Oh ya...how could I forget this one???
Happy Birthday to my Sweet Lil' Raya...I can't believe she's 10!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Surprise!
We threw Raya a surprise slumber party for her birthday this year. Everything worked out so well, kids got along just fine, and they were all asleep by 2am...Heck ya! It's all good over here at the Durling home...Check out the series of events...
Oh ya...how could I forget this one???
Happy Birthday to my Sweet Lil' Raya...I can't believe she's 10!
Oh ya...how could I forget this one???
Happy Birthday to my Sweet Lil' Raya...I can't believe she's 10!
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Rite of Passage
I have so much to blog about. I do a little at a time thinking that I will soon be caught up, only to have more items blog worthy to post...Maybe one of these days I will sit down and blog all day... As for now, enjoy this video of Raya and Malia getting their ears pierced...I totally remember getting mine done back in the day, how I would have loved a video like this to capture the moment..
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A Decade Old
10 years and two days ago, I was attending a baby shower for someone rather special
Her due date wasn't for another 9 days and it was her first child so she assumed that her due date would come and pass before the precious tenet inside her decided to move out.
She received some great gifts and enjoyed the company of the many friends that were in attendance. The next day, she cleaned and nested all day long. She knew that nesting was a normal part of pregnancy and welcomed it because it made her OCD very happy. After pulling dinner out of the oven, she went and laid down on the couch watching the last part of a sitcom and thought to herself, "As soon as this show is over, I am going to go and dish me up some of that Tater Tot Casserole".
The credits for the show came on and a POP was heard. The mother quickly got up and ran to the bathroom trailing amniotic fluid behind her. It was a split second before she realized that the time had come, the time had come earlier than expected for her tenet to move out, and she was a little bit upset at herself for putting of packing her bags for the hospital until the next day.
The dad on the other hand was busy learning not so necessary information so that he could provide a better life for this new spirit. The mother frantically tried and tried to get a hold of him to no avail. He was equipped with a pager and instructions that if a 911 number popped up on his screen, then it was time. This pager, however, wasn't placed in an appropriate place and wasn't heard until he was walking into his class. Finally, the beeps were heard and a phone call to his excited wife was made. A decision to meet at the hospital was thought to be best and 1st time grandma drove the now in labor mother to Kaiser, the same hospital that she and her husband were born in.
An amniotic sack breakage confirmation, an epidural, and 7 and a half hours later, a precious little cry was heard throughout the room. Raya Marie was welcomed into this world by all the doctors and nurses, Mom and Dad, Grandma P. and Grandma D., Aunt Sarah, and...Uncle Jason, Uncle Jacob, and Uncle Jared (yes, all these men were in the room during delivery).
One Day Old
One Year Old
Two Years Old
Three Years Old
Four Years Old
Five Years Old
Six Years Old
Seven Years Old
Eight Years Old
Nine Years Old
Ten Years Old
A decade later, Raya has been a blessing in the lives of her family. She is a beautiful daughter of God and a wonderful big sister. Her parents have been truly blessed with her sweet spirit in their home and can hardly believe that she has already lived more than half of her childhood in their home. Happy Birthday to a sweet and beautiful 10 year old. Your parents and family love you so very much!
Her due date wasn't for another 9 days and it was her first child so she assumed that her due date would come and pass before the precious tenet inside her decided to move out.
She received some great gifts and enjoyed the company of the many friends that were in attendance. The next day, she cleaned and nested all day long. She knew that nesting was a normal part of pregnancy and welcomed it because it made her OCD very happy. After pulling dinner out of the oven, she went and laid down on the couch watching the last part of a sitcom and thought to herself, "As soon as this show is over, I am going to go and dish me up some of that Tater Tot Casserole".
The credits for the show came on and a POP was heard. The mother quickly got up and ran to the bathroom trailing amniotic fluid behind her. It was a split second before she realized that the time had come, the time had come earlier than expected for her tenet to move out, and she was a little bit upset at herself for putting of packing her bags for the hospital until the next day.
The dad on the other hand was busy learning not so necessary information so that he could provide a better life for this new spirit. The mother frantically tried and tried to get a hold of him to no avail. He was equipped with a pager and instructions that if a 911 number popped up on his screen, then it was time. This pager, however, wasn't placed in an appropriate place and wasn't heard until he was walking into his class. Finally, the beeps were heard and a phone call to his excited wife was made. A decision to meet at the hospital was thought to be best and 1st time grandma drove the now in labor mother to Kaiser, the same hospital that she and her husband were born in.
An amniotic sack breakage confirmation, an epidural, and 7 and a half hours later, a precious little cry was heard throughout the room. Raya Marie was welcomed into this world by all the doctors and nurses, Mom and Dad, Grandma P. and Grandma D., Aunt Sarah, and...Uncle Jason, Uncle Jacob, and Uncle Jared (yes, all these men were in the room during delivery).
One Day Old
One Year Old
Two Years Old
Three Years Old
Four Years Old
Five Years Old
Six Years Old
Seven Years Old
Eight Years Old
Nine Years Old
Ten Years Old
A decade later, Raya has been a blessing in the lives of her family. She is a beautiful daughter of God and a wonderful big sister. Her parents have been truly blessed with her sweet spirit in their home and can hardly believe that she has already lived more than half of her childhood in their home. Happy Birthday to a sweet and beautiful 10 year old. Your parents and family love you so very much!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Field Trip Mania
Being an involved parent has its moments and its rewards...like gold. I got to drive on three different field trips for Raya's class this year. All of them towards the end of the year.
