Halloween Night

(Yes, I am back log blogging.) Akorren was sick today and I was called at about 11:00 AM to come and pick him up from school. I called my mother-to-be, Lois and had her stay with the girls while I went to go and get Akorren. He did not look well. Said he had an upset stomach, feeling "ooogey" (as we call it in my house) and he had no interest in eating anything. He had a slight fever of 101. We get home he gets his things out of the car and then stops short of going into the house, doubles over and empties his stomach contents in the patio area (fun). He is upset and I comfort him. He gets inside and then once in the kitchen, empties his stomach a second time. I get him to the small bath roon just as he is done (yay, good timing Mom!). I yell to Lois to keep the girls out of the kitchen and get Akorren set up on the living room couch to rest and then clean up the kitchen and patio area. He rests and I try my best to keep him quarantined from his sisters. Everyone takes naps to rest and I hope he can go out at least for a little bit tonight for Halloween.
We finally get the crew dressed and ready and head out the door for some low key trick or treating by 6:30 PM. With the full to the brim bag of candy that Zhivanna got from her preschool we leave a large bowl of it outside on our door step so passing costumed kids can take it off our hands. We make it around to about a dozen houses when Akorren, our Merlin wizard, gets tired; I head back to the house with him while Glenn takes the ocean fairy, and fairy princess out to hit a few more houses. Can't get enough candy you know! They make it back about an hour later and we close up shop at 8:00 PM due to so many trick or treaters. I don't know if it is the recession but in the past years we have never had so many children come by our place before this was the first year we "ran out of candy". I thinking being able to take the children out to get candy for FREE was a good activity this year for many families. Hope you had a Happy Halloween. Akorren as Merlin, tinkerbell-mom, ocean fairy Zhivanna, fairy princess Merlova & Superman daddy. Us by the front door before we head out to trick or treat.

Dancing Girls

This is the first semester that Merlova gets to dance at Starlight Dance Studio in League City with her sister Zhivanna. I have been so forgetful to take photos over the past months. But today I remembered to bring the camera. And on this day of course Merlova had to be trouble and have a 'hissy fit' after the mom's came in to watch them dance at the end of their class today. She wanted to go eat tacos right after Ms. Sharon talked about holding tacos in their hand and eating them (just for pretend) so that they could put their taco hands on their hips. I had to leave the room and she cried and cried and was put out so the rest of the class could do their dance. I had to work a 1/2 sub teacher job and Lois came to be with the girls. She was able to get a photo of Zhivanna when she danced. They are both really doing so well with it 9despite Merlova's bad day), I will be fun to see what the do with their recital in May of 2009. I love my two ballerinas. Zhivanna with her class doing tap, Merlova and her class (Ms.Sharon in front), the littlest dancer Merlova.

Pumpkin Carving

Now we have had the pumpkins for a while. We bought them as part of a fund raiser for Gilmore, Akorren's school. The kids have been playing with them for at least a week. Putting them in the play shopping cart and driving them around. Placing them on my living room pillows so they would be comfortable and imagining that they are some sort of Pokemon characters. Well tonight Daddy lead the group in designing, cleaning, cutting and tracing the pumpkins into being. Akorren did most of the work himself and even designed the writting of the word "BOO" on his. For Zhivanna's scary skull Glenn ended up doing a lot of it as well as for Merlova's cat. She did get in on cleaning out the guts of it though. After the children were put to bed by mommy, daddy finished up the last of the carving. I think they did come out nice. This year Glenn sprayed some Windex on the inside of them and it really prevented all that gray mold from forming on them when they began to decompose in the days following Halloween. Akorren with the seeds, the final carved pumpkins, Merlova helps out, Zhivanna cleans the insides out.

A vist with Anne/ Restful Day

Today I tried to sleep in again but to no avail my phone rang a little before 7 PM this time it was a friend from TX who did not know that I was out of town in CA this weekend. Oh, well. I slowly started to get up. Clyde wanted to take Christine (my sister in law) out to breakfast this morning since it was going to be her Birthday tomorrow. So Vincent, Christine, Daniele, Clyde and I walked down in old town Newhall to an egg place, it was packed and we had to wait a while. We had a nice breakfast/lunch and then walked back to the house. I tried to call my old girlfriend Anne Stewart now (Brooke) who was living in Castaic now with her new husband and kids. I had not seen her in ages and so I wanted to try and get with her before I had to leave tomorrow. I did not make contact and tried to call her back later that day after hanging out at dad's relaxing, she left my phone number when she went out and did not get back to me until later that day and at around 5:30 PM, so I headed over to her place to visit. It was so good to see her, her children were all grown up and beautiful/handsome and so nice. She ended up marrying this really nice younger man, Jeff. Anne looked so happy and it was great to see her in a good place in her life. I had a glass or two of wine and stayed later then I had wanted to knowing that I would be getting up rather early to head on back to TX and the reality of home life again. Seeing people like Anne and others who so touched my life was a blessing on this trip. I am glad that I had a chance to come to CA. Kristen, Me, Anne & Ryan, Anne & I, Anne, Jeff & her grown up kids.

