The Grammys

This year our family friend was nominated for a Grammy for Best Children's Artist. We have enjoyed The Paphugs Band for years as we have attended performances and own all 3 CDs. David is a long time family friend of the Russells and Josh helped out with some marketing, etc. when he first started the band. Well, after various circumstances, David offered Josh a ticket to the Grammys. The ticket included attendance to his award show, which is right before the live show, the live show, and the official after party. WOW! Then, a few days later, David asked if Josh was willing to dress up like one of the characters and walk the red carpet. Those of you who know Josh know that this was a no brainer.

There he is! In all his robot glory. He said that it was such a rush! Major publications and networks were calling them over and interviewing them. We were watching the live stream and got to see them. We were all screaming at the excitement. He said it was so crazy. He was inches from Steve Martin and Weird Al, two of his favorite performers EVER!

He texted me throughout the entire live show with all sorts of details and insights so while I watched it later that night, I had the inside scoop.

He ended up meeting up with a friend at the after party and sent pics and videos of the performers and other celebrities he saw. Most A-listers were not there, but he caught sight of a few.

Paphugs did not bring home the trophy that night but it was a crazy fun night none the less. What an incredible event to attend! And yes, Josh had a hangover the next morning. :)

7

She's 7! On February 16th, at 1:13am she turned 7. Seems a bit surreal. When I grew up we had a tradition of waking up early on our birthdays and celebrating before we went to school. We decided to implement the new tradition in our own house. So Thursday morning we woke up and sang and had cake and opened presents before leaving for the day. The kids couldn't believe we were actually having cake for breakfast. It was awesome.

The next day we had her birthday party. I had the perfect plan as we were leaving for our trip the next day. The plan was this:

4:30- party starts

4:50- kids decorate heart shaped picture frames, which is also their favor. They will each get a picture with Ariel to put in the frame.

5:15-6:15- Ariel the mermaid comes to tell stories, do magic, paint faces and do balloon animals

6:15-7:00- pizza, pinata, cake

7:00 parents pick up kids, party over

What actually happened:

4:30- party starts

4:50 kids decorate frames

5:10- Ariel and owner of character business call to let us know her car broke down on the freeway. Josh gets in car to go get her about 8-10 miles away.

5:10-6:30- girls are asking every 13 seconds when Ariel will show up, my brother goes to get pizza, we do pinata, game, and open presents. Ariel still not there. Kids pull out all garage toys and ride on bikes, scooters, etc. Pizza arrives. Kids eat. Josh is texting every so often to say he is sitting in rush hour traffic, both there and back. He texts that he can't find her. He texts that he finds her.

6:30- Ariel shows up in time for cake

6:30-7:00- kids completely mesmerized by Ariel and her talents

7:00- parents start showing up to pick kids up and Ariel has just begun painting faces. Parents eat pizza and have cake and visit.

7:40- all guests are gone.

PHEW!!! Haley said it was the best party ever and that's all that matters. It was pretty comical.

T

he thing I loved most about it was meeting a few of the girls that Haley plays with at school and meeting their parents. I am proud of Haley for many many things. The thing I am most proud of, at this point, is her choice in friends. All 8 girls at the party had lovely manners and played so nicely. They were lively and kind and inclusive of one another.It makes me proud that Haley is choosing a mix of friends with one thing in common, they are all good little girls.They all love school and play by the rules. It's awesome to see your child coming into her own and making choices you hope she'd make.

She is 7. She is awesome.

The Track

I am at the Campbell track at least once a week. I love it there. Not only is it clean and safe and close to home, but it has its own culture. It is a place where you can run into people and see the regulars. Here are some of my stand outs...

1. The cat lady. he walks the track on the outside lane with cat food in the palm of her hand. A neighborhood kitty comes out every time I see her and enjoys the snacks she brings.

2.  The trainers and trainees. These are people teaching and participating in group training sessions. I learn a lot of my exercises from this group and try then either after the class is over and I'm still there, or the next time I hit the track. SCORE!

3. The lovers. These are people who walk the track holding hands...in the run lanes.

4. The regulars. These are the people I see EVERY time (at least many of the times) I go to the track. They are already there when I get there and still there when I leave. Most are in amazing shape. They say hello to everyone they pass.

