Happy 1/2 Birthday Ricky

Today my little boy turned 13 and a HALF! My little boy who is 6 feet tall and wears a men's 13 size shoe. He says it's no big deal because he will just tell everyone he is 13...but when we sang "Happy Half Birthday" to him on the way to school, that impish little smile broke through as he shook his head. No celebration though tonight as he had a draft to attend and he was lucky enough to get the #1 pick.

I am proud of the young man that he is becoming. I so can't believe that 13 1/2 years have gone by with him as part of my life. He has taught me a lot. We have learned a lot together. We have agreed, disagreed and agreed to disagree at times. We have made each other mad, sad and frustrated. We have made each other laugh and smile. We have to see who gets the last word in...

He is my son and I am very blessed. I love you Ricky Daniel!

Happy Half Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Peace

An Apple, Acupuncture and Pacers

well, I was really bummed that I did not get to blog last night-major computer issues that are now resolved. So her it is in a nutshell

1. an Apple bit me today and it was good

2. Finally able to go see Dr, Shen, our acupuncturist. her truly is the best

3. Pacers Basketball started tonight and it was great-not sure how many game we will win, BUT we have great kids with super attitudes.

Until tomorrow...good night

Peace

We got your back

At Tenaya we are very protective of one another. You mess with someone and there are about 5-6 other people that are affected by that display of disrespect. Today thing came to a head and I had just had it. I do not like it when someone plays the "who me?" card. Then to ask silly questions and act astounded at the answers.

Don't pick on Mark....bottom line. Not a good move because as one staff member stated, "he is such a sweetheart." We protect each other like a mama protects her cub. If anything good came out of today, it's that Mark saw or actually heard that he is highly respected at our school.

So as we venture on into the next 6 months of school, a balance needs to be made. I am frustrated by the immaturity of those who know they are wrong. My suggestion is keep the earpiece and move on. Many of us bleed Tenaya blue. We will see many more administrators before we leave. Our concern is the kids. Can you believe it-caring about kids. Wow, what a concept.

Until next time...peace

Dance and Draft

Today was my first day back to work. Ricky and Jessica had their last day off. Jessica stayed with my mom and helped with the preschoolers. My mom says she is a natural and enjoyed every minute of it. Ricky went to Grandma Jennie's house. He made his infamous salsa, they went to In-n-Out and watched Gran Torino. He had a great day. Both are lucky that they have their grandparent's house to go to on a daily basis.

Jessica has wanted to enroll in a dance class and today was Day 1 for the new semester. She is taking hip hop and had a blast. Her smile said it all. She already wants the "real dance shoes." I hope she continues it as the smile on her face was priceless.

While Jess was at dance, Ricky was attending his first draft. He was so proud of his picks. He had the 3rd pick and evidently was successful in his choices.

As they are both winding down for bed, they both were blessed with a great day. They are back to school tomorrow and back to the daily routine that comes with it.

There is nothing better than to have two happy kids.

Richard started running again tonight. We are going to do the Bay to Breakers on May 16th. At least that is the plan.

Today, January 4th is also the birthday of one of the greatest women in my life. My Great-grandmother Priscilla Villa. She was a class act and taught my mom to be the woman she is. Grandma Villa lives on in our life daily. I was blessed to know her and love her.

Until tomorrow...

Peace

"I'm Free"

Those two simple words..."I'm free." I have heard them on a daily basis since Christmas Vacation started 16 days ago. It was a simple statement, a simple request. A request for a lunch date. A lunch date with my daughter.

Every day something seemed to come up. Every day, I heard those words. Last night I was kindly reminded that vacation was over and she was still "free." I could not let her down.

We both slept in until 10:30 since we were up having a bonfire/smores get together with our neighbors. Ricky was at the Raiders game with my dad. Richard had gone golfing. Focus Michelle-get it together.

She was in the recliner when I approached her. I looked into her brown eyes and asked, "are you doing anything for lunch today?" Her response was simple with a hint of sarcasm..."I thought you'd never ask." She wanted to include my mom so she made the call. It was a lunch date. Three generations sitting around chips and salsa. Laughing and talking. It was a great lunch date. A sense of satisfaction on her face as we got back into the car and she just looked at me.

There will be a time when she won't want a date with me. Until then, I hope she has many more "free" days.

I love you Jessica.

Love,
Mom

Peace

Pancakes

A simple compound word. pan-cakes. A word that has a bit of history in our family. My Great-Grandmother Priscilla Villa taught my mom how to make pancakes from scratch. Not Bisquick, not shoot the batter from the can...but homemade.

These pancakes are fabulous. It's the type of recipe that is not written down. It's the type where I just sit and watch my mom throw in a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Here I am 44 years old and have NEVER attempted making these sacred breakfast items. When my mom went to Ireland in 2000, my dad and I were craving them along with my sister so... my sister tried and although this seems unreal-there was so much sugar in the mix that crystals formed on top. They were good. Obviously, still a topic of conversation.

So today, I called my mom. I asked her for the recipe. Her reply was, "are you going to make them?" Her tone of doubt put me to the test. "Of course I am," I said to myself.

