Day 1 - Disneyland

 

(I LOVE LOVE LOVE this note from Lexi.  It’s SO Lexi :-)

 

In November, we ventured three hours down South for a trip to Disneyland. We had the entire week of Thanksgiving off, and it was Lexi’s 7th birthday…so it sounded like a fun time to go. And it was.  Unless you have an intense aversion to HUGE, HUGE crowds and it makes you impatient, nervous and edgy.  Other than that, right now one month later, I have 90% happy memories in my mind :-)

 

We got a good deal on tickets from Costco.  Each day will have ended up costing us the equivalent of $38 (for a parkhopper!).  We bought 4-day parkhoppers for $199 which included a $50 gift card.  We then used two of the days, and sold two of the days.  So two full days at Disney/Cal Adventure including food and miscellaneous items (not hotel) cost the five of us $500.  Not bad.  And the hotel we stayed in was only $50 a night.

So we arrived at Disneyland right as it opened at 8:00 am on Monday.  It wasn’t too bad at first, crowd-wise.  We headed straight to the Peter Pan ride and then did as much as we can from there.  The weather was great, in the 60’s. 

 

 

I love how much work they put into TOTALLY transforming every inch of the park for the Holidays.  It’s incredible detail.  It’s a Small World is literally a different ride during Christmas time!  It was so cool!  I am so glad we ran there for one of our first rides because we waited like 5 minutes, as opposed to the hour or two wait that developed soon after.

 

 

I also love the detail of the bushes.  And each one was meticulously draped with lights.

 

 

 

Princess coronation…

 

 

 

Minnie’s House

 

 

We waited over an hour for the new-ish Nemo submarine ride.  Some people (like Lexi) loved it.  Other’s (like me) thought that, although a cool concept, it was a suffocating waste of time.

 

 

We have never ever waited in the long line to meet the princesses, any time we have gone to Disneyland in the last 5 or so years.  And, even though my girls are really not THAT into princesses anymore, we decided to do the wait and meet them this time.  Ariel was REALLY friendly.  Mulan was nice.  And Jasmine actually seemed like she hated every aspect of her job.  She was probably tired of little kids.

 

I really can’t explain what it was like trying to get a spot for the parade.  We got a spot over an hour before and we STILL had to squeeze into a tiny space.  While Tucker and the girls waited, I ran to get dinner.  Dinner was $6.99 corn dogs, which the kids ate 1/3 of theirs.  The parade was really cool and I’m glad we saw it.  Sometimes I like to sneak away during that time and ride the rides with shorter lines, but I knew this was a special Christmas parade.  The girls loved it.

 

There was so much more we didn’t get to do, but by 10:00 we were almost completely dead and freezing so we went back to the hotel and crashed into bed.

I Should Be Working on a Final…

Right now my brain is trying to find anything else in the world it can do BESIDES finish my final paper.  Oh my gosh, I hate this final. I  have three big case studies I have to do evaluations of.  I would really like it if they were case studies about real people.  But it’s the abstract part that puts a kink in my brain.  There are SO many other things I’d rather do! 

So for now, I’ll blog this pic of the Harmony Sisters from this CHristmas season.  It’s been busy to try to fit Harmony in, but I really love the sense of service it adds to my life and I especially loved being in it with my mom and Lindy.  IT’s the first time we’ve all three been in Harmony together. 

 

Jordyn’s Jr. Glee

For the past three months, Jordyn has been in a once-a-week class called Jr. Glee.  She’s been taking dance forever, but I really liked that this incorporated singing and some acting.  She loves to do little musicals for us at home and she was really excited when I proposed the idea of this class.  So every Tuesday night from 6:30-7:30 she is with her Jr. Glee class (there are 8 or 9 other kids in it, ages 9-13) and she’s loved it.

So last night and tonight she had performances.  They combined the Jr. Glee class, and the acting class, and put together a cute little Christmas production.  It was very well done, and just the right size group to still feel intimate.  Although Jordyn still has some shyness to grow out of,  I know she grew a lot from this experience and she did a fabulous job being up on stage.  They performed “Kiss the Girl” and “Chim Chiminey”.

 

She can’t wait for the next class to begin at the end of January!

Way to go Jo!!!  You were wonderful up there!!!

 

Shots and the Slow Pediatrician

Our pediatrician is the kind that over-books himself.  You can always count on being there FOREVER.  I hate going.  But today I took all three girls so Jo and Lex could get the nasal mist flu vaccine, and Pey needed her 4 year old immunizations/check-up.  It was a long two hours!

They were actually really good, and I was especially grateful as I had flashbacks of the days with babies and toddlers in the doctor’s waiting room.  That was much harder.  But what made this difficult was Pey’s anticipation of the shots.  And Lexi getting sick and needing to just lay down.

