Movember

Happy Movember, everyone! I love this pic from Spence' and my wedding day- just over a year ago now!! (and every day gets happier...)

My brother is stylin' the stash this month too to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer- the number one male cancer. His friend lost his Grandfather to prostate cancer and so they are working as a team to raise money, and my brother has received $300 in donations, almost his $500 goal.

Go to

http://ca.movember.com/mospace/2548960/

and click on 'donate to me' - the button under the current pic of him looking like Tom Selleck. ;) Every little bit helps!




Which one's my Mo Bro? Which one's Tom??

Soccer Related

So I am also a guest blogger on another site called RSL Soapbox. This is a Real Salt Lake themed blog. I've had 4 posts there so far, here's the links to them (oldest to newest):

How Should Real Salt Lake Approach the 1st Leg of the CONCACAF Quarterfinals?

A Good Surgery but Now What?

The Experience of an RSL Fan Exiled to Los Angeles

The Birth of Hellboy Wingert

Let me know what you think!

Migrating

I can hardly believe it, but I've lived in LA for 5 years! It has been a lovely place to be: great people, places, food, and . . .

you guessed it: w e a t h e r! I have to admit that nice as it is here, I have suffered from seasonal disorientation, itching to cosy into a sweater and sit by the fire with hot chocolate, at least for a day or two, but I love the beach and balm.

Ok, so yea, sometimes I still open a window in the morning expecting frosty air. But all I find is maybe some condensation on my windshield. This is because over and over, all I do is put on my sandals and pack a light sweater not because it will be super cold, but more often just in case I am in a building with over excited air conditioning.

I open my window sometimes and some un-kickable instinct in me still wonders, 'has the first winter snow finally come?' I think it took a couple years of living here to really believe that there is not much of a change in seasons here, but I still have a sense to check the weather a little before getting dressed or leaving for the day. I also get really excited when I see leaves that have changed color this time of year. Pretty much I am on weather alert so I don't get caught unprepared on a horrifically hot day, and I look outside or take a step outdoors to see, 'Oh, what a BEAUTIFUL day! (again!)' I have not ceased to be amazed with the weather down here.

So you will imagine my surprise when I looked up from my playground supervision duties the other day to see this:



???

Yes, apparently there are 'snow birds' even here in the lovely Los Angeles. Ok, so there were only like 4. Fewer than this pic, but still!?

And yes, they were headed south! But maybe it's just for their other nest in Tijuana?

Disneyland

One of the big perks about living in California is having relatively easy access to Disneyland! I have been a few times since moving out here, but starting this spring, I have been many times! My sister and her boys are set up with season passes and she asked if I could come along sometimes too if she got a pass for me! Season pass for Disneyland? In exchange for pushing a stroller while there? Yes ma'am! I'm in!

GOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!

So one of my favorite memories is going to Seattle to watch Real Salt Lake win the 2009 MLS Cup. Lindsay and I decided to go to Seattle since she used to live there and wanted to show me around. For part of the trip, we did a tour of Qwest Field, which was the place this picture was taken:

For part of the tour, they let us onto the pitch (or field, depending on what sport you're participating in), which I loved.

So I got some pictures down on the field.

Taking a penalty kick...

...standing in the goal, staring down the opposition...

...and one with a great wife! Thanks babe!

Seattle Spectacular! The Japanese Gardens!

One thing I love about Seattle is how green it is, any time of year! Spence and I just had a great time taking a trip to visit my parents and also have a get away. We were excited to see them and escape from the heat and business of LA to the cool and lush greenery of Seattle. We kicked off the visit with a fun boat ride, then followed up with a walk through Lincoln Park and a visit to the Japanese Gardens the ensuing days. Both these parks were explored upon recommendation from my brother and we thoroughly enjoyed them! The Japanese gardens were exquisite!

Does Halloween upstage Easter?

I just read the cutest Children's Book about the different holidays throughout the year. The book is 'Over and Over,' by Charlotte Zalotow. All the days we celebrate in the year are fun but I think Halloween is my fave.
My sister and I were talking about the celebrations we have through the year and we realized something about the emphasis and energy we put on each. It appears we are not too steady sometimes with the amount of time and planning we put into these events. Halloween is the first big thing we celebrate at the beginning of the school year and can be so BIG, since there's lots of lead up. But by Sping we get a little tired! We realized that sometimes at Eastertime we find ourselves pooped out... not a lot of activities planned, or special things to make it meaningful. And it's SUCH a great holiday! Spence and I decorated cupcakes this year, which isnt bad I guess but there's so much more that we could do! Halloween we had some great costumes going and went to a huge dance, Easter was more quiet. So this year I want to have a little more 'holiday celebtration energy' for Easter time and maybe have people over to decorate eggs! Or have a dinner! Or even have an egg hunt! Or go on a spring time hike or have a spring tea (Mercedes?) Until then... halloween costume ideas have a while to brew... is this why Halloween is one of my faves? Because I have lots of time to think about it?