Dear Debbie . . .: SEPTEMBER 2008 UPDATE

Okay, so August 13th was the last time I updated this site. Hmmm.... Guess I've been a little busy. Let me see - what's been going on?

School started again
Brayden's birthday - Little Man turned 1
Donna, my father-in-law Ivan, Lisa and Nicky's Birthday's too
School Pictures - Soccer Pictures
Had to help prepare, print & mail invitation to Milenko's godparent's 50th Anniversary
Attended a funeral for Donna's grandfather (who was like a 2nd Grandpa to me)
Soccer practices & soccer each weekend.

Oh yeah - and

Planning a 20th Reunion for over 200 people

Why do women with 4 children under the age of 6 take on impossible tasks with their lives? Lack of excitement? Need to feel needed? Bored? Couldn't find the stocking to put over our heads to hold up a bank (oh wait, it was just taken over by someone else)? Sexual frustration? Lost at Candyland against the 5 year old - again? Fell in the toilet seat because hubby couldn't put the thing down & want to tick him off by making him watch the kids for 2 weeks straight? Or just plain insane? WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I THINKING???

Since I don't have a huge plate our worms to finish, I might as well sit back and write a blog. The kids are asleep, Milenko's on the coach pretending to watch History Channel while I listen to him snore and I don't have to plan Camp Hammer for over 100 people for another week! (Insanity thing again.) Why not just sit back and write a blog about life!

HAIRCUTS
Before school started Bella needed a trim so I took Bella & Lexie to my hairdresser, Kiki, and chop chop!

SCHOOL
Let's go back a little into August. Bella started first grade this year. She loves her teacher Ms. Wiser. I personally think she's great too!

BIRTHDAY
Next comes Brayden's birthday. Our favorite *and only* babysitter, Lisa, helped the girls make a cake for Brayden. We let them do cupackes during the day and they all decorated the cupcakes (with the help of Alyssa - Donna's daughter.)

Before Lisa gave him the RED icing, she took off his shirt. Needless to say, he ended up right in the bathtub with Lauren after eating cake with Lisa!

BIRTHDAY PARTY
Then it came time for the actual birthday party. Not to take away from Brayden, but after throwing 3 first birthday parties before, this one was low-key and Chuck E. Cheese with just family & Donna's family was the way to go.

After the really yummy pizza (NOT) at Chuck E. Cheese, we headed back to the house for cake (that the girls made with Lisa) and presents (which Brayden didn't open because he fell asleep just after cake!) It was fun though. Spending time with the family is always a blast for the kids

SOCCER
Each Saturday, Bella & Lexie play on the Dublin Dolphins. Coach Matt Burdusis (a.k.a. Uncle Matt - Donna's husband) and Coach Milenko (a.k.a. Daddy) help the girls play their best. Every single game that I've been to has resulted in a win.

Baka & Deda try to make it to all the games. Deda especially!

Even the boys come out to show their support for their sisters. (Brayden & Ryan)

Bella, Lexie & Alyssa are all on the same team. They all do great. Bella & Alyssa are especially great at running down the field and kicking goals. Lexie is one of the best goalies on the team!

VICTORY CELEBRATION
After the game on the 13th, we went out to celebrate ANOTHER win and to give Brayden a little personal Happy Birthday. Baka, Deda, Matt, Donna, Alyssa, Ryan, Michelle & Vanessa joined our family for a great lunch at Chevy's.

REUNION PLANNING
So know we get to the most challenging event of the entire month - the Reunion. The last 2 weeks before the reunion entailed meetings with the committee, meeting with the DJ, selecting all the music, printing name tags with photos, creating raffle baskets, creating glimmering centerpieces, ordering 12 dozen balloons, printing bio forms, printing programs, creating posters with hundreds of photos & laminating them, accounting, tracking down the last of the classmates, calling as many people as we could to convince them to go, creating a slideshow of student pictures, ordering awards for the night, getting all the memorabilia together for the night, and last but not least - finding something to wear with only 48 hours to spare!

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1988 20 YEAR REUNION

Here we are - the 3/4 Reunion Committee members starting the set-up. We were up the night before until 2:30am getting all the last minute things done for the night - including that most excellent sign above that took almost 3 hours to do!.

Then, the kick-off began.

Donna & I to the left - Milenko & I to the right.

Donna & Michelle to the left - Milenko & Matt to the right

Me, Kelly Abrams & Angela LaSpina

We have all know each other since we were tots. Angela & I were next door neighbors when we were 3. Kelly & I have been friends since Kindergarten. The best parts of the reunion were working with these gals & Simon. Simon has an English accent and just makes everything sounds so sexy!

Milenko & I get to have a dance (left) - Johnny & I (right)

For those of you who've known me all my life, you know Johnny Ybarra. He was my HS sweetheart and we were together about 5 (maybe more) years. Now he's just a sweetheart who has the coolest wife and greatest looking family. Best part is that they're just around the corner so we hope to rekindle our friendships with our families now.

Here are some of the professional pictures taken with our friends and ourselves.

Matt & Donna (left) - Michelle & Darren (right)

Donna & I (left) - Milenko, Me, Donna & Matt (right)

Meena & I (left) - Donna, me & Tanya (right)

Meena was our neighbor behind us. She's the most awesome neighbor anyone could have. I asked her to come months ago as Milenko's date. Instead, she watched over the check-in, gave me many hugs and just smiled as gorgeous as she could. What a fabulous person - the best of the best!

And here was the final results of a great evening!