It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.........

There'll be much handicapping, the kids won't be napping with screams of good cheer..... (or bad calls) It's the most wonderful time of the YEAR!!

We are in the throws of the NCAA college basketball tournament. The day the tournament started with all 64 teams, Andy told me that this day was his Christmas. He's right. He gets as giddy as a school girl for college basketball play-offs. He and his group of guys went to Vegas last week for the second weekend of the tournament. Paul, his Dad, came out to meet them in celebration of his upcoming 80th birthday. And because Paul went, many of Andy's friends who normally don't make the trip decided they would go and celebrate with him. It's a nice nod to Paul. He is well loved and respected by many.

Andy and company had a great time. They went to dinner the first night to a good steak place to celebrate Paul's 80th and also celebrated brother-in-law Dennis' 40th birthday. Helene happened to working in Vegas last week, so she joined them for dinner. I'm guessing it was pretty fun for her to have family to spend the evening with as normally she is out there with just co-workers. They all had a great time at dinner. I'm guessing the rest of the meals were cheap-o hot dogs or whatever else they could scrounge up.....after Paul left for home, that is. The days were filled with craps, black jack, basketball, drinking and all the other sorts of Vegas depravity there was to be had. Andy lives for this trip each year with all the guys. I'm glad he is able to go and see many friends from all over the country. Oh, and Andy did take the camera, but had someone else snap a few shots at dinner, and took none the rest of the trip, so there aren't too many pics to share with you. What's the saying....take only pictures, leave only footprints? Well, that didn't really happen at all. And in keeping with Andy, I will point everyone out in the pictures by their nickname, which is always their last name, or some form of it.

Paul and Andy
















Coop and Strauss











Dils and EB










Berke and a TX friend

Helene and Dennis (sorry Helene, it's the only one I have of you)

Cheers!

Wilbo and Paul

Roth

Let them eat cake!

Alligator Lizards in the Air, In the AIR......

When I was a kid, we used to catch lizards and put them in a big coffee can, remember those? We always had a bunch of them in our front yard to catch. Quite often they would lose their tail, which was always kind of fun, but we never did it intentionally. The house we are in now also has MANY lizards....everywhere. During summer (or any warm day) you can look in the back yard and see at least 6 or more of them. Now that I'm an adult, I can't stand them. They are always around. When I take the trash out, they scatter like mice. They of course run right to where I'm going, under the trash cans. I often run them over and squash them when I take the cans out. They aren't the smartest guys. The small ones aren't so bad, but the other day David and I looked out the back door and saw one of the longest guys I have seen here in our yard. It looked more like a small snake. It let us come outside and get close enough to take some pictures before slithering away up the bank. I got a measuring tape after he was gone and measured based on the picture. The thing was 16 inches long! CREEPY!! I guess this is what they look like if they never have a pesky bird (or kid) break their tail off. I saw him again the other day in the bushes. Perhaps I should just name him and call him a pet. How does Fluffy sound?

And BTW, I have seen the band America sing Ventura Highway (where the lyrics in my blog post title came from) a few times, the most recent, which wasn't recent at all (pre-kids) was with Andy, Helene, and her friend Lisa at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. It's always fun to wail out the lyrics to a song along with the real band that sings them, even if they are a little past their prime. You see, I've been through the desert on a horse with no name...

EDIT: Roz was there too...sorry I forgot!!

Star Helper, Star Wars

School has sure changed from when we were kids. Kindergarten is like more like 1st grade....homework every day. David is in his 2nd year of preschool. His teacher is in pilot program for a new curriculum in preschool. They have already been doing all the standard stuff, letters, shapes, colors.....etc. Now they are starting the very beginnings of math. They work on a math program on the computers in the classroom. A few weeks ago Mrs. Martin started to implement some of the basics in geometry. So now the kids learn that a square has 4 sides and 4 right angles. They now call the diamond shape by it's correct name, a rhombus, and they can all identify trapezoids. The other day David was dinking around on the Wii. He was in the area where you can edit your Mii (character in the games). He changed my Mii name by adding some shapes to the end of Ann and said, "Mommy, I added a rhombus to your name." Wow.... I think I learned what a rhombus was about 3 weeks ago when Mrs. Martin taught it in David's preschool class!

