from the Desert to the Sea

Our Family 2005

Sacramento

Well, Jessie is off to Sacramento this morning. She actually made it out of the house without her father and I. Our Baby!!! The other day I received a note from another parent asking if they could take Jessie to the airport. Usually, I would want to see her off myself but I think that we smother her enough. So off she went at 4:30 this morning to Burbank Airport. She was so excited that she almost left without giving me a kiss goodbye. She hopped into the car and was off. No looking back. She's probably thinking," it's party time now... " No parents. I'm excited for her. This will be her first trip on an airplane. She was a little worried about her ears popping and scared of being on a plane but I think she will be okay. I'm sure of it. She has us all fooled with her baby act. I think it's an act that she puts it on for her father. Most likely she's a wild child in disguise.
Jasmine went on this trip a couple of years ago but hers was an overnight trip. This is just for the day and she will be back this evening. Before I know it she'll be in the eighth grade and wanting to go on the Washington DC trip. Things are happening just way to quickly. No wonder my hair is turning gray before my eyes. Monday night, I went to a college workshop for Jasmine. In three short years she will be off to college. I was thinking of my mother this morning. When I was about to have my first child everything went haywire on her. Ex: High Blood Pressure, Anxiety, Carpel Tunnel you name it. It happened... Will this happen to me once all of my children leave the nest? Hopefully, I will be prepared for this day. Better yet, I'm not going to worry about it and live in the here and now!!! It's great being a mom. They are my pride and joy. Till next time...

Nana

It's one of those weekends where I have decided to spend the weekend scrapbooking. I ran cross this photo and was inspired... Actually, I was listening to this sermon and the pastor was talking about how his father had given his granddaughter $100.00. He said,"I'm still waiting for my $100.00". I can relate... No, I'm not waiting for my $100.00, but the part that I could relate to is he said, that grand parents are parents on steriods. Yes, they are!!! My mom fits that to a model T. When it comes to her grand children... She would give them the world if she could...
No, really. I remember nights when it was after 12:00 and I saw her go into the kitchen to get them something to eat. I thought she was crazy... I told her she should tell them that the kitchen is closed, but she would never hear of it. When they get sick, I hear that's not how Nana does it. Now that I am home they still prefer to go up to be with her in their time of need... One time , I remember how Jessica wanted some cereal, so I went to make it for her and she insisted on having the box that was sealed because she wanted the surpise in it. I thought that was crazy and told her no... Of course, I was told she's allowed to have whatever she wants when she is here. The kids have no idea of how lucky they are to have a Nana like her.
A few weeks ago, I was taking care of my grandmother. I started to remember how she use to take me to the market and at the end of the trip she would always buy me fruit.... Different generations... Now, I think back on it that was her special way. I remember meeting her at the movie theater to see Ghostbuster. That was long ago. Those times are very special to me now... But getting back to my mom... She steps into the gap when it comes to them.... (Parents on steriods) She understands them when I don't. Anything that they need she will find a way to get it for them.
Her and I were listen to the news one day and they were talking about the going price for childcare... Thank goodness she's not sue happy!!! Think of it this way the going rate x3 x 15 years. I would be in some serious trouble. (If your reading this don't get any ideas. ) I've been blessed with an Awesome mother and the kids with an exceptional Nana. She deserves the Grandparents of the year award if their was one to give out.
Jasmine, Anthony and Jessica should treasure their time with her and write down all of their memories because take it from me as you get older you can't remember the story exactly as it was told you by them. For me, I try and perserve these things, so that they can be carried on into the next generation...

Hey, their better not be any tears out there!!!

Well, gotta run...

I've gotta go and find a cd that I haven't seen in months. I was listening to this song this morning and it reminded me of a photo cd that I had put together for my mom a year or two go...

I want to see if I am able to post it to my blog.

ciao

That Gaze...

Totally Bummed!!!

I was working on this blog last night and thought I had saved it. No such luck.
Anyway, that's what happens when your up at 2:00 in the morning.
Now it's 7:30am... It's amazing what a cup of coffee w/ a couple of espresso shots can do for you. I'm ready to get my day started.

I've been running across a couple of pictures of Jasmine with this same look. I've even caught her a couple of times where she just has this look like she is on some distant planet. It must be from all of those books that she's reading. I should have known she was a unique child in the second grade. Her favorite place to hang out was the bookstore. Yes, I know everyone loves a good book, but Jasmine is a junkie... about books...

Okay, junkie is a little harsh.

Addict... Her weekend fix... The Bookstore.

Don't dare bother her while she is reading... She will bite your head off.

I've been watching to much of the show Intervention.


Anyway,


I remember this vividly... I had taken Jasmine and a friend of hers to the movies and then to the mall. Her friend was quite excited about making it over to the mall, but Jasmine told her she knew of a place to go. You guessed it the bookstore... If you could have seen the expression on the girl's face it was priceless. What child at the age of eight wants to hang out in a bookstore. Only Jasmine. Her friends in vision her with a huge library when she gets older... I'm sure this will be the case.

Now that I think about it she reminds me a lot of my grandmother... She use to love to read.
Matter of fact, she reminds me a lot of my grandmother... She was a very outspoken little lady!!! From my understanding they had to send her to California to live when she was young. That would be Jasmine... She says the first thing that comes to her mind... No filter!!! (that's another story)

Okay, I must be babbling... To much coffee...

The point of the story was the gaze... She always has this gaze, so the other day I finally asked her.
What's with this distant look on your face? Her response was,"I'm using my creative mind." Or something to the effect.
She even writes things down on her arm... It's like a flash...

Wow, I'm watching a Star in the making.

All, I have to say to you, Jasmine is

Keep on Dreaming....

