Weird Coincidence

Today I was at my newest clients office and while doing some work in Quick books I noticed that one of the brother's birthday is tomorrow. As I was leaving work I told him, "Happy Birthday tomorrow! You have the same birthday as my husband. And your brother's birthday is just a few days after mine which is on December 8th."  He said, "No way, my wife's birthday is on December 8th too!" So we all have the exact same birthdays...how weird is that? 

I guess July and December birthdays are a good combo!:D

Jullien Herrera in Flaunt- John Varvatos

Just an update...

jullien herrera (top left & black & white photo)
double click for larger view

Here's the latest issue of Flaunt Magazine (photographed by Kevin Amato) with an article on John Varvatos & pictures of my son Jullien Herrera (Red Models), on Models.com.

He will be turning 19 next month (November 14th) & I'm hoping he'll be able to come home but I'm not holding my breath...the life of a model (sigh).

Patience...I Need More Patience

I'm so mad right now...my photo loader is messed up & I haven't been able to upload any of my pictures from our anniversary trip to Mendocino. I've really been trying to work on my patience, but the computer stuff just really ticks me off! Speaking of patience, I had another action packed weekend. My sister (April), brother in law (Tyler) & their 4 kids are down from Utah. They needed me to babysit the kids on Friday night till 1:30 a.m. They are all really young & baby Tyce is still breastfeeding, (not a good thing for the potential babysitter).

My Lil' Sis & Brother In Law & The Kids

Dylan

Brayden

Zoey

Tyce

How cute are they?!?

As you can imagine, Friday was a little crazy. I also had my step-daughter Tasha's 21st birthday dinner. So I rushed home from work to make the Taco's & a cake before the kids got dropped off. Luckily I had lots of helpers...Tasha, my boys & their girlfriends were helping with the baby, who wasn't too happy all night.

Saturday we took the kids to the beach & I got some really great shots under the pier. It was such a cool day. When we were walking on the pier, there was this huge Pelican just standing on the rail. People were gathering around it & inching their way up pretty close to take some pics. My niece & nephews were really brave and just walked right up there. I'll post them too if I can get my I Photo to work!

We walked a little further and there were two dolphins swimming by. At the end of the pier there was another Pelican just walking around checking everyone out. It was so weird...I've lived here forever & have never seen Pelicans just hanging out like that. Next a helicopter flew really close to the water, right by us...the kids loved it! The waves were HUGE, it was sunny & warm. What a perfect day.

We stayed a little too long & rushed home so I could make another cake & then head out to Glendora for my sister Stacy's birthday dinner. She turned 47 & of course I had to make sure I put on all 47 individual candles. Everyone was cracking up because it looked like the whole thing was on fire. She blew it out in one breath...we looked down & the candles were all little nubs melted into the frosting...YUM!

Sunday it was off to church first thing in the morning, out to lunch with everyone afterwards & then home to get ready for the end of the year football banquet (this is always a 4hr. event). Finally got home at 8:30 tonight and tried downloading my pics...NOPE not gonna happen!

Patience...I definitely need more of it...or to try to find some way to slow my life down a little bit.

Happy Birthday John-We Miss You!

Today would've been my brother John's 41st birthday. He passed away on July 5, 1991 due to injuries sustained in a car accident.This year was the first year that I decided to have a birthday party in his honor.

I bought Filet Mignon to barbeque, potatoes, salad, and rolls. My favorite football team the Green Bay Packers would be playing against my favorite quarterback, Brett Favre. I made a date with my boys to be home and plan on spending the evening watching this history making game and celebrating the life of my awesome little brother.

As usual things never go as planned. My husband received a call that the men's church softball team was in desperate need of players for tonights game. They were going to have to forfeit if they didn't find a couple of people. So my hubby and Jullien said they'd play. We all went over to the park, of course after I set the record button on my game.

It's funny because my brother loved to play softball and was always on a couple different teams at the same time, just to make sure he was constantly on the field competing. As I sat there cheering on my husband and son, it took me back to the years that we sat in the bleachers heckling and cheering my brother on as he made incredible diving catches, hit homeruns and sometimes got a little crazy (he was a TERRIBLE poor sport!)

