Open Letters to My Family

Mi madre mom has always, since my sisters & I were old enough to stay home alone when they travel, written us notes, letters, emails to tell us how much she loves us. I think it might be something to remind us that no matter what happens, she loves us & we know that’s the last thing she was thinking about when they left for vacation. You know the sentimentality behind that – no regrets.

I have done my fair share of traveling, as we’ve talked about before. I don’t leave letters, unless you count the notes for the pet sitter. I don’t think it’s going to make her feel all warm & fuzzy inside though. Not that I’m mean or anything, but I don’t sign them ‘Love.’

My folks are leaving on a trip to Seattle & Vancouver the same time Cop’er & I will be in Puerto Rico & my sisters will be here in town. So, to switch things up, I’m going to write letters to them as my ‘parting thoughts’.

Dear Madre & Padre-

It seems as though you have decided you can’t stay in town when I’m not here. I totally understand. Hope you enjoy your time away. Try not to think about me too much, you’ll get homesick and the whole trip out west would be a waste. Since you know my tastes, I won’t rehash the kinds of things you should bring back for me, but know I am looking forward to receiving them! It’s a real downer that you won’t be here to check on my house & the ‘kids’ though… I’ll have to pawn that off on a sister. Have fun on your trip & we’ll compare vacation notes when you get back! Ok, I’ll let Cop’er tell you about HIS vacation. Love, your firstborn, the light of your life, the best thing that ever happened to you.

Dear Sister Fantanimal -

Thanks for watching my youngest child. You know he’s a little troublemaker, but when you look at the face, it all goes out the window. Try not to let those big dogs eat him, stomp on him, or use him like a stuffed toy. For the most part, I like him in one piece. Also, thanks for coming to check on my other kids. I’m sure Moodles is going to talk your ear off. He doesn’t like so much alone time, so bring a book & humor him for a while. Lastly, I have a pool that needs cleaning & tomato plants that need water. Can you see to those things too? If this works out, you might get a little treat upon my arrival home. Of course, this all depends on Lil Guy still being in one piece & Moodles not keeping me on my first night back talking about how you didn’t give him any quality time. XOXO Your favorite sister, the one who paved the way for your cushy life with mom & dad.

Dear Sister KidEduc8r & family -

Since you have been on vacation already, I’m sure the absence of myself & Cop’er will go unnoticed as you kick back at home with your residual relaxed feelings… However, we’ll be gone for 9 days & by then you’ll be all tense again. If you want to use the pool while we are gone, please leave a small donation on the counter. This will cover the large amounts of water that will need to be replaced after my nephews shoot their water guns. Buenas Noches, Your favorite sister, the one who allowed for your early escape from parental oversight.

Pardon Me, I'm trying to swim!

WOW! I have been away for a while. Sorry to make you all check my blog only to find that I am too busy doing other things to talk to you in the electronic world! Ok, it's not like it's all THAT exciting... it's work. Lots of work. Our annual conference starts the 28th, so we are busily doing last minute tasks. I won't even bore you with the details of how these tasks weren't supposed to be last minute! That's another story for another time!

I did host my family for the 4th of July. Cop'er managed to get the pool together, so we had a Potluck Pool Party. I was looking forward to a low-key gathering where I wasn't needed to spend the day in the kitchen (everyone knows I don't belong there!). Added to my excitement was the fact that the pool got up to 79-degrees! That might be the 'hottest' it's ever been. I think it was helped along by the 104 record-breaking day we had the week before.

The excitement about having a warm pool was short-lived though... the temperature drops down into the 50s a few days prior to the 4th & it was all over. Everyone likes a pool that's 68, right? By the actual party day, it was warmer - 70-degrees! Like bath water!

Once all the party-goers arrived... the fun began! Some were a little hesitant to get in because the water was too enticing, but they eventually succombed. They couldn't resist the rest... the relaxation... the calm waters... the... water gun fights!

Cop'er setting up for his kill shot.

