FALL FASHION PREVIEW(In three parts: PREVIEW, REVIEW and VIEW)A. PreviewGuess who my boys will be this Halloween?Let me give you a clue...
Sorry I spilled the beans, boys. Mommy couldn't resist.
B. Review2000: Lance, bumblebee2001: Lance, Po the Teletubbie2002: Lance, Bob The Builder, Troy, bumblebee2003: Lance, fireman, Troy, Thomas the Tank Engine2004: Lance, Spiderman, Troy, scarecrowPrada Mama's working demonstration of recycling in action:
from Halloween 2002's Lance the Builder...
...to last year's Scarecrow Troy.If necessity is the mother of invention, then desperation is a missing hard hat before sundown at Halloween.And salvation is yellow construction paper and a beanie.C. ViewLance had been bugging me to get a Darth Vader costume since my LILLIAN VERNON catalog came in the mail. Good thing our neighborhood WalMart had a cheaper version, so tonight he went home happy. Troy, who had his heart set on an Imperial Clone Trooper costume, was somewhat disappointed that WalMart didn't carry it. Luckily, my savvy husband was able to convince him to be Batman instead.My boys came home with their treasures, proudly modeling them for Mommy and gamely posing for pictures. And then they trooped to the family room bearing their Batman chairs for another Sereno family tradition...MOVIE NIGHT!Tonight's Double Feature: "STAR WARS: Episode 6" and "Batman Forever".
Accessorized accordingly.
WEEKEND WARRIORS: LAKERS
Sorry for the silence.I won't even bore you with details, which are mostly mundane anyway.But it was bound to happen eventually. With the kids growing up and my family taking on more activities, I knew the day would come.
The day when the mechanics of everyday living finally came head-to-head with my blogging.
And living won. Hands down.But blogging is never far from my mind. And, as my family crosses each milestone and bequeaths each new experience to memory, I wil continue to file everything in my mental computer, our stories lying dormant until I breathe new life into them again.
When I finally find the time.
But for now, since I am well aware of my weakness for procrastination, I have decided to post tangible reminders of our weekend sorties as soon as they happen, to keep those memories fresh for future use.
My initial offering: our last two weekends at the lake.
So begins a new feature in this blog, which I will call "Weekend Warriors". A series of photo montages featuring our forays for the weekend, with text to follow later.
When I finally find the time.
Sunday, September 4, 2005
Playing at the Park
Lake McSwain, CA

Sunday, September 11, 2005
Escapade Houseboat
Lake McClure, CA


Summer may be over, but with beautiful weather still upon us, I fully intend to take advantage of it while my shorts and sleeveless tops are still serviceable.
So here's to the weekend ahead. And more pictures of family togetherness.Live it up!
SUMMER'S LAST HURRAH
I have finally figured out the exact moment two normal, thirtysomething parents find themselves merging into the fast lane to middle age.It is when they realize their social lives are now being dictated upon by the next generation.Last weekend, for the second week in a row, Lance, Troy and Reanna , my little social butterflies, were invited to another birthday party. Their friend, Israel, was turning six.
I didn't mind the prospect of partying once more. Any excuse to have Mexican food two Saturdays in a row works well enough for me!
ROBERTO's carnitas gave way to Israel's carne asada, grilled right before our eyes and served on tacos and tortas piled high with red or green salsa, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cilantro, and lime wedges on the side. Yum!Another reason why I didn't mind was because Lorenzo, who rarely tags along for children's parties, went with us last weekend. I was finally able to split chaperone duties with my able-bodied spouse, who engaged our two boys in testosterone-driven duels in the foosball table and cheered them on as they tried to hit the pinata.

Daddies come in very handy this way!
So far, we have no parties in our social calendar this coming weekend, but we'll probably live it up anyway considering it's officially the last weekend of the summer. It's a three-day holiday here in the States, commemmorating Labor Day.
And so, as we bask in the last rays of the summer sun, our souls equally warmed by memories we have accumulated over the season, I would like to share with you Prada Mama's latest Top 10 list...
The Best of Summer 2005:
10) my flowering Wisteria bush
9) Backyard Barbecues
8) SWIMMING PARTIES
7) PICNICS IN THE PARK

6) FISHING TRIPS
5) sun hats4) ripe yellow mangoes3) sweet summer corn2) Flower children...but all of these pale in comparison to the best Summer 2005 had to offer...(drum roll...)1) Bikini Babes!


(TEASER: Find out more about this LABOR OF LOVE on the right, which the three LORENZOs came up with, just in time for Labor Day Weekend. You can read about my new Family Room fixture in SERENITY.
We also caught more orbs on camera during Israel's birthday party. Check them out at SIGHTINGS.
And if you've read A.S. STEPS in 87 GENTLE STREET, you might be interested in reading this ARTICLE. I guess there are girls like these everywhere!
Happy weekend everyone!)