Visiting Texas

We spent the last week of June and the first days of July in Texas. Our Cousin Katie was getting married and we attended the wedding which was just outside Houston. Being adventurous, Mr B, the kids and I flew from Long Beach into Austin where we rented a car and drove up to Arlington to meet and visit with our Aunt Mickey. A GREAT Aunt in every sense of the word, we enjoyed visiting with her.

 We ate some fantastic Texas BBQ and stayed at a hotel in Arlington near the Rangers Ball park and the new Cowboy Stadium. The next morning we decided to take a tour of Cowboy Stadium which was actually incredibly fun! There had just been an event on the field the night before so we weren't able to take a picture on the actual star but it was so cool. Even though we're Charger Fans, Go Bolts! (and JT our lone Raider fan... don't get me started) it was a neat experience to be in the locker room and down on the turf. The facility itself is still so new! Absolutely worth the $17 (kiddos were free).

After our tour, we drove down to Houston and checked in to our Hotel, the Hotel Magnolia it was beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Downtown Houston. After checking in we changed in to our Astro Gear and walked over to Minute Maid Park to watch their game agains the Boston Red Sox. Stadium food was delicious, chili dogs, ice cream, cotton candy and diet cokes. Ugh so yummy!

After the game, a tough loss throughout which JT hard core rooted for the home team despite the unrelenting and passionate BoSox fans by which we were surrounded... we were treated to a fireworks show after they opened the retractable roof! It was insanely humid during our whole Texas experience. As soon as the roof opened up, we were drenched in sweat. Crazy how they were able to keep the interior of a space as large as a stadium fairly cool during the whole course of the game!

Our hotel featured complimentary Milk and Cookies every evening and we made in time to snag a few chocolate chip treats. Tired from yet another very full day (and the two hour time difference) kiddos went to bed without a single fuss. It was during this trip that we were trying to wean HeaBug off the  'Mommy helps you go to sleep' and this combined with our trip to Dove Mountain did great for that cause.

We attended the wedding the next day and afterwards explored the highway. We had to drive back to Austin to catch our plane the next day. In essence, we drove a giant triangle... From Austin, North to Arlington, South to Houston and back West to Austin. It was indeed a great adventure peppered with great food and fun. By the second day driving we had banned electronic devices, Leapster, iPad, iPhone i.e. all the things we'd brought to help us survive the car time. Funny thing was how they were just as occupied counting churches and water towers. Since the little miss is potty training as well, we had almost hourly stops for bathroom breaks. We tried buffalo jerky, venison, buttermilk pie, cobbler, and lots of other roadside treasures.

After flying home from Austin we got to get a peek in the Jet Blue cockpit. The pilots were awesome and let JT and HeaBug sit up front and play with all the controls they wanted. We really enjoyed our time in Texas but as soon as we stepped off the plane we were so happy to be back in Long Beach and the beautiful weather!

Love is a flower that turns into a fruit at marriage -Finnish Proverb

The event that was behind our whole Texan adventure was to celebrate and witness the marriage of our beautiful cousin Katie (formerly Booth) to her husband Scott Mills. Their nuptials were so special and we were so glad to be a part of such a special day. HeaBug was so exited to see someone getting married and to dance at the reception. As they were exchanging vows she not so quietly says, "She's is beautiful and now they are really really married!"
She was quite a hit in her pink boots as the whole event paid homage to boots and cowboys. We enjoyed the afternoon at Shirley Acres and spending time with Grandma GG and Uncle Ronnie. The day was beautiful as was the bride. Congratulations to Katie an Scott!

May the blessing of light,
Be with you always,
Light without and light within,
And may the sun shine
Upon you and warm your heart
Until it glows
Like a great fire
So that others may feel
The warmth of your love
For one another. 

