Recap of 2011

"The worst thing you can possibly do is worry about what you could have done."
~ Author Unknown ~

1.      January started out in a haze and was rocky. January can be best described as a whirlwind of confusion.

2.     February was the month my life would change forever. What I thought to be real was not and shock would be the state I chose to live in.

3.     March was a month of numbness….I don’t remember anything about March.

4.    April I went to Corona Del Mar on a whim with my two lovies in tow. Rented an amazing beach cottage and recovered from the previous months. In April God placed his hand upon my families life and began to save us.

5.     May was all about a dear friends wedding. It was full of love, hard work and excitement.

6.     June I turned 30. I turned 30 and can say without a doubt that I was a different person than I was in my twenties….oh yah, and I also turned 30 in Mexico on a white sandy beach starring into the ocean…Amazeballs! In June God’s hand was shown and our lives were immediately changed again.

7.     In July, Matt and I took a trip to Oregon to find a new home and to create a new life thanks to the swoosh.

8.     In August we moved from our beautiful neighborhood of East Sacramento and began our summer of being vagabonds. In August, I had two amazing Weddings to coordinate and they both were wonderful!

9.     In September, my wedding business had it’s final wedding. It was wonderful it was beautiful it was the perfect end. In September the kids and I joined Matt in Oregon and began our adventure.

10.  October was a month of exploring and learning and adjusting about our new home.

11.     November was a month of giving Thanks. We did so in Northern California with our family.

12.   December was beautiful. December was when I decided that Oregon is quite possibly the most beautiful place to live. There are so many amazing things to see and so amazing things to learn about. I can’t wait to have my children grow up in this new land. I am grateful for this new place to call home. 

My beautiful friend (and sister from another mister) Sarah is realizing her dream of being a flight attendant and has been stationed in Seattle. I grew up taking care of Sarah and her sisters and brother as we lived next door to each other. I have been so fortunate to watch her and her siblings grow and become fantastic young adults. Sarah and I have had a particularly close relationship. What a co-ink-ee-dink that I move to Portland this month and she gets a job flying Alaska Airline's friendly skies, stationed in Seattle the very same month. This makes the transition for both of our mothers so much easier. I can keep a watchful eye on Sarah and we can have our own family dinners, Pac Northwest style. 

I am so proud of Sarah for pursuing what she wanted and obtaining that goal. I am glad she and I will be discovering this new part of the country together (leaving both of our safe little bubbles). 

Cheers!

My morning view....not bad with a cup of coffee

Swim Lessons or Olympian Swim Lessons??

That was my question as I approached the Nike campus to sign my kids up for swim lessons yesterday. Below is an actual account of the morning enjoy: 

It’s Tuesday. It is also the day that Nike has there swim class sign ups for the kids. One of Matt’s co-workers said that there is a line that forms and that we should arrive early. Okay, so 6 am….ummm no, 4:30. Hell to the no…I am not getting there at 4:30 am. I did show up this morning at 5:45 though. My route here of course included a trip to Starbucks. When I arrived at my sacred coffee place I realized that it wasn’t open until 6 am so I popped over to McDonalds across the street to grab a cup of Joe. I arrived onto the Nike campus at 5:35 am grabbed my camping chair, my laptop, magazines and my coffee. I walked into the gym and saw the massive line that had already been formed. Think about the lines on black Friday. We are talking camping chairs, huge thermoses filled with coffee, people wearing pajamas ….every stereotype you can think of. “WTH??” was going through my mind. This is crazy! I thought I was going to be the #2 person in line at this hour. No, I am halfway down the line right now. Well, I held my head high and walked passed all of the parents eagerly awaiting to sign their 1 and 2 year olds up for basic swimming lessons (can you hear the sarcasm in my voice…c’mon they are kids, not Olympic athletes…yet). I started getting these weird stares. I am not even joking. I knew they were not looking at my gorgeous outfit because I am wearing my “wait in line clothes” aka, sweats.  I am pretty sure they were starring at my cup of coffee with the blaring golden arches across. I slowly realized they were not stares of curiosity but of total disgust. Like “How could you even go through a place like McDonalds?” I am not even exaggerating! I felt like I was naked in a dream. It was so bad. I am over it though as I am sitting here delightfully sipping my plain coffee (with zero fat and no calories).  I put my head up pulled out my camping chair, sat down and waited in line. I was half hoping this whole waiting in line for hours thing would forge some new friendships with my fellow line waiters but the other Nike people were busy away on their laptops and talking about this and that...clearly avoiding the MCD coffee sipper. Oh well. Finally, a man next to me said "isn't this crazy?" We chatted and he said that this sign up is the most coveted because the weather gets so bad here....oh great. Bottom line, I succeeded at securing the kids into their classes and now feel like I have to do 1000 crunches a day since I will have to be in a bathing suit for Quinn's class!!!!

