long. long. time.

Looking back over the lasts few years, I wonder where they went. Having a child can do that to you. I can remember Lola's life with great detail, but mine seems mixed and muddled in between somewhere. Not complaining, just contemplating.

Not much is new. I am still a social worker at a nursing home with the occasional ups and downs. Lola is 27 months. She is attempting full sentences, wants to do everything by herself, and is more stubborn than both Sean and I combined. She is definitely our child. :) Sean has finished his 5th year of teaching and is again, taking classes at UNLV to finish his masters. We have a trip planned to Europe this August, while Lola will be enjoying that time with her Grandparents in MI.

To reflect, the last few years have been good, but not without challenges. I have used my college education as I intended to. I became a mother. I have made new friends. I have seen some new and beautiful places. I have camped and hiked in the mountains, been to the ocean, and even went to Disneyland. But truthfully, since I turned thirty, I wonder what happened to me. I feel lost in almost everything going on around me. I know I am blessed in this life. I value what I have, but sometimes, not enough. I am not proud of my actions at times. I am generally ruled by my emotions and this is not always a good thing. In some ways, I have failed myself and my family. Sometimes I feel like it gets harder to find my way back. Sometimes I do wonder where I am trying to find my way back to. There are parts of my life that have been a struggle lately, but I hope the struggle will bring me back to where I am meant to be.

Those that know me well, know that sometimes I feel this way. Those that don't, sorry. Honestly, I don't often share this side of me for the same reason that others don't - vulnerability. Oh, and sometimes it sounds like I am whining...and it does a little. :)

Maybe I have shared to much this time, but I do feel that those who will read this, will love me anyway. At least I hope so. :)

I will end with a few pics of our favorite little person...

Quick update: Lola is walking now for about that last 3 weeks. She started walking at 15 months and is having a blast. The next milestone is climbing up on the furniture, which is already attempts. She is a happy, sweet natured little girl. She had been sick off and on for the last few months, but seems to be feeling better now. She is stubborn, knows what she wants, and is funny.

Sean's last day of school is Monday. He is done with his students and looking forward to his already busy summer. He will be going to Europe and participating in Cinevegas (film festival) this June. We will be home in July and by the time we get back from this vacation, Sean will be back in the classroom in a month. This summer will fly by for him. He tends to overbook himself, but him staying home and doing absolutely nothing would drive him crazy. He will have Lola at home on Wednesdays, which Lola will love.

I will be doing the same things - continuing with work, while having Tuesdays off, going to the gym, and hanging out with Lola. My life has been stable. No changes. I am really excited about my trip home this summer for 2 weeks. I can't wait to spend some much missed and needed time at the cottage. I miss my friends. I miss the sunsets. I miss the family get togethers. Until July!...

A Day at the Pool

Summer is upon us and we are roasting. We spent the afternoon at at a friend's pool and Lola went swimming for the first time. She loved it and just sort of dangled in her little floaty toy is she moved around the pool and enjoyed a lunch of blueberries and apple sauce.

Lola also started walking today. She had been making steps and would eventually fall, but today she began to lift herself upright and walk places. She accomplishes her little journeys with a big smile on her face and look of determination.

Gwen had a good time and got a pretty nice tan. I have a nasty, splotched burn.

Birthday Weekend

It was a good weekend an excellent beginning to spring break 2009. Gwen got me some tickets to see a pre-season game between the Mariners and the Rockies. Weather was perfect and the game went down to the bottom of the ninth when the Rockies loaded up the bases and hit in a run. On Sunday, I went hiking off of Harris Springs Rd up in the Spring Mountains. Again, the weather was beautiful and the company was good. Yesterday I took Lola up to Red Rock Canyon and took some photos.

All Lola

Lola is one. She had her first piece of cake and with the help of mom, she blew out her first candle. She is very tall at 30 inches and weighs 20 lbs. She has 4 teeth with a few more on the way. She is a happy, funny little girl. She loves to be chased around the house and will follow us around the house where ever Sean and I go. I tease and call her my little puppy as she also begs for food whenever I am eating. She continues to amaze me and make me smile everyday. She has a wonderful personality and is quite silly at times. She had her first mini haircut by having her bangs trimmed over the weekend, which made me feel like she is growing up so fast. We were able to celebrate her first birthday with my mom who came for a long weekend. We had a small get together with our close friends. She is trying to take her first few steps independently, but not quite able to yet. She laughs often, cries very little, and still sleeps through the night. She eats a lot of adult food and seems to really like it. More pictures soon. Stay tuned.

Photos for Home

Good times over the weekend as we head into spring. L. and C. had their birthdays over the weekend and we celebrated appropriately. G.s been busy wrapping up her jewelry party delivering items, settling payments, etc. We've all been loving the weather. Winter 2008 had her last gasp last week and has cleared the way for 70s into the foreseeable future. This weekend is all about hiking and volunteering at NASCAR weekend with the ROTC. I'll be sure to bring my camera.

Busy Underwater Scrappbooking Mowers

We haven't updated in a long time because we have both been busy and have also adopted facebook into our lives. I'm racing toward the end of the school year with graduate work and prepping my kids for their final exams.

Neither G nor myself have ever engaged in scrapbooking, but I know plenty of people that have/do. Blogging is a bit like what I would imagine scrapbooking to be like. G and I have never really been good about our commitments to our hobbies.

I had a dream last night that I lived near the ocean with all of my family. I had flippers but no mask. No snorkel. I searched for the body of a kid that was trapped in a bleached white Volkswagon Thing that a junk ship was dumping in order to create a reef. There was no kid, but I found a palm sized baby seal and a brown leather necklace with an green pendant wrapped around an old nail. I could also breath under water and see very clearly without a mask. When I returned to the beach, the sun was setting, the kid that I was looking for had actually fallen asleep in a pile of towels, and a friendly sea dragon let me use him as a water slide. Giant, true-blue dolphins were jumping in the surf and everything was good. The weather was warm, my hair was somewhere between wet and dry, sand was dried to my feet. That place was perfect and I hope I to go back there someday.

My neighbor is mowing his lawn. He is one of the few people around me that actually has grass on his property. They're a nice family, but why would you have a lawn in the desert?