My Godmother Lorraine

Lorraine looked the same to me, a little smaller but the same beautiful woman who cared for me when I was a young child attending St. Elizabeth's Catholic School. She was my care taker and I would stay with her every day after school until my mom got off of work and could pick me up. She has three sons Kevin, Keith, and Kenny Richard and I had spent most of my elementary school years playing and growing up in their home. Lorraine made a nice Italian chicken meal with asparagus, brown rice and a salad. She is still such a great cook. We chatted, I showed her all the photos of my children and tried to catch up with her on all that has been going on in my life since I had last seen her some 10+ years ago. I wrapped up my visit a little after 10:00 PM since I knew I would have about a 45 minute drive to Newhall from Altadena. It was so nice to be able to see her and Ken. Lorraine and I after dinner.

Our Scottish Friends

Driving up Lake Avenue in Pasadena going into the Altadena area was such a trip. I saw so many more new buildings and I was trying to recall the ones that stood there when I was younger. I drove past St. Elizabeth's church and school on my way up (I had attended there from K to 6th grade), it still looked the same. I drove past what use to be the Pasadena Theatre Company, now a dance studio, where I did several theatre productions (with my mom) and under the direction of Beverly Bishop (who died last month from a stroke).
The Stewart's house looked much the same, some new paint and landscaping brought it into the 2000's. David Jr. answered the door with hugs and smiles, "You look so much like your mom!" My mother Cecelia had been life long friends with Marina Stewart and helped raise David, Malcome, and Anne. Marina looked about the same but now seemed much smaller and frail in frame. The many years of alcohol had worn her body down some. She was still full of joy and memories from my mom and all the fun time the kids had together. Malcome made it home from work and was happy to visit for while. Soccer stories of Coach Herman and his "pie" (a defensive soccer play) still brought chuckles to all of us. Photos were shared, taken, and hugs given. I then made my drive (a whole 7 min.) to the Bertoneau's house for a late dinner a little after 7:00 PM Malcome/Melissa/ Marina, David Sr./ Melissa & Marina, Marina/Melissa & David Jr.

Ramona Reunion Class of 88'

I had to get to Ramona a little early to help set up the memerobillia items I brought to share with everyone. I brought our old school uniforms, dance flyers, prom booklets, etc. Many of my classmates recalled these items but most seemed not to have kept them. The first few familiar faces I saw were Tisha Neal, Suzie, Alina, Sarahi and Melissa Abich. They all looked the same. In talking with them I had found out that one of our classmates Emily Marquez had died about 10 years ago from breast cancer. She was the most beautiful girl in our class. She left behind her twin children and never ended up marring the man who fathered them.
We had already stared in on the sangria when a large group of our class walked up the steps and their was one of my best buddies Kathrine Blum. She still looked like the same old Kat to me. Beautiful long blonde hair, all thin and healthy looking. We started to talk right away using every minute to catch up on what we have been up to over the past 20 years. Both Kathy and I graduated from Cal Sate University Long Beach with B.A's, married nice men, and both of us have 3 children. The other long time buddy of mine who was there was Mary Tomlinson (now Mu Larsen). She was so slender, wearing braces, and just stared life off with her second marriage (no kids) and would be finishing up her graduate degree studying Chinese medicine. She looked like she was doing well.
The time flew by and we played a few silly "remember when"/ 'Life at Ramona" games and I was able to win 2 prizes. One for being the farthest person to travel to attend the reunion and the the other for winning some quiz. We watched a slide show of photos that were sent in by the class and took a tour of the campus. It was a really fun time with things finally wrapping up after 5PM. I had planned on seeing Marina Stewart and Lorraine Bertoneau later and needed to head up to Altadena for the evening. Lots of hugs and phone numbers, emails exchanged, then I headed out to the Stewart's place. Ramona as I remember it before the Oct. 88' quake, all the Ramona women who attended, the survivors of the reunion (ladies who attended Ramona since 7th grade), Kathy and I.

