1988

This is the year that New Kids on the Block entered my life. Before them I was obsessed with Michael Jackson. They were the first group that I became completely enthralled with. This makes sense since I was in 6th grade and boy crazy. Here was a group of 5 guys who had hit songs. It was all the craze!

I couldn't wait to get Bop magazine or Tiger Beat so I could tear out the pin ups and add them to my closet doors.

In 7th grade and went and saw them in my first concert ever. I was surrounded by thousands of other teenagers screaming singing and dancing. It was one of the best nights of my adolescent life. I was in love.

25 years later I had a reunion with all of those exact teenagers from that concert. I swear, ALL OF THEM were there last Friday night to see Boys to Men, 98 Degrees and New Kids. Boys to Men was outstanding. They were a class act and sang their old stuff and it was seriously great. 98 Degrees, who cares, except for seeing Nick Lachey, who I've had a crush on since watching him and Jessica in their reality TV show. And then there was New Kids on the Block...

Similarities in concerts from 1989 and 2013:
-Same guys.
-Same ladies in the crowd.
-Same moves (very impressive).
-Same cheesiness (which was not cheesy in 7th grade- only hot).
-Same high pitch screaming.
-Same seriousness from the band- meaning they took their talents very seriously and sang and pointed as if singing directly to YOU.
-A few members took their shirts off.
-Jon (my favorite) was obsolete- never in the front and center and RARELY on the big screen. Trish and I got a huge kick out of this.

Differences:
-Donnie was balding with black framed glasses.
- I found Jordan and Donnie to be the most attractive- not the case in 7th grade. Jordan actually looks really good, where Donnie was the personality of the concert, a very attractive trait.
- The above statement would never have been made in 7th grade. Only who was the best looking.
- I am referring to them as "hot" instead of "fine." Remember saying that? "He is so fine!"
-New music was played. Yes, they have new music- who knew? It was not good as it has the same sound as their stuff from the 80s and 90s- NOT a good one.
-The crowd was in their 30s versus their teen years.
-I laughed far more than I squealed in delight.
-I was buzzed.

 It was SUCH a fun night. The energy was high and the laughs were many.

I am impressed that it was a full house. Some of the fans are still full on fans. They were there to hear the new stuff. And here I was thinking it was a reunion tour. Oops!! It was fabulously hilarious.

A Shift

Recently I have come to the realization that we are in a new phase of parenthood. It's been awhile since we've had babies or even toddlers. I know I've mentioned this before, but I still walk by the diaper section on Costco and smile at the fact that I am not loading up a box.

The most recent awareness I have is when the kids' opinions differ from my own. I do know that you choose your battles as a parent. I have noticed that my kids are making decisions about clothes and what decor is in their rooms.

Obviously my kids get themselves dressed. With Ryan I just lay out the clothes. With Haley, during the school year we pick out clothes together and during the summer she just gets herself ready unless it's a special occasion and I will tell her she needs a dress, etc. For years I bought her clothes and put together her outfits and "dressed" her. Now she has opinions, which is great. Except when I don't like it. Nothing she goes for is at all inappropriate, it's just not always what I find cute. For example, we just shopped for shoes at the Nordstrom anniversary sale. Haley picked out a pair of boots that I NEVER would have. But she loved them and did that little strut when she walked around in them. But what about these cute little Mary Jane's or ballet flats?

On Saturday we went to a Sabercats game. They gave away posters and today I found the kids helping each other hang the posters in their rooms. A Sabercats poster does not match either of the rooms' decor, but the kids were so excited to have done it.

I wonder how many times my parents looked at my clothes and wanted to trade them in? I wonder how my parents felt when I plastered my walls with Michael Jackson and eventually New Kids on the Block (future post about recent concert coming soon)?

But, I always felt good in my clothes and my room felt like my space and I liked it. My parents did not try to control those things. Unless anything is inappropriate, I feel like clothes and walls will not be battles I will be taking on.

A slight shift from full control of these minor things to letting it go. A new phase for me. Not easy, not hard, just a shift.

Now, excuse me while I sneak into Haley's room and put a bow in her hair. :)

Tahoe 2013

We just came back from our time in Tahoe. This trip is definitely a family favorite each year. This year we made a list of all the things we wanted to do while we were there. Each day we looked at the list and crossed off the activities we accomplished.
The Giorgetti family stayed at our same resort. Them being there added extra fun to our week. They are a family who enhances the time. They are so easy going and go with the flow. That's exactly how we operate on this vacation. No schedules or agendas.

