7 on Sundays

1.  Welcome welcome fall!  And thank you Breslin for inviting fall into our home with welcome arms (and on the days the cleaners came).

2.  Holly, Jeff, and I went to the Hollywood Bowl to watch Jason Aldean and Jake Owen perform.  When we went to Nashville with the Carey's for the CMA Fan Fair Music Fest, Jake Owen got to only sing one song due to the coming storm.  Ever since then I have felt that I got jipped with his performance.  Now I have seen him perform a whole set.  I love Jake Owen & Jason Aldean, they were awesome!

It took Jeff 45 minutes to get us those three overpriced beers.  He missed 75% of Jake Owens set.  Holly and I appreciated it though.

There really is nothing like the Hollywood Bowl.

Tailgating.

 3.  We spent Saturday morning with the Carey's.  We watched the MSU/Purdue game at their house, and then headed off to In n Out for lunch.  Breslin absolutely LOVES the Careys.  Mimi and her phone kept Breslin nice and occupied.

 4.  Friday night was the West Ranch/Valencia game.  A house divided in the Burrill household.  Valencia came out on top, I believe the final score was 42-6 (or something around there).  Breslin had a blast.  He hung out with the cheerleaders, sat in the bleachers, watched the drumline up close and personal, and did what Breslin does best, run around absolutely every where!

Breslin hanging out with two of my favorite students and cheerleaders.

Just watching the game.

 5.  October is breast cancer awareness month.  Valencia had a "pink out" at the football game in support of breast cancer awareness.  Although I did not wear this shirt to the game (some people may have thought it was inappropriate) I love this shirt.  Fight Like Hell.

6.  Ran 12 miles on Saturday in 1:45.  I really want to hit my goal of under 2 hours next week during my half marathon.  I have put in the miles and trained hard, so lets home all of my hard work pays off.

7.  MSU is 6-1.... one more win away from being bowl eligible... and we are still undefeated in the  B1G.  Keep it up my Spartans.  The score may not have been pretty, but we are going to be in every single game.  GO SPARTANS!

Seven for Sundays

 1.  On our last day in Vegas we visited the m & m store.  Breslin loved picking out and getting his "candies."  Oma had a great time with him in Vegas, and Breslin had a great time with Oma!!!

 2.  So we went Vegas, back home to California for three days, and then flew out to Michigan!  Nothing like hitting up three states in less than a week, and I wouldn't have it any other way!  As we said good bye to Las Vegas, we hit California during a cold spell, and flew too Michigan smack dab in the beautiful time of fall.  The weather was great and the trees were just starting to change colors.  They look beautiful now, but they are going to be gorgeous in three weeks when we go back there.

 3.  We left Breslin at home for this trip because it was a whirlwind trip.  We left at 10:45 pm California time, and got into Michigan at 6:15 am Michigan time.  No nap, no nothing.  Brushed our teeth, got a quick shower in and headed out to tailgate by 9 am.  Even though Breslin wasn't around, I headed off to see two of Breslin's bestest buds, Miss Hannah LaMacchia and Miss Teagan Bratta.  These two darlings are about as precious as they get and they keep getting bigger and bigger!  We will be back in three weeks with Breslin and these three little ones can have a fabulous little play date!  And I can hang out with both of their pregnant mommies!!!!  Dear lordy, both Dana and Anna are pregnant!  I am so excited for them :)  But no, no I am not following suit just yet!

 Little Miss Hannah

 Little Miss Teagan

4.  And.... the reason for the trip.... A Michigan State football game.  This was our first trip back this season and it couldn't come soon enough!

5.  It was our first trip back for a homecoming game since I graduated from Michigan State and I had a blast.  MSU won 42 - 28, so that made the trip even sweeter!  We are already more successful then our trips last year :)

6.  Did you guys see that Michigan Penn State game?  Uh yeah... that was a tough quadruple over time.... Nobody wanted to win that game.  But in the end the better team won ;)  So let me get this straight... MSU beat Indiana... Indiana beat Penn State... and Penn State beat Michigan, so by the law of syllogism...  well you guys figure it out!  Ha!  If only that were the truth! 

