Cowboys and Indians Party!

Cowboys and Indians Party!
Originally uploaded by projectpink

So much going on, so little time to post to my blog.
Good stuff! Z turned 4. Grandma and Z share the same b-day, so we
had a big party. It was a Cowboys and Indians Birthday Party! Lots of fun!
I'll have to post more again soon.
Right now I am getting ready to go meet my friend Meredith who took this photo. We are going to go hiking with the kids. Meredith is an amazing photographer...check out her website. http://www.meredithparmelee.com
Have a great weekend y'all!

Windmill Hole

Windmill Hole
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Here is another classic! It's the windmill hole at miniature golf.
Z wanted to play miniature golf and kept asking me for 2 days straight. "When can we go to miniature golf?" He'd ask almost every 1/2 hour it seemed.
Yes, we made it to Castle Park. Z was so happy! He even got a hole in one on
hole #13. I made a hole in one on #12. Bruce made a hole in one
on #17. It was a good round of golf for all!

Castle Park Miniature Golf

Castle Park Miniature Golf
Originally uploaded by projectpink

I love these crazy architecture gone wild things that happen at miniture golf courses. This one is a classic, complete with dragon!
I love it!

Golf

Golf
Originally uploaded by projectpink

We got to play the full 18 holes over Labor Day weekend at Shandin Hills Golf Course. Bruce's parents watched Z.
It played very slow with everyone and their uncle playing due to the holiday weekend. It was so worth it though. I was way better on the back nine after I had a chance to practice a bit on the front nine.
I don't get much practice in these days, so I am getting my practice in while on the course. Bruce says that's the best way to practice anyways. It was fun!

Miniature Golf

Miniature Golf
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Here's Z with his best friend A playing miniature golf.
He loves golf right now. Z loves putting and going to the driving range. He had a meltdown when we had to leave the course.
He loves to play!!! This was a temporary mini course set-up for
an Employee picnic at Mattel. Notice the Barbie golf pin flag.
It was fun. Z had the most fun on the course.

Kite

Kite
Originally uploaded by projectpink

I love the long summer days! Z loves them too.
Last week it was windy in the afternoon, so we got the ol' kite out.
Up it went into the sky. Z is able to hold the kite string a lot better now. I usually end up flying the kite, but I enjoy it. It brings back fun memories of flying kites. This kite we have is so easy to fly. The kites we tried to fly when I was young seemed to have all kinds of
mishaps, crashes and re-trys. So, I'm loving this kite...so easy.

Nest Remnant

Nest Remnant
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Here's the remnants of the nest. I think a hawk or a crow got it.
It's sad. I was so excited when I first discovered the nest with the tiny eggs, then to look out my window and see tiny beaks peeking out waiting for mom. Then one morning it was gone. Just a piece of it was left.

Humming Bird Nest

Humming Bird Nest
Originally uploaded by projectpink

We have a humming bird nest on the side of our house, just outside our bedroom window.
I was trimmng the trees about 3 weeks ago and found this perfect little nest. This finding halted my tree cutting on this tree for that day.
Now, that it is 3 weeks later, I looked out our window this morning and saw a tiny beak sticking out of the nest. Soon after, the mama came flying in with food for her little ones. It's very cool.
I still can't believe we are in the middle of the year with 4th of July right around the corner.
Time flies!

Dodgers, Acupuncture & Painting

Watching a Dodger Game
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Here are two important men in my life. We went to see the Dodgers V.S. Phillies play on June 6th, 2009.
It's always fun going to the stadium and watching the Dodgers play.
They won that day too, so that is always a plus.
Father's Day is coming up this next weekend...Hmmm???
****
I'm feeling more like myself. The pain I was in is almost gone.
Now, I'm seeing an acupuncturist/herbalist in addition to a chiropractor. I am finding out I like acupuncture. A couple friends recommended it, but I admit I was reluctant to try it. I have a huge fear of needles. Then about 2 weeks ago, I thought why not? I had no idea that I would enjoy acupuncture so much. I thought I would be petrified of the needles, but I barely notice them. The whole history of acupuncture is so fascinating too. I know little of it, but what I am learning, tiny bit by tiny bit has me enthralled. I'm into my 3rd week of taking an easy yoga class too. This is great too. I'm trying new things for me which is so fun.
****
I actually made it to a plein air outing last weekend. A group of artists called the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountatins meets once a month for Paint Outs. I was only there for an hour, but any little thing is great. I did a quick watercolor and took some photos. For a while I was member of the Allied Artists and was in a group show. Lately, I just try to show up when I can. I notice that when I paint now (post-having a baby), I am a lot more direct now. I am in a way more efficent with my brush strokes due to limited painting time. This has been interesting for me to notice. Actually, I am more direct in other areas too. I tend to make decisions quicker instead of pondering many outcomes before making a decision. Somehow I have adapted getting in the things I love to do with less time...becoming more efficient out of necessity. This is a good thing.
However, do not be confused, I would love to have more time in my day if I could.

***
Enjoy your day my friends!!!

Golf: 9-hole course

Golf: 9-hole course
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Here's a photo from Memorial Day weekend of my dad and me. My mom and dad were visiting for the holiday. It was actually the first weekend I felt like I could try to play golf since my arm/neck/thumb injury. My husband and dad played an 18-hole, a 9-hole and then another 9-hole with me. I just played the one 9-hole.
I was happy to play, but I played terrible. I haven't played since last April up in Boulder Creek with my dad and Bruce. I was glad to not get re-injured. That was the key to my game that day. It also contributed to my terrible playing. I could tell I was holding back. So, now that I know I can play 9-holes without re-injuring myself I feel good that I can start playing more regularly again. Yeah! In general, I am happy that I am about 90% recovered. I still have some very subtle numbness in my thumb. It's getting better little by little. That's a good thing!

