Ski School.

This is Gia when we first arrived.....she was thrilled by her glasses and gloves. It was too funny. Outside playing. Dressed in her snow gear. Try to find actual movement gear for a child that is the size of a twelve month old, but has the capabilities of a two year old.

The happy couple about to hit the slopes. It was a PERFECT day for skiing. So warm, sunny and the mountain was FRESHLY groomed and full of snow....FANTASTIC!!!!

Handsome hubs on the lift. You can see me in his glasses.

The view on the way home. What a great day! Now the old couple is creaking on the couch!

Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls

We tagged along while RT hosted the suite at the Kings game. We walked around ARCO Arena seven times, ate popcorn and learned how to break dance with AJ. It was loads of fun.

Oh, and the Kings lost....bless thier hearts.

Lunch with Jill and Tyler.

We had a lovely lunch with Jill and Tyler today. Gia ate five times what Tyler did (despite the fact that she is half his size and a year and a half younger). The kiddos spent the afternoon playing and running around. Like true kids, Tyler wanted Gia to stay away from his things.

I was lucky enough to have him roll down the window and say, "Bye Gia's Mom!". Sigh.

Then Jill called me and told me that Tyler said, "Mom, I think Gia is amazing. I can't wait to give her a hug."

Boys will be boys. Pulling pig tails because they like you. Gia, you are having to learn this at a very young age.

Can't wait to do it again soon!

My Valentines.

Paybacks.

Mammies. Gia’s word for Jammies. We are in a dilemma.

It is no secret that Gia doesn’t like to sleep. Honestly, she is the most angelic child on the planet, until nap or bed time. Then, all bets are off.

Ralph and I have really been focusing on a consistent routine to help her learn to go to sleep…peacefully. On Wednesday night, she took off her jammies and threw them on the floor…I am assuming as a form of protest.

So, since this episode we have been discussing that only mommy/daddy put them on and only mommy/daddy take them off. She walks around the house wagging her finger saying, “Mammies, no, no. Gia’s mammies, no, no.”

Last night was a doozie. I initially put her down. It was painful. Screaming, yelling, anger seething from her beautiful face. After about twenty minutes, Ralph and I went in to tell her to lay down, stop crying and go to sleep.

Everything out of the bed. Jammies on the floor. No good for Gia. Time out. However, as I am telling her this is inappropriate behavior and that she can not do this, I am putting her jammies back on. As I am doing this, she keeps saying “tank to, tank to”.

I start laughing.

To hide my laughter, I begin fake coughing.

Gia begins to fake cough to get sympathy.

This morning my dad told me that, “Pay backs are a bitch.”We did this four times. She fell asleep with her jammies on…..


….and took them off in the middle of the night.


Go figure.

Resons why not to take a picture of a sleeping two year old.

Here she is sleeping away peacfully (after only thirty minutes of screaming) and I could not resist the Cookie slippers and matching pants. Out comes the camera. A want to be photographer could never be happy with just one pose. So lets take another.

Mind you, this morning she woke up with only her undershirt on because she had thrown everything out of her bed in the middle of the night, taken off her pajamas...and it was freezing....

so, we discussed that this was a "no-no". Only mommy or daddy put your jammies on, and only mommy and daddy take them off.....so she had taken her shirt off and tried to put it back on.

She's so stinkin' sweet, but her sleep patterns can boggle anyone's mind.

Sweet little sweaty girl.

For those of you that don't know me, or have not had the great pleasure of doing some sort of physical activity with me, or spent anytime with me in the dead heat of summer...I do not glisten. I sweat. Like crazy.
I must admit, that growing up this was a source of embarresment for me. However, now I find it empowering. I feel great after I have gotten in a good sweat after a long run. I find it exhillarating to sweat in freezing (below 32 degrees) weather. And come in to the house and feel scourching hot.
While I have grown to find a positive place for my non glisten, I just hope that Gia can find it before she goes through the torture of sixth grade gym class.
Look at my little boo boo when she awakens from a nap...in the winter.

Tired. Relief. Stress.

While today is Inauguration Day, it is also the first day of a major "restructuring" at Clear Channel Radio. Bain Capital purchased Clear Channel back in July for some $18 billion. After their investment, they must find a way to capitalize on their investment. With the economic downturn, advertising is often one of the first expenses that many companies cut...this the radio industry (and media as a whole) is hurting.

