For the first time EVER.. and just a lot about ME right now

Click on the play button to the right. New Moon Gadget.. beautiful song, Anya Marina.. Satellite Heart. Love it!

I have not wanted to blog... not really sure what that is about.. but you know me, I have to have an answer.. so I will sit with this and analyze it like I do with everything related to people and behavior. My great love: studying myself and others... figuring out what makes them tick and why they do what they do... my other passion and obsession... CLOTHING/shoes/ accessories ha ha he he he...

I continue to go through a rather Transformational Period in my life. It is good and a little wild to experience. I went from working for 17 years every day at a super fast pace... to being home.. creating my next chapter. I am 100% confident in myself but it is still a very interesting and sometimes odd transformation. I am trying to make good decisions(as I consider what is next). I am a Mom before a Career Person so the balance of that can be tricky.

I have a super cool adventure this week. I am going to teach a two day Leadership Development Program at Tiaa-Cref. I am not an employee and this is a Contract Assignment, which I think is kind of cool. I really enjoy and am honored to have the chance to work with people and help them uncover themselves and become leaders of their lives. This kind of work lights me up from the inside out: facilitation of learning for groups of people, understanding who you are, becoming a Leader of Self, personal coaching. I am really looking forward to it.

The boys are good these days. They spend the days(when not at school) fighting over things and then making up. We have done a lot of different fun things since I am home more: a Corn Maze, playdates with various neighbors, a Scavenger Hunt, trips to the Pumpkin Patch and our usual crayola inspired art projects.

I am also starting to run a "little". My goal is to run three times a week. I am doing a walk-run right now. Very close to being able to run a mile. WOOO WHOO. My goal is to run a 5k next year. There is something about walking and running.. plugged into very good music.. that I find very cathartic! Reading Midnight Sun which is the unfinished manuscript by Stephenie Myers of Twilight Saga. I adore this lady. She is an incredible writer... and just as good at picking music as she is at writing. I spend some evenings just sitting and listening to her playlists. They are soo good. I told my Career Coach(I get one via Wachovia), that I find myself listening to a lot of music at night when the boys are asleep. She asked me if I like music. I thought for a moment and had to smile... anyone who knows me well knows I pretty much live for music(aside from my fam of course). While I may seem very extroverted - I really am not as much as you may think. I actually love to be alone. and I love to sit and listen to music and think......it helps me to reconcile the emotions. I am listening to some fun stuff right now.. a little Jay Z( Empire Song.. New York), a lot of Paramore, Evanescense, Twilight Soundtrack, New Moon Soundtrack via internet, the Fray, ColdPlay and some "old" stuff.

Below are a hodge podge of pictures that I have wanted to share. Now I am gGoing to get cozy in my fave place here in the Pov Nest... my lovely bed...... night night Make the week count and find time to be joyful!!!!!!! I know - it may seem hard but I promise joy is out there: in the fall leaves, your children's smile, a great song,.a great book, a cup of cocoa, a smell of hot cider, warm pjs, uggs or ugg wannabees...., a fleece blanket, dancing to music on Nick Jr... kissing ANYONE, hugging, laughing, hanging with girlfriends, hanging alone listening to your fave music, Christmas Music, Christmas decorations, holiday party invites, New Moon Movie Premier, mittens, cute wool hats, church, singing in church, anything to do with Adam Sandler, pumpkins, pumpkin pie, Marleney talking about Coconut Flan( can you imagine?), chocolate....SLEEP.. lovely precious...Sleep.....

with love to you all and a big virtual hug, Gigi

We have a ........

First Tooth Gone.!!!!!!!! That is right.... CJ noticed his tooth was loose yesterday and woke minus his bottom front tooth. We are super excited! I have missed you my blog readers! It has been more than two weeks! Things have been very hectic! Fall is in full swing in the Pov House. I have so much to update you on... so more to come shortly....

On my mind... Pumpkins, Costumes, Potty Training, Twilight, Smartphones, Leadership Development Training, armwarmers, Corn Mazes, Fall Pictures.... saving money, being a frugal fashionista....planning for thanksgiving... making good choices... being at choice.. living.. being present..the Tooth Fairy etc etc

Love ya... G

Look at this sweet face!

Perfect Moments

The day I got married..... dancing on the dance floor with my sweet soul mate...

The day CJ was born... as the nurse placed him on my chest.... thinking, "this baby is my son.".