7.  Absolutely exhausted from this past week, so I am going to relax on the couch and watch the season premiere of "the Walking Dead."

Seven for Sundays

 1.  We are on our fall break, so we headed off to Las Vegas for the four days.  We are definitely doing more of a family vacation in Vegas, versus a Vegas trip.  We are staying off the strip at Tahiti Village Resort.  We spent Saturday morning watching Michigan State win its big ten opener at Buffalo Wild Wings.  We then came back to hang out by the pool and take a nap.  Followed by a nice dinner off the strip at Grimaldi's Pizzeria!  Then today we headed over to MGM to see the lions... and apparently they are no longer their anymore :(  So as a back up plan we went to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

 2.  Oma met us in Las Vegas and came bearing Lion's gear.  Unfortunately the Lions lost today.  But Breslin doesn't seem to mind, because he also got a chocolate covered donut with sprinkles.

 3.  Breslin and daddy go to touch the stingrays at the aquarium.  Mommy wanted to have nothing to do with it.

 4.  Just my Delta App letting me know my upcoming flights.  We go to Michigan for the MSU homecoming game in less than a week, then back again in a month for the Michigan Michigan State game, and then we have our flight booked for Jamaica for Chris and Alicia's wedding.  With the renewed calendar after getting our furlough days back it looks like we might have to miss the last day of school.  (Now of course there are at least three flights missing from above...  We are planning on going to Michigan and Colorado for Christmas break, a flight back to Michigan some time in the Spring, and then of course our trip to Florida for Spring Break).

5. Breslin's new favorite thing....  Drumming on the Rock Band drums. 

6.  Common Core- the new national standards for teaching- is an absolute mess.  We had our full day common core meeting on Friday and felt absolutely overwhelmed, defeated, unknowledgeable, and ill prepared for these new standards.  We will keep at it until whomever makes these standards realizes what a mess this really is.

7.  T-minus three weeks til the half marathon.  Just keep running.

Seven on Sundays

So I am going to try and get back in on the blogging action!  I have been a little behind because of the start of the school year has been kicking my ass!  Common Core  (the new national standards) and AP Statistics was a lot to take on this year.  I feel like we are in week 18, not just rolling into week 7.  Oh well, I always love challenges.  So I know I could never do 5 for Fridays on time, so I am going to try for seven on sundays.

 1.  We went to Lombardi's Ranch already this year!  If you go opening weekend you get free train rides, and if we know are son correctly, he loves trains!  So we met up with Mitzi and Megan to go Pumpking picking and train riding.  It is hard to believe that this is Breslin's third time at Lombardi's.

2.  The Williams were out here on business, and bless their hearts, they drove all the way up to little old SCV to see where we live and take us out to dinner!  It is always soo good seeing them, but better yet, it is always nice seeing my Michigan family out here.  Even though I have lived here seven years I still get home sick!  I love you guys and am so glad you made it out to visit!

 3.  It was homecoming week at Valencia this week, so Michelle and I were showing our Valencia school spirit on Friday.  Our football boys won, so yay for them!

4.  On another school note, it was a rough/bittersweet week for Valencia.  This week one of our Varsity basketball players suffered a cardiac arrest during practice.  This happened to be a student of mine this year (who I tutored all of last year).  If you know anything about college basketball you might know the name Hank Gathers from Loyola Maramount.  He was the basketball player who died a couple years ago after a basketball game because of a sports induced heart disorder.  Well, my student, our student, has this same issue with his heart.  Luckily within seconds three of our sports med students, yes students were able to revive him.  The defibrillator and CPR was used to revive him.  I am privileged enough to have had two of the three of these young men in my classroom for two and three years.  If my life were on the line, these would be two boys that I would put my trust in.  Our basketball player is still in the hospital and may have to have heart surgery this week, I have been in contact with the mom sporadically, and she has kept me up to date.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers and thoughts.

