The Mind of My Gio....

His blossoming little mustard seed (Matt. 17:20; Alma 32)......

Today, after church:
Me: "Hey, Gio, you have to give a talk in Primary next week, what do you want to talk about?"
Gio:  "That Nephi never dies."
Me: "What do you mean by that?"
Gio: "Because he always survives!"

Not to be outdone by this one a few weeks ago (also after church):

Gio: "Someday, Mom, we're going to forgive you."
Me: "Forgive me for what???"
Gio: "Like, you always say we can't have dessert unless we eat our dinner; or you make me feed the dog every day...[dramatic pause].....you know."

4th of July: Slightly Skewed

"Cheese!"

This year was another success: tons of fun, plenty of fireworks (although not overhead next door), Barbara's cream-cheese-covered-pickles-wrapped-in-lunch-meat (to die for!), and traditions kept all surrounded by people that I love.

There are 3 traditions that I hold dear when it comes to Independence Day: 1) making an American flag cake; 2) making a 4th of July dress; & 3) attending Wendy's family's annual 4th of July party.  Number 3 went on uninterrupted without wavering but as for numbers 1 & 2, well, here's where things got a little skewed this year.

I started making American flag cakes for the party way back when I still fit in clothes I had hung onto since the 6th grade (I was in college at the time) & I happened to see an American flag cake idea featured on the cover of one of those ladies magazines you see at the check-out of the grocery store.  This year, I opted to use similar ingredients but not follow the traditional pattern.  The result was still red, white & blue, very patriotic & extremely delicious.

My second deviation came with my dress.  I first got the idea to make Independence Day dresses when I saw some fabric that was probably intended to be for table cloths on sale somewhere.  The year was 2003 and the fabric had stars & stripes and everything I was looking for in what would become the 1st of many patriotic dresses I have made.  I have faced much opposition in my choices for dress-making fabric.  What I most often hear is: "That looks a little more like pajama fabric to me." 

Someone brought ice cream for
all the kids - genius!

I wasn't sure if I would be able to pull off a 4th of July dress this year.  While I am currently out of school, I am in the middle of applying to nursing schools which has turned out to be MUCH more complicated than just filling out a piece of paper about my hobbies & interests.  Also, both boys are on summer vacations from their schools and, I tell you, Vinnie is one active two-year-old!  That boy's energy, strength and interests (climbing, destroying, jumping off of/over anything, etc.) matches any 3 kid's combined!  

Anyhow, I had given up hope until I found the perfect fabric just a week and a half ago that just screamed "Susie's Annual 4th of July Dress!!!" at me.  It is perfect.  It has red, white and blue and just a splash of yellow.  It is missing stars and stripes but is replaced with......... all-American bowling pins & balls!  I love it!  I gave up using patterns for my 4th of July dresses a few years ago.  This year, however, I did use a pattern for the neck line and sleeve guides (actually a blouse pattern from my collection).  The rest I came up with myself. 

Ta-Da!

There are those who are not admirers.  I know, shocking as it may be, not everyone shares my taste in holiday apparel or possesses what I call "the family eccentricity gene" (have you seen my mom's "Jasper Pearl" lime green car???).  What is funny about this is that I received the most back handed comments from my mom, of all people.  When I first started cutting out the dress, my mom suggested that, "Some day you should get some really nice fabric to make a dress out of."  HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!  While assembling the dress, she further encouraged me with, "I just can't wait to see what you're going to create next."  LOL!!!  The, hands down, BEST insight she gave this weekend was toward the end, when I put the finishing touches on the dress:  "You know, if you lined up all your 4th of July dresses and sent a picture in to What Not To Wear you'd get on that show for sure!"  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!  Love you too, Mom!!!

Brothers

I have never met two brothers who are so much alike and yet such complete opposites at the same time.  

At last I have uploaded pictures from Christmas to present:

Giovanni, my newly 6 year old

I don't know about the rest of the world, but the big deal about today in our house is Gio's sixth birthday!  Six years ago today Gio joined our family and forever changed me (and my figure).  This sweet little pumpkin-head is the most loving and devoted kid I know.  He never forgets an old friend & his heart is always open to making new friends.  He is a born cuddler & still asks me everyday if I want to cuddle.  With my school schedule, I was unable to pull together a backyard party so this year is kind of a marathon celebration: last night he was allowed to pick 4 friends to take to Chuck E Cheese; today we'll be painting flower pots & eating cupcakes in his classroom; and tonight his cousins Alex & Samantha from up north are coming down with Horsey Grandma & Horsey Grandpa who will be with us until Sunday afternoon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIOVANNI!!  I LOVE YOU!!!!

