MONDAY, MONDAY, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA...

After a wonderfully quiet weekend,

where I was able to go to my favorite scrap store,

and be taught by one of my favorite girls,

Ashley

to make this cute altered canvas of me

as a baby,

today is Monday.

Back to work, routine day...

then I come across this awesome writing

this morning:

"NORMAL DAY,

LET ME BE AWARE OF THE TREASURE YOU ARE.

LET ME LEARN FROM YOU, LOVE YOU,

BLESS YOU BEFORE YOU DEPART.

LET ME NOT PASS YOU BY IN QUEST

OF SOME RARE AND PERFECT TOMORROW.

LET ME HOLD YOU WHILE I MAY,

FOR IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO.

ONE DAY I SHALL DIG MY NAILS INTO THE EARTH,

OR BURY MY FACE IN THE PILLOW,

OR STRETCH MYSELF TAUT,

OR RAISE MY HAND IN THE SKY AND WANT,

MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD,

YOUR RETURN."

mary jean iron

So enjoy your "normal" Monday

knowing that for many it is more than just that

as they battle evils in the world.

Dog the bounty hunter and his hot wife!

Kudo's to kd for making up these awesome costumes

for she and Roddie.

They had a rehearsal supper/costume party

to go to

and this is the final result.

Isn't this just completely hysterical!!!!!

9 BLOCKS...

9 BLOCKS:

That is how far Somer Thompson had to walk

to get safely home.

Yet, now she is dead, her 7 year old body

found in a land fill.

She left her school on a typical afternoon,

walking with her twin brother, older sister,

and many neighbors,

same thing she did every day,

yet on this day she became angry with one in the group

and walked ahead of the others

never to be seen alive again.

Some crazy demon person took this child

and killed her and today

I just can't understand why our children

can't feel safe in their own environment.

How can a parent these day not be overprotective?

I can remember when my two were little

I would begin to panic inside if I didn't know

where they were for a little while.

My thoughts would always go to how

far some crazy person could get them

before I would even know they were missing.

Now this Mother must question herself constantly

wondering if she should have done things differently.

A prisoner in her own quilt

and even this makes me angry

because this mother did nothing wrong

and yet she will live the rest of her life

in pure misery, regretting anything she ever did.

Pray for all our children in this world,

protect their innocence.

don't let them even cross the street without watching them

and calling to make sure they made it where

they were going.

When they get older, call and confirm any plans

they make,

if it isn't consistent, make them stay home.

Yes, they will be mad for a time

but they will be alive, safe in the loving comfort

of the family who should never have to suffer

as so many parents have to do

because of the decision some crazy

demon person makes to ruin

other people's lives

and take our children, our future

away from us!

Oooh, can you tell just how angry this makes me!!!!!!!!

FIRST ANNUAL RIERA PUMPKIN CARVING NIGHT

I sometimes live two lives,

one in my mind and one in reality.

Last night was made up in my mind.

Always trying to be the ultimate optimist,

I decided that since Rod and Kd were coming sleep,

this would be an awesome time for a Riera craft project.

Since we have always loved Halloween,

I begin yesterday texting the gang.

HEY WHAT ABOUT PUMPKIN CARVING NIGHT

Well Kd and Jesi right away text back...

They are fired up.

I call Roddie and he at first says " he aint' carving no pumpkin"

I encourage him to live a little, he asks if Chase

(aka Bruda) is coming,

well I go out on a limb and say:

(Well of course, Chase is all into it)

However I had not yet heard from Chase

but I knew just like usual,

if Chase does anything then Roddie will do it.

So Jesi and I go to Walmart in the rain,

buy pumpkins and decorating tools,

we buy Pizza and Halloween cookies

we go home cook the food,

Chase show up and we wait...

and wait... and wait...

Part of my fantasy forgot that Kd works until 6:45,

then she has to go home then lives an hour away from us now...

So they arrive at about 8:30

and Kd looks exhausted and Roddie is already saying

he "ain't" carving if he has to clean his pumpkin...

Ronnie is laying on the sofa and refuses to even do anything,

So me, wanting the event to go well,

I begin cleaning baby boys pumpkin guts

while he and his Dad watch a DVD of Rod's work platform.

Kd confesses that she has never carved a pumpkin,

and didn't realize she would have to stick her hand

in the innards of a dirty pumpkin...

Chase is nice and quiet working diligently

but then confesses that he felt too guilty after I bought

the pumpkins to say he really wasn't into carving pumpkins...

I finish cleaning Rod's pumpkin and in a matter of 10 minutes,

he has his free-hand carved,

says he's done lights his pumpkin before anyone can

say BOO,

he is proud of himself but tells me

I am going to ruin the event if I don't stop taking pictures...

I share that in my mind I thought this night would be way

different, Rod reminds me that all these events I plan

land up the same way...

However in my heart, I am happy anyway,

because really everyone is enjoying themselves

and we are together....

Finally we all complete our pumpkins,

Roddie actually doing two

since Ronnie refused to participate....

Kd finally got hers the way she wanted it,

wasn't happy with Rod especially when he said

that for a kindergartner hers wasn't half bad...

She swore that she was going to practice and by

next year hers was going to be the best!

I finally got to carve my own pumpkin after cleaning

pumpkin guts for baby boy!

Jesi did a free-hand Harry Potter pumpkin,

never complained at all

because in some ways she is like me

total optimist for my Riera get-togethers...

Chase followed a pattern and his came out especially good,

he came up with the idea to make his into his head

for his picture...

And Roddie always having to follow suit with Bruda,

had to do his own picture like that

(so much for me ruining the moment with pictures, huh Rod)

Although Ronnie wouldn't carve he still had to be part of

the celebration...

By dressing in my clothes of course,

anything to get the kids laughing,

that's my husband...

in my dress.....

Oh what a Riera Party!!!!

Thanks everybody for making my night!!!!!

Really I loved it!!!!!

HALLOWEEN IS COMING

Thanks Owen for being a good sport!

Did this on my computer hopefully it won't scare

you guys too much!

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays

going back to the old days of my own

trick or treating

then when my kids were young,

oh, did we have fun!

Then there was the Tarpon Heights days

when we all got together,

Aunt Lil made a chili and everyone

brought a bag of candy.

So this year,

Roddie and Katie are planning

a Halloween bash at their

Plaquemine home and hoping

that all of you guys can make it

since Halloween is on a Saturday.

Katie says YOU MUST DRESS UP

if you come, unless you are her daddy

and your name is Frank....

Hope to see all of you there!