Monthly Archives: May 2012

Day 75 – Really only 75 days left?

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Talk about living life to the fullest, today was so busy that my feet hurt and my heart is full.

I started today by cleaning the house and decluttering because the Relatives were coming to town!  I know I don’t have to clean for them, but still, I want the house to be presentable and ready for them. And I had a full day planned before they arrived at who-knows-what-time-they-were-coming. 

At 9:30 am, Marcia came to take me with her to Filoli Gardens in Woodside, which was such an honor. Typically she goes every year with her wonderful mother, Pat Hunter, but today Pat couldn’t go so she invited me to attend with her. We really enjoyed walking through the Filoli House and admiring all the artistic floral designs and displays. 

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The Secret Garden, Discover the Magic – the theme for the day.  Doesn’t this door and garden look inviting?

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This was my favorite display – I loved the texture of the rose silk ribbon tablecloth, and he pink and orange ribbon covered vase, and the gold place ware. It was formal and whimsical – I liked it a lot.

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This display caught my eye because it was called Book Worm, and used ferns and monkey tails as the worms. I liked the mixed textures and pieces of wood with the giant green leaves, and a book tucked inside.

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 Marcia and I enjoyed our lovely tea sandwiches and scones with lemon curd. I love her S&D necklace!! Too cute.

After the trip to Filoli, we both rushed back. J was receiving an award at school today at 2 pm and I still had to prepare my Stella & Dot displays for Christine’s party at 7 pm before my Relatives arrived at 4 pm and get to the store by 3:30 pm!  Phew – are you tired yet?

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We are so proud of this girl – she is smart and sweet and cute and fun and loving! What could be better? And what was even better than her Reading award, and winning as a runner up in the yearbook cover contest, was that her Math Olympiad team placed in the top 10% in the World and there were 3700 teams in 25 countries participating this year. What a huge accomplishment, demonstrating their ability to think critically and solve problems. I am so proud of her, and her classmates, her teachers and the parents who volunteered. Thanks a million!

After the awards banquet and grocery shopping, the family arrived. I was ecstatic! They are spending Mother’s Day with me. How cool is that? I was so happy to see them, I had that permagrin thing going on again. Maybe I’m just tired and giddy but I think it’s more…

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Can they be any cuter?

Shortly after it was time to take JC to his friend’s birthday party – pizza, cake, Game Truck, friends, sodas – what more could be better for a young boy on a Friday night?

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And after dropping him off, we came back to the house for a speedy appetizer / snack type dinner before heading over to Christine’s to host a Stella & Dot trunk show with her friends. It was fun to visit, see her new remodel, share a glass of wine and nibbles, stories, jewels and girl time!  

Well, that’s all for today. I am tired now, but I think I deserve to be and to go to bed! Good night, friends.  xo

 

Day 76: Living the American Dream

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Coke and Baseball and Stella & Dot arm candy – It doesn’t get much better than this!

Today was a fabulous day and it started out with a HUGE surprise for Ms. Pettee – J’s 5th grade teacher. Because of email and being able to quickly connect a great group of parents, we were able to collect $365 in one day to purchase an HP Netbook for her and give her a CASH bonus (because don’t teachers need bonuses too?) as part of Ponderosa School Teacher Appreciation Week. It was cool to be part of the process to inspire others to share and contribute and be part of the “team” gift and to feel the passion and enthusiasm that everyone had to give. Ms. Pettee was so thankful, and one of the dad’s is looking at matching the donations through his company, so Netbook might even multiply into two! Isn’t that such a cool story? I wish you could have been there to see her face. 

After that joy, I enJOYed getting a pedicure with Christine and also sending pictures to my cousin, Shellee, the Birthday Girl in San Diego, who was getting a manicure at the same time! We had fun swapping pictures from our phones, pretending we were celebrating her birthday together. Too bad we live so far away, but the pictures were fun to share. And the pedicure was oh, so relaxing and my tangerine colored toes are so Holland and the Color of the Year!! That made me smile!

