Weekend Update

Work is still crazy busy but I love when I feel productive and get things done.

The weekend was great!

Friday - we bbq'd and watched the Lakers win!! Woo Hoo! Now they just have to do the same thing tonight. GO LAKERS!

Saturday - I got up early and did my incline walk up the hills. I love that walk. It's tough but a great workout and I have a beautiful view of Ventura once I reach the top.

I had received an e-mail that Victoria Secret's Annual Sale was going on so my sister and I went to check it out. I love VS sales.
Sadly, the sale was on-line only. So my gift certificate will have to wait until next month....

Buddy had a game that evening so I piddled (my dad's word) around the house until game time. He did great and we won! We went to dinner with a few of our friends after the game.

Buddy had been wanting to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". I had yet to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe so I thought I'd be lost if I didn't see the first one. Saturday night after dinner we had popcorn and put the DVD in. It was a good movie. I admit I fell asleep during parts but got the jist of it.

Sunday - we visited a new church. It's a newer church and smaller than I am used to but I really liked it. I've been wanting to get Buddy more involved in kid's activities at a church - especially if we move him to a public school. Our friends are heavily active in this church so we thought we'd give it a try. All three of us liked it and are going back this Sunday.

After church we picked up the pottery the kids made on Mother's Day. They turned out great! I need to take a picture of Buddy's claw thingy but Daughter's pasta bowl turned out great! I love it!

Before

After

The picture really doesn't do it justice but it's beautiful.

Our house was blazing hot on Sunday so we decided to find refuge in the movie theater and saw "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". It was really good. I'm so happy I saw the first one otherwise I would have been completely lost.

On the way home we stopped by the prospective school. He's too cute... his interest was peaked when I mentioned they had hot lunch every day and on Tues/Thurs they had a salad bar. It's definitely up for discussion and not out of the question. This morning Buddy told me he'd like to visit and see how the classes and teachers are. So we'll see.

In sad news.... Roomba stopped working.... he has to go back to Santa's workshop to be fixed...

Duncan does not miss him. But I do.

**Random question - what the heck is up with Shutterfly's links??????**

**Random excitement - I love that I can change my weemee's outfit to match what I'm wearing today. Duncan is not with my in my purse but I can pretend**

Mother's Day

Late Mother's Day post. Stayed home yesterday to take care of baby girl who was home sick with the stomach flu. Bless her heart. I hate to see her sick but love the days I can take care of and dote all over her.

Mother's Day was great! J went to Irvine to be with his mom so Sister, Mom, the kids and I headed to Sage Brush Cantina for brunch. I can't believe it had been 10 years ago since the last Mother's Day we were there. It was a nice brunch.

Baby girl is so tall and my mom is a little shorty.
Love this boy so much!
My mom's pride and joy

Me and mom

After eating, Daughter, Buddy and I were trying to decide what to do the rest of the day. Daughter was kind of in the mood for a movie but the only two that were suitable for the whole family were Speed Racer and Iron Man. Buddy and I had already seen them which are both very good and we didn't mind seeing either one of them again. We couldn't all decide on a movie so Daughter had the great idea of going to Fire Fly. It's a fun little place where you can paint your own pottery. Great idea!

Both picked out what they wanted to paint. Daughter picked out a perfect pasta bowl to paint for me(I've been wanting one for so long but could never find one in the colors I liked)

and Buddy picked out at claw, talon type thing. It's a boy thing I guess....

They worked so hard on their pieces.

And the final products before they are glazed and go into the kiln...

Buddy's claw thingy

And sweet Daughter's plate for me.

We were there for a couple hours and will be able to pick up the pieces on Sunday. I can't wait. They always look so different when they have been all glazed and fired.


After our painting expedition we went home to BBQ.


It was such an awesome day. I loved spending time with my babies. I'm such a lucky mom.
Why are we all three looking at different things???

Stepping Stones

I've only had a few jobs in my life but each were stepping stones to get me where I am today.



First Job
When I first got out of high school I was going to college and working part time. I found a job at a law firm as a file clerk/receptionist/errand girl.



Second Job

I was only at the law firm for 6 months when I had the opportunity to work for the Naval Air Station at Point Mugu. I don't even remember what my title was but I was very low on the todem pole but over the next 11 years I worked my way up to a Financial Analyst. I went through a lot while I was working here. I got married, had a baby (sweet daughter) and went through a divorce while I sported my Government badge. I faced tough times here but some of my best memories were here as well. I had the best co-workers. It was the only place I've ever worked where I could work all day and then stay out drinking until way too late with people I worked with. We were all young and basically grew up together. This is where I met one of my best friends.

I decided it was time to leave when there were talks of having a Reduction In Force (RIF). It was time to get off that sinking ship. Time to get out from under the Government umbrella and into the public workforce.


Third Job

I found a job very quickly at a company that manufactured GPS antennas. I was in charge of all the contracts and customers. This was a fun place to work as well. This is where I met one of my other best friend. I worked here for 2 years.



It's also where I met "Buddy" unexpectedly. My sweet boy.


