2015's Top Ten for Our Family

Well it's the last night of 2015 and we had our traditional dinner of yummy salmon, grilled vegetables, rice and champagne. We sat down as a family and gave thanks to the Lord for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Some good and some not what we would have liked, but God has his reasons! This is the list we came up with for our little family in no particular order.

 1. Disneyland: Our happy place! We our a big Disney family and love to spend as much time there as possible. We are annual pass holders and plan to hold onto them as long as we can. We definitely get our money's worth and try to go at least once a month if not more.  Last year we started our year with a trip to Disneyland and plan to do it again this year!

 2. Family: This is not our favorite moment of 2015, but it is an important one. We lost three incredible members of my family this year! First, my beloved Tio Angel lost his battle with cancer on January 7th. On January 18th we lost my Tia Melinda suddenly and unexpectedly. In July we lost our sweet Tia Cruz who was 97 years old! All three of these passings have left such a big void in our lives. We miss them so much and can't believe that they are gone. We know that each and everyone of them is in a better place and for that we are thankful, but it's just hard knowing that they are not here with us on earth.

 

 3. Drama! This is actually the production kind. We are so proud of our baby girl, Speedy, she works hard at her craft and has been cast in all of her productions in high school so far. She was Penny Wise in Urinetown last spring, where she stole the show with that awesome voice of hers! This past fall she was cast as the lead in A Flea in Her Ear.  We love to watch her act and sing!  This is her passion and we hope she gets to live her dream in all she does.

 

4. Squiggler has had the most things happen this year! She lost 4 teeth this year. The first two were taken out by the dentist and then she finally lost her first official tooth in September followed by another one in November. She was a late bloomer and didn't get first tooth until she was 9 months old. That is why I think she has barely started to lose her teeth.

 5. Church: Speedy made her confirmation in May and I was so happy and proud of her. She's  a bit of a rebel when it comes to religion, but she did it and for that I am grateful and proud! I don't have a picture, but Squiggler started her first year for her First Communion and I am teaching the class. I have 15 of the greatest kids in my class!

 6. Weegie! She finished MUD and started working for Estee Lauder! She loves being a make up artist and is living her dream!!  She works with some amazing people in a truly amazing company. She has learned so much and goes to work everyday happy!! She also free lances on the side and has done make up for some proms and weddings.  I am so proud of how much she has grown and how hard she works.

7. Royalty Dance Academy: This is our home away from home! Squiggler takes Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop and Speedy takes Jazz and Ballet. We love it there and I think they love us too. All my girls have been a part of Royalty and now Weegie helps when she is needed.  I'm so glad that we belong to such an amazing place with amazing people. 

 

 8. Sports! Squiggler learned to swim and made it all the way to level 6 in swimming lessons. She also learned to ride a bike with no training wheels!!! This was my honey's summer project! He wanted to make sure he taught her how to ride a bike this summer. He has now taught all his girls how to ride a bike and made sure they were strong swimmers.

 9. Las Vegas: For the first time in her 40+ plus years the Wifa finally went to Las Vegas!! She got picked to go to an SDE conference and went with her good friend Mrs. C.  They had a blast and her friends made sure she enjoyed herself and experienced the Vegas life! She even won contest and gets to go back to the conference next year for free!  The following week her honey and Squiggler went back to Vegas for a small family vacation! So now she's been twice!

 10. College Life: Speedy won a scholarship to go to CSSSA for the summer at the Cal Arts campus. We were so proud of her, but missed her for the month that she was gone. Luckily she wasn't gone to far and we were able to visit her twice to buy her supplies and just spend some time with her. They had them jam packed with classes and activities. She really enjoyed herself and is hoping to attend next year too.

Honorable Mentions for this year!

School: Squiggler is in 1st grade while Speedy is now a Junior in High School. Both girls are doing great and Squiggler won student of the month in Kindergarten and 1st grade. Speedy still is maintaining her high grade point average and getting ready to take the SATs at the end of the month. She is also up for a Scholarship in Voice and Acting, so we couldn't be more proud of her.

