BUT THE FORCE WAS AGAINST ME!!

Today when I woke I planned on a great day, no I didn't say to myself it would be a great day because seriously I hope everyday is a great day BUT...the force was against me! You wouldn't know it at 8:36pm because I wasn't going to let the "whatever" have my day!

It started out with a trip to Kelly's school where we met a wonderful Speech Therapist, she really did have better news that we expected but it has become apparent that we have to focus more on Kelly's speech and hearing and we aren't as far as we thought we had come. It's ok, Kelly won't know it, we will ALL have a positive attitude for her.

Then I went to work, my first planned meeting was postponed and I was fine with that because I got TONS done at my desk.

Then I went to lunch...DOWNHILL was on FULL SPEED AHEAD! Have you ever had that feeling that someone knows something you don't and it's about to "take you down?" That feeling came true when we were engaged in a discussion over lunch with a person who happened upon us and decided to "share" their views on what was about to happen and what we believed was no longer. FULL SPEED...

Next meeting was a lot of patching up what was discussed over lunch in the views of 10 other people though I NEVER engaged in any "view" and I will hold out to see the outcome when the outcomes are on the horizon.

I came home and to my children's defense moving has taken a toll on my normally clean home and they are using it to be lazy...NO THAT WON'T WORK so I go into "mom" mode and tell them to help me fix it. My son makes a great grilled chicken dinner and being "mom of the year" I think I will treet them to much deserved ice cream.




Banking on the rumor that Baskin Robbins was having .31 cent ice cream we head to the local Baskin Robbins....line is around the store. I head to the next one, IT'S WORSE! I can honestly say...I AM NOT THAT DESPERATE for a .31 cent ice cream so off to the grocery store because again let's not forget I am "MOM OF THE YEAR!" I tell them each to pick out an ice cream to enjoy....I guess this is where I failed one more time today! They can't decide on which flavor treat mom is letting them freely choose. I realize then I should take them out to pick out treats more often, they are like kids in a world of ice cream treats who don't know how to make a decision. It was crazy! They don't see the "grocery store" often, we do go to Trader Joe's or Costco, usually not ALL 3 of them at once, I swear I don't keep them locked in closets or anything.

Treats have been chosen, eaten and I have one in bed and 2 to go! My husband is finally home after his VERY long day!

Tomorrow is "National Day of Prayer" I hope to wake praying for a great day for everyone I came in contact with today including my children and it will be better than today!

WAIT...TODAY WAS GREAT, it ended with ice cream and smiles! Making lemons out of lemonade...that's how life is supposed to be! THANK YOU GOD!

Today for kicks my friend and I went "house-snooping" in Coto. Ok, so that doesn't sound like a strange place to do this but we seriously saw some of the strangest homes EVER! I guess when you think of those living behind the "iron gates" you think of grand, beautiful homes! NOT SO MUCH!
We saw 2 homes that will leave me sleepless for days! One I swear had to have been a home used to shoot movies I have never seen and don't EVER plan on seeing! The other...OH NOW FOR REALS...it had 3 showers that you seriously had to jump 5 feet down to get into, NOT STEP, JUMP! It was a 3000 square foot house with a kitchen the size of a closet used in a child's bedroom. It had secret rooms that were taped shut and NO WE DID NOT OPEN THEM! We found rooms that looked like dungeons!

I still can't get over my night in Coto and won't sleep for days! SERIOUSLY what were these people thinking when they build these homes!?!?! Who lived in these odd strange homes stuck in the midst of normal neighborhoods? It would be a fun place to tell scary stories on a Halloween night if you are into that kind of thing..I am NOT and I WILL LAY AWAKE REMEMBERING MY SCARY ADVENTURE!

By the way...They were BOTH banked owned and I wonder why!?! Anyone looking to buy a new home CHEAP! REALLY CHEAP AND REALLY REALLY SCARY! Pictures can be deceiving as well as ads posted by realtors!

PS. If you were the original homeowner of these "homes" in Coto you probably know which homes I am referring and for that I apologize for my hastily made comments BUT it doesn't stop me from wondering "who are you and what were you thinking?" Hopefully you have come to your senses and moved into a much nicer, calmer laid out home!

Don't shoot me...see below! Promise for shorter next time...or is this next time?

Life seems to be blazing by and blogging has become harder to keep up with, for that I apologize!

We are packing for our move, our house (now) looks like a brown box cheaply decorated place, we won't be inviting you over! I love a clean house, it doesn't "feel" clean with things EVERY WHERE! I can't stand it. For some reason my children are using this opportunity to "forget" their chores and manners...do they REALLY think I don't see their junk laying places it never was laid before? Or they are using my dining room table as a dumping zone...SINCE WHEN was THAT allowed? I may be getting old and needing glasses but I still see their C.R.A.P. where is is not allowed to be!

Now, that explains the ranting going on around here...CAN YOU HEAR IT FROM YOUR HOMES? Sorry for that too!

We have picked paint for all the rooms (at the new home), they start painting tomorrow! I am getting more and more excited to finally spread out. We pick carpet on Monday, this is such a hard task for me but I am also excited! Odd me!

