Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday was Monday and I decided to celebrate it at the Happiest Place on Earth. For 2009 they were giving free admission on your birthday and I decided to take advantage of it with my darling Squiggler. (She was free too!) I was a little nervous and first and explained to my two other girls why I wasn't taking them and they understood. (No extra $ after the holidays.) So I ventured out and arrived at Disney at around 8:30 am. We got a great parking space and walked to the park. We had our picture taken right away at the C with Mickey and C for Squiggler's name. Some nice people took the picture for me, but cut off part of the C. Oh well!

As luck would have it, my good friend, Mrs. Pooh was going to be at Disney on that day too and so we met up with her. We got into the park with no problem and they gave me a special pin that said "Happy Birthday". Wow that pin gets you lots of attention! I got sung to 3 times in the first 30 minutes of being in the park. For the rest of the day, everyone was so nice and kept telling me Happy Birthday! We got a silhouette of the Squiggler done right away and then headed to Small World. The Squiggler loved it!! She could not get enough of it and kept swaying her head to the music. We got to sit in the front because it was my birthday and then they gave the Squiggler a pin that said "1st Visit."

We then decide to go to Toon Town and see Mickey. Well with all the excitement the Squiggler fell asleep and so this is what our Mickey pix looks like. I love it!

We then had a great lunch thanks to my wonderful friend Mrs. Pooh and ate at the Carnation Cafe. We stayed to watch the Christmas Parade and Squiggler loved that too! I think she overall really loved Disney and I know she won't remember her 1st visit, but I will. We left the park at around 5 pm and came home to a lovely dinner with my girls and honey. The girls made me a cake and it was so scrumptious! My birthday falls between Christmas and New Years and usually gets lost. This was the 2nd most favorite birthday of my life! (The first being in 1996 when I married my husband in the church and had a church wedding.) Last year I had a "big" birthday, but since I had just had a baby there was no way to celebrate it. This year totally made up for that and it was pretty economical too. Thanks again Mrs. Pooh for a marvelous time. You gave me a present I will never forget! Also thanks to my hubby for letting me go and not trying to talk me out of this crazy idea!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you the Merriest of Christmases! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and started the evening by attending the Children's Mass at 5pm. This is the first year that my girls hadn't participated in 9 years! It was nice to sit and enjoy the mass and not worry about the Nativity play and what parts my girls had. Afterwards we went to celebrate with my Sister Cousins. The youngest of my Sister Cousins bought a big house in Valencia and invited everyone to come celebrate with them. It was great! There was so much good food and it was just awesome being surrounded with so many friends and family. There must have been at least 80 people there! The Squiggler was so happy to see my nephew there. (She's in love with him!) Today we spent the day just relaxing. The girls woke us up about 7:20am and we went to see what Santa brought them. He bought Weegie some perfume she wanted, Speedy Cheetah a movie and a promise of what she really wanted to arrive in a few weeks. (He had to special order it) The Squiggler got a musical table to keep her occupied. We had a wonderful day and just snacked on tamales all day. Speedy Cheetah stayed in her new jammies all day. For dinner we had mole and cookies for dessert. It was a glorious day. Celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus and just being together. Tomorrow we are celebrating Christmas with my husbands family and that should be more great food and company! Merry Christmas to all and may the Good Lord bless you abundantly!

The Squiggler is 1!

Oh my! Where does the time go? Our little Squiggler is 1 years old today! Earlier I blogged about her birthstory, but now I want to write about her and all the things that she has learned this month. She has just grown by leaps and bounds this last year and I just can't believe how time flies! It's just like yesterday we brought her home from the hospital!

• Shew can crawl really fast and explore all over the house!
• She has 3 teeth all on the bottom, none on the top.
• She loves to dance and sways her little head to the music.
• She says Hi Dad!, mom, bow wow and baby really clearly.
• She loves to get my cell phone and puts it behind her head.
• She can stand and has even taken some steps, but has not started to walk on her own yet.
• She loves boys and loves to flirt.
• She loves to eat beans and rice!
• She got her first pair of real shoes and wants to take off in them.
• She loved wearing a princess crown for her birthday and did not try to take it off once.
• She loves to hang out with her sisters and just talks and talks to them.
• She loves to be outside.
• She loves our dog and doesn't watch much tv except the other day she wanted to see Beverly Hill Chihuahuas.

