We are SOOOOOO Blessed!!

If ever there was a question of whether or not we are blessed, well the jury is in...we ARE!!! Often "life" gets in the way and I sometimes forget all of our many, many blessings I thought I would take some time and "remember" them. I have always known that we were/are blessed to have our beautiful baby boy whom we tried SO hard to get. I have always known that we are blessed to have family and friends that love and care about us. I have always known that we are blessed to have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies (no matter how interesting it may be!), beds to rest our heads on, heat in our home, running water and clothes on our backs. I have always known that we are blessed to still have our jobs (even though many times the work is sparse). I have always known that we are blessed to have a Father in Heaven that loves us (this is one of the ones that gets "lost" during "lifes" times). Much like everyone else, the list goes on and on and on and on. What I didn't know is this...we are blessed to have someone or a group of someone's, that have chosen to remain anonymous, that love us SOOOOO much and care about us SOOOOO much and have shown us the true meaning of Christmas.

On Friday 12.12.08 my doorbell rang and Mario went to answer. What was waiting for us on our porch was not a person but a plate of cookies!! Because we live in such a FANTASTIC neighborhood with friends for our neighbors, this was not an uncommon thing...to find cookies at your door. Thinking and saying "oh how sweet, someone has 'done it again'" we looked at the note attached to see who they were from. Much to our surprise the note read: "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree...instead of a plate of cookies." At this point I began to panic!! I told Mario "oh please don't let someone be 12-days o' Christmas-ing us - we SOOOO do not deserve it" Well, I was right...and wrong. We were being "12-dazed" and apparently these wonderful, anonymous people think we DO deserve it! Well for those of you that know me, you know how hard this is/was for me to accept. I have a really hard time with accepting compliments, gifts, help etc. (ya know, basic acts of kindness!) I NEVER feel like I deserve it because I feel like I don't give these things out to others nearly enough...why would anyone want to choose me or us for this great, much needed gift???? Well, I can't answer that. What I can say is this, it is a quote from last night's gift: "It's the seventh day...hope you are enjoying the season, you are loved". Is it really that simple?? Do people really love and care about us enough to do this?? I guess so cuz' it's happening! It has taken me a couple of days to get used to the idea, to get my OCD brain around the idea that I will probably NEVER know who is doing this so that I can first, properly kick their asses, and second try to pay them back somehow! But after watching my little boy's eyes absolutely LIGHT up when he hears the knock at the door or the "fast" door-bell ring and then his cute little voice say "what is it mommy, what is it??" - I don't just swallow my pride, it pretty much goes out the window!!!! We have gotten the cutest of things from cookies to ornaments to blankets to candies to mugs w/ cocoa and the list goes on. We have received things that are immeasurable and things that they must have truely been inspired to give us. I hope they know how truely, truely and eternally grateful we are for all of these wonderful, much needed things! Please know that we love you too (whoever you are - you sneaky, FAST little elves you)!! Someday we will pay-it-forward! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!!

So, as you can see - we are more than SOOOOOO blessed!!

If I don't get a chance to post before Santa's Big Day, Merry Christmas to all - I hope it is just as magical for you as it has been for us! We love you and thank you for everything you do for our family!! TTFN (oh, and ...to all a good night!)

Pictures Anyone???

Ok, so I just have to promote my family for a quick second. My wonderful, adorable, sweet, intelligent, gorgeous and talented cousin Kristina has started sharing her talents with the world and is taking professional pictures! I am truely not trying to be biased but seriously, her work is AWESOME!!! Her prices are extremely reasonable and I am telling you that they are FANTASTIC!! I really can't put into words how great they are so check it for yourself:

You can either click on her link under "Favorite Blogs & Stuff" and click on Kristina Curtis Photography or type in your browser: kristinacurtisphotography.blogspot.com

Give it a look-see!!!

Happy Birthday to my Mommy!!

Today is the greatest day in the whole, wide world!! Today is the day my mom was born!! On Sunday December 03, 1950 my wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, caring, giving, self-less, sweet, adoring, kind, considerate, strong, amazing (and the list goes on and on) mommy arrived. I can NOT adequately put into words how much I love her. She is my rock, my best friend, my leaning post, my sanity, my voice of reason and my mentor. Not only is she the best mom in the world but she is the best grandmother too. Her grandchildren absolutely A-D-O-R-E her and can't get enough of grandma. I truely do not know what I would do without my mom in my life. I cherish the close, tight relationship/friendship we have. I know that at times I take this for granted and I just want her to know how much I truely value what we have. She IS the best mom, grandma, sister, daughter, friend that I know. Happy, HAPPY Birthday mom - I hope you have an amazing day with many, many, many, many, many, many more to follow!!! We ALL love you!!!

Just when you think they aren't listening...

