Halloween Pics

Boo, click me!

what time is it?

It is 7pm and I am SO ready for bed. I would go to sleep but I have to watch Desperate Housewives. A nap maybe?

not feeling too hot

I think I caught someone's cold. Not too hard to imagine since practically everyone at work is sick. So I was laying in bed looking at my clock and I thought, well Eastenders will be on in an hour, so here I am. Figured I would check my mail, blog, look around the internet. I just looked at my clock and forgot about the time change. I can't wait TWO hours for Eastenders. I missed it Friday night because I was driving around with Siobhan trying to figure out what to get for dinner. Seriously, I drove around for about 45 minutes only to end up at Wendy's right by our house. I don't usually get fast food but it was already 8pm and nothing sounded good. Siobhan loves Wendy's because of the Frosty, so what the heck, Wendy's it was!

So I am sure I will miss the rerun of Eastenders at 5am. Oh well, sleep IS kinda important.

putting on the pressure

Eric is going to Macworld in January in San Francisco. Krystal and Bradley can go if they keep their grades up enough to miss a couple days of school. The pressure is on. Can they do it? Will they start slacking around the holidays and allow their grades to fall and therefore have to stay home with Mom? I pray not! So, I thought if I put it out there it might help. They are both doing well, but as we always say, there is lots of time to screw up!

Come on you two, go out there and get A's!

Can you say HOT?

I know Eric is going to kill me BUT he did download the picture for me!

Boo!

busy, busy, busy

What a day we have planned (not by choice). Siobhan has ballet at 12 which Grandma Sue will be taking her and then Siobhan will go hang out at her house. We will be leaving about 11:30 to head to Thousand Oaks where Bradley has TWO soccer games, one at 2pm and one at 4pm. Grandma Carol will be watching Diego for us. (Then he doesn't have to endure the long drive, and the TWO games). Thankfully my husband decided to put some light in our day and we will be stopping by Olvera Street for some dinner. Yum Yum. So we will be gone, busy, all day. Enjoy YOUR Saturday!

What was I thinking?

I think I am usually someone who goes about life and enjoys it. I feel a lot of love, things are usually great and work out for me. Lately I haven't felt that way. I am so thankful for my husband and my kids, but I have been in a funk. Maybe it is my Dad, maybe not. But today a little girl whose blog I read (NOT Rebekah) passed away of cancer. She was only 3 years old. What do I have to complain or be sad about. My children are all healthy. We are able to give them everything they need. I am truly blessed. I feel bad for ever feeling bad. My heart and my prayers go out to little Maggie May's family. God bless you!

what to do?

Yesterday Eric and I got home to no DSL. What to do? I told Eric I didn't know what to do if I couldn't check my e-mail, blog, etc. What, were we supposed to sit around and talk? About 9 Eric said if he couldn't use the internet he might as well go to sleep (he didn't though). Isn't it funny how cut off you can feel when your DSL is down? We have had good service from Earthlink so I don't know what is up. We came home today and it wasn't working for about an hour and a half. crazy!

We are up and we are here!

three of the four

Here is a picture of Bradley holding Siobhan and Diego while we were at the Galaxy game this afternoon. Where DID that kid get blond hair from?

much ado about nada...

well, I feel like just going on and on about not much. We just finished watching Midnight Cowboy (1969). Interesting. I had never heard of it but it was very good. The kids liked it too.

I got invited to a Bar Mitzvah (trying to be like Andrea) but I won't be able to go. I am bummed about it too. I would like to have gone.

We went to a wedding last night. Eric's cousin's daughter, Katie. It was really nice. She looked beautiful (don't they all?). We took Siobhan with us. She had fun dancing. She kept asking me to go back upstairs ( I think she was afraid we were leaving, or just trying to get rid of me!). I think this is the first wedding that I have been to that made me feel a bit old. Maybe it is because they are so young.

We were leaving Siobhan's ballet class today and the owner stopped us to ask how old Siobhan is. We told her she will be 4 at the end of January. She said that Siobhan is very advanced. (We of course know this, but it is odd hearing it from someone who doesn't know her!) She is going to be the leader and then she will want her to move up as soon as she turns 4. Big girl!

