I'm Back a brief or not so brief over view of the Weaver Summer!

Well I didn't plan on taking the summer off! I didn't plan on many things that happened this summer! But they did! Some were good and some were not which has been the reason I have been so busy and just needed to take a break! I think I am finally feeling up to getting back into life though...Sometimes we just need a kick in the pants! So here is a run down as you know the end of May was very eventful (always is!) for our family Bridget turned 12 and is now in young women's at church! She has been able to go to the Temple and do work there, which I think is one her favorite things about being 12! Jeff turned 22 and is still working at Raley's he has been busy at work and trying to decide on a career path or school path...he is still dating Casey and we love her and like having her closer to us. In June Bridget had a promotion ceremony from Crescent school because it only goes to fifth grade, at the time with budget cuts we weren't sure where she would start school this year! Quinn and Bridget both performed in the Talent Show and Band Recital at the end of the year. We planted a garden and got some honeydew and watermelons maybe pumpkins! we have been working on getting a sprinkler system and lawn in our big backyard but that is a process! In June we took a trip to Utah and did some fun site seeing (Kelly had to work one day and that paid for most of the trip!) Unfortunately we were driving through West Jordan and a car pulled out in front of us on a major street and totalled our Honda on June 23rd...It began the start of the unexpected during the summer! We have all been to a chiropractor with various knee, back, neck pains but are getting to feel a lot better. Hopefully this will all be over with in the coming year and we will be getting a new family car! We did buy a used Buick for now which is a nice car and will be good for Bridget and Quinn when they need a car! When we got back from our first Utah trip we did have to go get a car, go spend a week at Cub Scout Day Camp! And a fun fourth at my sister Kathleen's new house! Quinn also spent a fun week at Art camp. We did some other fun things like the Exploritorium and Lawrence Hall of Science during the summer and then we went to see the Telescopes at night at Chabot with Diana and Nadja which was really fun! By August we found out that Bridget would be here at our local elementary school and Quinn and I decided to say goodbye to Crescent and for him to move there also, this puts Quinn and Bridget on he same schedule! SO before school started Kelly's dad came out and drove back with me and the kids to Utah to visit with Kelly's Oma and his cousins son Fabian, we had a good visit and did some more site seeing and spent a really fun day at Lagoon! Quinn is happy to have a new German pen pal! when we got back it was time to get ready for school, Bridget is in sixth grade and got the teacher that we hoped she would. Quinlan was originally placed in a a class that wasn't working for him but after a couple of days he was offered a place in a Gate Class (Advanced Placement) and he has loved it, he loves a good challenge! They both started back at Piano lessons with Sister Adam's and both stated advanced band this last week and love it, I am not sure if I love to hear all of the practicing! Especially Quinn's sax! Bridget spent the last few weeks practicing and performing in a Road show (they did a spoof of Beauty and the Beast) for church and had a lot of fun with that! I am not working yet but have been looking for a new job and hoping to get something early morning so I can still be a taxi in the afternoon! Lastly Quinn received his Arrow of Light! His last big cub scouting award from his Cub Master (Kelly) and his Den Leader (Jeff) in January Quinn will be a boy scout...Wow I can't believe how fast life goes by, and the small stuff like losing a car really just doesn't matter! Tomorrow would have been my daddy's 83rd birthday I miss him just as much today as I did 3 years ago! But I know if I am faithful and endure till the end we will be together forever someday! Happy Birthday Dad!

WOW Where Did May go!

So I decided I can't wait a month between posts because I have just too! Much to share! It has been crazy of course we moved etc. since my last post! But I have so much to share! Today we spoke in our new ward it was really wonderful and I now feel like I belong! My children have been so busy which means I have been too! Jeff turned 22 on May 23rd he went to Magic Mountain on his birthday and rode the new terminator roller coaster, he was with the first group of riders, they actually arrived at the park 4.5 hours before the opening just to ride it first! He has been busy with work and school and finals. He gave probably what I would say is his best talk in sacrament meeting today! I was proud to be his mom!Bridget and Quinn have been equally as busy, they had a choir performance and Quinn was part of the play that they did, of course he was great! They won as a team with two of their friends the school competition for Battle of the Books (they read 9 books over the last year and were tested on questions, including vocabulary, grammar, science and general knowledge). The win meant they were able to compete with 27 teams in the district and they came in 2nd place (by one point!) they did so great! But that is not all! Bridget won a blue ribbon in the district art show that was judged by 5 local artists! Quinn came in second place by 84 thousandths of a second! in his last pine wood derby! His car was a tech deck skate board it was awesome! He also won in the local library poetry contest! And was able to read his poem at an earth day celebration at the library! Oh yea he earned his Webelo badge and went camping with his dad and to a Webelo hike and Camporee! Whew hang on! Bridget had a birthday! She was kidnapped! by some of her knew young women's leaders since she turned 12! She also was able to go to the temple for the (sort of first time! She was there when we were sealed as a family!) Her Oma and Opa and Aunt Tracy and Uncle Jake came for her trip to the temple! It was really wonderful! That same week Bridget was selected for the PE teachers challenge day because she had done all of her PE homework for the year, she and her teammates competed against the teachers and won! She also had a Birthday party with lots of friends and we went to see the new Pixar movie UP! It was a lot of fun! So if you are wondering why I haven't blogged there you go! Add moving and unpacking a family birthday party, my sisters car accident and helping her move to her new house well there you go! But it is good to be back!