Tomorrow she goes to the doctors for her check up and shots. I will post her stats because I am so interested to see how much she weighs. She currently wears a size 3 1/2 shoe and can still fit in her 9 months clothes except for length 12 months looks better. We were so blessed and she got a lot of clothes for her birthday so we are set for the winter. Tomorrow I will try to post about her birthday party.

We love you so much Squiggler! You are such a blessing to us and mommy firmly believes that God sent you to us! Thank you God!

The Squiggler's Birth Story

One year ago today I went to my prenatal appointment with the head of OBGYN. I also had my non stress test that morning too. There were no signs of baby on the way and I was only 1 week away from my due date! The doctor said that we had to schedule me to be induced! I did not want to be induced! I wanted my Princess to come on her own! But it wasn’t up to me, it was what the doctor said was best for the baby. I was scared to say the least because I had heard so many horror stories about being induced. Doctor checked the appointments at the hospital and scheduled me to come in at 4:00pm Saturday, December 6, 2008. He said I could eat a light lunch, but not to eat anything after noon. I had wanted to go to my friend Almita’s daughter’s Quince Anos, but that was not going to be possible. I stopped by my work to tell everyone that Baby was going to be making her big arrival that weekend! I walked all around the school and got everything ready that I could think of for my sub. I went home and had a nice evening with my family and was worried about what to do with my girls. My mom had a party to go to on the night of the 6th and I wanted my husband with me. I asked my tio and tia to take care of them for me. It was just going to be my and my husband at the hospital. That night I stayed up later then my family, watching TV and writing thank you cards for baby shower gifts. I didn’t feel well so I decided to go lay down. It was about midnight. Well I couldn’t lie down because I was uncomfortable! I decided to use the restroom and it was then that I realized that I was in labor! I didn’t want to worry or wake anyone so I stayed up walking around and making sure my bag was packed for the hospital. I also started writing the times of my contractions and at first they were every 5 minutes apart, and then quickly they moved to 4 minutes and then 2! It was time to wake my husband! I woke him at about 1:00 am and then we woke my mom. We had no where to leave the girls and my mom wanted to go to the hospital with us. The girls wanted to go to so we decided that they would follow us there with my mom. My pains were getting very close together and so my husband and I headed for the hospital with my mom and girls on their way. I tried calling my comadre, but she didn’t answer her phone even though she said she would have it next to her bed. I tried calling my cousin Sister, but she didn’t answer either. I tried calling all the way to the hospital. My husband and I arrived at the hospital at around 1:30 and got checked in and into a room at about 2:00 am. By this time my mom and daughters were there and my cousin was on her way too! (She had been out and had just gotten home!) The nurses said that I was 7 cm dilated and we needed 3 to go! By this time the pain was getting pretty intense and I had to decide if I wanted an epidural or not! I had given birth twice before without one, but this time I wasn’t sure! I prayed for strength to do it again and it was too late for the epidural because I was already at 9cm. Things were happening quickly!! I felt the baby squiggle her way down into position and it was the weirdest feeling. One I hope I never forget. I felt like I was really aware of my body and even though I was scared because it had been almost 10 years since I had done this before, I knew I could do it! (Even though that is not what I told my family at the time!) With my husband and cousin at my side and my mom and girls in the room it was time to push and what seemed like an eternity but was more like 5 minutes….the Squiggler was born!! It was 3:50 in the morning and she came out mad!!! She had been taken from her nice warm cozy sleep and now she was cold and probably hungry. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. (only 3 ounces more then her sisters) and had what looked like curly hair. All together her labor was less then 4 hours!! I love having babies!! I think she looked a lot like the Weegie when she was born, but now I think she looks like her sister Speedy Cheetah. She had an apgar score of 9/9 but her blood sugar was low and they wanted to give her a bottle of formula right away. Grandma fed her first bottle. This was probably a result of the gestational diabetes. I was tired, but so HAPPY that my baby was here and she was and is BEAUTIFUL! I know I say this all the time, but she is such a blessing to us! She brings so much joy into our hearts and we love her so much! I thank the Good Lord everyday for picking me to be her mother here on earth. How blessed am I that I have 3 beautiful and wonderful daughters! (That are all so different!) I had wanted to post this right before midnight, but she woke up and barely went back to sleep! More to come later!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are 3 of the things that I am most thankful for!! (My Weegie, Speedy Cheetah and Squiggler) I am also thankful for my wonderful husband, my mom, all of my family (cousins, in-laws, aunts, and uncles), my friends, my house and my wonderful, outstanding, super class! I am also so thankful for our Heavenly Father! Thank goodness God loves us no matter what because he is always so good to me and my family and for that I am ever so thankful!

