The month o' happymommy...

Tomorrow begins the month of me!  October 1st marks the 6th year I have been married to my loving husband.  He has put up with my nonesense for six years of wedded matrimony and eight years total.  Who does that?  Oh, besides my mom, dad and sister.  I am not an easy woman to have as a wife.  My mood swings are monumental, I can't have the sniffles without declaring consumption and my ability to balance anything, much less a budget, is limited to walking around with a book on my head to show correct posture.

This month also marks my 40th birthday.  I LOVE my birthday.  I count down the days until the 17th and wave frantically at each and every item on my wish list.  This year:  an ipad, a new car, a personal shopper and an entire new wardrobe.  

What comes with this big birthday, however, is the realization that I am older.  40 is huge.  My entire life I have lived with a sort of low self-esteem.  These past six months I have struggled greatly with my weight.  I am trying hard to rectify the weight issue, but more importantly, I am trying to figure out how to love myself, no matter what my weight.  I have written about this before, and although I tell myself to be different, loving my physical self continues to be hard.  My husband loves me, my kids could care less but still I struggle.  Will this year be different?  I certainly hope so.

For now, I embrace the love of my husband, my children and my entire family.

I am blessed!

happymommy

And we are off the the races...

Not actual races mind you, but I have started jogging again.  Now, when I say jogging, I mean jogging combined with a ton of walking.  Since I overcame my near death sickness of last week, and not wanting to lose momentum, or gain any more weight, I decided to pick up the ol' running shoes and head out to convene with nature.  Since it is ungodly hot around here lately, I have had to run in the morning to avoid melting into the pavement and/or dirt.

Today, I decided to run/walk the Tennessee Valley Trail.  Now this lovely trail leads to an even lovelier beach and with this morning's weather, it was even more breathtaking than usual.  All along the trail there are other trails that lead to other beaches.  I felt very adventurous today and I even had on clothes that fit.  It was going to be a win for me.

I ventured of the beaten path and headed up the mountain (ok, hill) on my way to Rodeo Beach.  The trail went from normal to very small, steep and rocky within seconds.  Still running, I managed to wheeze my way up and over and around the bends.  Then, I looked down trying to avoid what looked like dog poo and much to my surprise, there was snake vomit.  Now, I know you are wondering, how does one recognize snake vomit?  Well a half digested slimy mouse indicates snake vomit or snake poo.  I jumped over it and continuing running.  Of course after that, all I could see were snake holes and other varmin and I started to panic.  I turned around and hightailed it down the mountain (ok, hill) and when I got back to the horrible little half eaten mouse, I jumped over it again.  I was breathing hard and actually quite scared because now I was being chased by snakes and most likely a lone rapist.  Once I got back to the main trail, I decided I needed something pretty to think about so I ran down to the beach.  The close beach where there weren't any snakes, half eaten mice or lone rapists.

Happy Tuesday!

happymommy

I can come up with excuses...

It is 94 degrees in the shade around here.  As Northern Californians, we are known as weather wimps.  But 94 degrees people?  In the shade?  I just got back from picking up Lilly at school and within one block, I was pouring sweat.  I was planning on getting James early from daycare and heading to the pumpkin patch.  But clearly, that is just insane.  Gave Lilly a lollipop instead so all is good with the world.

So instead of writing a long wonderful blog about life, I am going to sit in the coolest spot in my house, the bathroom.  Hope for cooler weather and more interesting fodder.

happymommy

Indian Summer...

We live in Northern California and we have crazy summers, non-winters and who knows how it will go Springs.  But Today... Today was awesome.  It was our first Indian Summer day.  Hot, with a little wind and a beautiful beach day.

Life is good...

And beyond beautiful...

happymommy

I Heart Antibiotics and Life Lessons

I don't know what it is about antibiotics, but whenever I am sick, within 24 hours of taking antibiotics I am a million times better.  Now my sister, the doc, would say that it isn't the medicine, it was just time for my body to begin healing.  I refuse to believe her even though she was in school for a million years and is quite the important person at her hospital.  I realize the silly logic, but the difference between yesterday and today is immeasurable.

The kids are better too.

Here they are yesterday after one dose of antibiotics.

No further proof needed for the miracle that is antibiotics!

(I do not claim to know one single thing about medicine, viruses and antibiotics. Please do not take any of my statements to be true, or even smart.)

We are on the mend over here and so happy.  Can anyone guess who is the happiest?  Yes, Jeff is the happiest.  Poor guy has been walking around on eggshells waiting for one of his girls to go off, or for his little man to throw himself on the floor and wipe bugars everywhere.  We are a happy house today.  A top to bottom lysoled happy house!

Since I am feeling better I have decided the first thing I should do is start lamenting about my upcoming birthday.  I will be 40.  This is a huge deal for me because when I look in the mirror I see a 25 year old, albeit one with a ton more wisdom, pounds and wrinkles but a 25 year old none the less.  So, instead of drowing my sorrows in tears of why oh why am I so old, I am going to try to remember to embrace the days and the life I have.  A friend sent me this list of 45 Life Lessons.  I will spend the next few weeks remembering these as I embrace this next decade. 

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

**Written by Regina Brett of Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio**

happymommy

I wish I had something exciting to share...

But I don't have anything to say other than we are still sick. I have bronchitis. Both kids have ear infections and are required to do breathing treatments for a week. We spent three hours at the pediatrician this morning and if not for two very special guardian angels I may well be in the mental hospital.

Everyone in this house hopes we are all better by tomorrow, or at least by the weekend.

happymommy

I wanted to share this link and I can't remember if I ever shared it before and I am way too sick to research it. 

Backpacking Dad continues to crack me up on twitter with such gems as this...

His blog offers insight into being a dad, but so much more.  Enjoy!

Not back, just visiting for a second...

These last few weeks tried to kill me.  Anyone who knows me knows that if I go too long, too hard and give too much, my body just stops.  I have been in bed for the last forty-eight hours with a hacking cough, a low-grade fever and the chills and sweats.  What fun!  I do feel that I am on the mend, and that is a good thing.  For some reason, when I am really sick all I want to eat are Hot Pockets and drink Sunny Delight.  I am pretty sure any progress I made in the last three weeks are gone.  Oh well, I can start again.

I just wanted to stop by to let everyone know I was somewhat alive.  The wedding was great but it is good to be home.

A love between a mother and a daughter is beautiful.

Well, until the daughter becomes a teenager and hates her mother, but we are a few years from that, I hope!

happymommy