Spring Break Fun..

While the vast majority of my break consisted of taking care of a sick little girl, we managed to pull off a great end to our time off. On Saturday, the Little and Morford families hit Tahoe with a vengeance. Jack and Maddy Jo go WAY back... to daycare days .... and we had the chance to spend a few days together last Spring break in San Diego. That was GOOD TIMES with GOOD PEOPLE. So when they invited us for a night of Tahoe fun (knowing we have a high maintenance two year old) we immediately excepted.

Our day started off at the Beacon at Camp Richardson for lunch. Some things I definitely recommend... 1. letting your 7 year old and their much wiser 8 year old friend have their own table, 2. ordering the blackened Mahi Sandwich 3. topping it off with a Rum Runner.... not necessarily in that order.

Later we all went golfing.... miniature golfing that is... I think Macy won : ) I believe I did amazingly well until my third hole when my rum runner wore off. Jack and Maddy Jo went ahead and shot amazingly well under par for each hole. Can you say cheaters? I apologize for not having any pics of this part of the family adventure. Especially Bob showing off his little putter and blue ball.

We had to wait a bit for our Condo to be cleaned so we waited it out on the beach. When Macy sees a beach, she automatically likes to take off her shoes and clothes. In light of all the snow on the shore I nixed this attempt and she was not a happy camper.

We saw this poor homeless man with only a shopping cart and a garbage bag coat to his name.....actually this is our friend Greg.

Bob enjoying the view. Notice Macy and I in the background pretending we don't know the strange men by the shopping cart.

Hanging out on the dock.

Note to the management: If you do not have our room ready on time, we will let our children play a little Jackass Junior with your tables. Maddy Jo and Jack set up these tables for some shoe sliding fun.

Once we got to the condo we enjoyed a bottle of wine and let Macy sleep for a bit. Just a little a breather before we hit the casino arcade with the ten and under crowd. Aside from a Macy melt down in Cabo Wabo (which I remedied by allowing her to have ice cream for dinner....please nominate me for mom of the year) we had a great time. We even stayed up until 10:30 P.M. WOW!!! The only evidence of the evening would be the made in China treasures the kids won with all their game tickets. I especially LOVED Maddy Jo's mood ring and Macy's fabulous new night light.

Macy and Maddy Jo waking up after a wild night. I wish MJ was old enough to babysit. She is awesome with little kids.

One thing I appreciate about Greg and Shelly is they are equally as laid back as we are.. no need for the traditional early morning egg hunt. Instead Greg took the big kids swimming in the morning and we then enjoyed an Easter Continental breakfast with all the other Tahoe tourists. We then packed up and went to Sierra at Tahoe for a few Easter activities.

Maddy Jo and Bob having an impromptu sack race. She won... Notice the other photographer in the picture. She is also in many of our other pictures for some reason.

Here the kids had to stuff Peeps (gross) into their mouth and try to say Chubby Bunny... Maddy won that too!!!!

The Little Family on Easter

But wait..... our day is not over. We then went home and got ready for some Easter fun at Papa and Grandmas.. As you can guess the only reason I am getting this post done is my children are worn out after a wild weekend and still sleeping. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday too! Now it is back to work for me tomorrow...BOO HISS

Jack's new favorite thing to do at Papas is riding the quad around the property.

Jack and his cousin Allison showing off some of their scavenger hunt goodies.

Jack and Macy looking like they love each other. CUTE!

I don't know how Alli got them all to smile!! It is hard to believe she will be going off to college in just a few months. Now we will have an excuse to go to San Francisco.

Single Parenthood

The last couple of months have been quite an adventure. With Bob gone all week, I have gained a new appreciation for single parents. Some of my proudest moments in recent weeks include: serving Fruit Loops for dinner, wearing my sweater wrong side out to work, and letting Macy wear her pajamas to school. Indeed I have learned I can not do it all. On the flip side, Jack finally lost his second tooth and the tooth fairy remembered to leave him some money. He also made the Spelling Bee Team.... I guess I can help my children somehow....

As if Bob going through Peace Officer training and me working on my Master's degree isn't stress enough, we lost some great people in our family. In mid January Bob's grandma Alice passed away. I adored her from the first time I met her and she announced that she was going to be a professional ice skater when she grew up. This statement was nothing compared to the time she confided she had a cousin who was "50% lesbian" .... huh? Her wit will be missed. Then on Valentine's Day my sister-in-law Debbie shockingly died. She was a person I always looked up to and I am disappointed she won't be around to touch other lives. It is these sad moments that remind me to enjoy life.

