I'm Still Alive

Helllllooooo, Kitschies!!  Hold on to your hats.  It's going to be a long one...

Have you forgotten about me?  I haven't forgotten about you...promise!!  I can't believe my last post was in MARCH...where has the time gone?!  I have been really super busy with...life...but I'm taking a break and going to get you caught up a little on what I've been doing.

And before I forget...thank you to those of you who've sent me emails recently.  It's you who've *inspired* me to post tonight.  As always, all pictures are click-able to make big-able!

So...last time we talked, I was getting ready for my first derby bout.  That was March 19th.  The season opener was a blast!  We had a packed house and DIA (my team) won their first bout.

That's me (in front) and Carson B Demented (our team captain).  Man...that first bout...I just felt lost through the whole thing.  Well, the first half, anyway.  Then just before the first half was over, I jacked my knee and had to sit out the rest of the time.

I believe this was during the intros...they pronounced my name (Sinestra) wrong...they always do.  LOL

Me after my first bout.  I wish I could've skated more but there was no way my knee was going to cooperate for that!  After about 2 weeks of rest, I was back on my skates, ready for another go at it!

I don't have many other pics of anything else in March.  Oh!  Easter!  Or was that April?  Either way...here's a few from Easter.

I love all three of those pictures!  We had Easter at my MIL's house - always good food...always a good time!

We took the boys to ABQ Jump for Mother's Day...and even I got to jump!  We had a nice lunch and the kids had fun and that's what really matters.

Nate graduated from Kindergarten in May, too!  Awww...my little Monkey is growing up so fast!  They had a cute little ceremony for all the "graduates".  I remember his first day like it was just a month ago...next thing I know, he'll be graduating from high school.  *sigh*

We had our second bout on May 19th - there weren't as many people but we skated great!  I didn't feel like I was completely lost the second time around and my knees held up.  I even got a couple of good blocks in there!  Oh...and we beat the HoBots.  Yay!

This is my current favorite picture of the boys.  It's so hard to get them to settle down long enough for a good picture, but I lucked out on this one!

We celebrated Mason's 3rd birthday on Memorial Day weekend because I was out of town on his actual birthday.  We had family and friends gather at a park and had cupcakes to celebrate!

And...I think you're up to date.  The hubs and his hetero life partner have their first ever COMICS booth at Albuquerque Comic Expo this weekend!  This is at least 15 (probably more like 20) years in the making.  I am proud of them for finally getting their stuff together and presenting their baby to the world!  I can't wait to see how it goes.

I've still been doing my nails and take pictures from time to time, but I haven't done any prepping.  Maybe some day (soon) I'll post a "highlights" post of the best ones from the last few months.

I promise not to be gone so long this time.  And I need to give my blog a facelift.  It hasn't felt like winter here in New Mexico in a long, long time!!

Laters babe.

I'm Baaaaack...Sorta

Good morning, Kitschies.  Long time, no post, huh?  I returned from my vacay with my family late last week.  I had a great time (GREAT time!) and I was sad to come back to Albuquerque.  I came back to a very excited 5-year-old who proceeded to Velcro himself to my arse the following day.  It's nice to know I was missed, but c'mon!  LOL  Anyway...I'm back in to the routine, but...and this is a *big* but...I exploded my computer at home yesterday.  *sigh*  I'm only connected at work now and it sucks.  Seriously.

So, I don't have much of a post for you today.  I do, however, have a few pics to share with you.  The biggest reason I went to Cali was to participate in the Walk to Defeat ALS.  My mom was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gherig's disease) 10 years ago.  She is doing remarkably well considering ALS is usually terminal within 3 years (average), so every moment we get to spend with her is a blessing.  I hate when we miss the walk and the hubs could tell I was getting depressed over it, so he told me I should go.  Let me tell you...I am so glad I did!  So. glad.

All pics are clickable for better viewing.  This is part of the gang - family and friends.  Oh!  And I even got to skate the walk!  More on that in a second.

I got to take Mason with me - he had a blast with everybody (even though he was being insanely shy that morning).  Mason found a buddy with my dad (Beba) - they both loved it!

My mom and Mason.  For some reason, it was all Mason could do to keep from smiling.  Silly boy!

Auntie Chicken with Mason.  I wish she could've stayed home longer but a double-header softball game called her and Uncle Ryan away the next day.

