Last Days in California

It is by accident that this picture was first, but isn't it funny? My niece Brenna is a hoot. and sleeping at my house right now for the first time on their almost last nite in California. Boo Hoo.



Miss B...who is pooping on the potty....its the little things in life really.



Dallas is such a cutie. How do you react to people moving? I deal with it by DENIAL.



At their going away part at their grandma's.



Some pictures show the true personality of children.




Luke thinks he is so funny in this picture. We will miss the Pfisters. Hawaii here we come.

Not Smart

Today I did something really not smart.

Jason's sister from AZ came into town kind of last minute and so we went to the beach today.

But it was like the first time in a while the weather was really pretty. Not windy, and the water was a warm 61 degrees.

The kids were playing great so I decide I'm going to go in the water and see if I can boogie board. Afterall I took Misty boogie boarding for the first time when she was pregnant and she did fine. I grew up hearing how my mom snow skied 8 months pregnant. More than once. I come from tough genes right? I'm a young 30.

Well it was freezing. And I got about up to my waist and started to turn back, when my sister in law called me a chicken from the shore.

Well I'm no chicken, I'm just really dumb. Cause of course now I was really going to do it.

So I get my butt out there and finally catch one wave....

Yay, this is fun. So I see my 10 year old niece who has the other boogie board and she points the other way, so I realize how far the current has pushed us. So I walk the shore to start farther up so I don't drift so far down.

Well, I get out in the water, pretty far, but not the farthest. But pretty far. What happens?

No waves. Hmmm...Where did they go. Cause Zuma has good waves. I'll just wait. Maybe I'll see a dolphin. Trying just to enjoy nature and don't worry what could be in the water. I should add that I'm thinking how I'm going to tell little Paisley how I boogie boarded when she was in my belly, maybe write it in her baby book and that will be cool.

Well, if you ever find yourself in this situation here are my tips.

1. don't boogie board by yourself.

2. don't boogie board too far out without fins, when you are very pregnant.

3. don't do stuff just cause someone calls you chicken

4. don't ever think you are cool cause mother nature will teach you a lesson

5. if the waves stop....GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF THERE CAUSE ITS A RIP TIDE YOU DUMMY

So back to the story...I'm hanging tight, and then this kid yells to be, TURN AROUND, RIP TIDE.

And then I see the biggest wave ever, just as it crashed down on me.

So then I proceed to spin and spiral in the waves, with my boogie board whipping around me.

See light, gulp air.

Oh yeah, I forgot the part where this enormous waves gives me the biggest wedgie ever.

Another wave crashed.

See light, gulp air, whipped around in waves and boogie board that is attached to my arm.

Crash wave...spin around gulp..."On no, I'm in trouble"

Which leads me to tip #6....

DO NOT TAKE THAT BOOGIE BOARD OFF YOUR ARM CAUSE THAT IS REALLY DUMB. EVEN THOUGH IT IS WHIPPING AROUND YOU, IT IS YOUR ONLY FLOTATION DEVICE AND YOU NEED THAT SUCKER.

But I did and I'm dumb and that little boogie board made it back to shore in about 2 seconds.

But I did not. I was getting mulched by these big waves and thinking I was really stupid.

And getting panicky....and vaguely recalling my triathlon in the ocean which is the last time I felt panicky in deep dark, cold ocean water....but then there were people all around.

So I just knew I had to get to shore or those lifeguards were going to have to get me.

And I think Paisley was yelling at me, "YOU ARE SO STUPID WOMAN, I WANT TO BE BORN LADY!" That and how the bad the headlines would be about a drowning pregnant woman who just wanted to boogie board.

About now I'm thinking how small I really am in this big old ocean. How even if I think I'm pretty strong and pretty athletic, I'm toast to these waves. And those rip tides are real.

But that shore got closer and closer.

And those two lifeguards waiting for me got closer and closer.

And I realized when I got in shallower water they were going to see how dumb I really was...to risk my little daughter to go boogie boarding. Cause I only have two months left before this little girl gets to breathe her first breath. Just two months almost to the day. Irresponsible.

So when I stepped on that sand, I grabbed my board and the lifeguard put his hand on my shoulder and asked me if I was okay. And I just said, "That was not really smart."
And he said, "Just don't go out so far and you'll be fine."

Yay right, like I think I'm done for today.

When I finally made it back to Jason I was pretty shaken up. When I saw him all I wanted to do was crawl into his lap, but instead I plopped on the towel and just cried in my towel. I couldn't even tell them what happened for a few minutes. Just nodded to their questions. My girls came and laid by me for a while. I looked into their beautiful eyes and think of what I could have lost. (Not lost forever mind you but how I want to see them here and now, not from heaven) Because they need their mother. And I am their mother. I hoped Paisley was okay and wondered when will my heart would go back to normal beating...probably not good for her either.

the other think i kept thinking was DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB YOU ARE DUMB.

But here is the funny part.

Yes there is a funny part. Its me afterall.

So while I'm barely gripped the board, looked like I just got whipped in the ocean, walking back to my family (I was about a lifeguard station away) who had no idea that I almost died...or felt like I was going to...which is not a fun feeling. Well in my clear thinking (sarcasm) I spot a big shovel that my kids had dropped on the beach so I pick that up too. Cause I can't lose a shovel. No no no.

