"Salt Lake City.....or bust"

I'm leaving on Monday. Salt Lake City. This is the fabulous hotel I get to stay at. My good friend Erin made me an offer I couldn't refuse. She works for OSU and has business meetings. Her co-worker bagged out on the trip and she asked me to go. Hotel/meals paid for. I'm only responsible for airfare.(well, I won't be gettin' up early for breakfast. I bought some protein bars that will work just fine with a cup of coffee). I moved all of my clients appointments and booked it. I'm so glad she asked me to go. Thanks friend :)
And I will do your hair for evening affairs, but don't wake me up in the morning!!
We are leaving Monday. Home Thursday. I'm so excited.
My plan is to:
Sleep in.
Coffee and light breakfast.
Lay by the pool.
Order food from the pool menu.......(I've already checked it out........mouth is watering for sweet potato fries..........)
Read a book/magazine.
Maybe take a nap (by the pool)
Be ready for dinner/evening adventures by 4:00 pm.
Ohhh.........that means I have to pack...................always too many options :)

I really need some time off................from work...........stress......life........

I get to sleep and lay by the pool. All by myself. I need it.

My sanity is questionable right now.............so much going on. I feel like I have an emotional hangover....................

My birthday is coming up. 18 days.............I'm getting old................
Word on the street is that my hubs is taking me somewhere...........kids going to (which makes me happy)........I've been trying to get the info from Tyler but he is a steel trap. Won't give me a hint. I even try to trick him into telling me, but he's a pretty smart boy..........darn..........I will try again tomorrow!
I want Sprinkles Cupcakes for my birthday. Probably one of thosee things that the "idea" of them is really better than the reality.

And my friend Shelia!!!!!!!!!! Sister................I miss you so much..............seems like when we text we are both so busy we can't carry on a proper conversation! Your text was sweet and I do believe we do think alike........that's why we became instant friends so many years ago. 15 years ago??????? When our 1st borns were babies????? Can that be right? Time flies.......We need to pick up the phone and chat for hours like we used to in the old days :) (and when you lived closer!!) Miss you and hope you are taking care of yourself.......

Donna.................I have the quilt. And the backing. And all the stuff you need to finish it!!!!! I will even bring you wine if that is necessary :) Miss you and the boys.........when we going to see you? (tell Mark I miss him too..........bahahhahaaaaaa)

I took a day off today to take the kids (+ 1) to Otter Beach today. It really sucked. We got there early so we could get lounge chairs. All taken. Only about 12 in the entire pool area. Annoying. I'm too old to be sitting on the concrete for hours. No thanks. Too many kids. Was hot. Funny, because what do you expect at a pool in the summer???? ha ha.. Maybe we have outgrown Otter Beach? Makes me sad..........but I'm not planning on going back any time soon :( Kids said it was just "ok". We definately enjoy the Tennis Club with our peeps more. And the company we keep there is good :) Kela.................just got your text as I am posting and we will be there tomorrow after I get off work....................always excited to see you and the kids.....it's a date.

"is it Friday yet?"

ummmmm..........NO...........it's only Monday................. Had a great start to the weekend........pool with the gang. (but I got SUNBURNT!!!!!!)
Visited with some friends up from California.
Had a few cocktails.
BFF made me a funfetti cake cause I was having a bad day......and we didn't even wait for it to cool off....put goopy frosting on it and it was warm and melty :)
Went to my nephew's baseball game. Was championship game for state. Came in 2nd but got sportsmanship award too...... Nicole and I went to cheer him on..............
Stopped my Macy's on way home..........got a cute dress for $17.00.
Cleaned out my closet (I do that often).
And started a new book.
Rest of my weekend sucked............................................that's all I'm gonna say. Refer to quote above........................wish everyone would "give good"..................

Was happy to see sista Donna, Drake, Gunner (Nicole and I). Wish I was camping with you guys right now..................

My nephew Gunner showed his piggy at the Linn County Fair this weekend. Sounds like he did a great job.I didn't make it but read my sister Donna's blog. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants......

She said "it was comical when all the pigs run into the ring. They kinda spaz out. One came in and there was not alot of traction and he spun out/wiped out" in front of the judges. Another pig came in and wiped out one of the younger boys in the class and knocked him flat to the ground and a judge helped him brush the sawdust off."

Just picturing all of that made me laugh out loud. I needed a good laugh............

"summer at last...................."

...........................and this year was supposed to be different and I was going to work less......play more.................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........Not so much.
So I am trying to make every single SECOND count when I'm not at work. Trying to be outside as much as possible...
Playing soccer in the park.....(well, I kinda worked because I took my appt book and phone and sat on a blanket and made appointments..........but my "office" area was enjoyable). Wished I lived closer to my friend Sheila..............we have been playing phone tag for weeks now......thanks for checking in on Nicole..............I still need to text you back!!!!!!!!

Eating popcicles in the car on the way home from baseball games...................

Wine with my friend Teresa on her front porch. In our old lady rocking chairs :) M&M's for dessert..........

Went and looked as houses for sale with BFF and the girls............(wish I was going to Vegas with you guys).Nicole went in for post-op checkup and Dr. said she is recovering perfectly. So now that she has the green light, I am not seeing her as much. Hanging out with friends. Friends staying the night (some of them stay here for days on end.......5 days...........she went home for 2 and is back again? Don't their parents look for them???? and I have 3 girls here right now.) Backyard BBQ's with friends. Hanging out with "the boy", River Rythems, went to the lake with her auntie, sleeping in, fighting with her brother, swimming at friends house, going on walks with me!, she is a typical teenager........................I think she needs chores...........lots of them................... We have been to the beach..............Tyler wanted me to buy him this boat. It's for sale. He was obsessed. We had to go visit it several times when we were down on the docks.