I realized a few things while waiting in line, these Nike people could be a little freaky when it comes to health/wellness and I am okay with that. I will still be me…I will still sneak Taco Bell when I really need it, I will chow down on some pancakes if I feel like it and I will do it all proudly….maybe not tell anyone….but I wont judge myself.

The 3 Vagabonds...

Soaking up the sun before we all become bleached white in Oregon!!

My Lovies and I have been living out of our suitcases for almost three weeks now. Just as fast as we were moved and settled in Oregon, we were off again. We traveled to So Cal to ease the move for my mother. She has been having a hard time with it. She really only had a week to let it set in before Matt moved...I forget that I have known for at least two months of the possibility. I don't even think my mom has gotten over us moving to Sacramento. In both instances of me letting her know it was like I literally stuck a knife into her heart. You see, my Mama and I are best friends. We have depended on each other as long as I have been alive. I have been told thousands of times of our extreme resemblence. Thankfully, our personalities are slightly different but have no fear, Emma is the exact same as she is....it is sort of scary. Anyway, we spent a week there before I jetted off to SF for some work. I left the kids in So Cal with my parents and let them have some more alone time. My babes are thankfully back in my loving arms and I am so happy. Five days without your children can seem like an exciting fun break but it breaks your heart. I kept telling myself (as I always do when I am away from them)..."you will see them on the 6th day Danielle" and I did. We spent the day swimming, hugging, loving on each other and just rejoicing for being reuinited. We will spend the rest of our days in California at my wonderful inlaws house where we continued to be spoiled rotten.

This just happened....

.....that is what I was telling myself as the man in front of the Starbucks counter yelled out to the barista "give me all of your money!" I slowly turned my head as she yelled back to him "no," thinking to myself "give him the darn money it's not yours!!" It was over in a flash as I sat there listening to the aftermath of it all. He leaned over grabbed the money and bolted for the door. "This SH** just happened" was what was running through my head. I was in Sacramento (because the kids and I are back in Nor Cal for a couple of weeks until I tie up some loose ends on my business) and had to dash into a Starbucks to recharge my batteries literally and figuratively. I couldn't go to my favorite local jaunt because I needed to actually work. I popped into the one that was nearest to me and got to it. I always hated this Starbucks...the company was mixed and the other "mix" usually didn't wear deoderant. So today I sat there going WTF. I had a wedding rehearsal to get to in an hour so instead of giving them time to ask me to stay to give a statement, I packed up and bolted.

Only me!!

An Ode to Tuesday..

I am not talking about the actual day of the week, or maybe I am but mostly this post is focused on paying homage to my Auntie Tuesday. Aunt Kim (aka Tuesday) has come to my house in Sacramento every Tuesday since the day we moved to Sacramento. We had our last Tuesday a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the hardest days leading up to this move. She has been such a huge support to me and the kids. The amount of love and attention she has given us all on our special day and beyond is incredible.  If I tried to explain what she did for us I would not do it justice. Just know that everyone needs a "Tuesday." My kids love her like a grandparent and wait for Tuesdays with such excitement.
Today is Tuesday...it's our first Tuesday without her. Below is an email I wrote her this morning so she knew how we are thinking of her today because I know she is just as sad. It will give you a little glimps into what we used to do.


