Rainy Day Recycled

Well, I officially hit a wall with creative ideas in this week of rain until I pulled out the recycling bin. We've made bird feeders with peanut butter and seeds, some contraption to swatch little water balloons around, and now... the kids are just sitting at the table pulling things out and cutting and stapling them all together. I'm glad to see them being creative and helping each other with ideas!

Exciting News

1) I got to second shoot at a trash the dress session, post wedding day session at the Boardwalk... check it out here. That in itself was fun and an amazing experience to be able to learn of a pro.

2) In the midst of this crazy economy where people are gettting mandatory pay cuts (Rod's OLD work), Rod got a surprise pay raise (Rod's NEW work)!! God is sooooo good!!! Just when I was wondering if it was the right thing to pass on the job offer with a big long huge commute(hour- hour and a half) for some needed cash, God confirmed my decision by giving it to Rod. I cried tears of joy, I kid you not!

3) I got a job interview lined up for tomorrow at The Bay School for autistic kids in Santa Cruz. It would be great to be local and learn from a whole school of specialized teachers. Not sure on the details like hours, pay, and if it will be a fit, but I'm excited about it and that's a good start.

4) We got to see the AMGEN tour go roaring past Rod's work off Walnut Street in Santa Cruz. We biked down as a family, then bunkered down in the upstairs office to await the live broadcast announce they were closing in on downtown Santa Cruz.







It felt like we had VIP box seats today. Not to mention the all around good feeling I get from biking somewhere as a family and enjoying a free event in our own sweet beach town. Go Lance!

Here is the two front runners minutes from the finish...



Here is who Rod and I think was Lance... guy on left in yellow and black- What do you think?

Will You Be Mine?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

xoxox Julie xoxox

Lions and Tiger and Luke- Oh my...

I hear we are having our biggest storm yet-- tomorrow.


The rains are finally here....

SJSU Water Polo Game

So supposedly this guy on the left has cancer?! I mean, in chemo-treatment-at-Stanford type of cancer.

I've never seen Lou look better in the twelve plus years I've seen him.

I just wanted to let you polo alumni know he looks and acts like the same old Lou when I saw him last Wednesday at the SJSU vs Hawaii Game. Maybe a little less yelling than the norm, but still disputing ref calls, and flashing side ways smirks at a goal.

By the way- Awesome game. Overtime and a win!

On the way to the game I was practicing with Luke and Bella the, "Go Spartans!"

At which Bella said, "What's the other teams name?"

Knowing it was the Rainbows (at least back in my hay-day) I dropped a disclaimer to her first, "Well, I'll tell you the name, but you can't cheer for them just cuz you like the name!" "They are the Rainbows from Hawaii."

"But mom...."



Becky was kind enough to let us look through her lost and found at the pool where we found two perfect pieces of swimming attire:

Spiderman boardshorts for Luke

and...

Size 7/8 Bikini for Bella


Just add water (and waterpolo ball)....


and you've got a game.

It's a game I hope one of them learns to love!

Did I tell you?

Our neighbors down below us moved out!!

I think it is at the top of my blessings for this year. It's funny that we were selling because of our kids were being too noisy for neighbors and we just wanted our kids to be able to be kids. And now they can! Plus we didn't have to move a thing. In fact, what I do move is furniture so the kids can run around more or jump from couch to chair to ottoman. It's like a whole new world. I really think I can live here longer if we don't have neighbors below my dinosaur tromping kids... who really are just being kids, doing simple things like this:




But with the neighbor down below... I would be getting a text from my them saying "What are you doing training basketball olympians?" I feel for the poor lady who owns it and moved her granddaughter out to get some real paying tenants, but to my relief, has not secured a renter for almost a whole two months now. : )


Luke does his track routine up and down our hall, bust out indoor skateboard tricks, has dance parties with Bella, and will sometimes just jump around singing, "I can jump cuz Cassie's moved out."

I love love love that my kids can be kids.

It's revolutionized motherhood; Especially in the winter!

Stay-Cation

This weekend my girlfriend, Jenee rented a beach house facing w. cliff just down the street from us for her husband 30th Birthday weekend. She threw a party at the Red Room on Saturday night. My parents took the kids for two whole nights in a row so Rodney and I were able to bike to and fro, and be in our own little town for some kid free fun! It was a real treat since usually we are away when my parents take the kids. I totally recommend trying the new bueget friendly: Stay-cation!

Boys having coffee Sunday morning. Beaut weather too!

On Sunday, we woke up bright and early- and went for a jog to the lighthouse just Rod and I!

Rod went for a quick cold swim in the ocean with all the boys but not before all re-thinking the idea.

I took some prego pics of Jenee's girlfriend and husband. We stopped by Safeway for some Superbowl supplies (BBQ & Beer). Then we all migrated to the Santa Cruz Mt. Brewery for a two leasuirely pints in the sunshine. Rod and I strolled home arm in arm, peeked in a gallery we always talk about visiting, then had our house all to ourselves! We biked down to the ocean front pad for BBQ and Superbowl and just before sunset I squeezed in another photo session of Jenee's brother, Johnny and his fiance, Kim.

It was THEE most perfect weekend.

Reality Check.... MONDAY

Monday I had a second interview for a job on the East side of San Jose at 8am- 50 minute drive. I would work as a tutor here.

Interview went well. The commute was smooth. I actually enjoyed the quiet time. It will be crazy different to work 30 hours a week, but it's good pay and in line with what I want to pursue teaching....

So I wait.