Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone had a good Halloween. I know my two had a good one. They dressed up as Zorro and a candy corn witch. Dennis was also asked to revive his portrayal of Batman and Maxie was a pumpkin. I was up late last night making two jack-o-lanterns. I must be doing something wrong because carving those pumpkins was not that easy. I got this kit at the store with a few carving knives and all these cool looking stencils. I had problems with just two triangle eyes, one nose and a smile. There is no way I could've carved out a witch on a broom! Anyhow, Denise told me they looked awesome.

Pajama day!

Today the kids went to school with pajamas as part of their Red Ribbon week activities. They were so happy that they didn't have to wear their standard dress stuff. Anyhow, the whole week gives the teachers a chance to have discussions and activities about how the choices students make about drugs can affect their lives now and in the future. Each day has a theme and the kids really get into it. I hope they have these weeks all the way through high school also! It would be nice if we could have a pajama day at work also!

Not just once, but for life...

I went for my yearly mammogram today. I have been going yearly for the past 12 years except for the years I was pregnant or breastfeeding. By doing this annually, makes me feel more assured that I am doing everything I can to catch this early if I end up with it. It is not the most comfortable thing and honestly I think the machine mashes harder each year that I return for more torture. Click to give for free mammograms.

The kids from Denise's soccer team played against their parents on Sunday. Of course, me with my osteoarthritic knees couldn't play so Dennis played for the both of us. This was his first time to ever play soccer and he did very well. I got worried just a few times when Coach Joe ran into him and made him fall and the other time when he pulled over to the sideline holding his knee. Each time he got up and continued. For someone with two left feet when he dances, he certainly had some fancy footwork! Denise and Brianna both played and had lots of fun. There are just two soccer games left in the season and than we take a winter break from sports.

Another storm!

Brianna celebrated her birthday today with a party at the Bounce House and a sleepover like her sister did last week. This time there are 8 screaming girls and what a different crowd this time. Two years in age makes a big difference. With Denise's group they didn't want me around, but with these girls I have to constantly be with them. I just hope they go to bed early! I am so glad we only celebrate our birthdays once a year. Pizza was the preferred food of choice tonight along with ice cream and sprinkles. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Just in time for Halloween, I watched "The Exorcist" again tonight during the sleepover storm, that movie is 35 years old! Wow how time flies. Movies from that era seem so weird because there are no computers, internet or cell phones. How did we ever get our information?

My Baby Is Turning 7!

Brianna is turning seven today. Who would ever think that seven years ago, my water broke on our third anniversary. Once again I was having another big baby so it was another c-section. Brianna was born at 9 lbs. 8 oz. She was born with everything I had ever wanted growing up. The fair skin, light brown hair, slim body and blue eyes. She has grown up to be a lovely little girl who loves dancing, soccer and anything girly.

The other big deal today is that Dennis and I have been married now for 10 years. It has been the best 10 years of my life to share with someone I love so much and who is also my best friend. Day after day, it just gets better. I love you, mi amor!

P.S. Sorry for skipping a few days, but it has just been hectic at work and home.

$8.5 Billion Damage In Harris County, TX

Hurricane Ike has been estimated to have caused $8.5 billion dollars of damage here in Harris County, Texas. Included in that is the statue of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. She stands next to our church and was hit by a tree which beheaded her. My husband donated his company services to fix her and she is back to standing next to the church with her head good as new. Thanks for such good work Shaffer Services. The kids had their Faith Formation classes tonight and I took this picture after dropping them off. I've got another birthday party coming up this weekend for Brianna, so I need to go stuff another piñata.

Just another Monday

Not much to say today, except that all the fund raiser stuff is in. One of my freezers is full of cookie dough so I'll try to get it to everyone soon. Brianna and Denise both say thank you very much for supporting their school.

The storm has passed!

We survived the sleepover storm. All the girls have been picked up by their parents, but I'm still afraid to go look upstairs to see what the damage is! Denise is very tired as are all the other girls, they didn't go to bed until 4:00 am. She'll probably fall asleep at 6:00 pm mass. Brianna was the first to go to sleep so she got the whipped cream in her hands and the lipstick painted all over her face and arms.

My sister Gina brought over a bottle of wine today that was very interesting. This is for all the Thomas Jefferson High School graduates that I know, including three sisters and a brother. It is actually made by an old friend from my parochial school days, Shawn Bruno. It is called Yellow Jacket Rasberry wine and you can read more about it here. I think I may try to visit that winery next time I have some time while visiting mom and dad in Port Arthur.