5. The parents of future star athletes. I see these at least once a month. These are the parents who are out there with stop watches and cones "training" their children. And I do mean children. These are not even high school age kids going for a scholarship. These are adolescent age and younger with parents who have a goal in mind. The goal could be playing for a certain team or the goal could be getting some exercise. Each time I see this I want to yell, "how about you play a game on the field instead of just running drills?" Kids love games, right? I am being judgmental. I guess I don't understand it all. Kids love to run around and get exercise. I know I do!  I love it best when it's not in the form of working out, but rather in a class or activity.

I enjoy going to the track. I love my community.

January

As you can see, the start of our January was very rough. It entailed sunshine and trips to the beach where the kids were able to play in the 70 degree weather. Yes, I do love California. I have never lived anywhere else, but I know I love it here.

The end of January was a bit crazy. We have all been off kilter about 1 degree. I am, in general, a happy person and in a good mood. Most of my days are spent happy, patient, and ready for what the day has in store. Some days are different. I really hate when I can't get my emotions in check. I am very aware of my frustrations, impatience, etc. I even can pinpoint the cause (on most occasions). I am not the best when things are out of sorts. If I can see it coming and prepare, I am better.

Yesterday I was saturated. Completely. Unfortunately Ryan was the one who broke the straw and out came a beast I didn't know was in there. My voice was at a volume and octave I didn't know I was capable of. Ryan and I were both shocked by it. It was very brief and we were both silent afterward. I told Josh is was an emotional blood bath. I felt horrible. In 7 years of parenthood, I've never felt that way. I've definitely hit my limit before, just not quite like this. I know why it happened. I know why I didn't have patience. But for me, knowing doesn't always help change the emotion. The first words I spoke to Ryan after the exchange was "I'm sorry." His response? "I'm sorry too" without prompting.

I will say that today he was far less whiny and used his manners in every single appropriate situation. He didn't argue about getting dressed and he didn't lose it and go into a fit. This was nice. Very nice. 

This whole thing prompted a good conversation between Josh and me. We clarified some new approaches we are going to take with him as we will not be tolerant of certain things any more. We also connected about how we are feeling with the bit of craziness going on around us. Being rational feels so good. Feeling calm and in control feels so good. Having a planned approach feels so good (so many times parenting is on the spot).

Exhale...

My Life List

This is definitely a work in progress, but here is what I have:

Life List

• attend a Superbowl live (preferably dance in the half time show)
• run a half marathon
• have a healthy BMI
• get paid for my photography (Tuells 2013)
• dance in a professional show
• write a book
• speak motivationally
• see Yellowstone
• Fly 1st class
• See Mayan ruins (July 1012)
• Go to a spa retreat weekend- all spa treatments, yoga, meditation
• stay in a hut over the ocean
• own a house with a yard
• host a 4th of July party in my backyard (it will be over the top)
• take a make-up (cosmetics) course
• learn to sew
• raise respectful and kind children (working on this every single day)
• see my children graduate from high school
• see my children graduate from college
• teach a college course
• take a floral arranging class
• own a vacation home
• roast a whole turkey (have it be delicious)
• dance in a flash mob
• have my collarbones be visible (so feminine)
• stay on a river/lake in Montana
• do a Broadway show tour in NY
• treat the extended family to a surprise vacation
• own a piano (October 2014)
• relearn the piano
• change a tire on a car (so close with Torrey once)
• run the Warrior Dash (sign up in time)
• learn how to play tennis
• learn how to surf
• take a self defense class
• meditate for at least an hour
• learn to knit or crochet
• learn to snowboard
• take kids horseback riding
• take kids down the Truckee river
• be in Times Square on NYE
• Swim in the sea in Greece
• see the Colosseum in Rome
• go to Mardi Gras
• see the pyramids in Egypt
• Swim in the Great Barrier Reef
• visit a castle in Ireland
• drink a Guinness in Ireland
• host a murder mystery dinner
• organize a progressive dinner
• own a dog (as an adult)- April 2014
• sing karaoke and impress the crowd (as of now I DO NOT sing karaoke)
• make a tradition of working at a shelter during the holiday season
• take a class at a yoga studio (not the gym)
• Wear a tight, strapless dress with my hair up and feel stunning
• walk around freely in my bathing suit without a care
• see definition in my arms
• run a bull-run in Spain (my heart is pounding thinking about it)
• pop out of a cake
• get one of Josh's idols to a birthday of his (Steve Martin, Weird Al)
• hang a painting of mine
• walk across the Golden Gate (can't believe I've never done this) April 2015
• walk on the Great Wall of China
• see each of my children win an award (Haley 9/2011) (Ryan 11/2013)