 
 Love: We will be celebrating our 20 year anniversary in January and are thankful that we still love being together. He is my best friend and she is mine! We couldn't do it alone and being together is much better!!

 Family again: My grandparents were featured in a book and I was asked to write a small excerpt about them. I am now published!! LOL! It was exciting and such an honor to have our grandparent's legacy live on!!!

 So that is pretty much it for us in a nutshell. We are Blessed beyond belief and even though sometimes things might not go as planned we know there is always a reason and something better is waiting for us just around the corner. Sometimes it's hard to remember that, but we try. We have the best girls and are so proud of them. They have good hearts and try to lead a good life. We couldn't ask for more! We continue to pray that they always remember to do good in all they do. Thank you for such a great 2015!

Top Ten for 2014!

I know I haven't blogged in a year and my girls are not happy about it! I promise to do better in 2015, but we couldn't not post our top ten from this year! 2014 has been an outstanding year!!!! Filled with so many memories that we will forever cherish in our hearts, but we know 2015 will be just as fabulous if not more!!!! These are in no particular order and we decided on them as a family this evening as we were enjoying our great meal of homemade pizzas and champagne.

 1 Royalty Dance Academy has become our second home. All three girls were involved with dance this year! Weegie was dance captain and even went to two competions with here team and they placed in both! She graduated from dance and now helps out whenever she can. Speedy joined Teen Jazz and really did well in it and was in her first recital.  Squiggler moved up from Combo classes to Pre-Everything. She does Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Ballet. She loves it and is always practicing. She did 4 different dances in this year's recital.

2.  Speedy Cheetah lands the lead in the school musical as a freshman! Speedy was cast as the lead in her school's production of Into the Woods.  She played the Witch, same role as Meryl and earned the final bow. She was so awesome and a star has been born! Well we always knew she was a star, but now the rest of the world knows it too!

3. Weegie graduated from high school!!! AAAAH! Where has the time gone? It was just yesterday that I dropped her off a nursery school and she cried! Her first teacher was Miss Agnes and she was so patient with our little Weegie. Now she's all grown up and graduated with Honors. We are so proud of her and she was happy to get out of that place! LOL!

 

4. Squiggler graduated pre-school!  I absolutely loved her teacher, Miss Irene! Best pre-school teacher ever!!!! She is awesome, caring, kind, patient and just an overall outstanding person. Squiggler really learned a lot and came out of there ready for Kindergarten!

5.  The Adventures of Speedy Cheetah and Daddy in the Big Apple! Speedy did not want a quincenera. Instead she chose to take a trip to New York. For Spring break her daddy and her got on a plane and traveled across the country for 5 days. They stayed with the most wonderful friends and sight seeded around town. They became real experts at getting around on public transportation and were able to see 1 off broadway show and 2 broadway shows. It was all that she hoped for and more. She is ready to go back and live there.  I don't know how I feel about that. :(

 6. Speedy Cheetah met her favorite broadway star, Jeremy Jordan!!!! I asked Speedy if she wanted to take a friend or two out to dinner on her birthday and she asked for this instead. Jeremy Jordan came to LA to give a performance at dinner show type place. We found out about it through her amazing drama teacher, who also happens to be good friends with him. After the show, he got Speedy and some other drama kids backstage so that they could meet their idol. I think it was a night that she will always remember!!!!

 Honorable Mention: Disneyland!

 7. Make Up School! Weegie started her path onto her career. Her love of make up has only intensified and she has learned some amazing things!  She is doing well and earned an A her first quarter. She loves it and we couldn't be happier for her!!!!!

 8. Weegie got her license! Since she had to get to school we also got her a car to go with the license.  She has to drive 30 minutes to and from school and take a big old make up case with her. She is also able to help her dad and I out from time to time. She is very happy with her BAE!

