passing on a passion ....

My dad loves to work with wood. His dad and his brothers all grew up working in my grandpa's wood shop and now Papa is passing his love and passion onto Ryan ... Gotta love it !!!

Last weekend they created Ryan's first bowl and this weekend he made his second.

this makes my heart smile :)

It's a new year!!!

We loved .. i mean LOVED .. having the week after New Years off ... the kids didn't go back to school until the 9th !!!

Which left lots of time for fun and organization..

Like the fridge .. scubbed, cleaned and organized .. it's amazing how a thing like that can make you feel good :)

Time for friends and relaxing

Hanging in the spa!!!

Ryan and I had a great date night !!

Dinner at Ryan's favorite and a shopping trip to get stuff for his room ...

Afternoons at the beach

Shopping for new cleats (not an easy task) I lost count at 25 pairs tried on

evenings of indoor soccer

A new pair of walking shoes for me ( I wore my last pair out )

 The pair that ryan finally decided on !! Gotta love them

 Memorable time spent with Papa learning his favorite new trade !!!

Ryan loved every moment and completed his first project

Blessed ... Time is precious and we did enjoy it... And I got one last gift too, but for now it's my secret!!

The end!!!

A recap of
the end of 2011 and our first week of Christmas Vacation....

soccer continues....

an afternoon of fun with the Kilcullens in downtown LA and lunch at Phillipe's ( fabulous as always)

Family breakfasts

All christmas put away until next year ... however we always forget at least 1 thing .. poor santa ornament

We cheered to the end 2011 ... and the hopes of 2012

Enjoyed B's cream puffs on News Years Eve ( I love traditions)

Spent another New years with friends!!

What a great week ... and still one more to enjoy
Welcome 2012!!!



save, save, save.....

Ryan amazes me. If I had to describe Ryan in one word it's "STUBBORN" .... stubborn is not always a bad thing. Yes, he is stubborn with day to day things, many of which drive me crazy ...
but, also stubborn in nothing is impossible, he will try and try again until he gets it, he doesn't believe in can't or no, these traits drive him. Drive him to be better, try harder, go farther ... things that as an adult I admire. All of this to say when he sets his mind to it ... he pushes and completes it...
A year ago, he started asking for Fixe, which I have come to learn is a bike, A $350 dollar bike.. I laughed. You have a nice, expensive bike already, that day he advised me "I'm going to buy it myself" I said OK.. Well, fast forward to now!!!
Months of saving, working for grandpa, working for dad, saving all money from this last year, saving some more .. Christmas put him over the top !!!!
Ryan and Mark headed out with $$$$ money in hand and Ryan bought himself a $350.00 bike !!!!
Proof that if a 12 year old can save for a dream purchase, so can I.
I'm very proud of you Ryan  ..... And love the pride of ownership you now feel for 

"YOUR BIKE"

Part of the Fixe craze is they are loud, crazy, personalized bikes ...
Ryan's suits him blue frame, green rims, white seat & grips ...
totally him and fits he personality to a T