Eighteen.

It was a small birthday gathering for Lauren.  She chose sushi with a select group of friends. 
I couldn't take pictures of food inside Roe as lights were dimmed when dinner started.
Everyone had a fun time at dinner ... we ate sushi for two and a half hours!

Birthday cake.  German Chocolate cake tradition. 
My mother made them for our birthdays.
(She's gone now and can't do this for Lauren, so I make them for her).

We went to dinner at Roe on Palm Avenue.

Roe has three window murals outside the restaurant.  So beautiful. 

This one reminds me of Lauren.

Another mural (woman with a fan)

Last mural (closest to the entrance).

Six high school seniors (Alec, Nikki, Jess, Alejandra, Lauren and Spencer)

Jessica made this cute "frog with sushi" birthday card.

Lauren's Happy Face.  A couple friends gave her jewelry.

Blingy bling things.  Like this sparkly colored heart ring.

After dinner, the kids changed into PJs for movies. 

We were so stuffed that birthday cake was at midnight.

Ready for cake now.

Make a good wish!

Happy Birthday, Lauren!

Two days later, on her actual birthday (2/23), these friends came by the house at 5:30am with balloons and candy bouquets to ambush her while sound asleep in bed.  Surprise!  

I knew about the surprise, so I prepared a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, potatoes, hot cocoa and orange juice for all of us before heading to school/work.  {yawn}  Fun start to a birthday although they made me promise --- no pictures! --- because they had Bedhead Hair and no makeup, too.

Dinner Tomorrow

Awww, no party?
Really?  No time for a Disneyland weekend?

Instead, my daughter asked for a quiet sushi dinner with her closest friends.

Ok.  But, I think a birthday dinner needs an invitation, so here it is.

Happy Valentine's Day

Enjoy your Valentine's Day this weekend.  Hope you spend it with someone you love.

Sushi for A's

Lauren & Spencer both made the Principal's Honor Roll (3.5 to 4.0 GPA) at Bullard High. When Lauren makes good grades (she had a 3.87), she gets a banana split. This time, she wanted to eat lunch at Wassabi with Spencer.  She taught him how to use hashi (chopsticks) today and he fiercely struggled to finish his entire meal with hashi (and a pinkie cramp!) 

Spencer's unsure about sushi and sashimi.  Think he considered bolting, but Lauren grabbed him.

We ordered box lunches and each came with salad and miso soup.

Wasabi and pickled red ginger for the spicy tuna roll.

"You hold the hashi like this..."

"Yes, that's right."

Ok, he's feeling pretty confident. Time to try with food now.

We all had grilled ahi tuna. Then, Lauren and I had a spicy tuna roll while Spencer had beef teriyaki. Yum.

He did it! Lauren grins when Spencer finally get the beef teriyaki between the hashi!

Good job on the grades, guys!

All pictures, here

Heart Surgery

I need heart surgery.  I woke up and felt heartache and a deep emotional groaning.
My youngest daughter turns 18 next month.  Graduation.  College.  Boyfriend.

Today is Senior Parents Night at Bullard High. 
We're meeting to go over the senior activities (and empty the checkbook). I looked over the senior packet (announcements, cap/gown, grad trips) and I was fine ... yesterday.

I thought I was well-prepared for this phase.  Nope.  I'm hopelessly sappy. 
Truly, I'm happy for her future.  But, the sap has taken over today.
When did my naked-screaming-little-baby-wanting-attention grow up?  
When did she and I switch positions?  Seems she's the one comforting me now, saying
"Awww, things will be alright" while I'm screaming for attention, afraid to be left behind. 

I have an appointment with The Ultimate Heart Surgeon.
I'll need to be a compliant patient.  Is there a pill for this?

Life is just as it should be.
My girl's living her destiny.
Her mama will get well. 
Soon.

Mama's Arm (edited my head in ... ha!)                              Spencer's Arm (original shot)

Preschool                                                                         High School Senior

Do all mamas go through this? Ahhh.  [*sigh*]

Poster Shots

Lauren wanted a poster for for a blank spot on her wall. So, we went downtown to shoot some pictures and brought Spencer along.

The finished poster. (Trying to make it artsy).

Some kids were skateboarding around us. Spencer watched a bit while Lauren got bored.

I love the this picture.



This one makes me laugh. I asked her to lean back and they laughed when she squished him.

They stopped laughing for this one.  Cute.

It was so cold outside. She put her cold hand to his face and he just grinned.

Last one.  Time to go because I was cold and my hands started to shake!

For all the pictures, click here

CART (DNA Ligation Project)

Lauren's CART (Center for Advanced Research & Technology) class in Clovis, held their Winter Showcase on 01.14.10. The group project (for Lauren, Gabe Viveros & Isis Wenger) was DNA Ligation. Lauren's cousin, Brandon, was researching CART as a Student Teaching requirement so it was great to have him there, too.

Lauren and project partner, Gabe Viveros.

Lauren explains their project (DNA Ligation of Plasmid pBR322) to a group of student teachers.

The project

First cousins (Lauren & Brandon). Brandon was researching CART as a Student Teaching assignment.

Lauren with her Pop & cousin Brandon.

Lauren and her buddy, Matt Salazar.

Lauren and her friend (and volleyball teammate), Danielle Salcido.  Good job, girls!

Puppy Love

We stopped by the Diaz house and played with Alina's two-month old puppy, Marley.
Lauren's never had a dog, but thinks she wants one. Spencer was very comfortable
with Marley, but it took Lauren a little time to warm up to the active little puppy.

Santa brought Marley for Alina. Happy girl!



Nothing like a boy and a puppy.



Spencer cradled Marley while Lauren inched closer.

Aww. Marley likes Lauren, too.

After a bit, she let Marley sit on her lap and play.  Cute.

Curb Appeal

Last Sunday, Lauren's friend, Spencer, shot pictures of us for our 2009 Christmas Card. Then, I offered to take pictures of them on the curb in front of our house. I'm not sure why, but I like curbs. I made the mistake of telling him his face looks better in pictures when he doesn't smile. After that, I know he struggled very hard not to smile. Big mistake. Sorry. Everyone looks better with a smile!

Dude.  That's a totally serious face.

Corners of the mouth starting to curl up.

Ok, there's a laugh.

Yes! I believe a smile is the greatest feature for the face!