Today seven of my co workers were let go. As of now. I am safe. Which provides a sense of relief and gratitude. My heart aches for those that had to depart. I have been through other "mass firings" during my corporate life, but never during a recession. The thought was always that the world is full of GREAT jobs, they are out there for the picking.

So lift up your hearts, Obama create change, and pray for those that are less fortunate. I give thanks for all that I have in my life.

Inauguration Day.

Congratulations to President Elect Obama, his family and cabinet "elect". Regardless of your political beliefs, policy agreements or disagreements today is certainly one that will go down in history.

I find it kind of exciting that my grand kids will one day ask me, "what was it like?" for a school project...much like I did to my grandparents regarding WWII and my parents about the assassination of JFK.

For those of you that know me, I am a political junkie. But I have a confession to make...while I am pumped for today...to see how it goes...to hear President "Elect" Obama's speech, to watch once again the peaceful transfer of power that our country was built on, I have actually been living in a "news free" zone for the past three or four months.

I used to live, eat, breath, sing and die by the news. I never escaped it. My car, my computer, my TV, the paper. But then, I realized that it was all just SO depressing. I felt that maybe there was some truth to "ignorance is bliss". And all in all, I have felt my mood elevated.

So today, I will break my news free zone. Soak up the excitement like many do with the Academy Awards or the Golden Globes and then hope and pray that President Obama can lead our country to a more positive space.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

A few of my favorites....

This year for Christmas we had our pictures taken by the FANTASTIC Amber Torres...if you ever need pictures and you are in the Dallas area...she is AMAZING. I love these and cherish them all! THANK YOU AMBER!!!

Gia. Abby. and the Chair.

I think that it must be part of being two. Gia has developed obsessions. She is currently obsessed with the Abby shirt and the chair (which goes EVERY WHERE with her...we even had a near melt down when we had to leav it at home today). I think this is normal, but it makes for some interesting times. As I am typing this she is sitting on the fireplace....with the chair next to her....normal...moms, anyone?

Bia Bear. Abby Cadabby. Running into walls.

Some might say that Gia is slightly obsessed with Sesame Street. Some might say this is an understatement. Nana gave her Abby Cadabby pajamas and she is in heaven...litteraly. this face captures her spirit....
Showing off her teeth.

Abby in all of her glory.

Here is a picture of Gia "hitting" her head on the couch....she runs up to the couch and goes "uh-oh" very carefully hits her head and then starts cracking up. TONS of entertainment.

All smiles with Bia Bear...sure I am biased, but it doesn't get much sweeter than this.

Gia is one busy girl.

....this was Gia this morning when I woke her up....
....Nana painted her toes because it was sock, shoes and feet fun on Sesame Street

....she found these clip on earrings and fell in love

...art project side one

....art project two.

Gia had a very busy day! Loads of fun and always a cutie!

The Prusuit of Happyness

For the past six months or so, I have been making a conscious effort to become "happier". It sounds trite, and it is not always successful, but all in all I think that the exercise has worked.

There are often bumps in the road. When those present themselves, I like to go back to basics. I decided that today I am going to go back to basics and thought I would share those with my blogging friends...all three of you ;-).

Gretchen Rubin has an incredible blog called "The Happiness Project" and she is writing a book that should be out later this year. If you are looking for constant reminders or tips, her blog is an excellent resource.

Simple steps to happiness:

• Identify what brings you joy, satisfaction and engagement
• Identify what brings you guilt, anger, boredom and remorse
• MAKE RESOLUTIONS to do what brings you joy, satisfaction and engagement and steer clear what brings you guilt anger, boredom and remorse
• Identify CONCRETE ACTIONS that will boost happiness
• KEEP RESOLUTIONS (obviously, the most difficult part)

"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy" -Robert Louis Stevenson

As a mother, I feel that I have a duty to be happy for Miss G. The duty to despite the external factors to be happy and upbeat to bring her joy in every facet of her life.

You can email Gretchen Rubin and she can provide great resolution charts. Simply email grubin at gretchenrubin dot com. Simply put "Resolution Chart" in the subject line...it's FANTASTIC.

I will be re-completing mine this evening. Refocus. Find happiness. Live it.

As I was playing with my camera.....

Gia decided to become a wash woman in the hall bathroom. Just too funny!

I LOVE my new camera!