The day Mason was born.. looking over as the nurses bathed him for the first time and I knew

"this baby is my son... ".

There are perfect moments everywhere, and I believe in every day....

I stare at this picture and I get goose bumps. CJ happy, with some good friends. Watching your child so happy... is better than being happy yourself....

I know life is not perfect.. I know your reading this and I am sure struggling through something. I am too. But I still believe those who can find beauty and perfect moments in the simple stuff.. will find joy and contentment.

Sending love to you all.. go create your PERFECT MOMENTS

Happy 5th Birthday to my Little Paleontologist- CJ

So I continue to be rather obsessed with all things related to Love.... and how lucky am I to be the only girl in a house of boys?!!! Honestly I get hugged, and kissed and told how wonderful I am all the time... and I LOVE IT. I always say to CJ.. "I love you more than there are stars in the sky!" Well the other day he reached over and said, Mommy.. "I love you more than there are stars in the sky." Heart melts.....

CJ turns five tomorrow, October 6th. We have a variety of fun things planned tomorrow and throughout the week. Honestly, it is true what people say... time really does go fast. I have really worked to be present... to focus, to see the smiles, to slow down and read the books at night and know what I am reading(somedays I do.. somedays I do not).... try to focus on the hugs, the laughter. When I look back it still goes fast.

Dear God, thank you for the most precious gift of my boys. Thank you for the most incredible first born son, Christopher Michael Jr. I am a better person because I am his Mommy. He makes me laugh a lot. He makes me think a lot. Mostly he makes me love a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CJ if you read this 20 years from now always know.... "I love you more than there are stars in the sky.."

PS: Right now, you say you want to be a Paleontologist. Daddy and I want you to be WHATEVER... and be JOYFUL!

- MOMMY

This picture was taken by the magnificent photo artist, Amber G. see http://www.angphotos.com/

Your are my life now.....Twilight

So for my 40th birthday dear girlfriend Amber bought me Twilight and New Moon from the Twilight Series.... I heard a lot from all the chick- a- dees in my neighborhood about this saga. We in fact spent most of one Bible Study talking(well I listened) as the girls talked about Edward and Bella and this series... Honestly, I was afraid to read it... I am a big ole mush. As my friend Maria can attest(she reads this blog on occasion) I am pretty sappy. We saw Titanic together and she watched me sob uncontrollably the last few minutes as Jack slid into the icy waters saying goodbye to Rose for ever. My heart seriously hurt! Maria, did not shed a FREAKIN' TEAR. Tough girl my "Ria"....... Anyway, I knew this book might get me good.. and it is.. I am about 400 pages into the first book and it is just beautiful. The writing is beautiful, the explanation of the deep love Bella and Edward have is beautiful, breathtaking and literally hurts my heart. I lay there at night reading this book.. gasping and at times holding my heart! Edward as Bella's protector... maybe it is cliche and I know we all need to protect and take care of ourselves.. but gosh how lovely to just lose myself in their love. As I do with everything... I always take myself out of a situation and start to ANALYZE MY WHY???? why do I like this book so much???? Is there something deeper there for me, a lesson? I think there is... I believe in love... deeply... I believe that life is really all about love... finding love for yourself, and a partner and your family. I think just about every act can be tied to looking for love... or hurting deeply because of lack of it.

The book also takes me back to the time when Chris and I first fell in love...... I remember the super long calls we had(I was in NY and he in Maryland). We would just talk... and tell each other all about one another. All about our lives, hopes, and dreams. We were falling in love. Honestly, I remember the first time I saw Chris. Did not know him... just saw him get out of a car and my stomach did a funny little flip. And honestly today.. I can be angry as all heck at him and the stomach still does the little flip. Trust me.... marriage is not easy, we can have very different views on things... but he is my Edward.. it's not perfect but it is definitely love. It is an unsaid kind of thing or hard to explain and very hard to find the right words for.. other than - True Love.

I would love to hear from you. Why do you think so many people fall in love with this series? Please feel free to comment below....

Hugs and love, G

PS: edited to add seems I am not the only one who is an adult woman in love with this book http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/09/27/falling_in_love_with_twilight/

Life with CJ & Mason

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It has been awhile since I gave you an update on Life with my Boys and milestone stuff.



