Pumpkin Patching

Happy Halloween! Today marks the 12th anniversary of this here ol' blog! Crazy!

So I probably bitch about this every year but damn pumpkin patches are getting ridiculous. The big one near us now costs us $40 just to get in! Once the prices and the crowds got to big we searched for a new place. Something that was just the essence of what a pumpkin patch should be. Pumpkins, some hay, a maze of some sort, a few farm animals and lots of Instagram worthy backdrops.

We found this last year at the Greenspot Pumpkin Patch. It was free and meet all the requirements...

Farm animals...

 

Instagram worthy backdrops...

 A old beat-up truck always makes for a good Insta...

Argh my beautiful girl.... 

My teeny tiny Amor! 

A hay maze! Two for one!

And of course pumpkins...

As we walked around in the extreme heat (WTH October!)  Joey and I were talking about how the number of years left of family outings like pumpkin patches are shrinking. The girls are growing up so fast. I remember trips to pumpkin patches and Christmas tree farms with my family. My parents took us every year. And then one year my parents didn't have kids to take to a pumpkin patch anymore.

Joey and I are really enjoying this era with the kids, the kid/pre-teen years. 

Holding Tight To My Youth

On my actual birthday Joey took me out on the town. We had drinks at The Amigo Room in the Ace hotel, then off to El Jefe at The Saguaro Hotel for more drinks and dinner, then one last stop at Brew Rebellion for more drinks. Then home for flan and presents with the girls. It was such a fantastic day! 

And that wasn't even my gift. For my 40th birthday Joey and I are going back to our roots. As our story goes, Joey and I met and fell in love in the mosh pit of many pop punk shows. Bands like Yellowcard, Sum 41, Never Heard of It, The Erks and festivals like Warped Tour were how we spent many weekends.  

Even at 40 years old (ARGHHH it's still hard to say it) I love me some Pop Punk Rock. Like a lot. And my favorite pop punk band is New Found Glory. I LOVE them. So very much. I watch their music videos daily. 

Just like Joey and I, NFG has aged and are currently out on their 20th anniversary tour. 

When I saw that they had shows in San Diego in November I knew that I wanted tickets for my birthday.  So tickets we got. Yup for my 40th birthday we are going to a concert with kids that are young enough to be our kids. Except the band. They are the same as us.A night of screaming lyrics, head bobbing and jumping. I am already sore thinking about it.

So for this tour NFG are playing 2 full albums at each show.  On the Saturday show they are playing...

Released back in 2002 this album came out right in the middle of what I like to call the peak of the  pop punk era. This one has all the classics like Understatement, My Friends Over You and Head on Collision. I had this CD in my car and must have listened to it hundreds of times. I saw the band during this tour a few times.

And they are playing the Resurrection Album.

Released in 2014 this album is one of the more recent albums. But it has some of my favorite NFG songs and music videos. Songs like Selfless, Ready and Willing, One More Round (I LOVE THIS VIDEO) and Vicious Love. Some of our favorite bands grew up and changed their sound. What I love about NFG is that even 20 years later, the new 2017 album Makes Me Sick, still sounds like classic NFG.

My goodness I am such a sucker for a pop punk rock boy.

Heart eye emoji for sure!

On the Sunday night they are playing two different albums. First up is their 2000 release, their Untitled Album. Now this was the first album I ever heard from NFG. Songs like Hit or Miss and Dressed to Kill are on it. But most importantly the song Sincerely Me is on this album. I think this might be my favorite NFG song.

In 2000 NFG also released a cover album. Songs from movies all done in a pop punk steelo. Joey loves him some pop punk covers. Ever wanted to hear I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, The Glory of Love, Everything I Do I Do It For you or My Heart Will Go on done by a pop punk band? Well you can.

So I spent days agonizing over which show to go to. Sticks and Stones is so good but I have seen them perform these songs. BUT it was a long time ago. And  I love the Untitled album and it has my favorite song. Seriously I spent way too much time debating this. Finally I had my Oprah "A-ha" moment....

via GIPHY

We can go to both!

So the hotel is booked (Thanks Mj!) and a sitter is set for the kids and the puppy.

OMG I am so excited. 2 shows of my favorite pop-punk rock band with my absolute favorite concert partner. I can't wait!

Lordy Lordy...

Today I am 40 years old.


