Easter 2010

We tried our hardest to explain "the true meaning of Easter". They boys sat through the little speech. They asked a few questions. We tried to keep the story light, but nothing is with these boys. They ask the most intense questions. We made it through and then told them "although the celebration has NOTHING to do with Christ or Easter, we celebrate the day, because life is better with an occasional celebration." Dominick decided that that was acceptable and that we could enjoy the day.

The Easter basket hunt brought chickies. I couldn't find a chocolate bunny without soy, dairy, egg or gluten, so there were no chocolate bunnies in this family!

New duds for the occasion.

We had an Easter egg hunt and dinner at Great Grandma GG and Dick's house with all of the relatives.

Jack got rich!!! I think it was the suit that made those dollars look like hundreds.

Green Boys!

These boys love to garden.
They beg for seeds anytime we go to the store.
They had their chance to finally start planting in pots on our patio.
They named their rosemary "Spike".
One of their flowers is named "Bugguh Bugguh eatuh." They think it's a venus fly trap, watching it, wishing it would eat flies and bugs.

S I X

Dominick turned 6 on March, 14th 2010.

I just love this child.

He is quirky, artistic, and kind.

I just love to look at his face. I love his sympathetic smile.

Space Cowboy Spiderman?

Dominick is the best at playing dress-up. He knows he looks amazing. Check out his eccentric poses.

Chinese New Year 2010

We met up with some friends, jumped on the BART and rode into the city. We grabbed some dinner in a market and then ran out to the street to watch the parade, and fireworks. After the fun we hauled 4 sleepy kids back to the BART and rode home.

Valentine 2010

Lovin' these boys...

Christmas 09'

We decided that we would take strange photos of the boys this past Christmas. Thanks to the help of Uncle Zeb's creative mind, they turned out great.

Dear Dad,

I wish that you were a part of my life. I remember when you were. I know that there were times that were good. I know that things were confusing and unstable. I wasn't sure if you were happy with me. I seem to vividly remember fear, anxiety and loneliness. I do remember one of the good times. I remember the time that I climbed a tall tree. It was taller than the house, twice as tall. I was afraid to come down. You coaxed me for a bit and then you climbed the tree. You came all the way up, grasping onto frail branches, all the way to me. You begged me to climb onto your back. I was afraid, but I climbed on, and you slowly carried me down to the ground. You didn't yell. You were calm. I love you for that moment.

Now that I am grown, I understand why things were the way that they were. I see that you were struggling. I now understand the pain that you suffered. I love you for letting us go. I know that it must've killed you when we moved away. It killed us too. I saw the pain in my brothers' eyes. I used to look in the mirror and see that I resembled you. I would cry until my reflection blurred. I didn't understand the way that I felt.

Seeing you as a grandfather to my boys changed my judgement of you. I suddenly saw you as innocent and sad. I saw that you were hurting more than I was hurting. I could not be angry any longer. As Dom grows, I understand more of your mental anguish. I would give anything to take away all of the suffering in you, and in my brothers, but I can't. All that I can do is show understanding, love and compassion.

I love you with all of my being.

Getting With It...

For realz!

I have realized that without my blog, I do not keep track of anything!

My kids say amazing things, I hardly write them down.

There are "first's" and "last's" that are not being recorded.

I felt like while I was blogging, I wasn't being totally real.

You know, you write the good things. Say the nice things.

But life isn't just good and nice, sometimes is insane.

So I am blogging now, for realz!

Someday when I am dead and gone, I want to leave an accurate record of how life really was in "our day". You know?!?

So that is that.