One Year

Wow, I can hardly believe it has been one year since we moved. My parents arrived here with 3 of our children one year ago yesterday. David and I -with our other two children- arrived one year ago this coming Tuesday. Amazing how fast a year can go! So many things have happened in this year. So many blessings, so many changes, so much growing -both physically and spiritually. I do feel like -almost- a completely different person than I was a year ago. I feel like I have finally grown up. I have finally figured out what I want in life -for now. I know what is important and I have re-prioritized my life. I will not say that I have achieved balance, or that I have become a better mom, or that life is wonderful without struggles. But I can say that life is wonderful, even though we struggle everyday. I have my wonderful husband, my wonderful children and my health. I am so grateful for the many lessons I have learned and for the place I am in my life right now. There are many new adventures and changes to come, but I could not be happier with the changes we have gone through. There are so many friends I miss in California, I do miss having the business from time to time -not the craziness of it, but being around all that creativity and the relationships I had with my employees and customers. I miss that terribly. There are many places in the Bay Area I miss. The beach and the tidepools being the one I miss the most. But still, I wouldn't change where I am today. To see my kids so happy here and to see all the future holds for them, just reconfirms we made the right decision.
Anyway, on this one year mark, I thought I would put up pictures of our journey to Arizona -the fire... I have never posted them, not sure why, and I am not really sure why I am now. Just thought it might be fun, I guess. Sometimes I feel like we aren't as far along in replacing everything as we should be, but we do have our reasons. Currently we are renting a 1900 sq ft house. It is quite small for all 7 of us, we tend to be on top of each other and we often joke that it was a good thing everything burned because it wouldn't fit in this house anyway. But you see, I don't want to buy anything until we have OUR house. Yes, I could buy stuff for this house, and we could move it to the new house, but I really don't want to buy anything until I have my own house. Unfortunately we are on a time scedule, as we only have so much time to replace everything before we don't get reimbursed for it. So hopefully we find a house soon. We do have our eye on one or two... Stay tuned!!!
So, here are just a few pictures of the fire...


So, it happened just after midnight on August 1, 2008. The firefighters were on the scene pretty quick as a Highway Patrolman was the first car to come across the scene. They were in the middle of nowhere on I-5 in Central CA.


The firemen started pulling all our stuff out of the trailer so they could get to the fire and put it out. Our stuff was pulled down onto the on ramp and evertime a big semi would pass it would blow stuff all over the place.


Our friend showed up to help clean up our stuff and help David haul it back to Fairfield -where we lived. He was a huge help. My dad and David went, I think 36 or more hours without sleep. It was rough on them. When they first started rummaging through all the burnt stuff they only had a tiny flashlight. When Lance showed up he brought big lanterns. He got the call from David at 1:30am and didn't hesitate to wake up his kids -his wife was at a conference- and drive out to help them, 2 1/2 hours away.


Doesn't look like much, but this is what was left. Most of it burned, it smelled so bad! After David, my dad & Lance went through everything and pulled out anything they thought was salvagable, CalTrans came and scooped up everything with a front loader and put it in a dump truck. While they were waiting for Lance's bro-in-law to show up with a trailer -to haul everything back to Fairfield, truckers would stop and start going through our stuff! Unbelievable.



As I look at some of the pictures, especially when I was creating my 'list', I would say to David "why didn't we keep this? It doesn't look too bad" and he would say "you don't remember the smell." The smell was really bad. Fortunately many of our photos were salvaged, along with a few other items that we feel very lucky to have. All in all, we are grateful to have what we have. We love where we are and are grateful for the changes that have come in our lives. The fire has made us stronger and we truly feel it was a blessing in so many ways.

Here is hoping the next year is full of fun changes and exciting adventures!

