BACK TO SCHOOL

Well, I have finally decided that it is time to go back to school. I have general studies that are required for me to graduate, however, I have felt the need to brush up on my music skills.

I am taking a beginning orchestra for winds on Monday evenings and taking a beginning guitar on Thursdays.

I am also brushing up on my Spanish skills by taking Spanish 01 on Tuesdays and Thursday.

Victor has decided that he also is going back to school and is taking the beginning guitar with me.

I already own a guitar that I had restrung about a year ago. Victor, had to purchase a guitar.

We picked up his new guitar Thursday night. He and I spent some time learning how to tune our guitars. Victor broke his first string. I laughed... He didn't think it was funny. I told him that he was going the wrong way when he was tuning and that he was going to break the string.

I had my guitar tuned in short time. It took Victor a long time and eventually he began to understand the difference between sharp and flat sounds.

Can I tell you that it is extremely difficult to explain musical terms to someone who has never read music before? It is doubly difficult when the person is stubborn and wants to do it on his own...

I'm glad I am not the instructor... :)

Any way, this will be a fun adventure. We begin classes August 17th.

Health Update

Well, I know that some of you have been wondering about my health...

DISCLOSURE - this is not for the male gender who are faint of heart.

I had my follow-up visit yesterday with the OBGYN and I will know something in the next week or so. As for the rest of me, it appears that I am para menopausal - so my hormones are waunky and will remain so until my body decides that it is menopausal - :)

Added bonus: My pelvic muscles are relaxed (lazy muscles) and so things are a little lower than they should be. With a few exercises learned while pregnant this wonderful phenomenon should correct itself. I was told that I need to religiously perform these exercises 6 - 8 times a day for the next couple of months. In the event that it doesn't I will be referred to a specialist who can pin/lift my internal reproductive organs back to where they should be. NICE!!!!!!!!!

Any way, just thought I would you let you know.

FAMILY ADVENTURE

This past weekend Victor and I took the kids to Hurricane Harbor. This is the first family activity of the summer (now half over) and the first activity since Victor came home from the hospital.

We arrived before the park gates opened and stood outside the gates for nearly an hour before they decided to let us in. The dissappointing part is the fact that the gates opened 45 minutes late... :(

I tried to stay in the shade as we waited. The heat in Valencia, CA can be unbearable without shade.

Evan and Alex were given the assignment to locate 6 pool side chairs in the shade. So, they walked very quickly (no running allowed) to the designate area and acquired the coveted spots before any of the other Hurricane Harbor guests.

Our area was quickly set up and we rented intertubes for the kids (including the big kids... ). The Lazy River is more fun on a tube... :)

Victor and I stood in line with the kids for a few of the water rides - some of which scare the crap out of me, but I was a sport and played along... :) We spent quite a bit of time on the Lazy River and relaxing poolside. We were careful to apply sun screen to every part of exposed skin and except for a few missed spots we all escaped some serious sunburns.

Victor is quite pleased with his not so pale looking skin and can proudly say that he is native american without getting funny looks :).

The kids had a great time. They all made new friends. Alex seemed to be attracting the female gender and ended up spending the bulk of his "missing in action time" with a few girls. Aislyn and Allisa made friends quickly with a very sweet girl, Elizabeth, who was a lot of fun.

I even made some friends while standing in line for food. Two very nice looking young men who just love to chat you up and talk about "girly" things including clothes and where to buy them... :)

After about 7 hours of water and sun we thought we should go next door to Magic Mountain for a few hours. 20 minutes into the adventure at the mountain, Victor and I decided we had had enough and told the kids we were going home. They didn't put up a fight...

As of 11 a.m. this morning my children were still sleeping. We were going to go back today and then were reminded by Allisa that she has a violin lesson at 5 p.m. - so we are going tomorrow.

WONDERFUL WEEKEND

Victor and I just wanted to let you all know that we enjoyed spending the weekend with you.

We also wanted to express our gratitude to the Nakais and Hydes for allowing us to bunk at their places - making our stay that much more enjoyable.

Thanks to the Thompsons the Nakais and mom and dad for making sure that we did not go hungry. Victor and I both lost weight this weekend... :) Not sure how that happened.

We especially enjoyed spending time with our nieces and nephews. Their sweet spirits are such a blessing to our ever growing family.

Mom and Dad, thanks for spending time with me and Victor. We really appreciated the information; knowledge and advise that you are so willing to impart. Please tell Grandma we really enjoyed the little chats and that we love her and miss her.

I have spent a great deal of time the past two days reflecting on the powerful relationships we build by being in families. We would not be the people we are without each other. We have many opportunities to grow. I value the relationships that I have with each one of you and you are of great value to me. I am thankful that I have learned to appreciate your individual personalities; gifts and talents and I am grateful that you have been willing to share who you are with me.

As I would not allow others to come between me and my wonderful husband I would not allow others to come between me and my brothers and sisters. You are important to me.

I hope each of you feel the strong bonds of family ties as I do and value one another as precious stones. There is no conflict or strife worth the breaking of family bonds. Don't forget to tell each other how much you love another; don't forget to be compassionate; and don't forget to forgive. Be kind toward one another; be supportive of one another; and be generous with one another.