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My Honey Badger sits in the Target cart backwards. She doesn't give a .....

2011 Rewind Part Two

2011 Rewind Part 1

The Last Time

In a few months my grandparents will be moving out of the house that they have lived in for over 40 years. Which means today will be the last Christmas Eve we spend there. I have spent all my Christmas Eves there. From my very first one where I was 2 months old and Patty was 3 months and they dressed us up in pretty red dresses. To this year where Patty and I will dress up our kids in snazzy outfits. And all the ones in between.

It is so bittersweet. Saying goodbye to a family tradition. Some of our Christmas traditions have changed. We no longer have a talent show or draw names for a gift exchange. But we do still have a white elephant gift exchange, Santa still stops by and brings all the little kids a gift, we still eat tamales. But the house has always been the same. I know exactly where the mistletoe will be hung and where the tree will be standing and where my Nana's nativity scene will be displayed.

I understand that in life things change. And I know that this move is the best for my Nana and Tata but knowing that Christmas Eve will never really be the same is sad. And to be honest it scares me. My family has always been very close knit, and I don't know what the glue is that keeps us that way. I don't know what change might change all that. What "thing" might makes things different.

One thing I know is that even though that house may have been the backdrop to our childhoods. The front and back yard may have been the scenery for countless memories where my cousins became my best friends. The bedroom where I hung my NKOTB posters an plugged in my purple cassette player. The brownish orange beads, the china cabinet, the plate on the wall with the Presidents on it. The rack of mugs. The red velvet fans in the hallway. It all was just a stage and the love, laughter and memories will not be boxes up when my grandparents things are moved. For a while I was so sad because I kept thinking that the house held all our memories. But as I drive down to spend Christmas Eve there I know that 4 walls could never be big enough or strong enough to hold all that live and all those memories.

The long way home

After church and lunch on Sunday we didn't have any plans for the rest of the day. So instead of hopping on the freeway for the 15 minute drive home, we took the long way home.

Sometimes the long way is the perfect way home. We drove up the hill through Oak Glen. We were hoping for some snow, instead we got some rain and weather cold enough to see our own breathe.

I love these impromptu detours we take in life. Those unexpected memories that we make on a whim. When I look over at Joey and say, "Let's drive though Oak Glen" and he says "sure". We made a couple of stops and were able to cross off the last person on our list after finding the perfect gift.

My beautiful Phi

Apple Orchard

Joey finally found a pair of opera glasses. He has been looking for years!

Happy Christmoose

Lou gets heavy. We all have to help out carrying her around.

Pickles on the counter.

Lou and a pet rat.

 Louella is crazy and wild and sometimes just so stinking cute....

 

bathroom graffiti

it was really that cold.

you can't see it here but The Phi was looking at her own breathe.

Me and my girls and a worn looking reindeer

giant tree, one ornament

I hope my girls remember things like the times we decided to take the long way home. 

Right Place at the Right Time

On Saturday we went to a friends wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and we were so happy to be a part of the celebration.

Afterwards since we were out and about we drove around to look at Christmas lights. The Phi loves to do this and Lou seems to enjoy it too. So as we were driving around Joey found this little street that he has always liked. It is a narrow street with trees in the middle of the street. It is almost like it's own little community the way the house are arranged. As we drove up we notice a sign and then a little girl with a flashlight and a Santa hat came up to our window. She asked if if we were there for the show and directed us to a parking space. We parked and she told us to change the radio to 107.3 fm. We looked at each other like "What!?" and then this happened.......



We left wide eyed with big smiles on our faces and feeling very Christmas-y.

December 12th

The Feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe has to be my favorite mass of the year. I love it more than an Easter Mass or even Christmas. It is such a joyous occassion. I love how when you walk in the smell of roses fills the air.

This was my first Dec 12th at our new church and it was fantastic.

 The mass was bilingual and I was surprised at how much of the Spanish prayers and songs I remember from childhood.

And the singing. Oh how I loved the singing. You can hear the joy in everyone's voice. Just listen. There is even a "grito" at the beginning. 

 

 And this was at the end of the mass. You leave filling so happy, comforted and loved.

The Phi has always been familiar with La Virgen. I have a pretty extensive collection of Virgen items in our house. (I also have a lot of Frida Kahlo stuff up so she often gets them mixed up.)

That night as I put the girls to bed we started a new December 12th tradition. Instead of reading a book I told them the story of San Juan Diego and La Virgen de Guadalupe.

My baby praying for her friends and family.

 I loved sharing this with my family.

Lou's Hair

This blog, like many blogs, tend to show off the happy and fun times of parenting. When my kids are older and looking back on their childhood I want them to have a realistic idea of what are everydays were like.

So grown-up Lou, taking care of you was not always unicorns and rainbows.

Example #1

Ocho

All my past relationships had an expiration date of 4 years. After 4 years I was done and it was over. Something told me that it was not right and it was time to move on.

And then I met Joey. When we hit our 4 year mark I was not bored, or unhappy, or ready to leave. It was the opposite, I was completely happy and looking forward to the next 40 years. And today we doubled my record. Today Joey and I have been together for 8 years.

8 wonderful, exciting and easy years. When I met Joey that was my big revelation. Relationships could be easy. They didn't have to have drama and fighting and awkward moments.  It could just be good and fun and lots of laughing. Life is stressful enough, I can't imagine being in a relationship where you have to be angry or jealous. Having to wonder how the other person feels about you.

Joey is not a man of many words. He is like Silent Bob. Or Ferb. When he says something it is deep, profound and true. So all those years ago when he told me, out loud, he was in love with me I knew that it was deep, profound and so very true. I have never once questioned that.

Being with Joey is really being with my best friend, everyday. Cliche? Maybe. But it is totally true.

Happy Ocho Babe. 8 years ago we were at a punk rock show. Tonight we will be at our daughter Christmas play. How times change huh? Maybe we can make out in the parking lot. Just to keep something the same!

P.S. I love you, forever and today.

Diego 125

As I opened my google homepage I was happy to see the Google logo all Rivera-fied!

The summer I spent in Cuernavaca, Mexico was life changing. I spent the days in such a beautiful place surrounded by amazing art. We would walk through the zocalo daily and stroll next to the Palacio De Cortez, and on the walls of this palace were these amazing murals by Diego Rivera. It is amazing to me to think we could spend the day just gazing at these amazing pieces of art work.

Today we celebrate the 125th birthday of the master of Mexican Muralist. During this time period in Mexico the greats like Orozco, Siquieros (my favorite!), and Rivera left their mark all over Mexico. Of course he is also famous for his dysfunctional yet passionate marriage to Frida Kahlo.

If The Phi had been a boy, his name would have been Diego. After an amazing and important artist.

Diego Rivera is not my favorite artist. He is not even my favorite Mexican muralist, but his work reminds me of a summer of being surrounded by great works of art and living in a beautiful place. Being an "adult" for the first time, making life long friends and exploring ancient places.

Happy 125 Diego.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

We spent a little time over the weekend putting a little Christmas cheer up in our house.

Making these beautiful faces happy makes it all worth it!

A Very Weiland Christmas

Something really weird about us. We really love Christmas music. Once KOST starts their 24/7 Christmas music, it is always on in the car. And it is no surprise that we love ourselves some rock music. I am a fan of Stone Temple Pilots, and of the lead singer Scott Weiland. (Not as big of a fan as Tia Uh-laine) I even dig his side project Velvet Revolver.

But Scott ........This kind of scares me a little bit.





I keep waiting for the music to change to some awesome guitar riff. And for him to come out shirtless with eyeliner on. But it never happens. This is for real yo.