Familia Licona 2012

With my mom visiting, we wanted some updated family shots and we had no intention of making an appointment and sitting in some store taking turns perching on a wooden box with our feet behind the white line.  That's why you need a talented photographer in your life who makes house calls, like Sara.

 I love this one because my Grandpa Bobby is front and center and Benedict just sat down perfectly after watching us play musical chairs.

 A picture does tell 1,000 words...words like: silly, brat, uncooperative, and goofy. All words to describe Valentina during this shoot. You would never guess, though.

 Sweet girl.

 Sweet boy.

 Ok, my first thought when I saw this photo of David and Valentina is that I can GUARANTEE they will take this exact shot in 30 years when she gets married.  Like after their first dance or something, right???  So, when I loaded it into my iPhoto, I laughed because for some reason, my dates are all wrong now with each import, and the date for this import literally read July 3, 2036.  Valentina will be 26 years old.  Sigh....

 Proud Sita with her grandkids.

 Familia Licona 2012

Flashback to Familia Licona 2010.

Sara, I am gonna ask you right now to keep the first week of July open in 2014, unless we are in Brazil for the World Cup, which will surely happen if I win the lottery. 

Summer Fun with Sita 2012

 Another wonderful summer visit from my mom!  The kids loved having her here, as all of us did!

We shopped, cooked, cleaned, reorganized, shopped more, went many places, ate a ton of food, and shopped a bit more.  It was wonderful to wake up with her here each morning and to kiss her goodnight before bed.  

 We did much more than what these pictures show, but some are on other cameras and iPhones. We can download and share those later.  We went to California Adventure for mom's birthday and we saw my Aunt Lisa and ate cake and ice cream every night (and day).

Family meals were our focus and we enjoyed many!

 We went to the Discovery Science Center again. And we saw Madagascar 3.

 Spent the day in San Diego with the Padres and the newest recruits for the U.S. Army.

 Out to eat at Portillo's. YUM!

 David and Salvatore wearing their Italian pride (before they lost).

 We always let Salvatore take his own photos. These are his.

 Sita (my mom) and her parents.

 Super Sita (my Sita) and Fred with Valentina.

Mom, we can't thank you enough for all that you shared with us!  So sad to see you go, but that only gets us planning our next vacation together!  We love you so so much!

 Also happy to note that my step-sister Beth, and her boyfriend Bobby, will be out to visit us next month!  

Dodge Grand Caravan Crew Review

 Check out our new ride!  Yes, we have joined the trend and bought ourselves a minivan...

 but it doesn't feel like a mini-van or drive like a mini-van...

 After a week or so of searching, we found and fell in love with this Dodge Grand Caravan Crew.

This baby is a 2011 with low mileage and a back-up camera and lots of storage space and a DVD player for those long rides...

 It gets good gas mileage and it is so fun to drive...

 It seats 7. Two captain chairs and a third row seat that still leaves tons of trunk space...

and my favorite feature (the real selling point for me) is the way these back seats convert to "tailgate seats" in one quick move.  I discovered this feature accidentally while test driving many cars one night and the salesman didn't even know it could do that!  

With soccer, family visitors, road trips and school right around the corner, it was time to upgrade us into  a more comfortable and spacious ride.  

Boy, these vans have sure come a long way from this, huh?

I am NOT a princess

Boy, did she get mad at me today.

I made her finish cleaning her room before watching Super Why.

She kept sneaking back to the TV when I wasn't looking.

I was on her tail, though.  Kept making her return to her room.

Her angry response to me?

"Mommy, you are NOT A PRINCESS!"

She then stormed back into her room to finish cleaning.

But, boy, did she think she put me in my place!

Big Buzz, Little Buzz

 They both have Buzz Lightyear pajamas and they love to be twins.

Matching pajamas from two years ago. Now Valentina wears his blue set of pajamas here.

Blue. Eyed. SOUL.

My recent obsession. Wikipedia defines Blue Eyed Soul here.  Blue Eyed Soul Artists are listed here. 

See any favorites?

I listen to Ray each morning while getting ready for work.  Just have to hear it.  Especially the way his voice moans at 4:25...my. goodness.

And David.  That voice. That passion. That...story.  (Mel, it makes me think of how you might feel).

And James.  Oh, James.  You give me something, too.  I can't get enough.

And George.  This is one of your best. Period.

And Citizen Cope.  You are on the verge of something wonderful.

And Peter. This song means something to just about everybody.

And Jason.  I don't know if I love this song or this video more.  

And Annie.  Never have I heard such a question as deep and meaningful as this.

And Adele.  You are everyone's latest obsession.

And Elton. Dear Elton. You are still the epitome of what music is. And what music does. And what music can do.  

And Bruce. You wrote the one song that is the ultimate LOVE SONG for me.  These lyrics just sum up for me the classic and perfect love. The one that's Tougher than the Rest.  It's not the one about swimming the deepest oceans or climbing the highest mountains. It's not about how beautiful someone is or how happy they feel.  And it's certainly not about your first love...it's about your last. 

Valentina 2.0

My sweet baby girl is TWO!  Another fabulous year of blessings...

I was very emotional this morning as I relived every moment of your wonderful birth.

You were due on May 15th and I was certain that you would come early like Salvatore did.  On the 17th, the doctor told me to go in the next morning at 9 a.m. for induction.  That night, I wanted to sleep with Salvatore and hold him while I cried and feared the change that was suddenly going to happen.  I made lots of promises about how calm and patient I would be with him and how he was always going to be special to me because he was my first and only son.  And while he slept, I didn't.  Around 1 a.m., I felt the familiar signs of quick labor.  I woke David up, called my dad to come over and stay with Sal, and off we went to St. Jude.

I remember the drive there was so peaceful, as the streets were empty and dark.  I was so happy that labor started on its own and I prayed for another wonderful experience.  We parked, told them upstairs that I was scheduled for that same morning and they admitted me right away.  I was at 4 cm.  I labored on my own for three hours until I got to 8 cm, and then took the epidural.  While I rested, Daddy rested.  Everyone there took wonderful care of me,  and by 8 a.m., they thought maybe you were ready. Not yet.  We stopped the epidural.

When my favorite doctor, Dr. Buchanan, finally started his shift at 9 a.m., we were all ready.  He sat down casually at the foot of my bed, and we easily welcomed you at 9:18 a.m.  Everyone gasped at how much hair you had and when I first saw your face, you opened your eyes and looked right at me.  I gasped and then cried a river at how much I instantly loved you.  Daddy and I both cried.  And you were such a good baby. I loved nursing you for 13 months.  I loved how attached you got to your big brother.  I loved how easy it was to grow into 4 and how you act independent and affectionate at the same time.  

(She and Benedict spent the night together here and this is how I found them in the morning.)

Valentina, you are the daughter that I always dreamed of.  You fit right in.  You make yourself heard.  You speak your little mind.  You try hard to figure things out.  You adore your brother.  You dance like the music is in your SOUL.  You scream and cry and fuss but always apologize and want a hug.  You help feed Benedict and put your dirty clothes away.  You love to dress up and wear your many favorite shoes. You look as beautiful with wild, unkept hair as you do with perfectly styled hair.  You sing the alphabet with gusto.  You prefer Spanish to English.  You feel empathy when others are sad or crying.  You pick yourself up and go on.  

That's my girl.  

I. LOVE. YOU.