One item on our list was swimming in the pool. Yes, we did it every day for multiple hours. Ryan was swimming a ton without his water wings- oh, the pride he had! Each night as we went to bed he would talk about how he was going to swim by himself every day. As much as we have always been in the pool, both my kids were later when it came to swimming solo. Haley is now a fish and has been for years. Ryan LOVES the water and is just getting it down without help.

Another list item was the beach! There is no way you can skip going to the lake while in Tahoe. It was a lovely beach day with perfect weather. I ended up talking to one of the employees at the beach about the book he was reading. It is about the public school system. He is a college student who is a product of the public school system. He said that he had a positive school experience and feels he was prepared for college (after I asked him certain questions, of course). He found this to be a very interesting read. I'll have to check it out.

Haley added "jumpy thing" to the list- nailed it!

 Mini golf was probably the most anticipated event. The kids LOVED it. It was so entertaining to watch them.

 Other items included a meal at Riva's on the lake (yum- Wet Woody's!), kids club (which they got to do while we were at Riva's), arcade at Harrah's and chocolate fondue dessert which is a staple on this trip.

A perfect vacation.

God Bless America

We had a fun filled 4th of July. As I loaded these pictures I was filled with the sense of gratitude. Life is just good. We have dear friends who we get to raise our families with. This is what it's all about. The pool side cocktails and fireworks show (new found spot to see all the fireworks in the valley without the crowds) are just added bonuses. My life as a teacher has brought me so many gifts. One of the biggest is meeting these women and creating these incredible friendships. Our families have so much fun together.

Biggest Cliche Parent Move

Today, for the first time in my 8 and 1/2 years of being a parent, I pulled one of the biggest parental moves in my life.

I pulled the car over.

I pulled off the freeway and pulled into a parking lot. I got out of the car and opened Ryan's door and firmly asked him to get out so I could talk to him outside. He was already shocked and tears were forming as we exited the car.

I said I would do it if the behavior continued. It did and I did. I felt like a mom. I think that move makes it more than official. I NEVER thought I'd do that.

Needless to say we had a wonderful rest of the day.

Pinecrest 2013

It was another fantastic camping trip. It was warm and the lake was perfect. We hiked, swam, laughed, played. I love being totally disconnected from our phones and just enjoying nature, family, and friends. Ryan was hit with a bit of sun sickness (hence the sad face in the picture) and took a 4.5 hour nap after we got back from the lake that day- sad! We consumed the most delicious food and drink. The highlight for me was when we were all sitting around the camp fire our last night and we were telling progressive stories. You know, one person starts it, the next person adds to it and so on. The kids were cracking up and so were the adults! This trip never disappoints. I love being outside, in nature and having no idea of the time. We explore, play, climb and swim. The lake is beautiful and it never gets old. I know I write about this trip every year, but it really is my favorite. It's a ton of work before, during, and after but it's just the best. I know camping isn't Josh's favorite thing to do but he is a trooper.  It was a great time. I am missing the smell of pine trees already...and, to be honest, the taste of s'mores as well.

June

I can't believe June was here and gone. It really flew by. We are on TOTAL summer vacation mode and I love it. Late mornings, play dates, and family get togethers. I am pretty sure I say this every summer, but this has been the best summer yet. The kids are getting easier all of the time. I am loving this time off and cherish it so much.

 One thing about summer vacation is the water play. Both Haley and Ryan love the water. It's a good thing, because if they didn't I don't know what I would do. I could live in the water and have been known, from time to time, to not get out of it for hours. The kids feel the same way about it.

 The cupcakes? I made them for Ryan's birthday party. The cocktail? Aqui has 7 new martini swirls. Oh, yes. This one was a mojito swirl and it was DE-VINE.

 We went with some friends to see "Monsters University" the day it came out. There were 18 of us and we took over an entire row at the theater. I loved the movie as it was a "Revenge of the Nerds" remake for kids with monsters. So great. We all came back to our house for a casual dinner- 11 kids running around, playing and sweating. Total chaos-complete enjoyment by all.

 Last year, while we were away in Cancun, the kids enjoyed the day camp through Campbell Community Center. This year they asked to do it again, and again loved it. They both asked for more weeks- um, no. You are forced to hang out with me :) I enjoyed my time during camp week too, but one week is plenty.

Last summer a mom at Capri started family beach days. It was a beautiful day in Santa Cruz last week and look at all the kids! Hours in the waves and plenty of time for me to catch up with some moms. Summer life is heavenly. I'm in total bliss.