Samantha decided to fly home from Hawaii for Thanksgiving. She flew all night, and then Sarah and Heather said it was soo nice of her to fly all the way home to go to their gymnastics meet. . . so, she got to spend the entire day (with no sleep) cheering her little sisters on. We love having Samantha home!
You are looking at the Eighth and Tenth place Beam Champions in the entire state of Arizona!!! Way to go Sarah and Heather! They did awesome in vault, floor, and bars. They got their best scores in all the events.
Happy Birthday Mom! I have always loved this picture. It is a picture of a picture so the quality is not very good. You are so beautiful and happy. It reminds me of the many times I would come home from school and laundry would be freshly folded on the kitchen table and the smell of warm bread was coming from the kitchen. You did everything for your children. Even when you had to go back to work, you continued to be SUPER Mom. Seven children, the first four of us one year apart, I am amazed how truly talented you are. Now that I am a Mother of five children, I appreciate what you did even more. Many summers Dad was gone to scout camp or on high school students on tours of Europe, or building homes for an extra income. You would take care of us filling the void and doing it all. I know how tired I am at the end of the day, and you taught sewing classes in the upstairs room of Baron's Fabrics. Many nights I would go to class with you. I was sewing my own clothes by the fourth grade because you taught me. I love that you passed that down to us. It is becoming a lost art and I'm glad my Mother taught me. Sewing was such a small part of what you taught us. You taught us compassion, selflessness, love and inner beauty. You are truly a remarkable woman. 
I found this picture the other day and I forgot how we used to do everything with Nate and Ryan. I miss Brooke holding the twins when they were babies and thinking she had two new sisters. I miss Lisa hugging my kids every time she saw them and making them feel they were the coolest kids ever! I miss Brian having two older brothers to look after him and play "dudes"with. As we trick or treated in our old neighborhood, I realized how much I miss our old neighbors and millions of kids roaming the streets on halloween. I miss the relationships I used to have with all of my sisters. I miss Samantha living at home. . . There is one thing that is constant in life, and that is that it will always change. Enjoy the moment. It wont be there tomorrow. 
I'm just a little behind on blogging. Coaching soccer has taken a little more time then I was anticipating. (Is that a good excuse, cuz I can come up with another one if I need to). Isn't Brian handsome. We just bought a new suit for the dance. Also for winter formal, prom, and his mission!
I am seriously behind on my blog. Halloween, is of course, my favorite holiday! I don't know why. Its kind of like Amy's obsession with Disney Land. . . can't explain it. Sarah and Heather were suppose to compete in a gymnastic meet in Las Vegas, but we decided not to go the last minute. We had to invent some costumes the day of halloween. (Thanks Jill for your forrest fairy). Sarah and Heather went with their friends Sami and Brianda and Max was pretty much a "Mama's boy all night. I kind of like that he is scared, he's my baby. David and I took him in a halloween store and I had to cover his eyes and lead him around. He bumped into something and thought it would be "creapy" and started screaming like a little girl in the store. No, seriously, we had to run him outside he was so loud and blood curdling.
I just found a school picture of me in the sixth grade. How come I am not as cute as Sarah and Heather? Maybe its the hair????
We just got in the car and started driving. We didn't know where we were going to end up. We were thinking about Magic mountain and visiting Camarillo cousins but Magic Mountain near Halloween is a little scarey for our babies (Heather and Max) Hope they aren't reading this. Hee Hee. We decided we would go near Julie's so we had options of Disney land or Knotts Berry Farm. Thanks to David (and American Express points), we ended up at the best hotel ever with its own private beach. Who knew Dana Pointe was soo amazing? We were sad to leave Saturday morning to make it back in time for a 5:30pm gymnastic meet. But, I have a feeling we will be back!
I know! You are thinking why would David buy me a rototiler for my birthday? I must be really sad. Actually, I have wanted one ever since we moved last year. I am so excited. I want to plant a garden and grow all my own vegetables. This is the best birthday present ever! Just think, fresh organic veggies any time you want them. You just can't take the country out of the girl.
