in no particular order...

Long time since I updated this blogeroo of mine...

So, this is what my Waldorf doll looks like!!! I'm still trying to find a name for her.

In any event, here she is!

Really loved the end result!

I just loved this picture of Cesar. It's one of the very rare ones that he lets me take without covering his face! This is Perla, his bird that we ended up finding out is a BOY... we didn't bother changing his name.

And this year, both Coco and Cesar finished their religious education for the sacraments of reconciliation and communion (Coco) and confirmation for Cesar. We are so proud of both of them! Papa Riordan was Cesar's sponsor, and we were happy to celebrate with his dad and family

I've been craving the days of summer, but we haven't gotten many, so we are making the most of each one we get. As every year, we had Megan's birthday. This year the theme was Superheroes... loved it!

This year all the boys in our block got together to rent a machine to dethach the lawns of all of them. Brian was in charge of getting the machine early in the morning. The super funny thing is, as soon as he came back, around 7, ALL the neighbors started coming out of their homes, coffee in hand, to see the machine. By the time they started this thing, around 8:30, they nearly had a party going on around that thing. What can I say, boys will be boys!

We went to Wild West town, which we love. Coco and Connor had a blast, and I have to say, Cesar was as nice as teenagers are rarely supposed to be! Seriosuly, I felt proud of him, he was helpful and didn't complain at all.

We are oh-so lucky that our good friend uncle Danny is a White Sox fan. He got Cubs tickets for a game, and Brian and I went. It was a nice date night completely out of the blue (thanks Noni, for babysitting!) and even though the game got called out because of the rain, we did have a good time. AND the Cubs won, which is very rare these days :(

Coco made this tie-dye shirt at school. I love that coco is getting all crafty, just like her mother!

My uncle Nathan made this necklace for Christmas a couple of years ago, and I never wore it before, because I didn't have any matching earings. So, I decided to go out and try to get the materials for a matching pair, and this is what I ended up with. I've been using them almost daily now! I really loved them!

And for Coco's birthday, I wanted to make her dress... It's almost like cheating, though, because I bought the fabric already smocked, but the rest of it, anyways... This year Coco decided to go for a Tea Party for her girlfriends, and then a water fight party at home for the boys. We certainly had a blast! I cannot believe she's 8 already!

And for her birthday, she wanted a Kit Kitridge American Girl doll. She has been wearing the matching outfit ever since for any "special" occasion... like feeding the birds and walking the dog.

Finally, for this edition of this long overdue update of the blogeroo, Cesar "graduated" from Jr. High School. He'll be a sophomore this August! We are very happy and very proud of this kid. The last picture is with Mr. Buck, the school principal... thanks, Mr. Buck!

Ok, I promise I'll start blogging like a decent blogger for a change!

About birds and TEA

Before I start my update... I just had to take a picture of Connor. He is such a BOY!!! I think boys are programmed to be goofy... If you have a boy, I'm sure you have found these kids of scenes, pretty much daily!


Anyways, this Good Friday I participated in The Way of the Cross celebrated at 3 pm in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic we have in Aurora. I was so glad to see such a large group, it kept growing as the minutes went by. It was pretty cold, and as usual, I was not wearing a sweater or jacket, but it was well worth it. We prayed for the babies being killed, for their mothers and for the doctors and nurses that assist them. May God help them all.


As I did this, Noni came to take the kids to decorate eggs. We did decorate some at home on Saturday, too, but Noni's were a lot more dramatic, especially the one with all those feathers!


Coco and Connor found some presents from the Bunny on Sunday morning. After church, we went to Noni and Papa's to celebrate with our family. Uncle Mike made the BEST shish kebabs ever!!! Everything was really delicious, and it was good to see our loved ones.


Then we come to the 15th of April... our TEA parties!!! We had a very nice response for our Naperville, IL TEA party. It was so nice to see people that think alike. Helps you feel a little bit of hope (REAL HOPE! How sad that these beautiful words have been assaulted and deformed!)


Of course, there's always the nutcase that shows up to counter protest... like they don't have MSNBC, CNN and all the other networks to do that!


In the evening, we went to the Oswego TEA party, where our state senator Chris Lauzen was one of the speakers. I loved that Cesar was able to go with me, and he helped his brother hold his sign. We like for them to get involved as early as possible!



This picture was taken last Friday... about the last decent day we had! I LOVE this family that by now feels like our own. They are such good people!

On Saturday, we went to celebrate my sister Marisa's 36th birthday. She and Hilda decided to take our kids for the weekend as a "b-day present to Marisa" (WHAAAAT????) That was very nice, but I still cannot understand why was my sister so intended on torturing herself!