Bradley got his progress report from school. He has no less than a B! Woo hoo. Krystal is doing okay, she just has some things to work on, but I know she can and will do it! I know she wants to go to San Francisco in January with her Dad so she WILL get those grades up or be stuck home with me and the little ones (and no one wants that!).

Don't tell Eric, but I am trying to plan a time we can get away ALONE and go to The Madonna Inn. I hear the shower in that room is amazing. Plus, we haven't done anything alone since Europe in 95. We even took Krystal and Bradley to Mexico with us after we got married (I won't say it was a honeymoon, hee hee). But I am not to quick to ask because I haven't been so good with my money since FOREVER, and we DO have some stuff we want to do around the house. Ah, one day....

I got to see Gabi and Patsy today (my Dad's wife and my oldest brother's wife) that was nice. I really only got to say "hi" to Patsy but it is always nice to see her! It was nice to talk to Gabi about my Dad. To admit how much I almost won't think about it. She described it perfectly when she said it feels like he is on a trip or something. Because it kinda does. I guess when you have a Dad that goes away a lot and practically lives in other countries for months at a time, something like this does seem unreal.

Well, enough for you? Because I am sure I could go on and on. I think I will go download some music videos from iTunes (see what wasteful things I do with my money!) Have a great night everyone!

hop-a-long

Bradley got hurt in today's soccer game. He went for the ball and tripped the other player and somehow twisted his ankle. OUCH! He got pulled from the game and didn't get to go back in. He is still hopping around here. I am sure somehow he will walk well enough to make it to the Galaxy game tomorrow!

where is the lysol?

My mom (an RN) used to always follow me around the house with Lysol while I was sick. I mean I couldn't even move without practically having to reach for my inhaler since I was practically drowned in the stuff. Well, maybe she had something there. I am feeling better (stomach still is sensitive) but now Siobhan has a fever. I have the windows open so we are getting plenty of fresh air, I guess it just wasn't enough. Of course she wanted to be right next to me and nothing makes you feel better than a little girls kisses. So I pay for it now.

Please note the time. I have been to bed only to find the wee one on the couch. She didn't want to kick Daddy by climbing in bed (since when did she care?). So we are watching Funniest Home Videos and fighting about the medicine. Is there sleep in the future? The saga continues...

out of the mouth of babes

Per Siobhan:

If m&m's have a S on them, they are s&m's.

By the way, the S is from Skittles!

ha ha

Please look at this page

I have posted this blog before about Rebekah. She does not seem to be doing well at all. I think any extra thoughts and prayers can't hurt, and well, you never know.

CLICK ME

ick

Monday night I guess I had the stomach flu. YUCK! Needless to say I stayed home from work yesterday and am home resting today. I mean they wouldn't want me back unless I am 100% right?

So now Siobhan and Diego are coughing. Poor babies. I hope they don't get sick!

Wow, Krystal, thanks

Yesterday Bradley had a soccer game at Goldenwest College. Oh yeah, it was raining alright. Siobhan watched Dora in the car while I read a book. We got home about 6pm to a WONDERFUL dinner. The table was set (we hardly ever eat there!) and the atmosphere. Wow. Candles, music and wine. Eric and Krystal made a wonderful spaghetti dinner with garlic bread. It was really tasty.

And frankly whenever I don't have to worry about dinner, I am happy. I mean, it takes a lot of planning to decide where to eat and if we should order in, pick up or go out.

Thanks guys!

Monday, Monday

How come I can never be home with nothing to do but sit in front of a fire and read all day while it is raining? I love the rain. I like to watch it, hear it and know my lawn is finally getting enough water. It is so cozy to be at home and enjoy it. Instead I saw some of it fall while in the lunch room at work (oh, how cozy!).

I expected some when I got home and so far, nada. Siobhan is waiting to go out in her rain boots and jump in some puddles! She made sure she took her Dora umbrella to school today, just in case!

So, I wait. No rain while at home. At least I am making dinner for a change, I could enjoy it to some rain...

