The Last Day of School

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was anxious to have a Freshman and a Kindergartner. And now it is their last day of being such. The school year for both of them proved to be extremely busy. I tried to soak it all up, balancing different schedules, events and assemblies. Now, let summer begin!!!!

Counting down...and other Random ramblings

It is something inevitable, the passing of time. With that is the countdown of many things to come. For us time seems to be elusive. It's that fluttering butterfly that lingers above your head, and in an instant- is gone. In moments like this I can't help but sympathize with Hook from Peter Pan...TICK TOCK TICK TOCK. I'm a worry wart by nature and spend many sleepless hours counting and recounting what has happened and what has yet to pass. In Juan's words, "You think too much!" Isn't that what women do? My answer to that is a resounding YES!!! I just do it with more chocolate than most women, and I call it therapy. Chocolate is my therapy, and it's much cheaper than seeing a therapist. I have also found that writing my thoughts down (I've done it since the age of 10) is even better. I thought that keeping this blog would be an outlet, but only to an extent. I use to be an open book-very open. Maybe too open. Sometimes whatever crossed my mind came right out of my mouth-good, bad, offensive. I've learned to control that, and with events in our lives over the pass few years I've been more of a closed book. So, what's my point? None really, just thought I'd ramble a little. My mind just got excited at the thought of chocolate, that's all.

So, the real purpose of this post was just to briefly do a rundown of all our little happenings in our busy little life. And a countdown of all the happenings that are yet to...happen. Not as exciting as many of your lives, but hey, I try to get my kicks where I can.

So...firstly is all the end of the school year events. Thus far this week we've had Dote's band awards, his last Jazz and Symphonic band concert, Sebastian's last award assembly (the first one where he didn't get an award-boo!) But I got to see them perform songs they've been working on all year and it was really cute! Last night was an art exhibit with the school district where Sebastian has his artwork on display.

• Which leads to...only 4 more days of school left! The boys are so excited for summer vacation to begin!


• Two more weeks of school for Juan. I can't wait because I've been forced to proofread the beginnings of his thesis *headache*, (sorry hon)-just keep bribing me with chocolate!




• Only 10 more days until the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon. Yikes! I mean Yipeee!


• Only $1,842 more dollars to raise for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training-or I pay that amount if I can't raise the rest. Come on people, throw a dog a bone! Call your rich uncle and tell him to click on that link on the upper right hand corner of my blog and DONATE!!!!


• 2 more weeks until Sebastian gets his cast off! More on that ordeal later.




• 3 more weeks until Dote does the Lake Tahoe Relay with his team. I'm excited for him!


• 3 more weeks until Juan's 3_th birthday. If I divulge he might stop the chocolate bribes.


• 1 and 1/2 more months and Elijah joins nursery at church! Hooray for me, warning for the nursery!


• X amount of days until we have a full-fledged summer vacation filled with lazy days at the beach, road trips, shopping, zoos, aquariums, the east coast, more shopping and anything else you can think of!


• Ok, I'll stop boring you now-I'll be really impressed if you made it this far...

Paryting up Filipino style!

A few weeks ago my parents so graciously invited us to celebrate Sophia's birthday with them in Yuba City. We decided that since my dad's elderly aunt and her son were visiting them and it was mother's day weekend, making the 5 hour drive was no problem. Plus, it gives me an excuse to go on a road trip-which I love. Even when Elijah screams to be let out of his buckled-up prison. I still love it. If it sounds like I'm trying to convince myself-I am. So, we arrived last Friday night around 10:30pm to find my mom and my dad's cousin busy in the kitchen preparing some of the food for Sophia's party. I thought we were having a small, intimate party with a couple of our family friends. Boy was I sorely mistaken! So, to my surprise, here's the rundown of it all:

The Guests: 33! Not at all the intimate little party I was picturing. There were more invitees, but there were 3 other birthday parties going on at the same time. Several of our guests were party hopping that night. And about 10 people couldn't make it that night, talk about full house! And we were even lucky enough to have one of Gloria Macapagal's (the president of the Philippines, just FYI) legal advisors partying with us! That was pretty interesting. Anyway...



The Food: (My favorite part) One roast PIG. When my dad and Juan had to go pick up the pig, Sebastian and Sophia overheard them saying they were going to pick up the pig...they actually thought they were going to a farm to get a real, LIVE pig. Needless to say, we had some serious explaining to do. Though this is not the first time my kids see a roasted pig, so thankfully they were not frightened. The food was awesome, my hats off to the chef-my mom! She's an amazing cook and prepared 7 different dishes, with partial help from myself, my dad and his cousin.



The cake: One beautifully decorated, custom ordered princess cake from my mom and dad. It was soooo good. I think I gained 5 pounds eating one slice!




The birthday girl: She was so excited that day! She put on her party dress, ate, played with new friends, blew out her birthday candles, opened her gifts and passed out in my dad's arms-while he was singing karaoke! She slept for about 12 hours straight that night.


A grateful heart: My parents are the most loving, giving, caring grandparents and I love them so much for all they do for my kids. Being able to celebrate any one of the kids' birthdays with them is a blessing and it also brings back a lot of childhood memories. My parents always loved having parties and having people in our home. We always, and I mean always had friends over, for lunch, dinner or just to visit-always. Now I'm glad my kids get to be a part of it all!

Happy 4th Sophia!

She was the 4th pregnancy...and decidedly a GIRL. I never imagined in a million years I'd be the mommy to a little girl. Never imagined I'd see so, so many things PINK, the most I'd ever seen in my life. Or discover how tender and sweet she would be. I didn't know she would have the softest voice and love to sing. I didn't know I'd be showered in hugs daily with millions of 'I love you's'. Never imagined she would discover sassiness and stubborness, all wrapped in delicate pink. My little princess for sure. And now...I can't imagine life without her. She fulfills a dream longed for, a blessing pleaded for and occupies a whole room of pink princess things, pink walls, pink quilt-and a closet full of dresses and shoes...mostly pink.

I'm a little sad that she will spend her day mostly resting since we found out last night that she has pneumonia-a little touch of it. But nonetheless she exclaimed last night after coming home from Kaiser, "Mommy, I want a pink princess cake!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SOPHIE GIRL!