It was a little bit funny that Brian and I just didn't even know what to do. We went "window shopping" to Menards, and went to see new homes... it was just odd not to have to be scolding kids for a change! (THANK YOU HILDA AND MARISA!!!!)

AND NOW, THE STORY OF THE BIRD (S):

Last Thursday, Cesar came back from track practice with a shoebox. I was coming down the stairs talking to my friend Eliza when I saw that he had a parakeet in his hands. I told my friend I had to go to buy a cage and hung up the phone. Cesar explained that he found the bird at the field, it was hurt and couldn't fly, so can we please keep it, pleeeeeaaaaaazzzzzeeeee???

Of course, I'm a total push-over so I said yes, and let's go to Petco and buy a cage and food. So here comes the whole family to get the cage, and food, and toys, and the bone for the beak, and the little branches of some sort-of-herb that they oh-so-need for their digestive system... you know how it goes. So, a couple of dollars more than we expected to spend, we get back home. We chose a name for the bird (female) on the way back, and Nina takes an official family pet status by consensus. We place the cage on top of a black table, Coco and Cesar decorate it and get it all ready. Cesar reaches out for the shoebox... and finds that Nina is now DEAD.

Oh, the humanity! Nicole was inconsolable, so, push-over as ever, I tell Brian, please take her back and get a bird NOW! And as he leaves with Coco in tow, I yell: maybe two, for company!

(the picture of Cesar kissing the bird shows NINA, R.I.P.) So now, Peach and Perla fill our days with songs. With a LOT of songs. This morning, Coco was telling me, "I think they are a little too loud, mom. Do you think we can take them to the garage while we watch Franklin???"

Oh, the joys of parenthood!

Finally back!

I don't know where in tarnation has time gone. I cannot believe that it's been more than two months since I posted anything. We've just been busy with life, I guess. But, in any event, and in no particular order, a few shots of what we have been up to lately...

This picture was actually taken tonight at Coco's school (Lakewood Creek Elementary) at their Math Madness night. Connor found the books in the library and asked Brian to read to him. I LOVE the Berenstain Bears!



This was two nights ago. Connor was on the stairs and Brian and I were getting pajamas for the kids, when we heard "THUD, PATOOM!" and the scream... We ran to the stairs and he was in the landing, saying that he has a boo-boo on his head. That's always a scary thing to hear. Coco fell on her head when she was 8 months old, and she ended up with a fractured skull... so we were really nervous. But thankfully just a little bit of ice did the trick! Coco wasn't making fun of him, she was just getting her shoes and jacket off!

I was telling Brian a few weeks ago that i wanted a Waldorf Doll for my birthday. I don't know why, I just have been really "craving" a girly, handmade doll. But when I saw how expensive they can be (on etsy, the ones I really LOVED were over 100 bucks!), I decided I was just going to make myself one. So, I found this website and decided to make my own (because I really have NOTHING else to do!). I started yesterday, and I'm hoping to finish this weekend, including some clothes for it... Hope it'll be pretty!

I cannot believe that they are adding to our school (Lakewood Creek) AGAIN! It'll end up being huge by the time Connor gets to go. Coco got lost once already!

Last Sunday, I asked Brian to stop by the store and pick up something he would like for me to cook. But could he do that??? NO!!!! He actually picked up something HE could cook, and called me to the table when it was served!!! Now, how about that for service? It was DELICIOUS!

And a few days ago, the weather wasn't too bad, so we took the opportunity to go to the park and play soccer with Diggy boy, and play on the swings with Maddie and Steven.

And these are a few of the purchases of late... the dinerwear was TOTALLY a bargain! 29 bucks for a service for 6, plus two serving bowls and salt and pepper shakers!

Did I mention before that we are getting more involved with politics in our community? This is a small prayer service we held outside the office of Kay Hatcher. We are hoping that the FOCA doesn't pass the floor in our state senate, so we went to deliver all the signatures we had collected... and we have more signs on our yard, as our good friend Andy Kaczmarek is running for Montgomery Trustee

I am also organizing the TEA party along with other ladies in Naperville on April 15 at 12 noon... I am praying we have a good turn out!

And finally, a picture of my good friend Tracie's birthday party! It was a GREAT party at our favorite pizza place, Aurelio's. All four of us in this picture have become friends after meeting online. Isn't it great? I so hope that one day I will have the opportunity to meet in person EVERY single one of my online friends... especially all of my bloggy friends!

And that's about all for now!

Oh, the Joys!

Before going to bed, I like to watch a little cartoon with Coco and Connor. It was so nice that tonight we were all able to just sit and cuddle (daddy wasn't working, Cesar wasn't in his bedroom!) and watch Scooby Dooby Doo together. I just felt it was one of those moments when we were all relaxed, talking and mimicking the voices of Shaggy and Scooby, and Connor of course had to sing the theme song for us.

