First Day of School

Long Story but I thought we were going to buy a house- a big house (for our little budget) for you two to run around, so I took a part time job to help pay for the mortgage. I knew I would have to go back to work but I was planning on it being next year. So the house fell through and I am stuck with a job and I cried all week. I was/ am extremely sad. I love our days together. We have had so much fun. I never would have dreamed of being a stay at home mom and it turns out I love it- I absolutely adore it. I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I can pick you up by 3:30, and that leaves the afternoon to play (minus my night school days).

I started work this week and today was your first day of pre school. Surprisingly, Miguel you loved it. I say surprisingly because I started a gymnastics class for you and you were so excited and then cried every day we have gone. Not pre school. You had a great day and really took to it. Toto, you love gym but cried today. Daddy has to take you in the morning and he said you knew something was up before leaving the house (evident by the stone face in the pic). But I came and you lept into my arms and the teacher said you were great.

Outside of Mia, this has been one of the hardest weeks. It hurt to think of giving up park days and waffle guy. I love you both so much.

Wednesdays

Our Wednesday Routine:

1. Go to the City Hall park
2. Run around the main library
3. Go to the Farmers Market and try free samples
4. Eat a waffle. Now you both love to yell at him, "Hey Waffle Guy!" You actually start yelling this on Tuesday night in anticipation of the Waffle Guy.

Michael Jackskin

In July, Michael Jackson died. I loved him as a kid. I had a poster of him in my room and I remember the day I first saw "Thriller". The days following Michael Jackson's death, his music was everywhere: cafes, in cars going by, blasting from apartment windows. We played his songs and showed you a few videos and little did we know that this would create an obsession. Miguel you love him. You call him Michael Jackskin. You have to listen to him before nap and bedtime, every time we get into Josh's car, and every other time in between. You do the head twitch thing from "Thriller" and the moon dance. When we sing songs you like to dedicate it to Michael Jackskin. At the end of the ABC song we sing, "Now Michael Jackskin knows his abc's, next time wont you sing with me?" You love him. Now Tonio does the head twitch (more a full body twitch) and loves to yell, "Michael Hackson". Tonio YELLS it!

Happy Day

Dear Miguel,

Yesterday was your third birthday. I dont know who gets more excited about it- you or me? I planned and replanned for weeks. You just yelled and whinned "presents" for days. You are so wonderful Miguel. At night when I go and check on you in your room, and you are curled up with your stinkie in your mouth, I think my heart will break. I love you so much. Sometimes you can drive me crazy. You test me constantly. Whether you hit your brother, rip apart library books, or simply run away with things I told you not to have, you can test me. But at the end of it all I think you are the best. You make laugh with your funny sayings, "I funny" or "Have fun!" and you make me feel great with your sensitivity and compassionate. Once I feel playing on your skateboard and you came running and cried "Mommy are you okay?" This has been a tough year for me, losing both Mia and Bill and sometimes I cry. You always ask the same question.


You are so smart. You remember people from a year ago and can recognize places from that long too. You love to play, climb, chase, make friends, swim, dance, and hit your brother. You have such beautiful, soulful brown eyes and cute whispy brown hair. Miguel, my heart hurts for you. Happy Birthday.

We had a few parties for you: one at the pool with your friends and then a pizza dinner at your favorite place, Paxti's, with Myra and Kevin.

I love you Miguelito.

Mom

Funny Times

With Meme at the pool.
With Luke at the park
Where's my sunglasses?
Breaking pens in the car. Toto is a big mess!

Window!

Goggles!

Stinkie

This is Miguel's Stinkie. It was the last blanket Mia crocheted and it was her hardest one. Instead of a popper Miguel uses his Stinkie. The name is self explanatory. It stinks! Last week the Stinkie almost ripped in half! It was a disaster. I called Juju's mom to help fix it. I had to sneak it out at nap time and Ms. Schneider came to pick it up. Miguel never slept that day. "STINKIIIEEE! STINKIIIIEEE!" he wailed. Ms. Schneider said she couldnt bring it back to the city for two nights and I didnt know what to do. Would it be worse for us or for Miguel? She fixed the stickie and brought it back late the same night to a very happy and grateful little boy.

Vacation in Venice (beach)

I was a single mom for a week in Venice. We rented a house about two blocks from the Venice Board Walk. The boys and I spent many hours splashing, building sand castles (and knocking them down), eating ice cream and visiting friends. On Tuesday (August 4) we meet Taylor, Big Daddy (Tay's dad), Meme and Joe at the Santa Monica Pier for a day of corn dogs, digging for sand crabs and swimming. It was six generations of my family playing at the Santa Monica Beach. It was a great vacation, and I felt nostalgic for all the days that I spent in Venice rollerblading, boogie boarding and sitting in the sun.