Mele Kalikimaka to our Family & Friends! And Happy Birthday to our Friend, Lizzie!

  

Well, another Christmas has crept up on us again! We hope you all have a great Christmas & a wonderful New Year! Today we board a plane & head to South Bend, Indiana to spend 8 days with my brother, Ryan & his family. The kids are so excited to see each other...& I'll be honest - so am I. Hopefully, we don't get stuck in Chicago with all the snow & bad weather. I'm not worried about it though. Heather (Ryan's wife) assures me that it should be warming up today - up to a scorching 30 degrees. Phew! I was worried about it being cold! 

Anyway, as 2008 comes to an end I would like to take this time to let you all know how grateful we are to have you all in our lives! You are so loving, caring & inspirational to us both & we appreciate all the time you have given us. All the best in 2009!

Have a great birthday, Lizzie! We love you!

Lonnnnnng Awaited SEAHAWK VICTORY!

Excitement has taken over my entire being at this moment! My family & friends who've witnessed (& partaken in) my many years of embarrassment, torture & constantly being made fun of, will understand my joy at this moment in time. My boys have managed to bump it up to 3-11 (yippee). Sure, it's not a very impressive record, but after going so long without a WIN, a WIN feels oh soooo nice. And at the same time I've got to thank God that we're not in Detroit's shoes....right? I feel your pain, boys! Being a loyal Hawk fan has truly taught me to look for the "good" in all things...however way I can find them! Christmas has truly arrived! Yeah for us!!! Also, let me quickly congrats the Charger fans as well. That was a close one guys.

Happy Birthday, Jeri & Kyland!

Today is the birthday of my cousin, Jeri & her son, Kyland...who happens to be my godson. Yes, she gave birth to him on her birthday. What a lovely birthday present to yourself! I love that boy with all my heart & this year he started college. Boy, how fast they grow. Here he is with me just before he graduated high school. Love you both! Have a fantastic day!

Done with the turkey, now on to the important stuff...like CHRISTMAS!

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, however you ended up spending it. Melia & I went over to my grandma's house in Cypress & spent it over there. Both Melia & my grams were sick so it was a very relaxing day. It was nice. My mom & Anna came up from S.D. & Gary brought Kyle & Tua over to visit.

After waking up, we couldn't resist seeing what was out there on Black Friday so after breakfast we jaunted over to Target. Not crowded at all. Then Melia decided she wanted to go back down to S.D. with my mom, so of course I let her. Here she is in heaven with a couple of puppies she got to spend time with before heading down to S.D. I cleaned out the storage & pulled out all of our Xmas decorations the whole time she was gone. Well, not the WHOLE time, but a good chunk of it.

This morning (waaaay too early for me!), I jetted down to S.D. to pick her up because mom & Anna was leaving for the Charger game early. On the way back, we stopped by Carlsbad so I could show her where I used to live & to check out the beach. Of course, she talked me into getting out of the car & walking along the water. And then it turned into walking to the water & eventually getting wet - shoes, jeans & all. I shoulda known! I must say that it was good to be back there again. It was just as I remembered, breathtaking with a relaxed feel. Here are some photos of our visit. Forgive me for the quality...I took them on my cell phone.

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving & we want to wish you all a safe & fun one! However you may spend it. We are so grateful to have you all in our lives & want you to know we love you. So as your relaxing, eating & spending time with family &/or friends, remember how much you're appreciated! ~Love, Kamy & Melia XOXOX

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....Papa, Limenwa, Aunty Linda & Brandi Sky!

Phew! Four people on ONE day! We hope you all have a very special day & we wish you a super year ahead of you! We love you!

Papa-I hope you can spare some time for us to help celebrate this day. Maybe on Sunday? Let us know.

Limenwa-To my cousin in Germany...I can't wait til we can spend some time together. We're both becoming such young ladies & we need to hang!

Aunty Linda-Thank you for always taking care of me & making me feel like one of your daughters. Will we see you this weekend?