The boys are doing great. Both love their new classes(CJ is in PreK and Mason in the Two Year Old Class). CJ especially seems to love it. I suppose that is because he is older and more verbal right now than Mason, so he can say... "I love school and today we are learning about......". Mason is learning a lot though as well. He is putting together basic sentences and will say things like "I do that." Yep that is one he says often. Mason is at the age where he wants(and thinks) he can do everything! They fight a lot! But people also have commented on how they seem to really love each other. Miss Julie, CJs teacher says she has to tell CJ to "go play" at playground time. Their play areas are adjacent to one another so they enjoy meeting up at the fence and saying "Hi". CJ will stay the entire time right at the fence with Mason if you let him. So while I think Chris and I both feel that much of our days are spent refereeing.... I think somewhere in all of this they are starting to like and love each other. As I have written before.. this love is a slow growing love. Not something I would say "just happens" for brothers right off the bat(or any siblings- I think). But rather a slow simmer kind of love. I am banking on this relationship to grow. I know, and it is really hard to write this... but I know at 40 yrs old that one day I will be in HEAVEN(sipping a cocktail) and they will be here on Earth without Daddy and I. I want them to be there for one another, through thick and thin.



So Mason is saying a bunch of different things and CJ is practicing his letters. I have a goal to start working with him more on reading. I want him to be prepared when he gets to Kindergarten. I have written before that I just dig teaching these boys stuff. I really do. I am trying to go at their pace and follow their interests. I recently took a Career Assessment and my number one job: Director of some kind of CHILD CARE Place! I thought that was funny. While I love my kids.. not sure running a day care is the right fit for me or what makes my heart SING?!!!!! Actually I know just what makes my heart sing... God, my handsome husband,... my boys.. and LIVING with purpose! Oh and Anthropologie! HA HA HA

Live and love... live and love. You got one shot on this ride of life.... make it count!

With love, we Povs and Momma G

Visit with Grands/Dade City Fla - Sept 4 - Sept 13th 2009

HE SWIMS! YEAH CJ

I could share probably 50 photos with you... but I am trying to limit to the highlights. CJ is swimming.. yeah! I knew Papa Ken would get him swimming. I am so happy for CJ. Every first brings excitement and just the smallest hint of "my boys are growing so fast". But honestly I am so excited for them to enjoy the adventure of life. To be honest too, as they grow I find myself getting "Me" back a little.... I am a mother and I love that and I am also ME.. I find the lady I once knew coming back.. different and changed.. stronger.. kind of awakening from the past 5 years of baby making. I see the girl who loves pretty clothes and all things kind of pretty emerging again...it feels really good to get to know this new person. I have been thinking a lot about this.. and while I want my boys to give themselves to a partner or family... I do not want them to give all of themselves... some of who they are they need to keep, and nurture, and grow and take care of. I believe it is important to keep that relationship with self and God above all. As for our visit to Dade City and to my wonderful parents.. it was DELICIOUS. It was filled with good conversations, warmth, love, super YUM food. My kind of paradise. By the way there are some wonderful little antique shops in Dade City. I could have spent all day browsing but with two little boys I have learned to do my SUPER SHOP.... which is a quick focused walk through a store in about 10 minutes. I focus on the stuff I really love, vintage handbags, pins, jewelry and homey stuff..... Usually I do not buy anything but oh how I love to just look! So overall the trip was magnificent.. albeit a whirlwind.. I am reminded that at my core I am a girl who loves: God, myself, my husband and sons.. with a touch of pretty things thrown in and of course.. all the beautiful people who make up this Poveromo(McNiff)/Drayton(Ruiz) family...

I have written on Facebook about how I love this food. Here it is Cha Chas... Arroz con pollo y frioles( rice and chicken and beans)... I am practicing my Spanish a little these days... Just a little.. it needs a lot of work! But this food QUE BUENO!

Papa Ken( my dad), Grandma Cha Cha( my mom) and my babies
backyard
I love how they have these beautiful climbers!
Lowry Park Zoo - CJs Fave.. he knows every exhibit!




Seriously Up Close. I felt like we were on Safari.






White Bengal Tigers.. CJs fave
Both sides of our family(Drayton's and Povs) are civic minded. My dad is in CERT. Local Rescue Response Volunteer Group... Yeah Dad!

Orchids in backyard

Grandpa spent some time teaching the boys how to swim.

Drayton Home front view....

some prettys my parents bought me... thank you and love them! CJs fave Dade City buddy.. Mara H. such a cutie. They are at the Hugh Embry Library.. Dade City