Hard Decisions

Thursday, June 17, 2010
Dear Max,
Oh Max, it's been a rough day! We just got back from San Diego on Monday, went to work on Tuesday and Wednesday, spend Wednesday night packing. Daddy for his boys trip and Mommy for her girls trip. You went to school this morning. About 9 o'clock this morning, I received a call from the school, that you had diarrhea. They have a policy, that after 3 "bouts" they send you home. I asked them not to wait until the third and call me if it happened a 2nd time. I was praying it was a fluke and I would not hear from them again, within an hour I had got a 2nd call. I was speeding home to get to you, called Daddy to update him. Also, wanted to see if he was still in town, he was set to head out this morning for Duck Creek. He was still in town, and as soon as he heard you were sick, came home to help access the situation. I must say Max, it is really difficult being a working mom. I don't want you to misunderstand. You are and always will be my number one priority and anything concerning you will always come before work. However, I can't believe the guilt I am constantly feeling. I feel guilty for dropping you off at school, when you were sick. I feel guilty for leaving work to come get you. It's just horrible! I knew that if Daddy left town, and you went back to school tomorrow and was still sick, they would call me and I would make it through only a couple of hours before I would be back home with you. So in order to ensure that I could make it through the entire day, we decided to send you to Grammie's. Daddy was driving through St. George towards his final destination of duck creek, and could drop you off on the way. I would be coming up Friday for the girls weekend, so you would only be going about a day and 1/2 earlier. What a torturous decision. I hate not being with you when you are sick, but truthfully you are probably in better hands and Grammies, let's face it, she is the best at nursing the sick. That's exactly where I like to be when I'm sick, so it should work out for you too. I love you Max, and I hope you get feeling better.

San Diego Day 5

Monday, June 14, 2010
Dear Max,
Today is our last day in San Diego. We woke up, had a somewhat relaxing morning. I took Daddy over to the airport to fly home. Came back to the hotel, to pack up and start our drive back home. When I returned, Grammie was feeding you yogurt out on the patio overlooking the ocean. Max, you have such a charmed life! It's tough to be you

Enjoying yogurt on the patio

Such the life....

The view from the room

On the drive home, we took some extra time to go to a strawberry patch, where you can pick your own strawberries! Look at all those rows and rows of sweet red goodness!

By the way... this picture of you holding Grammies purse...You LOVE to hold her purse, as a matter of fact, in old town, we even tried to buy you a "knock off" of Grammie purse to see if you would rather hold that one and no... you are insistent on having the real deal. Grammie was such a good sport, considering her whole life is in that little purple clutch!

Enjoying some fresh fruit in the car

Loving it!

Yup! They are yummy to the tummy...you look like you just got beat up!

A Happy Strawberry smile for the road!

We arrived back to the house safe and sound. Daddy made his flight and got back to work in plenty of time. It worked our perfectly! We are home for a few day's and then off on a "girls weekend!" I bet you can't wait for that one Max! Yup, you are coming with. I love you Max!

San Diego Day 4

Sunday, June 13, 2010
Dear Max,
With Daddy in town, we were excited to get to spend the day at the San Diego Zoo. I was able to scope the place out the day before, so we had a plan of action. Mommies co-worker and friend, Roma, who has a little boy Vinnie. The two of you were born on the same day. They all came with us too.

We first went to the petting zoo area. You were not too sure about petting the animals, but finally warmed up to the idea.

Our family at the Zoo

After washing up from touching all those animals, we headed to the sky tram to go to the opposite end of the Zoo. We sent Grammie ahead with the stroller....

And we followed behind

You are such a big boy!

Exploring the Zoo with Dad

Here's you and Vinnie at the Polar Bear Exhibit.
Daddy was a good sport and crawled under to hold you up!

Mommy and the Zebra's



You loved the bird atrium's. You are so fascinated with birds right now.

Beautiful birdies

Max and the Baby Panda Bear

The mommy Panda Bear is giving the baby Panda Bear some bamboo

The mommy Panda Bear loves the bamboo too!

Daddy and Max with the Elephants

This Elephant was loving the hay

This is the life...You made mommies day, wanting to snuggle while watching the Elephants.

Mommy and Max with the Elephants


Our Family in front of the San Diego Zoo sign

After we left the Zoo we walked over to the little train at Balboa Park. It was quite a "little" train, but you loved it. We were the first ones in line, so we got the prime seat right in front of the Giraffe!

Max, Mommy and Daddy

Mommy and Max getting ready for the train to leave...

Going through the tunnel

Once back at the Hotel, we decided that a dip in the pool was exactly what we needed. So we kept the fun going and headed for the water.

