http://socalmarisa.com/2011/10/05/seizures-in-the-middle-of-the-night/

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

And We Have Achieved Normalcy! | SoCal Marisa http://socalmarisa.com/2011/09/27/and-we-have-achieved-normalcy/

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

Patriot Day

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As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

New Blog Page

Just a reminder I am moving to a new personal blog page. I have made a post today so please go to http://socalmarisa.com to see the latest in our world.

Hopefully soon we will have everything transitioning a lot smoother.

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

Meatloaf & Meatball Recipe

Currently, my newest task is to change up my recipes to be dairy free. After the boy was taken off dairy I realized I am seriously going to need to change my recipes. Apparently I use a lot of dairy in my cooking.

This recipe will make 3-2+ pound loafs. I usually freeze the other two for later baking. This can also be used for meatballs.

6 pounds Ground Beef (1 warehouse store tray)
2 Cups Chicken Stock
4 Eggs
1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs
1/2 Onion, Grated
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl whisk egg with chicken stock. Stir into egg mixture Onion, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Salt, Pepper, and Bread Crumbs. When mixture is nice and soupy add Ground Beef and blend. I find it easier to use my hands for this. When well blended divide into thirds and place each third into a loaf pan. Cover with your favorite BBQ Sauce. Bake uncovered at 350 for about an hour to hour and 15 minutes. Check internal temperature when center reaches 170 degrees meatloaf is ready. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve. If there are any leftovers drain off juices before storing or the meat will get soggy.

For Freezing I vacu-seal in individual 2 pound blocks and defrost later then place into loaf pan and cover with bbq sauce before baking.

For Meatballs. Round meat into individual meatballs at your desired size and set aside. Heat Olive Oil in pan filing about 1/4 of the way up side of pan with Olive Oil. I use a Cast Iron pan for my frying for better heat conducting. Fry meatball in Olive Oil over medium heat. Using tongs, turn ever 2-3 minutes to brown on each side.  When cooked through remove to a large bowl covered with foil and let rest while cooking the remainder. Or plop into your favorite sauce. Or make meatball sandwiches. Either way....Enjoy!

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

This Weeks New Challenge

Sometimes life throws us curve balls. Our most recent curve ball is the recommendation from the boys pediatrician to cut dairy from his diet. all dairy; as in cheese, and milk, and ice cream, and cheese, and milk, and milk like products. Did I mention Cheese and Milk? This is going to be fun. She also suggested going organic. Well that's going to be cheap and easy right? I mean all those chemicals cost money so if we don't buy food with chemicals in it then we are saving, right? Thought so.

Well I'm not going to let this get under my skin. No, not me! I'm going to take this challenge head on. OK. So you want him off dairy. Fine. He's off dairy. I have to say I thought it was going to be a challenge. So far so good. He's been off dairy for 3 days now and there has been a positive change in his personality. He's slowed down a bit. Hmmmm. No more hyper boy?! I think I could really get into this!

Now to tackle the whole organic thing. hmmm. Well that shouldn't be too bad. Eat more fruits and veggies right? So the whole family may benefit from this. Finding yummy organic stuff is going to be the fun part. We are foodies and I think this is where the real challenge is going to happen. But I know how to cook and bake. So that just means I stop being lazy in my preparing of food and actually cook. Oh and bake too. I'll have more control over my kitchen. Right?

Cut back on sugar and absolutely no artificial sweeteners. Hmmmm. This is where I'm going to have to get creative. But like I said. I can do this. I just need to re-vamp some of my recipes. Or just not let him eat them. heh-heh-heh. Oh wait, that's not the best thing for the family is it?

We decided on baby steps. We started with the dairy. That's an easy fix and in our family dairy is the most consumed item(s). The boy is now drinking Almond Milk and he seems to be enjoying it. The cheese is going to be our downfall I'm absolutely certain of this. For now he doesn't miss it, but he will. I have to find a good alternative before he does miss his cheese. The others, well to be honest we just cannot afford to throw all of our food stuffs away and restock. Granted some of the stuff can go like the mac n cheese blue box and those ramen noodles that include a salt lick in each package. But for the most part we are going to have to be very careful in our label reading and buy better food items.

Today was our first go at re-vamping a family favorite recipe.....meatloaf. To be fair I use the same recipe for my meatballs so I needed to make sure I could do this. After some careful thought I replaced my cream with chicken stock and it wasn't stellar like my previous recipe but it was pretty darn good. The most important thing is the kids ate all of their meatloaf and I'm sure the hubby will when he gets to his dinner. All-in-all I'm pretty happy with that correction. Now let's just hope the rest are a success as well! My next re-vamp, brownies! Wish me luck!

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

What's a Mom to do?

Day 43 of Summer Vacation

It's 6:30 in the am. The sun has barely risen and you're awakened by your 10 year old daughter standing next to your bed, white lipped, and looking green, saying she is going to throw up. Good morning mommy.

As you're holding back her hair listening to her not so quietly cast her accounts, you hear the telltale screech you have trained yourself to listen for which indicates your 6 year old son is now having a seizure. Great. In a flash you have your daughters hair tied back in a ponytail and you run into the boys room to help him through the seizure.

less than 5 minutes later he's cleaned up and soundly sleeping once again. Now back to focusing on the girl. Getting her stomach under control took a lot longer than dealing with the boys seizure. In either case they both sleep the morning away.

