Dodgers taking the field at Anaheim Stadium

This past Sunday we hosted a pre-Anaheim Stadium Walk brunch at our home. We were graced with the presence of family & friends...but to Lorenzo it was the greatest moment-- having his friends Felipe, Dominic & Sebastian at our home! We had time to grub down some great food and socialize for a bit before having to trek over to Anaheim. Once we arrived and unloaded our caravan of cars, Lorenzo left his mommy & daddy to line up all grown up like with his fellow teammates. Leaving him was a bit heartbreaking to think he is that grown up but we left and headed to the sea of proud parents. There you could find us among tons of other parents waiting for those few seconds of seeing our children walk by.

Lorenzo and his fellow Dodgers walked by us and even offered up some high fives! They all looked so adorable yet ever so grown up! Lorenzo looked so happy to feel a part of something so BIG!
We managed to survive from being away from Lorenzo if even for just an hour. The worst part was the darn southern california weather. It was sure hot! We'd like to thank all those that purchased tickets to share in this latest milestone in Lorenzo's life. We know it was a long hot day! We hope to continue to share our families ventures and hope to have you there! Thanks and we love you all!

Hunger Clean Up

Martyne had a successful day in honor of the "hunger clean up" campaign she participated in on Saturday, April 18. She was joined on her team, God's Gifts, by her friends Melissa (CSUDH) & Kami (FIDM). They stationed themselves outside Superior Market across the street from USC and were able to collect many canned goods and $30 in cash donations. (Plus another $70 in online donations) Martyne was proud to announce that she utilized her spanish to the best of her ability and felt good about it. Not only did they make a difference in the few hours they were out there, but also were recognized in our local spanish paper. Martyne was quoted in La Opinion. Here is an excerpt:

Martyne Gómez, una estudiante de segundo año de Sicología de la Universidad del Sur de California (USC), se sumó ayer a un grupo de estudiantes para ayudar a los desamparados.

"Me di cuenta que no estaba haciendo lo suficiente para ayudar con los problemas de la pobreza y el desamparo", dijo en el parque central de ese centro academémico. En sus ires y venires académicos, la chica se topa a cada momento con personas sin techo que deambulan en torno a USC. Esta vez decidió hacer algo.

Gómez y otro grupo de estudiantes de USC y UCLA forman parte de un voluntariado llamado Hunger Cleanup.

For the full article go to http://www.impre.com/laopinion/noticias/la-california/2009/4/19/estudiantes-contra-el-hambre-120195-1.html

Once again, we are proud of Martyne and her quest to make a difference in this world!

Martyne's quest to help her community...

Martyne has joined hungercleanup.org!

Martyne is raising awareness for her community -- if you'd like to donate or help! Her team name is "God's Gifts" (that is not her pic on the site...but it is her page). If you'd like to help out please search Martyne Gomez USC student.
I am very proud of her trying to make a difference. I guess our living the example of giving or helping to others has paid off. Just think, our family alone allows you enough outlets to donate and fulfill enough for your 2009 taxes!!! LOL
Thanks for again helping out in one of our quests to make a difference! God Bless!

Easter Sunday...

