San Diego for the weekend....and a DINGBONE!

I started this blog last week and am just now getting a chance to sit down and finish it...better late then never right?

Derek and I got away last weekend to San Diego.  Our friends Mike and Amy invited us to celebrate Mike's 40th birthday.  It was a fast weekend, but so much fun.  

We got there late Friday night.  The sun was down so we grabbed a quick sushi dinner and then set out to find our condo by the ocean...in the dark.  It was an adventure!  Our place sat back off the street, down an alley...felt like burglars going door to door through all the beach houses, looking for the right number.  But we found it...about midnight.

Saturday morning we got up and decided to head out for a walk along the ocean.  It was cooler then we hoped, but we made the best of it! Mike and I enjoyed the view while Amy (in the back, on the phone) checked in with their girls.

After our walk along the beach Derek and Mike saw the fancy car store.  Boys and their toys!

And then we headed back to the condo to meet up with another couple, Mark and Ann, coming in from Oakland.  

We barely let them get settled before we headed to Old Town for some lunch at the Coyote Cafe and to meet up with my brother Keith and sister Karen.  Keith lives in San Diego and Karen and her kids were there visiting for the weekend.

We couldn't be there for the day and not say hi to my peeps!  We wandered around and did a little souvenir shopping.  Derek and Mike were looking for trouble.

After Mike put on the "lucha libre" and Derek took a picture they discovered a sign that said, "please don't put the masks on and take pictures." You can't leave those two alone for a second!  Even at 40 they act like kids! 

We ended our afternoon at La Jolla cove to watch the harbor seals on the beach, get a cup of coffee and to watch the sun set.

It was so beautiful!  We had a relaxing day of wandering around, visiting, laughing and eating!!!!  Time to go back to the condo and get ready for dinner....

For Mike's special night we tried something new to all of us...Marakesh.  It was Moroccan food.  So yummy!  Lamb, duck, shrimp, fish, and eggplant.  The baklava was to die for!!!  There was a belly dancer too!

But, I think the guys at our table were intimidated by her hips!  She didn't get too close and they pretended not to look.  They were probably afraid she would make them get up and dance.  We needed more wine for that!

Sunday morning I had to leave.  Derek was off to L.A. for work that afternoon and Mark and Ann had to head home that evenning.  Mike and Amy had the condo to themselves for a night.  Ooooh lala!  We took one more stroll on the beach before I had to leave.

Oh...I almost forgot about the dingbone!  What is a DINGBONE?

 Well, it is whatever you want it to be!  Kinda became the word of the weekend.  Mike and Amy's kids made it up...and we used it every which way, to describe anything that didn't make sense.  In the pictures above Mike shows off his versions of a"dingbone."

Thanks for a great weekend you guys!  Happy birthday Mike!  Thanks for all the laughs!  Let's do it again soon!!!!

GET HEALTHY!!!!

One if the reasons I started a blog was to log my progress on getting healthy!!!!  I have been blogging for a while now and this is my first post about it....sorry.  I am apologizing to myself for putting off so long...but, here it is...

I have always considered myself to be a pretty healthy person, but realized a while back that I wasn't doing very well.  I wasn't feeling great.  I have been running, trying to eat well, and trying to get some Lisa time (always a must when your a busy mom.)  I was going to the doctor pretty regularly to track my progress as a diabetic and my A1C (the test they run to measure the sugar level over the past 3 months) was climbing.  Every time I would go to the doctor, it is was getting worse.  I was getting frustrated and felt like being diabetic was a curse.  My eating habits have slipped.  I wasn't taking excersise very seriously and I know I was exhausting myself trying to keep up with my kids.  My health was slipping and if that goes...so does the rest of my life!

The good news...I am back in control.  Baby steps....

Thank you to Jolie and Paula for recommending this book.   I am still reading, but have already learned a lot about myself.  #1-I am really stressed out!!!  Being a busy mom has taken it's toll on me.  I didn't realize I had lost control of myself until now.  And if the mom isn't doing well how can she help the rest of her family?

So, without getting to FREAKY on you...if you feel out of control and think it is because you've been wronged by the world around you...I highly recommend this book.

I really believe we hold the power to our own happiness.  I believe it starts with our health...MIND, BODY and SOUL!!!  

