Love Generously, Praise Loudly

Paradise

Truly the best part of the cruise was our port of call...Cabo San Lucas.  We paid to go on an excursion to a luxury resort on the beach.  Once at the resort they were giving us a tour of the grounds when we looked inside the restaurant, and THERE WERE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS from Lakewood.  SMALL World!!! I met the mom when we took Lamaze with our first kids almost 19 years ago! Anyway, here are some photos of us on the ship, as well as at Cabo!

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

This is us posing with our friends...with our ship behind us!

 

 

 

Hope I didn't bore you with all the photos!

HUGS

Two Things.

#1 We are home safely from our Carnival cruise to Cabo San Lucas.  (BLAST...with pics to come)

#2  I am really, REALLY going gray. 

xoxo

So excited.

Just found out that Bob's Big Boy may be coming to the OC.  (My vote is for Anaheim Hills or Brea) 

Click HERE TO READ ARTICLE.

Bob's Big Boy Combo with Blue Cheese dressing, Diet Coke, and Hot Fudge Cake are calling my name. 

Hmmm...I wonder if THIS is why I don't lose weight????  I even GOOGLE restaurants. 

Happy Birthday Lori!!

The title of this post is for my sister...whom I have been unable to contact by phone the last couple of days.  Don't know if she is out of town....screening her calls...or if her boys have turned off the phone ringer.  (They have been known to do that)  Anyway...LORI...if you are home, I have a bday cake here calling your name, and a pool heating to keep your lil boogers content!

In other news, I survived college orientation.  Stephanie said she had not been that exhausted since she went to Washington DC/New York four years ago.  We both were dragging so badly at the dinner break we bailed from the gazillion people, and sneaked off campus.  All Stephanie wanted was a diet coke...and all I wanted was WINE.   We walked to a restaurant down the street and happily found a table.  We looked around, and noticed lots of other parents doing the same thing...with beers in their hand, and wine at their lips.  (You can tell who the orientation parents were because we all had the same red tags hanging around our necks) 

I was originally staying at a hotel right across the street from USC.  However, around ten a.m. there was an explosion underground that ended in a fatality, and most of USC as well as the surrounding areas lost power.  Originally they said we would be without power for 2 to 8 hours.  However, at the 9 hour mark my hotel was still without power so I moved to a new hotel arranged by the director of orientation.

The new hotel???  The Westin Bonaventure.  Yes, I scored! 

As soon as I checked into the new hotel, I boogied back to USC for the rally.  (9:30 at night...my bed time....been up since 5:30....thinking I should be back at the hotel laying in the fluffy, cloud like bed) So glad I drove back to the school, as the USC Marching Band came out and performed!  It was the highlight of my orientation experience.  SO amazing.  (And I didn't take one pic.  BOOO!)

Glad to be home....and resting up for the next adventure.

UPDATE:  Sis is on her way.  Woohoooooo!

This week

Four years ago my best friend moved to Durango, CO.  Yesterday I picked up her and her daughter up at LAX.  I get to spend the next few days visiting with them.  (YAY!)  Then, Thursday at 5:45 am I leave for USC with Stephanie.  We are going to be in LA for the two day orientation.  SO, I will not be blogging again until Saturday.

I do have a question for you So. Cal people.  In September I want to take a GOOD cake decorating class where I learn how to make and work with Fondant.  Any suggestions??  I know my crafty friends will have some great ideas for me!!!

Have a GREAT week!!!

Father's Day

Hope you have gotten to enjoy and celebrate with the Dad's in your life today! 

Today is a little bitter sweet for Dale.  Last Father's Day was the last time Dale saw his mother alive.  We had his parents over for dinner...and Linda was in RARE form.  She was hysterical...cracking some jokes, slapping the table, and even having a glass of wine with me.  I even had told Dale that she seemed to LOOK better than the last time we had seen her. 

To ensure that D had a nice Father's Day I planned a weekend away. I picked him up Friday at the fire station at 7:30 am, bags packed and kids in tow.  (c and e)  We headed out to the river for some fun.

Dale had gone to the river the week before to take the boat in for some repair work...which was NOT going to be completed prior to our trip.  We decided to go ahead with our plans, and take the boogers out on the jet skis.  I must admit, I wasn't the happiest about this venture.  I was super concerned about taking the little kids out on them, on a weekend no less. 

We arrived before 11:30 am...