After those fun events, I was off to run errands and shop for my company that is coming to see me tomorrow! My parents and my sister and my niece are all joining us for the weekend and I couldn’t be more excited.  Now the fridge is ready and stocked for the weekend. Do you think there’s a Costco like store in Holland? 

From the Costco run, I ran C to the baseball field, and then back home again to unload the groceries. It was a beautiful and warm day and didn’t even need a jacket until after 7 pm – the game went on for a long time! It was fun to sit with Rachel and Allison and the girls, chatting and watching the boys play. C did great as catcher, and hit a double and a single. He loves baseball and I love being with the other mamas watching and enjoying each others’ company.

After the game, we were home together, doing homework, cleaning up the house and getting the kids ready for bed.  There’s always work to do before company arrives and my office piles and laundry piles were HUGE!!  That’s why this post is so late tonight. BUT – the killer part of my mess, was my Wife texted me to see if there was anything she could do to help me get ready for tomorrow (which is booked solid even before the relatives arrives). I of course, said No, that I should have everything done by midnight, and that she should finish baking for the teachers tomorrow. And off I went to kiss the kids and tuck them in for the night, when my phone kept buzzing with texts. I finally went to check who was trying to reach me, and it was her. She was at my door, and knocking softly, but I didn’t hear her knocks, only the dings from my texts that read “Knock. Knock.” She came to fold my laundry with me. OMG – is that the best or what? We had so much fun catching up and sharing stories – we hardly have time to chat this week at all for various reasons. But boy did we laugh and have fun! Who knew laundry could be fun? I wouldn’t even believe you if you said it, but I lived it. I’m still smiling…Life is good and I’m glad I’m living it!

Oh, and P.S. – the other good news is we heard back from one of the two International Schools today and we have a spot! Thank goodness I won’t have to be home schooling the kids, because I’m way too busy “relaxing.”

Day 77: Acceptance

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The trees in front of our yard have changed and are filled with leaves and light. I love this view in the morning, and to think they were just bare a couple months ago. I like this change.

Now that we actually have committed to a house in Amstelveen, it feels more real, like now we’re really going. Not that we weren’t going before, but there was a mental shift and awareness that was good and a little uncomfortable. I guess that’s how it goes with any major change. There are layers, right?  There was a news article written talking about the new offices in Holland  – another layer. And the tax adviser that was hired, as well as the documents stating my husband’s new role and position in Europe – more layers of realness. I think we’re really moving. I know, I’m a little slow…even though I know, I really know.  

Maybe that’s why I fill my days to the brim and over the top – so I don’t really have to think about the change. Hmm.  There’s a lot to think about and do in just 77 days!!

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The good news is that the kids are starting to internalize the change and are preparing on their own too, as evidenced by their conversation and artwork. Like they started arguing over which room they each were going to get and whether they would share or not and get bunk beds.  Little C has been the most apprehensive, so seeing his art creation and hearing the story about how he was going to put this up in his room now and bring it with him to the new house made my eyes well up, but at least he didn’t see. I’m so proud of him and happy that he’s accepting the journey.

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And my mini-me, I better remember to be a good role model. She likes to mimic me. So this week I’m working on a few things to be a better role model. I feel her watching and learning and growing up.  We even went and got haircuts together at my salon today. I love her and all that she is becoming… just slow down time, please?

 

 

Day 78 – Things We Learned in Kindergarten

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I have so many things to share, that I don’t know where to begin. First, I want to thank you for reading my blog and being a part of my little life.  I’m learning that so many of you are actually enjoying my blog by the things you say privately to me, or by the messages and comments you share and I’m in awe.  We’re all connected – I love that.

So my days are busy as you can imagine and probably no busier than yours. We’re all busy – no matter where we are or what we’re dealing with and we fill the time. The only thing that has changed for me is that I’m now more efficient and don’t make any excuses for being tired, or thinking that I don’t have time. I make so many things fit into one day, that it’s really weird… maybe there’s a secret there, I don’t know. And I’m happy and don’t feel stressed, which is weird. How does that work? I don’t understand it, but I’m not complaining.

