This Fall is a busy (and fun) time for me and I’ve just added one more anticipated event to the calendar. Today I registered for the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Women’s Conference on October 14, 2017 in Pasadena, CA. Yay! Not only will I be there but my mom is joining me too! Double yay!
CWMNCA in 2015
I attended the CWBNCA conference that Kendra and Micaela hosted back in 2015 (it was a blogging conference then) and it was such a time of personal and spiritual growth – I wrote all about it here.
Then last year they changed it to a women’s conference so any Catholic woman could attend, not just bloggers. I wasn’t able to attend then but this year doors opened and my awesome hubby said he’d watch the kids and gave his blessing, so I’ll be there. That fact that my mom was available and willing to join me makes it all the more special!
If you are free on October 14th and can head on over, you really should! The day will begin with morning Mass celebrated by Fr. Matthew, OSJ, who has a daily radio show on Immaculate Heart Radio and happens to be Micaela’s little brother. 🙂 Micaela will be MCing and speakers include Blythe Fike and Kendra Tierney.
For more details about the conference, click over here. To register, click here.
I do hope you can make it. If you plan to attend, let me know so I can find you and say hi! If you see me and my mom, come on over and say hi! See you then. 🙂
I can’t believe I made it to the end of the challenge. It was easier having a few free days like Throwback Thursday posts and Sunday quotes but at least I posted everyday. It was a good exercise and hopefully there was something in it that you enjoyed.
October is also a big month for family fun and field trips with the kids. There are always such sweet and fun memories. I think my favorite part of these trips are when my boys grab my hand or give me a hug or rest their head on me on the bus. Those little moments when they get some alone time with mom mean a lot to them. It means even more to me because I know how quickly these moments pass. They are all growing so quickly, it just makes me want to savor each moment and thank God for this present time. For that I am truly grateful!
Below is a collection of photos taken this month.
John-Paul and I visited Casa de Fruita in Hollister, CA with his class.
Shucking corn.
Riding the train.
You’ll often find a peacock (or five!) roaming the grounds.
The camera was a little too close for Matthew but he’s still my cutie!
And finally, here is the boys dressed in their Halloween costumes. Unfortunately, my sweet Bella had a stomach bug and spent the day in bed. (She is better now though.)
I hope you had a wonderful October!! Now that Halloween is over I am completely ready to turn on the Christmas music and start decorating for the holidays. 😉
This week’s version of Online Daybook is a little different since it was written while on vacation, so welcome to the Online Daybook/ 7 Quick Takes Lake Tahoe 2016 Edition. (Linking up with Kelly for 7QT.)
~ 1 ~
Grateful…
For a safe trip to Lake Tahoe.
That my mom’s surgery went well.
For phone calls, texting and social media that keeps me connected with family even when I am far away.
For a date night with my Sweetie thanks to Bella babysitting.
For vacations in general. I need this recharge! (Even though I sometimes think it is more stressful than being at home!)
Praying for…
My mom. For her recovery from surgery and that she keeps her positive spirit as she waits to heal.
The tired, the weary and the overworked.
For the safety of all travelers.
For the person who was hurt at the lake yesterday and air lifted to the hospital.
Some special intentions.
Pondering…
Of course, my mom is on my mind right now. The trip has been nice so far but it is not as fun as last year when my mom and dad were able to join us. This is actually our first solo trip without a set of grandparents to accompany us. It was hard not having my parents with me, especially knowing that my mom would be having surgery while we were in Tahoe. I really wanted to be with her as she recovered in the hospital.
I thought about canceling our trip but in one of our phone conversations my mom told me that she did not want me to be sad or to feel bad that we were having fun without her. She wanted me to enjoy this time with Brian and the kids and she said she’d be there in spirit with us and God willing, physically with us on next year’s trip.
As it turned out, even if I was there I wouldn’t have been allowed in her room since visitors had been restricted so she could heal without germs from the outside. So for now, I am doing the best I can to enjoy this time with my family and have fun because I know that is precisely what she wants us to do. On the day of her surgery I wore my fight cancer shirt and we prayed our rosary for my mom, lifted her in prayer and took lots of photos so we could share them with her when we visit her in a couple weeks.
