Simple Play

I love going back to basics, especially with toys. I love Old School toys! Don't get me wrong, there are many exciting new choices out there, but there's just something about old fashioned wood blocks that appeal to me. Perhaps it's the lack of some annoying computerized voice singing everytime a button is pushed, or the constant requirement of changing batteries with the "modern" toys out there. Independent toys store are my favorite place to buy toys and we have several fabulous stores in town. I tried to capture the sweetness of simple play here with my eldest playing with my youngest one morning.

Picture Perfect Proof

Ok, so as soon as I chopped off more than a foot of hair this week, I begged and pleaded with my cousin Yvonne to take pictures of the evidence.

VOILA!

2006 In Review

2006 in Review

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Visited Cabo San Lucas. Muy bonito!!
Also started cloth diapering and blogging. Addicted to both.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Don't even recall if I made a resolution last year, but will definitely have goals for this year:
Lose 30 pounds. Meditate. Read. Improve sewing skills. Read. Improve photography skills. Become more frugal. Read. Minimalize. Simplify. Enjoy the Moment.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My beloved Mother, last April

5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A fatter checking account?

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 5th. My daughter was born.
April 30th. My mother died.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Even though I supplement with formula, I've hit the 8 month nursing milestone!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think I failed at anything.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Super Baby Food by R. Yaron. I never knew it could be this easy to give my baby the wholesome nutrition homemade baby food provides. No jar baby food here!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sons. Awesome boys. My 13 year old, who continues with his stellar grades and athletic achievement. My 14 year old with his wonderful musical talent, despite his disability, and of course, his unconditional love.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A sibling. Still feeling the ill-effects from it all.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Little girl clothes and decor, music lessons, books, airfare, funeral expenses, addition to our house!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Learning all about Natural Parenting - Babywearing, Cloth Diapering, Makin' Homemade Baby food, and can't forget to mention blogging!

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"Don't You Forget About Me" (song from the soundtrack from Breakfast Club). It was the song played at my mother's funeral per her request.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) I flip-flop between happier & sadder. It's been such an emotional year.
b) Fatter - :cry: I've gained 25 lbs since my 6 week postpartum visit!!
c) Poorer - we're a single income family now since I'm a SAHM.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Yoga.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spend money (although I really did restrain myself).

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In our cozy home with my children and husband.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes. I met her on April 5th.

22. How many one-night stands?
Uh, that would be ZERO. LOL

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. So, no.

25. What was the best book you read?
Most books read in 2006 were parenting books - Natural Childhood, The No-Cry Sleep Solution, Whole Child/Whole Parent...

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My 14 year old is playing the piano and trumpet ever so beautifully.
I love listening to him fill the house with music.

27. What did you want and get?
A GIRL!!!

28. What did you want and not get?
A Blackberry - but I didn't ask for one.

29. What was your favorite film this year?
Are you kidding? I can't remember the last time I went to a movie since Sophia was born.

30. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I spent it in my hometown for a court date regarding my mother's estate.
Horribly fun.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Uhhhh....who couldn't use an extra several thousand dollars?

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Maternity clothes and sweatsuits. Have I mentioned I need to lose weight?

32. What kept you sane?
My beautiful family. My cousin, Yvonne. Coffee helped.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ashley Judd. She's uses her celebrity influence to fight Youth Aids.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Don't delve too much into politics, but I just want to see the troops come HOME!

36. Who did you miss?
Mi Mama

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Why, Sophia, of course!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Life is short. Live in the moment as if there is no tomorrow.
You never know if it will be your last.

Donating my Locks of Love

This morning, after putting my super long mane into the exciting everyday style I wear - the bun - I made a decision:

The long hair had to go.

It was heavy. It was thick. It was hot. And it was frumpy.

I called up my good friend Ruben at Alia Salon and made an appointment for the same afternoon. After some quick research, I decided to donate my hair to Locks of Love when I realized I had more than enough to donate. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss. And come to find out, Alia Salon does not charge for haircuts if donating to Locks of Love, which was icing on the cake. I just made sure to leave a nice fat tip.

12 inches came off. 12 inches! What a great feeling too. I'm lucky in that my hair grows back super quickly and I plan to let it grow out again and continue the donation of my future locks. I mean...what else am I gonna do with it?

