Good Family and Food

A BIG thank you to my niece Brooke for arranging a Bar-B-Que for Friday the 20th. We enjoyed relaxing and catching up while watching the growing number of kids run around and swim. It was great getting together and seeing all the cousins playing like the previous generations did. For those of you who couldn't make it, you were missed and we hope next time you will be there. We are so lucky that everyone enjoys eachother's company, and gets along so well. I think we sometimes forget just how blessed we are that our family is so close. My entire life my friends have always wanted to have my family. I am grateful they are mine!

Pins, Needles and Huge Hands

Well I have gone to the other side. Yes, I went to an acupuncturist the other day and I can't tell you what a difference it made. On Father's Day I suddenly got a head/neck ache that was so bad I couldn't even move. I felt like I was going to get sick in my stomach (great thought huh?). Monday morning, at Raul's insistence, I called a lady in Rancho Palos Verdes and went to see her. Within a few minutes of sticking me with about 30 needles, not only could I move my neck but I actually felt better overall! Call it my imagination or whatever, but I could feel what she said was the "energy" moving in my body. Okay, I know you're thinking I'm losing it, but I promise it was really happening. I told her my right hand was hurting, she moved the needle in my left hand and it stopped! She promised I would sleep better, as I wake up seven or eight times a night because I turn over and my head pounds forcing me to remember Lamaze breathing, or the sound of my wonderful husband "not snoring" wakes me enough that my elbow meets his ribs! Sticking a needle in my left thigh it became "hot", for lack of a better word. She informed me my body was very out of balance, (guess I'm more off than I care to admit!). Anyway the next morning I woke up startled, kind of like the first time your baby sleeps through the night and you wake up in the morning and you wonder what is wrong. I hadn't woken up once during the night.

I've seen her two more times since, today being the latest. She still hadn't been able to stop the headaches when I turned over, so she called the doctor a few doors down. In walked this man who filled the doorway, with hands as large as my feet! He is a Chiropractor and when I told him where it hurt he proceeded to tell me why. Anyway it turns out my jaw was out of whack. Guess the stress is getting to me at night and I am clinching and grinding my teeth. He said he could manipulate it back into place, but warned me it hurt. Hurt is an understatement! He put his huge fingers inside my mouth into the place your upper and lower jaw come together and pushed really hard, warning me beforehand not to pull at his hand no matter how bad it hurt. Then he told me to chew like I was chewing gum, all the while leaving his hands inside my mouth. After that he said to bite his finger as hard as I could (this was fine with me payback for all the pain he had just inflicted). Then he did it to the other side, which hurt even worse, if that's possible. He then took my jaw and moved it around instructing me to relax, Yea right!!! That's like telling someone to relax in the middle of a contraction. One more round of pushing, chewing, biting and the final test. He had me roll over onto my stomach, and what do you know...no pain!!! I guess I understand now how you can be in love with someone who really hurts you. He even had me reach down and pick something off the floor while sitting on the table. Still no pain. I'm a firm believer! Best of all, he wouldn't even let me pay him. Now, if I can only get my jaw to stop hurting!?!

Our Wonderful Dad's

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to wish all the father's out there a Happy Father's Day. We are blessed to have so many wonderful father's in our family. I am proud of all of you. Thank you to my husband for being a good father to all our kids. We love you. I still miss my dad more than I ever thought possible. Every day I realize just how tremendous he was. I love you Dad, I'm glad I got to be your "Princess Lyn".

Graduation Time

Devin graduated from Southwood Pre-School Wednesday. Can't believe they have little motorboard caps, which by the way were stuck on with packing tape! Devin has been practicing singing a song about growing up and learning a lot. I'm thankful this wasn't the first time I heard it, because as you all know I get teary eyed very easily. He spent Tuesday night with us and before he went to bed he sang it again and got a case of the giggles when I cried for what was probably the tenth time. At least I didn't cry in front of everyone at his school. Wish I could blame it on hormones, but unfortunately I have been this way as long as I can remember.

