Sports picture day!

HER: The third basketball game of the season was today. Tight game, first round 5-0, second round 13 - 11. Timberwolves lost the game. I wasn't sure how they were going to take the news, so as I approach I hear everyone say, nobody wins and nobody loses. They don't really count the points (Something they came up with at the school up to that age group to avoid tears and defeated feelings).
Okay here it is. Great for the ones that lose, less tears, content little faces. For the ones who win, they smile but will they still experience the taste of triumph? do they even know?... will the ones that lose try harder next game to actually win? Whatever it is I hope that Timberwolves gear up next game and be on it. I was very competitive as a kid.. I hope I can send positive and competitive energy waves to Sebastian! GO SEBASTIAN GO!!!

Team pictures were taking today prior the game. Can't wait to check them out!!! I will try to scan last years pictures and see what we come up to.

Bowling Fun!

HER: Today, we had a super fun day! We pre-arranged a play date activity with Sebastian and his buddy Jonathan at the Bowling alley.
As always, you got to ran into someone you know. While ordering Sebastian's lunch, I heard little girls giggling and Sebastian talking back to them. I was making my turn to see who Sebastian was talking to and there he was joining the table of birthday girls with their cute little pink princess like dresses, I reminded Sebastian of the play date as he stood up and ask if he could join them for cake later.
Two great games, french fries, a burger and 4 glasses of water later and we were on the way to the fish market. - Oh, How I love markets... Fresh product, in this case the day's catch on ice displaying right in front of your very own eyes. for you to choose. Fish, shrimp, crap, mussels, clams, you name it! I remember being a child and going to the market with my mother and my grandmother in different occasions. At the time, of course I thought what a boring activity, little did I know that later on in my life I will appreciate checking them out every time I had a chance.. as I remind myself all of this memories and smells, I turned around to direct a word to my son... he was covering his nose, of course, trying to read every sign and asking what that smell was. Two pounds of beautiful giant size scallops later, a dozen meal ideas floating in my head and Sebastian reminded me of the Fresh Market! What a great idea! We love it, fresh cut cheeses, beautiful organic and local grown products, wine and other kind of goodies and then it occur to me what a wonderful moment that was. I was making a memory with Sebastian. One of many he will have of us thinking of goodies for dinner, tasting cheeses and discovering things together.

HER: Today, January the third. - Day 3 of the year 2010. Also one of my aunt's birthday from my father's side and the day I lost a former classmate I went to school with.

A tragic accident it was, she was traveling on the highway with some friends when an interprovincial bus intercept the vehicle she was in. I heard of this on facebook, then I search the local newpaper website where there was a video of the tragedy, the bodies and the family. All I could feel then was the pain they were going through, not only that but one of the witnesses mentioned pulling the body out of the vehicle and she was still breathing,

I close my eyes and instantly thought... be in so much physical pain that your body gives up.

My prayers go out to Mariella, her family and closest friends.

DAY 2!

HER: Feels great to sleep in, even more amazing to wake up with a beautiful sunny day.

Very inspiring for a day of workout fun around the house, math activities and helping Sebastian with some basketball training. I am hoping tomorrow we will have good weather again to continue the planned activity to get him ready for the first game of the season!

Can't wait to continue exploring my Buffy comic books, which I took a sneak peak last night before passing out on my bed from extreme exhaustion, and see what happens next.

Lots of pictures coming up! My computer is down at the moment so uploading options are limited at the moment.
Until next time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HER: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

My most sincere, deepest and best wishes to all of you who read and encounter this blog.

Hope 2010 brings joy, happiness, peace and health for you and your loved ones.

It is the first day of the year and thank goodness I got a nappie in today.

Work has been quite busy since we got back from Indiana. Lots of preparation goes on prior New year's eve. (Busiest night of the year, that is.)

And as usual I tend to over load myself with work. This year a large order of bake goods for pick up on that day left me up and working strong until 5 am. Enough time to get an hour of sleep and a shower and back at the restaurant for a really busy but yet successful day.