Yesterday I had a Thanksgiving celebration in my classroom and it was so cute! We arranged our class so that all the tables were together and we could eat as a "family". We had tableclothes, placemats and namecards. We even made pilgrim hats and indian headbands to wear. The children went around the table to say what they were thankful for...we got family, mom, dad, toys and Mario Brothers! You got to love 5 year olds!!!

Today we celebrated with my favorite aunt and uncle and their family. Something wasn't quiet right and I'm not sure what it was, but I am trying to instill in my kids that Thanksgiving isn't just a day to eat, but a day to say Thank you for all the blessings we have been given. My Cheetah girl said the sweetest thing because she often gets it even when I think I'm not doing my job. Life is good and again for that I am so thankful! Thank you God!

Squiggler is 11 months!

11 months! I can't believe it!! Our little Squiggler is growing so fast and in just one short month she will be a year old! She has soooo much personality for such a little thing and everyone always comments on how friendly and sweet she is. As always I took the day off to spend it with her and of course we went to JCP to have her pixs taken. They did such a good job and I just love the outfit she is wearing. It will probably be her Thanksgiving outfit. Check out her boots! She loved them!

At 11 months:

• You still wear a size 2 diaper and size 3 shoe.
• You are about 29 inches long and weigh about 19 pounds. You are long and lean!
• You love to pull yourself and up and can stand by yourself for a little while!
• You crawl so fast and love to explore all over the house.
• You clap and love to be sung to. (Especially Happy Birthday!)
• You have your two bottom teeth. (The first one came in 10/6 and the second 10/30.)
• You can say mama, dada, baby and bye.
• You love your mama, sisters and daddy so much!
• You hang out with grandma all day and love to go outside with her.
• You like to watch the Price is Right and that is probably the only tv you watch.
• You love to flirt with boys and this cracks mommy up!! I wonder where you got that from?
  

• You love music and dancing.
• Your favorite books are Moo Baa La La La and All About Me.
• You like to headbutt people and just hold your little head to other people's and I think this is your way of showing affection.
• You love to eat. We still give you some baby food, but you love chicken, rice, beans, noodles and potatoes.
• You love to play with mommy and sister's hair. In fact you have to be holding my hair before you go to sleep.
• You don't like to sleep in your crib instead you sleep with mommy. Curled up right next to me.
  
  
  Squiggler you are such a wonderful little baby and are so full of life. My friend (Your tia Almita) says that you are that way because you know how loved you are!! I like to think that is so true! You are such a dream come true and being your mommy is such an honor and blessing! You love your sisters and they love you too! They are always willing to take care of you and you love to just hang out with them in their room or the living room. You are always calling to them. We thank God everyday for picking us to be your family! Thank you God we couldn't be more blessed!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Life is Good!

I found this on Kimberly Kwan's blog and it really spoke to me. I love it!! I'm going to print this out and post it in places that I can see it all the time! It was written by Regina Brett from Cleveland, Ohio, who recently re-published this list in a local newspaper in honor of her 90th birthday. There is more than enough good stuff in this list for each of us to learn something...which ones speak especially to you? Which ones do you need to work on?

