Girl Cousin Sleepover

My kids love their cousins!  We were so lucky to have Lani, Megan, Caitlin, Heavenly and Pascale over to spend the night!  They arrived earlier this afternoon which provided us with much outdoor pool time, playing with bubbles, being creative with art supplies, and watching a few Disney movies!  My kids were in pure heaven!

Of course, we had to go and get donuts (in our pajamas) in the morning, paint our nails, and have matching hair styles!  Why?  Why not!  We can't wait to get together with the rest of the family today to celebrate a belated Mother's Day at Lake Vasona!

Claire's Last Spring Fling 2013

The Spring Fling at St. Christopher School is a musical event performed by the kids in grades 1-4th.  This is Claire's last year singing so I was a bit sad going into it.  It's kind of a right of passage for these 4th graders.  Next year, she will join her brother in the BIG KID wing at our school and instead of participating in the Spring Fling, she will be in the audience.

The theme of this Spring Fling was Disney.  Claire's class was assigned the song, "Under the Sea".  They did a super great job!  Matthew and Emily loved watching their big sissy up on stage!  I, naturally, cried through most of it.  Happy tears.  So proud of my big 4th grader who is on the cusp of many exciting and big changes.  We love you, Clairey!  Great job today!

Matthew's 'Letter Person' Day

In Kindergarten, the kids learn the letters of the alphabet by associating them with letter people.  Each week, they have two new letter people to meet and Matthew comes home with such enthusiasm about them!  Letter people are letters with some kind of theme.  For instance, when Claire was in Kindergarten she picked Ms. A, Achoooo!

Since the school year is almost over, the Kindergarten devotes an entire day to celebrate the Letter People!  The kids just love it.  They get to pick their favorite letter person and dress up like them.  Matthew picked Mr. G, Gooey Gum!  Needless to say, he was the hit of the class as he had REAL GUM (he liked to emphasize that it was indeed REAL) all over his shirt!  To complete the look, he even had a REAL GUM watch!

I love Matthew.  He truly enjoys the little things in life and you can see the joy he feels in his heart all over his sweet little face.

A Wonderful Mother's Day

This morning I woke up to four beautiful smiling faces.  What a way to start my day.  A day that I feel honored to be a part of.  Mother's Day.  It's been a long road but here I am, celebrating my 12th Mother's Day.  I couldn't have planned it any better.  A slow morning with my four beautiful children and the man who made it all possible.

Starbucks sausage sandwiches, a deliciously large venti drip coffee, sweet gifts handmade from my babies, and a few treats from Damien and the kids.  As customary, I received gift cards from the kids so we can all go on personalized dates!

We headed to Mass and then decided to grab sandwiches and head to Vasona Park.  It was really so beautiful and perfect.  We bought balls, frisbees, lawn chairs, music, and fresh cherries.  It was divine.  We played around for a while and then decided to go on the paddle boats.

We paddled for a long time (maybe a bit too long for the kids' legs), had some refreshing popsicles from the popsicle man, and then took a stroll along the water.  I was overcome while watching my children play together.  This is what I dreamed my life to be.  And then, there's Damien.  Since the day I met him- I knew he would be a wonderful father.  Together, we made our dream of a big family . . . a reality.

We left the park and then went and got some sushi.  My request!  And then, somehow- we managed to go to Baskin and Robbins for some ice cream!  I have never been so full, but happy.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the incredible mothers in my life.  I am truly blessed.

Mother's Day with Damien's Family

We were lucky enough to have a nice Mother's Day luncheon with Damien's family.  Usually we celebrate on the actual day, but this year- it worked out better for the family to celebrate a day earlier!

Claire had a soccer game but joined us shortly after.  We shared a yummy lunch and just hung out and had fun!  We got a couple great pictures which I know I will cherish forever.  It was especially awesome to have all thirteen grandkids under one roof!

Tomorrow, we will celebrate Mother's Day as a little family.  I think this will be my first Mother's Day where I am the only Mother being celebrated!  Should be fun!

Gina's Birthday

Today is my sister Gina's birthday!  We are so lucky to have her down here in California with us to be able to celebrate her special days!  Gina wanted to have a low-key birthday this year, so we did just that!  We even got Emily out of the house two days post-op!  Afterward, we headed to the mall where we went in search of cute clothes and matching dresses.  Okay, maybe the dress thing was a joke but it was fun!  We ended the night going to a movie together that was hands down the weirdest movie either of us has ever seen.  Beyond the Pines.  Don't see it and if you do- we warned you first!  We will do something bigger for her this weekend but wanted to make sure she felt special on her special day!

I am so grateful to have a sister who just gets me.  Someone who literally knows what I am thinking before I say a word.  Someone who would love me the same if my life went down hill or if I won the lottery.  Someone who loves me enough to answer my questions honestly and always give me the truth.  Gina is an amazing auntie, friend, Yoshi player, Boggle champion, sister, and all around awesome person.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives!

Emily Gets Tonsils Removed

Today is the day!  I'm sad that Emily has to endure this but so happy that going forward, she won't have to deal with her tonsils.  She was a champ this morning.  Woke up without any hassle and showed little fear while entering the hospital.  I have told all three kids when they ask what will happen that the doctor is going to fix their mouth while they are sleeping.  This worked on all of them.  I never talked about how they would take them out or anything.  I think this truly lessened their fears about the surgery.

