Bird Feeder

My Grandson

2007-03-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

These are the first pictures of my Grandson. Yes Brandy found out today that her baby is a little boy. Most all of us are not suprised. Even Taylor has been telling Brandy that it is a brother that is in her tummy. At 5 month old he seems to already have his own character. I don't think that I have ever seen that arms wrapped around under his leggs pose on a sonogram before. He better enjoy that extra room, it won't be that way for long.

Been oh too long

2007-03-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

This is the little cutie that seems to make all of my time evaporate. This was taken at her pre school. She is really doing great now but at first she was crying every day when I dropped her off. That means I was crying as soon as I got to the car. Now she just gives me a big kiss and hug and says bye bye, see you later. The first couple of times she did that I didn't believe it was true so I stayed out in the hall for a few minutes to be sure she was really Ok with it.

It is hard to make myself add to this blog because our days are pretty much the same, day after day around here. But I am going to try to make it a new policy to at least add something every month.

Everyone in our immediate fam had that awful cough flu this past month. Taylor was the only one who finally had to go to the doctor. She developed an ear ache so you just don't mess around with those. Of course it had to happen while we were at Sean's 1 year birthday party and Brandy, Chad and Taylor missed the bulk of the party. Thank heaven for urgent care.

Oh yes, falling again

2006-10-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

Summer is gone and we are deep into fall. Where did the summer go? It just never is long enough. I am looking forward to this fall and winter more than I did last year. Brian and Angie are moving back to this coast and I can't wait to see them. They will be living in Redwood City only a few miles from where mom and dad lived in San Carlos. This will be the closest that Brian has lived to us since he first moved out on his own. I plan to take full advantage of this fact. The road over the mountain will soon see me often, as it used to when mom and dad lived there.

If you haven't heard, Brandy has a new boyfriend (Chad) and things have gotten pretty serious. They moved in together a couple of weeks ago and I haven't seen Brandy glow with happiness like this for a long, long time. Taylor really likes Chad and she realllllllllllly likes her "new house". She has her first big girl bed and her room is decorated in Tinker Bell. She is so proud of her room that its the first thing she wants to show to anyone who comes to visit.

So this fall is not depressing to me as most fall seasons are. Both of my children are completely happy, so that makes me completely happy too.

So the Canary's bid a fond "farwell" to summer and a "come on we're ready" to fall.

Self Love

2006-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

As Angie says we, in America especially, have warped views of love. I recently read a book titled "Screamfree Parenting".(http://screamfree.com/) I needed to brush up, now with this little one here to try the patients of any saint. (of which I am far from) It is a really good book about keeping your cool while parenting. Mainly it has the "place the oxygen mask on yourself first, then on the child that is traveling with you" stance on child rearing. The author mentions that "the Dalai Lama Spoke of a conference he had attended back in the early 1990s. This was a conference of Western psychiatrists and psychologists discussing the issues of self-hatred. The Dalai Lama said that for the first hours of listening to these doctors, he thought his broken English was failing him. He asked himself and others, "Are they really saying 'self-hadred?" He said he had never in his vast experience in Eastern philosophy and politics, even considered the notion of self-hatred. But here these doctors were speaking as if it were a very common, even epidemic condition in the West. The Dalai Lama had no folder in his mind to categorize this human experience."

At the end of the book the author (Hal Edward Runkel) discribes the philosophy of a French monk, Bernard of Clairveaux, who wrote about love a thousand years ago in a work called "The Four Degrees (or levels) of Love. His particular question was how to balance a love for self and a love for God, but the author thinks it is extremely helpful in learning how to balance all of our relationships. I really liked what he had to say. Here are the four levels. I think level four is what we should all be striving for.

I love me for my benefit - According to Bernard, this is the most selfish and the most infantile of the four levels. The practitioner of this level thinks, "I care for my interests alone and I am only interested in results that immediatlely and ultimately benefit me.
I love you for my benefit - Bernard believed this is where most of us dwell, particularly in our relationships. Someone stuck at this level operates like this "I love you and care for you because I recieve validation knowing I add value to my life. I love you because I need to in order to feel right, safe, strong. worthy."
I love you for your benefit - Bernard stated this level is deceptive because it appears to be the highest level of love and the most beneficial to the world. "I am selfless in that I am here for you; I am here to serve you. I am here to serve you and my concerns and motives do not come into the picture at all."
I love me for your benefit - A person operating at this level says "I love me, work on me and build myself up so I can come to you from a position of wholeness, a position of fullness. I take care of me so you don't have to. From fullness I can then empty myself, my gifts, my love, my actons, for your ultimate benefit. I am the only one in charge of me and I am the one ultimately responsible for me and my wellbeing. Therefore, as a steward of my greatest gift, my life, I need to take steps to ensure my health, my calmness of mind, my sanity, and my own validation as a person in the world. Thus, I can free you from having to provide those things for me. Thus I can truly serve you without needing you to serve me."