Bran-You're the coolest chick & you always make us laugh! I guess my mommy's gonna see you tomorrow, but when will I? Love ya...mean it!

Enjoy your day!!! Love, Kiwi's & Mangoes...

Brea Fire Update-"Freeway Complex Fire"

   Brea Canyon destroyed   Brea Olinda HS saved

  These homes were saved

   

    

Thanks to the hard-working men & women

Saturday morning, Nov 15, Melia & I woke up to news of a few fires in Orange County. Little did we know that would include one just outside our door. Fires lit up Anaheim Hills, Chino Hills, Yorba Linda, Carbon Canyon & Brea. It was frightening & exciting at the same time, but it did freak out Melia a little. We've never experienced anything like this. We ended up evacuating because the flames were just too close to our complex & the smoke was so bad. At 1:30 p.m., it looked like the sun was about to set it was so dark. So with iMac in trunk along with a couple bags of clothes & necessities, we left. By the end of the night, the fire adopted the name, "Freeway Complex Fire." Yikes!

Sunday morning brought a dirty brown sky with horrible air quality. Thinking the flames would be under control, there were still a few problems. We hung out at our friend's house all day & stayed there last night...left the house once to go to the mall to get the girls out of the house. Thank you to everyone that has called to check up on us & to make sure we were safe & for all of those who have offered your homes. We are so lucky to have you in our lives. As of last night, all schools have been closed due to horrible air quality so Melia is at a friends for today as I am currently at work. All in all, we are safe & doing well (other than breathing this crappy air).View from our Mauna Loa house - Carbon Canyon on fire
Outside of our complex
Evacuation Panic down Lambert!
Fire sunset into the smokey sky

Melia's interpretation of the event

Melia & I are going to see Madagascar 2 today. She is sooooo excited! Honestly, I am too. It'll be a nice relaxing way to spend our Sunday. First church, a nice lunch & now a funny movie. We hope you had a great weekend & we wish you an even better week!

Lokelani's ROTI Surprise Party for Kathy & Roy...

Last Saturday was the surprise party for Kathy & Roy Asuega - leaders of Lokelani's ROTI. It was so great to see all the old dancers again after all these years. The keikis from back then are all grown up - some of them have their own children. Yikes! The one thing that hasn't changed is how beautiful everyone still looks. I realized how much I miss dancing & my 2nd family. I'm going to Garlic Joe's tomorrow night to watch them perform. Can't wait! Enjoy!

Images from Melia's Birthday Party

Much love & thanks to all of you who came, enjoyed & lended a helping hand to make Melia's party a success! I couldn't have done it without you! She had such a great time with all of her friends & we hope you did, too. Special thanks to my Papa, Tutu, Granny, Lizzie & Nancy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELIA!

Today is my little sweetpea's 6th birthday. She is so excited about that. Last night we baked Funfetti cupcakes & frosted them with orange frosting orange & sugar sprinkles for her classmates at school. And then tonite, David & I are taking her out to dinner at the restaurant of her choice. I'm sure she'll pick Red Robin or Pick Up Stix - she's a woman who knows her food! Sunday we will celebrate her birthday again with a bowling party. She's so excited to see all of her friends & to spend time with them. I can't wait to see her smiles! Mommy loves you sweets & I'm so proud of you! Have a wonderful day! Enjoy a compilation of Melia's moments throughout the past few years...

WAAAYYYYYY Back In The Day!

You guys will get a laugh or two with these! I was going thru some photos for a friend of mine & ran across these pics of our good 'ol LBC Crew from back in the day. Wow! do we look like babies. Those were some good times! Enjoy! Please pass along as I don't have everyone's email address.

Happy Monday...yea right!