...they are!!! I was so proud of my little D-ster the other day, well I am proud of him EVERY day, but this past Saturday was an extra special "oh, tear" day!! I took Dominic and my friend Melissa's little boy, Landyn, to the park. I was sitting on the bench, some distance from where the boys were playing, just sort of soakin' up the day and how cute the boys were etc. I noticed that there was another little boy that had come to the park and started "playing" with Dominic. I tuned into their conversation just in time to hear the following:

strange boy: "...yeah well this is my gun and I am going to shoot you in the heart and you will DIE!"

my wonderful, beautiful, intelligent boy: "yeah well, um, that's not a real shoot-gun so you can't shoot me and you are not supposed to point shoot guns at people AND I'm not supposed to talk to strangers, so bye (insert shoulder shrug and pursed lips)"

strange boy: "well you can't go on any of these parts of the play-ground"

my wonderful, beautiful, intelligent boy: "um, yes I can - you didn't buy the park stuff"

angry, ready to take out her mama-bear claws on this strange, ugly little boy: "he can go on ANYTHING he wants so mind-your-business!"

From that point on they really didn't play with each other the rest of the time we were there!! ;) I was so proud of Dominic, not only did he not have any idea that I was listening or could hear him but he was standing up for himself to this, I assumed, older boy. He was actually repeating some of the things that I drill into him I feel like everyday of his life! Pretty much most of the time I feel like I am talking to a brick wall and saying to myself (in the middle of the night when I can't sleep because I am thinking about all the mistakes I am making in his life and my own) "is any of this stuff gettin' through - is he going to be socially inept or will he remember the things I am trying to teach him?" Well, I guess something is getting into his adorable cranium. Thank heaven!! Now, if only I was this confident about him knowing that it's really not such a good idea to spank girls on their behind...maybe then I could sleep at night!!! ;) I love you like no-body's business D-ster!!

"...I'm a IN-struction Worker"

As most of you already know, my mom spoils Dominic ROTTEN! Well the other night my mom took Dominic to the store and let him pick out a "prize" - he picked a huge set of Black & Decker tools. I can't even begin to tell you all of the items that came in this set, things that I didn't know existed in the "adult" world let alone as a toy. Anyway, after donning his gear this is what he said:

"Well, hmm, looks like now I'm a Instruction Worker mom"

He likes to wear the hat backwards ("cuz' that's how boy's wear em' mom") so he is wearing his hat backwards and he desperately tried to put ALL of the tools into his tool-belt. There are so many that they all kept falling out and he was getting angry-eyes so I told him just to stand very still while I took the picture so we wouldn't "loose" anymore tools!!

Demonstrating the workings of the pliers! Obviously this is the best function for this tool!!

Thanks Grandma for all my toys, especially my new Black & Decker Tool Set - I can build so many sings and I am a great builder like the builder's across the street and I am strong just like my dad! I love them and I love you!!

Off with the LONG...on with the SHORT!!

It's been a couple of weeks now, but I finally...CUT MY HAIR!!! I have wanted a change for awhile and decided to go for it and cut off my long, beautiful, sultry locks!! ;) OMG, I kill myself - I am pretty sure none of those words belong in the same sentence when describing anything about me! Anyway, here are a few pics from that fateful night:

Getting started! This is sort of a "before" pic - we had already started when I remembered to have someone take my "before and after's". My cute cousin AmberLee Marie Jacksonville-Florida is a cosmetologist and she was kind enough to come to my house for the cutting. How awesome is that??? Your hair-dresser comes to you!?!

Getting nervous! Amber working like a dog through my massive amounts of hair. Why is it everything I own is massive??? Oh that's right I do have small things - they are inside - non visible to anyone - ya know the important things; veins, bones, uterus etc. but by all means let's make everything on the outside GI-normous!!

Amber still combing through and getting rid of the ones that "didn't make the cut" :) It started to look like a bunch of little snakes curling up around the floor. By this time I think I was more than a bit nervous :(

And last but not least...the "after" pic. I know I am wearing a black cape and my hair is on the black side so it's hard to tell but if you look close you will see that my hair pretty much stops and lays right on the top of old smokey! Right on the top of my shoulders. Kind of a big difference.

So there you go, I did it! It is a big change and I am getting used to it and trying to figure out how to "do" it so I will have to post more pics when it is really "done" up the way it is supposed to look. Thanks Amz for doing such an awesome job and for always being at my "beck and call"! :) Speaking of which - my roots are out of control!!

Good Ole' Fashion Fun!