Today David was star helper in class. He had to bring in something that started with the letter R and give clues for all the kids to guess. He brought in his little Star Wars R2D2 toy. A boy named Oliver guessed what it was after 3 other guesses. He nearly stumped them! Usually the kids all sit nice and quietly as the toy, or whatever it is, gets passed around for all the kids to see and touch. Today, however, the kids were all quite animated as they sat passing R2D2 around. Who knew a little Happy Meal toy would spark lively discussions? David was quite pleased with himself. I love that little Star Helper!

More Birthday Fun!

Last Sunday we met up with Laci and her younger sister Brooklyn to celebrate her 3rd birthday along with a few of their friends. Rose got to see her friend Willy, so it was a fun day at the park! The park had a fun water area to play in. The weather is already warming up nicely and it was a good day to get wet. Both Rose and Laci got the same bathing suits for their birthdays, and wore them in hopes the other would too. They are such cute girls! I'm glad they are still good friends, even though they don't get to see each other all the time like when they were in preschool. And Happy Birthday Brooklyn.... you are ADORABLE!

Are You Ready to Pump It UP?

Saturday, party day! Saturday morning was a busy one. I decided to give out CDs in the goody bags, so Friday night was spent burning CDs. Rose then helped me assemble all the goody bags. This is a task she always enjoys. I quickly cleaned the house as best I could for the handful of friends we asked to come over after the kid's party. Andy and Joey got a head start out the door to pick up a few last minute things as well as the cake, then meet us there. I threw everything we were going to need for the party in the van, packed up Rose and David plus Tyler and Lexie, got in and turned the key....... NOTHING. I tried again.... "shit! Not NOW!" I had a dead battery. I had left all the doors open for probably 45 minutes and the interior lights were on, which I hadn't noticed. I used the "bad" word a few more times as I looked at all my neighbor's houses. There were no cars to be seen, everyone was gone. I ran over to a neighbor who I knew wasn't home, but whose son's car was in the driveway. He doesn't live there, nor does he know me, so I wasn't so sure he would even open the door, but after knocking twice, he answered. He looked pretty annoyed as I explained my dilemma and asked if he would jump start me. He agreed and pulled his car over to my driveway. I am actually VERY good at jump starting cars quickly as this happens to me more often than I care to admit. As I explained we were late for our own party, he ended up being very nice and helpful. Maybe he thought I would rat him out to his Mom had he not been. (I wouldn't have.) We got the car to start and off we went! Lexie then let me know I had used a bad word. Then she added "a lot!" Point taken.

Fortunately, we weren't too late. We had a great time bouncing with all Rose's friends, then went into the party room where we did the cake and presents. I had Andy pick up some party blowers on his way. I meant the kind that unwind as you blow....that were hopefully nice and quiet. I was one of the last ones into the room as I was helping kids find shoes. I walked into a room full of honking, noise makers. I have to say, the kids did get a pretty good rhythm going. And NEEDLESS to say, those delightful noisemakers all made their way into the trash in the end. At least none came home with us!

After Pump It Up, we headed back to the house along with Karen, Mike and family, Pete and Alex and our friends, the Aceves family. We had a great time visiting for a few more hours, opening a few more presents, and letting the kids play even longer. Another successful Stitzer party!

Happy 6th Birthday Rosie!!

I started this on Friday, Rose's birthday, but kept getting interrupted every few minutes... so a few days late it is!

When I got pregnant with Rose, I never wanted to know the sex of the baby. That's one big surprise that I definitely wanted to have. So when Andy continually asked if we could find out the sex, I vehemently said no, time after time. Not only did I not want to know, I didn't want HIM to know either. I knew he would never be able to keep it a secret, that he would tell just 1 friend which would turn into 25..... so it was a big, fat, NO! We had an amniocentesis done to make sure she was in good health and he pestered me..."can't we have them tell just me what the sex is?" NO! In the wee hours of March 19th, I had Rose. After they took her out, they went about the business of having Andy cut the cord and cleaning her up. I finally had to ask, what is it? A girl! There was my big surprise I had been waiting for! When they brought her to me to see her for the first time, I took one look at her, said "she's beautiful!" as tears ran down my face. (Ok, as I remember, the tears ran out the corners of my eyes and down into my ears as I was lying down.) A girl! So imagine my surprise when a little later that morning Andy proclaimed in front of my Mom and me, "I knew it was a girl the whole time." I was ready to kill him (as was my Mom)....don't mess with a hormonal Mommy! He went on to regale us with how he had called UCSD where we had the amnio done and demanded they tell him the sex. He was SO proud that he had known and never let the cat out of the bag to me, or anyone else. That explained why I had to ask Andy what the sex was. He already knew and didn't remember that they had to tell me. In the end, who cares... I did get my surprise, but at the time....don't tell your super little secret to the Mother who had just given birth hours before!