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole" -Roger Caras

After our week in Tuscon, we had 3 days before we flew out to Texas. We decided to take Pexie out in the boat for the first time. She is 1 year old now! We drove out to Lake Elsinore (aka Smelsinore... it really does stink) and launched the boat. It was my first time there although Mr B and JT had been before. It's a resevoir so when that heat is pouring down, it activates some crazy underwater sea monster that farts as it swims under the water. Not really, i don't think anyway. But that's a fair description of what it smells like. After letting the kids drive a few laps, yes, the kids, we were heading in and all of a sudden heard a clunking sound and the steering got tough. We pulled the boat out and decided to take it by the shop to get it checked out. On the way we stopped for lunch at Tom's Farms. Turkey Burgers for us, peanut butter sandwich for the pup. Although it turned out that the boat needed a few repairs, it was a really nice day. 

Dove Mountain

June 2011

We travel often for work. Most of our clients know that we have young children and a few of our awesome clients have watched out family grow. A few years ago, we did a show in Las Vegas where we stayed at the Red Rock Hotel for 10 days. JT was 3 and I was preggo with HeaBug. They were so cool with JT being back stage and thinking he was quite a little boss man.

This year we were doing the same company's meeting but at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Resort outside Tuscon, AZ. The company had bought out the entire hotel for the week. We had rooms for ourselves and our crew, who were coming in from all over. We had a room reserved under Mr B and one under my own name, as a place holder. When we checked in they said, "We have two B reservations." We let them know that we would be staying under Mr. B. At that point, they offered us the option of two rooms... Either a standard room (still a standard at the Ritz!) or and EXECUTIVE SUITE! Mr B quickly says we'll take the latter. I refuse to unpack once our things are delivered to the room because I'm positive it must be a mistake. Client called, no mistake. She just knew we were bringing the family and thought we could use the space! Hello top floor and thank you VERY much.




















That can pretty much describe the  rest of our stay at Dove Mountain. It was beautiful, amazing, breathtaking, fun. The resort itself was extremely family friendly (not the norm for the Ritz). A lot geared toward the kids. A huge waterside and two fantastic pools. Considering my two munchkins were pretty much the only little people there for a few days, we pretty much enjoyed uninterrupted time at the pool.







They ate breakfast on the balcony and hollered down Hello's to members of the staff that they were beginning to recognize. They watched movies that we brought from home and even got ice cream sundaes delivered to the room!

Seeing as it is the desert and 113 outside, our attempts at a hike were quickly squashed a 1/2 mile in. We did make it to the Desert Museum, which was fun but still yucky hot. I took the kids down to the meeting rooms and ball room where they were setting up. We got to spend a lot of time with Mr. B even though we were on show site. We're friends with the people that work with us so the kiddos had plenty of folks to show all their dives and jumps and slides and tricks to. (Thank you Andrew, John and Al!)

We ate tons of delicious food, napped in the air conditioning. When it was too hot to be poolside, they played and watched TV from the very deep soaking tub. HeaBug is potty training and managed to stay dry, night and day, our whole trip there!

The grounds were beautiful, the food was delicious and as much as I enjoyed living the life in a suite at the Ritz, I sure was glad to be home (even if just for a few days) and out of that crazy heat. Something about being in my bed at home and knowing my kids are asleep in theirs just puts me at ease.

Uplights and projecting a logo via a gobo on the side of a mountain!

They are wonderful car travelers and the 10 hour drive (because of potty breaks) was a breeze. I'm so grateful for my super cool kiddos. I'm thankful that we have and awesome company and great clients. I'm glad we made the choice to work for ourselves and thankful that we are able to support ourselves and pass along work to other people. Life is good for the B's.

Gone but never forgotten -Remembering on Father's Day

June 2011
Father's Day

This year, we spent father's day taking the kids to honor their grandfathers that have passed on. We visited the grave of "Papa Booth". Mr B's grandfather and Great Grandpa to JT and Hea Bug. He was very important in our lives and I'm grateful for the time that we were able to spend with him. I'm grateful that my children knew and loved him well.