A couple of weekends ago we went to see some of Mario's family. One of the stops was to visit with his nephew, Ronnie, who had just had surgery on his knee (for the 1-zillion-th time!) - they practically took everything out, did some Origami, hammered the sh-- out of it and put it back in! So while we were there the kids decided to go out and jump on the tramp (no, not me). I love this tramp because it has one of those "kid-catcher" nets around it so, all things considered, it's pretty safe. Here are a few pics from the "kids" jumping around like a bunch of monkey's!!: Yup, that's ME on the left and Cat (Ron's wife) on the right!!! It was awesome!!! I don't remember the last time I jumped on a tramp-o-line. This is probably because since adult-hood, I have always been fearful that I would take one "jump" and hit the ground underneath me, make a hole and stay there - kind of like when a parachute jumper makes a really hard landing and his legs either brake off or dig in the earth below - yeah I'm thinkin' that's why I haven't been on one in say the last 10 years-ish. This tramp looked pretty taut so I went for it. Once again, it was awesome - I've been missing out for all of these years! This is a bit blurry but here we are: Cat, Dominic, Tino, me and Abby - the five "little" monkey's jumpin' all-around!!

We had such a good time that night - just visiting, chatting, laughing and making complete fools of ourselves - like I said, nothin' but 'good ole' fashion fun'!!

I have to post a few pics of Ron and Cat's newest AND oldest members of the fam (because they are both so flippin' cute!!

Baby Ava!

"Baby" Koda (Ko-Da) saying "cheese" ;)I had to put this pic in because it shows just how BIG he really is! I think he probably is a close 2nd to the big f-er!!

So as you can see Koda is GI-normous but he is gentle as a little "puppy"! He loves the kids and is so sweet and gentle to them. Such a good boy!!

Oh, thanks Ron and Cat for having us - it was so fun (it always is with you guys) - you are the greatest, we need to do it more often!! Love ya!

Happy #34!!

WHAT!!! Happy, happy birthday baby!! Saturday Sept. 27th was Mario's 34th birthday! Sheesh, he is getting old!! Saturday was a great day - well except for the part where Mario had to work during the wee morning hours of his b-day and didn't get to come home until 1/2 hour before his party was about to start! Aside from that, it was great. We had a family get together at Amber's house to celebrate Mario's, Kyle's AND Brady's birthdays. Brady's was on the 22nd, Kyle's was on the 25th and Mario's, of course, was on the 27th. We had a BBQ, hung out, had cake, opened presents and had a great time. It was so much fun to be able to hang out with family and celebrate the arrivals of a few of the wonderful men we have in our family. On Sunday we went to SLC to visit with Mario's family. We first went to Ron & Cat's house and then we stopped by Mario's mom's house for some YUMMY food (you can always count on mom!) then we went back to Ron & Cat's for some b-day cake and some "jumpin'-jacks" (more on that to come). It was another great, great day. I love hanging out with Mario's family - they are the greatest and I really do have awesome "in-laws". Mario, I don't know what I would do without you - and I hope I NEVER have to find out! You are truely the best dad, a wonderful husband, a wonderful provider, you work your tail off, you ALWAYS make me laugh and you love me unconditionally!! Happy birthday baby - I wish I could put into words how greatful I am that you were born!! Te Quiero to infinity!! btw, i would love to post a pic of this great day however "blogger" is being stupid AGAIN and it won't let me!! UGGGGHHHH!!

"Do You Like Green Eggs & Ham?"

If you haven't already, check out this play - it's really, really cute!

Last night Dominic and I had the opportunity to go see this really fun and cute play that is now playing on the Scera stage. My cousin, Chris, was invited to play a small - but important - role in Seussical the Musical! He plays Yertle the Turtle and does a FANTASTIC job! At the last minute, the original person slated to play Yertle was unable to stay in the play. Knowing Chris from work (Juice & Java) and knowing how incredibly talented and what a WONDERFUL voice he has, the director approached him and asked if he would fill the role. Chris was very excited about this opportunity as he has wanted to get back into theater and hasn't really had the opportunity since high school with a few shows here and there. Knowing that Chris was in this play and knowing that Dominic would enjoy it, I had planned to take him but last night at 6:49 PM - I got a phone call from my aunt (Chris' mom) saying that he had 5 FREE tickets to last night's show! Well, how could I pass up FREE??? With the show starting at 7:30 PM and me being in Spanish Fork at 6:49 PM (already in my "comfy" clothes) I jumped in the car and raced to Orem and met Amber, Skyler and Cynthia. It was well worth it! Dominic LOVED it and had the biggest smile on his face the entire time, it was really cute to see his reaction to a "live movie" and to see his expression as the staged changed and turn to life during each of the different acts. Every member of the cast was awesome and played their roles to their fullest potential. Chris of course was FABULOUS - he belongs on the stage - he always has and always will. He is SOOO talented and has such an amazing gift. I can't wait to see what he does next! Thank you, Chris, for this fun, fun, fun experience and for letting us witness, once again, just how talented you really are!!

Husband Tag!

