Saturday, January 31, 2009
Happy Birthday Trent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We just wanted to take a minute to wish Marlon's younger brother, Trent, a very, very happy 40th Birthday! It's a big one!!!! We are sorry that we don't live closer so that we could join the family in the celebration dinner tonight, but we are thinking of you. You're a great person, a wonderful brother/brother in law, and an even better uncle and we all love you!!!!!!! From my viewpoint, life keeps getting better and better even after you turn 40. Although Marlon left Trent a message saying that he shouldn't worry about it being bad when you turn 40 because it was all downhill after 25! ha ha
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Big "O"
No, not that! :) Overwhelming!!! That's the word to describe our life the last couple of weeks. Overwhelmingly busy, to be exact. More so than usual. It seems like every day is a "crisis" that needs to be handled that day -- the invites needed to be ordered quickly (the holidays set me a bit behind on that), the contractor doing our new tile kitchen floor had a job cancel so he gave me one day's notice that he was ready to start our job and I hadn't even looked at tile, so that had to be done THAT day, Harrison and I have spent hours and hours sorting pictures for Bar Mitzvah stuff (decorations and slide show montage) and we're almost done but not quite there (we'ver literally gone through thousands of pictures!!!), and just a bunch of other stuff that seems like it has to be done NOW. I try hard to prioritize, but it's hard to do that when everything seems to be top priority!! Mix all that in with trying to work, exercising 2-3 hours a day, and the kids having an extra busy schedule, plus just normal stuff and what do you get? You get OVERWHELMED!
Anyway, I'm doing my best and know that everything will get done at some point! :)
We had some unexpected excitement last sunday at Harrison's basketball game. The game was practically tied and there were two minutes left in the game. harrison stole the ball on the opposing team's side of the court and was running full speed towards his basket. An opponent either tripped or pushed him (accidentally) and he went flying, landing with a huge thud flat on his face. He falls a lot in sports and gets right back up. This time it took a second and when he got up, he was covered with blood. There was soooooooo much blood. All over his face, running down his chest, running down his arm (b/c he was holding his face.) We couldn't even tell what was bleeding and first. Blood all over the floor and everything. I was very good and didn't panic. We calmly put my sweatshirt on his face to stop the bleeding and left the game to head to the ER. Turns out it was a very straightforward cut right on his eyebrow line (which is good, won't scar much) but it was deep - needed SIXTEEN stitches! He was fine by that afternoon and resumed sports again less than a week later.
Speaking of sports, Harrison's sports stuff is keeping us more than busy. Usually he plays one sport at a time with just a little bit of overlap. Well, this year isn't working out quite that way. It's basketball season so he's knee-deep in that with two practices plus one game a week. Then, he was nominated for basketball allstars (nomination goes to the top two players on each team, so an honor!) So he went to those tryouts and we'll see if he makes it. It would be great if he does, but would make the next couple of months even busier, so it wouldn't be a bad thing if he doesn't. His soccer season was supposed to end in November, but they're still going strong and playing in a regional tournament in two weeks. if they win that, they represent our region at teh state level up north! Then, baseball season is starting up, with those try outs last week. They are doing one "coach select" team in his division, where that coach gets to hand pick his whole team first, and then the other coaches do a draft where they alternate picks. He got picked for the coach select team, so his team will be a bit more competitive and will play higher level teams from other cities. A good thing, but just a bit more intense. And THEN, to add to it, he's trying out for the Maccabbi games, which is a huge thing for teen jewish athletes, where they compete against other Jewish teens from all over the world and they stay in "host" homes and there's all kinds of other cool stuff going on. A year and a half ago it was here and we were a host family. He is trying out for basketball and baseball and we'll see which one he makes. Baseball goes to New York, basketball goes to San Francisco.
Anyway, between sports, Bar Mitzvah preparation, band, his mitzvah project and school, he is keeping busy, but is happy and still has time for friends and got his progress report a week ago and has straight A's, so i can't complain.
