Jake's 2nd Birthday

On Saturday, November 2nd, Jake's 2nd birthday was held in our back yard and once again, we were blessed with amazing weather. We invited immediate family and Jake's friends {and their parents, of course} We chose Elmo and trains for the theme and for food, the kids enjoyed pizza and gold fish crackers while the adults enjoyed all-you-can-eat tacos with the usual side dishes.

This year we decided to hire some entertainment for the kids so we went with a clown who later in the party would magically turn into the big guy himself - Elmo. If I had to pick one moment that would be the highlight of the party, this would be it: When Jake saw Elmo walk into the backyard. His whole face lit up....then he went in for a great big hug. {and then my heart leaped for joy} I'll never forget his face. Or that moment.

Prior to Elmo showing up for the party, The Clown played a few musical based games but the biggest hit was a parachute activity where all the kids hold on to a piece of a parachute and then lift it up and then bring it down....and then lift it up and bring it down. Sounds pretty boring, right? But they loved it. Especially the part where the parents lifted up the parachute so they could play under it. They were running around in a circle and laughing.

I can remember taking a moment to stop and really take it all in - all our loved ones watching the festivities from their tables and the kids - their happy faces. Lots of laughing. Cameras flashing.

 I felt so blessed. And happy.

The food was great {probably more so because I didn't have to prepare, cook and serve it} and everyone seemed to have a really good time. Naturally, Jacob received several train and Elmo themed gifts - including a train table set from his Godparents and an Elmo themed train set from his Nina Yolie. Cake time zoomed by so I didn't get many pictures but Jacob enjoyed every last bite of his cake. {You all know the boy loves cake} 

All in all, it was a really good day that was topped off with a tall glass of sangria for myself and some of our favorite people, talking and laughing until the sun set.

 

Jacob's Baptism - The Details

Jake's baptism was one of my favorite events to plan to date. Of course I enjoyed the creative aspect of the planning process - I always do. But I also thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend unlimited amounts of time with Jacob's godmothers: my sister, Yolanda and Leo's sister, Maria.

We had SO much fun.

In short, We shopped. We dipped. We carefully crafted and we shared lots and lots of laughs.

All of the elements that we used for the reception were found via my favorite websites for inspiration: Pinterest and Etsy. If you are a Mom and you're not already using these website, I highly recommend both.

 I also have a party-planning secret weapon: I have a friend who is a very talented graphic design artist - Debbie of Dagal Creative. I absolutely LOVE working with her because she always manages to see my vision even before I have it completely figured out. She did everything - the invites, the prayer cards, the favor tags the thank you cards.

My process goes a little something like this: I find something I like on Pinterest or Etsy, I email the picture or the link to the picture to Debbie and she modifies it based on my theme. For instance, I found "My Wishes for You" cards via Etsy and she modified the text to make them more baptism appropriate by changing it to "My Prayers for You."

 I can't tell you how much we both enjoyed reading each and every one at the end of the day. There were SO many great comments - here are just a few: 

I pray you get to....have one great love

I pray you never forget...to call your Mom

I pray you are never afraid of...what you don't understand

I pray you become...a friend to Joaquin

I pray you become...Captain America

I pray you get to...be successful and follow God's way

I pray you learn...about the stars

I pray you laugh...every day

For favors, we decided on white chocolate dipped Oreo cookies so Debbie created a favor tag based on another sample I found via Pinterest. They of course matched the color theme perfectly.

One of my very favorite elements that we incorporated was a fingerprint tree - you may have seen this done at weddings or bridal showers. I saw it on Pinterest and immediately fell in love with the idea. The concept is simple - guests add their fingerprint to the tree and write their name above it to serve as a record of their presence.

I plan to frame it and hang it proudly on our wall and then one day, when Jacob has a family of his own, my hope is that he will hang it proudly on his wall. I knew I wanted to somehow honor our family members in heaven so I was able to accomplish this by adding their names - the color of the flower represents that of their birthstone.

