Southern California Vacation- Day 1

My primos arrived July 15. On July 17 we left for Southern California. Our first stop was Hearst Castle.
We had to take a bus 5 miles up to the castle. Here is Liliana on the bus:


Here is the castle:


Here is family Picture of us at the castle:


Here is the picture of the Neptune pool built for Mr. Hearst.


Here is a picture of the indoor pool at the castle. It was known as the Roman Pool and is completly done in gold and mosiac tile.



After San Simone, we stopped and ate at San Louis Opisbo. Sorry no pictures, I stayed in the car with Liliana. Afterward we went to Pismo Beach. Here is a picture of the beach (lili was still sleeping so grandma stayed in the car).


From Pismo we went to Solvang, a Danish community




After Solvang it was a 3 hour drive to our Hotel Room in North Hills. Here we are in the van:


When we got to North Hills we enjoyed dinner at Denny's, Liliana espically enjoyed her mac and cheese, eating it by the handfuls:
We had a great time and got to see a lot!!

July 16, 2008

The day after my cousins arrived we went to San Fransisco. We started and ended our day at Golden Gate Park. We took the BART to get to San Fransisco. Liliana had her first BART and Bus ride. She enjoyed the BART more so then the bus. She had a huge meltdown on the bus and I really wish complete strangers would have kept comments to themselves, I also could have kept my cool a little better!!
Liliana on the Bart

Madrinha and Lili on the Bart, Liliana was also wearing Madrinha's headband.

My mom and cousin on the BART

Lili at Golden Gate Park

The Garden outside the Conservatory at Golden Gate Park


Flowers at the conservatory


Lily as a flower at the conservatory's special butterfly exhibit

A butterfly at the exhibit



ws

July 15, 2008

My cousins arrived July 15 at the Oakland airport somewhere around 1:15 PM. We were all so excited. My parents and her father hadn't seen each other in over 30 years. It was great to reunite Lili and her godmother too, they got a long so well, that Liliana preferred her over me!!

Here we are waiting at the airport for them to arrive:


Madrinha and Lili at the airport

Back at Grandma's playing with Primo Gil

BIG NEWS

I am technically still on vacation, but had to find a moment to say that Liliana has started walking. It was amazing and my parents, her godparents and Marco were all there to see it. We had been practicing for a while and she finally did it all be her self!! It was amazing!!

Memories

Memories
I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it was a cool idea

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don’t want to play on your blog, or if you don’t have a blog, I’ll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Vacation

We leave tommrow afternoon to my parents house. Liliana's godmother will be here on Tuesday. We are so excited. On the 17 and 18th we will be in San Fransisco here are a few things we have planned while we are there: grace cathedral, saints peter and paul church, palace of fine arts and the exploratorim, st marys cathedralgolden gate park, conservatory of flowers, strybing arboretum, stow lake, queen wilhelmina tulip garden. I am excited as these are places we haven't really been too!! Then so far we don't really have much planned for the 19-21 (I am sure we will fid something. Some of our ideas include San Jose-Winchister Mansion, and Portugese societys as well as Yosemite and Squoia national Park.) Then on the 22-25 we will be in Southern California. Here are just a few of things we have planned:

Santa Monica, LA- third street promenade, santa monica place, palisades park, the santa monica pier, and the getty museum and the getty villa

Beverly Hills, LA- beverley hills civic center, rodeo drive, 2 rodeo(has spanish steps similar to rome italy) century city, greystone park and mansion

sunset boulevard, hollywood boulevard(walk of fame)

Long beach/aplos verdes- south coast botanic garden

downtown LA- hollywood sign
pasadena- huntington library, art collections and botanical gardens

south central california- hearst castle, Solvang and Pismo Beach

san diego- balboa park and san diego zoo

While I am really excited about the trip, I'm also really nervous. This will be Liliana's longest trip. She is not on any type of schedule right now as we have been travling so I am worried about how she will fare. I will however have plenty of support with my husband, father,liliana's godmother and my mother with me. Wish us luck!! Pictures will probably posted at the end of the trip!!

Tavares Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Lili's one year Video

Ok so its a little late, but here is lili's one year video. I had to transfer some of my VHS's to DVD! I know its long but I just loved putting it together!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Flashback Friday

Hmm, just sounded like a good idea. This one is a flashback of with the Armstrong family. Remember when you asked me to watch the girls, so that you could go to scouts. Everything went great until... Mckenzie threw up all over herself and the bed and instead of just cleaning it up I called u a hundred times in a panic. Its amazing, now I would know what to do! Thanks for showing me the hoops and practicing on your kids first!! LOL!!

Making an Ordinary Day Extraordinary!

Marco was off today and we had a great time just running errands as a family. We tried to find Lili a plastic swimming pool, but all the places were out of them. It was fun just being together. I love summer break becuase I get to be home and not worry about not having quality time with my family.


