Memorial Day

This weekend our country celebrates Memorial day. A day where we as a nation give thanks to those who died fighting for our freedom. In the past, I've taken my boys to the cemetery where their cousin is buried for mass. On Saturday, the boys actually went to the cometary in San Bruno to decorate the graves of men and woman who served in the military with American flags with the Cub/Boy Scout Packs/Troop. Today Patrick watched about 4 hours of Band of Brothers. I guess I can say that the boys do "get" what this weekend is about, and for that I'm grateful.

On Saturday, I had my own Memorial Day. It didn't start out that way, but it ended that way. We decided to go "home" for mass, dinner and dessert. I consider home to be many places besides the house that I share with Steve and the kids. For me home is San Leandro the city I was born and raised in. Home is St.Felicitas Catholic Church, the parish I was raised in, attended 8 years of school, received all of my sacraments except Baptism, including marriage. St. Felicitas is the place where Steve and I not only started our life together as a married couple but the first place we brought each of our boys to (besides the Dr.'s office) after we brought them home from the hospital. They were each baptised there and for 11 years, we were supported and loved by an amazing faith family.

It had been a long time since we had been to St. Felicitas and although the people have changed, so many things about being in that sacred building remain the same. Many of the parishioners I grew up with are still in attendance. They are moving slower and their hair is whiter but I can always count on them sitting in the same spot, I love that! As I was sitting there I couldn't help but think back on how much of an impact this Parish has had on my life. As I mentioned above not only was I married there, received my Sacraments and had my boys baptised there but I graduated from 8th grade in that church, I was in the bell choir in that church, I ran youth ministry programs in that church, I learned public speaking in that church, I said goodbye to my beloved grandparents in that church, Gabriel was introduced to our faith family in that church and at a very difficult point in my life I got up and gave a gratitude testimony in that church. As I sat there amongst my kids, husband and parents, I couldn't help but feel at peace even though I was wrestling with Maria & Gabriel to be quiet. I felt like I had come full circle.

After mass we went up the street to Porky's Pizza. Porky's has been in the Manor forever. I don't have an exact date but I'm thinking since the 60's. Not much about the interior has changed either, talk about a blast from the past. Inevitably every time I go there I run into somebody that I know either from St. Felicitas or softball. Saturday night was no different, I ran into a friend from St. Felicitas who now has three kids of her own. It's so fun going in there with my kids and sending them to look on the wall for the picture of Wito (grandpa) and Tia Sandra (aunt) from when they were on the "Gold Team". Porky's was there softball teams sponsor a few years in a row. I love that after all these years, they are still on the wall, how cool is that? After dinner, we walked across the street to Clancy's ice cream. I'm thinking that Clancy's opened in 1974, I may be wrong. My sister and I and our neighbors would walk down there (I was probably 3, can you believe that my parents let me walk there with my sister and neighbors?) and get our ice cream cones. Clancy's was Irish through and through from the owners to the decor, shamrock wall paper and curtains, pictures of Irish battles and a map of Ireland. Clancy's was sold to an Asian family maybe 5 years after it opened. Everything remained the same, including the quality ice cram and Irish decor. This family had two boys who were always in the shop and as I grew up so did they. It had been years since I had been to Clancy's. The owner hasn't really changed much, just a bit of grey in his beard, but still as personable and chatty as ever. As we sat there enjoying our ice cream (I had pralines and cream) Maria was running back and forth with not a care in the world and the owner looked at Steve and said "I remember her running in here just like she's doing now". He was referring to me. He didn't know me when I was that young but I'm sure he does remember me and my family because we loved Clancy's, I can't tell you how happy that made me! We chatted about my kids and his and his grand kids.

I feel so blessed to have many "homes". After Saturday I came to realize what an impact the Manor had on my life and so happy to know that "home" is only 20 minutes away.

Summer's Almost Here

It's Memorial Day weekend. I'm home this morning with Maria & Gabriel and at 9:51 we are all still in our PJ's. I haven't had my morning cup of tea or my breakfast either. My husband and Patrick and Samuel are off on a Scouting activity to commemorate Memorial Day. Last weekend we were gone from morning till night and it kicked my butt, not to mention my kids.

This week was crazy busy. We found out that our older two boys did indeed get onto their swim team (yeah!!!), Samuel's baseball team (AA A's) won their playoff game in a nail biter and will compete again on Tuesday for the American League Championship game, My hubby celebrated his ^* b-day, we had open house at Samuel and Patrick's school. The Scouts were responsible for the BBQ before open house, I drove to Novato (an hour away) to visit my cousin who had her first baby (adorable and sweet) and yesterday I took Gabriel to his first session with a reading tutor and then met my friend a Down syndrome mom for happy hour which turned into a marathon discussion on how to help the Down syndrome community achieve their child's educational goals. Are you exhausted reading this, because I sure am. Of course I left out I took Maria to the park, laundry, cooking, Costco trip and cleaning but hey that's stuff that never goes away.

I guess my lack of getting up and moving like I had been at the beginning of the month may be due to the fact that I know I have a week and a half left before the kids get out of school and my inner sanctum is invaded by all of my children. I know that for some of you this sounds selfish and uncaring. I love my children as much as the next mom. I however realize that I need time to myself otherwise I turn into a not so nice mom. Last summer Gabriel didn't go to summer school and Maria was a toddler. That first week of summer nearly took me under. So I guess to avoid that sinking feeling, I'm giving myself a break. If I don't get dressed until 11 am, don't have dinner planned until 3pm and haven't emptied the dishwasher by 9am oh well. It's time in my life and where I'm at. It always gets done, and hey it's only a 4 day week!

Getting Started

I was asked last January if I "blogged" and I said no actually I don't. I was encouraged to start and felt like I didn't have much time or interest. Lately the urge to look into blogging has grown so this afternoon instead of sitting down with my cup of tea and my Real Simple magazine, I decided to get started so here I am. I'm not sure how unique or interesting I'll be to those of you who take the time to read my posts but my hope is to find others who can identify with my experiences and challenges and that we can help each other get through our days with a hope, prayer and a good laugh (sometimes a glass of vino or a a bowl of ice cream too).

A little about myself. My name is Angelica, my family calls me Gela (g sounds like an h), my in-laws and most of my friends call me Angie and my kids call me mom. I answer to all 4. I've been married for 14 years to my college sweetheart and have 4 kids. Patrick is 11, Samuel is 9, Gabriel is 7 and Maria is 2. I have been a stay at home mom for 11 years and volunteer with PTA as well as our local Down syndrome agency The Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area. My youngest son Gabriel was born with Down syndrome. We were not given a prenatal diagnosis so the news was very much a shock. The path has been challenging at times and as you get to know me I tend to put up a good fight before I'm able to accept my realities. I eventually get the message and move forward because that's what we moms do right? We do what we must for our children and that's what I've done.

I'm currently trying to make exercise an priority, keep my house semi-together, learn to be a good steward of our money (one of my biggest challenges...), sell things on ebay and actually come out ahead, pray more, get our school district to educate themselves on inclusive practices for children with Down syndrome, and enjoy the last 18 days of peace before summer starts.

Thanks for checking in, I'm off to cook dinner and then scrapbook as I'm finally working on Gabriel's 1st year album.

Angelica