Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year!!


I am gingerly saying goodbye to this year and welcoming 2008 with open arms!
I know 'nude year' resolutions are over-rated but I have a few.
1. France in July.
2. Do more yoga.
3. Less materialistic.
4. Divorce Facebook.
5. Get Nonna home.
Wishing you all a successful year!!!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Prayers for Nonna


My nonna had a stroke on Dec 1. She has been my mother figure since I was 1 month old.
My heart is heavy and my soul is sombre.
Please say a prayer for nonna.
Zizi is nonna's angel.....and nonno is too.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

You're Legal Jay!


My first born turned 19 the other day.
BLINK.
Happy Birthday to my precious baby boy.
Hope all your dreams come true this year!
Love you more than ever,
mom x

Saturday, July 07, 2007

The Big One


Our Princess Zara turned one last week and we had a big bash for her today...and us!
This past year ranks among the most momentous days of my life.
From exhaustion to exhiliration, we made the first milestone WAHOO!!!!
The fact that I made this journey willingly four times, is testimony to the fact that being a mom is the best job in the world.
Happy Birthday my cancer cosmic muffin love-baby.
Love mama <3

Monday, June 18, 2007

Happy Daddy's Day!


Happy 1st Daddys' Day from your love baby
It's no wonder I picked you to be my daddy..
You spoil me.
Butterfly kisses,
ZZ

Friday, June 08, 2007

Africa Walk


Birdy leading the school for the African Walk..too funny!
That's my girl.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Hawaii-Cisco

Bee and Dee in Cisco


Here is ZZ on the beach in Maui last week. She had so much fun frolicking in the water and digging in the sand. It's so rewarding watching your child play organically..


We went sans teens and I must admit it was very hard for me to say goodbye. They are still my babies, albeit triple Z's size. We surprized the girls (J was working) and flew them to San Fran to meet up with us. I was so excited to see them and we shopped til we dropped, it was so much fun. Gotta love daughters!!!


Hard to believe our little bella turns one this month. Blink.


ONE things for sure, we plan on having alot of cake and champagne!!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Rodeo











CHris couldn't believe all the Brokeback Mounting!!







































































































Monday, May 14, 2007

Mummy Day




Mums Day last year... Mums Day this year. Do you like my little
garden gnomie?? Touche to all of you haute moms!!

Monday, April 30, 2007

Kudos!




Kudos to my two beautiful daughters who won many awards for their solos and groups this past competition.
Way to go!!! We're soo proud of you both!!!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Happy Birthday Daddio

Happy Birthday to a witty man with a big heart, gentle spirit, and blue eyes that are deep like his soul.
I feel blessed to have you as my parent and grateful for the time you invest in our lives.
One of the best days of my life was when you moved a block away a few years ago.
I cherish our Monday + Fridays and our many laughs! Who else do you know that would want coffindodger as their email address??
We wish you another robust year full of many different walking routes, card luck, and blond bombshells!
Love all of us Hillbillies xox

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Sweet Bread


Every Keester and Christmakah, my nonna and I make sweet bread.
It's a century old recipe from Italy and we make it the old fashioned way--by hand.
What a concept heh.
I love baking and naturally spending quality time with nonna is priceless. And the smell of sweet bread baking nurtures my soul.
Sweet bread is very symbolic to me. It represents nonna's warmth and sweetness.
Nonna even made Lil Z a bread bamboli, what a lucky dolly!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

I remember







It's been 12 years since my nonno passed away at the age of 89. He was like my second father. A perfect balance to my hippy dad.


Nonno was a retired police officer and was a dictator disciplinarian, but a big puff if he made you cry. And my kidney's are close to my eyes so I saw a sensitive side to him that my grandmother still says didn't exist.


I grew up p/t at my grandparents house. It was a home full of Italian influence, from rosaries to plastic plants.
A refugio from my tumultuous world. I learned to love the quirky atmosphere.
Nonno always had a chocolate bar or gum waiting for me in my special cupboard (where I would write inside JC loves whoever I did that week!) While my grandmother was busy in the kitchen, we would watch TV and laugh hysterically at the same things. And we didn't need PVR back then, cause if Imissed our show, nonno would give me a play by play. And I loved how excited he was to tell me, like I was his best friend.


I am really missing him today and all of his nonno-isms. Isn't it interesting how we remember the small things, not the big things after a person is gone.


I remember how he used to get all dressed up from head to toe just to go down to the corner store. I remember how he would shuffle down the hallway to answer the phone. Half running. I remember how good his hankerchiefs smelled. A synergy of Old Spice and Brut. I remember watching him smoke a pipe and not inhale. I remember the musty scent of home made wine in his basement. I remember how he'd lean over to me, while we were sitting watching TV and hold his hand open to me with almonds or grapes to share. I remember how he'd let me in at 2am and not tell anyone. I remember how he'd laugh so hard he'd cry watching wrestling. I remember how he'd let me sleep in his bed when I was going through daddy withdrawal. I remember how he'd whistle while he worked. I remember how generous he was.
I remember all of his stories he'd repeat at least 10 times. One of my favorites was about a boy who would steal chickens from everyone and how nonno caught him. His ID kept falling out of his shirt pocket when he bent over to steal them. Nonno thought that was the funniest thing and could barely finish telling the story without crying from laughter. After giving him one too many chances, nonno arrested him and when we was reformed he thanked nonno for helping him change. It sounded like it was the highlight of his career.
I remember the look he'd give me, like, you are special. And I remember how he treated me like a real granddaughter even though I wasn't actually his blood.
On his last day here on earth, he asked me to take care of nonna. ME. Not his sons, not his other grandchildren who are flesh and blood, but me. Jenny from the block. I was honoured and promised I would. We bought a house across the street from her and between the 5.5 of us, we're always watching over her.
Have you hugged your angels today???