Maid needed

I am a little frustrated, and a little overwhelmed. Will my house EVER be neat and clean?!?!? I am baffled at how it always seems so cluttered and messy! David and I will clean it and it will look awesome... for about 5 minutes!! I just don't get it. I go to some peoples homes and they are neat as a pin, no junk anywhere to be seen. Kitchen counters are spotless, nothing on the floor, no dust, no clutter, just an immaculately clean, spotless, clutter free home decorated perfectly and beautifully. So, my question is this...
HOW?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Please someone share your secret with me. And I don't want to hear 'you have 5 kids' because that is not it. I was recently in someone's home and she has 4 LITTLE kids. It was Perfectly spotless. So what is it? Do you all have a room that is your 'dump' room? Do you not buy toys for your kids? Do you not have junk anywhere? I feel like I am swimming in papers from school, pictures and notes that my kids color and write for me (this happens daily!!!), kids shoes all over the floor, toys everywhere, just stuff everywhere! I am in awe that even after losing everything in the fire, we still managed to have a messy home! How is that possible? Maybe I just need to come to grips with the fact that it will never be clean. Any suggestions for how you keep your home clean and neat??? I welcome any hints or tips! Please help...

Hairstylist in Training?

Ok, so some of you know this about me and some may be surprised to know this. I always thought I would be a hairstylist when I grew up. I always loved playing with my sister's hair and really thought it was what I was meant to do. Well, life took me in a completely different direction and it never happened. When we moved to AZ, and completely started over with our lives, I looked into cosmetology school as an option of something I could do. After the shock of the price wore off, David convinced me that I shouldn't do it. It would take me 2 years to complete school, then how long after that would it take me to build a clientelle to where I would actually make anything at it? So, I put it back on the shelf, so to speak, but have secretly yearned and often thought about just going for it. What I'd really like to do is open a Salon, now that would be fun! Ok, so I wouldn't have the first clue about what goes into a salon, but I guess that business side of me kicks in and I think it would be fun! That way, I am around it, but not doing it... Anyway, Christina and I were at the store the other day and we were in the beauty isle. Michael wants to bleach his hair blonde for the summer and Christina wanted highlights. I wasn't going to take her anywhere to have it done, it costs too much! So, we bought a highlight kit and came home. She has asked everyday -multiple times- 'When are we gonna highlight my hair?' I finally had enough of the question this morning and pulled out the kit! Note: I have NEVER colored my hair or anyone else's from a box! A friend of mine colored my hair from a box waaaaaaaay back in my single days, but I have never done it!! So I am reading the instructions, trying to figure out how to do it. Put a cap on and pull the hair through the holes... WHAT?? That made no sense to me. So I did what any other hands on learner would do. I pulled out my foil, combs, made a 'board' out of a cardboard box and started applying the 'creme' like I have seen my hairdresser do for 15 years. I was not nervous at all. I was completely confident that I could make this work. How hard could it be? My hairdresser made it look so easy! Why was I paying $150 for her to do mine? It looked so easy!! Well, it wasn't as easy as she made it look. She did, however, have much more experience than I did. But I am proud to say, that it only took me an hour to do all the foils. I did the whole top and sides. (and partially down the back. The last time I got my hair colored (at the hair school, it took the girl 2 hours to do my foils!) So I was feeling pretty good. Then I checked the first foil! Oh, did I leave it on too long? It looked really blonde! I pulled the foil and wiped the cream off, then pulled a few more. Let the sides sit a little longer and then eventually pulled them all off. Christina went to shower and when she got out I was very excited to see how I had done. I have to say, I think I did pretty good! Especially for a first timer! I love the way it looks on her. It is subtle and not too stiped. I 'weaved' in the highlights so it would have a more natural look. So, take a look and let me know what you think. Maybe I do have a future in hair? Maybe I should consider the Cosmetology School thing again? The only thing is -as my sweet friend pointed out tonight- ALL the girls there could be my daughter!!! I would be the OLDEST one there! That might be a little wierd!! But, maybe it wouldn't matter. If it's something I wanna do, I should go for it, right? Even though I am almost 40 years old! Yikes that sounds old when I type it! Anyway, let me know what you think of her hair! I love it!





So I don't have any 'before' pictures, but if you scroll down to the earlier blog post of Amanda & Christina's haircut you will see what it looked like before.