For the centerpieces, I wanted something bright and cheery but also inexpensive. I asked a local pizza restaurant if I could take their empty cans of tomato sauce off their hands and they happily obliged.
My go-to florist also happens to be a great friend of mine from High School - Ricardo and his wife, Erin have a very successful floral business called Irises Floral Designs.

They spray painted the cans, added a thick chocolate brown ribbon around the middle and then added a favor tag to tie everything together. We skipped flowers and went with simple bunches of babies breath.

They were absolutely perfect.

The last element was the cake. Again, I found the initial design via Pinterest but I modified it by adding a cross and as funny as it may sound, a pair of converse tennis shoes. Ever since Jacob was a baby, he's mostly worn converse so I thought it would be fitting. We ordered the cake from the same person who did his first birthday cake - Susie from Havana Taste. The bottom layer was chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling and the top layer was blueberry cake with lemon curd filling - delish!

Finally, it was important to both of us to have lots of great pictures so that one day when Jacob is old enough to grasp the concept of baptism, we will be able to give him a clear picture of what the day was like. I didn't want to worry about not having enough or worse, having pictures that were blurry or too dark. We decided to ask my friend Sheila who used to work with me at La Verne. She is now a graduate but she loves photography and when I asked her, she happily obliged. She did such a great job - we couldn't have asked for more.

The day was by no means perfect. There were family members who were unable to attend and other loved ones who we would have loved to invite but for financial reasons, were unable to. And because Jacob missed his morning and afternoon naps, he was fussy at times. But still all in all, we were very happy.
Happy for him and happy for us.

We can't thank Jacob's godparents enough for their generous contributions and none of the beautiful details would have been possible had it not been for our amazing friends - my party planning secret weapons: Debbie, Ricardo and Erin. We are also eternally gratful to Sheila for capturing it all so perfectly.

We are truly blessed.

Enjoy the day!
Malissa

Your Baptism

Dear Jacob,

Today was a very special day for our little family.

You were baptized at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in the beautiful tree lined city of Claremont, California. You wore a white silk shorts outfit - complete with bow tie and a vest with fish tails.

We arrived about thirty minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin and sat in the first row where your Godfather placed a beautful white gold necklace with a medalion of John the Baptist around your neck. Then your Godmothers finished dressing you in your vest and cumberbun - you looked so very handsome!

The ceremony began and you sat patiently on my lap.
(Having your favorite snacks on hand definitely helped!)

First, we were asked to go to the front entrance of the sanctuary to be officially invited into the Church of God. This is where your Daddy was asked to speak of our intentions to have you baptized in the presence of our family and friends. Then we were asked to outline the sign of the cross on your forehead one-by one and then we walked back into the sanctuary to await the next step in the ceremony.

By now, you were a bit more active - walking back and forth between your Daddy and I.

Next, you were annointed with oil, just under your collar and also later at the base of your head. It was a very sweet smelling oil. Afterwards, we each took turns smelling your head, as funny as that sounds - even your Grandparents who sat behind us - you didn't seem to mind one bit.

The next step was the candle lighting. All of the parents, godparents and children being baptized stood on the stage in a half circle. The Deacon lit a taper candle for each child being baptized using a very large candle on stage. He handed the taper candle to me and one by one, I went to your godparents and lit their candle.

 

The last step of the ceremony was the baptism with water. Your Dad held you. I stood beside him and your Godparents and Grandparents surrounded us. After the Deacon asked us our intentions, your Daddy held you over the basin and your Grandmother helped the Deacon pour the holy water over your head.

I thought I would have been in tears by now but at that moment, I was completely overwhelmed with joy. For your Dad and I, this moment meant the world to us.

Our miracle baby boy was baptized.
Another dream come true.

After taking several photos and having some items blessed by the Deacon, we celebrated with close family and friends at a local restaurant. By now, you were tired from missing your morning nap but you still managed to hold on for a few more hours. After lunch, a piece of cake, a chocolate covered oreo cookie, playtime with your cousin Marley and many, many more photos, you fell asleep in my arms.

For me, this day will forever be etched in mind as being perfect in every way.
It was the starting point for your walk with God and I am so excited to see where his path will lead you.

