Friends

This last week I had the opportunity to fly to Charlotte, NC to visit one of my good friends. There are several things that make this trip a special and unique one. Sandy and I have been friends for about nine years. We are co-workers at the bank and work together very closely.  There were years when we would literally talk every day. Over the course of the last six or seven years we’ve become quite close friends. Her two boys are the same age as my boys (within months) and she and I have many things in common outside of work. She is someone who I admire, enjoy, respect and she’s also someone I have never met in person. I’ve seen pictures but that was it. We’ve never had the opportunity to meet face to face until this trip.  It was also neat because our friend Heather from Florida also flew up (they had met once previously two months ago and have also been friends for nine years) and so it was a sweet re-union for all of us. 

The other unique part of this visit, and the driving factor to finally just book my plane ticket, is that Sandy was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. Unfortunately her health and abilities are declining quickly and I wanted to spend time with her before it gets worse. I wanted to be able to visit, laugh, help around her house and create great memories with her and Heather. We were able to take her to the dentist, clean and organize her kitchen, cook a meal, get our eye brows threaded (that was quite an experience!), make a Starbuck’s run, pick up her boys from school and watch Pitch Perfect twice (which is now one of my favorite chick flick cheese ball movies). We were like teenagers – staying up until 2:00 am each night talking and laughing and eating chocolate. Sandy is a strong and very independent woman so it’s humbling and difficult to have people help her with the small and simple tasks that make up everyday life but for me it was a sweet experience to serve and help her. It was the least I could do. I learned a lot about ALS while I was there. She had some friends over that are making a documentary on the survivors of ALS and the common links in their diagnosis and their treatments. It was quite fascinating and overwhelming all at the same time. 

I am so thankful for Sandy and Heather. They have both been with me through good and bad times at the bank and have been a great support system and even better friends. I’m sad that it took Sandy’s diagnosis to finally get us all together but I’m so grateful for the opportunity to finally meet up with her and be there in person to support her. She is a strong person, she is a fighter and she is willing to battle to get healthy. I look forward to the day when I can go back and visit her or when she can come out to visit me….and hopefully it’s not too far away. 

She will always be in my thoughts and prayers and I leave my trust in our Heavenly Father and his healing powers and know that his plan for her will be carried out.  

 Heather and I waiting at the dentist office for Sandy.

 Heather got a kick out of the fact that there was a place called "The Joint" so it made for a great photo op.

Yes, they actually talked me into getting my eyebrows threaded so the three of us headed out for an adventure and a brea from the house. 

 Yes, I have red eyebrows but that's what happens after threading. It made for A LOT of really good laughs. 

 Heather, Sandy and me

 Sandy's family, David, Jack and Henry

Me and Sandy

House Update

There’s something about living somewhere that is not your own home that takes a lot of patience.  I don’t like it at all.  I think, for me, the feeling is compounded because not only living in a short term rental; we are living out of boxes and bins since it’s only going to be for eight weeks. I don’t like feeling disorganized. Normally in my little OCD world, everything has a place and I know exactly where it should be. Not so much now. I understand it’s a necessary step in the transition to eventually getting into our long awaited new home…which is the only thing that makes what we are doing worth it. Mid January can’t come fast enough!

It is fun living next to my sweet friend Lisa (and her husband Doug) and their kiddos that are the same age as my boys. It definitely makes the transition easier and more fun. 

Our house is coming right along.  All of the electric and insulation is done and the drywall is up and textured. The stucco is done and roof tiles are now on top of the house, just not laid down yet. The wall between our neighbors to the west of us is now up.  The neighborhood playground is also installed and the subdivision landscaping is going in. It’s definitely starting to look like a neighborhood. It’s exciting to see it all come together. Our cabinets and counter tops should be going in fairly soon. With each completed step it becomes easier to visualize the final product. So exciting!  We are anxiously awaiting!!

November 15, 2014 - front of house before stucco

November 15, 2014 - Garage after mudding

November 15, 2014 - kitchen after mudding

November 15, 2014 - back porch

November 15, 2014 - RV garage after mudding

November 25, 2014 - Front of house after stucco

November 25th - kitchen after texture

Moving Out

Bye Bye Port Au Prince Lane. It’s been a wonderful five and a half years living there. This was our first home that we purchased and we were the original owners of it. This is where we brought Logan home to after he was born.  It was the home the boys were in when they started school. This driveway is where the boys started riding bikes. It has been the gathering place for many special occasions including Logan’s baby blessing, Christmas mornings, Thanksgivings, birthday parties and more. It was a wonderful house for us but it was simply time to move on. The boys are a bit sad to move because this is all they have really known. We had outgrown the house though.  A new floor plan was in order. We have so many amazing, sweet and tender memories of our family being in that home.  It’s bittersweet to know that it is officially sold and no longer ours. We are very excited though for the next chapter in our lives and the opportunity to make new memories in our new home!

This is Lincoln's last night sleeping in his bedroom. Grandma Tutu was there to keep him company.

