Nostalgia

Ahhh...it's that time of year again. I love that day that you pull all your decorations out and you begin to wonder - now where am I going to put THAT? It's hard for me to have extra 'clutter' in the garage, but when I pull down all my ornaments and Christmas decor, I find a renewed energy to make my house look different and festive (if only on this one occasion). It's too much work to change my house for every season. My mom does it best. I'm doing well just getting by day to day!!

This year the boys were more than excited to decorate the tree. They even turned down a trip with Papa and Daddy to go to Bass Pro Shops! I know, can you believe it? I couldn't. Unfortunately every ornament ended up hanging in the same area of the tree on more or less the same branch. I had to disperse them a little, since things were falling off and threatening to break. An especially popular ornament was one that mom made me that sings "It's a Small World." Dad, I feel your pain of a LONG time ago when that was the only song on our buggies. Now I know why you "couldn't fix it" when it broke.

All the kids at Gram and Gramps' house for Thanksgiving.

The holidays bring so many memories to me that sometimes it's hard to even know where to begin with my children. It's not like we had "traditions" per se, but there were always things mom pulled out of the decoration box that Riva and I loved (the candle angels that spun around, Riva??) There was also music that we listened to. That music was on a tape and I think it has long been wrecked due to so many years of repeat playing. It almost makes me want to rewind back to the 'good old days' when I didn't have to parent and I was carefree with almost no responsibilities. I'm sure my parents couldn't say the same about having no responsibilities on their end at that time, but I was so happy as a kid. I owe so much of that to my parents and the way they raised me. Don't get me wrong - I love being a mom and wife, but I sometimes have to escape in my mind to those carefree, whimsical days.

Bryan being himself when I want to take a picture. ha ha!!

So this is what I got when I told Austin, "Go get some pants on if you want to come with Mommy to the store...it's going to be cold." Ya - LAKER pants that are shiny gold and purple, with a red Angel shirt and too-small sandals. I was SO embarassed and all Bryan could do was bend over laughing on the couch. Austin was so proud of his ensemble, so I had to take him out looking like that. I'm sure before I was a mom, I'd have thought, "I'd never let my son out of the house looking like that." **sigh** That is why I capture this image - so he would believe me when I tell him later on in life. At least it's the 2 teams we like....it could have been worse.

Cookie baking time. Bryan's co-workers wanted Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies so the boys and I made them. My mom just made each of her grandkids aprons, and Austin hasn't taken his off for about a day. They came into use while we baked. Thanks mom, those are a huge hit!

Ok what's a day in November in SoCal without going to the beach and rolling around in the sand? I mean really - high 70's/low 80's and it's GORGEOUS there today. What's weird is that I have a decorated Christmas tree at my house and my kids are shirtless on the beach....I'm sure the East Coaster's are jealous. hee hee. I had a chiropractor appointment this afternoon, so I brought the boys to the beach to play for a couple of hours before the appt. They went in the water for about 15 minutes, but their biggest joy was literally rolling over these huge sand dunes that had been created by the tide. Above you see Ethan in action. Austin was sliding backwards down the hill. They were in their element.

For the car ride home, I bought them $1 drinks at Starbucks, and got myself a Vanilla Bean Frappucino. Those are my guilty pleasures, but without the whip, there's no fat!! Of course I have to add on the whipped cream....it's not the same without it. Ahh...a day well spent. I'm hopefully making nostalgic moments for my kids....even though they probably won't remember this and we don't do it that often. Yay for memories!

A Recap

Preschool time is here. It's hard to believe that my little Ethan is in preschool and next year will be entering kindergarten. I'm already scared of our homework....yes, OUR homework. It seems I'll be starting school next year too. I'm nervous about science projects and reports the most. I already enlisted my mom to help (even though she laughed and said, "I did enough of those for you girls"). I know she did - she had it times two. Well, on that note a common place to take Austin after dropping off Ethan at his school is this water fountain near a shopping center. It's hard for me to go home and do chores all the time, so I like to get my little 3 year old's energy out near where there's a Starbucks, a Ross, and a Target if you get my drift. hee hee

I took both boys to the fountain and got this cute shot of them "drowning leaves." I don't think that's what they called it, but all they wanted to do was douse these poor leaves in the water and watch how they fell apart after doing so. Boys.....

My boys do NOT like dressing up. I don't even think they are aware that there is a holiday called Halloween. This is because all we did was go to the pumpkin patch (where neither child would do any of the jump houses) and walk around for about a half hour. On the night of, instead of going to our church's Harvest festival we went to Bryan's parents' house and had dinner. I refuse to subject myself to dealing with fits of sobs because we have to make ourselves look like something else. Heaven forbid!!!!

One of the things we love doing is going on the boat. On this particular day Bryan's mom actually tagged along with his dad on their boat and we met at Perris. Once Ethan sees his Papa's boat, he always wants to go on it instead of ours. I think it's all the Cheetos and snacks he doesn't get on ours....but it could also be the company. My 5 year old is too cool to stay with his parents. Austin still hitched a ride with us, but managed to down all the snacks I brought in a 30 minute period. I don't know what it is about being on the boat, but it brings the hunger out in me as well. Some day Papa will get both boys and I'll be left childless on our boat. It's always fun to be out there and enjoy our day as a family.

