Here, there and every where
Justin and I just spent the afternoon with friends and fellow birthdayer, Tom, and Eva over at a Seafood and Wine festival. If you are ever in Ensenada (Mexico) in late April, I highly suggest you check it out and sample all the local wine and 100 different ways to cook seafood from the best local restaurants. I was very pleasantly surprized. We enjoyed ourselves till the very end. I will definitely attend again if I’m in the area.
Violet this morning: “Daddy, Jude and I have a lot of energy, so that’s we can run around a lot. You and mommy don’t have so much energy, so you can’t.”
Arg… Am I getting old? I watched ‘Up” with Violet last night and had to explain aging. I guess that may have brought this on.
It’s this weekend, April 18th, folks. Be there or… be a bad mom? 
It’s at the same high school as usual. You can probably do a search of my blog to find old posts that discuss it with the info. I’m feeling lazy today.
We missed the excitement of the earthquake altogether today. Justin, the kids and I had just decided to go to the beach so were either in the car or at the beach (great spot to watch potential earthquake related tsunamis — especially if you don’t know there was an earthquake). Heh. I hear it was more the rolling sort and some people definitely noticed it and others not at all. In any case, I’ll be the first in line to miss feeling an earthquake any day. I’ve felt enough in my life time. Phew. Jesus loves me!
Violet turned 4. She’s grown so much in the past 4 years into quite the young lady and is growing up way too fast. This year she’s playing a major part in the planning of her birthday party and is proving to be quite the organizer. She knew right off what she wanted as a theme — an all girl pajama party. She wants glow in the dark decor and purple cupcakes. She woke up this morning with even more plans and details. I love this kid! Happy birthday, baby girl!
Steve and Linda leave Wednesday for Puerto Rico. I am sad!
Yes, I made it to LAX and back again! I’ve had this mental image of LAX as a dingy, hard to find, traffic jammed, slummy/homeless shelter airport which I’ve avoided like the plague. I finally had to face my fears today and came to find out it’s the most fool proof airport to get to and from, there was very little traffic, it was nice and bright and in a nice area of town. (sigh of relief)
Our reason for the trek was Violet and I saw Titus and Deren off back to Japan today. (weep) They were here for a week that went by way too fast. I miss them so bad already. We did a lot of shopping so Titus and Deren would have clothes to wear till their next visit since they don’t “see” tall people in Japan, but we also had a very nice time just talking, chilling, drinking a little wine, playing a few board games and enjoying a brother and nephew I see far too seldom.
One special highlight was Deren deciding to serenade us serenade us with “What a Wonderful World” as we waited for dinner tonight. I videoed it and will post it. It was too sweet and too cute. He takes his singing so seriously. He almost looked like he was going to cry as he was singing. I got a little teary eyed as he sang. He has an amazing voice for a 6 year old.
I did feel a little on stage, however, as Titus and I walked around a very asian section of LAX with a cute little asian boy in tow. We got a lot of odd looks like they thought we were stealing him or something. I had to keep saying very loudly every now and then… “I’m sure going to miss my little nephew when he goes back to his mom in Japan.” Heh.
Thank you for all the effort to come to this side of the world, Titus. And thank you, Mia, for letting the boys go for 2 weeks. Violet and I kept trying to console each other the whole trip back. We’ll be praying you get to visit a little sooner this time (and that all the clothes fit). We love you!
All those disney cartoons about prince charming, marriage, etc. put thoughts in my little girls head that should not be there yet. Violet told me today who she plans to marry. Nic and Sherry’s little guy, Daren, apparently “looks very nice and is a very good friend.” She went on to say she wants to marry him when she’s older.” I told her she’s too young to even think about such things, but she told me “Don’t worry, mommy. I won’t get married now. I want to marry him when I get older.” Heh. They sure laugh and giggle a lot. Ah, well…
Whoa, where is this year going? Valentine’s day came and went. If I’m not careful, Violet’s 4th birthday will be upon me and I won’t have a plan. Well, she’s told me what her plan is… she wants a pajama party. Out with the princess dresses, in with the PJs. She begs me to let her wear her pajamas all day long now. I oblige her on Sundays, but ugh! I want to wear my pjs all the time too.
Nic and Sherry, our good friends from way back, are back in town and getting set up. It’s so nice to have them back around. So much to catch up on. Violet has a new friend. Riana (Nic and Sherry’s 5 year old) and Violet spent the day together all day yesterday. She came up towards the end to tell me that Riana is her friend and they were naughty all day. Hmmm… I asked my innocent little girls what those naughty things might be and it turns out they made “squashy food.” I guess I don’t need to worry just yet.
I’m tired and off to bed. The good news is I sleep pretty well these days. Justin has taken over night time duties for a while. Jude’s weaned now and is acting so grown up… and bossy with his authoritative “No!” to everything. Okay, off to bed. Sweet dreams.
The day when our brothers, David and Titus (David) have their birthdays! Here’s to two wonderful guys who have helped shape our lives and make us better older brothers and sisters (I hope). We love you both and pray you have an exciting year ahead and a fun birthday.