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

36. Your children get only one childhood.

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'dgrab ours back.

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

41. The best is yet to come.

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

43. Yield

.44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

Squiggler is 10 Months!

Oh my! Guess who has grown so much in the last month! The Squiggler!!! She really has grown by leaps and bounds in the last month and it's so unbelievable! She spends her days with grandma, but really looks forward to when mommy, daddy and her sisters are home to be with her! Every month I say what a blessing and delight she is and she really is! She loves it when her mommy comes home, but oh my when her daddy walks in the door, no one else in the world matters to this little girl!

• You say bye bye and dada
• You wear size 9 months (the 6 months are getting snug) and still a size 2 diaper.
• You wear a size 3 shoe, but it's too big. Size 2 is too small.
• You love to eat teething cookies.
• You can crawl!!! It took a while, but you can crawl all over the house now and there is no stopping you.
• You walk in your walker that your Tia Huera gave you. You really like it in there!
• You got a tooth today!!!! You have been so miserable and grumpy for the last 24 hours and today when you woke up there it was!! Bottom left. You keep running your tongue over it.
• You can give besitos and it's so funny because you lean forward and then hit your head against the other person.
• You know what the words milk, bath, besitos and Fido mean. Fido is Woody, but you call him Fido and say he's your dog.
• You and daddy play this patting game. He pats his chest and then you do it. It's so cute!!
• You love to read Moo, Baa, La La La and All About Me. They are your two favorite books.
• You like to watch The Price is Right with your grandma. You don't watch any other tv, but that. You are truly related to Tata and Tio Boy!
• You are very social and love to be around people. We can take you any where and you love to be with us! Every where we go you get compliments on how well behaved you are.
• You are a flirt! You like to flirt with other little boys!

We are already thinking of your birthday party and hoping it is as wonderful as you! Your so little so I think the party is more for mommy and daddy and celebrating how wonderful you are! We love you so much and thank God for selecting us to be your mommy and daddy! We are so blessed to have you in our lives!! Thank you God!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for my older girls! Weegie started 8th and Speedy Cheetah started 5th. Two big grades, two graduations! Both girls were very excited and as usual I had to have them take the first day of school photos in front of our house. The Squiggler wanted to get in the action too!

I started school today too! I have 28 children in my class! 19 boys and 9 girls. We are suppose to be hiring a new Kinder teacher soon, but I don't think she/he can come soon enough! Wish me luck!!!

Squiggler is 9 months!

Oh my! Our little Squiggler is 9 months now! Where does the time go? She is growing so fast and everyday we love her more and more! She brings so much to our lives and I think because of her we have become a better family! Today I took her to have her 9 month pictures taken and knew that she had to wear the special dress that her Aunt Princess had made for Weegie 13 years ago. Weegie and Speedy Cheetah both wore it at 9 months and if I have a chance I will try to post all 3 pictures this week! Also being the Baby Diva that she is, she had to wear a tu tu and pearls today too! I love how the pictures came out!!!

Squiggler Highlights:

• She wears size 6-9 months, size 2 shoe, but they are getting tight
• She wears a size 2 diaper
• Takes 2 naps a day
• Eats fruits and vegetables, puffs and yogurt melts
• She had ice cream and really likes it
• Can crawl backwards and scoot on her butt.
• Climbs off the chair or bed, but can't really stand yet so we have to watch her every minute
• Loves to stand and wants to walk

• Went swimming and loves to take baths
• Went to Yosemite and Bass Lake
• Gets shy and around new people and buries her face in our shoulders. Warms up after 20 minutes.
• Loves to say Babababa and yell when she wants her sisters to pay attention to her
• Can sit up and turn all around
• Loves when we clap for her and sing Happy Birthday
• Loves our dog, but not other animals
• Waves bye bye
• Loves to play with other people's hair and pull it
• She is so sweet and loving!
• Just started pulling herself up

I'm sure I am forgetting 100 things that I want to say about her! I also know that I always say what a blessing she is, but she is! She is the sweetest baby! So loving, and curious. She is so well behaved in church and loves to look around! She loves to be outside, especially when her sisters are playing. She pretends to bounce a ball and talks to them like if she is one of the girls too! I go back to work this week and I will miss her so much, but vow to come home as quickly as I can to spend as much time with her as possible. We love you so much Squiggler! Thank you God!