Tuesday, 

Today is really hard for me. I am trying to forget how much I love Tuesdays...but I can't. I am imagining what it would be like if you were going to come over today. I would probably cook a great dinner in our new kitchen and we would sit in the kids rooms and decide how we would decorate each....especially Emma's (we always have so much fun with her room). Then I would move us to decorating our living room and dinning room because I am honestly lost with those two. You would give me a ton of ideas and I would immediately put those to work on Wednesday. Instead, I am sitting in my big 'ol house with blank walls and zero inspiration to decorate. Today I am sad but I know that we will visit each other soon. 

Danielle

Sometimes moving is hard. Today it's hard on me. Tomorrow will be better. 

D

Oregon or Bust....

I just wanted to give you a quick update to let you know that the kids and I have landed and are somewhat settled in Oregon. The day was filled with craziness right from the start. We had to get up at 6 am to drive from my in laws (bay area) to the Sac Airport and make our flight by 8:45 am. Did I mention that we had enough luggage to clothe a small country? We were dropped off at the curb, luggage and car seats and all. I was a hot sweaty mess by the time I was in line (the very long line) at Alaska check-in. My two little babes were absolutely amazing!! They stayed right by me and listened well...although, there was a potty emergency (of course) as we were mid-way through the line. As fellow mothers usually do when they see me, one offered to watch my items as I hustled Miss Emma and practically dragged Quinn to the restroom. A quick potty break and back in line. Then it was time to bag the car seats. Another fellow Mama helped me bag the car seats while I had my two little ones keep their backs to the wall so I could watch them. Once we made it through...we went up to the escalator...AKA my kids personal Disneyland. Emma jumped on and immediately fell to her knees. The escalator was on crack and going about 100 miles an hour. A swift arm grab along with holding Quinn and we recovered. I let her try it one more time and she made it. You will love what comes next...guess who was chosen for a random screen??? Me, the sweaty mother who was unloading her two laptops and all of her kids crap into the bins. They chose me. So once through the screen they moved us to a room (the three of us) and patted down my lady parts and discovered that the only threat I posed was my death stare. We made it to the gate just in time for me to rip into the toys Aunt Kim bought them and board the plane. Since we were flying Alaska we had to go down an outside staircase and walk outside and up another staircase to our plane. I said "oh screw it" picked up both of my babies and descended down the stair case, walked across the tarmac and to the next staircase. My mind was racing with "good for you" and "no guy could ever handle this." Kids were set up in their row with their toys and I sat in my seat. The flight was very uneventful until Quinn pooped. I had to change his diaper on top of the toilet in the bathroom (which I covered with toilet paper and let him use the TP roll as a pillow). Later in the flight the attendant came up to me and said "It smells a lot better out here than it does in there." Ummm....what was I supposed to do? Leave him in his diaper? C'mon....like I needed that comment. Enter in my first order of a bloody mary....ahhh..that made me happy...I shared the other half of my vodka bottle with my seat neighbor...figured he deserved it for being stuck with my ADD self constantly moving around. We cheers'd to ourselves and bottoms up. 

We landed! We walked to the exit found Matt and then loaded up our lives and headed to our new house. The kids were very excited when they saw their new rooms, although Emma was not thrilled with her new bed...she wanted a daybed.....she is still asleep in her new bed now so I think it grew on her. 

I spent the rest of the day going through our bagillion boxes that seem to never end. I will spend most of our day doing that again....maybe most of the week....

Just wanted to let you all know what I was up to. Most importantly...We survived...We made it...I only cried once....I think I am going to be okay here. 

Love you all!

See ya later 626

You would think by that title I was leaving So Cal...in fact not...I, after 13 years, have changed my cell phone number. This is a HUGE deal! I do not know what got into me. Maybe it was the sense of urgency to do something to get through this move. So far it has been hurry up and wait (to be fair, wait two weeks) before gearing up for the move. We have no idea what moving costs are covered, where we are moving to and our timeline (the kids and I) so it's been a lot of waiting. I decided to call good 'ol TMobile and inquire about changing my number. As I am on the phone with them I get a text message saying that my number has been changed!! HOLY HECK!!! This was crazy. The woman on the phone confirmed that my number had been changed and that was it. Done..Done with the 626...done with "certain" people from my past ever having my phone number, done with my entire network of friends, family, colleagues knowing how to get in touch with me...DONE! I sat there numb for a minute. I did not know what to do. So I called my hubsand. He answered "this is Matt." I said hello and he was just as shocked as I was.