Jacob and Michela are doing well and are busy as well with school, hanging out with friends, dance and sports. Jacob has a big dance competition coming up the second week of feb. (of course it's the same weekend as Harrison's big soccer playoff tournament, so we'll need to divide up much of that weekend) so he's busy getting ready for that with a lot of extra rehearsals and working hard on his tap solo. Michela is playing basketball and her team is undefeated so far, so that's exciting. She also recently had her softball tryouts and did very well with that. And they're both of course still going to hebrew school and doing youth band and band at school.
Marlon and I are just trying to keep up with everything spinning out of control around us.
There, that's a pretty good update for now. More another time!!! Hope you are all well.
Anyway, I'm doing my best and know that everything will get done at some point! :)
We had some unexpected excitement last sunday at Harrison's basketball game. The game was practically tied and there were two minutes left in the game. harrison stole the ball on the opposing team's side of the court and was running full speed towards his basket. An opponent either tripped or pushed him (accidentally) and he went flying, landing with a huge thud flat on his face. He falls a lot in sports and gets right back up. This time it took a second and when he got up, he was covered with blood. There was soooooooo much blood. All over his face, running down his chest, running down his arm (b/c he was holding his face.) We couldn't even tell what was bleeding and first. Blood all over the floor and everything. I was very good and didn't panic. We calmly put my sweatshirt on his face to stop the bleeding and left the game to head to the ER. Turns out it was a very straightforward cut right on his eyebrow line (which is good, won't scar much) but it was deep - needed SIXTEEN stitches! He was fine by that afternoon and resumed sports again less than a week later.
Speaking of sports, Harrison's sports stuff is keeping us more than busy. Usually he plays one sport at a time with just a little bit of overlap. Well, this year isn't working out quite that way. It's basketball season so he's knee-deep in that with two practices plus one game a week. Then, he was nominated for basketball allstars (nomination goes to the top two players on each team, so an honor!) So he went to those tryouts and we'll see if he makes it. It would be great if he does, but would make the next couple of months even busier, so it wouldn't be a bad thing if he doesn't. His soccer season was supposed to end in November, but they're still going strong and playing in a regional tournament in two weeks. if they win that, they represent our region at teh state level up north! Then, baseball season is starting up, with those try outs last week. They are doing one "coach select" team in his division, where that coach gets to hand pick his whole team first, and then the other coaches do a draft where they alternate picks. He got picked for the coach select team, so his team will be a bit more competitive and will play higher level teams from other cities. A good thing, but just a bit more intense. And THEN, to add to it, he's trying out for the Maccabbi games, which is a huge thing for teen jewish athletes, where they compete against other Jewish teens from all over the world and they stay in "host" homes and there's all kinds of other cool stuff going on. A year and a half ago it was here and we were a host family. He is trying out for basketball and baseball and we'll see which one he makes. Baseball goes to New York, basketball goes to San Francisco.
Anyway, between sports, Bar Mitzvah preparation, band, his mitzvah project and school, he is keeping busy, but is happy and still has time for friends and got his progress report a week ago and has straight A's, so i can't complain.
Jacob and Michela are doing well and are busy as well with school, hanging out with friends, dance and sports. Jacob has a big dance competition coming up the second week of feb. (of course it's the same weekend as Harrison's big soccer playoff tournament, so we'll need to divide up much of that weekend) so he's busy getting ready for that with a lot of extra rehearsals and working hard on his tap solo. Michela is playing basketball and her team is undefeated so far, so that's exciting. She also recently had her softball tryouts and did very well with that. And they're both of course still going to hebrew school and doing youth band and band at school.
Marlon and I are just trying to keep up with everything spinning out of control around us.
There, that's a pretty good update for now. More another time!!! Hope you are all well.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Recap of Last Weekend's Fun Family Camp Retreat, in Photos
Well, it's a weekend late, but I finally took some time today to post the pictures from our get-away last weekend and will do a "recap" of the weekend mixed in with the pictures, so be sure to go all the way through! We went to Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu with our synagogue for a family camp retreat. My Kids Konnection for February is all about it, so i'll post it as soon as it's published.