I have to say this is not my standard morning. Usually my heart doesn't pump this fast unless I'm on the hamster wheel burning the calories, but this was my morning. Not the best one for the books, but we all survived. The rest of our day was a relatively quiet one. Messages to his Pediatric Neurologist and recuperating from the excitement of the early am. Tonight it will be early baths and bedtimes. Just last night I "cracked the spine" of Jane Eyre, and that's funny considering I'm reading it from my Kindle. Maybe tonight I can finish chapter one. I am determined to read at least one classic for every 4 fun books. Just one. That's not too much to ask for right? It's the simple things that keep me strong.

To think two years ago I was a complete mess every time Hayden had a seizure. Now I can multi-task in the middle of one? My how I've grown. [she rolls her eyes] I need a cape, haha! His doctor says he will outgrow these seizure....um, when? I know, I know, it's not in my hands or the doctors hands. God's in control. I am thankful his neurologist believes he will outgrow them. When I'm feeling negative I need to go to the reserves and rely on my Faith. In writing this I realize I really need to get on my knees tonight and get some perspective and re-center. Alright, that's it for my venting. Time to get back to work and start dinner. We're having stir-fry tonight. Yum. If these kids are going to bed early tonight then I need to get their bellies full! Here's to praying tomorrow is 10,000 times better than this morning and seizure free!

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

Miracle Meal?

It seems like just yesterday it all happened, yet it was 2 years ago when Hayden had a Grand Mal Seizure. What started as a 5am wake up phone call from his grandparents turned into a few months of chaos. Our worst fears are for something to happen to our little ones when they are in the care of someone else. Not that they didn’t do the right thing in making their panicked call to 911 but the fact it wasn’t either my husband or myself making that call instead of them. The not knowing if he is ok. Not being the first to talk to Doctors & worse yet, not being there for him when it all happened. The 30 minute frantic drive just to get to him. Then seeing your four year old son lying there, in a hospital bed no less, all lethargic and almost lifeless is absolutely terrifying. This was our life changing moment.

When you are in the eye of the storm of your life changing event, the world seems topsy turvey and oh so out of control. When you’re in the eye of the storm days fly by so fast, nights are a sleepless blur, exhaustion is the one constant in your ever changing world.  Luckily, I had an awesome group of women who supported us. Without them I don’t know what I would have done. What did they do? How did they help? They did the simplest and easiest thing to do; they brought us meals. They picked up my daughter from school at a moment’s notice. They called. They prayed. 1 John 4:7 says “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” There is no greater truth then this simple yet profound verse. Now I’m not here to preach to you about my God. But I do believe. My faith is that much stronger from the love I received from those who supported us.

As I said before they brought us meals. There is nothing more humbling then a friend showing up at your doorstep with a hot meal for you and your family. But it is the most uplifting of things to do; for both parties. I have been the one showing up on a friend’s doorstep years before that same blessing was bestowed upon me. Wanting to help a loved one, being the person to prepare a meal and deliver it, give a hug and leave knowing you have fed someone who was in need. And by fed I mean their bodies and their souls. Being on the other side of that door and having a friend feed me, it is a true kindness really.

This bringing a meal is an old fashioned custom. One custom I am glad has not completely died out. If you take into consideration our lifestyles, for the most part our community is very “I” focused. How many of us have joked about the neighbor bringing a cake to welcome another neighbor to the neighborhood? Was that such a bad custom? In hindsight, I think not. Who knows you may become good friends because of that simple welcoming gesture. Bringing a meal to a loved one is an important thing. Doing anything to help reduce the strain is an important thing. If you’re not a cook then drive-thru’s and delivery work just as easily. Food is food. When you’re in the eye of the storm having a gourmet meal is the last thing on your mind. Eating is the last thing on your mind. Sadly, feeding a hungry family is the last thing on your mind. Fighting the storm is your primary focus. If you know someone who is in the midst of their storm there is so much you can do to help without hindering them. There are a few websites out there dedicated to helping loving groups of people set up meal plans. Care Calendar is one such site. It’s a few clicks and an email is sent out to those on your list indicating the loved ones need. Very user friendly. Take Them A Meal is another such site. Same set up. Same premise. Both help organize a group of people who want to help.

Some things to consider when bringing a meal.

• Use disposable containers. They have more on their mind to worry about then whose dish goes where.
• Find out if there are food allergies you need to be wary of.
• Bring it hot. The whole point is for them to not have to cook.
• Don’t over bring. If you’re part of a group who has set up a meal schedule then the recipients will have leftovers and lots of them.
• Communicate with your family on when they should expect you. There is nothing worse than not being ready for a friend to show up. You may think its ok but they probably need time to prepare themselves.
• If you can’t cook send a gift card. Order a pizza. Hit a drive-thru. Buy a Frozen Dinner.
• Don’t assume they have everything needed to complete the meal. Parmesan cheese to top, salad dressing, bread, drinks, dessert. They may not have had the chance to go grocery shopping.
• Get in and out quick. Don’t stick around hoping to share the meal with them. If they need a shoulder to cry on be that support but don’t move in.
• Send a card. Sometimes just receiving a warm card in the mail gets there at the right time and helps when needed most.
• Don’t forget to love them. =-D

Remember, if there isn’t a group who comes together to help, that doesn’t mean you cannot still step up on your own. I hope this helps you in the future when you want to help someone who is going through their life changing moment. Such as the birth of a new child. Death of a loved one. Sickness. Disease. Anything. The saying goes “The way to his heart is through his stomach” that doesn’t mean just men. Feed the body, feed the soul.

As Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!", SoCal Marisa

6 Wineries, 2 Restaurants, 1 Loaf of Bread - A Review

Day 38 of Summer Vacation

I'm sitting here laughing and reflecting. Reflecting and laughing. Why you ask? Well a group of us went to Temecula together to go wine tasting. A total moms day out. A much needed girls day out...

So far this summer I have been doing so much. Taking the kids hither and yon. Movies here. Swimming there. Playdate over yonder. With all this activity I haven't had a girls day. So a few of us loaded in cars and headed to Temecula. Talk about a super fun day. Oh and we didn't take pictures...you know that ol, what happens in..........

We looked into one of those limo tours and decided against it simply because we wanted to pick the wineries we were going to, not have it chosen for us. Oh and we planned on hitting more than 3 wineries.

I like my reds. Could be the fact that I'm a natural redhead or could be the fact the grape is that much more robust. Either way I like me a red wine. I prefer a non-oakie Italian Red but I've learned to compromise. Most of the wineries we went to were not famous for their reds so that gave me a chance to try other types of wines on the menu. I made the conscious effort to pick one wine from each winery I preferred. One purchase each, if I was so moved.

~ Stops of the Day ~

IHOP - One must load up on pancakes to maintain proper consumption. Had the Cinna stacks. YUM! Tastes like a cinnamon roll.

Maurice Car'rie - The wines were ok but wasn't moved to a purchase of wine. Their Muscat was ok. If I had to pick anything it would be that. Did however pick up a nice big loaf of sourdough bread for later. It was still warm!

Van Roekel - '09 Viognier. Very yummy dessert wine. At first sniff one can smell the perfume of the fruits such as Apricot and pear. On the tongue it was light and airy, not too sweet. They were having a 2-fer so naturally I bought 2. Oh and it's time to eat some of that bread so we don't get plowed....

Wilson Creek - '08 Family Reserve Syrah. This is the most expensive bottle I have have purchased in quite some time. This bottle is sooooooooo worth the pennies I spent and I'm going to hold it for my Hubby's birthday in September. I know he'll really enjoy it. Wilson Creek is known for their Almond Champagne and there is no contesting its yummy taste. Being a red fan though, I was so happy to find that not only did I like their reds but their whites were very impressive. Purchased the reserve but give very special props to the Loyalty and will purchase that as well. Our server Jason was a cutie  and kept us 5 very happy during our stay. Will return to Wilson Creek again!

Danza del Sol - '08 Merlot. Tried the 09' Savignon Blanc, the '10 Orange Muscat, & the '08 Merlot. The Merlot was my favorite of their wines but would definitely purchase the other two some other time. Remember 1 bottle max per stop! Our server was not the most friendliest of servers. By this time of day we were definitely in the midst of the party time. Didn't feel that way with her. May have been an off day? Beautiful winery though. More bread please!

Leoness Cellars - '10 White Merlot & a box of french truffles dusted with cocoa powder. Now why is this the first time I've sampled chocolate and wine? This isn't my first rodeo mind you. I've done the whole Seattle wine tour, you know the one with the train. Santa Barbara and now Temecula. Not Napa; toooo hoity. Plus the few wine rooms here and there. But how come this is the first time I've been given a chocolate truffle to enhance the flavor? I love it! Now mind you, the wine was really good without the chocolate. Add the chocolate and Sha-Zam! amazing. The Chardonnay & Melange de Blanc were great whites. Tried the Cinsaut and loved the raspberry flavor. Not too dry or acidic. Lovely on the tongue. The Cabernet Sauvignon had a light oakie flavor but was not too overpowering. The Syrah was superb! Went with the White Merlot because I really enjoyed that blush and can't wait to crack it open. Loved the serve staff, they were awesome! I have to say this was my favorite winery, then Wilson in that order, the rest at this point kinda faded for me. Gotta thank my note taking!

Longshadow Ranch - No purchase. But such a lovely winery. To be honest nothing stood out for me here. Didn't really enjoy any of the wines. Now that doesn't mean it wasn't good. I think that means I sampled 6 wineries in one day and had enough. Given that I will give it another opportunity to wow me. We are planning on going back in September and have earmarked this to be one of the first wineries on our upcoming tour. That's when I'll Yelp them. It's only fair really.

Claim Jumper - OK, so we were going to attempt a 7th winery but when we discussed it after Longshadow we decided to call it quits. We had enough. So where does one go when they have had a decadent day such as ours? Naturally Claim Jumper. There was a 20 minute wait so we opted for the bar. Funny thing is though, not a one of us ordered anything stronger than an iced tea. Great thing about eating your meal in the bar is you get to eat freshly popped popcorn. and who doesn't love that? I was hungry for a hamburger so ordered the Widow Maker and some Ranch for my fries. We spent the remainder of our day laughing and chatting about the events. Oh and planning our next trip out. It was that time so we all loaded in the car and headed home tired & happy with our day.