I have an opinion....

I don't usually post too many opinions, but I cannot contain my feelings about changes being made to California Adventure.  Maybe I should preface the following with the fact that we recently renewed our annual passes after a 10 month hiatus and California Adventure was pretty much number one in my heart in previous years.  I know that Disney has it's reasons for the changes ($$$??) but PUH-LEEZ!!  I LOVED the original design of CA.  Maybe I'm crazy, but there is a reason I live where I live and I just happen to love where I live.  Trust me, I've lived in Utah, Colorado, and Idaho in addition to my residencies in both Northern and Southern California....I know what I'm talking about.  California deserves a theme park based solely on it's uniqueness and one-of-a-kind spirit.  Here's what I miss: the iconic CALIFORNIA letters in front of the entrance (already gone); the sound of the waves as you walk into the park; the Maliboomer that had NO line (already torn down, says there's a park coming); the partially-peeled orange peel around the swings (now looks too much like the swings at Knott's); Mulholland Madness that will soon be Goofy's Flight School (the ride was already perfect); the sunshine on the Sun Wheel (now has a big Mickey head on it); which leads me to: the Mickey head on California Screamin' (now says "Paradise Pier") (those changes make NO sense to me at all since they're about 50 feet away from each other); the mock trailers next to the restrooms by Monster's, Inc (not replaced with anything.....?).  I must say, I'm also kindda bugged by the crowds but perhaps they will dissipate when all the construction's done and pathways are back to their wider dimensions.  That being said, here's what's new that I like: the additional opening to Bug's Land from the Tower of Terror area.  Also, Gio and I are WAY excited for the new Car's Land that will be open in a year and half (you can walk through Radiator Springs!).  Also to look forward to: the Xanadu theater entrances (I'm not sure why the CALIFORNIA letters had to be removed for this to happen)! I am happy to report: they're still playing California-inspired music and there is still sea-glass in the sidewalk.

Paradise Pier as it will always remain in my heart
*note: Maliboomer on the right*RIP*

Christmas 2010

"Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!"

For weeks Gio's been quoting that
line about "stupid underwear "from
Polar Express &
Santa definitely heard him!

This year the boys both kicked off Christmas vacation with fevers and runny noses.  Their gifts to me were NO tummy problems....YES!!  So we spent some quality days in pjs with round-the-clock Tylenol doses for all. :)  It was definitely another Toy Story Christmas for the boys.  The gang's all complete at our house now.  The day after Christmas we headed up north.  This time Nana came with us and we stopped at Aunt Millie's first.  Chelsea picked us up from there and we headed up to Robyn and Jess's.  The boys had a blast with their cousins, aunts and grandparents.  Snow is such a novelty to the boys and was definitely a highlight of the week.  We were able to visit Lacey's grave site.  I still can't believe she's passed.  We saw Grandma Rose and Grandpa Alan, also, and even Jessica who we haven't seen in a year and a half.  We ended the week back at Aunt Millie's for prime rib with the cousins.  We headed home on the first and were probably one of the last cars to go through the Tejon Pass before it was closed from snow.  It was a great vacation for all of us and I'm extremely grateful for our safe travels.  It rained for most of the trip home and the wind was so unbelievably strong at the Grapevine exit that we almost considered staying there but it turned out the weather was better at higher elevations.  As soon as we got home, Gio said, "I'm so happy to be back at my home, Mommy!"  and I was worried he'd be disappointed to leave everyone!

Samantha made her first snow man

Frosted Ginger Fest

Horsey Grandma and the grandkids

Grandpa Alan & Grandma Rose
with the grandkids
and a few aunties

Gio & Cousin Iyanna @ Aunt Millie's

Four-Point-Oh Yeah, Baby!

Ancylostoma duodenale
From my absolute LEAST favorite section
of this semester. I'd like to say that I can
kiss this guy goodbye but
NO THANK YOU - he has teeth!

I am officially DONE with this semester and can now apply to RN programs!!  Woo-hoo!!!  I must admit, I am sad to say, "Good-bye," to the microbiology lab.  :(  But here's to making progress - YES!!