Humor - It's a Vivas Thing!

Jun 16 2009

Surviving without B-Boo!

B-Boo and I started traveling together when she was about 7 years old. She was in competitive gymnastics and so from the months of January thru February, we would take off on the weekends for competitions. We did this for four years. A lot of the trips the rest of the family would come along, but for almost as many we traveled together, just the two of us. B-Boo became great at packing in a heartbeat for whatever trip we were headed out to together. She stopped competing a couple of years ago, and while I don't think either of us misses the grueling competition schedule much, we both will admit to missing the traveling part of it! What fun we had traveling with a team of girls, getting stuck in airports, elevators and fixing up their hair for competition.

Then B-Boo got sick…and we started traveling to doctor's offices together. Again, we had a system…because waiting in waiting rooms day after day, week after week is not a lot of fun. So, we'd pack cards and a cell phone full of games. We'd play speed and yahtzee and make the best of it. Her illness took us from Los Angeles to Kansas City, Missouri, so again, we traveled, this time taking her younger sister with us. It is amazing how much we can pack in a suitcase or a duffel bag!

She is finally at a time in her life when she is healthy for the most part and ready to travel for fun, but there aren't a lot of those trips right now. Bummer. These days our trips consist of running to the grocery store, the bank, Walmart or the mall. Even more, they consist of me running out the door, almost late for yet another appointment, while she pushes me out with whatever items I need for the day. You know what's amazing? I don't even have to tell her what I need! She just knows. She'll be at the door saying,

"Mom, go! The kids are in the car, your purse is in the car and (whatever papers I need for that day) are in the car."

And then she'll hand me my cell phone and either come with me or push me out the door.

She's like this when we go to the grocery store, too. Sometimes we're not in a hurry to get somewhere else fast, so we'll take a stroll together through the store and have a nice chat. Other days, she knows we're on a time limit, so she'll say, "Ok, what else do we need?" and off she goes to get it. That girl has more of me in her than I realized!

This week I'm in Loma Linda with my son (and youngest daugter). After a very long Sunday night, I was exhausted yesterday, yet needed to travel to California. As I was trying to pack, she started adding things in.

"I know you're going to need this, Mom, I know you."

She was right, of course. Even knowing that this time, I'd be traveling without her, she was still trying to help me get out the door. What an awesome daughter I have!

I started missing her quickly. I'm so used to her sitting next to me, my copilot. She'll get me a drink when mine is empty; making sure to open it up for me and have it ready to grab. She knows exactly where to put my hot tamales, as I never travel without them. She knows exactly where to find the map when I'm not sure what street to turn on. (She's not so great with reading a map, so this is where we kind of draw the line!)

She's spoiled me so much! Yesterday, I had to ask my youngest daughter to open my drink for me, please. Then I had to ask her to open my hot tamales. It just wasn't the same, not having B-Boo next to me. The younger children ride in the back, so I am up front all by myself. (I have that song, "All by myself, Don't wanna be" running through my head right now!) I really miss her!

When I hit San Bernadino, my son jumped up into the co-pilot seat…ready with the map. He apologized for not being a better co-pilot. I thought that was funny. I never said anything to him about being a co-pilot, but apparently he's picked up on this particular job that B-Boo has done for so long. He's not so great with drinks and hot tamales, but we did learn he has one particular skill.

He can read a map!

Last night, I didn't sleep so well. Why? Well, because I left my pillow in the van…you know, the one that B-Boo threw in at the last moment saying, "I know you, Mom, you'll want your pillow." She was right, or course.

Jun 13 2009

All Things Creepy!

Yesterday was the Talented One's 16th birthday…and since you only turn 16 once…well, we had a few surprises in store for him. We started off with a kidnapping to get him out of the house.

I don't think he expected to be dropped!

After several hours, he was brought to the party; blindfolded

And then he had to wait for his surprise!

I don't think he was expecting this python!

Kim, at Exotic Pets, was awesome! She did such a great job of educating everyone about the many reptiles that she brought, as well as handling them well. She was so patient when it came to letting the kids handle the animals, but made sure everyone was safe, animals, as well as humans!

