First Date-Homecoming Dance

My son will be going on his very first date to his high school homecoming dance. Here in Orange County it's a big thing to think of some really special way to ask a girl to the dance. No one just asks them. You have to be original. Which of course usually leaves it up to the moms to come up with a great idea. Obviously a high school teenage boy doesn't think about that kind of stuff.

He decided to ask our friends GORGEOUS daughter.

Funny how protective I am as a mom, I don't want my baby boy to be rejected, so I had my hubby send out a text to our friend asking, "Elijah is thinking about asking Olivia to the dance, is she able to go on a date yet & do you think she would want too? Oh & don't tell her. "

They said, "She can, it just depends on whether she can break her plans with her friends (they already had a bus set up)."

LOL...I'm bad huh?

We typed up a note that said, "Olivia, will you go to the Homecoming Dance with me? Elijah"
Then typed up a bunch of other notes that said, "Not the right one, pick another one."

We headed off to Party City, got twelve helium balloons in her two favorite colors, (Elijah texted one of her friends to find out), bought confetti, folded the notes & placed a note & confetti in each balloon & then had them fill it with helium.

We typed up a scroll that said, "Pop a balloon find the note." Then headed to her house. He came back really quick still carrying the balloons & said, "Someone's in the kitchen & they can see me." I told him just do it & his friend Ryan who went with us said, "Do it!" So he ran up, set the balloons on the front porch, rang the doorbell & ran back to the getaway car before they could see us.

Fifteen minutes later she texted, "YES" with a heart.

I guess she popped all the balloons & didn't find the question until the very last one! Couldn't have worked out better if we had numbered them.

You KNOW I'll be posting TONS of pics...

AND...he just found out today that he was nominated for Sophomore class Homecoming Prince. He was nominated last year too but didn't win (Olivia's cousin did)...maybe this time.

So Girls Wrestle Too?

This weekend my step son Adam had his very first wrestling match. To my surprise there were several girl wrestlers. I was kind of shocked & wondered, "Why would a girl wrestle? I'm mean, it's a "hands on" sport." I don't think I'd want my daughter to, but there was this girl on my sons team who was really cute, had a nose ring, wore make up & was all suited up & ready to go.

And....

She kicked butt! She did this move where she grabbed them, tripped them & then landed on top of them & pinned em'. She RULED...I think she only lost one match. Imagine how embarrassed the boy she pinned felt.LOL!

the take down move

I HAD to take pics of her for you guys!

a shocked boy

the pin

Now on to Adam...

He's only practiced for about two weeks, but he did really well & took second place. He looked like he was "backyard" wrestling with his brothers because he hasn't learned very many technical moves yet, but he's naturally athletic & only lost 1 time. He kept saying, "I hope I don't have to wrestle a girl!" And was really happy that he didn't.

I kept teasing him & told people, "He only lost once, to a girl!" He said, "I DID NOT! I never wrestled a girl!" Then we all started cracking up, "It's okay Adam, you can just admit it!"

Adam in yellow

nice move...the kids a pretzel

the winner!

proud parents!



If you had a daughter, would you let her wrestle?

Part II

The same day as my accident I had to go for a mammogram/ultrasound. I've been having some pain and it's been two years (I know, I know-not good.)

They found two cysts & then called the Dr. in to check it out & do an additional ultrasound. As I layed there, I prayed & thought, "Oh my gosh, please don't let it be breast cancer."

Finally she said, "It's benign. We will see you back next year."

TWO miracles in one day...how lucky can a girl be?

I know I've spent years trying to control everything in my life. So what's a girl to do when things start spinning out of control? Pray, Pray Pray!

Remember to count your blessings each day because you never know when things can spin out of control.

I'm one grateful person!

Very Scary...Do You Believe In Angels? (Part 1)

Yesterday it was raining really hard here in So. California. I usually don't think much about it because I used to live in Utah & I'm used to snow, white-outs and black ice, so rain is really more of a bother than anything.

That was until....