Love,
Your (Lucky) Mommy

My Dad and Life Lessons

Most of you didn't know my Dad. He was smart, funny, generous and affectionate. He could also be complicated and difficult to read at times. He never had a hard time saying, "I love you." but like many of us, he struggled with admitting when he was wrong.

When I was a little girl, I remember him being the kind of person who would give you the shirt off of his back and he loved nothing more than to cook and share his dishes with others. We were a fairly large family (I'm one of 5 kids) so he always cooked enough for what seemed like an army, which meant that there were always left-overs for days. My friends loved to sleep over because that meant that more than likely they would be indulging in homemade banana pancakes the next morning.

He had a great smile and an infectious laugh. He enjoyed working with his hands and he loved listening to his eclectic collection of albums from Freddy Fender, Jerry Lee Lewis and Aaron Neville to Three Dog Night, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Kenny Rogers to name just a few. He looked forward to having family over for the holidays and he went out of his way to ensure that everyone was well-fed, content and happy. 

Sometimes I can't help but wonder what if things had been different? What if he were still here today? Would we have been able to mend our relationship? I'd like to think so. In life it's easy to feel regret but I also know in my heart of hearts that I did what I had to do...at the time for me. And regardless of what happened, I LOVE my Dad very much and I will always hold fast to the good times and the great memories we had while he was here.

My relationship with my Dad didn't end up where I would have liked it to be before he passed but sometimes we have to let go for our own sake. Most people may not understand this but as hard as it was to walk away, it was even harder on me to stay and when I did, he didn't show any interest in doing whatever it took to save our relationship. Maybe it was his pride or his ability to be stubborn at times or a combination of both, I will never know but I have to believe that he missed having me in his life and wished things were different.

Since then, I have forgiven him and myself. Nothing will ever change the fact that he was my Dad and I wouldn't change a thing because just like every other experience in life, it has molded me in to the person I am today.

My Dad was a complicated man but he was also funny, smart, loving and generous. These days, when a song comes on that reminds me of him, I smile and hope that he is proud of the person I have become. The lesson here is that love sometimes isn't enough to make a relationship work but you can still appreciate how it helps you navigate through the rest of your life.

Today, I can most definitely appreciate the traits that he has unknowingly passed down to me. I like to look at it as an unexpected blessing that I will always appreciate and hold on to. 

Life Lessons
You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word. Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart. Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The (woman)(man) I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away. I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid. By Joanna F.
Enjoy the Day!
Missy         

I dreamed about you

When I was a little girl, I spent many days and nights dreaming about you. I dreamed about what our life would look like: two cute kids, a cat and maybe a dog living in a modest home - minus the picket fence. I thought about the goals we'd set and the dreams we'd make come true. The experiences we'd share, the trips we'd take as a family and the traditions we'd enjoy and carry on. Lazy Saturday morning breakfasts spent at home and holidays split between our parent's homes.

I didn't meet you at a mutual friend's party or at a local hang-out. I didn't run into you on a crowded street or at a family member's wedding. Our story began at a sporting goods store in Montclair, CA - where we both worked. Not the most romantic start of a story but I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that you were the one for SO many reasons. Your smile - infectious. Your gaze - dizzying. Quiet and soft spoken. Your loving spirit and kind soul was evident to everyone who knew you and it was definitely not lost on me.

Quite the contrary - I was smitten.      

As we spent more time together, conversation became easy and I remember us laughing a lot. I loved every minute of those first couple of months we spent together, holding hands, just you and me. Days spent at the beach, talking for hours about our lives, our fears, our hopes and our aspirations. Discussing in great detail what we wanted in our relationship as well as what we didn't want. 

Gravity seemed to take over and I was head over heels in love

When you asked me to officially be your girlfriend, I remember thinking, "I must be the luckiest girl alive" and when you asked me to be your wife on Valentine's Day, I thought to myself, "I can't imagine being any happier than right now...in this moment."  

The best part is I still feel the same way today. Eleven years later and my love for you only continues to grow and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but you. I love that we have tons of history and I enjoy remembering the trips we've taken, the events we've attended arm in arm, the un-planned trips to the beach, the late night conversations and early morning cuddling - the restaurants we've discovered and the sentimental gifts we've given each other over the years. It all amounts to lots and lots of sweet memories.

