No Way I forgot July and almost August!

Ok went to Chicago to celebrate Katie joining the 50 Club and let me tell you Chicago is a great city, even in the thunderstorms and slight humidity I loved it. The food was delish, the Lemon Drop Martini's were oh so yummy, and Uber was the best way to get around town. 

All is well, Morgan entering the 7th grade along with playing golf and golf lessons and 50 people who extended their tax returns have been keeping me awful busy.

Played 9 holes with Mark!!

Oh yes I just finished 9 holes with Mark and at the 9th hole the golfers behind us, after I told him it was my first time out he said "You have a great swing"

Tomorrow for Fathers day I will use the score card and beat Mark :)

It's in my genes and new shoes.

NEW THOUGHT LEADERS UNITE IN PRAYER FOR CHARLESTON, S.C.

 Sometimes events like shooting in Charleston make me sad.

 

The AGNT leadership council, which includes CSL Spiritual Leader Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon, is urging us all to go deeper in prayer and find that profound sense of compassion that lifts us all up, so that we say “no” to events like this one, and say yes to a higher energy that unites us all as a global family.  Let us all stand united in prayer, and in this moment of knowing that every life matters.  Every life is sacred.  As a society we must live in peace and harmony.   

 

xo, Gaelen

 

ps you can watch a prayer on YouTube https://youtu.be/IvEx7S9LdiU

You mean its June? Oh I've been so busy...

My lover who bought me my clubs!

Well it's finally summer and I am home alone. 
Morgan is out swimming with a friend. 
Mark is out with a client. 
I went to work and now I'm home. 
Alone.
Alone is a great thing.
Time to finally write my blog, consider doing the never ending pile of laundry. 
I have even thought about going to the golf course to use my new clubs.
I was using the putter at work yet putting on carpet isn't like putting on grass.
Mark, Morgan and I went to the golf course this weekend. What is it about a 12 year old that she can putt better that me? Well sort of.

Now that I have my clubs Mark's dream is coming true, as we are golfing with another couple on Father's Day! 

Yes, my Dad was a professional golfer. 
In my own head I am sure I can be course worthy on Father's Day. 
Although I haven't golfed in 25 years I am hoping it's like riding a bike you don't really forget right? 
I am trusting now that my Dad is an Angel he will send me some golf energy.
Okay, I guess I should take advantage of the sun setting at 8 and head for the golf course. Practice makes perfect right, combined with positive thinking I know it will all be fine and funny 

Happy Summer

Can't Beleive it my 50th Birthday Arrived

Ok my birthday party was the best ever.

It is so funny to think I was scared about turning 50 when I now realize its the new 24!

I am so happy we had Chef Tom come to the house and serve my beloved friends and family.

Was so very very excited to start out the event with Lemon Drop Martinis, somehow forgot to take a picture of that.....

The Menu:

 Leek and Pear Soup

 Butternut Jam Crostini, Chevre, Mint 

Baked Salmon Filet, Grain Mustard Crème Fraiche, Duck-Roasted Baby Potatoes, Vegetable Bundle

Herb Salad with Rose Petals

Chocolate Ganache Torte, Cappuccino Frozen Yogurt, Maple Whipped Cream

 

 

Filled with Gratitude, Love and Joy



Morgan's 12th Birthday

Thank goodness for Embassy Suites because I sure am glad we didn't have 5 of Morgan's friends spending the night at our house. They loved the pool at the hotel, liked the breakfast, and watched Big Hero 6 in their room at the hotel while I actually fell asleep on the pull out couch. As you can see from the above pictures Mark is all about playing Mario Cart on the Wii. The girls all got a small Lego figure as a take away gift- I sure hope one day we can give them all away- hate to see those little things in the land fill.

I am actually really tired for the 24 hour bday party, of course it's time to make dinner, clean it up, watch Star Trek Voyager and get to bed at 9PM.

Gaelen

Merry Christmas 2014

Ok what's Christmas with out playing Wii for 3 hours and then taking a walk at Blackie's Pasture and throwing the foot ball around.

Much Peace, Love and Joy to you,
Gaelen

Better Picture of Kiki under Christmas Tree

Once I saw the last picture I posted I thought I would post a better one. Actually I had to sneak up to the tree with my iPhone because if she see's me with the camera she gets up to leave. I still haven't made myself my cup of Christmas coffee which I am for sure doing right now:)

Happy Holiday's

Stay home from work today for Storm Watch

Amazing I get to stay at home from work today due to storm watch.

Morgan's school is closed.

