YAYYY SANTA!!!!

Do these girls know how to party or what?

Isabel and her cousin, Maya, cheering for Santa during the Pleasanton holiday parade a few weeks ago. The picture was taken by the local newspaper and published a few days later. I especially love the attire. Who dresses these girls you ask? Why they dress themselves of course and we'd have have it no other way.

Strab-IZ-mus

For anyone who knows my little Isabel, you know that she's a one-of-a-kind. She has the spirit of an angel, is determined beyond belief and loves unconditionally.

Her first six years haven't been without their challenges though -- and perhaps this is what contributes to her strong character. Isabel has a bunch of random things that make it hard for her to learn and speak the way other kids her age do. It's hard for her but she's always positive and doesn't ever let it diminish her fun or energy.

One of her little issues is a bad left eye - which she inherited from her cross-eyed mother. This causes extremely poor vision, which is why she wears glasses. So, she had a little eye surgery earlier this week. She took it like a champ and handled it more maturely than most. "It didn't hurt at all," she said. Hopefully, this will help her vision, which will also hopefully help her with some of the balance issues she has (poor depth perception) and reading. Wow. We're praying it will make a big difference for her. I had the same surgery when I was 6 and never wore glasses again. Fingers crossed.... As a result of her surgery, Isabel received numerous cards and gifts - I think it may have been better than a birthday! Thanks to everyone for thinking of her - she felt like a queen.

In other news, we also had a great visit with Gran

dma Laura the last few days. It made Isabel so happy to have Grandma here and stay home with her and mom for a few days. Thanks to you mama, as always, for a great visit and all your love. As usual, we have no pics - what's the deal with that? Next time you come, Mom, we're taking 100 pictures.

We had a great Thanksgiving with the Cattons in Fresno. Greg cooked up an amazing bird and Kennedy, Jonas and Isabel were the best of buddies. We loved every second. Here's Jonas and Kennedy in unplanned coordinated stripes.

We got our Christmas tree at the traditional spot (blue tag special in the defect corner, which is actually always the most beautiful tree ever). Here is how my family picks out just the right one - they do the tree dance and before we know it, the magical tree appears.

Thanksgiving

What a great holiday. As always, there is no shortage of things for which I am thankful. First and foremost, my families. All blessings, all the time.

Second, my friends. Not having any of my own siblings, my friends have always been my sisters and family to me.

So, as usual, what it all comes down to is 'people' - and without a doubt, the 'people' in my life are my greatest joy and source of gratitude. Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Falling in Love...

I've been known to be in love with many things. The latest on my list is

this amazing place:

Breathtaking SEATTLE!

Tosh and I had the blessed pleasure to jump on a plane last Thursday and

head up north to visit these krazy katz:

This picture was taken after a little cruise we took around Lake Union and Washington. We had the whole boat to ourselves and got to see some amazing sights. Here's a couple more taken while cruising on the Champagne Lady (our private yacht).

The Bill Gates estate...

The famous Sleepless in Seattle house

We also took a ferry over to Bainbridge Island. Here's cute little

Ronan smashing his face against the Seattle skyline.

Here's my cute sis-in-law contributing her chewing gum to the bubblegum wall of honor. We took more pics of this but I find it very disgusting. This one will do just fine.

One morning we did a little hike just down the road from the Sco residence. This is the path....

....which led to one of the arms of the Puget Sound. In other words, the ocean.

I was seriously overwhelmed by the beauty.

Our last expedition was to see the Snoqualmie Falls. Imagine my excitement when I realized that I was actually visiting the infamous town of Twin Peaks. Remember that show? I was in high school and it was the big thing. Everything about Snoqualmie seemed so familiar to me and then when we drove past a diner called "Twin Peaks Cafe," it hit me like a ton of bricks. Deep down I wanted to go into the cafe and order that "damn fine cup of coffee."

We had a phenomenal time and other than missing the rugrats, i mean angel children, it was VERY hard to leave. We were only there for 3 days - not nearly enough time to enjoy the bountiful goodness that Seattle and its playful residents had to offer. Plus, we couldn't get enough of this little guy:

Thanks to the Sco6 clan for hosting, baking, laughing, driving, and all the fun provided.

We can't wait to do it again.

Special thanks too, to Grammy and Grampy Sco for rallying the troops, getting a couple a girls up and ready for school, packing lunches, visiting the tide pools and teaching about navy ships and hot fudge sundae lunches. We love you and so appreciate you watching the girls for us so we could get away for a few days. You're the best and we're so lucky to have such a great family.

Frasier has left the building.....Goodnight Seattle!

Hurtful Bubbling

Does anyone else love this show as much as I do?

I have to say, last week's episode, was one for the record. Classic.

Halloween in P-Town

Super Izzy and the Zombie Rockstar

Yes, the body suit is too tight and short and the boots are too high -

but that sparkly booty was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.

One of my most favorite nights of the year is the annual pumpkin carving party at the Sco4 household. This year they went all out and took the rivalry outside the family -

which made for some stiff competition and a pretty awesome hearth.

Of course, there were about 40 billion opportunities for the kids to dress up and get ridiculous amounts of candy (Halloween is definitely SuperSized these days...). Here's the trunk or treat - and although it is a fun little activity, I have one question: Why? I mean, I understand it when Halloween is on a Sunday but my word, by the time Halloween came around, we didn't even have to buy candy for our trick-or-treaters because we had enough from all the other activities to keep us and the rest of the neighborhood satisfied. TOO MUCH CANDY PEOPLE!!! It's really starting to irritate me. What happened to trick or treating just ONE time -

ON Halloween - a FEW houses in the neighborhood - and DONE.

With all the Michael Jackson hype, Kennedy has discovered Thriller and the zombie dance. Now if I can just get her to love Beetlejuice as much as her mom and dad do. Maybe next year.

And of course, the pumpkin patch field trip.

Such a great time of year.

And, just for fun:

"Whoa, whoa, stoppit! Whooooaaaaaa!"

The Ipod was not on my side, but luckily the vibe was enough to get me through!

After months of late night, low-energy runs/jogs/walks and waking up every darn Saturday morning at the crack of dawn, the Nike half FINALLY showed up. It's about freaking time.

And what a day it was.

The run was on an early Sunday morning so my 3 running buddies and I headed into SF early Saturday to make sure we were nice and 'settled' beforehand. We started the day at the Oakland temple...

...then headed into the city for some french pastries at Philipe's Patisserie. After checking into our superfly Titanic style hotel (this is the view from the window...)

... We walked down to Union Square to get our race bibs and all the freebies and to find our names emblazoned on the wall of 'I guess this means we really have to do this.'

Next we grabbed some lunch, shopped a little, got some ice cream (ever try chocolate ice cream, olive oil, maldon sea salt and whipped cream? I didn't get it but my friend did and it was delicious), walked some serious hills and then headed back to the hotel to rest up.

Once settled, we cozied into a movie, ordered some take-out pasta (what? we had to load up on carbs!) and hit the sack. And then the morning after....protein, super cute matching running gear, stretching...etc. etc...

Back to Union Square, we met up with 20,000 other runners...

I've never been surrounded by so much energy!

Once the race started, it took 15 minutes to get to the starting line. The crowds on the sidelines were the best...we started off running along the Embarcadero and made our way

around to Fisherman's Wharf.

This is the Golden Gate Bridge - covered by fog of course...

Up through Crissy Field and Fort Mason and then on to Ocean Beach. About this point I

stopped taking pictures - it was too much effort. The energy continued throughout the entire course though and it was amazing to be surrounded by so many people the entire way. I believe I cried at least 4 times, maybe 5...it was just so overwhelming. The beautiful scenery, the rush of adrenaline running through my body, seeing my cute sweaty friends and thinking about all of the runs we've made together the last several months that have bonded our friendship beyond expectation, and then of course all of the names and pictures of cancer victims on t-shirts and banners all along the way. The race is a major fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma

Society (they raised $14 million!) so it is an emotional event as many family members, friends, and ever survivors dotted the course. It's a pretty overwhelming feeling to have someone running in front of you who wears a shirt that says "Running this is better than chemo!"

Anyway, we made it, hills and all. Here's the evidence. I love my running partners. I love running - and I absolutely loved every second of this experience. I hope to do it again next year.

Here's the firemen dressed in tuxes handing out a Tiffany's necklace

as you cross the finish line...

After the race, Tosh and the girls picked me up and we headed down the coast a few miles to Half Moon Bay to see Grammy's pumpkin booth at the pumpkin festival.

The special bonus here was that I pretty much got to eat guilt free since I had burned about 1800 calories at the race...which meant a big beautiful slice of pumpkin pie!

The best part about life...is LIFE!

As hard as it can be sometimes, I do love it. I had a friend ask me once why I had to always talk about or list or name everything I love. I've often wondered about that. Why do I do that? Who cares? The older I get the more I realize, no one really cares...and it's actually only all about me! And I don't care! So there!

That said, here's a few things of late, that i REALLY REALLY love:

*My unbelievably cute and wacky daughters and hub*

* Visits from Family: Grandma and Grandpa Tom (no pictures..) and Uncle Tyler -

the child whisperer *

* More visits from family - namely family members who do cool things like swim from Alcatraz *

*...And have cute babies*

* I LOVE San Fran photo opps*

* I love that my daughter just turned 10. To celebrate, she invited took her two BFFs to Great America. I think I went to Great America when I was 10 too. That's fun. *

* Dead people at Great America and a scared little girl who wouldn't sit any closer...*

*Grammy on the water ride....and the roller coaster...what a trooper."

*And last of all...the Drop Tower. It never gets old.*

Ah. I love life.

"Life is Just a Roll of the Dice..."

Another fine quote by my pops. 3 years ago today he left this world. My dad was a very sensitive and emotional person - he had a really crappy life too, which didn't help matters much. He loved poetry and music, both of which often made him cry. One of his most favorite songs is the one playing now. Heart-wrenching lyrics that must have reminded him of some of the deeper and tougher moments of life. I

CAN'T CRY HARD ENOUGH

by the Williams Brothers

I'm gonna live my life

Like everyday's the last

Without a simple goodbye

It all goes by so fast

And now that you're gone

I can't cry hard enough

No I can't cry hard enough

For you to hear me now

Can I open my eyes

And see for the first time

I've let go of you like

A child letting go of his kite

There it goes

Up in the sky

There it goes

Beyond the clouds

For no reason why

I can't cry hard enough

No I can't cry hard enough

For you to hear me now

Can I look back in vain

And see you standing there

With all that remains

Its just an empty chair

And now that you're gone

I can't cry hard enough

No I can't cry hard enough

For you to hear me now

It's YOU. And ME. For-evahhahhahhhh

Sometimes life gets a little overwhelming. It's times like these that one should take a night off, chill out and enjoy some of the finer things.

Here's my recipe for one such evening:

Take 1 Bestie -

Add a Bombalina platter from Maggianos

And mix in 1 of each: Hall, Oates, and a California summer night.

Most excellent!

Thanks, Jacqueline, for a wonderful one night escape from reality.