Easter Weekend

Quinn by Auntie Erin's pool!
Auntie Erin wishing she had a daughter!

Kelly and Mary playing games.

Quinn walking in his sleep and finding eggs!

Bridget with her first pair of high heels!

I can't believe moving week is here! I can't believe Easter has passed. It is such a joyous holiday when we think of the true meaning of Holy Week. Yesterday at church that is what the talks were about and my friend Susanne said how glad she was to think about this week because of the news that she had received that her mom had terminal cancer, this is my friend that helped me with the loss of my mom and helped my friend Raychel and Patricia with the loss of their moms too. I hope by that service she will be prepared for the loss of her own mom and because of her knowledge of the gospel it will make it easier like it has been on me and my friends. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and we had all of my moms favorites except with my two sisters there was three of us to cook! The cousins had a great big Easter egg hunt in my sisters yard. We played lots of cribbage and pretended that dad was there by using all of his "cribbage phrases"! It was just a wonderful day to be thankful for all of our many blessings! We are so blessed to be able to move to a beautiful new house with a great big back yard and a good school for Bridget and Quinn to go too and for Jeff to be close to work too! Well I have included some Easter pics! It may be a while with the move before I blog again! Happy Spring Happy Easter!

A quiet Morning!

So yesterday while I was keeping busy I was trying not to think about the date! But it was my friends birthday and other things were going on, Yesterday and today are both tough days for me, today it is really personal but it was three years ago yesterday that I lost my dad. I miss him so much! I miss so many stupid and fun and wonderful things about him, from his cologne to the way he jingled his change in his pockets or how he ran! or how he said Hello! I can not wait to see him again and I am really really thankful that I will see him again and that I know that! He was a wonderful man and a great daddy and I will always be thankful I was his first daughter and for the love he gave me. Today is a more personal thing but it has to do with being a mom, perhaps the most rewarding and hardest thing I have ever or will ever do! But I am thankful for my children and I am thankful for lessons learned even the really tough lessons! After all we are all called to serve our father and sometimes we have to do it the hard way just as our own children do too!

A fun day!

So this morning Bridget had a dentist appointment Bright and Early at 8:30! We got up and dressed and headed off to the dentist, it took a little longer because she got the bottom set of braces on today! (the top are pink and purple and the bottom yellow and orange, Easter Colors and lots of them!) She is about 3 months or so ahead of schedule...(Yay less money!) Then Bridget and Quinn and I went and had breakfast at Bab's! It was a lot of fun, we ran some errands, paint, Spackle, recycling (22 dollars!) and a birthday present! We are home packing again but we had a much needed break!

Spring Packing

So I am not sure where the first week of Spring Break has gone? Well packing maybe~ We have Quinn's room done, all pictures and Nick knacks, the garage and "food storage" room! We are half way done with Bridget (she has so many little things to get rid of!) Then my room and office, Yuck! Just got some more boxes today from a nice family that just moved here from Oregon (I love Craigslist!) the sweet mom of three made me realize how much I love my church family because they had moved here for her husbands job and had no family and friends here so it was quite an adjustment for them, wait till the Vacaville heat in the summer! But honestly I am so glad for my church family! They have helped me with so many things. Well I better get out of the computer and off to work (procrastination is an art form!). The kids are taking a break this afternoon they went to go see Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D... Hopefully they come home ready to work! I may be done about a week before we move! Wow that would be a record! I am adding a video (mind you I don't hold the camera very still!) of Bridget and Quinn's spring concert with the School District Honor Choir! By the way did I mention both of my kiddos made the honor roll! I have added my favorite spirit week photo too, it is funny but they really are good friends and I think they have enjoyed being in class together they may never have it again so I hope it built a stronger bond between them, after all eternity is a long time!

