Peg’s Journal

Today, the First Grade Room-moms hosted an Appreciation luncheon for our teachers and staff. I stayed up late last night making floral centerpieces, (pictured above) so the flowers would look as fresh as possible, and putting together 2 giveaway “Swag Bags” for our Oscars themed lunch. We served up yummy Italian food and desserts. It was a huge success and I’m proud to say we did an awesome job.

Ashlyn and Summer in February

showing off their V-Day gift from Daddy

at Ana’s birthday party

I have to apologize…I’ve fallen into a bad habit of blogging for the first half of the month then nothingnadazilch for the last half.
February turned out to be much busier than I anticipated. Between activities at school (Valentines party, MTM art class, and the ever-so-hectic Noon duty), colds being passed between hubby and kiddies, two long weekends in a row (Lincoln & Washington’s birthdays), several birthday parties, reorganization of Aric’s home office, lots of errands, and the usual day-to-day stuff…I’ve been swamped.

But now….with the beautiful weather, the completion of the Appreciation luncheon, and the anticipation of this weekend, it kinda feels like Friday!

This weekend is REALLY exciting for me. I’m heading to Las Vegas….with Wil and Bett….to celebrate my nieces’ - Amanda & Christel’s birthday….their 21st birthday!!!

Damn, that makes me kinda old, huh? Luckily (or unluckily) for them, I don’t feel that old….AND THEY’RE GOIN’ DOWN!!!

Tags: , birthday party, kiddies, valentines, weekend

Happy Friday! Since we couldn’t afford to actually see Hannah Montana live in concert, we were thrilled to find out that they had turned her concert into a digital 3-D movie experience - Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. We bought the tickets a few weeks ago for this special engagement.

We (along with Grace, Lauren, and Taylor) went to The District early. We were so glad we did, because not only did we get great seats, but we got a chance to meet Emily Osment (”Lily” of Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana fame), for photo-ops and autograph pictures at the Radio Disney booth! I don’t know who was more excited…me or Ashlyn. HAHAHA!

meeting Emily Osment

The concert movie was way awsome! With our ultra stylish 3-D glasses, I felt like we were actually at the concert. It was probably even better than going to the concert, because we would never have gotten THAT close to the stage. It was also great seeing rehersal/candid footage and the backstage action. AND of course, the Jonas Brothers! *squeal*

our rockstar pose

Ashlyn and Lauren’s rockstar pose

my cutie - Summer

It was cute seeing all the little girls in the theater out of their seats dancing and singing along (including my little Summer jumping up and down in the aisle)! We all had a great time (even Aric, but *shhhhhhh*….don’t tell anyone).

It’s showing for one-week only, so click here if you’re interested in finding a theater near you.

Have a great weekend!

Tags: Disney Channel, friends, kiddies, pictures, starstruck

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

My girls participated in a fashion show over the weekend for Nordstrom at The Irvine Spectrum. The word-of-mouth production was not widely publicized… it was just a way for local kids and employees’ children to have some fun. In exchange for our participation, we recieved an additional 15% off the childrens’ apparel and shoe sale. I scored on a pair of Van’s for Ashlyn for $13 (nothing in Summer’s size), and some other great deals. I thought it was a clever way for Nordstrom to draw in shoppers bright and early.

But what I was most excited about was the fact that Summer wanted to be in the Fashion Show too!!! Unlike Ashlyn, Summer doesn’t like to draw attention to herself. Simple requests, like asking her to sing a song for the grandparents, requires a lot of pleading and bribery. HAHA! So imagine my surprise when I took Ashlyn in for the clothes fitting and Summer said she wanted to try on clothes too! By Saturday morning, Summer started looking like she had changed her mind (which I kinda anticipated)….but then we had her walk with Olivia & Erin, and it was all good. Summer smiled brightly, walked confidently, and had a really good time. Ashlyn is currently going through a self-concious phase. She looked scared and shy, even though we all knew she was soooo excited to be a part of the show.

Lauren, Taylor, Erin, Olivia, and Shelby also strutted their stuff in the Fashion show, and they were all so cute!
Click here for fashion show pics.

Saturday afternoon and evening was spent celebrating Karis’ 5th Birthday at Sam and Patti’s. I love parties at Sam and Patti’s…lots of good food and company, and the kids have so much fun running and playing in the spacious home and back garden.
Click here for Karis’ birthday pictures.

Sunday was a lax day. We met up with my father-in-law and some relatives for a late lunch in Rowland Heights. Aric, the kiddies, and I did some shopping at 99 Ranch, then came home to decorate our front yard and put up our Christmas tree. We finally upgraded our small faux tree (that we got for $6 when living in Taiwan) to a 7.5 foot faux cashmere pine (we purchased last year for 50% off after the holiday season…yeah, I’m all about bargains. hehehe).
Like last year, the girls had so much fun decorating the tree. Because they’re both older now, they are better at spreading out the ornaments on the tree…sometimes standing on the arm of the couch to hang some toward the top. hehehe
I used all the little plush toys my kids have gotten from their McDonald’s Happy Meals, or the keychain thingies they get from the dollar gumball machines, as tree ornaments. HAHAHA! I’m not just cheap, but creative, too. HAHAHA!
I ordered my Christmas cards and compiled my shopping list…and it’s really starting to feel like the holiday season is upon us now.
Click for more pictures.

Monday was a really busy and long day for me. Aric had a department dinner to attend, so I picked up Summer from preschool. By the time we got back home, it was nearly 4:30pm. Ashlyn had homework and I was up to my neck in laundry.

Lately, Summer’s been having a lot of “accidents”….at school, at home, and in Aric’s car (hence, the laundry). Yesterday, when I picked her up, she was wearing someone else’s spare clothes again (because she had already gone through her spare outfits last week). This time, she had also soiled her naptime blanket. Summer’s teacher asked if there was anything wrong. Which I replied, “no…everything’s fine”. Does “accidents” mean that something’s wrong? I always figured that laziness is the cause. Whatever the case, I talked with Summer last night and stressed the importance of going immediately when her body tells her to go. Hopefully that helped.

The girls and I ate an early dinner, Ashlyn finished her homework by 7:30pm, the kiddies changed into pjs, and watched “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” while waiting for Aric to come home.

Tags: birthday party, kiddies, pictures, Summer, weekend