The night of the walk, we had a BBQ at my parents house.  It was much warmer than we're used to this time of year and Mason was all sweaty!  LOL 

While I was there, I was able to skate the walk which was a nice bit of exercise.  But...I managed to break a toe and let me tell you it sucks.  It hurts.  A lot.  I wasn't even doing anything exciting - I was going over to pick Mason up out of a chair and I jammed my toe against the corner of the wall.  It was all I could do to not scream obscenities (being in the presence of my son and my parents and all).  I got to skate with the league in Bakersfield and in case you were wondering, skating (well, trying to skate) with a broken toe does not work very well.  That practice KICKED my butt and the side of my foot went numb!  Went to work on Thursday and had them take a picture of my toe - yep.  Broken.  So, I'm on orders to give my foot a break and even though I *really* don't want to, I didn't go to practice on Saturday and I probably won't skate tonight.  Having a broken toe sucks WAY more than I thought it would.  LOL

So, there ya go.  You're updated.  I missed you all and can't wait to get back to blogging.  Cross your fingers that I didn't really explode my computer.

August Reviewed *pic heavy*

Good morning, Kitschies!  Happy Labor Day to my fellow American bloggers.  Happy Monday to everybody else.  How was the weekend?  Mine was pretty good...Saturday night was derby practice.  I took a couple good falls (if a fall can ever be "good") and am super sore today.  I'm working on a couple deep bruises which should make me look official in a couple days.  Sunday, the fam went to the Jemez for a picnic and some fun in the mountains.  It was lightly raining when we got there and it was so nice and cool!!  Once it cleared up, it warmed up a bit, but not so much that it was hot.  It was nice to get out of the city, even if it was just for a few hours.  And the car rides to and from were so quiet!  I don't know what we did different, but there was no screaming or crying in the car - I'd almost say that was the best part of the trip.  LOL

I thought I'd do something a little different today and review our family's month of August...in pictures!  Ready?  OK!

In early August, the bestie and I went to our first Roller Derby bout and OMG...I was hooked!  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to do it.  Now, with about 5 practices under my belt, I'm loving it.  I'm sore as hell, but it's a good sore.  I haven't lost any weight, but I *have* lost a pant size!

One morning on the weekend, we decided to head southwest of the city to the dormant volcanoes and go for a hike.  Good thing we went pretty early because it was HOT!!

While on our hike, we saw a collared lizard.  These guys are so cool because they're pretty big (this one was at least 8 inches from head to tail).  The hubs says he used to see these all the time out at the volcanoes, but I've only seen 2 or 3.

Once we got to the top of the farthest volcano, we took a short break to catch our breath, drink some water and have a snack.  You can see how hot it is by how pink the boys' cheeks are. 

The hubs and Nate were a little more adventurous than me and Mason - they went a little higher up.  I took this pic with super zoom...and they're still pretty small.

A little while back, I heard the prettiest little song coming from one of the trees in our back yard.  It took me a while to find it, but I saw a really pretty Lesser Goldfinch hanging out in the tree!

And with the good comes the bad.  I found this ugly guy hanging out in the foyer of our house.  This Wind Scorpion stayed under a small glass bowl overnight and we finally let him go outside.  *shiver*  I didn't like finding that at. all. 

We have some beautiful sunsets in New Mexico, especially in the summer.  This is one of the best sunsets I've seen in a long time.

It was Mr Nate's first day of school!  Nate was so excited to go to school that morning - he kept asking me if it was time to go yet.  Luckily, he's still liking school and he's doing really, really good.  He's growing up so fast!!

And there are some quiet times, too.  If there's one thing the boys will always eat without fail, it would be Otter Pops.  Aunt Chicken might not like them, but Nate and Mason sure do!  Isn't it amazing how these two little guys look so different but look a lot the same at the same time?

That was August...it already seems so long ago!  There are things we did that I don't have pics for (like going to the aquatics center and celebrating my birthday) but I didn't want to bore you with *everything*. 

Enjoy your day!  Relax, if you can, and try to stay indoors where it's a bit cooler.  It's cooling down a bit here in NM - and I am not complaining about that one bit!

Flashback Friday: Nate

Good morning, Kitschies!!  This is my first Flashback Friday in a LONG time and the first time linking up with Lauren from Heya, Sparky!  My dear Tia has turned over the reins to Ms Lauren's most capable hands.  Check out Lauren's blog if you have a moment - good stuff!!

So...without further delay...

I've been a bad Mom.  Really.  No, not like I-beat-my-kid kind of bad mom, just a busy blogger who's been posting pics of my pretty fingers and my yummy recipes and NOT my beautiful little boy.  Today it's all about Mr Nate.

I have a question for you.  How do you go from this:

to this:

In what seems like the blink of an eye?

Nathaniel Edward made us a family on Sunday, July 16, 2006, after 17+ hours of labor.  Once he joined us, our lives were never the same and we're so thankful for that!  He was greeted home by his Grandma and Beba a few days after he was born.