I read my cousin's blog and decided to join in. So here we go:

1. What is your husbands name? Mariano Santos III

2. How long did you date before you got married? 2 years

3. How long have you been married? 13.5 years

4. Where did you meet? On a blind date - that's right, sometimes it actually works!!

5. What is your favorite feature of his? Do I have to pick just one?? I like everything!!

6. What is your favorite quality of his? He is soft little teddy-bear! Hee, Hee - he looks mean and gruff and angry eyes - but deep down he is a huge softy! Also, he will give you the shirt off his back - he always says that if he was wealthy he would 1st, let me stay home & 2nd he would always donate/sponsor/give to ANYONE in need. Every time we see something on the news or something I always know what he is going to say "Man, I wish I had the money to help that family". I also LOVE his sense of humor, he is so quick on the up-take and ALWAYS makes me laugh (even when I am angry eyes at him - which pisses me off more!). The list could go on, I really do like him!

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Baby-girl

8. What is his favorite color? Blue, NY Yankees colors!

9. What is his favorite food? STEAK! He really likes anything meat related, but steak takes the cake!

10. What is his favorite sport? Baseball

11. When and where was your first kiss? Um, maybe on our first date. :D Ok, the truth comes out...I am a slut!! For the record, he was the one who initiated it but I did NOT object!! ;0

12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Anything, I enjoy any time we spend together - no matter what it is, just hangin' watchin' TV or whatever - I LOVE it.

13. Do you have any children? 1, A-dorable, little boy

14. Does he have a hidden talent? Yes, but I can't talk about it on-line!!!!!!

15. How old is he? He will turn 34 on 09.27.08 - just in time to pick up the Mini-Jazzy!!

16. Who said "I love you" first? Um, of course it was him!! Who can resist me??

17. What is his favorite type of music? Old, Old Country and Spanish music because it reminds him of his daddy.

18. Name something odd about him? His sleeping positions! He finds the oddest position and says that he is so comfy. To me it looks like he trying out to be a Contortionist!!

19. Do you think he will read this? Yes

I now tag: Everybody, I love reading this stuff!

Party like a Rock-Star!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, it was Dominic's birthday on Saturday 09.13.08 - I asked him what his two favorite places in the whole-wide-world were to go to and he said "Chuck-e-Cheese and the park!" Well, buddy boo, you got your wish. Here are some pics from his BIG day!

Because we wanted to include as many people as we could to celebrate D-ster's birthday we had two birthday parties, 1 in the afternoon and 1 in the evening. Dominic really "complained" about 2 parties - let me tell you!! RIGHT, he was absolutely out-of-his-mind with GLEE!! So, the 1st party started out, of course, at...Chuck-E-Cheese (where an adult can be a kid)! I have to preface this by saying that I obviously took my camera with us to the parties and I got about 3 pics at the Charles before my battery died. So, angry eyes I start asking my family members if they just happen to have their camera's with them and to my joy my Aunt Cynthia had hers - so I start snapping pics left and right and just as I go to snap another fantastic shot..."memory card full" was the response from HER camera! I refuse to believe it was a sign!! Anyway, the above photo is of Erica and Dominic with Chuck-e!!

I cut off (or out) some of the people at the Chuck-e party (sorry guys - I was trying to get a shot of the kids watchin' the show) Anyway, this was the gang for the 1st party: my mom, D-ster, Skyler, Autumn, AmberLee, Kyle, River, Erica, Mario, Me, Theresa, Cynthia, Kristina and Brady. He got a hot-wheels super-cool ramp thing with extra cars to go with it (those cars get shot clear across the room - it's awesome) from his new cousins: Skyler, Autumn & River - AmberLee & Kyle's children. He got Disney Junior Scrabble from Aunt Cynthia & Uncle Jim. He got and ABC game from Kristina & Brady - which he is already excelling at! Last but not least he got a "fun box" and doodle pad from Aunt Theresa, Uncle Gary, JoJo & Erica. The "fun box" has all kinds of things to help with learning and brain development. Now, don't panic Dominic DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT have a learning problem. For those that don't know, Aunt Theresa is a Kindergarten teacher and I specifically asked her to give him things that will prepare him for Kindergarten so that he can sail right through with flying colors. So, this is what this box is designed to do. It's amazing to me that things like holding a pair of scissors or a pencil is a challenge for small peeps - who knew that you really have to "learn" to do these things?? Aunt Theresa, that's who. Dominic LOVES the "fun box" and is already digging into the different things and soaking it all up!

Except for Aunt Theresa and Erica, these guys couldn't join us in the evening so we were VERY happy to have been able to celebrate with them during the day - thank you so much for coming guys!!

