It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No It's Super Wy!

Scarlet encouraging Super Wy's delusion of super powers.

Fifteen Years and Going Strong

As one of my favorite science fiction writer’s, Robert Heinlein, said “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
To me, this quote holds the essence of love as it is the secret ingredient to a lifetime of lasting relationship.

Ashley and I were teenagers when we fell in love. We were different people then than we are now. Through all those years we grew, matured, and changed. But amazingly, the love at the core of who we are not only stayed, but strengthened.

Ashley has become the poster father and husband. He’s a loyal friend and family member. Ashley meets conflict and turmoil with a sense of strength and perseverance that shows his natural leadership. His sense of right and wrong define who he is, which is committed, loyal, and passionate.

I fell in love with the boy, I stayed in love with the man…and that’s important. I know his flaws, his weaknesses, and his fears. These things he doesn’t often show to others. Yes, I know these things and I respect and love him more for always facing and overcoming them.

Yesterday was Ashley and I’s 6 year wedding anniversary and 15 year marking point in our relationship. Family and friends rarely use our name in conversation without saying the others name as well…it’s usually “Ashley and Amber” or “Amber and Ashley”. I like it this way, and look forward to a lifetime with him.

Wyatt Turns the Big 3

Wow, it's cliche but time really does fly. I can't believe Super Wy, our youngest, turned 3 at 8:18 am. It's amazing how fast the days, week, month, and years have gone by. I feel like just yesterday I was wrapping him up like a burrito and laying him on my chest to sleep.

Super Wy is my crazy poet. So calm and internal, yet with close friends and family he can be goofy and outgoing. He's sensitive, easily heartbroken. Out of all my boys, I think he's the one that's stayed the mommy's boy the longest. As soon as I get home from work he's got to have a minimum of 15 minutes to just be around me, cuddling and giggling, talking and connecting.

I love my little man and rejoice in every accomplish he reaches. But he's the one that will break my hubby and I's heart the hardest. This is because he is the youngest and the last. He will be the one that empties my house and officially end our days of raising children. That time is far in the future, but it's coming, and days like this make the ticking clock sound louder.

So, below is a little slide show of our Super Wy's first three years. Happy birthday baby. I also have to give a shout out to my nephew, Little Will, who also turned 3 today. When my brother called saying they were heading to the hospital, I responded with, "We are too". Our boys were born just hours apart. Happy birthday to you too buddy, love you lots!

Sunday Sea Scout Cruise

Yesterday was a wonderful adventure day. Sunday was the last day of the annual San Francisco Fleet Week and the Chaser crew invited friends and family out to see the Blue Angels fly.

I was so excited. Scarlet watched the little boys at home, so this was the first cruise I'd be able to focus on Billy and his crew's outstanding work ethic.

And it was outstanding.

The day started at Brinkman's Marina in Vallejo. Billy's good friends, Zach and Josh, waited with me for the Chaser to arrive. The weather was a normal Bay Area morning: cool mid 50s, low cloud coverage, and a steady breeze.

The Chaser was right on time, and let me tell you, it is really cool to see them heading down the channel. This huge 95 foot boat steered by young men under 18 years of age...and one of them my son. Their ship is so large they had to send their smaller boat to pick us up.

Once on board, we settled down with some donuts and a smooth trip. As we headed out, the channel was filled with sailboats. Several pulled up along side, and a little behind, to catch our drag and help pull them along.

Hitting the mouth of the channel and entering the open Bay, the wind picked up quite a bit. The ship increased speed...a little. The crew seemed to settle down at this point, so I dropped in to check on Billy. Assigned navigation duty, he was busy keeping an eye on the radar, maps and coordinates. Not wanting to distract him, I settled back in the galley to relax and chat with the other family members and friends.

Our vantage point for the show was breathtaking. To our left was the Bay Bridge, to our right the Golden Gate Bridge, and connecting them was the wonderful skyline view of San Francisco. Filling the bay was hundreds of sailboats, fishing boats, and cruiser boats. We even had a visit by the Santa Cruz Sea Scout ship, who'd also come to see the show.

The Blue Angels were wonderful, their smoke left trails of red, white, and blue. Their various stunts were awesome to watch.

It was a great day, and I was grateful the Chaser crew invited friends and family to see them in action. The boys really display their dedication and enjoyment of the program by their hardwork and team efforts. The day was flawless.

Below is a slideshow of the day, hope you enjoy the beautiful pictures.

Long Lost Friends

What kind of connections does a person have to have with another to transcend beyond a decade? I’m not sure it can be put into words, but I have this connection with two dear friends. This connection held and just this last week, fate put us back in touch.

Imagine my joy when it happened. A simple inquiring email…”Is this you?” and that connection buzzed through my system.

“Wow…they still remember me.”

I was humbled to have such friends that this connection would hold strong. A friendship that helped define who I was.

“Wow…they missed me.”

I was honored to have such a connection that the sisterly love we felt for each other would remain in the core of us.

“Wow…the friendship is just as easy.”

I was elated that we could fall back into the core connection so fast. Yes, we are all three married moms with careers, homes, and lives. Nevertheless, that core connection evolved, staying within the undercurrent hum of life. That trust and honest excitement for each other. That un-quantifiable worry and hope you have for them and their happiness.

God really does work in mysterious ways to provide the “food for the soul” you need. He gives you back what you lost…when you truly are ready to receive it.

Nephew's Birthday

Yesterday was a fun celebration day. My second nephew, David turned five. It seems like he was just a little, bald baby.


I don't know how it is with small families (not being part of one myself), but in large families...time flies. I have four nieces and four nephews. When you add in my own four kids, the birthday's really drive the year along.


David is a blond little pistol and my Transformer buddy. He has these quirky characteristics that make him all his own little person. One of my favorite things about him is this trippy, grown-up mindset. He refers to his cousins and other kids as "the kids"...as if he were separate and not of the kid group. He also has a news reporters nose, reporting on everything that's happening as soon as it's happening.


He's can be pensive and internal one moment, and goofy and outgoing the next. David always keeps you on your toes.


Happy birthday, Little Man! Hope the day was awesome! Below is a little slide show of the One and Only - David.

Super Dad

I must give a super nod to hubby in today's blog. Due to illness this week, I've been home quite a bit and got to see first hand a day in the life of an At Home Dad.

All I have to say...I will never be able to understand how he does it. I thought having them all day during the weekends while hubby worked was difficult. The weekday is a WHOLE other story.

Hubby could write a book, he's that good. Even with the addition of me to care for this week, he pulled it off with tactical grace. I got to see the well oiled machine that he's created. It was an awakening, a reminder of why he's such a great dad.

His Average Day:

1. Cooking a full breakfast of eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, fruit, and milk while seeing the older kids off to school and helping me find everything I need to get to work
2. Pre-school appropriate learning channel for about an hour while he cleans up and put the kitchen back straight
3. Outside time while he runs through an efficient outdoor cleaning schedule that ensures our house is one of the nicest looking on the block
4. Snack time for little guys
5. Nap time where the little guys ACTUALLY fall asleep!
6. Hubby's quiet time of military or history channel and personal reset time (with the occasional nap)
7. Lunch time of a fully prepared meal
8. Again with the pre-school appropriate learning channel for about an hour while he cleans up and put the kitchen back straight
9. Snack time
10. Either inside or outside play time while hubby relaxes and completes his plan for dinner

Now, it seems like it would be easy to just take the above list and apply it....oh, no! It takes a certain person to be able to successfully activate this regiment. It's the difference between talking the talk and actually being able to walk the walk folks.

Ash just naturally walks the walk...