When Your Babies Are Growing Up Too Fast

In less than 24 hours my baby will turn 8 years old. I am not sure why it sounds so old to me but I really feel like it is all happening so fast. She has changed so much in the last year and seems so much more grown up this year than last. I still call her Little One though and I am guessing I will when she is 20, but she just isn't so little anymore. This year she started soccer, has scored a goal and is this fastest one on her team. She is in the Third Grade Honor Chorus at her school, is taking a beginning music class at school and came in 17th place out of about 65 kids ages 1-12 at the annual Megan's Wings Run last Saturday. She calls people on the phone, can do most of her homework by herself and is getting good grades. She likes to cook, play with the dogs, draw and try everything, but she still holds my hand when we walk to school and sits on my lap.
My big baby has really changed this year too and is now 11 1/2 and beautiful. She tried out for the volleyball team this week at her middle school and had her first heartbreaking disappointment when she didn't make it. She started gymnastics last month and has been making all sorts of new friends. She keeps her room clean! She just seems so much more mature this year than last year and is working harder this year at school than ever before. I'm actually very proud of her and believe that she is growing into a wonderful young lady but I miss her needing me. It is such a fine balancing act that you have to do as a parent. You want them to be independent and confident but still protect them. You want them to be able to handle things on their own and are proud of them when they do but a little disappointed that you're not quite as important anymore. Oh well. Tomorrow is Heather's birthday and Cheyanne's will come up before I know it. My babies are growing up.

Fantastic Weekend!

Writewood from top of Park Ave.

This morning's sunrise

Things have been pretty busy here over the last month and Todd and I hadn't had to much time to ourselves until this weekend. Both of the girls had plans for the weekend Cheyanne went to Encinittas with her BFF Collette and Heather spent the weekend at Grandma & Papa's. Todd and I had a blast just getting to hang out together. Saturday we spent the day with our friends Harold and Laura and then went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner (yummy!). Then we came home and just sat out on the porch talking and listening to some old tunes. Sunday we woke up early and headed up to Writewood (only a 15 min. drive :)) and hit the shops, walked around, looked at the scenery and had a nice lunch. We came home and had a nice romantic walk up our dirt road picking up the big rocks that got uncovered by our last rain and getting them out of the road, then we BBQ's and played a few rounds of darts until about 11:30 and then hit the sack. I know it doesn't seem like to much of a weekend but between Todd's softball practice, band practice, Cheyanne's gymnastics, Heather's soccer practice and games, me going to the ranch and homework, housework, school and work it felt wonderful to just hang out with my BFF. Love you baby- had a great time.

School started, friends and a beautiful sunrise

Heather and Cheyanne 1st day of school 2010

Sunrise August 18, 2010

Well another school year is upon us and my babies are growing up. Cheyanne started middle school last week and Heather started 3rd grade. Tonight is my first back to school night at Pinon Hills Elementary and also Heather's first soccer practice. Cheyanne has started this year off in a positive way and I am excited and hopeful that this year will not be such a struggle.


We had some friends over this last weekend and enjoyed a full day of BBQ, dirt toy riding and pool playing at night. We had a blast and it was so good to see everyone.


This morning Todd had to be a Chaffey College for a meeting at 7:00 a.m. so I was up early and caught the sunrise. It was beautiful and the picture doesn't do it justice but I'm posting it anyways.


Hope all is well.

Not Much Going On

Well again I have been a little flaky and haven't written much this month but I really haven't been up to very much lately. The girls went to horse camp last week and spent a whole week at their Grandparent's house. they had a good time but are still recovering from all of the activity. I am recovering from not having the kids. I can't explain how empty the house feels when the kids aren't here. It just feels wrong, especially at bedtime when you go to check on them and they are not there where they are supposed to be. I am glad to have them back. We are still going out to the ranch to visit Melissa and her horses, she has decided to keep Jodie and is still going to sell Montana. Melissa was offered a wonderful opportunity to become the ranch's on site trainer and riding instructor and will be using Jodie as her lesson horse. If anyone is interested in horse back riding lessons please let me know and I will put you in touch with her. She has been working with my girls all summer and is great with kids.
The girls will be starting school on August 12th and Cheyanne is nervous and excited about going to the new middle school this year. I know she will do fine and all though I am nervous and feeling a little old I think it will be good for her. She has always struggled with math and reading and the middle school offers before school tutoring plus one of the periods is reserved for extra help in subjects that are needed. She also will be going out for track and she is excited about that. Heather on the other hand is not so excited, I think she finds school kind of boring. Everything comes easy for her and she can be kid of cocky about it. I've got a couple of applications in that I am hoping will be fruit full because my unemployment has gone bye bye.
Well that is about it, I got 2 posts in this month so I'm getting better.

