San Jose State University

updated
there were scheduled showers for this afternoon, but they ended up showering us with love around 9 am... Yes we stood in the rain and handed out toolkits for ReadyReturn - boy was I glad when it was time to go home... We speard the news about readyreturn near the art department and I got some great pics - Went for a walk in the rain.... saw my uncle Rick out with some clients... (he lives in Walnut Creek) random thought. the walk turned into a jog, it was refreshing We had a late lunch at Spagetti Factory - then Vangie and I worked out at the gym. I did the eliptical and the treadmill.... wait I did the treadmill first - then I went back to the room and climbed into my fancy robe and laid on the bed and took a nap.... I slept about an hour and it felt really good. i was rejuvenated for my dinner with Ashley.

I haven't seen Ashley since she graduated... (from Santa Clara University) in 2003 - it's been five years... WOW I didn't even realize it had been that long, but we picked up like we'd never missed a beat - though catching up takes some time... we laughed and shared stories and ate japanese... I had sushi, she had a combo plate. the dinner was good, the company was the best. We asked the waitress to take some pictures of us.... she didn't do so hot... so we pulled up to the hotel and I saw Theresa (from work) and asked her to snap some pictures of us... and she did... she took some pictures, but they didn't turn out... she took some of the building behind us, one of a man passing by... the top of our heads... Ashley and I cracked up.... I almost peed I laughed so hard.... it was a long goodbye, lots of hugs... we had a great visit and I can't wait til we get together again. I only wish I had great pictures of her and I -

St Claires - Day 1

updated
We're here.... the hotel is beautiful The Saint Claire- featherbeds, lots of feather pillows - the ones I love. Big down filled comforters - they even sell these featherbeds, pillows, comforters.... and robes.... So I danced around in my beautiful silk robe, played air guitar on the bed and then was -shot through the heart - and your to blame.... it's been great.
(my room)
Vangie and Lee at dinner
Robert, Theresa and Vangie after a long day of work
I went to dinner at Il Fornaio with Theresa (early) I had shell pasta with chicken, broccoli, sundried tomatoes, garlic and some wine sauce. The bread was my favorite part of dinner. I wanted dessert but decided I'd wait for Vangie and Lee to get to the hotel.... They arrived about 8:00 and I met them downstairs for dinner at Il Fornaio again.... ~lmao~ I really wanted Tiramisu - but didn't want the caf to keep me awake all night so I settled on more bread and some minestrone soup - Yes I was starving at 8 pm... I didn't eat all of my first dinner (could explain it). We chatted and enjoyed dinner then I ran up to my room and got warm in my robe and throw blanket (when I get home I'll post some pics - this laptop doesn't have a plug or anything to assist me in posting pics). I fell asleep watching the last few minutes of My dad is better than your dad....

Off to SJSU today and rain is in the forecast



more pics

girls just wanna have fun

the girls enjoy some Karaoke

Patrick turns Seven

Yesterday (2-16) my nephew Patrick turned seven and today we met up with him for a lil celebration. He's really into skateboarding, well as into it as any seven year old can be. My brother used to take Patrick to the skateparks and teach him skateboarding tricks.... and well now... my brother hardly comes around. I guess that's what divorced does to people, or maybe it's stupidity, or addiction, it's something... but in the end Patrick is the one who suffers. He's a great kid and we always have a great time when we hang out. He loves the babies, he's always kissing, hugging and following them around, helping them when they need help and just being sweet. He also enjoys spending time with Bianca, he comes and spends the night with us frequently or goes on short trips with us.

So I call his mom to tell her that we want to buy him a new skateboard... I'm thinking $200, my sister pays half and he's got a new awesome board... well his mom says he's got a new board, and an old one that he thrashes around on. I know he's got a beat up board at my parents house too, but Amanda assures me that he's got a new board and needs some shoes instead... She tells me he wears a 13.5 and his foot is growing fast so if i get him a 1, he'll be good....

So I hit the local boardshop - On3 (it's in Roseville) with my girlfriend Sherri and the kids -Bianca, Sydney and Peyton.... Bianca had a giftcard she wanted to spend... She went crazy in the store... she tried on a bunch of stuff - the xtra small stuff, and she got quite a few things.... new hoodie sweatshirt, some really cute girlie shirts, and a couple tanks... The babies ran around the store like it was a playground... and enjoyed talking to Mason and Don. Peyton usually pretends to talk to Don on the phone, so while he was on the phone, she was walking by him and shouted out "Hi Don" it was really cute... So after Bianca got all her stuff, I checked out the skate shoes for lil boys... ended up getting some really cool black DVS shoes for Patrick and an Element T shirt. Very awesome stuff...

Patrick was so excited about his skate shoes and shirt and couldn't wait to try them on and wear them around... the shoes fit perfect...(in other words, I should have gotten a 1.5 so he could grow into them) I knew I should have taken him with me to try them on.... but once he put them on... he didn't want to take them off... I gave him a bunch of On3 stickers too. He also got a DVS and Element sticker.... So he decorated his thrashed board and his skateboard ramp.... oh the shoes...