5.  I'm in the home stretch of training for my half marathon.  I have one month left.  This past Saturday I ran 10 miles and it went relatively well.  I need to pick up the pace slightly, but I think I will finally be able to get under 2 hours in this half marathon.  It is a halloween half marathon, so I am taking any ideas on costumes.

6.  This week my common core class (this is Algebra 2, not an abs class) went really well.  This class is really trial and error.  It is really challenging taking something that I think I am really good at, and making me TRY.  But this week we did two really cool activities that worked out great!  Or at least I thought it did!  We will really be able to tell when my kids take their test on Tuesday.  So I may only be riding this "high" for one more day... but I will take what I can.

7.  Breslin is as funny as ever these days.  I can't believe how big he is and how much he talks.  However, one thing he still struggles with--sleep.  He will sleep great for six-seven nights in a row... and then have a bad night, and remind us why we only have one child.  Our little man, refuses to sleep in past 6:45 AM, and will still every once in a while wake up in the middle of night.  I find it quite sad that waking up at 6:30 AM for me is like sleeping in.  Oh well!

Anyway, see you all next Sunday!  And I am going to try and post on my 365 blog again.. So come back and visit!

Viva Las Vegas -- Yarbrough Family Trip 2013

For the third year in a row we ventured off to the desert in the middle of the sweltering summer.  Let the tradition of the Yarbrough Vegas Vacation continue!  The first day consisted of pooling it, relaxing, and heading out to dinner with a little bit of gambling and a little bit of drinking.  We ended up going to a bar that was having a private party for Randy Couture's 50th birthday.  He rode the bull right in front of me, and of course I had no idea who that was (for those of you that don't know.... according to my friend, he will belong in the UFC Hall of Fame).  So we got to celebrate his birthday with him... kindof...  The pool was absolutely crazy, because there was this EDC .  Let's just say there were a lot more drunkards and whatever else came along with them as well as the most scantily clothed men and women then I have normally seen.  There was barely any room in the pool for Breslin to even swim!

The second day consisted of much the same, except we also did our traditional SteakHouse at Circus Circus, followed by a show.  Mom and Dad went to see Love again, and Christina and I went to see One (the new Michael Jackson one) at Mandalay Bay.  Brady stayed back and hung out with Breslin.  When we got back we did a little bit more gambling!

The third day mom had to leave early, so that left dad, Christina, Breslin, Brady and I to cruise Vegas.  We walked the strip, gambled, played in the pool, and hit up In n Out for dinner (since Christina and my dad can't get that anywhere else).  And then gambled a bit more.  I absolutely love sitting at the tables and interacting with the players and the dealers.  I sat at a Black Jack table for about two hours that last night (I would win a little, then lose a little, then win a little....)  I used to be intimidated by the tables, but now I love it.  I love going down there and hearing where people are from or just watching how the play the games.   So many people from different backgrounds end up in Vegas.  Ironically enough I met a guy who was actually in Nashville at CMA Fest the week before!  What are the odds that we were both at the same two things completely across the nation!  Absolutely Crazy!  Gotta love Vegas!

On our way to dinner

Summer Vacation Week 3 (Christina's visit to So Cal)

Ventura Harbor

After spending five days in Nashville and then five days in Michigan we headed back "home" to California.  Christina came with us!  We have spent days of just lounging by the pool and at the beach.  Rest and Relaxation.  With our summer cut short by summer school we are making the most of our June.  After our jetsetting back in the midwest we are having a bit of a "staycation" at Resort Burrill before we head off to Vegas for four days.

Breslin absolutely adores his Auntie TiTi and I am not looking forward to next Tuesday when we all go our separate ways, but until then we are spending some quality family time out here.  Christina and I have traded back and forth making dinners (Christina's Chicken Zinger Melts are to die for).  And of course we have to go out for ice cream pretty much every day, in addition to swimming and laying out.  We did spend a day of shopping and a movie (Man of Steel) which was awesome.  A little indoor time may have been needed due to somebody getting a nice little sunburn from the beach.