Summer of the Horse

I haven't been on here much lately so hello to anyone who missed me. I have been enjoying summer vacation with the girls and a beautiful horse named Jodie. Jodie is a 9 year old, bay quarter horse mare who has given me one of the happiest summers of my life. Anyone who knows me knows I love horses, when I was a kid I asked for a pony every year from Santa, drew horses, painted horses, even had horse wall paper and always dreamed of going to horse camp, owning my own horse and riding off in the sunset so to speak. It never happened, we didn't have the money for a horse, riding lessons all that. My wonderful mother cleaned the dance studio on the weekends to keep me in dance lessons but I don't think she could of mucked a stall for horse lessons. Anyways 30 some odd years latter I am finally getting to live my dream (at least for the summer). My cousin Melissa recently moved up to the high desert and she has two horses Montana and Jodie. For the last few months the girls and I have driven out to Hidden River Ranch in Hesperia and received free horse care lessons and gotten to ride horses for free. It has been wonderful. I now know how to put the halter on, lead, groom, clean the feet, bathe (fun like washing a tall moving car), bridle, feed, saddle and ride around the ranch (nothing fancy). It is kind of like being a kid again and almost like having my own horse. The girls have learned how to groom and bathe the horses and have ridden a few times. Cheyanne is getting over her fear of horses and both the girls will be going to a week long horse camp this month where they can put their newly learned skills to the test. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and due to financial hardships Melissa is having she will be selling both of the horses at the end of this month. I can't put into words how heartbroken I am over the sale of Jodie. We have developed a relationship and it will be very hard to say goodbye for me (I can't even imagine how hard it will be for Melissa). BUT if I never get a horse of my own which is looking highly unlikely I am so thankful that God gave me this chance to realize my little girl fantasy and have this summer. Thanks Melissa, and thank you Jodie Girl I will miss you.

Still Happy For Fridays

I haven't worked in almost 2 years (since June 2, 2008) and yet I am still happy when Fridays roll around. I really don't know why. Is it because I worked for almost 20 years and it is now a habitual response to get happy on Friday or is it because I get to sleep in because there is no school or homework for the kids? Maybe it is because Todd usually comes home early on Fridays and I get 2 days with him afterwords. I don't really know the reason just that I am always happy that Friday finally got here. I also suffer from what I call my senioritis. Remember in school when summer vacation was rolling around y'all got really restless, couldn't wait for summer to arrive and school to be out? I still get that every year starting about the end of April. When I was working full time I would be so restless, stare out the window and not want to come back after lunch. I always did come back and I always got my work done because I really was a very good employee but God how I wanted to just skip out and head to the beach or up to Baldy to go hiking. I still get that senioritis thing which is my excuse for not finishing painting and being so frustrated with unpacking boxes. It was all fine and dandy when it was cold and rainy to be stuck in the house BUT right now I want to go somewhere, see something or do something. I want that last day of school feeling when anything is possible and you know it is going to be the best summer ever just because its summer.

The Floor is Done

Well after 3 weeks of bitching and cussing, aching backs, knees, arms and hands we finally finished. The floors are done and they look beautiful. No more cement but I think it will take another month to get all of the saw dust swept up. Next I have to finish painting the hallway, the kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, family room and 3 bedrooms and put all of the baseboards back on. That work will mostly be mine since I am in charge of paint and I will let Todd take all of the credit for the floors since he did most of it. Good job honey!!