The day that I left on maternity leave was the last day I ever stepped foot at the job. I lived on faith alone that I'd be taken care of and I was. After Buddy was born I started looking for a job. I could not be picky so I answered every ad, job posting I could find. One day I received a call from a lady interested in my resume and asked if I could come in for an interview. Everything sounded great, it was a small company 15 minutes from where I lived, I'd basically be doing the same thing I was at my last job and the pay was a little better.

Fourth Job

I went through two interviews and was offered the job. I started the day after Mother's Day 1999. 9 years ago this weekend. I've been blessed to be part of this company for 9 years. I've grown with this company professionally, spiritually and personally. They have seen both of my children grow into the wonderful people they are. They have supported me during the tough times of a single mom. They have confidence in my talents and abilities and have compensated me very well.

I was blessed to have found this company. Not only for the job but this is also where I met my loving husband J - 9 years ago.

So Cute!

Last night was Buddy's Spring Musical at his school. My heart melted looking at him in his little suit. I am such a baby when it comes to my children. I get teary eyed at the drop of a hat. I was choked up all during the performance.

Oh my gosh! I love this boy!

He's such my little man!

Mom and Sister came too


Have a great weekend!!!

We have baseball and a book report to do. Weee....

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday
Was Buddy's birthday party. Bowling Party!!!
I had 12 ACTIVE boys ranging in ages between 8 - 10. They all had a great time. Especially the birthday boy. He was in heaven with all of his friends.

He loaded up on gift cards to Target.

One of his favorite gifts was from my sister - an iPod Shuffle. He was so surprised and so excited "I can't believe I have an iPod Shuffle"...

This is the look of - Is this what I think it is??

Saturday
All his gift cards were burning a hole in his pocket so I took him to Target so he could pick up some things. And because it has been such a crazy busy week I had not done any birthday shopping or Easter basket shopping (bad mom) I took notes on what grabbed his attention. After shopping with him I quickly dropped him off with J so I could go back to Target and also hit up Toys R Us to pick up birthday presents and Easter basket goodies. Just like Christmas Stockings, I'm big on Easter baskets.

I dashed in and out of the stores like a mad woman. I only had 2 hours to do everything I needed to do.

Made it home in just enough time to get Buddy all dressed for his game and put on my Angel jersey and we were out the door.

Buddy's team and the team we were playing were both 2-0. This game decided who would be the only team in the division that would be undefeated. What a crazy game. Early on we were down 5 - 1. Our little guys did not give up. The game was back and fourth and the parents were all into it.

Buddy had an awesome hit that started off the rally.

Rally Time!!!


In the bottom of the last inning we were tied up at 10 - 10. We were down to our last out and the batter was at a 2-0 count (2 strikes, no balls). We had a runner on second ready to go. Bless his little heart - the batter hit a home run!!! We won the game 12 - 10. It was awesome. They boys were so excited as were the parents.

I'm so thrilled that we are on this team and I think this season will be a great

After we got home from the game, we put together the baskets and hid the eggs.

Daughter's had gift certificates for a manicure and pedicure, key chain with a

Duncan dog on it,

lip balm ball

and a few other little odds and ends. According to her it was a "Dank Easter basket".

Buddy's was filled with toys

Slim Jims (gross but he loves them) and a few other items. He was so happy with it.

I've always done Easter morning the same way. The kids put out empty baskets by their doors so when they wake up in the morning they have something to put the eggs they find in. I leave a trail of eggs down the hall into the living room where most of the eggs are hidden.

Sunday

Buddy was the first one up of course - it was his birthday AND Easter!! I felt like I had just gone to sleep but I couldn't blame him for being so excited. Daughter has always been so good to get up early and play along finding the eggs. This year though she was so tired (she had worked the night before) she "let" Buddy find and keep all the eggs.

Duncan was a great help.

After finding the eggs and opening the baskets

we made a birthday/Easter breakfast with chorrizo, potatoes, bacon, sausage, and eggs. I think he was thrilled - he declared "I love our family". Precious.

Continuing on with our busy busy weekend my mom and sister came over for a birthday/Easter bbq. J loves to bbq and I love to eat bbq so we are a good team. He made ribs and steaks, I made twice baked potatoes and mom brought a yummy pasta salad. He wanted a lemon bundt cake with lemon frosting for his birthday cake. I present to you the ugliest (but moist and yummy) birthday cake.

He loved it even if it was ugly.

We had to get ready for our next event of the day.

The Laker game!!!!!!

See what I mean about it being a busy weekend??? We left Ventura around 4:30 and made it in record time to the Staples Center.

We got our food and settled in our seats when I noticed that you could text a message to have it displayed up on the jumbo screen. I quickly went to work and within a few minutes

The first half of the game was awful. J is a Laker fan through and through - he said this might have been some of the worst playing he's ever seen. They were down at one time by 27. The second half was much much better. The Laker's defense was back in the game and had only a few turnovers. They were able to catch up and tie it in the last few minutes of the game. We were having such a great time. The darn Warriors shot a couple 3s in the last minute winning the game at 115 - 111. A 4 point deficit is much better than a 27.

All in all it was a great game and a great way to close out the big birthday/Easter weekend.