Nothing to say

So, I am reading everyone's blogs, and enjoying it very much. I have not blogged in a while and as I sit here trying to figure out what in the world I would blog about, I come up BLANK!! Is my life really this boring?? YES!!! Do you ever feel like you never do anything really that exciting? I know this whole blogging thing is still somewhat new to me, but I guess you can say whatever you want, right? I guess you have to decide 'WHY' you are blogging? Are you blogging to boast about your life? Are you blogging to impress others? Are you blogging as a journal and who cares what anyone else thinks? Are you simply putting into words your thoughts and feelings? Are you documenting your life by the minute? hour? day? week? Maybe I just haven't clearly defined in my own head WHY I am blogging. I thought I did this for my family who is far away, so they can see how the kids are growing, keep updated on what we do, etc... But we really don't do anything! We work and that's about it. So, maybe I am realizing just how BORING my life is! Yes, that must be it. I could talk about everything I did today. -I went to work, had a swim party at my house with the acheivement day girls, fixed dinner (tacos), sat by the pool watching my kids and husband swim while I missed my son -who is at scout camp- and then put the kids to bed. But does anyone really care what I did today??? Really? Do people make lists of things they want to blog about? I guess I always thought that when you blog, you had to have something profound to say. Something that makes people WANT to read your blog. Something that makes others think. Something that 'touches' other peoples lives. But do you? Can't you just have a post that is simply nonsense???

Birthdays...

So, I had my birthday yesterday, and here's the thing... I have realized I am a HORRIBLE birthday friend! What does that mean? Well, let me explain. I am not a big 'birthday' person. I didn't tell anyone at work it was my birthday -then Brittany Mollenhauer showed up with a big candy bar and donuts and made all the kids sing to me. That sorta let the cat out of the bag, but it was nice and I enjoyed it. But after all the girls at work knew, they all felt bad for me because I had to work on my birthday. No big deal to me. I don't run around telling everyone my birthday is coming, I don't expect everyone to tell me happy birthday, I don't even really expect gifts. (I actually hate being the center of attention!!!!!) Is that horrible??? It was never a big deal when I was growing up so it has just not been a big deal in my adult life. Unfortunately it spills over into everything. I don't really make a big deal of my kids birthdays (I know, bad mommy!!!) and David and I never remember our anniversary -much less do anything or buy each other gifts. I tell him he is lucky that I am such a LOW maintenance gal! :) So, I never remember anyone's birthdays! I had so many phone calls, visits from friends and even gifts from friends yesterday. It was fun to chat with everyone and hear from -almost- everyone in my family. This is the first year that I have been called by -almost- all my siblings on my birthday. It was so nice! But then I realized how I am such a BAD birthday friend! They say 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'. If this is true, I may as well give up trying to get to heaven now, because I know where I am going! I do have the best of intentions, but seriously I am HORRIBLE!!! I went to FB to verify a friends birthday and found out I missed it! (Sorry Elise, I SWEAR I thought your birthday was the 15th!!!) I was crushed!! This is when I realized I need to make a perpetual/birthday calendar. That way I have all the birthdays written down in one location. I have made so many New Years resolutions to be better at sending cards. Well I gave up years ago because my brother -whose birthday is in January- would get a card, my sister -whose birthday is in March- would sometimes get a card but after that, forget it! I never got around to sending anymore cards! Can someone please give me hints and tips on how you remember everyone's birthdays?? I do think a calendar may be my answer... Now I need to find one! I got one years ago from Stampin up, maybe they still have it. Any Stampin Up consultants out there? I need one! So, please accept my blanket apology if I have forgotten your birthday. Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes, gifts, phone calls and the love you sent my way! I truly appreciate it and hopefully I will get better at remembering all your birthdays and not be such a bad birthday friend!
PS... respond and tell me when your birthday is so I can put it in my calendar I intend to buy/make! :)

