PMV (Personal Mini Vacation)

I have recently been introduced to the PMV by a friend of mine. I had long thought of this idea but didn't quite know how to do it until she enlightened me. Not to say I have not been on many very nice adult vacations (thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids for us!) and I have been on girls weekends also (thank you friends and again Mom and Dad), I have even been on some fun couples trips lately. So as you can see I really have nothing to complain about. BUT... (you knew the BUT was coming) I have never had a vacation alone. I needed a mini break today. I wont bore you with details of why, they are the same ones you could come up with to justify a mini break. Sooo what did I do, I took the afternoon off. I let Kristin my wonderful babysitter, my clone to do the afternoon pickup, homework and snack, while I shopped leisurely at the mall. I tried on 15 pairs of skinny jeans, that is a whole other post BTW, about 6 pairs of shoes and bought new makeup. I also had some small spa services set up so I could come home feeling like a new women. It was only an afternoon but it sure made a world of difference. Maybe next time I will stay the night at the Double Tree and sleep in! Baby Steps!



I found a pair of shoes I will share with my blogging friends. I thought these were way ugly when I saw them but the sales guy talked me into trying these and other "booties" on. Since I was not in a hurry (remember PMV, no kids or schedule) I decided to humor him. I have now decided I love them and love the idea of booties.

See we who are so blessed to live in San Diego do have a winter dilemma. Do we buy hot, long boots for the whole two weeks a year when we could wear them without sweating to death? Or so we flip flop through the puddles saying the rain will only last another few days? Now I feel I have found the San Diego boot.

No I will not be wearing them as the models do with dark tights and mini skirts or dresses, I will be wearing them with jeans where they will look like regular boots but with out the sweet marks under my arms. Enjoy and feel free to try some on the next time you are out shopping.

My Favorite Time of the Year is Here!

Costco has everything I need for my favorite thing to do during the holiday season, BAKING!! I'm worried that since I have not been baking for a while I might need some practice before I start letting others eat my creations. Luckly I went to Costco the other day and they have these iteams and many more, in stock right now. The 25lb bag of flower was a steal! I couldn't carry the 50lb bag or it would have been in the cart! I will be going back now that I see what they have stocked there. I will just leave you with this, chocolate chips, nuts a plenty, all the holiday spices and much,much more!
I leave to bake with Bella and her friends that are here for a playdate.

Preston's Second Love (Cause I'm his 1st)

Preston picked this flower while we worked in the backyard. He picked it for Bella (say the double L the way the spanish do, as a Y). He held on to it for 30 minutes until we left to pick her up from preschool. He held on to it for the 20 minute drive to the preschool. We were almost there and I looked back and he was asleep. See the flower still waiting for her!

Junior Primary Lesson on Tithing

The lesson I was teaching my 6 year olds in primary was on tithing today. I was trying to find a fun way to teach this concept so I did a web search and found a fun idea. It was on www.sugerdoodle.net. I thought I would share it with you as it was a big hit today!
Tithing and Temples
by Melinda Haney

We first discussed what tithing was and how we got the money to build the temples. Then I gave each child a dixie cup with 10 M&M's in it to represent 10 dimes. I also had a bag of white homemade playdough that was shaped into little balls. If a child wanted to help build the temple, then they put one M&M in our tithing envelope. Since they had paid their tithig, they got one ball of play-dough because they helped to build the temple. Each child got to shape their ball into a stone and then place it on a paper plate and we built a small miniture temple out of our stones. Then we talked about how Heavenly Father always blesses us, and how sometimes it is hard to part with our money (M&M's) but if we follow the Lords commandments He will bless us more then we could ever imagine. So at the end everybody who paid their tithing, got two extra M&M's as their blessings.

(I did have some children who did not want to put one of their M&M's in the tithing envelope because they wanted to eat them all. I told them that was completely fine, because Heavenly Father always gives us a choice. However, if they chose not to pay their "tithing" then they would not get a temple stone to help build the temple, the only way to get the money for the stones was by paying their tithing. Because they all wanted to help build the temple, they all decided to pay their tithing.)

Back at Hanna!

Hanna Fenichel, the preschool I wish I went to. Sydney is a graduate of this world of dress up, messy play, animals and endless hours of creative play. Bella and Preston have been following in her footsteps and are now firmly planted there. They talk endlessly about "their school" and their teachers and friends. Their first day back this year was full of excitement as they wondered what changes had happened to the school while they were away for the summer. I was excited to know that all the paint, sand and water play could now be done a school and not in my house for a few months.





Bella is in a new classroom with new teachers this year. Her teachers, Eva and Marta have been with the school for years and have a wonderful way of incorporating science the 3 R's and friendship into the day with out the kids figuring out that they are not just having fun. And how could the kids help but be intrigued with what they have to offer. Walking into their room you see four different kinds of animals, a mother rabbit with 3 babies, 2 hermit crabs, 2 parakeets and a millipede. As the children learn the basics like beginning reading and writing there are rabbits hopping around the classroom and beautiful music softly playing in the background. I wish I could spend a few day's here. In true Bella form she asks me after only a week of school if she "has to go EVERY day". I just smiled and said gently that yes she "gets" to go every day. I was also smiling inside as I thought that with all that preschool has to offer nothing was better then a day with Mom! I think we will have to take a few day's off of school together.

Preston has totally changed regarding preschool. Last year he really wanted nothing to do with it. This year on the first day he walked right into his classroom, gave his teacher a huge hug and got to work painting. He has been coming home talking about all his friends and the fun play they did together. He is very social and happy. Those of you who know Preston and our struggles over the past year know what a pleasant change with is. I'm so happy for him and this new world that has opened up to him.

First Day of 1st Grade

Sydney went back to Torrey Hill's Elementary on August 25Th as a first grader. It was really hard to see her go after the fun summer we had. I also knew she did not know what she was getting into. The longer day's at school, more work and less play. I knew it would be hard on her. But she was up and ready to go on to 1st grade in her new dress and shoes she picked out. She had gone to the school over the weekend with Todd to see where her classroom was so she felt very confident as she directed me and her siblings where to go. Todd and I were the typical parents with the camera and video camera out documenting every footstep. There was not a tear shed by her as we all hugged and kissed her goodbye. I felt sad but I kept up a good front for her.