Tree tops

Morning bath, sleepy eyes, flower in hair, JH's cars. Kiss her goodbye. Off to work.

When I drove out of my driveway and actually had to wear sunglasses. The sun was shining through the tree tops. I had to stop and take a picture. I love tree tops.

I need a new camera. This iPhone picture quality just isn't doing it for me.

Good night.

MLK and the sun is shining

"He is a guy who wants the world to be together. He wants everyone to go to the same schools. He wants everybody to sit next to each other on the bus. There was a girl who was not allowed to sit at the front of the bus." This is who MLK is to JH.

Every year I think we, as a family, should be part of a local MLK celebration. We talk about it. But it ends up being just another day off to play catch up.

This weekend has been busy.

Julia & Julia, tea and the girls.
Baking for Rhea: chocolate chip cookies, chocolate oatmeal cookies and Mrs. Fagan's famous cinnamon rolls (which WERE a hit).
Family dinner #1 -- at the padres, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RHEA, with O&J and part of Ruben's clan. I actually made tortillas. They looked awful, but were edible and no one but me complained!
Sunday morning breakfast with 2 extra growing boys (Mateo and Brody) I went through a loaf and a half of bread (french toast) and nearly a gallon of milk.
Family dinner #2 -- corned beef and cabbage and mashed papas. No real occassion. I dropped off Mateo and picked up Ravae and Lukas in the process.
A trip to Goodwill and a 2nd hand store. Can you say addicting??!! Watch out Sara, I'm looking for the best find!
And today I sit. Well, kind of. I have played catch up on blog reading. Time goes so fast when you are cruising the internet. People are awe inspiring.
Kids finally asked for lunch. They are in the park now, eating PB&J's and chips. I kicked them out. We may not be blessed with another day like this in a while.
I'm on load #3, still need to do sheets.
I should be paying bills.
I should be doing work work.
I'm enjoying the silence.

Thank you MLK.

Cinnamon Rolls

Mrs. Fagan always bakes the best stuff. Especially cinnamon rolls. I saw her on Saturday and was disheartened to the fact that of late, she is is using Rhodes cinnamon rolls from the freezer section.

I stopped at the store tonight, and there they were. I bought a bag of those babies to try. Won't be until this weekend when they have time to rise. Can't wait to do a test taste with my family.

In the meantime, an RSS feed came across my email tonight that raved about the cinnamon rolls shared by The Pioneer Woman. I like the cooking portion of her website. I like the visual step by steps. And I think I'll try her cinnamon roll recipe!

In 12 hours

Today was the final day to put the house back to normal. All decorations put away. Christmas tree down. Ornaments in their safe places.

I rearranged the furniture, vacuumed, laundry done.

I did leave a small decoration of winter wonderland on my front porch....snowflakes galore.

I still need to work on thank-you's. Kids backpacks need to be cleaned out. Lunch boxes ready. Water bottles washed. Clothes laid out.

I will be waking up for my first day back to work. Ugghh. I so love to be home. I love to have my kids home. But it makes me lazy, it makes them lazy.

Welcome 2010.

Vicious Cycle

I love being off work. I love spending the day at home, doing odds and ends, puttering around the house. No shower, no make-up, sweats.

I've been off now since December 22...each day staying up a little later, waking up a little later.

A vicious cycle began December 22.

Last night lights went off at 3am.

Lilia woke me up at 10:30am this morning! I can't believe she slept in that late TOO!

I told myself I had to be in bed by 11pm tonight, so that I could be up early.

Here I sit.

Night.

Happy Holidays

It's been nearly 2 "wake ups" since Christmas morning. It was another great year. The kids got everything they had hoped for...and then some. The day zoomed by, we didn't make it over to papa and Lita's until after 3:00. It was great to have a full house, lots of food, fun and memories. I am truly blessed to have such amazing family in my life.

Today I spent the day going through gifts, putting things away, laundry and cleaning out closets (an annual "day after" tradition). I love getting rid of the old and making room for the new.

Right now, I'm sitting on the couch, 3 of my four are asleep on the couches around me. Sofia and I are watching Taylor Swift on SNL. More memories......

Night.

It's Over

That would be the weekend.

I had a busy weekend. Vegging on Friday night (I really should have been more productive). Sofia and I watched a movie together, nothing else.

Saturday we were out of the house by 10am, looking for the most *perfect* Christmas tree. We headed to a new farm, up in the hills, close to Green River CC. They had a nice selection of trees for a decent price. My justification for the purchase was to stimulate the local farmer. B would scold me if she knew how much I paid for a tree. But I did some research, buying fresh is still better for the environment, and good for our local economy.

I was a MAD women trying to get that tree up before my candle party. I pretty much worked on it until nearly 6pm. Thank God Sylvia and my mom came over early. With great direction, they made the food and dessert! I had a nice group of ladies over. It was fun, but I was beat!

Today Sofia had a game in the morning. It was FREEZING, I mean, really freezing.

The tree is as done as it can be at this point. This year's tree is quite large, so I'm short on ornaments...I need more. But don't tell B.