Packing Up!

So as some of you know and some of you do not, we are moving! We have been here in our home in Fairfield for 3 years already! It is hard to believe what a three years it has been! I remember the day Kelly and I found this house it was love at first sight and we have made many new Friends here in the area too. When we moved in it was a really tough time my dad passed away on April 3rd three years ago and his funeral was on the 7Th and we got the keys on the 8Th! It was a hard week to say the least. oh yea did I mention on top of losing my dad my mom fell and broke her arm in three places the morning he died! Now I can look back and just smile because I know my parents are together again. My mom didn't do to good without my dad, I really think she held out until he died she had been sick for about 11 years and when he was gone she could let go and go home to him too. One of the things about this house is I will always have those lasting memories of my mom and taking care of her here. Those are times I will never forget, especially the sweet sisters who helped me to take care of her and all of the meals and love at both of their funerals. Jeff also left from his mission to Florida from here, now he is home and working at Raley's and going to school, we are proud of him and all of the good choices he is making. Bridget moved here as a little second grader and now she is almost done with elementary school which brings me to one of the reasons we are moving! Bridget is an honor roll student and doing so good in school that we want to put her in a different school then she would attend if we stay here. She has worked so hard, she plays piano and flute and is a straight A math student! Quinn was still in first grade when we moved and he has really grown he will finish his last year in the pep program and he is doing really well his GPA was higher then 3.5 ! Yay Quinn... He has taken up saxophone along with the piano. He is finishing up Cub Scouts and Will only have his Arrow of Light to work on! He will then join the Boy Scouts at the end of the year! We have much to be thankful for and are grateful for our move back to Fairfield and we are only moving across town. It does however put us in a new ward and we will miss the wonderful families of Fairfield 2ND ward that we will not see every Sunday. We will never forget your kindness and generosity and what a pleasure it has been to serve you and get to know your families! Count your many blessings name them one by one! Count your many blessings see what God has done!

Well It is another hectic month! We have been busy trying to decide on what to do for school for Bridget next year, we are not excited about the school she should attend and have finally come up with a solution (more on that in the next few weeks!). The kids have a three week break YAY starting a week from tomorrow, in the mean time they have a district Choir performance, at least one talk at church, a missionary farewell, and Quinn has earned his Webelos badge and will get it next week at pack meeting. Life is Good Busy but Good!

Shamrock Shakes and Thin Mint Cookies (My Irish eyes may not shine!)

Okay I will admit it I love these two rights of March! Actually Late February! Both bring back good memories, I actually remember riding my bike with my little brother to McD's after St. Pats day and we got the last two Shamrock shakes that year! But much to my dismay NONE of the McDonald's in Fairfield have them! I have had my girl scout cookies, but no Thin Mints! So if you know where in California preferably Northern California they are! Where oh Where are they, my Irish eyes may not shine this year!
I picked some Irish songs to listen too. Hope you enjoy them. They always remind me of my childhood too. It is one thing I miss a lot is listening to Irish music with my mom and dad. Although I never let them know I liked it!

Another Damaged Wrist!

I just got to spend another few hours in the ER! Yay me. Quinn was running backwards (long story) didn't see a jacket on the ground and fell backwards. He put his left arm back (bad idea he is left handed!) to catch himself. Above is picture from December when he did a similar thing and broke his wrist! Now he is in another splint for weeks only on his left hand! Did I mention he was left handed! He is thinking I will come in and write down all his work...Yea Right! He convinced Bridget he needed to sleep with her last time, I wonder what will happen tonight!

Is another month almost gone!

I said at the end of January I would Blog more!!! Well here I am catching up. February has almost come and gone! I downloaded some Irish Music on my Playlist because March is almost here and it is time as my mom would say for the "wearing O the Green!" Growing up my mom and dad reminded us often of our Irish roots and how hard is was for the Irish when they first came to this country, most people wouldn't give them jobs and so they took jobs as policemen, firemen, and ambulance worker (my grandpa drove one of the first ambulances into Paris on D Day in World War II). So I am proud of my Irish heritage and hopefully can instill some of that into my kids along with their wonderful German ancestry! It was a busy month but lots of fun! Kelly had to make two trips to LA for work so that was not fun for us, but Quinn and Bridget were fine company for Valentines day dinner! (And Kelly left me some goodies before he left.) We had inches and inches of rain this month too. But last weekend I had a great dinner for my birthday with my sister and all of her kiddos and my older brother Bob and his wife! That was a lot of fun just to sit and talk! We spent the night at Kat's and got to go watch Stacey go play some baseball the next day, I can't believe he is in High school! Kelly came home Sunday and we spent some great family time together! On Monday I had a great birthday, I had some wonderful friends take me to lunch and it was fun just to get together and then Jeff, Bridget and Quinn and I had a late afternoon treat! Raychel and Kellie took me to the movies we saw Shopaholic and it was really fun, then Kelly took me out for a late night dinner, it was great to have some alone time. On Tuesday Quinn and Bridget preformed in the Black History night Choir performance and Quinn had a speaking part and did a great job and Bridget helped with one of the games that night. We are looking forward to our upcoming break at the end of March, Kelly may have to go back to LA so we could go visit the mouse while he is there! Happy February to everyone! I think one of the best things this month is I have had lots of time to reflect on MOM and how much I love her and still miss her, but not with so much sadness now, I took some Shamrocks to her grave yesterday and thought about all the good things she did for me, I am so happy she was my mom!