I told them I was about to drop the snake!

This boy isn't afraid to hold anything! And yes, that scorpion has its stinger!

No matter how big!

This one was absolutely terrified, but you have to give her credit for trying to overcome her terror! Doesn't she look brave?

There was even a kissing iguana!

And chocolate covered mealworms…she wasn't afraid to eat them, either!

I am pretty sure my son was surprised at his party. In addition to the animals, he had numerous friends show up, as well as family. There were special video's made just for him and lots of laughter to go around.

Jun 12 2009

Laughable Moment #13

While at the salon yesterday getting the boys a hair cut, the Talented One, 16 today, commented that he wondered where the bathroom was. My nephew, 5, volunteered to find out, so the Talented One told him to go ask the lady at the desk, so as to not embarrass himself by asking. My nephew, ever one to impress his cousin, ran over and rather loudly asked her,

"Excuse me, where is the bathroom for my cousin, *****?"

The reception room promptly burst out into laughter! I thought the Talented One was going to crawl under the couch, dying of embarrassment, but laughing uncontrollably. He did NOT expect his cousin to state who needed the bathroom!

Jun 11 2009

Parks and Police Officers!

What a fun day! Really. I mean, we look like we're having fun, right?

Drama Queen and the Smart One

Charge!

Waiting for her turn on the swing

And yet, strange things always happen to us! When we first arrived at the park, we noticed some police had pulled over someone. No big deal, really, everything seemed calm, so we went about our business of playing. After a while, we commented that they'd been there for a while. Again, no real concern since everyone else was enjoying a day at the park. And then it happened.

All of a sudden, my niece's mom yell, "Get the kids, he has a gun!" I look up, I see a police officer pointing a gun at someone in the vehicle. She's panicked and grabs my niece. I yell at my nephew to come here. He ignores me. My daughter comes running to me. My son tries to get my nephew. I yell at him to come to me again. He runs in the opposite direction…towards the gun yielding police officer! I run, grab him and join the others behind the park bench. We don't hear any gunshots, so we proceed to go further down the park, away from the potential shoot out. My niece and nephew are crying and my daughter is pretty shaken up. A woman asks what is wrong, and we tell her to get to safety, there's an officer with a gun.

She smiles. She tells us it is a training session; she saw the officer change into civilian clothes, so she asked. There is no sign. There is nothing that could have led us to believe it was not real.

Once we could breathe again, we did take the opportunity to talk to my nephew about why it's important to listen to us when we call him. The Drama Queen said she felt like she was going to throw up, she was so shaky.

Interesting, isn't it, how a simple hour in the park can turn into a real adventure!

Jun 08 2009

Summer Swimming!

So we decided to go out and have some summer…and relax. Yes, you heard me…I was bound and determined to relax today. After I dropped off my nephew at school, I grabbed B-boo, the Smart One, the Drama Queen and headed over to pick up my sister-in-law and her children for a day of cousins and swimming. So we headed over to the Sandlot Pool….well, that's what we call it anyway.

Our city is known for it's great pools…small pools with amazing slides and such….the kind everyone wants to go to. Which is why we avoid them like the plague! Instead, we head over to our neighborhood pool with the high dive and for the most part, no little kids. The lifeguards are great and know most of the kids by their names. Bound and determined to relax, we even drew an imaginary line…and once it was crossed over, no negative thoughts were allowed. You see, my sister-in-law and I have one thing in common; we've both extended our families to include children not born directly from us. We're part of, or have been part of, that thing which we call, *the system*. And honestly, sometimes it isn't a lot of fun. And you can't relax. And it doesnt' seem like it will ever end. And you can't relax. It's exhausting. And it's hard to relax. Did I mention we went to relax?

So, we drew that line and we headed on in!

and I remembered my camera this time!

And we swam laps. Lots of them. Really. A whole bunch of them. So many that I am exhausted. It was a great day, it really was. Well worth it. But I don't think laps count as relaxing, do they? I'll probably need to relax tomorrow, because I don't think I'll be able to move much!