UPDATE: My mom is back home and recovering nicely. Thank you for the continued prayers! 🙂
~ 2 ~
Around the Hotel…
It looks a lot like home…books scattered on the tables, action figures on the floor, fingerprints on the windows. 😉
Family Chit Chat…
The first time we came to Lake Tahoe was 13 years ago when Bella was just a year old.
Thirteen years later and Brian is still my sweetheart…
However, the baby is now 14 and we’ve added three cute boys to the mix. 🙂
~ 3 ~
In the Kitchen…
Thankfully our hotel has a good sized kitchen so we’ve been able to cook our meals. However, tonight is Mexican night and we get to eat out. Ole!
~4 ~
Reading…
I’ve been reading like crazy but I am behind on writing my summer books posts so I will work on those this week! Hint: Some of my list is pictured above. 🙂
Watching…
Brian and I just saw the first episode of the BBC mystery/thriller Thirteen about a young girl who escaped after 13 years of captivity. However, something about her story does not ring true…so the mystery begins. I love the feel of British mysteries (and dramas.)Â The show itself reminds me a bit of Broadchurch, minus the lovely David Tennant. (Parental note: This is rated MA. The first episode had some language and the story line itself is dark.)
(At the Movies)
The last three movies I watched were Love and Friendship, Captain America: Civil War and The Jungle Book. Surprisingly, of the three my favorite was The Jungle Book.
The Jungle Book – I took Andrew to see this and I think I landed out enjoying it as much (if not more) as he did. The story was captivating and the special effects were enthralling. I was completely swept into the movie and it held my attention the entire time. It went beyond what I expected from a “kids” film. (Parental Note: The movie can be scary for younger kids. My 8 yr old loved it but my sensitive 6 yr old and 5 yr old skipped it and I’m glad they did. They’ll wait to watch it on blu-ray where it’s not as intense as a big screen.)
Love and Friendship – While it was not my favorite Austen story, the humor and wit of the dialogue left me smiling.
Captain America: Civil War – I am fan of all the Marvel movies and while the movie was enjoyable I hated the “brother against brother” story. I can’t help it. I am not a fan of conflict and like when more peaceful means solve a problem. 😉
Next on my list of movies to see are Conjuring 2, The Legend of Tarzan and Star Trek Beyond.
I was also debating about watching the French film The Innocents but then I read Sr. Helen Burns review of the movie and decided to definitely watch it if it opens locally. The story, which is based on actual events, takes place in Warsaw in December 1945. A convent of nuns is attacked by Russian soldiers and many of the sisters are raped and consequently become pregnant. A young French doctor puts herself in danger to help the nuns. Sr. Burns says, “This is a very sensitive, non-sensational film of based on actual events (and many nuns have been raped and gotten pregnant during other wars as well) that manages to wrap itself around and enter deeply into the psychology of this very pointed and specific trauma” and “The Innocents is a truly religious film. Religious films are about God, not the trappings of God or His human mouthpieces.” (Read the full review here.) It is not light summer fare but sounds like a deeply moving film.
Listening to …
Summer is officially here. Here is the first song on my Summer 2016 playlist. 🙂
I love this super cute idea from Jenna at Call Her Happy.
~ 6 ~
I haven’t posted anything since my last Daybook. Hey, it’s vacation time! Later this week I will hopefully finish my summer book post. In the following weeks it will be the return of Spotlight Saturday and bullet journal updates.
If you follow me on social media, you have already seen these. If you haven’t, then here’s a peak into our vacation.
I love walking through the tall trees. It reminds me of the Redwoods in NoCal.
Fun at the Lake! I love the ocean but letting kids play in the calm lake is 100% less stressful than dealing with the unpredictable Pacific waves.
We don’t have miniature golf close to where we live so the kids love to visit the local Magic Carpet mini-golf. There are dinos and pirate ships on 3 different courses, although Matthew sometimes looked like he was playing hockey instead of golf. Afterwards, the boys enjoyed playing a racing game with their dad.
Playing at Tahoe Paradise Park.
Andrew giving his sister a push.
Despite the heat, there is still a bit of snow on the mountains.
If you go past the park and though the grassy area towards the river, you’ll find this to the right.
However, this year I discovered a little trail that leads to the left side of the park, along the river. When the kids were done playing I told them we were going exploring to see where the trail led.