My purchases (with exception to the bread) are still sitting on the counter waiting to be opened but I'm in no hurry. The laughter we shared and memories we made will be with me for a really long time. I so needed my MDO. Now it's time to plan for Septembers!

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Mango con Chili! Recipe

Summertime = Fruit

Right?

Well I have to say my most favorite fruit is the Mango. Growing up we would travel to the grandparents (Mom & Tata or Granma & Granpa's) second homes in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Just a few patient adults, a pack of kids and a lot of sand and surf. Sometimes as we would wind along the Old Toll Road we'd stop at the roadside for fruit or even sometimes lobster. Sometimes it would be to slurp coconut milk from fresh coconut or to have a mango on a stick or fruit cocktail or even seafood cocktail (be careful though of the Montezuma's Revenge).

Aaaaah summertime. Those are my most favorite memories. We've all grown up now. Grown apart in some cases. But I still have those memories. Fiesta's in the middle of camp. Fruit. Fish Tacos. Pan, Fishing, body surfing, searching for seashells, and the big horn calling the workers in at the factory. Churros at La Bufadora (and this time you say Churro with a whole lot of r's and a lot of proper pronunciation, not the white man way of chew-rows). Plus they are the right kind too, in the brown bag that's almost see through because they were just fried for you.

While mangoes are good on their own. Peeled just right and removed from the seed, if properly ripened they are super juicy and have such intense flavor. The best way though is with a sprinkling of fresh lime and a dash or two of pico de gallo. Mmmmmmm. Now that's summertime for me. Today I decided to cut up a bunch of mangoes and a little watermelon and prepare it the way I like it. mmmmmm. It's pretty good. You should try it. I even have the white people in this house demanding for it. Gotta love summertime!

Tomorrow I think I'll cut up the pineapple and add that to the mango and watermelon and see how long it takes for the kids to devour that!

Mango con Chili

1 Mango (peeled, seeded, and cut up)

1 slice fresh lime

dash Chile Powder or Pico de Gallo

Mix all together, serve, and eat immediately.

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Sleepover @ Hotel Kaiser Fontana

Day 14 of Summer Vacation

Good Morning Everyone! oh wiat. It's afternoon.

Well we survived our sleepover at the Hotel Kaiser Fontana. Where the checkin time is 8:30pm and checkout is 7:30am. That is unless your little man wakes up sooner than that!

So preparing for Hayden's Sleep Study took longer than I thought. The boy was amped. I mean how exciting, to be able to spend the night at the hospital! I mean wow! Getting him ready and out the door was like pulling teeth. How come, whenever you have someplace to go and your kids want to go it takes longer to get them ready??? So freshly bathed and in his jammies Hayden and I head out the door and drive out to Fontana for his Sleep Study.

No nap today or for the past few days for the boy. He is wired. Mainly because he doesn't get good sleep and needs those naps. So it's not much of a leap to say he was full of ants in his pants while we were waiting to be checked in.

Once checked in we are walked back to his room where a nice big bed awaits him, easily a queen sized bed in a windowless room. Nice bedspread, looks comfortable. This is when I am told little man gets the bed all to himself and I get the medieval torture device, aka "the chair," in the corner. Yeah, I'm going to be getting some good zzz's tonight.

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Ready for Sleepytime

So Sonia his tech comes in and proceeds to apply all sorts of wires and such things onto the boy. He was covered from head to toe. Several on his head, face, chest, and legs. Each little wire is for a specific region of his body to report a specific topic. heart rate, breathing, movement, brain activity, etc. He thinks it's great fun. Me, I'm wondering how we are going to manage the midnight pee break with all those wires. At which point Sonia tells Hayden to just call out to her when he needs to go and she'll come in to help disconnect him from the machines. Apparently the room has two cameras in it for watching the boy and there is no need for call buttons so they can listen to everything going on as well as see what is happening.

Lights out. The boy is all tucked in. I'm surprised he didn't demand a story or a song to which I don't know what I would have done knowing I would have had an audience. But the boy was really tired at this point and was out within 5 minutes of the lights turning off. I read from my Kindle for a little while since this is a little early of a bedtime for me and then attempted to get some rest in "the chair." My only complaint about the Sleep Center is that chair. I really hated that thing before long.

I cat napped a lot. Listened for a little while to the other people in other rooms. Some poor scared child crying hysterically in the middle of the night. The occasional mumble of people talking in other rooms. I woke whenever the boy moved. Pretty much waited for morning.

His sleep this night was the best sleep he has had in a while. His breathing did drop on a few occasions at which he would gasp but for the most part no seizures. He slept soundly throughout the night. He didn't even wake up for a midnight potty break. Needless to say if we captured a seizure it was very minor, which is a good thing, and a bad thing as far as the test is concerned. I don't know if there will be much to show for his sleep study. Which is a lot disappointing in itself considering his sleep is what brings on everything else. [sigh]

Naturally, promptly at 6am Hayden wakes me up with a bellow of "I gotta go potty!" Um, yeah. The heart is now racing. I'm up! Sonia comes in and Hayden patiently waits for her to unhook him so he can use the facilities. We clean up, pack up, and head home. I'm exhausted for my lack of sleep and crawl into bed with Brian. He finally wakes me at around 10:30 because I must face the day. The boy on the other hand, wide awake and well rested. Go figure.

