FINISHED

I just wanted to share with you all...


I FINISHED MY MASTERS PROGRAM TODAY!!!!!!!!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!! HOORAY!!!! WHERE'S THE BEER?

A Fond Farewell in Fort Brag

This past weekend we joined together with many family members in Fort Brag to have a memorial for Bob's grandparents, Joe and Alice West. This is a place where the Little family spent many summer vacations and also where Joe and Alice liked to celebrate their wedding anniversaries. We all stayed in the Bed and Breakfast that they loved so much. The Grey Whale Inn originally served as the town hospital for nearly seventy years and was transformed into this wonderful B&B by the Bailey family in the late seventies. Like Joe and Alice, Bob and I have also spent some great weekends here. The last came we stayed, we brought my parents for their anniversary. It is a place of wonderful memories and it was so nice to return for this relaxing weekend.

I would highly recommend a stay here.

The memorial began with a hike down to the beach...

George and Steven share some thoughts about their mom Alice and stepfather Joe

As they wished, Joe and Alice's ashes were scattered into the ocean.

We all joined on the beach to share our special memories of Joe and Alice. They were giving, kind, and brilliant people who forever touched each of us.

WE ALSO TOOK TIME TO ENJOY THE COAST.....

Bob and Macy enjoying the town... I had ditched them for a little shopping fun in Mendocino with Grandma Mignon.

Do you think this is what heaven is like? Honestly, Jesus Elvis seems to fit in well in this coastal community.

While I know this picture is a bit dark, I wanted to share how Jack will pay for college. He developed a knack for playing pool. He spent a great deal of time in the basement around the pool table. In fact, Jack "Pool is Cool" Little plans to get full ride to the most prestigious university using this new talent. Yeah right!!!!

What a great weekend we had spending time with family we rarely get to see. We hope for many happy reunions in the future.

Achievements and Celebrations

This post is long overdue. There has been some great excitement in the Little house over the last month. Jack was in the county Spelling Bee. His team came in sixth place. Considering there were twenty-five teams I think this was a great achievement. The best thing that came from this experience is Jack gained a new sense of confidence and the motivation to try new things. He is now looking forward to starting soccer in a couple of months.

Bob accomplished his goal of completing his law enforcement training. I apologize to all my friends and family who had to listen to my whining of single parenthood. Oddly, I have already developed a sort of amnesia and I believe I could go through that again if I had to... As for the the person who really put in all the hard work, Bob did well. He graduated with special recognition for his physical fitness and received the "Iron Officer" award. Beyond finishing his 21 week stay in beautiful Ione, he also turned forty. We had a great get-together at our house and he was really touched by all of our friends and family who came to celebrate with us. Between graduation and a birthday party, we also celebrated our ten year anniversary. Bob gave me a BEAUTIFUL new ring, reminding me he still has a bit of romantic spirit : )

Finally, on June 4th, our baby turned 3. Having sat with Macy in the NICU for six weeks watching her struggle in her first weeks of life, makes me fully appreciate this yearly milestones. She had a fun filled day and received the bicycle she had been asking for over the past several weeks. So with the terrible twos behind us, we prepare for the more challenging tremendous threes. She is developing her own opinions after all.

In the coming week, I will finish my master's program and vow to be done with school. I am looking forward to regaining my life! So there you have it, the exciting times in the Pines!!!

Jack at the Spelling Bee!

Jack with his teammates.

Bob's supervisor pins on his badge

We are so proud of him... I tease him about the hat. I call this look Smokey the Bear meets Smokey and the Bandit.

Although you would think this is a picture from Bob's party, it is actually the day after. A wonderful lady made him this beer can hat. He has yearned for this for a long time. Ummm. thanks Cindy??? He thinks it goes with everything! Actually, I think it would look great with his uniform. Perhaps this could be part of his undercover duds.

Like her daddy, Macy enjoys a good hat. I did not have the heart to tell her that her helmet was on backwards. She doesn't know if she is coming or going. She is a perfect fit in this family.

Macy trying out her new bike. The princess safety gear completes the look.

On the Little Homefront...

School..work..school..work..sleep?...school..work...this seems to be the cycle of our life! This weekend was a rarity as we actually got to have some fun!!! On Saturday, we went to our school picnic and carnival. Mrs. Little was a big hit in the dunk tank. After that we headed out to Forest Hill for my cousin Bryson's wedding. It was a beautiful day. On mother's day we had our family tradition of planting all the flowers in the garden. Jack made me a great card and Macy gave me a clay hand print. It was low key but perfect!! I then kicked everybody out so I could do my homework. BOO - HISS. While that part was not so fun, it was great being with my family. the biggest gift of all

I forgot to mention how the weekend started. When we came home on Friday night, I asked Jack to keep Macy safe and alive for thirty minutes while I went on the treadmill. I guess I failed to mention to keep her clean and not to draw on her with marker!!! Another proud mommy moment.

By the 100th time I was dunked, I was not smiling so much. It's for the kids right?

Newlyweds Leslie and Bryson Pearson

Jack is in that phase of life where he is too cool to smile for the camera.

Macy on the other hand is quite the poser!!!

Bunka, Macy, Kim and Jack (still poo-pooing the camera)

My Dad with his brother Don and his fiance Chris

WELCOME BABY G

I was beside myself with excitement yesterday when Ross called to tell us that Ayla has joined the world!!! I am thrilled for Ross and Alison and hope to meet their little girl very soon. While I haven't seen her yet, I am positive the following artist renditions are shockingly identical to the real thing....

Baby Ayla by Jack

Evidently Macy thinks the baby is plump with very short legs....

CONGRATULATIONS GIMPEL FAMILY THREE!!!

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