tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185111212024-03-23T11:19:33.693-07:00Punk Rock ParentsTrading in 2 am rock shows for 2 am diaper changes.Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.comBlogger2421125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-89370657743586168492023-02-09T13:52:00.001-08:002023-02-09T13:52:41.787-08:00Dirt Road Diary- Berdoo Canyon<p>It had been awhile but Joey recently convinced me to head out on an off-roading adventure. Mostly because the San Berdoo trail ends inside Joshua Tree National Park and it's hard to so no to a day trip to Joshua Tree. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZttTooYut1DTVhfUe9xtgxPmHiabqhu5v3iaG8uDD9ybl7fdOJQhl0MPqTnrou8A2GzGtbVX0svLUc8GzdY24gPTa-DVWqDh5qBRVqo_YRBLozA7Q2lwZjVZa34egYEJvCVGLnASzzVpiUZYCWFgvwltIWbh6FO8HrRQQ_vDExhGZ00GNIg/s1616/52661050747_96a3e44a32_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZttTooYut1DTVhfUe9xtgxPmHiabqhu5v3iaG8uDD9ybl7fdOJQhl0MPqTnrou8A2GzGtbVX0svLUc8GzdY24gPTa-DVWqDh5qBRVqo_YRBLozA7Q2lwZjVZa34egYEJvCVGLnASzzVpiUZYCWFgvwltIWbh6FO8HrRQQ_vDExhGZ00GNIg/w640-h429/52661050747_96a3e44a32_o%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And about 15 minutes in we were already out of the trucks and fixing something. I swear the guys live for stuff like that. Luckily it wasn't our truck this time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLGE2USQu-5KjOJ6AGpUop1corEYKR_HQ1ru17BkFs6RVtwUpcs8SnXFkTMkEPveTTMCqoLB-vrBEs_ydqqzEt45XUPq3oUA-9zNh7HIPpyvdT39Z1JSyEcUFqMdHhYhwCNNob0ngUib-QPS9KP8c05W7bqO9IcgqEerpskpr_tWddtDo8Q/s1616/52661050597_aa46c0236e_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLGE2USQu-5KjOJ6AGpUop1corEYKR_HQ1ru17BkFs6RVtwUpcs8SnXFkTMkEPveTTMCqoLB-vrBEs_ydqqzEt45XUPq3oUA-9zNh7HIPpyvdT39Z1JSyEcUFqMdHhYhwCNNob0ngUib-QPS9KP8c05W7bqO9IcgqEerpskpr_tWddtDo8Q/w640-h428/52661050597_aa46c0236e_o%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last time we did this trail was in 2014. I think we have aged pretty damn well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1M31GyZMYgQFMtMdYy1YBOLcbh1va7cy3S95O-73fdQa9Ucc0OwMFm0VdNV3NshXEPEYJMCAboSdqD7jo5bd3Uu3XTkqS0_3uJjZQPkERFCAzhlUjRIWhATQwW2kHVg9pAKqbEy0NWMFm7Tuvgoi3Nvzmv2B68Aj_ulGqOdkBmH7xC6f1A/s1440/52661551456_cf658353b8_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1M31GyZMYgQFMtMdYy1YBOLcbh1va7cy3S95O-73fdQa9Ucc0OwMFm0VdNV3NshXEPEYJMCAboSdqD7jo5bd3Uu3XTkqS0_3uJjZQPkERFCAzhlUjRIWhATQwW2kHVg9pAKqbEy0NWMFm7Tuvgoi3Nvzmv2B68Aj_ulGqOdkBmH7xC6f1A/w640-h640/52661551456_cf658353b8_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This time it was cold. Like mega, wear as many layers as you can cold. Check out the safety first twinsies..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgs2wL2id2KTltuYrIDWi9MkyrvzAeeIRdhbySxnQLlfx1Gex9wvOCwx54j2RH2yuopIkoKzQ3yypYt3mvT7bU_Iz-z4VPGikFAiXBz04_enPwN8Iu-Oe4_tET1l59WBe3TL-kX4RNwVhxHTmtbA-pewYUwhDPPS11HOBK5nZKVdL66A7IQ/s1616/52662042383_b13f02575c_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgs2wL2id2KTltuYrIDWi9MkyrvzAeeIRdhbySxnQLlfx1Gex9wvOCwx54j2RH2yuopIkoKzQ3yypYt3mvT7bU_Iz-z4VPGikFAiXBz04_enPwN8Iu-Oe4_tET1l59WBe3TL-kX4RNwVhxHTmtbA-pewYUwhDPPS11HOBK5nZKVdL66A7IQ/w640-h428/52662042383_b13f02575c_o%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we are not working we are playing. But probably still talking about work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpXrjWsR1F2Udp4PXjTsIZN19zY4iA7sw5ArgS6x3UNcucVlSwkUlG-GjfCZrpmu4ILi1ejrxOCN4I8WYgG4HRujZfhrmLSuAF8-SegxqJO1eWlDbzpi5xY8AA44TqYFAiFX_jbiMSQzXeeN0ia0_i4baAfIfmbJbHJ09s7QC2sDEC7I12Q/s1440/52661837004_41c2a302a6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpXrjWsR1F2Udp4PXjTsIZN19zY4iA7sw5ArgS6x3UNcucVlSwkUlG-GjfCZrpmu4ILi1ejrxOCN4I8WYgG4HRujZfhrmLSuAF8-SegxqJO1eWlDbzpi5xY8AA44TqYFAiFX_jbiMSQzXeeN0ia0_i4baAfIfmbJbHJ09s7QC2sDEC7I12Q/w640-h640/52661837004_41c2a302a6_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A hill that our truck could not make it up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ZWk5XEXS7zQg_QpCjuyvJm3hO3_4ahNJVcD131a4kvKNRS79TwtIWuMuNy9YCS1w1JcHKoSMthEaGWjzPy8qVyc5RxTH6KGBp_UZAV4Su82PaguDtzXoSOy4YTwhJ6Fw8CXGL7-zYKfml-Viu_YrI9oArSThAJDwkg_HChPmrQQsfN3cg/s1616/52661050917_0ee8429369_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ZWk5XEXS7zQg_QpCjuyvJm3hO3_4ahNJVcD131a4kvKNRS79TwtIWuMuNy9YCS1w1JcHKoSMthEaGWjzPy8qVyc5RxTH6KGBp_UZAV4Su82PaguDtzXoSOy4YTwhJ6Fw8CXGL7-zYKfml-Viu_YrI9oArSThAJDwkg_HChPmrQQsfN3cg/w428-h640/52661050917_0ee8429369_o%20(1).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Joshua Tree is beyond gorgeous. Pictures can never do it justice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchPhbw1v1UlBlAQPT9UbSkJeFe3qsC7XvMC-RnsRkKGes8NUQ1JKRMmRn8jPZF19KprQVwpQSSNer0F-SoEvFDZzajotZIVkOiwkqavT8L8lKZvb26nj4K4A6i3vLZXU2r1G-zgmwjOGFf4QoSA8G1xNiB2LVasd67PADLkCJDm5jx06Qug/s1440/52662042503_78f574a987_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchPhbw1v1UlBlAQPT9UbSkJeFe3qsC7XvMC-RnsRkKGes8NUQ1JKRMmRn8jPZF19KprQVwpQSSNer0F-SoEvFDZzajotZIVkOiwkqavT8L8lKZvb26nj4K4A6i3vLZXU2r1G-zgmwjOGFf4QoSA8G1xNiB2LVasd67PADLkCJDm5jx06Qug/w640-h640/52662042503_78f574a987_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made a stop to explore around some amazing rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ559_K0KjJJDxGnTyIMMj-KyOq4mhz42q5Z9tycCzop2dp4HY6bdz91Q5m-zsWM8qhHNBZIORnF8RtJJDqhq1ZqhxRbyJuYNTgcCs6-kBr43_11kRSP1nL91BwoPGKtYa5peAvtMq1JBflnBaGQbB8_AzIuXAy59Y3ppIqhsbMernRMMmFQ/s1440/52661994795_1ef1af3945_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ559_K0KjJJDxGnTyIMMj-KyOq4mhz42q5Z9tycCzop2dp4HY6bdz91Q5m-zsWM8qhHNBZIORnF8RtJJDqhq1ZqhxRbyJuYNTgcCs6-kBr43_11kRSP1nL91BwoPGKtYa5peAvtMq1JBflnBaGQbB8_AzIuXAy59Y3ppIqhsbMernRMMmFQ/w640-h640/52661994795_1ef1af3945_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70HdwRaFdVqaM23R7ARdltxKsbaazd472b9q2agfpzgrseJDKdIm7IIK_Vgz0CQVtn9eaZU35MUBvDYaZlWae68YkWMOrFnD-e9607oX_hK3DpyAv3uq_2x0KPw-qSZJvsVgfxX6FbxsWmtTnROoZiZTJ1mCLXD-X3mNb6Czyt63EceQdcw/s1616/52662042413_fbf9e4b6d4_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70HdwRaFdVqaM23R7ARdltxKsbaazd472b9q2agfpzgrseJDKdIm7IIK_Vgz0CQVtn9eaZU35MUBvDYaZlWae68YkWMOrFnD-e9607oX_hK3DpyAv3uq_2x0KPw-qSZJvsVgfxX6FbxsWmtTnROoZiZTJ1mCLXD-X3mNb6Czyt63EceQdcw/w640-h428/52662042413_fbf9e4b6d4_o%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZPFrCfwL64FtbDhpv6-umw1rMsbRYvFQBmMBJ9lpSj97hN1mZfzhfxVoKApx6VXcHIB3OkZYOqU5Gn-ibxOMX6QvfC2GMs1wXUefbyS6sjmwUPLX2AgpWaPwCBrxr2F0Dhk05H9x5LHipbM_5bUef9a5rXWm38EjNhiyi2LYs_mw27L-AA/s1616/52661050837_a0a2d28a17_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZPFrCfwL64FtbDhpv6-umw1rMsbRYvFQBmMBJ9lpSj97hN1mZfzhfxVoKApx6VXcHIB3OkZYOqU5Gn-ibxOMX6QvfC2GMs1wXUefbyS6sjmwUPLX2AgpWaPwCBrxr2F0Dhk05H9x5LHipbM_5bUef9a5rXWm38EjNhiyi2LYs_mw27L-AA/w640-h428/52661050837_a0a2d28a17_o%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It also was a pit stop. If there is one thing I really really hate to do is pee outside. Like I really really hate it. It's the main reason I will opt out of off road trips. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course when you are in such beautiful nature you must take some selfies. Joey caught me getting those good angles with the good light. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrFByoV1r00-7SPDF3ayHl1slob6UXUkSlaMHQS8l6ypAGt6wMfg3XPd1paoWRkekIsIyqI1pi5vNSnS5Yzve5huFaJa3zJKy5m7cTEk-sVGzR3fiEwBP3eJDiLiSHrWyN_oo1FeayDmX2unrKN4mivoiF3d6bm3NH9Kg1-zt6I10BNA_JQ/s1920/52661050872_09e89f8c0d_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrFByoV1r00-7SPDF3ayHl1slob6UXUkSlaMHQS8l6ypAGt6wMfg3XPd1paoWRkekIsIyqI1pi5vNSnS5Yzve5huFaJa3zJKy5m7cTEk-sVGzR3fiEwBP3eJDiLiSHrWyN_oo1FeayDmX2unrKN4mivoiF3d6bm3NH9Kg1-zt6I10BNA_JQ/w288-h640/52661050872_09e89f8c0d_o%20(1).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the actual selfie. You can even see Joey in my glasses. That yellow jacket makes him easy to spot anywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbhQGN87PvhPNgityuk0oEH5UNJzn_adBNlfjk5sQqd1vdVGcE1ZtyArVjmle8ALmRKViNj-ehAT8USQVfom4YaUQkcU_7d9UwNIHehKx9WBrrtVHjd2Y56KuiRdJwXsgz9Tu-LqCJRgJiXhg-lN8eCsjC_7Hs6lfqO__gGrHXgiqGGIwAg/s1440/52662042403_7435af66c4_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbhQGN87PvhPNgityuk0oEH5UNJzn_adBNlfjk5sQqd1vdVGcE1ZtyArVjmle8ALmRKViNj-ehAT8USQVfom4YaUQkcU_7d9UwNIHehKx9WBrrtVHjd2Y56KuiRdJwXsgz9Tu-LqCJRgJiXhg-lN8eCsjC_7Hs6lfqO__gGrHXgiqGGIwAg/w640-h640/52662042403_7435af66c4_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then a real picture. This may be the only picture Joey has ever taken of me on his phone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NSdkAxFYA-3Wt4ZQNt6NbdNoLkWrqJW16Ukf4HGBp_UfQvSaiX0iQBp1TvmzrvhkgU1GfBGkf-ad4oEyV_F-P2XyqWVyFkoTeJhAU0QWfgYXYloedl9BCVq8HDvl2NFGusIi6dtdkE9oFXiXiwWgO6oW4kVXyDU-A9ESLpVcVCt0bWcqjg/s1920/52661837054_304a3340d8_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NSdkAxFYA-3Wt4ZQNt6NbdNoLkWrqJW16Ukf4HGBp_UfQvSaiX0iQBp1TvmzrvhkgU1GfBGkf-ad4oEyV_F-P2XyqWVyFkoTeJhAU0QWfgYXYloedl9BCVq8HDvl2NFGusIi6dtdkE9oFXiXiwWgO6oW4kVXyDU-A9ESLpVcVCt0bWcqjg/w288-h640/52661837054_304a3340d8_o.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got into the park with the intentions of grilling up some food and hanging out but we got out of the car for about 3 minutes when we called it. It was like biting cold. So instead we headed into the town in search of a restaurant that could sit our big group. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5SsIY6NIik44g3OLHOzNaEngNm-3N6HAD_2eVAT0qfk08p3zxcLBWpnj84MrceHIw4TyUPami-i1iB4obGUeCMDde5lzBqUi44W4laSD_8Zk7SS_t_ha2g-M5vA--HKwkYW22-OqES3N0CORMDQIpjdvr7DpItT4KLZWWJVh0aqIbaRm7Q/s1616/52661050572_4428059a27_o%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5SsIY6NIik44g3OLHOzNaEngNm-3N6HAD_2eVAT0qfk08p3zxcLBWpnj84MrceHIw4TyUPami-i1iB4obGUeCMDde5lzBqUi44W4laSD_8Zk7SS_t_ha2g-M5vA--HKwkYW22-OqES3N0CORMDQIpjdvr7DpItT4KLZWWJVh0aqIbaRm7Q/w640-h428/52661050572_4428059a27_o%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt seen by this.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Karla made some calls and found the Tiny Pony Tavern. From the outside it looked a little sketchy. It turned out to be a really cool and fun place with great food and strong mimosas. It was such a great find and I hope we get to back again soon! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1JAcUD70r-7W7lHilxMvg3bLYHJ3Bf_yrnWX4QOcmaft7oTPwSFusJ0k15Tthi342XBRLLCRodVRMyDZ8QuEvB6GqF4gIeFE65618u13Gr_Rt3n4hT_uJMXSiyLT2Px2JZQcqScdoSTx3z5tztXf1TowluvO1iwQ6seWyQat9_z3AUPcIA/s348/348s.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="348" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1JAcUD70r-7W7lHilxMvg3bLYHJ3Bf_yrnWX4QOcmaft7oTPwSFusJ0k15Tthi342XBRLLCRodVRMyDZ8QuEvB6GqF4gIeFE65618u13Gr_Rt3n4hT_uJMXSiyLT2Px2JZQcqScdoSTx3z5tztXf1TowluvO1iwQ6seWyQat9_z3AUPcIA/w400-h400/348s.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>After we said our goodbyes to the group Joey and I headed to the Joshua Tree Distillery. We have always wanted to stop by and do a tasting and since we were in the neighborhood we went for it. For $20 you get to taste 4 items. It can be liquor neat or one of their mixed drinks. I was very excited to try the Giant Rock Gin. Giant rock has always been special to us. Remember <a href="http://www.punkrockparents.net/2016/10/dirt-road-diary-giant-rock-was-calling.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #fcff01;">THIS</span></a>? We tried the gin and whiskey and the whiskey ginger cocktail and the Gin Tom Collins. Everything was so good and we came home with a bottle of Giant Rock Gin. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdSFrdRlIvbErOI94CAySipAYCYAaPAiHg7sFpJeu4EmwW_DBEFVqCwRvZXcLiOY825qSzP8n9NkU-RoT-jYfx9BGoyBQ6tAWoqX62Ofa1E_P5vPiXcc1YkklBbeE788rHfc26QbfLh8uY67W67W3lmZ7pjPWQS465hnKqzHUQTAd8_qfPg/s259/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdSFrdRlIvbErOI94CAySipAYCYAaPAiHg7sFpJeu4EmwW_DBEFVqCwRvZXcLiOY825qSzP8n9NkU-RoT-jYfx9BGoyBQ6tAWoqX62Ofa1E_P5vPiXcc1YkklBbeE788rHfc26QbfLh8uY67W67W3lmZ7pjPWQS465hnKqzHUQTAd8_qfPg/w300-h400/download.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As usual with these adventures, it was a perfect day. Despite having to pee behind a rock.<br /><div><br /></div>Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-26763166144941555032023-01-09T16:23:00.004-08:002023-01-09T16:23:47.915-08:00God Only Knows<p> So if you know me you are well aware that I need to become obsessed with random things for short periods of time. The last few weeks have been all about The Beach Boys, more specifically Brian Wilson. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-B20pPqti8_0wFT0PUDXUlvUP4zROxA4WJOVYDIPWRPU7rrpLocswa-1IOkq9qmTR95zlZaRElK5bE-6IDEg_Gtm30jK11XPGA7Z02qAycCCU_ZPtP_qPmMzgJ_C4mQjcujCawOsLCniir8oPLfHoiEZk2nXpCxbXVug-FLK4D8Lr9C1XA/s478/musicNXNEpreviewLA_Wilson_insidepx468.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-B20pPqti8_0wFT0PUDXUlvUP4zROxA4WJOVYDIPWRPU7rrpLocswa-1IOkq9qmTR95zlZaRElK5bE-6IDEg_Gtm30jK11XPGA7Z02qAycCCU_ZPtP_qPmMzgJ_C4mQjcujCawOsLCniir8oPLfHoiEZk2nXpCxbXVug-FLK4D8Lr9C1XA/s320/musicNXNEpreviewLA_Wilson_insidepx468.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It all started when I watched the movie Say Anything for the first time a few weeks ago. Great movie but it got me thinking "<i>what has John Cusack done lately</i>?". A quick google search lead me to re-watching theJohn Cusack movie "Love and Mercy, which is a Brian Wilson bio-pic and a great movie. Which lead to watching "Long Promised Road" a Brian Wilson documentary. Which will eventually lead to me reading every biography on Brian Wilson I can get my hands on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To me the Beach Boys encapsulate the ideal Southern California living. I grew up on the coast as a beach kid. That Ventura County Line they talk about in Surfin' USA. I literally used to surf there. Well, attempt to surf, things that require balance are not my forte. 50 First Dates is one of my favorite movies and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" plays a cute role in that one. And seriously the song "God Only Knows" is in my top 5 of songs of all time. ALL TIME PEOPLE. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is absolutely incredible what Brian Wilson has gone through. There is little debate to the fact that he is a musical genius. They way he can hear these crazy layers of sound in his head and bring them to life in a studio with instruments, office supplies, animals, and make it unreal brand new sounds is amazing. But this man was tormented by his own mind. Later in life is was finally diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder. A neurological disorder that has symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, depression and full on mania. Mix this with abusive parents, drug abuse, and being overmedicated by a shady doctor for 9 years it's a miracle Brian Wilson is here today. Not only is he still here, but he's still making music. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oi5qoQ2OtGyTv6Vwu5bn5LZHhO2cSuNAIEvrwP8X9kmz2iu-QsNKJMy6XdW1fVpuGJbhzpc78a321AdZ3IH4td47_WPbdGlV6YP4vVATU-t35LVreInu1mDAKPfb5QT2l2jYKVbGYs7BruNyGuYjtZyYSS7DTVo7rkuuS8NCMdN6tpyUQg/s440/artwork-440x440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oi5qoQ2OtGyTv6Vwu5bn5LZHhO2cSuNAIEvrwP8X9kmz2iu-QsNKJMy6XdW1fVpuGJbhzpc78a321AdZ3IH4td47_WPbdGlV6YP4vVATU-t35LVreInu1mDAKPfb5QT2l2jYKVbGYs7BruNyGuYjtZyYSS7DTVo7rkuuS8NCMdN6tpyUQg/s320/artwork-440x440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-92073516712489004152023-01-01T21:09:00.004-08:002023-01-09T16:36:01.835-08:002023<p> We are just gonna pretend I was here the whole time. Deal? </p><p>So…… thanks to platforms like Instagram (okay maybe just Instagram) I have completely left writing behind. Which is kinda sad cause writing really was my jam. So of course a new year means new resolutions and for someone like me, resolutions usually mean another thing to add to my already full day. Read more, exercise more, clean more, write more. Like my days are not already jam packed. But Type A Elissa just really needs to add more so I’m going to try to write more and since this blog is here and we are paying for the web address might as well use it. </p><p>So where are we? Well I still have that sexy ass husband and the two kids. And even though the husband has remained sexy AF the kids have continued to age. Phi is now 17 and a senior in high school. ( yes I know. It’s a whole crisis I’m currently going through) and Louie is 12 and in 7th grade. I’m happy to report that Phi is still brilliant, beautiful and talented and Louie is still part evil genius, the cutest kid to ever live and showing signs of talent all her own. I unfortunately have aged and now am 45 years old (a whole other crisis). I’m still with the same company and still loving work. COVID brought some changes, good ones, and has allowed me to work from home in the afternoons. It’s a game changer. Oh and we moved. We bought a brand spanking new house a couple of years ago. I now have 2 stories, 3 bathrooms and an office!</p><p>Let’s see, let’s see…. Oh yea I also went on a fantastic weight loss voyage. Over the past year I lost 40 pounds. Seriously why didn’t any of you tell me I needed to do that!?! What was my secret??? You’re not gonna like my answer. Diet and exercise. That’s it. No pill, no surgery, no fasting or program. Just eating better and working out. My gym habits have become a bit obsessive but hey at least it’s not a drug habit. It could be so worse then going to the gym twice a day 6 days a week.</p><p>So let’s say that this catches you up over the last, I don’t know 4+ years. This will be like one of the movies series where you don’t have to watch all the series in order to understand what’s going on. You will catch one quick.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDYGZ1-a6n-HGebZYcQexUud2owFv76xPucnp9gULXviQE0xNmMBROnuSk55YDZ4Mvvm9sVPqloGvedKvsJSr8I6WSGuNSoYbntaCADLRtyzLSl4ZpnC0_OBpeHjz3xVXppnrhJzXYVeJg_IqmW6GQCuAGpZg1WulKMsO1Cm1cbRQH2M4_w/s975/Screenshot%202023-01-01%20210652.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="975" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDYGZ1-a6n-HGebZYcQexUud2owFv76xPucnp9gULXviQE0xNmMBROnuSk55YDZ4Mvvm9sVPqloGvedKvsJSr8I6WSGuNSoYbntaCADLRtyzLSl4ZpnC0_OBpeHjz3xVXppnrhJzXYVeJg_IqmW6GQCuAGpZg1WulKMsO1Cm1cbRQH2M4_w/w400-h301/Screenshot%202023-01-01%20210652.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See husband still sexy AF and kids still gorgeous. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-76078525732047647982020-04-23T16:41:00.000-07:002020-04-23T16:41:58.232-07:00When Simple Plan just gets it right. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="text-align: left;">I love pop punk music. That's it. Forever and always it will always make me happy and I will listen to it even when I am like 65. It's happening. I am at peace with that.</span></div>
<br />
Despite what some may say, the genre never really went away. In fact those bands that we loved in the early 2000's are still making music. Remember Simple Plan? Those pop-punk kids from our friendly northern neighbor Canada.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0NK0-T8upTwKQ1qJHfNQOI1U-97h3bybRnqReb_OUkAtl-Q1KgvU6iE1Qkm-HZ88o4XtYLyE06099qoP3eVNs43v2F3CnO_lx8sCAPC6-xFakqCIRyhUXwxe3g_w8NVq-mxX/s1600/simple-plan_1.jpg%252C0%252C400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0NK0-T8upTwKQ1qJHfNQOI1U-97h3bybRnqReb_OUkAtl-Q1KgvU6iE1Qkm-HZ88o4XtYLyE06099qoP3eVNs43v2F3CnO_lx8sCAPC6-xFakqCIRyhUXwxe3g_w8NVq-mxX/s320/simple-plan_1.jpg%252C0%252C400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well like the rest of us, they have aged. And pretty damn well I must say. They released a new song with State Champs called "Where I Belong" and dammit it struck a chord with me. This song is exactly what 2003 was like for me. It perfectly summarized what meeting Joey and Matt was for me. (I love it when that happens)<br />
<br />
In 2003 I was so lost, but at the time did not even realize how lost I was. My life was a complete mess.<i> Nothing but broken streetlights.</i> I was not myself and miserable. I was doing anything I could <i>just trying to escape</i>. Looking back now I see it real clearly. Back then I thought I was just living my life without a care in the world.<br />
<br />