Just how I feel

I got this in an e-mail today, boy does it say it all!

how sad

It has been over three weeks since my Dad passed away. It is so weird but I keep thinking I see him places. In a car driving, at a store, or anywhere. I know in my head it isn't him, but it always takes me a minute. Today as I was standing in Mattern's Deli in Orange waiting for our food, I saw a man who reminded me a lot of my dad. He had the same build and was almost the exact size on my dad. I seriously had to talk myself out of going up to him and asking him to hug me. I realized that no matter how "alike" he might be, he would never hug me with the emotion that MY dad always hugged me with. My dad didn't waste time with those little patting hugs. He always hugged me like he meant it. And I realized that if I can't have one of those hugs, I will just wait.

gas?

Last night we went to Robinson-May to look at the furniture sale (we got some great stuff!). We thought we could fit the leather love seat in the van but no! We had about 35 minutes to go home, drop off the kids and go back (minus one seat so it would fit!). I had NO gas. Eric said we won't make it home. There was no Chevron close to where we were and not one that I could think of within a close distance, so on to the freeway I went. The Main Place Mall is only about 4 miles from home and the gas station isn't too far from the freeway.

That was the longest 4 miles ever. I have never been afraid I would run out of gas (I usually fill up as soon as the light is on) and then at 8:30pm, on the freeway, with my whole family in the car. YIKES! We did make it, but the whole way my heart was beating fast, my stomach hurt, I was nervous!

Eric did make it back to the store in time. We spent about 45 minutes arranging and rearranging the living room. Finally we are good! New furniture and more places to sit. We needed more places to sit!

a funny for Friday

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

If people evolved from apes,Why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

Alone again naturally

Guess what?! Yesterday I went to Albertson's all by myself! No kids! Alone! Seriously, I think it has been about 3 years since that has happened. Wow! No one asking for fruit snacks or ice cream!

Woo hoo, I think I love it!

Siobhan's Back to School Night!

Siobhan looking CUTE!



















Siobhan showing off her art work
















Diego enjoying the "big kid" toys at Siobhan's preschool.




















Siobhan with some of her "school" friends.

Here is picture of Bradley and Diego enjoying the UCLA football game. Go Bruins!

two weeks or a lifetime?

It has been two weeks since my dad passed away. It feels as though it has already been a lifetime. How can he be out of reach? When I hugged him as he lay there, soul gone, I kept thinking, "Why isn't he hugging me?". Crazy I know.

Most moments are spent trying not to think about how he will never hug me. Never kiss me. Never again pick up Diego or talk to Siobhan and show her something cool. He won't see Bradley play soccer or Krystal run another race. Okay, I know he will see them, but we won't see him seeing them.

My heart aches for a word, a touch, a kiss, anything. Even when I was a teenagers my Grandma Faldowski would tease me because I had to be RIGHT by my dad. If he was on the couch, there I was next to him. We spent a lot of time apart from the time I was about 8 to 12. I never saw my father cry as when he said goodbye to me. Now I am the one saying goodbye. And frankly, I can't!

I don't want to. I don't care if I have to, I don't want to! I know it will get better. It has to, because I don't think it can get worse.

Sometimes I look at pictures of him and I smile. I know he loved me with all he could. I loved him like only a girl can love her Daddy (especially being the only girl out of four kids!). I know he believed in me and never stopped letting me be me. I told him often that I loved him for letting me make my own mistakes. Oh, he was there to bail me out, but never said even one "I told you so". He just wasn't like that. He didn't say anything. He was just there! Solid! Without fail. He was so easy to smile. Oh, he got mad mind you, but it was usually over nothing and very short lived. I ALWAYS knew I could count on my Dad for anything. ANYTHING! So, now what?

Now what? I am a strong believer in Heaven. But hey, I took philosophy too. Some say we believe in Heaven because we fear death. I don't think that is the case. But I do find myself thinking that there HAS to be a Heaven because if I can't someday be with my Dad again, I don't think I could make it through even one day now.

I try and be strong. I try to hold back the tears. I try and think of what he would want and it would not be for me (or any of use) to shed tears for him. Usually when I cry I don't even know what the hell brought it on. No song, no thought, no memory, just tears.

Someday I guess I will find better words to describe all the pain going on but for now I just try and push it away. Please, bare with me and my ramblings on, I will find other topics as well. I think....

The Girard Kids

Here I am with my brothers. From left to right, David, Me, Mark and Tony! I am the youngest (hee hee) and obviously the shortest too.