Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Thanksgiving

 
Blogger had a bug and I was unable to post pictures, so today I am making up for it.
 
Ari loves Braille
 
 and playing dollhouse with sissy.
 A trip bowling.


 Pushing the kitty in the stroller.

 This girl seriously takes a pile of books to the potty EVERY time she goes.
 This year for Thanksgiving, I asked the kids if they would like to help me cook and bake. They said yes. As a kid I can recall many moments in the kitchen with my mom. They are some of my most cherished memories now and I'd love to give my kids those moments too.
The day before Thanksgiving, I had them help me make pumpkin pie and coconut cream pie.
 Our finished pies.
 Our completed thankful tree. I love this idea and I think it will be a tradition.
 My mom's tradition of pie for Thanksgiving breakfast--yum!
 Happy Thanksgiving!

 The kids helping me make homemade rolls.

 I asked Kyler to set the table. He took our plain napkins and made paper airplanes, ha ha. Love him.
 Ari was in Heaven with the yummy food. She kept telling me "it's SO yummy mama!"


I wanted to share the kids thankful leaves:
Kyler: friends. pets. beds. doctors. memories. water. food. air. clothing. free country. our home. heat. education. my family. life. family that cares for me. transportation. cars. life lessons. those who gave their lives for us. wisdom.
Lexi: nice people. toys. trees. air. wheelchairs and crutches to help people. my heart. grandma Pam. reading. Rylee. houses. cars. pets. bed. playing dress up with mom and Ari. memories. love. Aunty. friends. family. donating my hair to Locks of Love. life. grandpa Bob.
Ari: blanket and plums. cheese and yogurt. treats. bubble bath. trees. princesses. kitties and doggies. Leah (her doll). mama dada fwafwa (Kyler)and sissy. colors. Goofy. Aunty. shoes. flowers. Grandma. Minnie Mouse. candy and bye bye. dressed and tutus. Hawaii. fireplace. blanket.
 
Hope everyone had a very warm Thanksgiving. For me, it was a bit rough as it was my first one without my mom. I kept reminding myself to focus on the love she had given me and not the pain I deal with now. My kids help a lot.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Them. by Kyler Flores

(Blogger is having issues and I am unable to upload pictures currently. I will catch up ASAP.)

During free write, Kyler's teacher instructed the class to write about a door. This is his amazing story:


                                                          THEM

    It took over. Curiosity killed the cat, they say and it almost killed me. I was only 9 but I still do not go there. I've never gone back to school. I'm 13 now, home schooled since 4th grade. It has never happened since until today...
   
    Ring! Ring! Nine o' clock a.m., my birthday. I race downstairs hoping to be showered with cake and presents but instead I was showered with corn flakes and a weak "happy birthday." "That's all?" I say. "I'm sorry Nathan, but we just don't have enough money." My mom says. "But we did get you a little something." Says my father. He pushes a small tin towards me with $10 enclosed. "Thanks!" I say. "And you can walk down to the store yourself?" He asks. "Yeah, dad. I'm 14 now." I say sarcastically. "Okay then, see you later." Says my mom. I slip on my sweater and begin the trek down to the grocery store, not knowing how dangerous it would be.

    "Hey Nathan! I got you a present." It was my best friend Denny. "You did?" I ask. "Yeah, follow me. Your parents let you go down to 8th St.?" "Yeah." I say "Why?" "You'll see."

    Minutes later we arrive on 8th St. "You know this house, how it's supposedly 'haunted'?" "Yeah" I say "so?" "So you're coming in with me!" "You sure about this, Denny?" "Yeah, why are you too chicken?" "NO!" I shout. I walk up to the front door and slowly I rest my trembling hand on the rusty doorknob. That door triggered a memory from when I was 9. Then I walk into the dark, ominous room. Then I see them. The same things I saw in 4th grade. White hooded potato sacks on their heads, eyes glowing like floodlights.