The first field trip was to the State Capitol. We made our way through many different rooms where laws are made, discussed, voted upon, and even vetoed...yes, I got to see the Governator's office....guess what? It looks like a plain old office.
We headed over to the IMAX theatre to watch a movie on California. I've never been to the Imax Theatre. It's HUGE...I got a little motion sick watching the movie and had to close my eyes. I really didn't want the hot dog and chips they fed us to come back up in front of all the 4th graders...
On another field trip, We got to go to Sutter's Mill in Coloma. We panned for gold and I struck gold 3 times...Raya twice, but she also found Garnet (my favorite birth stone) and of course...fools gold! It was awesome.
We hiked to the John Marshall Monument (you know, the man who actually discovered gold). We got to see a VERY old cemetery and John Marshall's cabin complete with the outhouse right outside. There was also a church and an old prison. It's crazy to think that a community lived in that small of a place...everything in walking distance...
The last field trip I drove to didn't require me to stay. I just dropped off and picked up. I got a few pictures though. The class went down to the community pool along with all 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Later that night, a massive lightening storm hit. What great timing!
I had a blast and am grateful to all my babysitters who watched Ethan and Carly for me so that I could enjoy these things with Raya and her class.
The first field trip was to the State Capitol. We made our way through many different rooms where laws are made, discussed, voted upon, and even vetoed...yes, I got to see the Governator's office....guess what? It looks like a plain old office.
We headed over to the IMAX theatre to watch a movie on California. I've never been to the Imax Theatre. It's HUGE...I got a little motion sick watching the movie and had to close my eyes. I really didn't want the hot dog and chips they fed us to come back up in front of all the 4th graders...
On another field trip, We got to go to Sutter's Mill in Coloma. We panned for gold and I struck gold 3 times...Raya twice, but she also found Garnet (my favorite birth stone) and of course...fools gold! It was awesome.
We hiked to the John Marshall Monument (you know, the man who actually discovered gold). We got to see a VERY old cemetery and John Marshall's cabin complete with the outhouse right outside. There was also a church and an old prison. It's crazy to think that a community lived in that small of a place...everything in walking distance...
The last field trip I drove to didn't require me to stay. I just dropped off and picked up. I got a few pictures though. The class went down to the community pool along with all 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Later that night, a massive lightening storm hit. What great timing!
I had a blast and am grateful to all my babysitters who watched Ethan and Carly for me so that I could enjoy these things with Raya and her class.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Partying Chuck E Style
I usually go all out for birthday parties, spending way too much money and inviting way too many kids, but this year, I decided to bring it down a bit and told the girls that they were going to have small parties this year. Malia really wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese. I hate doing party's at places like that because they way over charge, but being the money conservative that I am, Malia was able to enjoy Chuck E Cheese with 5 of her friends, a lot of family, and we only forked out $60 while we were there. It would have cost me $110 had I done a party with them. Everyone had a blast including Patrick, and we then traveled home for cake and ice cream sandwiches and opened presents. It was a fun day. Simple too, which is always good this time of year!
The Gift Bags:
The Cupcakes:
The Birthday Girl:
Some Presents:
Check out the last three pictures. Notice anything they have in common? If you noticed the pink dinosaur then you are pretty observant. Malia registered for a few different Webkinz. Not sure what happened, but when looking at the registry after the party, there were some Webkinz on the registry that Malia didn't receive that said that two people purchased and vis verse...so much for registry's and Thank Goodness that friends brought gift receipts...Malia got 9 Webkinz for her birthday. She returned 5 of them because they were all duplicates.
Make a Wish:
Now Blow Out the Candles:
Happy Birthday to my Seven Year Old!
The Gift Bags:
The Cupcakes:
The Birthday Girl:
Some Presents:
Check out the last three pictures. Notice anything they have in common? If you noticed the pink dinosaur then you are pretty observant. Malia registered for a few different Webkinz. Not sure what happened, but when looking at the registry after the party, there were some Webkinz on the registry that Malia didn't receive that said that two people purchased and vis verse...so much for registry's and Thank Goodness that friends brought gift receipts...Malia got 9 Webkinz for her birthday. She returned 5 of them because they were all duplicates.
Make a Wish:
Now Blow Out the Candles:
Happy Birthday to my Seven Year Old!
Book Reports
The due date seems to creep up quickly and I find myself letting Raya stay up til all hours of the night working and creating the projects that go along with her report. Her latest was a biography on Walter Elias Disney. Ever heard of him?
We're still awaiting her grade, but I was able to watch her give her oral presentation and if I were her teacher, I would give her an "A"...wouldn't you?
We're still awaiting her grade, but I was able to watch her give her oral presentation and if I were her teacher, I would give her an "A"...wouldn't you?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Can Hardly Wait
I have a lot to blog about and will do so shortly...In the meantime, enjoy this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSFMmkMfQ5Q
I can hardly wait!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSFMmkMfQ5Q
I can hardly wait!
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