"Yesterday....How I wish that it was here to stay"

I'm not sure if those words to the song are correct. It will bother me forever that it's not "were" here to stay as this is the correct verb to use after the word "wish." Well, you're the one reading the English dork blog!!!

In Huntington Beach for the last few days. At E and Wayne's house. They have a beautiful new house with a big pool in the backyard. I can't wait to upload pictures!! We had a nice day at California Adventure (the "other" side of Disneyland) which I will write more about when I have pictures to discuss. It was so fun to be with E and to watch Buck enjoy the park. Yesterday was a lay around and hang out day. Just what the doctor ordered before RKZ came and we make the trek to San Diego. The vacation is only 1/2 over and we've already done so much! But there is a ton more to go!

My favorite part of the day so far was that RKZ, Wayne and Coach K2 (Young Timmy) were able to surf before breakfast. They were all so excited about the morning and the waves were good, according to them.Buck was bummed to be left behind, but he is getting a healthy dose of dogs here (they have 2) and he is loving it more than being with people.

I am feeling the guilt that there are about 20 people I haven't had the chance to see who I would really like to spend some time with. Turns out that two weeks really isn't enough! I am going to push for 3 weeks in the spring/summer of 2009. Here's to hoping that I'll have another crazy child to cart around So Cal. I don't know if we'll be invited back for that!

RKZ is calling me. We'd better be going.

"California, here I come, right back where I started from..."

OK, so just a quick update from West Covina, Southern California, where Buck and I are currently staying with my good friend Oprah (I think she hates this nickname). We arrived yesterday (Monday, right?). Here's a little background of our trip:

Buck is a puker. He eats, he feels full, and he pukes. We were eating fast food (burgers and fries) and Buck must have eaten enough, because he suddenly started to cough and I knew the puke was coming. We're in a crowded airport restaurant and he's about to blow. Well, up comes the burgers and fries and suddenly I am stuck with 2 carry-ons, a smelly toddler and a floor (and pants) full of throw up. Lovely. At some point, all we can do is laugh, right? So, I laughed. A nice family asked the workers for some help and an angel showed up with a handful of napkins and a broom. Spick and span in about 7 seconds - the humilation and smell lasted all day.

The flight was awesome. Air Canada is really stepping up in my world. TV's and direct TV at every seat - free flowing apple juice - and Buck slept for the main duration of the flight. I watched the kid-flick "Enchanted." It was really cute even if it was made for people about 30 or so years younger than me.

I nearly cried when we reached LAX. LA is ugly, don't get me wrong - all concrete, buildings and smog - but I just missed it vicerally somehow. It's 80 (25) degrees and has been for 2 days. We ate egg salad sandwiches outside on the patio and drank Michelobe Ultras next to the pool while the kids played. Buck is in kid heaven.

Today, Oprah and her two kids (8 & 6) and their two cousins (10 & 7) and Buck (2) and another good friend from my Amat teaching days, Mary Poppins (36), all made Easter cards and visited a retirement center to pass out a little love to the residents. They loved the kids. Buck was a regular politician walking up to these strangers in wheel chairs and saying, "What's your name? My name is Buck." The kids would pass out the homemade cards and we could tell that the residents were really touched. It was a nice Easter activity (even a few days late). Of course, we're all totally beat today. I took some great pictures that I'll try to post in a day or so. Oprah and I have to become technologically savvy in a mere few hours :)

It is all so great. We're having a fantastic time and only miss RKZ desparately.

More tomorrow if I can log in to a random computer. Peace.

"O Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are callin'"

A-Man, Ma Joad and Buck enjoy breakfast.

A-Man and Buck playing at The Joad's house before G-ma's party.

KK (Buck's newest cousin) is SO FREEKIN' CUTE.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Of course, the official "celebration" day was changed as their aren't ever supposed to be celebrations during Holy Week - so it was St. Patrick's Day for Ireland on Saturday (also St. Joseph's day for the Italians). I just received an email from a friend that said that the last time that St. Pat's fell in Holy Week was 1940 and that it won't happen again until 2160 (so most of us will never see this again). Interesting trivia...at least to me.

