Birthday Fiesta

Ok -- so I have no digital camera right now, and my mom hasn't quite figured out how to get the photos off her digital camera just yet.... so, I have "stolen" a photo from Corinne, my sis-in-law, so I can at least prove that I am alive and well... and still blogging every once in a blue moon.

That being said, this is a shot of me in a big goofy hat eating at our very favorite Mexican restaurant for my... er... latest birthday! ;) Of the 14+ years I've been eating there (and of the countless birthdays I've spent there), this is the very FIRST time I have ever worn "the hat" and been sung to in Spanish. And I'll admit: it was fun. (Notice the goofy smile and the "mid-clap" pose....)

Now bring on the birthday chips and salsa! (And maybe I'll bring on some more birthday photos... )

How does the tooth fairy get in the house?!?

Well, we hit a major milestone: Jaiden lost her very first tooth -- on my birthday! (It's one of the bottom teeth... you can barely see the space in the photo!)
It had been wiggling around for several weeks (as loose baby teeth usually do!), and she asked me just about every day when it would fall out. It finally popped out (with some help from her camp counselor) on the afternoon of my big day! ;)
So, happy first tooth, eh.. first tooth lost... uh tooth falling out day.... or whatever it is you say on such occasions!
Jaiden carried around her tooth in a "tooth fairy pillow" (see photo), excited about what she would get when the infamous tooth snatcher visited her that night. She was concerned, though, about how the tooth fairy would get in to her bedroom. She informed me that Santa used the fireplace, but the tooth fairy flies and would probably need to come through her window. I finally convinced J that we didn't need to actually open her window, since tooth fairies are magic ...and they probably just wave a wand or throw around some fairy dust to find the children and their newly lost teeth!

BTW: Jaiden ended up with a small heart-shaped purse with 5 crisp 1-dollar bills inside. (Has the price of baby teeth gone up?!?) However, I informed her that the tooth fairy usually just gives 1 dollar, but since it was Jaiden's first tooth, perhaps this was a special treat!

I Love You Turfgrass

My husband is pretty darn cute.... for many, many reasons. But not too long ago, he wanted to do something special and unique for me. So he mowed "I LOVE YOU" (along with a smiley face) in our front yard!

I came home that day and noticed something odd about the grass. And when I walked out the front door to get the mail, I was greeted with this special message.

Thanks, babes! I love you, too!

Kindergarten Luau

Jaiden and her classmates had loads of fun celebrating the end of school (and the successful completion of kindergarten) with a luau party. They dressed up in "grass skirts," colorful shirts, flip flops and leis and had a blast dancing to music, eating snacks and posing for pictures -- like this one! Yes, that's my little ham on the right with the pink, star-shaped sunglasses!
(I can't believe my little girl has finished her first year of school!)

Mom Day Fun!

Our entire family, including Alcazars 1 and 2 and the Reoch clan, went to The American Village on Sunday afternoon for a fabulous Mother's Day "brunch." Representing three generations, we scooped up plates full of delectible treats, complaining only mildly that they did not have a chocolate fountain like we did at our wedding reception.

And speaking of our reception, it was fun to be back in the place where our wedding took place... to celebrate yet another special day. Yay MOMS! (And it was great to not have the stresses of timing, visiting guests and throwing a good wedding party!) ;)

So... Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms!

Mom Day '08

Jaiden & Me... Enough said?!?!

Spring Sweetie

There's really no rhyme or reason for this post, except that these are cute pictures of Jaiden! She has been learning all about spring at school, and she told me the other day that April always brings rain, but that's ok, because rain makes the flowers grow.