Donuts & 18 Years

Happy National Donut Day! 

Yes, daddy brought home donuts! I was afraid every place would be sold out! He managed to find some though! Thank you to the donut Gods! *wink *wink

Happy 18th Anniversary to us!

My hubby & I have been married for 18 years! This includes happy & not-so-happy times (more of the first though!), sickness & health (he has proven to me over & over that he is here to stay after ALL my hospital visits and stays! Yikes!) So many years of too many drs and he still listens to all the details. =) Rich or poor. This man of mine truly works hard & deserves the best vacay! Seriously! One day, we will be blessed with the one of our dreams! Also, can we add a honeymoon to that please?? Yes, we still need to go on that lovely week away solo. Call it rekindle the romance after kids, busy life, etc. I would LOVE to have a ceremony to renew our vows! Oh so many ideas! Back to my husband, Carlos. I love you with all that I am. My heart belongs to only you forever & always. You & our girls are my everything. This thing we call life is a real good thing too. xoxo

(I forgot to mention, this photo is a fave from 12 years ago! )

Hope your day is filled with love & yummy donuts!

xo

Happy Sixteen

Happy Anniversary to my hubby & I! Together 18 and married 16! Whew! So many things have happened over the years: a few moves, health scares, babies, family passing, new cars, trips, soccer, schools... hairdos! lol We have many more to add to that list but it'll go on FORever.

Our girls made this sign & hung it outside for all to see. They also hung streamers, signs & wrote on mirrors throughout the house to celebrate! Muffins by our girls too. They lasted all about 10 minutes.

Today I took Leleanna for a endoscopy to find out why she still has pain in her chest area. She was so brave as tiny as she is. She said she was nervous but you never saw it! My mama did awesome & the nurses said as much too! She's all ready to go back w/her new friend Jack the tiger w/leopard spots! (courtesy of the Phx Childrens Hospital) ... she bounced back that quick when we got home too! The girls were outside playing w/the hose!

Happy day Carlos! I love you forever & always. xoxo

7 Years

Yes I have to say it again, time flies! Seven years ago today, my older sister passed away. It happened suddenly, out of the blue. I miss her still every day. Things happen and I still think to call her right away. Other days, I wish she was still here because I need to see her or just need a big hard hug. The biggest thing would be for her to still go to the girls' games. She did attend when Graciella was little & we would scream, hoop & holler to cheer her on. That I miss. I miss being sarcastic & laughing out loud w/her. I miss listening to her love of all time, Marc Anthony as we rolled w/the windows down & our hair looking crazy. It'll happen to me too, I'll be somewhere & her song will come on. It's like she knows I need her that moment and she makes it happen. This is true. Totally. Do you believe? I do. It happens w/my dad too. He'll do things. Make things happen. I know and feel them looking out for our family. I may sound crazy but we do believe. I saw it. My girls have seen. My husband has heard.

She was loved by many and taken too early. That part of it all, I simply will never understand. Her name was Gladys (same as my mom) but I called her Gladita forever. (you need to say w/a puerto rican accent! lol or simply gly-ta. I said this since I was little and it stuck forever.)

{Me at 1.5 and Gladita}

Always and forever.

xo

Beautiful Heart, Beautiful Soul

It's been six years since my sister passed. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her, wishing she was still here with us. My girls miss her too. Carlos and Gladita always joked around poking fun at each other. There's so many little things that you miss when someone is no longer here. And at the same time, things that may have happened that you regret. Regardless, she was my big sister, we were close and she was a very strong woman. She worked herself to the bone seven days a week for her family. Her girls were everything. She always had a smile on her face until you pissed her off! haha! She would let you know too. At the same time, she would do anything for her family. I just wish we could have her back. 

Happy Monday.

xo

Happy 13

Happy Anniversary to my husband, Carlos! Time flies, so much has happened. We’ve moved to San Fran & back, bought a new home, have four beautiful girls, lost precious love ones, had one daughter graduate Kinder & another graduate HS in one day, attended dance recitals, drove all over the state for soccer games & tournaments to last a lifetime, faced tough decisions throughout the years & still came together as husband & wife. Carlos, you have been there always & have done the best job ever taking care of us girls. We love you dearly for it. Although, the days fly by us all too quick, we as a family live, breathe & eat soccer, a creative family we are to the fullest, our girls learning lessons everyday, and you & I are still on the same page after so many years... Carlos, I love you w/all my heart & yes, I am still in love with you. xoxo

Whirl-Wind

Sunday is almost over & NO one is feeling well. Lele is the only one, at this point! The Karo Syrup did it's job this wkend! Friday nite w/the Anaconda poop in the toilet - haha! - & her second BIG dump today! I know, TMI. But hey! It's a HUGE deal in our house! This poor girl has not had a BM in wks! Whoohoo. So happy for our little mama.

