Weekend Fun

Weekends really are the greatest. I am so thankful for Saturday and Sunday and look forward to those days the whole week long. Aaron and I really try to take advantage of the weekends as much as possible. The last few weekends have been no exception. Unfortunately I only have a few pics of our recent happenings, but the memories are there.

The last couple of weekends have included:

• Heading up North about an hour to take Bear to Castaic Lake, it is a bit passed Magic Mountain. We took the kiddos up there so Bear could take part of the Southern California Portuguese Water Dog Club water practice. It was so great to get him in the lake and watch him practice swimming and retrieving. While the people there were pretty much a bit crazy we still enjoyed watching Bear have at it in the water. Thomas and Kate went with Nico and we enjoyed the afternoon with them.

• Later in the evening the day we went to the lake we headed to the Getty for a picnic dinner with friends. The day had cleared up to be beautiful and sunny. The view from up at the Getty was fabulous and the company was not too bad either. We enjoyed laying on the grass, eating and chatting with our friends and strolling around the Getty.
  

• This weekend Aaron and I planned that we would enjoy the sunny weather and company with friends. Saturday we headed down to Laguna to have a nice beach day. Aaron dropped me off at 1,000 Steps so I could enjoy one of my favorite work outs. (kicked my butt as usual but so fabulous) We then set up shop at Salt Creek beach at 10:30 and stayed there until 3:30. It was sunny and hot and a perfect day for the beach. The Waites, Murrays, and Williams met us there and it was just nice to be relaxing together. There was some playing in the waves of course. I have to say that diving in the waves is one of the most awakening and refreshing things ever. I absolutely love the feeling!!! After some fun in the sun we went to Villa Roma with Amanda and Mason for one of my favorite sandwiches, empanadas and Guarana.
  

• Sunday we were surprised with a visit from our buddies the Waites. Aaron recently bought a new surfboard and Mason tried it out at the beach and could not stop thinking about it. So they headed up here to get him the board. It really is one of the funniest things watching these boys get so excited about new surfboards. Even though Aaron wasn't buying a new one today he was so stoked for Mason and just kept smiling and being pumped. At one point it was said that they think surfboards are sexy. After hanging out at the surf shop we went to Mulberry Street Pizza to enjoy dinner with some Pinkberry after. Passionfruit...SO good. We pretty much big fans of Amanda and Mason and think not only are they great friends but a breath of fresh air. They are so real, honest and refreshing.
  

I really love the weekends and think the 5 day work week is brilliant. I really need my weekends and find it is the perfect time to rejuvenate. Anyone want to join us at anytime let us know. We are always up for visitors and would love to play anytime, so let us know.

Summer weekends to look forward to:

• Salt Lake City for the 4th of July, can't wait (Liam, George, Matt and KT, fly fishing, sugar cookies)
  
• Some more LA fun with friends
• Hopefully a visit from mi madre (need to make some trips to the LA fabric mart stores)
  
• Idaho with the Beck's (I have missed my Ash, what can I say it's true)
  
• Murray's are coming out to their timeshare in Newport in August
• Sunny beach days

CHEERS TO THE WEEKENDS.

What I am loving these days

• Dreyer's slow churned Yogurt Blends, Tart and Honey. I cut up some hershey's chocolate bar and sprinkle it in there. I find myself having this treat often, at least 3x a week, is that bad? I would be doing sprinkles but I forgot them last time I did my grocery shopping. So next month it will be Tart and Honey with sprinkles. Yum yum.
• Our community park a block away from our house. It is the greatest. We go in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. We work out there, take the dogs and just walk around. On any night there softball games, soccer games, kids soccer camps, work out bootcamps, dog park area, archery, swimming, rec center workouts, etc. I imagine that when the city planners planned this park they had the dream it would be hustling and bustling with locals using it to its capacity and well they did a great job. We are there almost every day (no exaggeration) and love the feel it gives the urban area we live in. It is cool to be in this huge park, surrounded by a golf course, and look up and see the city skyline.
• Bella and Bear. I just love them, I really do. They are so loving. There is just something so great about a dog who walks up to wherever you are, sits down and just looks up with you with the most loving eyes. Or a dog that when he wakes up in the morning walks up to the bed and just puts his head on the bead and stares at you until you wake up. And a dog that snuggles like no other, almost as if it is her job and duty in life.
• Allergy medicine. It is what is getting me through my day right now. My allergies are crazy out of control the last couple of weeks and I seriously for no joke feel like I can't function without taking my medicine.
  