Now he is sitting in the tub playing away and when he calls me in I'll go in to wash the glue from his hair. So now that part of the odyssey is over. We now have to wait for the results to come back which could take about a four to six weeks. I've emailed his neurologist to let him know to look for it. Now we wait. I'm not very good at waiting...


*****UPDATE*****
Received the results on Hayden's Sleep Study and it came back clean. Naturally. So far every single one of his tests has shown no seizure activity. Even the tests the conducted the day of his Grand Mal 2 years ago. This is getting very frustrating.....

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Thank God for MNO's!

Day 13 of Summer Vacation

Such a busy day today. Sorry no pictures. Too busy and besides I left the camera at home.

We started our day early in the morning with a movie at Harkins. Who doesn't love going to the movies? I mean come on, big screen entertainment is super good fun. Now ad a room full of kids and that's where the fun lies. The movie of the week? Megamind. Oh and the part Brad Pitt played was Metro Man. Go figure. Ha! Didn't see it the first time and it was really a cute movie. Got a few good laughs from us. Our group is growing and I predict by next week we will take up an entire row!

Next up, SWIMMING! Ok. for me that entailed sitting under the patio, munching and watching the kids frolic in the pool. Good times with good friends! Gotta love it. My other half of the brain and I did some more planning for the MDO Temecula trip. Haven't had a Moms Day Out in like forever. What was it? Oh yeah, Glen Ivy. Another great MDO and celebrating a friends birthday! Perfect combination.


Then home for a quick cat nap and jump in the shower to head over to Ra for the cherry on top of my day, The MNO = Moms Night Out. Sushi & a Birthday Celebration for the lovely Michelle! I love my mommy friends and am so blessed to have them in my life. I love that we can all get together over some "bait" and have an awesome gab fest that doesn't involve gossip of any kind. Just shared experiences and sharing of activities all of us may not have been apart of. Oh the celebrity sightings! hahaha! The 10 of us spent HOURS on that patio cackling up a storm.


Just when you think the night should come to an end.....NOT US! Not when there is a Harvey's near by! Hahahaha the invasion of the mommies! Oy! That poor little store was filled with all of us oohing and aaahing over all the beautiful handbags. My "Holy Grail" is the Stella. Turns out that's Michelle's "Holy Grail" bag too! One of these days, I will get me the Stella! I only have 4 Harvey's bags in my ownership and I want, no I need more! Wow who would have thunk? But they really are the greatest bags. Recently one of my friends in Women's Special Events Ministries told me she actually throws her bag in the washing machine when she wants to spruce it up! I wouldn't try that with one of my handbags but maybe a cast off I acquire.... Hmmmmmmmmm..... Oh BTW Girls the Cherry is still available online. Just saying. What's a good enabler without her little reminders and suggestions every now and then. =)


So we have Sushi at Ra, a little shopping spree at Harvey's, and I'm not going to say who...now time for dessert! So you know the area right? What's next? Where do you think we finished our evening? Pinkberry! I needed my addiction of Watermelon topped with watermelon puree, fresh watermelon, blueberries, and strawberries. Oh what a joy for my taste buds! A few of my mommy friends had never had the joy of the PB treat. Well I think we created a few addicts last night. hahaha. You love the enabler in me don't you?! But I must thank Shannon for reminding us to go! So with our little dessert treats in hand and huddling together in the night air we all sat down to another gab fest. What a perfect ending to a perfect evening. Later as four trucks clustered together down Edison drive I laughed. Together even as we head home. I love my girls! Now I'm pondering what's next!

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Y'all come back now Y'here!

Just getting into the park

Oh man, we were immersed today. Ok, well I cannot say that is exactly the best analogy of our day but come on, we spent the day at Knotts Berry Farm. Now how fun is that?

So Day 12 of our Summer Vacation started out as any typical summer day in our casa. Or should I say homestead? Spread? Anyway. We woke late. Grabbed a lazy breakfast of toast and jelly, coffee for me. Worked on the Summer Bridge. Played on the computer for a little and then decided to get ready for our afternoon at Knotts Berry Farm.

The last time I was at Knotts was years prior. The one distinct memory I have is riding the GhostRider and cackling like a crazy woman the whole time thereby annoying my Daddy to no end. Talk about an awesome ride. Love that wooden roller coaster! I'm not one for drops. I don't like that sudden and sickening feeling I get when my stomach suddenly and expectantly descends to my feet. This is why I am not a real big fan of that place in Valencia. However, I loves me a ride with lots of spins, twists, and flips. So that Ghost ride does have a few drops but the G's just pull you deep into your seat and it's total enjoyment for me.

Waiting in line.....

But I digress. It had been too long since we have enjoyed that gastrointestinal delight that is Mrs. Knotts Chicken Dinner Restaurant so naturally that was our first stop. Oh joy! What a delight. I just love their chicken dinners. The biscuits and Knotts jam are the first to arrive and are quickly devoured. I could live off those biscuits! Next the chicken soup and side salad. Soup quickly disappears but before I even get to the salad my dinner arrives. I had leftovers mind you but I enjoyed that leg and wing sooooooooOOOOooooooooo much! But I never, ever, never, ever, never, ever, did I mention never, ever? Forget to leave room for Boysenberry Pie Ala Mode! To be honest I don't even know what the kids ate I was so into my food. But I only kid, both of our 'lil whippersnappers ordered the kids chicken leg dinners and we all fought over the same things on our table. We are all foodies through and through!