Then I met these 2 punk rock boys from a town I had never heard of 2 hours away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfO_N_Nj7KSSpOJosj5Kx7qb6dg9_0IYbdDZ7Twb3apdTxGLKoJs6OOqc5jbV5VWnEUFfMTVuxrxmyRKexhx_7rBf_FnDlz3RYwqtWEdgFI8J16cC9hMCKi8smUvQkaNHjWWA/s1600/DSC02309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="871" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfO_N_Nj7KSSpOJosj5Kx7qb6dg9_0IYbdDZ7Twb3apdTxGLKoJs6OOqc5jbV5VWnEUFfMTVuxrxmyRKexhx_7rBf_FnDlz3RYwqtWEdgFI8J16cC9hMCKi8smUvQkaNHjWWA/s400/DSC02309.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Who would have ever thought that meeting these guys would be the answer. That these funny, crazy, smart, talented boys would <i>feel like home.</i> And the handsome one would become <i>my reason, </i>my obsession, my everything.<br />
<br />
I didn't have to pretend to be someone else. <span style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm finally breathing. </i></span><span style="text-align: center;"><i>Like I never could on my own</i>. </span>I was me, mistakes, regrets and far from perfect. And they were them, mistakes and regrets and far from perfect. We built a family of young people in a house in the middle of a cul-de-sac. We had no idea what we were doing with our lives, but it didn't matter because we had each other.<br />
<br />
We went through all the scary grown-up things that everyone has to do. We found careers, homes, and even had punk kids of our own. We may have figured some stuff out but deep down we are still kids faking it. And the best part is that we are still a family and still having fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yiAJFa26KKU" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<span jsslot=""></span></div>
<div class="PZPZlf" data-lyricid="Lyricfind002-1602070">
<div class="bbVIQb" jsname="Vinbg">
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm looking in the rear-view mirror</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Everything looks the same</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">There's nothing but broken streetlights</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">And I'm just trying to escape</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">I'm waiting on a distant feeling</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
I'm waiting for things to change</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
It's getting hard to ride on empty</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
But maybe I'm not so far away</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
'Cause it feels like home</div>
</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I found a reason</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">And suddenly I'm not so alone</span></div>
</div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">I'm finally breathing</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Like I never could on my own</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Start the countdown, let's get it on</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
Scream our lungs out to our favorite song</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
'Cause this is where I belong</div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bbVIQb" jsname="WbKHeb">
<div class="ujudUb u7wWjf" data-mh="-1" jsname="U8S5sf">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can tell you just don't get it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">And that you'll never understand</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">I'm sorry that I can't be perfect</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">But I'm not changing who I am</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Maybe there's no destination</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe I'm gonna make mistakes</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
Let you in on one of my secrets</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
I'm still just as lost as yesterday</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
But it feels like home</div>
</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb xpdxpnd" data-mh="155" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="max-height: 155px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ujudUb xpdxpnd" data-mh="177" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="max-height: 177px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Look past the warning signs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">The same ones that told me</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">"Yeah, you just turn back and run</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">Play it safe before you come undone"</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span jsname="YS01Ge">If you saw through my eyes</span></div>
<span jsname="YS01Ge">
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
This view is worth it</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
Can't believe me when I say</div>
</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
There's no place in this world I'd rather be</div>
</span></div>
<div class="ujudUb xpdxpnd" data-mh="155" data-mhc="1" jsname="U8S5sf" style="max-height: 155px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-82323323337940550342019-06-04T16:38:00.000-07:002019-06-04T16:38:03.733-07:00We went to the Zoo and then I made Us make a Zine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-8486839886265441892018-10-26T11:24:00.000-07:002018-10-26T11:24:15.733-07:00Bass Lake 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The whole family packed up in July and headed out to our favorite place on earth. We had an awesome lake front house for a week and to make it more special my Nana came with us! She spent her days relaxing on the patio while the kids (and Joey!) spent the time running around and off as many surfaces into the water as they could. </div>
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The annual talent show was awesome. Mom, Pops and Nana took home the trophy! We had a lot of yummy (mostly restaurant!) dinners. There was a pretty bad fire near by all week that even forced us inside one day. We went to pizza and watched Hotel Transylvania 3. It was Ellie's first movie theater experience and she did awesome. We even hit up a brewery.</div>
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This year was all about relaxing and it was absolutely amazing. </div>
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I have the pictures to prove it. </div>
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I can't wait until next summer. </div>
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-26728351669760576242018-10-25T14:58:00.001-07:002018-10-25T14:58:34.559-07:00Grand AF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As soon as school let out it was time for the annual birthday trip. The rules of the birthday trip is that it has to be somewhere we have never been before. So this year we headed to Arizona for a trip to the Grand Canyon. After a family wedding in Kingman and a stop at <a href="http://www.punkrockparents.net/2018/06/a-dabba-do-time.html">Bedrock</a> we bunked down in Williams and took the drive up to the canyon.<br />
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Of course I knew about the canyon. I had seem people's pictures on social media, on TV and movies but none of it could prepare me.<br />
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We parked near a visitor center and took a short walk and all of a sudden we caught our first glimpse.<br />
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It was mind blowing.<br />
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My head could not comprehend what I was seeing. It was way to grand and way to beautiful. It was like my brain couldn't believe that it was real.<br />
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I kept thinking...... It looks like a Disneyland backdrop.<br />
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We spent the day taking the free tram to different view points.<br />
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Pictures can't do it justice. I took like a million anyway.<br />
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Here are the highlights.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-19819387426489731932018-06-26T16:29:00.000-07:002018-06-26T16:29:23.023-07:00A Dabba-Do Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This year's annual birthday trip took us to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon. We stayed in Williams, AZ and on the way to the canyon we made a pit stop at a place that I didn't think really existed.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Bedrock City</h4>
And yes I mean like Fred, Wilma, Betty and Barney, Bedrock City!<br />
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Even the kids were there...<br />
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AND DINO!!!!<br />
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This place was as cheesy as I hoped it would be. Really it was everything I hoped it would be.<br />
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I have a feeling these would be their exact faces if they ever were arrested.<br />
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Joey took the rap for Phi.<br />
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Louie really needed to learn a lesson.<br />
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You can explore the Flintstones's and Rubble's houses. Or the market, beauty salon, post office, and even school.<br />
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You can "drive" a cool vehicle just like Fred does. </div>
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Or slide down the back of a dinosaur just like Fred does!<br />