And speaking of Kids Konnection, my January article is a doozy! Scandalous and "eyebrow raising." I've received many, many phone calls, emails and questions about it - really got people thinking! I'll give everyone a day or two to read this post and look at all the pictures, then i'll post it. In the meantime, it'll give you something to wonder about!!
Oh, and before I post the pics, as of this past thursday, my total weight loss is 93 pounds!!! Hopefully within two weeks i'll hit 100! woo hoo.
Ok, now for the photos and recap.....
A nice shot of Marlon and I. We were at dinner the first night. All of our meals were served family style in a big dining hall and we enjoyed talking with many different temple friends at each meal. I didn't eat, of course, but everyone said the food was great and it looked and smelled delicious. They were very accommodating in heating up my stuff in the microwave and all that.
This is a shot of Jacob, Michela and a couple of their friends in our cabin. We shared a cabin with 3 other families - about 12 of us in one room and using one bathroom! It was sort of "roughing it", but it made it more fun. At night, when Harrison went to the teen programs, Jacob, Michela and their friends played multi-player DS games, hooking up their DS' with each other, and had great fun!!
Despite all the noise in the cabin until midnight or so, Marlon fell asleep in his bunk by 10 p.m. the first night. Everyone was cracking up at how he could sleep.
Michela and her two best friends from temple brushing teeth
Harrison at the Shabbat service in the outdoor synagogue
Jacob climbing up the ladder to do the 50 ft high "leap of faith" on the ropes course. He didn't make it all the way to the top, but he tried 3 different times and got a bit higher each time. It was really fun because everyone was encouraging each other and it was a huge "team building" experience.
Jacob strapping up
Michela all geared up
Michela climbing up the poll. She didnt' think she could get herself up there, but she did!
There she goes- starting to walk the tightrope. She's FIFTY FEET up! She was so scared, but she did the whole thing. It was so funny because as soon as she got up there, so said, in her very Michela attitude voice, "I could use a little pep talk about now." When no one said anything right away, she said, "Um, now would be good, so who's gonna give me one?"
There she goes - walking across! (sometimes swinging)
Like now, she's sort of just hanging there b/c her foot slipped off the wire!
Jacob almost to the top!
Jacob hanging around!
Harrison just scooted right up, no fear, no hesitation.
Reaching the top of the platform
And there he goes - leaping!
Now he's on the tightrope wire thing, again fairly effortlessly. He's the most adventurous. Jacob and Michela did it, but it took a lot of prodding and encouragment. We were very proud of them, though, and more importantly, they were proud of themselves. Marlon and I, well, lets just say we kept our feet flat on the floor! 
There he goes, almost done
A photo of our cabin, nestled in the woods, a good 10 minute walk from the dining hall and locations where all our sessions were held. But I am in so much better physical shape than I was a few years ago, i could so very easily do that walk, whereas last time it was very difficult for me!
In the dining hall
A nice shot of Michela. Doesn't she look pretty with her hair down?
A shot of all the people in our cabin. We got these shirts as a "parting gift." Marlon was amazed when I put it right on. He said in all the years we've been together and all the activities where we've been giving tshirts, he's NEVER known me to actually wear it. That's cuz they never really fit comfortably and now they do!!!!
A nice family shot
Michela and I at the beach. We HIKED (yes, hiked, yes, me!) to the beach twice - once just marlon and i on sat late afternoon and then again with the kids on sunday after the program ended before we went home. it was so beautiful and so fun to hike there.
The boys on the beach
Michela and her friend Shelby. She went with her dad and sister (her mom was sick) but they had to leave sat afternoon, so she stayed with us the rest of the weekend.
The giant menorah at the top of the hill. I'm including this picture so you can see how high up it is because we climbed up to it!!!
Just a nice beach shot
Jacob hiking
All of us hiking
A nice shot of Marlon
During our hike we found this fallen tree to walk across. You can't tell from the picture, but it's actually a pretty decent drop down into a ravine if you fall! Marlon was pretty nervous about the kids walking across it, but they did great.