I unpacked, while Dale checked out the jet skis.  Within a few minutes he came in and said we had a problem.  One of the jet skis was "dead". 

 

Obviously this is D trying to make light of the situation.  I didn't crack a smile, I assure you. 

During this time, Dale suggested I give Molly one of her tranquilizers so that she would be okay while we were gone.  (Molly always has joined us on the boat...and the ONE time we left her behind she ate our clothes in anger.  Since we were going on the jet skis we wanted to make sure we wouldn't come home to a half eaten couch.  Vet prescribed them) I asked Dale how much I should give her.  He asked what the bottle said on it. I told him 1 to 2 tablets every 8 hours.  He said "two...or one."  I married a decisive fellow, didn't I?  Anyway, I rolled the dice and gave her 1 1/2.  Within a half hour I had a comatose dog.  NO JOKING.  She couldn't move her head, peed herself, etc...  I immediately went into freak out mode.  Dale came in and started freaking out too.  We really were concerned she could die. 

It was at that moment that I thought God was going to take Molly because I had put Fred down.  It was MY choice to put my cat down.  One that I didn't do lightly, I promise you.  I am STILL crying over Fred.  However, he had crystals in his bladder which made him pee all over my house.  I had put up with it for nine months...and it had escalated out of control.  I couldn't keep him outside, because every time one of the kids came in he would come in too.  At 16 pounds he was stealth like.  Shocking, I know.  In addition, we have a lot of coyotes, and I didn't want him to be eaten. The problem also was that  he didn't pee in the house EVERY day....but when he did, he did it on shoes....purses...dress up clothes... DALES clothes that were folded and ready to be put away...Molly's bed.  You get the picture.  While he was a majorly naughty cat, he was also the absolutely MOST LOVING cat I have ever owned.  He would crawl onto my lap, put his front paws around my neck and nuzzle me.  Then,PURR like crazy.  The guilt I have in putting him down is horrendous.  (I was with him when they injected him) Soooo, when Molly started to drool, pee, and not even move her body, head or eyes, I thought it was retribution time.  NOT SAYING THAT GOD works like that...it just crossed my scared mind.  I have had Molly for 14 years and I probably should have known not to give her the full dose.  The old lady just couldn't take it.

All of this, and it wasn't even 12:30. 

Finally, at 1:30 when Paramedic Dale decided Molly wasn't going to die in front of me, he went to get a new jet ski battery. 

By 3 we were on the water.  We had a BLAST.  Kids were incredible, water was perfect, and weather gorgeous.  We finally made it home around 8.  (Molly was still alive)

The next day wasn't as weather perfect as the previous day.  It got windy, making our jet ski ride a little more hairy.  Once again the kiddos were great.  We spent six hours out on the jet skis Saturday, and even had a 2 1/2 hour non stop ride!  Needless to say, Dale and I are super sore today!!!  The jet skis are fun, but for small bouts of time.  Not for two entire days with lil boogers sitting in front of us!

Even with the drama, it was a blast.  Most importantly, it helped Dale keep his mind off last Father's Day.  :(

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and Father's Day!!! (what's left of it!)

 

{{Fred}} and some bathroom photos

Some of you may remember Fred, the cat, who happened to accidentally get it's tail caught (and subsequently chopped off) by my dear daughter, Emily. Today at 4 pm I had to put him down due to health problems.  I know this is super silly, but Fred was BY FAR the sweetest, most loving cat I have ever owned....making today VERY difficult.  Even worse, D was on duty, so Stephanie and I had the duty of being with him when he passed. 

 

He will be dearly missed.

In other news....

I am even BUSIER now that school is out.  How does that happen?  Why am I in my car by 7:30 am taking a kid to soccer camp?  Did someone miss the memo about the Summer Rules of Motherhood??? It is ridiculous.  I am now entertaining, and driving around half a team of kids.  I am trying to be mellow and enjoy, as Miss S leaves two months from tomorrow.  (Yes, I am counting...afraid of the day to arrive) 

I promised bathroom photos, so I will deliver. 

BEFORE:

 

 

AFTER:

 

 

I haven't painted yet, but you get the idea.  We also added a sky light that opens up for some air flow.  So far it really hasn't made a huge difference...keeping my fingers crossed that it makes the bathroom cooler in the summer.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend.  Don't forget the Father's in your lives!!!  I have something special planned for my man... 