I am being that stereotypical person and having a really tough time accepting this birthday.

I swear the first time I heard this song the face of every person who has ever been a part of my life flashed before my eyes. The thing is, I am pretty damn lucky. I was born into a fantastic family, and being surrounded with that much love leads to a pretty damn good life. And as if my loving and supportive family that I got to grow up with wasn't enough, I have friends that have been with me for almost all my life. They are fiercely loyal people who I know have my back and who I love with all my heart.

It hasn't been perfect. Oh... far from it. I have had my share of heartbreak, and of making mistakes. I have been through loss and questioned lots of my decisions. There have been some really dark days. I may not be where I thought I would be at this age, but the love and the really good times far outnumber everything bad and the what if's. 

As I look back on the past 40 years it was almost all "good ol'days". As I step into this next decade of life I need to keep reminding myself that this part, today, will be the "good ol' days". And so much sooner than I think. I need to remember to stop and enjoy it. If I keep remembering this I can let go some of the daily frustrations that comes with life. To remember that I get to be in this lifetime with some truly incredible people. Some who were part of my past, and so many that are here today and will be with me for the rest of my days. 

Getting old sucks. No doubt. My hair is getting grey and my back hurts after a long day. But I get to grow old with my soul mate by my side. I get to go through these milestone with my Tampon Posse Crew no matter how far away. I get to share though modern technology the little things in our days, everyday, with my parents and siblings. I get to celebrate birthdays, weddings, babies and everything else with my beautiful giant familia. I get to watch my two remarkable kids grow into remarkable people. 

The best part of my 40 years has been the people I have been blessed to share them with. 100%

Never thought we'd get old, maybe we're still young

May we always look back and think it was better than it was

Maybe these are the moments

Maybe I've been missing what it's about

Been scared of the future, thinking about the past

While missing out on now

We've come so far, I guess I'm proud

And I ain't worried about the wrinkles around my smile

I've got some scars, I've been around

I've thrown some pain, I've seen some things, but I'm here now

Those good old days

Big Bear in October

When Cousin Amorette does her birthday weekend she always does it right! This year she set up a long weekend for the family in Big Bear.

We were only able to go on a Sunday but it was a fantastic day! We usually spend time there in the winter when there is snow but I have to say, Big Bear in October is absolutely gorgeous. The family rented a beautiful big house right on the lake near Boulder Bay. That top picture was from the patio of the house!

Since we had a handful of kiddos we headed to the Magic Mountain Alpine Sled for the afternoon. This is the place where Joey and I spent our first Valentine's Day. Most of that day was him trying to convince me to get on the sled ride. I went on once, but he had to buy Starbucks afterwards.

Much like her Mother, Louie refused to go on. Phi on the other hand was so excited to go. Here she is with cousin Sariaha going up the ski lift.

And here she is coming down. Very very slowly. She is still a little bit like her Momma too.

Enjoying the beautiful day with cousins.

Joey may look like a scary biker, but he is such a Grandma's boy!

Afterwards we went back to the house and grilled up some of the biggest hamburgers I have ever seen!

What a perfect Sunday afternoon! Even the drive down was gorgeous. 

Nana's 90th

 My family celebrated a wonderful milestone. My beautiful Nana turned 90 years old and the family got together to celebrate the Queen of our familia.

Now if there is an occasion that deserves mariachis it is my Nana's 90th birthday. My Pops hired one to come and serenade the birthday girl!

Nana loved it. We thought she might leave us and join the mariachis on tour!

Of course my Tio Miguel jumped in and sang a beautiful song for his suegra.

What an fantastic thing to celebrate 90 years. My Nana was 50 years old when I was born and it's hard for me to imagine what she was like when she was young. She was just always my Nana to me but she has lived more years before me than with me!

I wonder what she was like when she was 7 years old. I wonder if she was a little weird and funny like Louie. I wonder if she was a reader or loved to draw when she was a young teenager like Phi. I wonder if she questioned her parenting ability when she was a young Mom like me, or did she just always know what she was doing.

My Nana has spent about 60 years raising her family, and her grand kids. She is in the time of her life where it is time for others to take care of her. After this party she moved in with my parents. Since my Tata passed away my Nana has been living with her children. Now my Mom has the privilege of taking care of and really spoiling my Nana. 

Happy 90th Nana. To many many more.