Peg’s Journal

The holidays are over and we’re back to school. Our winter-break, surprisingly, felt longer than it was. We had spent the first four days of our break with my family in NorCal (driving back on Christmas night)….four gloriously fun, relaxing, and gluttonous days that went by much too quickly. Had we stayed longer, I’m sure the remainder of our winter-break would have flown by.

The last two weeks have been filled with time with my family, my in-laws, relatives, friends, lots of food, and tons of gifts!!! Needless to say, my kiddies were spoiled with an over-abundance of clothing and toys this Christmas. Ashlyn must have told everyone in the world that she wanted a guitar, because she got 4! hahaha Summer, who rarely asks for anything, got so much stuff that she’ll never have to ask for anything ever again.

I wonder if I’m the only one who does this, but I only let my kids open up and play with some of the toys they got. The rest, I’ll store away to open up at a later date. They lack excitement, desire, and appreciation when they get to open up everything. I remember after Ashlyn opened up ALL her gifts at her 2nd birthday, she had that look of: “that’s it?…what else can I open?” So now after they unwrap all their gifts, I let them select some and put the rest away. With the amount they both get at Christmases and birthdays, my storage space is turning into one huge toy store and I’m quickly running out of room. I’m not even kidding.
I’m trying my hardest not to raise spoiled children, but the truth is…they are spoiled. Aric and I give them what we never had as children, and our parents give them what they couldn’t give us as children. *sigh*

Anyhow, Ashlyn is lovin’ her guitars, Hannah Montana Concert Stage, her MP3 player, and Jonas Brothers CD. Summer’s having a blast with her Fisher Price digital camera, Gymnastics Divas Barbies, Disney Princess Dollhouse, and Crayola Color Explosion Board. Spoiled, I tell ya!

Click here for more holiday pictures.

As much as I love the holidays, I’m relieved it’s over. We rang in the New Year with our usual group at James and Grace’s. My poor hubby was sick (possible food poisoning from Taco Hell from lunch) that night and spent the whole evening sleeping it off on the couch. New Years Day was spent taking down our tree and decorations, cleaning up, and hanging out with my niece and her bf.

Aric and I have been watching movies lately - “I am Legend” and “No country for old men”, and “The Water Horse” with the kiddies. I love it!

The kiddies are getting back into the swing of things at school…as am I.

Tags: Aric, Ashlyn, family, friends, NorCal, pictures, Summer

2007 was a blessed year…full of laughter, love, growth, and amazing memories. After struggling with depression for the past few years, and the pain of my grandmother’s passing (in early 2007), I have found some healing, happiness, and peace within. I finally feel emotionally and mentally strong, healthy, and whole again. My outlook has been brighter than it has been in a long time. And if that wasn’t enough, physically, I had lost some weight and feel more energetic! *YAY!*
My husband, children, family, and friends have all contributed to getting me where I am today. *sniff* I am really lucky.

Highlights of 2007:
- my kiddies first visit to the snow
- a much needed hiatus
- Amanda & Christel’s return from Iraq
- Summer’s 3rd birthday
- Ashlyn’s Kindergarten promotion
- John & Angela’s wedding
- summer-break in NorCal
- an unforgettable Japan/Taiwan vacation with family
- Summer starts preschool
- Ashlyn starts 1st Grade
- getting a paycheck again (after all these years!)
- Cookie joins our family
- Ashlyn’s 5th birthday
- Sarah’s 30th Birthday in Napa
- 2 engagements
- 3 other weddings
- 15 births (9 boys, 6 girls)!!!
- 6 pregnancies announced (so far)

My top 10 resolutions for 2008
1. keeping in better touch with friends via phone
2. spend less/save $$$
3. exercise
4. blog more
5. blog more about Summer
6. respond to emails promptly
7. take more pictures
8. go to bed earlier
9. take my vitamins
10. nag the kiddies and hubby less (haha!)

Wishing you all the very best for a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous 2008!

Tags: Aric, Ashlyn, baby, family, friends, girlfriends, kiddies, Summer, vacation, Weddings

A conversation with my lil’ one a couple of weeks ago (after picking her up from preschool):

Summer: “Mommy, did you bring me a surprise?”
Peg: “a surprise?”
Summer: “yeah, like Daddy.”
Peg: *tsk* and *roll eyes*
Peg: “your surprise is ME picking you up…*pause*…SURPRISE!”
Summer:
HAHAHAHAHA!

Aric gives Summer surprises everyday when he picks her up from school. Treats from the vending machine at his work. He did it with Ashlyn, now he does it with Summer. I jokingly *tsk* because he makes me look bad….but in all seriousness, I think it’s really awesome.

