Jumping on Beds..........

Recluse = Happy

 I have been locked up at home for days now with the kids and I couldn't be happier!

I have been completely anti social...I owe a few phone calls.

I guess last week was so busy that this is what I needed...just to hang out at home and not have to be anywhere.  I had high hopes for this week of seeing friends and scheduling classmate playdates for the kids but I just never got around to any of it.

The past few days I have been looking back at old photos, organizing like crazy, playing games with the kids...today watching the Parent Trap with the kids.  I have been cooking big lunches for us too.  

I do still need to organize one more room.....but can't seem to find the mojo for that one.  

We took our Christmas tree down and I felt sad.  I usually can't wait but we usually don't take it down so early...we always wait until after New Years.   Will this be the last "magical" Christmas?  I don't know....that is why I was sad to see it go.

I can't believe it is Wed. already....I think we all need just one more week of vacation....last week was the crazy busy week....this is the resting week....I need one more to play with friends.  I don't want to share the kids with school....I don't want to get back to the routine.....I just love seeing the kids home with me.  Charlie building tracks.....Cami scribbling away in her notebook.....Cara smiling away always willing to help with whatever it is I am doing.

If you have read my blog for a while, you must get tired of me saying the same things over and over.....sorry about that.  Just speaking from my heart at this moment though.

I was transferring info. onto my 2010 calendar and realized that tball and softball start up real soon...I know I will be excited for their seasons but not now....now that just sounds like more "stuff" to have to be at.....I am just a homebody, I guess always at this time of year I feel that way.  The hibernator in me always comes out. 

Anyway.....it is raining here in Cali today.....doesn't help with the hunker down mood.  

Well....I made a "To Do" list and I did get some of the phone call chores done but I guess I will get back to crossing off my list.

Actually, nah.....making chocolate chip cookies sounds waaaaaaaaaay better!!  That is one of the perks of not having to be anywhere.....I can make cookies at a moments notice!! :)

Chocolate chip cookies go great with a recluse mood!!  And some lit candles and a fire of course!

Hope you are having a nice day!

Are you a recluse too?

2006ish - 2010

 I made my final collage last night.....this one was harder......a lot more pictures to choose from so the collage pictures are tiny!!  No pictures from Australia....one of my favorite memories of the decade....those pictures are on a different computer. maybe i will add one later!

These years have been so wonderful.....again, some down points.....deaths of loved ones....but overall, this is the "Sweet Spot" of our life.....the time when the kids grew more independent.....but they still adore us and want to be with us.....they are still full of life, innocence and happiness.....I hope they always are but I will admit the teenage years terrify me.....I have heard stories...these are the years when we still have all 4 of our parents alive.....when Mannie and I aren't completely gray and wrinkled.....it is a small moment in time that I am so grateful for.

 I am trying desperately to hold onto these years......I just realized last night that this next decade means the teenage years....omg....scary......so the little time we have left of the "Sweet Spot" I have been and will continue to ENJOY it to the fullest!!!

Memories from 2006ish - 2010.....

Mannie turning 40....Mannie getting back into baseball with the Whales and the UCLA Alumni team....Matt Schwenke.....Mannie's trip to Barcelona....me working thru that ordeal.....a trip to Hawaii and the sickest I have ever been......Wyoming 2 times.....Jackson Hole, the gorgeous Tetons and Yellowstone.....the Idaho house..... alone to NY for Mr. Livers funeral.....gymnastics, ballet, t ball, soccer, softball, tennis, horse camp......Grammy passing away....trips to the train station, pony rides, science table, theme dinners, nature centers, aquariums, zoos, museums.....learning to walk, terrible 2's,3's, 4's......learning to sleep without binkies, learning letter sounds, how to write and read, how to ride a bike, how to brush teeth, how to tie shoes, take showers alone, get dressed by themselves, no more bath time, potty training, backyard play, the sand and water table, nature walks, looking for bugs, family field trips, visits from the tooth fairy, essential tremor, loose hair anagen syndrome....blogging.....Arizona road trip....Scottsdale, Sedona, the Polar Express with the Lyons and the Grand Canyon, ice skating on the balcony of the hotel.......Superbowl 42 with Tom and Sheela....the greatest game ever!!......Scrapbook Lifestyles!!......working for BDS!!!.......Felicia.....Cinnamon Productions.....trips to the cabin in Utah....learning to fish....campfires.....overnights in Vegas......the ranch.....Bear Valley Springs..crafts galore....Candice babysitting...date nights with Mannie......our trip to Australia!! driving on the opposite side of the road......Sydney Opera House, koala bears, kangaroos, rainforest, Byron Bay, meeting Libby!.....UCLA winning the gold medal on  a rainy day in Surfers Paradise....Mannie giving me a hug and a  kiss on the head under the concession stand shed, so proud......visits from my family.....Lupus walk for Jan....Reflections....laughing.......summer adventures with Suzy, Tricia and Laura......Claim Jumper crazy dinners....Webkinz, Lightning McQueen, still Thomas, Littlest Pet Shop, Bellasara, PixieHollow,  horse everything....dinosaur everything....Facebook.....Mannie taking over/starting his own business.....truckie.....THAT little league.....Lowes.....the Montage....Crocs....mice......waffles....yummy breakfast place....candles and fires in the winter.....waterpark in the summer!