The picture of our life today is very different from from the picture I envisioned all those years ago but through our love for each other, the bond we share and the many blessings we have been given, the picture of our life has been beautifully edited and cropped just so to reflect only joy and happiness.

To the Man of my Dreams:

Happy Valentine's Day! 

xoxo, 

Missy  

Good (Holiday) Times

Today marks my first day back to work after a little over two glorious weeks off from work.

And I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it. 

A few days before Christmas we went to Disneyland with Leo's family and despite the rain and the cold, had a really great time. The lines were manageable and the Christmas decorations were beautiful, of course.
I loved seeing the happy faces of Leo's nephews as they climbed in and out of the rides and I've never seen so many brightly colored umbrellas and rain boots - I wished I had taken a picture - it was definitely a sight to be seen.

At the end of the evening, after the rest of the family opted to head home, Maria, Leo and I spent some time walking around all of the shops on Main Street before heading over to Downtown Disney for Dinner, despite our messy hat hair, wet clothes and sloshy shoes. (Another sight to be seen) We noshed on salad, shared a pizza and enjoyed a tall glass of wine. So nice! 

On the Thursday before Christmas, for the first time in years, my sisters and I got together to make tamales - pork and chicken, just like Dad used to make. We ended up with far too many green beans and peas and we had to go back for more masa at one point but we managed to produce about 15 dozen, they turned out great and we had a good time making them. We're definitely hoping to make this an annual tradition, for our family, once again.

New Year's Eve was spent at our house this year. I baked a ham, made mashed potatoes and freshly steamed tamales for dinner. Christmas music played in the background as we talked and sipped on sangria - laughing and taking pictures. We rang in the new year by first toasting with a glass of almond champagne (Yum!) and then we each ate 12 grapes (while making a wish for each grape eaten) before making our rounds around the table to give and receive hugs. (A family tradition)

Then on New Year's Day everyone came together at our house to celebrate Leo's Dad's birthday, this time with extended family. Leo's parents brought the main courses - I just peppered in some appetizers and mini sandwiches made with the leftover ham, assorted sliced cheese and freshly baked rolls. Leo's sister made Dad's favorite - carrot cake plus several different pies and I made chocolate cup cakes so dessert was definitely covered. Everyone seemed to have a good time, again, despite the cold. At the end of the night we took a photo of each family in front of our Christmas tree before we said our good-bye's. 

On Sunday, we didn't do much and Monday we spent most of the day taking down the Christmas decorations, including the tree. Our house almost seems bare now, without the color and bling of Christmas. Tuesday we took a drive to Long Beach. The weather was chilly but the sun was out and sky was clear. If you haven't had the famous shrimp tray at the Long Beach Market, you must try it! I highly recommend it.

After you pay for a pound or so of their fresh shrimp, you take it over to a different counter to have it sauted in butter and spices along with onion, bell pepper and tomatoes. Then they top it off with two large pieces of freshly grilled garlic bread. After our scrumptious lunch, we headed to Shoreline Village.

Shoreline Village is one of the first places Leo ever took me to and the location where he asked me to marry him. I hadn't been there in years - so much development has gone up and around the village but the village itself, is exactly the same. It's still peaceful and so beautiful.

We walked up and down the boardwalk, holding hands - the sun was about to set so we sat down and watched as it fell beneath the horizon.

 
We stopped for some hot chocolate and shared a cinnamon roll before heading home. It was nice - just the two of us - talking and reminiscing. 

On Wednesday, we both relished in the last few hours of our vacation. I treated myself to a spa pedicure while Leo enjoyed my Christmas gift to him - a hot stone therapy massage. For dinner, I made chicken and pasta with Garlic Bread and then the the rest of the afternoon was spent on the couch watching movies. He mostly slept, as he usually does with Quincy on his lap and Sunny on mine.

Relaxing. Quiet. Comfortable. The perfect ending to our perfect Christmas/New Year's vacation.

