Unfortunate Events, Blessings and Amazing Women

 Driving home from Jenna's school today when I heard a thud and knew something was wrong. Luckily I was in the right lane and could pull in the Taco Bell right next to our house. Michelle came to wait with me for the Auto Club to come change the tire, and good thing! She drove me to Home Depot when the AAA guy told me I needed bolt cutters to cut the chain off the spar tire. She was a saint and so amazing to help me out. Kelly arrived shortly after to rescue me (I was walking distance from the house, but I didn't know how badly the tire or truck underbelly was damaged), and he finally got the chain off about the time the 2nd AAA guy showed up. The second guy was much more efficient and got it changed for us. No damage to the truck. The tires were fairly new so we only had to replace the spare, another tender mercy. This was such a bummer, but the hand of the Lord was everywhere today with my friend available to my husband able to leave work.

Later that night at YW, we had a great panel of women come and speak about their careers and schooling necessary to get there. We had nurses, physical therapists, marketing directors, a teacher and even a rocket scientist! These ladies were amazing! And I think the girls gleaned a lot. Jenna wasn't able to get there until the last bit, but that's when our engineer/rocket scientist spoke. So awesome to have a female math whiz talk about her skills. The ladies were all very impressive.

Mermaid

A late night swim at Tammy's inspired this mermaid picture. All Jenna's idea and so creative with the colored lights going. My girl amazing me with her creative imagination.

Heather and Melissa Stylin' It Up

Fountain Valley High School is celebrating 50 years this year. Each day this week has been dressing across the decades. Today was 60's day, and Heather was all over this one. We knew it was coming early on, and her love for the movie, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," inspired some Ebay shopping for authentic 60's dress. She chose this dress and boots combo, and she ended up photographed and featured on the main page of the FVHS website. She looked so darling and right out of history. It was fun to get into the theme with her and watch her have so much fun with it.

Speaking of style, Jenna dolled up my hair for MCO rehearsal tonight. I felt very fashionable. Didn't she do a great job? She is amazing!

Cake and Pies

Today is my birthday! Tammy bought me this GORGEOUS cake that tasted as good as it looks! Chocolate cake, chocolate raspberry filling and chocolate ganache holding the thin slabs of chocolate to the sites.  Oh heavens it was yummy!

The YW activity for the evening was having Sister King teach us about pie making. And of course there was pie tasting. So fun to be in her home and learn about her passion for pies.

Tammy's Girls Day 2015

Girls Day at Tammy's was a success! Nail Truck, massages, facials and food by the pool. It was a splendid day of pampering and relaxing. Thank you Tammy!

 Yummy cupcakes made by Dina Reynolds

The Nail Truck, mobile mani-pedi service (with Shelly) 

 Heather looked so beautiful in her vintage 60's party dress. She played the piano for 30' and did a lovely job! The best was the request for Star Wars at the end and everyone clapping. She had a few pieces memorized, and she played them over and over. Her first paid gig was a success!

 Shelly, me and Sheryl who was hired to help with the food prep, and she was magnificent!

Fall Soccer - One Last Time

Coach Paul contacted us to ask if Jenna wanted to play for him and Coach Joe one more time. Due to the way the ages run in AYSO soccer, every other year Jenna has the chance to play for these coaches who coach their own daughters who are a year younger than Jenna. Her sights are set on club volleyball later this fall, but she wanted to play soccer one more time. We bought some new cleats and shin guards, and she jumped right back in after not playing this past year. It was like riding a bike. She is still a super fantastic defender, and it's so fun to watch her play.

Things One Does Not Normally See

 9•15 Curls on my longer-length hair...styled by Tracy at the salon

9•17 Jenna in a hot dog costume...she tried it on at Target. We were having a silly time.

Kayaking in the Back Bay

 Sarah, Hannah and Jenna

The YM and YW combined for kayaking at Newport Back Bay tonight. The girls invited Hannah to come with the. It was a lovely evening and even though the water was gross from all the rain runoff, the kids still had a great time. It was nice to have this experience especially after kayaking in La Jolla. Jenna was totally comfortable with it. Unfortunately, Heather had to stay home due to her elbow and tailbone still bothering her. Next time!