I can't wait to have all our friends at the new house. I can only hope it's "done" with it's upgrades by the time the kids get out of school!

Other news on the radar:

I am working hard to negotiate great food offerings for the "Refinery" and I am loving this project though my phone rings CONSTANTLY! If you really know me, I HATE talking on the phone for any length of time, this is why I love to text. Sounds impersonal...I know and I again SORRY! I love to meet face to face.

I had a GREAT dinner with JULIE THE GREATEST this week, it was my highlight! Julie is so normal and fun to "run things by" she is SO grounded! THANKS AGAIN JULES!

My bad/confusing news of the week...my Step-mother died. Now I am not sure she was still my step-mother, her and my father divorced 10 years ago. I received this call from my dad and I heard my real dad cry for the first time in my entire life. I know he loved her at one time in his life. I on the other hand...DID NOT! She was not a good person and actually died from alcoholism, it killed her and she missed out on a great life. I am not sad, I feel confused and nothing...again odd me!

Ok....here is a real rant....WHAT IS WRONG WITH KIDS THESE DAYS! These 2 crazy things REALLY happened to my kids this week, it's almost like we should be on the "Roseanne" show with those crazies! Here goes:

Last Friday I get a call that my 8 year olds school is covered with cops and helicopters! WHAT!?!?! There was a report of a man with a gun in the area. My kid and the rest of the school was put on "lockdown" WHAT IS THAT ABOUT! The real story, 2 little boys (in my daughters 2nd grade class) decided to add excitement to the day by telling the teacher they saw a man with a gun, real story...gardener with a leaf blower! I REALLY hope there are some little red bottoms to go with THAT story! 2 hours later my kid was free to leave!
Yesterday I hear an over-exaggeration of a "riot" at my kids high school over a "water/food" fight! Really people, kids go to school, do your work, laugh with your friends, teachers teach and let go of the drama! How did my kids become the lucky ones to have so much "drama" I really wish I knew. FYI...for those of you that know the story about the high school, I can praise God that my children made good choices and were NOT involved!

Sorry it's long...talk to you ALL soon!

I try to remember this quote constantly, I love this quote because it keeps me grounded BUT....I am wondering if my feelings of resentment towards losing my shoes this last week are legitimate!?!
I didn't "lose" my shoes, I didn't misplace my shoes, nor did I give them up to a woman who needed a pair of shoes out of the goodness of my heart. The conversation went a little like this:

"Mom, can I go through the old shoes in the shoe bin and our closets for HSM?"

I respond with "sure, but ONLY take the old shoes no one wears or that do not fit anyone anymore." Seems simple RIGHT? We keep shoes in 2 places in our home, a shoe organizer bin at the front door and in my closet I have built in shoe organizers. The task of "going through the shoes" seems an easy one. I am also a VERY giving person, if you need ANYTHING just ask and I will give it to you. You can have ANYTHING I have, anytime...just ask. My daughter thinks her selective hearing said "take whatever you want." It would make me happy to give away my shoes, I am thrilled with this project BUT here is my issue and I agree it's an issue! My daughter GAVE AWAY the shoes I wear ALL the time, not the ones I NEVER wear, the ones I wear DAILY! Black flats, white flats, cute sandals, etc...GONE! I would have been fine to knowing I was getting new shoes HAD I BEEN INFORMED THAT MY SHOES WERE GONE! After dressing for work wearing black capris, cute summery top, I do my usual...go downstairs to leave for work...."WHERE ARE MY SHOES?" I even go as far as asking my 8 year old to help me find my shoes and she says "I think they are in Holly's car (we wear the same size). I text her and ask her if my shoes are in her car she says "no, and I don't know where they are." "WHAT...SERIOUSLY, I keep a clean house (outside of the boxes we are starting to live out of right now in the midst of moving), how could she NOT know where my shoes are since I KNOW I put them in the organizers.

Now..the truth comes out...SHE GAVE AWAY MY SHOES TO HSM! I am good with donating them JUST tell me next time! Anyone up to shoe shopping on Holly's dime??????

Tonight my husband asked for my help "researching" some let's just say "candidates" for his work. With my new found "links" I was able to help him with this "research" thanks to some friends who know stuff I don't...it's complicated I know!
After we were done, we decided to "Google" ourselves. Just so you know we have led quite the exciting lives outside of our normal 40 hour work week, parents to 3 kids, AND A DUMB DOG! We have delved in the world of politics, Greenpeace, baseball, etc. We even "googled" our kids for kicks...they too have led exciting lives that we HAD NO IDEA ABOUT!
It was fun but I will take our "boring" little bedroom community lives ANY DAY!!!!

Is it just me or do others still use Josh's old blog to get to his new blog? Just wondering?



And this is what happens when you "google" "Josh Griffin"

Today I went back to work after being off for almost a week (I worked Saturday for 4 hours...doesn't really count). For some reason I woke up almost a week ago with a high fever, worked anyway so we could serve up a great Staff lunch, left that day and forgot about the next 2 1/2 days. Then we had the company party, then I had 2 days off and a minor surgery (don't worry, really minor). So today was officially back to work but being that my surgery was yesterday I was given let's just say something to "help me rest" after the surgery. I didn't function from about 3 till 5:45am when I woke this morning with the same darn re-occuring dream!

