Self Portrait

Happy Birthday Warren!

For Warren's birthday we surprised the kids and took them to Disneyland. We bought annual passes which are quite reasonable if you live in So Cal and with the birthday money (Disney is doing a "free on your birthday deal" or you can use the money towards an annual pass) and some Disney credit we had our passes for the whole year ended up costing us about what a day pass costs. What a deal! We told Rebecca we had to run some boring errands but since it was Daddy's birthday and it was what he wanted to do we had to have a good attitude about it. As she realized where we actually were and that we had tricked her she got so emotional that she started to cry. She does that when she is really happy and it is very cute.

As a gift to Warren I wrote to a few of his friends and family and requested "imaginary birthday presents." Several people obliged and sent the most fun presents imaginable! I had a great time reading them to Warren as he laughed and enjoyed everyone's thoughtfulness. I would post them here but didn't request permission to go public with them so I want to respect people's privacy. If anyone else wants to add one in a comment here you are welcome to do so.
I got the idea from my friend Becca and just loved it. I think it's a great idea.

And now for my final words of this birthday post:

Dear Warren,

I want the world to know how much I love you, am grateful for you and all you do for me and the kids. You are the greatest husband a girl could ask for and more. You treat me so well and work so hard for our family. Thank you for who you are and for sharing your life with me.

Happy Birthday, my best friend! Here's to many, many more.

Love,

Dorothea

Oh where, oh where has my daughter gone?

We were at a rehearsal this morning for a show our Stake is putting on next week as part of it's 50th anniversary celebrations. Every ward is doing a skit. I left Rebecca watching the rehearsal while I went to look at our costume options in another room. I didn't tell her where we were and she gets really scarred if she suddenly can't find us so I thought I better check on her and make sure she knows where we were.
She wasn't where I had left her. I started searching, looking and listening for kids playing in a foyer or hallway somewhere. I couldn't find her. I went back to where I left her and double checked. Still no Rebecca. I started mildly panicking. I started running around a little more frantically. You know how Stake Centers are, doors all over the place, nooks and crannies everywhere. I figured she was somewhere but the paranoid thoughts started coming through my mind: What if someone took off with her?
I went back into the cultural hall where I had left her and was about to ask someone in the audience if they had seen a little girl and where she had gone. The music started so I naturally looked up to the stage and there comes Rebecca, marching out onto the stage waving the American flag, trying to copy the only other performer in the number! She had been recruited. I laughed so hard.

Performing... I guess it's in her blood.

Bedtime stories with Dr. Seuss

Me to my kids: "Bye, I'm going to my tennis lesson. You better be asleep before I'm back!"

later...

(I've been back for 20 minutes already. Kids are still awake)

Me: "Was it hard to get the kids to bed tonight?"

Warren: "I picked the wrong book. It was too long. It was a bedtime book by Dr. Seuss. The problem is- he writes too well. It's too interesting. I actually want to read the whole thing."

Thanks a lot Dr. Seuss. Did you ever hear of trying to keep your kids bedtime routine to an hour?
;)

A quick visit to LA

Rebecca has been begging me ever since we moved to take her back to her old kindergarten class. I felt like she needed this closure, so yesterday we made the trek out to LA and visited her old friends. I was totally unprepared for what happened. Her kindergarten friends were having their lunch recess time. When we stepped on to the playground they ran over to her and mobbed her with a huge group hug. Everyone was shouting her name and trying to get in on the hug. It was one of those moments I regretted deciding to leave my camera in the car. She was completely overwhelmed and looked shocked. I have to admit, it made me cry a little bit to see how happy they were to see her. She was like some sort of celebrity and they wouldn't let go of her. The TA had to tell them to give her some space, but even after that they jealously guarder her. Changing schools is never easy, especially in the middle of the year, and although we are totally happy at our new school, I was surprised at how emotional it made me to be back at the place my first child first started school. I tried hard to learn all the kids names and they were surprised I still remembered their names!
We spent the rest of the afternoon playing at our favorite old haunt, Mar Vista park with a few of Rebecca's little rascals gang. It felt just like old times and felt completely normal to be there, yet at the same time I knew this wasn't my life anymore. It's hard to explain. I cherish those times and but I'm also glad we have made our move. We miss our friends but luckily we're not too far away!

Thanks for the good times, Ladies!

Easter Sunday

 

What a wonderful Easter Sunday.  We had a bunch of dear friends over for Easter dinner.  Everyone brought something and the meal was absolutely delicious if I may say so myself.  We even managed to get 9 adults and 5 kids around the table with the three little girls on a little table on their own.  We had another fun Easter egg hunt, good conversation and good company.  It was fun to host something in my own home for people I care about so much.  What a wonderful day.  

Easter Saturday with friends

We had an Easter party with a couple of my high school friends and their kids. We had a fantastic Easter egg hunt with a golden egg for everyone. The Easterbunny even left paw prints all over the backyard! A hummingbird had made her nest on top of a windchime. There were two little eggs nestled inside-so sweet-the size of jelly beans. The kids dyed eggs and ate cupcakes in honor of Joseph's birthday last week. It was a great afternoon.