Time Flying

Photo by Shahzaib Akber

This blog has been a little quiet. I don't know where the time goes. I love blogging, but I'm not creating time for it. Our 2014 blog book just arrived, and that was a feat to complete. Just trying to get six months of posts updated and then fight with getting it all on Blog 2 Print took another month. My intentions were to keep going.  Photos for January are on my desktop.  I'm now eight months behind. I used to be so good at this, what happened?

I think the energy needed for anything we do over a period of time ebbs and flows.  There are times I am so productive and times I'm not. Lots of times we're simply keeping afloat and trying to live and cherish every moment which has been the case this summer.  The pictures and thoughts are all there, but they need to get transferred to the blog.

Heather's illness last year and the constant struggle to keep her at school once she returned in October is something I don't take into consideration.  Life gets busy, is unpredictable, and sometimes it doesn't afford us all the time we need to do all the good things we want to do.  We choose what we do with our time and hope we've chosen well.

Here is my attempt at jumping back in. This cute tiger on the ice block is the perfect picture for how we are feeling this past week or so.  Ninety degree temperatures and 50% humidity is getting old. Our homes are sweltering because, you know, you don't need air conditioning where we live. The ocean breeze keeps us cool most of the year.  There are always those two or three weeks we swear we're getting air put in for next year, but then we forget.  It seems to be worse right now in my ninety degree house with no breeze.  I tell you I can feel the air it is so sticky.

Our dear neighbor has invited us swimming most every day this week, and she has been an answer to our teenagers' prayers.  We'll head over again tomorrow for some family cooling time in the pool.
I hope you are staying cool if you are living where there is a heatwave, especially if you don't have air conditioning.

Today is also 9/11.  There have been images on social media today in memory of those who died, and Heather had to watch a video in her history class this morning.  She had to put her earbuds in and look down at her phone. Several other students had to do the same. The video was rated 18+, so she was getting the raw material.  Neither she nor I need to see the footage again--the bodies falling from the buildings, the terror in the voices of the people filming the events on their phones, the horrifying images of destruction--to remember. Our hearts and tears are there at the mere mention of the date. We will never forget.

Weird Weather Continues

Did we talk about the weather before Facebook and Instagram? I'm sure it was weird, but now that I have the ability to snap a photo and share my weather frustrations, it seems like we have more weird weather to make and occasion of.  This week has been HOT.  It's not the only hot week, but it's just miserable and muggy, and that makes me grouchy.  I usually say, at least once a year, that I don't live on the East Coast for a reason. Humidity stinks!  We've had 90 degree temps, it's rained, it's been 80+ degree temps in our bedroom (while it's raining outside)...just yuck.  They sunsets are usually beautiful, so there's a plus.  And our dear neighbor invites us down to swim which we love her for. We're trying to stay cool and hoping the heat wave moves on through.

Jenna's First Day of Last Year of Middle School - 8th Grade

The day before school started, we went to get Jenna a mani-pedi. She was very happy to get this last item done before school started.  And then...

She was all dolled up and ready to start her first day of middle school.  Can't believe how fast she is growing up. It seemed to take forever to get here, but 7th grade flew by.  I'm sure 8th grade will go faster.  Can't wait to see what fun adventures Jen will embark on this year. She is on the Yearbook staff and will be trying out for sports teams.  I love being her mom and watching her grow.

Last Days of Summer for Jenna

It has been tempting to be on Heather's schedule since we're up early for school, but I've been able to be mindful of Jenna and squeeze in some last lazy summer day activities.

9•1  Corner Bakery for lunch

9•4 Mom and daughter beach day with Michelle and Sarah (and we ran into school friends)

9•7 Chillin' at Tammy's in the heat

Guys Hike Labor Day Weekend

Kelly's guy friends group hike this year was to Water Wheel Falls in Yosemite. They hiked in from Tuolumne and camped near the falls.  The group was small this year, but Kelly always enjoys getting a way and hiking in to the wilderness.  It was sure beautiful.