Thought for sure that was it...

I thought last night Oreo was gone for good. Marsel left the door open to the garage by accident. And we're not sure how long it was open before we saw it. Joel's brother, Marcel and wife, Eunice where hanging out, so Joel and Marcel jumped in the car. And I started checking between houses where they have gone before when they make a break for it. And they were no where. It was really scaring me because I passed a bunch of ducks and 3 cats, and I know Oreo would never just pass any of them. One of the kids a couple of doors down heard me bellowing for Krypto and Oreo and came out to help me. I mean I was screaming for them. When I rounded the corner a car came up behind me and asked if I was looking for the 2 dogs. They told me that Joel and Marcel had already gotten Krypto and that a man in a white car had picked up Oreo and they were pretty sure that they all had connected to get Oreo. (Joel told me after it was all over, that those people are our new neighbors from across the street that I didn't recognize.) Joel said that they were actually out of their car trying to get the boys were Joel pulled up. He said they had pulled their car over and even left the doors open. I was so worried than about were Oreo was. I instantly starting thinking that this man had taken Oreo and left. I know I thanked them, but not enough. I'm going to go over there tomorrow to really say thank you. So anyway, I walked to the end of the street and I saw where Joel had pulled over, but I didn't see them get out or anything. Then they pulled away. So I thought that was it. Thought they couldn't find Oreo. I started walking back to the house. And Reshaud, (neighbor boy) it walking back. He asked me did they get them. I told him they had Krypto, but didn't know about Oreo. And I was crying. Sniffling too. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I saw Marcel get out carrying Krypto, and Joel holding Oreo by the collar. Right before that, I was thinking, trying to prepare myself for them being gone. No Moosie next to me in bed, stealing the covers and snoring in my ear.
I was stilling crying, more out of relief when I walked in the house. (BTW, Eunice stayed with the kids. We didn't just run out leaving them there.) Adrian saw me crying and came running. He said "Mommy, Mommy. Up. Up" Then he tilted his head to look at my face, then he hugged me, he laid his head on my shoulder and patted my back. He said something about Oreo and Coco, then babbled something. (Coco is my mom's dog, and this is what he calls Krypto.)This was so sweet, that it made me tear up a bit more. (Yeah, I know, what a wuss.) He had some kind of understanding of what was going on. He knew I was crying and it had to do with the dogs.
Later on, we were sitting around and Adrian was playing with Marcel. He would run up to him yelling "Tio. Tio." Then he said some stuff that Marcel didn't understand, but I got it. He was asking if Krypto and Oreo could come out of their cages. Marcel told him "No, they were bad boys. They're in timeout." Adrian ran over to their cages and starting wagging his finger at them and saying "No, No Oreo, Coco." The kid's not stupid.
So anyway, they're both home now. And I'm so grateful for the people across the street, the guy who got Oreo and stayed there and waited, Joel and Marcel. And every person who drove by and didn't hit them. Thank you Lord for watching over my boys and bringing them home.

The Big 3-0

Last weekend was my 30th birthday. It was easier than I thought it might be. I didn't feel any older. And after checking in the mirror when I got up, I didn't notice any more wrinkles. There very well could have been more gray hair, but that did go unnoticed. I asked Joel quite a few times through out the day and the rest of the weekend, if he was going to be trading me in for a "younger" model now that I was 30. He said he'd mulled it over, and decided not now. :)
Chrissy came down for my birthday. So when she got here, we headed to the mall. Because of course I needed a new outfit for my birthday. Then it was time to get ready for dinner. It was a surprise as to where we were going. Joel and my mom took me to Bucca di Beppo. So good.

Making my wish.

Doesn't Jose look thrilled? (Thanks for coming Jose. For real, I mean that.)

The pimp.

"Yo, what up?"

Chris looking cute. (So glad you were here. Wish you where here always.)

Joel and Mom, thank you both for making my birthday a special day. I really had a wonderful day. And thank you for my gifts! I love you both.

Mom, thanks for waiting a minute for me - always.

Joel, thanks for deciding not to trade me in just yet.

Dancing Machine

New Year's 2010

How many kids can you get into a wagon?
Adrian and Gaby

Gaby trying to teach Adrian something.

Adrian trying to teach Gaby the "right" way to do it.

Ok, this is Gaby who is 15 and in 9th grade, and Lee who is 12 and in 6 th grade. See what they choose to play with?

Doing the ski jump.

Eunice doing the jump.

Moosy-moo trying to climb into my lap.

Krypto, always looking for the "perfect" place to lay down.

Go Marsel!

Adrian and Kasandra

Marcel bowling.

