My 12 Favorite 2009 Christmas Moments...

(in no particular order!)

#1 - Santa's Helpers....

Jack and Jayce LOVED everything associated with Christmas. At the sight of a camera they would scream "candy cane" and crack themselves up....

#2 - Waking up Christmas morning in coordinating (warm & cozy) holiday "jammies"...

What can I say? It's a tradition that started when I was a child and I've continued with my kids.

#3 - Watching my kids come down the stairs to see what Santa brought them.

They are so good. They actually wait for me to get my first cup of coffee, feed the dogs, and get the camera before they rush to look under the tree.

#4 - Grandma and Papa's annual attempt to get a picture with all of their grandchildren.

This year the grandchild count reached 7 with the birth of Luke to Paco and Kerrie. Unfortunately, Luke did not make it to the picture this year. Maybe next year!

#5 - Spending time with my big brother and his family.

Robert Jr. travels a lot so while we get to see his kids at least once a month, we don't get to spend time with him and Beth nearly enough. Christmas is the one time we know we'll get to spend some time with them.

#6 - Spending time with my baby brother and his family.

We hang out with them all the time as Jack and Jayce are not only cousins but best buddies but having the boys discover the joys of Christmas together made it even more special.

#7 - Spending time with my sister and her family

Michelle and Chris own two stores so during the holidays we barely see them until they close their stores on Christmas Eve and FINALLY get to relax.

#8 - My Kids' Reactions on Christmas Morning to their loot...

Never mind that they are now 12 and 10 years old respectively, I can still manage to surprise them with gifts that they weren't expecting but were thrilled about. For Katja this year it was book #2 of a series she just fell in love with. For Robbie, what else, a new football and kicking tee.

#9 - Finding The Perfect Gift for each...

If you know my kids, NO explanations necessary, right?

#10 - Cousins playing football in the yard

I am saving this picture! I bet they'll still be playing football like this on Christmas ten years from now! Of course, grandma won't have to worry about them running into the street then and they won't be in matching outfits.... ;)

#11 - Robbie Singing Karaeke on Christmas Eve

Robert and Beth got a portable karaoke machine for all the cousins to have fun with. Much to our surprise Robbie was first to grab the microphone and give it a go!

#12 - Katja Singing a Solo (One Candle) with her choir about Peace.

She sang this several times. The first time was during the choir's Winter concert with all the lights off and her lighting the first candle during her solo, etc. Unfortunately, the lack of lighting resulted in a black screen during video taping much to our disappointment. Fortunately, the choir went from school to school during their Winter Tour singing songs from the show and I was able to record her while she sang at Robbie's school. His classmates found her to be pretty. Robbie was perplexed, "Pretty? Dude, that's my sister..."

Hocus Pocus Fun

I love Fall! It is my favorite season of the year. I love the weather. I love the colors. I love the food. And I love all the outdoor festivals and activities that go along with the season.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite Holidays. We always make a big deal of dressing up (adults too..), get lots of candy, get together with friends and/or family and have a good time.

This year I knew I wasn't going to have the kids for Halloween so I made sure to find ways to celebrate the holiday with them beforehand. One of the things we did was attend the Hocus Pocus Pops concert put on by the Houston Symphony at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion. This was our first year to go, and I can predict it will become another family tradition. Why did we like it?

1. Entry was free ;)
2. Great Music from Movies like Superman, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. by the Houston Symphony. (My kids actually do enjoy classical and/or instrumental music.)
3. Picnics (food from outside) were allowed so i didn't have to pay $10 for burger. We actually went through the Chic-fil-a drive through on our way to the concert and ate the food on the hill.
4. Fun activities for the kiddos were available prior to the concert. Your kid could carve out a miniature pumpkin and leave the mess behind for someone else to clean.
5. Candy and other goodies were available for the kids.
6. Sitting on the Hill on a blanket (or rental free lawn chair) while the kids (mine and all their cousins) ran around having fun.

Jack dressed up this year as Buzz Lightyear. He's into Toy Story these days.

