Lordy, Lordy...they've LOVED for 40!

Forty years ago, today, my mom and dad walked down the aisle in a small Lutheran church in Tustin...mom carried daisies.
There have been good times and bad...but even when things got rough...

They always managed to pick themselves right back up again...

They taught Lisa and I what a life of loyalty and commitment looked like...

They have set an excellent example for these two...

and us...

I couldn't be prouder to congratulate them today for their dedication and life full of laughter and love...

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

We Love You!!!

finally a WIN....

Villa Park took down the Trabuco Hills Mustangs tonight with a score of 13 -9. I didn't get to witness it for myself, but I received an enthusiastic call from Dusan right after the game...and to quote the coach, "I am so glad to have that monkey off our backs!!"...he was referring to the two previous losses. Whew!! Next Friday we play at home (Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange) against Sunny Hills... We hope to "rain" down on them too! This post would NOT be complete without mentioning tonight's season opener of "The Office"
...a few highlights...of course the long awaited proposal of Jim and Pam... The weight loss challenge...My favorite lines of the night:
Michael Scott:Hey Jim did you see Holly's butt?
Jim:No, I didn't Michael.
Michael Scott: Well, why not?
Jim: Because Michael, friends don't usually talk about friend's butts.

Countdown 'til next week's episode...Did you see it?

It's baaaaaaaack...

...with a vengeance. Eczema- UGH! Poor Avery. She broke out Saturday morning, beyond belief. It was on her lips and face, shoulders, forearms, and legs. We headed to urgent care, but turned right back around when we were behind 13 others on the waiting list (also they wouldn't have her chart to be able to track all her previous appointments related to this). I sought advice from the pharmacist... he encouraged me to start washing her clothes separate and with Dreft.

I have also started to notice a pattern with her breakouts and dairy products. So Sunday I went on the mad hunt for anything soy...cheese, ice cream, yogurt, butter, and milk. At the preschool, I got permission to post a sign where they serve food, notifying all staff members that Avery is not to have any dairy products...yet today when I picked her up she had just finished a cup of chocolate pudding??...aaargh!

Today we were able to see her pediatrician who gave us the much needed answers we were looking for.
Immediately: start a mild steroid cream for relief as well as Benedryl at bedtime for 3 nights, to stop the scratching that is happening in her sleep.
Long Term: The Dr. sent us downstairs to the lab after the appointment to have Avery's blood drawn so that they can run allergy testing (enter harps strumming to the tune of Hallelujah....Hallelujah!!!) Don't get me wrong... the blood draw was not fun, but Avery got a Blo-Pop the second she was done. It took 3 of us to hold her down once she knew what was coming.

Now we wait for the allergy test results and hope to see the signs of recovery as soon as possible.

P.S. Yes, amidst all of this... here is the true fashionista in a tube top dress at 4 years old...
I warmly welcome any advice...

Cave Art

One of my favorite activities of the year in class is the Cave Art. We spend the week prior to the activity reading about early man and his expression through cave art. On the final day, the kids bring flashlights, head lamps, and brown paper bags. We turn the desks over, cover the windows to create darkness, and I play a "sounds of the cave" CD...yes, that really exists! The kids then journey back in time 30,000 years using chalks, pastels, and crayons to create their own original work of ancient art.

HB vs. VP

No fun pictures to post...only a disappointing score of 24-14. How can your team possibly win if they turn the ball over to Huntingtoin Beach 5 times?? Yep, you read it right... five!!!

Off Dusan went this morning at 6 a.m. to prepare for this Thursday's game against Trabuco Hills at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange, with a giant bottle of SUPER GLUE!!!!
Go Spartans!

oil and water...

That perfectly describes the relationship between Davin and Avery. She wants him to play with her. He wants to see how loud he can get her to scream. She wants him to play HER way. He likes to jump out from corners and scare her half to death.

