Category — love

I’ve sat down at my computer, time and time again, to begin the post full of emotion and pictures that would describe JJ’s graduation and all it really meant to me. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. There’s so much emotion behind the amazing, young man that we’ve seen him develop into. It’s a hard post to put together.

So, here I am, one more day, a little speechless.

It’s Wednesday and the schedule is full and busy, as always. Tristan, proudly, received his Parvuli Dei medal last night and tonight Anna and Maddi will be honored, with the rest of their teammates at the school’s Sports Awards Banquet. The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and I have 2 girls graduating 8th grade. There’s much prep to do! I MUST MUST MUST began their memory boards!

Yep, my head is full and scattered and my heart is heavy with joy, pride and even sadness.

One more day of Doing the Dance of the Children as time speeds on to each new milestone~

Normally Mondays don’t hold a good feeling. It’s the beginning of the week and we have to leave the weekend behind. But THIS Monday is a good one! It’s the beginning of a week that brings one of my sisters moving to San Diego AND Kateri coming for the summer. Whoo Hoo!

I hope you can each find something good about this Monday too! For me it’s one step closer to Doing the Dance of the Children with all of my kiddos back in San Diego~

This morning Max brought me his Mothers Day gift that he’d made in school. It was wrapped in tissue paper and had his name on the front. This is what was inside. It made me smile so big to read through all his thoughts on what I’d be if I was a flower or music or a food, etc.

I can see where a chair is a good choice for me as a piece of furniture. After all, my lap is well used. I’m not a fan of cats or bacon, so we’ll have to talk about turning me into those things. But I love that if I was music that I’d be rock. Ha! I’m surprised he didn’t say “kid songs”! And I especially like that of all the women in history, he’s got me pegged as Mary, only twice as nice, fun, attractive and beloved. Whoa! That’s a tall order!

It’s been a day full of Motherhood, for sure! I’d also like to mention the beautiful cookies that Maddi made and decorated and the time that she’s demanded that I take for myself (without which, this blog would not be getting written).

I hope each of you Mamas are enjoying all the handcrafted pieces of artwork and hand written notes that you’ve undoubtably been given today, along with the pampering and love.

Happy Mothers Day~

When I got up this morning, I found this note waiting for me on the kitchen counter.

But wait! There’s more!

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All the lunches are packed and waiting! THIS is going to be a good day! Maddi, the Lunch Fairy has visited and left behind some love.

It doesn’t get much better!

Have a great day~

The circle of life has been on my mind a lot lately.

I have a friend who’s getting ready to deliver her first baby and she’s so excited, scared, frustrated and ready to meet her little one. I remember what that feels like-how the end of the pregnancy comes and it’s all a big guessing game. You’re never sure of when the big day will arrive or if all the aches and twinges you’re feeling mean that you should go to the hospital or if you still have days to wait. It’s exciting and scary. No matter how many times I had gone through it, I was always a little scared. You just never know exactly what’s going to happen, but you know you’re there for a beautiful result. There is truly nothing in the world like the experience of seeing your brand new baby for the first time! Nothing!

I’ve been thinking a lot about that and even though I am not going to be personally delivering any babies anymore, I would love to be there for women who are. What a great thing to be there to help women through their birthing process! To be there the moment they meet their baby for the first time! I think I want to be a Doula. No, I’m not going to run out and start Doula training. This isn’t exactly the time to take anything else on (I’m barely making it through the Dance of each day as it is). But in the future, when things settle down and I’m not Doing the Dance of the Children quite as much, THEN.

I was able to travel to Northern California this weekend to be a part of a friend’s memorial and it’s really had me thinking of life; how it begins, how it ends and all the in between, where we’re supposed to be living it. It was wonderful to be at a service where so many people were celebrating a life well lived! It got me thinking about all I want to pack into the days of this life that I have left.

Have a great day…today and EACH day~

Some days there’s so much to talk about that I end up saying nothing because I just don’t know where to start. I was just going to walk away from the computer without saying a word for that very reason. But really, there’s just so much these days!

