Change.

Like it or not, here it comes.  I welcome a lot of change.  I love the change of seasons - last weekend, Emma and I brought out the fall decor for our home.  It was like shedding old skin and breathing new again - I love it.  We bought some perennials for the backyard and planted.  I'm surprised I waited so long to put some plants in the yard, but it was finally time and, perhaps, I have finally felt rooted here and want to see things grow.  Emma changed schools, not only a move to junior high but from private to public school.  Luckily, this has been one of the easiest changes so far.  The last time I dated someone I was in my 20's, wild and carefree, and the only worries I had were making it to work on time and having a good time on the weekends.  Things sure have changed in that way, now that I'm 45, a mother, and have a retirement to think of.  It changes the way one views who they spend time with and share their life with when a child is involved.  Some of it is so easy, some of it is really hard - and I wonder if dating someone with a child/ren and having a child of my own really CAN work.

A few pictures of late to remember what's been happening in our life:

 

Update time

As you can see, or maybe you can't because you still have access, I made my blog private.  I think someone from my past may have been accessing this blog - and no one came forward as to who they were - so I just don't want to to take a chance and make myself or Emma vulnerable.  So it's just the small group of us now :)

Let's see... what's new?  Emma started school and LOVES IT... already stayed late last week to attend the first football game with 5 new friends.  She's very excited that a group of girls (some that are very old acquaintances from several years ago) have brought her under their wing.  Tomorrow is fair day, which means noon dismissal to allow them to go to the fair (don't get me started on that...why are we losing half a day of school so that they can eat scones and ride roller coasters?) and I am allowing her to walk to the fair with this group of girls.  Granted, the fair is about a block away from school, but still.  It's hard for this mother hen to say "sure, you've never gone anywhere in your life without a parent, go ahead.. be free.. walk into the wilds and hang out at the fair with no supervision except for a cell phone!"  Please wish me patience and wish a longer leash for Emma ;)  She would appreciate that :)

Emma and I went to our annual vacation in Seaside, OR the last week of August - and we did not find ONE sand dollar intact.  Not ONE.  However... at the beach in WA we found 34 - unbelievable!!  We collected as many as we could stuff into the Subway bag, and I have meticulously washed them and laid them on the counter to dry ever since.  Emma wants to do something artsy with them.  I told her I thought they might react really well to Glimmer Mist... can you imagine?  I think we'll do different colors and then glue them in a shadow box - I'm looking forward to it.

Emma had her first soccer game Saturday - she was an animal as always, more of a linebacker actually - and her team won 2-0.  She is ecstatic about moving up in the lineup this year.  She is playing attacking mid, or stopper, and she gets the chance to drive the ball forward a lot and really have more impact on the game.  She is definitely ready for it.  After the game she and Carl headed to camp for a night with his hunting posse.  Emma just mostly likes the opportunity to dress in her camo gear and shoot the BB gun :)

Who is my visitor from Antelope, CA?

Please let me know... it may cause the privatization of my blog if there is no response.

Thanks.

Junior High... first day.

Wow. I knew this day would come, it just kind of snuck up though. Today Emma transitioned from seven years of private Christian education to public education. She transitioned from elementary school to junior high. From one teacher to six every day. From knowing everyone to knowing few. She transitioned from my baby to a young lady.

There were apprehensions, worries, nerves, excitement, maybe a bit of fear. I dropped her off near the door and she didn't want to get out of the car - there was no one standing there that she recognized. It was like pushing my little birdie from the nest. I told her she could do it, and to challenge herself to introduce herself to three new people today - to sit at a lunch table that was already occupied.

I wasn't even out of the school parking lot before I cried. She has transitioned through so much this past 12 months or so. She had an assignment from social studies today - to create her gallery of 'Who I am. What I've Done. What I Hope To Be.'

Who I Am

Soccer player

Family - only child

Christian

What I've Done

Hunted

Jet skied

Traveled

What I Hope To Be

Teacher

Mother

Graduate

She is simply... amazing.

Let this quote consume you...

A brilliant quote today from Steve Jobs, Creator and Founder of Apple:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”


That's what spoke to me most.  It takes a lot of courage to follow what you know to be true sometimes.

Back from camp

Emma, that is.  She loves Delano Bay Christian Camp, absolutely could not wait to get there - and this year did not disappoint.  Emma went with the same group of girls and they were all in the same cabin, love their smiling faces: (although they did give me quite a bit of grief over posing for my pictures ;)

  

Jill, Kennedy, Jordyn, Emma and Brooklyn

Oh, and Kenton in this shot :)

I absolutely love the view from this camp - right on the Sound

This was Emma's favorite counselor, Michael - very nice boy.

I also took in a Mariners game the night before, beautiful sunset, right?  I could hang out on the 300 level all night and look at that.  