They handed out diplomas (which were really blank rolls of paper, and as you can see Devin immediately turned it into a pirates spyglass. He loves pirates and can tell you all about walking the plank. When he gets interested in something he really gets into it. Anyway, he is now officially a Kindergartner!




Angi's (one of my "sisters") daughter Kyleigh graduated from high school on Friday the 13Th (is that some kind of sign?). Dean and I went to Simi Valley to celebrate with her. She spoke at the ceremony and did a great job. Kyleigh was our Flower Girl nine years ago. Where did the time go?



We spent the night, and all of Saturday. The kids picked up right where they left off. It had been awhile since they had been together. Seems like the older they get they go their own way and it's hard to get all six of them in one place at one time. The only one who was missing was Brittany and everyone missed her. This time of the year is hard for her to get away as it is her busiest at work. We all stayed up late, went to the beach (where Dean didn't think he needed to use sunscreen-he's paying for that lack of good judgement today!), went swimming and actually sat around and talked. It's wonderful to see the kids different relationships and how they all get along. We all laughed about the crazy things that have happened over the years. Putting Cameron in the dryer, spraying a rat in the basement with spray starch, Angi and I running over the kids trying to get away from said rat, almost burning the house down cooking for Cameron's baptism because someone locked the door not realizing she doesn't have a key to her house, and many more. Angi's granddaughter, Jade, and her parents came down from Utah. It's such a special feeling to see the kids you watched grow up have their own kids. It's the next best thing to being their grandma!

Bossy Boots & Tic Tac's

Both grandkids spent the night Saturday night. They are only nine months apart, but are as different in personalities as they are in looks!

Juliett (5), aka "Bossy Boots", definitely lives up to her name. If she had her way she would tell both Raul and myself, and probably you for that matter, exactly how and when we should breathe, eat, sleep and whatever else she could think of. If she can't get something one way she goes about it another. We hope this trait will become one of never giving up when she has something important to accomplish! She is very sweet, always giving kisses and telling us how much she loves us. Juliett graduates from Kindergarten at Torrance Elementary next week.

Devin (5), is our "Dare Devil". He will try anything, but is very obedient. If you tell him not to do something he usually won't. He is not afraid of much, except moths (and that is only because his mom freaked out when a moth flew at her when she was sitting in the car!), and up until Sunday bubbles in the Whirlpool tub. However we have learned with Devin if you want him to do anything all you have to do is bribe him with a TicTac! Not even a whole pack, one will do and if you promise two he is in heaven! He is a sweetheart also, but you usually have to ask him for kisses, he is definitely his "Papo's" grandson.

Now, Juliett has always been our one who loves the water, while Devin has always been, well...hesitant. That's putting it mildly, as just last summer we had to peel his little fingers off whoever was holding him if you even got close to the pool. He would scream and cry and I'm surprised Child Services weren't called. Well, Sunday morning the kids were in the bath and Juliett wanted the bubbles on. At that point Devin just wanted out, and the faster the better. I told him I would give him a TicTac if he let me turn the bubbles on low. All he had to do was try, that's all. Well to even his surprise he liked it, in fact he thought it was funny that they were tickling his bum...oh no, what has this started? Well they stayed in the tub for quite awhile and he earned two TicTacs! It's fun to watch the two of them play together and the rolls they take on.

I Think I Blinked!

Don't Blink

Can't believe it's been a year since Brittany graduated from Arizona State! Kenny Chensey's song "Don't Blink" rings so true, (check it out below in my song list). She is working in San Diego at Kiddie Corp, an event planning company. She works with children while their parents are at a meeting, conference, party or whatever else there happens to be. Britt actually is the one who plans the event, and makes sure they have everything they need so the event runs smoothly. Every once in awhile she also works as the On-Site Manager. They love her and several companies have already requested she plan their next event. Check out her company at http://kiddiecorp.com/

Britt lives in the Pacific Beach area in San Diego. Rozlyn and Devin, along with her boyfriend, Jonathan, and his son, Jaiden, went down a few weekends ago and stayed with her. They took the kids to Sea World. It was perfect because it's really close to Brittany's apartment. It was fun for the boys to sleep at Auntie Nittney's house. Not sure what her neighbors thought of two four-year olds playing soccer at 8:00 in the morning!