I’m facing the fact that I’m getting older. This means that all the people I’ve grown up with are also getting older which, in turn, means that all of our parents are getting older. This means that many of them are facing health concerns, ailments, illness and even death. It feels like it’s happening all at once. On the one hand, it’s scary and sad and on the other hand, it’s bringing people closer together. I know that 20 years ago when we were all meeting at friend’s houses for movies, games and visiting that we didn’t think of this time. But here it is and it’s bringing us back into each other’s lives. It’s also giving me a reminder of how important friendship and love are and all the people we bring into our lives who we treasure and cherish. We are all born into families, but we also end up building another family around ourselves that’s made up of all those people who touch our life. I had 3 really nice phone calls tonight that refreshed my memory of all of this.

It’s a shame that our days get so filled with daily life, worry and work that we forget to truly live each one. And that we get so complacent that we forget to tell those around us that we appreciate and love them.

Here’s to another day full of life and loved ones!

Good night~

Yes, I’m a mommy of many and yes, I love each of the kiddos for all of their talents and potential and all that each one brings to the family dynamic. But sometimes I get a little burst of lovey-doveyness for one kiddo or another. This week it’s been Luke-Xavier.

He’s been such a lil trooper since starting school. He’s become a boy overnight, instead of my baby. He runs around with all his new friends, making up games and being all tough and rowdy. He sings me “silly” songs that he learns at school but will still come and cuddle up and say, “I love you so much”.

I took the above picture, a couple of days ago when he insisted that he needed to wear the goggles. He said they helped him see people and clouds better.

Just gotta love him, in all his 3 yr. old cuteness!

Good night~

I’m sure you’ve heard me say it before, but I LOVE THE APPLE STORE! I don’t go in there as much as I used to because I’ve stopped taking their weekly classes but I had to bring my computer in, yesterday and it reminded me of how much I love dealing with the staff there and how happy I am to be a Mac user.  I have had some emailing issues, so I drug my computer and external hard drive in and with a smile and a joke, they got everything back to normal.  I always leave there with a smile on my face. 

Each time I leave, I ask myself why it feels so good to go in there and to deal with the staff.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s passion.  There’s something intoxicating about dealing with people who are passionate about what they’re doing.  It’s contagious and makes everyone who’s around feel great!  I see this when people talk about anything they truly love and believe in, whether it be their children, their business, food, travel or even…..working at the Apple Store!

Let’s each strive to find a little passion in this day! Not only will it make each of us want to get the most out of the day, but it will rub off on those around us and there will be a whole lot of people stepping a little lighter and smiling a little broader.

Have a great day~

It’s true!  I love these!  I came across them a few weeks ago and stocked up.  I’ve always been an avid gum-chewer because I’m phobic of my breath being bad, so coming across these was perfect!  But judging by the Colgate Wisp website, they weren’t counting on M.O.M. thinking they were so great.  The last thing I’m doing with them is keeping them handy in my evening bag so that my breath can be fresh on the dance floor.  LOL!  I DO keep them in my purse so that when we get to school in the morning and one (or more) of the 6 kiddos I have with me asks, “do you have any gum?” because they forgot to brush their teeth (or maybe they just prefer the gum), I can hand them one and feel confident that the time and $$ I’ve poured into dental care isn’t going down the drain.  Honestly, I think they feel better than a regular toothbrush.  

I even got to declare my love of the Wisp at the Schecky’s Girls Nite Out, San Diego for a promo pic.  Whoo Hoo!  Got to keep that pack.  ;-)

Have a great day, but do it with fresh breath~

A morning exchange with Max

Max-Mom, you’re a millionaire.  Millionaire Mom.

Me-Wow Max!  I like the sound of that!

Max-It’s cuz that’s what we should pay you for all you do.  Millionaire Mom!  Millionaire Mom!

Me-Thanks Max!  I feel like a Millionaire Mom.

What a great way to start the day!

I hope you each have  a great day~

Here is a picture blog of Lex’s special day at Disneyland

Luke-Xavier arriving at Disneyland for his 3rd bday

Hi!  Would you like an M&M?

Hi there!  I’m Luke-Xavier and it’s my birthday.  I’m at Disneyland!  Would either of you care for an M&M?

Look who’s over there!

Mickey, trying Lex’s ears

Let me help you

For your efforts, you deserve an M&M!