Kasandra, Marcel and Caridad (Joel's mom) playing tennis.

Think they're tired?

Dominick and Adrian at the park.

Briana and Kasandra

Look at those curls.

Thought this was funny. We're trying to get them to look at us, uh, yeah, no, it so didn't happen. Marcel is grabbing Adrian, I think. Dominick is trying to get the handle. Could you imagine if we let them out?

Marsel and Gaby.

This was the scene in the morning. There were bodies every where. Joel's mom was on the other couch, Marcel Sr. and the kids were in Marsel's room. Adrian was the only one who had his room to himself. There were 13 of us. Plus the 2 dogs.

Jose

Poor Kasie.

So we had a full house for New Year's, which went on until Sunday. But it was all good. We played wii the whole time. aND Gaby had brought his DJ Hero for the xbox, so we all had something to do.

Pictures from the Holiday(s)

Adrian and Dominick.

Dominick

Scuba Steve

Adrian

Dominick and Briana

Baby MarcelChrissy and Chrissy

Christina, Kristina and Christina (hee hee)

Chris and Kevin. (We all we to high school together.)

Adrian feeding himself Xmas dinner.

Some of it actually made it in his mouth.

His new toy from Grandma.

Marsel and Adrian in the wagon Santa brought.

Playing with the remote to the car that is upside down.

Hugging me after he threw a baseball at my head.

What Santa brought for Marsel.

Our version of the Sphinx.

Please note the pointed toe.

Gaby in his Xmas jammies. How cute.

We had an early Christmas Eve at my cousin Teri's house. We get together every year for dinner and exchange gifts. And then afterward we went to see some of Joel's family. His aunt, uncle, cousins with their kids were all down from Orlando. It was the first time I met his cousin Jessica. And it was the first time that ALL of our kids were together. They're all very close in age.

My cousin Tonja's son, Chase.

My cousin Teri's son, Ed and Marsel.

Adrian and Roxy. He was feeding her. (Her dog food and whatever food he had in his hands for himself. Roxy was diggin Adrian, he was the only one who was the perfect height for her.)

Tonja, Chase and Adrian.

Sofia, Adrian and AJ. (Jessica's daughter and Joel's brother's son.)

Adrian and Catalina. (Jessica's other daughter.)

Marsel. (I love his smile in this picture.)

Brothers.

(These were taking in the morning.) Adrian and his messy hair at the park.

My bare chested boys.

Christmas was very nice. It was very busy the weekend before and leading up to Xmas. The weekend before was the day that we went to my cousin's house and spent time with Joel's family. After dinner, we went down to Joel's brother's house. Crap he lives so far away. Joel and I were joking that we should just forget going to their house and go to the Keys. We were only 10 from US1 were you drive down. But we decided not to, we didn't have anything pack with us. :) It was a nice time. There was a crap load of us. And I swear the kids out numbered us. I didn't count them all, but I think they had us. Thank goodness their too small to know. I got to meet Joel's cousin Jessica, her husband and 2 daughters. Also his cousin Jay's son, Felix. Who turned 2 on Xmas Eve. Poor Joel was the only one wake when we pulled into the drive way. Adrian was out before we got on 95, and Marsel not farther after that.

During the week, I was so crazy busy. I had so many private clients wanting a massage before Xmas, which was great for the gifts, but it meant the house suffered. I didn't put up all the decoration I had wanted to. Plus, I was doggie sitting. On Xmas Eve, my bf Chrissy come down to spend Xmas with us. (Chris, I think you should do it every year!) We spend the evening down at Jose's house with his family. They do a good sized party every year. And it had been 2 years since we went down there for the Eve. We had a really good time. Laughed soooo much. We had such a good time that we didn't leave until 2am. And that was just b/c we realized the time and we still had some presents to wrap. And Santa needed to put the wagon together. Joel, Chris and I were up until 4am. We went to bed praying Adrian would sleep past 7. He did. Almost to 9. (No, he wasn't up until 2am. We brought his play pin and he went to bed around 8:30.) After opening presents and having breakfast, we all, (except for Marsel) took a nap. Even the 3 dogs did too. Krypto started out in bed, then went to a chair in the leaving room, and Oreo and Charlie slept at mine and Chrissy's feet. Joel slept with his TV. (He got a TV to go in our room.) And since we didn't have the bracket to mount it, he set it up in family room temporarily. And he took a nap with it. I was thinking he was gonna tell me to sleep on the couch that night so he could put in in bed with him. He didn't. After a nice nap, and having to tell Marsel to keep the "wii-ing" down, we went over to my mom's for Xmas din din. Mmmm, prime rib. It was another long day, but nice.