San Juan Bautista

Today I visited San Juan Bautista, the 15th of California's 21 missions.  It has been another full week and I was surprised to see it's been almost a week since I have posted.  It's the grasshopper in me postponing loading all those photos from my camera.  I need a good chunk of time to do this.  I caught a cold in San Francisco too and have felt a little worn down.  

I visited the mission for a little retreat; talk, confession, Mass, meditation.  I was invited and at first said I didn't think I could attend because of my cold and schedule.  Then I was feeling little promptings to go.  Today was the feast of the Visitation, when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth.  St. Elizabeth who I have been thinking about so much.  

That little connection came at a perfect time.  This week I was surprised when some grieving surfaced again.  I know God held my hand through it and brought me His true peace in at least two definite ways.  One was the retreat today and the "coincidence" of the feast of the Visitation.  Secondly a beautiful letter came from the priest who assisted us during the miscarriage.  He wrote how he was touched by the loving ways our larger family expressed their love for our baby.  I'm thankful he took the time to write that letter and it's amazing timing - for it arrived on the exact day when the sadness surfaced.

I'm glad we can carry on and be joyful but still have the little times of sadness for our child who can't be with us here.  I hope I always feel this.

First Day in San Francisco

We arrived in San Francisco yesterday for a little promised trip for the girls.  They were very disappointed when they couldn't go with us January so we promised we would take them this Summer.   We're taking advantage of the three day weekend and our continuing celebration of completing another year of school

Our Hotel is across from the entrance to China Town.  We did a little shopping before our special dinner.  The girls were impressed with the bargains.

We're back at Farallon.  The girls wanted to see "Uncle Slugs restaurant."  DH's brother is Chef de Cuisine.  He sent over many first time dishes for the girls, caviar, lobster, soft shell crab, octupus and squash blossom.  (pictures to come)

 
Here's Uncle Slug with his three proud nieces.  Jae said "Uncle Slug is the best cooker in the whole world."  I didn't tell him she said that to me once when I brought home KFC.  They noticed they were the only children in the restaurant and said it was because their uncle was the chef.

The most popular thing of the night was when Chef sent over three glasses of GRAPE JUICE to the table.  Boy, did they think this was cool.  More pictures later, we're off to Mass and the Exploratorium today.  Love this City!

Schools---Out---For---Summer!

Today was the last day of school for the homeschooled in our family.  We finished our assignments on Wednesday and finished today with the CAT (CA Achievement Test).  

There were screams and leaps for joy so loud I was glad the windows were closed.  At least it buffered the shrill screams from our neighbors.

I didn't have the heart to tell Jae she has another 2 weeks of Kindergarten, although she probably wouldn't mind, it is Kindergarten after all.

Kaye stomped on her school shirt while Cee hid hers at the bottom of the hamper knowing it was the best place to misplace it for the Summer.

While the girls were screaming Nutmeg playfully went over to Frank the cat to play.  When they stopped, she stopped, when they started up she went back over to Frank.  She also grabbed the shirt from Kaye and ran.

"We're All in This Together...when we stand hand in hand, make our dreams come true!"

"What time is it?  Summertime, it's a vacation!"

Spring Fling

Not just in an effort to move the last post down the screen a bit, I present to you the participants of the Spring Fling.  One is a Kindergartener just starting out at my alma mater and the other an 8th Grader finishing up there.  

This is my niece who is graduating and danced the waltz with her classmates last night.  We were all stunned to see this outgoing, athletic, spunky girl make her entrance as a beautiful, elegant lady.

  
Here is my nephew as a turtle for his performance.  The costume was made by both my sisters the night before.  ...by scratch.  They were joking a couple of days ago that this will be the first test to see which Kindergarten parents go all out.  I guess they brought their 'A' game!  My nephew looks so much like my Dad in this picture.  

Wordless Wednesday

Secure in his manliness!

See other photos at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Happiness is a Day at Papa's Cabin - Together

Saturday we headed up to Papa's Cabin to open it up for Summer.  The cabin holds many happy memories.  

This is Papa who made it all possible.  My Mom and Dad bought this property when I was an infant and my Dad, Brothers and Cousins built it.  I have an early memory of standing in footie pajamas at the screen door of our small trailer watching the men work.  My Mom loved this place and she is definitely in our minds every time we're there - even 16 years after her death.  When we look at the walls and see her artwork, open up the Scrabble game and just in enjoying each others company without t.v. and the phone.  

Here's the cabin from the bottom of the hill.  Grandma and Joe drove up for the afternoon.  Here's Grandma taking the kids up the steep hill.

We had an incredible lady bug encounter down in the meadow near the creek.  There were hundreds of thousands (a million?) lady bugs flying around.  We've seen logs before with clusters of lady bugs but we weren't able to find either where they were headed or returning to.  We finally concluded that it was too hot for them to land anywhere and huddle together so they were flying around.

It's hard to see with my photography but the above picture shows tiny specks which are all lady bugs.  Most of us were fascinated except for Kaye who was completely grossed out.  We had them crawling over our faces, arms and clothing and every once in awhile they would take a little nip.  It was amazing - the numbers, not the nips.

There was fun for the big boys too who worked hard at first and then enjoyed the afternoon.  Snow still remained in the shaded areas which was hard for us to believe.  We came from 100+ temperatures with shorts.  It was a first for the kids to play in snow with shorts and tee shirts.  

This little cutie is our Godchild who braved the hill all by herself.  All on a Target shopping bag. What a day!