The scenery was gorgeous.
And about a quarter of a mile down I spotted this lovely scene. I could hear the sounds of the water rushing and birds tweeting and for one brief moment life was completely perfect. Until I listened a little closer…to the whining voices around me saying, “It’s too hot!” and “There are too many bugs!” and “Are we done yet?” Sigh. Oh, well. I had my moment, brief as it was. We headed back to the park so the boys could spin themselves sick on the merry-go-round instead.
I did keep up with my walking challenge of #rol100milesin100dayswhile in Tahoe. Bella would join me in the evening when the weather cooled down.
Other times we’d go as a family and the boys were more than happy to join me (well, when I promised them ice cream cones at the finish line.) 😉 Either way, I caught up on the days I was slacking before we left.
When the sun set on our last day we had to say goodbye to Tahoe and promised to be back next year. 🙂
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Will you be doing any traveling? Do share.
Have a great weekend!
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Growing up, I always pictured Lake Tahoe as a winter destination. Being a native Californian, I had no desire to spend any length of time in Tahoe’s snow. However, after Brian and I got married his parents bought a time share at Lake Tahoe and invited us to join them for a summer trip.
We were newly married and Bella had just turned a year old and we had a lot of fun! My in-laws can no longer make the trips so they passed on the time share to Brian.
Thirteen years and four kids later, it has become a much anticipated yearly trip, minus the couple of years we were busy giving birth to babies and such. Since we aren’t winter sports people, we have found activities to do with the kids during the summer months. Here are our five favorite things to do at Lake Tahoe with kids.
 ~ 1 ~
Taylor Creek Visitor Center
We first found the Taylor Creek Visitor Centerwhen we were looking for an easy trail where grandparents, toddlers and strollers were welcome. Since then, it has been an annual excursion. It is located in South Lake Tahoe off Hwy 89. They have a visitor center and four trails but we always go on the Rainbow Trail.
The kids enjoy reading the signs and seeing the different areas…
Such as meadows and marshes.
Some years the water was flowing.
The stream had a lot less water this year but it was still pretty.
Mount Tallac
At the half way point of the trail, there is the Stream Profile Center, a small museum like room where glass walls give you a look at the creek below the surface.
In summer the trout are juvenile but in the fall you can see the salmon run.
We haven’t gone on the official tour but we enjoy the scenery…
…and walking the trail.
There is also access to Lake Tahoe, if you prefer to picnic and swim there.
~ 3 ~
Magic Carpet Mini-Golf
We don’t have any traditional mini-golf courses here in Monterey so when the kids saw Magic Carpet Golf in Lake Tahoe, they were eager to go there.
There are three courses.
Last year we tried the Dinosaur one, which the boys loved!
This year we tried the Storybook course and it was fun.
Next year we will try the Castle course.
~ 4 ~
Tahoe Paradise Park
Last year we were looking for a park that had a playground for the kids to play and we found Tahoe Paradise Park.
It is tucked away in a residential area and feels secluded, which is nice since it’s never been overcrowded.
At first I wondered if it was in a “safe” area but there were a number of other moms and dads with little kids there so we were put at ease.
Once you go through the gates, if you pass the lake and tennis courts and head to the back parking lot to the right, you will find the playground, picnic areas and fields.
This year we packed a lunch and grilled BBQ sliders.
This was the view from the picnic tables. The only negative thing was that there was only a port-a-potty. Needless to say, we held it until we got home. 😉 If you go beyond the trees you will find the banks of the Upper Truckee River. The kids weren’t interested in going through the brush to find it but I was able to get this shot. Again, the water was lower this year but still pretty.
~ 5~
Pope Beach
Saving the best for last, our favorite Tahoe activity is, of course, playing in the gorgeous blue water of Lake Tahoe!There are numerous spots were you can gain access to the lake but our hands down favorite is Pope Beach off of Hwy 89 in South Lake Tahoe. Most years, it has not been very crowded, although this year it was really busy with the heat wave, but not to the point where it lessened out fun.
We usually get there early and find a picnic area with a grill so we can make hotdogs and smores.
We set up our tables them park our beach chairs farther down, closer to the water. There the kids can splash or build sand castles with Brian.