Valentines Day.

So... Derek didn't really have time to plan anything because he had been stuck in New York.  Plus, my sister and her kids are visiting so we decided to hang with the fam.  But,  he did bring me some little treasures from New York that I wanted to share.  (flowers from UT.)

I told Derek since he was stuck in New York I wanted him to get me some more earrings.  Got one pair when I was there and love them!!!   So these were my little treasures.  You did good honey!

This was my favorite gift.  He stopped at a little card shop and this woman wrote me a special poem in his words:

In case you can't see it...

he says

let's focus on the bliss

wedded bliss, ten years of bliss

he says

let's focus on the 

anniversary, tenth anniversary,

he says

talk about her here

or new york, stranded,

rather not, rather anticipating return

yes, rather focus on that.

Well, he made it back just in time for us to spend the day together. 

And I made him the most divine chocolate cake!

(Yes, there is a little piece missing in the back.  I had to taste it because I had never made it before.  I was afraid it was dry.  Not dry...but super good.)

It was a great day and I am so glad he is home safely!

Stuck in the big storm.

Derek had to go on a business trip last week.  It was supposed to be QUICK!  Fly in Tuesday, and back home on Thursday.  The minute he landed in New York, he turned on the phone, the airline called...his flight on Thursday was CANCELLED!!!

He spent the next three days trying to find a flight home.  And, after their work was done, he also had a little fun!  He called our friends Mark and Ethan and they took care of him and Mat (his co-worker who was stuck too!)

They were staying on Long Island.  Thursday night they met Ethan in the city.  He is a fireman and seems to know his way around.  They visited several Irish pubs and stopped in at a local firehouse to visit some of Ethan's friends.  Derek thought that was awesome!  No pics! ( He doesn't think about the blog.)

Friday Mark picked them up for lunch.  They had a little NewYork Pizza!  Excellent, but not diabetic friendly.  Good thing I wasn't there.  Then  he drove them up to the coast to see the ocean.  The beach was covered in SNOW!

Not something we are used to seeing on our beaches out west (probably not the norm there either, but with all the snow...)

Then the boys needed some nappy time after all their fun with Ethan.  They were headed out again that night with Mark.

They hung out at another Irish pub, McCarthy's, on Long Island.  This is one of Mark's favorite places.   

 Mark's girlfriend, Angela met up with them there.  It was 2 for 1 beer night.  Apparently Mark and Mat had a really good time!  I heard a story about Mat trying to carry Mark out of the bar, hitting his head several times on the door frame.  I think he is ok?...It was another very late night for them!

Saturday Mark and Angela offered to drive them to Newark, NJ by way of the big apple.  They were able to find a flight out of Newark on Sunday morning (just in time for Valentines day!)

Ethan caught up with them and they all went to dinner.

They ate in Little Italy at La Mela.  I was so jealous not to be there with them!  

Good food, good wine, and great company (missing me!)  They kept me posted with pics and lots of texting while I baked Derek a chocolate cake for Valentines day and anxiously waited for him to come home 3 days late!

Then it was off to another bar, Ethan's favorite place, a 150 year old ale house.

It was another all-nighter for them!  Good thing they were coming home.  Not sure they could keep up with these New York boys another night.  

Sunday morning Derek made it home...bearing gifts for Valentines (next post).  

Thanks again Mark, Angela, and Ethan for the great hospitality while my husband was "stuck".  Next time I am coming with him so I can see all the sites and drink some of that Irish beer.  (and go shopping!)

Bone Marrow Donor.

Part of Liam's leukemia treatment will be a bone marrow transplant.   If you are interested in being a donor and want to be tested a simple swab of the cheek or blood sample can tell if you are a match.  The places that I have listed below are free.  There may be another lab in your area that provides this service, but it can be very expensive.

If you live in Montana, his doctor is going through United Blood Service.  You can set up an appointment there.

If you live in Utah or another area you can join the national registry at Be the Match.

My understanding is that family members are the most likely candidate for a match... but, anyone could be a match.  I am medically ineligible because of my diabetes.  So, there are a few guidelines you must know.

Liam-we are here to help you buddy! Keep up the good work.  Love ya!    

Pray for Liam!!!

