A Day at the Beach

Yesterday we took Squiggler to the beach for the first time and she loved it! We thought that she wouldn't like the sand or how the water rushes in and out, but nope she is a water baby.

My honey, Weegie, Squiggler and I went to spend a couple of nights at my bil's house and he and his family joined us. I forgot to take any pictures of them, but I did get a couple of my little niece. She is so cute and sang songs for us. LOL! She reminds me of Speedy Cheetah.

Speedy Cheetah didn't go with us because she didn't want to miss swimming class. She had a test on Thursday and would find out the results on Friday. She passed and now gets to go to the pool for the remaining summer for free. She was so excited. She has passed all the swimming classes that they offer. That girl has always been a fish, learning to swim before she was 3, she loves the water.

My honey loves this picture and wants me to post it to his facebook. I love it too! Squiggler was not afraid and kept pulling us back to the water. My honey was telling us stories of how when he was younger he spent all his time at this beach. They would ride the bus down there for a quarter. My bil remembers going too, he must have been little!

I love Squiggler's smile in this picture! She is such a happy baby and this is her natural smile. (Not one of those staged ones that she sometimes gives me.) She actually turned 20 months yesterday, but that post is for tomorrow.

Here's my beautiful niece. She drove down with us and quickly made friends with two other girls about her age. I was so worried about her in the water because she does not swim yet. It was funny to hear her and the other girls talking, they were talking about how they thought they saw a shark. They were so funny!

Speedy loved harrassing her sister while she was trying to get a tan. My older girls are so good with her. My daughter looks good in a bikini. I NEVER wore a bikini ever!! LOL! I am so glad she has good self confidence.

My sil did take this decent picture of me so I included it in the blog. My other sil challenged to write a haiku about a picture. I didn't pick a picture, but picked the memory of the day. It was the perfect beach weather and just the perfect day. I don't really like the beach anymore, I use to go all the time as a child, but I had so much fun just being there with my family. It was a great day!!!

A day at the beach

good times making memories

love my family

A perfect beach day

squishing the sand in our toes

the sun is our friend

LOL! I think I could go on and on thinking of haikus!

Squiggler is 20 Months!

Squiggler is 20 Months! Wow does time fly! She is closer to 2, but I tell everyone that she is 1 going on 12! This girl is sooo funny and a little spoiled! She has had the luxury of having us home all summer and she is not going to like it when school starts again. I think she can sense it because she has been kind of clingy lately. She is talking up a storm and puts little phrases together like, "Pipe down Woody!" or "More grapes please?" She is so cute! I love this first picture of her because of her smile!

She loves to climb and run! She is always scaring me because I think she is going to hurt herself! Sometimes she does, but that's how they learn right? I love her little voice and have to remember to record her saying some of the cute things that she says. She still loves shoes with a passion and I was able to get her some cute boots off of ebay for good prices. She is set in the boots department!

She loves to sing and dance too! She hears songs in the car and she says "Song!" meaning that she likes it a lot! She still wears a 12 months and I can put some 18 months on her. I can't put 18 month pants on her or they fall down her behind when she walks. Its really funny! She outgrew her size 5 shoes and we have moved on to size 6, but all shoes are different and some size 6 are too big. Oh well! She will grow into them. This past month you went to Arizona, the beach for the first time and took swimming lessons! You are really dark right now because of all your swimming!

At the studio we had the new photographer and she was okay, but not great. I spent the least amount of money I ever have on pictures and the other girl who has worked there for a while and knows me was in shock! I laughed! I know for sure that I am going to do this until she is 2. Then I will just do it for special occasions like Easter, Christmas and maybe in June because she will be 1/2 years old.

Squiggler at 20 months

• You weigh about 22 pounds and seem the same height.
• You wear a size 6 shoe and size 3 diaper.
• You love to sing and talk on the phone.
• You love your dog and most other dogs too.
• You love to push your doll Polly around and say "Oh baby! Oh baby!" (I think you are trying to comfort her.)
• You don't want to be in your stroller at the mall anymore. You like to walk on your own and drag a shopping bag around with you. People always comment on how cute you are.
• You are a big time flirt still!
• You love to watch other kids and call all kids 3 and under a baby.
• You really like to brush your teeth. I hope that lasts!
• You hate to have your hair combed, but like to wear hats and headbands with flowers.
• You behave really well in church! I hope that lasts too!
• You count to 6 and recognize when there are 2 of something.
• You like to write and color.
• You love to read and watch Sid, Curious George and Martha Speaks on PBS.
• You blow kisses and wave bye without being prompted.
• You say Bless You when someone sneezes all on your own.
• You still ask to see Mamma Mia everyday!!!!
• You say cute when you see something cute like a baby or something pretty when you see something pretty. It's funny because you said Weegie's pedi was pretty.
• You are so smart and loving!!!

We love you so much Squiggler!!! Thank you God! Amen! (You like to say that too!)

PS: Your photos were taken on the 8th of the month because we were at the beach on the 6th!

8 Years

8 years ago today my daddy went to Heaven. What a glorious day for him, but a sad one for those he left behind. I can't believe that it has been 8 years already, time flies by and I miss him so much! He was the best daddy that a girl could ever ask for and I know without a doubt in my heart that he loved me as much as I loved him!

Now some people get confused because on paper he was my grandfather, but in my heart he was my daddy! Any man can be a father, but it takes a very special man to be a daddy. (My husband is a daddy too.) From the moment I came into the world he always took real good care of me and there was nothing he wouldn't do for me! I'm so lucky to have had him with me for 33 years and he loved my daughters Weegie and Speedy Cheetah a lot too. I know in my heart that he sent Squiggler to me. She is always so happy just like he was, and she loves to sing and dance just like him too.

My daddy had 10 children, about 30 grandchildren, A LOT of great grandchildren and in September he will be getting his first great-great grandchild. Now my daddy wasn't the biological dad to all these children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but in my family that doesn't matter. We are all family and that is all that matters! Growing up we were all so close and spent every Sunday at his house, eating menudo and watching the games on tv. (He loved his Dodgers!) There are a lot of great memories of my childhood that all revolve around his house. There was always music, singing and beans on the stove. ALWAYS! He would get up early every morning and make me breakfast. Even when I became a teacher, he would get up at 5 am and have breakfast ready for me before I left on my 45 minute commute. When I came back to live near him and my mom after I got married, I would have lunch with him the first year I started teaching at my alma mater. Everyday I would bring him something and we would watch DOOL together.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of him. I love when he comes to visit me in my dreams and I can hug him. The day he died I sang Amazing Grace to him in his ear and whenever I hear that song I know it is him reminding me he is always with me. (I can't sing, but I sang it for him.) I like to think about how he is now with my grandmas (yes plural) and playing all the baseball he wants. He is also with all his brother and sisters and his mom who passed away when he was only 14. I know Heaven is a wonderful place and how wonderful to be there with God and Jesus. But I still miss him! I love you Daddy!

Hanging Out with My Girls!

My beautiful niece is visiting us from up North. We have been trying to show her around town and take her to some of our favorite sites. On Monday, she went to the beach with hubby and my 2 older daughters. Yesterday, the girls all went to Magic Mountain, and today we went to the Grove in LA. I let the older girls walk around on their own while I kept the younger ones. Speedy Cheetah can spend hours in B & N, but the older ones wanted to go clothes shopping.

At the Grove there is almost always someone famous there and we did see Jillian Reynolds from Channel 11, but my niece didn't know who she was because she is local. Squiggler and I got asked to stand on the grass area and pretend that we were interested in what Jillian had to say about the new Skechers and exercise. It was fun and they gave us a backpack for it, but I would have preferred some free Skechers. LOL! Speedy and I also saw some papparazzi taking some pictures, but we couldn't figure out who they were taking pictures of?

We went to the Cheesecake Factory to eat a yummy lunch and that is the 2nd time my niece had been there since Saturday. The first time she didn't try the cheesecake, but today she did. We had terrible service, but overall I think we had a good day. We had to be back by 5:00pm because my hubby had bought tickets months ago to take Weegie to the Dodger game. He was going to cancel, but she was looking forward to it. I stayed home with Speedy, Squiggler, and my niece. It has been really nice getting to know her. She is very sweet and reminds me very much of my own girls. I hope she is enjoying her time here. She leaves on Friday.

I didn't get many pictures, but I did get a couple. I really need to get back into taking more pictures!

Sedona at last!

After an almost 10 hour drive, some through a thunderstorm and in pitch black surroundings, we made it to Sedona. We arrived at 10:30 at night so we couldn't see how beautiful our surroundings were. We just wanted to go to bed! Thank goodness for Mamma Mia. It saved us on most of our trip because Squiggler can watch it over and over again!

We are staying at Los Abrigados, a beautiful spa resort in the middle of Sedona, and it is really a luxurious place! I will blog each day so that we can remember this family vacation of 2010.

On the way up here we stopped in Needles, CA for dinner. We ate at the Wagon Wheel and it was very good. If by chance you are ever out here, then I would highly recommend this place. The staff was friendly, the food was good, and it was not crowded it all! Squiggler got her first mechanical pony ride and she really liked it!

PS: I started these posts on vacation, but never got around to posting them.

Squiggler is 19 Months!

****Warning! LOTS OF PICTURES!****
Squiggler took her 19 month pictures today. Everyone asks how long am I going to do this? I really can't answer. I love having her picture taken. I never know if we are going to get any good ones or not? Well today I think every single one they took was incredible!! I loved them all and had such a hard time choosing. Thankfully they will archive them for 2 years now instead of just 3 months so I can go back and buy some when I have extra money. They even had me sign another release form in case she ends up being a JCP photo model. LOL! Speedy Cheetah was twice.

I took two outfits and had my favorite photographer, Gracie, she is the bomb!! I like everyone there, but she is the manager and does the most amazing job and always gets Squiggler to smile and look at her. The black outfit I got recently on sale and she is wearing her black boots. The cheetah outfit, I bought like over a year ago thinking that she could wear it for her 1 year photos, but the dress was too big. It is still a little too big, but I couldn't wait anymore because I had this vision in my head. I took most of the props and Gracie put it together.