The 2nd part of Dominic's b-day was held at a park near our house - it's a great park and the play area is SO close to the pavillion that you can see your kids the entire time and don't have to worry about them running somewhere that you can't see (except when the sun is setting and you are completely blinded by the west sun - sorry guys!!) I, of course, didn't get pics of everyone who attended (I may or may not have been a bit busy!) so here is the list - I hope I don't leave anyone out: Grandma Dorothy, Grandma Kathy, Aunt Theresa, Erica, Scott, Helen, baby Charlotte, Rick, Jeri, Chelsey, Ronnie, Cat, Joe, Tino, Abby, baby Ava, Uncle Manny, Melissa, Brad, Brayden, Dallyn, Gracie, Landyn, Melissa (Jeri's friend who lives next to the park) and her children, Mario, me and of course Dominic.

I LOVE the above picture (for a few reasons)!! I give you the future Mr. & Mrs. Dominic Santos!! I just know they are going to get married, which would be fantastic because we already get along famously with both sides of the fam!! This is Gracie, my friend Melissa's little girl and I just love her to pieces and they are so cute together - you watch, this will be at their wedding on the sign-in table. Anyway, I also love this pic because I think it's the only one of both Dominic's grandma's, (that my camera captured) I love that - we don't always have them together so that was so nice!

Some of the b-day gifts!

This is the Transformer - Optimus Prime - that Grandma Dorothy and Uncle Manny got for Dominic. He LOVES the T-formers and he LOVES Optimus Prime so nice job G-ma D and Uncle Manny! As a side note, notice Gracie in almost EVERY single shot. I am telling you, it's meant to be!! ;)

This is the pirate ship Grandma Kathy gave Dominic. Once again - nice job G-ma K. Anything have to do with blowing things up, he is all over!! A Spidey punchin' bag. Now maybe dad will get a break!! Yeah right! This is the most adorable pics EVER. Not just the pic taken of Dominic un-wrapping but the pic inside the pic. It's of Dominic and his daddy at Amber's wedding - it's priceless and I love it. This is from Uncle Rick, Aunt Jeri, Chelsey and Cody. They also got him a...bounce-house! It's awesome! We had no idea they had gotten him this because we were at the park for his party and Jeri had gone to our house to set it up before we got back to the house. Because things got started a little later than planned :(, we didn't get home until it was WAY dark so we really didn't get a chance to see it until the next morning (more pics of that to come - stay tuned) but needless to say Dominic is ECSTATIC!! All day the day before Dominic kept complaining that he didn't have anything to ride - you see he has grown out of all of the other bikes we have for him (go figure). So mom & dad bought him a brand new bike - that he crashed oh about 4 times upon riding it for the first time! He was very excited though and hopped right on and started peddling away just like the pro that he is!

Ronnie, Cat, Abby, Tino and baby Ava gave him a helmet to go with his new bike - good thing too cuz' at the rate we are going he will for sure be needing this!! Thanks you guys!

Last but not least, the D-ster blowin' out the candles! He was so cute, when I told him to make a wish and blow out the candles, he closed his eyes - not tightly - just like he was in deep, deep thought and then opened up his baby dark choco's and blew the candles out two at a time (he even did it in a pattern :D). This cake was baked and decorated by Cat (Ronnie's - Mario's nephew - wife) of course it was Optimus again and he/we loved it!! Thank you Cat!!

The pictures I don't have (on my camera to upload) are of the actual people that came and some of the other gifts. So, I will tell them to you.

Scott, Helen & baby Charlotte: "rented" out the movie theatre and took him to see Kung-Fu-Panda with all the treats he could imagine. He was beside himself with excitement and entertainment - even Scott had the time of his life!! ;)

Melissa, Brad, Brayden, Dallyn, Gracie & Landyn: Optimus Prime and Mega-Tron battle thing. I don't know the actual name of it but you put them on these fighter pedestals and use spin them around and around until one falls off. He LOVES it and has loved it for years - he played with it at their house months and months ago!

Melissa E: Tow truck - he tows EVERYTHING with this thing and thinks it's the greatest thing ever!

Melissa (Jeri's friend): Two tambourines - that make great music!! :) No, he loves making music and it's funny to hear the songs he comes up with! Thanks for being there spur-o-the-moment!

Mom & Dad: The bike, clothes & shoes. The only really exciting thing was the bike - the clothes sort of got "tossed" aside. But, that's what parents are for - to give you what you need not necessarily what you want!!

Gosh, I hope that is everybody - I would hate to leave someone out!!! If I have, just know you are just as loved as everyone else and he LOVES each of you SO, SO, SO much! Thank you to EVERYBODY for making this day for Dominic such an incredible one - he had such a good time and he is in 7th heaven with all his new treasures!!

1, 2, 3....4!!! What!?!

Dominic has turned 4 YEARS old!! Are you kidding??? When did this happen?? Honestly it was just yesterday that when I held him over my shoulder his feet hit my boob - now his feet are on the floor and his head hits my boob!! I haven't been able to get to a computer until today so I wasn't able to publicly say Happy Birthday to my "baby" boy Dominic on Saturday September 13th, 2008!!