My mom got all the boys glow-in-the-dark necklaces. Jack dismantled his and used it to conduct the Symphony. He called it his "lightyear". He was so darn cute that I had to try to film him "conducting" even though the light conditions were atrocious. I took him to the stairs between the hill and the covered seats so the safety lights could help illuminate him a little bit. The visual quality is not very good but one gets the general idea.

I love how as the speed of the music increases his little hands move faster and faster until he ends up using his whole body in a frenzy, then slows down again with the music and claps and yells "yeeeeey!!" when the music ends. I better hold on to this clip. If he ends up being a famous conductor it may be worth some money in the future! lol!!!

Katja invited some of her musical friends to dress up and join us. They're all such nice girls. It was cute (and refreshing) to hear them comment on the various musicians, instruments, and songs between talking about friends, school and boys.

Robbie and the cousins were there too but I can find my flash drive with those pictures so I will add them later when I find them otherwise it will be Christmas before I post this October blog entry!

Happy BIRTH day, Baby Luke!!!!!!!

Here HE is...... Baby Luke will celebrate his birthday on October 27th each year, exactly one day before his auntie Millie (who turns 40 in exactly six hours and 18 minutes and not one minute before).

Back to Luke- He's a Monster of a baby by Rivera standards.

• He weighed: 8. 45 lbs
• He measured: 22.5 inches
• He was born with LOTS of black straight hair (When I asked if it was curly or straight Paco said it looked "matted" to him. Hmph! Men!)
• He looks like "The Presgrove side of the family with Paco's nose." (The second pictures illustrates this point better.)

We affectionately refer to this one as the "baby burrito" picture.

Luke has increased the Presgrove grandchildren count to 2 and the Rivera grandchildren count to 7. That is 2 boys for the Presgrove side and 6 boys and 1 girl (aka- Princess Katja) for the Rivera side. All grandparents are reported to be beaming with pride. Luke is having his first bath as I type, and he is pretty sure he hates the experience.

More pictures (these were emailed to me) coming soon as I am off to the hospital to check out and hold my nephew for the first time. I can't think of a better way to spend an evening!!!!

A prayer of THANKS to the Almighty for this safe and healthy delivery. Both mother and child are enjoying perfect health.

Cousins & BFF's

Jack and Jayce may be cousins by blood but they are BFF's by choice. After "parallel playing" for most of their lives they finally "found" each other at last a few months ago and are now inseparable. We get them together at least once a week, usually, so they can entertain each other and burn some energy having fun playing in each other's company. In addition to the usual trek to the park or the back yard they also enjoy...

1. Ending the day taking baths together and playing in the tub before donning they "jammies" and expressing their discontent at the the other's imminent departure for the evening.

2. Playing Naked Basketball just before bath time. Doesn't everyone??

3. Putting together puzzles (without fighting!) :)

...and eating dinner together (sorry, no pic available of this elusive act). It is the only way we can get them to eat sometimes. Somehow sharing a meal with a friend makes the prospect of eating more appealing. Sometimes we wonder how they are still alive. I could feed a small third world country with all of the food I have served Jack and he has refused to eat. Thank heaven for vitamins! Whoever invented Gummy Bear Vitamins has this mother's deepest gratitude.

First Highlights!

Katja got her first highlights on Columbus Day. My hair dresser of 20+ years (Beth) did the honors. She foiled about six strands around the face and we were quite pleased with the results. Katja is quite into grooming and primping these days. She wakes at 5:30 a.m. just to roll her hair and puts much thought into every outfit she wears. She such THE girly-girl. I thought I had a few more years before we reached this stage, but alas, time snuck up on me! Sighhhh.... Here's the latest on Katja:

• Her new nickname (at school & with friends) is "Kat" though she does go by Katja as well.
• She is playing volleyball for Knox as well a singing in the choir and playing in the school's orchestra.
• She just had her first concert "chair audition" with the Houston Youth Symphony and will be playing 2nd chair viola at the November 8th concert. This means she gets to sit front and center on the stage. Of course, she wanted 1st chair but got beat out by a girl that has been playing since she was four years old. The good thing is that she will have someone to push her and challenge her so she will be motivated to continue to work hard on improving and maturing her skills as a violist.
• She goes to Junior High All Region Orchestra Auditions tomorrow. Since she made it last year as a middle schooler, her goal this year is to make the top orchestra and rank in the the top three in the region. Her teacher told her that all of the top students will play the right notes, but that the top players will be those who can make their violas sing. We'll see!
• She had her first junior high boyfriend last week, but as of today he is already ancient history. Her only regret is that she is now without an escort to her first dance- a Halloween costume dance at Knox Jr. High. However, she did point out to me that word is out that she is once again "single" and there are still almost two weeks before the dance.
• She is also trying out for All Region Choir Audition. She is singing "Alice Blue Gown". I will post a recording of her singing it soon.
• Speaking of singing! All of the Knox Jr. High volleyball players went to watch the College Park volleyball team play at one of their home games. Just before the game started the announcer introduced Katja by saying that she would be singing the national anthem. When I asked her why she had not told me that she would be singing she informed me that she had been volunteered by her teammates at the last minute and even she had not known anything about it. So, she had no qualms about singing "cold" without practicing even a bit and in front of hundreds of people without a moment's reservation. Poor thing my child, she is so shy!

Jack loves to watch Robbie's football games. He yells "Go Robbie!" from the sidelines, climbs the fence to get a better view (as seen below), and runs up and down the sidelines having a ball. It was so cute the other day... I took Katja and some of her girl friends to see the Woodlands High vs. College Park football game at the new football stadium (gorgeous!). Jack had the most fun of all. The weather was misty all day so he got to wear his London Fog coat with his yellow rain boots to the game and even got to hold mama's "brella" at times. He would stand on the stadium benches and make comments such as these on the game:

• "(Gasp) He catch the ball, mommy!"
• "Oh, no!!!! He fall down!"
• "Go Robbie!!!!!" (He assumed, of course, Robbie was one of the players ;)
• "Holy moly! He kick the ball highhhh!"
• "He run with the ball, mommy!"
• "Isha big helmet" (at half time when WHS brings out the giant inflatable helmet for the players to run through."

Robbie got a hair cut. The "bowl" haircut is no more. (sniff, sniff) I will post recent pics of him with his new "doo" after tomorrow's football game.

Best Personal Game!

Robbie had his best personal football game ever today!

At least, I thought so! Here are some of the highlights of Robbie's accomplishments today:

1. He rushed for many (I lost count) yards on offense. He always gained ground. Never has the defense been able to keep him from making forward progress.

2. He scored his second touchdown of the season (games #1 & #3/today). He probably would have scored one on the game #2 as well but his team was winning by so much that Robbie was banned from touching the ball after half time.

3. He sacked the quarter back.

4. He created a fumble and recovered the ball for his team while playing defense.

5. He made MANY defensive tackles.

Below is a picture of him fighting for a few more inches before falling to the ground while holding on to the ball for dear life.

Yep, football's his "thing". It took us 9 years to help him find it, but was well worth the wait. I thank God every day that both my older kids have found a passion for something and that they are both pretty good at! It will be curious to see what ends up clicking with Jack.

Robbie's got Football Fever!!!

"GO Robbie, RUN!!!!!" That was heard often on the sideline of Robbie's first football game of the season when he was playing offense. When he played defense the yelling (by his Papa) switched to "Get 'em Rob! Stop 'im!" That then deteriorated to "Hit somebody!" Men...

• Robbie is playing offense and defense again, but his main position is that of Fullback. (I have come to learn that this is a position where he gets to actually run the ball.) Having played the line all last year, and barely having touched the ball, this was quite the surprise for us. As it turns out, he is the guy you give the ball to when you only need a few yards to get the first down.
• He is not super-fast, but he is Strong, so he can bully his way through a line several yards before he is downed.
• He runs through the middle most times and averages about five yards per carry.
• He was 1 yard short of scoring a touch down on one play and an inch from scoring another but that was OK because his team went on to score on both of those plays anyway.
• He has learned three plays so far: 32 Wedge, 31 Trap, & 18 Pitch Pass. Any men reading this blog may actually know what the heck those plays might be.
• After going into half-time trailing the other team, the coaches decided to play Robbie in defense as well. This decision paid off well. Two of his tackles were especially spectacular. In one, the boy that had scored several touchdowns for the opposing team was about to break-away once more when Robbie, realizing the boy would outrun him quickly, dove and tackled the kid by wrapping his arms around his waist and landing all 100 pounds of himself on top of the kid. Needless to say, the kid had the wind knocked out of him and did not score for the rest of the game.
• His team this year is the Titans and his coach was a professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Can you tell the boy just LOVES football?!? It took me years and half a dozen sports but the boy finally found his "thing". It has been said that is not just a sport for him but a Passion. I tend to agree.