Never let those dreams of yours die!!!

Always look to improve yourself...

Don't become stagnant...

Dream Big!!!!! Anything is possible.

Kisses and Hugs

And Lots of Love

Mom

Someone is Sick

Anthony has been sick for last couple of weeks and now it has finally come to a head... It started Wednesday, when I had to go and pick him up from school. Poor kid, he was stuck in the nurse's office with a nose bleed. When I arrived the nurse said they were unable to stop the nose bleed and he wanted to go home.
So he ended up spending his day on the couch. I'm sure he thought he was going to kick back and watch tv but I had other plans for him rest!!! I was going to have to put an end to his coughing.
So I sent him to bed and checked on him periodically to make he wasn't up and about.
Thursday morning came around and he still wasn't doing so well, I made him stay home once again. I ended up with a partial day off as the power went out. (lucky me) It wasn't a true day off as I ended up going to Kaiser and that was working in itself. The urgent care was packed. The only thing they could do was triage him and told me to bring him back at about 5:15. Wow... I've never seen that happen before. That's like trying to make an appointment for the emergency room. Healthcare in America... Don't get me started!!!
Anyway, I returned at about 5:00 and it took about another 30 mins to be seen by a doctor. Oh, while this was all happening, he was on his third nose bleed for the day. Yuck!!! They took xrays and come to find out he has a sinus infection... I had no clue... As for the nose bleeds they said that we would need to go to Kaiser in Panorama City to see the ENT doctor...
This brings me to Friday. He and I spent the whole morning together. After dropping the girls off at school we had another hour to kill so decided to do a little window shopping... (Target) Anthony took off and went to the electronic section and I the scrapbooking section. We ended up meeting at the checkout stand...
From there we headed over to Kaiser and they took us right in... (Yeah) No waiting . Anyway, The doctor came in and examed Anthony. Stated that their was nothing to worry about... Isn't that what they all say? I'm starting to think that their is really no need for doctors these days. To make a long story short they ended up cortorizing his nose, poor kid. He took it like a trooper, kept thinking I was going to see his legs fly all over the place because of the pain but he handled it. He's no baby anymore... Of course, he 'll always be my baby boy....
It was great just hanging out with him. I was so happy about hanging out with him that I started to get depressed that our time together was going to end. We're in the same house but don't spend as much time as we use to since he turned the big 13. I hate these teenage years...

Well, we will definately have to spend some one on one time together...

Return

Okay, I 'm waiting for my family to return from
their little trip. I called this morning around
10:00 and I think they were just waking up. I hope they
enjoyed their little adventure but now it's time for them
to return before Granny has a fit... We've been poking
and prodding her all weekend. I think she's ready for
her daughters to return home. She's been very patient
with Teresa and I. Of course, know one can do it like her daughters.
They spoil her rotten and Granny gives them a hard time. I
keep trying to tell my mom and aunt that; she knows exactly what
is going on. I've seen her is action myself. A couple of years ago we went
on a family camping trip and she was in the trailer with Jessica. I think she
thought they were alone and Jessica woke up. She was a crier at the time. Anyway,
Granny kept her calm, so that she didn't cry. I was just sitting right outside the
trailer. She kept asking her question, so she was given the chance to cry. I've told
this story countless times, but they still don't believe me. This weekend is another
example. She was an abosolute angel.

They have been wanting to go on vacation for quite some
time but it hard as Granny is unable to move around.
Trying to find the right person to come in
and take care of an elderly family member quite hard. It's different
then having someone come and take care of a child. You need
more patients with and elderly person than a baby.
I was fortunate to be able to call on Teresa for help. She has been
helping me take care of her as though she was her own grandmother.
She's been the first to jump at everything that needs to be done,
she's even been taking care of me while we've been here. I had just a slight
cold. She insisted that I take Airborn. Not my first choice. I'ld rather
hack to death than take medicine. Yes, I'm a big baby when it comes to
that type of stuff. I threaten to kill off my family at the ripe old age of two.
I remember this even to this day. They were holding me down to pierce my ears the
old fashion way. (Needle and Thread) I wonder why I recall this? Maybe I
was older.

Lake Los Angeles

Lake Los Angeles and it's surrounder area...



I went on an outing to Lancaster and thought I'ld take
a few pictures on the way with my cohort Teresa. She came
and spent a few days with me to help out with my granny,
while my family was out of town for a well deserved
vacation.



Avenue J and 10th Street East



I was actually standing out in the middle of the road
while I took this shot...

Happy Birthday!!!

Well, she finally made it to the ripe old age of 15 years old. Anthony told her she was half to 30 and she didn't seem to happy about it. Matter of fact she was down right grumpy, but in the end she seemed to enjoy it.(I think...)
We start out the day waking up late, but we were able to make it to breakfast at IHOP before she went to school. We even brought her friend Michelle along to join in our festivity. The two of them were full of laughter the whole time. It was quite enjoyable. Watching them sit and have coffee was quite interesting. Why are teenagers drinking coffee these days? It must be because of the fast pace life, we lead now. I don't remember liking coffee until I was in my twenties. I've even caught Anthony drinking it on occassions. The only person not hooked on it is Jessica. Thank goodness.
After breakfast, I dropped the two of them off at school and hung out with Tom at the bookstore. We even caught an afternoon movie it was quite enjoyable...
Later on that night, we went to dinner at Sicilies and were joined by my family. They came all the way down from Lake Los Angeles to see her for her birthday. That was nice of them because it's a drive. I was hoping they would sing Happy Birthday to her at the resturant but she turned down dessert.
Unbelievable, who turns down dessert on their birthday?
Crazy kid!!! Oh, well...

Just a few shots...

 
 
 
 

As you can see I finally got my camera back...