Ashlyn and Summer adore their dad…and why shouldn’t they?! Aric’s like the coolest, funnest, most loving dad around. Aric has a great relationship with his kids. I love the ties that bind them, and even find myself envious of what they share. Aric loves hanging out with the girls - playing games/toys with them, reading them books, watching TV, playing Wii, or computer games together, making them breakfast, packing Ashlyn’s lunches, driving them to school, shopping with them, and playing jokes on them…and when he’s not with them, he’s always thinking of them. On any given day, the girls will get something in the mail (toys, games, books, magazine subscriptions, or free stuff Aric finds online). Just the other day, Ashlyn and Summer both got letters from Santa in the mail (another thing Aric found online). You should have seen the look on Ashlyn’s face when she read the personalized letter…sheer awe and excitement. So cool.

When Aric and I got married, I got the sense that he wasn’t much of a “kid” person. Like, he doesn’t really engage with children, nor does it come naturally…but with his own, he’s naturally a great father and friend. He’s also good with teaching and discipline. Usually his quiet words of displeasure weighs far more than my banshee-like rants.

I have been meaning to write this post years ago…especially around the time we were training Ashlyn to sleep in her own big-girl-bed, in her own room. Aric slept on Ashlyn’s floor for a little over 6 months….SIX MONTHS! Man, if that’s not love-sacrifice-good dad-bad back, I don’t know what is!

…and that’s the man of our house. We totally love him!

Tags: Aric, kiddies, Summer

at Morel’s French Steakhouse (post show)

Same time last week, Patti and I were watching “Dancing with the Stars” live! It was my first time going to a taping of any TV show, and that was really exciting! Patti and I didn’t get to sit together since we were literally the last ones to get in. On the flipside, we got floor seats. Patti probably had one of the best seats in the house (first row, facing the dance floor). I, on the other hand, got seated and re-seated several times during the night….not that I had mind, since one of my seats were just a few feet away from the judges’ table. Seeing Carrie, Len, and Bruno so close up felt very surreal. Undoubtedly, I was completely starstruck.

Since it was a Tuesday night, it was the elimination round. We didn’t get to see much dancing, except for Julliane and Helio’s encore performance. Queen Latifah performed which was really cool. I really like Queen Latifah (moreso for her acting than her singing/rapping). Nevertheless, it was unbelievably awesome to be in the same room as all the stars (minus Jane Seymour), the dancers, and the hosts - Tom Bergeron and Drew Lachey. Can I just say that the camera DOES add 10 pounds. Sabrina Bryan (who I’m rooting for, because…you know, she’s a “Cheetah Girl”) looks thick on TV. But in person, she totally doesn’t. Granted, she’s not super skinny…but she’s normal, healthy. Everyone looks great. Didn’t Marie Osmond have like 6 or 7 kids?! Her body looks amazing. I really wished I had my camera, but no cameras or cellphones allowed. *pout*

As we left, I walked by Matthew Lawrence (of “Boy Meets World” fame). *gasp* Being the big Disney Channel watcher/fan that I’ve become, it was a really big deal. Yes, I’m a tweenager again. hehehe Anyhow, that night was like visual sensory overload for me.

Afterwards, Patti and I had dinner at Morel’s at The Grove. We sat on the patio, overlooking the Bellagio-esque water fountain, shared Gruyere Fondue, Moules Marnieres, and Steak Frites. It was such a fun evening! By the time I got home, Ashlyn was already asleep and Summer was really tired but had stayed up waiting for me. I barely saw my kids that day.

I have to thank Aric (my hero-of-a-husband), for signing up for the tickets. We got seats for the rest of this month….although I doubt I would go again. It feels totally selfish leaving in the middle of the day, arrange pick up and babysitting for Ashlyn, and not spend any time with my family just to see “Dancing with the Stars”. I mean, I can watch it on TV in HD. It’s almost the same…okay, not really. If I do decide to go again, I would opt for the Monday showing for more dancing. Patti, who took a half day from work, is totally down. She cracks me up.

I missed last night’s performance…but we’ll see who’s still in the running after tonight.

Tags: Aric, Disney Channel, starstruck, tv

2006 was a good year. As always, I’m blessed by the awesome love and support that constantly surrounds me through my amazing husband and delightful daughters, my family, and my friends (old and new).

Highlights of 2006:
- Sis & Joe’s wedding
- unforgettable first trip to NYC & Bett’s Bachelorette
- Summer’s 2nd birthday
- Patrick & Karen’s wedding
- Bett & Chew’s wedding
- Aric’s graduation (FEMBA)
- Hawaiian cruise with the family
- Ashlyn starts kindergarten
- Ashlyn’s 5th birthday
- Peg’s little barrette business
- 11 other weddings
- 2 engagements
- 20 births (12 boys, 8 girls)!!!

Wishing you all the very best for a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous 2007!

**i posted this right before the new year and it went missing. i finally figured out where it went….it was posted under january 1, 2006! HA! just like every year, it’s going to take me a while to get used to writing 2007:roll:**

Tags: Aric, Ashlyn, baby, family, friends, girlfriends, kiddies, Summer, vacation, Weddings