Ride 'em cowgirl!

hello there!

Hope your Christmas holiday was great. We had a wonderful day. The kids got a lot of gifts from both Grandma's and my oldest brother. Eric got some UCLA stuff which ALWAYS makes him happy. Siobhan's Nino Richard and Aunt Julie came by on Christmas Eve. It is always wonderful to see them. We still need to see Siobhan's Nina and Diego's Nina. My brother Tony came by today to take Bradley golfing. He dropped off some gifts for the kids. They LOVED having more presents to open. They were all excited.

Eric, Krystal and I went to see Los Lobos at the House of Blues. Opening for them was The Low Rider Band (which is most of the members of the group War, you know Low Rider, Cisco Kid). What a great show. We stood for HOURS. We were only about 6 people away from the stage. We could have gotten closer. Only one fight broke out. We finally had had enough of standing and headed upstairs to sit and enjoy the rest of the show. They could have sung for another couple of hours and still have a bunch of songs to sing. They didn't sing my favorite "Maria and Tony". sigh We left there about 1am. Eric went to work the next day! I don't know how. I walked around like a zombie all day until my nice long nap!

I have so enjoyed being off these last 6 days. I don't go back to work for 5 more days and I shall enjoy them all.

We were worried about being able to go to Mexico. Last we had heard, as of 1-7-07 you needed a passport to re-enter the US. I looked today and everything I found said 2008. WHOO HOO. Although I do not mind at all getting passports if we are actually going somewhere, a two hour drive doesn't seem worthy of a few hundred dollars. Okay, I know it is another country. The US/Mexico border, but for anyone who lives here, it is almost like crossing into another city. We shall enjoy another "free" year!

Happy ? Holidays!

Shopping done? Not quite

I have one person, nope make that two people that I have finished shopping for. Let's see who is left, oh all four of our children, my mom, his mom, my brothers, my baby nephew, Siobhan's preschool teachers, my staff at work (four!), and all the ninos and ninas. Geez, and as always, never enough money. Actually money isn't the biggest problem. The biggest problem is what to get?!

We still don't have a tree. We have been so busy and frankly I think I have been in denial that Christmas will actually be here in a week. I was going to make sugar cookies today for a cookie exchange at work tomorrow, but I just couldn't. Those were my dad's favorite and frankly I am lucky to get through a day without breaking down. Damn it, I am so tired of being sad.

I would like to say a special prayer to my very good friend Natalie. Her grandfather passed away this weekend. My thoughts, prayers and hope are with you all.

Siobhan after performing ballet and flamenco. She was wonderful. She ran right passed her Dad and me to her Nino.

so, so busy

Ahhh, we had our holiday party at work today. It used to be that it was a highlight. I have found that it is not a as much of a highlight when you are part of the group decorating and getting everything ready. Not to mention that is not my thing. It was really nice though. Nice food, the room was nice. We ate upstairs and headed downstairs for our dessert and white elephant gift card exchange. Later we had our secret pal. Mine had NO idea it was me. The weird thing is, our department only has five people and three of us had someone in our department. Too weird. I was standing all day long

Tonight is Siobhan's holiday party at school. We are waiting for Daddy to get home with Grandma from the hospital to go. we might even get our tree afterwards. Tomorrow is Siobhan's "The Nutcracker", she is dancing Flamenco and ballet. I finally got everything for that (hopefully!). After tomorrow afternoon my weekend shall begin!

Why my kids aren't driving yet!

The Shining - A Romantic Comedy

Not your Dad's Shining!

w/o our cannon

We had the Torres Christmas Party this weekend. About 70 people. Santa was there. Lots of photo ops. I got Diego to sit on Santa's lap, and suddenly the camera won't work. Arrgghhh. I know Sandee took some pics, so when I get those I will post them. Eric does not think he is going to be able to fix it. The lens will not go into the camera. It is stuck. We bought it not too long ago when our old digital was taking too long to take a picture. We gave that one to the kids and they gave theirs to Siobhan. The house had a total camera hand me down. Now we have no camera. We, of course still have the digital video camera. How else would Eric make all his wonderful dvd's of all of us.

I am home today. We only have one car and Carol had a doctor appointment, so I stayed home. It is always nice to have a random day off. Siobhan was supposed to go to school today. Her belly hurt. Funny, it is not yet 8am and she sure seems fine now. I am going to make her help me clean her room. She will wish she had gone to school.