Dominic, we LOVE you SOOOO, SOOOO, SOOOO much it's hard to put into words. We are unable to comprehend our lives before you came to us - it is so strange to think of you not always "being" with us. I know that you were most likely always "there" otherwise I don't think we could have survived most of the days before Monday September 13th, 2004 when absolute perfection arrived!! You have grown into such an incredible little "man". You are SO smart - we love all of the new things you come up with each and every day, you are kind, loving, caring, compassionate, you are friendly to EVERYONE - you never leave anyone out, you are so flippin' adorable it makes mommy laugh and want to squeeze the poop right out of you, you are so helpful - you pick up your toys and clean your room - you help mommy make dinner and cookies - you help mommy clean the house (like the baseboards, cuz' your mommy is a bit coo-coo), you are always SO excited to see us and you give the best hugs/kisses in the entire world! We love the way you "rough and box-house" with dad and how your eyes light up when he comes home from work. We love the new words you put together and the way we can "see" you organizing your thoughts. We love that you LOVE Transformers, Batman, Spiderman (super-hero's in general), Max & Ruby, Miss Spidey etc. and how excited you get when you get to watch one of these shows and then mimic them. We love how you ask mommy "why do you pick me up everyday in a few hours?" and mommy LOVES that I get to respond back "because I love you and always want to bring you home"!! Dominic, the list can literally go on and on and on and on because just when we think we can't love you anymore or that you can get any better/cuter/funnier/smarter/lovable...you do!

Happy Birthday to our little Dominichi-pana-tana-luchi, buck-a-roo bill, chicken nugget, Jacksonville-Florida, mouschka-cake, boo, small-fry, face and pudding-pie! Once again, you are the greatest thing that has EVER happened to us and we treasure EVERY single minute we have with you and can't wait to see the fun things you bring to our lives through out this next year and all of the years to come!! You are truely a blessing, thank you for letting us be your mommy and daddy! "Hugs & Smooches, Loves & Kisses - around the world and back again"!!

Weekend Get-a-Way California Pics!

As promised, here are some pics from our short, but FUN-FILLED trip! I don't think they are in the right order but I can't this to work like I want it to! I guess it doesn't matter, I'll jut take an extra Xanax for my OCD attack!! ;) Dominic waiting ever so patiently and getting SOO excited for the "jet-plane" to take us to California! Yeah, the excitment was so intense, he went ahead and passed right out as soon as we got on board. Take it down a notch mom, not everyone on the plane wants to know how excited you are!! hee,hee This is Dominic "Swiffer-ing" my sister's house!! That's right - he LOVES to Swiffer and my sister LOVES that he loves it! They are soul mates I swear. Tina's house is pretty much entirely hard wood. The only carpet in the entire house is in the living room so she is CONSTANTLY "Swiffer-ing" and Dominic did not hesitate to join the "fun" in that!! Our BLT's!! This is the nick-name we came up with for the 3 little nieces/granddaughters. Bethany, Lindsay, Tori - our BLT! Gosh, they are so stinkin' pretty and I hope they remember that everyday for the rest of their lives! I also hope that all 3 of them realize how much I love them and how proud I am that I get to be their "favorite" auntie!! :) D & M just chillin'! I love this picture - even though it's a bit out of focus. I just love the expresson on their faces - they kill me! OOOOHHHH, I just want to squeeze the crap out of them I love them so much! Dinner at PP's and that's what the food tasted like...peepee!! The first night we were there we went to dinner (one of the things we got to do with Ron) and we wanted to try something "California-ish" so we tried this place (that I won't tell you the whole name cuz' I don't want to be sued or something for posting it on my blog) but it was NOT our favorite!! I felt bad because the Cali. folks chose it for us because it is something we don't have in Utah, which I am grateful for, but it really wasn't great. If you are going to So. Cal (Yorba Linda area) give me a call and I will disclose the name of the 'restaurant' so you can avoid it like the plague!!

Now this restaurant I could have eaten at EVERY day!! This is Tina's kitchen and Cyndi is cooking up my favorite dish IN THE WORLD - Chicken Burritos! OMG, they are SOOOO good I can't even describe it...yes I can...it's orgasmic!! I am not kidding, it's Cyndi's recipe (I think) but who cares because we are takin' on the road and we are going to make millions. We are going to open our own little "Burrito Stand" and make a freakin' killing! I'm not going to do anything but collect the money. Tina is in charge of marketing (duh), Cyndi of course is in charge of cooking and I am in charge of displaying my large-and-in-charge bod so that everyone can see it's really good cookin'!! Ok, if you can't quite make out this photo - look really close - that's right it's Tina & Dominic in the 'Play-Land' at McDonalds! No, this was not a "rescue mission", Dominic was not stuck - he just said "Tia, come with me" so...she did. And then they went down the slide!! OMG, it was hysterical to see her in there and it was even better to watch all of the other adults watching her thinking "this is why you are supposed to have adult supervision"!! hee, hee. Who cares they both had fun and they both ate all their lunch before playing so all was well!! I hate this picture of me but I had to get one with Ricky - I took this right after his mother came out of the 'Play-Land' slide (note the look on his face - utter embarrassment) What can I say??? I look like 'Chunk' from the Goonies when the 'Fratelli' brothers are trying to squeeze the "truth" out of him!!

