Happy Birthday Miss Twilight

Jessica's party is in the works...

Jessica's birthday really is in August, but with summer comes vacations and traveling friends. So once again we are celebrating while she is still in school. She is having a SLEEPOVER!!! I already hear the screaming! She is getting to choose a few...stress few friends over and we are planning an evening of fun...and you guessed it... the theme will be...TWILIGHT!

Peace

Spring Break 2009

Spring Break 2009 is officially over! Being a teacher, I find myself counting down the days until this vacation arrives and it is today that I find myself counting the days until school is out. (35, in case you were wondering)

Last night we were at Red Robin and I was asked if I was glad that I was going back to work. I stopped and thought and said "yes." Ricky and Jessica looked at me crazy and I said, "because I am grateful that I still have a job." They agreed with my rationale and we went on talking about how life has changed over the past year. As I sat and listened I was pretty impressed about how they are handling the "recession at 1976."

Spring Break was to bring a cruise with 9 other crazy women down to Mexico. It had been planned, paid for and highly anticipated until I got the call. The call from my mom. My mom, who never interferes. NEVER! She asked me in a calm voice to not go. She had uneasy feelings about me going. Of course, I was not too thrilled but I thought long and hard and had to respect her request.

So instead of cruising, I was now going to be home. I am glad that I was. We are rarely home due to sports so it was a nice vacation from life itself. We stayed in our pajamas, went to the movies, I actually cooked, it was a nice BREAK.

Here are some highlights from 1976's Spring Break

Woodland Tournament
Twilight Easter
Swimming at the hotel
Hanging out with friends
2 homeruns in one game
a walk off HR to win the game while trying to be intentionally walked
one crappy situation that my kid rose above
Twilight
pajamas
sleeping in late
silence
Twilight
Hannah Montana Movie-a must see
17 Again-questionable
hanging out with cousins
Twlight
Hives
Hives and Benadryl
So loving Dr. Tan
Twilight
Modesto Tournament
a birthday party
John's Incredible Pizza
Hive medicine
Twilight
2-0
3-0
Grand Slam 300 feet
Championship Game
Twilight
4 innings pitched 11 strikeouts
Jessica getting to play and play and play
DVD player at tourney to watch Twilight
Jessica and Twilight
7 innings 1-0 Champs
Red Robin
showers
bed

I enjoy my kids. I love my kids. Sometimes I think I should have a break from my kids but when I am away from them, I want to be with them. The years are numbered before they move on. I am glad my mom asked me not to go. Believe me there are times I need my space but I love being a mom and I am blessed with the two kids God gave me.

So Spring Break 2009 has come and gone but the memories that I made with my two kids are there...forever.

Peace

Still

Still glad that my children want me present in their everyday lives.

Still glad that both of my parents are healthy and alive.

Still love having a bowl of cereal before bed.

Still do not like doing laundry.

Still enjoy watching Jessica light up as she sings.

Still amazed that she can do so much and only be 8.

Still grateful for my friends.

Still taking Xanax to cope.

Still grateful for Spring Break.

Still blessed to live on Fall Brook Court with the BEST neighbors in the world.

Still wondering why grown men need to pick on Ricky's athleticism.

Still grateful to see him walk up and shake a person's hands.

Still love my mom's pancakes and cream of wheat for breakfast.

Still glad that Jessica is artsy.

Still glad we have a home.

Still glad I have a job.

Still blessed to have crazy Max and Fenway.

Still glad there are Polar Bears.

Still love waking up and hearing the rain.

Still love the swoosh of the net or crack of the bat.

Still love and always will love, being a mom.

Still glad, I am me.

Peace.

The Quest for the Perfect Dress

May 2, 2009.

That date is set in stone. That is the day the Jessica will make her First Holy Communion. She has been attending Catechism Classes for the past two years and is excited about the big day. She is also looking forward to taking part in Communion at Mass and not just receiving a "blessing."

Well, good old mom here just thought I would just Google First Communion Dresses, click add to cart and we would be all set. Wrong! Most dresses won't ship till Jun 15th. I guess this is the peak time and having only one daughter... I missed that page in the handbook.

So off we went, store after store, catalog after catalog. Then, in the most oddest place, the lady busts out a catalog and her face brightens-"there it is, my dress." Of course, I am stressing thinking, June 15th delivery date, right? No, we will have "The Dress," next Wednesday.

