Kaytlin

Wow! The first of two events has FINALLY arrived. Thank you for your patience while I have been preparing for my daughter’s birthday. Kayltin turns 8 today. Her party is tomorrow. She wanted a sleep over so bad. So we came to a compromise. A half sleep over. The kids come in PJ’s and bring pillow. They will do all the fun stuff but go home after to sleep. We are having pizza delivered and playing games like twister. We can’t forget dress up since the theme is princess. But last and not least a pillow fight. With the economy the way it is I had to budget very carefully. I made pretty much everything from my overflow of craft stuff. Her whole party was for 12 girls came in under one hundred dollars (Yes I had that much overflow and did not even make a dent).

I made flower head pieces and wands. I got the idea from the wedding I have been working on (the other event). For the goody basket I made dangle bracelets and matching necklaces (I believe they are pretty cool since my son even wanted one, but not in a girly color). Plus I put together a mini princess coloring book. I had bought boxes of crayons during the great back to school sales for 19 cents. I even decorated small bottles of bubbles with ribbon and flowers like the head pieces.
I will update you about how the party went and will post pictures of the beautiful princess I except to see.

Next week is the Wedding. Look for more on that. Have a great weekend.

Believe in the Lord. Have faith in God above.

These are the things each of us has heard at least once in our life time. Not being brought up with religion in my home as child, I try hard to encourage belief with my own children. Attempting to do the right thing by them I have been taking the kids to church. Many times when we are going to the English mass Grandma will keep the little one with her. Grandma prefers the Spanish mass.

This past Sunday Amber went with us. She is 19 months old and is very independent. My husband calls her a firecracker. She is full of life and bubbly laughing all the time. In church she is often too loud and I need to take her to the quiet room. Not this week! The experience is something I wonder if I will ever see again in my life time. A miracle is the best way to explain. God reached out and touched my little Tooka. After not being in church for around 3 months she was an angel. She seemed to be filled with over whelming joy. Her eyes glowed. Amber climbed into my lap and gave me hugs with such warmth. As if God was hugging me himself. She in turn gave one to her sister Kaytlin and each person in our party. She returned to my lap, placing her arm around my neck; cuddling with a smile I cannot describe.

I felt in my heart that she could feel God’s presence; He filled her with joy. Watching her share the peace with our neighbors in the front pew was my greatest blessing Sunday. I don’t think I have ever seen God working like this before in my life. I pray I will again, and soon.

I have been thinking about my life a lot the last few days (ok weeks it has taken me this long to get the words almost right). My dad witnessed a small airplane crash flown by someone he knew. It has touched him in a way that will forever be with him. For me – I could have lost him! He was so close that along with another friend they ran to the plane when it crashed. It blew up a few seconds later. As far as I am concerned it could have landed on him or blew up while he was to close.

Than a day or so later M2’s friend (Gwen) who she has know all her life had a major life changing loss. Her husband left to stand with GOD. Even though he was 67 years old it may seem to some that he lived a full life. What about those who he left behind. His wife who was (I believe) around 15 years his junior. Gwen has to wake up each morning missing him with her heart. I do not want to even think about the evenings or when it is time to go to bed. This is my own personal greatest fear. I have seen what it can do to you. Kim was the first and far from the last I regret. She lost her husband of 16 years with two young girls to raise. It was so rough for her. I wish I could have made it better for her. I always want to make people better but it doesn’t always work that way does it?

AARRRHH! I just can’t get what is going on my head into words. Instead I am babbling. What I really want to spit out is about how my journal for my mom has helped me. I started it when she passed away 10 years ago this November. I was so lost without her. Just as I know Gwen must be now about her husband. I started to write to my mom what was going on in my life just as if I was talking to her. It turned into a memory book. Every thought of her it was added; filled with the emotions of the laughter, tears and events we shared together.

As others have lost their parents, spouses, friends, or anyone who has touched our hearts. I would try to share the comforts I found in the journal.

Today I happened to find the journal. Having not written in it in a while since it was not needed as much. Touched by the words I found in my journal; I think of Gwen. I am grateful all over again that I have these words saved to share with my mom’s grandchildren.

Still feeling all in knots about Gwen’s loss wishing I knew her personally; though I have heard stories about her over the years. I want to reach out and hug her with all I have. I want to embrace her and give her a part of me. Share the words that will make her pain go away (I know that there are no such words. Still I want to tell her them).

In Gwen’s husband honor I will go home today and share my mom’s journal with my children for the first time. Explain to them how important it is to live each day to the fullest.

I really feel her pain and I wish it on no one. My prayers are with Gwen and everyone who her husband’s life has touched. I pray for Gwen to have strength as I know she does. I send many blessings to all those that have loved and lost.

It is much easier to become a father than to be one.
~Kent Nerburn, Letters to My Son: Reflections on Becoming a Man, 1994

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
~Clarence Budington Kelland

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.

To all fathers, the happiest of days; you’ve earned it!

The first official day of summer camp is today!

Remember how I didn’t have a plan? Yesterday we were still without a clue what to do with TJ, so my hubby set out to see what was in the area of where we work. Thankfully, he located a baseball camp, ironically just what TJ said he wanted to do.
Hubby called to find out if they still have room and left a message then took off to Sports Authority to buy him a glove. Hubby, Sara and TJ each left with one! I’ll use the one that hubby got a while back for a left handed person, though he didn’t understand why. I gave him the look and reminded him that I’m ambidextrous. I’ll play like the kids. What better way to teach them practice makes perfect and we’ll get some use out of the glove that was ordered wrong some 4+ years ago?
I swear there is a glove for hubby there too. AMB3 wanted one, but they were all way too big for her little hands.