Mommy and Max hanging out at the pool.

And if that wasn't a full enough day, we had made dinner reservations at Captain Jacks for 7:00 pm. So we made the hour and a half drive from San Diego, and at 19 months old you have now had Captain Jacks twice! I think you are spoiled! Grammie loved her Captain Jack experience and now understands why we are always raving about the seafood there. It was funny, when we got there, we were sat by a table, of about 9 people, an extended family. Knowing how pricing it is for the two of us to eat there, I see a large table like that and just cringe at what their bill must be. The head of the table, was this grandpa type gentlemen, if I had to guess, I would say he lived on the ocean, in a big house, was very successful, had his kids and grand kids with him, this restaurant sits right on the water, and many patrons actually boat up to the restaurant versus driving... they were part of that crowd, so you can see where I'm headed with this. As they are leaving he comes up to our table and says "You know it makes me really angry when I see a little guy come in this place..." at this point I'm starting to panic, that he obviously doesn't appreciate little kids. The youngest at his table, even with his grand kids was probably 13 or 14 years old. He goes onto say..."dressed better than me! This little guys is adorable!" Whew! we are still allowed into Captain Jacks! I thought that was really fun of him to say!

Our family at Captain Jacks

Wow! What a full and fun day! I'm so glad Grammie, you Daddy and I got to spend such a fun day together. I love my family and love being with them.

San Diego Day 3

Saturday, June 12, 2010
Dear Max,
Today mommy had meetings all day, you got to hang out with Grammie. You had a fun, relaxing and scary day (in Grammie's words). I'm personally so thankful that Grammie was able to come with me on this trip. This allowed you to be able to be with me. I would have missed your terribly had you not been able to come along. It was tough being away when you were a baby, I'll never forget my first business trip after returning from leave back to work. I went to Dallas, and it was so hard to leave you behind. It gets even harder as you get older, and it feel like you notice more when we are not with you. So I'm so grateful for Grammie. And it was a blast having her around!

You and Grammie stayed at the Resort and took advantage of all their is to do right there at the Resort. You went for walks along the ocean, went to visit the coi pond and ducks. Grammie was so good to take picture of you, it was fun to see what you were up to when I was away!

Meanwhile I attended my meetings. Part of my meeting was going with my customers to the San Diego Zoo on a back stage tour! How cool is that? That doesn't seem like much of a "meeting" does it? Truthfully the weekend was full of fun things for us to do with about 4 hours of meetings total. Just how I like it! I had the opportunity to pet and feed a rhinoceros, see a cheetah, feed Flamingo's, see a wolf, hawk, kangaroo and a hedgehog and lot's of other things. It was a way cool experience. I would have loved to take you, but they said that kids have to be at least 6 years old. Maybe when you are older we will get to go back and you can experience it too!

Mommy petting the Kangaroo

With the Cheetah

Feeding a Rhinoceros... it was gross!

Mommy with a Hawk

Mommy and her friend and co-worker Roma and a... I don't remember what this thing was called!

Petting a Rhinoceros

That animal that I can't remember it's name...

Mommy and her boss, I mean Donkey (he he he)

Feeding the Flamingo's

A hedgehog

All in all it was a really cool day. When I got back, I had a couple of hours until my evening event. I had brought some kettle corn back to Grammie to enjoy... it's her favorite. But, somebody helped themselves...

Which resulted in kettle corn EVERYWHERE!

Our dear Max... what a mess!

I decided to distract you out on the patio with some bubbles while Grammie cleaned up the kettle corn mess. Then it was in the show and getting ready for my dinner. I was excited to go, cause that meant when I got back that Daddy's plan would have arrived and we would all be back in the same state again!

Well, apparently shortly after I had left to go to my dinner, Grammie put you down for bed. As she sat back on her bed, I'm sure finally taking a deep breathe for the day, she started to feel the building sway and the ground to rumble. Yup! It was an earthquake. Grammie grabbed you, your sweatshirt, Binky, stroller and car keys. She was out of there! The two of you spent the next hour or so walking around outside, Grammie literally "shaken" I guess she figured you were safer outside if their was any aftershocks. Inside at our dinner, we didn't feel a thing. Their was a band playing, and if their was a rumble felt, I'm sure we all just shook it off that it was the vibrations of the music in the ballroom. Grammie was sure relieved when Daddy arrived. And he got there just in time for the three of you to watch the fireworks from the lawn at the Resort. That is certainly a better ending to the evening than Grammie was expecting!

Our earthquake survivors! You both are so brave!