The party is over

I title this the Party's Over, because that is what my mom always says " The party's over!"...but more in a sing song voice..anyway you get the picture. Summer is going, going, gone and now the kids will be back to school on Monday! And as of Monday I will have all but one of our kids in full time school. Mattea will be going to school next year. And also as of next year, I will have one in high school, one in middle school and then the rest in elementary school. Now, Louie is saying that next year is when the party starts,but I can't believe that this time of life is already here. So this next school year you might hear me talk about the next school year and now you will know why. Anyway this year will be fun. Bella (for those of you who haven't heard me brag about this) is the Student Body Historian, in National Junior Honors and also is the prettiest girl in school...( no vote was taken for that, I just declare it to be so). Cecilia is in the 5th grade and might run for some political office , so that she can be in charge...she likes that. Franki is probably going to be in the Gifted and Talented Program. Luke is going to continue to be the sweetest boy on the planet. And then there is ....Mattea. We are going to find MANY activities for this child! Come to think of it, next year for school can't come soon enough!.... So I guess that next Monday there will be tears...by me because I still cry every year I send them to school...and yes I cry for all of them...and then I will be calling my friends to see who will take Mattea! Just kidding...I'll wait until as least the second day...

Our trip to Utah

Every year our family has a family reunion...for the last 30+ years it has been the same weekend. This first started out as a family camp out. We would go to various locations and all the family would camp out for the weekend. This was so fun when I was a kid. We got to hear the same stories of Driggs, which in all truth I loved to hear even if they were told over and over.We got spend time with our cousins, and I just loved "hanging out" with the older cousins! Now, we still have the reunion the same time every year, but now we go a park and have lunch and see how all of our families have grown. I miss the camping, but I still love it! I feel so lucky to have a family like the one I was raised in. Now all of my cousins' kids and my kids enjoy each other and play well together. We also got to see my little brother. For those of you that don't know, I am my mom's only child and #4 of my dad's 8 kids. I have 4 younger siblings. My brother Domingo is great...(and ladies he's single!). He taught Luke how to box and bought the kids 12 lbs. of candy...serious...6lbs. of gummy bears and 6lbs. of Starbursts...(thanks Costco). He is so loving and is called Uncle Mango and Mingie...which I know he just loves!!! But the sad part of the trip was that my mom and aunt decided to put their dog Jaxon to sleep. He was suffering and they knew that he was having a hard time. I am glad that we got to be there to say goodbye. I don't live to far away from my family but when we leave it seems like we live so far away! I can't wait until the next time we go up there!

Hair

This the first color, not as bright as the fuchsia.

this is the current color

Let me first start this by playing the blame game... A few years back I went to Utah to visit. My cousin TerriAnne, who is 10 years to almost the day older then me, had started putting bold colors and funky colors in her hair. I secretly loved it! But, I also thought she had lost her mind...sorry Terri Anne...I mean why would you do that?It's so bold...and ..dare I say...FUN. no mother of 5 should be doing that to her hair...(gasp)...I mean heaven forbid!...Anyway, so then about 6 months ago my nephew Brian, who 16, came down to spend the weekend with us. He had wanted to put purple in his hair, but my bro in law, who by the way I do NOT get along with, said "No son of mine is going to look like an Easter egg!"( Read that with your most obnoxious voice) So of course I said that we should see what it looks like in his hair...it was great. Thank you Brian for demo-ing it on your hair. So then, since I already had blond highlights in my hair ( you have to do bold colors on blond hair or even white or gray), I put pink in..and guess what...I was still the same, but it was so much fun!! So I got fuchsia and did that in my hair. Ilove it! I have had blue, and now I have ultra violet. I did just a chunk of hair , but you can do all over and or highlights. I have done the highlights.... I am not that daring to do it all over. Of course the occasional reaction is that "What are you trying to be your kids friend?...or..."What you trying to do? Reclaim your youth?" (Obnoxious voice again) Well, I am only 32, so youthful already!... and guess what?.... This has nothing to do with being my kids' friend! I just enjoy it...you should try enjoying something! Anyway...that being said I do love doing it! And I love looking for more color to do in the future. No all over rainbow in my hair, but just something to make life a little more interesting.
Color products I love:
Jerome Russell Punky colors and Manic Panic
Jerome Russell is harder to find ( thank heaven for Amazon) and last a long time
Manic Panic is great to, but is fades a little quicker.

Oi! The day I had today!

There is a show called Funny Girl. In this movie , there is a line she gives..." Oi! The day I had today!" That is the best way to sum up my day Sunday. I am the Sunbeam teacher in primary...nuff said... right? They are some of the most active 3-4 year olds that I have encountered ( and I have had my share). Yesterday was quite the active day. One needed to go to the bathroom, one needed a drink, one needed a sedative!...just kidding..not just one ALL OF THEM! Is it wronged to give Benadryl out for snack time? I'm kidding...sort of. Finally at the end 2 parents were called in to help me with issues with their kids...which I am sorry, but I will do it....primary is not babysitting... and things just became to the point where if you can't beat them (literally), then join them. Luckily by that time we only had 5 mins left. So, then when I got in my car to come home, I took a deep breath, realized that next week I will not be there to see their cute faces, giggled a little (just for a moment), and then thanked the Lord that I made it through another week. They really are cute and smart and wonderful...and active, but would I want it any other way?....probably not.
So here's one great thing about each of them:
Gavin- he made a great picture of Jesus healing the blind men
Anthony- he was the most reverent boy I had...no joke.
Mattea-she humbled me
Kate- she gave great (and correct) answers
Josh- he has the sweetest smile
Gary- he passed the crayons out and kept track of every single one
Teren- she helped keep every one in line

Who knew perms could trigger all this?...

There are many of you that have probably heard me say this...but... I am still amazed that I am a mother to not only 1 child but 5!!! Isabella is our oldest and today she got a perm. Now why would a perm trigger this realization of motherhood for the umpteenth time? I am not quite sure. But looking at her there in the chair looking all cute and curly, just made me see her so differently. She is now 13 and I can't believe that first all, but now secondly, she has just started becoming this young woman in a matter of months..( I know that she has been growing for 13 years but still). Anyway, we were in the car and I thought...wow! I am her mother. I have this girl...young woman... as my daughter...and I still feel like I am THAT girl...that I am13 year old still trying to figure things out and wanting to get my hair permed...I love a perm! I wonder if any of you are the same as me. I am sure that you are. Life just seems to go so fast now. I mean, I am not THAT old, (even though 5 kids like to tell me that I AM THAT old)but it is one of those moments that I guess I just looked over and there wasn't a child sitting next to me. Who knew perms could trigger all that? :)

The reason

First off -welcome!
I love to write and I have noticed that lately I have a lot of thoughts and feelings that I want to express. When I was younger I wrote in my journal and I have started writing again, but, this being the technical age I want to have this blog as a place to write feelings or thoughts about anything really.
So that being said...if you do choose to follow this blog...I should warn you...I might swear...I might say things that might offend...or I might do both or more. I won't be vulgar,but I also won't hide some of my true feelings. I am just , as the title says, having an everyday adventure in finding myself. Come along for the ride...