This uniform will NEVER look that clean again! This picture was taken just prior to the first game of the season.

I just LOVE this picture!!! Too bad it was low resolution and I couldn't blow it up any more. It was taken as the boys were warming up by running to the scoreboard and back. I'll have to ask coach to have them do this again before the next game so I can try to take another one....

Next game is Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Go Titans!!!

First Day of School

My brood on the 1st Day of School on the way to catch the bus.

Katja and Robbie were both eager for school to start. Jack felt the excitement even though it was not his first day back to daycare. I offered to drive them to school on the first day, but they had both visited their campuses to meet their teachers and declined my offer. Whatever happened to the days when they held my hand all the way to homeroom and then had their picture with their teacher on the first day of school? I was strictly prohibited from taking more than 5 pictures and all of those were to be taken in front of our house, and only because it's been done every year since they were in kindergarten. Robbie made sure to kiss me goodbye while we were still inside the house. Katja welcomed kisses even at the bus stop; however, calling her "princess" is now strictly forbidden in public. At home, however, she demands her royal status.

Robbie started 4th grade. I took him to "meet the teacher" the previous Friday and, as it turned out, they all knew him already. The fact that they all hugged him and joked with him, as opposed to greeting him with cold/fake smiles was encouraging. The fact that he was excited about who they were was even better!

Katja began junior high. She is a 7th grader and has embraced her new school with gusto. She has already made the top choir, orchestra, and volleyball teams. She has also started talking about boys and the first dance. Sigh. It's going to be a loooong, interesting year.

I won $5000.00

It's true. No kidding. I actually won and award. Best Buy liked how I use technology to teach Spanish so they gave me money to go on a shopping spree and get more stuff. VERY Cool. My school wrote an article about it and has just sent it to a bunch of magazines and the local papers. Below is a copy of the pictures taken, and the article written by the Director of Communications of The John Cooper School. I don't usually blog about myself, just my kids, but they insisted that I include this one in the family blog.

The Headmaster of JCS (Mr. Maher) presenting me the award. Too bad this picture was taken in the Spring, right after I won the award and before I lost 30 pounds!

Best Buy Award to Enrich 'Inspired Spanish'
Classroom for 2009-10 School Year

Spanish teacher Millicent Yanko is looking forward to beginning her third year as a foreign language teacher in The John Cooper Lower School with a little help from Best Buy. As the recipient of a $5,000 Best Buy Teach Award, Yanko is excited about the 2009-10 school year, and the ability to extend a pilot program she initiated last year.

Spanish is taught at all grade levels at Cooper, from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Yanko's pilot program, titled "Inspired Spanish Classroom," incorporates technology into her curriculum to create just what the title suggests.

“I took Spanish, and even though I was a native speaker, I just remember how boring it was,” Yanko said. “So much of learning a language is motivation and addressing learning styles. By adding technology you’re really reaching more children. It’s just the way of the future. You have to teach them in a way they can relate.”

When the computers she used to launch the successful program last year needed replacing, Yanko decided to pursue the teaching award and her work was recognized with a Best Buy Teach Award in the maximum amount for a Lower School – $5,000. The funds are to be used to integrate interactive technology into the classroom. Fourteen laptop computers were purchased with the award money.

Yanko doesn’t deny the value of the basics. “We conjugate verbs together the old-fashioned way – with pencils, paper and charts – but I reinforce it through technology. You just have to balance.”

The "Inspired Spanish Classroom" program uses five centers to engage students and address individual learning styles. The "listening center" is equipped with iPods. Students listen to conversations recorded by sixth graders and answer questions about what they've heard. “They can listen to it as many times as they need to, so it encourages them to figure it out.”

The new laptops are used in the "pronunciation" and "speaking and writing" centers. The computers are equipped with headsets and microphones. Students get immediate feedback as they speak so they can keep trying to improve.