Ramona & the Reid Family

Today I was delightfully awaken by the ASEOP ( automated sub teacher program) calling my phone at 3:30 AM this morning seeing if I wanted to work a job out in TX. Yay, 2 hour time difference! I was hoping to be lazy since I am alone with no kids and try to catch up on rest. So much for that idea. I did fall back to sleep and woke up at 7:30 AM ready to start with my day. I called around to the old family friends that I grew up with and made plans with whom I was going to visit with and then had to jump on the computer to get my driving directions. I was a little unsure of getting back on to the Los Angeles freeways again.
I headed out to Alhambra to meet up with Carol Platz a long time family friend of my mother, Cecelia, that way I could chat with her, and get a personal tour of my high school a day before the reunion so that I would not be lost when I came on Saturday . Carol gave me a tour of the school and it was a real shock to see how different the place was. The 100 year old building (that was at the heart of Ramona) was badly damaged my senior year with the October quake of 1988. That was the last time that build would be standing. I shared the many photos of my family and children with her and we a good 2 hour visit.
Afterwards I made my way up through South Pasadena and then to Pasadena to visit with Joan Reid and her family. After a greeting of many hugs and screams of joy from Rhonda, Michelle, and Joanie (with grandson in tow) we went inside and taked, looked a photos, and did what we could to get caught up on the 15 years since I had last seen them. It was such a delight. Chirstopher Reid, Joanie's eldest son, and a guy who was like a brother to me, (we had a love/torment kind of friendship growing up) walked through the door. It was such a surprise. The youngest son, Johnathon also showed up and seeing him was the biggest shock to me; I remember him as this little annoying skinny brother of Michelle, not the handsome man he has grown into. Now I felt old. I finally left their home after many more hugs and all the email, and contact numbers exchanged and made my drive back up to Newhall. It was great day of visiting. Tomorrow was my reuion lunch and I was excited to see my other freinds from 20 years ago.
Me with the Reid family, Joan, Johnathon, Emanuel, Michelle, Daniel, new baby boy, & Rhonda. Photo of Chris and I.

Arrived in CA

Today I arrived in CA safe and sound. My father in law, Clyde and brother in law, Matt came to pick me up at the Burbank airport. I then got to spend the rest of the day visiting with my wonderful sister in law Pixie. I just love this gal. We sat in the hot tub, along with my great-nephew Tommy and talked and played. We of course did most of the talking and Tommy did most of the splashing, jumping and playing. We talked and talked and had a great time. After Matt and Clyde worked on some wiring for the house and Daniele arrived home from a busy day of work we walked down the road a few blocks for a Mexican food dinner and margaritas. It was so nice and it ended up being my one big meal of the day. After more talking and visiting we said good bye to Matt, Pixie and Tommy as they headed down to San Diego to get Tommy back home to his family. Clyde, Daniele, and I watched some National Geographic TV ( I had not seen this before since we do not do TV at home) and we learned about the Queen Mary 2. By the time it was 10:00 PM I was dead exhausted as I had the 2 hour time change to deal with and had been up that day since 6 AM. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out, a good nites sleep for one happy, relaxed, child-free mommy. Photo is of Tommy in Clyde's hot tub.

Back with School

So I have been throwing myself back into the public school system as a substitite teacher. I am really enjoying it right now. And being away from the kids for part of the day is such a breath of fresh air, the girls are great but sometimes it is too much "mommy" all the time. I seem to have more patience with them since I have been away for part of the day. The hard part is not to get so into working again that I am gone all week long. The sub special education aide position that I am in is a new position and it looks like they could use someone 5 days a week all day long right now.
After logically thinking about it, I realized that suddenly being gone all day evey day would not be a good thing for the kids or the household. So I know I am going to have to say "No" to them for working all the week. It is good practice for me to do that. I also am looking into private school work right now that might work out to being a part time job. I'll keep you posted on that one. It is fun to be back on familar ground with teaching and working with children other then my own. I like being back with school.

Gripe

I hate Comcast. I have to say that again, I hate my Comcast high speed internet service. I hate my Comcast high speed internet service because it is not working!!! We have been having trouble with it for the past 2 weeks, it will work for the AM then not work, you have to refresh the signal every other day. After about 3 calls to the customer service people, which means I will get an adjustment to my billl this month, they end up telling me that I will not get a guy over to look at the line until the 31st of Oct. Yes I did get a new modem and it still does not work so I have to wait until Halloween to have the Comcast people help me. I will believe it when I see it! Yes, I know I am blogging, how is this so you say? Well I am in CA at this time at my father in laws place for the Ramona Reunion.
So like I started off saying I HATE COMCAST. Just so you non-TX hurricane Ike people understand the recovery from this is taking so long for Comcast because of all the back log of the damage done by Ike. Comcast has been so busy with repairs over this past month...I guess I should cut them some slack, not!