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints

As Many of you know I joined the church almost nine years ago. I have times where I am so glad to be a member of our church. Times when my testimony of the truthfulness has been tested and passed! And times when I have been discouraged. But as I thought about the last two years (almost three since dad got sick on Valentines day three years ago). I am so glad I can say I know where my parents are. I know they are together I know they never spent a Valentines day without each other and that they are waiting for all of us and they are enjoying reunions with loved ones that have gone on before. I know my mom finally met my fathers beloved dad. I am thankful for this. I am also thankful for the little things that go unnoticed, random acts of kindness and love. Compassion and charity! Today I woke to a phone call that an elderly man had gone out last night and not returned home, by the time Bridget, Quinn, Jeff and I started in the search there were 100's if not 1000's already looking for him, many not from our congregation or our stake many who did not know this family. He was found in a town more then 30 minutes away in a field and he is home now with his wife of more then 65 years. What a tender mercy, what a miracle, because yes there are angels here on the earth today and yes there are still miracles that occur in our lives everyday!

Lazy January

Well I didn't do very good on my blog in January! With going back to work, and getting the kids to band, choir, piano (you would think Kelly and I are musical and we so aren't)! Activity Days, and scouts, oh yea and we finally have bike riding mastered! A little late but Yay it is accomplished! It was a little crazy. I think I always get the blahs in January and then February comes and wakes me up, who knows maybe it is the tax return, or Valentines or maybe my Bday! But Kelly is on his way out of town for a week or more Yay me! and the Pep program that my children are in at school is on the cutting list for school budget cuts, along with Band, Music, Art, and PE and sports really I think I am closer and closer to home school! Especially when I work in the Elementary school and see some of the problems first hand! Any way January ended busy as usual we Had Quinn's first Pack Meeting as a Webelo. Bridget and all of the girls from activity days went on a temple trip and Kelly and I went to Placerville to celebrate my Big Brother Bob's 60Th. It was a fun month. Today we start the Happy Birthday's that are February with Kelly's brother Brian! Happy BDay Brian, and then on Thursday Kelly's sister Julie has her turn! Happy Bday Julie. Oh and one last note I have a new Great Nephew his name is Greyson John Victorino (Bob has 5 grandsons now, that first girl if she ever comes will really be spoiled!) Greyson was born on February 5Th weighing in at 10 pounds 13 ounces (Go Susie!) Mom and baby are doing great! One of the greatest joys Kelly and I have is our big families, and as February comes I can not help but think of my mom, it will be two years ago this week that she left this world and i cannot wait to see her and my dad again, I know she is with us when ever one of her grand kids or great grand kids accomplishes something great! Mom I love you!

January is whizzing by!

What the heck happened! January is almost over! We have been so busy with school and extra curricular stuff that the month has whizzed by! We had a little day trip this past weekend to go and see some California historical sites for the Fourth grade curriculum (California Missions) we went to San Rafael and San Fransisco De Asis or Mission Dolores. One of the exciting parts of the day was Bridget noticed there were 7 Bridget's buried in the cemetery next to the mission, it was in the Irish section of San Fransisco and after the church became a regular Catholic church many Irish Families attended church there. My mom was baptized Catholic there. So that was pretty cool, Quinn thought it was cool because it is the oldest building in San Fransisco! Then we stopped off and did some window shopping at Ikea. We are going back to the City for the Chinese New Year, I have never thought the kids were old enough but they are now! And we have had great weather and have been getting in a daily bike ride, Bridget and Quinn are still bike challenged so all the practice is good! Today I was able to plan out Activities for my Activity Day girls till August! And tomorrow Quinn will be working on some Webelo activities and Piano, maybe that is why one day roles into the next! Anyway speaking of rolling on it is time to go make dinner!