Disneyland Trip

Last week, the children & I took a two-day trip to the Disneyland Resort with a stay at the Disneyland Hotel. We went with my sister Marina. We spent all the first day at Disneyland. It was a beautiful, clear day and the park was not too crowded.

After the park closed we went back to our hotel room. The children were so excited! The hotel has a lot of cute little Disney touches which made our stay special for the children. In the evenings, the hotel has a TV channel with a Disney Princess telling bedtime stories. Mercy loved that!The headboards and bedspreads had scenes from Disneyland.

The TV armiore had a map of Disneyland, the walls had a Tinkerbell fairy dust pattern that was glow-in-the-dark.

The bathroom had Disney character wallpaper, the lights were held up with Mickey hands, & the toiletry bottle caps were Mickey shaped.

The next morning we went to the Grand Californian's Storyteller Cafe for the Chip & Dale Character Breakfast. The food was yummy and the service was excellent.

After breakfast, we headed over to California Adventure. We got on a few rides, toured the tortilla and bread factories, and visited the Hollywood area. The children rode & enjoyed the new Toy Story ride for the first time.

I did not ride most of the rides on our trip. I did do a lot of walking, especially the first day. I actually overdid myself on the trip and was not feeling well when we arrived home after the second day and also the next day. But overall our spur of the moment trip went well. I know the children will remember it for a long time.

Grammy Betty

Tomorrow our family will be heading out to Victorville to attend the memorial service for Jason’s grandmother. Betty passed away suddenly on December 12th after a short hospital stay.

Betty was a beautiful, 81 year-old woman who stayed active through volunteer work and club memberships. She was a voracious reader who passed that love along in her volunteer work teaching literacy. She got around Victorville in her hip, green, Ford Mustang; going to chat group meetings and visiting friends.

Betty was a joy to converse with. I enjoyed chats at family gatherings, she always had a smile and would intersperse Yiddish words or sayings into the conversation.

I will never forget one of the first times I met her when Jason and I were still dating. We were eating dinner, and my meal came with a large piece of broccoli. I don’t eat broccoli. She kept raving about my broccoli. “What a beautiful piece of broccoli!” “Look at that piece of broccoli!” “I hope you are going to eat that broccoli.” Needless to say I choked down that broccoli! Jason and I still joke about that every time broccoli is served.

Betty had 5 children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her loving spirit is missed by the many lives she touched.

Betty at her 80th Birthday Party, 2007

Eddie and Betty Simon, circa 1967

Portrait Sitting

Before Christmas, I took the children to JC Penney's to have their pictures taken. The last time I took them in for a professional portrait sitting was probably at least two years ago! I wanted to give the grandparents a framed portrait of their grandchildren as a Christmas present, which went over very well.

Here are some of my favorite poses.

Merry Christmas!

We pray you have a joyous Christmas!

"For he that is mighty hath done to me great
things: and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from
generation to generation."

-Luke 1:49-50

Thanksgiving Cooking

This past Thanksgiving, we spent with Jason's mother's family. It was nice in that we didn't have to travel far, they live just 5 minutes away. We enjoyed a nice quiet dinner.

The children, my sister Marina, and I had made pumpkin pies, cranberry sauce, and cranberry-apple pie with a crumb topping. Everything was delicious! I also made Yams with Ginger and Scallions. I made these last year as well and they were a big hit. The recipe is from last year's Thanksgiving issue of Saveur Magazine. It is a simple yam recipe, with all fresh ingredients. The mix of flavors is amazing!

Happy 8th Birthday Joshua!

Today is Joshua's eighth birthday. It really is amazing how quickly they grow!

We will be celebrating with a quiet dinner at home. I am making Joshua's favorite dinner - corned beef! We will have it with leek champ, carrots, turnips, cabbage, horseradish cream, & corn bread. For dessert: chocolate cupcakes & chocolate chip cookies.

I am thankful to God for His giving us Joshua. He is a loving, adventurous, thoughtful, and mischievous child! I pray that the Lord will give Jason and I wisdom and grace to raise a God-honoring son.

Cider Pressing!