And this is what my neighbor's backyard looked like on Thursday and Friday. Well, it actually still looks pretty much like that! Today was actually a little bit warmer, but we still have loads of snow. A bit annoying by now...

This is just one of those things that remind me of the incredible family the Sweet Lord was kind enough to help me find. Each season, Noni gets a little something for the kids (place mats, cups, straws). But EVERY TIME she gets something for our kids, she also gets an identical item for my ex-husband's daughter, Cesar's sister Sarah. I really, REALLY am so blessed that my family embraces me and my first born as their own. With Brian, very little people even know that Cesar is not his "natural" son. He doesn't believe in the "step" tag. This little present reminds me of one of my many, many blessings.

Since the kids have been housebound for a few days, I just had to give in and get some Play Dough for them to have something to do. Connor was SOOOO excited! He has been playing every day, and I have to say, I am very impressed. he has been so clean and neat about it!

And last Thursday, I banged the big toe on my right foot sooo badly, I thought I had broken it. I went to the Urgent Care Clinic (I discovered we have one down the street, about 3 or 4 miles away, YAY!!!) and they said it is not broken, but pretty badly bruised. I'm going for a follow up on Saturday, because it still hurts a little... The only good thing was having Coco taking care of me. She insisted on fixing me some lunch. We had some left over instant soup from Cesar's days of no eating anything but soft foods, so she brought me a cup, along with a glass of milk (half full, since she couldn't find a tray to bring the food), dessert (two Oreo cookies), a "cup" of water (that is the cup we use for brushing our teeth in by bathroom) and even a candle holder with a poinsettia for decoration. Oh, and of course, Static Guard, since I was soooo electric. How neat is that? Better than any professional Nurse, if you ask me!

And I had a batch of "friendship Amish bread" (you know, that dough that a friend gives you in a zip bag), and I had to give it a try this time. So, on Saturday I went ahead to make banana nut and chocolate chip bread. And who better to help me than my chef assistant??? Connor came to my rescue! The bread was pretty good. The banana nut was a total hit... the chocolate chip was not as good, although our young neighbor Steven loved it, and kept eating and eating it (thankfully!)

And since I had the kids sleep over, Coco, Maddie and I kept doing crafts all Sunday long. They really had a blast, and so did I. I specially loved the puppets by Martha Stewart, they were on sale at Walmart for 75 cents each!

Actually, maybe Steven did have a little too much chocolate chip bread, as today he just couldn't go to school. He had a sick tummy. Or maybe we gave him our cooties, who knows. In any event, he came to spend the day with Brian and I... for a little bit, anyways! I had to go to work, so he stayed with my BORING husband - NOT!!!

This is the place where I worked today. It is the "old" Kane County courthouse in Geneva, IL. I love that place, although I had to work with a very rude attorney... not my favorite one for sure. Tomorrow I have a job I really am not looking forward to do. I have to translate for a patient in his last two weeks of life. He is dying of cancer... I just know it will be a tough job. I'll have to pray to the Good Lord that I can be an instrument for this man.

Lots of hugs and blessings to you and your loved ones!

YUCK!

We've been having the yuckies this month. We started with Coco on Monday night (Jan 5), right after Brian left for Nebraska. It's tough enough not to have Brian around for a week, when we celebrate the Epiphany Feast on January 6, but having one of the kids sick is really not fun. Coco spent all night long throwing up, poor thing, and I spent it washing carpets. She was so miserable, that I even let her open her Wise Men day (Epiphany) presents at 2 AM, but nothing could make her happy. She had a quizzie tummy until Friday, but she absolutely refused to stay home other than Tuesday. Then on Saturday night, of course, I started feeling quizzie myself. YUCK!!! It feels like I've been in bed since forever! My head still won't stop hurting, but other than that, I guess I'm feeling better today.

(just hoping Connor doesn't get the yuckies!)

On Saturday, I tried to make Rice Krispies treats with white chocolate, pecans and pretzels, but I decided I will NEVER be Martha... It was a disaster. I think they are still sitting on the counter. Nobody has really 1touched them. My friend Maria promised to teach me how to make them... we'll see if that works.

And we had (finally) Coco's Christmas party at school. They had to cancel it because of a snow day last year (ha! isn't it fun to say LAST year when we're talking about just a few weeks ago?). We had lots of fun! I think everybody was happy with the games we played. This was my favorite, the kids were "skating" with those shoe boxes and the over-sized gloves. Fun!