Filled to the Brim

It was time. Time to decorate our pre-lit store bought Christmas tree. I stacked the boxes neatly near the tree and began to unwrap each individual ornament. Each one with it's own significance and filled with special memories. Handmade ornaments that I made when I was in kindergarten and elementary school - a hand painted Santa Claus, a snowflake with remnants of silvery glitter and a small stocking with my name written in red pen on the border.

Ornaments that Mom would give me every holiday season, with my name and year written on the back and a few that she had engraved - a shiny gold ornament in the shape of a little girl holding a Christmas bell and a little girl in pajamas holding a cat from the year when I adopted my very first cat who I named Gonzo.

And ornaments that Leo has given me over the years - I especially love the one that has a little boy and girl sitting on a moon - it was a gift from him when we first started dating and a shell ornament from our honeymoon in Maui that plays the song, "Mele Kalikimaka" that we picked it up in a small boutique in Lahaina. 

A button that says "Eat at Ed Debevick's" from my first trip with friends to L.A. my sophomore year in High School. A beautiful ceramic angel ornament holding a key that my Grandma Farmer gave to me when we bought our house. She came to stay with me for a week and we did so much laughing and talking while we worked on putting a puzzle together. (which I later framed and hung in our hallway)

A wooden stocking with Leo's name written across the top, a black and white and a orange ceramic cat that I bought the year we adopted Quincy and Sunny. And a beautiful trio of angels that have real silk wings - a gift from my Mom and a very special gold ornament that serves as a reminder of my little brother in heaven. It has a beautiful poem on the front and his name engraved on the back.

I recently bought an adorable snowman to commemorate our trip as a family to Utah last year for Christmas. Mom had us make our very first snowman - it wasn't much to look at but we had a lot of fun making it. Of course, I have a red Starbucks coffee cup ornament from my love of coffee and lots of Winnie the Pooh ornaments - my favorite childhood Disney character. A mini Christmas poem book - a gift from my friend Sue Newhouse and a set of ceramic teddy bears.

To add some subtle bling, I added shiny gold ball ornaments and then I filled in the holes with red velvet bows. After trimming the tree, I stepped back and took it all in - my eyes scanning the many reminders of wonderful memories and I immediately felt grateful to have such an amazing Mom - the creator of this tradition started so many years ago.

It's a tradition of making your tree so much more than just a tree. In many ways, our Christmas tree reflects who we are individually and also who we are as a couple - where we have been and also where we are headed. It is a very special tree - it is our very own tree that is filled to the brim with memories.

 Our Beautiful Tree

My Blessings

Thanksgiving this year was celebrated in our home. Despite the traffic and the cold, windy weather, my sisters and their families showed up with homemade side dishes. My older sister and my niece showed up early in the morning to help me prep my very first turkey. It was fun, going through all the necessary steps with my sister there to guide me. When the turkey was in the oven, we chattted over freshly brewed coffee and buttery sweet cinnamon rolls.

And the strangest thing happened. In all of my thirty-seven years on this planet, I have always fussed over cleaning, preparing and making everything look perfect but this year, for some reason, I was different. I didn't stress when I realized that we didn't have any ice. I didn't fuss over ironing the tablecloth before placing it and I sat down at the kitchen table...a lot - just talking, laughing and enjoying my family's company. When dinner was over, i didn't rush to wash the dishes - it didn't even enter my mind.

I just sat back and relished. 
Savored every minute.
And it felt good. 

We had such a good time. The food was amazing and thankfully, the turkey was good too. The only thing missing was a couple of family members who couldn't be present, such my Mom, Step-Dad and nephews, Daniel and Jonathan. Their presence was definitely missed but it was difficult, very difficult not to feel completely blessed, sitting around the table with my family and my hubby. We took lots and lots of photos, as we usually do. And we surprised my sisters and my niece with their own individual birthday cakes at the end of the day - the perfect ending to a perfect day. 

I was worried that the holidays would bring me sadness but instead I felt happy and content. And maybe, just maybe this year's experiences - the good and the bad has brought some unexpected balance into my life because the things I thought were important are not anymore and the things that should have been are finally coming into focus. 