We played around while Patrick showed us skateboarding tricks, rode his ramp and bike, the girls played with the dogs and played in their truck. Bianca and Ben went to a soccer camp. My parents had to go bid on a job and my sister and I took the kids up to the local elementary school. the girls played on the slide, Patrick rode his bike and played basketball with some kids while I was the Papparazzi or mamarazzi as it fits...

Patrick does an ollie into a tail grind and holds the pose

up the ramp trying to ollie onto the wall

the girls see the slides

a lil basketball action

Patrick bringing up the rear with Amy and Peyton - she's marching with her hands in her pockets
Playing on the structure
Our favorite part is the slide
Sydney is a lightning fast

a big basketball game was about to happen, so big that Patrick had to bare his chest to prove he could play with the big boys... and Peyton was explaining that she was gonna play but she had no intentions of showing anyone anything...

Since I've been home

I took Valentines Day off and spent the entire morning and afternoon with Sydney and Peyton. We didn't sleep in, but we played in our PJ's for a lil while, ate breakfast, had a visit with Nana and Papa, then went to get lunch and to the park and played.... Sydney wasn't very friendly with the other kids.. her new words are "go away" So she didn't make any new friends. Mostly the girls raced up the stairs and down the slide... ate apple slices on the way to pick Bianca up from school and then napped before we picked Bianca up. We had intended on a short visit with Bianca's favorite teachers, but instead I was left sitting in the car with sleeping babies and the warm sunshine upon my face...

For Valentines Dinner Ben and I went to dinner with Steven and Joan - we went to Cattlemans - none of us have ever been there. It was really good. We had some steak nacho's for appetizers, some shrimp cocktail, and I had a midori margarita - YUMMY... Ben had coke - hold the Jack... Everyone enjoyed their drinks... I think the favorite was the midori sours.... Joan, Ben and I all enjoyed Filet Mignon... Joan had some mashed potatoes and some special sweet potato... (ugh) I had the baby red potatoes and Ben had baked potato. Steven had a shrimp dinner... the desserts were amazing - Joan had some fabulous cookie with ice cream and chocolate. Steven had death by chocolate cake... Ben had a mocha chocolate cake and I had strawberry NewYork cheesecake (it was huge). We brought home some steak nachos and dessert for the kids. (mocha chocolate cake was a big hit with the kids... Ben mostly liked the cheesecake and I had a couple bites of his dessert) YUM

It's been so beautiful. We've spent as much time outside as we can, going for walks, the park, or just playing on the patio - and we now have landscaping in the backyard.... well sprinklers and grass to go along with the patio... Next week we'll be able to play on the grass.

Here are a few pictures.

out for a walk - I love the pink and green together

kisses for my valentine

I'm gonna catch you

Daddy and the girls fall behind - Sydney wants to hold hands too, but Peyton loves having her hand in her pocket.

the grass is in... now we need some lil soccer goals and we're gonna have some fun

I've been gone 32 hours

I just got off the phone with Ben and the kids... Peyton was screaming in the background "I'm on a diet.... I'm on a diet" So does that mean when mommie leaves.... daddy forgets to feed the kids????

I have no idea where she got that phrase.... I'm never on a diet.

I go home tomorrow, I'm looking forward to leaving the city early and getting home in time to pick the babies up and head out to watch Bianca try out for Nomads...

I'm off on Valentines Day - I am hoping to sleep in, have coffee in my pj's, take the girls to the park, take a long walk, have a wonderful dinner out with my hubby.

the city part deux

My boob hurts, only the right one... it's hard as a rock - and I'm getting a lil weepy.... my days of nursing my babies are gone - and oh how I wish I had my babies here right now, so they could nurse - drain me.... please....

I didn't sleep well - I tossed and turned and woke up every two hours... UGH - the alarm I set didn't go off, of course I didn't need it... I woke up for the last time 5 minutes before the alarm was scheduled to go off. I got ready slowly...

I called Ben at 620 knowing he had to get Bianca off to school & the babies off to daycare. He was off - with my dad getting stuff for the backyard - the landscape is almost complete, when I get home tomorrow night... there is a chance we'll have grass in the backyard.... hard to believe, I'm so excited....

Grabbed some OJ and a lil muffin for a continental breakfast -the car was parked outside the hotel and ready for us at 640, we headed out in search of starbucks, or whatever local coffee shop served americanos.... 40 minutes later we were at San Francisco State University and I was in dire need of a fix (caffiene) Some ASO students met us and help us get set up. I found the campus cafe which served Peets, but no americano.... we were finished with work about 1130- the 400 readyreturn toolkits were passed out along with 200 mood lights - fastest event ever... the students were very receptive and we had a great morning.