Now, on to Rose. I sent Rose off to school with rainbow cupcakes to share with her classmates. (Fridays are good at school because they are half day.) She had a great day at school, which included a jump rope-a-thon, then had fun playing with Owen, Madeline and the rest of the neighborhood gang after school. After having dinner at Lexie's house, along with all the other kids, they were all off to movie night at school with Aunt Karen and Lisa (Lexie's mom). I stayed home with the boys and Andy. After she got back, we did cupcakes and presents. Rose was treated to a can of frosting with a candle to blow out. That's really her favorite part of the cake anyway! She stayed up and played with some of her new toys with the boys. Just before they headed up to bed the door bell rang. 3 high school girls were doing a scavenger hunt. It was one girl's (Victoria) 17th birthday, so we got a picture of them with Rose. And for those interested, they needed things that started with the letters of the alphabet. They could only gather 2 things at each house. I gave them a picture of a zebra for Z and a bag of M & Ms for M. Tomorrow (Saturday) is Rose's birthday party. This year she decided to have it at Pump It Up so she could invite all her numerous old friends, plus new school friends. I'm thinking this will be the last of her really BIG parties, but then again, I said that last year too.

So, here's to you Rose! Happy Birthday, my 6 year old. Seems like I JUST had you. I'm sure glad I had YOU as my first born. I really couldn't imagine you as anyone other than wonderful you. I love you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For fear of getting pinched, I donned Andy's kelly green Joe Namath JETS t-shirt for St. Patrick's Day today. Although green is my favorite color, I have surprisingly few green clothes. I figured I would wear it....after all, I was tricked into naming Joey after Joe Willie, aka. Broadway Joe.

Andy: "Hey Ann" (I mean Sweetie....Andy never calls me by my name for some reason)

Ann: "Yes Andy?"

Andy: "How about we name our new baby boy Joseph for your grandpa (John Joseph...he went by Joe) and my Uncle Jess, and William for your Dad?"

Ann: "Ok, Dear... I like those names."

Andy: (instantly on the phone with all his JETS fan buddies) "Guess what I just got Ann to agree to?....." hehehe

Damn....he got me good! Anyway, I hope everyone is having a wonderful, pinch-free day! Can't wait for the corned beef I have cooking in the crock pot. I KNOW! ME..... COOK? : )

Amended to add the picture of Andy enjoying a green bagel with corned beef. It isn't pretty, but the corned beef was DELICIOUS....and Andy looks goofy, but he wouldn't smile nicely for me, so this is what will live in infamy here in Blogville.

My Sweet, Almost St. Patrick's Day Girl

6 years ago today, I was laying in a hospital bed waiting for Rose to decide it would be a good time to make an appearance. She was due on March 9th, but as with everything else Rose does, she decided she was having no part of coming out when she was "supposed to"....she would do it in her own sweet time. So when she was showing absolutely no signs of wanting to meet her adoring family and friends, our doctor suggested we induce labor. Andy and I were both excited to have a St. Patrick's Day baby....thinking it would be nice for her to share her birthday with Uncle Mike. However, Rose had other ideas. The 17th came and went, the 18th came and went, then our doctor decided perhaps he should just make Rose come out. And so, in the wee hours of the morning on March 19th, Rose came into the world via c-section. She was beautiful and definitely worth the wait, but I'll write more on Friday, her birthday. I will always think of Rose on St. Patty's Day, because even though she wasn't born on this day, she should have been.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Today is (my brother-in-law) Mike's 46th birthday. It seems so hard to believe since we (Karen & I) have known him since elementary school! Karen and Mike have a picture of themselves together on the steps of St. Mary's Church right after their First Holy Communion. Mike is, to use the words of Andy, "one of the greatest guys ever!" He really is. He is the kind of guy you can call anytime for help.... and he cooks and cleans too! He is more like a real brother than just a brother-in-law. Anyway, have a great birthday Mike! I can't believe you are so FREAKING OLD!

That Charming Face

I watched one of the shows on hoarders last night. After I turned the TV off, I looked around the room then into another room and then another and thought, wow, I'm almost as bad as a hoarder! And if you read the recent post about the Rose and Joey asleep in the garage, forget it! Now, this has nothing to do with the adorable boy here, but maybe it helps explain all the toys in the background. Time to clean out the old crap-ola!