Pictures from Susan

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Week in Review 1.23-29.11

~ My plan to hit the gym everyday got shot down for the last 3 weeks due to Gavin, Carly then me getting sick. Would have been nice to be sick all at once...lol, NOT! So anyway, this coming week is looking great for another fresh start!

~Gavin had his first field trip to the Zoo's Safari Park (aka: Wild Animal Park) with his Pre-K class. I was sooo excited to go. Thanks Mom for watching Carly for me. I realized that G & I have never had one on one time....sooo sad. Time for that to change! We had a blast and now I'm thinking passes are in order; especially since it's only 15min away. Kids are older now and would now be fun rather than a hassle.

~ Shane had his 1st Minor B practice. So far I think it's gonna be a great season. Love the Manager he has.....very kid friendly. All the kids seemed to hit it off too.

~ Had to put a stop to a couple kids (4 or 5yrs old) bullying Gavin. That was an interesting experience and one that I hope never happens again. Parent did nothing to difuse the situation. Every once in a while the dad would yell at his kids to go sit down but never once told them to stop doing what they were doing or told them to appologize. Kids taunted and mocked Gavin, who kept going back to them trying to be friends. Long story short, the kids were chasing him and calling him names while he was riding his bike. At one point one of the bullies ran infront of G and G didnt have time to stop his bike and ran him over. G crashed too. Then they taunted him some more and asked him to stop his bike for a second and one pulled on his jacket until he fell off. The last straw was then both kids chased G (on his bike) all the way around to other side of field. G was scared and kept riding till he crashed his bike so he wouldnt hit a tree....then the kids threw a ball at him while he was down. I tried to let them figure it out on their own (didnt interfere) long enough, Mama Bear in me was furious! I got up and stopped kids from running to their dad; told them their behavior was unacceptable and they need to appologize, go back to their dad and not come back. I was way more calm than I wanted to be. Told G to stay on our side and he can try to be friends another day cause today just wasnt gonna happen. He was sad and hurt and confused. Told him I was proud of him....my goodness I was so proud he didnt blow up like I felt like doing. He could have totally put them in their place another way if he was pushed anymore. If this happens a next time Im gonna have to have a talk with the dad cause this behavior was so ridiculous. I was in shock and all fired up I couldnt sleep all night. Unfortunately, the two little kids' brother is on Shane's team so can't stay away. Praying those two kids arent on Gavin's team.

~ Brandi, Andy & Colton finally made his way to San Diego!! I got a baby fix even if it were for a short time. How cute is this kid?!

~Boys are loving Tae Kwon Do! Again Gavin is surprising me on how fast he's catching on. I think this is going to be great for him to focus. This is also great for Shane to slow down and take pride in his work. So busy but so exciting! They should be getting their uniforms soon.

Hope you all had an eventful week! Here's to a new week with new experiences!!
xoxo~Susan :)

Monster Jam & Monster Milestone...all in one weekend!

Monster Jam 2011 came to town on Saturday. We've been going for the last 3 years and we have a blast! The boys get more and more excited each year. I could have sworn Gavin was going to loose his voice from screaming so loud and so much. Carly & I almost missed it. We think she had an ear infection and so I was going to stay home with her. Our back up backed out at the last minute and we just couldn't loose out on the cost of two tickets. Carly hadn't complained about her ear since earlier that morning so we went for it and she was perfectly fine. Anyway, it really is a must see event and the pit passes are definitely worth it (free from Ford dealer!). Check out some of our pics.

On another Monster note, Gavin hit a milestone today: NO TRAINING WHEELS. Steve and I really weren't expecting much since G falls just standing there. One minute he's talking to you and the next his happy feet got carried away and he's on the floor. LOL. So anyway, to our amazement and happiness; with one small push from daddy, Gavin was on his way to the end of the cul-de-sac, turned (the true test) and came back without crashing!!!! Woooohoooo! We couldn't have been more wrong about our little monster...all we had to do was trust him; he'll make it happen (he always does). Congrats Gavin, we love you!

