End of the "YEARBOOK"

So the school year is almost done...By this time next friday my son will be a Highschooler and my daughter will be a 7th grader.. It really is hard to believe... 
They have received their yearbooks and getting many signatures from friends and teachers... What was cool was seeing a lot of pictures of them two in the book.. Joey happens to have 2 pages worth about him! A great picture from his school play and then a little article..

Raquel during Garden Club

Garden Club

Joey and "Club Live" It was PJ Day when they took that shot

Science Olympiad

Theater!!!!

 

I think I'm gonna Change our names from Salcedo to Salsado LOL.. The editors (which are children) messed up on Raquel's whole name! She was not happy..

And here is the end of the yearbook. The parents of the 8th graders were able to purchase a little spot  to say something to their kids.. Joey cried when he read it..
(and yes, there is a typo...editor's doing not mine )

AS you can see my kids have been super involved in their school.. What a year it was!

Quiet Week

It's been a pretty quiet week without "The boys".. I've been trying to keep myself busy by doing Home Improvement things like, putting up Joey's new Lamp and Curtains... But the only thing I keep doing is making holes.. The curtain rods are a pain in my boot-ay... I can't seem to do it correctly.. Help is on the way, I hope!   Next my good friend has been helping me paint my living room after: oh gosh........ since we moved in this house! That was a good 11 yrs ago I believe! YIKES! What we have done today has made a huge difference! The color is soooo pretttty! What would I do without my wonderful friend! Love her!

Raquel and I have been making the best of things by watching funny tv shows, playing video games, making breakfast ( on Memorial Day), going out to eat, playing an iphone game called "Heads Up", and making paper bag puppets.. I think we will do some baking tomorrow... I'm doing the best I can to spend time with her.. I don't get to do that too often since she and Joey love playing together.. I know she misses him, and misses her Papa.. She doesn't talk about them a lot but I know she's ready for them to be home..
I'm missing them too.. Like I said, it's been very quiet here..  I do get my 5am calls from Joey or a text ... Even though I'm so sleepy in the morn, it makes my day just hearing my boys voice..He's having such a great time! I'm enjoying seeing the pictures of him and his class , walking the streets of Boston and NY.. What a wonderful Trip!!!

 Raquel cutting the potatoes on Memorial Day... The Hibiscus is from outside of the Souplantation... I thought it was so pretty...

One of the text Joey sent me.. He is so sweet

Lastly, the living room improvements

If you wanna see the video for "Heads Up" click below this

YouTube "Heads Up"

"Stars"

This has been a week of proud accomplishments within our household. First my baby girl received her 4.0 GPA award certificate and my son starred as "Daddy Warbucks" in his school play, "Annie Jr."... 

I couldn't be more proud of these two "Stars"... They never seize  to amaze me.. 

If you like to see a clip of Joey's performance click on the Annie Jr. link, below

Annie Jr.

SMTWTFS

Raquel had a second round of blood work done regarding her "bone density".. The tests came back all normal with the minerals and hormones looking great but her bones do say they are not dense enough.. So she has to take extra Vitamin D, every day.... We will have to go back to the Pediatric Endocrinologist in four months for another check up.... 
This last blood work she got done was not as much as a nightmare as the last time.. She took her headphones and music to help distract herself from the needle.. We had her lay down in a chair.. She did start to cry a lot because of being scared.. I got her to calm down and to relax, closing her eyes and listening to the music.. She finally relaxed and did such a great job.. I feel so bad she has had to go through this, but so grateful nothing serious is going on with my baby... 

Since she now has two vitamins to take I got her a pill box.. That makes 3 of us now that has the box.. Me, Joey and now Raquel.. Old before our time hahahaha...

Open Mic Night

Last week the kids school had an open Mic Night at Barnes & Noble.. They presented their poems in front of an audience. It was a really crowded evening.. I guess the kids from the school wanted their BIG extra credit for english. 
What surprised me the most was that Raquel decided to read her poem. She's my very shy girl..She does not like the attention so this made me so very happy and proud..
Joey has become such a good poem writer. His words are deep and touching. What a spirit he has..

I have posted a couple of Raquel's "Wolf Poems" and one of Joey's poems. I can't seem to find the other one. He reads both of them on the video I posted.. 
I'm pretty impressed with Raquel's poems.. They are dark and a mystery to me. That's what I love about her. She is a unique little lady. 

  

Click on this link if you'd like to see their reading

Joey and Raquel, reading their Poems

Before and After

 Beautiful Raquel, all smiles at bedtime...

Then, Sleeping like an Angel...Sometimes I just don't have the words for how much I love my kids..It says it all in my up close and personal pics..

Raquel's Koala

Here is another drawing of Raquel's...She actually made this for her teacher, Mrs. Talner...Thank goodness I have a copy of it because it turned out so good.. 

I liked it so much I've ordered a Tshirt for her for Xmas..Ssshhhh, it's a secret ;-)

Created by: Raquel Salcedo

 Here is a continuation of "Raquel's Artwork"..She recently made a picture of a Koala Bear but I don't have that to show just yet.. Raquel has really come a long way with her art. She's so good at it and is so passionate about what she does. Here are a few examples of her latest creations.

Gold Dust Or Bust

Raquel's 4th grade class has been learning about California's Missions and the old Gold Rush Days.. They have put on a few singing performances for the younger grades and parents.. The kids did such a great job and worked really hard..
Yesterday I watched it for the first time and used the Digital recorder. It didn't take the best pictures, but At least I got a couple good ones of Raquel..She wore her brothers flannel shirt and her Papa's Hat. And she actually let me put her hair in braids.. Today my new camera arrived..I took a couple more shots of her performance and video'd her singing..I think she is such a great little performer. She gets into the character and doesn't seem the bit shy..But my "little star" has a short career in acting...Next year she will be doing choir in school so that will give me another chance to see her "shine" again.. :-)

Riding along in her wagon

The one on the right is today's performance..With the new camera..

I wasn't able to load the video on the blog but i'll put it on FB..

                          

Medieval Times

One of the things our troop did with the cookie money is go to Medieval Times..I believe this was the first for everyone..I have to say the food was outstanding! Half a chicken, ribs, and potatoes...Oh! and tomato soup and garlic bread..For dessert an apple pastry, and then cake..Holy Moly! It was delish! The entertainment wasn't half bad either..The girls really had a great time.

Raquel brought along her "Oshowatt, Poke'mon"..She made a sword and shield for it..He had to get into character as well.. We were standing in line, waiting to get in the building..This is a before picture of  me and my lovey, all happy!

Jasmine and Myself with some of the girls

 And here is the after picture..LOL..Raquel was not a happy camper having that crown on her head..Such a sport..But she did cheer up later on..

 See! Back to "Happy Land"

 Before the show the kids got to learn how to use a sword. The quality of  this picture isn't very good..The flash didn't pick it up very well..And then My camera pooped out on me..It pretty much had seen it's last days. So I couldn't take anymore pictures..Very sad for me. I did get some pictures from my friends..

There you see Raquel, with her sword. Can you find Her? I did buy her a new Sword package(helmet, shields) as a souvenir..I don't normally do that, but this was a special day...Joey and Raquel love to play sword fighting..I just wish I had a picture of her with the gear on..

And here we are...We rooted for the Yellow team.. It was certainly a great fieldtrip..