Logan's last night in his bedroom in the only house he's ever known, until now. 

We started a measuring wall pretty quickly after we moved in the house. It was on the wall under the stairs off the entry.  I made sure to go through and write the names, dates and measurements that we had tracked there over the years.  I wonder if and when the new owners will find it. It's the only wall we didn't touch up paint. 

 This is the picture that I took as we drove away for the night after completely clearing out the house. There is no turning back now. It's sold. It's not ours....and it's a little bit sad. We will always have fond memories of this great place.

Special Photo Shoot - Trains!

While we were in the Burbank area, we made a special stop for Logan at Travel Town. It is a large public park that has a dozen or so parked trains, along with a train museum, train gift shop and a train ride on a miniature train. Logan was in heaven.  He could hardly contain himself. He ran in and out of every train he could, he walked all over the tracks, pointed out every train crossing gate and smiled from ear to ear.  Ricky happened to have his camera in the car so we did a quick impromptu photo shoot with the boys. I snapped a few on my phone as well.  I don't think they will forget this place anytime soon.

Birthday Trip

This year for the boys birthday we took a family trip to California for a week.  We had a lot of fun activities and surprises planned for them. We were supposed to leave on Sunday morning (Nov. 2^nd) so that we’d be able to meet up with cousins in Temecula for dinner Sunday night and then on to Anaheim so we could go to Disneyland on Monday, which was Logan’s birthday. Unfortunately late Saturday night Lincoln got really sick and was throwing up for hours. Finally we decided to have Rick take him to the ER for testing and fluids. Since they didn’t get home until 5:00 am, we didn’t leave until lunch time to drive out and we drove straight to the hotel instead of stopping for a family visit. 

My poor baby finally was able to sleep without throwing up for a few hours at the ER while they gave him fluids and anti-nasea medicine. 

Lincoln was a trooper - traveling with a barf bowl, blankets and water while watching a movie on the way to CA.

They were so tired when we got to the hotel but also too excited to sleep. They love being in hotels.

Luckily Lincoln felt well enough to go to Disneyland the next day so I took him and Logan and met up with Grammy for a day of magical fun. We pushed Lincoln around in a stroller to help conserve his energy and we passed up on the big rides that could make him dizzy or sick. It was a really fun day and the boys did great.  They really liked having their birthday buttons on and having cast members say happy birthday to them. We were there the entire day – from opening to closing and they loved every minute of it.  We had a quick birthday dinner for Logan at Rainforest Cafe before we headed back to the hotel. 

They were up and ready for a fun day.  I love putting them in matching outfits.

Happy Birthday, Logan! Since it was his birthday, he chose to eat breakfast in the hotel restaurant

so he could have pancakes. 

We got there before park opening and waited right near the front gates. 

Logan was right at the rope drop area to get into Fantasyland where we walked quickly (Logan ran) to Peter Pan ride and we were singing happy birthday shouts to Logan the whole way.  It was so sweet to hear them squeal with excitement. 

Lincoln is a bit big for a stroller but we knew he wouldn't have the energy to make it through the day without it. 

Grammy with the boys on Storybook ride. Logan wanted to go through the whales mouth.

Every trip to DCA Logan asks if we are going to go on the Monsters Inc ride. I love it because there is never a line. 

The boys loved the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This was the first time they were really able to run around and do everything. Logan did the zip line five times. 

Lincoln completed the rock climbing wall. 

Dug from the movie Up

I remember putting Lincoln and Logan on this slide when they were babies. I even went down it a few times with them when they were too small to go alone. It's amazing to see the difference now. Logan ran up and down this thing a handful for times all on his own,

Dug and Lincoln

Mickey and my boys. 

We got a special treat...we got to ride in the Lilly Belle train car in Disneyland.  There is a lot of neat history in that car. Presidents, royalty, movie stars and more are treated to a ride in the Lilly Belle. 

This was the boys first time on Splash Mountain and boy did we get soaked. Logan was a bit terrified (hence him covering his eyes) but we all had a blast.  They still talk about how fun it was and how wet we got. 

A trip to DCA wouldn't be the same without a stop in Cars Land to ride the racers. We got to ride a red racer and won the race. Again, the ride is always fun but for me as a mom to hear my boys giggle and scream in excitement and joy is music to my ears and the part I really love. 

Dinner on the curb of the parade route, just before the parade. 

Because the boys had their birthday pins on they got a lot of attention from the characters in the parade. 

Logan picked a mud pie (chocolate pudding, oreo crumbs to look like dirt and gummy worms) for his birthday treat at Rainforest Cafe. We all sang happy birthday to him and he enjoyed digging in. Unfortunately by this time Lincoln was exhausted and needed to lay down so daddy took him to the car while we finished up. 

Tuesday we met up with Dana, Caden, Vance, Danica and Grammy for a couple hours of play time at cousins house. They loved playing with trains, Lego’s and army guys. It was a nice break for them to be out of the hotel and with their cousins who wanted to play as badly as they did. We met Auntee Calee for lunch at Whitwood Shopping mall.  It was really weird to see Whittier after so many years and see what had changed and what didn’t. I would’ve loved to stay and see more friends but we were on to Burbank. We spent the evening at dinner with Roo’s family and with Tutu’s.  