So far we have made the most of our summer vacation.  What has everybody else been up to?

Potter Park Zoo

Auntie Mitzi, you are really slacking on this pony thing....  Oma got Breslin a play pony for Christmas and now Breslin gets to ride a pony at the zoo.  Meet Ebony, Breslin's first pony ride.

Sisters in front of the bald eagles.

Mom and me

We were checking out the pigs at this point.

Cheese :)

Breslin riding a giraffe.  He climbed down off of that giraffe all by himself.

Burrill family portrait at the zoo!

On our last full day in Michigan the weather was absolutely beautiful.  We decided that we would spend the day outdoors.  We headed out to Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.  It is a relatively small zoo but perfect for a two year old to run around and have some fun.  Breslin rode a pony, brushed some goats fur in the petting zoo and saw lots and lots of animals.  He had a blast, but his favorite part was the peacocks, they were in full bloom, strutting around with their feathers out and calling for their mates.  Breslin was calling back!  It was hilllarious.

Lake Michigan, Unsalted

Mommy and Breslin

Trying to stay warm until the sun came up

Heading in for a walk in downtown Grand Haven while we waited for the fog to lift

Oma and Breslin saying "hi" from the lake

Pronto Pups.  If you have been to Grand Haven but never been to Pronto Pups you must go.  Good corn dogs for cheap.  According to Brady it is a must!

We were working on the most intense sand castle.... (and by intense it had three buckets of sand and 2 sea horses) and then Breslin knocked it over :(  All of that hard work!

Grand Haven is a main attraction for any Michigander.  Brady and myself are no exception.  Brady's mom (Corky) grew up around here, and I spent many a summer day with my school friends hanging out here.  This place has such good memories.  So we never come out to Michigan in the summer and we decided to share our little favorite piece of Michigan with Breslin, however the weather did not start to cooperate until about 1:30 in the afternoon.  Once the sun broke through the fog it was a beautiful day.  We splashed our feet in the water (because that was all we could do, Brady described the lake as "Lake Superior cold" I said it was "California Pacific Ocean cold," either way, we were not getting in), we picnicked with Jimmy Johns sandwiches, built sandcastles and caught some rays.

Dinner at the Williams

Christina, mom, me, Dawn, Alaina, and Megan

Dad, Brady, Breslin, and Michael (missing: Greg)

the original Graystone kiddos

We went over to the William's on Monday night.  This is the Williams that we have done New Year's Eve with every year for the past 25 or so years.  Whenever we get together it is an absolute blast.  It started back at 2424 and 2425 Graystone Drive, and now we are in East Lansing, Williamston, Lansing, California, and Florida and still remain as close ever. 

Austin graduated!

Christina, Becky, and me

Brady, Scott, Harmony, Maddy, Oma, Breslin, me, Pinka Mike, Christina, Austin, Becky, Avery, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Mark after our meal.

Congratulations Austin!

the Yarbrough sisters with the high school graduate

the Yarbrough family

Happy family

The Lindsey/Yarbrough/Burrill/Rairick family getting together to celebrate Austin's graduation!  I remember Austin when he was slightly bigger than Breslin, I can not believe that he is all grown up and going into the Navy!

An Elmo Party

Elmo and cookie monster cupcakes(made by Mitzi)

Dorothy goldfish for the goodie bag (made by me)

Little dorothy marshmallow pops (made by Mitzi)

Chips Ahoy Cookie Monster (made by Mitzi and me)

Elmo and Cookie Monster goodie bags (made by me)

C is for Cookie (made by me)

the fabulous dessert table

Banner (made by Mitzi)

Breslin is now 2.  Mitzi decided he was going to have an Elmo party, and boy oh boy did he!  Thanks to some help from Mitzi and Pinterest we were able to pull off a pretty darn fun birthday party!  We definitely had enough desserts to feed an army, but they were so tasty!!!!