    Then I wake up in my bed. 9 o'clock a.m. my birthday. I hop out of bed, this time not expecting anything. My parents start "hap-" but it's interrupted by their shouts of terror. "Honey, call the cops!" Mom screams. "What?!" I say, noticing my voice is much deeper. I rush to the bathroom mirror. What I see makes me feel as if 500 volts of electricity was coursing through my veins. I was one of them!

    I jump out of the window, unaware of why I was running. I thought I was running from myself, but wound up finding Denny. I pulled him towards me, amazed at my own strength. But I am soon blinded by headlights, no these were smaller and brighter...He was one of them! I scream in his face "What did you do to me and why?!" "Oh so the transformation was a success." He says. "What do you mean 'success'? I don't even know what I am!" "Let me start with your first question. Remember 5 years ago when you sacrificed me to them? Well I do. And your irresponsibility sneaking into the Principal's office everyday 'I wonder what's behind that door'. Remember that?!" He said sternly. "Yes." I say. "Well one day you decided to try and it was locked. But the next day it wasn't. So you decided to stroll right in with me following behind. Then when you got caught by 'us' they took me and not you! You ran slamming the door shut, leaving to the safety of your home. But they took me to 8th St. The same house I took you to. Then I woke up in my house, thinking it was all a dream. But out of the corner of my eyes I saw red and blue sirens. I immediately ran outside. The cops yelled 'get him!' I've been on the run ever since." "That still doesn't explain what we are!" Now I am screaming at the top of my lungs. "Have you tried unzipping your hoodie?" He asks. "No, I guess I haven't." Uneasily I place my gloved hand on the zipper. All I see is a compilation of wires, circuits and lights. "So I am not even ALIVE?!" I shout. "No, you are very well alive, just...'reprogrammed'." "What do you mean reprogrammed?! And why do you sound so calm about everything?" "It's not a bad thing, just trust me." He replies. I shove him to the ground without thinking twice. "LIAR!" I shout. I sprint to a deserted house. Looking back, I see Denny has returned to his normal form. I now know how to turn back to normal. I have to pass it on to someone else. I now wait on 8th St, awaiting my victim. So stay away from me. I lurk in the shadows, waiting to make my move. So stay in the light or YOU-ARE-NEXT!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Soccer shots

I have been meaning to post these soccer shots taken by others.
 












Thursday, November 1, 2012

pictures

Kyler's 5th grade photos
 
Lexi 2nd grade
Kyler's soccer pictures


Grandma's birthday and Halloween

 
On October 25, my dear mama would've been 56. It was a very difficult day for me as I've never not at very least called her to wish her a happy day (and would end up spending hours chatting and laughing with her).
My mom was my biggest fan, my mentor, my guide, my support, my best friend; she meant everything to me. Without her I feel abandoned and lost a lot of the time. I wasn't prepared to lose her (and all of the warmth that only your mom can give) so soon.
I really tried to focus on celebrating her instead of being heartbroken all day.
I baked from scratch dark chocolate cupcakes with a creamy peanut butter frosting. The kids helped decorate. I also made her famous fried chicken and mashed potatoes for my family.
 


 Such a great helper
 Carving pumpkins

 Kyler is obviously grossed out by the pumpkin guts

 Ari wanted a picture with her Minnie
 Santa brought Lexi this dollhouse when she was 4. Last week she passed it down to Ari who is in absolute Heaven over it.
 We made a thankful tree. Each day for the month of November, the kids will take a leaf, write one thing they are thankful for and place it on a branch. On Thanksgiving we should have a full, beautiful tree and the kids can read their leaves to us.
 Happy Halloween. Ari the Eskimo, Lexi the goth fairy and Kyler the freaky jester.
 I put some make up on Lexi to which she replied "I look like such an adult, how sad."



 Jared the fat chef and me the Eskimo


Hoping everyone had a great Halloween! We sure did. And now on to the warm holiday season.