Let's see...Friday, Graciella didn't go to school bcuz she was recovering. She did go to her 2 bday parties later that day though! Antonia had a rollerskating party that nite! I did accompany her to that one & I DID get my skate ON! Yeah--- I did. AND not only did I NOT fall but I managed to help Antonia & pull her up from falling one Mealeean times! (that's how Leleanna says it!) Okay, just for any mom's reading this: PLEASE do write down the number, address, attach a little map for the bday location on the invites. THIS was totally ridiculous! It was crazy! Even using MapQuest & the internet, NADA. The website said NOT to use these bcuz it will give you the WRONG location! Ya think?! OMG. No words....

{can you here the crickets?}

Lord, yes I did say some choice words driving around, making U-turns, on cell w/husband, heading this way & the other...but did you see the dust ALL settle when I knew my daughter was a happy camper, w/her friends at the bday party? They all cheered her name as she walked in! How great did that make her feel? Then, it was back home to check out Lele, eat & back to the store for Antonia's gift. Graciella was going straight to her next party w/a mom & some other girls. Yay. Got home, wrapped gift, got ready & we were off for a nite of LOUD music, bruises, cake, pizza & soccer friends. Antonia had a blast too. This was a first for her! For me, I won't leak the year I last rollerskated. heehee We got outta there about 1045pm, & headed to Graciella's party. It was a sleepover but she had soccer the next am. Surprise. Suprise.

Saturday am, we all (incld Gramma) headed up to Scottsdale for two games. First one, girls lost & second, they won! Graciella did a great job as forward, if I may add. We stayed up there between games for lunch & headed home afterwards. Daddy made a storage trip & came back w/Xmas decorations. Carlos & I put up the tree, I washed G's uniform & I put up as many Xmas decs around the house as I could... 3am rolled around & Antonia is getting sick. Wonderful. She sleeps on the top bunk & wanted to stay in her bed. That girl is such a trooper when she gets sick. She stayed up in her bed w/a big bowl lined w/a plastic bag. At this point, me & Graciella felt as though WE were going to be sick. Again. I was tempted to take some Zofran but I held off. Why is all this happening in ONE wk? Maybe to get it ALL overwith asap. ?? Carlos took care of her, as I slept on & off. Didn't quite work. I felt horrible when I did wake & had to get ready for Graciella's tournament game this am. When we left Lele felt fine, daddy felt sick & Antonia was feeling a tiny bit better.

G's game went great! She volunteered to play on defense when her coach asked & NO one stepped up. One regular d-player was not coming. But she did an awesome job! Her tummy was hurting too but you could never tell. She saved 2 goals from crossing the line, these were TOO close. She was backing up the goalie. Thank God these two talked beforehand! But all in all, she helped save more. Those 2 stood out! All the girls did great & worked well together! Fantastic dynamic w/the new additions to our team! Did I mention our Goalie?! Whoohoo Amree! Awesome-Ness! =) Even with the lite rain at the end of the game couldn't take away from these girls shining! Us parents were so proud!

I am so-- exhausted. Daddy still feels horrible. Graciella's tummy hurts. Lele has an Xray first thing in the am to see if this wkend made a difference. I know it did! Antonia is scrapbooking next to me & will be going to school manana. Yay. I'm hoping Graciella is feeling better though. And I'll just have me some more toast.

Have a good nite all. Sweet Blessings-
xo

Happy Anniverary!!

Happy 11 years Carlos! Where does the time go? We were married in Gladita's back yard in West Orange, NJ. My family back home did most of everything! We just had to get there & be dressed! Billy had taken us to get our marriage license & Gladita got her friend, the mayor to marry us! Quite simple. Ha! Gladita had fresh flower petals for the flower girls, with my absolute fave - calle lillies for moi'! Beautiful! In the video, you can hear the airplanes in route to Newark Airport! They rolled out the white carpet down the isle & had an arch covered in lights, flowers & tulle. My dad walked me down the isle, from the driveway/sidewalk all the way to the back to the arch. A neighbor cooked the food. Gladita had an Italian bakery do the cake. It all turned out better than I ever thought it could! Gladita, mom, dad, my cousins, SIL & friends made it all possible! ~ I love you Carlos!! ~