Well.....that wraps it all up I think....I am sure I forgot a ton because I have a sketchy memory but good enough.

Favorite memories of the decade....births of the kids......Australia......Walt Disney World.....Jackson Hole

worst.....Fight with family, deaths of family and friends.

wishes for new decade......that my kids can remain as innocent as possible, still have a love of life, a good self esteem and are protected from danger in the teenage years.....that they can make safe decisions for themselves......and good health for family.  I am tempted to just pack us all up and move to a desserted island......but I guess one needs to experience the good and the bad in order to live a full life....it will just be hard on my heart to watch the bad......but I guess we have made it through okay so far!!!

2000-2006ish

  Reflecting and looking over the photos on my computer of the last 10 years.

 Pictures from 2000 - 2004 are film only with the exception of a  few scanned images on my computer.  I don't want to take the time to scan pictures now of Cara and Charlie's birth...and I only have a couple of Cami because we got our digital sometime around then.  But you get the idea right?

But I did make a little collage of some of the digital images I do have from that time period.  I also found a video image of Cami that I will post....it shows how she used to get around even though she could walk and it shows her little determined and relentless personality even back then....I have been enjoying looking over these memories.

Mannie got a Life magazine in his stocking...it highlights the decade....what a crappy decade....seriously....9/11, Katrina, the tsunami, war, the economy with corruption, gas prices and the housing crash....unreal when you wrap it up into one magazine!  

My personal life..... all those events mentioned above weaving in through my personal life...it has been a great decade with the births of the 3 biggest achievements in my life.....but there were some bumps along the way.....nothing is perfect.  Looking back on all the pictures...the memories good and bad come flooding back into my mind.

Summing up 2000 - 2006ish....Teaching first grade.....out to lunch each Friday with the girls at work...when not at work....working on getting pregnant....a world of endless doctors appointments and disappointment after disappointment each month when I would get my period....endless negative pregnancy tests....endless tests, needles, thryoid, endometriosis, people telling me to just relax and stop stressing out about it all, meeting Dr. Werlin, more tests, more disappointments, then in vitro, enter... stay at home mom ....A world of sippy cups, binkies, diapers, baby proofing, powder formula, Babies r Us....mess after mess, Baby Enstein, MOPS, Julie!!....naps in swings, Miss Jodi's Learning Garden, Joann....playing in Pottery Barn Kids, Disneyland Annual Pass....chocolate muffins and Diet Pepsi....Cara loving the Princesses.....Thomas the Tank Engine....horses....dinosaurs....crazy meals at Rubys, Sheela!!....baby toys, diaper genie's that never worked, baby bjorn that I could never work out, double stroller, scrapbooking....Tricia!....a devastating fight with my parents and 2 of my sisters, selling our first home, moving into our final home, making up with my family......having 3 kids under the age of 3, buying the dreaded minivan, Danielle...our mother's helper....the ups and downs of whether or not she would show up for work, Lexapro for a year, 2 years of therapy (nervous breakdown/delayed post pardom?)....Freckle Friends.....Susan!......crops and classes at the Oasis.....teaching a few kid scrapbooking classes .... turning 35....Katie and Chrissy coming out to visit....Preschool....Cara starting kindergarten...trips to NY.....Arizona......Paradise Point....Santa Cruz/Monterey.....Walt Disney World.....getaway weekends with Mannie......losing my Aunt Jo.....Mannie's Grandma and Pappa......lots of memories...good and bad...........so many key people always supporting us through it all!!!

Tomorrow....2006ish - 2009!  

I will try to put in the video...it has no sound but it just brings back so many memories. Just click on the little button in the lower left corner.  shucks.....it doesn't work.....oh well....that high chair was a staple in our kitchen for 4 years or so.
 

It's Beginning to look a lot like.....2010!!