P.S. Happy 1st Birthday to Josiah Shaffer!

Happy Birthday, Denise!

Today is Denise's birthday and it's been such a fun day. It first started with her team's soccer game and than we rushed to the Bounce House for her birthday party. Two very slow hours of bouncing, sliding, eating pizza, eating cake and hitting the piñata but the kids had a blast. When that was over, we had enough time to run by the house to drop things off and have Brianna change for her soccer game. On the way back we stopped at a Redbox to get some movies for Denise's sleepover. We made it home just in time for the first girl to arrive. Ten girls in all, how did I ever agree to this! I let them have all the bedrooms upstairs and hunkered down with Dennis to watch the Tigers play. They beat South Carolina, 24-17. Go Tigers! It is now 11:30 pm and there is no sign of them going to sleep. Help!!!!

Denise was born 9 years ago, a whopping 11 lbs. 12 oz. I remember that day like it was just yesterday. C-section of course because she was too big. She's growing into a very smart and beautiful young woman. We are so proud of her and love her very much. Happy Birthday Denise!

TGIF!

This story of a surrogate mother is so cute. I saw this on the Early Show this morning and had to read more about it. Just click here to see more cute pictures and read some more.
Spent most of my night stuffing party bags and a piñata with gobs of candy. Now I'm stuck on this very strange movie on TV called "Apocalypto". Big day tomorrow with two soccer games, a party at the Bounce House and a sleepover with 8 giggling girls. C-Ya!

Watch out for the moms driving vans!

I paid my $75 violation ticket that I got the other day and I don't even remember running a red light. But, low and behold they got a picture of my silver van passing a red light. So when you see those signs that say Photo Enforced beware, they will get you if you pass that red light. I was already peeved because my AMEX card had been charged with not one but two speeding tickets when we were in Italy this summer. It took them three months to bill me, I should have canceled the card when we got back! Hey, Orlando did you get any tickets? I believe that I got these on the highway when I was "doing as the Romans do" and going with the flow of traffic.

I don't think I remember seeing the English sign much less the Italian one. I promise I will be watching my driving from now on, these petty tickets can be costly.

We had quite a show today at work for our annual gumbo and chili cookoff. It's part of week long activities to raise money for our Giving Choices program which gives to all kind of charities. Employees dress up in costumes and cook some of the best gumbo and chili around. They gave away door prizes, I won a $10 giftcard to Subway. Woohoo! We even had the University of Houston cheerleaders and a high school band playing. It was held in the parking garage in case it rained and it was a big success. There was even cigarette girls dressed up and walking around with Tums, Pepto and Alka Seltzer instead of cigarettes for the people with weak stomachs. Fran, remember when we were cigarette girls for one of Theresa's fundraisers? Let me refresh your memory!

By the way, who is this Joe the plummer anyway? Hasta luego!

My First Blogging Day

I have decided it was about time to start my own blog about my family and all the things we do. I probably will not have daily entries like some people do, only because I really don't have that much time on my hands. Today is just another boring day at work so I thought I would do this before I got dumped with a whole lot of projects to complete.

My dad, Guillermo is finally going home today after about 2 weeks in the hospital for a broken hip. Luckily they did not have to replace the hip but just put a plate and screw in. Something else on my dad's body to go off when he walks through those airport metal detectors. Other than that, mom and dad are doing well in good ole Port Arthur.
The place looks like a mess since Hurricane Ike but that's part of living in Southeast TX. On Hwy 73 on the way to PA we saw about 10 dead alligators. Poor things are looking for fresh water and getting hit by cars.

I have finalized Denise and Brianna's birthday party plans. I have already told them that this is the last time they will have parties. It takes too long to plan and it just costs too much. I told them for the cost we could probably vacation somewhere really nice for a week! Brianna immediately liked that idea better.


Denise had piano tonight which is the highlight of our Wednesday evenings. The whole family goes to watch her take her lessons at Richard Shanks house. He is a very lively man and is doing a fine job teaching Denise. This is her first year and she is doing excellant. I wish it was that easy for me to learn to play the piano. I tried once but it was just too hard so I just gave up. Maybe I'll take it up again when I retire in my seventies and have arthritic hands! Richard will be celebrating his 40th year of teaching this Saturday the same day as Denise's birthday.