We still haven't made it to Otter Beach..................still on the list.....................have gone to pool at the Tennis Club with Kela, Jennifer and the gaggle of kids........................thanks ladies, I needed that. Gonna cut out early on Friday so we can do it again.......................

I go in really weird spurts of cooking.

I've made: (obsessively)

Homemade dill pickles.

Wheat bread.

Strawberry/blueberry jam.

Blueberry pie.

Fruit smoothies.

Blueberry/lime scones.

Roasted asparagus.

Teryaki chicken.

Chicken wraps.

(a little obsessive with blueberries??? nahhh.....and we have eaten probably a 5 lb flat of them just plain).

Not sure where I find the time or energy after I've worked all day...........but I guess you gotta eat......................

Haven't been to the gym in 2 weeks!!!!! My gym buddy Nicole has 1 more week before she can go with me..............but we have been going on walks in the evenings......Poor Teresa........we end up at her house alot........hahahhahaaaa......good thing she only lives 1.6 miles away.......

And I had the BEST coffee ever made by my personal adorable barista Sophia Lynn :)

"perfect day"

Yesterday was a perfect day.
I normally wouldn't consider describing anything as perfect (occassionally I have a perfect hair day....hahahahhaha).....But yesterday was......................perfect.
We all slept in. Until we were ready to get up. Weather was warm and clear. We made breakfast and had coffee on the balcony. This is where we are staying.......................

Tyler and I walked on the docks for hours. Looked at boats. Laughed at some of the names of them.

We drove over to South Beach Marina on the other side of the bay. This time we got Nicole to go with us. She had been lounging around relaxing. Much needed, I'm sure. Then we walked around all the docks over their too.

I was instructed for "no pictures mom". hahahahhaaa.......She always says that, but I tell her "I just want one!"

We drove to Walmart because my camera died (dead batteries) after 1 picture. Really? So all of these are off of my cell phone. This is the view from my new house LeRoy is going to buy me. It's up on the north side of town. We took a wrong rode up to a state park and found it. This is the view from the driveway......................................We peaked in the windows (it's for sale and is vacant). Nicole loved it. This is also the view from the bathroom..................lol.

We came back to our place and the kids were starving....................

This is the awesome patio/bbq area...................

We had steak, potatoes, bread, wine (I might have had a bottle or two by myself......)

Sun was setting. View was perfect. Food was yummy. Company was awesome.

My "man" cooking our steaks. He is pretty manley behind the grill............................

Tyler wanted the all-american meal............................hot dogs and smores.........................

Got another pic with my girl...............................she needed the fresh air.

Happy 4th of July.........................

Right now I am sitting on the balcony................blogging.................already drank my coffee and half of bagel........................Gonna go shower. We are headed into town to the movie theater. Boys are gonna see some boy movie and Nicole and I are going to see Eclipse (3rd movie from Twilight series).

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........smores.......................

We haven't even cracked open a book or a magazine. Too busy enjoying each other and the sunshine.

Fireworks tonight. Can't wait. We are going to BBQ hotdogs. Have the best spot ever on our balcony to watch the fireworks tonight.

Seriously....................................best day ever...................................

"Happy 4th of July Weekend"

Ahhhhh....................we are at Newport for the 4th of July weekend. Enjoyable :)
Our condo is awesome and we have a wonderful view.
I worked all day and wasn't packed.
At all.
Nicole wasn't packed. Food wasn't packed. Tyler's clothes not packed. Whatever. So unlike me not to be packed. Or even have a list. Who cares. They have stores there and I put workout clothes and comfy pants, clean underwear, and my pillow.................what more do I need? LeRoy threw some clothes in a bag for Tyler. I told Nicole to gather what she needed and we headed out. Tyler headed out about 4:00 with Grandma and Grandpa. (I'm starting to really mellow out in my old age.) We rolled in about 7 pm. Weather is gorgeous. Here is our view from our balcony. It's so still and calm. No wind. No waves. No fog. Just my family and I've already opened the wine........I'm sitting out on the balcony..............................doesn't get much better than this...................

(this is my view)

(if you look really close you can see Tyler in the grey sweatshirt down on the boat to the right. Him and grandpa are checkin' it out with the owner.) Nicole did pretty well on the ride over. She is still sore and was like a little old lady on the way over. She crocheted wash clothes all the way over. She learned years ago from Grandma Mac........so funny.............and Gma Mac is probably doing the exact same thing :)

Wedsday night we (my hubby and kids) went to a Corvallis Knights baseball game. SO FUN. Weather was great. Very low key and layed back. Right up my ally.

4 Tickets to the game= Free

Hotdogs/popcorn/pretzel/pepsi= $30

Tylers "dash for cash"=$7.oo

Evening spent with my family= absolutely Priceless

We made it thru the 5th inning and then Nicole wanted to go. She was hurting and was ready to go. She was ready to get out of the house. What a fun night. This is what summer should be. Baseball games. Family. 4th of July. The ocean. Wine. Family.

Tomorrow we are going to BBQ on our amazing deck area. Steak, potatoes, wine. Great company. Lots of books and magazines to read. Fingernails to paint. Fireworks on Sunday. Sleeping in tomorrow. Coffee on the deck in the morning (or early afternoon!) Probably more wine. (Have I said wine? hahahahahaahaaaaaaa). I really need a few days to relax....................