Friday is the halfway point of Bob's training. He graduates on our 10th anniversary, May 30th. HOW ROMANTIC!!!! While I am counting down the days, I know in a strange way this experience has brought our family closer together Macy best sums up the Little Life with this expression.....Sanity is overrated

February 16th - Judy's day

Traditionally, February 16th has been a day of great celebration for my family. Not only is it my Mom's birthday but it is my parents anniversary. This year my mom would have turned 62 and celebrated a 34th wedding anniversary. How strange and sad it will be not to have her here with us this year. To say I miss her everyday would be an understatement. In rememberance of my mom and her special day, I share these pictures with you.

Every girl wants a pony. My mom was no exception. She loved this childhood picture.

Class of 1963 from El Dorado High School. I graduated exactly 30 years later from the same school.

This is the only time I have seen my Dad without a beard. Apparently my mom was attracted to the used car saleman look. They were married in their Apple Hill home at Boa Vista Orhards on Febraury 16, 1974.

Ah...the seventies..... notice my mom's recent Dorothy Hamill do. My dad considered it a don't... My brothers Kenny and Kevin look especially dapper with their winged suits.... Get ready for take off!!

I love that my parents LOVED each other. How lucky I am to have these two as my mom and dad.

Five reasons to keep her memory alive.... Macy, Niklas, Jack, Ava,and Anya. I hope we can help them understand what a wonderful lady Grandma Judy was!!!

Excuse: Cabin Fever

Yet another snow day.. I would say we have a good 2-3 three feet piled up outside. I resorted to indoor activities.... (insert villianous laugh here...)

Macy has been plagued with a major snot nose for the past few days. Unsticking her long hair from the goo was getting old.. so yes I thought I would cut her hair, and no I have not had any formal cosmotology training. (My friend Alison could bear witness to this as I gave her an Ogilvie home perm ONCE.... I think her hair has almost rebounded from that lapse in judgment.) Well I am sure today's haircur will trainslate into many hours of therapy for my daughter down the road. The good news is it will grow back. I must say that her hair has looked worse after a home hair cut. Great Clips has nothing on me!

Pray for her as she is stuck with us for at least 16 more years. Can't wait until my husband comes home on Friday!

Smiling because she hasn't looked in the mirror yet!!!

More Snow

Another snow day..another date with the shovel. The charm is wearing off. At least Jack likes it! This makes three days we will be making up!!!

Here's what we woke up to this morning... Winter &#@*$%^ Wonderland. It's so beautiful.

A happy boy!!!!

SNOW DAY

Perhaps the best sound you can hear at 5:30 in the morning is the phone..that is when it is Pinewood School calling to tell you school is cancelled for the day. YIPPEE!! I really appreciated the 3 hours of extra sleep. And yes I do realize I will be whining about making this day up at the end of the school year. Jack and Macy wasted no time jumping into their winter wardrobes. While Macy lasted a mere 30 minutes, Jack is still going strong at the 4 hour mark. I am anticipating a hot chocolate break soon. With Bob out of town, I have developed a new love affair with the shovel. We seem to spend a lot of time together. Bob has spoiled me in that I have not had to shovel snow for many years. I found it is just like riding a bike....you never forget...it still sucks. I am sure I will be finding the Aleve bottle soon!

Macy the Marshmallow Girl enjoying the snow

Jack and our neighbor enjoying Mt. Marjorie. Living at the bottom of the court we have the pleasure of having all the snow on the entire road pushed in front of our yard. It usually takes several months to melt. The kids love it!!!

The work of the Shovel master. Please hold your applause. Note the road has yet to be plowed.

Meanwhile back in the house... Old Man Humo is enjoying some time away from the two year old.

All About Bob

I thought I'd take the opportunity to share a little bit of Bob with our viewers out there. Charismatic? Witty? Funny? Insane? You be the judge...

He is a great "Ski" partner. Here he is in all his glory with his friend Patrick during a strenuous day at Sierra-at-Tahoe. Not many people can (or want to) pull off a hat like this!

Did I tell you he snowboards too?

Catching a wave.....Cowabrrrrrunga dude!

I appreciate the fact that he can get in touch with his feminine side.

Even other men find him irresistible!

All I can say is to know him is to love him!

Sorry folks he is taken! : )