So of course we went to Beverly Hills, 90210!! OMG, I was so mesmerized by what was going on on Rodeo drive, it was like the first time I had left my room, or the mental hospital!! I couldn't get my camera to work fast enough and I was a COMPLETE tourist!! It was freakin' awesome! I didn't get a picture but there was this guy that was a total "pump-you-up" man, he was HUGE, he was so tan and reasonably nice looking however he was wearing...daisy-duke shorts, a hot pink belt, hot pink All-Star shoes and walking his...Chihuahua puppy with a hot pink leash!! I am telling you I have never wet myself so much laughing so hard. Ricky and I just about busted a gut laughing so hard! I am telling you it was hysterical! I don't know why I took this but this was something else that Ricky and I found absolutely hysterical. It was a Mtn. Dew sign and we couldn't figure out where they were going with it but I thought it was so flippin' funny I could hardly see straight! (Ricky and I saw most of the "good" things on Rodeo drive - the rest of the passengers were a bit slow on the up-take. That's ok just as Dominic and Tina are soul mates, Ricky and I are the same person! We both have such a similar sense of humor and "kill" ourselves often!! Anyway, I think I may have to use this slogan from time to time so watch out! So if you have ever been to Rodeo drive you know that every thing is VERY posh. Every store "clerk" (I am sure they have a much fancier title than that) wears a three-piece suit, the women in dress suits etc. Well, you really aren't 'supposed' to take photos of inside the stores and that made me kind of upset. So we went inside the Gucci store, camera in hand, and the "clerks" were eyeing me the whole time. I really wanted to throw some $6,000 sun-glasses on holding a $10,000 purse and have Cyndi or Ricky take my pic but the stupid "suits" wouldn't let me. So, we left. As we were leaving the open door next to Gucci I thought was just another shop but I realized it was a continuation of it and they had these little statue people made out of piping or something. Anyway, there of course was a "suited" guard by the door so I ever so discretely walked over to the statue looking very interested in what they were while Cyndi stood out of the store bounderies and took a quick pic. I was going to kiss the statue but I changed my mind wondering if the daisy-duke short man had also done the same and got a bit frightened! Anyway, good times all around! Matthew's b-day was on the 31st so we had a little party on the 30th. This is the only picture I have of the event. Not sure why that is because Matthew isn't even in this shot! Oops! Anyway, Ron & Cyndi have a pool at the Condo they live in so it was sort of a pool-party. This was also the night Ron left and I don't think I have a picture of him either - hmmm, I suck!

On the same day as Rodeo drive, we also decided to get as close as we could to the Hollywood sign. On the way we stopped at another "California" restaurant - once again, not so good. I had been saying pretty much the entire drive "Welcome to Hollywood...whach-yo-dream" ya know, from the movie Pretty Woman?? Anyway, inside this not so good restaurant was a man that clearly 'had a dream' - he wanted to be St. Nick!! I couldn't get a really good picture without being obvious but the man seriously is wearing red, white, green socks, red All-Star shoes, red shorts, a x-mas shirt with some sort of red, white and green pattern (I thought it was elves but I couldn't get close enough), a red cowboy hat and a long white beard!! Once again, wetting myself - DC coming out my nose - the works!!Welcome to Hollywood Baby!! I'm not sure what Dominic's facial expression is but I was loving every minute of it. This is "officially" the closest you can get to the sign without being arrested - so we did pretty good.This was the drive-way to Madonna's old house. It was just to Dominic's left. Sadly this was the closest I ever to got to "seeing" a star (or something star related) one of these days I WILL see one!! The NBC studio. My brother used to work for NBC and we would have tried to get in but he didn't have his old badge. Damn it - I really wanted some onion rings!!! :) We got to see all of the "mock-up" exteriors of everything you see on Days of our Lives - pretty cool! Warner Brothers Studio - once again, couldn't get in but it was fun to see wears Bugs lives!

The 'boys' giving each other a squeeze just before we left. It was so cute, when we got to security they both stopped and really, really hugged for a long time and Dominic cried so hard - I had already put my camera away before the Gestapo tackled me so I couldn't take a picture but trust me, it was priceless.