Let’s not forget the balls to practice playing catch… or the cup to protect him. The cleats that were supposed to be $25 that were really $35. Hubby only grabbed the size; he never looked at the shoes. They where not the ones we looked at initially, but TJ thought they were much better.
He can change the Nike check to one of 6 colors.

And socks long enough to fit under the pants.

After spending $189, there was another $9 for the pants we forget the first time. Then we got to the car to find we lost one of AMB3 shoes, so I had to venture back to the store.

Fortunately, we got the call that they did have room but we were still missing stuff. Looking for a wee tiny crock and the rest for two more pants and the ¾ shirts. No crock and yet another $36. And off to camp he goes.

Yesterday was the last day of school for my older wee ones. I walked in the door from work to get my standard greeting; AMB3 (formally baby A) screamed mama mama, while my older two came running for loves (aren’t I the luckiest mom in the world?).

The next thing I knew the 8 year old gave me a look like he was about to tell me something bad resulting in him in big trouble. To my surprise he hugged me like he never wanted to let go and started to cry. He was telling me he was going to miss school. It was so touching. I’m tearing up now thinking about it.

While still holding TJ, Sara showed me the beautiful pillow case she brought home from her teachers. It was covered with clouds and other sky like things. My favorite part was her name. She was ready to replace her Dora case for this one. TJ still holding on, I continued to look at the other goodies they brought home.

Then I had more tears when I found what TJ’s teacher sent home. It was a little memory book. His name is on the cover with several pictures inside of his teacher and class and a wonderful message inside: “To the most improved student this year”, along with many more tear jerking sentiments. GOD BLESS her. It was the sweetest gift I think I have ever seen that I had not made my self. LOL. Then TJ showed me the picture of him and his teacher and he lost it some more. I told him it would not be the last time he saw Ms. Rodriguez; he’d see her again next year.
Remember all the good times and carry them with you.

I knew he was sweet and sensitive… I feel sorry for the girls when he gets older. He will break some hearts.

Now we get ready for the summer. OOH JOY! I am usually one of those moms who has the whole season planned out, but not this year. I guess we’ll wing it as we go. What do you have planned for your kids this summer? Anything so much fun that we have to do it too?

Sara’s (formally K) teacher called late last night. My first thought was this must be really bad if she is calling us at home at 9:30 in the evening.

We’ve had regular conferences about Sara throughout the year, none of them I care to remember… but this turned out to be a call I want to jump up and down and scream about… and maybe do a little dance!
I knew this kid had it in her; according to her teacher, Sara has made a great improvement in the last two weeks, bringing up her grades. Even on one of the tests she was the only one in the class of 36 to get a perfect score.

I guess we are going back to Build A Bear to dress her cat! LOL! I am so proud of her as I am all my wee ones. Keep up the good work baby. I love you.

As I mentioned before my son T did very well on the FCAT. My co-worker’s ’smart, gifted’ son also took it this year. I’ve been dying to know how he did; I knew he did well, but wanted to know how well.

She finally told me this morning that he got a 4.8, which is fabulous! I was so excited that T did better, stacked against an acknowledged ‘gifted’ child. It’s terrible, but I’m sure I had a smirk on my face because inside I was like WOW!! I just wonder if my son knows just how well he did? Does he know how really proud of him I am? I hope so because I am VERY PROUD of him. I’m always proud of my kids; they’re just really good little people… but this is a landmark event in his life.

Baby, keep up the good work! At this rate you can go to the University of Miami when you grow up and head off to college. Or Harvard! I love you sweetheart. You can make any dream you have come true, all you have to do is try.

This weekend was my birthday. It’s usually just like any other day; I can do with out all the hoopla.

This year was different from any other year for some reason. It felt like all the birthdays that have been forgotten in the past were made up for this past weekend. Friday night we went to dinner with Tom and Aunt Em and my bunch to Dave & Busters. We played games and laughed and really enjoyed ourselves.
Then Saturday my parents came over. It wasn’t planned for them to come on my birthday weekend – it was a fluke but a nice one. My Dad played games with the kids and M2 got a hair cut from Gamma while I tried to learn this blogging thing for myself. (Yes, someone else posts everything for me at the moment. ) Then the net went down. Of course!

Later we went to Dinner at Long Horn and then Target since the grandparents brought the wee ones gift cards. What an adventure for the them. LOL. I don’t think they’ll buy the kids gift cards ever again.

On Sunday the gang go together for lunch at the sports grill and then my hubby and bunch went to Build a Bear for the kids. (My son took the FCAT this year and he got his scores back on Friday. He got 5 in math and reading). Then we took the kids home, and while gamma baby sat the adults went to a movie. Went with Bobby, Mrs. B & Tom too. Afterwards we did Dave and Busters again. Got home around 2:30am and then Baby A was up at 6:30 on Monday because I forgot my alarm clock down stairs by her room. So I was up early on my birthday.

To finish off the weekend there was a BBQ with the whole gang and then a visit to the pool. WOW am I glad that this weekend is over so I can recover. Thank you everyone for the special weekend. It really means a lot to me.