It's a Vivas Thing!

May

Boys are Easier…

By Hope | Filed in B-Boo, Family, Good-Looking One, The Vivas Family!

…to send off to Prom, that is! The boys, we throw them in a tuxedo…that’s is. Sure, we can instruct them to be a gentleman, open the doors, treat them like a lady, ask them if they have enough money, etc., but then we send them off and trust that we’ve taught them well.

But when it’s your daughter….it’s another story! It’ takes weeks of preparation! There’s shopping for the dress; then the shoes; then accessories…and the list goes on and on.

Until it’s finally the day…and in it, there are not one, two, or even three trips to Sally’s…but FOUR! Half a bottle of fingernail polish is used before the nails are just right. Then there’s the bobby pins, glue gun to make the hairpiece, make-up for “smokey eyes” and so much more!

And when you’re all done…you remember the dress has to go over the head….yeah, that was fun!

And the finished product?

And then, there’s that smile!

And a moment with her father…

And her oldest, very protective brother…

Big brother on the front porch with a Samurai Sword...waiting to greet her lucky Prom Date!

And finally, we’re about done with pictures…..

And they’re off!

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Apr

Long Overdue

By Hope | Filed in Family, The Vivas Family!

Saturday was one of those days. You know, the kind where you want to sleep in, but have to get up even earlier? And then it’s clean the house, do the laundry, work in the yard.

But…

How wonderful it was to have the Diva come over and work with the Drama Queen because she was singing in the praise band for the first time tonight. But what made it even more special? When the Talented One started talking harmony with them; giving them suggestions and then singing along with them and helping. What a moment!

And then, taking Chicken Noodle Butt and the Drama Queen outside with me and teaching them how to trim the rosebushes. And we talked and laughed as I shared memories of trimming rose bushes with their oldest brother. Which took me down memory lane…..

And having chili dogs and guacamole outside in the backyard; just sitting in a circle laughing and talking.

And working on Bboo’s hair while watching the four youngest playing baseball in the backyard. Laughing while we listened to them screaming “run, run….get the ball, get the ball!” And remembering baseballs and soccer balls crashing through the same window through the years.

And finally, playing Super Mario races half the night; laughing as I kept falling off the cliffs and rainbow road (or whatever it is called), and getting inked or struck with lightening.

In our hectic life, these are the type of days I long for. I’m so glad I was blessed with one this weekend.

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Mar

We Like Her

By Hope | Filed in Family, Good-Looking One, The Vivas Family!

This evening my oldest son brought his new fiancee over for dinner. (We really like her.) Up to now, we’ve tried to be our nice, normal selves. Honest.

But now that it’s official she’s sticking with us, we must break her in…so when they walked in the door, we said, “Guess what you get to help us with tonight?”

She cautiously asked, “Spanish?”

Nah….making candy! She was definitely showing more enthusiastic about making candy then teaching Bboo Spanish!

But then….we decided to have dinner first.

And then….

The Drama Queen wanted help with her project on the heart. Part of this was making heart candy, but the Smart One had a molecule project due and needed help painting styrofoam balls…

He won, because apparently she likes to paint.

And she did ok…until she mixed the colors when she decided to paint the paper plate! She learned something new about the Smart One tonight…he likes things a particular way…(Good thing he really likes her)

Of course, while this is going on, Bboo and I are desperately trying to make candy to pour in the molds. This is not an easy task, I don’t care what anyone tells you! You have to melt the sugar and keep stirring and stirring and stirring while putting in the food coloring. The minute it begins to cool down, you have to start all over again! And if you don’t get it into the mold fast enough, you have to start all over again….and if you don’t stir fast enough and keep it hot enough…you have to start all over again.

I think the Drama Queen’s next project should be on the do’s and don’ts of candy making!

And while we are having fun with projects, we talk. (Because we like her)

She is, after all, one of four girls.

So we talk about things that I’ve found in my refrigerator over the years…

Like frozen snakes because someone thought it would be cool to dissect

Frozen tastebuds stuck to the top of the orange juice can (don’t ask.)

And then, there’s the time Bboo was convinced to shave her lips (she was three), not to mention the scalped child who fell off of swings and landed on a two by four…

or the broken bones

or just the many weird things that happen to the Vivas’

I’m pretty sure she’s still marrying my son.

I hope so, cause we really like her.

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Tags: family time

Mar

Cool Mom Award

By Hope | Filed in B-Boo, Faith

I am pretty sure I should get the “Cool Mom Award.”

Bb00 wanted to get her nose pierced. For those of you who don’t know me well; let me share one thing.

HATE

NEEDLES

With a passion.

I avoided epidurals and had my babies natural just to AVOID that GIANT NEEDLE in my back.

I do NOT like needles.

Yuk.

So, her two older brother’s took her so I wouldn’t have to go.

Nope.

Because her older brother had to have proof of guardianship.

On the one hand, I’m glad to know kids can’t just walk in and get their bodies pierced without a parent’s consent.

On the other hand….that meant I had to go in.

Where there are NEEDLES!

Her brother’s conned me into going one night. And so, she got her nose pierced.

Cool Mom Award, right?

But wait…it get’s better!

The ring fell out when she was showering.

So, we had to purchase another one or let it close up.

Did I mention I hate needles? And that the needle they put through her nose was BIG?

She tried for two hours to get the ring back in her nose.

I finally admitted it…the only way it was going back in was if I did it.

So, the Smart One shined his flashlight in her nose while I pushed it back through.

She now has a pretty little blue jewel glittering her nose.

And me?

Just waiting for that cool mom award!

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Mar

My Baby’s Getting Married!

By Hope | Filed in Family, Good-Looking One

Yup, it’s true! I cannot believe it; I am going to be a mother-in-law.

When did I become old enough to be a mother-in-law?

It seems like just yesterday he was the little boy sitting in the yard crying because he didn’t want his friends breaking his piñata; and now….he’s asked someone to become his wife.

I have to say, it was hard for me. Not because I’m not totally thrilled…I absolutely adore my new daughter-in-law to be. She is beautiful, inside and out. And she makes my son happy.

It was just hard, because I knew how much he wanted everything to be perfect. And the mom in me wanted to be able to help him make everything perfect.

But there are just some things that a man must do alone.

It was hard not to want to keep texting him, asking him if he’d asked her yet…had she said yes….what was taking so long?

I’d accidentally called him in the morning. I thought I was calling hubby and was rattling on, when I realized the voice on the other ends was asking if I had intended to call him? I had to laugh and tell him that this was what marriage was all about…the ramblings of life! We talked for a few minutes as he got ready to go pick her up. We joked about him sending me a text message just letting me know he’d done it.

“You can send me a dot.”

“Seriously, just a period…or you could spell out the work DOT if you want.”

We laughed, and then hung up the phone.

Through out the day he was in my thoughts; I remembered when his father proposed to me and how happy we were.

Finally, I got a text. Three letters.

Yes

What a blessing. Moments later, “Grace Like Rain” came on the radio. It’s kind of like our song. It brought tears to my eyes. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.

My son is getting married.

Can you believe it?