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Then we hooked up our pre-historic trailer and headed to the Grand Canyon.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-27572045136597223882018-06-01T07:30:00.000-07:002018-06-01T07:30:10.951-07:00Happy 8th Louie!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My otter loving, funny face making, Elwood feeding, wimpy kid reading, uncle Rico posing, Netflix 'bitch' watching, weird sauce making, never jean wearing, always legging wearing, beautiful, silly smart girl Louie.<br />
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Happy Birthday! I love you so very much. You make our world sunny and bright! Can't wait for the big birthday trip! </div>
Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-83871899957903638152018-05-24T16:24:00.000-07:002018-05-24T16:24:27.119-07:00Bucket List 2018- Salvation Mountain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For Mother's Day we went out to cross off an item from our 2018 Family Bucket List. I have always wanted to see the amazingness that is Salvation Mountain.<br />
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This giant man-made tribute to God is the work of the late Leonard Knight. He spent years creating this art masterpiece.<br />
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This place was more magnificent than I imagined.<br />
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What I love most about these adventures is that my kids always complain about going and then they get there and I see their eyes light up.<br />
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And you best believe we climbed to the top! There is a yellow pathway that you can walk. But with the layers and layers of paint take good shoes because its slippery.<br />
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Can you spot me and the girls?<br />
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Salvation Mountain is in Niland, Ca and about 30 minutes from the Salton Sea. It's in the middle of almost nothing. We picked a good time to go, this area gets mega hot in the summer time.<br />
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Yes that is Phi dabbing on the top of Salvation Mountain.<br />
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Look at those faces....<br />
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The view from the top...<br />
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Me and my Louie....<br />
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The section to the right you can walk through. It is the closest I have even been to being in a Dr. Seuss book.<br />
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Every where you look there is a new little detail to see.<br />
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It's liking walking through a magical unicorn forest.<br />
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Me and my main man.<br />
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Even around the mountain there were vehicles that had been turned into art.<br />
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How is the youngest the most bad-ass of the family?<br />
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Salvation Mountain was a very cool thing to see. I am so happy this is where we spent Mother's Day! </div>
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-49454272414233979252018-05-22T07:00:00.000-07:002018-05-22T07:00:01.022-07:00To My Daughter On Her 13th Birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My Phi,<br />
<br />
Happy 13th Birthday My Lovey.<br />
<br />
I know how excited you are to be turning 13 and becoming a real life teenager. And you should be excited. It's a really big deal. I remember how different 13 feels. It's such an exciting, confusing and scary time. I remember thinking how no one could possibly understand what my life was like or how it felt to be me. I am going to admit it here, being you at 13 is a lot different than being me at 13. There are things that are a reality for you that I never even thought about as a 13 year old. My biggest worry when it came to school was embarrassing myself by tripping with my cafeteria tray. Your biggest worry is school shootings. As a parent it is so hard to drop you guys off some days, I can't even begin to image what it's like to be a student. Even with such big things to worry about I know that the usual 13 year old fears are there too because some things never change.<br />
<br />
It's hard to believe that I am the parent of a teenager. As our oldest kid everything we go through with you is our first time around. You have been such an easy first child. You have always been smart, funny, creative, and kind. You make your Dad and I look like amazing parents, but really a big part of it is just you. As your life starts to get a little more complicated I pray that your continue to be easy to raise. Just know that I am always here for you. I always want to know what is going on in your life and in your mind. I will always want to know what music you are into. I will always want to read what you have written or see what you have drawn. But what I really want you to always remember is that I love you unconditionally. That means that there is nothing you can do that will make me stop loving you. Absolutely nothing. I hope that if you know this, you will always be willing to come to me with any issue that may come up in your life.<br />
<br />
And don't forget that your Tia's, Nina's and Nana are always there for you too. We are here if you need advice, or just someone to listen.<br />
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I love you so much Phi. You are still my Super Duper Kiddo and I am very proud of the person you are becoming.<br />
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Love,<br />
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Momma<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-54722099824987295702018-05-16T16:16:00.002-07:002018-05-16T16:16:56.597-07:00Salton Sea Road Side Pit Stop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My initial Mother's Day plan was to do as little as humanly possible. But then after eating a delicious breakfast made by my insanely handsome husband he asked me if I wanted to head out adventuring and cross off something from our 2018 bucket list. I couldn't resist and adventure with my 3 people. So we grabbed waters, snacks and jumped in the Land Cruiser.<br />
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On our way to our ultimate destination we made a stop at the Salton Sea Visitors Center. We have been to the Salton Sea before but never to this part.<br />
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So some fun facts....<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Salton Sea is not a sea despite its mega saltiness. It is legit 25% salty than the ocean </li>
</ul>
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<li>It is actually the largest lake in California at 375 square miles. </li>
<li>Water can't run out of the Salton Sea so it just kinda sits there hence the algae and smell issues.</li>
<li>A lot of the "sand" on the shore is really barnacles. </li>
</ul>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Despite the fact that the Salton Sea was completely empty of people on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, you can fish and boat there. </li>
<li>Because of the mega saltiness and the low altitude (it's over 200 feet BELOW sea level) boats can go faster than normal. </li>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There is a fantastic documentary about the Salton Sea called <i>Plagues and Pleasures of the Salton Sea</i> and it is narrated by none other than John Waters. Yes that little mustache dude!</li>
</ul>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Dead fish are super common to see on the shores. </li>
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It's such a shame that the water is just not suitable for swimming and quite frankly it doesn't smell to pleasant out there. This was once a great water sport destination and would be awesome to see if resurrect itself .<br />
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But Joey, the girls and I had a great time exploring.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-59519505487038924402018-04-07T12:37:00.001-07:002018-04-07T12:37:58.178-07:0011 years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbakjC3ZsQ5jrHft0qvxHtfd24kbeksoogut9HYM91I19Z7ZEmTNGRqaphj4l8nhOs0fSL2Y7D30mMCGkZi-soWz52qhcjTZafw26wg9OiczCmWFBmUYjLrB-xTAJx9BMzgwG/s1600/11133637_10205341256864606_3631024226248842385_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbakjC3ZsQ5jrHft0qvxHtfd24kbeksoogut9HYM91I19Z7ZEmTNGRqaphj4l8nhOs0fSL2Y7D30mMCGkZi-soWz52qhcjTZafw26wg9OiczCmWFBmUYjLrB-xTAJx9BMzgwG/s320/11133637_10205341256864606_3631024226248842385_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>The years just keep flying by. As I get older there are some memories that become hazy, and there are others that remain crystal clear. The day you left us is one of those clear memories.<br />
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For the last few days I have had Lili and Felix here with us. As much I love to have them here, Phi and Louie love it more. When I was growing up I got to be with my cousins all the time and I thought that was what kept us close. But then we grew up and moved away from each other. We don't see each other very often. And Phi, Louie, Lili and Felix don't get to see each other too often, but that doesn't seem to matter. When they are together they laugh and play and talk and genuinely love being around each other.<br />
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It's the same with my cousins now. Even though I don't see them often, I think about my cousins everyday. I find myself every morning as I am driving to work wondering what you are all doing. I wonder if Cassie is up with Benji, I wonder if Erika is just coming home from work, I wonder if Eric is driving to work too. I wonder if Monique has school that day. If Patty is kissing the boys good-bye as they head out for school. I wonder if Mikey has already taught a spin class. I wonder if Leo is out driving a truck, or if Emilo let Manual get enough sleep. And I always wonder what you are doing. I wonder what you think about how we are all doing. If you wake up and check on each and everyone of us.<br />