All In A Day!

...a good, long day.  

Odds and Ends

Last week, the day after returning from our trip down south, was one of those weeks full of odds and ends.  I think a lot of things were scheduled the first full week of May because it sounded so far off.  In the last 10 days these extra activities were added to our regular homeschool duties:

started swim lessons (2 days a week)

Godchild's 2nd birthday gathering at Chuck E. Cheese

teacher appreciation day (shopping, wrapping, receiving :)

2 separate hair appointments

piano lessons (really a regular activity)

girls read at Mass

scheduled work in Kindergarten classroom

2 hour consultation with Homeschool Consultant (1 of 3 appointments throughout the year)

career day (had to put together costume)

Niece's birthday party

girls were "Island Girls" in Portuguese festa

homeschool field trip

This leaves for little blogging or a lot of blogging material.  I have laundry piled up again, plants that desperately need planting, things to package and mail and an unusually grumpy and sleep deprived husband.  We have about a week and a half left of our curriculum which is great incentive.  We can use a little Summer and not just in the weather.  I think tomorrow we'll finally be in regular schedule mode - busy but manageable.  Here's to a little regular!

Don't Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

A week ago Sunday, while we were down South for our Godchild's First Communion, we were able to catch the girl's first major league baseball game, Angels v. Orioles.  

Our brother and sister-in-law and one of their two children are big fans of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (formerly California Angels).  They had an abundance of Angels hats and experience to make taking five kids relatively easy.

There is just one problem, inside that stadium lurks a huge fear for one of these five children.  The excitement of being all together was enough to put off the fear until we stepped down into the stadium to find our seats.

These two happy cousins (with the rally monkey around their necks) were excited about spending the afternoon together.  This picture was taken just before we entered the stadium.  Just as we took the escalator up to our area, my sweet niece calmly told me "sometimes I get a little scared of going to the game."  I shrugged it off telling her it was going to be a lot of fun.  I had no idea, the fear she was going to have in just a few short steps.  As we entered the stadium the noise level increased and she began to panic.  Then the star spangled banner (more panic) and just as they reached "the rockets red glare" they shot off fireworks (extreme panic!).  I don't know if I've ever seen anyone with such a realistic panicky fear.  

My sister-in-law rushed her out of the stadium and couldn't get her back in.  Finally after much coaxing and promises to plug her ears as tight as I could she came back.  We worked out a system when she got scared she grabbed my arm and I immediately grabbed both ears while she buried her head.  She was armed with ear plugs and despite the sunny weather would not let go of her protective hoodie.  Of course we had to come to the game with a handful of homeruns each celebrated with fireworks.  ...but when the Orioles were up, it was safe to try some of the delicious snacks we were ordering to soothe her fear.  

Still, she would not let go of that ear protection.  She had this fear starting as a tiny baby.  I remember her crying and crying at a family reunion from the loud noise level.  

For some, there was nothing better than the all American past-time of a baseball game and hot dog (and cotton candy, ice cream, nachos, lemonade and peanuts) and being together.

How quickly the fear disappeared at the end of the game.  It's remarkable how we forget the pain and remember the joy.  My niece told her Mom after the game, "it wasn't that bad!"  Her Mom had a good laugh.

The Bridge

Watch this beautiful video...you may need a tissue.

If You Give A Kid a Camera...

This cute guy is our Godson who received his First Holy Communion Saturday.  It was a long drive for us to the Los Angeles area Friday afternoon/evening (5 1/2 hours) but we wouldn't have missed it.  The kids don't get to see their cousins too often so when they get together there is always lots of fun.

After First Communion we all went to El Torito for lunch to continue celebrating.  

Don't they look alike?  Here's my Brother-in-law with his son.  I love to see a little boy in a shirt and tie (the tie came off for the party).  

So as the seven adults were enjoying a pitcher of margaritas at one end of the table, the kids asked for the camera.  The conversation (and margaritas) were so good we hardly noticed there was this much activity going on at the other end of the table until we saw their pictures.  There was even a little Dancing with the Stars action.  note: we weren't in a private dining room.

Naughty Nutty!

How does God pack tons of personality, cuteness, energy, intelligence, agility, and a ton of naughtiness into 7-8 pounds?  He does and her name is Nutmeg.  She gives us lots of enjoyment and frustration.  She is a little gift but not without consequences.  

She is very athletic and can jump on things we thought impossible for her size.  When we got her the breeder told us not to let her climb stairs or jump on the couch until she was a year old.  Hmmm, that lastest maybe one month.  We couldn't stop her, she's just does it.  

This weekend we set her up for more than she deserves.  One of her favorite visitors (if not thee favorite) is coming to stay with her for the weekend while we're away.  That would be Love Bandit above left.  Aren't my two nephews cute?  (seen here playing Guitar Hero at Christmas in Papa's living room).  So anyway, Love Bandit is here to keep her company and tuck her in bed at night.  

You think she would show a little appreciation for everyone going through so much trouble for her.  Instead this morning, while we were getting ready upstairs, the scoundrel jumped on top of the kitchen table and got into the package I was wrapping for our Godson's First Communion.  She swiped a gift, ran off, and chewed it up!  Now this isn't something I can replace on our way at a quick stop to Target.  These are gifts I had to get from a specialty shop downtown.  I'm so frustrated.  

Then she looks up at me with her big brown eyes, snuggles on my noisy lap (Kashi) and makes me forgive her.  Darn her!