This year, was the first time that we tried pressing our own cider. We think the cider tasted better, because we had to work so hard before we enjoyed it.

Joshua and Jason had the hard work of turning the wheel to smash the apples through the grinder.

Mercy and I had the easy job of putting the apple in the grinder.

After the apples were grinded, we had to turn the press to squeeze all the juice out of the apples. And then the cider is poured into a gallon bottle after going through a filter to take out any large pieces and bees that fell into the vat.

We had a wonderful morning in Oak Glen. Breakfast, apple picking, and cider pressing! We can't wait until next year!

Oak Glen

Last month we took our annual trip to Oak Glen. We woke up early to get there in time for breakfast. We ate at Law's Cafe, where they serve a buffet breakfast. It was delicious! I highly recommend it, but if you go get there early. We got there a couple of minutes before the buffet started, and the dining room was almost full of people waiting to eat. By the time we got up to get in line at the buffet, there was a line of people waiting outside to get in. But it is worth it! Yummy!

After breakfast, we headed over to Willowbrook Apple Farm for apple picking and cider pressing. It is a small family run farm. The children were able to feed and pet Duke, the horse, again. This year they had a new pot bellied pig, she was so cute and excited to meet us.

Cute little apple pickers!

It was a beautiful, crisp, clear morning.

I tried to get Jason to take a picture with the children. It is almost impossible to get that man to smile!

But after some work, I was able to coax a smile out of him!

I had to help Mercy pick apples. It was only the second weekend that Willowbrook was open, so there were plenty of apples that were low for the children to pick.

Reformation Night

As we do not observe Halloween, each year we look for ways to avoid the celebration of it. I find it increasingly hard as the children grow older to keep them from the holiday. Everywhere we go there are reminders of it. We couldn't go to any store without seeing decorations and people would ask the children what they were going to dress up as. I am so happy that that is over with for the year!

This past Friday, we went to our church's Refomation Night. October 31st is Reformation Day, a holiday in rememberance of the reformation. It is celebrated on the anniversary of the day in 1517 that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

RBCR had games and activities for the children to learn about the reformation and have fun.

This is Joshua getting ready to throw relics in the river.

Mercy and Joshua listen to Robyn tell how to spin the wheel to learn about the life of reformer John Calvin.

This is the St. Giles bowling game.

The children were able to make graham cracker churches, and decorate them with candy.

Joshua and I had trouble getting his church to stay standing.

At the Diet of Worms booth, the children had to knock down the books that were not written by Luther.

At this booth the children throw papal bulls into the fire.

Here is Mercy painting a picture of a famous reformer.

The children received tickets at the booths and then were able to trade them in for prizes!
I have to say that Melissa (pictured above behind the prize table) did an awesome job putting that night all together. Thank you Melissa for all the time, imagination, and hard work that you put in to give our family a memorable night!

I Voted. Did You?

We bundled up against the rain this morning to be at our polling place at 7 am when it opened. We arrived at the Calvary Chapel a little after voting started, and only had to wait about 30 minutes to cast our vote. I was happy about this because I was afraid we would have a long wait, which wouldn't be fun with two children.

I talked to both Joshua & Mercy about a possible long wait, and that I didn't want to hear complaining or whining. I forgot to have the same talk with Jason! And if you know my husband and his views about politics & government in general (not to mention his dry sense of humor), then you know what I had to listen to for that 1/2 hr. wait. Such as: "Where are all these people at all the other elections." "They only come out to vote for a presidential election." "It's not like our votes are even going to be counted correctly." "This is all a government racket!"

As I was waiting to vote, I heard the polling place workers talking about some complaints they were getting about a giant "Yes on 8" sign outside the window. The woman in charge of the polling location said that as long as it was 100 feet away it was legal.

This is a picture of the Calvary Chapel. Just inside that big window is where voting was taking place, so we all had a clear view of the sign while we cast our vote. I thought it was funny because it looks like this is a "Yes on 8 Polling Station."

I know that whatever the outcome of the elections, God is in control. We should not fret, but instead, trust in Him and his providences.

Ultrasound Pictures of Baby Lucy!

It's Going To Be A Girl!

