What is on my mind today....

Happy New Year. WHEW.. I feel like I am off and running but I actually feel pretty grounded. Things have kind of picked up at work. I am on a cool project team related to Career Development. I really dig this sort of work because I am totally obsessed with Career Development. I think everyone on Earth should have the chance to sit and think and get clear on... Who am I, What work brings me joy and what is my plan to get to my goal. It is funny because I am working but really still unsure of my future in the new company. But I am really excited because I know the Lord will lead me to the right next thing or give me the courage to create if for myself. I have started to meet really cool people at Wells Fargo too.
So what is in this head of mine today...
Happy Birthday to my sweet husband Chris. I wrote in his card that marriage is a choice and marrying him was the best decision I made. I really feel that way. Do we argue.. yes.... are we different people who communicate differently.. and enjoy different hobbies .. yes some stuff but we actually have some stuff that we share. Chris loves to shop as much as I do and he is a CLOTHES GUY.....( thank goodness.. I have to be married to someone who loves to walk a mall)... but do we both believe in each other, in our marriage and in our joint work as parents... TOTALLY. Chris is going to the driving range tomorrow with some local guys and then to our fave Pizza Joint "Luigi's" Lugi's Pizza reminds me so much of Momma Lombardi's back at home. My local Ronkonkoma, LI Pizza Place. I hope it allows him some FUN.
Schools for CJ.... still considering all the options for next year and 2010. We have some decent options.... so we will see. and I continue to be very interested in the New Berewick.Dixie River School coming too.
My goals for 2009.. our family vision/mission and my own goals.....
here is my one minute Pretty Pink Mommy Life Coach Tip:
Make Goals for yourself and keep them... Specific, Measurable( what will tell you that you accomplished them?), Actionable...( what behavior do you need to see from yourself?) and Realistic( so I have a goal to lose 20. in the next year .. giving myself a lot of time)....... so that is my Life Coach Tip of the day.. Think SMART goals.
My boys. They are doing great. Cj is very into creative/make -believe kind of play. He likes to play pretend Bear and Lion and create all these cute skits. Mason is saying a lot of different words... "BYE BYE... Night Night... Uh Oh..... Dog.......".
My entrepreneurial dreams........ this year I am going to launch a new aspect to my mom business and focus more on Mommy Life Coaching... Mommy Clothing "Styling"/ helping Moms find YOU...... stuff I love. More to come. I have some pictures to post from the last Berewick August 2007 Boys Play Date held on New Years Eve. It was fun and this time Ava S .. played with us. Ava is a neighbor and the one girl in the group born Aug 2007. We laughed because she will have a lot of suitors....... if that is the path she chooses.... smile....
Also on my mind... TV... Ok I go through stages where I will not watch if a few months and then I find shows that I love and I am gone into the Black HOLE of Reality TV. But I am sooooo lovin.... The Real Housewives of OC, Atlanta, and NY. My fave is the NY group because well... that is my hood! Although these ladies are far wealthier than I was as a young post college chick living on the upper east side. I love it. My fave character is Luann D. She is so classy, and fun and just COOL. And a countess! Love it. I have her blog attached check her out. But for real cheese ball drama I love my OC and Atlanta girls. They are just soooo fun! I also have a new TV addiction. The City on MTV. I am 20 years older than all the characters but I love the fashion and the view of NYC. It does take me back to living on the upper east side and wanting to be downtown. Uptown and Downtown are definitely two different worlds. I am really an Uptown Girl but there is a lot I love about downtown........cool art, fab clothing shops and restaurants. Anyway, check out the CITY if you like reliving your younger days... and seeing beautiful clothing etc!
Now some pics from last week....

Monkey Joe's University.. my mom friends( Carrie and Kirsten) through Wachovia Child Dev Center and Nolan's little bro Landon

I have asked before.. Who has the most fun at MJ's???

Brothers playing at the basketball hoop

Mr MJ

Lauren B was there. She moved to a new school and we miss her. She was CJs first love....

Lauren with Bryson next to her and Bryson's daddy in the back.. Bryson is Cjs buddy from school

One year old playdate found CJ running for shelter. His Diego Games....

My mommy friend Jackie and Jakey

Mason, moi and another mommy friend Danielle with lovely Ava

And Jakey being held by Blake's mommy and my mommy friend Becky.. expecting baby boy two soon

Jackie and Jake.. and Jackie's sister. The non preggers enjoyed Mimosas!

