Fun Day in The Sun

Ready to head out for our day in Santa Monica

First stop 3rd Street Promenade

On Santa Monica Pier

Wishing he was fishing......

Waiting for the sun to go down....

The famous Ferris Wheel on the pier

just the two of us....

Night time stroll on the Promenade

She was an AMAZING Woman....

Today would have been my Mon's 68th birthday but she would have tried her HARDEST to convince us it was her 29th...AGAIN!!

My mom on her last Christmas with us

Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and would love to pick p the phone and share with her the latest and greatest news about her grandkids.  She loved them all very much  She was an amazing mom...and I thank God she was mine...


SOMEBODY'S HERO by Jamie O'Neal
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_uMQTw7v2g





She's never pulled anyone from a burning building
She's never rocked Central Park to a half a million fans, screaming out her name
She's never hit a shot to win the game
She's never left her footprints on the moon
She's never made a solo hot air balloon ride, around the world,
No, she's just your everyday average girl (but)

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her baby with a skinned up knee
A little kiss is all she needs
The keeper of the cheerios
The voice that brings Snow White to life
Bedtime stories every night
And that smile lets her know
She's somebody's hero

oh oh
She didn't get a check every week like a nine-to fiver
But she's been a waiter, and a cook and a taxi driver
For twenty years, there at home, until the day her girl was grown
Giving all her love to her was her life's ambition
But now her baby's movin' on, and she'll soon be missin' her
But not today, those are tears of joy runnin' down her face

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her daughter in her wedding dress
She gave her wings to leave the nest
It hurts to let her baby go down the aisle she walks right by
Looks back into her mother's eyes
And that smile lets her know oh oh oh
She's somebody's hero

Thirty years have flown right past
Her daughters' starin' at all the photographs
Of her mother, and she wishes she could be like that
Oh, but she already is

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her mother in a rockin' chair
She runs a brush through her silver hair
The envy of the nursing home
She drops by every afternoon
Feeds her mother with a spoon
And that smile lets her know oh oh
Her mother's smile lets her know oh oh
She's somebody's hero

Latest Creations by Pau Pau

Double Vanilla Cupcakes

Vanilla Frosting tinted Turquoise

Monster High Cupcakes

Birthday Girls cake pre decorations

First time working with sugar sheets and edible markers

Jailene's Monster High Cake

presentation was a success

Pearls and Bows

first time trying candy molds (the bows)

Minnie Mouse Cupcakes for Malina

Girls Nights Out for Jailene's Birthday

" Papa...I wanna see the dolphins"

Us with Sir Walter Wally as we start our day @ Sea World

So about to weeks ago Jailene said to her Papa that she wanted to swim with the dolphins.  He asked her "Really? You want to swim with them?" She said "Aww...no but I have never seen or touched a dolphin".  So he said "We should go to SEA WORLD so you can see them and touch them".  Her brother chimed in..".Me too Papa, I have never been to SEA WORLD and I wanna see the dolphins".  So this is how the plan to spend the day at SEA WORLD was hatched by two "innocent" kids wanting to do something they had never done before and by  one "lovable" papa who wanted to make their dream come true....

So on Friday after work I picked up the kids so they could spend the night so we could head out bright and "early" to Sea World.  Tommy's plan was to be there when it opened at 9am.  Friday night was fun too...we took the kids over to the Covina Farmers Market, had dinner, sat on the blanket listened to some music by a local band..it was a nice evening...even Thomas and Jackie joined us.

heading out @ 604am Saturday morning

So we started out a little late, 4 minutes to be exact.  Lil Alex was out time keeper for the day.  The drive down was nice, as expected, pretty smooth.  We mad it i to San Diego around 8ish...( as planned) and we decided we would eat breakfast before we went in....we ended up at a placed called THE BROKEN YOLK, voted best breakfast in San Diego...and it was.  They also had a breakfast item that was actually a challenge to the person who order it...NO we didn't but we thought we know a person who could do this...lol

So we made it to Sea World about 915a...and it was great day.  Alex and Jailene loved it!!! We did just about EVERYTHING....and the highlight of the day....Jailene not only saw the dolphins up close...she touched them!!! Lil Alex and Papa did too...but the joy  and excitement in her eyes...awww made the trip down there so memorable for Tommy and I....man we love these kids.  Lil Alex touched the manta rays...which was the highlight for him...I mean the whole day was so full of fun times and great memories for all of us.....even the Shamu Show....

Jailene touching the dolphins

Alex touching the Manta Ray

What happened to us in the 10th row of the Shamu Show

Sea World 2012

They love their Papa....

and their PauPau....

