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!

The Squiggler is 8 Months!

Oh my how the time flies! My Princess is 8 months old now and we are so lucky that we have spent the last month with her at home on vacation! We love vacation! She has really grown by leaps and bounds this month. I took her to have her pictures taken today, but they haven't emailed them to me yet so I will post and add pictures later.
The things our Princess Squiggler is doing now:

• You definately roll over all over the place.


• You love to kick things with your feet! You are strong too!


• You can lay on your back and scoot to where you want to go or grab things.


• You take 3 naps a day. Two short and one long.


• Your favorite place to nap is on someone's lap.


• You sound like you say Ma, Ow and ba ba ba ba.


• You have no teeth yet and mommy is very happy about this!


• You are only breastfed still, but you get cereal in the morning.
  
• You eat two jars of baby food. One for lunch and one for dinner.


• You love to pull hair!


• You talk to your sisters all the time.
  
• You love the dog and can pet him gently.


• You do not like other dogs.


• You love to flirt and are a very social little girl!


• You went swimming in a pool for the first time last month.


• You still hate to be on your tummy, but will probably be crawling soon.

My darling little Squiggler, you are so much fun, so much work, but we wouldn't have it any other way. You bring such joy to our lives. You go for a walk everyday and you like to sit up in your stroller now. You love to go places and be entertained. You are about 28 inches long and you weigh about 17 pounds. Everyone who picks you up always says how light you are. You justed started wearing 6-12 months clothes and you wear a size 2 shoe. You also wear a size 2 diaper. Know that you are loved so much and we thank God everyday for honoring us with being your family! We love you Squiggler!