Easter EARTHQUAKE!!

On Sunday, while we had family over for Easter dinner, we experienced a 7.2 magnitude Earthquake. I have lived in CA for 30 years and it was the weirdest quake ever. It was a "rolling" feeling and it lasted for maybe a minute or so. The water from the pool was sloshing back and forth and came out of the pool right up to the back door!! Many of my picture frames fell over also...So scarey!! Maybe God was trying to get my attention because for the first time I can remember we did not go to church on Easter!! Okay, God...next year I'll be there for sure!!

Happy Easter!

We had a fun Easter Day at our house. We invited our cousin Diane and her new husband Larry. We loved having them over...and hope they'll be spending a lot of time at our house in the future.

The Newbry family was also here. They are more like family than friends.

Here's Kelly...I know she is not going to like this picture, but it was the only photo of the "food line." We had glazed ham, baked turkey, baked beans, quiche, homemade macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and rolls. It was YUMMY...if I do say so myself!

The "kids" sat outside. It was a beautiful day despite the earthquake...ah, ya an earthquake on Easter Sunday. Scarey...I bet my friend Jill is happy she didn't come to visit for Spring Break!

Darrell, Diane, and Larry...

Grampy (aka Larry) and Maggi were here, but my Mom was in Kansas. We missed you Mom, but I'm sure you had fun visiting Granny and all of your sisters!

Kelly, Jeannie (Betty's friend), Larry, Maggi, Betty (my Mother-In-Law), and Doug. I'm so happy we had so many people that we loved here at our house...Happy Easter.

The Capitol

This last week I went to a Conference in Sacramento on the importance of parent involvement in our Schools. My dear friend MacKenzie (who is going to college at Sac State) came and picked me up after a long day of workshops and took me to see the Capitol Building at night. It was so beautiful and majestic. I am hoping we can take a road trip this summer so the boys can see it.

The Conference was very eye-opening! Even though we all know that we need to make education a priority in our homes, the studies are staggering regarding parents who are actively involved with the schools...especially Daddies! So...go volunteer at your kids school. Read to the kids...let your child know that you are there because you care about them and about all the kids. Trust me, your kids will be smarter and more compassionate.

Sacramento Airport!

I just LOVED this sculpture at the Sacramento Airport. They were real suitcases!

Alice In Wonderland

We went with the Newbry's to see "Alice In Wonderland." Nathan had a 'date' with Hailey. Nathan was not too thrilled about the kiss!!

Kelly kissed Al Pacino and then stuck her finger up his nose. I tell you...she has NO manners!

Doug, Darrell, and Kelly with their 3-D glasses on. I loved the movie, which I didn't think that I would. It was a movie about following your dreams...

After the movie, we got a bite to eat. A fun, super fun, date night.

Baseball Mom

This is a picture log of my day...a typical week-end day in the life of a baseball Mom...with 2 kids playing baseball. 6:00- Molly and I wake and get the house going. Pack the car, get water bottles, chairs, blankets, and all the necessities when spending the day on the field.

7:00- Get the boys uniforms ready. Get myself dressed and ready, wake the boys and feed them and get them psyched up for their games.

8:00- Leave with Kyle to Newport Beach for his game. It's a 40 minute drive and he must be there by 8:45 for a 10:00 game. Make sure Nathan is up and eating breakfast. Darrell will take him to his game and we'll meet them there.

9:00- Dropped Kyle at the high school and run to Jack-in-the-Box to grab a snack. Have one hour until game time. Correct Nathan's teachers work she sent home for me and watch Kyle's warm-up.

10:00- Uh-oh. Rain delay and I'M FREEZING!!

10:30- Rain Rain Go Away....

10:45- Game called off due to rain...duh! Re-Schedule for Monday night.

11:00- Pack up and head to Nathan's game. Kyle is #14.

11:10- Get something warm to drink. We're. REALLY. COLD!!!

12:00- Nathan's game begins. He is team captain today on the mound leading the Little League Pledge.

12:15- My Bleacher Partners!

12:30- Nathan's pitching today and doing great. Go NATE!!!

3:00- Games over. Time to wash the uniforms and take a nap! It's a long day on the field, but there's no place I'd rather be that watching my kids play ball.

Time for Tea!

Today we had a Tea for the parents in our program. There are 4 of us that work with these families so we all worked together on this event. It turned out fantastic, the parents had SO MUCH FUN! Most of them had never been to a "tea" before. I made the placemats and purchased beautiful paper goods. We used real China teacups and I put together favor bags! Thanks to Emily (my cousin Matt's girlfriend) for donating the shampoos and soaps for the bags. You're the best Em!

Miriam and Julia show us how to hold the cups with your pinkie finger up!

Some of the best Mommy's in the World.

Love these ladies. They make it a joy to go to work every day.

I am honored that they let me into their lives. Even though there is a language barrier, we communicate effectively and they know what I need from them. They know I adore their children and want them to succeed in parenting and in life.

It is an honor and a priviledge to work with "my Mommy's." I hope that they learn as much from me as I learn from them. I am sincere when I say that...they teach me so much. Anyone who knows me knows how much these ladies mean to me. Actually, today when we were playing a game, one of them stood up and told the group how I was the only one who treated her like a "real person" when she came to me with her newborn baby who has a severe brain injury. I scooped her baby up and loved her from the moment I met her...just like I do with all babies...and no one had done that before. Many people did not even make eye contact with her as she had a "special needs" baby and she was very depressed. Let me tell you this...I still love on that baby and she is now 4 years old! We were all crying when Laura (her Mommy) was telling the story. So...why do I tell you this? You never know when YOU will make a difference in someone's life. Before today, I did not know she felt this way or that I had made an impact on her.

It was a great day, a great party, and I am exhausted! Good Night.