A couple of weeks ago my cousin Liam (pictured above in the yellow/white plaid shirt, in the arms of his good buddies and cousins Calvin and Kyle) was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.  He has just finished his first round of chemo treatments and is doing well.

Liam, like the picture above, you have the support, love and prayers from all of your family and friends.  Keep fighting and I know you will beat this thing.  We love you!

You can track Liam's story at caringbridge.org.  (You have to go to visit and type in liammcwilliams.)  An account has been set up to help Liam with his care at the Stockman Bank in Miles City, MT.  There address  is 700 Main St. Miles City, MT 59301.

Ski day again!

For the 5th weekend in a row I got to go skiing again!  I am not bragging....I am merely sharing with you something that I am learning to love all over again!  I used to ski every weekend as a kid, but had gotten away from it as an adult.  Ya know...life gets in the way sometimes.  So far this year I have had plenty of opportunity to go and am LOVING it!

Rich and I got away to Solitude for a little tradition...ski on super bowl Sunday.  Nobody goes (unless it dumps).  There wasn't any new snow today, but it was still great.

Rich started out the day with a little incident...he bent his pole getting on the lift.  Thank goodness we were able to fix it at the top and not let it ruin our day.  

I decided to push myself a little(skiing childless) and we went to the top for some expert skiing.  The powder was great and we do well for a couple of amatures!

As always....the views are amazing!  Thanks for a great day Rich!

Grace's book

I am so proud of Grace.  She wrote her first book in school last week.  She had to write a book, illustrate it herself and read it to her friends.  For  being in kindergarten, I was very impressed.  

The story she wrote was based on the short film at the beginning of the movie "Up".  Grace took this story and came up with her own version.  It is great!!!

 The clouds make babies and the birds deliver the babies.  There is one cloud that makes the mean kind of babies like eels and sharks.  The bird has a hard time delivering these vicious creatures, but in the book the cloud and the bird learn how to get along.  

  Who knows...she may grow to be an author, and artist or maybe neither!  But...I am so proud of her!

Ryann's milestones

All the toys we have around here and this is one of my kids favorite things to play with.  If I don't hide the laundry basket (or what they like to call the"the bus"), one or both of my kids is sitting in it or giving each other rides up and down the hallway.  I have about 10 pictures of Ryann on different occasions watching T.V.  in the laundry basket!

Ryann seems to be growing up by leaps and bounds these days.  This last week we bought her a big girl bed and got rid of the crib.  She started crawling out and I was afraid she might break her neck.  She loves it!  And with a tear, I put away the crib.

Party time!

I have almost recovered from having company.  Our friends from New York left last Sunday night.  I think I have finally recovered from the skiing and the parties.

Last Friday Erica hosted a dinner party.  Derek and I brought carne esada for taco's and Erica provided all the sides.  Good food and great company!

 That is our lovely Erica with Derek ( in his new favorite shirt!).  She is the hostess with the mostest....always fun.  Look at the liquor collection in the back!

Derek and Mark got to talk skiing/snowboarding!  We were gearing up for our Powder Mountain Day on Saturday!  It was the perfect weekend with all our new snow.   

Jolie and Randy stopped by to have a beer too.  Derek and Randy are always trouble...I hear we are going deep sea fishing in Hawaii sometime soon....get a little beer in 'em and who knows what they will come up with!

Noelle, Erica and Jessica provided the party tunes while we all had a great time eating and hanging out!

Dale, Karen, Ethan and Jessica!

 Jen had a little too much fun and found herself a cozy spot on the couch at the end of the night.  She was gearing up for her 26th birthday celebration on Saturday.

We were nice.  Didn't draw any permanent mustaches on her face or anything while she took a "rest"  from her beverage.

Erica, Noelle and I  saying goodnight.  I love ya girls!  Thanks for the fun party.  Did I mention that Noelle's guacamole was the bomb!  Salsa too.  The girl can whip up some mean mexican!  Thank you!

Mark and Ethan enjoyed hanging out with their Utah friends so much we decided to do it again on Saturday after skiing.  (Not too sure why Mark is flashing us, but we'll blame it on the beer!)

We tried out a new place!  

A Bar Named Sue!  Totally fun.  Going back again soon. Check out all the cute pics from Saturday night on Erica's blog.  Fun Fun!!!!