Emily was admitted right away.  We started the process of getting her into a hospital gown, getting her hospital bracelets on, and settling into a bed.

Emily brought her flamingo with her to keep her company.  Her name is Flamingo Joseph.  The nurse was so sweet and even made Flamingo Joseph a hospital I.D. bracelet!  She got to color and relax for a bit which was nice.

Then they brought in the magic medicine.  It tastes disgusting but works miracles.  Just like the other two kids before her, Emily slowly started to slip into a relaxed state and started being silly.  She was so funny.  So funny.

The medicine has an amnesia-like quality which helps them leave their Mom and Dad for surgery relaxed and happy.  And truly, they don't remember a thing when they get up!  The worst part about it is the taste and unfortunately when you are prepping for surgery, they won't let you have any water to wash it down.  Obviously, Emily thought it tasted nasty!

They brought Emily back to surgery on her gurney and she waved goodbye like she was being wheeled off to Disneyland or something.  Damien had a few business calls to make in the hospital while I busied myself with finding a cup of coffee!

She wasn't in surgery too long.  Just long enough to take out her tonsils and adenoids.  The doctor said that both her HUGE!  Poor baby!  I went back to see her and she was having a hard time.  Waking up from surgery is hard.  So confused, so uncomfortable.  We had to stay there and wait for her to transition the longest of the three kids.  She just couldn't drink and the popsicles didn't sounds very good to her.  Slowly but surely though, she came around.  Lots of tears- which of course hurt my heart.

I got to hold her for a long time post surgery.  She was most comfortable with me which made me feel so special.  I wanted to do anything to make her feel better.

Emily fell asleep on the drive home and transitioned inside nicely.  We made her a comfy bed, she got treats from her grandparents, aunts and uncles, and then watched a few movies.  She really did well.  Like I said, she was the hardest to transition after surgery but one of the easiest post surgery.

Now the challenge will be to hold her off all the foods that could scratch her tonsils as her appetite is now back in full swing.  We are also loving her new high sweet voice!  The tonsils really block the air that is necessary to speak so she has had garbled speech for a while.  We think she sounds like a high pitched princess.  Even Emily is trying to get used to her new voice!

We are so happy for you, Emily!  Goodbye tonsils!!!

Enjoy this video of Emily completely loopy and affected by the medicine.  She is so silly!

Can I get more of that medicine??

Clearly, the medicine is working!  So sleepy!

Before surgery.  The redness you see in her throat are
giant tonsils.  You can't see the hangy-downy thing
in her mouth.  Barely had any room back there to
breathe and swallow.  So glad
they're gone!!!!!!!

Michael and Claire Gain Some Independence

They may hate me for doing this, but I'm just doing my crazy job.  I remember watching a video of my Mom and Dad following me in their car while I was on the bus for my first day of Kindergarten.  They videoed the whole drive . . . through the windshield . . . wipers going because it was raining.  While it was a bit crazy (mostly because of how big video cameras were back then), I loved that they videoed it because it was a good view of a big piece of my life!  While getting donuts isn't a truly significant event, watching Michael and Claire gain some independence is.  They were both nervous to walk the block to Yum Yum Donuts.  Damien and I were a bit nervous too, but I think they did a great job!  They may hate that I did this now, but years from now when we are cracking up together while sharing the donuts their kids brought us, they will thank me.  Okay, not thank me.  A little wink letting me know they forgive me will do.

Matthew, His Friends, and a Photo Bomber

Matthew had three friends over for a play date today!  So fun!!!  We went straight to Emma Prusch Farm 'Home of the Canadian Killer Geese' to have some fun!  Unfortunately, one of the kids was afraid of any 'bird type' animals.  And because the birds/ducks/geese/chickens/roosters/hens are very friendly here, he was really freaked out.  I felt bad for him so we played on the toys, stayed away from the farm area (which is the majority of the place), took a few pictures, and then back to the house for some lunch and play time.

I'd like you to meet Emily.  She is a lot of things to a lot of people.  She has a lot of different nicknames.  She is also a self proclaimed photo bomber.  She can't help it.  It is in her nature to get into everyone's own personal situations.  Photo with your three best guy friends from school?  Photo Bomb.  Picture with your basketball team who just won a trophy?  Photo Bomb.  No one is immune.  Not even Matthew and his friends.  #photobomberforlife

What Do We Do During Baseball Games?

Let's face it.  Baseball games can be long.  Strike that.  They are always long.  Don't get me wrong . . . I love going to the boys' games but I especially love watching them at bat and when they field balls in the infield.  The rest of it . . . can get a little boring.  That's nothing that a Coke and some nachos can't fix, though.  If you were to come to one of the boys' games, this is what we might be doing.

Matthew and the Hot Rods!

Matthew is loving his first year of T-Ball on the Hot Rods!  This weekend was team pictures and they all looked adorable in their little white pants.  I just love baseball uniforms!  I feel like it is a right of passage for little boys to wear the uniform and glove at least once in their adolescence!  I managed to take a few sneaky shots of Matthew as he posed with his team.  Proud Mommy over here.  I love my little guy!