I dream that I am on the freeway, sun in my eyes or falling asleep at the wheel and can't make it over to the side...I wake FREAKING out everytime! WHY...someone PLEASE TELL ME!

Anyway...the point about my story is: it felt good to go back to work but WHY do I wake up with this SAME dream so often...could it have been after the "help me rest" junk I was given, am a nervous (I don't feel nervous), OR should I stay home and relax and not ever go back to work so I can work on this "problem" (just kidding staff reading this)! I am tired of the dream, I have to get up every time and look at my family and make sure that we are all here, no one has been in a car accident, why is my stupid mind playing this same trick over and over!

Maybe I will go find a warm beach, relax for days, and see if it happens again....OK!??! OK!

I know...what does one have to do with the other Mr. Pete....My point...maybe I need to spend time "relaxing" and not working so I can work on this "issue!" Just kidding, I love working....it just started to sound good after having a few days off and the Harbor House coming in 103 days! SEE YOU THERE THIS YEAR PETE AND DONAS!!!

In exactly 104 days...we will be at our families favorite place and for those of you that enjoy those days with us........

HARBOR HOUSE DATES

July 31-Aug 11

NOW...some of you know this is earlier than the last 8 years! We realize that but these are the ONLY dates that fit into ALL of our schedules this summer. We have SO much going on this summer and this is even causing us to miss a few things BUT this is SUMMER and THIS is what SUMMER IS ALL ABOUT!

See you there...ALL ARE INVITED! Can't wait...I already bought 2000 (seriously 2000) water balloons!

THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION! Everyone knows I have 3 kids because I talk about them often and I LOVE THEM TONS! Even more after last night, we didn't need a babysitter...we have an almost 18 year old and we can go away OVER NIGHT!

NOW...the IMPORTANT INFORMATION...I had this dream LAST NIGHT IN THE HOTEL!

My dream started with my visit to my friend Susan's house, BIG house, lots of kids, and love so no wonder it started there! I was visiting her and she for some reason had LOTS of little African kids there. They were ADORABLE! I have NEVER NEVER NEVER thought about adopting and if you ask my family they will honestly tell you that I wanted ONE child and God gave me 3, THANK GOD! I was done after Holly, no Matt, NO REALLY REALLY DONE AFTER KELLY...trust me (I have proof, enough said)! In my dream I find a little baby black girl, her name is "Sharpae" and she is SO STICKING CUTE, TINY AND ADORABLE, she had an adorable pink little tiny dress on! I spend the rest of my dream trying to convince everyone at the house and my husband that I want this baby to be ours! I even try to make them contact the family in Africa and tell them about our new house we are moving to! THANK GOD I WOKE UP...but what does this mean????!!!! Really, I am SO done with the "baby thing" I was DONE 17 1/2 years ago!

SHE WAS CUTE! David didn't see the humor in my dream......he was busy basking in the fact that our children NO LONGER needed a sitter and we were on an official overnight date!

Or at least my husband made me feel like one! Every year we have the Trader Joe's company party, usually not my favorite I will be honest. The last 2 years I decided to look through better eyes about the event. I decided that it was not about the party but about David and I having a night out, me being proud of who he is and what he has done for our family for the last 19 years of Trader Joe's service, and enjoying the night. SO...I have but in my decisions to go to this party with new eyes I have come away feeling like a princess, he has spoiled me with attention, time alone, and embracing who we are as a couple, sharing moments about where our kids are in life (most of these people have known them their entire lives) and being proud of US! I love being proud of us, it makes me feel so honored to be a part of "us!"
The night was great, the hotel was beautiful, the room was perfect, the morning (before we both had to go to work) was wonderful. I wish I would have remembered the camera (SO SO SORRY JULIE...I just forgot at the last moment, really I felt horrible all night about that part), but because of my wonderful friend Julie I wore a beautiful dress, David in his brand new suit..it was all perfect! Here are a few pics of this wonderful hotel, stay there sometime...The Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach. We had a Sunset, Ocean View room...thank you again to my wonderful sweet talking husband at check in!

My poor son was blessed with size 17 feet and still growing. He is having trouble keeping them out of the way of the furniture. Today he kicked the china hutch twice, it hasn't moved, it's been in the same place for 2 years. After he kicked it the 2nd time and swore his baby toe was broken he asked me why we moved the china hutch. Seriously it hasn't moved in 2 years! Poor Matt.
As he towers over me I will always know he is there to protect me, carry me when I am elderly and can't walk anymore. I love my tall, tall boy...I just feel sorry for his baby toe!

Heather McTaggart
The wife of an amazing, funny, incredible man! The mother of 3 God loving amazing young persons!

- -

• Guess where I am....
• Did I disappear...honestly YES!
• Because she is......
• Favorite part of my day...
• Sad, mad, frustrated...it's all in the bag for today!
• HOME SWEET HOME!
• Moving has begun...
• Mother's Day...is a beautiful thing!
• Cassandra made me do it...
• HELP...is needed!

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