HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

I AM SO EXCITED I JUST CAN'T STAND IT!!!

I have regressed back to being 11 years old. I didn't think it possible, but last nite, as I was standing in the 3rd row, watching the New Kids on the Block come onto the stage, I found myself screaming and jumping up and down, hysterical, practically in tears. Mock me if you will. I don't care! Cause that was the BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER BEEN TOO! (the awesome seats didn't hurt, either!) I was able to gather my emotions enough to dance the nite away, still screaming all the while. Good times. And, to further convince myself that I have regressed 20 years, I am very proud to say that both Joey and Donnie looked at me and Jen twice. Joey did the head nod thing, and Donnie winked at us. And yes, I screamed like a little girl and almost had my knees go out. I'm glad Scott doesn't ever read this.

So Jen and I drove up to LA last nite for the concert - today is my birthday so this was my big birthday present. What a great husband to let me go and not mock me too much about this. (Thankfully my sis-in-law is going to a NKOTB concert next week, so at least the teasing will be spread throughout the family!) Jen and I had a great time, and got home at 2 in the morning. Can't remember the last time I was up that late that didn't involve nursing a baby! ;-> The 1 thing I am bummed about pictures. Online it said "no cameras allowed", so I obeyed and didn't bring my camera. Whatever! Everyone had their cameras! So we only got bad camera-phone pictures. Bummer. Oh well.

My throat still hurts from screaming. Good times!

Dark and grainy, but so fun!!

Whose Joey looking at? That's right, baby, ME!!

Jordan and Jon

The Boston Boys are back!! NKOTB For-eva!!

It's my birthday. Feel free to send flowers or chocolate.

First Day of School

I know it's October, but bear with me as a catch up. Caden started preschool a few weeks ago. He loves it! And I love him loving it! He started while I was in Aruba with our camera, so these are from Scott's phone. I think these are the first 2 days of school. How cute is he?

Soleil started yesterday in her Mother's Day Out program. It's 1 day a week for 3 hours. She absolutely loved it, and I loved having 3 hours to run errands by myself. I think Wednesdays are going to be my new favorite day!

She was so excited to go to "preschool!"

I'm posting 2 pix of her so you can see that she does have hair. When I did a ponytail in her hair, I didn't think how that would translate into bald-looking photos.

The Bramwell Bed and Breakfast

70 days. Out of the 122 days in June - Sept, we have either had guests or been gone. No wonder I am so tired and my guest sheets are looking so threadbare. That's more than half the summer!
I started wondering how busy we were this summer after realizing that, as of today, we have had 6 days this month without someone here or us gone somewhere. We've been REALLY busy. But it's been so fun. I really do love having company. Especially if they help clean up!
Let's recap: Five of the 6 grandparents visited. Five of my 7 siblings visited (one being on a mission, so he doesn't count.) One of Scott's four siblings visited, but he came twice and his wife came once, separately. (We are trying to convince them to move here, so they were on recon missions.) Two of my dear cousins came, with family. And two (friends) families stayed with us this summer. We went to to Idaho, Phoenix, and Newport. Scott went to Portland, New York City, Baltimore, and camping. I went to Aruba.
So then I started thinking about the entire year. Last year we traveled every month but Jan and Feb. This year it didn't seem like we had really done that much traveling...until I looked at the calendar. Again, no traveling the first 2 months of the year. March - Maryland and Philadelphia (plus guests later.) April - Phoenix. May - Idaho. June- Sept. I already recapped. Oct - Austin. Nov - Maryland. Dec - NO WHERE!! Yeah for December!

So we just went to Phoenix for my Grandmother's 75th birthday party. It was so much fun - most of the family came for it, so it turned into a mini-reunion. Good times. I love it when my extended family gets together. I cackle just like my mom and aunts and (girl) cousins, so it's really funny when we all get together.

My beautiful Grandmother, the woman who holds us all together and who I absolutely adore.

Some of the cousin crew.

Hmm...maybe it's not just the women in my family that can cackle.

You'd think these guys would have seen an underwater camera before, but I got home with a full memory card of underwater self-portraits.


So after our whirlwind trip to Phoenix (thanks again for letting us stay with you and for watching my kids, Jill and Spencer!) my mom came home with us. We played with Grannie for the week and had lots of fun. It culminated with going to Disneyland and meeting my cousin Jill and her crew there. That was the best Disneyland trip I've ever had! Sorry, Scott! He didn't go with us, and boy, did my arms feel that for the next 3 days! Pushing 70 pounds of stroller and kids or carrying kids is tiring! Since Caden is finally tall enough to ride everything, for the FIRST time in my adulthood, I did all the big rides. We went on Space Mtn, Thunder Mtn, Splash Mtn...all the mountains! It was so much fun! Caden loved them all except Space Mtn. My mom was a rock star helper, and Jill and Spencer were so much fun! Thanks for introducing me to all those rides, guys!

Jill with her daughter, Avery, and Caden and I getting ready for the roller coaster ride! Nice picture taking skills, Spencer!

While we were getting jiggy with Mickey, Scott went to NYC to watch the Yankees play his beloved Orioles before Yankee Stadium closes after this season. He had fun rooting for his team and catching up with hometown friends and family. Plus he brought back great presents, so we were all happy. ;->

Our next trip is in a couple of days, and hopefully I won't be too late posting about it! Soon enough I'll be all caught up on my blogging...you know it's been awhile when your Google reader has 24 after your friend's name. Whoops!