As we left the store, hand in hand, she said, "see mom, we believed and it all worked out." Yes, Jessica, it all worked out. I love you.

Peace.

Edward

Edward has arrived at 1976! Jessica has joined the troops of Twilight fans that exist around the world, but more importantly, the ones on Fall Brook.

She told me the other day that she wants to be a vampire.

Today as we were walking out of the house I glanced into her room. There propped up against her pillow was a framed picture of Edward! I am sure that her stuffed animals will return, but for now, Edward is in the house.

Neighbor Jenn gave her a CD with the songs on it. Her favorite track is #1 which I guess played during the scene of the baseball game...go figure baseball and vampires.

Twilight has replaced High School Musical and Zac Efron...oh well I remember when I replaced my posters of John Travolta for Shaun Cassidy. The only difference is they didn't sparkle.

Peace

The Electric Slide and Brass Monkey

I kinda like this week recap posting as it is like a virtual scrapbook for me as to the goings on at 1976. I know it is only Monday and the real fun has yet to begin but I had a great weekend! some memories that I do not want to forget about are as follows:

*a peaceful Friday night. I think we were all in bed by 10
Fridays are sacred and so well appreciated at our house
*Ricky-lasagna by Jenn
*Dinosaurs and Mac & Cheese for Jessica
*Togos for me El Pollo Loco for Richard
*sorry Mr. Cuttone
* did you know that golfing 18 holes can take 6 hours?
*in tennis it is a rally and not a volley-still have vocabulary that I need to learn
*Subway sandwiches as a pregame meal
*Ricky hitting a triple
*The Mother Daughter Tea
*Ricky hitting what should have been an inside the park homerun...I say what should have been because you don't watch the ball when you run!
*Twilight-two giddy neighbors and a thrilled 8 year old who now wants to be a vampire
*A wedding reception full of neighbors and people you don't see very often
*The Electric Slide-so my favorite!!!
*Watching the neighborhood kids get their groove on
*Watching the neighborhood kid's eyes pop out
*Brass Monkey-Sophie's eyes-priceless
*tired baseball players
*5 a.m. wake up
*rain-so love the sound
*winning one game
*Mom, I need some money...please
*Is your mom an ATM?
*back and forth...then a loss
*home under a heating blanket
*picking up Ricky's last Little League uniform
*tacos
*salsa
*scraped finger grating cheese-an ouch for Jessica (toss the block)
*shopping
*phone call
*reality check-you write the letter
*home
*kisses goodnight
*Tivo
*too tired for Cocoa Puffs
*sleep

Peace

26 Dresses + 1

It amazes me how fast a week can go by. It seems like it was just Monday and I was thinking aarrgghh! Another week jammed pack with heres adn theres. Here iks just a peek into what our week looked like...

Saturday, March 14
Jessica's last Upward game @ 9
Ricky's last Upward game @ 10
*Jessica's tennis lesson @ 11
*Ricky needed to be in Fresno by 12 for a 1 p.m. game-they won!
*Jessica stayed with her Babu and went to New Asia-twice!
*Ricky's second game @ 5-they won!
*Off to Baja Fresh for some tacos
*No e-mail from Creative Escape
*Back on the road by 9 so Ricky could be in Fresno by 10
*Jessica had Neighbor Noah's party
*Ricky's team wins!
*Jessica shops with her Nana
*Ricky's team wins the Championship
*Home
*Woo Hoo-I am going to Creative Escape!!!!
*Back to work-and I am sick.
*St. Patrick's Day-great nothing green is ironed
*Ricky has a game and practice
*I remember Jessica has her Upward Ceremony
*Staff Meeting
*Dr. appointment
*Ricky's Upward Ceremony-the crowd sings "Wild Thing" to him
*Rite Aide for meds
*Ricky has a game
*Popeye's Chicken-they love it when Ricky has a game in Livingston
*Quest to find the perfect dress for Jessica's tea party
*Store 1
*Store 2
*Store 3
*Store 4
*Many dresses tried on-the smile just wasn't there
*FINALLY!!!
*"Mom, I look beautiful!"
*Happiness and Peace.
*Home
*tonight we have Pizza Villa and rejuvenate
*tomorrow tennis lessons
*tomorrow Mother-Daughter Tea Party
*tournament at Big League Dreams

here we go again...

Peace