Saturday

Late last night, a few neighbors gathered and had some champagne. And great conversation. And a lotta laughs.

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Very early this morning, after a not so great night of sleep, I bundled up and did my Bible study outside. I am finding that I love those early mornings in my backyard...

Came in and while everyone was still sleeping, this is what I did:

I had to document it, cuz I am so not one to iron. Ever. My marriage vows did not say...love, cherish, and iron...which is a bummer for my husband.

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But this morning, in the quiet of the house, I must say that I found it very peaceful. This one time. Now give me a sink full of warm, sudsy water and a pile of dishes and I am happy...but I just don't have that same lovin' feelin' towards my iron. Which, by the way, still looks new after almost 22 years of marriage.

Dear Maggie,

You know that I love you very much, but your daddy does not have those same warm fuzzies about you. If he sees this, he might just ship you off to a new home, so I am hoping that you will clean up your mess. Thank you.

Love, Mom

Today is full...Alex has had pictures and practice for tonight already this morning. We need to be back up there by 3:30pm and the questioning service begins at 4. After, we'll head to dinner and celebrate!

Busy Busy Busy!

Last night, a neighbor brought over sweets from her bakery...yum! They were perfect to eat during The Biggest Loser.

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Bach. Again. The guy is just not getting the hint. M called on his way home yesterday and said that he was bringing a friend with him. Not unusual, we love to have students over on short notice. He then told me that it was his friend Bach.

Fine, but I don't have to be nice to him. He may be dead, but he keeps getting in the way...

So, this morning Matthew and I, along with Alba and her daughter Kelsey, went on a campus tour at Concordia. After, we stopped in to see our very favorite prof!
Wow...that's alotta music!
Adam and Alba After, we drove to Raphael's work to pick up Adam. I am amazed...Raphael is an architect and works on the most amazing projects all over the world. It was fun to see what he does up close and personal...very, very cool!
The view from his building...a gorgeous SoCal day! We dropped the teens off at home and took the younger boys to lunch. I am now supposed to have driven to basketball practice and then on to Long Beach, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Matthew's car broke down yet again, and he now has my car at his lesson. M has a recital and then needs to go to the play on campus, so he'll be home late. Today has been rough for him...many staff and faculty lay-offs happened today, including a very good friend of ours. Sad...just sad. For everyone.

I am dealing with it by cooking...I have chocolate chip cookies in the oven, a pot of gravy on the stove and Italian Beef in the crockpot. None of it is for supper...I'm making risotto with roasted asparagus for tonight.

This is a special weekend for us...Alex is being confirmed in church on Sunday! =0)

Blast to the Past

1991

2008

I Take It Back

OK....I know I said I was going to spend the whole day at home.

In my jammies.

But I changed my mind.

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I just ate the most delicious coffee cake that a neighbor brought over and if I had know how yummy it was, I wouldn't have answered the door. Because sadly, I want to eat the WHOLE thing.

There are quite a few things that must get taken care of today, such as laundry. And floor sweeping. And under the boys bed clean out.

But instead, we're meeting some friends at the dollar theater for a movie and lunch. A packed from home lunch, thankyouverymuch, cuz we spent waaaaaay too much money yesterday. Anyway, the kids will be watching Alvin and the Chipmunks and the moms will be next door watching Juno.

And Alex just informed me that it is now $1.50 and not $1.00. Wow. That might change everything.

Our name came up in the American Idol ticket lottery...actually, for the 2nd time this season. We had tickets to a top 18 show at the small theatre and we now have tickets to tonight's (or this afternoon's) Idol Gives Back. If we show up today, we get free tickets for tomorrow nights elimination show.

Unfortunately, there is no way M can get away...we'd have to be in LA at 12:30pm and it shoots until 9:30pm. And then back tomorrow. It's the boys Spring Break and I don't want to leave them plus M is knee deep in Bach. Still. So, we'll pass this time around.

The whole lottery thing is fun because you get free tickets, but you have to be ready to go at the drop of the hat. And our hat is not dropping this week.

I have not watched last night's show yet, but I saw a blurb on my opening screen that my Simon loved my Jason.

Life is good.

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Lessons Learned

Just today, I learned:

1. That Spring Break with teenagers turns into sleepovers in the blink of an eye...and that they will actually sleep when they get tired. Sprawled out all over the family room, they don't mind curling up and watching movies with the parental unit.


2. The above mentioned teenagers will sleep through a younger brothers door slamming, an older brother who comes home late, the washing machine, dryer and dishwasher, cats, telephones ringing, and the gardeners out front.


3. They will awake at the smell of pancakes and bacon. Happily.


4. While only my city (supposedly) is on Spring Break, 3/4 of my city will show up to California Adventure today. Plus all their relatives.

5. CA Adventure with two 9 yr olds is exhausting. Especially if the mom is breaking in really, really cute...though thoroughly impractical new flip flops.

6. There is one child, and only one, who talks more than my very own 9 yr old. And he was with us today.

7. Those two 9 yr olds can cover every ride in the park twice and still feel the need to park hop over to Disneyland. Read #5 for info on the Mom.

8. God conversations with strangers happen anywhere....especially in the long line waiting for Soaring Over California.

9. The youngest child will refer to the above mentioned ride as 'social studies class'. OH MY...that truly cracked me up.

10. The middle child and his friends will give you HILARIOUS phone calls from the other park just because. No reason. Just because.

11. An 18 year old still needs his mom when he comes down with the flu. And isn't afraid to call her a bazillion times during the day. His girlfriend had the flu last week...hmmm.

12. How well I married. After arriving home at 6:30pm, he happily took me to Nick's for some time away. And spend 3 hours there, sipping wine and talking with friends. Even when he is tired.

13. He will take time out from 'grown-up' time to talk to his middle son on the phone and share in the woes of the LA Lakers. Cuz it is important. And search the internet on his phone for TrailBlazers stats. Cuz it is important. I'm tellin' ya...Dad of the year.

14. A hot bath fixes almost everything. Especially the sore feet from #5.

15. That if you call or visit tomorrow, I will be in my PJ's. All day. Come for a visit...I will be home. All day. With not an ounce of guilt.

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Happy Monday

Day 1 of Spring Break.

Can you feel how HAPPY I am?

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We never go anywhere over spring break because our weeks never match up, so sadly this morning, bright and early....one guy had to go to work.

Matthew is still asleep. It's only 9:30am and I am pretty sure we won't see much of him until the smell of food awakes him. Alex slept at Keke's last night (our neighbor and his very best friend since kindergarten) and today he's going to Universal Studios with their family. Tomorrow, they'll be at California Adventure and I am seriously throwing around taking them to Knott's on Wednesday.

Brian slept in until 8:15am. Miracle. This boy rises with the sun, but we're wearing him out with all these late nights. Our plan for today is simple...Target, to spend a few gift cards he has and the rest of the day will be spent close to home. Tomorrow we'll go to California Adventure, too, if I can work out Brian's pass renewal...it's a black out week for us.

Other than that...let's see. Highlights of our weekend:

Friday night...pasta. With eggplant and sausage. Big sigh. I also made an eggplant gratin, sausage, peppers and onions, a white texas sheetcake, numerous panini's and a partridge in a pear tree.

Bach. He's everywhere. All the time.

The cats continue to TP my bathroom. Over and over. Cute toes, though.

Cheesecake Factory, after church on Sunday. Every family needs a middle child.

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Just playing!