Until next time...

Swimming Iguanas

"Aruba, Jamaica, Baby why don't we go???"

I am surrounded by awesome-ness. My awesome husband let me go to awesome Aruba with my awesome friend (without him or the kids). I am awed. The trip was so much fun! Jen and I sunbathed (with very high SPF, Mom!), ate, read, slept, and shopped to our heart's content. Good times. All the makings of a great and relaxing vacay. We explored the island (took a day; it's tiny), snorkeled, and parasailed. We did our best to keep the local Baskin Robbins in business for the week we were there.

That was my first Caribbean experience. I loved Aruba, but not sure it will be a repeat vacation destination for me. There are so many islands out there to discover. Aruba is a desert island, so it's not as green or wet as Hawaii. It was still lovely and fun, though. Iguanas rule over there, every size you can think of. We had to look down and watch where we walked so Iguana Joe didn't get his tail stepped on. I did have one huge guy jump into the swimming pool about 2 feet in front of me and swim to the other side of the pool. Who knew iguanas could swim?

I did have some mishaps on the trip. For some reason, I get sick on every big (and by big I mean, non-family) vacation I take. The two exceptions are my trips to Hawaii with Scott. I guess that is the universe telling me not to leave my hubby at home. ;-> So for the Aruba trip, I had an internal infection, strep throat, fever, contact dermatitis, and a bruised and swollen knee from being a klutz. Good thing Aruba has good (prescription) drugs! Thankfully Jen was incredibly patient with me and my issues.

The only time I will ever post a pix with me in a swimming suit.

The snorkeling was awesome.

Jen and I at Baby Beach.

Jen got creative with her photo skills. Nothing like a beautiful Caribbean sunset through the feet!

Me complaining of all my mishaps. Sniffle, sniffle.

For more photos and Jen's version of the trip, feel free to visit her blog at http://jen.cloes.net/.

S.T.R.E.P.

(think to the tune of "Respect")

My poor baby girl has been hit with the horrible strep throat illness. She has been so miserable, and despite the drugs, hasn't been able to get her appetite or energy back. She started with a slight fever on Saturday, and was blazen to 105' by Sunday night. She is slowly getting better. We have watched a lot of Disney this week. Caden has been a little stir-crazy due to the self-imposed quarantine we've been under. Thankfully no one else has gotten the bad germies. Ugh - I hate having my kids sick. The only good thing is that I was able to finish the newest Twilight book in a day and a half while Disney continued it's influence on my kids. The book rocked! I thought it was the best of the series! (and today, Caden wanted scrambled eggs and an apple after watching various Disney characters eat them. I'll take that kind of influence.)

Continuing with the bad news, So You Think You Can Dance is over tomorrow night. I know the rest of summer time TV is bad, but I LOVE this show. And this season has been the best by far. I don't really have a favorite dancer, but I won't miss Mary Murphy's craziness. Sigh...at least Wade Robson came back for the finale.

A couple of weeks ago, my dad, stepmom and 2 sisters came out to visit from Austin. We had a whirlwind vacay with them, doing the beach and the zoo here, then heading up to Newport for a few days to explore up there. We checked out UCLA's campus for my senior sister and of course had to go to Fashion Island. One day I will return to that mall sans kids. It's like the mother ship calling me home. ;-> We had a great time with Papa and Grandma and Michelle and Melissa. Of course my camera remained hidden for their trip, but hopefully I'll have pictures to post from them. (hint hint, Texas!)

A poll, or two

I need your help, fellow San Diegans. I need a handyman referral. Anyone know a great handyman? We have some house projects that are beyond Scott's or my (very limited) knowledge.

I was recently comparing local eateries with some friends. One of my only complaints about San Diego is the lack of really great restaurants. But we get stuck in our rut of usual take-out places. So where are your favorite places to eat? Big chain or little hole-in-the-wall, and don't care about the genre. I'll start -
Chinese - Chopsticks by Target and Alby's. Better than Panda, but pretty sure there's something better out there.
Mexican - haven't found the "it"place yet. And Mexican is my favorite food. I have to go to 'Zona for good Mexican!
Sushi - Japan House on Scripps Poway. Pretty good.
Sandwiches - Panera is yummy, but anyone know a better one?
Cake - Nothing Bundt Cake. Holy cow, their white chocolate raspberry makes me happy.
Whole Lotta Yogurt -I just went here the other nite. It's the place that Jen and Melissa love. Wow, that tart yogurt is good stuff! No wonder you guys are there so much! Yummy!

So where do you like to eat?

When Jill and Spencer come to visit...

We swing, take wagon rides, and play in the backyard for hours.

We are patriotic on the 4th of July. We also swim and BBQ, but forget the camera.

We go to the beach. The camera made it there, but never got out of the bag.

We read uplifting material. Or, at least Spencer does.

If I knew how to edit pictures, I'd make his shorts longer. Hope you don't mind me posting your G show, Spencer! Sexy legs!

And we try to take a cute kids' picture. This is the best one we got!

Avery (2), Logan (8 months), Jill, Soleil (1), me, and Caden (3).

Jill and I were roommates when I met and dated Scott. (We both met our hubbies the same nite.) She is my cousin, but more importantly a great friend. She not only gets my sense of humor, she enjoys it! (right, Jill??) I loved having them with us. Avery called Caden her best friend (how cute!), and he has been asking for her since they left. Come back soon, guys! Whenever you need to escape the heat!