You would think changing your number wouldn't be such a huge deal but it actually was VERY VERY huge. I have been in Sacramento for four years and have scoffed at the fact of changing my number to a 916. Every single person who lives in Sacramento has a 916 area code. It's just the universal number. It was so different in So Cal, you had 818, 626, 949,714, 214, 310. ...your neighbor usually had a different area code....but not in Sacramento. Whenever I doled out my number to a Sacramento peep, we would inevitably get into a conversation of "626??? Where is that?" I guess part of me is just ready to make this move and commit to whatever that means. Even if that means committing to the 503. There is so much that comes along with the commitment to the 503...it is more than just a phone number. It's a lifestyle, it's a commitment to my new life in Oregon, it's a commitment to follow Matt's dreams, it's a commitment to starting this new life with my children.

So now, I am a 503. If you don't have my number, email me.

My List....

Tackling this move right at this very moment seems extremely overwhelming to me. I have about a thousand things to get done and once I am finished with those, I will have a few hundred others. I thought I would make a list and check it off as I accomplish my tasks. I will highlight my completed items...sooner (hopefully) rather than later...stay tuned!

Tonsils Suck....

so Quinn's doctor decided to yank em along with his adneoids. My poor little boy has had a heck of a time in his first two years of life. Knocked out his front tooth at 10 months, chipped the other front tooth a month later, ear tubes, hospitalized due to an infection from the ear tube procedure, and now this. Oh and this surgery took place the morning after we found out about our life chaning move. 

The surgery went great and Quinn did very well the day following. We were released from the hospital and he was in great spirits. Enter yesterday. I had a different son. He refused to swallow, talk, eat, drink and he had a raging fever. The ENT advice nurse hates me now...I called several times. I even inflated his symptoms because part of me wanted him back in their care because I (in my mind) was failing miserably. He sat, lifeless, on me the entire day. Today he has perked up a bit. Ate a little applesauce and that's about it. His doctor called this morning and there went my water works. I felt ridiculous. I felt even more ridiculous when she was trying to reassure me that I was being a good parent and was doing all the right things. I am the one who does the reassuring I am not the one who needs it...uh...I felt horrible. BUT..the good news is that each day that passes is a day he gets closer to being back to his amazing little self.

A BIG high-5 to all of the moms out there who have to be the mom/dad/nurse. It's friggin hard sometimes!

The “Swoosh” called and we answered. On a random Saturday evening back in April Matt received a call from one of his favorite people at Nike. He called to inform him about a position opening up at headquarters in their Sports Marketing Legal Department. You would have thought that the person on the other end of the line told Matt that he had won the lottery. This was not only his dream job…but the job he had dreamed of getting once he achieved his dream of returning to Nike in some capacity. I am not joking….Matt probably would have joined them as a cobbler if that was the only job left. After four years of working towards his dream job, he had the possibility of actually getting it. The timing could not be any worse as things had been so strained. But what the hay….might as well throw his name in the hat and see what happens. Fast forward to last Monday where an offer happened! The call came in at 1:32 pm on my phone. I was at Starbucks (where else =)) and didn’t answer. I received and urgent email saying “Call me ASAP.” My first thought was “Sh** what did I do now.” I called and Matt could barely fumble out the words to tell me that he had been offered the job. My legs went limp. I literally could have fallen right there (drama). My heart was pounding my palms were sweating and it seemed like my world was spinning out of control. This was it…this meant we were moving. Not in a month, not in two months…in TWO WEEKS. I still have four weddings through August and September and plan to stick in Cali till those are done...but we have already planned our first trip to OR to look at homes (YIKES). These next couple of months will be interesting to say the least....I had better hold on to my hat!