20 Years Ago...

Troy Graduated from Etna High School!

We had a fun time this past weekend driving up North to Troy's old, old stomping grounds. We had a relaxing family picnic Saturday. It was beautifully catered and the girls had a blast on the playground. I was the playground marm (which wasn't my favorite thing ) but the girls were one of the youngest there and I was being a mama bird! They had a great time while Troy visited with old friends and catching up!

Go frog - GO!


What the heck are you doing mom??

The Pose. I am slightly sad that I didn't have more shots of Troy and I - but hopefully people will send me some!

We stayed in the Etna RV park in our trailer and my parents came with their 5th-wheel. My parents watched the girls as we had a nice dinner at Corrigan's. The girls had a blast hanging out with my parents and we had a great time not being with them and coming home at 2 to no kids! The best part was Marty doing stand up! He was great! Good people doing great things! It was a very nice way to spend the weekend!

Troy's new job - the perks I love!

Last weekend TAOS mountain had a company picnic. It reminded me of the days when he worked for SUN and they were doing well. It was at a BEAUTIFUL park by shoreline amphitheater in Mountain View. I love that park! The lake was beautiful and it was just a beautiful day! Troy didn't know a lot of people since he's only been there about 2 weeks.

The girls made visors, we played games, ate great food and had a great time!

Green, Green and some red tomatoes!

Troy and I have been throwing around the idea of leaving Elk Grove and moving somewhere closer to his work -and out of suburbia. This is never and easy choice. I try to start pros and cons lists and get emotional about it all. I wish there were signs from the universe that told us what was the right thing to do. Everyone says go with your gut - but my gut instincts change depending on the location I am in.

When I was living in Colorado I knew I didn't want to stay there. There were good things - but the con's list overtook the good and it was very clear as to what I should do when I had children. I am so great-full we don't live there now.

The con's for suburbia Elk Grove is not that bad - it's just different. Different than I thought it would be, different than where I thought I would be raising my children, just plan different - but OH SO THE SAME! Same houses, same cars, same people with different names, same chain stores, same streets, a lot of the SAME! Is same always bad? Or can same be good? When?

I don't want to find myself being the same. I try to stay true to myself and try to be original. I want to be unique - but unique in suburbia sometimes comes off as just plain bitchy or strange or not like "them" so not right.

A place in my suburbia world that I do feel right, at peace, unique and original and very at ease is in my back yard. Sure there are 3 or more different houses looking in on my unique place - but I try to ignore that noise and enjoy what I have. We have a beautiful yard with many different types of plants and many different color flowers. It isn't complete (we've been here 2 years!) but it's getting there. I did a small raised bed with the girls this year and it's so fun to pick the cherry tomatoes and eat them right of the vine. We've depleted the strawberry bush - but that was a lot of fun too. I love my yard in suburbia hell. It's green, it's fun and it's relaxing.





Come by and play and eat some cherry tomatoes!

The 38th Annual! 4th of July - Dirty Camp'n Fun!

Oh if it were all that peaceful! LOL

We just got back from our 4th of July camping trip. We were there 5 days and had a dirty fun time. The girls love camping. Well at least they like the freedom of mom and dad not bugging them all the time. Every year we go up with the same crew. My Parents and their friends started this "Annual" 38 years ago. Now the tradition is going strong with all the "kids" (my generation) and the kid's kids (like Jacey and Teagan) and fokes we picked up along the way.

Jacey and Tea are 3rd generation annualers.

NICE Socks and Flip-flops! ONLY WHILE CAMPING is that okay - and even then it's not okay! LOL

Even camping it's important to drag along a baby doll!

Camping is a lot nicer now that we have a trailer. This is our second year in the trailer and it makes it so much easier to try and stay clean. We were up in the Rubicon this year. South Fork. It was nice weather and the place was nice, a little dusty for me and the mosquitos were out of control. Poor Jacey's big'old forehead got eaten to bits because she didn't like the bug spray on her face! Poor thing! It was kind of crappy because of all the fires this season we couldn't have campfires! What the hell is camping without a campfire!

Stella and Teagan at the beach!

Very important to practice your gymnastics even while at the lake!

Teagan telling Grandpa where he needs to take her! LOL Putty in his hand!

Friday night Troy got so drunk that Saturday he spend the whole day in the bathroom or in bed! I felt sorry for him at first until I saw that he drank 1/2 a HUGE bottle of gin all by himself! He was so hurting! Part of me felt bad but another part of me was just pissed that I didn't get to spend the day with him and the girls all together! They hardly seem much of him (with the new job) so the vacations are nice that they get to see him so much. The girls and I went to Gerle Creek Reservoir and swam around with my mom, brother Jake, sister-in-law Janette, and their daughter Stella. The water was pretty cold but you know how kids never mind that! They had fun so we went back today since Troy missed out on Sunday. We had a good time. Teagan (the 20 month old) loves to be in the water and it's almost scary how she isn't afraid of it! Jacey, well she is very timid around the water but she does like it. I was a pretty fun trip. As always too short and we wished we had more time! But it was nice to be out using the trailer and having fun.