“One of the best things is that now I can actually sit down now with three or four students and we can speak Spanish together while others are learning in the centers." Yanko’s award was one of 460 awarded by Best Buy to educators nationwide.

# # #

Picture of my students using the new laptops to practice their pronunciation using USB headsets with microphones. The pronunciation meter tells them how well they did. If they make it to the "green zone" they get their picture posted in the Pronunciation Hall of Fame.

Belly Dancing at the Olive Oil

So we decided to try out a new restaurant with friends.  We new it was Greek, we knew there would be good music and belly dancing, but we didn't know WE'd be dancing.  Katja and the girls in our party were some of the first volunteers.  Each girl was given a wrap-around skirt with jiggling coins sewn to it to borrow so they could get into the spirit of the dance.  They did.

The actual belly dancer danced on top of a table and around the restaurant.

At this point in the evening, Robbie and his friend (George) were enjoying each other's company laughing at the girls as they watched them dancing, and blushing with embarrassment when the belly dancer got too close to their table.  They were most definitely NOT impressed by her charms.  Girls are not on their radar for a long while yet.  For that, I am presently thankful.  They did think it cool that patrons were encouraged to break plates by smashing them on the floor (at $3 a plate).  Needless to say they each got to enjoy that particular treat first hand.

However, soon enough they gave up being only spectators and joined in the fun.  This was a surprise to me.  I guess the fact that two of the dancers were VERY talented (performing manly dances with acrobatics) and rather good-looking helped convince them that they would not look too "sissy" if they participated.

The boys were slow to start, 

but they quickly got into the fun

(Stacey, please forgive me for posting your picture below but I just couldn't help myself!)

Jack was an angel all night.  He loved the music (best part of the entertainment) and the dancing.  He would dance in the aisles at times.  At others, he would grab my hand and take me away from the table saying, "come on, mama" so he could get a better view of the dancing.  He lasted until 10p.m. without ever fussing.  God knew I needed a low maintenance child after raising Robbie (whom I love and adore and would not change for the world), so he gave me Jack.  It is amazing to me how I can have three children and they are all so vastly unique.

  

Sophia, Caitlin, and Katja pose with their little skirts on.  They were bummed that they did not get to keep them.

Jack was recharging his batteries.  My friend Olga and her husband Kenny discovered the little restaurant.  Thank you Olga for making all the reservations for our large party and calling everybody.  It was nice to just show up, catch up with old friends and enjoy the evening.  I like alternating "girls only outing" with "family night out".  Great idea!

Too bad we can't go bowling for a family night out.  I still can't believe I'm such good friends with two (Stacey & Olga) "germ-o-phobics".  What if we buy you your own personal bowling balls that no one else's grubby fingers will touch?  Can we bowl then?

Arrrgh! Captain Jack loves to party!

Jack had fun at a friend's birthday party a week ago.   Pirates and princesses of all ages attended.  I love watching kids all dressed in costumes.  There's just something about it that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and happy.  Maybe it just reminds me of the days when my imagination took me to magical places where every story had a happy ending.  

A big THANK YOU goes to grandma for re-making an old Robbie costume into a pirate one for Jack almost overnight after the one I ordered online arrived in the wrong size. Now I better appreciate the value of keeping all those old fabric remnants!  I will never tell Jack that his vest was made from leftover curtain fabric and his shirt with lace leftover from Katja's old costume dresses.  Though he will think it cool that the Mickey Mouse pirate hat was actually Robbie's from a trip to Disney when he was three!  

He wore the entire costume for a whole 10 minutes.  The hat was the first thing to go, then the sword, and finally the head-scarf.  The rest he didn't seem to mind, a fact he will question with incredulity when he is older.  Below is one of the few pictures I was able to get of him completely garbed. How cute is he?!?

Speaking of cute...  Robbie was mortified (he's at that "easy-to-embarrass" stage) by our friend John's antics.  He tried to act cool, like he was ignoring John, but the flushed cheeks and wide grin gave him away.  We can always count on John for a good laugh....  