I have lots to do, I wonder how much will actually get done. I think if I were a stay at home mom, I would have to schedule stuff. It is so hard to get everything done. You always have good intentions. Then some cute little kid comes up and wants you to read a book, or eat, or just hold him. Who would pass on that?!

BRUINS ROCK! USC stinks!

ahhh home

I am back. Back to work on Friday and back to work with a new position. I was offered to be the manager of my department. Sweet. It was nice to be back to work. At the Yuba office, everyone was wonderfully friendly. I had a great time, but getting back to your own office, it is like going home.

WE have a breakfast potluck for our department on Monday. What am I supposed to bring for breakfast? Tonight is our family holiday party. AFTER the UCLA vs USC game (UCLA WILL win!). It will be so nice to see family that we haven't seen since last year. There are just not enough days, you know?

Di still gone

This morning I woke to music. I thought "What IS that?". then I remembered I set the alarm clock to go off. At home I never use an alarm, so it threw me off.

It was about 30 degrees this morning and VERY windy. I picked up some coffee (in front of Home Depot of all places) and headed to work. We met with about 19 people and it went very well.

I got to leave a bit early. I was going to go to the movies but there wasn't anything I wanted to see. I enjoyed my room. I drove around and around looking for something to eat. I didn't want to eat somewhere but I didn't want fast food. I settled for a pita at Jack in the Box.

So get this! As if Wal-Mart isn't evil enough, they now sale gas! Bastards. Right up Bush's alley.

I head home tomorrow, to hold my babies and kiss my husband. I will be coming back within a few months. I will know this town soon!

Where's Di?

Here I am! Yuba city for work again. This time for two nights. I took a couple of pictures on my way. They are from my cell phone, and I was driving, so they aren't the best. I saw about 40 miles of this. I really cracked up when I saw a billboard for Carl's Jr, 10 more miles. 10 miles? I could find 15 Carl's Jr's within 10 miles at home.

The line at the airport was INSANE. About 30 minutes so I could remove my shoes, my laptop, have all liquids, lotions and inhaler in a bag seperate from my carry ons. So what happens, here you are with one carry on and a purse, Suddenly you are holding eight things. Who can move quickly holding on to all that stuff? That is when someone is going to steal your bags. You have to put SOMETHING down!

The people at my work here are SO nice. We just did some training today and tomorrow there are a few meetings. I am enjoying being alone. No husband, no kids. I miss them, but at the same time it is nice. Especially because I am getting paid for it! I went to dinner and just had my book for company. There was a dad with his little girl next to me. It made me miss the kids, but I called them. They were going out to dinner too.

I will be here tomorrow night too. I am sure I will be missing everyone like crazy tomorrow. We have so many things coming up. This weekend is the Torres Christmas Party. Siobhan's dance is coming up, Crazy busy.

Oh by the way, I wanted to let everyone know not to use Dollar Rent a car. They stink. I waited over an hour for a car because they didn't have any. All I could think about was that Seinfield episode where he told them they knew how to take the reservation they just didn't know how to hold the reservation. I mean, that is what a reservation is for right? There were a lot of people calling their offices and telling secretarys not to book them with Dollar anymore. ( I waited an hour last time too).

I am going to go enjoy being able to watch tv in bed. ta ta

ahhh, the holidays

One more day of work for a FOUR day holiday. How wonderful! Four days to be with my wonderful husband and enjoy our children four full days. Maybe we will actually get the Christmas lights up (Bradley) and spend some time with our Wii (no doubt there).

We are going to Siobhan's Nino's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It isn't very far but we think it will take about 3 to 4 hours to get there. The trip might not be fun but I know it will be once we get there. Siobhan is REALLY looking forward to it! Poor Nino Richard probably won't have a moment to himself!

Wii did it!

Bradley and I checked two Targets, K-mart and a Toys R Us and finally lucked out after over an hour wait at Costco. We got one! It is so sweet. I enjoyed the tennis and broke out in a sweat when I was boxing. This thing is way sweeter then I thought it would be. You should go get one. Oh, you probably can't because they are sold out EVERYWHERE!

Where are my Netflix? I sent two back Monday, today is Thursday and still nothing is recorded on the website that they got them back. I am waiting for my next Grey's Anatomy! I need to know what happens next! arrgghhh

Siobhan reading to Diego

What a good big sister!

Day of the Dead

Here are a few pictures from the Day of the Dead celebration in Santa Ana. Want to see more pictures? check out Eric's Flickr page

Deigo enjoying a birthday party

He DID NOT want to wear that hat. I told him if he took the hat off we were going home. This is the result!

Siobhan for Halloween

boo!