 Well....we are wrapped up our year with the traditional Christmas festivities!

Today is Sunday and I am enjoying doing NADA!!! 

I am debating whether or not to take down our dead Christmas tree...it is always nice to have it up for New Year's but not if it is slumping over and gray.

We had lots of fun.  My favorite memory though is really just hanging out Christmas day in our pj's watching Mannie build a Marble Maze....which won a toy award for 2009.....it took him 2 days to build with occasional help from Charlie and Cara.  The kids played with all their toys and it was just very peaceful.

Poor little Cam collided with her cousin and has a nasty black eye.....she never complained once though....she is a tough little cookie. 

It was great to see all the family and be together for the holidays.  We ended up the parties last night at the beach.....saying our 2 favorite memories, 1 worst memory and wishes for next year over the bonfire.  It was chilly at the beach but way better than last year. 

My favorite memories....our trip to South Carolina/Atlanta, visits from my family, trips to the cabin in Utah and Thanksgiving in Pismo.

Worst.....Matt Schwenke's death and a little league that never paid Mannie for his work....(long story, never wrote about here! I will just say it was and continues to be a stressful situation)

Wishes......continued good health in the family......no more headaches for Mannie's business and travel, travel, travel!!!!! Most importantly getting home to NY to see my nephew born last April.

It has been a good year overall!  I am thankful for health and safety most of all.  

Health and safety! Always my number prayers each day!  

P.S......I am luke warm on the new camera.....but that is because I am a creature of habit and it doesn't work like the old one.......not overly impressed right now......it took longer than I was thinking to upload on my computer with the Extreme memory card.......but wanted to add that part 2 of my gift was ........da da da dah!!!!!!!!  The Pixma Pro 9000!!!! from Canon.....this is the printer I used to demo when I worked for them!!!!!  You are not going to believe this but it came with the camera for FREE!!!!!!!!  Mannie scored big time at Sammy's Camera Christmas sale!!!!!  This printer is the best!!! I was sad when I had to give it back after I left the job!!  If you ever need a printer I recommend this one!!! 

Hope your holiday was wonderful and now it is time for Operation ORGANIZE!!!!

Smorgasbord = Success

 Happy Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!

The kids and I checked in on Santa.....so cute!

Our first family party of the season was wonderful.

I started getting nervous as I set everything out because I got carried away with the whole Smorgasbord idea...I had so much food because I had such a variety to represent all the different heritages.

Can you say FOOD FEST!??!! It was a food fest!

But in the end, the family loved and appreciated my efforts....which as a hostess is greatly appreciated!!  Everyone wants this to be a new family tradition!  

Here are a few pictures of the food. I have been a busy girl collecting food for the party from various places like Ikea, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Pavillions.
 

Mannie loved the cheeses....I was shocked, he never likes cheese....but he kept raving about them. I picked the Dubliner to represent Ireland.  Then I just picked a few others that looked like they might be good. 
  

Miro and Shawn brought Babovka....a Slovak pound cake for dessert. They also brought a cabbage and potato dish but I can't remember the name.
 

Jan and Gene brought swedish kringlers which are yummy cookies.  
 

Joan and Pat brought Pat's homemade wine and a cheese log that he made himself....rolled feta, almonds, cream cheese and cranberries..I can't remember what else but it was really good.  I spread it on my bread.

Mannie bbqed the sausage....and I put out proscuitto (sp?) wrapped in mozzarella balls, black forest ham and salami.  We also made Swedish meatballs from Ikea. 
 

I made homemade bread (in the bread machine....sourdough) I was going to make an Irish soda bread but the buttermilk looked suspect....kind of think and chunky so I decided against that.

I made a salad.....green beans with a mustard, olive oil and vinegar dressing.  I also put out jalepeno stuffed olives.  Mannie loved those too.  Found them at Trader Joe's.  

I tried to make the beer and brussel sprouts but I didn't do it right....I don't eat brussel sprouts so that was my first time cooking them. 
 

I made 2 Christmas jello cakes because the first one didn't come out right.......second attempt didn't come out right  either but it tasted just like I remembered so I was happy about that. 
  

I also made a gingerbread cake in the shape of a Swedish horse.....and put out various cookies from Sweden and Germany that I found at Trader Joe's and Ikea. 
 

I think that is everything......there was so much food......I feel STUFFED TODAY still......yuck. Not a good feeling going into the holiday parties.  But i suppose I  should just be grateful for a full belly and not complain about feeling fat since there are so many people starving out there.  

While researching for the party I have come across a couple of gorgeous blogs from Sweden and the UK.....this one and this one!! Pretty art. 