So on the rare occasion that they do manage to play together, I get so excited. Yesterday was one of these rare times. Davin asked Avery if she wanted to play "store". They happily went into Avery's room and shut the door. 30 minutes went by without a single screaming match, no tears, and no fighting?!?!? Taking advantage of this peaceful moment, I started to cook dinner. It wasn't until it was time to eat, that I realized what was really going on in there...comparable to Hiroshima...


I'm not sure what "store" Avery thought she was working in, but that was quite an outfit choice, don't you think? Swim suit and high-heeled black boots??? Do I need to be concerned? I can't help but reflect on where I shop???


We managed, by bedtime, to sort through all of the costumes, Lite Brite pieces, dishes, dolls, and babies and get her room back to its live-able condition...

I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Spartan

Tonight was Villa Park's first game of the season against the Valencia Tigers. They got the honor of playing on Valencia's brand new turf field. Villa Park spirits were up during the first quarter when they scored the first touchdown of the game. But they didn't hold that lead for long when Valencia scored shortly after. VP gave up two interceptions, after that. The end result was 17-7, in the favor of Valencia...unfortunately. But it WAS an exciting night for Hunter and Davin as they were given their first opportunity as the ballboys. Hunter took this job very seriously, he would have taken notes, had the referee offered him something to write them on. But by half time, Davin was more interested in getting hot chocolate from the snack bar...





Dusan, heading for the game field for his first game as head coach of the VIlla Park Spartans!



Next week we play Huntington Beach who also suffered a loss tonight... I will post the results weekly. Go Spartans!!!!

remember...

I will never forget September 11, 2001. Who will? I was home on maternity leave with Davin. He was 11 days old. My dad called to ask if I had seen the news. The next call was my long term substitute teacher, Andrea, calling from the classroom to find out if it was okay to put the news on for the students. When I turned on FOX news I couldn't beleive my eyes... it was like a bad action movie replaying over and over again. My mom happened to be in New York on business, luckily all she endured was serious delay and heightened security in the airport.

We should never forget those 2,974 Americans who lost their lives that tragic day.

God Bless America!

Bye bye blonde

In my efforts to save some money I did the unthinkable... I dyed my hair myself! My hairdresser, April, would probably have heart attack if she knew...so SHHHH!
Good old $5 Clairol did the job. I am learning to like it...but I have to admit that every time I see my reflection in a window or the mirror, I wonder what my sister is doing in town???

We heart Balboa

We spent so much time on Balboa Island this summer. Almost weekly we would go down for walks around the island and often stop for a treat, or not. Dusan and i love being down there, with or without the kids. I love to admire the flowers and landscpaping in the cottage yards, and he feels like it is such a "daycation" which is another word for a one day vacation. We headed down today to soak up the rays. Too many pictures for my own good, but I couldn't help myself.

Celebration of Romance

Last Sunday night, my parents, Dusan, and I hosted an engagement party for my sister Lisa and her fiancee Frank. It was a lovely candle-lit night with good music, tasty food, and life long friends and neighbors.



The kids were there for just a few minutes to see the guests, before being whisked away by the Anderson family for the night.

My dad made a special toast including the best line of the night... "I hope everything works out for you guys!"



Becky and Leanne were my heroes that night, helping to make everything go really smooth, and ensuring that every glass stayed FULL...



Todd and Melanie are Frank and Lisa's loyal friends that faithfully drove from San Francisco to attend the exciting event...



Uncle Clint provided the music and my gorgeous husband Dusan provided the jokes...



Frank, enjoying himself with his two close friends that traveled so far to be there with him...



And let's not forget the "Fab 5"... my mom and a few of her oh-so-close friends...


Shannon, our growing up neighbor from Copenhagen Street, made it out with her husband Mike...

And lastly, Lisa with the mother-of-the-bride and her new mother-in-law Judy who came all the way from Ohio. It was so fun to spend time over the weekend with her.



We had a great time seeing so many old neighbors and friends...it went by way too fast.