The definition of subtle.

I am super picky when it comes to my hair, and especially who I allow to cut it. I have had the same girl, Whitney, cut my hair for three years. I attempted one hair cut when we lived in NJ, and wasn’t overly happy with the outcome. So when I took my trip to California a few weeks ago I was in desperate need of a haircut, and made an appointment while I was there. Only I didn’t just cut my hair, I put in feathers! I debated back and forth and am so happy with my decision to get them. I called Glenn and told him that I put a hot pink feather in my hair and that it was really subtle. It was then that Glenn questioned whether I knew the definition of subtle. I explained that the feather kind of blends in and hides in my hair, and therefore yes it is subtle. Glenn feels you can’t describe a feather, a hot pink and light purple feather at that, as subtle. So I turn to my audience for opinions please. What is the definition of subtle? Do you think the feather in my hair can be described as subtle, yes or no?

Soaking in the California sunshine!

I was so appreciative to fly out to CA for 10 days, and be there for Mothers Day and Rebekah’s High School graduation. This trip was an eye opener for me in a few ways. This is the longest amount of time Glenn and I have been apart in the 2 ½ years we have been together. About 5 minutes away from the airport it all of a sudden hit me that Glenn wasn’t coming and I started crying and missing him already. I knew I would miss Glenn. I just didn’t realize how severely and how hard it would be for me to be apart. The next thing I realized came from a simple question the guy sitting next to me on the plane asked. “Are you headed home, or leaving home?” I hesitated for a second because I honestly didn’t know how to answer anymore. California was home to me for almost 23 years, and in my heart it will always feel like going home. At the same time, my life isn’t in California anymore. I was teary-eyed the second I left NY because my life is here with my husband and our puppies. The home is where the heart is! The ultimate in cliché’s but so fitting of my feelings for my sweet marriage and how happy I am. I don’t say any of this to take away from how much I will always love to visit CA, and my family and friends there. At the same time I felt like just that, a visitor. When I was staying in my old hot pink bedroom, the color of the walls was still the same, but it didn’t feel like mine anymore. It made me appreciate how much I love having our own home, and having our own unique way of doing things.

Aside from extremely missing Glenn, I am so grateful that I didn’t have to wait until Christmastime before I could see my family again. My trip started with Rebekah picking me up from the airport. This was my first time ever in the car with her behind the wheel, and after a detour to Woodland, we made it home safely. After warm greetings a very tired girl still on East Coast time wanted to sleep, only to awaken at 6:00 AM completely alert and ready for the day. I spent my Saturday with my Dad running errands, and enjoying some of my Elk Grove favorites. We got Daddy/Daughter manicures, ate Tops Yogurt, and went to Target. Target may not seem like that big a deal, but when you live 30 minutes from one trust me it’s very exciting! I had to laugh this day because everywhere we went I ran into random people I know, Target parking lot, Safeway, and my favorite Chaleen Cowley waving wildly to me at the stoplight.

Mother’s Day was another early morning. My Mom volunteered me to work registration at the Run like a Mother 5K, so I was ready to go at 5:40 AM. I enjoyed this time because I was able to work and chat with Nancy, one of my Fairy Godmothers whom I love! Then there was my Mother’s job on race day. She is one of many identities. She is Cruella Deville, Mrs. Claus, and now she is the official race day Fairy Godmother complete with tutu, wings, and purple hair. I love you Mom, you have always been one for fabulous flair! It was so nice to be home and spend Mothers Day with you!! I went to my family ward and I always love catching up with people there who have known me forever! Sunday night was our usual Sunday night dinner craziness! Normally dinner is just the two of us and I like how crazy, loud, and full of laughter my parents home always is on Sunday nights. I hope I can be like my mother in that sense. She has the most impressive ability to bring people together and make all feel welcome.

Most of my trip was pretty low key. What I was looking forward to the most was just seeing people. I was able to spend an afternoon with my Grandma eating sushi and wandering around Arden Fair Mall. I visited with my in-laws and darling nieces eating pizza and playing Cataan. I was hoping for another niece to arrive while I was in CA, but unfortunately that didn’t happen, no matter how much encouragement from Auntie Abbie. I spent time loving on puppies and babies. I had lunch with my second mom Debby. I saw Cindy and Kai, and finally met baby Mary. I wish they would all move to the East Coast so I can be her nanny again! I saw my friend Cameron and met his new wife Rachel, and talked about how we have gotten old. It’s always so difficult to see everyone that I want to see, and if you didn’t get quality one on time I’m sorry and I love you and lets Skype!