We also took them to see "Grandpa Jack" for whom JT is named. It was their first visit and we try to come often enough that they will remember to honor those that are no longer with us and what they gave us. I never got the opportunity to meet Grandpa Jack since he died when Mr. B was only 10. I feel like I know the man that he was through stories though and us B's try to pass that on to our own children.

I worried that Mr. B might feel left out considering we weren't making a huge deal about him. But he enjoyed talking to the kids about their Grandfathers, the men that they were and the things that they did for him and taught him. It's not always an easy thing to pop up and say, "let's go to the grave site today" but I think he was glad that we got to do that for them and for the kids.

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

June 16, 2011

So proud of our little man! He has finished Kindergarten! What an amazing year of growth, learning, and accomplishments! At the last award's assembly, JT was given the "Most Improved"award for the leaps and bounds he made with his penmanship. We were there celebrate his achievements!

The last day of school was spent with all the other Kinder Classes as we walked to El Dorado Park for a fun day of play. There were bubbles, games, relays and face painting. Each class rotated stations, they had such a fun time even though we were experiencing June Gloom weather.

Kinderbration was hosted by 2 classrooms at a time. So smart to have only the families of 50 students in the auditorium as opposed to all 100 kindergarteners at the same time! 

We were treated to super cute songs and we got to cheer for our kids as they were presented with awards (JT got a Math Super Star award!) and then their Certificates of Completion. The wonderful Mrs. S choked up a little when offering sweet words of kindness about our children. I know that JT will remember how much he loved and learned from her for his whole life!

At the end of the day, we went back to class and collected all the projects, books, tests, and memories of kindergarten. Can't wait to come back and experience 1st grade!

"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. " -George F Will

June 10, 2011

The 2011 Spring Baseball season has ended for us. JT had an awesome time playing on the Twins and we met a lot of really cool families. Coaches were awesome, Parents were great, Kids had fun, can't really ask for much more than that.

I team-mom'd this year. We had a pretty great bunch. After our last game, we went straight to Cirvellos for pizza! We handed out special "Slugger Awards" to each of the players and then gave thank you gifts to the assistant coaches (who doesn't love Sunflower Seeds and Big League Chew and a framed photo of The Guys on Family Fun Day?). For Coach Freddy, I found a wood grained baseball that had the Twin's logo stamped on it. Over the last few games and practices we got all the boys to sign it and that was our special gift to him.

The boys all learned so much and had a great time in the process. Super proud of JT and looking forward to our Baseball Filled Lives in the future! Go Twins!

"Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going" -Jim Ryun

June 5, 2011

In December of last year, I crazily decided that I wanted to become a runner. Did I EVER like it? No. I have dreaded running the mile since like 6th grade! Over Christmas I'd listened to my sister tell a story about a friend of hers that had run the San Francisco Marathon and uncontrollably... it popped up there on my bucket list. I started a program called C25K and downloaded an app called Get Running. After 2 "attempted starts" and a crappy calf injury, I finally buckled down and got serious. In February, I started by running for 1 minute and walking for 1.5 minutes at a time. Three runs a week, 9 weeks later, on April 30th I completed C25K and ran for 30 minutes strait, without stopping, for the third time in a row! It was just under 3 miles.

Having completed the program, I wanted to test myself and signed up to run the Wrigley River Run. We got caught up with work and I stopped training for about a month. Since I'd already signed up, I decided to do the run regardless. When I went to pick up my information packet, Mr. B. spontaneously decided to do the run with me! I was skeptical but sure enough, after a pre race stop at 7-11 for some Red Bull, we showed up to the starting line and ran that race! We finished the 5K (3.2 miles) at (me 36:28 and him 37:50), pretty decent considering we hadn't been running for so long beforehand.

We felt great afterward and I've signed up for the Long Beach Half Marathon (13.1 miles). I've faltered on my training plan but have no intention of being a no show come Race Day, October 9th! JT is signed up to do the Long Beach Aquarium Kids 1 mile fun run the day before. He's pretty excited.