Unlike the ocean, that freaks me out with it’s strong waves and drop offs, the shore of the lake is shallow and calm.
The kids loved it, except for my one sand-phobic boy (cough…JP) who takes after his dad. 😉
We had so many fond memories at Lake Tahoe and it is fun to look at the photos and watch our family grow over the years. Recently we started inviting my parents to join us so the kids still have a set of grandparents (and sometimes an aunt and uncle) join us. I look forward to many more years to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe as a family. 🙂
I have a little free time to post today because I am on vacation at beautiful Lake Tahoe. We’ve had a full day and now we are back a the hotel relaxing and trying to cool down. (We are used to temps in the 60’s, not 90’s.)
Grateful…
For a safe trip to Lake Tahoe.
That my mom and dad could join us for the trip.
That I spent Father’s Day with two of my fave dads – Brian and my own daddy.
For vacations in general. I need this recharge!
Praying for…
The tired, the weary and the overworked.
For the safety of all travelers.
For those suffering from hatred and injustice.
Some special intentions.
Pondering…
I’m pondering just how much I love this man. There’s nothing like a vacation to slow you down and help you to realize what matters most in life. This morning I woke up and stumbled out of bed looking like I’ve been living out in the wild for weeks, yet Brian treats me like I’m the prettiest woman in the world. That’s just crazy. Love has a way of seeing beyond the exterior and allows you to see the beauty that others don’t always see. I’m blessed, so blessed to be the love if this man’s life. I don’t know a better man or better best friend. Happy (late) Father’s Day to my sweetheart and my own Daddy that I am blessed to be with this week! 🙂
Around the Hotel…
My home this week is a hotel suite and I’ve been trying to keep it orderly.
My mom walked into the room and said, this can’t be the Rol family’s room. All the jackets are hung up and the shoes are lined up neatly. I know, right! (Just don’t don’t go in the bathroom. You could then tell who was living here.) 😉
Family Chit Chat…Road Trip: Lake Tahoe
I have to stop posting to make dinner so Bella said she would fill you in on the family chit chat. Take it away Bella…
Hello! Right now the Rol family is at Lake Tahoe, along with our Grandma and Grandpa. One day we went on a nice walk and had a picnic. My mom took some nice pictures from our walk, so you will probably see them sometime soon. (Bobbi’s note: I added some in.) 🙂
It’s actually going to be pretty hot this week. The highest is 90 degrees! Hopefully we will be able to get some ice cream this week. 🙂
Another day we went to a park in the forest. My brothers played on the playground then my mom and I went searching for a little stream behind the trees. Afterwards my Grandma and Grandpa made BBQ sliders. It was delicious.
I’m having a really great time!
My brothers enjoyed kicking the HUGE pine cones that were around on one of the trails.
Bella and Andrew with Opa in 2009
The pine cones reminded me of my Opa because whenever I came over to his house when I was little we always had a pine cone throwing contest to see who could throw the pine cone the farthest. Right now we are resting in our hotel room.
Maybe I should tell you a little bit about myself. Here are a few of my favorite things. Colors – blue and pink. Book series – Divergent, Hunger Games and Dork Diaries. Social Media Apps – Instagram and Twitter. Movie – Divergent. Musicals – Aladdin on Broadway, Newsies, Sound of Music, and Wicked. Seasons – Fall (only because its my birthday) and Winter. These are just a few of my favorite things, but I would probably take up a whole page typing everything! I hope you enjoyed my post. Hopefully my Mom will let me have a blog someday! May God bless you! (Bobbi’s note: Bella just did a happy dance when I told her I would help her set up her own blog. Like mother, like daughter.) 😉
In the Kitchen…
Thankfully our hotel has a good sized kitchen so we’ve been able to cook our meals. However, the fridge is getting full so it’s leftovers night – chicken, spaghetti and meatballs or sliders with a green salad and chocolate chip cookies and mint ice cream for dessert. Yum!
 Watching…
(On Netflix) Brian and I are still watching Daredevil. We love it except for the violence. I don’t mind seeing a zombie on the The Walking Dead get slaughtered since it is not human but I don’t want to see the portrayal of a person getting literally slaughtered. I am very visual so I turn away from the more violent scenes. It doesn’t gross me out or anything, I just don’t want it to desensitize me.
