The Queen: Michelle

The Queen: Michelle
I am 28 years old. Still a princess but the queen of my family. Spoiled beyond belief. Lucky and truely blessed. A lover. A crafter. A mother. A wife. A friend. This is me.

My King: Junior

My King: Junior
The LOVE of my life! He completes me and balances me out in every way. He's a workaholic. He's loud, blunt, and crazy. He drinks Monsters like his life depends on it. Above all he is the greatest Daddy I could ever ask for, for my children. And he treats me like his Queen (and he calls me that too).

The Model Child: Diego Ray

The Model Child: Diego Ray
9 years old. My only boy. He is the epitome of the perfect child. He is so responsible and independent. Wise beyond his years. He is laughter, he is love, he is compassion, he is simply amazing. He keeps me grounded and reminds me always that I am beautiful. He is a natural born leader and takes care of the household and family better than me!

The Diva: Alayna Danae

The Diva: Alayna Danae
7 years old. She is drama. My fashionista for sure with a style all her own. Sensitive and loving when she wants to be. Thumbsucker. My biggest headache because she is the most like me. She is the only one who can cause me to become uncontrollably angry. She loves to dance. She loves to model. My bookworm and most academic.

The Wild Child: Arielle Marie-Grace

The Wild Child: Arielle Marie-Grace
4 years old. This one is something else. She is pure comedy. Never a dull moment with her crazy antics. She is also the crybaby. She does things her own way. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to be cute to get it. My Disney loving pal. So girly. Her favorite color is pink. Loves Rapunzel. Will wear a dress every single day. Can't leave the house without a bow in her hair. She refuses.

The Munchkin: Atalie Belle

The Munchkin: Atalie Belle
2 years old. My sweet baby. She loves her Mommy above all else. She is a cuddlebug for sure. The calmest most well behaved baby ever! But she has TONS of energy. She is so small and petite. She loves to sing and dance. She so SO ready for ballet and has yet to even step foot in a class. She loves Minnie Mouse and watching Disney Jr. She is hilarious and talks way too much.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Alayna's First Haircut

Since before I ever had a daughter I always knew I wanted her to have long hair.

Most of my life up until I had kids... I always had long hair. I loved it. It was my pride and joy. It was beautiful. If I can scan some old pictures one of these days... I will show you. My parents never cut it... except occasional little trims just to keep it healthy but nothing noticeable. The very first time I EVER cut my hair I was in the 4th grade. And it went from past butt to above my shoulders. Talk about drastic. I really wanted it done because for 10 years I only knew long hair. I remember my Dad never wanted me to cut my hair. He used to always say he's be mad if we cut it. And when we did we were scared for him to see it. Now if you know my Dad, like really know him, you know he doesn't get mad. So it wasn't like we really feared him... but we knew he'd be shocked. I can't remember if he liked it or not... "Daddy, did you like it?" Probably did... my Daddy doesn't really care. And after that I kept it just below my shoulders until 6th grade. I always missed my hair and grew it out again (btw my hair grows REALLY fast anyway) and continued to have looooong beautiful (well taken care of) hair until I had Diego. And I chopped it off to above my shoulders again. And grew it out. Then chopped it again when I had Alayna. And grew it out again... and chopped it off again not even a week after having Arielle. Yes... I am weird. But guess what I am growing it out again. And everytime I do cut it all... I donate it to Locks of Love. It's so special what is done with the hair... and I feel proud when I can give that gift to someone else. I've done it 4 times in my life.

So, I get off track, but the story was... Jr and I decided before we ever even had out daughters that if we had girls... we wouldn't cut their hair. Everyone knew how strongly we felt about this. My parents really understood because they too did the same with us. (My sister was in 2nd grade when she first cut her hair) And both him and I loooooove long hair. Simple agreement right?

Wrong.

We went on a cruise in 2006 to celebrate my parents 25th wedding anniversary. Some 20 family members joined us and all without kids. At the time we only had Diego and Alayna. And for a week we left them with my Mother-in-Law (who wasn't my in-law yet since we weren't married). On the last day of our cruise once we finally docked back in San Pedro, California we called my mother-in-law to check on our kids. She then informed Jr, in an evil way might I add, that she had cut our 1 year old daughters hair and given her bangs. Of course Jr makes the mistake of telling me this while we're still on the boat waiting around to be called so we can get off. I was beyond furious! Furious can't even described how mad I was. I couldn't believe that my monster-in-law... err mother-in-law... had the audacity to cut knowing that it was one of the only things I was so passionate about. One of the things I wanted to save for a time when we could do it together. It was something SO special to me. Weird... maybe... but I always envisioned taking her for her first haircut. I had to wait another 36 hours before I even got back to Phoenix to pick up my kids.

