And we're off....

And we're off...

After what seems to be months of planning and preparing, the day has finally arrived for our grand adventure.

I thought I would blog a few of the details of how we got to this point.

Almost 20 years ago, Hubby and I celebrated our wedding by going to Europe.  During that trip, we flew to Frankfurt Germany and worked our way south, going as far south as Florence before heading back to Frankfurt.   I told myself then that someday I would visit Italy again.

That someday is here, and instead of going with just the Hubby, we're bringing along our two Things.   Things that 20 years ago were just wishes and dreams.

I will celebrate a milestone birthday later this summer and wanted to do something truly memorable to mark this event.   While typically, birthdays aren't really a big deal in our family, this one has rather special meaning to me.  Both my mom and my dear friend Judy were in hospice when they crossed over into their 50s, and well, it seems the best way to celebrate their memory is to take advantage of the reality that yes, for now, I seem to have a few birthdays left to be celebrated.

So tag along with the Chang Gang as we take on Europe!   Let's hope they are ready for us!

One

One week ago...

 I flew out to Michigan to help #1 nephew

  celebrate his graduation....

 and celebrate they did...

all 22?! of them...

Some very special friends were able to join in the fun

 and bonus was getting to spend a little time with my one and only  sister

 Congrats to the Buczynsky family...

 I had a lovely time and am so happy I was able to join in the fun

Moving on from this ONE..

to another ONE...

One day left of work....

I realize I haven't blogged much about work these days.   It isn't that there aren't great stories to be shared, it is more that the stories get harder and harder to share without risking exposing the Precious Snowflake who plays a starring role in the story.  

So instead of hearing about the antics of Sexy Girl #1, Sexy Girl #2, or Captain Underpants ...

all I can really do is tell the stories that are mostly about me.

*Disclaimer:   the title Sexy Girl does not imply anything about their appearance, nor does it reference any of the usual sex-related questions a girl might ask of the nurse :  "I think I'm pregnant", "My boyfriend has chlamydia what should I do."   No those are too mainstream of questions to earn any special name...yep...let the mind wander and you will indeed begin to appreciate how happy we are to put this school year to rest.    

 And as for Captain Underpants:  As a PSA to all the mamas out there:   don't believe everything your child might try to tell you that mean nurse in the clinic said to your darling.   He ditched class, plain and simple.   He did not come to see us for a soiled situation.

Here are just a couple quick glimpses of the fun we have had at work this year...

 some of my favorite peeps in the building got together to do a bulletin board to mark March's "Spread the word to end the R" word campaign.

And in May, we took a little pause and celebrated Nurses Day...

 Yeah...I'm a spoiled one that is for sure...

And finally..

In ONE Week...

 Slightly taller versions of these Things, the hubby and I will take to the sky..
Off on our great adventure...

I encourage you to tune in routinely to the blog for updates and trip stories...

*depending on access to the Internet.

Held Back

10 years ago...we made the challenging decision to have Thing 1 repeat second grade.

To this day, it remains one of the best decisions we as parents have made for him on the academic front.     As his parents we  researched and advocated for him to be "Held Back"    In the end, it has proven to be a very good decision:   he's blossomed and matured, and I am grateful that we were able to give him that precious gift of time to do so on his terms at his pace.  

And yet today, I found myself slightly more reflective on the subject.   Friday, the classmates he started out with will graduate and today was their final day on campus.

 This little darling is graduating at the top of her class...way to go Ms. BB!

And this cutie...has grown into quite the accomplished artist!

   Rehearsal, tribute assembly, senior bbq:   yeah, not much learning was going on within the halls of the school.   But, it was a fun day even as I contemplated some "what ifs".  

These two humored me enough to let me take their pictures and text their mamas a picture of their last day at school.

And finally...

A special shout out to our nephew, who also graduates on Friday.

 See, all things happen for a reason....we couldn't be two places at once...right?!  

So this year, we celebrate the graduates of 2015...knowing that Thing 1 is right behind ya...

right where he belongs!

Spring Break 2015

Well, so much for that resolution to try to blog with greater frequency.   1/4 of the way through 2015, and this is the first real thing I've blogged?   

It started with me tossing the Things to the curb...

Yep, after years of threatening to do so, wondering how I could get away with it, I pushed the boys out of the car, waved good bye and wished them luck.

Ok, so it wasn't quite like that.   But, they did fly on their own to California, to visit with the Chang side of the family...

First with their grandparents...*

And then with their cousins..*

They met up with Hubby and got to spend some time
with their uncle and aunties...

And even snuck in a college tour...*

Although let's be honest....Stanford would be a reach school for our kids..

but hey, when your aunt and uncle live in Palo Alto, it's the perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, while the kids are away, the momma will play...

 In Sun City...
(where yes, I feel thin and young enough to pose poolside...)
I met up with my people...

 For an evening sunset cruise in Scottsdale...

 I found some familiar faces (HI DAD!)

and discovered some had found new loves...

my uncle and his friend Gloria...

My cousin and her fiance, Chris

Trip Advisor helped me find my way around...

 First Stop was the MIM
*Musical Instrument Museum...
Trip Advisor rates it as the number #1 attraction...
I'm sure it is because of this wonderful docent that volunteers a couple hours each month...

 Ok, I'm sure these amazing exhibits also have a role in why it is so highly rated.
For any musician, or musician-wanna-be, it really needs to be on your bucket list!
Since #1 was such a hit, we checked out what Trip Advisor rated as the #2 attraction...

The Desert Botanical Gardens...

 Where, the cacti were alive with colorful Spring blossoms...

 And another well informed personal tour guide...

But alas, it is time to say farewell to the cacti, and head back home...

But lucky for us...the week is just getting started...and who knows what other fun we will find 

during Spring Break 2015!

****  California Photos courtesy of the wonderfully talented photographer that I am blessed to call my husband..