What a perfect way to celebrate his birthday. It couldn't have turned out better if I had deliberately planned the whole day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL' BRO! WE MISS AND LOVE YOU!

Happy 21st Birthday Joshy

The first words out of my little nieces mouth as she pressed her face to the glass to see her new baby cousin was, "Mommy, look at the baby monkey!" My sister tried to shush her as all the relatives gathered around to see, Joshua Michael Herrera.

Joshy was a chubby little butterball with a thick head of hair, which looked very different than all of the other newborn baby's. He was almost 9lbs. and could lift his head up to see all of the people looking at him. My first thought was, "Hey, I got ripped off...I wanted a newborn and I got a six month old", LOL!

He was a little spoiled and whenever his little neighbor friends would come over to play with him, he would run to whatever toy or bike they were on and say, "MINE, MINE, MINE!" Grabbing and pulling it away from them or pushing them off his bike. We had to work on this problem...but eventually he learned to share.

He excelled in everything he did. He was always faster than anyone on the field. During a very important baseball game one year, they put him out in center field and told him, "Help the other outfielder's catch the ball, I don't want anything to drop, got it?" Well he understood and when a fly ball went out to left field, Josh raced over, and jumped in front of the kid catching the ball. To the coaches delight and my horror as I sat by the kids parents. He did the same thing with the right fielder...he was so fast that he could catch every ball in the outfield before anyone else had a chance to get it, and thought he was just doing what the coaches told him to.

His first year in high school he broke the record for freshman football rushing yards in a single season. Followed by an amazing track year. His first 4x400 meter relay, he was the anchor. When he received the baton, we were so far behind the other schools...the other racers were already half way around the track. With his lightening speed and sheer determination, he caught the racers down the final stretch neck and neck with one boy...he pushed passsed him to cross the finish line in 1st, sending the coaches and crowd into an uproar of cheers. This display earned him an immediate spot on the Varsity team as a Freshman! He continued to dominate making it to the State CIF Championships as a Sophmore.




Record Holding Relay Team
Joshy has always been an individual...never caring what anyone thinks of him. His style is his own and his smile lights up a room. He has always had tons of friends and girlfriends. When he was 7, I had a neighbor girl come over, who was 14 and babysit my boys. When I got home, one of the boys told me the babysitter kissed Josh. Well, of course being a very protective mom, I marched right over and talked to her mom! This type of behavior from girls still continues..unfortunately I think he wouldn't like me talking to their moms anymore!LOL.

He has been such a joy to see grow and develop, through struggles and triumphs, as he becomes the man he is supposed to be. I'm so grateful for you Joshy...I LOVE YOU. Happy 21st Birthday!

Joshy & Me before his Senior Prom

Anthony & Joshy


Freshman Homecoming Dance

Prom Date (She won Prom Queen)~He knows how to pick em'...LOL~

Josh & Friend Jake


Joshy's First Car

Trip to Virginia City, NV (Josh wasn't happy about having to dress up!)

Birthday Surfboard

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHY, WE LOVE YOU!

The Little Drummer Boy

Preparing for the holiday season can be overwhelming. Please stop and take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this amazing day.

Pondering the words of my favorite Christmas song, I realized how each one of us has a "drum" to play:

The Little Drummer Boy
Composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati & Harry Simeone in 1958.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

We often feel as though we haven't any gifts to give our Savior. Struggling through our everyday lives to live in a way that would honor him. We are often poor, broken, and hurting, without anything fit for our King. The Lord asks us to, come as we are.

He has bestowed upon us gifts and talents. He only asks us to use them to be a blessing to others. Prayer warrior, comforter, musician, motivator, encourager, writer, pastor...we each have a "drum." Step forward and use it to honor him.

This Christmas and throughout the year, remember to play your "drum" for him. Play your best for him, as he smiles down upon us with unselfish love and forgiveness.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16

Watch part of The Little Drummer Video

Faith Hill's Version of Little Drummer Boy

David Bowie & Bing Crosby's Version of Little Drummer Boy

Which Version do you like?

Have a very Merry Christmas!

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY JOHN!!

