When you fall, you will grow from it....

I love this picture....As the life of the Dandelion goes...it blossoms, it sprouts..then sends seeds that float through the air to land and grow again. (I know you are thinking..yea pesty weeds...lol) When I was little I would pick these, while sitting on the grass, and make a wish. Trying soo hard to get them all off in one breath. Those memories are sweet to me. We have many friends who are struggling in business, struggling in health with theirselves or loved ones, friends struggling with family issues..So I make this wish for you today. I wish that you stay strong, life is fast, life is hard. But it's good.
And we made it through another beautiful week.....

BOARDIN'...BENCHED...AND BRINGING IT ON!

Kali gets a phone call on Sunday around noon, with an invite to go boardin' in Big Bear with her besties. She hadn't heard from Coach about Monday's practice yet, so I told her to be proactive..text Coach letting her know she has an opportunity to go boardin'. Within 30 minutes they all get a mandatory.."Practice tomorrow from 11:30-1:30" She also responds to Kali, Kelly and Mackenzie..."If you girls don't make it to practice, you won't start, and possibly won't play at all". The girls chose boardin'...after all, they'd already started getting their gear out, tickets purchased. Consequences were worth it at that point. However you know when Kali got home at 8pm on Monday...she was a complete mess with worry...of what would come the next day. Kali does not defy elders, coaches...teachers... BUT... They had a blast. They work so hard at school, on the field, at practice. Here they are on the lift...(Thank goodness Kelly takes lot's of pic's too). Freshman days...on the mountain...with her besties....GOOD TIMES.....

What a beautiful day it was for them too.....

ON THE B.E.N.C.H. Coach was a little dry at first. Kali did get to play...but she knew Coach wasn't happy with their choice....I told Kali on the way to school that morning.."This too shall pass".

Here's the JV Boys Soccer team. They come out after their practice ends to cheer on our girls. Their spirit keeps the girls on their toes. Hmmm probably a girl/guy thing....I think the girls love it.

I walked over to take of pic of them when the next girl was warming up to go in...and I look over and it's my Kali...Good timing huh? So cute. Hey...is that guy trying to spank my Kali..What? lol!

During the week of games, as you know...Pasta Parties are the structure that keeps the girls together in bonding, good food, fun games..and about 2 hours of complete craziness. Here's the front door of the Joslyn's. Shoes, and bags and more bags inside....

Meet "Chubby". He's their cat. He's super friendly..and super big. He was so happy to open his home to all the soccer girls...

Full tummy's waiting for the games to begin...

Kali, Sara, Carlie and Mackenzie......

.....Beautiful!

More beautifulness!

Kali caught one of me with the girls....The photographer gets in!

We beat out Edison 1-0. Tough Tough game. Our RIVALS. And they're good.

We had games on Tues and Thurs this week. Tuesday's game was home...Today's game was in Fountain Valley. Bill and I make every single game. We simply love it. Bill bought me this nice cart to haul the bench, first aid bag..chair...basically everything on. We arrive at our away games and look like pack mules. And all that know Bill, he's on his phone working alot...There's my pack mule, working, and walking. I had my purse and water. I offered a few times and he insisted to pull it.

At Half.....Good but a little sad news...to me. We beat them 12-0. For High School Soccer, in our division, that's not good. Someone at that school needs to re-look at that team or coaching staff. It just melts my heart to get to 7...much less 12, and the other girls seem work so hard. I guess that's life I tell myself. It still makes me sad for them.

GO LADY GRIFFINS! You simply ROCK!

My favorite website "Etsy"

With Valentines Day around the corner...thought I would share my favorite website with you. Homemade gifts are the sweetest. This website has all different types of gifts "Made in the USA"- Inexpensive and handcrafted by people who have the gift of craft, art and design. Order something now..get it in time to wrap sweetly..and leave for your love. Cute little purses, wallets...bags...and my favorite, pottery and little tokens of homemade sweetness. Check it out...you won't be dissappointed. I promise. http://www.etsy.com/ And sometimes it's not always the man in your life that needs these cute little sweet things..It could be your girlfriend, your mom..sister...or your kids. I once left a cute little surprise on my friends doorstep on Valentines Day...like a little cupid to make her smile. It's the little things.

Our weekend with nothing to do!....Little boat rides, Beach Day and BBQ'n....It's a sweet life...

After a very long week, and the sun shining upon us...I headed south to "Try" to catch the sunset. Well of course, you know how the story goes...I rush home (after dropping Kali off at Mac's to hang out) to grab a blanket and cocktail to watch the sunset...And....Bill is still at work! So we didn't catch the sunset on the beach, but we sat on the patio with the heaters on us...watching the boats come and go...Bill made his famous margarita's. After one of those, we decided to head over to Captain Jacks. We wined and dined there years ago very frequently....After realizing, Chris' boat, Greg's boat, and Mark's boat all had us completely blocked in..."we'd get creative" to get out. After trying a few different options, we cruised along side the channel wall...all along at times grazing up against mussels and cracking up. It's times like those that make me forget all the little daily worries. So fun. This was ultimately our exit....and we just fit. haha

We've had this little boat for about 10 years. It was won on the Price is Right, and we got it shortly after to cruise the harbor. It's perfect. We call her "Harbor Patron". She's an ugly little thing huh? lol

Can't go this way.....

We finally made it to Captain Jacks starving. We only had to wait 15 minutes! YUM...The largest crab legs you will find. Service is superb!