 

 

Pey was so freaked out by the finger prick to test her iron…I wasn’t sure WHAT she’d do at the actual shots! 

 

 

And this is her AFTER it was all over.  She was really mad that I was taking a picture (if you can’t tell).  She hated every second of those shots and I’m not sure how the nurse actually got them in with her strong legs fighting my grasp!  Good times.

 

As you might expect, as her treat, Peyton picked a hamburger patty (by itself) and fries from In-N-Out. (ha ha ha)

Field Trip to the Theatre

 

I was able to go on the bus with Lexi today on a much anticipated class field trip to the theatre in Fresno.  I love being able to do these things with the girls.  We saw two shows…a Disney musical medley and then a children’s production of Winnie the Pooh.  They were great!

 

But let’s back up a bit.  Tucker was running them to school so I could run Peyton to Lindy’s in time to make it to the school to load the bus.  Halfway there, he called me saying that Lexi had thrown up in the car and all over herself.  Ugh.  Lexi has started struggling with school-morning-anxiety which makes it hard for her to eat breakfast.  So I figured this was anxiety about the field trip.  She rushed back, changed and we RAN to the school just in time to board the bus.  Good thing Mommy brought a bag because she had another episode on the bus.  And then she was fine!

But then this afternoon, it really started to hit her that she really WAS sick.  Fever and all.  Poor kid!  But I’m glad we didn’t end up missing such a special day!

 

(Catherine, Sydney and Lexi were the kids I was in “charge of”)

Elfie and Christmastime

Meet Elfie.  Our Elf-On-The-Shelf.  We got him two years ago for Christmas from Gam & Pa.  Last year was the first time we had the Elfie experience…and he was a huge hit!!  The kids wake up each morning and cannot WAIT to see where Elfie has moved to.  It’s quite the excitement (or fight if one sister spills the beans and tells the other sister where she’s found Elfie).

   

 

Wooden nativities are the best!

 

 

Julia is my friend who owns Trinkets & Treasures.  She is a professional tree decorator, and I was telling her how ashamed she’d be if she saw how I decorate my tree.  She offered to come do the ribbon on my tree as a return of some favors I’d done for her, so she came over for an hour and worked her magic! Look how great the tree looks!

 

 

I made these green ornaments for the girls for their 2010 ornament of the year.

 

These dolls are special because Tucker’s mom, Judy, hand made them for the Festival of Trees one year in UT when Tucker was like 10 or so.

 

 

This is not an unusual sighting of Peyton.  It’s hard being four!

 

 

We thought this was funny.  While we were decorating, our cat jumped up and wanted to be just like the other musical decorations :-)

My Funny Girls

LEXI

The other night, just after going to bed, Lexi came out and said “Mom and Dad, the cat is bugging me”.  So Tucker simply said “Well, then kick him out”.  She immediately got a sad look on her face and just stared at him.  I was wondering what was wrong when it hit me that she actually thought he meant to KICK him out!  LOL, I laughed and explained to her that it’s a saying and it really just means to get him out.  ha ha ha, I love the innocence!!

 

(Lexi - still really shy with Santa…but at least she doesn’t hyperventilate like she did when she was a toddler!)

 

I also caught Peyton scribbling in Lexi’s new journal the other day, so as I went to take it from her, I noticed this hilarious entry from her.  Oh man Jordyn, do I EVER relate to being called a bossy older sister!  Too funny that she wrote so nicely about it!

 

JORDYN

We were driving home from school on Friday and I explained to the girls that I would have to be on the computer a lot that afternoon because I was preparing for the festival the next day.  A minute later, we drove by a mom walking her two young kids in a double stroller.  Jordyn says “Look at that mom, walking her two kids outside getting exercise instead of sitting on the computer all day”.  Her quick wit took me off guard and all I could do is laugh…and then I said “Well, maybe that mom isn’t getting ready to work all day Saturday to earn money to buy Christmas presents for her kids”.  Touche.  We both got a good laugh.

 

Lyric got an Elf on the Shelf and after hearing about how much fun we’ve had with our Elfie (what we named him), she wanted to name hers the same name.  Jordyn was not okay with this idea, so Lindy overheard her saying something like (insert really exaggerated teacher tone) “Now Lyric, that would be like everyone around you being named Lyric, that would be wierd”.  Little logical Miss Priss :-)

 

 PEYTON

Peyton has always been a sparse eater.  Thank heavens for chocolate milk, which sustains her many days.  Anyway, Tucker talked to the pharmacist at Wal-Mart asking about Pedia-sure or something like that.  So he recommended this powdered formula for older toddlers (even though she’s four).  We were pretty sure it wouldn’t go over too well, so that night in the middle of the night when she asked for chocolate milk, tucker made it with the formula powder.  He handed it to her in her bed and then closed her door.  No sooner had he crawled back into bed and we heard her open her door.  She politely her cup to him and said “Dad, this is disgusting”.  And went back to bed.  

