1.26.2009
New Haircut
I don't want to bother showing you the "before" picture, sorry. So, here's the "after" shot. My bangs are kind of doing something funky in this shot, but I really think I like it. Oh, and these are the earrings and necklace that Daddy made me for Christmas.
Andre's Monkey
This is the newest addition to our family. This was Paulo's Christmas present to Andre. We thought Andre needed a little friend of his very own. Andre already loves his little monkey and slobbers and cuddles him. I'm hoping that because Monkey is brown, he'll hide the stains better :)
Paulo's 3rd Birthday
Breakfast in our bed (he happened to sleep with us the night before).
We did a "Toy Story" birthday party. This pizza was supposed to be from Pizza Planet.
This was pin the face on the Mr. Potato Head. The kids had so much fun making funny faces.
This took forever. Worth it the effort, though, to see how happy he was.
Present from Mommy and Daddy (fire truck with sounds, lights, doors that open/shut and a fire fighter).
Present from Andre (Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba).1.25.2009
Huntington Botanical Gardens
Coming back from the holidays to real life has been rather slow. We thought Hunter's school started on the 5th, but we were a week early. So, we just used our extra week to visit some fun tourist attractions close by. One of them was Huntington Botanical Gardens which is 270 acres of beautiful garden hidden right on the border of Pasadena and South Pasadena.
We got to see beautiful Japanese gardens complete with many many old bonsai trees, Zen gardens, Chinese gardens, desert gardens, a lily pad pond surrounded by a forest of bamboo, and a children's garden that had little "secret garden" like houses and fun water features to play in. I love going to huge gardens like this one. It was so uplifting and inspiring. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
We got to see beautiful Japanese gardens complete with many many old bonsai trees, Zen gardens, Chinese gardens, desert gardens, a lily pad pond surrounded by a forest of bamboo, and a children's garden that had little "secret garden" like houses and fun water features to play in. I love going to huge gardens like this one. It was so uplifting and inspiring. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
New Years resolutions
I have three written resolutions. I say “written” because these are the ones I don’t mind being held accountable for. “So let it be written; so let it be done.”
So far so good. Hunter and I do the D&C readings in preparation for the Sunday school lessons, and it has been a good, meaningful time that we can look forward to in the evenings.
I’m excited to start sewing. I actually drove to the fashion district in downtown L.A. to buy some inexpensive fabric, but was overwhelmed when I saw blocks and blocks of stores with bolts of fabric just spilling out of the stores onto the sidewalks. So I didn’t buy anything that day. I’ll just go to JoAnn Fabrics and start with something simple.
I’m hoping to change the way I interact with Paulo. I’ve been working on my patience, and want to make significant, noticeable improvement this year. I especially want to develop self control by not raising my voice when disciplining. I have to be disciplined enough to teach him with a quiet and respectful tone. That way it won’t be hypocritical of me to ask the same of him.
As far as "unwritten" new year's resolutions go, I have the same ones I've had every year: exercise, eat less sugar, practice Tagalog...hmm what else?...I don't know, and that's okay, because they're not written.
- Keep up on all the gospel doctrine readings
- Sew a few cool clothing items
- Develop more patience
So far so good. Hunter and I do the D&C readings in preparation for the Sunday school lessons, and it has been a good, meaningful time that we can look forward to in the evenings.
I’m excited to start sewing. I actually drove to the fashion district in downtown L.A. to buy some inexpensive fabric, but was overwhelmed when I saw blocks and blocks of stores with bolts of fabric just spilling out of the stores onto the sidewalks. So I didn’t buy anything that day. I’ll just go to JoAnn Fabrics and start with something simple.
I’m hoping to change the way I interact with Paulo. I’ve been working on my patience, and want to make significant, noticeable improvement this year. I especially want to develop self control by not raising my voice when disciplining. I have to be disciplined enough to teach him with a quiet and respectful tone. That way it won’t be hypocritical of me to ask the same of him.
As far as "unwritten" new year's resolutions go, I have the same ones I've had every year: exercise, eat less sugar, practice Tagalog...hmm what else?...I don't know, and that's okay, because they're not written.
Rose Bowl Parade
New Years day is a BIG DEAL for the people of Pasadena. Residents usually campout on the rose bowl parade route from early on new years eve, do the countdown out there, and then stay for the parade the next morning. Hunter and I were lucky to be invited to join our friends, the Hicks, and their family who had reserved a spot for us to sit comfortable during the parade. The challenge for us, then, was finding a parking spot, and walking the couple miles to where they were sitting. It was totally worth it, though. The parade was awesome! All the floats are made out of flowers—and they were huge floats!