• The anticipation of seeing my family next week when I visit UTAH. I am so excited to see my nephews and give them so many loves. I can't wait to see their parents of course too.
  
• Our plans for a full beach day on Saturday. We will be heading down south a little on Saturday. I am going to run the stairs (one of my most favorite work outs) head to San Clemente, and then end the day with one of the greatest sandwiches from the Argentine market we love.
  

A perfect match

There is nothing that can get between my Aar Bear and his Bear Bear. They love each other so much and it is one of the cutest matches I have ever seen. This weekend Aaron and I took Bear on a play date with his new friend Nico. Nico is also a Portuguese Water Dog, 6 months old, the lil guy of the Brennan's. (Aaron went to school with Thomas this last year at USC and he and his wife Kate got a portie a few months ago, they live near us and are great fun) We went with the Brennan's on Saturday to hike Runyon Canyon. Runyan Canyon is one of the most popular hiking/work out places I have ever been to. It just so happened that by the time we got there it was pretty misty which turned into a good light rain. But that did not stop the heards of people we saw. It was a gorgeous hike and I can't wait to go again on a sunny day to enjoy the amazing views at the top. Well so as you can imagine Bear was running around happy as could be and playing with Nico. When we were done with the hike he was a MESS. Dirty dirty dirty. So that meant a bath for our buddy buddy. I was lucky enough to snap a few pics of Aaron and his Bear taking a bath together. Aaron really has got to be one of the best dad's I know. He would do anything for his Bear, Bella and me...even if it means getting in a bath with a filthy dog and enjoying it!

Dreams and Realities

Have you ever stopped to day dream about what you want your life to be like? What you want to do when you grow up? Where you will live? What will your house look like? Will you marry, and if so what type of person do you see yourself marrying? How many kids do you dream about having? What do you dream that your kids will do? Will they run around happily playing? Will they grow up to have good lives? What will your neighborhood be like? etc. etc. etc. I am sure many of us have taken some time out of our days to think about similar thoughts. I am almost positive too that the thoughts we have all day dreamed about have been happy ones, with sunny days in the background, kids laughing, pretty neighborhoods, and fun times. I guess I just wanted to say keep dreaming these thoughts and enjoy your daydreams and hopefully reality one day too. You don't know how fortunate you are that your daydreams are like this, so happy and hopeful.

I guess you could say today was a rough one...a heavy day that's for sure. The kids I work with here in South Central are not your ordinary kids. While they have the ordinary kid problems and worries like if kids will like them, are they cute enough, and have homework that they don't like, they also have worries and problems that are so incredibly heavy. I know we all have heard about kids being raised in neighborhoods that are not like your daydreams, but honestly my heart breaks for the kiddos I work with here in LA when I realize what their neighborhoods are like and what their problems and worries are.

I had a kid today describe in full detail the shooting he witnessed over the weekend. A 16 year old male who is a tough kid, no softy. Has been raised to be tough, not cry, and to be pretty aggressive. He has been involved in gangs ever since he was under the age of 8. When I met with him today the young man I met with was like a young boy. Fearful for his life and his families lives. And this is not the first time he has felt this way. This is the 4th shooting he has been witness to, which may be an underestimate in all honesty. He recalled a time when he was under the age of 5 where kids on his street used to run around, play soccer and hang out on their front yards and street and sees the stark difference of today when people do not got out unless they have to go somewhere. No one plays on the streets anymore, at least not on his street. And his street is not the only street I hear about this. The majority of my kids say the same thing.

I could not help but be so proud of this young man I was meeting with today and meet with every Wednesday night. While he lives in such a terrifying world and has experienced so much we can't even understand he is thriving. He resembles resiliency to a T. He is making good choices and is going to be graduating from high school on time, not an easy task in South Central. Seriously did you ever worry that you would not graduate on time? That was never even a thought of mine. He is no longer gang involved and is working on being a positive male in the lives of his mother and sister. (of course his father is not around) I am so proud of him for all of his efforts.

I really just can't believe how lucky I am. I am so fortunate and I am certain many of you reading this are extremely fortunate as well. While I know we all have our challenges and our lives have not been roses we still have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the daydreams I have and the ability for my brain to have the dreams it has.

