"The Little Things" - a Mommy "ME" Day!

Paige and I - top of South Mountain (can you see past my hair?!)
Wish I had time to brighten this one - it's really a great view
Look at this ginormous cactus!

The generous gifts

As always, I always get sad when I don't have the boys - but even moreso when they are actually going to be gone somewhere, like in another state. However, this weekend I had a lot to do - and time flies!

I had a fun night "out" last night - I'll save the details for later - and keep you all in suspense :)

Woke up today, bright and early, and walked up to South Mountain with a friend - and then hiked all the way to the top. Was a perfect morning - good workout - and refreshing. Nothing better then viewing the world from on top! We always have good talks which makes it even more fun. On the way down, my complete blondeness was shining through - I think I slipped like 5 times, Paige loses her breath everytime. However, this is something I'm used to. Complete and utter uncoordination. Now, I never actually fell over - but slipped pretty good a few times. Enough to make someone wonder what sort of drugs I was on.

I then had to be somewhere at 11. A single Moms event at church. I hesitated to sign up a few weeks ago but then my sister Steph said she was working at it - so I thought to myself "gee, I better sign up - she'll know if I don't actually go!" I sort of dreaded it today - I mean, it was from 11-3. I could get so much done during that time, right? I got ready, tried to get excited and took off. Texted my friend in the meantime "Seriously, am I really going to a single Moms event?" She responded with "LOL - is there going to be dudes there or is it strictly just Moms?" I of course said "Hello! It's a single Mom thing at CHURCH! Come on, of course there won't be dudes there!" End of conversation - I'm driving......still hesitating. Trying to come up with an excuse to give my sister. Pull off the freeway and see the parking lot FULL of cars. I thought "Hmmm...I wonder what is going on at church today?" I'm thinking all along that the event I'm going to is small, and weird, right? I'm choking - but still force myself into the parking lot. I see a "valet parking" sign. "Ha! They must really have something big going on today!" Get out of my car, walk towards church and have this man approaching me...I'm like "great, what did I do wrong already?!" He says "Are you here for the single Moms event?" "Yeah?" I responded. "well, you were supposed to let us park for you!" What??? Seriously??? My response was typical me..."Oh, I'm sorry! Too used to doing things on my own." As if I couldn't say something nicer? Ugh! Anyway, so he tells me where to go, what to do...very kind gentleman.

I mosey on up to the church - met a Mom or two on the way in who were somewhat thinking the same thing I was. We check in - they don't have me on the list. Hey, maybe I can leave! Yeah right. They even had a photographer there taking pictures - mostly for the Mom's who had brought their kids into daycare. I then walked over to where the luncheon was going on - we walk in, grab our name tags, tickets, etc...and I see men in shirts and ties! "HUH?" I'm so naive. "Seriously, are we in the wrong place? What is going on?" This good looking younger man comes up and says "are you ready to be seated?" Yeah, I guess. At this point things are clicking that this is a little more formal and "professional" than I was expecting! He puts his arm out to ESCORT me in! Yeah! It's been awhile!

I joke around with him regarding the fact that I didn't think there were going to be dudes here!! He was cute and funny. Another man comes pulls our chairs out - and offers us an appetizer. Excuse me, not an appetizer, an "hors d oeuvres!" Old World Anti Pasta Skewers. Yikes! They were delicious. Then it began - we chatted amongst ourselves for awhile - the men again taking very good care of us (but this wasn't cheesy style, it was as if they were professional waiters and we paid $50 for it - it was FREE by the way).

Up next, a Classis Greek Garden Salad. Scrumptious!

We had a little band playing - the room was completely decorated very nicely - trees, gifts, lights, candlelit. You name it. A hostess at our table sitting with us to lead conversation - although, if you know how single Moms are, once you get talking - there's no stopping!

Then our main entree: Pan Seared Chicken; served with Yogurt Cucumber Sauce, Wild Rice Pilaf with Dried Cherries and Candied walnuts, Green Beans, Zucchini, Red Peppers and Fennel Braised with Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil!!! Did you get that?!! Again, delicious.

We then had a few exceptional speakers - dessert: Lemon Berry Cake (in which you could tell the men cut them - they were the largest portions of desserts I have ever seen!).

The topic of the event was "The Little Things" and they stressed so much how it's the little things that really matter to you and your children. As in, having a picnic in the park is probably more memorable to them than an extravagant trip to DisneyLand. It was soooo true! My kids love those days we just play it by ear - color, make things, hit up the park, have a picnic at the zoo, play CandyLand, dance to the Ipod (the boys love this b/c I soooo am not a dancer - again, uncoordination mode kicks in immediately:) ). They also offered great insight on being a single Mom and how truly wonderful women we all were - and all that fun stuff. It was awesome. Sort of hope (and yes Mom, I'm sure I WILL still be!) single next Christmas!!!

It ended with a gift raffle - we all got a gift from the raffle (not talking small gifts, talking Nordstrom's stuff, Southern Living, Sebastian hair products, gym memberships, spa certificates, etc..) and then we all got a gift bag full of lotions, free 3 month gym memberships, free tanning, pedi's, mani's, oil changes (of course, b/c I just paid $44 yesterday for one!). AND we all also got a $40 gift card to Target! How generous are these people?! There were probably 160-180 women there! Wow.

Amazing. It ended and I went to hunt down Stephanie - she was supposed to be in the room with the teenagers (they had free daycare provided AND lunch for the kids). I ended up finding her in the toddler room! She had spent FOUR hours with 12 toddlers in a church school room! What wonderful volunteers who put this together. They truly honored and appreciated each and every one of us. If you all know me very well - I am not an "all about me" person - and don't accept pampering or free stuff with ease. But after figuring things out - and realizing that there were some wonderful people there, (including all the good looking single men who waited on us) - who really had good hearts and appreciation for what we do - I accepted the fact and said "great, this is all about me!"

Did some shopping afterwards and pj's on at 6. Steph and I watched "Elf" and I addressed Christmas cards while she did homework.

Other than a day with the kids, it couldn't be beat. It's 12:30am - and I'm scheduled to meet a friend at 6:30 to do a 4 mile mountainous run...........