Girls Night with SCENTSY ( at my house)

Scentsy Display Table

So on Friday July 13th ( yes I know the date I picked) I hosted a Girls Night at my house featuring SCENTSY products.  If you have never heard of it,what they are is ceramic burner (so many different styles) that you melt scented wax (scents to die for) in..and it makes your home smell wonderful...trust me or ask Tom, he even says he likes how it makes our house smell.  I even let him help choose some of the scents, I mean he lives here too...so he has to like it.( good marriage tip...lol)  If you would like to  know or see more you can always check out Christie's website at www.chrsitielynn127.scentsy.us (she's the consultant) if you want something or have a question, let me know.

So I wanted to make it a relaxing time for my girlfriends/moms that I know...you know something different...step out of the box...so for munchies I set up a SALSA BAR.....best idea!(plus thanks to Pinterest)  It was a hit...easy to do...mine was on a smaller scale but can be done SO much bigger...(probably will do that for next party) and more varieties.

Mini Salsa Bar

 Also did a simple veggie tray and fresh fruit salad of watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and red grapes (which my wonderful husband Tom cut up and prepared for me...sorry no picture) and some fresh cut strawberries.  Of course what would a gathering at our house be without Cupcakes by PauPau ( thats me) for my guests.

Veggies and Fat Free Ranch Dressing

Fresh Strawberries.....

Cupcakes by PauPau...Double Coconut with Coconut Frosting, Carrot Cake/Cream Cheese Frosting with walnuts and Strawberry with Cream Cheese Frosting

And you know how when you have parties/gathering the "What do we have to drink/" question is always the hardest...."do we buy cups and liters of soda?', " do we do cans of soda?",  "do we do bottled water ?"  What is the best to hav??....and I wanted to do something "pretty" for my girlfriends..so I settled on ice tea in my glass beverage dispenser with plastic cups and bottled water, but my daughter Laraine made a suggestion of adding fresh lemons and fresh mint to my water....hmmm..so I figured why not, sounds 'girly", so I filled up my other glass beverage dispenser and OMG......it was de~lish and everyone loved it!!! even Tommy when he got home ( I sent him and our son Thomas out for father/son time...they went to sushi, of course)

Fresh Lemon and Mint Water

Ice Tea

Drink Station with really CUTE "PINK" goblets for my friends to enjoy their choice of beverage in

We listened to Christie's presentation, and checked out the products she brought plus shared my SCENTSY burner I own....and ones I bought and one I plan on ordering...can you tell I  love SCENTSY...and I owe it all to my girlfriend Jennette, who invited me to my first SCENTSY party last summer....and the rest is history.

My CUPCAKE BURNER.....of course it had to be a cupcake!  It sits in my kitchen

Teacher Burner sent to Korea to my daughter Alexandra

Princess Tiara ordering next for my daughter Laraine

Basketball Warmer I just order for my son  Coach Thomas

Lights Out Reunion

OG Lights Out Players and their Coach

As many know Tommy coaches basketball; for the City Of West Covina Youth League and for our travel organization called LIGHTS OUT BASKETBALL (www. leaguelineup.com/lightsbasketball) which he started 8 years ago.

Lights Out started when our son Thomas was an 8th grader...during the years he was old enough to play we have had several team, boys that come and go...and some loyal players that stayed with Tommy until they went off to play in college, which is a big part of what he does for these boys.  He helps them get seen and recruited to play at the next level (collegiate) if that what they want.

On Tuesday July 2nd there was a call to Tommy...the person on the other end said HI COACH....thinking it was one of his current players, he was like "yeah...whats up?"

The caller proceed to say "It 's me MAX...and I have Dan with me and we want to stop by and say hi" These are two of the players who stuck with Lights Out and who when they are in town...always make it a point to come and see their old COACH....

We had a nice visit for a bit and we agreed to have them come back on Sunday for a BBQ....with hot links for sure....(its a Lights Out tradition) We had fun when they came back on Sunday, it was nice to hear all about what they all have planned for their futures, some of the fun and crazy things that happened on our LIGHTS OUT road trips; the wins, the losses, the heartaches and THE pranks (some I am glad I didn't know about back then) and the friendships they bulit...and it was nice to hear them say thank to Tommy for all he did...(and still does for the NEW generation of LIGHTS OUT boys)  Thomas and Max always said they were brothers...and when Dan joined LO, he was considered one too.  All the reminiscing, got to them...how about after diner they headed over to Covina Park and (according to them) SMASHED on the guys they played against...just like old times they said. 

Tom and I are glad Thomas has life friends like these guys.  They may not see each other too often due to distance and schools but when they do, its like they just saw each other last week.  He is truly blessed....as our Tommy and I.

So I didnt take many picture but got one of Coach Tom and his favorite O.G. LIGHTS OUT BOYS

The NEW generation of LIGHTS OUT....now coached by father (Tom) and son( Thomas)