I headed to work in a downpour, was on the freeway almost at my exit when the rear end of my Navigator started to hydroplane (slide out). Since I'm used to dealing w/ black ice, I didn't panic. I took my foot off the gas (hitting your brakes will send you into a tail spin) and slowly tried to correct it. The back end then slid the other way, I corrected again. This continued two more times...my back tires wouldn't grab. I finally slid off the freeway at 55 mph, missing a pole, hitting an embankment completely sideways.

I remember thinking, "Oh no, I'm going to roll over." My next thought was, "This is how it happens, people are on their way to work & the next second they never see their family again."

I skidded up onto the side of the hill, bracing myself for the flip. But it never happened! My car slid, spun around through the shrubs & bushes, then came to a stop with my front end facing the freeway, halfway up the hill.

I sat there shocked, frozen, thinking, "I'm okay, I can't believe I'm okay! What do I do now, I'm not hurt, I don't need to call 911."

A lady, came running down, through the pouring rain & bushes from the top of the hill. I opened my door and walked towards her. She grabbed me, hugged me & said, "God was watching over you today." I said, "You're right, I can't believe I didn't roll over." By this time a man also came down the hill. We all three examined my car & decided I could just drive it out back onto the freeway. As I headed back to my car, the woman hugged me again & said, "God was protecting you."

The man pushed me & as I slowly made my way back onto the freeway I looked back at the woman still standing in the pouring rain, she blew me a kiss. I blew one back to her & slowly made my way into the traffic, still in a daze & wondering about the woman.

Do you have a story where you feel like you were watched over & protected?

There's more...Part 2 Tomorrow

Happy Birthday John-We Miss You!

Today would've been my brother John's birthday. It's hard to believe that it's been 19 years since his passing. No matter how much time has past, we still celebrate the joy, laughter & love my brother brought to our family.

John, Stacy & Me

My brother John (October 5, 1968-July 5, 1991) & baby brother Bryan

My mom said, "I can't imagine what he would look like now."

I can imagine him a little chubbier around the middle, but still working out to keep the muscles he loved to show off. His hair would be graying and thinning, there would be deep wrinkles around his eyes from so many years of laughing & causing laughter. His forehead would have lines that years of worrying and caring for others tends to leave. But I know his laughter would be as loud as ever...I can still hear it to this day.

Time would have aged him as it does all of us, but his joy of life & love of family and always his, "live life on the edge" attitude would be stronger than ever. I'm sure he would be out on a bike with his son Johnny, telling him, "Try to keep up with your old man!" He would have spent every day looking for his daughter Whitley & once he found her, he would have done everything he could to make sure she was laughing, happy, having fun & knew how much he loved her.

He may be gone from our sight, but I know he is smiling down from above, waiting patiently for the day we all can be together again. For what may seem like a long time to us, is just a blink of an eye in heaven.

I Love You John...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

On the day of John's funeral, there was a double rainbow.
Whenever I see one to this day I know my brother is watching over us from above.

THE WEDDING

Just got this picture from my stepdaughter...their photos finally arrived & I LOVED this one!

Isn't she GORGEOUS!!!

Money vs. Life

Lately I've been confronted with how much time is wasted worrying & stressing over money. I know we all need it, but how much can buy true happiness?

With my dad facing his 4th stage lung cancer battle & listening to my boss talk about her 44 year old niece battling liver cancer which started in her colon, it really had me looking at the things that occupy my thoughts, time & often battles w/ my spouse.

Money? Really?

Money can't by health, happiness, time, or memories.

Just something to think about...count your true blessings!

Living Proof & GQ.Com

This is a very cool 50's style short film, "Living Proof" shot for a magazine by Sebastian Mader, (assistant to Steven Klein). My son, Jullien Herrera (Red Models) was pretty excited to drive this cool car!

Click link below /then click "Motion: Living Proof"

http://www.sebastianmader.com/presentation.html

Here's some recent magazine photo's:

GQ.COM (J. Sabatino S/S 2011)


"Fall Guys" Vincent Dilio (jullien on the right)



Blend Magazine-Jason Kim Photography
(jullien on the left)

jullien on the right-rebounding
(didn't think all the years of basketball would be put to good use in a photo shoot!)