Brittany just got back from a three-day cruise to Mexico with three of her friends. Yes, they are just friends! Jenn, her roommate, and Brittany have been friends since eighth grade when they played club volleyball together. Brittany is so lucky, there was a group of eight girls in high school that became friends and believe it or not they are all close still. She was roommates with one of them, Savannah, all through college. She even has friends she met while in Kindergarten. Guess that says something about her.

I know every mother thinks their daughter is the best, but mine really is! Brittany has, and continues to be thoughtful, responsible, loving, and all around just a great kid! Thank you for being mine Britt. I love you. XOXOXO

Getting Started

Some of my family, yes, there are a lot of us, and about 16 are missing from this photo! We need a new family picture. Let's see...Do I know a good photographer???

Well I guess I can officially cross off one thing on my list of things to do...I have been trying to start this for quite awhile now. I don't know what I am doing, so if you can offer help don't be shy, (not that any of my family or friends are!). Thank you to my lovely niece Brooke for helping me get set up. Jamie has been after me for months to do this and today I finally took the step. So here goes...

First the name...I have two darling grandchildren, Juliett (6 in Sept) and Devin (5 on May 14). When Juliett was under two she was trying to call me Honey, and somehow missed the "H" and said "Nunny". It stuck! On Easter the kids were making sheet tents in the Great Room and Juliett said something to Devin about "Her Nunny", he looked at her with those big chocolate eyes of his and proceeded to inform her that I was "His Nunny too!" Grandkids really are fun, they bring so much love and light to your life. I am so lucky to have them close and cherish the time I have. I only hope this will be the case with the future ones also. No we are not expecting any for quite awhile!

Most of you who will be reading this already know the story, but in case you don't I'll fill you in. I had two wonderful kids before I hit 30, then had two more when I was 43! The labor was quite different the last time and they came already potty trained. So now I have four, Jeannine 29, who is married to William and has a daughter Juliett, Rozlyn 27, is Devin's mom, Dean 26, and Brittany 23. The handsome man in the picture is my husband, Raul. We will celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary on 24 July (yes, Pioneer Day-does the song "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel" ring anymore true than marriage?). We finished (and I use that word very loosely) building our home two years ago. Although, I still do not have a backyard and there is a very long list of things that need to be completed (hint, hint Curtis! XOXOXO). Raul is working hard though to get the backyard done so we can enjoy it this summer. I think he is secretly hoping if he gets the Bar-B-Que in maybe he'll get fed more. I'm just waiting for the hammock! The horse and the goat are great, except the goat keeps getting out and has ended up in our kitchen several times. Not a great thing on the Walnut floors. We still have our dog, Wicket who will be 16 in Oct (I think?).

Raul and I went to the Stagecoach Festival the first weekend in May. It was really great. We saw so many people preform...The Eagles, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift, Trace Adkins and The Judds. I know I'm forgetting some. Would love to get a group together for next year. Let me know. (You can pay me later for the ad Kevin!)

I finally got to see Wicked! Raul surprised me for my birthday by taking me to Beso's and then across the street to the play. Cats and A Chorus Line have always been my favorites, but now this is up there with them. We also had really good seats. I loved it! Beso's was wonderful also, probably the best steak I have ever had. Thanks for the perfect surprise!

Devin just played his last T-Ball game yesterday. They started pitching to the kids about half way through the season, and most of the time he gets a hit. It brings back memories of Dean playing over 20 years ago, and things haven't changed much. The whole team still runs after the ball and wrestle each other to the ground to get it. They get bored and pick daisy's and hunt for bugs. My favorite story was the very first time Devin was up to bat we were sitting on the ground by first base and just as he got to first he noticed I was eating an Abba Zabba. Well his attention span is not one of his strong points, and he decided he wanted a bite now so proceeded to run over to me. He couldn't understand why the game couldn't wait a few seconds!