Last Thursday I went with Cesar (and his friends, of course!) to his new high school. It is soooo exciting! I can't believe he's going to high school in August! I am a little bit nervous, since I still don't completely understand the school system in the US. In Mexico, school is a lot different, so I'm not quite sure what to expect. I still don't understand the "senior, freshman" terminology, and in my opinion, they give the kids too many choices. I'm not sure that I was ready to make choices when I went to college, leave alone high school! In Mexico, you are just in High School, period. I hope that I can get used to all these things quickly. It is a good thing that Brian is by my side to help me help Cesar go through this new face. Really exciting!


It's been horribly cold and snowy around here, and it seems like it will continue to snow for a few more days... let's see how we fare! Coco decided on Saturday to go out and bury Miss Maddie's gloves... and then had to go and look for them on Sunday with Steve. Note the fishing net to get to the gloves!

Today I started trying to organize my knitting and sewing projects. by the way, do you know of a good tutorial website/blog/group for totes? I want to sew a tote, but a decent one... just don't know where to go. I looked into a class at Joann, but the class was $75!!! For that kind of money, I'll just go to Etsy and buy a really cute one, and not even bother with all the work!

I hope to feel completely better in a few more days, and come back to this space like a decent blogger! That is one of my resolutions for this year... let's see if I can keep up with it!

EDITED: Connor just started the vomit and diarrea... oh the joy. He's such a trooper, though. Happy camper as can be!

Page Maps Contest

Just a small little posting for this LO, based on the Page Map by Becky Fleck. I LOVED having the opportunity to scrapbook and play with my goodies!!! I LOVED this sketch!!! And I loved even MORE to be able to use my old stash!!! These are REALLY old papers and things!!!

Can we do it all over again???

This is really the most wonderful time of the year. From Thanksgiving on, we get so busy preparing for Christmas. We also celebrate Connor's birthday this month. It was very cute to have him blowing his candle (or trying, anyways!). But even cuter is that every other day, he will come over to my scrap room carrying two candles, asking me if we can have his birthday again. So, we go and lit the candles, and sing the "Happy Birthday" song for him. He gets so excited, even if he doesn't get toys every time.

We went to see Santa, of course. There is a small zoo in a town nearby that has a beautiful display of lights. You can drive around to see the lights, and then you can go in and see Santa. Connor was thrilled, but I'm not sure about Coco... I think she was very concerned that she didn't know what to ask Santa for Christmas; she was really mortified. We had to explain that Santa is a real expert in little girls and he would know just what would make her happy.


We also went downtown Chicago to get the kids to see the window displays. I had not done that in quite a while, and it was really the first time we took the kids. Connor was actually not that thrilled. He was downright scared of several of the windows at Macy's. We all loved the manger at Daley Plaza. I was very surprised. It surprises me even more that as of today, nobody has spray painted it, in any other way defaced it, or gone berserk because it offends some religious, gender oriented or animal right group. That alone is like a miracle in itself.

On Christmas eve, the kids baked some cookies with daddy. Now, I was still very busy wrapping some presents for our relatives, so good old store bought dough had to do. We've heard Santa doesn't really mind, as long as there's a glass of milk to wash them down.


Coco was an angel for the vigil mass. She looked adorable!

We came back home to prepare the cookies and milk, and the oatmeal for the reindeer. We usually get carrots for the reindeer, since it seems more healthy, but we ran out of them. Coco even colored a picture of a reindeer to decorate the table, but she made sure that Santa knew he couldn't take it, since she really liked it so much. Santa ended up writing a nice little thank you note on the picture itself. I love taking pictures of that very Holly Night, when all is really calm and silent. It is just magical and mystical. I really, really love this night when our Savior was born.

That Santa is just so kind! Of course, he knew exactly what to get everyone in the house, but I think the happiest of all was Cesar. Santa is very nice and decided he has been showing character and responsibility enough to handle a cell phone (FINALLY!). Cesar was soooo happy, he even let me take a couple of shots of him and the kids both at home and at Noni's, where we went to celebrate. This year I made the ham... but I'm pretty sure it was a little bit of a letdown. Cesar got in the car after dinner, and he said, "I think Noni is loosing her touch a little bit. That ham was kind of dry". I said "Oh, I made the ham, honey". Of course, smart as he is, he said "Oh, you know what I'm realizing? I think I put gravy on it instead of glaze!!! That's what it was!!!". You have to adore this boy.


And even though we had a white Christmas, and had snow to share, that is now gone :( In true Chicago fasion, we went from 0 to 60 within hours, and had all sorts of rain, so all we have left is these pictures...

So, how about you? I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and I hope that the New Year brings blessings to you and your loved ones. Now, we get ready to celebrate the Epiphany and the Three Wise Men on January 6. In the Mexican tradition, they will bring toys to the kids in celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I hope you have a beautiful rest of the season! Lots of hugs!