Lili's ready to go


This picture was taken outside of Lowes


Much to my disagreement daddy said she could ride in the basket


Time for ice cream

Recipes

Its Summer time, its time for Ice Cream and Pizza

Frances Janisch


3-Ingredient Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

COOKING TIME
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours

INGREDIENTS
12 ice cream sandwiches
1 1/2 cups Chocolate Cool Whip
Sprinkles
Chocolate Sauce (optional)

PREPARATION
1. You'll need a serving platter at least 8 x 6 in.

2. Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches on platter, long sides touching. Spread sandwiches with 1/2 cup Cool Whip. Repeat layers twice with sandwiches and Cool Whip. Scatter sprinkles over top.

3. Freeze 6 hours or until firm. Serve with chocolate sauce on the side if desired.

Tip: If you're not serving right away, cover with plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 week.

From Woman's Day August 1, 2008

Black and White Snowballs
Makes 12
Active: 10 minutes Total:10 minutes
2 cup of any of the following
chocolate crisp cereal
sweetened flaked coconut
mini chocolate chips
chopped chocolate covered almonds
crushed chocolate wafers
1 pint light vanilla, chocolate or coffee Ice cream

1. Place desired coating on a sheet of waxed paper. Place a foil-lined baking sheet in freezer
2. Roll a scoop of ice cream in coating; arrange in backing sheet in freezer
You can store the balls in airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
From Woman's Day August 1, 2008

Breakfast Pizza

Makes: 6 servings Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: at 350F for 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes


Ingredients
1 package (8 ounces) crescent roll dough
6 ounces breakfast sausage patties
1 cup frozen hash brown potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
3 eggs, beaten
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray a pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread out crescent roll dough to fit pan.

2. Crumble the sausage and brown in a 10-inch skillet about 6 minutes. Drain and transfer to a plate.

3. In the same skillet, cook hash browns in 2 tablespoons of the butter, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to another plate.

4. In same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter, add eggs and scramble over medium heat, about 2 minutes.

5. Sprinkle sausage, potatoes and eggs on dough. Season with the salt and pepper. Top with shredded cheese.

6. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and edge of pizza is browned. Cool slightly. Cut into 6 pieces and serve

Liliana

She never stops amazing me. In the last few days she has added a few new words to her vocabulary which are avo(grandfather) and ava(grandmother) and mel(Portugese for Birdy). Its also amazing that we mainly speak to her in English but she is speaking only in Portuguese!! She is adorable and like always we have had a good last two days visiting her granparents!!

Tag

10 Years Ago...

It was 1998. Hmm, I was a freshman/sophomore in high school. All those high school years just rambled together.

5 Years Ago...

It was 2003, I was planning my wedding and attending California State University Stanislaus. If my memory serves I believe my grandmother had visited from the Azores. Marco started working for CDI this year and moved to Hilmar. It was great to have him 4 miles away instead of 117. We went out on some great date nights and always managed to have a blast!! I was living with my two roomates at our house in Turlock. Both my roomates were getting ready to get married.

5 Months Ago...

It was January. Liliana was 8 months old. She was sitting up and playing very happy as long as you where in the room. I had just tracked back on at work after Christmas break. We spent new years at home with friends and family.

5 Things on my list to do tomorrow...

Clean my house
Put away laundry
Pack for mom's
Make Fajitas
Go to the post office
Clean the house

5 Things I would do if I was suddenly a billionaire...

Give some to my parents, brother and in laws
Buy the perfect house
Get a new car
Travel
Invest it

5 Bad Habits...

Biting my nails
Keep my emotions all bundled up inside instead of talking and then exploding.
neat freak
overreacting
pulling my grays


5 Places I've lived...

Tracy, Ca
Turlock, CA
Jerome, Id
Twin Falls, ID


5 Things people don't know about me...

* I love Law and Order
* I feel like a kid again since I get summers off now
* I am Portuguese but to everyones surprise I can not cook Portuguese food
* I always worry about Lili, my parents and my husband
* I was a preemie and stayed in the hospital for a while. I ended up coasting my parents 25,000

Tag...

Denice

Muffin Tin Lunch

The muffin tin contains fruit bar, peaches, green beans, turkey, raviolis, and Gerber veggie snacks, vanilla cookies, Gerber yogurt snacks


Found this while browsing today and thought I would share the idea. Its a great way to put some kick into lunch. It's muffin tin lunch. You simply place different food options in each compartment of the muffin tins!! I loved the idea and just had to share!I will post a picture of my muffin tin latter!!



UPDATE: Ok so Liliana loved the idea, my husband thought it was a little silly but it got her to eat!

Random Thoughts On motherhood

"The most important job in the world doesn't offer an hourly wage or days off or paid vacations. But it does offer real feelings, shining faces, bedtime stories, small victories, priceless memories, and many wonderful moments of joy. Always remember there's no more important job in this world than the one you do every day with all your heart."