This weekend has come & gone & we're entering the 2nd full week of October. We both had a great weekend. Melia was busy with her daddy & today we went to her friend Zane's birthday party. She had so much fun! It was at a bowling alley which is where we will celebrate her birthday as well. Six is what she's turning. She's reading quite a bit now & really enjoys it. Good for her because I'm definitely NOT a reader. She's perfecting her alphabet skills & is taking a dance class, too. A lot of my weekend was by the beach. What beautiful weather we have here in Southern Cali; however, it is starting to cool down quite a bit. We hope you enjoy this week to come.

Happy October!

Where the heck has this year gone?! There have been so many pivotal moments & changes in our lives thus far. Melia started Kindergarten & she lost her first tooth to name a couple. She will turn 6 this month & I have to be honest & say that I'm not quite sure if I'm ready for it. Obviously, I have no choice in the matter, but it's just crazy how much she's grown...physically & intellectually. She has made me so proud to be her mother. I know that once Halloween arrives, the remainder of the year is going to just fly by. So hold on for the ride...here we gooooo!!!

First Lost Tooth!

In addition to my birthday celebration, Melia's first tooth came out on the same evening. Yep! She was so excited. I just can't believe it! She's getting so tall & has started reading a lot more. Wow!

Another Birthday, Another Day...

As most of you know, it was my birthday last Friday. It's taken me years to actually say that out loud. Anyway, it began with a limo picking us up (special thanks to a special friend for my special gift) & then we proceeded to Mosun's in Laguna Beach. Can I just say, YUM!!! If you've never been, it's a definite must. A little small, but very cozy; trendy, but friendly. Service was awesome & quick and food was even better. Lots of beautiful looking people there, so your eyes won't get bored. We had some of the best dishes I've ever tasted at a Japanese restaurant. Then we headed upstairs to their night club, Club M, for some calorie-burning dancing. It was so much fun! Thank you, ladies, for making my birthday a special one! Lis, A, Bran & Lizzie...I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ILAN!

My nephew's birthday is today. Ilan is his name. Happy Birthday, Ilan! We love you! He is my youngest brother's 2nd son. If you've noticed, September is a big birthday month for our family. My grandpa's was on the 16th & my aunty's was on the 18th, as well. 

Our weekend was great! Friday was a 9/80 Friday so that's a good start. Saw the movie, "The Women," on Sat night with my friend, Linda. It was great. And then we stayed for a bit to listen to the Jazz Festival in Downtown Brea w/some Starbucks. That was fun, too. Today, was a day of relaxing & ended it with a great dinner at the Miyatake's. They're so great! They're always taking care of us. 

We hope you all have a wonderful week!

Relaxing...

After a crazy weekend last weekend, I will make sure that this weekend is the complete opposite. Today is a 9/80 Friday so I will be home doing my chores: laundry, vacuuming, dusting, you know the drill. And yes, there'll be lots of relaxing in the mix. 

Today, Melia will complete her 2nd week of Kindergarten & she is thoroughly enjoying it. She loves her teacher & has made some more new friends. It's great to see what she's learning already. Did I tell you that they cook every week? I love this school!

Have a great weekend! 

Congratulations to the Salamone's!

Last night I had the honor of attending my girlfriend Susan's wedding. It took place on a yacht in Newport Beach & it was absolutely beautiful & perfect. Here they are sharing their first kiss. (Not bad for a cell phone.) Her new husband, Oscar, is such a great guy...we are so happy for them both. She is a long-time friend from about 16 yrs ago & is very dear to my family & I. She finally found the man of her dreams & he is the luckiest guy to have her by his side. Below is our first look at Mr. & Mrs. Salamone. They should be leaving for their honeymoon in Costa Rica on Monday. They were supposed to leave tonite, but the hurricane caused the postponement. We hope they have a safe & awesome time! Enjoy! We love you guys!

Happy 5th Birthday, Kaleo!

Yes, today is a special & memorable day - it's my nephew's birthday! I can't believe he's 5 already. Such a big boy! Kaleo, we wish you a super day today & we hope you get lots of love & lots of fun gifts. I hear that you're in pre-school now so you must be celebrating your birthday today in your class with all your friends. How fun! We miss you so much & love you so much & wish we could be there to celebrate with you.