But the funny part was about an hour later I'm sitting next to my sister in law Erin and bust out laughing cause right next to the shovel I picked up was our actual shovel.

So I stole a shovel. Some poor kid's shovel. In my crazy walk back to the umbrella I stole some kids shovel. I must have looked crazy. This big old belly lady who is drenched stealing kids shovels. I wonder if they kids saw me or their parents.

And I did not give it back or try to find its real owner cause there was no way I was getting off that towel the rest of the time.

But Jason didn't know it wasn't ours and took it home. So I have a souvenir now. My almost drowning - Brooke-is-really-dumb-souvenir. I'm a crazy shovel stealer.

The moral of the story. I love you little Paisley and I'm very sorry girl. Your mama will try to be not quite so dumb. You are way more special than my pride.

Cranky

Sometimes I think its good to be cranky. Healthy even. (I don't think you were cranky, more like down in the dumps.)

If you are too happy everyone just wants to smack you.

Misery loves company right? Always better to hear someone's more awful situation to feel better about yours than to hear someone's seemingly wonderful and easy life and perfectly behaved children. You know you feel better about yourself that you haven't been called by social services like me. Right?

When I am cranky there is not much that will get me out of it (even ice cream) so I just have to wait for it to pass. Nothing will help me.

Wait, I forgot about shopping, that will do it...
and fast food dinner so I don't have to cook....
and putting on makeup and doing my hair (which I think should be required by law for women's mental health)....
or wearing my favorite shirt (all so so shirts should just be burned) ....
or listening to music really loud...
or a nap...
I forgot about a bath, I love baths...
or watching So You Think You Can Dance or I Survived a Japanese gameshow (that one is really funny)
and exercising (which I'm omitting from my life for another four months), but what I remember of exercising, it did really help.

But sometimes none of those things help and I am just in a bad mood.

Like say the past few months.

So I can really relate when I talked to a certain person tonite.

But here's the deal I've been thinking is. Its really the unknown isn't it. Cause there are answers to all our problems and questions out there (be they the ones we want I don't know), but we are just not aware of them yet. Fortunately we know WHO has the answers even though I will avoid being church lady tonite (even if going to the temple really helps) so you don't want to smack me too. Oftentimes I wish that I could just know the answer real early. I always wish this. Like if only I knew when I was stressing in April that on July 9th I would figure out my solution to Darby's preschool dilemma...and it would be way better than I thought it would. Or when I was crying my eyes about seeing every bad and negative thing about this move (like I wanted to throw up about it) , that come July I would be delighted about it and wonder what I was thinking before.

Like that time Jason lost his job. Or when we found out my medical bills would be more than we could afford...way more. Or when Baylie got her second set of stitches two weeks after her first set last October. Or when we moved to LA without a freaking clue what to do...ya know that whole no jobs, no money, no friends thing...

Because it all does work out really. We just don't know how exactly. At least not right now.

My friend Paula told me "If you are looking for bad, you'll see the bad...if you are looking for good, you'll see the good." And when she told me, I really needed to hear it. Teared up right in an Indian restaurant over some curry. Dang it she was right. And this lady has moved way more than me and had to start from scratch many many times.

So I'm expecting a really positive phone call from you at least by September. Definitely by October. Because I know it will work out for you too.

Much love, Brooke

I hope you don't want to smack me.

Fourth of July weekend

Can you guess who was here?

Here are your hints. Two days ago, this spot was bare. Well, that is a lie, it was full of boxes, a big mess, and my other cabinets were overstuffed. But look at it now. Soon to be covered by doors.



Now this is an easy one. Have you seen such pretty hair? The top part is actually a heart which I got stopped at church about.... of course is wasn't me who did this.



Now look at this hair. I love it. Even better to make her look so cute and sweet while she is running away from me and telling everyone 'Your mean!"...we are working on that part.



Here's how it began....at about 10 p.m. on the fourth of July. Which I am supposed to tell you we did not finish on Sunday...at all... or just a little bit. Ox in the mire I swear...have you heard that one?



The Kirby family was here! Because we missed them and invited them to come. And since they have Disneyland passes they are quick to agree. But the beach was a little windy for me. But burned me good...and Trent's legs.



The kids played great together all weekend. Baylie keeps asking me where did Preslie and Kennadi go? I think Misty is my long lost sister. I've known her a long time, she knows way too much about me, and she is a tough cookie. She is president to a 100+ kid Primary! Crazy.



Hope your fourth was really relaxing. Our was when we weren't working and playing so hard. Sure feel like lazy bums in how much they can accomplish in a few days. Maybe they need to invent an energy drink... Or we need to hang out more and let it rub off.



Friday Jason was off and we tried out this place down the street. The rec center here where the kids take swim classes. Super fun $10 for the family. What a deal. Luke and Owen are showing off their green bands that they had to test for to go in the big pool. They were proud of themselves, had to swim the whole length no stopping or touching the bottom. So that they could go off the diving board. I'm trying to see how many people can see me in bathing suit before this baby is born. The numbers are going up. My mama taught me if you aren't self conscience nobody else will be. I'm hoping she is right.

Sunday night we had a bbq with friends we don't get to see often. Monday our new neighbors had us over for dinner. I hope the summer doesn't quiet down soon. Now to tear into some of these boxes. Anyone need any?