Did I also mention that I am binge watching Gilmore Girls. How have I never seen this before?? Actually I think it first came on when Brian and I were nearly married and didn’t have cable yet. Well, I’ve made up for lost time and have gone through the first six seasons. Now I am trying to slow down and savor the last season. I love binge watching until I get to the end of my show! Grr.
(At the Movies)
Last week I saw San Andreas, which forced me to face the a Californian’s worse nightmare. To be honest with you even more than the earthquake, I am more scared of the tsunamis that follow, especially since I live in a tsunami zone. Anyway, I was really reluctant to go see it because I usually dislike the cliched disaster movies that are so over the top and predicable, it hurts to watch. (I’m looking at you 2012.) However, a number of people told me it was worth watching (including my mom) so I gave it a try. They were right. It is not Academy Award material, but as a summer popcorn flick, it is perfect. There is plenty of action but it is not completely overblown. There is just enough chessiness in the disaster related dialogue to make it a guilty pleasure but there is also a heart warming family story that digs deeper that most action flicks. My only complaint was the way they made one of the characters do a 180 in personality. He started out fine and then out of the blue, he is an idiot. (I was thinking a different word but I’ll keep it clean.)Â Perhaps it was supposed to show how pressure situations bring out the real character of a person. Secondly, I wished they had ended the show with the main character getting back to work and saving people other than his immediate family but there are enough positive moments so even those points can be overlooked. (Parent note: Lots of peril and people being killed, although nothing graphic. Some language.)
Next on the movie list, Brian and I have a date night on Friday to watch Jurassic Park. I hope it is as good as everyone has been telling me! 🙂
I finished reading Dear Mr. Knightley: A Novel. I am trying to figure out what I feel about it. At first it was a little weird since it was written as a series of letters from an young adult (dealing with a difficult past)addressed to the benefactor that is paying for her schooling and giving her a chance at a better life. The main character, Samantha, avoids the harsh reality of her life by escaping into books. Her conversation is filled with quotes from beloved novels by authors such as Austen and Bronte. At times the habit is endearing but eventually you want to see her speak her own mind and not just imitate the words of another. As she grows and matures, she learns how to do this. As I continued to read, the story became more interesting and I couldn’t put it down. However, the ending left a bad taste in my mouth. At a pivotal moment, Samantha reverted back to her quoting persona and then we are expected to forgive a main character for a terrible decision he made. Part of me was willing to forgive and the other part of me was thinking – hell to the no. However, 99% of the time I root for a happy ending… I just wish it was obtained in a different manner. That being said, I still enjoyed it and will be looking at other titles by this author. I rate the book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
 You still have until the end of the month to join the RoL Pinterest Party & Link-up. The link-up is open for new or old posts. 🙂
Here are some Instagrams I’ve taken these past two weeks.
1. #projectblessed – Sunset. It’s almost sunset at Lake Tahoe.
2. #projectblessed – Starts with M. Me & Matthew, 3 monkeys in bed and Mount Tallac near Lake Tahoe. #laketahoesummertrip2015
3. The morning was filled with chaos and stress and an airplane seat would be spacious compared to all the suitcases surrounding us in the van but the egg and bacon burritos are ready to kick off our #laketahoesummertrip2015
4. I’m in love with this package from @bigwhitefarmhouse and I haven’t even opened it up yet!
5.#projectblessed – Doodle. I’m sorting through the kids paper doodles and artwork. This one is in the keep pile.
6. #projectblessed – Home. Be it ever so messy (and weird) there’s no place like home. #angrybirdstarwarslegos
7. Time for Sacred Heart sundaes.
8. #projectblessed – Begins with F. The sick bug has caught up with me and I finally have a chance to sit and rest. Today’s photo prompt immediately reminded me of Sense & Sensibility and Mrs Jennings trying to figure out who is the famous Mr F.
9. #projectblessed – Shadows & Cross.
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Will you be doing any traveling? Do share.
Matthew found the perfect pumpkin.
However, the baby is now 14 and we’ve added three cute boys to the mix. 🙂
If you go past the park and though the grassy area towards the river, you’ll find this to the right.
The scenery was gorgeous.