Have a great time!

Her First Day...Sept. 8, 2008

Well, let's say it started off horrible. For me at least. Either I didn't set the alarm or I didn't hear it because we overslept & were late to her 1st day of Kindergarten. I felt so horrible & inadequate I was almost sick. It's taken until tonite for me to get over it, and still I don't think that I am. I know that she didn't know any better or felt any of my frustration, but I just hate to let her down.

I was able to continue our short-running tradition by picking her up from school & taking her to get ice cream. She picked Baskin Robbins & had Pink Bubblegume as she proceeded to tell me all about her 1st day & all about her teacher, Mrs. Reid. Sounds likes she really, really likes her & that makes me happy. I think she's in for a great year. Mrs. Reid is awesome! All in all, it sounds like her introduction to Kindergarten was a success. I'm so proud of my little lady. Tomorrow's another day. Phew!

The Night Before Kindergarten...

...and all through my mind. I'm so anxious about this Kindergarten thing. I can't seem to find. AAAaaaaaaaah! I'm still trying to swallow the fact that she's old enough to BE in Kindergarten. Tomorrow is the big day & she's very excited. We met Mrs. Reid & handed over her school supplies on Friday, so she's now ready to just be a student again. I will, of course, be taking photos of her big day. Hope you come back & visit the blog to see how it went. Yikes!

Hump Day!

September now. What?! As you can see, we are down to 5 days before Melia starts K. We are so ready for the big day. Clothes, supplies, mind-set & all. K-Orientation is tomorrow night & "Meet the Teacher" day is Fri. Even though Melia already knows her teacher (small school) we will go to visit her.
Tonight, Melia & I are having dinner with Susan & hopefully, Oscar (her fiance). They will be married next Friday the 12th & we are so excited to see them. Although, we do not see each other very often, Susan is one of my oldest & dearest friends & I'm so grateful to have her in my life. She deserves every happiness in the world...they both do. It should be a fun wedding. It will happen on a yacht out of Newport Beach & most of our "old school LB" group will be in attendance.

Angels Baseball Game

Last night we attended the Angels vs Oakland baseball game with some co-workers of mine. We had a great time even though they lost. I was trying to remember the last time Melia had been to a game & I believe she was less than a year old. Nah! That can't be right?! Any who, let me take this time to thank everyone who insisted on loading her up with sugar last night! It was so much fun when we got home. I guess it wouldn't be a true baseball game without "junk food," right?

Coming to an End

Summer, that is. Can you believe it? You wouldn't know it with the constant hot weather. This weekend is Labor Day...the last hoorah before school starts. She begins Kindergarten on Sept 8 at Brea Friends. She can't wait! I think her summer has been packed with so many activities & field trips that it's starting to bore her. I mean, c'mon?! Knotts Berry Farm, Aquarium of the Pacific, bowling, rollerskating, swimming, Pump It Up, Chuck E Cheese - boring is NOT the first word that comes to my mind, but whatever. I will have to say that the girl is really looking forward to doing school. I really hope that lasts for a long time.
Tomorrow, I have jury duty for the very first time. I'm going into it with a positive attitude because all I've ever heard were negatives about it. Crossing my fingers.

Back from the WILD!

This past weekend was a success! We were able to surprise my mom Thursday night at dinner. She had no idea we were going to be there for her birthday. Sashimi was to die for...salmon melting in my mouth! Yummy!
Friday, Melia & I endured the heat at the Wild Animal Park. It's always so darn hot & this time was no exception. Last time she was there, I think she was 18 mos so basically it was her 1st time there. As you can see, she had a great time.
Saturday was a day of relaxation & then the Charger game in the afternoon. Well, tailgating starts at least 4 hrs prior to the game. It was a lot of fun, especially since I was able to hang out with a dear friend of mine who happens to have tickets down near the Charger families. It was great to see him.
Sunday is church day & it was no different for me in S.D. Hung out with my mom, Anna, Aunty Regina & Uncle Richard. Tutu & Granny began school shopping for Melia. Thanks you two! I had to peel myself away from the Olympics so we could get on the road. Finally, arrived back in Brea around 10 p.m. Yikes! It was a great time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM/TUTU!