 9. Squiggler started Kindergarten! Our baby girl is now in school all day now. She loves it and has learned so much. She goes to a great school, with a great teacher and great friends. We couldn't be happier for her.

10. Us! My honey said to put us down as one of the ten because we are able to make it happen. We joined a gym, went on lots of dates, get to spend time together and work hard to make it all fall into place.  We have had a great year and couldn't have asked for more. Thank you God for all our blessings! We hope 2015 is an even better, more loving, joyous with continued blessings!!

Love! Love! Love!

I am so loving our custom illustrated picture done by Katie Moon! She is so talented and made my family even more beautiful then I could have possibly imagined! I had heard about Katie and oohmoon through Lindsay Teague Moreno and when I saw hers, I knew I had to have one too! I really wanted to just capture time right now and freeze it! My girls are at the perfect ages right now and I know it a couple of years our family will be changing! Weegie is a junior, Speedy is almost in high school and Squiggler will be in Kindergarten!

Katie did a fantastic job capturing our family and our love for each other! The girls love it and so does my honey! I have big plans for this picture in our house! Thanks Katie and to my mom for helping me get this! It's my birthday/Christmas/lots of presents for the next year gift! LOL! I also feel so Blessed and fortunate because Katie will no longer be doing these types of illustrations. So glad I met her before she stopped! God is good all the time!

Family Field Trip!

 Today we decided to go on a Family Field trip before we all have to go back to school next week. My honey decided we should go see the USS IOWA. We got a great deal on a family pass and decided to go today! It was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Southern California! We headed out early this morning and made it to Long Beach in record time!

We were able to tour the entire boat and learn a lot about Navy ships and they way the Sailors live.  Weegie and Speedy really enjoyed it and took a lot of pictures. Squiggler didn't enjoy it as much, so I didn't get as many pictures since I was watching her so much.  It was a great way to spend the day as a family. There were quiet a few people there and the boat has only been there for a few months. They are hoping to pick up on attendance. Afterwards we went to eat lunch at Ports O Call at a restraunt that one of my honey's friends recommended.  We were very hungry at this time and the food was absolutely scrumptious and they gave big portions.  We all shared everyone's meal.  This may sound crazy, but that is one thing I love about my little family, we always share our food and taste everyone's meal. It's a great way to taste a lot of different food.  (I have cousins that do not share food and so I'm glad we do.)

We walked around a bit and Squiggler wanted to ride on the little rides they had.  I love the outfit she is wearing! She is such a fashionista! Hello Kitty, Leopard, boots and shades! What more could a girl ask for?

 I love my life!

Happy New Year!