I’ll share a little run down of one day, today, in case you’re interested:

– Woke up at 5 am and forced my self to stay in bed and not check my email until 6 am. I was waiting for RC to let us know if we got the house or not. GOOD NEWS!! WE DID!!  One big burden off my chest. J and I have been scanning and searching day and night and we picked one and hope we like it. We haven’t actually seen it yet, but trusted the pictures and maps and RC’s recommendation. We’ll see it soon enough and I’m sure it’ll be great. It’s big and has room for guests and lots of natural light – what’s not to complain about that?  

– 7 am – Helped with lunches and getting the kids ready and off to school, with 2 separate drop offs

– 8:30 am – Dropped off the hand written place cards for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon and chatted with Yaya  during our morning 15+ minute call (I’m going to miss these!!)

– 8:45 – Drove across town to take a Yoga class – I hurt my back last week playing tennis and learned that my old body needs to really stretch before and after an activity – I don’t like this aspect of aging, but sure loved Yoga

10:30 – Shopped for new clothes for my growing middle child who couldn’t fit into anything this morning. She grew over night! 

11:30 – Picked up Bunditinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes for the Teacher Luncheon today – they are so good!  

11:45 – Stopped by school to drop off the cakes and to chat with and appreciate the excellent Ponderosa School Teachers. They are amazing and giving and loving. I love them!

12:30 – Went home to shower and pick up a little bit!

1:00 – Back to school to help clean up and share some leftovers; Early dismissal!

2:30 – Pick up CJ and his friend from Middle School

3:00 – Cook dinner with Charlie and chat with the kids about their day; start homework

3:45 – Run to Costco for a couple things with J

4:15 – Home in record time! Wow – I like this efficiency thing

5:00 – Have a friend over for JC and feed them both dinner and try to get FaceTIme on both their phones so they can chat when we move. Enjoy the kids doing their art projects and playing with each other.

6:00 – Attend the wonderful PTA awards ceremony and enjoy hearing all the amazing stories of the volunteers who give so much! Congratulations especially to Brenda Jew, Emily Dodson, John and Kathi Gibb, Jenny Maehara, Elizabeth Stavis, Mrs. Wolk,  Meg Jackson, Helen Chae, Kristin Farnham, and Laurel Ross!  We have the most amazing community that just really gets life. Congrats to you all.

6:30 – Classroom celebrations – visited both JC’s and JJ’s classrooms, taking in all their work and chatting with their teachers and enjoying their accomplishments. Such a proud mama! We also squeezed in a few minutes to visit some past teachers.  We love you Mrs. Ross, Ms. Dodson, Mrs. Riley, and Mrs. Meltzer. We didn’t get to see Ms. Maehara again, but did get to congratulate her on her award.

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(This was the highlight of my day. This is my wife’s daughter’s art work up on the board in Mrs. Riley’s class. Mrs. Riley was CJ’s kindergarten teacher and we stopped in to thank her again and reminisce. I had tears in my eyes when I read it and felt like it was just there for me. But how would she know? She must just know… and maybe it has nothing to do with me, but I know she’s already planning her visit to come see us in Holland and she knows where she’s gonna sleep. I love her. I lover her so much.)

7:20 pm – Dropped the kids off at home before my next meeting. They are old enough to be home alone. Isn’t that weird? They are responsible little people and take care of each other. I am lucky.  Picked up my friend and headed to my PEO meeting at the Nearly New Shop, where we had fun finding treasures!

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(Did you guys ever have one of these gross and fun “toys”?  I just had to buy it (and wash it) to share with my kids and Shellee.  We both had these when we were little and stored our gum there during our naps! We liked seeing the pile get higher and higher. Eeeww… Gross… hahahaha!) Kids got a laugh out of it too.

9:00 pm – Home to be with my kiddos and letting them stay up late to watch the Final Episode of the Voice. You only live once, and if I ask them to be flexible, don’t I have to be flexible once in awhile too? They are SOO happy, and it’s a nice reward for them behaving so well while I was away. And it’s so cute to hear them giggling while I’m enjoying writing my blog with a glass of wine.