With activity in the kitchen, both Ricky and Jessica's curiosity peaked. "What are you doing?" "Absolutely nothing," I stated.

Well, let me tell you. Success hit 1976! The pancakes were phenomenal. I literally had a tear in my eye as I watched those little golden cakes form bubbles as I was about to turn them. Picking up the spatula I begin to flip and-"you have got to be kidding me!" The new grill I was using was too hot! I finally found the right setting and we each got one pancake out of the first Villa Pancake Recipe. Ricky and Jessica were shocked. "Can you make some more?"

So I whipped up my second batch, turned the grill on and we all enjoyed "Grandma Villa's/Nana's Pancakes."

As I sat here typing this, Ricky came around the corner on his way to the shower and said, "Mom, those pancakes were the BOMB."

Validation, yes. Happiness, yes. A recipe that won't get lost, yes.

Amazing what a little compound word can do:

Today I made homemade pancakes with my grandmother's recipe.
I know my Grandma Villa is looking down and smiling at me.

Peace

January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!

Wow, I can't believe that it was just a mere hour ago that we welcomed in 2010. Ten years ago tonight we were like many others in the world worried about Y2K. We were on the Mall in DC ringing in the New Year with a couple thousand of our closest friends. Ricky was 3 and a half and I was just pregnant with Jessica. It was cold that night, but it was spectacular. I remember when Luther Vandross came onto stage-I just love that man. We survived. Many things have happened in my life in the past ten years. It seemed like a blink of the eye but here I am, ten years older.

In the past 10 years here are a few things I have done:
*had another child-Jessica. Cool to have kids born in two different centuries.
*built a house
*become a Nina to Aidan and Kenna
*lost two of my favorite dogs, Hijo and Negro
*welcomed 2 new dogs, Max and Fenway
*become a travel ball mom living out of a suitcase 2 weekends a month
*been to Cooperstown 3 times- a total of 5 weeks
*watch my daughter learn how to ride a bike
*watch my daughter in the Nutcracker
*met great friends at Creative Escape
*started a blog
*Tweeted
*Facebook-complete with a farm and aquarium
*spent 26 days in the hospital watching my son fight MRSA
*watched Jessica go crazy at Libby Lu
*seen Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus in concert 3 times
*watched Richard fall in love with fishing
*watched Richard fall in love with golfing
*watched my 2 kids in productions at school
*watched Ricky hit a walk off HR despite the crappy situation he was in
*sat back and let Jessica develop her love for baking
*eaten breakfast at my mom and dad's house every school day
*bought groceries so Ricky could make his salsa
*thrown some pretty stinkin' good birthday parties
*been to Hawaii, Vegas, Mexico, Arizona
*owned 3 cars
*trusted someone and lost my first home
*been to a Chris Brown and Cheetah Girls concert
*celebrated Disneyland's 50th Birthday
*went on a Disney Cruise
*scrapbooked
*done too many loads of laundry-think i am OCD about this
*challenged something and won
*take medicine every night before bed
*got Aidan's first kiss (my nephew)
*made birthday banners
*made trips back and forth to Valley Children's
*learned how to give IV drugs at home thru a Pic Line
*made tacos and salsa
learned how to make my Grandma Villa and mom's rice
*collected Boxtops
*cried when Luther Vandross died
*helped the homeless
*have seen friends bury their parents
*lost a friend
*witnessed Jessica get her first hair cut in honor of Kim Juarez
*watched two kids grow into confident people
*drank many Venti Non-fat, Decaf Mochas 200 degrees with whip
*ask for my Mc Donald'd fries to be HOT and FRESH
*grateful that my mother inlaw drives y kids to school every day
*watched former students become successful
*buried a few former students
*bought an iPhone
*witnessed my kids become interested in the world around them
*saw two towers fall
*watched a 6 year old become obsessed with 9/11
*watched my parents get older
*went to Oprah
*love Grey's Anatomy, Survivor and Private Practice
*my MIL's special tamales and burritos for me
*watched a plane land on the Hudson River
*flew in a helicopter-it was cool when we hovered over our block
*saw Michelle Obama at UC Merced's Graduation
*watched the Tigers go from worst to first in one year of Little League
*gone on taco picnics
*have made spaghetti tacos
*watched my daughter become obsessed with Twilight
*Slurpee Fridays
*Subway sandwiches
*been pushed off of a freeway on ramp by a drunk driver
*saw Josh Groban, Barbra Streisand, Il Divo and Bocelli in concert
*reconnected with my cousins
*went on a SMC roommate reunion
*have seen the State of CA disregard education and it's students
*danced and sang driving down the road with my kids
*been to many Disney on Ice
*loved my family
*been proud of my family
*been frustrated with my family
*been thankful for my family standing by my side

although many things are missing-a lot happens in ten years, all I can say is I am grateful for the past ten years. There were a lot of tears, a lot of laughter. a lot of growth.

I welcome you 2010 and all that you will bring. I know it will be a good year. How can it not be...I have my family by my side.

Peace