Well 2013 is here and we had a nice New Year Eve where my honey cooked dinner, we stayed up watching movies and the ball drop! Squiggler fell asleep at 11:40 so she didn't make it to see the New Year! Today we had a nice day at home watching movies again, eating menudo for breakfast and a great ham dinner. It was a great ending, great beginning to 2013! Loved it! This is a little questionnaire I borrowed from Sophia Corbridge that she does every year. I did it 3 years ago, but hadn't done it since then. It was interesting to see what had stayed the same and what had changed!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before? Took my daughter to see 4 musicals in downtown Los Angeles and took my other daughter to two concerts by myself! I'm kind of a scaredy cat and don't like to go places by myself  (especially in the dark) but I did it and had a lot of fun too!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I actually don't make resolutions, but I do try to have a good life and be a good person, but that is a given not a resolution.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No one in my family, but my hairdresser had a baby boy in October and she named him Lennon.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No one close to me, but family of some of my friends.
5. What countries did you visit? Canada! First time I have ever been out of the country! In May my daughter, Speedy and I went to Canada with her singing group. It was a great trip!
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? Spend time with my best friend or at least plan to spend time with each other.  I feel bad that we live so close to each other and rarely spend time together. I know she is really busy, but I want to make it a point to try to get together monthly. We have been BFF's since we were 8!
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Two dates come to mind. The first is November 6th, Election night! I my goodness! Never has an election had such a big impact on me! The second is December 14, 2012. The day of the Sandy Hook School shootings. It was a sad day in America and as a teacher it will forever be etched in my brain.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Being a mom to 3 beautiful girls that are completely different. I love my girls so much and I am so happy of the relationships we have developed! I hope we are always close and they can always feel that they can come to me. My second was the letter I received from Mrs. Drew at the end of the school year! I will cherish that letter forever and always strive to be that teacher for my students,
9. What was your biggest failure? Not being organized! I have always have had problems with this, but I need to just get it together already! 
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No! Thank you God!
11. What was the best thing you bought? I bought a purple coat last January and I love it! Best purchase I have made in a long time and great price!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My girls earn this honor again! Weegie is just such a great girl and I am so proud of her work  in our church, the great friend she is to her friends and that she would protect her little sisters from anything.  Speedy for her hard work and dedication in school, in her singing and the great big sister she is to Squiggler and the relationship she has with Weegie. Squiggler is doing so well and is such a great listener at pre-school and in dance class! She loves her little sisters and is so friendly to everyone!
13. Where did most of your money go? To my girls! Between school and lessons they require a good amount of money, but I know it is all worth it!
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting my donorschoose projects funded and being able to give my students access to technology!
15. What song will always remind you of 2012? Gangham Style! That guy is all over the place and it is a crack up to see my student's dancing to that song.
16. What do you wish you'd done more of? Remembering to keep God first and to say my daily rosary completely.
17. What do you wish you'd done less of? Spending time on the computer. LOL! I get so many great ideas from Pinterest that I don't even have time to use them all!
18. How did you spend Christmas? With my beautiful family! We had a wonderful morning and then went to my brother in laws and had a wonderful rest of the day there.  Christmas this year was just wonderful and no drama! Loved it!
19. Did you fall in love in 2012? Yes with my wonderful hubby, my beautiful daughters and my awesome class of Kindergarteners.
20. What was your favorite TV program? Say Yes to the Dress and Gray’s Anantomy. (This has not changed in 3 years!) I also like Once Upon A Time and Private Practice. (Benjamin Bratt is my eye candy!)
21. What was the best book you read this year? I really like The Next Best Thing. I'm not sure why, but I wanted it to go on and not end.
22. What was your greatest musical discovery? I learned to really love Pitbull.
23. What did you want and get for Christmas? I got the prettiest necklace from my girls! I love it!
24. What was your favorite film of this year? Argo. I loved it and thought Ben Affleck was very good in it. (I don't see many movies actually.)
25. What did you do on your birthday? I was sick with a terrible cold, my cousin Joe was in the hospital having emergency surgery for a brain tumor and so it wasn't quiet what I had hoped for. My wish came true and my cousin came through the surgery and is doing well. His tumor is cancerous and he will have to go through chemo, but he is doing very well! Praise God!
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Nothing really! I have a great life and it is so full of Blessings! My honey would like it if we won the lotto, but I remind him we are so very rich already!
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? I have no fashion concepts! I wear what it easy and comfortable because I teach Kindergarten. I like to dress up 3 times a week and always wear jeans on Friday with my Kindergarten shirt!
28. What kept you sane? My Faith!
29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ellen De Generes. She is still my favorite celebrity and I wish I had time to watch her show. I fancy Benjamin Bratt! (Swoon!)
30. What political issue stirred you the most? Proposition 30 and 32! We won, we won! My honey and I went to sleep not knowing the outcome and when we woke up we were worried to check. I saw the results and wanted to cry! I think I did!
31. Who did you miss? My cousin Chris.  I saw him once in July, but I haven't seen or heard from him since then even though other family members have. 
32. Who was the best new person (people) you met? I love having lunch daily with my friends Jen and Martha. This is the first year we have had lunch together and so we are really getting to know one another. They are awesome ladies!
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012: Count your Blessings daily! Always try to see the bright side of things and remember there is nothing that you and God can't handle together!
34. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Shine bright, tonight, you and I, we're beautiful like diamond in the sky! (That's Squiggler's song!) My personal pick is Oh How He Loves Us. (Weegie sings this everynight during her prayers.)