To say we were mad was an understatement. We arrived to have her rub it in our face that she cut her hair. Of course she pretended it to be innocent and even saved me all the hair they cut off. What I did after that was a blur... I remember a lot of yelling on my part, more yelling on Jr's part, and some crying from his Mom after all was said and done. (Don't get me wrong my mother-in-law can be a nice lady... but 95% of the time she likes things her way... and she's used to ruling her kids lives.) Oh an a door flying off the handle. It was a really big argument. (And we've never had a huge one like that ever again... I think she got the point with me. She still tries sometimes... but she hasn't crossed me again.) Needless to say she didn't see her Grandkids for almost 8 months. Yes we were bitter... hair is nothing to be mad overthere was nothing we could do about it. It wasn't just about her hair... obviously hair grows back. But it was about the principle that she never respected us enough to follow our wishes. No matter how crazy she or anyone else thought they were. She was is our child and we want to raise her and groom her as we please. So we put it behind us... and still continued to never cut her hair. (And just so you know... I never kept the hair)

Well today we woke up and Jr's verbally running through a list of our agenda for the day. And then he asks... "Alayna's birthday is in a little over 2 weeks and so is her party... should we take her for her "first" haircut." (It is her first okay? That incident was erased from memory) So we did.

Nothing special. They took 2 inches off the bottom and gave her a few long layers. Anyone else may not notice a huge difference but it was enough for Jr and I... and her hair is back to being healthy and easy to comb. It was getting really tangled and I would spend too much time trying to comb it out. But today I popped the brush in and in literally 30 seconds it was all untangled. Sooo much better!

Anywho... after all my long stories... here's some pictures to document this special occasion. And I hope when we really chop her hair off for the first time... we can also donate her hair to Locks of Love.

She really liked the whole process... she thought it was fun sitting in a chair and getting her hair washed...


See how her hair came to a point at the end... and it was SUPER thin down there too.


Hair goes up... thumb goes in... this relaxes her... soothes her.




Right before they added her layers


All done! Not dramatic but we can see the difference!


She's such a goober sometimes... she was saying "I love my new haircut!"


And she requested a picture of her "new face" in the car... like her face had changed or something... Haha.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

What's On My Tube?

Weekends are a great way of catching up on my DVR shows. Usually I have a jam packed planned out weekend... but these past few days have been very low key. No plans. Nothing. So I did just that... snuggled in my bed with my remote and a soda watching my shows.
So I figured I share with you people... What's on my tube:


So You Think You Can Dance: My favorite show of all time! What I love about this show is the diversity of dance they present and how awesome the routines they come up with are. Every week there's something new to amaze me. I jumped off the American Idol bandwagon and never watched it last season. It's just not there for me anymore. There's no passion in the show anymore. There's no emotion. And with SYTYCD almost every dance can touch you. And you can plainly see these dancers are passionate about what they do. This season has been awesome! The top dancer were ALL good... and it's so hard to see anyone go each week. It's so entertaining the show flies by. I love love love love LOVE this show!


The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season 2 just started last week and OMG it was an incredible one hour.... SOOOOO much stuff happened! Let me tell you about the show. It's about a girl named Amy (shown right) who is 15 years old, a band geek (pretty band geek) in high school, and she ends up pregnant by the most popular guy in school who is nothing but trouble. A rebel kid who is in foster care and has a troubled past. The show depicts a whole group of high school students and their sex lives. Molly Ringwald plays Ann, Amy's mom who is going through a divorce. It's kinda a great show because it really does show everything Amy went through once she found out she was pregant. Telling her parents, going to the Dr, dealing with school and gossip, growing up, maturing, and even deciding if she wanted to keep her baby or have it adopted. The show is funny and real. I laugh and I cry. It's very positive and talks about all the issues teens face when it comes to sex, peer pressure, and family life.
There's a little of everything Amy the innocent girl, Adrian the slutty girl, Grace the cheerleader virgin,
Ricky (the guy who got Amy pregnant) is the rebel, Ben (Amy's boyfriend) the geek, Jack (the Christian Jock), and the parents who are trying to raise them with all their own problems. It's really a great cast!
At the end of the first season Amy decides to keep her baby and she gives birth to a baby boy, who her sister names John. This 2nd season is proving to be as incredible. So much happened in just the one hour season premier! SO MUCH! And it looks like AMy is going to have to learn that having a baby so young is more work than she could have ever imagined and even though her parents love her, she'll need to grow up and start doing things on her own.
If you've never watched it I really recommend it... especially if you have teenagers in your life. Very insightful to the way they think. Tuesdays Nights 8/7c on ABC Family


Jon & Kate Plus 8: I know I know... I shouldn't watch this show. But honestly I can't stop watching. The kids are so cute and it's fun to see how a family with 8 kids functions. Sure they don't show everything but this season is very real. I have cried numerous times watching this marriage fall apart. And I don't even feel like Kate is only to blame. Sure I can agree that they put on a huge front for the sake of the show. But your job is what keeps your family afloat and after so many years of doing the show, without it, they would have a tough time taking care of their 8 kids. It's not impossible... normal people do it all the time. But this has been their job for the last 5 years. It's so sad to see all the stressed in their lives finally get the best of them. You can see Kate wants to continue with the show and her books whereas Jon wants a more normal life now. It's a hard situation to be in... but I can't help myself and still watch the show every week.


16 and Pregnant: This is a show on MTV about young girls who get pregnant. It documents
their pregnancy, up until the birth, and after. Each episode (1hr) highlights one girl and her journey. It's eye opening for teenagers. I identify with the show a lot... maybe that's why I watch it... because I had my first child at 18. The only difference is, these girls mostly don't have a support system, and I always did and still do. It's sad to see how lost these girls are with no one behind them. Interesting show. Some of the girls grow up right away but others try to still be teenagers and think someone else will take care of their child.


So those are the main shows I watch... among other reality TV shows. I love reality tv... no matter how scripted some may be. I enjoy seeing other people live their lives. I guess it's just fun to see how different my life is from theirs. I learn a lot sometimes... and it's quite entertaining... especially all the drama.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Yet Another Trip to the Park

My friend Jessica and I took our kids the park yesterday to have a picnic. After having lunch... and Gustavo feeding his to the birds... the kids ran in the grass for a while. And it was a little warm but cloudy so we didn't have to deal with the sun beating down on us.



But it quickly turned into a photoshoot for me...

Diego:





Alayna:













Arielle was NOT amused with Alayna and her continuous posing:


But she kept watching her regardless:



Then Gustavo even joined in on the fun... and he LOVED posing then running to me to show him the picture:







And finally Jessica joined in on the fun...







And after that we drove to my mother-in-law's house so all the kids could play together.






This is my nephew Luis:





After we went home I caught Alayna and Arielle playing through the sliding door... Alayna was "helping" my Dad with the pool and Arielle really wanted to go out there! (sorry our door is dirty... we had a Luau the other day)


Then the girls got ready for bed (Diego went to spend the night with his cousin) and they LOVED modeling their pj's:


I've Got Moves You've Never Seen Before

Let me start by saying... I am a spectacular dresser and dancer. This I already know.

The other night my Daddy and my Tia Chely (who is visiting from California) were singing some karaoke in the dining room. I was across from them in the computer room enjoying the sweet music I was hearing. I was even singing along and jamming out while I edited my pictures. It was like being in a concert and I had front row seats.



Then all of a sudden, it started. This melody that made me wanna jump up out of my seat and dance. The kind of song that put my body in a trance and I had no control of my appendages.

And this occurred:



Those singers weren't too impressed with my moves... or my dress style. I thought I did a pretty snazzy job! I don't know what they were talking about... cuz I look at it and I did GREAT!

I am now thinking of pursuing a dancing career... So You Think You Can Dance... here I come!
Bwahaha!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

3rd Annual Father's Day Luau!

We're awesome wives and we planned a fun party!


Loyiel the "Rad" Dad


Diego and Ducky being silly

Arielle being a little ham!


My Daddy and Sister


Miss Alayna modeling her bathing suit


Daddy! <3


Daddy, Loyiel, and Junior


The kids wanted in on the photo taking too...


I LOVE it... Ducky is always playing with Arielle and she just reached over (on her own) and hugged him... that's rare for her!


Sisters! <3


My precious!


Tia Elena gave my Daddy "cilantro" flowers


That was soooo nice of her! Haha!


Daddy and Son...


Junior's shirt


BFFs - My Tia Elena and My Mommy


My cousin Christian


Poor Juanito... he just wanted to go by the pool...


See? Happiness.


Kika catching some rays...

And even Deecey had fun standing under his "Daddy" while he cooked.