  

Sister KidEduc8r absorbing strategies before she gets armed.

Caidelcake - we teach them young how to protect themselves.

Take a look at Cop'er face - the enemy is going down!

DragonSlayer is a dedicated soldier.

Caidelcake (with co-captain, Sweet Pea) is not ready to meet the press.

DragonSlayer is practicing submarine skills, coming up to launch his weapon.

Mi padre is not to be outdone. He's got far-shooting aim even from the pool's edge!

No one is safe from this end of the pool as long as DragonSlayer resides there. 

Caidelcake & Sweet Pea know how to use the protective gear they were given.

Sweet Pea leads the charge as Caidelcake urges escape from Cop'er.

Race for the Cure - 2010 - Richmond, VA

Mi madre, mi padre, Sister Fantanimal, AriCaVa (& kiddos), FlyRunner & youngest son, ChildPilot (with 2 sons & hubby), Uncle Tom & wife, Kris and CycleCaster all converged on downtown Richmond, VA to take part in the 2010 Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.

We were "Jean's Team"! Walking for my aunt, Jean, we did it to celebrate her life, to raise awareness & do something in her memory as a family. It was a fitting weekend to get together - Mother's Day weekend! The weather was beautiful - sunny, warm, even a nice WIND!

There are lots of others with the same thoughts - celebrating life & walking for a cure. It was inspiring to see so many people in their pink, with the loved ones, living life.

The smallest of the team (Jelly & Otoño Poco) rode the 3.1 miles, but were alert & definitely enjoying the hustle & bustle of people passing them by.

At times we walked together, other times we were separated as walkers sped up & slowed down throughout the race. But in the end, we crossed the finish line together.

A little warn out from the excitement of the day, we left the race with plans to meet up at mi madre's house for lunch. What a spread to feed the hungry masses! With full bellies and lots of family in the vicinity, it was a nice afternoon to share with loved ones.

We survived this year's event & it was mentioned we should do it again next year...

I think i might just do it! See ya in 2011~

A Hard Few Days...

As you know, I have 2 cats & 3 dogs residing in this house with myself & Cop'er. The cats were my babies before I ever met Cop'er. We had a nice, cozy little family unit and we had lots of fun together.

I blogged recently about Roxyann's latest trip to the vet for an issue *ahem* back there. She also had a bump on her head that we didn't notice before. They sent us home with 2 weeks of antibiotics to give her, with instructions to come back if, at the end of the 2 weeks, she wasn't better.

The spot on her head didn't get better. It actually got worse. I scheduled an appointment with the vet yesterday. I went in, hoping it could be lanced, drained, etc, but that was not to be. I was hit with the news that Roxyann had an aggressively growing tumor & would need to go to a specialist.

Obviously the words "aggressively" & "tumor" together are not things you want to hear. I took the vet's recommendation & scheduled the specialist's appointment for today. Sister Fantanimal went with me to the first appt & urged me to think positive thoughts. I tried, but I think something inside of me knew...

Cop'er went to the specialist appt with me today. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it alone & was very glad he was there. I, like many other people, have a weakness for my animals & tears are not something I am afraid to shed in public.

The specialist came into the room & expressed his very serious concern about Roxyann's tumor, its location, its growth rate & the ability to make a positive impact on  her recovery. There was conversation about what tests needed to be considered, what the options *might* be, what out thoughts about future needs were.

It was hard. It's still hard. I know it's not like losing a child or a parent, but those of us who have been through it know there is nothing easy about the decisions you have to make. I've shed many a tear thinking about how to handle her future & mine without her.

We managed to get Roxyann an appt for a CT scan today & picked her up this afternoon. She's sporting a green bandage from the IV she had & is trying, as I would expect, to shake the thing off. She's still spunking & spry & doesn't seem to be affected.

Tomorrow we'll find out how long that will last... In the meantime, I'm praying for her comfort & my strength to do what's right by her.