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I don't get to see everyone every weekend like I did when I was a kid, but we stay connected and when we do see each other we pick up where we left off. I pray that when we meet again, we get to pick up right where we left off. Even with all the years between visits.<br />
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I love you and I miss you.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-15296794253310816332018-03-22T15:04:00.000-07:002018-03-22T15:04:40.288-07:00Why Don't We? So We Did<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Now if anyone understands the love for a boy band, it's me. I spent the late 80's and early 90's listening to every New Kids on the Block cassette on repeat. Watching the Hanging Tough Live VHS constantly. Begging my parents to buy me every issue of every teen magazine. <i>(Shout out to my Nina Josie for those years of Bop Magazine subscriptions!!!) </i>And plastering my walls with every NKOTB poster I could find. I spent my spare time writing notes to my BFF all about why Joey McIntyre was gods gift to the world. And when I wasn't doing that I was making fake wedding invitations to mine and Joey's wedding. <i>(Whoa! I ended up with a real wedding invitation to Elissa and Joey's wedding!)</i><br />
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So when the girls suddenly could only talk about the boy band Why Don't We, I get it. And even though I get it, it has been super annoying. Jack this..... Zach that.......Corbin this..........those are the only three names that I can remember. There are 5 because well, that is the boy band formula that sells.<br />
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Why Don't We are currently on their "Invitation Tour" and while lunching one day Joey and I found tickets to their Anaheim show for $13 each. We couldn't pass them up. So we got 4 and surprised the girls after school.<br />
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They cried.<br />
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The big day was last Tuesday. We stood in line for almost 2 hours to get in. Then they hit the stage...<br />
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And the girls flipped out.<br />
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And I got a little teary eyed because my kids were oh so very happy! Like super super happy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKm_G9FU1IEmKCfQZxT7yZCJOdU8qhxBR6M8nx7ySUGCsoINe1DG62t5b1OfMRTDubSTdTmfHnww9VaTZy4GsEAuQJ2157R9kK5vfhuphrO6BL5jn_zXOf9IzPFTKtl6GQXQL/s1600/IMG_5536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKm_G9FU1IEmKCfQZxT7yZCJOdU8qhxBR6M8nx7ySUGCsoINe1DG62t5b1OfMRTDubSTdTmfHnww9VaTZy4GsEAuQJ2157R9kK5vfhuphrO6BL5jn_zXOf9IzPFTKtl6GQXQL/s640/IMG_5536.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could be any boy band!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was the first concert I have every been to where I did not know one song. But live music is always fun. I love standing in a venue with my back against Joey and his arms around me. It is the best. Even when it's a boy band that you don't know.<br />
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The girls had been hoarding their money to buy some merch. And they spent it all (and some of ours) for a sweatshirt and t-shirt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUpguQmKzPl_ng7EMV-vMhM9ly2ciKcNGWyfM0e9BAxayBwJbasQdGsRmUnl7MAeU9kELDWbDdyYTDcDBa2M3cM2WZppi58Cx-GfMbprPVVUXozyffj4iTgg4Eawv5QM2aPud/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUpguQmKzPl_ng7EMV-vMhM9ly2ciKcNGWyfM0e9BAxayBwJbasQdGsRmUnl7MAeU9kELDWbDdyYTDcDBa2M3cM2WZppi58Cx-GfMbprPVVUXozyffj4iTgg4Eawv5QM2aPud/s640/IMG_5496.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how happy they are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Joey and I felt like this was a parenting rite of passage. Suffering though 2 hours of high pitched screaming pre-teens and 2 hours of mega-pop music. We know it's a night the girls will never forget.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-29973191040015864382018-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:002018-02-13T12:17:23.551-08:00Our Lady of Guadalupe- 3 years later<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our Lady of Guadalupe church has been standing tall on Oak Street in Santa Paula since 1929. This was my church growing up. I have been there hundreds of times. My parents were married here. I was baptized here with my Ninos the Blackshears by my side. My Nana and Tata had a 25th wedding anniversary ceremony here. I made my first communion here, where I was so proud to have my Tia Josie walk with me and become my Godmother. I went to 9 years of weekly catechism here. I was flower girl in a few of my Tia's weddings in this church. I remember the Christmas play in the hall where my parents were Mary and Joseph and my little sister was just 3 months old and got to be the Baby Jesus. There was the weekly Sunday mass where the Nuns would use a old school overhead projector with a clean film with the words to all the hymns written down. It made it easier to follow along and I can still sing the songs. Even the Spanish ones. I have celebrated cousin's sacraments and weddings here. I have come here on Dec 12th to bring flowers to La Virgen.<br />
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Hundreds of times, so many events but now every time I walk in here I can only remember one thing. I can only remember my Tata's funeral. We went to mass last Sunday and all I could think about was his casket in front of the altar. The giant photo of him on a stand. All the flowers. As I looked around to see a lot of my family there last Sunday, all I could think about was that day that we all sat, dressed in black, holding each others hand and passing tissues as my Tia Mary gave a beautiful eulogy. I see my handsome cousins as pall bearers, and the babies Seli and Bubbs passing out the program that Patricia and I worked so hard on.<br />
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All I could see was his casket. The dark wood with the white flowers. After all the times I had been inside this church, that day has had the most impact. I feel like it left me scarred and it was so traumatic it's hard to go back. Because even though last Sunday was just a mass, it still felt so heavy on my heart.<br />
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3 years ago today our Tata died. And it still sometimes doesn't feel real. And reality hits at odd times and it crashes all around and I can't do anything but let the sadness of that reality take over. It's hard to believe that we have lived 3 years without him. In those 3 years my family has held tight to each other. We have cheered each other on. We have had some really amazingly happy things happen. Marriage proposals, new beautiful babies and high school and university graduations. My goodness my Tata would have loved all these new babies. I have no idea how he did it. There are a lot of us. And every time a new baby was born he adored them. So much that it was impossible to think that he could have more love to give. And then another baby would be born and he would love that one just as much. I never saw more pride in his eyes as when he got to hold a new baby. Like he knew that we were his legacy and he poured his heart and soul into each and everyone of us.<br />
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And now it's been 3 years since we have had him look at each and every one of us with that pride. And we now have to remember what that felt like and know that he gave each of us all he had. And it's time for us to honor that and make him proud of the people we have become, in how we treat others, and how we love each other. But days like today are really hard to get through. To have someone so loving, so smart, so magnetic taken from us will always hurt our hearts. I am not sure how the rest of my family deals with today but I am thinking about them and holding the tight in my heart. I know for me today will be a lot of tears but I just don't have the strength yet to do anything else. I don't know if I ever will that have that kind of strength on February 13th. </div>
Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-59092057913372708892018-01-26T15:09:00.000-08:002018-01-26T15:09:16.676-08:00School Choice Week<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every year the girls school has a "school choice" week. All week long the kids have different dress up days like college day and school spirit day. The week ends with free lunch Friday, where the parents came come and have lunch with their kids. </div>
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The whole purpose of the school choice week is to celebrate charter schools and the fact that they provide parents with a choice when it comes to their kids education. So on Friday I went and had lunch with the girls and spent some time with them and their friends. </div>
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It reminded me how lucky we are to have found this school when we did. Growing up I was lucky to go to Briggs School. A small school with about 300 kids from Kinder to 8th grade. I went all 9 years at the same school with the same kids. I still have my best friend from kindergarten. I truly believe that going to such a small school and growing up with the same friends for so long had a significant impact on who I am today. The small environment allowed me to stay a kid longer than most. When all the parents know each other and the parents know the teachers you have a family vibe. And like family you know that the teachers and administrators love you and genuinely want you to succeed.<br />