A Simple Christmas

Christmas has now come and gone, which gives us time to finally take a breath. We did things a tad different this year. We were frugal.

Winter is hard enough with the rush stress of holidays, budget-busting shopping, colder weather, darker days, and no wonder that along with "peace on earth" comes exhaustion, anxiety, and depression.


"Simple" was this year's theme and it worked.

We bucked the holiday system of excessive gift-giving, and we practiced simplicity, creativity, and just chillin' and connecting with each other. Being financially responsible is something I'm working on and I was very pleased with myself for sticking to my budget.

Gifts were smaller, less expensive, and given in less quantities. We didn't get our usual 9 foot live tree, but instead I bought a very slender - very artificial - but still nice (after decorating it) tree on sale at Target. When I pulled out the 7 foot pole with green pipe cleaners sticking out of it, Mike wasn't too impressed, but Domi and I made it work. To make up for the lack of fresh pine scent, I bought 25 feet of live garland and wrapped it along our stairwell banister and our home began to feel - and smell - like Christmas.

This was a special year since both boys were with us and it was Sophia's first Christmas. Of course, it's more exciting for the parents, since the baby has no clue what's going on. Sophia wasn't interested in tearing into the wrapping paper like I thought she'd be (hey, she tears apart any magazine she comes in contact with), but instead was cranky and only wanted in my lap. Oh, and the best part... I took over 80 pictures to commemorate Sophia's first Christmas, and somehow with the wonderful advances in digital camera technology, they all got deleted! :cry: At least we got some video footage.

The day after Christmas sale at Crate and Barrel is also a yearly tradition I seem to have started with my wallet, however, I was *strong* and resisted the urge to throw everything in sight with a red 50% sign in my crate. I put blinders on and went in solely for the adorable silver gift boxed ornaments to add to my tree collection (did ya notice it in my picture above? So darling.) Well, I was in and out in 20 minutes as opposed to the 3 hours I usually spend at their after Christmas sale (2 hours of that is usually standing in line - crazy, I know).

And the most important thing I did this holiday, was let myself grieve. My mother died this year and I wanted to honor her memory. I created an altar with pictures of her and lit a candle for her (which she happened to have made last year). We played beautiful classical christmas music and I allowed myself to cry, remember, and heal.

*~* Jay's 13th Birthday *~*

I thought I'd do something a little different for Jay since his 13th birthday fell with us this year. He's a Christmas baby, born December 23rd, so it's always a goal to make certain he has his birthday separate from Christmas, which I have to admit, has been hard sometimes - but it's always done.

My brother, Eric, was in town earlier in the week, so we decided to have a small family get together for Jay a few days early and make it a surprise. It ended up being a Longhorn themed Fire Pit get-together, since Jay loves UT and we have a wonderful fire pit in our backyard now. Perfect for the semi chilly December weather we finally have in Central Texas.

My cousin Yvonne, (who I'm sure will be in many of my future blogs, since we're more like soul sisters) rushed over after work to pick up Burnt Orange and White ballons, pull out the hidden cake and decorations, and get the porch ready, while I took Jay on several made up errands while other family members arrived.

We arrived and Jay opened up the back door to be greeted only by a blazing fire pit and lit tiki torches - and then the shouts of "SURPRISE" came. Well, he kinda just stood there and didn't say much. He's a shy kinda guy of few words. Overall, it was a nice evening with grilled fajitas and a game of Scattegories and best of all - spending it with the Familia!

I don't know why Domi looks so serious in this picture!
LOL

Happy 13th Birthday Big Guy!

We love you!!!

Newbie to Blogging

So, I've finally entered the wonderful world of blogging!

I blog from time to time on MySpace, but especially like how this site is set up with the archives and easy photo sharing, so I plan to post here as well since I enjoy writing and sharing pictures of my family. Since I'm staying home with Sophia, I can fill up my free time (which I have so much of - yeah right!) with blogging - as well as give you an opportunity to keep up with what's going on in our lives. I wish I had started this about 9 months ago, when my daughter was about to make her grand entrance, but hey... better late than never, right?

Welcome to the Triche Family Blog...
See you soon.