Liliana

Liliana will be 14 months old tomorrow, its amazing how much she has grown and learned. She is now saying da(give in Portuguese), nana(Portuguese for sleep) and tio (Portugese for uncle). She also can get to anything she wants she is crawling really fast and she is also crusing furniture. She has been doing so for about a month now, but at the begining she was really scared. I can see it though the fear is diminishing, she will be walking before we know it! I have included some viedo footage of her crusing and of a lesson on saving money! Excuse the pink tint to the first video, i forgot to pull back her curtains!
Here is the vedio of her walking, its too cute!!

My new adventure and addiction

I think I have a new addiction. My new addiction is blogging!

My new adventure is schooling. I decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Special Education. Yeah I know I am crazy, but I have always said that if school was not so expensive I would keep going! I love to learn and a good challenge! Lucky for me 95% of the degree program is online that means that I do not have to sacrifice time away from my family, it just means that I am going to practice good time management skills. Like today, Liliana was completely entertained and I was able to read the three chapters for this week!! I am paying for the ability to have a flexible school schedule, the school is very expensive!

Family

So today my parents came over, we had a good time! While they where here some how my mom and I got on the subject of Idaho and she asked me if they would have moved would I have stayed. My answer to her was yes, yet I know you would never have moved so we moved back!! Its truly amazing the poor of family!! I told her it was just too far! She seemed satisfied with my answer! She also like Idaho for the weather but I think she is pleased to be having her children and Liliana closer to her!


A Tribute to Family
© Michelle A. Moran


I don't know when it started,
Or how it all began.
But God created families,
As only our Lord can.
He was teaching what it means,
To love, honor, and obey.
He wanted a strong bond,
That we don't see too much today.
He wanted someone to hold us,
And show respect for others.
He wanted someone who'd be gentle,
And so he created mothers.
He wanted someone strong,
A support filled with love.
And so he created fathers,
Sent from heaven up above.
Brothers and sisters came next,
With that, an instant friend.
Someone to look up to,
Someone on who to depend.
When he put them all together,
He was amazed at what he'd done.
He had created a family,
Mother, father, daughter, son.
But look at the family,
Created by only two.
How many we've become,
And all because of you.
We have a lot to be thankful for,
The memories through the years.
The many times together,
Full of laughter, full of tears.

Thank you to all my family!!

Letter fun!!

Earlier this week I bought Liliana some tub toys, because she has learned how to stand in the tub! I thought some toys would distract her, it seems to have worked!! Here are pictures of her playing with her tub toys for the first time today!! In addition, there is a picture of Marco and Liliana being cute with the letters!!Marco knows what to do to get me smiling! He is GREAT!!

Happy 4th of July

Well for the forth, we had a great time. We went to a new restaurant in Tracy called Famous Dave's BBQ. The food was good and the service was great!! Then from there we went miniature golfing, we had a good time and the weather was nice! Marco won both rounds, I would have won if I tried!! Liliana had a blast just holding the golf club! After we golfed we went inside and played a few arcade games!! Liliana had fun pressing all the buttons! I played deal or no deal and won 200 tokens. We used our token to buy Liliana a crown. It was nice to get away and spend time with each other and as a family!!

Our anniversary

Its been 4 years since Marco and I got married, seven since we started dating and eight since we started talking!! Marco got a card and a white board for his anniversary, the white board was stuck to the fridge with a lovely message from me and Lili! It has been a truly great time!! We have had our challengs, moves, jobs, misunderstandings. Yet we have also experienced some great events including the birth of our daughter, road trips, and dancing!! Thanks babe for 4 great years may there be many more!

Ups and downs of Life

So we haven't heard anything offical from the bank as to our offer, but I have a feeling its not going to be good. There are now 4 offers on the property. So from previous experince we will probably not get this property!! So frustrating! The job thing isn't going well either, I didn't get the one in tracy, well maybe next time!

July!

I can't believe its July already! Its going to be a crazy month. Our anniversary is tomorrow. Then my brothers birthday is on the 11th. My goddaughters birthday is on the 13, but her party is on the 12. Then my cousin arrives on the 15 and will be here through the 30. We have lots planned for those 2 weeks. Not to mention that during those two weeks both Marco and I will be celebrating birthdays. I can't believe that I will be a quarter of a century old!!
All and all though, it seems to be shaping up to be a pretty good month. We have placed our third official offer and things are looking good. We originally weren't going to place a bid on the house and waited for nearly a week and there was no offers placed on the house! So we submitted it yesterday and are waiting to hear back! Hopefully with it being a holiday weekend not too many people will be out house shopping, even so it could take up to 2 weeks to hear back from the bank!! Its a really nice 3 bedroom 2 bath home with 1600 square foot and seprate living spaces and minamal work to be done!! They did smoke in the house though. Here is the picture!
Things with jobs are going well as well, just keeping my fingers crossed!