Well.....that is all for today.  We are having a relaxing day and then tonight we will head over for fondue at Gia and Gramps' house and we will exchange gifts.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy your time with family!!! I love and miss my NY family....have fun everyone!!!!!!!
 

DD22.....Almost time!!

 Well....the festivities are just about to begin!

Lots of fun and busy days ahead...

Today I feel much more relaxed and back to my usual self...it is a chilly chilly day today here in Cali.

The sun is out though so that helps.

It rained alot last night so Mannie's work got cancelled for  today....thankfully I was able get a few errands done by myself.....the kids were happy about that too!

The boys are out getting their haircuts right now.  I need a haircut but my girl Maureen left the company....:(

I am about to start some cooking or rather baking for tomorrow's party. 

I haven't worked on my December Daily scrapbook in a couple of weeks....but I did some printing today to keep that up to date.  I will post pictures when I get back to that project....which is looking like maybe a week.    I think the actual idea of the Dec. Daily is that you ACTUALLY work on it DAILY!  but time just got away from me somehow....and now I have yet another project looming out there in Unfinished Project Land.....the good news is that I did stay on top of it on the blog so I can reference. 

We are going to look at Christmas lights tonight!!  

I got part one of my Christmas present today....a new camera..... a new Rebel so that Mannie can have exclusive rights to the old one and use it for work!

I am happy except  he didn't buy a mem card so I actually can't play with it!! That was  a little bit of a bummer since he gave it to me early so we could use it for the holidays!  I may try to run out and battle the crowds!!

Anyway, it was the name brand I had seen in the box.......but a different box!!!! So, we shall see what part 2 is on Christmas day!! I can kind of guess what it is but ya know, I won't let myself keep thinking about it for Mannie's sake!!  :)  

Well.....that is all for Dec. 22nd......I can't believe a decade has come and gone......on a personal level, it was great....but for our country, it was sort of a crappy decade!  Hope the next 10 are FILLED with more peace and happiness around the world!  

Do you remember where you were on New Year's Eve for 2000???  

Mannie and I had been married for 2 years and living in Irvine....we were up to our ears in trying to get pregnant.......on New Year's Eve...we were hanging out with Drew and Joann.....they had just started dating.....it was the first "real" time we all hung out together as couples...I think I had only met Joann two times in passing before then....but I may be wrong on that one, I am sure she remembers better than me...with my sketchy memory and all.....anyway, we had them over for dinner.....I made homemade marinara sauce and some sort of pasta dish.....I am not sure Joann liked the meal.....there were peppers in it and that was not good for her stomach....I remember Joann telling me that Drew and she had taken a personality test and they were so compatible or similiar...something to that effect....they were talking about their future together.......Joann brought over these letters for us all to write to each other.....we are supposed to open them in another 20 years I think....maybe we should open them now though at the end of this decade!  I am sure my letter talks about having a family .... would love to crack that open and see what I predicted for our life together!!! 

Anyway, after dinner we headed down  a party down on Balboa Island......and Tom and Sheela got engaged that night!!! Except they weren't at the party....they were in Laguna Beach having a little romantic night alone....... Joann and I were waiting for the phone call on her cell!!!!  We had a feeling that Tom was going to propose that night!!!   Now, look how much things have changed since then and yet still the same!!  Same people in our life with a few additions of course!  

Oh well....another year come and gone.....time really does fly!!  

But I must go and make the cake!!!  

I am sure I will write tomorrow but just in case, an early Merry Christmas!!!!!!

DD21

 Hi.....I am getting in a moment of silence in my scraproom.

I spent the day cooped up in the car with the kids and I feel like I need to decompress just a tad!!

Do you ever get that feeling when you are so exhausted from the kids that if they come near you and utter one more single word, you feel like your brain will explode????   It could even be, "Mommy, I love you!"  I don't care!!! Just give me one minute to myself!!!!!  I know......horrible attitude from Miss "I can't wait for them to be on vacation".......ugh.  

Our day started off bright and early with a nice little breakfast date with Sheela and all the kids.  Then we decided to take all the little monkeys to Kohl's and do some Christmas shopping.....and among the shopping with all the monkeys I even tried on a few things......and a depressing pair of jean attempt I might add....but it didn't damper my Christmas spirit after all I was with my pal Sheela!!  Kohl's was the perfect spot to finish off my list though.....lots of great things!!!   After that, we left Sheela and some where in there was also a trip to the bank and the bagel store. 