So the next day, I decided to try it one more time.  I tried my best to disguise it.  Pretty quickly I hear “Moooom, you made me the same disgusting chocolate milk that Daddy did!”.  I laughed so hard for some reason.  No tricking Pey! 

 

(why oh why do we spend money on gifts when kids are so entertained by a homemade  cardboard box doll house?)

Trinkets, etc.

I think I devote a lot more time than I realize to my side hobby/job/business.  I’ve been a co-op at Trinkets and Treasures for 15 months now and it’s really fun to look back and see how I’ve evolved and what I’ve learned in that time.  I have learned how to really have a little business and what my niche/interests are.  I have thoroughly enjoyed making my signs (I get LOTS of custom orders) and I absolutely LOVE having my own vinyl cutter.  There is no competition here for vinyl or signs (as there is in Utah) so I can really have at it!

Recently I’ve had Lindy assist me on two festivals where we made signs on-the-spot.  To do this, we got tons of wood cut, we routered/sanded/painted it and had them completely ready to make the signs for the customers right there at our booth.  We want to continue to do festivals and maybe eventually do home-parties.  One of the co-ops at Trinkets asked if we would do that, saying she was interested in hosting one at her house.  It would be a lot of work to prepare for, but I think we could make a lot of money and have a great time.  It’s fun to share time, and what I’ve learned, with my sister.

 

Just last month, my sales were over $500.  That’s a pretty good month, and I think December will be even better.  I only pay $80 in rent and I try to keep my supplies cost as low as possible.  I really struggle with the whole thing because while I love it, and I get to have a creative outlet, love the people that work there, etc…I also know I’m devoting a lot of time to it that I’m NOT devoting to my housework or schooling.  So I always have to re-evaluate it and recognize there may come a point where I have to choose.  My degree is, in the long run, top priority.  I really try to include my kids in my “projects” but I know I need to do that even more.  That way, it’s not just crazy/messy/busy mom…but it’s also a learning opportunity and a creative outlet for them.

 

Danielle and I working last week.  She is Julia (the owner’s) 17 year old daughter and she makes the most money of any co-op there (she sells clothing and jewelry, wallets and purses)!

 

 

Yesterday at our booth at the Santa Lucia Celebration in Kingsburg. (Dianne, Cristal, me and Lindy)

 

 

For fun, I also really love designing things in Photoshop.  I had the opportunity to design Katie’s Christmas card and Lyric’s birthday invitation :-)  Thanks guys!

Just Some Pics I Love

 

This is one of Jordyn’s close friends.  I really like Olivia and would totally hand pick her as a friend for Jordyn.  It’s fun to see their friendship continue and mature.

 

 

Pey and Pax….Pax and Pey.  Such a funny duo.  Pax took the mic to play “Sing It” and Peyton was sure to remind him not to put his mouth on it (wonder where she’s heard that?!).  The second pic makes me laugh because Pey is totally rocking out to whatever Pax is singing.

The 5 Blasco Kids

 

This picture did not come easy.  As the months go by, it becomes very special to me.  This was this past April 8, 2010.  The five of us had not been together for three whole years prior to this and somehow the stars aligned for a picture together.  I was very determined to get this picture because I knew it could be another three years or more before it happened again.

 

Growing up is an interesting thing.  And probably my biggest regret (which I think is common with nearly every child) is that I took my family for granted.  I took for granted that we wouldn’t always be together.  I just thought it would always be the way it was.

 

But…as life teaches us…nothing stays the same.  The only thing that is constant is change.  And now my “baby” brother and sister are adults.  All five of us are doing our own thing, trying to figure out this thing called life.  The fourteen year spread still spans us over so many different stages of life.  Lindy and I are raising three kids each in Kingsburg and juggling all that comes with that, Carly is living in Utah…going to school full time…working her butt off for Overstock.com…and living the struggles of a single mom of a 9 year old girl, Kristy is living in Arizona and doing better than she has done in a very long time and 19 year old Ryan is living at home spending his time figuring himself out and how he fits into the world.

 

I love each of them deeply.  Tears come easily to my eyes because I spent so many years of my life worrying about them and trying to protect them.  Somehow, my brain must have subconsciously believed that I was their third parent.  I fretted, worried and stressed about each of them through their teenage years.  I spent countless hours giving both requested…and unsolicited…advice.  I wrote letters, prayed and took several things way too personally.

 

And now?  Now I just love them.  I finally know without a doubt that I am powerless to save them from pain, mistakes or trials of life.  But I know that love supersedes anything else and I hope they each know how much I love them and would do anything I could for them.