We had an ultrasound today! The ultrasound technician was pretty positive that we will be having a girl. So Lord willing, sometime around February 26, 2009 we will be welcoming little Catherine Lucille into our family. We are preparing to be inundated with pink yet again! As I was laying there having the ultrasound I was so thankful to God that He has blessed us with this little one, and brought us this far. He is such a merciful and caring Father!

Remembering Our Little Glory Babies

Boy or Girl?

We will have to wait two more weeks to find out whether we will have a little Lupe or Lupita (no, those aren't the names we have chosen). I went in for my OB appointment this morning and Dr. Lopez said we need to wait until the baby is a little bigger. I was disappointed about that, but I was happy to hear a strong heartbeat and receive clear AFP test results! What a blessing!

So check back in a couple more weeks!

Mama Tey

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, my grandmother, Esther died of ovarian cancer. Mama Tey (a name her family lovingly called her) was 81 years old. She had been diagnosed with cancer only the week before her death.

Mama Tey loved to travel. She had visited Israel, Germany, South America, Egypt, and various other places. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, embroidery, and crocheting. Mama Tey was also a great cook. She made tasty chili verde, caldo, rice, and even her quesadillas were the best. Her dish I will miss the most, especially on a cold afternoon, is sweet rice!

Mama Tey had six children, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by the many who loved her.

Prayer for My Family

My grandmother, Mama Tey, has been in the hospital since last Tuesday. The doctors have been running many tests. We were told that she has ovarian cancer. Today, we received the final test results. She has ovarian cancer, that has now wrapped around her intestines. Her kidneys are also not doing well. We have been told that she has about 3 months left.

Mama Tey should be coming home today and will be receiving in-home hospice care. Jason and I would appreciate prayer for Mama Tey and also my entire family; especially, my parents who will be providing her care. Please pray that the Lord will work in the lives of my family through this difficult time.

Mama Tey, last year at the Sawdust Factory

Papa Maro, Marina, Mama Tey and Myself

circa 1982

Mercy is Feeling Better!

We are very thankful that our little Mercy is up and about after three days of sickness! She has had a high fever, along with lethargy, loss of appetite, headaches, and vomiting since Tuesday. Today, she was up and playing and talking non-stop all day. Praise God that we are in His hands in our sickness and in our health. When my children are ill, I am especially reminded of what a blessing they are in our lives.

Since she was feeling better, we did crafts. This is her kitty cat paper bag puppet.

Educational Accents gets 5 Stars!

I have to post a rave review for the website Educational Accents! This is a site that buys and sells used homeschool curriculum. I have purchased from them in the past and they have great prices as well as speedy shipping.

Last week, I placed another order. When I received the shipment this week, I realized that one of the books I ordered, Famous Men of Greece, was not the full textbook, but a guide for the book. I checked the receipt and it simply said Famous Men of Greece. I wasn't sure if the mistake was mine or edaccents. I decided not to do anything, especially since the cost was so little.

The next day, I received an email from edaccents asking me to comment on my order. I think I gave them 4 out of 5 stars. And mentioned the mistake. Later that afternoon, I received a phone call from an edaccents representative. She apologized for the mistake and said that they were going to ship the correct book out and that I could keep the guide they had sent! Talk about quick, responsive customer service!

I am really impressed with this website. Even though the mistake may not have been their fault, they wanted to make sure that I was satisfied. The next time I need homeschool books, I will definitely check them first.

Happy Birthday Isaac Blue!

Today, is my brother's birthday. As I was looking for a picture to post of him, I realized that I don't have any recent ones! This is the most recent one. It was taken last July. The lovely lady next to him is his wife, Cathy.

Tonight, the whole familia is going to Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ for dinner to celebrate Isaac and Jason's birthdays. Yum! I will have to take my camera to take some shots of my handsome brother!

Happy Birthday Mr. Davis!

Yesterday was Jason's birthday! We spent it just the way he wanted: quietly at home with a home cooked meal. I told him I would make whatever he wanted, which I thought would be shepherd's pie. He chose fettucine alfredo, glazed carrots, home-made bread, and chocolate chip cookies. We had a very relaxing evening.

Happy Birthday My Love!