Then Nate turned one and OMGosh he LOVED his cake!

This is what a 1-year-old sugar coma looks like!  That pic is one of my ultimate favorite pics of Nate, and it probably always will be.  He was so purple - I was afraid he'd be stained that way, but he washed up just fine.

This is Beba (my Dad) at the park for Nate's first birthday party.  Also one of my favorite pics!  Nate couldn't say Grandpa and my mom was pushing my Dad's belly like the Pillsbury Doughboy and saying Beeeebaaaa...Nate picked it up and and now, instead of Grandpa, it's Beba.

This may not be a good pic of Nate (he was hot and tired), but it's a good one of my Mom.  She doesn't allow pictures very often but if it's with one of her grandsons, she usually allows the exception.  Nate loves to ride around with Grandma in her power chair!  And if she's using her cane...watch out!  It's not usually hers for long.

Oh, look at those little blond curls!!  This is Nate at *almost* 2.  I miss his curly hair and chubby pink cheeks.

3rd birthday = Big Wheels!!  He still rides his Big Wheels (even though half the time he just picks it up or drags it behind him), but now his little brother has his eye on it.  LOL  And Wendi was right: 3 was MUCH worse than 2.

Where has my little baby gone?!  Nate was a horrible 3-year-old and we started to see the light at the end of the terrible toddler age after he turned 4.  Grandma and Beba got Nate a T-ball set for his 4th birthday.  We went to the park with Nate's cousins for a little baseball action.  That boy loves to swing a bat!  Or a stick.  Or anything he can get his hands on.

And now look at him!  He's 5 and he's so super handsome and such a great kid.  Super smart, constantly on the go.  AND he starts Kindergarten in just over a week!  How is that even possible?!  I'm so excited for him and a little sad for me because that means he's not my baby anymore.  He'll always be my little boy, but he's no longer my baby.  *tear*

We love you Natey, very, very much!  Happy belated birthday, big boy!!!

So, there ya go.  That's how you go from being a cute little blob of a baby to being a big, bad 5-year-old in a blink of an eye!

Flashback Friday: Two Years (& 1 Day) Ago

Happy Friday, Kitschies!!  I had my first official day back at work on Thursday and let me tell you...it lasted FOREVER!  Why, oh why, can't I be full of money and not have to worry about working?  Imagine all the things I could get done!  Anyway...Thursday wasn't just a day back to work.  It was also Mason's 2nd birthday.  I can not believe he's already 2 and it makes me sad to think that I no longer have a baby in the house.  Walk with me as I reflect on my life, starting 2 years (& 1 day) ago.

To start off with...this was me at 38 weeks.  I felt gigantic.  And hot (not hawt).  And miserable.  I was ready to have this kid!

Then, the Tuesday after this pic was taken, two years ago, on June 2, 2009, I went in to labor with my second little boy, Mason.  Of course it was a boy...that's all the hubs' family is allowed to have!  I was so ready to have this kid.  And I was NOT going to wait til his due date (June 5th).  I remember waking up that Tuesday morning VERY upset that I hadn't had him overnight.  I'll spare you the gory details, but about 4 hours after labor started, out popped my beautiful little boy.

That's my baby boy...and a very, very tired me.  Thanks to the stoopid anesthesiologist, that very tired me didn't get any of the good stuff epidural.  But, me strong like bull and had a rather uneventful labor and delivery.  And, just like "they" say, once Mason was put in my arms, all that terror of labor disappeared.

Mr Mason was a great baby.  Not hardly fussy.  Slept very well.  No troubles at all.  We really were blessed.  If you click that pic to make it bigger, you can see his cowlick in the front.  That's his unicorn horn...he just doesn't know it yet!

Now for the rest of the pics...

Little fuzzy head Mason - about 6 months old.  It took him so long to really grow hair...and now he has a LOT of it!

My two favorite pics from his first birthday.  That top one looks like he's upset, but he was super excited to have that big chunk of cake to himself.  I can't believe this was a year ago already!

18 months old and two chipped front teeth!  Oh, the joys of raising an active toddler.  Do you see all that hair?!

Mother's Day 2011.  Mason didn't quite know what to do at first, but once he got in to it, he was like a little cute pig in mud.

And his birthday.  He was so excited to get his little cupcake.  I made cupcakes for his daycare class, too, which I'm sure the teachers really appreciated.  LOL

Happy 2nd birthday, Mr Bug.  I can't wait to see what you're going to grow up like.

Thanks for strolling down Memory Lane with me!  Check out Christopher & Tia for other great Friday Flashbacks!