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I have found this same vibe at my kids charter school. We have been a part of this school since day 1. We enrolled Phi by going to the principals house before they even had a location confirmed. We took a chance on the school as much as they took a chance on us and over the last 5 years we have been so happy. I love that I am friendly with the teachers, because they are not just passionate about teaching, they are intelligent and creative people who I admire.<br />
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When I can start emails to the principal with DUDE! I know we are at the right place for us.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-20054072161580065982018-01-11T16:18:00.001-08:002018-01-11T16:18:20.548-08:00Their faces make it all worth it. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every year the holiday stress is real. The lists, the shopping, the crowds, those last minute gifts I ALWAYS forget. Add to that all the travel and packing. Every year I wonder if it's all worth it and I think "next year we just stay home". </div>
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And then every single year Christmas morning comes and we all eat breakfast and sit around the living room and open gifts and we get to see these 6 faces light up. </div>
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And it's all totally worth it and I would do it over and over again to be with these 6 kiddos. I mean even Felix smiles!<br />
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And to have us all together with our bonus McClendon family is just perfection.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-52952372361035448602017-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:002017-12-25T08:00:25.311-08:00Merry Christmas from us to you... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJniD7ktfpDnjAHs1907Brfu9dBXtc_GYnYorWPrABPukupSSpRBw58gMOSZtIS-iYKxx4I1Yp5S9_MgCiXQO8Cvz8DiIpJVo-q1lk-JiwzXTmwaNLltGQVPyktDuhPxruB3MU/s1600/00000001edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1600" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJniD7ktfpDnjAHs1907Brfu9dBXtc_GYnYorWPrABPukupSSpRBw58gMOSZtIS-iYKxx4I1Yp5S9_MgCiXQO8Cvz8DiIpJVo-q1lk-JiwzXTmwaNLltGQVPyktDuhPxruB3MU/s640/00000001edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by my talented Phi! </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh 2017 where did you go? Just in case you don’t follow us on social media, (but seriously why don’t you follow us?) here are some highlights of our year…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We rang in 2017 in Atascadero with the family and witnessed Mariah Carey totally have a meltdown on stage. Seriously the kids are STILL talking about it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hit up Chinatown in LA for the first time. Which is totally crazy because it’s literally across the street from Olvera Street and we go there ALL THE TIME. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our picture from when we adopted Elwood made it on the KTLA news for about 2.5 seconds. Now we all know how the Kardashians feel being so famous. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hit up so many art walks and art museums this year. We go in hopes of finding a new piece and also to help inspire the kids but now we have the outrageous idea to open our own gallery. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We overdosed on the Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen soundtracks. I am completely surprised Joey didn’t pack his bags and leave us. He is not a fan of the musicals. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a quick second the girls got into baseball and we clocked in some hours at the batting cages. But like with most things with us, our interest faded quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We took many day trips to San Diego. And Joey and I took one epic weekend trip out there without the ball (Phi) and chain (Louie). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Louie made the most badass book report to ever be made on a book about a bear with a beard. It’s called Bearded and it’s on our YouTube channel. (Shameless plug!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We watched our niece Chone graduate from high school and we cried because we are so proud of her, and then we cried because we are getting so old. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We celebrated Sea Otter Awareness Week because apparently Louie runs our lives. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year’s big birthday trip had us back in Morro Bay to visit the sea otters (I wasn’t joking Louie runs this ship). We also visited Hearst Castle and The Madonna Inn. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bass Lake was amazeballs as always. It was the Gomez Fam’s 30</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> year going and we had a blast even though we totally got robbed for the talent show trophy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We spent so much more time outdoors this year thanks to Elwood. Dang dogs and them wanting walks. What’s up with that? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The girls have taken an interest that is now a borderline obsession with a boy band called Why Don’t We and talk non-stop about them. Joey and Elissa are slowly going insane. Nice move Karma, nice move. #NKOTBForever</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joey has taken a big interest in craft beers and has dragged us to many, many breweries. Elissa is loving it and the girls are getting really good at bar games like darts and pinball. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Louie turned 7 and started 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> grade in an all-day school, to our complete surprise she is doing really well in everything but spelling. Hey, she can’t be everything to everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phi turned 12 and started 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> grade. Our star student continues to earn perfect grades and her drawing has gone to a whole other level. We tend to stand around and stare at her waiting for the terrible teen attitude to kick in. So far we have only seen short glimpses. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elissa turned 40 this year. Please don’t mention this to her as she is very sensitive about this milestone. She has successfully completed her 75 book reading challenge for the year (NERD!) and has successfully annoyed both her husband and children by only listening to New Found Glory songs for the last 6 months.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wishing you and yours an extraordinary 2018!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lerma’s</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lustria; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joey, Elissa, Sophia, Louie and Elwood</span></div>
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-65402920315275189482017-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:002017-12-20T08:00:26.380-08:00Worst Christmas Tree Ever...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When the kids were little we were able to get away with a little 5 foot fake tree that we had got on sale for like $15 in 2003. But about 5 years ago Phi wanted a big tree, a fuller tree, a real tree. So since then we have been getting an annual real Christmas tree. Because apparently the kids run this show. And I have really liked it. I love the lights on a big tree, the glow it gives the house and the pine smell!<br />
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Every year we head to Home Depot and find our perfect tree. This year Joey and the girls went to Home Depot after school while I was at work. The picked our tree without me. And this tree has been the absolute worst tree we ever had. </div>
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First it would not stand up straight. And we tried everything. Joey used pieces of wood, string, and even tie downs. All those things and it still would not stand up straight. The trunk itself is curved.</div>
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Second it dried out in like 2 days. It would not soak up water. Like at all. A few days in and it wasn't as green and needles were falling like crazy. We are now a few weeks in and the branches are drooping and the needles are so dry they just break off. </div>
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Third, Elwood seems to have issues with the tree this year. Last year he left it and the presents alone. This year he has managed to eat about 3 ornaments and then one day we came home to find that he bit off the cord to the lights. Like completely off. </div>
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We now have to put the cord up and tuck it high into the tree. AND we have to put the dining room chairs around the tree so Elwood won't get to it. </div>
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So we have a crooked dried out droopy tree that we have to guard before we leave the house.<br />
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Those fake trees are looking better and better everyday. </div>
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-46210330719326133192017-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:002017-12-18T17:57:57.905-08:00NFG 1997-Forever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I had to wait a month to use my 40th birthday present from Joey. Like all mature 40 year olds all I wanted for my birthday was to see my favorite pop punk band New Found Glory on their 20th anniversary tour. The weeks crawled by and finally the big weekend was here! We went all out and bought tickets to the Saturday and Sunday show in San Diego at the House of Blues. My awesome work boss got us a hotel for the weekend for my birthday. We stayed at the Palomar Hotel right next to the House of Blues.<br />