Mark is home working on the computer.

No Pouring rain, no dripping, no crazy wind.

I will admit there is flooding in San Rafael, 5 inches of rain in the streets of Novato but here is what it looks like so far in Tiburon.

We pulled the umbrella out last night in preparation.

Even Kiki is sleeping under the Christmas tree.

Guess I'll go and make myself another Christmas coffee.

Very Late October Picture

Happy Late Halloween

Ok we ended up having a great Halloween.

Christmas Snake Round 2

Ok here is last years Christmas snake that we stored in the bottom of the freezer.

Turkey Day = Yummy Happiness

Ginger bread house set up again 2014. While the turkey cooked. Morgan drew and cut out the cala lily's for our center piece.

 

Well actually we cooked our own turkey. No help from buy your meal from Whole Foods or Paradise Market

 

This year we put the brined turkey in the Trager wood pellet BBQ and while it was cooking we did the ginger bread house.

 

This year Christmas snake from last year's ginger bread house has made an appearance, from the freezer. It broke in half and tanks to the icing it was repaired. :)

 

Looking forward to December holidays. Kinda now in a hurry to get our lamb rack on the dinner table and put on Star Trek Voyager for a 2 episode mini marathon. Meaning everyone in bed at 9PM because school starts tomorrow.

September really is the end of summer

Well Morgan is asleep on the couch. She is sick. I read to her till she fell asleep.

I tip toed in to take this picture. I am praying she will get better for school tomorrow. I just 

finished ordering the October lunches for her. A combination of pizza days, chicken nugget 

days, Annies macn cheeses days. I think she is eating them- at least I hope she is eating them. 

It beats saying, "Get up eat your breakfast and now make your lunch."

Years and years I have been doing this Blog and I have been saying to Morgan, "I'm working on myblog"

Now that she has my lap top and I have my new desktop she says to me,

 "I found your website and see why your always asking me how to spell" Really.

Now I also know not to put too much about Morgan in my blog.

My life certainly is about other people, places, things to do. 

But right now its about how I can't stand to see her sick.

Saying good bye to fear and worry I trust sleeping is healing her.

August is over really?

Ok wow... August was filled with so much love and excitement and gratitude.

Got back from Maui on the 12th and it has been busy, busy, busy ever since.

Morgan is now a 6th grader! She loves it and although she has to get up earlier and walk from our

drop off point at Blackies Pasture it has been great. The really good thing about it is that I get to go

on my morning walk after she gets out of the car. Note my walk begins after she leaves the car. She

does not want me to walk next to her. Hug her in the car is fine.

We went to the SF Zoo and Morgan didn't remember even going there when she was little. What?

even with our 2007 yearly zoo pass! I swear I brought her there ALL the time.

When we finally got to the Prarie Dogs it clicked it. Not sure why Prarie Dogs helped her remember

because to me they sort of look like large cuter rats. It made for a fab adventure though.

 

 

The Exploratorium has moved to a new space and we all loved it. The above picture of me is when

we were at the Exploratorium, its good that I had the camera as  Mark and Morgan loved the slow-mo

camera so much it was hard to ask either of them to take a picture of me.

So ends the summer.

July headed out for Maui

Yes, the above picture is of the 3 of us and the below picture is our organized drawer in the bathroom.

I am posting this because it is a symbol of Morgan and I ejecting Mark from our bathroom. With Marks departure we gained one extra drawer in the barroom :)

The good news is that Mark refurbished the down stairs bathroom. New sink and vanity so he could take all of his manly items down stairs. Even put a fan down there.

We purchased, new pink "smart store drawers" and put everything that was just laying around in the drawer into separate containers. I swear this shortens your bathroom time, which is good with a 6th grader she just wants me out of there.

I might do a Maui blog when we are there but for sure no Facebook. I just want to dis-connect. We are staying for 3 weeks a sort of mini early 50th birthday party. I have mixed feelings about turning 50 in February. I guess I am in shock that 50 years have gone by. I remember standing in our front yard when I was about 9 and doing the math in my head about what year would it be when I turned 50. 2015 seemed like forever. How can 2015 be 6 months away?

I have so much to be grateful for which makes it easier to say, Yes, I am turning 50.

I find it easier to say, "Yes I want to do that"
Have a house keeper and get my nails done "Yes I want to do that."
Sleep in late on the weekends vs. getting up early to get everything done so I can be an extra attentive mommy to Mark and Morgan "Yes I want to do that"

I am feeling that 50 is not so scary as I thought it was. Maybe even come February I will have a big 50 party and invite all my friends to a lunch/margaritas party.