It was a great Thanksgiving - one I won't soon forget. I thank God for my family. And for the memories I captured through these photos. I will definitely cherish them forever.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Friends 4-Ever!

I met Debi in the second grade.  We hit it off almost immediately. I spent many days and nights at her house listening to music, laughing and talking about boys. We tried out for drill team together. And ended up as captains of the team by our senior year. We joined clubs. We went on double dates and celebrated her sweet sixteen with a limo ride to a fancy restaurant. We very rarely argued. And we were always there for each other. But eventually, after High School, we drifted off a bit.

All due to our paths in life. She was busy being an amazing Mom and I was working. We sometimes went years without seeing each other. But we wrote once in awhile and talked on the phone a few times. And I missed her. I missed her smile. Her thoughtful words and her friendship. I missed her funny disposition and her quirkiness. 

I met Marianne my sophomore year in High School. We met through Debi and also through participating in theater performances. I've never met anyone like her. She's witty and smart. And without any hesitation, she made it possible for my little brother and I to appear as an extra in the television show, the Wonder Years. It was a dream come true for him. Something I will always be grateful to her for.

Last year the three of us concocted a grand idea to go to Disneyland in October for Debi's birthday. No spouses or kids. Just us. And despite the crazy crowds and long lines, we had a blast. Our mutual friend and fellow co-captain of the drill team, Darlene joined us for a while over dinner and we immediately became aware of the fact that we were all talking very fast - probably because our time together was flying by. We laughed a lot that night. We took lots of photos and even ended up getting on a decent amount of rides.

That year I bought Debi a mickey mouse charm bracelet for her birthday and then I ended up buying one for myself. This year we bought one for Marianne and we each added another charm - the castle. And decided to make it a tradition to purchase a new charm every year. (Now we just need one for Darlene!) 

Thank goodness for days like these.  Stolen moments.  Spent laughing and reminiscing.  I am so glad that our paths crossed again.  And I hope we will continue to make this a yearly tradition at the happiest place on earth.  I can already picture us in our fifties, or sixties, arm in arm with our blinged out charm bracelets. Smiling from ear to ear.  And not a care in the world.  Now that's a funny image. 

Joy Found Here

Joy found here.
In Murfresboro, Arkansas.
Population: 1,700.

My Mom, my Uncle Roy and I spent a week in Murfresboro, Arkansas this summer visiting my Grandma, Marie Farmer, my Aunt Gladys and her husband, Morris. We arrived in Arkansas on my Grandma's 85th birthday so we stopped at a store to pick up a small cake and ice cream: chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and rocky road ice cream - Grandma's favorite. Unfortunately, we didn't consider how much further down the highway my Aunt lived so Mom had to hold the ice cream in front the air conditioning vent the whole way there. Let's just say the ice cream barely made it.

When we finally arrived to our destination and Aunt Gladys led us into the kitchen where Grandma was sitting at the table, I saw her face light up. She was so happy to see us. I relished in that moment of pure happiness. It was easy to see that she was joyful because she is after all, first and foremost, a Mom and she had three out of her four kids there with her, to celebrate her birthday. We all hovered around her and sang "happy birthday" as she smiled brightly in her chair, her hands crossed in her lap. This was definitely a moment I will never ever forget. Then we ate lots of cake and ice cream and Grandma announced over and over "this was the best cake I've ever tasted."

The rest of the week was nice. easy. calm. In Murfresboro, there isn't much to do but I welcomed the peace and quiet for that short week. We spent lots of time at the kitchen table playing cards. Out of all the games we played, and we played many, I won one game. Grandma won the most games by far, even at the age of 85, she is quite the card player.

It was while we played cards that I got to really know my Grandma. Like for instance, she is quite spunky. And funny too. I had never seen this side of her but I'm so glad I did. She talked a great deal about her childhood. Her mom's cooking and her siblings. For the first time in my life, I saw her really enjoy food. (Growing up, she always ate like a bird. A few bites and she was done)

Mid-week we all drove into Arkadelphia to a Super WalMart. It was about a 45-minute drive one way. On the way there, we drove through several towns, some with less than a population of 500. Hard to imagine. You literally blink and your half way into the next town. The tree lined highway was a beautiful sight to see. Peaceful and serene. The main reason for our trip was to check out the puzzles. I know, sounds strange but I come from long line of women who love to put puzzles together. I just couldn't resist so I bought two.

On most nights, when it was time to leave Aunt Gladys house, Uncle Roy, Mom and I would go to dinner. There are only four restaurants in town so it wasn't too difficult to make a decision. It was nice spending time with my Uncle Roy because well, I can't ever remember spending this much time with him before this trip. After dinner, we'd head back to the motel. We'd say goodnight to Uncle Roy and then Mom and I would get into our pajamas and watch television for a few hours before going to bed.

We tried to pack in lots of activity for Grandma throughout the week. We pampered her by taking her to get a pedicure and manicure. She fell asleep mid-way through but when she was all done, I'd catch her checking out her pretty toe nails and perfectly manicured fingernails. On Friday, after dropping Uncle Roy off at the airport we stopped at a shopping center and bought her a few things, like a tube of lipstick and a compact. When we arrived with all of our loot, she was so excited. She immediately reached for the lipstick and compact and proceeded to apply it perfectly - even at the sprightly age of 85.

On our last night, Mom and I took her to dinner at the local mexican restaurant. She had her favorite, a taco salad. We talked and laughed and tried to hold on to every moment. This was going to be the hard part. We all knew, but didn't say a word about it. She insisted on walking in and out of the restaurant without her walker. She also insisted on paying for the bill. What else can I say about my Grandma? She is nothing less than amazing. She is strong and witty. Caring and funny.

Later that night, when it was time to say our goodbye's, it was very difficult for Mom and I to leave but she was the one who kept reassuring us. Through her tears, she told us over and over "It's okay. I'm going to be okay." When I thought about it later that night I wondered how hard it must of been for her to put her own feelings aside to reassure us. We were the ones who were leaving her. Not the other way around.

Despite her aches and pains, her loneliness and ailments, my Grandma still manages to be spunky, funny and joyful. At the age of 85, she is full of life and teaching me lessons without even knowing it. It was a great trip. A memorable trip filled with pure joy.

All Grown Up

Where did the time go? This past weekend I was reminded of just how grown up our nieces and nephews are. Leo and I spent Saturday evening with Xavier, now 15 and Alexander, 12.

We took the boys to Red Robin for a late dinner. It was surprisingly empty - which I was secretly hoping for. (I am not a big fan of loud restaurants) Xavier shared with us all of the background information on his favorite books, movies and characters. Mind you, he spoke in a deeper voice than I am still not used to hearing. We were seated at a booth near the kitchen so Alex was happy as a clam watching all of the not so behind the scenes. I literally sat there thinking, "When did they both grow up?" To top off the evening, when we got into the car to head home, Xavier very politely thanked us both for dinner. (it was so cute!)

On Sunday we headed to Bonelli Park in San Dimas, CA. My niece Jennifer, now 20 year old was throwing her very first birthday party for her son, Jonathan, who was turning 4. A few weeks prior, she sent us the cutest cowboy themed invite that she made herself. The cowboy theme was carried into the entire party - the tablecloths, the napkins, the cake and even Jonathan's outfit for the day. (A girl after my own heart!) Her boyfriend Chris and his Dad man'd the barbeque proudly. It was also the first time we got to spend some time with his family.

Jennifer made potato salad (just like the Mejia's make it) and a yummy pasta salad complete with tomatoes, bacon and asparagus. (my personal favorite) She also offered grilled pineapple to top our burgers! I took turns holding and playing with Atom, my niece Jesica's little boy - who will be 1 in October and Marley - my little sister's baby girl who turned 1 this past April. We got to watch as Jonathan successfully flew his very first kite and I managed to capture his facial expression when he got to open his eyes to see his brand new motorized truck.