Goin' Huntin' for Eggs

Cop'er & I had quite the busy day on Sunday, being Easter & all. We hoofed our way up to Stafford by 1pm for lunch with his family & then made it back to my side of town for dinner with my family. Both outings included egg hunts (none that I got to partake in, however) for the kids.

While there was candy to be had, there were also shiny silver coins & a few green bills hidden in the not-so-hidden eggs. Next year I think we should 'lose' those eggs so that I might find them 'later'.

The egg-hunter ages varied - 2+, 3+ & 6 (others too young to hunt were watching, catching tips for next year, learning the competition's strategy). It's funny to see how serious they take it the older they get. Ry-guy was all about scoping them out beforehand, running to them & then trading with Caidelcake if he didn't like the egg (a few were shaped like animals & he HAD TO HAVE the cows). I guess it's good that he was trading, at least.

Every year it's a given that some of the eggs might not make it back into the house. It's not because of a tragic egg accident, but because the egg-hiders can't remember where they were all hidden. Somehow, though we hid 64 eggs, we found them all! When I say "we" I do mean there was a prelim "we're done" break where we counted the eggs & then decided there were 3 more out there. After that, the egg-hiders went back out to look... thanks to Sister Fantanimal, all were spotted.

Somehow the Easter Bunny managed to make it to all his other stops, but neglected to stop by my house. I'm not sure, but I think he might have been scared. He probably heard that no Cadberry Creme Egg was safe in the vicinity of Cop'er. I know none in our house were allowed to hang around for long...

40 Years never looked so good

Yesterday we (me, Sister Fantanimal, Sister KidEduc8r, FlyRunner and ChildPilot [my other cousin, Cyndi]) threw a surprise party for mi madre and mi padre's 40th Anniversary.

(If you don't know whether I typed that correctly, yes, I said 40 years)

Mi padre knew about the party b/c we needed him to confirm his time off. He wasn't scheduled to be off this weekend, but mi madre requested for him to take the day so they could celebrate their anniversary.

Mi madre didn't want a party, didn't want us to spend the money (though we did offer to do so!), so she opted for a family vacation (still under construction). We didn't want thee big accomplishment to go by without recognition, so that's when we decided to plan a smaller party without her knowledge.

This sounds like an easy task. If any of your have trying to coordinate all the details of a surprise gathering before, you'll know what i'm talking about. With the guest(s) of honor in the dark, they inevitably throw up road blocks and detours that you could not have seen coming. I'd say the biggest one we had to deal with was when mi madre decided she would invite all her oldest friends and family (aka all the guests for the surprise party) to a brunch at the famous Jefferson Hotel.

I can not even begin to tell you how the (already confirmed party guests) felt about having to turn mi madre & mi padre down for a celebration at the hotel. They didn't want to hurt her feeling, but they secretly knew she's see them later. Luckily, they took it well & a couple of their oldest friends even went along for the event and still showed up later for the party. Talk about dedication!

We decorated with flowers & spring-colored items since their anniversary happened to fall on the first weekend of Spring - and what a glorious Spring weekend it was!

Mi madre & mi padre arrived at the ChildPilot's house (where the party was hosted) just in time. The first words we heard were "Why are all these cars we know here?" followed by the whole group yelling "Happy Anniversary". While mi padre had the "I knew all along" (which he did) face, mi madre reflected her surprise as her eyes flew open wide and started to tear a little.

Don't you love it when a surprise goes off without a hitch????

The usual amount of "did you know?", "were there clues?", "did he spill the beans?" could be overheard through the afternoon. Lots of camera flashes, lots of laughs & lots of love keep the guests on the surprise party high.

Now, I don't want anyone to think this party was a 'piece of cake' to put together - there was lots of sweat & effort involved! We made all the food ourselves, with the exception of the super duper cake from the bakery, and that was a nice opportunity to spend time with my family. That time had its own kind of fun!

These shots should give you an idea of the memorable time we had!

Here's hopin' for another 40 years together... though don't be expecting another party!