Theresa and I headed for the Wharf and Pier 39 for some lunch. We ate at bubba gumps - it was disappointing to say the least, but the company was good - I ate shrimp with salsa.... she had the coconut shrimp. We walked around, got some clam chowder from Boudin San Francisco for the road. We drove the financial district a couple times, then out to find the high end market - I was really looking for an AE to get a belt.... i forgot my belt and my pants were falling off... luckily they have these lil tabs that you pull and tighten, on the sides.... They just happen to be AE cargo pants. in the end, I decided on no belt.... and we headed out for another scenic drive then back to the hotel for a nap...

did i mention my boob hurts - and I'm in the middle of that PHS - more to do...I sure hope we get outta the city early tomorrow

the city part one

this isn't sex & the city... or even the lipstick jungle... but it is the heart of San Francisco, or at least that's what the advertisement said...... i hear sirens right now......

So we (Theresa and I) got a late start today, the plan was to have the car dropped off to us at noon.... we finally had the SUV (2008 Chevy) packed and ready to go at 130... we drove, drove straight through, no lunch but we stopped for starbucks before we hit the freeway. by 345 we were starving and had been stuck in traffic since 300. we laughed, we cried.... it was a trip.....things started to look up and we started to move - by 500 we were at the hotel - valet parking and in we go.... ten minutes to pee and get settled and then it was off, on foot to find some good soup... clam chowder to be exact - the hotel guy gave us directions to a lil italian place.... we walked and walked some more... we didn't find anything, we walked up Sutter, up Polk, to Pine, Pine somewhere, and after a good hour of wandering we found a lil morrocan place... and we were starving... a young guy actually pointed it out.. said it was the ethnic heart of the city, great places to eat.... so we tried it... it was good.... I had chicken kaboobs, couscous and veggies - carrots, squashes... it was good. the bread was amazing.

back to the hotel.... we walk back to the hotel an laugh and hold our purses tight, talked about Crash... and walked some more... I told her about my room, she told me about hers... we laughed so hard I wanted to pee - I showed her my room, she was in awe... the huge bed w 6 pillows, the down comforter, the walk in closet with fluffy robes, the flat screen tv, the writers table.... she showed me hers - the tiny bed, the old comforter, the 1980s tv, the two dead pillows, it was terrible... so she called and got a new room, one like mine.... we laughed some more and now it's time to go our own ways and get ready for the morning... we leave the hotel at 630 - normally I'm still in bed at 630

I've talked to the babies a couple times tonight, Bianca included... my nursing days are now over... but I'm not uncomfortable yet.... off to shower

Super Star Status

Nami, Bianca, Ty, Sydney, Peyton, Alex, Patrick (hiding behind Alex) Emma, Andrew, Donovan, Dominic, Jonah, Cole
Oh What happened
GOL
Presents Galore

Sydney and Peyton were pretty cranky on the ride to Bouncetown, but things changed quickly as we pulled into our parking spot. Sydney's eyes lit up and she screamed "slide" and Peyton started to laugh and cheer as she climbed out of the car and they both ran inside... yes the party was about to start and the girls went from zero energy to giving everything 110%.

Here's who showed up -Bianca (the diva) Sydney (the rockstar) Peyton (the drama queen) Jonah (mini mcdreamy) Dominic (the red power ranger) Donovan (the hustler) Andrew (the soapbox champ) Alex (the boy next door) Cole (the kid from the other side of the tracks) ... okay I'm making things up now.... Patrick, Ty, Luke, Isaac, Nami and Emma - did you notice a trend... mostly boys... Nami and Emma are Bianca's age... so my girls have no girlfriends....

The kids all had a great time - bouncing, playing in the bubbles, sliding, racing... speaking of racing... I raced my sista Amy in the obstacle course and left her in the dust.... we won't mention that during the race we had a wipe out, got tangled up, had a throw down... and I slid headfirst for the win.... we're so not competitive......

I don't have much time to blog cuz I'm leaving tomorrow for the city and want to spend as much time with my family as I can. But check out some party pics, and check out our sista site for some more pics. Ben took most of the pictures and I didn't really edit anything.... So hopefully they are viewable... Click the picture below to check out all the fun.

Two Girls Turn Two

Happy Birthday Sydney... Happy Birthday Peyton... that was the order they came into the world and the same way they woke up this morning.... we played in the big bed this morning and took our time getting ready. Sydney did her usual routine of having milk and then using the potty... and today Peyton joined in... and she sat on the big girls potty and tinkled... We did the potty dance, and we screamed, jumped, danced and clapped... We = Sydney and I... Peyton was so thrilled.... usually we're always celebrating Sydney's adventures in Potty...

I left late for work, stopped at the Starbucks Drive Thru - and Peyton told the girl at the window it was her birthday and that she is 2... it was cute.

We took cupcakes to daycare for the party... and I have a few pictures. And when I picked them up we went for a long walk and I snapped pictures....(250) I can't believe my babies are two... We stopped by to visit Uncle Steven, Aunt Joan and the boys - Andrew and Luke.. and I snuggled and bounced and loved Luke... Sydney got a lil jealous... she pulled both of Lukes socks off... and kept tugging on me...

Tia Amy came over and we ate pasta and played... and I even got a picture of Kallie in the mix


Dylan, Peyton and Sydney
Donovan
Sydney, Peyton, Donovan
Peyton, Mommie, Sydney pose
the girls
Sydney

Peyton

Freeze

Daddy and the girls, almost to Uncles
Mommie and Luke
Mommie and Kallie