My Two Red Barron's!

So now we are pleasantly plump and in desperate need of walking off some of this comfort food and decide it's now time to head into the park for some good 'ol family fun. Camp Snoopy here we come! I just love that Beagle. Any guesses why???? So we spend the day in Camp Snoopy and the kids have a total blast. We did get them on the Calico Mine Ride and naturally the Calico Railroad sloop around the park. Our biggest mistake was the Mystery Lodge. Back in the day it was actually somewhat entertaining what with water that runs up hills and rooms that aren't what they seem. But, what in the world happened to that once fun optical illusion place? They put the "mystery lodge" in. No mystery there! It's ok, really. Elena did jump once or twice and the story was good but we were definitely disappointed.

So why Knotts? Well, to be honest, we have been going to the mouse house for years. We've had passes for as long as I can remember. Even with the many, and I mean many, price increases for both passes and parking. That place in Anaheim was our main source of entertainment. But it's really expensive and we realized our kids hadn't gotten to go to the other amusement parks or attractions in the area and were missing out. So we made the decision that this years pass would be Knotts. It was worlds cheaper to buy for a family of four then the mouse house and it was like a new adventure for the kids. Win-Win!

Something Antiquie from the old Calico Ghost Town

Today, since we had passes we took our time and didn't do nearly all the things we wanted to do. But we will be back. We were making plans for our next trip to the park. Next time Brian wants to eat at Pink's The Original Hot Dog For The Stars. They have such a snappy dog that is super yummy. One of the things we look forward to when the LA Fair is in full swing. BTW - We tend to just eat our way through the fair.... One of these days we may actually make it out to the Original Pink's but for now we will be happy with a local spot.

We are once again home and the kids are all tucked in and sleeping the night away. They totally enjoyed the day and are looking forward to tomorrows activity. I wonder what we are going to do tomorrow???? We are so very blessed by our little family!


So! Who else has passes???

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Bunco @ IHC

BUNCO!

For those of you who know me,  you know how much I just love Bunco! Well after toooo long a time I have finally rejoined the Women's Special Events team at church. Our newest event.... BUNCO! What a great way to rekindle a relationship. It's been a long path to recovery and I am now fully my healed self. Lots of positive changes for me. ^. .^ and I'm loving it! I just enjoy this ministry team and I am very happy to once again to be giving in this way.  It feels good to be using my gifts in the ways that both make me happy and brings glory to God. Plus there are so many positive and uplifting souls on our team!

SoCal Marisa, Other Marisa & Tina

Well the night was filled, and I don't mean that in a small way, it was truly filled with all sorts of friends from every facet of my life. I couldn't be happier than being surrounded by these amazing women! We played 3 rounds of Bunco, ate lots of goodies from candy to these super yummy cupcakes and had a blast just mingling and chatting with everyone.

Tina, Beth, & Tina (sorry for the dark picture)

Before I knew it and before I was even ready for the night came to an end, it did. After helping with the clean up as typical I ended up in the parking lot chatting the night away with a few friends. I love those conversations. Positive connections are really the balm of life.

My Small Group Leaders Cathy, Maria, & Terry

Last night I left church parking lot absolutely content. Content in knowing I am now healed from my previous hurts and back on track in my ministries. It seems like so very long ago that I stepped down from all my ministries and abandoned my small group. I have made some adjustments and changes in my life. Choosing positive reinforcement in my connections and taking it one day at a time. As in the concept learned in the movie with actor Bill Murray "What About Bob?" I healed with "Baby Steps" Baby step church. Baby step small group. Baby step my ministries. It took some time and changes but I'm back!

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel)

The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel)

Kept Me Guessing


What a refreshing book for me. The Lightkeeper's Ball kept me guessing until the final reveal. Just when I thought I figured it out there was another twist. The character build of Olivia Stewart as we followed her through this mystery was very intriguing. As a reader we grow with her in her learning to trust her inner voice and quiet her self doubt. The Christian principles and quiet God focused topic matter was not preachy in the least. I found it refreshing the way author Colleen Cobly did not thump that Bible, instead refocused the reader on trust in The Lord and prayer. Definite "Seeker" Book. I do have to say I was rather surprised by this topic since I do not regularly ready Christian novels simply because of the peachiness of them. I have to admit I ordered this book because of the cover art. It is very beautiful and caught my eye; intrigued me enough to want to read it. & I am very happy I made that decision. Will I be reading the other two books from this series? Most definitely and I look forward to the read!


See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Macaroni Salad

Serious good stuff. Now I don't know if this is a Mexican thing or just something with my particular family tree, but there is always some Macaroni Salad whenever there is a family function. Make it the day before so your flavors can get a chance to know one another and enjoy it at your next BBQ.

1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked al dente, drained, cooled and set aside

4 Stalks Celery, peeled of string and chopped

1 Small Sweet Yellow Onion, Grated, drained

2 Cloves Garlic, finely Chopped

1 Medium Can sliced olives, drained

2 Cups Mayonnaise

1 TSP Salt

1/2 TSP Black Pepper

Combine all ingredients. I started grating my onion for those who fear the look of onion. It's so much easier on the eyes to grate using the Cuisinart. I find it easier to mix together with my hands. Sure they get all messy but everything mixes rather nicely. If too dry ad more mayo and more salt and pepper if needed. Chill at least 12 hours and enjoy!

