Big Bear Day Trip

My sister, whom I lovingly refer to as Seester, & I have both had some major changes going on in our lives the past few months. She had a baby boy; MY FIRST EVER NEPHEW!!! She quit her job as a police officer shortly after because her husband is a US Marine & was stationed in Twentynine Palms, CA. She moved to the Two-Nine about a week before I moved here to Lucerne Valley. The great part about this? SHE LIVES ONLY AN HOUR AWAY! Holler at yo' sis.

She & her husband have been taking time to get to know California with day trips to fun places like Los Angeles to see the Chinese Theater & Roosevelt Hotel...& they came to Big Bear, which is just a ten to fifteen minute drive from where I now live. Naturally, I wanted to show her around Big Bear, so we made a day trip of it.

Guys? I have a serious love affair with Big Bear. If I could live anywhere in the world & Oscoda wasn't an option...because DUH, Oscoda is the best place ever in the world....my second choice would for sure be Big Bear.

It's a small town without being too small. You still get a lot of the amenities of a city, but not overdone. You get the mountains, the glorious lake, tree covered hills & a spunky little, "downtown," with fun shops that welcome pets & you get the best of all four seasons.

Seester & Keith fell in love with Big Bear, too. Keith & J checked out pricing to rent a fishing boat. We may even rent a cabin up there for Christmas!!!

Collin likes Big Bear, too. He can just run free & be a kid. Whenever we go, we usually let him pick any one item he wants from the chocolate shop or candy store. This day, he got super lucky because we hit up both stores & he got to pick something from each. A toy race car filled with little candy race cars from the candy shop & a piece of white chocolate M&M bark from the chocolate shop. Dude was in Heaven.

If you've never been to Big Bear, I definitely recommend going.

Our Week via iPhone: May 13 - 19, 2012

Follow me on Instagram @hollydaysblog.

Mama's Day Hike

For mother's day this year, my Mom requested that the family make the drive to Mount Charleston for the afternoon. We took a little hike & had a late lunch together. Collin loved being around the trees & dirt.

Really, though? Our goal was to get my two weeks overdue sister into labor.

It was a really fun day & I enjoyed my time with my family. It's amazing having the connection with my mother & sister as mothers. 

PS: Little Everett arrived safely into the world this morning! More on him soon, with photos! I have a nephew!!!

Survival

I survived this day. Each year, I fear August 24th. I dread it. And as it approaches, my heart rate increases, nervousness sets in and I become increasingly distant from those closest to me. Most friends would see this and allow the distancing. They would fear saying something that would cause me to cry. It is okay if I cry. It is okay to be sad. And it is okay to remember him and say, "happy birthday." Thankfully, I have some of the most amazing people in my life. Some of the most supportive people. People who know exactly what to say and more importantly, what not to say. People I care about more than they realize or can even imagine. This is my shout out to you guys. YOU got me through this day. Well, you and my super cool son. The one who refuses to leave the house without his dorktastical sunglasses.

Also to my Seester, who stayed up with me last night and, "practiced her acting skills," with my webcam. And who also had a cake and a card waiting for me when Collin and I got home last night.

We are sort of awesome. Don't hate.

Easter Eggs

The other day, Collin & I were just chilling around the house when I decided suddenly that we needed to color Easter eggs. At that very moment. A couple texts & one call to my sister later, she was at my front door with iced teas & Target bags full of supplies. Aunt Cort to the rescue. And very stylishly, might I add.

We decided to color the eggs outside because I wanted Collin to have the freedom to touch & dunk & play at his discretion & not have me going all "Mom" on him about making a mess.

It wouldn't have been a Holly & Cortney date if something didn't go wrong. My sister & I always end up messing things up. And I really don't mind that because we have created some of my most precious memories that way. The only difference now is that Collin is along for the ride. Poor kid.

What disaster might you ask occurred during what sounds like an easy afternoon of festive activities? Oh, no big deal. I just dropped my pot full of eggs & broke/cracked nearly every single white sphere inside. Luckily, Cortney, having had 23 years of experience with me, bought an 18 pack of eggs. We salvaged 12.

In the end, Collin didn't notice the difference. And neither did we.



iPhone Photos: Week Eleven

01: Collin eating his very first McDonald's Happy Meal. We are so healthy.  02: Our McDonald's has this little play area just for toddlers...which is basically a soft plastic hamburger & fries for them to climb on. It killed about an hour & a half of time. I was booted out of my house on this day because of the total replumbing that was going on in my house.

01: An super exciting email telling me I'm completely enrolled in school!! Hollaaaa!  02: The contents of my cabinets & underbellies of my sink cabinets. Replumbing sucks balls, folks.  03: Waiting for the plumbers so we can get the heck outta dodge. The mess made me so anxious.  04: Playing with Daddy's broken guitar.  05: You have to pay FIVE dollars to use this bulky, ghetto mall stroller. Word to the wise...always remember your stroller.  06: Sweet dreams...pretty sure Dexter was in my dreams this night. Love the plastic.

01:  Playing with Nanny's notebook. Proud Mama.  02: Super hot Steve Maddens on clearance at Dillard's. Winning!

01: Collin & the dogs making a break for it.  02: His first pedi. I'm totally raising a friend of Dorothy!  03: Foot & leg massage? Why, abso-freaking-lutely!!!  04: Some....interesting tequila. I was told I was super immature for taking this pic....then she snapped a pic herself. Hahaha! Seester!  05: Three carts full of alcohol. We know how to party.  06: Sperm shots, anyone?  07: Our spoils.  08: Skinny Girl!!! It was pretty amazeballs, too.  09: The biggest bottle of Patron I have ever seen.

01: As if we didn't have enough alcohol, we went to buy more. "Just in case."  02: Last minute MOH/ Seester speech brainstorming. *cue Imagination Movers "Brainstormin'" song*

01: Collin looking dapper in his sweater vest.  02: Wearing the Steve Madden's!!  03: My flowery, flowy dress.  04: Seester & Maria, my two besties, downing the sperm shots like champs!!

01: Stolen centerpiece cheering up my house.  02: Left over pulled pork & macaroni salad.

 

One of the longest weeks of my life & I still documented it for you guys!

I would definitely say that deserves a vote! Two clicks is all it takes!!!