He did pretty good too...... well, until he needed to drop down and crawl across on his hands and knees. i decided to save him some embarrassment and not put that photo in! :)
Effortless, again, for Harrison! :)
And here we are, having made it to the top of the hill to be at the giant menorah. It was beautiful up there, overlooking the ocean 
Very aptly named "inspiration point."
And speaking of Kids Konnection, my January article is a doozy! Scandalous and "eyebrow raising." I've received many, many phone calls, emails and questions about it - really got people thinking! I'll give everyone a day or two to read this post and look at all the pictures, then i'll post it. In the meantime, it'll give you something to wonder about!!
Oh, and before I post the pics, as of this past thursday, my total weight loss is 93 pounds!!! Hopefully within two weeks i'll hit 100! woo hoo.
Ok, now for the photos and recap.....
A nice shot of Marlon and I. We were at dinner the first night. All of our meals were served family style in a big dining hall and we enjoyed talking with many different temple friends at each meal. I didn't eat, of course, but everyone said the food was great and it looked and smelled delicious. They were very accommodating in heating up my stuff in the microwave and all that.
This is a shot of Jacob, Michela and a couple of their friends in our cabin. We shared a cabin with 3 other families - about 12 of us in one room and using one bathroom! It was sort of "roughing it", but it made it more fun. At night, when Harrison went to the teen programs, Jacob, Michela and their friends played multi-player DS games, hooking up their DS' with each other, and had great fun!!
Despite all the noise in the cabin until midnight or so, Marlon fell asleep in his bunk by 10 p.m. the first night. Everyone was cracking up at how he could sleep.
Michela and her two best friends from temple brushing teeth
Harrison at the Shabbat service in the outdoor synagogue
Jacob climbing up the ladder to do the 50 ft high "leap of faith" on the ropes course. He didn't make it all the way to the top, but he tried 3 different times and got a bit higher each time. It was really fun because everyone was encouraging each other and it was a huge "team building" experience.
Jacob strapping up
Michela all geared up
Michela climbing up the poll. She didnt' think she could get herself up there, but she did!
There she goes- starting to walk the tightrope. She's FIFTY FEET up! She was so scared, but she did the whole thing. It was so funny because as soon as she got up there, so said, in her very Michela attitude voice, "I could use a little pep talk about now." When no one said anything right away, she said, "Um, now would be good, so who's gonna give me one?"
There she goes - walking across! (sometimes swinging)
Like now, she's sort of just hanging there b/c her foot slipped off the wire!
Jacob almost to the top!
Jacob hanging around!
Harrison just scooted right up, no fear, no hesitation.
Reaching the top of the platform
And there he goes - leaping!
Now he's on the tightrope wire thing, again fairly effortlessly. He's the most adventurous. Jacob and Michela did it, but it took a lot of prodding and encouragment. We were very proud of them, though, and more importantly, they were proud of themselves. Marlon and I, well, lets just say we kept our feet flat on the floor! 
There he goes, almost done
A photo of our cabin, nestled in the woods, a good 10 minute walk from the dining hall and locations where all our sessions were held. But I am in so much better physical shape than I was a few years ago, i could so very easily do that walk, whereas last time it was very difficult for me!
In the dining hall
A nice shot of Michela. Doesn't she look pretty with her hair down?
A shot of all the people in our cabin. We got these shirts as a "parting gift." Marlon was amazed when I put it right on. He said in all the years we've been together and all the activities where we've been giving tshirts, he's NEVER known me to actually wear it. That's cuz they never really fit comfortably and now they do!!!!
A nice family shot
Michela and I at the beach. We HIKED (yes, hiked, yes, me!) to the beach twice - once just marlon and i on sat late afternoon and then again with the kids on sunday after the program ended before we went home. it was so beautiful and so fun to hike there.
The boys on the beach
Michela and her friend Shelby. She went with her dad and sister (her mom was sick) but they had to leave sat afternoon, so she stayed with us the rest of the weekend.
The giant menorah at the top of the hill. I'm including this picture so you can see how high up it is because we climbed up to it!!!
