterrupted time with my son. Watching him experience things such as today's outdoor farmer's market, and being the only one to do so, made me feel like I was given a special privilege because I am his mother. Second, allowing some creative time for myself. That time doesn't exist at home because there is always something else for some one else that I have to do. Nap time for Wyatt has meant scrapbook time for me. And I love it. It has empowered me to schedule this creative time into my "real" life somehow. Can't wait for another wonderful day tomorrow!

One word...

ARTICHOKES!  I love them, Wyatt too.  At home they cost $3.00 or more, and they don't look very good.  Here is CA, a buck fifty!  I may be eating artichokes for every meal the rest of the vacation!

The Long Beach Aquarium and Santa Monica Pier

What did you do today?

Today I cruised the PCH in a convertable beetle through Malibu and almost ran over actor Ed Harris, who was walking his dog. What did you do today?

Bad Day?

Hmmm, let's see.. I think I broke my toe this morning, it is all purple and gross. I went driving through an enormous thunderstorm and swear I thought I was going to float off the road, oh yeah, then I rear ended a guy in rush hour gridlock and had to pay him $100 just to keep the traffic moving. I guess you could say I had a bad day, but... what's that? I'm on vacation for 2 weeks? I'm in Santa Monica only 2 blocks away from the beach? I get to do whatever I want? Hmmm, I guess it wasn't such a bad day afterall!

The Power of the Blog

I read an article on AOL the other day that said bloggers are overrated. That this is just a craze and it will fizzle out sooner or later. The next day AOL shared the video below originally aired on NBC about Stephanie Nieslon, a cute Mormon girl from Arizona and the power of her blog. I knew about "Nie Nie" through, you guessed it, a blog of a blog of a..., and was saddened by the story. She and her husband were in a terrible plane crash and have suffered from terrible burns all over their body. Feel free to watch the video and see how her simple blog touched so many lives and made a difference. Blogs overrated? Not when they are capable of keeping in touch with loved one and getting to know new friends.

P.S. I really liked the part when they family members who were being interviewed stressed how much Stephanie thought motherhood was important. Great message.

Note to self...

Note to self... never have your upper lip waxed again. It hurts like a mother-@$#$^##@!

Come to the Park, Again!

This month a group of us are meeting at the South Tower Park in Summerlin. Every Friday at 9:30 AM. You are invited! It is a water park so come prepared!

All of a Sudden a Good Eater

Just when Wyatt's poor eating has me completely stressed out and in tears, he shocks me with a famished appetite. He even ate his vegetables! I suppose my life will never have consistency.

A Creative Escape from Reality

First of all, thank you to Ginger for inviting me to Creative Escape. I had no idea what I was in for, but I loved every minute. If you don't know what Creative Escape is, it is a weekend in Phoenix, AZ full of scrapbook classes and anything mildly connected with it. We got there Thursday evening and was immediately immersed in creative projects the minute we walked into the conference center. Friday and Saturday each had 4 classes, all 1 hour and 45 minutes long that seemed to go by in 30 minutes. We had yummy 3 meals a day, and all the classes were planned out for us. We didn't have to make a single decision! I love that!
I was surprised at the type of people who were there. Ginger said they had a "look." She was right. 60-something pear shaped grandmas wearing bright pink. And the teachers were rock stars in these grandmas' eyes. They would stand in line to get autographs, which I just couldn't understand. Some of the teachers were big names, they had their own products lines, but I guess I saw the teachers as regular people who were creative and at the right place at the right time.
I did enjoy the classes though. It wasn't just about a certain project they created for us. There was a bigger message. These teachers had made it a priority to do something creative everyday. Not for anyone else, but for them. They encouraged us to do the same. They encouraged us to treasure what meant the most to us, and create something to represent that.
Heidi Swapp (the creator of this entire weekend) talked to us about stopping to embrace the moment and be thankful for it. I was inspired by this. I am so sick of doing what is obligated of me. I am frustrated with having to do a church responsibility when I want to play with my son instead. I am tired of needing to always clean the house first, before I make time to scrapbook. I am sick of worrying about what others would like to do, before I think about what I would like to do. I want to be able to embrace a morning playing with my son. I want to get lost in a creative project. I want to plan time just for myself. Am I selfish? I'm not sure yet. I tell myself that I'm not.
I did learn something this weekend. I need this time for myself. I love my little family, but I allowed the day to day needs overtake that love. It wasn't until I walked though my door on Sunday that I realized how much I love my family. My son's ecstatic grin almost brought my to tears. I wanted to kiss my husband (Poor guy doesn't get that as often as he should). My home was warm and inviting. I discovered that I need to take those times away in order to appreciate the love that I have for them. Thanks again, Ginger!

Creative Escape 2008 Photo Slideshow from Bazzill Basics Paper on Vimeo.

Rough Morning

Have you ever had a moment when a child shows more maturity and compassion than an adult? I had that moment this morning. Wyatt has proven himself to be a picky eater, and for some strange reason, I get really stressed out about it. I'm not sure if it is because of all the disapproving voices of family members I hear in my head, or if it is because as a teacher, I could get any of my students to try something. I feel as those I'm failing if I can't convince my own child to eat. Well, Wyatt wanted no part of his breakfast, and showed me by dumping his cup on the floor. In a moment of weakness, I found myself yelling "Go to time out!" and giving him a spanking on the way. After sitting him down, listening to his tears, I went back to the kitchen sat at the table and sobbed. Why do I let this eating thing bother me so much? And I'm only making it worse by punishing him. I felt like a bad mom. Through my sobs, I could hear Wyatt, who had stopped crying, from his timeout spot, saying, "Mama, don't cry. Take a breath. Ahhh. Mama, you stop crying. Ahhh, take a breathe Mama." I had punished Wyatt for something so stupid, and immediately he forgave my and showed compassion to me. How I love that boy and will miss him so much as I head off today to Arizona.

Labor Day Fun

The Iron County Fair

Trackless train rides

fourwheeling rides

Eating too much

Shopping in Cedar City

Hanging out with friends

Naps

Movies

Playing pool

Frustrated and Flustered

I have great pictures from Labor Day, but I'm going to have to share them when I am feeling a little more positive. Right now, though I do not have time for it, I just need to vent some feelings. I am having one of those days, where nothing catastrophic has happened, but little things keep piling up until I want to scream. I guess the pressure is on to accomplish things at home since I'm leaving town tomorrow. My first vacation without Wyatt. Its a big deal. So why has it been so hard today to get little final things done? Extra phone calls, extra errands, extra nonsense. My poor son didn't even get his lunch until 1:00 today, needless-to-say, he was whining, and exhausted, and lost most of his appetite. I have laundry to fold, bathrooms to clean, clothes and scrapbook supplied to pack. What do I really want to do? Take a nap. I have no compassion for other people's problems right now, I have my own to deal with!

Now, cleansing deep breath in....and out. OK, I'm better...now where is that laundry?

Later note: I ended up taking that nap, didsn't help my mood much, but gave me the energy to get things done!