LACMA

LACMA
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Last weekend we went to LACMA. It was fun!
Before going inside we explored the Rodin sculptures outdoors and
the Chris Burden lampost installation. I love that classic-modern
interchange. Here is Z going through the gates from Rodin to Burden.

Happy Mother's day to all of you moms! We are celebrating today by
going to a "free" mulch pile from the City of LA. What fun! Dirt!
We are going to put it on our rose plants outside. I hope to pull some of the weeds out, then put the mulch on top. We'll see. My shoulder is recovering from the last time I posted, but it is better.
I don't know how much mulching I can do. My thumb is still a little numb, with a somewhat pressure feeling on my forearm like I am wearing a sleeve. At least now I can sleep at night, which is huge.
It's some type of pinched nerve kind of thing which is slowing down the sensation to my forearm and thumb.
Anyway, I'm going to try to mulch.... We'll see.
Enjoy your day moms!

Big Sur: Andy & Greg

Big Sur
Originally uploaded by projectpink

We did a road trip to see my parents. On the way back we drove PCH along the coast through Big Sur. Usually we just take the 5, but
we (my mom, dad, husband, son and myself) wanted to stop in Big Sur to celebrate my brothers' lives. The day we went was on their birthday on April 10th. We stopped at one of Andy & Greg's favorite spots, Sand Dollar.
It was a perfect day to drive through Big Sur. You never know if it will be overcast or not. My brothers loved Big Sur. I love it too.
This photo is at Bixby bridge on the way to where we would stop to
remember my brothers.

Now I am back home...and I have a brutal pain in my shoulder,arm and neck. Part of me thinks it might be partly due to the passing of my brothers. I don't think I have really come to terms with their passing. Now my body is in pain...I didn't do anything out of the ordinary to get this pain that I can pinpoint. Emotions, stress, bad habits, sleep position, picking up my 34 lb. son...all kinds of things are factors in the way the body operates. I'm icing the painful area and getting an MRI in my shoulder area tomorrow. I have had this brutal pain for over a week now. I hope to have relief soon. The DR said, "breathe". For whatever reason (most likely stress), I am taking short breaths. I'm trying very hard to relax, which seems like a stressful way to relax.

Meerkat

Meerkat
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Another day at the zoo!
It was fun to see the meerkats out today!
They are fun to see. Z is now completely asleep in napland.
Ahhh...the life of a 3 1/2 year old.
We met some friends and had a super time.

Party!

Party!
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Here is Z at his friend's 3 year birthday party!
Lots of action there today. They had pizza, apple juice, cupcakes and a bouncy house.
Most of his friends were there...so what more could you ask for?
Then, Z had a huge nap!

Dandelion

Dandelion
Originally uploaded by projectpink

We have many dandelions in our backyard.
Once in a while I try to dig them up, but it is no use.
They come back. I just read that trying to dig them up actually helps them come back even more. I surrender.
Z loves them. I don't blame him. I used to love blowing the little parachute seed pods myself as a child. Once in a while today I still blow one just to see the seeds blow in the wind and disperse. Mostly now, I just watch Z do it. He can't resist a full round puffy dandelion.
Right now we have lots of tempting dandelions to blow.

Snow!

Snow!
Originally uploaded by projectpink

Z went to the snow.
We didn't stay outside too long since we
didn't have snow gear. We were outside just long enough to
build a mini snowman and take some photos.
Z ended up getting snow in his boots and got cold very fast after that. We used his rainboots and since the snow was a little over a foot tall the snow easily got inside. Now we want to go back better prepared to enjoy all of the fun of the snow. It was fun. I got him a snow saucer already for next time. I know he will love it.

Gorilla Sculpture & Z

Gorilla Sculpture & Zach
Originally uploaded by projectpink

We went to the LA zoo for Valentine's day. This photo of the sculpture was taken near the Campo Gorilla Reserve. Z didn't need any prompting to go
next to the gorilla sculpture for a photo. He was having fun checking it out.
It was just Z and I with a million other people from LA. It was fun.
Z is beginning to know the layout of zoo. He likes to look at
the map to see where we are and what animals we are going to see.
He is also an expert at getting treats lately. We had an icecream sandwich. Then, later at home he remembered that he had some Valentine's day treats from preschool.

Big Horns

Big Horns
Originally uploaded by projectpink

At first glance these Big Horns look like they are ramming each other.
Then on closer inspection it is realized that they are eating.
It's feeding time!
We became members to the LA Zoo, so expect to see more zoo animals posted this year.

The Zoo

The Zoo
Originally uploaded by projectpink

We went to the LA Zoo today.
Z loved the gators. When we went to the park section of the zoo he found the gator to sit on. It was a photo Op moment. Other moms were posing their kids on the gator too. The gator didn't seem to have much time without a child riding him, sitting on him or jumping off of him. The other highlights of the zoo were the giraffes, the
chimpanzees and snow cone. Lots of stuff going on there today with lots of people.
You could say it was a zoo at the zoo.

Trail

Trail
Originally uploaded by projectpink

I hiked on a trail in the Santa Monica mountains today.
The day was beautiful. I was a little sleepy, but still enjoyed being out in the mountains. Happy 2009 everyone!