"Princess" Reese, our friends' little girl, reminds me so much of Katja when she was little.  She is SOoooo friggin adorable!!!!!  Only at this age is a female's chubbiness and "waddle" walk celebrated and remarked upon with fondness.  I used to call Katja my "Michellin Baby" at this age because her arms and legs resembled those of that company's mascot.  Her Nana Yanko would indulgently refer to her fat rolls as "baby bracelets"....

Happy 3rd birthday, Anna!  Thanks for letting us be part of your special day.

Paco and I with our little pirates

After helping some of the children with their "tiara" craft activities, Katja crowned grandma and declared her to be the "Queen Mother".  I guess that makes me the queen and her the princess?!?  Unbelievably, after five grandchildren, and with the sixth on the way (via Paco & Kerrie), Katja still remains the only granddaughter.  Every time we find out that an impending pregnancy in the family will result in another grandson she exclaims, "I'm still the Princess!!!." And so she is.

Pirates LOVE birthday cake!!!  Don't you know?

After all the plundering, pillaging, and looting, my little pirate was all tuckered out.  Almost as soon as he was buckled in his car seat for the ride home he fell asleep exhausted after all the revelry.  

And he slept peacefully ever after....

" I Shwimming Mama!"

Well, miracles do happen!  Jack has gone from:

1. not wanting to put his little toe in the water, 
2. to going in while holding on to someone (preferably me) for dear life (while wearing some kind of flotation device), 
3. to "shwimming" (as he calls it) while wearing a flotation device AND holding on to a noodle for dear life, to 
   
4. to "shwimming" with ONLY the help of wings or life vest,
5. to "shwimming" with NO flotation device from papa to grandma in the hut tub!

Granted, he really can't "shwim" yet.  He really just pushed himself from one end of the hut tub to the other (2-3 feet?) and glided from one adult to another. But, in the process held his breath/blew bubbles, kicked his feet, moved his arms (doggie like) and did not freak out in the process.  This was definitely an improvement!  As all of the above were achieved this past weekend, and all of August still looms ahead, I am hopeful that he might make even more improvement before the summer is over.  Guess you know what I'll be doing most days until I go back to work!!!  

The sequence below was repeated numerously this past weekend.  It always ended with a smile.

That's my baby boy!!!!

(that smile gets me every time....)

In the end he was so proud of himself, I'm sure he felt like he was on top of the world!!!

Swimming & Making Music w/ Our Friends...

What else is there to do on a HOT Texas Day, but jump joyfully into a cool, refreshing pool!

They all got points for style....

Bella (whom I predict is going to swim butterfly in the olympics one day & we will all be in the stands wearing "Fly, Bella, Fly" t-shirts in the stands.  She not only won her last meet, she beat all the 7-8 year old boys, save one, too!  She is simply a beauuuuutiful butter-flyer!)

Robbie, of course!

Kata (not to be confused with Katja)

Kung Fu - Alex

This is what the kids call the "Slide Train."

Too bad they didn't realize that they should have lined up from Oldest (in front) to Youngest (in back) until AFTER they had all landed on poor little Kata.  Fortunately, she's a tough cookie!

After swimming, it was off to the living room to play some music. In addition to being competitive swimmers, the beautiful and talented Brosvik girls are also very musical.   The girls come by their musical talents honestly.  The mother,  Cassandra (who happens to be Katja's viola teacher) graduated from Eastman School of Music and has played in symphonies and operas in venues all over the world (including Carnegie Hall) before she gave up playing nights, to be a mom and orchestra teacher. The dad, Steve, is the manager of the Houston Symphony and quite proficient at the piano.  They are a wonderful family and friends.

 

Kata on the violin

Alex has played for the Houston Youth Symphony for several years now.

Bella is the family cellist.

(sorry for the fuzzy picture....)

The Littlest Quartet

Katja joined the girls on her viola to form the ensemble.

The girls are all at such different levels of play due to their ages that they had to settle for simple songs to make sure everyone could play.  It was really very sweet.  At one point you will hear Jack speaking loudly in the background as he rolls around the floor (behind the girls) with one of auntie Michelle's winner dogs. Robbie & Cassandra accompanied on the piano. 

The gang plays "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "Lightly Row". 

I love these kind of days....  Visits to grandma & papa's always end with music by the children.