Eden's 8th Birthday Bash

Eden and friend Molly

Cousin Joey and friends

Eden's friends ...being silly

Abuelita and Uncle Usi

Lola saying thumbs up on the pizza

Mom and Dad with Little Edie Pie

Unicorn theme

Eden and Catherine. This friend made her parents move their vacation day so she could be at Eden's party. her mom says she is so smitten with Eden. Always saying "Eden's so lucky to be so tall, and so beautiful and so smart..." sweet little girl

Eden wears the crown for the day

Auntie Giovahna, Auntie Alice, Nana and cousin Pumpkin were among the guests

The first time ever Eden looks short! She was thrilled with sitting in the thrown.

Eden on an inflateable slide

Eden's birthday celebration with the family

Note the huge smile on her face because she's wearing a Mario shirt. She loves Mario...she's even said she's going to marry him (okay!)

Eden's birthday was phenomenal! I have never seen this girl so so very happy. You can tell by the look on her face, she was so happy with this day. She had her birthday at Pump it up in Concord. It's a bunch of fun with inflateable slides and bouncies and games and things. We had 25 kids and some parents and Nana, Auntie Alice, Auntie Gio, Cousin Joey, Pumpkin, Abuelita, Uncle Usi...etc. It was packed. It was crazy! It was wild! It was total fun! I was so happy for her. So so happy. The cool part is almost everyone we invited showed. There were maybe two that didn't make it due to illness though. Every day for two weeks her friends would say they couldn't wait for Eden's party. Eden's party this and that. It was so cute. She's got a TON OF FRIENDS! REALLY! It's so nice to see. But she's such a great person I can see why. She wanted to invite more people but we had to stop somewhere.

Let's just say she had me running in circles the few days before her party. Why because my little PRINCESS had a "wedding cake" that she drew a picture of and just had to have for her party. This cake she drew months ago. When I went to three different bakeries, I was told that's a $250 cake. Why? Because it's tiered and it's considered a wedding cake. We had a huge ordeal with it. I finally found a Unicorn cake that she agreed on but at first it had to be the perfect cake. I had to go to the bakery and email a picture of this cake to her while she was at Nana's house. I had my fingers crossed...she loved it! That's why the pony cake is in here. It was a HUGE HIT! I know it sounds spoiled, but it's not. She's envisioned this cake for months. She created and she wanted it more than a gift. It was just too much to do especially with a party. But we agreed that for her Sweet 16 she'll get it.

Thank you to everyone who sent their happy birthday wishes and all your support and help especially Nana who helped make the party happen...thank goodness!

Happy 8th Edie Pie!!

Happy New Year 2010

I can't believe a new year is upon us already. What a thrilling, rewarding and wild ride 2009 was for us. All in all we made it through everything that came our way.
Last year we moved, bought a new car, took some incredible family trips and focused on our goals for the future. The problems in the economy hit home pretty hard and it was such a huge eye openner for us. I've learned that there are far more important things in life to think about than money and that when I feel things couldn't get any worse, I think about those who have lost their loved ones or those who are fighting terminal illnesses. I am really blessed. I realize this more than ever. Whenever Eden comes home and says today was the worse day ever because she's lost a sweater or a water bottle, I find these to be the best opportunities to let her know just how fortunate she is and we all are. She's at a great age now and she totally gets it. I tell her what I was told years ago. When you feel your day is the worse ever. When you feel low and as though nothing will get better. Think about yourself sitting in the sand on the ocean shore. Look at the vast ocean and look at how small you are compared to the vast ocean. Tinier than a grain of sand. This is how minute your problems really are. Then we go over who loves us and we always mention everyone in our family and friends. By the end of the day, we feel loved and our problems were just a thing of the past.

We are so hopeful for the year 2010 to be a great year. I've set no resolutions for myself for the first time ever and I'm liking it. I'm just focused on working on being a better mother, better wife and friend. Where will this new year take us?...we'll soon findout.

Happy New Year to all!