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

One Fish, Two Fish...

Alex, Elena, Hayden, Ryan, Jordon & myself at Bonelli Park

So Day Two of our summer vacation started out rather nicely. We received a call from friends wanting to know if we maybe would like to go fishing. Sounds like a plan. So we woke up early (8:30am btw - thanks Alex for the early am phone call!) and headed over to Bonelli Regional Park.

Ducks, ducks, and more ducks!

After looking at the web page and seeing they recently stocked the lake with 500 lbs of catfish I had visions of blackened catfish frying away in my cast iron pan while spicy hot smoke billowed up and throughout the house. If you've ever blackened catfish you know all windows and air vents must be open! But it is so worth the effort and pepper burnt lungs!

That's my girl!

Coffee pot was set to perk while I busily made our lunch to throw in the cooler we meant to drag along. Packed the chairs, umbrella, cooler, and with sunscreen applied and hats on our heads we headed out the door for a day at the lake. $10 later and we were in the park and looking for a parking spot. Which was not a difficult task to accomplish since there was hardly any one there. The swim beach was closed for the day, some sort of private party and we past what looked like a really nice playground on the way to our designated fishing spot.

The boy getting ready to cast out

Talk about excitement! Ryan & Jordon chasing our car and ready to help us unload with such grins and enthusiasm. Such good boys. As we were meandering toward our spot a park official pulled alongside us and asked if she could take our picture. So now our grins will be gracing some sort of flyer for July. Celebrity? Maybe, but we're getting used to our paparazzi.

Donuts?

As we settle in the resident ducks march by reminding us they will require some sort of food or they may just nibble away at our toes or something. From the safety of their little burrows ground squirrels look on deciding with their pea sized little brains if they could possibly snatch a donut before we closed the box. Ha! No such luck for them, but man are they brazen.

What a lazy day....

So we settle into our day. Make camp so to speak. Get the gear ready and cast our lines out. Funny thing about fishing with kids, especially rambunctious kids, they don't sit still for long. Frisbee out and now they start chasing all over the hills. This is when I think to myself, shoulda brought the kite. perfect day to fly a kite. So before we know it the kids are done with fishing, while lines are in the water and the adults are left on the shore trying not to doze in the sun while they run amok. As the sun creeps over head and the marine layer burns off we set up the umbrella and enjoy our simple lunch and watch the bobbers float along.

The kids and that Frisbee

Did we catch anything? Was there a power struggle of man against beast? Will my cast iron pans be blackening away some yummy fatty catfish? In answer to those questions a big 'ol NO! Sadly, I didn't get to enjoy my blackened catfish along with some garlic mashed taters and grilled asparagus, but I really did enjoy the day of just sitting and relaxing while listening to the kids laughter.

Such avid fisherman

Our day quickly came to an end and as we were cleaning up our spot the kids grinning, happy faces made me think we would definitely be coming back again. Empty fishing nets and all. Maybe next time we will use the equestrian center or even camp out there....didn't know they had campgrounds....hmmmm more summer activities to ponder.....

View up by the bathrooms

As we head home I contemplate the activities we planned for the remainder of the day thinking we could slip in a nap before heading to my Uncle Danny's Graduation. Sadly, the day must of really wore all of us out because we overslept our naps and totally missed the big event. I woke with a sore throat and feeling rather ugh, so maybe it's a good thing hu? Anyway, Congratulations to my Uncle Danny! Good luck as you pursue your new paralegal career!

Aaaaahhhhhh!

As the day closes I am sitting here contemplating the day. Day at Bonelli Park, Uncles Graduation, Those bad neighbors FINALLY move out, what an action packed day. Kids are tucked in and I get to enjoy the silence until the little one wakes in the morning. He's my early riser. Tomorrow is a day of getting ready for Fathers Day. Hopefully we will be able to make it over to leave some flowers on Granpa Carlos's grave before we have the in-laws over. Sounds like a nice quiet weekend hu? Like I said before this summer has started out a lot better than last!

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

It's Summertime!.......

Kindergarten Graduation "Big K Day"

It's that oh so very exciting time of the year. One of my favorite times of the year. Yes, you guessed it, it's Summertime! Time for the lazy days of summer to carry us to fall. Time for loooong naps. Relaxing by friends pools, reading lots of books, board games, puzzles, crafts, shopping trips, beach days, going to the movies, and lots of red cups! Oh how I love the summertime!

The boy receiving his Kindergarten Diploma

Yesterday was the last day of school. I now have a first and a fifth grader. So hard to believe they have grown so much. But I'm not going to sit here and lament over the passing of years "like sands through the hour glass..." No, I'm not going to do that. I am however going to rejoice over the fact that I no longer have to wake early, cajole my kids out of bed, make lunches and try not to hit any children in the parking lot as I quickly do the curbside tuck-n-roll with my oh so limber kiddos in their weekdaily quest for an edumakation. Not me, no.