I love the following picture with the flower. To me she looks so artsy and bohemian. This baby cracks me up! My friends all call her Baby Diva. Hmmm? I wonder why?

Okay now on to Squiggler! My precious baby you weigh about 23 pounds now and you have probably grown a little. Your legs are sooo long! You don't walk, you run every where and sometimes you do a silly walk. You wear a size 12 months, 12-18 month clothes. Sometimes I put you in an 18 month, but they are usually too big and fall down off of you. You still wear a size 3 diaper and are still nursing. Now that it is summer you nurse exclusively again and do not drink a bottle at all. When you do drink something beside milk, it's in a sippy cup or with a straw.

This month we have started potty training you a little bit. You always tell us when you go potty and if we are lucky we get there in time and you go potty in the potty. LOL! You hate to have your hands dirty and always tell us "dirty, dirty" and demand to have your hands cleaned. You are such a good helper and help clean up around the house and throw things away for mommy. You also help me put the clothes in the washer or dryer.

You love to play mommy and play with your baby doll. Sometimes you get jealous of her if someone else pays attention to the baby doll and you are mean to her. It's kind of funny! You also like to pretend that you are a big girl and always have your purse and cell phone. You talk A LOT on the phone for pretend, but not for reals. When someone calls you don't like to really talk to them on the phone.

You communicate a lot now and tell us when you want to do something. (Like go, go outside or no when we ask you if you want something.) You push or pull us to where you want to go or do something. It's really cute. You love hanging out with your sisters and now that it is summer you go on 2 or 3 walks a day. One in the morning with your dad, in the afternoon with your sisters and the evening with mommy. You are one spoiled girl!!! You also love having everyone home for the summer and love having all the attention.

In the following picture she is wearing my shoes. She loves shoes and is always trying to walk around in them. Especially my heels! You also like to play dress up and are always taking someone's clothes.

You get all happy when we go to the mall and clap and say "yay!" LOL! You are definitely my daughter!!!!! We take you everywhere and just in the last 2 weeks you have started to give a little bit of trouble. You want to be a big girl and you don't want to sit in a high chair anymore, you want to walk around in church and explore, you don't want to stay in your stroller. You'd rather be Miss Independent and walk on your own.

Squiggler you are such a delight to us! We love you so much!! You are learning about prayers and like to hold hands, bow your head and say Amen! You count to 6 and your favorite tv show is still Sid the Science Kid, your favorite movie is Mamma Mia and you like to watch The Prices Right with Grandma. You love music and your favorite song is OMG by Usher. You like potatoes, whether they are french fries, mashed or just cut up and cooked. You drink a lot of water. You get on your bike and push yourself now, or you like to get on your scooter and have your sisters push you around. Like always I'm sure that I am forgetting something, but I can always add it later.

Thank you God for making Squiggler a part of our family. She brings us so much joy, laughter and happiness. We hope we are a good family to her and raise her well. May she always know you, and how much she is loved! She is the perfect combination of her two sisters! And all 3 of them are the greatest gifts we could have ever received!

Happy 4th of July 2010!

Happy 4th of July to everyone! Today is probably one of my favorite holidays where I have so many happy memories from my childhood! My grandfather lived on a huge dirt lot and everyone would gather at his house for a barbeque and then we would light fireworks until the sun came up practically. I am talking everyone would be there and we kids would take turns lighting our fireworks. It would take FOREVER!!! We had so much fun and started quite a few fires on that dirt lot!!! Also in the town I live in, they use to be able to sell fireworks and my family always worked the booth for the local softball league that we all played for. We use to have so much fun hanging out at the booth and walking to the corner liquor store for treats. Good times, Good times!!!

This year I dressed Squiggler in a patriotic theme just like I did last year. (Her sisters balked at the idea, so I decided to let that go.) I tried to get Squiggler to pose for pictures before she got dirty, but like I said...she is not loving the camera when it is turned on. When it is not on she is all over it, saying cheese! LOL! The little stinker!

This is a picture of my girls and their cousins. Their mom is my sister cousin and so my kids call her tia and her kids call me tia. I was also the matron of honor at my cousins wedding and both of my girls were in it. My husband and I are also the Godparents to her youngest daughter. I love these girls so much and think of them as my own. We took a picture of them last year too and I hope I remember to make this a tradition of all 5 of them. Squiggler really had a lot of fun playing with them and they were so good with her. My Goddaughter got a little jealous, but she still was really good.

We love going to my tio's house to celebrate the 4th because his neighbors put on quiet the show! The local park puts on a fireworks show and so does a church not too far away, but they do not even compare to the show the neighbors put on and we have a perfect view in his backyard. We have no idea who the neighbors are, but they have been doing a great job the last few years!

Earlier I said that fireworks use to be sold in my town, but they are illegal now and so we have to go to Fillmore to buy them. We bought some really good ones this year and had a small private show, but nothing compared to those neighbors! (They give Disneyland competition!) My honey was tired so I told him to let my cousin in law light them. It was funny because at first he said okay and then he got up to "help". I think it was the mischievous boy in him that wanted to light those fireworks. Boys being boys! We had a really good time and all three girls plus daddy went straight to bed!