This year I will spread kindness, bake cookies from scratch, create something that makes others lives better, paint, let go, grow with GOD, train for a half marathon, send my son to school, keep in touch better, throw a party, tell my family, my son and my husband how much I love them every day! Happy 2010 – let’s make this a great one…

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” – Benjamin Franklin

So thankful for our big family and our fun trip to Pensylvania for Thanksgiving. Thank you Mimi and Papa Mike.
We love u all.

xoxoxo Happy Holidays.

I love Ben Watts work! I wish I had gotten a chance to work with him in the past but I still admire his eye… Check out his new book. Lickshot. I know a little place where you can buy a copy signed by Ben also.

The penguin shines across the loving hydrogen.

A guide, to feeling great, losing weight, and saving the planet!

I have so much to post about that I don’t know where to start. But it’s late and I am tired…

Our trip to San Diego was fun but bittersweet all at the same time. My brain is full of mush right now and my dog is burping on me. I couldn’t sleep last night because my husband was snoring so loud. So I moved myself out to the couch where my dog was snoring equally as loud, eventually I fell asleep 30 minutes before the little guy woke up! So I have more to say and cute things to show you but it will have to wait a bit….

kind words will unlock an iron door…
turkish proverb

be nice today. be nice every day…

Jodee is a stay at home mom who makes these adorable ties for little guys and big guys too! Handmade ties and bow-ties for boys ages newborn and up. Each tie is custom made according to your specific size and color. Visit littleguyties.etsy.com to see her adorable shop of ties in the best retro modern fabrics ever!

Her ties can be made in any of these sizes:
0-6 mo, 6mo-2T, 2T-4T, 5-8 yrs, 9-12 yrs and mens ties too!

Happy Memorial day – today I am thinking of our amazing hero’s who have fought for our lives and the lives to come!

Decoration Day was first observed to honor those heroes who fell in battle during the Civil War. Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day to honor all Americans who fell in battle in all wars. I am going to have a pina colada today and toast to all those who have fallen for us. GOD SPEED…..

Perfect Puerto Rican Pina Colada Recipe

1 can of Coco Lopez® cream of coconut (15oz)

1 can of pineapple juice (46oz)

Mix together in pitcher with whisk or spoon

Fill blender to the rim with ice

Fill blender half way with coconut/pineapple mixture

Add light rum to fill blender 3/4 full

Add additional ice cubes to fill to rim as some ice has now settled and melted.

Cover and turn on the blender.

Pour into glasses and top with a dash of Kahlua, pineapple and an orchid!

Yesterday I took Van to the beach and we brought the dogs along. Since Van and I are staying at my moms and the dogs are still in the house we rented he doesn’t get to see them much. So we walked out onto the white sand. Van was in nothing but a diaper, white birds were all around us and the dogs ran into the water, a gentle breeze blew by us. The water was crystal clear and there was not a person in sight. For a moment I got a feeling of what heaven might be like except my husband was missing. No bugs were in sight, the heat was not that bad and for a moment I took it all in. It is for moments like these that we moved here. Lately I have really been missing home (California) my friends, having the door open in our house and letting the cool breeze blow in, watching Van play outside in our yard while I do things in side. The comforts of our life are so missed right now. It’s funny that saying “you don’t know what you got til it’s gone”. It’s true. We will try Florida out for a year and see how it goes. I know it takes time to build a life anywhere, but it’s hard. I know why people stay put now….

We looked at it as an adventure when we were packing up and leaving. Today it seems much harder than I thought it would be. I know this much Van turns one and a half this week and he knows his family, and it makes me smile to hear him call my mom’s name “non”. I always felt out of place here in Florida, the minute I arrived in California I knew that was where I was supposed to be. Turns out that is where I found some of the most important people in my life aside from my family. I love you Conner, thank you for enduring for us, I know you have given up so much to be here. What an adventure we are on huh?

I walk dogs, for extra money. So I can buy Trucks.

I get Ice Cream when I am good. “which is all the time”

I go on the potty!

What a whirlwind of events that has taken place in our lives lately. We found out today that we are living in an unsafe home. The landlady needs to remove all moldy anything before I will bring Van back into that house. We took a road trip to South Carolina to see my college buddies and get out of town for the weekend. When we returned it was my birthday and I had a nice relaxing one! My mom watched Van and she gave me the best massage while we watched tennis and relaxed. Then she watched Van at night and Conner and I got to go have sushi with the family! I got some awesome gifts including a gift card to nordstrom and my favorite signature perfume Angel. Conner gave me some running shoes so I can run away from here! Run forest run! I have felt pretty defeated lately – just to be honest. I want to write that everything is awesome and we are all smiles, but since we have arrived it has been a rocky road. Everything has been a challenge. Van is sick again I think he got a cold on our trip but this time he can’t keep food down and is running fevers. I feel like a hamster running in my ball and I can’t get anything accomplished….. This to shall pass – Conner reminded me tonight as he drove away after dinner to the house we are supposed to be living in as a family. Van is needing MOM even more these days as he is not sure where home is and he is feeling ill. We love this boy more than anything in this world and just want a safe place for him to call home. Where he can play with his trucks and doggies…

Here are a few photos of the milestones from the past few weeks. He is about to turn one and a half and I enjoy every second with him, even when I am getting thrown up on four times in a row.
My sister sent me this poem that she found and I love it..

My Baby Boy and Me:

Please keep the Crawfords in your prayers, they just learned their 19 month old Rogan has leukemia. They will beat this with your prayers and GOD’s help!