John, Stacy & Me (Double Click Pic for Close-Up)

I would like to share my birthday letter to my little brother (who passed away) with all of you. My mom asked if we would all write some memories down and send them to her. She is having a party in my brother's honor today because it would've been the big 40. She invited my brother's son Johnny (who never got to meet his dad), over and share memories so he could know his dad a little better.

I, being the avoider of anything that causes me emotional stress put it off until yesterday. I began typing and something VERY STRANGE happened......read the letter below.

Top:- Stacy, April, Grandpa Henry, John & Me
Top Right: John & Me
Bottom Left: Mom, Auntie, John, Grandma, Dad,
Me, Uncle, Cousin, David, and April
Bottom Right: Me, John & Stacy

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY JOHN!

Today, October 5, 2008 would mark your 40th birthday. Where have the years gone? I can imagine all of us at mom’s house gathered for your big celebration. Yes, it would be quite a party…we would all need to be there to tease youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

OH MY GOSH, I had taken my hands off the keyboard, shocked to find the u continuing to type as I stared in shock wondering what was happening. “Is the u stuck? What is going on? Why wont it stop typing?” I frantically pushed a letter trying to get it to stop. Finally it did after pressing the s. “That was really weird…how did that happen?” I continued to look down at the keyboard trying to solve the problem. Unable to find anything wrong, I glanced up at my very special birthday letter to you.

OH MY LITTLE BROTHER YOU ARE STILL HERE!

Before the mishap, my next line was to be describing your reply to our teasing. I could see your sarcastic smirk, the sparkle of mischief, gleaming in your eyes, your arms lifted out away from your side, fists clinched, chest puffed out, ready to bump us with it as you shot back quickly…rather too quickly, knowing that I had touched a nerve in your vanity, “You’re one to talk OLD LADY!” But since you are still with us in spirit…you responded by letting me know that I AM THE OLD ONE in your own special way!

I received your message loud and clear “LITTLE” bro! Very profound…and now it is soooo on! How did you like the “LITTLE” reference (as in small, tiny, scrawny)? I didn’t think so!

I guess that is the perfect start to my “memories” birthday letter to you. We had a strong bond, you being the little brother and I being the teasing, tormenting, manipulative older sister. The hours you would sit playing the games I wanted to…while I would switch cards, change the rules halfway through the game to make sure I would win, or threaten not to play cars with you if you didn’t do exactly what I told you to! You would scream and try to hit me and eventually give up and continue to play the game MY WAY.

As we got older, we would take our summer vacations up in Reno visiting dad. He and Rolene would have to work part of the month and we were left to our own devices. MTV had just started and being a very cool thing to see videos, we would watch it together for hours. After we became bored of watching the same Police video over and over, you came up with the brilliant idea of taking dads GMC Jimmy on a joy ride up the dirt mountain behind the house. I resisted at first, always afraid of getting into trouble. But you, loving to live on the edge…kept begging, talking and eventually persuading me to do it.

You were too short to see over the steering wheel and reach the pedals, so I had to be the one…without a license! The sparkly eyes, huge grin and loud shout, “YES” signaled your triumph. Seat belts on, a phone book under my butt (to see over the steering wheel, another brilliant idea of yours) we slowly headed out of the driveway. “Come on your driving too slow” you continued to bark at me! “Shut up or we’re going back home!” I was not going to be told how to drive illegally by you! After our first adventure…we had many other “Jimmy rides” with dad never the wiser.

As you got older and bigger, you didn’t take to my teasing quite as well. I would fight back but I knew when you had reached your limit. Your face would get red, eyes bulging, lips and fists tightly clinched and the crazy yelling…as I bolted to the bathroom locking the door, laughing hysterically behind its safety. Driving you insane as you beat on the door, yelling that you were going to kill me. You were so easy to get riled up.

In high school you always loved the spotlight. As a freshman, you played football. Needing to establish your macho-ness, you coaxed some of your teammates to run through the senior quad…knowing that you would get a beat down and trash canned if caught. The thrill and danger always too much for you…it could not be avoided, your motto, “live life on the edge,” you and your unfortunate accomplices were caught by the larger, faster seniors, as expected. They however came up with a whole new set of punishments for the pesky little freshman.