I was so happy to be there - to be able to share this special moment with my niece - her little boy's 4th birthday and her very first successful party. Me and my sisters were just like proud mother hens, exclaiming every few minutes how good everything was. It was fun to see the kids all laughing and playing together like we did as kids but the best moment by far was watching Jennifer hugging Jonathan at the close of the party. She asked him, "Did you have a good birthday?" and he exclaimed with so much excitement, "YES, Mommy!"

Our 15th Valentine's Day Together

This was our 15th Valentine's Day together, Leo and I. We spent most of it just "lounging around the house." No busy restaurants or crowded bars for us. (those days are long gone, thank goodness) Just the two of us and heart shaped pancakes complete with candlelight and sweet hearts scattered about the table.

Our gifts to eachother were sentimental as they usually are. The very first thing I ever bought Leo was a tan Nike baseball cap from a weekend trip I spent in Palm Springs with friends. So, I thought it would be nice to buy him another one, this time in black. And one of the first things he bought me was framed art by Kim Anderson - ya know the ones with the little girl and boy dressed up in "grown up" clothes? - in this particular one the little boy was on bended knee handing the little girl a single red rose. Well, I was lucky enough to find a Valentine's Card with the very same image - perfect! (I love it when I find things like this unexpectedly)

When I woke up in the morning, he left a card on my bathroom sink from him and the boys. (a.k.a Sunny and Quincy), which I thought was very cute since this was our first valentine's day since adopting them last April. Later, he gave me a card from just him. He also gave me a beautiful heart shaped necklace and matching bracelet. (One of the first pieces of jewelry he bought me was heart shaped and over the years, he's continued the tradition.)

After breakfast, I ran upstairs to jump in the shower because we wanted to make it to the 10:45am showing of Valentine's Day (the movie.) He knows that I always turn on my stereo and listen to a CD while getting ready - I did just that and this beautiful song called "As Beautiful As You" came on from All for One. I literally had tears in my eyes - he had made a cd with various love songs, including our song and a few others that had meaning to only us. Of course I ran down stairs to thank him before heading into the shower.

Then we went to see the movie - it was filled with lots of laughs, a few teary moments but even more important, it had a great message. The message was simple - When you love someone, truly love someone, you love the WHOLE person, faults and all. Leo and I don't claim to be the perfect couple nor are we experts in the area. If anything, we are STILL learning after 15 years of being together, 10 of them as husband and wife. The point is, I suppose is to do it together; Learning, growing, arguing, crying, laughing, loving and living together.

The other theme in the movie was the importance of friendship and I couldn't agree more. Life and relationships are never easy but sometimes it's our friends who help us get through the rough spots. So on Valentine's Day, or any other day it's important to recognize not only our loved ones but also our closest friends who love, support and guide us through life and love.

A White Christmas

This past December my family and I spent Christmas in Utah. What an adventure. Long drive but so well worth it. If you've never experienced Christmas with snow, I highly recommend it. It's as if Christmas is really...well Christmas. I know, Jesus wasn't born in a flurry of snow but it does present a very idyllic setting for a holiday filled to the brim with family, warmth and fond memories. We ate alot. talked. laughed. Very creatively made a snowman (it's not as easy as it looks), decorated stockings, reminisced and took lots of pictures.

On Christmas morning we woke up at 6am to open gifts. Us girls had matching pajamas to wear on Christmas morning - an old tradition of Mom's. There were 14 of us all in one average sized family room so it was quite the sight to see. One of the gifts Mom gave me was a heart locket that says "Remember" on the outside and on the inside there is a photo of me and a photo of my little brother Mario. Words fail me when attempting to describe how much this seemingly small gift touched me. Over the years she's always been able to find a way to ensure that he is constantly remembered and a part of every family event. It is definitely a gift I will cherish until the day when I join him in heaven.

There were tons of other gifts to open - gift wrap literally flying in every direction. We had a great time. A very good time. It was good to see Mom happy. Happy to have most of her kids there with her for Christmas. It's hard to believe it had been over 15 years since we had spent a Christmas together. The years have literally flown by but I am so glad that this year we made it a priority and not just for Mom because I can only imagine how much it meant to her. But also for eachother. It is definitely a Christmas we won't ever forget.