I just had to show proof that I really wanted a rototiller. This was my first garden. I even made my own pickles. I know, don't tell anyone. Brian and Samantha helped me every day find new veggies. Maybe it was more therapy relaxation being outside then anything. It's a little difficult planting a garden when you live in a big city. Our last house (10 years), we had a pool, sport court, and trampoline, and no extra corner for a garden. We'll see if I can do it again. Thanks David for making me happy and supporting my crazy hobbies.
Thanks Susan for the Bday gift! We had to make cookies right away. I know how busy you are with your celebrity status starring in the Producers, so it meant even more that you stopped by to drop off a gift. I am still accepting late gifts and phone calls (Debbie, Rainey, Marjorie, Colette, Amy, Jodie, Andrea, Julie) Totally Joking!!!! I have no pictures of my birthday dinner, because thanks to Max having two root beers and two plates of chicken wings, we had to exit the restaurant quickly and discretely. I cleaned the barf up as good as I could at the table, and I'm sure David cleaned the 5 more barfs up in the bathroom. GOOD TIMES!!!
We used this cake for Brian's birthday, then pulled it out two days later and used it for mine. HaHa. We just needed a prop for a picture. I can't believe we have two adult children!
Like Father, like son. I couldn't resist taking this picture. The TV was on super loud and I was expecting to come over and tell them to turn the TV down. I think Max fell asleep because David wouldn't part up with the controls. (Notice David hugging the controls). Max sometimes hides them under the couch pillow knowing that the man with the controls is the "WINNER"!!!
I found it! Aren't we cute? When I was in Camarillo I found a photo album I wanted, but instead of stealing it, I took pictures of the pictures. They turned out o.k. Don't worry, The photo album is still in Moms room. Too bad Dad doesn't live by us, I would have him help me coach. (In case anyone is guessing, I am the third from the left, bottom row, in pig tails. My sister Chris is on my right and Debbie is in the back row next to my dad.) Don't laugh.
I love soccer season! Heather scored two goals and Sarah scored one. Of course, that was due to their superb coaching! (Coach Mom). Max also had a great game. It was 103 when they played, but we survived without passing out. I remember when my Dad was my coach and Debbie, Chris and I were all on the same team. Fun memories. How time flies!
Brian and three of his friends decided to take a road trip and attend EFY in Santa Barbara. Dah, why wouldn't you go on a road trip with three of your best friends to Santa Barbara? After EFY, he met us at Julie's house, then followed us home the next day. I think Venice Beach was their favorite. They went a couple of times.
Fourth of July we took a weekend trip to visit Greg and Julie. Eloise was already there visiting. And she beat us to the guest bedroom (Just kidding Elo!) We had a great time hanging with Scottie and Rex, watching Greg kill a rattle snake, making Eloise and Julie go to the beach EVERY day, and stinking up the house Sunday morning with the fresh smell of a "Crock Pot" dinner. Thanks for letting us stay at your house. Oh, and I can't forget the awesome mop Greg bought me at the Fair!
I want to start from the beginning of summer, and then end at the end of school, so I have a little back tracking to do. 
Count your blessings if you don't have to look for these guys every night. You are welcome to come visit us, just bring your black light. Last summer Brian started to collect them in a jar every night. After about fifty live scorpions in a jar sitting on a shelf in his room, it gave me the creeps and I made him kill them. Its just a part of our life out here in the desert. I always say, "At least they can't fly!"
I just noticed that Brian is not on the family blog. He does live with us, even tho three days can go by and we will ask ourselves, "Did Brian move out?" This is a picture of Brian and his "girlfriend" Chelsea. She spoke at graduation in the pouring rain, so Brian went to support her. She is going to school in Switzerland now for the year. Good luck Chelsea!
Do you remember back when losing a tooth was as great as Christmas or a birthday? Max said this is his seventh tooth and he is seven. He thinks the tooth fairy should give him $7. I had to explain the decline of the economy and the tooth fairy is not that rich. He has been wiggling it for two days straight. I wish I still believed in the tooth fairy. Life was so much simpler then. Isn't he cute?
Anyone following Marjorie's blog has seen these before. Brian came in the door a while ago as I was finishing making the cupcakes. He wanted to know why I was making them. I couldn't think of any reason, so I blamed it on Marjorie. All his friends thought they were funny and grabbed some as they walked out the door. And to top it off, its Friday night. I should be out on the town!