Today, Aug 7, is my mom's birthday. If you get a chance today, please wish her a Happy Birthday at bkakalia@qualcomm.com - she would absolutely LOVE IT & it would make her day!!! Melia & I have something special in store for her, but she doesn't know it yet. So mums the word if you talk to her or if you email her. We are going to the Wild Animal Park on Friday & will be going to the Charger vs Cowboy game on Saturday. Whooohooooo!! Can't wait! No, not a fan of either, but it's FOOTBALL FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!

Welcome to August!

We are now into August & it just makes me crazy how fast time flies! The weather has been nice & hot & we have been hanging out at the pool a lot. Friday, we went to see the play/musical "Annie" with Lizzie after having dinner with Kelly, her husband. Everything about it was great! Such amazing talent! Yesterday, Melia went to Sea World with her dad & of course, had a great time there. Today was a day of relaxing & gathering our minds for the week to come. Thursday is my mom's birthday so we plan on driving down to San Diego for her. We will also be going to the Charger game on Saturday! Whoohoooo!!! Football is finally here! Thank God!

Our Colorado & Arizona Trip

We had a great time in Colorado & Arizona earlier this month. We watched a small town 4th of July parade & fireworks, went river rafting, had DELICIOUS sushi (can you believe it?!) in Durango, rode the gondola in Telluride, saw the Double RL, spent FOREVER getting the kids' & uncle & aunty's wild west photo taken, roasted marshmallows by the river & almost roasted the trailer, drove from Durango to Silverton to Ouray at 10 p.m. on a 2-way, winding, deserted road that was just wide enough for 1 1/2 cars with drops on at least one side (which required shots back at the trailer) & dodging boulders in the road from falling rocks, and much, much more!

But nothing compares to the time that we all got to spend together. It was great being around family & catching up on our lives. We really appreciate being included & thank uncle & aunty for taking such great care of us. We love you! Oh, and thanks to Jeri for driving up AND back while managing NOT to hit any wildlife. Pretty impressive. YEE HAW!!!

Colorado Countdown

The countdown to our Colorado trip has begun. Just 6 short days until we fly to Arizona & begin our drive to Colorado with the cousins. Melia & I are so excited! Last time we were there, she was in my tummy. It's going to be a blast...literally. We'll be there for the 4th of July which, as I remember, we missed back then because of the fires going on during that time. I'm just going to enjoy being with family & away from home.

The weather here has been ridiculously hot! High 90s to low 100s. Phew! But seems to be cooling down a bit. Today is my Friday so I'll be having a great weekend! You do the same.

Long Time No Write!

Well, greetings to you all! It has been quite a while since my last entry; I apologize. May was filled with quite a bit of "stuff" including my godson's high school graduation. Kyland graduated from Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ on May 28. It was very hot, but the ceremony & our visit was very nice. And definitely worth it. Melia had a great time with all of her cousins & of course, her auntys and uncles.

Now that June is here, summer has definitely begun. Melia's last day of school was the 10th & we went with some friends to Disneyland after she got out. Yes, we enjoyed ourselves. She started her Summer Day Camp yesterday & is loving it. Today she's already taking a field trip to a bounce house place. How fun! They've got plans to go bowling, swimming, to Aquarium of the Pacific, to Knott's Berry Farm, etc during this camp. Lucky girl. July 2, we will be starting our 4th of July vacation to Colorado to spend more time with the cousins. I am sooooo looking forward to it. Last time Melia was there, she was in my tummy.

We hope you're all doing well & hope to see you soon!

Happy Birthday, Heather!