Emma took off the next morning for a visit in Idaho with her Dad, I feel like I haven't seen my baby in weeks.  Soccer tournament this weekend, she and I are staying with girlfriends and teammates in a hotel tomorrow night - that will be fun I'm sure :)

Saturday School Shopping

Back to school shopping had to occur today.  Emma will be at camp all next week, home for about 24 hours before heading to Idaho for a few days, and then back to back soccer tournaments until school starts on 9/1.  It was now or never.  This year I decided to go with a plan of action - no willy nilly impulse purchases (like 4 pairs of colored tennis shoes!)  Emma had instructions to purge her closet before I would agree to go shopping, knowing how many pairs of jeans and shirts she needed with which to start school.  We started out with lunch at PF Changs:  lettuce wraps, crab wontons and pork fried rice - yum.  Nordstrom monopolized the day with two hours of our time and taking a load from my wallet.  I was somewhat mesmerized with the dressing area of Brass Plum:

Check out these chandeliers - plastic with blue bulbs.  Cool.  

I dug this corner.  A lot.  The lampshade was metallic animal print, I'm sure those are Flor tiles and check out that chair!  Love the multiple framed mirrors too.  

These lampposts had knit stockings on them - how cool is that?!?

We enjoyed a Starbucks treat at the end of our excursion - our dogs were barking and arms heavy from lugging around our loot.  Black unsweetened tea for me, strawberries and cream frap for my girl.

The loot:  skinny jeans and boyfriend jeans, cute blousy tops from Nordstrom and American Eagle, jewel toned purple shirts for each of us from the Gap, the cutest fleece jacket EVER for me (check out that lapel - hot!), pretty pebbles/ice cream scoop/picture holders from Crate & Barrel, and some goodies from Paper Source. Super fun day. 

Let's catch up, shall we?

Wow.  This post has been a long time coming, hasn't it?  Actually, I've missed posting on my blog.  Sometimes you don't know you need a break from something until you take it.

I haven't done any scrapbooking since February when Coordinates Collections closed down.  As a good friend said, I think I was in mourning that it closed so suddenly.  I had made so many good friends there, and checking in the forum several times a day was just my habit - and then it was gone.  The good news is that I'm ready to scrap again - I've been feeling the itch big time!  In fact, I'm picking up pictures from Costco today :)

Lots of changes around here, good changes.  We have a year under our belt of being in our home and making it work.  And it's working.  Trial and error, good times and bad, frustration and a few tears - but it's working and it's really good.

Let's catch up through some pictures... that's the best way in my opinion :)

Kauai, HI with the Robillards in March.  We survived the tsunami! (really, it was a ripple, but it was scary at the moment).  The kayak ride and hike to the waterfall was unforgettable, perfect way to end the trip.  Tracy and I are competing for Miss Hawaii in this photo ;)

A random shot of Emma and Coop - love the orange shirt and her straightened hair ;)

Honor roll straight A's - all 4 quarters of 6th grade - she worked really hard for that.

6th Grade Camp - fabulous memories for her, she got to zip line, canoe, rock climb - wow!  She also reconnected with a BFF from Kindergarten at another campus -  made her whole trip.

Early on in the weight loss journey.. I'm looking a bit better now, but I kinda like this pic ;)

Emma mastering the skill of spreading something on bread... it's been a long time coming! LOL!

Emma and Brooklyn at an early tournament in June - we played a 5v5 (we usually play 11v11) which was a fun change, and ended up having both of our squads from our team play each other in the finals - Emma's squad won :)

6th Grade Farewell - wow, it makes me tear up just typing this.  She starts junior high in about 3 weeks, making the change from private to public school.  Changes.  It's all good.

A recent lunch date for my girl and me - egg salad and meatloaf sandwiches, Kettle chips, carrots and pea pods, and a yummy drink for each of us.  We took a blanket and Cooper to the city park and basked in the summer goodness.

Sounders game last Wednesday.  Double overtime = free soccer.. what could be better than that?  Oh. A date with my girl. That's what.

I haven't decided on the public vs private issue yet - stay tuned for that.  Here's to staying current, healthy and happy... damn it feels good.

Well well well.. I'm ready to post.

It's been a long time - sometimes you don't know you need a break until you take one :)  I think I am going to make this blog private, for several reasons, so if you'd like an invite let me know:

coleland@juno.com

I hope to post on Sunday :)

Hello February...

I almost passed you by!  That seems to be my M.O. so far in this blog, January just doesn't get much attention.  Last year?  There was a reason.  This year?  Not so much - ha :)

Let's see.. Emma had an awesome tournament in mid-Jan up at Starfire, they lost the final game on PK's!!! That's a hard way to lose people, they played a better game and better tournament, but sometimes it just comes down to the kickoffs.  One other thing I remember - it was bitter cold that weekend!

I took my annual trip to CHA the last weekend of January (this time it was held at the LA convention center - did not like that) and had a grand time with Jamie, Jen and newcomers Sarah and Robyn!  Love hanging with these girls, it's one of a few things I look forward to every year.  One of our favorite things while there was this awesome little breakfast spot:

A downtown LA diner at it's best - they even had a bouncer at the door to allow a limited number of people in at a time!  Seriously, the line goes around the building and you just wait patiently for your turn.  Good reason too:  see the menu above just to the right of the row of lights?  That's IT!  Two eggs, hashbrowns, toast and coffee for $4.95!!!  And it was deeeeeeelicious!  So we went there every day :)

Other than that we have just been playing catch up with Emma's soccer, work, a bit of play here and there... and Emma and I had a fun time making valentines together.  The night before V-Day we painted her nails:

Not a bad job on freeform hearts if I do say so myself!! :)