Happy B-day Daddy!

October 11th , 2008 marked Glenn's 41st B-day. I can't believe I am married to such an old man! I can say that now that he is 3 years older then me. The children made daddy some homemade large b-day cards and we know how much he likes to make fresh popcorn so we decorated a popcorn canister for him, made him an angel food cake topped with purple icing and a gummy spider and then got him some more candy. The kids know that daddy is a candy-man. Papa and Lois got Glenn some funny b-day cards, an I Spy Halloween book and a collection of Simpsons DVD's that the family will all enjoy. It was a nice simple little b-day letting daddy know we love him so. We also took the whole family out to Mongolian BBQ to eat, yummy! Glenn with his family and swag, looking at the I Spy book with kids, daddy get's help blowing out the candles on his cake.

Going to see Ramona

Last night I was finally able to get Glenn to look at his frequent flier miles on Southwest Airlines and had him book me a ticket to got to California for my 20th High school reunion at Ramona Convent Secondary High School in Alhambra, Ca. It will be very strange to go back as I have not stepped foot on the grounds since the summer of 1988. The last real vivid images I recall from it are when the earthquake hit and damaged the 100 year old buildings (and I can't even recall what year that was). I receive all the school mailings of the up and coming events and see some of the pictures of what the campus looks like now and it is nothing like the school I remember attending. I am sure seeing it again on the 25th of October will awaken my old school memories. I really can't believe that it has been 20 years already. Wow!
I am excited about seeing all the faces and to see how we have changed, I am sure many of the ladies will now be married and have children so it will be nice to connect on that level. I think at least two of my old gal pals will be in attendance Kathy Blum and Mary Tomlinson, what a trip it will be to see them. I look forward to reacquainting myself with them. I think finding out what we all ended up "being" will be the best part. I say that because in high school we all seem to find a way to fit in and everyone takes on these roles, the popular kids, smart girls, leadership kind, socialites, sports players, etc. I wonder how many of us stayed in those roles. Some of the ladies I imagine will still look and seem to be the same, like frozen in time. I spent time last night looking though the yearbooks, photos and keepsakes of the 80's just to get in touch with the Melissa of 1988'. It was fun, and of course I stayed up way too late and now have the cold the children finally gave me. I will post news of my trip to Ca.later, I really look forward to the mommy vacation starting on the 23rd of Oct., I will return back to Texas on the 27th. It will be a fun jog down memory lane. The above picture is of Becky Moreno, Kathy Blum and I at the Father Daughter Dinner Dance in our Senior year, fall of 87'.

My Man

Had to show you all Akorren's 2nd grade photo from Gilmore. He always makes such silly faces in most of his photos. It is hard to get him to be natural and relaxed in his photographs. It is still a "real" picture of his personality though. I look at him and am amazed at how grown up he seems. I love this 7 year old age, he likes so many things, is easy to talk to, still wants to hug and show me affection, and has his own sense of humor and creativity. I like the man he is growing into.

I just signed some paperwork to have him tested for the GT program (Gifted and Talented), his teacher from last year recommended we look into getting that done in the early part of 2nd grade for him. I have mixed feelings about it, I would love for him to get into it as I think it would help feed his interest in science and all things creative and imaginary. But I know he is not the "top" kid in his classroom. And I hate the idea of setting him up to fail. In our area we have so many (privileged) NASA kids, children of engineers and scientists that getting into the GT program seems so much harder out here. Normally GT would be the top 10% of kids in the school but since we are in such a high calibre area it seems like they only take the top 5% of kids. Kids in our district get tracked at an early age and getting into the GT program would allow him to take the upper level classes in middle and high school later. We will just have to see how and what he does with the testing later on this month. I will let it go and try not to stress about it. As his mom I just want the best for him, what can I say.
Currently Akorren is enjoying learning about the Pokemon card game. I am thrilled that I finally had the time to teach it to him this month. I loved role playing and card games like that when I was younger, so it nice to show him how much fun it can be. It makes him apply basic math and organizational skills along with some higher level thinking on which Pokemon to use and why. We will slowly be adding to his card decks and now he even imaginary plays Pokemon battles with his sisters, it is amusing to watch. This month he decided to take a break from piano. (I am a bit disappointed on this one, I really loved having a musician in the home), but the getting him to practice was turning into such a battle for us. Daddy finally put his foot down and said if you don't practice anymore you will not be taking lessons. That will give us $100 more this month to put towards something else. He still has gymnastics and at some point will play soccer (still delayed due to the hurricane) so I guess I can't feel like he is not getting do anything. I just love my man, Akorren.