A New Look

Ever since Amanda was just a toddler, I couldn't get myself to cut her cut little curls. As it grew out, I thought it would be great if she grew it long enough to donate to Locks of Love. Everytime I suggested it though, she made it very clear she wanted no part of that. I would tell her it was time to cut her hair and she would scream "NO!" Eventually I would have to bribe her with ice cream to get her to allow a 'trim'. She would always say "no more than this" as she held up her fingers to show maybe a centimeter. I always trimmed just a tiny bit. It was getting so long! I would try to explain that cutting it off and donating it to a sick little girl would be so nice of her. She just wouldn't budge... Until a couple weeks ago. She informed me she wanted to cut her hair to her shoulders. I was shocked. I didn't know what to say. I asked her if she was sure, she said yes. I measured to see if we had enough to donate, sure enough, we did. I started to question whether or not I wanted her to cut it now. I have grown to love her long hair, as if it makes her who she is. I convinced her to wait a little longer so that it wouldn't be too short when cut. It didn't last long, she has been asking almost everyday since then. Yesterday I finally made the call. Christina really wanted her hair cut too. So off we went to get their hair cut. I think I asked Amanda a dozen times "are you sure you want to do this?" she always replied "yes." She pulled Amanda's hair into pigtails and measured. I held my breath as she cut the 10" off. After she cut the pigtails off, Amanda's hair fell into the perfect A-line. I wanted her to leave it in that style, but Amanda had picked a style out of the book and insisted on bangs and long layers. So, that is wht she got. She loves it and for the rest of the day she kept shaking her head just to feel her short hair hit her face. She looks so different, but she still looks so cute. I do love it and it will be so nice with summer upon us.

Christina choce a hairstyle out of the book, but as she was cutting she changed her mind. She struggled with trying a new style. I told her 'it's just hair, it will grow back!' (which is my attitude, I love trying new styles!) She decided to try an A-line cut. It's a little subtle, but I think it's really cute. She likes that it is shorter in the back, so her neck won't get hot, she says.
They both look so cute.

It's DONE!!!

Well, I am happy to report that my Insurance List is DONE!!! What a relief! I never thought it would take so long to complete. I think many people didn't think it would take so long. It was so overwhelming and such a daunting task. Trying to complete it while taking care of the kids, the house, the hubby and working... It took longer than origionally anticipated. So, 20 pages of my list and 720 line items of their list and I think we got it all! So you think it is an easy thing? Have no idea what I have been going through? Try this... Close your eyes (no peeking!) Now, can you name everything in your bedroom, where you bought it, when you bought it, the brand name and how much you paid for it? Now, do that with EVERY room of your house. Oh and don't forget the garage! The kitchen was a bit of a pain. All that food -you had to have the size/weight/item count for every item! Not to mention price, where you bought it, etc... We took pictures of everything -loss & salvageable- as we were going through it at Custom Restoration, so now add the corresponding number of the photo to the item on the list. The next step is to go through everything that was not burned and cross it off the list. The Insurance company sent us a list they had compiled from all the many lists they received -from Custom Restoration, from when we were going through everything right after the fire. Now we had to go through all the lists (and don't forget the pictures of all the items we tossed) and make sure nothing is duplicated. I also had to contact people for receipts of items lost (Best Buy, Ethan Allen, etc). So after all this was done, we ended up with 20 pages on my list (plus 4 pages of movies and 2 pages of Lego's), and 700+ lines on their list. I am sure we will continue to find things missing or realize we missed something here and there, but all in all, I think we got most of it. The only thing that concerns me is the list from the company that cleaned the clothing and blankets that were salvageable... Was I suppose to add that to my list??? Yikes!
So, now we WAIT! I am sure we will get -yet another- list back from the Insurance company that will ask us to confirm everything. Add more details to items, if needed, and wait some more. Then, maybe if we are lucky, we will see some money come our way in the next 6 months. Then we can start buying stuff to replace everything that was lost. Yay!!! I am happy to report we do all have beds and now a couch! Woo Hoo!! A little at a time...
So, I guess I get to cross one thing off my New Year's Resolution list! Yippee!!