Auntie Tia swinging the boys at the airport on the day of departure. I didn't take too many pics this day because we were sad eyes.

So there you have it. We had so much fun. Thanks again to my wonderful family for having - as always you are the greatest!! I don't know where I would be without my family and I just want all of them to know how much I love and appreciate every single one of them. You guys are the greatest and I am so blessed to have my best friends as part of my fam!! (((hugs & smooches))) TTFN!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

...don't wish we were back again! So over the long Labor Day weekend my mom, Dominic and I FLEW to California!! The reason I cap'ted 'flew' is because for anyone who knows my Mom knows that she HATES, she LOATHES, she DESPISES flying! She has not flown in over 10 years and is PETRIFIED of doing it and I practically had to sedate her to even drive to the airport. Here is how it went down...

So the weekend before (aug 23-ish) my sister called and said that she and my sis-in-law Cyndi had come up with a FANTASTIC plan...do you want to come to Cali for the long labor day weekend. Ummm hello, are you kidding - a spontaneous trip to sunny So. Cal.!?! My brother (Ron's) b-day was the 23rd - and my mom was so sad eyes that she wasn't there for his day plus my nephew (Mathew) his b-day was coming up on the 31st so just in general we were just sad we couldn't be there to join the festivities and just be with each other etc. So, once again my wonderful fam came through!! They discovered that my brother had these sky miles on his Delta account that HAD to be used before September. He had enough sky miles for two round trip tickets and was just under for a third so my wonderful sisters were going to purchase a ticket for the D-ster (sorry Mario, he sorta got left out of the fun ;(). Well at the last minute my sister realized that she had enough sky miles to transfer to my bro's account so that the D-ster's ticket ended up being "free" too (right, nothing is really free but Tina/Ron are working that part out!) Anyway, so the idea was to fly out on Friday the 29th early afternoon and return on Monday the 1st and best part was...it was a SURPRISE!! Ummm, hello They didn't tell my brother that we were coming, it was going to be a be-lated b-day surprise!! Everything was perfect, no time taken off work, not too expensive, Cyndi had to punish my brother so he was grounded for the weekend :) (my brother is a producer for FOX News Channel and was "grounded" because he was working on a special project and he was not allowed to leave his home state for ANY reason or for ANY news that may or may not happen), it was PERFECT. And then...

GUSTAV!

First let me just say that can you even imagine living in New Orleans?? I mean they are still trying to recover from Katrina and they get told that yet another Hurricane is heading your way and supposed to be "bigger" than Katrina and ooops, the levee's are supposed to be "finished" by 2011 - um, right...I am pretty sure I would move for good!!

So, my brother was suddenly reprieved. Go figure. Basically the Anchor person that was going to cover the story said - in so many words - that the only Producer he was taking with him to do this story was my brother. Now, as awesome as that is/was that of ALL of the producers within FOX, my brother was the one requested and how honored that we are that he is such an amazing person and has the reputation that he does, freakin' rocks and we are so proud of him! Mmmmm hmmmmm - DAMN IT!! The freakin' surprise was ruined!! When my brother called his sweet wife to tell her he was un-grounded and headin' south, what a great opportunity this was going to be for him (career wise) etc. she frantically began to think of anything and everything to keep him from going. After a lengthy "discussion" with Ron and trying to come up with any excuse in the book - she finally had to "let the cat out of the bag". Needless to say my brother was sick with mixed emotions. Of course he knew that he had to go and of course he didn't want to go. My mother getting on a plane for him - that was HUGE and worth missing walking the red carpet with Tim McGraw (oh wait we're talking bout my bro) anyway, it was very tormenting for him. My sisters forebade him to call us to forwarn that he would be leaving town after-all so he tried to call Delta to get our tickets moved to a different day but to no avail. The only thing he was able to do was instead of leaving bright and early Saturday morning - he took the "red eye" out Saturday night so we were able to spend Friday afternoon/evening and all day Saturday with him. My sister had to break the news to us when we landed in Cali and it was a bit anti-climatic...but we still had lots of people to visit and we were very excited to be there. We hadn't seen Tina, Cyndi and the kids in a long time and to be part of Mathew's b-day was great (Dominic was very excited about that part) and after we got over the mixed emotions from the idea of Ron heading into the storm while all of LA was gettin' the hell out o' dodge and trying not to think of the dangers of that, we were able to have some quality time with him and it was really a GREAT trip!! As usual my family rocks and we did as much as we could with the time we had available. So, so fun to be able to just shoot off spur-of-the-moment, hang out, chill, chat, meet some new people, try some new restaurants (not so good ones but none-the-less) just do something that we never have opportunity to do and we enjoyed every minute of it (except for the few short minutes we spent in the air sorry mom!). Stay tuned for the pics from this trip - they aren't quite organized yet. TTFN!