Next week I may not blog, as my friend and her daughter from CO will be staying with me Mon-Thurs.  In addition Stephanie and I will be heading out to USC on Thursday (5:30 am!!!) for a couple of days.  (Orientation, here we come!!!)  SO, enjoy your week!!!!

HUGS

Lila, Cody and Rainbow Tallina.

Yesterday when Dale got home from work he told the kids how bummed he was that he missed out on the Disneyland fun the day before. 

Then, for some unknown reason, aliens came down and sucked his brain cells out thru his ears, because he said "LET'S GO TONIGHT!"

(And, because Dale says that the Platt's put the "P" in party, I said SUURRREEEE!)

We left the house at 4:30 only to be met with a "Disneyland is Full" sign.  I suggested going to dinner at Downtown Disney to waste some time...with the hopes that the Happiest Place on Earth would soon open up for us passholders.

ESPN and Build a Bear later, we made it in.  However, I must say that the highlight was the Bear store.  My kids had never set foot inside of one...nor obviously made one.  Here are the photos of last night's adventure.  (D was in charge of the camera.  And, no my hair is not red, it is blonde-ish)

 

Meet Lila. She is my favorite of the newly-stuffed-family-members.

 

Meet Cody, who is now dressed in head to toe Laker's gear.

 

And, finally...Rainbow Tallina.  Miss E named her herself.  A little frightened at what my future grandkids may be named. 

 

This is me throwing a smile towards D as I paid for newly-stuffed-family-members and their clothing.  See, my hair does look red.  Geesh.  I blame it on the cameraman. 

In remodeling news...I took my first bath in my bathroom in 3.5 months.  SO stinking excited.  Will try to post photos tomorrow.  (of bathroom, not me)

xoxo

Super Sunday!

Just got home from taking the four kids to Disneyland.  In all truthfulness I am posting these pics for my man who is on duty today.  Although I am sure by now he is caught up in the Laker game and could care less about the photos.... Anywhoooo...here they are!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, I have always wanted to get Silhouette's of the kids.  As soon as we got to DLand, I took the kids straight there.  I am planning on hanging them up in their bathroom upstairs.

 

Now on to other non Disney stuff.  Remember back in Feb. when D and I were literally walking out the door to leave for our flight to Vegas, and Miss E decided to barf and run a 103 fever?  (And, we didn't end up going???) WELL, I got the pamphlet for next year.  I am sooooooo excited.  If you love painting, you have got to check it out!  Click here for the link. 

Hope you have a great Sunday! 

Summer!

School is OUT!!!!!!!!!  I can't tell you how happy I am that I don't have to wake to an alarm and hustle kids into my car before 7:30 in the morning. 

The other day I was dancing around the house saying I could stay in jammies  Friday morning, and kick it until the afternoon.  Then Dale burst my balloon by telling me he had scheduled the plumber to come today (BUT first thing in the morning, babe!) .  I wanted to hurt him...but I didn't.  I know he is just trying to get our master bathroom done.  We are SOOOO close to having it completed.  I can't believe I started this remodel back in September when the kids were just going back to school, and I am STILL doing it.  D has promised me no one will be in our house over the summer after Plumber Man.  Plumber Man is the last "worker-dude" allowed until NEXT September. 

In other news, S is officially an adult.  I know she turned 18 in April, but now that she has graduated, I am letting her really be responsible for herself.  I don't nag her about where she is going, what time she is going to be home, who she is with, etc....  The rule is so long as she texts me I am fine.  It is super hard because I still want to smother mother her, but I realize she needs to LEARN how to be on her own prior to moving out in two months.  A month ago I over heard some parents talk about how their kids had gone hog wild after they had moved out and gone to college...and let me tell you, the colleges were nice, Christian colleges....and it got me really worried.  I am hoping by letting her "go" a little now, it will help her when she leaves.  I don't know if my theory will work or not....but I am going to try it out. Can't hurt!

M is really excited about the new High School.  She is even going to try out for their soccer team.  Out of all of us, M is going to have a BLAST this summer....Newport twice, Las Vegas, River, Camp,Cruise to Cabo (we are all on that one), and Seattle.  The kid won't ever be home!

C and E are Great.  E graduated from Kinder yesterday.  They don't have a ceremony, but instead have a big party.  I officially have a first and second grader! 

Hope you have a fabulous weekend, and if you are off school, relaxing.  D and I have a big shin dig to go to tomorrow night, so hope to get some neat photos to share later!

xoxo