Our Easter was filled with much happiness as the kids LOVE looking for Easter eggs! Actually, Lorenzo even hid them and found them himself throughout the night! Not that easy for a four year old hiding 12 eggs and then only recovering 11. He is still looking for that lost egg this morning.
Anyhow, our day was great! Although, I only slept an hour because I chose to finish cleaning, have the table set, all our laundry done & prep breakfast so I wouldn't be caught in the kitchen AS ALWAYS! We made it to mass & the kids looked adorable. Lorenzo in dickie shorts, argyle vest & chuck taylors, Jordan in an outfit that kept slipping off her slender physique and Quinn adorable in his peach vest & more chucks. They loved that Daddy assisted in finding their baskets outside our front door left by the ever so great Easter Bunny! Jordan received "Enchanted" but her best item was a new stylish black hat! Lorenzo was thrilled with his goodies but most of all with the dvd of "Pink Panther". Go figure, he loves those movies! Quinn was given "Pinocchio" but loved the candy MOST!
Our brunch was blessed with the company of my mom, Sarah (eddie's girlfriend), and three of Martyne's friends from school (Noel, Travis & Kami). They were great guests and were ever so gracious on being invited to a wonderful breakfast in our home. We all had great conversation and enjoyed hearing about Eddie & Sarah's trip to Oregon. (Yeah, "Why Oregon?" you say...they randomly picked it on a map) They enjoyed their trip and brought us back some nice goodies.
Jordan, Lorenzo, Quinn & dad even enjoyed some ball time outside. They were playing baseball and their cries of joy coming from outside made me appreciate our family even more. Although, Jordan leaves us by three on Easter our time shared was nice. She attended mass with us, picked the flowers from our garden for our table and graced our brunch table with her presence. My skinny twiggy is sure growing up!
We finished off our day at the Gutierrez' home. We made it just in time for the Easter egg hunt and I gotta tell you Quinn looked like an ol' pro! Lorenzo claimed he needed help holding his basket 'til he saw little brother, Quinn was doing it all by himself with no problems. They both enjoyed the hunt and came up winners with $3, a See's candy certificate and of course MORE candy! Candy filled eggs are always a success! The boys truly enjoyed themselves as they met up with three cousins on this excursion out. Three BOY cousins!! YAHOO! (See, Steve's immediate family consists of only neices and we only see my brother's kids and again that is ALL girls!) So the boys were in Boy Heaven! They played soccer outside, hid eggs for each other, played a bit of hoops, watched Pinocchio, played the piano & WRESTLED! They were having such a great time. Their interaction and activeness reminded me of the days of when I was young and having great fun with cousins. I sure love watching my children be happy! It was even nice seeing Martyne laying on her Nino's sofa -- do you know doing what? -- yes of course, sleeping! But, I didn't complain as you see I realize even if Martyne is with us asleep she is with us. She is with us and I can watch my little girl sleep like the angel she is! All in all our day was a success! I even received a card from the kids that was the icing on the cake, thanks honey for taking them to pick it out. I love you! I love our family! I love us! In closing, I just would like to thank God (again) for my family, my mom, my husband, our health and all that we have and all that we are. God bless...

Genuine Kindness...

I was thinking the other day, how a wonderful story about Martyne was not logged here as it happened during our rainy season - December before I became a blogger. Well here is the story as it was told to me by Martyne, the generous daughter we raised.

"Mom, I have something to tell you. You know that kind of expensive Clipper ski jacket you guys bought me? Well, I gave it away. Wait mom, before you get upset I had a good reason to give it away. See, there was this mom and little girl going through a trash can near USC at the shopping center. They were picking recyclables - during the heavy rain! Mom, wait. You see I couldn't resist from stopping as the little girl couldn't be any older than Jordan and she was picking cans & bottles IN THE RAIN! They were both soaked and the girl had nothing more than a few shirts on. Mom, I couldn't but give her my jacket - it was the only jacket I had in my car and the look on her face was priceless. At first the mom said no but I insisted in my best spanish that it was to keep her daughter dry and warm. They accepted the jacket and the happiness in their eyes was payment enough - payment I was not even looking for. The feeling it gave me was a feeling of new heights! Mom thanks, thanks for understanding and thanks to you & dad for teaching me to be ME!"

Martyne Home Sweet Home!

So, Martyne is home for a week...or a bit less. My anticipation of her arrival was so like a kid outside the candy store! But, to my dismay have realized college kids only do spring break at home for a few reasons which are: they are broke, their parents won't pay for a trip away for spring break and they need to SLEEP! Well Martyne is all THREE! So, she has been home since Sunday afternoon and has had dinner with us twice, made cookies for the kids twice, played UNO with the kids once, made chocolate milk for the boys numerous times, finished her laundry, visited with gramma once, watched Law & Order, Without a Trace & Criminal Minds...endlessly! Ok not endlessly that we'll use to describe the SLEEPING! She has slept on the couch twice and my bed NOW as I type! OHHH, the life of a college student.

I know that teenagers don't usually like hanging out with the family and I always thought mine did until a little birdy expressed to me their concern on "oh martyne is home, oh boy for her" awww it broke my heart. Well, I'll hope for later in life to become her best friend, mentor and comrade again! I know she'll realize one day how these little moments of family help mold you later in life within your own family! Personally my family isn't so close, with that my life has always been my children now to include my husband--but great friends and my mom is whom I'd also give the shirt off my back for! Making life happy and complete is so self satisfying...I just pray my kids grow up and cherish each other, my husband, my mother, their extended family, me but most importanly themselves & God!
Back to a lighter note, here is proof of Martyne in her SLEEPING habit mode...