Good morning to you. Hope all is well with you & your families. I would like to wish my sister-in-law HAPPY BIRTHDAY! today. She is in Indiana with my brother & their 3 children. We hope she has a GREAT day!

This weekend is Mother's Day & I'm determined to make it a special one. My mom is coming up from San Diego & my grandma will be here, too. We're going to have our 4-generation portrait taken & then have a nice dinner following it. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Being a mother is the MOST rewarding experience in the world! I'm so proud of my little baby girl.

It's FRIDAY!!!

Phew! It's been quite a while since my last entry. Lots of stuff going on. Made it through another week. Wednesday, Melia's class went on their 1st fieldtrip. We walked to Border's Bookstore. For those of you who do not know where it's at in comparison to her school, it's just down the street. A big, busy, main street, but still only down the street. They had the time of their lives! Her open house is tonite. We're very excited for that.

Our friend, Kelly, is graduating from his academy. He's been up in northern CA for the past 4 months. Can't believe how fast it's gone by. Congratulations, Kelly!

We hope that you all have a wonderful weekend, however you may be spending it.

Last night was a productive unpacking night as Melia was with David. It's amazing how much "stuff" is accumulated in such a little time. A lot of it went to the trash bin. Hopefully, I will get the remainder of it finished tonite. My cousin, Jeri, is coming into town Fri night & she let me know that it better be done by the time she gets here. Ha! Maybe I'll just have to leave enough for her to help me.
Melia's Jog-A-Thon went great! I had the day off so I was able to work it & David showed up for her run. It was a fun day & Melia did great! She ran the whole 20 min. Thanks again for those of you who sponsored her with your pledges. As far as Kindergarten goes, we still are not 100% sure where she will go.

Good Morning!

Did you like our April Fool's joke? Hope you're having a good week. This weather is so crazy. Right now it looks as though the clouds are going to bust, but they say it's supposed to get up to 70 degrees today. The odds of them being correct are pretty minimal. Whatever!
Now that the move is over, unpacking has been the main activity & now, Kindergarten registration. She's not even in college & I've got this level of worry like no other. I guess this will be a lifetime thing. Tomorrow she has her Jog-A-Thon at school & she is so excited. She's also looking forward to seeing her friends after that. We're having a picnic with Jackson & Jasmine.

AWESOME NEWS! I'M PREGNANT!!!

Can you believe it?! We're sooooo happy!!! Did you seriously fall for that? Did you forget what today was?! April Fool's! Although Melia & I (and some of you) would love a little addition to our little family unit, we're willing to wait for the right time. And we're also ok if it doesn't happen. There's already a plan for us.
Well, can you believe it's already April? What the...? Today is my cousin Matt's birthday, "Happy Birthday cuz!" Let's see, what can I say that will sound clever? Hmmmm....not gonna happen tonite. Have a great week & Happy Foolin'!

Hump Day!

Thank God! This 1st half of the week has been CRAZY!!! So busy at work & still trying to unpack. We hope you all had a Happy Easter! We had a very nice one. The condition of our new place made it a little more challenging for Melia to hunt for the eggs. She had a great time though & was so proud of her egg decorating talents. The weather here has allowed us to use the pool this past weekend. It's soooo nice. We are very happy in our new place & look forward to many fond memories.

Happy Spring!

Yea! It's here. The first day of a great season! But what's up with the weather?! It's freezin'! Melia's very 1st musical is tonite & she is on a bus as we speak for dress rehearsal. Isn't that adorable?! She is soooo excited to be going on her 1st school bus ride.

We are finally out of the Anaheim Hills condo, but our walk-thru is not until tomorrow afternoon. We are very happy to be in our new place. Now all we have to do is unpack. Yuck! AND! I'm supposed to be getting ready for the Easter Bunny, too! Phew!

Spring is Here!

Well, officially, the first day of Spring is Thursday, but it has been so beautiful lately, it might as well be. Chilly, but beautiful. We moved into our new home this weekend so the next step is to now unpack. Yuck! What an exhausting time, but will be completely worth it. I felt like a zombie today, but made it thru the day. Hope your St. Patty's Day was fun! I did manage to have some corned beef & cabbage thanks to Chris at work & green beer thanks to Liz. It's nice to keep some things normal.

