San Diego was THE great get away....

If only they understood at work that when someone takes vacation that means leave them alone until they return it would have been perfect... but I did realize (eventually) I had the power not to answer the phone :) 

Tyler stayed with friends - not interested in family vacations... I have received sufficient criticism for allowing my twelve (almost thirteen) year old to decide that she does not want to participate with the family... but I can honestly say I do not want to be around her when she is not happy... that does not make for a fun vacation. She made arrangements with parents I know and communicate with and had her own version of fun while we were gone. 

Kirk, Dylan and I enjoyed Sea World and the beach... found a farmers market and just had a relaxing time... I think Dylan talked non stop the entire week... I felt like my ears were going to explode at times :) At Sea World, we went to the Elmo 4-D experience... Dylan did not like this... they squirt water at you etc... when we left, she was so mad she said "this was not necessawy - Elmo did not need get me wet, I don't like this, I do not want to do this... " and repeated this over and over the whole way out... Kirk and I were doing the silent laugh so hard our abs got a total work out! Dylan loved the penguins and the whales (Shamu). During Shamu, she was concerned the whales would eat the people with their big teeth... during moments of silence, she asked " are they dead"... so not sure what was going on in her mind, we sat far away and she seemed to have a good time and said she loved it, but she was having strange thoughts.  We came back rested and ready to get on with stuff... (and did I mention Kirk and I are all caught up with the "real housewives of New Jersey - the worst show- such a train wreck, we watched it nightly (no cable at home) and even reruns)...

Classes start up again on Monday and it will be back to work. They have announced our dissertation committee chairs and co chairs so I am on the downward thrill of this program... a lot of writing and reading in this coming year... that much closer to being finished :) Moving right along... planning my next trip to Ocean Beach... Until next time... check out the drum set this guy had going on at the farmers market - quite the resourceful guy...

Here is the pink prom dress...

Okay, I did have fun chaperoning the Prom... Here you see the pose of the evening captured by one of my teachers... The pink dress - I just love it... not sure where else I will wear it... but I love it.

Reverse Psychology

Dylan is going through a phase of whining and pouting etc... I have mastered getting her to smile and snap out of it... I could charge you for this information, but I will give this away for free :)... it is so silly...

When Dylan is in a "mood" I look at her seriously and use a stern tone to tell her "there is to be no smiling at my house, do you hear me?" I don't even have to finish the phrase to get her to crack a smile and giggle... every time.... she loves it - she will try to fake disappointment to get me to say it to her again and she can't do it...

Doesn't work with Tyler :)

Nothing Takes the Place of a Little R&R...

Three days into vacation time and I am relaxed! I missed the last day of school - didn't have to deal with the M100 explosion, four fights, or the water bombs... rather I was out cycling and enjoying some time with Kirk - reconnecting with each other...Kirk Dylan and I are heading to San Diego tomorrow for time on the beach, tennis, and some Sea World fun. You read correctly - my teen does not want any part of the vacation... she will be with a friend while we are gone. It bothers me that she doesn't want to go, but at the same time, I know what happens when I force her to engage with the family... and it's not pretty or fun...so Dylan is excited to go see the penguins... in the whole brochure - penguins is her reason to go to Sea World :)

We will enjoy the break... right when we return it is back to work, Dylan will start at her new school, and I will be back to night school... and Tyler's swim team workouts will begin nightly... our week of R&R will be much enjoyed by all four of us...

Okay, so I am not as organized as I thought...

Well, I had all intentions of staying current with the blog... No excuses, I will just get to the update! :)  Let's start with Tyler... she is doing well - School is out for the summer in two days (not that she is reminding us daily). She is getting reading for the rigors of summer swim team... daily work outs and she will be walking to and from which is a work out in itself...Then she will fill up the rest of the time with friends and "hanging out". Her current favorite thing to talk about is the upcoming 13th birthday. She wants a co-ed swim party at our house with parents on their best behavior...followed by an all girls sleep over. So this is sounding like 24 hours of giving up our privacy, peace and quiet and in general our home... sure, why not right? How could I forget the frog she brought home from school today... she is the lucky student to keep the frog over the whole summer... joys of life :) she is happy and Dylan will love it...and the best part, we get to give it back at the end of the summer... a pet with no long term commitment.

Now Dylan is also doing well, she is getting ready to change to a new Montessori preschool. her school is closing (very sad story)... but we found something real close by that is just perfect... they even have daily yoga! It is just going to be great. Dylan acts like it will be "no big 

deal" so I hope that continues. She starts June 8. Right now her preoccupation is getting mommy into the swimming pool with her... she loves to kick around or play on the steps... she has two pretty swimsuits and loves to wear them. She is exercising a lot of "will" these days and challenging authority or mainly mommy... doesn't like to go to bed... she thinks owls are in there (when she hears the wind whistle through the windows... ) sort of cute. 

Kirk and I are as fine as we can be... one or both are going through mid-life crisis and don't enjoy each other's company... but we will survive. I am enjoying a short break in graduate classes (another two weeks and back to work). 

 As if I need the stress, I am in the running for two additional principalships outside of my district... one of these days, it will be my turn... have to keep trying - you just never know. Kirk is still a cycling maniac on the road and on the mountain... he reads everything on the topic and has the scientific formula for checking his cadence, heart rate, etc.... to determine exercise effect etc... He is "into it"! 

My biological sister, Sheila, was driving through Chandler... remember, she is a long haul truck driver... and gave us a call so the girls and I got to "hang out" at the truck stop with her for two hours... that was fun... how could it not be with candy, junk toys, and ice cream all right there - we had fun visiting and playing with the toys...Dylan was especially fond of Sheila... cried a lot when it was time to go, wants Sheila to come to our house to visit and play with her. 

So in summation... we are all doing well enough, progressing through life in our appropriate stages and staying relatively happy. What more could we want? Maybe I will get another post in before another month passes us by...