Paulo and Andre both enjoyed themselves. I was surprised that Andre didn’t cry from the loud noises like Paulo used to do. I guess his brother’s loud decibles have prepared him. Here he is plugging his ears (Yes, he was plugging his own ears. We just looked over, and he was doing that. Eeeee!)
Paulo and Andre both enjoyed themselves. I was surprised that Andre didn’t cry from the loud noises like Paulo used to do. I guess his brother’s loud decibles have prepared him. Here he is plugging his ears (Yes, he was plugging his own ears. We just looked over, and he was doing that. Eeeee!)
Back to Routine?
At some point during the holidays, both my kids got sick. I was becoming quite concerned and was anxious to get back to “routine” and the kids’ doctor.
Turns out Andre had pneumonia. He recovered quickly after ten days of antibiotics. And while Paulo only had a cold to begin with, it has lasted this whole time until now. First it was a common cold, I think. Then he developed a croup cough. Then he caught some kind of virus, which caused him to have diarrhea and a horribly runny/stuffy nose. Fortunately, we were blessed enough to have both kids recovered in time for Paulo’s birthday, but it only lasted a few days, because over the weekend Paulo's been throwing up. I don't know if it was something he ate or what. Aiyeee. He's been doing much better today, though.
So now I hope we'll be getting back into our normal routine. I mean, you can’t really have that much of a normal sleeping / eating / going-out routine when your kids are sick, can you? The restless sleep was probably the most difficult part. Anyone who has seen Paulo’s overtired tantrums can witness that my boys need need need their sleep. Thank goodness we're starting to get over this round of bad health.
Turns out Andre had pneumonia. He recovered quickly after ten days of antibiotics. And while Paulo only had a cold to begin with, it has lasted this whole time until now. First it was a common cold, I think. Then he developed a croup cough. Then he caught some kind of virus, which caused him to have diarrhea and a horribly runny/stuffy nose. Fortunately, we were blessed enough to have both kids recovered in time for Paulo’s birthday, but it only lasted a few days, because over the weekend Paulo's been throwing up. I don't know if it was something he ate or what. Aiyeee. He's been doing much better today, though.
So now I hope we'll be getting back into our normal routine. I mean, you can’t really have that much of a normal sleeping / eating / going-out routine when your kids are sick, can you? The restless sleep was probably the most difficult part. Anyone who has seen Paulo’s overtired tantrums can witness that my boys need need need their sleep. Thank goodness we're starting to get over this round of bad health.
White Christmas
We made it! Hunter completed his very first semester of the Media Design program at Art Center! He finished a little earlier than we had anticipated, so we cleaned the house, packed up the car and headed to Utah for the holidays. We adjusted well to the freezing cold weather and daily snowstorms. For the first time, Paulo actually enjoyed playing in the snow (except for the time he got hit by a snowball--which one of the Sebresos boys threw that one anyway?) 
Christmas eve (Wing side) at Lani's beautiful new house was a blast. My favorite parts were the delicious food, of course, the late night discussions with my siblings (it's been a long time since we've done that), watching how happy the kids were playing together and finally, the homemade gifts. Daddy made me beautiful jewelery fashioned from St. George red rock (see picture in future entry). 
Christmas day (Sebresos side) at Mom's was also very fun and memorable. We looked forward to the many traditions: the orange in the bottom of our stocking, in remembrance of Grandma Mann; the grandkids' photo, which was a riot (the kids were literaly rioting in the middle of Kiddie Kandids); the grandkids' nativity scene wherein Andre played the baby Jesus and Paulo a wise man from the east. 
It was so special for us to be able to be with our families again, and for Paulo and Andre to play with their cousins. We love and miss you all already! 
We took this last picture back at home before taking down our little tree.
Christmas eve (Wing side) at Lani's beautiful new house was a blast. My favorite parts were the delicious food, of course, the late night discussions with my siblings (it's been a long time since we've done that), watching how happy the kids were playing together and finally, the homemade gifts. Daddy made me beautiful jewelery fashioned from St. George red rock (see picture in future entry). 
Christmas day (Sebresos side) at Mom's was also very fun and memorable. We looked forward to the many traditions: the orange in the bottom of our stocking, in remembrance of Grandma Mann; the grandkids' photo, which was a riot (the kids were literaly rioting in the middle of Kiddie Kandids); the grandkids' nativity scene wherein Andre played the baby Jesus and Paulo a wise man from the east. 
It was so special for us to be able to be with our families again, and for Paulo and Andre to play with their cousins. We love and miss you all already! 
We took this last picture back at home before taking down our little tree.
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