Lincoln, Esme and Logan. Penny was not in a picture taking mood. 

Wednesday and Thursday were spent at Universal Studios.  Rick and I had been there previously (like 15 years ago) but the boys had never been. We figured it would be a fun new place to try out. Even though they hadn’t seen several of the movies that the rides were themed after, they still loved it. Ricky and I did what we could to make it through the day since every ride, except one, was a 3D ride and was making us motion sick. The park was much smaller than I expected but it was still nice to take our time and get through it in two days. Lincoln's favorite rides were the Transformers and Minion rides. Logan loved the Jurassic Park water ride and the tram ride. We also got them birthday buttons in Universal and the employees kept giving the boys bags of Jelly Bellies and would tell them happy birthday.  We even got to go to the front of the line on the Mummy ride because the employee saw Lincoln's birthday button. Lincoln thought that was SO cool...it totally made him feel special. Still, two weeks later, both boys are still talking about things we experienced that day. 

Universal City Walk

First ride of the day was the new Minion Rush ride. We were treated by Gru.

This minion was so cute and it made for an awesome picture when my little minions stood with him. 

Logan and I braved this ride that just went round and round and up and down. 

Lincoln met Shrek and Princess Fiona

Logan met Dora

and they both met Megatron to made them yell, "All hail Megatron!"

The special effects were amazing if you could keep your eyes open long enough to watch them without getting sick. 

Another minion friend. 

The boys had no clue who she was but then we had a little history lesson about Marilyn Monroe before they got to meet her. 

The tram ride was my favorite part and one of the few things I remember from going to Universal when I was a kid. 

We got to see the sound stage where they film The Voice.

I love seeing movie sets and this is one of them. Spielberg used a real full size plan in this crash scene in War of the Worlds. 

Family picture in Hollywood.

Ricky and I had a flashback to the 80's when we saw this guy. 

The boys had no clue who this guy was but when he bent over and made a fart noise for the kids, they  thought he was the coolest guy ever.

Water World stunt show set.

Everybody's favorite Nickelodeon character

Logan didn't realize at first that this guy was not a bronze statue. His reaction was hilarious and sad all at the same time when he realized that he was actually real. 

Lincoln let Logan test the waters first so by the time he was ready for a picture, he already knew the guy could move.

It's funny how the boys get as excited for an escalator as they do the actual rides inside the theme park.

Yes, I was this close to Derek Hough.  

He and his dance partner from Dancing with the Stars were doing an interview with Extra TV in front of Universal Studios so we watched for a bit. We later saw them in the park as well. 

After his experience with a fake statue the first day, Logan studied the statues the second day so he knew which one was a real person and would potentially move. 

Lincoln with a famous dog named Lincoln who was in the remake of the movie Lassie.

Lincoln watched the special effects flooding in amazement as I did when I was a kid. It's fun to see your child experience something you did so many years before and you both have the same reaction.

Friday we headed down to San Diego to see Aunt Natalee and Tutus.  We spent the next few days there playing with Graycee and Freckles, going to the movies, and even Erica and Sadie (with Nancee and Troy) met up with us for a visit. We also spent the majority of a day at the USS Midway. This was a special surprise for Lincoln because when he grows up, he says he wants to be in the Navy. Lincoln seemed quite interested in most of it but we were only able to keep Logan's attention for the first hour or so. We had a nice birthday lunch right over the water to celebrate Lincoln's birthday.

Lincoln saw some Navy personnel eating lunch at a San Diego Arby's that we stopped into.  After a little convincing, he was finally willing to get a picture with them. Afterwards he was glad he did.  One day he would like to wear that uniform. 

Cute movie and a great way to spend family time together. Lincoln has since become a great Baymax impersonator. 

USS Midway docked in San Diego

Lincoln - practice makes perfect.

Lincoln's special birthday lunch.

I love this picture not just because it has my super cute husband in it but because Lincoln took the picture.  I think he has a bit of his daddy's skills in him. Signs that he's growing up. 

Daddy and Grandma Tutu

Navigator

The boys had to listed to the audio tour and talk to the volunteer workers to answer questions and earn their wings. They did a cute little ceremony to present the boys their pins.  Unfortunately for Logan he felt a little deceived because he thought he was getting real wings...or at least wings like Rainbow Dash. 

Erica, Lincoln, Logan and Sadie

It was a wonderful, not so relaxing but enjoyable trip.  I was ready to get away from work, the stress of the house and everything else that was on our plate and just enjoy some good family time. I am very grateful that we have the opportunity to take trips like this so that we can create special memories as a family. Happy birthday to my ever growing, challenging and oh so adorable boys!  It's crazy to think that we now have a 5 and 7 year old!  It wasn't that long ago that I used to try and imagine what life would be like when our boys would be this age...and now, here we are!