Top O' The Morning To Ya!

Back to Brea

We're movin' along. I have been making the jaunt back & forth from Anaheim Hills to Brea at all hours of the night, trying to make sure I get as many boxes packed & moved before the weekend gets here. It'll be a lot easier to focus on just the "big" stuff this weekend. Ahhh, moving. Isn't it so much fun?! (sarcastic) Melia is so excited & to be honest with you, so am I. Being 3 minutes away from work & 1 minute away from her school makes my life THAT much easier! Don't be jealous! The latest we'll be in Anaheim Hills will be 3/19. Whoo hoooo! My cousin & god-son will be here this weekend to visit some colleges. I'm looking forward to their visit...and maybe Kyland can loan me some of his muscles for the move.

The clocks have changed which means spring is just around the corner. I love this time of year. I have started the Kindergarten process & I would love for her to go to school here in Brea. David & I will have to make the decision soon, as after-school care gets filled fast. Well, until my next entry...have a great day!

Already March!

March is well underway & it brings us a few things. One, hellooooooo?!!! The EASTER BUNNY! Two, Kindergarten registration & three, we'll be moving back to Brea. Yes. It's going to happen. We will be so relieved when it's done & over. After searching for a place for almost 2 mos, trying to decide what priorities should be priorities, looking for the best floor plan, the biggest floor plan, the safest area, the nicest grounds, garage/no garage, least expensive with keeping the previous in mind, I think I've made the decision. I hope it goes according to planned.

Melia is having her first Jog-a-Thon at school. How cute! It'll be held April 4th. If you would like to sponsor her by pledging an amount per lap or just a flat amount, that would be great! Just email me letting me know how & what you'd like to pledge & I'll collect money April 5. Thanks in advance for your help & support. We love you!

Happy Birthday to my brother!

Today is Gary's birthday & yesterday was my niece's birthday also. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to you both. We love you! I can't believe this week is the last week of February. Where does the time go?! This past weekend, we attended my cousin's wedding on Friday night. It was sweet & simple & perfect. She looked gorgeous. It was nice to spend time with the extended family...and boy is it extended. Saturday, Melia had a basketball game & we went house hunting. Yes, we will be moving again here within the next couple of months. Yippee. Moving is so much fun. So if anyone is available to lend us a helping hand, arms, box, truck, anything, that would be great! It'll just be easier to be near my work & her school. Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Happy President's Weekend! It's always nice to have a 3-day weekend. Since it's been so windy lately, I think my daughter & I will fly kites on Monday. That sounds like fun. We have a park up here that's nice & open so maybe we'll go there. We will have to take advantage of the time here while we have it. We will be moving again soon. I absolutely love it here plus everything & every store I need is just around the corner. But after being up here for a year now it makes me realize that I should be closer to work & Melia's school. With my work days so long, the extra distance takes its toll on both of us. Especially the little peanut. So I've given my notice & will on the hunt for a new place in Brea/Yorba Linda. Keep your ears & eyes open for us.

Disney Photos

Our Disney Weekend

Yesterday, my mom & Anna treated us to a trip to Disneyland. We arrived on Friday morning, spent the day at Disneyland, then stayed the night at the Paradise Pier Hotel. We woke up Saturday morning & had breakfast at Lilo & Stitch's Cafe. Melia had such a great time with all the characters & getting their autographs. Although she got a little tired of photo ops, she was a great sport. She really loves Pluto now. After we checked out, mom & Anna left & Melia & I walked around Downtown Disney & went to the movies & saw "Enchanted" again. So cute! We had such a great time! Thank you Tutu & Granny! We love you!

NEW YORK GIANTS SUPERBOWL XLII CHAMPS!!!