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We dropped the kids off with some awesome friends and started the trek down to SD. We hit a little traffic but it was nice to talk to each other without our kid filter. We got into Downtown SD and our first obstacle was parking. A week earlier we started looking into overnight parking. The hotel was charging about $50 per night! Everywhere else we looked was even more! We looked into airport long-term and even hospital long-term parking. Instead we found a lot a few blocks away for $12 a night. Score!<br />
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The hotel room was gorgeous! And best of all it was just for us two!<br />
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We headed out for a quick bite of burgers and a cold beer at Barley Mash. Then it was almost show time. We had heard about a pre-party at the House of Blues bar starting at 6pm. What we didn't know was that they were only letting in the first 100 people. We were probably the 110th and 111th people so we did not get in. (sad face emoji). So we stood in line with the rest of the regular non-pre-party peeps.<br />
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Even waiting in line for an hour is fun with Joey and without kids whining that they are bored or that their feet hurt. When we got into the venue my jaw dropped because it was so small! Even better we walked up to the front of the stage. Joey went to the bar and grabbed 2 tall cans and we stood around for another hour until the opening act hit the stage.<br />
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So remember that pop-punk bank with the kid with the long blond bangs whose big hit was a cover of Summer of '69? Yea I hadn't thought of The Ataris for a long time, but there they were. Looking a lot older (join the club) but sounding really good. No more long shaggy blond hair, more like no hair. But sounding just as good as the days when New Found Glory opened for The Ataris!<br />
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Then the moment I had been waiting months for finally happened and it was everything I hoped for and then some. The set opened with a short video highlighting the bands journey over the last 20 years. And then some "Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down..." and then BOOM there they were...<br />
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I was a sweaty mess by the third song. I was screaming lyrics at the top of my lungs. Jumping and fist pumping like it was 2001. The played their Sticks and Stones and Resurrection albums and it was so absolutley the best time ever.<br />
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For the next two hours it was non-stop pop punk rock. By the end of the night I was gross and sticky and my voice was mega hoarse and I was on a big adrenaline rush.<br />
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After a good nights sleep we woke up to explore San Diego. We had a big breakfast in Old Town and took a leisurely stroll through some shops. Then we drove into North Park to window shop and to try out some new beers at the Modern Times brewery. Then it was back to Downtown where we scored free street parking! We hit up one more brewery. This time Resident Brewery where I had a really good beer called Perky Blonde.<br />
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For night two we were determined to get into the pre-party. So we lined up even earlier and got the coveted wrist band. We headed into the bar where Modern Times was pouring beer and cold brew coffee. We got to chatting with Lo from Modern Times and learned a lot about this awesome company. Then it was time for the show!<br />
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This time we were even closer than night 1. EEKKK! And this time we stood stage left. Right is front of dreamy Chad the guitar player!<br />
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For the Sunday show they played the Self-titled album which includes my favorite song "Sincerely Me" and their movie soundtrack cover albums. So we got to hear songs like "Kiss Me", "Never Ending Story", "My Heart Will Go On" and even "King of Wishful Thinking"<br />
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Were we older than most of the people there? Yes, but we weren't alone. New Found Glory was celebrating 20 years, and are about my age. So their fans age range is big.<br />
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NFG lyrics speak to teens of all generations and then 20 years later those teenagers grow up and then those same lyrics remind you of those good times when you were a teen. Or in our case reminds us of the time when we fell in love.<br />
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It was so fun for us to relive our punk rock show days. It was like no time had passed. It was still me dancing and singing with my ever steady body guard Joey standing right behind me keeping the mosh pit from knocking me over.<br />
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There are some differences between 2003 punk rock show us and 2017 punk rock show us. In 2003 there were late night post-show meals. These days we are exhausted afterwards and 2 kids to rush home to. And I don't remember being so sore the next day.<br />
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The weekend was epic and one I will never forget. It was a reminder of how alive live music can make you feel. How much fun singing along with your favorite band is. How freaking awesome my husband is and how much I love to be with him.<br />
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Best birthday present ever.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-64461125330325675102017-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:002017-11-21T08:00:05.709-08:00Our First Ever Parent Teacher Conference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week we had our first ever parent teacher conference. Now if this would have been for Phi there would have been no anxiety. We would have went in expecting Phi's teacher to give high praise for our brilliant child! But this conference was for .....<br />
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Louie.....<br />
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our crazy one.<br />
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We walked into the classroom and Louie settled in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpDtNfRsHgKyfV-rK2S4_1guQLHe_KlrnF9bki_ETTOYr7T1Ge1Ocgjqt-daS-Im0INiBoysLB5nurLNUDh3EFIsCpzBADGjIaU1VygZyrzYTMYqG2ifdi8lJXvcbgLakKG2D/s1600/conference+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpDtNfRsHgKyfV-rK2S4_1guQLHe_KlrnF9bki_ETTOYr7T1Ge1Ocgjqt-daS-Im0INiBoysLB5nurLNUDh3EFIsCpzBADGjIaU1VygZyrzYTMYqG2ifdi8lJXvcbgLakKG2D/s640/conference+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why so nervous Lou? </td></tr>
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We sat down with Louie's teacher, and the sub who has been teaching the class for a few weeks now since OG teach is out on maternity leave.<br />
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They offered us fresh fruit and cookies, which we declined. We chit-chatted with Louie's teacher. (She's a friend!) Then we got down to the nitty-gritty.<br />
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I held my breath expecting to hear how she is behind and to put together a game plan to catch her up before the end of the year. Remember Louie was homeschooled until this year and my expectations of my own child is WAY different than an actual teachers.<br />
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Turns our Louie is doing awesome. Words like exceptional and phenomenal where thrown around. Not only is she doing well, but she is showing improvements in all subjects and has mastered her 2nd grade math and reading requirements are moving on to 3rd grade math and reading.<br />
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Not only is she doing great in academics, she is also well-behaved and even helpful to her friends in class. Her teacher told a sweet story about when Louie's friend was in charge of calendar for the week. Calendar is when a student goes up in front of the class and tells the date, what the day was before, what the day is after, gives the weather and counts the class money and tells if the day is even or odd. (I would have been nervous too!)<br />
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See Louie had done calendar a few weeks earlier. The weekend before Louie's turn for calendar she was really nervous. She keep wanting to practice with us. After that Monday we asked Louie how calendar went and she loved it. So fast forward a few weeks later and it was Louie's friend turn. Her friend was nervous, so all on her own, Louie went up and helped her friend with the whole calendar job.<br />
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That's my girl.<br />
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This story made me so proud. Because of course I want my kids to do well academically, but more importantly I want them to be kind.<br />
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So all and all in was a great experience as far as parent teacher conferences go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCSmzAcDb3t2SzEpdKJWJxIQ238wVn27cHRAoYMrtNpCLnfI4mh9IeGLjzO-sZbKMt419RpdXa54932FpGGO7NFWDEB3zXiHE3bodFyFS_Ojv9VJojOlcGhUSR2W1HXBsbP5c/s1600/conference+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCSmzAcDb3t2SzEpdKJWJxIQ238wVn27cHRAoYMrtNpCLnfI4mh9IeGLjzO-sZbKMt419RpdXa54932FpGGO7NFWDEB3zXiHE3bodFyFS_Ojv9VJojOlcGhUSR2W1HXBsbP5c/s320/conference+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie with her 41+ week pregnant teacher. <br />Thank goodness she had the baby the next day! </td></tr>
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-68207569474410069022017-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:002017-11-16T08:00:07.445-08:00Right in Our Backyard: Palm Springs Botanical Gardens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Lots and lots of pictures... you have been warned... </i></div>
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Exploring these gems near our house is so much fun. I have heard lots of cool things about the <a href="http://moortenbotanicalgarden.com/">Moorten Botanical Garden</a> in Palm Springs. More importantly I had seen a ton of very cool Instagram pics from this place.<br />