The boy and his diploma

Now it's time to plan. Or really, shoot from the hip. I have a few things planned as activities for my loving family but for the most part I'm going to grab the bull by the horns and enjoy the ride. Last summer sucked big-ol-you-fill-in-the-blanks. This summer has already started to show great improvement over last year. For starters the dreaded neighbors across the street appear to be moving out [insert sigh of relief here along with the requisite pomp and circumstance] and the general feeling of this summer is far more upbeat and positive than last years. We have a sleep study scheduled for the boy and hopefully we can start going in the right direction here. We've changed our diet and that seems to be helping a lot. I can almost pinpoint days in which he will have a seizure and sadly they don't seem as frightening as when they first hit. Yup, things are definitely looking a lot better than last year.

The girl on her last day of school

Today the kids and I slept in to a blessed 10am. I love summer. We just kicked back and enjoyed the day. We worked on our summer bridge and pretty much slacked after that. Made a vat 'o sauce which will help reduce my cooking time over the summer and still keep us in yummy dishes. I'll try to post my recipe later but that one is just a lot of a pinch of this and a palm full of that and let's not forget a glass of wine for me and a glass of wine for the sauce.... Yeah, it's that good.

Did someone say water balloon fight?

I'd love to give you my calendar for activities that are pending but really, I aint gots one. Summer should be about relaxed fun and that's what I have planned for the kids. That and some movies and a quick camp out (red cups may be involved). I know, sounds like fun, hu? OK. So I will be sure to log on here and tell you what we did just so you get an idea of what's out there for ya. Some may be free type things to do and some you may have to dust off the 'ol wallet in order to enjoy. Either way it hopefully will be entertaining. "Oh, by the by..." [spoken with a British accent] what are your plans for the summer? How do you plan on entertaining your little miracles from above?

See ya round like a donut!, SoCal Marisa

Farewell & Adieu

SoCal Marisa with her beautiful pink Cap

So I have officially Graduated from MOPS. What does that mean? Well, it means I have finished this “Academic” year and next year I will not have a preschooler to claim. My big boy will be a first grader and I will be just your normal and average mom. The MOPS organization does have a program called MOMSnext but it’s relatively new and there are only two churches somewhat (and I say that with a slight laugh) close by. Um, yeah, that’s not going to happen.

So yesterday I said goodbye to that season in my life where I was part of an organization of moms. A friend of mine recently asked me what I would miss most. I knew the answer to that question right off. I will miss the breakfasts with friends. Meeting for coffee. The MNO’s and scheduled play dates. I will miss seeing all those happy faces each week. Most importantly I will miss the connections.

As I was receiving my Graduation Certificate and being capped I said a few words. & I did my best at not crying and pushing on through the farewell. I’m sure I rambled on a lot. Some of those women sitting listen with baited breath on what I would say, I may never see again. If we do happen to run across each other in our daily life I’m sure I’ll be that person that makes them pause and think to themselves, Hmmmmm where do I know her from??? Others I may stop and chat with and get that warm fuzzy over MOPS memories and yet others I will see more often as we plan get togethers, and watch our children grow up together.

Other Marisa, Lori, Beth, SoCal Marisa, Mechelle, Michelle, & Tina. The best table a girl could ask for! I love you girls!!!

These 5 years I have been in MOPS have been the best most challenging and spiritually growing years of my life. I have met some amazing women. We have done some incredible things together. I have built some lasting friendships. This season of my life may be ending but I’m not just walking away from it empty handed. This season of my life is going to enrich my next season in life. I have so many things I want to do. I hear God whispering in my head on where he wants to lead me. I only hope I get it right and am able to follow where he leads.

This isn’t the end. It’s not Goodbye. You will see me again. Who knows for sure where though? I don’t want to say goodbye. Rather, farewell. Adieu. Or as my Granpa used to say "See ya round like a donut!" I love you and may God bless you until I see you next.

What did you do when the last of your kids went to school full time? When you were no longer a mother of a preschooler?

See ya round like a donut, SoCal Marisa

Book Review: 666 Park Avenue

Fun, Sassy, & Sexy!

666 Park Avenue: A Novel was so much fun to read. I read it cover to cover in two days. I could have finished it sooner but I didn’t start reading until late at night and had to take a sleep break but I picked up the book right away the next day. I have to say I haven’t been this excited over a paranormal book since Twilight or even Vampire Diaries and can’t wait for the next installment The Dark Glamour: A 666 Park Avenue Novel which according to amazon is not until August of this year. Come on August!

Jane Boyle’s character is funny in her thoughts. I chuckled a lot as she went through her day to day stuff. Aside from the whole having powers and being a witch thing I found I could related to her as she saw herself. As an awkward individual who wanted to be heard. Malcolm her lover and fiancé is just so very dashing with his sexyness and family secrets. Quite literally sweeping Jane off her feet at their first encounter and not letting her catch her breath for most of the book.

We travel from France to New York in the first few builder chapters and then the ball really gets rolling. Starting a new life and trying to figure out the whole witch business in secret Jane makes some new friends and grows in her own confidence.

There were a few areas of the book that I found to be a little confusing and that was with Malcolm’s whole family. They seemed to shift together and were hard for me to recognize with exception to Lynne and one or two others. However there were a few plot twists that I really didn’t see coming which excited me. The ending and climax of the book I did see one missed opportunity of gaining power during a fight scene in the mansion. The ending felt a little rushed for me but also was a great cliff hanger. This is why I can’t wait until August to see what Jane does next. All in all I really liked the book and how it flowed and I cannot wait to read the next installment! =-)

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa