Snaggle-Tooth and Super-Star

Boy, we can't wait til his front teeth straighten out:

Doesn't Tiff look superfast with her new haircut? This is her photo from the newspaper:
Just a couple random photos for today of the big kids. Tiff's birthday is coming up next week. She'll be 17 years old. I can hardly believe it! Her team and mine will be playing against each other this Sunday and a largish potluck is planned to celebrate the joy of soccer and her birthday. I'm not sure what she wants to do for her special day, but I'm sure she'd be quite happy spending time with her boring family. She's a good girl like that.

Lots of love,

Blanda and the Gang

Ch Ch Ch Changes...

Before:

After:
JB's 1st day of 2nd grade! He's so handsome.

Mama and Mia. Mama's got new hair too. No more rolling my hair up in the car window!

Daddy and Mia. These two are just too much together. I think they are each other's favorites.

Finally downloaded some pictures! I wanted you all to see Tiff's sassy new 'do. It's cute, it's spunky, and it makes her look even faster on the soccerfield. My new 'do is sassy too, but you can't see it in that not so good picture.

Today is Tiff's first day of her senior year, her LAST year in gradeschool. YIKES! Cross your fingers and toes that she is not distracted and does well this year. We need to get her into college so she can get smart, get a great job, and buy her Mama a house next to Bala. I miss playing drunken soccer with Bala and the neighborhood kids. Do you still have those baby blue sneaks I dinged up, Bal? Remember I sprained my thumb and didn't even know it at the time, I just kept on playing, haha! Miss you, Cousin.

Anyway, everyone's in school and outa my hair, woo hoo! I pray we have a safe and productive schoolyear 2008/2009. Light a candle for the Camachos. We're trying to raise us some smart, contributing adults.

Oh, asked JB everyday since school started what he had for lunch. He says, "Uh, chickeeeeennn and uhhhh, uuummm rice?" every. single. day. I said, "JB, why everyday you have chicken and rice" and he says "Uhhhh, maybe it's chicken and rice week?", ha! Why can't he just tell me he forgot instead of bola-bolaing me? The kid's got an answer for everything.

Love you guys and miss you plenti-ti-ti,
Blanda and those crazy people she lives with

Karaoke at 12 Items or Less

I had the most incredible experience today while doing the most boring of things. I was shopping for household stuff, and as I waited in line feeling absolutely overwhelmed by my day's list of "things to do", Cher's "Believe" came on the PA system. My spirit lifted a little and I began to tap my foot. The old guy in front of me and the young twentysomething boy behind me, I noticed, began to bop their heads to the song. The Cashier, who looked a youngish lady, like myself (just let me keep thinking I'm youngish, k?), had a little hipshake going on. As I anticipated the approach of the chorus, I cleared my throat to sing along. Just as I opened my mouth to show off my karaoke skills, old guy, young twentysomething, and cashier all sang out the chorus in glorious harmony! Press play and feel the same joy.

Love you,
Blanda and the Ganx

It's On Like Donkey Kong

Tiff quit national soccer. She told her assistant coach that she needs to concentrate on her education. If I had confetti at the time of this confession, I would have tossed the stuff out of my car window. I have been waiting for a sign, any sign that she was ready for the great big world of college life, but didn't want to make her feel like was I going to shove her out of the house my foot to her ass. I'm SO proud of her. She made this decision all by her "Bik grel" self, so it's on. I pulled the Florida Community College Catalog out to research details and such about applying and the like. I need to call Team Miller to make sure we fill things out just so. We need to do the college on the cheaps so we can still eat at Team Camacho's house. Lucky for us, Tiff's got a huge support system behind her all over. I think we can turn out a college grad/future professional. Light a candle folks. Tiff's got plans and for her to put her beloved sport on hold to follow through with them, I need to get my turbos in gear to help her.

Tiff's ready to fly. The nest is going to miss this chicadee.

Where did my baby boy go?!

JB started 2nd grade today. He was quite embarrassed that I walked him through the crowd of parents, elbowing to make room for us (including Miss Mia who insisted on walking), to get his teacher's name and room number. He then darted his eyes back and forth and begged me to just remind him of the information when I loudly informed him that I'd be writing it all down on his notepad so he can refer to it if he forgets. I was about to walk him through the breakfast and lunch ticket line when he reminded me with wild eyes that he knows how to do it all by himself. Getting the hint, and feeling just like chopped liver, I asked him for a kiss goodbye. He gave me his cheek while his eyes scanned the premises for familiar faces. I said "give Mia a kiss goodbye" and he said "uh, can I just give her a hug?". Waaaaahhhh! I remember when he savored my smooches and wouldn't take a step into anything without holding my hand. He's growing whether I want him to or not.