So many cool things to post today - but I will try to refrain as I've taken too many days off last week. Computer and photo issues. I'll post a few more times this week. It's a normal week, really. Buck's classes are all on break for Easter/spring break for two weeks and we are off to California a week from today!! yeah! Just planning the trip and some good time in the sun.

More later (or tomorrow, let's be honest)

From Saint Patrick's Breastplate:
Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man
who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man
who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.

"What a long, strange trip it's been"

"Don't take my picture!" 

The Bubble Hippo in the Joad's backyard. I think that this shot could be any time period, is the funny thing. 

My son, now become a maniac bubble blower. 

I am having the worst blogger issues these past few days: won't upload a picture, won't take my username...sorry for the delay. I simply "published" the last post because I feel as though I've snuck in to the site somehow. Still can't seem to get any pictures up there. Might be an issue here. I'm trying. I will keep trying tonight. I have a lot of really cute pictures of the party!! 

We're just trying to adjust to both the spring time change as well as the travel time change. Buck is currently napping and it's just about 5 pm here. Poor RKZ isn't any better and he has to wake up really early for work. Thank goodness I'm able to sleep in until I hear Buck. I have decided that the worst torture ever for me would be to limit my sleep. This is also known as having a newborn in the house (this is not an announcement - just an observation). 

Well - I did get some pictures to upload! It's a bubble miracle!! 

"Thou art giving and forgiving"

We're back in Calgary after a week-long trip to Reno, Nevada. It was good to have my computer along for the trip, but I found that as the week went on, there was still very little time to get to it. Around last Thursday, entire crowds of family began showing up at my mom and dad's house. It was a whirlwind of people and talking and eating (we ate A LOT and well). RKZ came on Friday - this is his busiest time for work and he could only sneak out for the weekend (my jet-setting husband).

Buck was in heaven surrounded by cousins (1st cousins and a few "once or twice" removed cousins - still can't figure that out). All of my younger brothers and their families were in attendance for the weekend. Poor Coach K1 was actually hoping not to be able to come as his women's basketball team (Univ. of Portland) was in the first round of the NCAA tourney. They lost by only 4 points (maybe 2) to the team hosting the tournament. The rest of our family watched the game over the internet - a sad loss, really.

"Just another day for you and me in paradise"

Buck and his HUGE stuffed dog.

Can't believe that it's already Thursday! Many family members have been trickling in for Gma's 90th b-day. We're just waiting for the onslaught tomorrow. Buck is having a great time with his cousins. We've watched a lot of TV. I really miss RKZ.

"G L O R I A"

RKZ standing at his new favorite place - right in front of our new Traeger smoker/grill. The Grady men an the grillin' machine.

Still here in Reno. Spent the day shopping yesterday - stocking up on Target spring clothes for Buck. I'm sorry, but shirts for $3.99 are just unheard of. Aside from shopping, we're just enjoying the 65 degree weather. So warm and sunny. Boring post today - but I did promise.

"I'm just sittin up here watchin' airplanes.."

Logging trucks/fields on the way to Kalispel

Pretty mountains on the road

Big Mountain Ski resort

There was a GIANT truck behind that snow burm (berm?) It was cool

Downtown Kalispel, MT, under the cloud of bugs.

Big Mountain Ski resort in MT

A bridge at Big Mountain - I thought it was pretty

This place was HUGE and completely not crowded. It was awesome!

I know that I have a major flub in that I never finished explaining our Montana trip. Now, we're already off on another trip to Reno (for Gma J's 90th birthday) without even posting at all last week! It was a crazy time as I tried to organize everything in order to be gone. A few very fun nights and days loaded with planning. I wish I were better at planning.

So, now I'm sitting here at my mom and dad's house, watching Buck bang on some crazy drum my mom received from some foreign country. Buck is just getting over a very gross flu. He slept the entire flight from Calgary to here (2 flights, about 3 hours - all sleeping). I'm just so grateful that he didn't puke all over me and the plane (a possibility after Saturday's happenings).

I'm going to try and blog all week now that I have a live-in party machine (mom, dad and G-ma J). We're all excited for the party on Saturday. I'm also excited to do a little shopping in the US of A. All of the spring clothes are out - and the prices are WAY better than in Canada! (Yeah, I'm not sure who NAFTA is helping either - I'll have to seriously research that).

We'll see what exciting things happen tomorrow!