The author then says; "Think of how this might radically change your relationships with your kids. You seek out your own validation from within yourself and from your Creator so that regardless of how your children feel, behave, talk, or think, you are okay and still committed to them. Think of the power of saying with all you actions, "I take care of me so that you don't have to. I don't need you to appreciate me or validate me in order for me to still take care of you."

Loving yourself first is the only true way to be ScreamFree, because it is the only way to seek first your own calm. It is the only way to truly benefit your kids without burdening them with the need to benefit you. It is not their job, nor anyone else's, to meet your emotional and physical needs. As an adult, one who is responsible to so many others you love, it is up to you to pursue your own emotional fulfillment. This doesn't mean you don't ever need other people, not by a long shot. But it does mean your life and your health is up to you. The sooner you embrace that truth and embrace the calling to love yourself first, the sooner you can truly serve all those around you, especially your kids."

I think that this works for your spouse, and all of our other relationships too.

Memorial Day Campout

2006-06-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

For years now Brandy has gone camping with her friends over the three day weekend of Memorial day. And for years it has rained or snowed. This year did not disappoint. Only this year Brandy didn't want to deal with the mess and discomfort since it would also involve Taylor. So she decided not to go. Boy was she glad she had made that choice since it snowed like a blizzard. Thank goodness it only lasted over the week end and now we are having, go ahead and plant your garden, weather. We are picking weeds and racking leaves etc. and it is hard work, but very rewarding. It's getting nice enough to eat meals out on the patio, and I for one just love it.

Four together

2006-05-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here we are, first time in a long time and last time for who knows how long. So lucky to have this time together.

A trip to Marine World

2006-05-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

We took a one night one day trip to Marine World for Cinco de Mayo. We left Thursday afternoon and spent the night at a motel in Vallejo. Then we went to Marine World on Friday. What a ball we had. The weather was as Brandy said "Zoo" weather. Since she remembers all the trips to SF Zoo in the foggy overcast. To me it was the regular Pacifica weather. Ninty percent of the time it was foggy overcast. But that made the visit even better. Last year we all nearly melted. This weather was very comfortable. And we didn't have to worry too much about sun burns either. Is it just me or does the food at these places really suck? I remember that it was a big part of the fun of going to a theme park to get to eat all the great junk food. Now it isn't any different from any of the fast food places anywhere else you may be. I hope that they still have the great restaurant that we went to at the San Diego Zoo. I am really looking forward to that trip and I don't want to be disappointed in the food there too.

Tami, Tim and Jacob will be here tomorrow. They are stopping by on their way moving to Virgina. I am so glad that they are going to let us visit with them before they go. Who knows when we will be able to get all of us sisters together again. I hope that everyone here in Carson City will get to come over and visit with them. They plan to leave Tuesday, so short visit but better than nothing!!!

Easter Joy

2006-04-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

Easter was such a fun day. Watching the little ones searching for the goodies spread across the dead winter grass was great. Even though the kids were all bundled up and freezing since it was snowing. Yes, Nevada really knows how to have a celebration of spring and new beginnings!

However, today would be a much better day to have that celebration. The windows are all open and fresh air is streaming through our house chasing all of the stale winter stuff out. What a smell the spring air has. It even smells like newness. It lifts those dull winter spirits too. It was getting pretty bad around hear, I think we all had cabin fever and winter blues. We took Taylor to feed the ducks and play at the park too. You could really see that she was soooooooooo ready for a nice day and a romp at the park.

Isn't it time for spring?

2006-04-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

We should be wearing the big hats out in the sunshine by now. Is there a spring time grinch who has stolen our spring. We had such a great time at our family get together dinner Friday night, but the wind kept blowing out the BBQ. Although the coolness of the night made for a nice San Francisco type of fog to form in our patio around the hot tub. I wish that we could put short video's on these blogs. I have the cutest one of Taylor and Meadow in the bathtub laughing thier heads off. If anyone knows how we could put it in the blog let me know. I am so glad to see Tami joining our blog forum before she moves away so far. This way maybe we will be able to keep in better touch.

Brief update

2006-03-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

Was told by Terrie that I was growing moss on my blog due to inactivity. I will only have time to just make a small update today. I also, very much, enjoyed our sister and brother in law night out to sushi. It was the most adult talking I have done in a long time. We really had fun. Taylor has been really sick this past week with the latest cold that is going around. Both Al and Brandy had lesser bouts but knock on wood I have not gotten it yet. We took Taylor to the doctor yesterday because it seemed like she was getting worse instead of better and now she is on medication for 10 days. To hear her cough makes me want to cry. Gotta run now, but I promise to get back to you all very soon with much more.