Trash canning was not enough…they made you go down on the floor at the pep rally AND on the field at the varsity game IN A DIAPER! Some of the players never showed up, afraid of the embarrassment. Not you, you loved it! You were on the field cheering, running, jumping and leading the cheerleaders in a crowd-pleasing Lancer cheer. The spotlight…you would take it anyway you could get it, even at your own expense.

You brought home your first girlfriend to meet us…I HATED her. She was a snotty little, bossy, brat. Wanting my approval, you played up all her good qualities, that was part of your very sensitive side (sorry it had to be said). You loved family and wanted anyone you cared about to be accepted. She wasn’t…so she had to go. Being quite the ladies man (who they often referred to as “The Bod” because of your huge muscles)…you never had a problem getting a new one and moved on.

To keep up with the latest hairstyles, you had me highlight your hair. This involved pulling tiny strands through a tight cap with a crochet hook. I knew it was painful but you didn’t…another way to torture my little brother! You screamed and yelled like a little girl, while I laughed hysterically at your pain…mom capturing the whole event on video for our family’s years of amusement. We all have a very warped sense of humor.

One year, I had tickets to a George Michael concert and you went with me. What a fun and amazing time we had, dancing, singing and just hanging out…it was a very special memory for me.

You moved to Utah and I would see you once a year for vacation. You decided to take me for a joy ride. You were so excited to show me how good you drove in the snow. Oh, but you had ulterior motives…paying back your big sister. We drove down by the train tracks on a small back rode. You spontaneously floored it and we started spinning. I screamed, “John, SLOW DOWN!” I thought it was unplanned, but you knew exactly what you were doing and brought us to a safe stop and looked over at my, white, speechless, shocked face, cracking up at me. So our endless teasing continued.

You eventually met a wonderful girl named Sundie. The whole family welcomed and loved her very much. You had an AMAZING son John! He is so much like you that whenever I see him, I find myself stopping just to watch, it’s like having you right there again.

We went to Troy’s wedding in Lake Tahoe and Johnny came with us, which gave us a lot of time together. The reception was in full swing. The music loudly playing and Johnny didn’t think he could dance, but just somehow found himself drawn in by the beat of the music…I wonder why? The two of us went out on the dance floor and it took me back to our dancing days…how much fun we had! Remember how you would take your cardboard and boom box out and practice your spins and the worm. After perfecting your moves, taking the “John Show” out on the town entertaining anyone who would watch. Guess what, street dancing is popular again. I bet you could teach those youngsters a thing or too!

Your spirit, love, laughter and joy lives inside all of us. You left a special piece of yourself in each of our hearts, something that can never be taken away. The memories are your gift to us. It sustains us and fills the empty hole inside each one of us. The space that was created by your abrupt depart. Today is your day, but it is also a day that my life has been touched once again by you and our many memories. Thank you for being such a special little brother. I love you and will patiently wait to see you again!


HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY JOHN!

All my love,

Your big sis, Lis

My Son Turned 20...WHAT?

BIRTHDAY BOY

With all the drama going on (Elijah getting hit by a car, Dr's appts., football practices...etc.) I haven't had time to blog about my oldest son Josh's 20th birthday on Aug. 1st. Yep, 20, I can't believe it!! Where have the years gone? It's so weird, the older you get, the faster time flies by. Since Josh moved out when he was 18 to go live with his dad (whole separation anxiety for me) we haven't been as close as we used to be.

I decided to take the day off and spend it with my three boys. I took them all surfing, we came home and ate some grilled cheese sandwiches, then we went miniature golfing, we actually planned on going go-cart racing but it was alot of money for 5 min. so he said, "Let's just golf." We had SOOOOO much fun. We are all very competitive, it was a battle at first...I was kicking their butts the first 9 holes, then I fell apart. They were all trying to distract me, not fair. In the end Josh won, Jullien took second, me third and Elijah last. That night we had tacos for dinner (it's his fav) and carrot cake. It was the most awesome day! It was just like when they were little...I miss those days! Enjoy every minute...they will be moving out before you know it and you will long for "the good old days!"

Joshy & Elijah

Joshy & Jullien