10:00 – Time to go see Lady Antebellum with the kids on the VOICE and get us all to bed.

Life is good!  Enjoy every little moment my friends.

With love and gratitude that you’re still reading!  Good night.

 

 

Day 79: A Day at the Beach

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I’m hoping when I get to Holland, I’ll get a bike like this guys to carry my board with me to the canals. He made me smile.

It was a beautiful day in Capitola today. We had our annual “team meeting” on the beach, playing volleyball followed by a potluck lunch. It’s important for women to come together and have fun and enjoy being outdoors together with no agenda – if the mama ain’t happy, no one’s happy. Or Happy Wife, Happy Life! So true, right?

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Still waiting to hear back on the house – maybe tomorrow!

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Blooming red roses in my yard today. Life is good.  Have a great week! 

Day 80 – Waiting for News about a House in Holland

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This weekend we put an offer on a home in Holland. We are working with a Relocation Consultant who is excellent. He’s the kind of guy you want on your team – that works because he truly cares and wants to take care of you and not just because it’s his job. We met him when we were in Amsterdam for a week and he took us to see the insides of several different homes, driving us from location to location and giving us a feel of the land.  We’ve been emailing back and forth and found two properties that were of great interest to us. RC was getting ready to leave on vacation for 2 weeks, yet before he left for the airport, he managed to stop by both houses, took pictures and emailed us his honest opinion. I’m so thankful. Throughout the weekend he has explained the process for proposing an offer and given us advice how to furnish our new home. We talked with him while on vacation and now a proposal awaits acceptance. Cross your fingers!

Every late night and early morning and any time in between our “day” jobs, J and I have been searching the web, browsing properties, calling RC for advice, calling/emailing owners and pouring over small pictures to get a feel of what our future home will be like. J likes to open Google Maps and Google Street Views to plot the nearest grocery stores and tram lines to get us where we need to go and to plot the various distances to the International Schools. He is an awesome partner.

And there have also been friends who have given us advice that is invaluable. Pauline put me in touch with her friend Birgitta, who lives in Holland, who I can’t wait to meet!  I tried contacting her via email that bounced, then connected via Facebook inbox, and then Skyped with her to get the 411 on the local neighborhoods, that you just can’t get from a rental housing website. She interrupted her family dinner and took the time to give me the local scoop – where the locals go to eat, where the tennis courts are, what the feel of the neighborhood is like, etc., etc.  I cannot do this alone and I am so lucky that people want to share and help. 

I’m loving the connections and technology and support, and it would be so much more challenging to do it alone. So thank you my friends. Now we just have to wait to hear if our offer is accepted. I don’t know if I’ll sleep tonight!  Because a mama needs a nest.  And some rest!  Good night!  

 

Day 82: Stopping to smell the roses

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“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

That’s my motto. I am living this life to the fullest and going full speed. The only way I’m stopping is if I get sick or run into a wall (inside joke). I am savoring spending time with friends, even more so than before and now I’m the busiest I’ve ever been and I’m suddenly not busy, if that makes any sense. Yesterday I met a college friend for coffee and we walked to Starbucks, smelling the roses along the way. Last night, after the junior high open house, I met friends for margaritas and a late dinner. Typically I would never schedule so many events in one day, but now I’m suddenly not tired or “busy.” Today I met friends for coffee, lunch, after school play date, and after dinner drinks. Smelling the roses along the way and even bringing some home today! Thanks, M. Life is good. xo

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Los Altos flowers

Day 84 – What will I do without Trader Joes?

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I got a loaner car today because the door on my MV is still not fixed. The first place I went was Trader Joe’s to stock up on our favorite Orange Chicken!

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What will we do without Trader Joes in Holland? Is there anything like it? Not only did I pick up 6 bags of the OC, but also some of our other favorites like the chocolate covered pretzels, and yummy appetizers to throw in the toaster oven like mini pizzas and savory flatbreads!

I am going to miss TJs.