Godess?

2006-02-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

I took the test Angie has in her blog and this was my results. For some reason the pictures that copy and paste to post don't work anymore. I don't know what I am doing wrong. If anyone can help me I would love some guidence. I did have a picture of a dream catcher on my previous post and it disappeared.

You are Form 1, Goddess: The Creator."And The Goddess planted the acorn of life. She cried a single tear and shed a single drop of blood upon the earth where she buried it. From her blood and tear, the acorn grew into the world."Some examples of the Goddess Form are Gaia (Greek), Jehova (Christian), and Brahma (Indian).The Goddess is associated with the concept of creation, the number 1, and the element of earth. Her sign is the dawn sun.As a member of Form 1, you are a charismatic individual and people are drawn to you. Although sometimes you may seem emotionally distant, you are deeply in tune with other people's feelings and have tremendous empathy. Sometimes you have a tendency to neglect your own self. Goddesses are the best friends to have because they're always willing to help. 6196 other people got this result!This quiz has been taken 46866 times.13% of people had this result.

What about dreams?

2006-02-02T15:12:00.000-08:00

Recently a restaurant (Bodine’s) that our family particularly loved to frequent closed it’s doors to make room for yet another casino. This one is supposed to be a western theme. Oh yea that’s fresh and new for the area. So I knew I was sort of morning the loss of a place that held so many great memories of good times with my family but last night I had the strangest dream. I was meeting my mother for lunch at Bodine’s. I must have still been working at the time because I only had an hour to have lunch with her and get back to work. The waitress came past our table and said she would be with us shortly, but half an hour went by and she hadn’t come back. So I was complaining to the hostess and she sent over the owner. He took my mom’s order but wouldn’t take mine. He said our waitress would have to come and get my order. Well I waited another 15 minutes and she still hadn’t come back. I called my work on my cell phone and told them that I would be late. For some reason that was just fine with them. I then got up and tracked down my waitress in another room and yelled at her that she was a terrible waitress and shouldn’t be working at this really great restaurant. She completely agreed with me and said she was sorry but I was till fuming and went through the kitchen to find the owner to tell him all about it. When I couldn’t find him I went back to my table to find my mother sitting calmly still waiting for her food. She told me to relax and sit down that it would all be just fine. Then the dream switched to some other crazy stuff and I can’t really remember any more. Now what meaning could this have for me? I know that I really haven’t dealt much with my mom’s or my dad’s passing. Could this be my way of working something out? Does setting in the now closed restaurant have some significance? Many people think that when our body sleeps to replenish our strength that our spirit plays out our emotional issues that need resolution through our dreams. I really don’t know, but this dream made me want to find out more. Then when I woke up and turned on the television a show called new morning (http://www.newmorningtv.tv/todaysshow.jsp) was on. It was all about dreams and how important they are and that we shouldn’t take them so lightly. We need to use them to strengthen ourselves. Wow it made me really think. This one Indian man who makes dream catchers Dream-Catchers.org was on and he told of how each one is different and how it is important for the dream catcher to have symbolic items on it that mean things to the owner. It is supposed to be a conduit for that person to use his dream to help them cope with life and make the most of it. Anyway I think that I am going to make my own dream catcher, and then start journaling my dreams and see what happens.

God speaks to us again and again when we are deeply sleeping."
-- Book of Job

Old Friends

2006-02-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

I had a best friend in high school named Penny. When we went away to college we were room mates and then we were in each others weddings. We tried to keep in touch through the years but life and miles got between us. Penny was always the organized one and keeps sending me birthday and Christmas cards each year. She always addes a letter to update me on what is going on with her. This last Christmas when I got her card and letter she had added her e-mail address and I vowed then to write to her. So I did keep my vow and how wonderful it feels to touch bases with her again. Somehow the people that have shared those very young and developing years hold deep strong places in your hearts. Now I want to take the time to make a trip to visit with her. She only lives about a 5 or 6 hour drive from us so there isn't any really good reason not to visit from time to time. I guess that could be said for my sister who lives in Oregon. She is only a 6 hour drive away. I can't seem to find time to do that either. What is it about everyday life that seems to callas our minds to what is really important?

Opening Notes

2006-01-30T16:07:00.000-08:00

Here Goes. This is my first attempt at blogging. I have loved reading many others for months now and think it is high time I contribute something back.
We are in the thrawls of potty training here in the nest. For a while there we weren't sure if we were making any progress at all. But now we seem to be doing really well.
We are sure having a mild winter so far. Today it is raining fairly hard and the wind is strong, but not all the time. We have only had a handful of snow storms and none of them have left snow that stayed more that a couple of days.
I know this is short but it is getting close to dinner time and Grandma has to prepare. So I will try to get a few more word in when the little one is taking her nap tomorrow