Saturday morning we were trying to decide on where to head for breakfast. Afterall, the weather was outstanding. The wind was warm. The vibe was peaceful. Bill decided on River's End. This little restaurant sits right on the sand in Seal Beach by the Jetty. Cool little spot on a warm day...and if not, they have cute little blankets for those that are chilly. And doggy bisquits for your pup.

Kali and Dad. Doesn't she look so tall now?

Our view at our table.

On this beautiful day next to River's End, the city was hosting Beach Clean-up. A nice way to earn volunteer hours or just help in the cause of trash that littered our beaches after these storms. Another reminder of the havoc "Litterbugs" cause our cities....Pick up your trash..big or small.

Kali is soon passing me up!

The crew that hosted the cleanup, offers an ez up with things to see, and info to learn about...

Doggy heaven! I liked the way someone laid the balls out. Funny.

A very popular drink by many....and how easy they get left behind...to wash ashore at the beach.

When I take my walks on the beach, I find lots and lots of lighters too.

So the nice part of the story is...these ladies have a knitting club. And not the normal knitting club that you'd see with spools and spools of yarn. They knit bags that have been recyled and recovered from the water. Using a very large knitting stick (don't know the formal name) they sit and make blankets out of plastic bags, and the bags that are used when you pick up your drycleaning. It's use? Roll out beds for the homeless.

They're simple and light. They roll up to tote along with most anyone. And are very soft and spongy. I've never liked plastic bags from the grocery store, and for the past 2 years, I use my own. But this is really cool to recycle them for homeless. Even the disgruntled transient will appreciate sitting or laying on something so cush.

Easily rolled up....

Simply plastic bags



On Saturday afternoon after really doing nothing...but getting our bbq for the night stuff ready...we decided to make some more margarita's-haha- and head out on the water again...

Cruising the channel....

That's our friends Eddie's house. He loves pirates. It cracks me up. Total Bachelor pad. But the pirates? Hmmmm I would be scared on a first date...lol! Look closely their everywhere! Arrrggghhh!

So relaxed.................

Someone had to tinkle dinkle. This is the harbor park where Kali had her 5th Birthday party.

Me waiting................

And wishing on my dreams.....

YES! I take pictures of EVERYTHING! As my family says. But this was such a beautiful sight. In Whole Foods, getting our dinner goods. What better picture can you get? Fresh veggies, organic yummy veggies. We picked some to eat that night.

Part of our yummy dinner, after a really fun weekend....and a really nice sunset. Doing nothing. Simply nothing planned. Perfecto!

Pasta Party to prepare for big win vs. Marina! 4-0! Go Lady Griffins!

The Bass' hosted the pasta party this week. Hosted by Dominic's in town. Yummy food, and another cozy home for our girls. It's a time for our girls to bond, eat and prepare to WIN the next day...! The Bass' are friends of ours from our club team. I stayed to help of course and brought Cup Cakes. I also enjoyed a very nice glass of wine...or two (Acacia Estates Red..yum!)outside on the patio with a couple of friends while the craziness went on inside. A few of our girls....Megan, Calah, Alisha, Carlie, Arianna, and Kristi!

More of our girls....Sara, Kaila, Raychel, Megan, Ashley, Nicole, and Cass

A better shot of them posing for me.....So beautiful! And that's Sara in the front with the silly face...!

Kali getting ready to get her grub on. These girls are starrrrving when they get there...

So content now that the food is in their tummy's......

Beautiful "Maya". She's an old sweet dog. Once a rescue, now an old spoiled girl. My friend Lori is alot like me with cats and dogs. She rescues cats. She fosters. She has a pet squirrel out back with his own feeding wall mounted dish. He comes down and chatters at her when he's hungry and it's empty. Oh my goodness cute. How's that Dad? lol

Preparing for the fun game of Pictionary. With the erase board, and easel, these girls had a blast! You can hear them from outside going nuts! Bonding time. Perfecto!

Kali, MacKenzie, Kelli and Savannah....I love this shot. I take so many..I know this will go in a frame someday soon and in Kali's room..

Raychel getting her drawing skills together for the game. The question to draw was "Bed and Breakfast" She did it so cute! Look at Savannah in the back thinking and thinking...lol!

Let's go get em! Our rally before the game -vs. Marina High -Huntington Beach.

Our huddle cheer to get the vibe going! Woot Woot! That's Kali with the only set or red cleats. haha. With her electrical white tape to wrap her socks and shin guards...amazing how things change through the years to help with comfort through long games...

OHHH AWWWW OHHHH AWWWW RAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

And the final part of the story...Kali gets this flyer from the Boys Soccer team a day before, inviting them all to the house that is hosting...Kali asks, I ponder...we arrive at game day and most of the boys soccer team...came to cheer the girls on. And boy do they make a difference. They get the wave going....they rally like crazy...I simply love it. AND I DIDNT GET A PICTURE! They actually pump the girls up! So we hear about this pasta party that they're invited to. Turns out, the guys invited the girls...but failed to do one thing...TELL THE MOM HOSTING. The mom had no idea!!!!! I have a copy of the flyer and whited out the info. But boy oh boy how funny if all of our girls showed up. That would be close to 45 hungry high schoolers in their home....haha. Hormones and testosterone mixed in! omg!

We politely loaded our stuff in the car....and went to a yummy dinner. Nice try guys!

Thank goodness it's FRIDAY! This has been a super long week for me...It's 5 o' clock somewhere....My toes will feel the sand this afternoon that's for sure....