When The Kids Are Away

...The Grown-Ups Will Play

I'm naturally a motivated, organized person. I get things done, and that's the way I like it. Sometimes it can be tiresome being me and it's a luxury to take a vacation from myself. When my kids are at camp it's my time to do whatever I want. I know that I could take the opportunity of being child-free and accomplish all kinds of things completely unhindered, but that doesn't sound nearly as fun as doing whatever I want for a week.

How did I spend my time sans the small humans?

There was a lot of book reading, sleeping in, movie watching(Inception - go see it), dressing up and going out at night, eating insanely delicious food, and spending every moment with Steve. Given the choice, there's no one I would rather hang out with. He completes me. This week reminded us that there was a time when it was just the two of us, and in a few years it will be again. It's a good thing we still like each other.

We took a day to play tourist and road the ferry over to Sausalito. It's a charming little town full of cute shops and art galleries, it was fun to explore. The views from the ferry were breathtaking. The entire day was picture-postcard-perfect. We live in such a beautiful place, it's always fun to go out and explore it.

When the kids come home tomorrow and reality hits, I'm ready for it. I've had enough of a vacation to be ready for the return to normal.

Port of San Francisco

On A Boat

Sausalito

The view from our lunch table

The beautiful Golden Gate

Taking One For The Team

This is what the last two weeks of Dane's life looked like

Football, football, and then some more football

Football camp was tough this year; it was full contact, scorching hot, and Dane was playing on an injured ankle. He played through the pain, had some fun, and hopefully learned a few things.

It was my job to get him to camp everyday, and since it was far away, I was left with a choice; go home, then drive back in rush hour traffic, or hang out and wait. I chose hang out and wait. Between my Kindle, iPhone, shopping, and having long, leisurely lunches with my girlfriends, I was able to keep myself occupied.

As a matter of fact, I really enjoyed football camp.

There's A Fine, Fine Line

Avenue Q

...It's like Sesame Street

for Grown-Ups

I love Avenue Q. I saw it for the first time with Steve a few years ago, it was the National Touring Company and the show was excellent. It's hard to believe that a show starring puppets provides such high quality entertainment, but Avenue Q delivers. (did you know that it beat Wicked for the Best New Musical Tony in '04?) It's clever and a bit naughty and really funny.

The very first community theater in the country to get the rights to Avenue Q is one of our local theaters, it's a big honor for them, and lucky for us. This time around I went with Dagny, and our friends Leslie and Jenna. I don't think anybody in the theater had more fun than we did. I will admit that the show quality wasn't what it was when I saw it in San Francisco, but it was still completely entertaining. I love that all of this great theater is right in my own backyard and it's very fun to get to share it with Dagny.

Happy Days

The week we've all been waiting for has finally arrived.

The kids are at camp and Steve and I are on our own.

I wonder who's going to have more fun?

ready to go

happy camper

Buh-Bye

One

Happy Birthday Gwendolyn!

I'm going to miss Gwen's puppy days, it's been such a fun year. I've loved watching her grow. She is simply the cutest, smartest, funniest, naughtiest, sweetest puppy there has ever been.

Family Ties

Why would I go to Arizona in the middle of July?

That's a question I heard from everybody. They think that Arizona is a hot, miserable place in the summer and why would I willingly spend time there?

The answer is simple -

Family

Highlights of the trip

• late night talks
• family fun
• home cooking
• cousins
• Eegee's
• lanyards

Being part of Sabrina's family for a week was a wonderful thing. She doesn't simply have a house, she has a home and she welcomed us into it. When we planned the trip we thought we'd just be seeing Sabrina and her family, maybe a couple of my other siblings, instead we got practically my entire family. Sabrina planned a mini-reunion and almost everyone was there. We partied late into the night and had a great time.

Dane and Kendrick got to spend lots of quality time together, in fact we barely saw them, they were always off playing on their own. It's wonderful to see the friendship the two of them have formed.

I blame all of this familial bonding on blogging. Because of all the blogs (mine, Sabrina's, her kids...) we have become part of eachother's daily lives. When we see eachother it's like picking up in the middle a sentence. When you live far apart that is a gift.

We enjoyed every minute of our time in Arizona, the only sad thing is that we didn't get to stay longer. Luckily we are already planning our next trip...

Home

I left Arizona 15 years ago, yet when someone asked where I was going this week, I answered, "Home to Arizona."

I guess where you start out will always be home.

I will be back in a week with stories and pictures from our trip to the desert.

Fire In The Sky

The thing I love most about

the 4th of July?

Fireworks.

No matter how hot it is during the day, it's always freezing at the fireworks.

We come prepared, please notice the use of the Snuggies.