End of Summer :(

Well it's the end of summer and work officially begins on Tuesday! I'm excited to be going back to work, but will miss the time we spent as a family so much!! I've had so much fun just hanging out with my girls and watching them grow. I can't believe that Weegie will be in the 8th grade! She is such the teenager, always on the phone texting, caring about clothes and gossiping with her friends! Speedy Cheetah will be in the 5th grade and she has grown us so much in the last year. She has gone from loving American Girls to loving X-Men! X-Men? I have no idea where that came from, but she is obessessed with super heroes and mutants. She is no longer my baby, but is into clothes and lip gloss. I think she gets that from Weegie. The Squiggler has been such a delight and will be 9 months tomorrow. It has been such a blessing to be home and just watch her and her sisters. I hope I never forget this summer! It has been the summer of big trips or oh my gosh moments. It's been the summer of ordinary every day life, but what a wonderful life we have. I was just telling my friend that I forget to thank God for all that he has given me and I take it for granted sometimes, but I am so truly blessed and so hear I will say it and try to remember to say it everyday. Thank you God!






Summer Highlights

• 4th of July at my favorite uncle and aunts house
• Amazing Firework show in the backyard
• Softball camp in Santa Barbara
• Camp MariaStella in Wrightwood
• Having lunch with my cousin LaLa (she knows who she is)
• Having my cousin Pumpkin move back home (meaning closer) and inviting us to her house to go swimming






• Spending time with DH's sister's family and they all went to the beach while Squiggler and I stayed behind






• CPK's Red Velvet Cake
• Spending time with two of my best girl buddies and celebrating A's dad's 70th birthday
• Dates with my wonderful DH (lunch and a Dodger game)






• Shopping with my girls even when it was just window shopping
• Yosemite
• Sleeping late! (And my girls finally learned how to sleep in!)

Summer of 2009 was a very low key, but a great summer! Like I said, I'm looking forward to starting fresh with a new class, even though I will miss my old class so much! They were a great group of kids, but that is one of the greatest things about being a teacher...every year you start with a clean slate and no two days are actually the same!

Yosemite!

Well we got back on Friday night instead of Saturday. We decided to surprise my mom and not tell her we were coming home early. We stopped and got her a Frappucino, made a sign and put the baby on the front porch. I then called my mom to make sure that she was home and we rang the doorbell and ran. When she opened the door she saw the Squiggler, her frappucino and the sign. It was hilarious and we couldn't stop laughing. This is the first time in 7 years that my mom hasn't gone with us on vacation. I know she missed us even if she won't admit it!

Yosemite was beautiful! Breathtaking! Words cannot do it justice. I had been there about 30 years ago, but my DH had not. He was driving and I swear when we turned a corner and saw this.... he almost drove off the cliff. There is a reason they have barriers there!

We went to Yosemite for two days of our vacation! We went to Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Ahwanee hotel and Wawona on the first day. The second day we did Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point! Glacier Point was just ...WOW!!! I had never been there and it just took our breath away. I'm so glad that my children have a father that wants them to see so many wonderful places and I think the two older ones are at an age that they will remember and appreciate it. Little Squiggler has no idea, but we have pictures to prove that she was there!!!

We actually spent the week at a Time Share in Bass Lake and we walked around the little town, visited other little towns, but overall the best time of our vacation was just spending time together as a family!!! We woke up late and hung out together in the big king size bed we had! It was so nice to just be us 5 and not have to worry about work or anything else! It was just us and it was GREAT! We didn't even have internet access so it really was just us hanging out with each other! We ate at some great places! Bravo Farms Cheese Factory, The Crab Shack, The Pizza Factory, Happy Burger and The Mountain House. Highly recommend theses places and if you are ever in Oakhurst, Mariposa or Bass Lake we can hook you up to great places to eat!