my baby boy is 16!

How did that happen?

Today was Joseph's birthday. He is actually old enough to get a driver's license! He isn't getting one yet, but he's old enough. *sigh*

He went over to his buddy's house for band practice this afternoon, then we went out for pizza (His favorite meal). John, Kathy and Derek met us there. It was a nice evening. Pizza and beer for the adults, and soda for the boys. I brought his cake to the pizza place & we sang (very loudly.....embarrassing him is part of the celebration)

He opened his gifts when we got home. We bought him a tweed 3/4 length coat. It fits his 'look.'
We also got him an ukelele. A real one. It sure sounds different than the toy one he has now. when we get to Pismo Beach tomorrow, I'll go to the music store where Chris got the uke and get a music book for it.

We're leaving tomorrow for Pismo Beach until next Tuesday. I will be making New Year's dinner there this year.

It was so nice having Chris home for Christmas. It felt so relaxing. Now, it's back to the travel grind. We have been having some really windy weather the past few days. I wonder if the surf will be high down there? I'll take he camera in case it is.

santa was good;)

Chris really outdid himself this year. Some of the things I received: This http://www.great-quotes.com/photos/14427b.jpg
and this http://www.great-quotes.com/photos/14415b.jpg

I also got some perfume, a new pair of UGGS, new pjs, a sweater and something similar to this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Small-Silver17-Simulated-Diamond-Peace-Necklace-305_W0QQitemZ140062680398QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

One of the youth group kids got me The Beatles Love cd, and one of my CCD kids got me a porcelain angel. We also got some wine and homemade kahlua ;0)

I almost forgot my new clock;-) Now I can replace my kitchen clock with something fun. http://www.funtocollect.com/beatlesvintageclock.html

Joseph was thrilled with all he got. Again, Chris out did himself. He bought a lot of Joseph's gifts
Santa brought him this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&g=guitar&base_pid=518706&index=9

This makes 6 guitars and one bass now. Come Wednesday (his birthday) he will add a nice ukelele to the collection.

We wrapped this amp to go with the guitar : http://www.voxamps.co.uk/images/products/da/DA5_BLACK_lrg.jpg

Chris took a day trip down to Solvang and got Joseph a Snoopy statue (Joe Cool of course) and a really cool handmade guitar statue thingy. He also (on his own!) got Joseph a beautiful heavy cross on a black leather cord.

Besides that stuff, we got him clothes, a new Levi's jacket, and new creeper shoes http://www.angryyoungandpoor.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=398&idproduct=43661 ( I paid nowhere near that much, LOL) and some cds and DVDs (Eric Clapton Crossroads, Family Guy Volume 4 and American Dad season 1)

Today was so nice. We opened gifts, I made crepes, then we just relaxed all day. Dinner was a roast, which was wonderful.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas:-)

merry christmas to all

It's Christmas Eve, and I didn't get everything done I wanted to. I let it bother me for a bit, then decided I can only do what I can do.

I am a Christmas fanatic. I want Christmas to be like it was when I was a little girl, and it never will be. I am finally understanding that. I, like my Mom before me, am a stay at home mom. One difference though, is that my mom didn't drive, so she was literally a STAY AT HOME mom. She stayed home and got everything done that needed to be. The house was spotless, decorated to perfection and dozens and dozens of cookies were baked and decorated.

I am in and out so much, especially the past few months with Chris being in Pismo Beach. Me only being home about half the month is playing havoc with everything, and my Christmas preparations have suffered.

It's ok though. Gifts are bought and wrapped, the traditional Christmas Eve chili was wonderful, family mass was great, and most importantly, Chris is home for Christmas.

We're all happy and healthy. We heard from #1 son. He is doing fine.

I hope Kaya Michelle is having a good Christmas, wherever she is. That is my only sadness.

In the famous words of Ebenzer Scrooge in the last scene of a Christmas Carol, I'd like to say. "To all of us everywhere a Merry Christmas". And from Tiny Tim, "God bless us everyone".

no laser

Chris had an appointment with his opthamologist today. He was overdue by a couple of months, so he was a little worried.

He didn't need any laser treatment on his bad eye! He hasn't had to have any more laser treatments for almost a year. I pray his vision has stabilized.