It’s good!  You deserve it!

After the picture would you like an M&M?

If I keep meeting new friends, I’m gonna be out of M&Ms!  Wonder how many are left?

Me and all my Disneyland friends LOVE M&Ms!

It’s really nice to meet you!

Nice to meet you too.  Aren’t you going to offer me an M&M?

This was a very happy birthday!  I LOVE Disneyland (and M&Ms)

Peace all!  I’m outta here!

How time flies!!!!  Twenty years ago, today, I was able to claim the title of “Mommy” for the first time.  I can not believe how fast it all seems to have gone!  I also would have keeled over, dead if you would have tried to tell me, on that day, that I would eventually have 9 kiddos and be telling the world about it!

I couldn’t be prouder of the wonderful, young woman that Kateri has become.  I will not embarrass her, here, by listing her accomplishments or gushing over her abilities.  But know that I am very proud and pleased and that I am hoping that the next 20 years of being “Mommy” are as fulfilling and quick as the last 20!

Happy Birthday Kateri!

Sometimes I have to take a minute to remind myself of the beauty all around me.  Today I opened the sunroof and drove to the water.  There’s nothing like the smell of the ocean and the feeling of it’s breezes!  Taking just a few moments to revel in something that makes me so happy and fills something inside me, opened the door for a beautiful rest of the day!

I hope that today you can each find a  moment to visit something that reminds you of the beauty in this life.

Have a great day!~

This story has been years in the making.  I believe it’s been about 6 years since it started.  It wasn’t until this morning that I realized that it was not just a tale of a tree’s growth, but a tale of community.

Years ago, we had a wonderful neighbor, “Miss Casey”.  She was always willing to loan the neighborly cup of sugar, sandwich baggie or tsp. of vanilla.  She also lent in the nurturing of my kiddos’ imaginations.  It was not uncommon for her to help them bake a special treat, throw a pretend wedding or even help put together a neighborhood circus.  One day Mariah took lemon seeds to Miss Casey and together they planted each one in it’s own pot in the hope that they would each become a beautiful lemon tree, full of ripe, yellow lemons that could be used for lemonade stands that would bring in lots of summertime $ to be spent at the ice cream truck.  One by one the lemon seeds sprouted and grew and one by one they died.  Except one. After about 4 years, it looked like this

We realized it needed some room to grow and decided to make it a family project to replant it in a larger container.  So 2 years ago we put together “How to Make a Lemon Tree Happy” in words and pictures

Scrub out a large container

Drill holes in the bottom for drainage

Break up old pottery in the bottom of the container for even better drainage

Add soil and miracle gro

Carefully remove the root bound tree from it’s old pot

Add LOTS more soil

Pack it down and pose with your tree

A happily repotted lemon tree with lots of room to grow!

Now, fast-forward 2 years-

Mariah’s little lemon tree heavy with lemons

Gabi and Luke-Xavier getting ready to pick the lemons.  They weren’t even born when this all started!

Some of the lemons weren’t ready to be picked, but he didn’t let that stop him from working REALLY hard at it!

Our basket full of lemons, all because of a little girls’ idea and a wonderful neighbor who took time out of her day to show Mariah that dreaming is worthwhile and can produce some sweet fruits (even if they ARE lemons!).

Community, dreams, time and love…..all such wonderful things~

After a long and tiring day, where I was bitten by the “must clean and organize” bug, I decided to unwind and go down to the beach. I hardly EVER do this, which is ridiculous! We live SO close to the beach and I always find a reason not to go. I think I’m afraid that if I go too often that I will give up housekeeping and paperwork and laundry all together and become a beach-bum. It’s really the only reason I can come up with, because the second that I get close enough to smell and feel the change in the air, something comes alive in me! I am completely drawn to the water which might explain why I’m married to a Navy man. I also think it’s in my blood because I am the descendant of Portuguese fishermen. I wish I could bottle the feel I get from seeing the water.

I truly hope that each of you have something in your lives that makes you feel as good as the ocean makes me feel and that you get to enjoy it from time to time!

Good night~

P.S. I must admit that seeing Rod Stewart in concert would SURELY compare to the feeling that the ocean gives me. I just know it!