Starbucks and Date Night!

LOL! I don't love this picture, but I wanted to put a picture of my honey and me up this was the only picture I could find of us taken in the last 6 months!! That is not good! I hate taking pictures right now, but still try to because it's not about me. When I'm gone, my girls are going to look at these pictures and not see that I don't have good make up or that my hair looks bad, I hope they see the mom that loves them so much! Okay enough with that and on to the post!
Today I went to Starbucks like I do every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. I love my Starbucks and will go out of my way to go to "my" store. When I walk in the baristas all greet me by name and will start my drink. They always ask if I want one or two because usually I only buy one. My mom babysits Squiggler and I don't pay her with money, I pay her with Starbucks. I buy her 3 Frappucino's a week and once a week I get one too. Well today I went to my Starbucks and who was sitting there in a red shirt and shorts? Santa Claus!!! I'm not kidding! Santa Claus was at my Starbucks with Mrs. Claus and on his cup it said Santa Claus. They were leaving as I was leaving and he held the door for me and was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. He looked at me and said, "My wife would love your boots!" LOL! I thought that was so cute and funny. They jumped into a white Camaro and were on their merry way. I guess the reindeer had the night off. Seeing Santa at Starbucks totally made my day!
My honey and I also had a date night! We haven't had a date night since the summer. We put Squiggler's sisters in charge of her and we were off. We went to see a romantic comedy that isn't really worth writing about and to dinner. It was nice just to be the two of us for a little while! We had a great salad and a yummy pizza at this little italian restaurant that I had been dying to go to in forever!!!!! We then went to the madhouse known as Target to buy some baking supplies. It was a ZOO! We were in and out of there pretty fast, but the cashier told us that some brainiac scheduled only 3 cashiers for the evening! Really??? 4 nights before Christmas and they only had 3 cashiers? They had every backup team member on those lines and the store was a mess! Oh well, I hope somebody learned their lesson!

Vacation at Last!

I've been meaning to post for the past two days because I am finally on Winter break, but I've been so tired that I have been going to sleep so early. I had planned to post everyday in December, but then life got in the way. (Mainly work!) The last two weeks have just been craziness and now for the next three weeks I just get to enjoy my family! We had report cards due, 2 days were I didn't go to work, parent conferences, Christmas gifts, Winter program and 4 days of shortend days at school. It was intense! The pictures in this post are from Squiggler's 2 year old photo shoot. Like always she had three clothing changes and even though it was really hard to get these shots, I love them all!

All of us are on break now and we just get to enjoy the next 3 weeks together! It has been raining for the last 3 days and today we finally went to the mall so that I could pick up these pictures!! It was crazy!! We luckily got a good parking spot, and JCP's wasn't crowded so I was able to return something and get my pictures with ease. I have to still do some Christmas shopping and head to some malls that I don't normally go to, but they have the stores that I need. This week I also have a date with my honey planned, getting pedicures, a baking party, a nativity play, Christmas eve mass, a family party, and then Christmas. My birthday is the following week and then breakfast with my besties as well as my mom making my favorite meal and New Years Eve. The third week we might actually have time to breath before going back to work. I don't mind it, but I feel like we haven't gotten to enjoy the season. I've been listening to my Christmas cd's every chance I get, but except for my tree all of my other Christmas decorations didn't make it down this year. (My honey, wouldn't bring them down. He just has no idea sometimes and can be kind of a Scrooge, but I still love him. )

Hopefully we can still find the true meaning of Christmas in all of this. I love all the picturs of my Squiggler, but the above one is my favorite! She is displaying the little attitude she has with her hands on her hips. I love it!!! Today the girls were playing the Wii and she wanted to join. She is so funny. It's late so I am going to go to sleep now, but will post more this week I promise. I think tomorrow will be my wish list if money was no object. That should be fun!!!