Everytime I meet with the kids I work with I lend my daydreams to them, through the hope, belief, and sincerity I offer to them. While I always stay realistic I never stop trying to lend out my optimism. I try hard to do this and know that the kids I am working with are borrowing my daydreams, I just pray that for them they could borrow them long enough to turn them into their reality. Dreams do come true is what we are brought up believing but my worry is that if they can't even dream it how will they get it to come true.

So if you happen to meet someone who you can tell is having a hard time dreaming, offer up your hope, your dream to them, let them borrow it for as long as they need to. Even though it is hard to see the positive end result when I am in the thick of it I know a change is gonna come, one day it will and that is what keeps me dreaming for those around me. All it takes is 1.

Where do I begin?

Where to start?

Big news is that we made the move from Laguna to LA. Last Friday and Saturday we had our friends and family help us out with the move and as a result of their help the move was a success. You might be wondering how we are liking the new digs. Well the answer is we are liking them lots. While our view from our bedroom is no longer the beach (I do miss that) the area is great. We live on the edge of Century City and Beverly Hills, actual city on our address is Los Angeles. The neighborhood reminds us of one of our favorite places, Sugarhouse. We take the dogs on at least one walk a day around such a cute neighborhood with adorable homes. I have heard so many people ask before "what will you do when you have kids, you don't want to raise your kids in LA do you?" Well my answer is of course I would. If you saw the area I am sure you would too. I think when people hear LA they have a totally different idea in mind. We are loving the neighborhood and have already found some excellent hole in the wall eateries (which if you know us know that that is of upmost importance to us). The area has charm what can I say. We really do love it. Oh and of course it is nice to see Jer often. We could walk to his house, no lie, it is probably better for us to walk than drive because of parking. He is just one block away from us so we have enjoyed being near him.

I am loving my new job. It is pretty wild and intense but it is great and I am enjoying being back at what I am so passionate about. The kids I work with are so great and I am impressed with their resiliency everyday. So many of them live in such difficult circumstances. Many can't even go outside to run around or take a break when upset due to their neighborhood being too dangerous and scary. 21 out of my 24 clients do not have a father involved in their life. Many live in a 1 bedroom house, trailor, or are renting 1 bedroom, which they share with at least 3 other people. Of course those are the censored issues they are dealing with. I know many do not want to hear about the uncensored aspects of their life. I love my job. I love seeing these kids every week and giving them 1 hour a week that they can look forward to.

We are looking forward to a vacation to SLC over the 4th of July. I am so excited to go fly fishing and be in the beautiful mountains of Utah. While I do love being near the beach I do miss the mountains a lot. Not the snow, but the mountains. They are so beautiful especially in the Spring and I have been craving to visit lately. It will be so great to go to Utah and spend time with my liam liam liam, lil georgie and of course their parents. Aaron and I have not been back to Utah together since we moved out here a year ago so it will be great to enjoy a place we love and miss and see our families.

I am thinking about starting the Bar Method work out this next week. Anybody tried it? I am excited to try something new and check what it is all about. The Bikram closest to my house I do not like as it is the big headquarters and it is not a nice studio. So I figured I will try the
Bar Method for awhile.

We saw the movie Up the other night. Yes on a weeknight, I do not remember the last time I saw a movie in the middle of the week. We saw it in 3-D. If you have not seen this movie yet, stop reading my post and go see it now. I loved it and thought it was brilliant.

This last week I also was reminded about how much I love my family and how important they are to me. I love how caring my family is. We are so willing to do whatever it takes to be there for each other and to help one another out and I love that about us. I am so thankful for a sis in law who is more like a sister to me and who makes such an effort to continue to have me be a part of my nephews life. There are few things that make me more happy than talking to Liam or hearing him sing. My brothers are fabulous and are so supportive, I really think I lucked out in life to have such awesome brothers. And my parents, where would I be in life without them. I love them so much and am truly grateful for all they do for our family. Did I mention they may be heading out here next weeked? I hope they do.

Stomach flu. What else do I need to say about that. Sucks. I had been feeling sick starting Wed of this last week. Not feeling like I want to eat and just feeling weird. Thought I was just stressed so I did not think too much of it. Then on Friday it hit me and I spent about 12 hours running to the bathroom and then finally deciding maybe I should just lay there. It had been 6 years since I threw up last and I gotta say I did not miss it. So here I am on a Saturday afternoon, was planning on going to Santa Monica to run the stairs, laying in bed. Luckily I got my two kiddos laying right next to me. Aaron is at traffic school, I don't know which is worse throwing up or sitting in traffic school.