2 Povs Boys & Their Palm Tree Christmas

WHEW What a wild ride called Life and Holidays. We are back home. Christmas was a whirlwind and great fun( albeit exhausting). In a nut shell we jumped in the car and drove to Hilton Head, SC. We spent Christmas Part one with the Povs. We love HHI. We loved Grandpa Bob's new toy...... his Golf Cart. We are so blessed to have gotten a bunch of beautiful clothes for the boys( and parents too). Grandma Dream and Uncle Jerry have more than done their part to keep the economy thriving during this challenging time. We love you guys and thank you sooooo much! Whoever thinks you can not dress boys cutely has not met Grandma Eileen, Uncle Jerry and Grandma Cha Cha who find very cute stuff all the time! Another highlight was Christmas Breakfast. I have come to love this wonderful egg /ham dish... is is heavenly! The Povs and Uncle Jerry really know me after 10 + years of Chris and I dating and being married for 8. I got some beautiful pinky/lavender jackets that I love. LOVE..... LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!! After HHI we drove to Savannah Airport and jumped on a plane to Tampa to spend Christmas Part 2 with the Draytons....my family. It was culture shock when my dad picked us up in shorts and a tee shirt. We immediately took off the winter coats we had carried from Charlotte. We had 80+ degree weather. Between HHI and Dade City( where my parents live) I realized I am a warm weather girl! I really love it! Charlotte has great weather too. It is about as cold as it gets right now. Maybe not as hot as Florida or HHI but much better than SUNY OSWEGO where I went to school and saw blizzards and lots of snow. Florida was divine. We enjoyed a great time with Grandma Cha Cha and Papa Ken. We just relaxed at their home( well relaxed as much as you can with a Toddler who wants to TOUCH EVERYTHING). My dad nicknamed Mason "WINDTUNNEL". We eat good food and sat outside by the pool. We visited some new mall near them. I loved it. All the stores were outside! Heaven on Earth for me is a Mall outside on a Sunny Day with a Starbucks Chai in my hand. We pushed the boys around in their double stroller and enjoyed the sites. No shopping for us given it was right after the holidays and we are on a 2009 UNCERTAINTY BUDGET. smile...... nervous laugh....

We had a great time as stated. On Sunday after Christmas we got back on a plane headed back to Savannah were the Povs met us at the airport with our car. Drove 3 1/2 hours back to Charlotte. We love visiting but let me tell you traveling with little ones is not for the WEAK. It is work. Their schedules are off, and Mason was fighting a virus. We had a great time but let me reiterate traveling with little ones is just not for WIMPS. I think I sweat off 10 pounds every time we enter the airport... security lines, changing diapers in the airport, carry on bags full of stuff to keep little ones occupied.... worrying about little ones FREAKIN OUT ON planes.... WHEW.. it is very stressful!!!!! Loved the holidays.... we are so blessed to have the best families..... good to be home in our own nest now..... below a lot of pictures to capture the special moments with our beloved family.......

Christmas Day 2009... new wrap dress from Ann Taylor from Chris.... love it( Cha Cha/Eva's House)

Pov Cousins, Mason, Ben, CJ, Ryan - HHI

Grandpa Bob with a gift

Uncle Will with Mason and Ryan

YUM... here it is Christmas Breakfast......... Povs House HHI

Ryan in a bow I bought her. Like it.. check out babybundles.com. My friend Melissa's company.

Christmas Tree at Palmetto Hall Club. Where Povs Live.

The almost twins.. CJ and Ryan

Grandpa Bob and Mason

Grandpa Bob's Toy

View near the Povs House.... pond

Palmetto Hall( club at Pov Community)... Special Place for us... where we had our Wedding Reception....

FORE!!!!!!!! our little golfer

New outfit from Uncle Jer

The handsome Haights

Lor and Uncle Jerry... love ya

The Povs.... grandma Eileen and grandpa Bob

Chris diggin' a gift....

I love pretty decorated tables. Povs do it well have learned alot from them!

Our Party Hats a tradition ....

Now for Dade City FLA... me and Auntie Elvia.. Auntie Elvia is as girly as me. I adore her! Always a cute outfit and lover of all things girly like ME. Christmas Day

Grandma Cha Cha's big tree.. she had ... three

This was my fave...... it had little red birds on it and big red bows...

Christmas Day

Grandma Ruby's Fruitcake... my Panamanian Grandma. My mom and Auntie Elvia made it. Takes a lot of time and work. You have to ferment Fruit in Alcohol for awhile. I remember my Grandma's jars of fruit fermenting......

Outside my Parents House. My mom loves to decorate for the holidays

This is my fave. I love Cinderella and Carriages.

Mason and Grands....

and again

This is my fave pic..... Dad Chillin by the pool day after Christmas. I am so happy for all the grands.. they both( Povs and Drayton's) are livin LA DOLCE VIDA.

Why I say we had a Balmy Christmas. We saw lots of Palm Trees in both HHI and Florida

My boys

Mason, me, Cha Cha and CJ.... My parents clubhouse

Lake Jovita where my parents live

The Fountains... My dear sis and her sweet boys. My sis is 15-16 weeks preg. YAY!

CJ, Dylan( my godson), Uncle Joey, Titi Dawne and Mason

I miss my sister alot. We had a short visit with her. She arrived the day before we left. But it was great to spend time with her and her family. I am so excited to be an auntie again. Babies are angels on Earth. 2009 is going to be full of living for sure! CIAO for now...GIGI