Just a nice beach shot
Jacob hiking
All of us hiking
A nice shot of Marlon
During our hike we found this fallen tree to walk across. You can't tell from the picture, but it's actually a pretty decent drop down into a ravine if you fall! Marlon was pretty nervous about the kids walking across it, but they did great.
He did pretty good too...... well, until he needed to drop down and crawl across on his hands and knees. i decided to save him some embarrassment and not put that photo in! :)
Effortless, again, for Harrison! :) 
And here we are, having made it to the top of the hill to be at the giant menorah. It was beautiful up there, overlooking the ocean 
Very aptly named "inspiration point."Tuesday, January 6, 2009
PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
As promised, here are the photos from the last week of Hanukkah (last week of December), when Marlon's parents were here visiting. These are the best 25 or so of the 110 on my camera! (I guess I take a lot of pictures.) I've even captioned them all for you, so you know what you're looking at. Enjoy them and don't forget to comment!
Our house, all decorated for Hanukkah
A side view
A night view (hard to see our pretty twinkling lights)
Another night view, not the greatest, but you can kind of see the lights
Barbara's mom opening her gifts. Not the greatest pic, but we had to have one of her on here!
Poppy (Bernie) playing poker, which we played as a family every night for 3 or 4 nights when they were out here last week, using the new awesome poker set the kids got for Hanukkah from Patti and Brian
Michela - holding her cards tight to her chest!
Bubbie (Esther) concentrating on her dealing
Marlon always stands up to deal. funny!
Jacob collecting his many winnings. He won often. He's a shark!
Barbara placing a bet
Midnight hanging out on his pillow while we played
Harrison just hates to part with that money!
Ok, this was hilarious. One day we had to take Barbara's mom home on our way to ice skating (that's her walker in the back) and we had an extra couple of kids, so the car was FULL. Poppy rode in the trunk for the 10 minute drive until she got out and freed up a seat.
Yes, he was able to get in and quite easily.
Michela, Jacob and Barbara on the last night of Hanukkah
Bernie, Esther and Marlon, same night
Awww, so sweet!
Harrison with Bernie and Esther, same night
The last night of Hanukkah happened to also be Marlon's birthday! Happy Birthday sweetie. One candle on your freshly baked hot apple pie.
At the Newport Beach Back Bay Nature Preserve - we went "hiking" (well, walking) and the kids enjoyed climbing trees and being in nature
A nice shot of Bernie and Esther
Jacob up in the trees with Marlon
Harrison climbs to the top
Michela needs help down
A nice family shot overlooking the back bay. even Midnight had fun
Our house, all decorated for Hanukkah
A side view
A night view (hard to see our pretty twinkling lights)
Another night view, not the greatest, but you can kind of see the lights
Barbara's mom opening her gifts. Not the greatest pic, but we had to have one of her on here!
Poppy (Bernie) playing poker, which we played as a family every night for 3 or 4 nights when they were out here last week, using the new awesome poker set the kids got for Hanukkah from Patti and Brian
Michela - holding her cards tight to her chest!
Bubbie (Esther) concentrating on her dealing
Marlon always stands up to deal. funny!
Jacob collecting his many winnings. He won often. He's a shark!
Barbara placing a bet
Midnight hanging out on his pillow while we played
Harrison just hates to part with that money!
Ok, this was hilarious. One day we had to take Barbara's mom home on our way to ice skating (that's her walker in the back) and we had an extra couple of kids, so the car was FULL. Poppy rode in the trunk for the 10 minute drive until she got out and freed up a seat.
Yes, he was able to get in and quite easily.
Michela, Jacob and Barbara on the last night of Hanukkah
Bernie, Esther and Marlon, same night
Awww, so sweet!
Harrison with Bernie and Esther, same night
The last night of Hanukkah happened to also be Marlon's birthday! Happy Birthday sweetie. One candle on your freshly baked hot apple pie.
At the Newport Beach Back Bay Nature Preserve - we went "hiking" (well, walking) and the kids enjoyed climbing trees and being in nature
A nice shot of Bernie and Esther
Jacob up in the trees with Marlon
Harrison climbs to the top
Michela needs help down
A nice family shot overlooking the back bay. even Midnight had fun
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