L'Chaim and Nonno!

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Daddy's new toy!


Monkey's drum....and monkey's hum.
Hum drum hum drum hum drum hum.
-Dr. Suess

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Personal Sunshine


Seems like yesterday that I was holding my precious son like this and blink almost 19 years later, here is my grown son singing with his precious baby sister.
Some people ask me, "why do you have so many kids"?
My answer is simple.
My children are "my personal sunshine".
A life without children to me, is like a world without light.
Although during the teen years, I'm getting a sunburn from too much "personal sunshine"--if you know what I'm sayin'!!!
(;

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Happy 1st b-day Jackson!


Jackson is the cutest little guy in my world right now. His moms pretty adorable too!
Melissa and I first met 15 years ago at work when we were overpaid slaves at Safeway. I was pregnant with Dolly at the time and we had instant chemistry on a cellular level.
M was so in touch with her inner child and loved my kids. I always knew she'd make an excellent mommy one day!
We went on two diff paths for awhile and lost contact.
I ran into a friend of hers and was ecstatic to hear that she was expecting!!!
There's that saying about friendships that captures our connection,
"You may not walk through the door at the same time, but you might meet on the other side".
Happy birthday Jack-o-lantern!!

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Sleepy in Seattle


I went to see my big sisters dance in Seattle and I got to sleep on clouds!!
Siwwy mommy and daddy thought i was actually going to sleep in this all night..(giggles)
I entertained them for awhile, but decided I wanted to bunk with them instead...
After all, I'm a snuggle bunny!!!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Love Baby


Happy Valentines Day!!
"Where did I come from?" the baby asked its mother. She answered, half-crying, half-laughing, and clasping the baby to her breast, "You were hidden in my heart as its desire, my darling. You were in the dolls of my childhood games. In all my hopes and my loves, in my life, in the life of my mother, and in her mother before her, you have lived. In the lap of the eternal spirit you have been nursed and nurtured for ages.
-Indian philosopher and poet, Rabindrandth Tagore
(Thanks Zia Linda for sharing this when I was in my mommy's tummy)

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Love Is In The Air



My Bee has her first boyfriend!!
Can you recall that feeling of your first love?
Miles is a smart, funny, handsome and stylish soul...and treats our Bee like a Queen, which is all we could hope for.
They even have a chaffeur....his best friend!
Happy Valentines to these two lovebirds and to everyone in love!!!!
MAKE LOVE NOT WAR.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Pink Punches!

Rockin' Rita and I have found a new passion---kickboxing. We love it so much that we can't see stopping anytime soon.

It's so much fun and a healthy way to release stress.

We are Modern Renaissance women u-ruh!

I'm soo happy that we were brought together by our hubbies and I have to say that it's so refreshing to know another mom who puts herself first and laughs at the same things!!!

Our mantra is:" Well behaved women rarely make history"!

L'Chaim!!!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Happy Birthday Dolly!


Our former baby turned 14 yesterday and of course we had to go to Cupcakes and get her a very pink cake!

Dolly is an old soul. She was hailed our "Buddha Baby" because she would sit and observe for a very long time before she would act. And when she did move, it was very methodical. She has this inner wisdom that I admire and has a very sweet heart. And she is a natural with babies, Z adores her big sis.

Wishing you a very happy birthday my sweet D and may your butterfly wings carry you through life, down whichever path you choose. You are my pudding, pie, sugar and ice cream.

Love you poohbear oxoxoxo

Friday, January 12, 2007

YEEHAW!


Z has been officially hailed a pinky buckeroo like her mommy! As you can tell, she is thrilled.

We're in the midst of planning Z's 1st b-day bash up at the ranch. Altho it's not til June, us gals always book early to anticipate our next riding adventure. Some of Z's big friends who love horses will be also be attending. There should be at least a dozen of us!

Thanks to gramma for the pink hat! Thank you Aunty Lis for the jean riding outfit! Thank you also to Zia Rita for the pink riding boots and Aunty Rachel for the western dress and bling all the way from Sante Fe!

Giddy'up!!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Welcome Home Jaybird!




Happy New Year everyone! I am sooo happy our Jaybird is back home and had an amazing trip!!!

First off I have a new song devoted for you..seems that you have outgrown your "boyhood" song: (sing it now!)

Footloose-Kenny Loggins

I been working so hard
Keep punching my card
Eight hours, for what?
Oh, tell me what I got
I get this feeling
That time's just holding me down
I'll hit the ceiling
Or else I'll tear up this town
Tonight I gotta cut

(Chorus)Loose footloose
Kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise
Pull me offa my knees
Jack, get back
C'mon before we crack
Lose your blues
Everybody cut footloose

You're playing so cool
Obeying every rule (!!)
Dig way down in your heart
You're yearning, burning for some
Somebody to tell you
That life ain't passing you by
I'm trying to tell you
It will if you don't even try
You can fly
if you'd only cut

(Chorus) Loose, footloose
Kick off your Sunday shoes
Oowhee, Bianca B
Shake it,
shake it for me
Whoa, Sergio
C'mon, c'mon let go
Lose your blues
Everybody cut footloose

FIRST - we got to turn you around SECOND - You put your feet on the ground THIRD - Now take a hold of your soul FOUR - Whooooooooa, I'm turning it Loose, FOOTLOOSE

And now to be a nice mom, i will post some other great pic from his trip!

Words can't ever express how deeply grateful I am to Bianca and her family for inviting Jacob on this once in a lifetime amazing experience and for their graciousness and treating Jay like their own son. We hope to exchange the favour one day in a similiar experience for Bianca. Thanks again from that deep place in my soul full of love and gratitude!