It's been a good week. I am noticing that I am alot more calm. My brain seems to have slowed down to a pace where I do not feel frantic anymore. I am concentrating better at work and getting alot more accomplished. Also, in my home life, things are becoming more organized. Or maybe I am just more at peace with the mess - ha!

This week I've been compiling in my mind a list of things I'd like to do while in San Francisco. There are so many things to do, but much of it is free or little cost, but of course when you multiply "little cost" by 4 people, it becomes much, much more in a hurry. :)

Anyway, these are some of the ideas I've had so far:

The San Francisco Zoo
Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge and walking on it
The Golden Gate Park
Monteray Bay Aquarium
Cruise from Monteray Bay with whale watching
Exploratorium
Riding the ferry over and spending a day at Fisherman's Wharf
Stinson Beach (of course!!!)

Wow, already I can see by listing that out that since we have six days there, those are too many things - lol. But it is great to know that we are going to be able to choose whatever we want to do.

I am looking forward to my little Christmas present to the girls and I feel good about it. A week off work right around Christmas. Getting away from the snow and stuff here and going to be by the ocean and seeing my brother. Letting the girls see their uncle. Did I mention - getting away?

:)

I think it will be worth every penny spent on the tickets and more because I am hoping the girls will remember this trip more than any presents I could have bought them.

Maddie woke up this morning and came to sit and talk with me. She shared that she'd had a dream last night where I told her to "come here" and when she walked in there was cute little puppy dog that was for her. She was so happy. Then she woke up thinking it was real. Tears were in her eyes as she said this to me.

I want to be able to give her a dog. I do. I know she's been asking for years. The problem is a money issue and a time issue. I know that it is not just a one time purchase. Dogs need constant attention and training and from what I can tell, lots of vet visits. I do not know much about dogs. I've never had one. But I do know that Maddie is very attentive and would do her best to take care of it.

What if I couldn't train it and it ended up being one of those stories like you see on the Dog Whisperer? What if I came home and my couch was torn to smitherines? But, looking into her eyes and listening to her heart, I realize that I get one shot at being her mother while she is a little girl and her heart's cry has been for a puppy for as long as I can remember. I will start considering and working towards getting her one for her 11th birthday which would be next July.

I completed a 15 mile hike this weekend. It was like nothing I've ever done. There were times that I felt like I was going to have to quit and just sit down, but the sun was setting and there was no way I COULD quit. I found out that I can do anything I set my mind to. The moment that hike was complete, I felt completely victorious. A little workout of 30 minutes to an hour at the Y is NOTHING compared to an eight hour trek through the woods.