Crossed Off (other than above):

• be married
• become a mother
• see Madonna in concert (thanks to Joy, going for my 3rd time in October!)
• plan a surprise vacation for my immediate family
• take a pole dancing class
• parasail
• jump off a cliff (into the ocean- yes, broken tailbone, oops!)
• go rafting
• see the Grand Canyon
• snorkel
• go to Hawaii
• go to Caribbean
• go snow mobiling
• work on a movie set (met Robin Williams)
• go to a live taping of the Tonight Show (convinced Jay Leno to let me sit in his guest chair and take a pic with him before the show started)
• see Celine Dion in concert
• be a teacher
• be an exercise instructor
• run a 5k
• run a 10k
• be Reiki certified
• see each of my children win an award 
• attend a Tony Robbins seminar (thanks Kramers!)
• walk across hot coals
• throw a surprise party

Again, a draft, but very cool to get it all down. What I love the most is how much I have already done! Some big things and some small. I plan on getting some things crossed off in 2012.
Cheers!

All Signs Point to This

In the last 10 years I have come to believe that most things are not coincidence.We make decisions and choices every day. I believe there is a higher power that resides in all of us and sometimes the signs are just so clear.
A few months ago I started following my friend Jenny's blog. I know I have written about it before. I started reading because she is a friend and I do enjoy blogs of people I know. It's a way to peek into their lives and feel connected through their stories.
Jenny's blog is about her old life and more importantly, her current life. She is living her life list of goals and dreams and chronicling them along the way.
We all have goals and dreams. I related.
Then, last week we had a speaker come and work with our kids and making goals for themselves.His name is Jim Wiltons. He was dynamic and had written a few books. He, too, was living his list of dreams and goals. He's even made a career out of it!
He talked about how all adults have goals in life yet less than 1% of Americans write them down. By not writing them down we lose what some of them are and are less likely to go after them since they just swirl around in our heads. He talked about how making lists and working on lists help us to live a longer life. I believe it!
I have lived many dreams. I am living my biggest dream all the time. Josh and I are always doing things to better or enrich our lives.For the last year and a half we have given ourselves many challenges to help our lives or someone elses. We have written down our goals for the year, but this was the first time I went to write down my goals for my life.
I have started my list. It's long. The speaker said to think of them in categories like things I want to experience or possess or see or be.
I have realized two things.
1. At age (almost) 35 I have lived many dreams. Some pretty big ones and some small ones too.
2. I have many goals and dreams that I look forward to reaching.
Like Jenny, I will publish my life list here and give updates when I achieve them.

Still a Mystery

In the past I have written how I find it so interesting the praise a father gets when he takes his child/ren out and about. Josh has gotten several comments while at the park, grocery shopping, wherever about how wonderful it is that he is doing those things with his children. I have known these comments to happen to many dads. Not so much for the moms. I have wondered why this is and find it all quite interesting.

Yesterday the mystery continued. We had a music class with the kids and my brother in law and my niece also joined the class. It was the first session so the teacher gave some hand outs. When she gave the materials to Nate she said, "These are really important. Make sure to give them to your wife."
Ok...
1. Why wouldn't a dad be able to handle important documents?
2. What if he didn't have a wife? What if he was single or gay or a widower?

These types of interactions are perplexing. Is is that uncommon that dads are out with their children alone that it warrants a comment? Is it that uncommon that a dad would be bringing his child to a class and that he will be handling all documents and other things?
Perhaps I am naive since my dad totally interacted with us and Josh is a complete hands on parent and so are most of my friends, both women and men?
I know in older generations these things may have been rare. It's 2012. If we see any parent interacting with their children, let's for sure let them know we admire what they're doing. Moms or dads or any care takers. Goodness knows we all need a little pat on the back sometimes. Moms and dads both work hard. Bottom line.