Blessings and July Maui Love,
Gaelen

Ok this is an older picture that I found on the mini iPad. Morgan and I in Maui 9 years ago.

Which is exciting because in 28 more days we are heading out to Maui!

Time is rushing/slipping right by and I wanted to post something for June.

Here is something. All is well.

Love my new washer and dryer.
What we were using I purchased when I bought my house in  Long Beach and brought up here. I am considering them my 18 year old high school graduates in a way. Just let them go.

I am enjoying the summer time yet not really enjoying the bright morning light that wakes me up at 5:50.

It seems as though this year tax season isn't really over for me. We extended so many returns for our clients that the summer is mostly calling the clients and seeing if the clients have gotten what ever they didn't have to file the return on April 15th.

Looking forward to seeing both of my sisters next weekend on July 4th to take our 3 sisters photo which really needs to be done as we have skipped the last few years of doing it.

Morgan is oh so very very happy with her new cell phone with unlimited talk and text.
I am not so happy seeing her text, text, text.
Remembering telling her when you are in the 6th grade we will get you a cell phone and why oh why did we even say that?

Happy end of June and real start of summer.

March with 5 weeks Miracle

This is a story about listening to God.

After staying late at work I picked up Morgan at after school care. I asked  her where she wanted to go for dinner. She said California Pizza Kitchen which was actually no surprise. We ate our dinner and skipped dessert as she wanted to go home so I could make her a root-beer float.

Diving slowly thru the mall parking lot I noticed 2 girls walking.
Not paying attention to the traffic but staring at the 2 girls, God said to me that is Claire. I mentally thought NO Claire is in Santa Barbara with her mother. Yet my intuition was screaming THAT IS CLAIRE.
I said to Morgan that is Claire. Morgan said NO its not. I slowed down the car (didn't care there were cars behind me) and rolled down the window. I shouted Claire! She turned to the window and saw me. Morgan got out of the car and went to hug Claire. We were all so amazed. How did we end up in this exact place in the parking lot in time to see them? Claire later told me they almost walked a different way.
Fate-Destiny-God what ever you want to call it here we saw Mark's daughter. We made arrangements to pick Claire up later in the week for dinner (California Pizza Kitchen) and go to our house so Claire could meet Kiki the kitten. We all had a great time and it was so wonderful to see Claire.

What a great End of March Miracle.

February is Great!

I love February.
It is my Birthday Month and my birthday was great.
There is Valentine's Day and that was great!
Today is great! It is raining and that is great!
Everything is great!
I have no picture to post on this Blog and that is great!
Ok I will look for one and that is also great!
Morgan is yelling make my rootbeer float and that is great!
Why watch the news when you can watch adventure time! that is great!

I did find a picture and that is great!
This Blog took a very small amount of time and that is great!
I am trusting that you are great!
xo, Gaelen

Happy New Year and No Resolutions

Really all I am going to do is to keep on doing what I did in 2013. With some small improvements.

Walk my 10,000 steps a day (ok if its raining not really). Eat less bread (except Friday night pizza). Sleep more (that means going to bed by 9PM to have some reading time and sleep at 10PM ). Continue to be Kyra and Seelah at gamescape. Continue to stay calm (remember to take deep healing breaths). Think about what I say before I say it (watch your words). Learn to communicate in a new way. This might help when asking Mark to do something (take out trash, etc.)

Looking at this I think it is a good start.

Happy 2014

Turkey Menorah

 

Turkey Menorah

 

                                                       Yummy Yummy

                                                      Christmas Snake

Happy Happy to you! whichever holiday you are celebrating another Happy Happy to you!
We had a great time at the post thanksgiving and current Hanukah celebration last night. My favorite Oyster Rockefeller along with tons of caviar and a memory of didn't my doctor say to stay away from tons of bread and cheese?

I must back up though to Thanksgiving morning at my house where Mark and Morgan built a Fab gingerbread house with our newest member Christmas snake and all morning we ate homemade pumpkin spice muffins while I cooked.

Tonight as I sat down to write this Mark had the rack of lamb on the BBQ and I have to say the lamb with the stuffing and sweet potatoes and green beans was DeLish! Happy too that all the leftovers are gone!

Amazing that on December 1st we could still walk down ok drive down to Blackie's Pasture and

Mark and Morgan could play football. My Fitbit just popped up and said overachiever 12,640 steps today 5.19 miles walked which is for sure making me feel better about eating that yogurt ice-cream sandwich after dinner.