Whoooohooooo!!! Yeaaaaahhhhh, Giants! Honestly, it was a damn boring game up until the last 3 minutes. But the Giants won & that's all that counts! It must suck to go 18-0 & then play like THAT in a championship game....uhh hummm, Brady! He must have felt like a potato after being SACKED so many times! The Giants' defense was on point the entire game which was definitely key in the victory. And I'll have to give it to Eli, although being so young, he really pulled it off & came thru when it was needed. Great job, boys! Bittersweet, though. Unfortunately, that also means NO MORE FOOTBALL. Boo hoo! I got to hang out with grandma, my aunty Arlene, mom & Anna this weekend. It was a nice visit because I haven't seen my aunty in a long time & grandma is leaving for Hawaii on Tues for almost 3 wks.
On another happy note, Melia gets home tonite from northern Cali. I'm so excited. When she's gone, it's just not the same. I talked to her before she boarded the plane & she sounded so happy & she told me that she had so much fun! That's all that counts! Have a great week!

Superbowl Almost Here!

As the sun starts to set on the day, I realize that I'm going to have to start my ritual when Melia has to leave me for an extended period of time. David is taking Melia up to Davis, Ca tomorrow to visit his friend for the Superbowl. She's very excited to be on the plane & to see their daughters, but when I talked to her last night about it, she asked me if she was having a sleep-over there & I told her yes. As soon as I could say GO GIANTS!, she was crying her little tears out. I will remind her how much I love her, how much I'll miss her & most of all, how much fun she'll have with her daddy & friends. Oh, by the way, Melia had her 1st incident with a pair of scissors the other day. And NO, I'm not talking about cutting out paper crafts! Have a great Friday!

Last week of January! Can you believe it?

As I get older, it just amazes me how FAST time flies! Melia had a basketball game on Saturday & she scored a basket! She was so excited! After her game, I did get to visit with grandma & it was great because not only did I get to feast on sushi & poke, but Anne & Aaron were in town with the kids. We didn't get to see them before they moved to Arizona so it was nice to visit with them for a small while. This coming weekend is Superbowl weekend...GO GIANTS!!!

Happy Martin Luther King Day tomorrow. YES! Got the day off! Whatever shall we do? Hopefully we can visit grandma tomorrow. She'll be leaving for Hawai'i in a couple weeks & I'd like to see her before she goes. Not much going on, really. Hope you all have a great week!

The Beginning of a New Year

2008 is under way with the middle of January already creeping up on us. Yikes! We've finally taken down our Christmas decor & packed them away. However, Melia insists we keep her special pink Christmas tree up. She is back to school & very excited to be with her friends again. Last week she started basketball & we managed to get a couple of her good friends onto the same team. Next month will be a year that I've been working at the City of Brea. My, how time flies. It's been a great year & look forward to many, many more. Have a wonderful week.

Holidays 2007-2008

Happy New Year!

What a way to start 2008! Jeri, Kyland, Shylo & Amini brought Grandma back from Arizona so we got to spend some time with them. We were also able to spend quite a bit of time with Great-Grandma & Tutu over the past few days & Melia enjoyed every minute. We managed to keep our eyeballs open til 12:30 a.m. so we got to see the new New Years Eve ball fall in Times Square. Yes, that was the highlight of the evening. Funny how a few things change as you get older & have kids. We awoke & began our day with Dim Sum. For those of you that aren't familiar with Dim Sum, it's Chinese brunch. Mm Mmmmm...good. Hit the spot. Then headed back to grandma's for a day of football. By the time the Hawai'i pre-game started we were excited to watch a good football game. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out that way for the Warriors. I'm still recovering from disappointment. I left grandma's just as the 3rd quarter was starting to head over to Liz & Kelly's to wish them a safe trip. They are driving up to Sacramento for Kelly is beginning a 4-month Correctional officer training. We wish him the best.
So, as most of you head back to work/school tomorrow, we want to send you good vibes for the New Year & hopes of lots of prosperity! Love to you all!