Visiting Nonna

My sweet mom was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's 3 years ago.  This diagnosis ended a 30+ year legal career and changed the course of our lives.  In mid-January she made the decision it was time to move into assisted living and sell our childhood home.  As we navigate through this disease we are constantly learning new things, and discovering "new" symptoms. 

We try to visit with her as often as possible because we know time is never guaranteed.  Last night we boot-scooted off to bring her over for dinner and a visit with our wild bunch, in hopes of bringing a little grandchild cheer.  Being in the trenches of this disease, my sister and I are often overwhelmed with the lack of services available in town for both our mom and us as the caregivers.  Someday we will open a foundation in her name for families receiving similar diagnoses so early in their lives.  Enough rambling...last night we played games; discussed superheroes at length; lounged around the house watching baseball; ate homemade lasagna; played and belly laughed until we were out of energy.  Mom and her grandkids are little partners in crime...I'd venture to say that our visit was just as fun for her as it was for us!

As much fun as we had, I just couldn't squash the innately devastating fact that at the end of the night I was driving her home to her new home and she was riddled with anxiety to go back to a place that according to her will never be "home".  And while I pasted a smile on my face and channeled my former cheerleader peppiness as I have done everyday for the past 3  years, inside I wanted to burst into tears at the fact that there is no cure, there is no getting better.  My heart hurts not only for my mom and our family, but for all the other families out there facing this disease.  Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers and be thankful for the time you've been given with your own parents/loved ones.

xoxo - j

Summer Days Like This

Friday evening the kids and I scooted off to the Aces game to watch Dr. Chad throw out the first pitch.  Back when I was a kid we did not have a professional sports team to cheer on, and if we are being honest back in my youth a ball game would have been the last place I'd spend a Friday night.  But these days, I find myself looking for local events to support and immerse the pipsqueaks in.  So, we spent a perfect July evening cheering on the Reno Aces, dining on "gourmet" dogs, loads of candy and a bottomless bucket of Sprite.  It's worth mentioning that not only did all three boys sit through the entire baseball game, they sat through the amazing fireworks show afterward AND still had energy to run around the bases.

As for the rest of their Friday, Trevor let the morning be somewhat lazy and then loaded up the truck for an adventure around Pyramid Lake. 

Oh how I relish summer days like this.

Have a great summer day y'all!!

xoxo - j

Sparks Will Fly

After surviving our fun-filled day yesterday, I headed back to work while Trevor and the boys laid low today!!

With the boys still tuckered out from yesterday, but still sufficiently hopped up on sugar I decided an evening at home was what was in store for tonight.  Now y'all know what they say about best laid plans... all the complaining and whining aside, we managed to have a nice dinner and wrap up our Independence Day week in the company of each other

I can't think of anything much better than that for a Thursday night.  Tomorrow the boys are off on an adventure with Trevor while I finish up my week at the office.  I am sooooooooo looking forward to the weekend!

xoxo - j

Independence Day

We were up and at 'em yesterday morning, kicking off our Independence Day celebrations.  We decked out the boys in patriotic flair and headed up to Virginia City for the parade.  A step back into the wild west, corvettes and dancing horses and lots and lots of candy made up the Virginia City Independent Parade.

After a quick rest, we headed off to our cousin's for hamburgers, watermelon, and lots of treats before we watched the Damonte Ranch Neighborhood fireworks show.

Happy Birthday America!

xoxo - j

Dragon Lights Reno

While we spent our day at work, with a baby-sitter and at school we counted down the minutes until we got to go enjoy the Dragon Lights display at the Wilbur May Arboretum.  Housing all sorts of light displays from animals, to traditional Asian dragons and folklore, the Wilbur May Arboretum is home to one of the most stunning light shows I've seen.  Through a walking trail of lights and displays, Chinese performances and creative activities we explored a whole world.  One thing is for sure, we immensely enjoyed this event!

And would you believe that Sister and I spent memorable days during our childhood summers exploring this very same arboretum and enjoying the Great Basin Adventure Park that no longer exists!  I never imagined that I would be doing this with my very own littles!

And while we are on the subject of Wilbur May, the gorgeous main building - now rotating museum exhibits - houses one of the largest taxidermy collections.  It houses some of Northern Nevada's most unique history.

Just a little slice of Nevada history.  I can never learn enough of our amazing Battle Born State.

This was such a fun evening to lead in to our amazing 4th of July celebrations!!

xoxo - j

Frozen Yogurt with Nonna

If you been reading this blog over the past 9 years, you likely know a thing or two about me.  One being that I love to eat and I looooooove ice cream!  One of our favorite places to frequent is Yogurt Beach - a delightful and delicious neighborhood froyo eatery.  Now, if the fun surfing inspired atmosphere wasn't enough to keep us going back time and time again, the fact that they have the best frozen yogurt and toppings surely would.

All that being said, we had the pleasure of taking my mom out for a delightful evening.  With marriage and littles and all the extraneous that come with being grown up, I truly treasure nights like this where we can be all together and simply sit back and enjoy each other's company.

Until next time...

xoxo - j

Beach Babes

One of the many, many things I love about Nevada is Lake Tahoe.  It's that laid back, mountain air kind of place that I grew up on and I just absolutely feel at home when I've got my toes in that ice cold crystal blue water and derriere in the sand.  With the 4th of July just around the corner and an old friend in town we took the opportunity to sip on ice cold Pepsi and ogle at all the colorful characters lounging on the beach.  I can't recall the last time I just sat on the beach relaxing, but I felt like the Queen of Sheba for a moment or two.

After we were sufficiently sun-kissed and nearly famished, we headed on back down the hill to bbq steaks.  We spent a good long while enjoying ourselves eating watermelon and playing backyard baseball.

You can take the girl off the beach but you can't take the beach out of the girl.  Thanks for visiting Lance!!  Perhaps the kids and I will find ourselves back in Tahoe soon!

xoxo - j