The main reason for my trip was Rebekah’s High School graduation!! I’m going to brag for just a second. Rebekah is a gorgeous, smart, and talented girl. All you have to do is look at her in her sky high heels, in her cap and gown, with three chords, and national honor society sash, and you can’t deny she is going places with her life! We like to joke in our family that raising Rebekah was a group effort, and therefore we should all take a little pride in graduation day. The combined powers of the masses made for one remarkable girl. You are so loved! UNR is lucky to have you in the Fall.

Another day that I was looking forward to was Mommy and Me day!! I miss doing craft projects with my Mom. I accomplished lots of knitting while in CA, and even went to a knitting tasting with my Mom and Grandma. My Mom is tremendously crafty and I wish I could have her closer to assist me when I get stuck and take knitting classes with me. We went to sewing day, had a yummy lunch, and watched The Help. Glenn was thrilled to get out of watching Letters to Juliet. He isn’t always thrilled about my taste in movies so I had to get in my chick flicks fix with my Mom.

The Saturday before I left was family fun day! Now that we’re all grown and going in a million different directions it’s harder to find times where we can do something fun as a family. Rebekah, Corey, and I went and had a sibling breakfast at Ihop in the morning. Or should I say the Propovich kids ;-) Some may wonder, when did I gain a brother? Corey was my parent’s replacement child when I got married, and he fits right into the family. That night we went to Leatherby’s Elk Grove for dinner, and got our bowling action on at Strikes. Despite our best efforts at family fun day, Kayla still missed it. I love my sisters and hope that no matter how much distance between us we never forget how special that bond is.

It’s impossible to write absolutely everything about my trip. I had a wonderful time, and loved visiting with people. Now come visit us in NY! By Sunday night I was so ready to be home with Glenn and to see my Rocky!! Little did I know of the long journey home ahead of me! It took me flying Sacramento to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to Cincinnati, finding out my flight was cancelled, having to run to catch a flight to Atlanta, and then arriving in Atlanta to almost not get a seat to Newark. After 4 flights, I was sick, exhausted and most likely smelly from my near 24 hours of traveling, but all that didn’t matter when I was finally reunited with Glenn. You know that moment in the movies when two people see each other from a distance, ditch their luggage, and start running into each other’s arms, to have the man lift up the woman and kiss her passionately? Yes, that really happened!

NY Sightseeing

My friend Emily and her 2 year old son Kaiden came to visit us at the beginning of May. Her husband needed peace and quiet to study for finals which created the perfect opportunity for them to take a trip to NY. It was so exciting for me to have our first houseguests in our humble little home. 3 adults, 1 toddler, and 2 puppies in a one bedroom apartment made for lots of excitement. Emily had to sleep on an air mattress in the living room and Kaiden slept in the kitchen but we all fit! Kaiden loves our puppies, Rocky and Lexi got so much attention! Lexi is a mellow dog and started hiding from Kaiden under the end table in the corner. Kaiden would say, “white puppy go in puppy tunnel”. It was so cute! This visit was extra special because Emily and I are friends from California, and now we both live on the East Coast. I love all our new friends, there is just something so nice about talking to someone who knows the same people and grew up in the same area. I felt like a little piece of CA was right here in NY with me! Our first day of exploring involved us taking the train, missing our stop, getting off in Grand Central Station and then taking the Subway to Central Park. Let me add how terrified I was beforehand of the Subway. I envisioned really smelly and dirty and filled with lots of sketchy people. Not that it wasn’t those things, but I went on it anyway. Trust me it was a big step for me! This was both of ours first time in Central Park and the best way I can describe it is AWE!! I was amazed that something so beautiful and green and enormous could be right in the middle of the craziness of NYC. We walked for miles in the park and could barely even dent the amount of sites to see. We went to the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, and saw so many statues. From there we took a break from the rain and went to the famous three-story F.A.O Schwartz. I even braved the Subway a second time and this time into Harlem! Luckily the train was only about a block away, and we didn’t have to spend much time there. Walking all day made me so tired that I was so grateful I prepped enchiladas the day before and all I had to do was pop them in the oven when we got home. My day caught up with me about halfway through Captain America and I was out!