And that, my friends & family, was our MONSTER weekend. Hope you all had a great weekend too. God bless you all!

xoxo

Susan

Happy NEW Year

Good thing its a NEW year! I sometimes think redoing a year or two would help my future......totally WRONG! Sure I could have made "better" choices, but would I be who, what, when, where & why I am today? Nope. So maybe there weren't better choice...just different ones. The answer is sill no.... and I'm okay with that (finally).

Hope everyone is having a refreshing NEW year!

My 2011 Goals:
*Blog once a week (eek)
*Lose min 35lbs (which in itself holds a boat load of goals....double eek)
*Take TONS more pics
*Finish projects I started before I get another bright idea...(lol, but now I have an IDEA BINDER full of notes and magazine cut outs so I won't forget said bright ideas..lol)
*Get involved....something; anything (ideas for the socially challenged welcome!)
*Go to church & learn more
*Thank God EVERYDAY!!!!
*Start new secret passion & turn into business (shhhh)

Thanks for your continued support!!

Dazed & Confused, but Hopeful & Excited!

In regards to my 'caught-off-guard' day @ bible study today:

Amazing, scary, amazing, nervous, amazing, embarrassing, amazing, freeing, amazing, unexpected, amazing, shocking, amazing, gently pushed (lol), amazing, mascara filled tears, amazing, faith, amazing, new fellowship, amazing steps towards God and heart healing today!

I know I don't speak well in front of a crowd (& that crowd might only be 1 for me to shy away), but I usually write pretty well in order to get across what needs to be said....feelings too. Today, I have writers block. Even my fingers want to cry with overwhelming feelings. I didn't know this was all out there waiting for me! Sure I might hear it but thought it was for everyone else but me. Honestly, still trying to grasp the concepts; the truths but I'm in the middle of it and opening up my heart.

I'm so incredibly grateful for the donations & scholarship (of which I admit the proud in me is embarrassed about) I was given today to be able to attend an upcoming womens retreat....that, frankly, I made a point to put out of my mind cause there were too many "obstacles" and I was scared (still am). The obstacles are being crossed out one by one and I will not disappoint those who made it all happen. I will not disappoint myself......I like the sound of that! :)

WOW! Thank you for today!

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Isaiah 60:1

~Susan

P.S. Bible study course is Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul (by John & Stasi Eldredge)

Pumpkins, Animals & Rides, OH MY!!!!

We headed up to Temecula last weekend to test out a new pumpkin patch near my parents' house. Kids had a pretty good time, but we're definitely going back to Bates Nut Farm next year (heck, maybe even this year if we can squeeze in the time).

Working on His Autograph!!

Yesterday, we went to the Esco. Street Fair.....rain and all. I usually don't take the kids but I didn't have much of a choice this time; I'm glad they came! We stopped at a booth for a company that does yoga and hula-hoop workouts. Of course the kids stopped and played. Gavin & Carly were silly, but Shane, ya he was serious! He is really good & the hoop doesn't drop until he wants to stop. So, I already knew he was good at it but these aren't your cheepo hula-hoops, they were huge and heavy....professional. They shook their hips for at least 10min or more. I was trying to urge Shane to stop so we could keep strolling the fair, but he had one more trick up his sleeve! He took 3 of the biggest hoops and spun simultaneously!

Apparently this caught the eye of the newspaper photographer. He jumped the median and asked me if Shane was part of the yoga company or if he was just having fun. He was definitely having FUN! So the photographer jotted down a little of Shane's info and here he is in the local news paper (North County Times) this morning. Shane hasn't seen it yet, but I'm sure he'll be just as excited.

Shane Elkins, 7, twirls three hula hoops simutaneously at a booth that sells them, Dang Good Yoga, on Sunday during the Escondido Downtown Street Faire. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff Photographer)

I'm sure this will not be his first time in the spotlight....not necessarily for hula-hooping, but hey we all get our break somewhere :) This one is going in the "baby" book for sure!




(click on the title or "North County Times" to view article & pic)