Mmmmmm

Look what I got to come home to on a Friday night. Bruce in the kitchen making a new recipe that he found on his new favorite show Rachael Ray. Ha Ha.

It is Thinly sliced Beef Cutlets with Bistro Gravy. And after the day Bruce had yesterday, he still came home and made this. It was awesome. Very very good. But then again, anything he has ever cooked for me has been awesome.

Thoughts

I was reading the blog “The Simple Dollar” this morning before I came to work. One of the questions addressed today was Do you wish you were rich?. While normally I would’ve probably answered with a hearty yes, I read through the rest of his column explaining the cons to being rich. Take Bill Gates for instance, he can’t do the simple task of just going to the grocery store by himself. He has “people” that do that. And imagine all the people who are constantly “wanting” something from him or beg him for money. That isn’t the kind of wealth I would want. The author also goes on to say even being “locally rich” isn’t something he would want either. He tagged a local businessman whose house was being foreclosed on. The house was estimated to be worth 4.2 million dollars in Nebraska – so just imagine that the house was probably sprawling. The upkeep would be costly, you would have to hire help. And, to maintain your hired help and the house you would have to be working at a very high level. I wouldn’t want that either. In turn, he goes onto say what he would really love in life is “financial independence.” The dream of not having to worry about future income. In really thinking about that answer that is the answer I would have to give. I would love to be able to go shopping and not have to worry about if I have enough in my checking account to buy a new pair of shoes. I would love to send my kids to college and be able to travel a bit more, but other than that, I don’t need a huge house, our condo is perfect. I don’t need a Range Rover; I actually love my Honda Pilot. My kids don’t need to be dressed in designer clothing; they would only get holes in them. I don’t need designer clothing either, The Gap suits me just fine. When you really think about it, I am wealthy. Wealthier than most people I know. I have the most amazing family, three awesome, healthy, smart kids, a man who I know truly loves me and who I love with all my heart. My parents, my sisters, my brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…everyone is close to my heart. I have a great job, a roof over my head and I am able to pay my bills and put food on the table. Those are things that I am truly thankful for. In scrolling through these older posts, it reminds me everyday how happy we are. These things didn’t cost us money, or at least not a lot. And in the end, it isn’t going to be the money spent that our kids will remember. It is the trips to the beach, the playing catch at the park, the dancing in the living room...

Bodega Bay

Today we finally were able to make our second trip to Bodega Bay with the kids. It was an awesome day, it didn't rain and we actually got some sunshine for a bit. I have to admit though, waves (sometimes huge waves) were very intimidating to me when you have three kids to look after. After telling and telling the boys to stay back ~ one of them tripped while running back from a wave and ended up doing a frantic crawl (yes, crawl) to safety. After that, he stepped away for a while and realized what he was up against. It is nice that we are so close to the ocean. We'll be going back in April, but without the kids...so a little less stressful for mom and dad. Here a few photos from our day out. For those of you that aren't familiar with the Goonies -which come on, who isn't? This rock in the above picture is "Goonie rock". It was where they filmed the pirate ship coming out at the end of the movie. I have to admit, when Bruce told me about this the first time I went to Bodega I was super excited. The Goonies is a fave of mine.

Hunting for crabs

Mad sitting on the rock watching the boys look for crabs. She kept telling me she was "feeezing mama."

I have two 3-year olds on my hands.

Crab castle - notice the crab leg at the top

Someone was excited to be at the ocean.

Time to feel the water.

Notice Madison throwing sand and Bruce with his finger up saying "Mad, we are not throwing sand." Guess she listens well.

Right before they ran all the way down the hill...

Someone was a bit tired. We should've taken the signs when we saw them...a note of things to come....

Someone apparently didn't learn from last time we were all here. You don't feed the birds!!

Lunchtime.

An almost perfect ending... until.... Madison didn't like the way mommy put her shoes back on. It end up with a screaming Mad, Bruce carrying her to the car, putting her in the car seat and she is crying so hard she starts the gag reflex. I am sorry to end things this way, but lets just say I had a substance not so lovely on my hands and a bunch of dirty towels to end the day. 15 minutes later...the girl was out. And out the entire way back to Napa.

The little cleaner

It was a typical Friday night filled with Wii, kids arguing with each other, us trying to get dinner on the table in a reasonable fashion until this.....

These towels the night before were sitting on our couch completely unfolded as we threw them there to get another load of laundry in before we went to bed. They were kind of forgotten about for the moment. That was, until Madison came along. We never even knew that she was folding while watching the boys play Wii. So imagine our surprise when she came up to us with a whole stack of towels and says, "Here you go!" We were pretty impressed to say the least. So she was rewarded... And, she picked the chocolate chip cookie. Gold star for this girl tonight!

A special thanks...

Goes out to Melody Ann ~ who asked who my proof reader is. Guess that would be you now....

So who are you voting for?

Danny Gokey...this guy has our vote for the next American Idol. Who is your pick? Bruce got me started on American Idol again. Thank goodness that crazy girl Tatiana is gone for now. Please America do not bring her back

Livestrong 09

Enter Sunday - February 15th at oh say, 2:30ish. At Rick and Laurie's house in Deer Park. We run outside because supposedly they are coming down the hill! They being the AMGEN bike tour ~ Lance Armstrong is among the riders. The guys all run outside and set up this amazing blue tent. Thank goodness for Laurie who found it on sale at Big 5 and decided to buy it thinking maybe they would need it. It is FREEZING not to mention pouring down rain. But we are all dry and just awaiting...nothing though. Just a CHP. No biggie...

So as we are waiting we decide to set up shop. Wine, cheese, bread - completed on a very blue recycling bin. Come on now, it wouldn't be a race in the Napa Valley without the wine!! It must have been at least 30 minutes before we actually see any other action - or maybe it just seems like that because my hands are turning blue and my jeans are soaked at the bottom.

And again, I hear - "ok, I think they are really coming now!" Yea, Yea, we'll see....

And sure enough - here they come. Unfortunately, my stupid camera video decided it need new batteries right before the REALLY big group of them. But I got this video of the first few riders. It is really pretty amazing how fast they are going down this hill and how many chase cars weave in and out with the bikers right next to them. I have to say I have a totally new respect for cyclists. Wow. And although I am not sure where Lance was...he was there somewhere...and I am sure he heard the cowbells! More cowbell!! We need more cowbell....