Fresh and Pretty

In the museum gift shop I am carrying a new stationery line. If you are stuck at a desk all day this is for you, the Gina B. Designs. File folders, note pads and sweet organizers in pretty colors and layouts.


There is a group of pretty pink too.
Hottest item is the new birthday calendar, sold out immediately. No worries, I reordered and they have arrived. Better hurry though.

Dreams Do Come True

When Max was just a little guy, he started spending Wednesday afternoons with my Dad. I'd be at work and Grandpa would pick Max up. They went to the dairy, Haak Haven, owned by my Dad's brother and family. Max loved it out there. Dreaming of showing cows someday, he couldn't wait to be old enough.

After checking out the farm they'd drive to the Everson Auction Barn for lunch. Now to a non farm chick this seemed strange, eating a burger in a barn. But they have a lunch counter with good burgers and Max loved to have lunch there with his Grandpa.

When Danny came home from college he wanted to go with Max and did go. Much to Max's dismay Danny wore sandals and shorts. Uhmmmm dude, what will the other farmers and guys think about someone that isn't in jeans and boots? Puhleeeze. He tried to warn Danny but Danny was fine with it. And he didn't own boots. Danny and I laughed because it was obvious that his little brother was embarrassed to be seen with him.

Hubby and I went one time to a horse auction and had lunch. Good burgers.

But this Wednesday tradition has pretty much belonged to Max and Grandpa.

Something that Max always wanted to do was to pick up Grandpa and go to lunch. Well, he has his driver's license and last night asked if he could use my van since Wednesday is auction day. You bet! I am all for dreams coming true.

Max had a fun time today. I am so thankful for the relationship Max and my Dad have, it is a dream come true for me.

Oh, and if you haven't had lunch at the auction barn put it on your calendar, open on Wednesdays only.

Reality

We're home and the party is over. Sam had a huge wisdom tooth removed on Friday. One of the biggest Dr. Groen has seen. All the nurses had to come take a peek and gasp.
After Sam's appointment, I took Max to the doctor. He dropped a 45 lb. weight on his big toe. Broke it. Many nurses gasped when he took off his sock.
Everyone is recovering nicely.
I have no pictures of the tooth, the nurses wouldn't let me go back, kinda made me mad.

Max having a pity party for one while we waited for the Doc.

Hubby left this morning for five in a row double shifts, so I won't see him until Saturday morning. Go honey go!
As for me, it was back to boot camp this morning, back to the museum tomorrow and lots of prep this week. It is garden party week.

Today I am in the trenches, aka the laundry room, and making lists.

Gettin' my game on! And can I just say- Reality sucks.

Happy Father's Day

So thankful for my Dad and DadIL today and for a loving Dad for my guys. My Father in heaven has blessed me with good Dads in my family.

Hubby got *'dustwatialwayswanted' for Father's Day, XM Radio for a year, a tractor sprinkler and a call from Danny.

Hubby's parents came from George for the day and we had dinner at my folks. Very traditional menu, BBQ steaks, baked potatoes with all the trimmings, salad, corn, asparagus, bread and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
My guys-

All the guys- even future fathers...

Sam and Max with their Grandmas.

*translation= "just what I always wanted!" When he was three years old, Sam always said this as one word when he got gifts. We still say it.

He Ate the Whole Thing

Driving down Highway 111 we noticed the La Quinta Cliffhouse right away. A quaint looking restaurant tucked into the cliff. I checked online and they were owned by the same company as Duke's in Honolulu. It was mentioned online that they too served Hula Pie. So, my guys were in.
One afternoon Hubby and I stopped there for happy hour, we enjoyed a Prickly Pear Margarita and a fish taco. We decided to bring the guys for dinner the next evening.

Many of the Palm Springs restaurants were offering three courses for $30 while we were visiting. Cliff House offered 3 for $24 and wine pairings for $12. This was a super deal and gave us a chance to try out their menu. My sea bass just about made me cry, it was that good. Shelly knows the look I get when food is that good.

Sam had the calamari, a flat iron steak and chocolate mousse. Good choices.

We all enjoyed our 3'fer choices except Max. He's a growing boy. Our server couldn't believe her eyes as they only remember one other guest eating the Hula Pie in its entirety without help. The last guest was someone who came for the pie and had an appetizer to save room. Max had already eaten his 16oz. rib eye steak. I think the woman at the next table is appalled.
I know I was.

Karen, doesn't this pic just bring it all back?

Good trip, good times.

It's a Good Thing

Good things in Palm Springs...

Hubby loved the Caddy CTS and wants one for moi! It was nice, but I don't think we're buying a $60K car anytime soon, it was real nice though.

I read a wonderful book.
Insert mini book review here: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld is really not so much a story of a President's wife or of Laura Bush, as many have speculated, but a story of relationships. Sex scenes at the beginning (I generally prefer my imagination to descriptions) but they go away and the author explains that in the end.
The Washington Post says... "Sittenfield has an astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers' heads."
So true, I started it on the plane and finished it on the way home. Perfect. I didn't always agree with Alice Blackwell but I did appreciate her story.

Early on I found the perfect spot and came back to it over and over.

If you got hot, you got into the pool. We left the lazy river and went to the big pool where there were less kids. Perfect for Sam.

This splash pool was fun to watch and cooled the area nicely.

Blurry but happy. It is a good thing to have fun with the guys. Lots of conversation and laughs.

In California they sell frozen juice packs just for Mommys. Had to love that! Put the straw in and chill.

I laid at the pool next to a textin' fool so I always knew what was going on in Lynden. Maybe a bad thing, but he was still good company.

The desert is beautiful. Our resort was beautiful. We had a 3 bedroom condo so everyone had their space. A good thing.

TBC...