He doesn't have to go back for 6 months. Hopefully he will be back home then.

ho ho ho

I finally finished decorating the main Christmas tree today. I still have to set up the Disney tree in the family room. Maybe tomorrow after I get back from See's. http://www.sees.com/
The youth group kids just did a fundraiser, and Josephine and I are driving up to pick up all the candy. Hmmm. I guess this is a wholesale/retail place. I may just have to pick up a few more things while I'm there;-)

I put up my Christmas village today too (Including the Shelly's Diner I got last year). I covered the sofa table with a white sheet and put the buildings there, behind the couch. I like them better there than under the tree. You can see them better:)

I will get most of the decorating finished before Chris comes home. I still have major cleaning to do in the next couple of days too:/

Tis the season to be frazzled!

nuckin futs

Jib Jab has it's the year in review video.

http://www.jibjab.com/nuckin_futs

26 years ago today

John Lennon was murdered.

I'll never forget that night. I had the ironing board set p in the living room and was ironing Chris's work shirts. Wendy Tokuda broke in on channel 5 and gave the news that John had been shot in front of the Dakota, and he had died.

I felt like I had lost part of my family.

I've been listening to this today.

HAPPY XMAS (War Is Over)
(Lennon/Ono)

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

Chorus:
A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

Chorus
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
A new one just begun

And so happy Christmas
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

Chorus
War is over, if you want it
War is over now
Happy Christmas

dedication

There was a bench dedication today at the school where my friend Ana's daughter Jennifer attended. After her death last June, her classmates raised money (a penny for Jenny) and raised enough for a beautiful concrete bench.

The kids raised so much money that there is almost $2000 left. It is in a savings account until 2012, when her class will be seniors, and they will give out the first memorial scholarship in her name to a former student from Brown's Valley. Cool, huh.

There is a plaque on the back of the bench with her name and a quote ( I didn't get a chance to see the quote, and Joseph can't remember what it says:/)

Anyway, a local nursery donated a tree that is planted next to the bench in her memory.

Today, her 6th grade teacher, some of her classmates and some of the moms got together for a dedication. Joseph and I went too. Her teacher said a few words about her, one of her classmates read a poem, and the string orchestra of which she was a part played a beautiful piece.

It was very touching.

the kids in girl and boyland

We made ornaments for the Jesse tree today in CCD, then had a prayer service at the end after everyone put their ornaments on the tree. http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/activities/view.cfm?id=545 I think I've said it before, but this is one of the best classes I have had in a long time. I mean, they are loud and rambunctious, but they are genuinely interested. It makes it a whole lot easier for me:)

After class, Joseph and I went to the store. I walked into Safeway, and heard bagpipes. Of course, Joseph took off to find out where the music was coming from, and who was playing Christmas music on bagpipes. It was the band from one of the nearby high schools, and they were walking around the store playing. They were pretty good, too! I love bagpipes.

I finally finished my ornaments for a swap I'm doing. It's not that they are anything special or involved, I just ran out of time;-) I have to go to the Post Office in the morning and get them mailed.

home again, home again

Joseph and I came home from Chris's tonight. As much as I loved spending time there (and taking my birthday trip to Disneyland) I am glad to be home. I have a ton of stuff to do here. It is going to be a busy next few days.

Speaking of my birthday, I had a good one. We went and did some antiquing, then took a trip to the factory stores, then the mall. I found a cool store at the mall in Santa Maria. It's called Steve and Barry's. http://www.steveandbarrys.com/website/history.htm What prices! We bought 4 shirts, a pair of jeans and a pair of boots for me for just over $50! The jeans were $10.98. They seem to be of good quality. I will withhold judgement until I wash them;-)

After a day of shopping, we went to dinner at Old Juans in Oceano for dinner. I usually want Mexican on my birthday, and since we couldn't go to my regular haunt (Hacienda in Folsom), Old Juans made a good stand in.

We got back to the house for presents (YAY! Yes, I am a small child at heart) Chris got me a beautiful, tiny music box that plays Silent Night. I have it on the mantelpiece already. He also got me a COOL bracelet. I saw this bracelet when we were at Disneyland last week, and gushed about it. He snuck back into the shop the last night and bought it. I can't believe he did it. I looked to find good pictures online, and finally found some.
http://shop.vendio.com/rhinospider2/item/912755412/?s=1165230002
Pay no attention to the price. That isn't the list price. The pictures are cool though:)


I mentioned last week that my BIL passed away. It really hit me tonight when we got home. I had to look and see if his obit was anywhere, since we were out of towm when it happened.
http://www.legacy.com/SFGate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=20100086
Seeing it in print makes it too real:-(
I will go see my sister tomorrow.