One Year Later

Guess who's back, back again, hell no, it's not Shady, it's Stella!



I'm sure all 13 of you followers missed me!  But, go ahead, tell all of your blogger friends, Stella's back!  I'm excited because I just booked a nice 3 night getaway to Greer, AZ. Check out the last post from August 2010.  Same cabin, same husband, same kids....one year older!!!  I'm telling you, there's nothing like getting back to nature! 

Yeah, I may be all about the beach (St. Pete Beach, Feb. 2011), but it's nice to be cozy in a cabin in the woods eating Smores by the campfire with lots o' Coors Light.  I'm an easy gal'....;)  Until next time!

Everybody Needs A Little Time Away

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen. - Leonardo Da Vinci

No Internet, No Cell Phone Reception, Just The Ones That Mean The Most

I may not always be about the beach....some days I take the back woods with a Coors Light.

Are You There God, It's Me Stella?

Isn't that a catchy title?  I bet everyone of you have read that Judy Blume book when you were 12 over and over and over again.  Judy Blume wrote awesome books when we were growing up. The only adult book I know of it Sisters and it was good.  Well, yep, it's been almost two months since I've blogged.  What excuses do I have?

• My Daughter's 3rd Birthday Party
• Coordinator of a 3 day Summer Institute Conference with over 40 workshop sessions for faculty
• Upgraded to a new online learning system
• Ended a semester teaching 3 courses in addition to my full time job, starting a new semester teaching one.
• Visited with family
• Trying to organize my home
• And oh yeah, I have a 5 and 3 year old keeping me busy.....

Boy, I sound like a dork!  As my DH is working, kids finally asleep, I decided to not lay in bed with Blue Bistro by Elin Hildenbrand. Instead, I wanted to give a shout out to all my 13 followers...woot! woot! 

Now, this weekend I'm off to see Toy Story 3 with the kids....has anyone noticed the advertising on Toy Story 3 inside every single store you walk into? My kids are drooling at the mouth. But, you know what, out of all the Disney movies and toys geared toward kids..Toy Story certainly gets two thumbs up.  No mama deer is being shot (Bambi), dog gets caught in the fire (Bolt), flying monkeys and witches (Wizard of Oz), crazy chocolate man (Willy Wonka), you know the drill...although I did hear Toy Story 3 was sad from the adult perspective. 

Now, maybe I should rethink this..because we play Toy Story 3 Dominos and I don't know how many times I have giggled like a naughty school girl when I saw, "Does anyone have a Woody?"  and my son says, "I have two Woody's."  Or, "Does anyone have a Buzz?" and my daughter says, "I wish I had a buzz." Well you know what girl, I wish I had one too. ;)

To Be Young Again

So, this is my daughter JoJo. We were at her big brother's t-ball game.  Where could you find her?  She was off in left field dancing to her own beat.

It makes me think of the song:



That's my little right brained child!  So carefree!

Las Vegas Baby!

The past few months, things have been really good around here, but very hectic.  It's just a busy schedule with our quaint little family of four. Fortunately, we have my parents "out here" so they can jump in with the kiddos anytime they are available..which means it's a well deserved long weekend for my hubby and I.  It wasn't always this way, as it was a tough three years without family near us. 

So, a few months back, we saw that Ray Romano and Kevin James were going to be in Vegas. Now, DH and I LOVE, did I say LOVE Kevin James. He brings out the best in us..Yes, he makes my husband laugh so hard he cries, and that was one of the many reasons I fell in love with my husband. You see, we're in a really good place right now and I want to hold on to it for awhile. I mean, how can you not laugh with this stuff:

So, we took a long weekend...nice road trip...not too far from home, but still far enough away.  I was able to chill poolside with a nice drink and good book in hand.  The weather was mid 80s..perfect for sunning.  And, even though it wasn't "Stella About The Beach", I'll take poolside anyday!   We really got to enjoy each other and just be who we were 13 years ago when we met...no worries..just each other.

I love the pic below. We were at a little Paris cafe (Las Vegas) at 2:00 AM after the show.  I ordered a mimosa...why not?  And, I thought I was looking sassy, but I really look like a biotch...we had fun looking at the pics the next morning.

From Tom Collins to Whiskey Sours, Top Dollar and Wheel of Fortune, Sushi to Italian...I can't wait until we can do this again.  This really was one of my favorite trips with DH.

You Will Always Be My Baby!

This morning, I was holding my baby girl, Jo,  in my lap and I began to rock her.  She'll be three in May and was needing some Mommy time this morning....or so I thought.  She looks up into my eyes...those eyes that saw me for the first time...that mother/daughter bond and I see myself in the reflection of her eyes.  She says, "Don't rock me, I'm not a baby anymore!" 

And that's how the ball rolls, my friends.....Boo, hoo hoo hoo! 

Darling, you will always be my baby girl! And don't you ever forget that!

Umm, Mommy Needs To Go Back To School

This past weekend, we were leaving my parents house that overlooks a large open field.  We often see cows, coyotes, antelopes, and whatever other little creatures that may scurry on by. 

This picture was from this past summer and yes, we are making sure the cows get enough to drink.  I don't think the neighbors cared too much for us.

My very active precious 5 year old son decides he's going to do a few laps around the driveway, around my vehicle, on the lawn, etc.  I say, (being the good Mom that I am) "We have to leave before the coyotes come out.  It's starting to get dark."  My son willingly jumps in his car seat and we say our good byes. 

On our 17 minute drive home, Jake says, "Mom, are coyotes nocturnal?" 

Me:  Umm,  uhhhh, yeah, well sure they are! 
(I mean, if coyotes are seen during the day, and they come out at night, well, then they're nocturnal. Right?)

As he could see hesitation in my voice, he says, "Owls are nocturnal, I think coyotes are too."

See, I'm a bad test taker...I was always looking for ways to see how the other answers were correct if you threw in this variable or that variable.  I was a damn good at projects though!

So, for all of you who only thought owls were nocturnal...here it goes:

noc·tur·nal
–adjective1.of or pertaining to the night (opposed to diurnal).2.done, occurring, or coming at night: nocturnal visit.3.active at night (opposed to diurnal): nocturnal animals.4.opening by night and closing by day, as certain flowers (opposed to diurnal).a

–noun5.Archaic. an astrolabe for telling time at night or for determining latitude by the position of certain stars in reference to Polaris.

So yes, I have answered my own question....Coyotes are active at night....I hear the pack laughing when they find a good catch, so they must be nocturnal.

So, yesterday, Jake says to me..."I think I'm nocturnal because I can get out of bed at night and see in the dark."  Damn that must be a good lesson they are teaching them at Preschool. 
 

(http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070320/billy_l.jpg)

This will be me soon...remember Billy Madison?