This is the new "it" toy in our house. They discovered Bryan's TV games. It has pac man and another game that shoots bees. I think it's called Galaga or something. Obviously I'm not super into video games, but it's definitely starting to become a popular thing with Ethan especially. Austin gets bored of watching Ethan, but he can't quite pick up how to play yet. Needless to say, I'm going to have to be one of those moms who puts time limits on video games I think....like father like son.

AHHHhhhh...our first fire of the season....before the weather went up again!! I love the fall usually because it starts getting crisp outside and I can light my candles and get all cozy. Well it's taken a little too much time to start feeling like fall this year. So on one slightly crisp evening, we lit a fire and I was in heaven!

Ok so you'd think that I'd charge my camera and everything for a weekend away, but no, I only managed to grab my camera on the way out the door for my Uncle Bill's funeral this weekend in San Jose. So, this is literally one of 2 pictures I was able to get before it shut down on me. Honestly, there are just too many things to remember for me right now. I mean it's even worse because my face is HUGE and I cut almost everyone else off....nice picture taking skills Cara. So this is my only documented memory of this weekend. The funeral, though, was very touching and it was wonderful to hear my Uncle Bill's voice recorded and played in the church. We miss you Uncle Bill!!

Uncle Bill

This morning about 20 minutes after coming home from the gym, I received a phone call from my mom telling me that my Uncle Bill's long, painful battle had ended overnight. The Lord took him home to be with Him as well as see my Aunt Leone, my Papa, my Aunt Lynette and other family members we have lost over the years. What a legacy. I was so privileged to be born and raised in a God fearing family where my parents and my extended family love the Lord with all their hearts. He is over his suffering and where he has always wanted to be.

Me and Uncle Bill.

Riva, Uncle Bill and me at Papa's funeral.

Riva, Julie, Janelle, Katie, Cheryl and me with Uncle Bill. Girl power!!

I thought this was a cute one of Uncle Bill and my dad relaxing at the reception.

Uncle Bill was a man who loved his family and his Lord. I can remember staying with my Nana and Papa, and Uncle Bill and Aunt Leone would take us to feed the squirrels, or to Great America, or to Santa Cruz for the day and we just loved having that special time together. One of the most hilarious memories I have is of Uncle Bill (in the good old days) with his video camera in a briefcase (we're talking one of the old over-the-shoulder kind of cameras) and having to take 10 minutes to put it together so he could video tape us at Great America. It was the cutest thing. All Aunt Leone could do is say, "Bill....put that thing away now." He loved his camera and let me tell you he has volumes of videos of his grandchildren. Uncle Bill was the kindest soul and just loved everyone he came in contact with. He loved to sing and I know he's singing in heaven as I type this. No more pain, no more fear...just eternally with his Father in heaven. Uncle Bill, you will be missed. I love you so much.

Various Medicines

So this last month seemed to fly by. 3 weeks of it was spent staying at home nursing the flu as it worked its way from family member to family member. Bryan got a REALLY bad flu and was in bed for 3 days with a fever of 104 (it was probably Swine Flu, but they aren't testing for it anymore) and he was extremely achy with a deep cough. Then Ethan got it, complete with the most snot I've seen in my life, then Austin with a fever of 104.5, then me, mildly with body aches, a fever of 101.5 and a cough. Now we're FINALLY through that horror. We can get out of the house and breathe normal air.

So this is what my counter looked like for several weeks. Let's just say that Lysol was sprayed even OVER Bryan as he laid in bed. I was determined not to get it. My hands were washed so many times they actually cracked (I don't think I've ever had that happen). Not one handle, knob or door escaped my Lysol wipes and not one molecule of air in the house was not neutralized with the spray....yet we all managed to get it in some form...*sigh*

I love to make things. I love crafts and making things that other people can enjoy. When my Aunt Lynette passed away she left her nieces with all her jewelry-making things. She had so many amazing beads, findings and storage containers that it was almost overwhelming. I took a few things, but didn't know if I'd ever pick them up and actually make something with them. Well, that Christmas I made all my cousins, aunts, Nana, mom and sister earrings from some of the beads she left behind. That started my interest and I've been doing it ever since. Now Riva and I are doing a little boutique at my house to sell her sewing and my jewelry, scarves and other crafts that I've made this year. I always have a part of my Aunt Lynette in every item of jewelry I make. It's my way of staying close to her and remembering what she meant to me while she was here.

One of my rings made of Swarovski crystal, shell and wire.

Me and the boys. They like to see themselves on camera, and also like to take pictures. I'm still getting used to seeing myself with dark hair, but the response seems to be mostly positive. I have, however, had some people tell me that they look forward to the blonde coming back. Change is a good thing sometimes. Who wants to always look the same??