As for preparing myself to receive the new year.... A yearly tradition; fresh grapes and cherries, a delicious bottle of Moscato d'asti and sparkles for the night.

At midnight, I eat 12 grapes under the table and make a wish for each grape, which represents each month of the year, toast with a chilled glass of Moscato D'asti and day dream of the year ahead. This year more like sleep and dream, since I had to be at work early this morning. Little did I know my mind and body wouldn't agree a few hours later. Luckily, my inner self pushed me off my bed and there I was driving in a ghost town on my way to work.

As far as I am concern, this year has a lot to offer.

Sebastian, who currently is in kindergarten will go off to first grade joining a school with a gifted program, joining all sorts of sport teams, art programs and foreign languages.

Frank will be graduating from Law school this May. Taking the Indiana Bar exam in July and will be out there experiencing life and developing professionally.

Duke and Dexter will finally have a yard of their own, encounter all sorts of new adventures, experience snow for the very first time and probably keep learning new tricks.

As for me, advertise my business, find a job with a managing opportunity, improve my french, be super mom, super girlfriend, super me. Instead of pledging to start going to the gym(which I'll do, until February arrives); I have decided to vow instead to try new experiences and fit more activities in. Start painting once again (need to break into my new paints and oleos Frank got me last Christmas), more reading, yoga at the beach while the beach is still an option, fix my house and hopefully get it ready for sale before fall arrives. I am hoping for a little travelling but that is yet to be decided. (Thinking Napa and Sonoma, and I have a couple other ideas.)

I am excited to see what is ahead and what 2010 is holding up for us to discover!

Happy Halloween!

HER: YAY!!!! for trick or treaters!!!

Tailgating

HER: What a day it has been. The first part of our Saturday morning took place downtown. Sebastian and one of his buddies from school got together for a playdate.

We took them to this play place around the Avondale/ downtown area where they would meet and spend a couple of fun hours together.

We would meet with his parents at the art market in downtown Jacksonville where we would grab a bite to eat while contemplating the St. John's river, listen to music and enjoy the scene under the sun. Right after, we would head towards the stadiwm to be part of the Florida vs. Georgia game experience. Tailgating seems to be quite a weekend event here in Jacksonville.

Star Wars Concert!

Sebastian wore his Darth Vader Custom for the occasion.

HER: At age 6, Sebastian has become quite a Star Wars fan. Fanatic of the trilogy, the characters, music and pretty much the whole adventure.

Tonight they played at the Jacksonville Arena and what a magnificent concert it was.

You can click on the following site to have a glance of what the concert was like:

www.starwarsinconcert.com

A FALL TRADITION...

Her: This is a fall tradition we enjoy at home every year.

Our pumpkin carving night. We turn the fall lights on, play It's the Great Pumpkin by Charlie Brown, and begin the activity that takes place on our living room floor. Duke and Dexter joined us this year. They were as excited as we were.

We carved a pumpkin for each pup and Sebastian carved his very own.

Saved the seeds for a later snack, and some of the pumpkin pulp for a creamy pumpkin soup.

Pumpkins 09

Sebastian posing with the pumpkins we got.

Pumpkin carriage!

Eager to start the purchase.

HER: Halloween is just a week away and we got our PUMPKINS of the season!

This time we chose the Methodist church on San Jose blvd. Just a couple of miles away from our place.

Sebastian was eager to pick his pumpkin. Picking one after another trying to make his final decision from a large variety of color, shapes, and sizes. As you see above, he was pushing the cart, wearing his "I am on a mission face".

Frank and I looked around for a while, trying to find the one for each one of us.

This activity requires quite some time for Frank. Finding the right one in shape, color, steam and of course size it is very important since it has to be able to fit his head. As you know, pumpkin head man strikes every year... and this year I will make the attempt to create a female version... =). Be in the look out for the pictures!