I finished off my Christmas shopping and then headed with my monkeys to Trader Joes to get some goodies for the Wed. night Smorgasbord.....then home to drop off and then to Ikea to buy the Swedish meatballs....I LOVE IKEA!!!!!!!!! Except for their non fabulous idea to have tons of "helpers" standing around while we check ourselves out.....seriously, I know I have complained about that before but that is really annoying. I managed to leave IKEA  with a cartful of other random crap that I didn't realize I was actually living without all these years!! :P

Then stopped at Whole Foods to finish off the party shopping.  OMG!!!!! That store!!! It was close to dinner so I was hungry but I just wished I had like 2 hours to just walk around and look at all the food!!! and EAT all the food!! What a store! 

Now we are home and I am destressing......then I am back to work, wrapping todays finds and then we are  watching something together.....possibly with earplugs in my ears.

We made the cute candy Christmas tree lollies.......idea from the pumpkin pops from Roots and Wings blog back in Oct.  But the kids again, LOVE the candy pops and had fun making them with me!

Alright......this computer time isn't quite working its magic......I may need to lock myself in my room and hide under my pillow!!

Nighty night!

Tomorrow, I am attempting a stop at the post office to mail off the gifts for the NY fam......God help me!!

DD20

 5 more days till Christmas!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I can hardly believe how quickly this month went.....I still have 2 presents to get.  

Today the kids and Mannie spent the entire day in their pj's.....I got dressed and attempted the mall but left after I took one look at the parking lot......then I did some grocery shopping......thank goodness for the gift cards at the grocery store.....life saver!!!

But that was all.....we spent most of the day together in the family room watching Home Alone 2, a little football and building forts and  playing.  It was a really nice day.  

I am very excited for Survivor tonight but more so that we can sleep in tomorrow!!!!! 

I am going to list favorite Christmas songs for todays DD topic. Cute site

1. Silent Night

2. Do they know its Christmas

3. White Christmas

4. I'll be Home for Christmas

5. Joy to the World

Tracking Santa this year???

Off to finally make those candy Christmas trees with the kids....I was going to do that at the beginning of the month......time sure flies!

Bye!
 

DD19

 Today was a T riffic!! Day!!

We went to the Matt S. Baseball camp!!!!! I loved it so much....the weather was amazing and to see so many people come out to support the fam was wonderful.

The kids participated .....Cara loved it! She was the only girl out of 100+ kids and it didn't seem to phase her one bit...she just enjoyed all the different stations and the atmosphere.  Charlie's time in camp ended the minute he got hit in the head with a baseball! Thank goodness I just happen to walk over to take pictures when it happened so I was able to go over and check him out, give hugs..so he ended up playing with Cam and their friend who we went to Australia with....they had a blast!!!  

There were 3 players from the Angels there to sign autographs and then Mannie and his UCLA buds were helping out as well......tons of volunteers and coaches from different little leagues.... Our uncle who coached UCLA for 30 years was on hand.....he is awesome! He is just the cutest !!  So much energy and enthusiasm....every kid had to have left feeling proud and excited about their day.  

The Schwenkes must have felt the love!  Hopefully a good amount of money was raised to help them out.  

The plans for next year are already in place and I heard the "Angel guy" (PR rep??) tell Barb that he would love to help out next year too!  So excited for next year!!

We are all pretty tired now...being outside in the sunshine all day wears ya out....I just finished wrapping presents and I am cozy in my pj's....we have the tree lit and a fire going......I am just ONE HAPPY and GRATEFUL girl today.....what a day!

P.S......I haven't talked to the fam in NY but I see they are having a blizzard!!!!!!!!!! That is the coolest!!! Hope you guys are staying warm and enjoying the gorgeous snow!! A white Christmas for sure!!!!!!

We are starting to make our plans to go visit for Spring Break!!!! I am very excited about that!!!  Sal's pizza here I come!!!!!! Yippee!  I love planning trips and we haven't been home in a while so I am just over excited to plan this one out......and I found out that there is a new musical called the Adams Family coming out in March.....I am putting that on my wish list for sure! 

Well.....I am going to watch my favorite holiday movie....Holiday Inn....(you will have to turn off my music on the left side)....we have it on DVD....I love this movie!!! can't wait.

That is all for now.......hope you have a wonderful night. 

Updated Info. for Matt Schwenke baseball camp

One more tidbit for today.....

Here is an updated flier with a little more info. on who will be there and what to bring....

I believe you can still sign up if interested....money goes to a great cause! 

The age goes up to 14 years though...it says 12 on the flier...that is incorrect.

Have a great weekend!!!

Let the vacations begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!