The next day we drove down to Liberty Island in New Jersey. We took a ferry and went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. In typical tourist fashion I took so many photos of the Statue of Liberty (Don’t worry I am only posting my favorites). I was a little disappointed that she was under construction and we couldn’t go inside. Kaiden made this a very memorable trip for us anyway. While Emily and I were busy taking pictures Kaiden made some new friends he was running and playing with on the lawn. Next time we turn around he was face planted in mud and in tears. Poor kid! It was so cold and his clothes were drenched in mud, and quite the crowd witnessed this tumble. Every Mom in the vicinity was digging through her purse and offering up their wet wipes. All in all I had the best two days exploring and catching up with a friend!! Rocky and Lexi would love to have Kaiden come visit again with his mommy, and so would I!!

A rare occurence of late.

It is a rare occurrence when I have my husband home for the weekend. Typically he will work late on either Friday or Saturday, and lately both! Sad but true, a week ago Glenn came home from work at 4:30 AM! I am always such a paranoid wreck when he works hours like this. I always think the worst and start imagining him in car crashes because of sleep deprivation. (One time I even called the cops to check by his work when he wasn’t home by the time he promised – although that’s another story.) I hate this busy season at his work and I know he does too. This past weekend I had Glenn home all weekend! I honestly forgot that weekends used to be fun!

We took advantage of this rarity and went hiking with our friends Chris and Chan on Saturday. We are so grateful to have made some really good friends in NY. It is not uncommon lately for these two to just stop by unannounced just to say hi. That makes me feel like they are comfortable with us, and real friends, and I just love that! Chris is the hiker extraordinaire and goes every weekend, occasionally convincing his wife to tag along. Chris promised this would be an easy hike, so we packed up our Camelbaks with water and snacks, and our dogs even got to tag along. I was actually worried that Rocky and Lexi would get tired and we would have to carry them. A Chihuahua and a Maltese are small dogs so I thought their little legs would wear out. I was wrong. Rocky and Lexi kicked their Mama’s butt on this hike! These puppies provided so much amusement for us and I was so happy they came on the hike. What should have been my real concern is how out of shape I am! Just because I am a tiny person does not mean I am in shape. We hiked to the top of Black Rock Mountain. New York doesn’t have real mountains compared to California. So the fact this hike wore me out as much as it did was kind of pathetic. On the uphills my breathing was so shallow and came in sharp gasps. New goal for this summer: Hike more, so that I’m not such a wuss! On my behalf I never complained once and never asked to stop for breaks! This was a 4 ½ mile hike and we completed it in about 2 hours 45 min. We did stop along the way to take pictures, and enjoyed our snacks and the lovely view from the top. Remember me saying the amusement the dogs provided? So while we were at the top Rocky nearly leaped off the mountain! Glenn had two clementines sitting beside him and Rocky runs up to him in his excited way and accidentally knocks one of the clementines. We watch as it quickly rolls down the sloped rock and falls off the side of the mountain. Rocky waits a second and then starts running after it, then suddenly just stops probably thinking that jump was a little further than he would like. That was scare number two of the day from Rocky. Earlier along in the hike was a little lake. We stopped and Glenn threw the dogs in the water to cool off. Lexi loves to swim! Rocky on the other hand nearly drowned. He dog paddled his little heart out and wasn’t making any progress towards land. I was so worried and thought Glenn would have to jump in after him. He finally started making some progress alongside a stick we put in the water to help him back. I didn’t take my eyes off Rocky and later Glenn told me how intently focused Lexi was on watching Rocky. How sweet, she almost went and saved him herself. Like I said plenty of excitement bringing these puppies along. Even with the crazy moments I would definitely bring the dogs with us again.

This was a jam packed day. Even after our morning hike, we still had a million loads of laundry to take to the Laundromat (ok more like five, but we had to get it done), grocery shopping, test driving a car just for fun and ditching out on the sales pitch at the end, and dinner out at Chilis. It was a marvelous Saturday, and I was so happy to have Glenn home on the weekend to entertain me!

This picture needs a caption. Any suggestions?

Poor puppy is not a good swimmer.

Finally getting the hang of it.

The Lion King!

The reward: The amazing view from the top!