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We went one weekend, cameras and even selfie stick in hand. The place is not like your typical botanical garden. You are not going to find a huge variety of different types of flowers and plants. Instead you are going to see more types of cactus than you even knew existed!<br />
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Walking around the grounds almost feels like you have been transported to another planet.<br />
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Or maybe its like walking through a Dr. Seuss book.<br />
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And some of these are like no joke when it comes to needles.<br />
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There were parts where Louie exclaimed "Mom, it's like walking underwater". Totally Louie. Totally.<br />
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And when you think you have seen every shade of green imaginable, you turn and a pop of purple.<br />
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Guys.... every corner is Insta-worthy.<br />
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As if the grounds are not enough, my absolute favorite part was the "Cactarium"<br />
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I could have spent all day in this place. There were plants that looked other worldly!<br />
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After they dragged me out of the Cactarium we continued on....<br />
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Much like my Grandma Rachel, Louie loves her a good Buddha statue.<br />
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This was one of my favorite ones. It almost looks alive!<br />
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Cactus graveyard....<br />
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My only advice would be, tie your shoelaces tight because this is not a place you want to take a fall. Imagine one of these piercing your skin. OUCH!<br />
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Of course towards the end of the trail they have a plant stand where you can purchase you own desert beauties! We took home 6. Let's see how long I can keep them alive. </div>
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It took us maybe an hour to see the entire thing, but I could have easily spent hours looking through everything again.<br />
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It is a must see. I mean just go for the Instagram pics you'll get to post.<br />
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#doitforthegram<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-3188945302431135552017-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:002017-11-14T08:00:18.778-08:00A Date with a Tramp Named Oline<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We have never taken the kids to a trampoline park before. Scratch that. I took them once, but we only got as far as the front doors when they turned us away because they were full for the day.<br />
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Anyways, Phi and Louie had never been to a place like this. Mostly because they have never asked to go. Last month the girls were invited to their cousins birthday party at Sky Zone! I was interested to see how my very nonathletic, anti-normal-fun-kid-stuff kids would do.<br />
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These places are pretty insane. Wall climbing wall, dodge ball courts, basketball courts, a giant floor made of trampolines complete with trampoline walls!<br />
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It took them some time and a few laps around the place for the kids get into the groove of things. I am very happy to report that before we knew it they were diving into foam pits. <br />
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It was such a fun birthday party! The girls had a blast! I took a ton of picture but they all look like this....<br />
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So I will spare you anymore! </div>
Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-67558934488094778732017-11-09T08:00:00.000-08:002017-11-09T08:00:03.301-08:00Wee Rebel Books<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In this house, books rule. The kids know that I can't say no when they ask for books. We have shelves full of books that we have to weed through often to make room for new books. Lately we have been reading big books in the car. We have read Wonder, Rain of Gold and Coco and now we are reading A Wrinkle in Time.<br />
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So you can imagine how happy we were to receive 2 new books from <a href="https://janachristy.wixsite.com/weerebelbooks">John and Jana</a> in the mail. The brilliant minds behind Wee Rebel Books. Books like ...<br />
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<i>Happy Punks 123</i></div>
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<i>A Rule is to Break</i></div>
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We ripped open the package to find two new gems.<br />
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First up...<br />
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When a sweet little gorilla wonders what the world would be like if seeds were planted all over the world. This cute little guy takes seeds and plants them in school grounds, telephone polls, business offices and in a short time the world starts to look a whole lot different. A great book and reminder that nature is beautiful and it only takes a little work for us to bring more nature into our concrete jungle world.<br />
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Book Number 2!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPUcVpDtADWeV8GCBqpXJ5lh2nQ29m0sIVFcEqAwdw-S6_j_H394MV1ZWcJOkg0Q7Vlzy15m4fR7xWu7OVl6apd9ejRIuvTwiBDN0WCzTh_8_-Msf6x0OJwpvdIs2iUmdbEuD/s1600/we+say+no.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPUcVpDtADWeV8GCBqpXJ5lh2nQ29m0sIVFcEqAwdw-S6_j_H394MV1ZWcJOkg0Q7Vlzy15m4fR7xWu7OVl6apd9ejRIuvTwiBDN0WCzTh_8_-Msf6x0OJwpvdIs2iUmdbEuD/s400/we+say+no.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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Now most parents tend to want kids who are obedient. But sometimes kids need to be a little resistant. This book plants the seed in kids heads, that even though they may be little, they still have a voice to stand up for what is right and fair. In this day and age kids cannot always count on the people in charge to be kind and do the right thing so kids can have a say in making things better for everyone around them. This book is filled with sweet illustrations and a powerful message that even little ones can start a revolution.<br />
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John and Jana, thanks for thinking of me and sending these 2 books my way. Now that my Louie is reading she can't wait to read these to her little cousin! </div>
Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18511121.post-2375922175964061782017-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:002017-11-07T08:00:09.294-08:00Sunday in San Diego<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A few Sunday's ago we headed our to North Park in San Diego. There is a super cute shop down there called <a href="https://artelexia.com/">Artlexia</a>. This shop was having it's first annual Dia de los Muertos celebration so we wanted to check it all out. There were some great booths there, but it was a lot smaller than we expected. It only took us about an hour to see everything.<br />
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We walked North Park a little bit and then jumped back in the car and just let the day take us. We drove into Downtown San Diego. We drove around and checked out where the concert venue was and the hotel we are staying out for the <a href="http://www.punkrockparents.net/2017/10/holding-tight-to-my-youth.html">NFG shows.</a> We drove by Petco Park.<br />
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From there we headed to the Waterfront Park.<br />
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The day was gorgeous. We spent some time at the park and let the girls run around.<br />
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Then we walked across the street to the harbor. Lot of boats to see.<br />
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We got to see the USS Midway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDc9OfzPh4elh0x_MM6DhAyeXv78rBW5fePtMooQJy90Z7y60Jy_W6CIjVu9PNHMv-dONg8sA1QoKzfogM31IDoqHWRGjcpTXEOrHgvQy9j0XBaii1QlWxoUV17hKyMq2xlE3z/s1600/37855832652_a306f8b09a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDc9OfzPh4elh0x_MM6DhAyeXv78rBW5fePtMooQJy90Z7y60Jy_W6CIjVu9PNHMv-dONg8sA1QoKzfogM31IDoqHWRGjcpTXEOrHgvQy9j0XBaii1QlWxoUV17hKyMq2xlE3z/s640/37855832652_a306f8b09a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And I finally got to see "Unconditional Surrender".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIL7pwfWRwHB3uUFOtMfSQOjdRioWNB8lG5DbzQWqrmIl2gfF0Xb1lsonwqhWKcCLfMIRrEkHrT9pe9TaKn0vXouyxhIeL3jl1RWfIDrfeLjOHLQ3ojl-9fi1CFkrXxTr8nXLT/s1600/37855806752_0ca5d63af4_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIL7pwfWRwHB3uUFOtMfSQOjdRioWNB8lG5DbzQWqrmIl2gfF0Xb1lsonwqhWKcCLfMIRrEkHrT9pe9TaKn0vXouyxhIeL3jl1RWfIDrfeLjOHLQ3ojl-9fi1CFkrXxTr8nXLT/s640/37855806752_0ca5d63af4_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After a nice long walk, we got back in the car and headed to Del Mar. We grabbed some dinner at Burger Lounge where they had the best lavander mint lemonade. I love these day trips that are so go with the flow. They usually take us to places we have never been and places that we might never plan on seeing.<br />
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Elissa L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086984047145602012noreply@blogger.com0