SUMMER PEACH




My daughter, Reanna, makes a luscious summer peach.

Climb two branches up the family tree to my older son, Lance, and you'll find a summer squash. At least HE did, yesterday, when he fell off his horse at SUMMER CAMP.

But I'm getting ahead of my story here. First, let me tell you about summer in the Sereno household, which began with...


Troy's Kindergarten Graduation

...

...

I find it hard to believe I'm now writing about my younger son's graduation from kindergarten. Wasn't it just yesterday when I wrote about Lance's HULA NUMBER during his kindergarten graduation? And now he's busy flying off horses somewhere in Yosemite National Park. But again, I digress.

Troy has always been my baby. His whole class had been practicing hard for their graduation program, and I was curious to see their grand finale. Needless to say, being the Mom that I was, I started crying during their very first number, "What a Wonderful World", which the class sang and signed. By the time they got to the Power Point presentation of the kids' pictures with my favorite Christian music in the background, the floodgates were opened and there was no stopping the torrent of tears. But I knew I wasn't the only emotional parent in the audience. I couldn't help it, of course. I was so proud of my baby.

Oh, and I must say his Barong Tagalog stole the show!




Shortly after graduation, we received the boys' report cards in the mail. Both of them did so well, they received a prize for their stellar performance.




That marked the official end of the school year. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Summer was here! For months I'd been looking forward to those long, lazy, langorous days. Ahh...sweet indolence.

NOT!

Indeed, since summer began, I've been accosted with requests of walks to the park, swimming, bike riding and trips to covered bridges. My beautiful babies, all fair and beatific looking last winter, have put on the season's colors!

From this...


...to this!


Like my husband always says: "Just add water..."




Even as I type this, my Lance is continuing to brown under the broad expanse of Yosemite's skies. He is now 7, the youngest age that can go to Adventurer's Camp.

Now, Lorenzo and I would have probably balked at sending him away from us for the first time, but since we had just gone to Camp Wawona for FAMILY CAMP last Easter, we felt comfortable that he would be in good hands.

Indeed, the atmosphere at Camp Wawona is so wholesome. The camp is run by the Central California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, and it has been around since even before Yosemite was declared a National Park. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there last Spring. The cabins were comfortable, the food was awesomely good, and the scenery was matchless.






Now Lance gets another turn to experience Yosemite's many pleasures and treasures. I miss my son. We dropped him off at Camp Wawona last Sunday and the house hasn't been the same since. I marvel at how much he's grown. My former preemie, who came into this world six weeks early at 5 lbs. 3 oz., is now a big boy with so much independence in him. He was totally ready for this summer camp experience.

In fine camp tradition, I baked him his favorite Zucchini Nut Bread and sent it to him through the Post Office. Lance first discovered Zucchini Nut Bread at Starbuck's, where we used to go as a family, Lorenzo and I foregoing our usual Caramel Macchiatos for the more wholesome Strawberries and Cream. I knew it would be the perfect thing to send, standing up to more Postal Service abuse than the traditional cookies or fudge. As an added bonus, I also sent him a sheet of the new STAR WARS stamps for him to start a new stamp collection with. And finally, attached to the hand-written card Troy and I made for him was a couple of postcard stamps, in case he wanted to write us back.

I guess the package got to my son just at the right time, after dinner and just before he was taken to the hospital for X-rays. It seems that my son fell off when his horse suddenly bolted at the end of their horseback-riding session. Lorenzo spoke with him yesterday, and he seemed okay, but today he had some bit of bruising and tenderness in his left elbow and hip so the medical staff thought it best to have him checked.

I spoke to Lance before they left, and he told me he would share his Zucchini Nut Bread with his cabinmates and Matt, their couselor. He also told me there were two Daves and two Austins in his cabin, which he found quite amusing. I forgot to ask him if he kept the bunk right by the bathroom, which we chose for him when he went to Line Call on his first day, just before dinner. It was hard for us to leave him then, and his Daddy and I found so many excuses to linger at the cafeteria while they were eating. I guess we were both reluctant to let our son go so far away from us for such a long time.





And now the week is almost over. Lance asked us to pick him up as early as possible. He said he was having a lot of fun, but he also didn't like being away from us too much. It warmed my heart to hear this. He also requested to speak with his brother and sister, who were with me in...


Vacation Bible School

This year, our church did "AVALANCHE RANCH", which promised to be "a wild ride through God's Word". From Monday to Friday this week, our Fellowship Hall was brightened by the sound of children singing songs, participating in Bible stories, and making clever crafts. It's a great way to bring children closer to the Lord.

I was also happy that Vacation Bible School happened just when Lance went to summer camp, because it made his absence a bit more bearable for his brother and sister. Troy, in particular, has suffered through the separation, coming to me in tears on a couple of occasions, saying "I miss Lancey...". He consoled himself by lying on his Kuya's bed. It was enough to break any mother's heart.

But everyday this week, my children's spirits would brighten in anticipation of VBS. Come early evening, loneliness would be temporarily forgotten as they joined other children singing in front, praying, memorizing Bible verses, ignoring dinner and wolfing down dessert. Troy even made me proud by refusing help in writing down Bible verses, carefully doing it himself.






Troy and Reanna had such a wonderful time at VBS, I'm almost sorry it's come to an end. But this just brings us one day closer to seeing Lance again, so I guess I don't mind. Besides, with the number of churches around us, I'm sure there will be other Vacation Bible Schools my kids can attend this summer.

The best part of it all? Their Kuya Lance will be with them next time around!




We miss you, Lance! We're so happy you're coming back soon.

Love, Mom

WHY I LOVE HAVING A DAUGHTER, #11*



pink Chinese slippers, child size: $0.99

matching blue Chinese slippers, adult size: $0.99

gas to and from the dollar store: about $0.99

another Mother-Daughter moment: priceless!


(* Click HERE for Reasons #1-10, a.k.a. "THANK GOD FOR LITTLE GIRLS")

CLOUD THIRTY-NINE




These happy grins are the best birthday present any Mom could ever get.

This year, my birthday came right in the middle of Spring Break. And, if you ask any of my kids what they did for Spring Break, chances are you'll get just one word out of them: picnic. Indeed, that's all we seemed to do for two weeks: 1) Find a park, 2) Eat, and 3) Play.

And, with the advent of today's mega-one-stop-shop supermarkets, picnics couldn't be easier to plan. In fact, I came out with four easy steps for a foolproof picnic HERE, just based on our recent Spring Break jaunts.

For my birthday, however, we mixed things up a bit. The kids and I were in the mood for something hot this time, so we drove through Taco Bell for a 10-pack of bean burritos prepared just the way we want it: with green salsa and onions. YUM!

Now, this would normally be an issue right in the dead of winter, with five gas-making factories in our family, but since we were headed for the park, with its wide-open spaces, I figured we were in safe territory.

So we went to the park, stopping at home first to leave a note for Dad. I knew Lorenzo would try to take off early from work so he could join us for my birthday. Sure enough, I was thrilled to see my husband's familiar blue sportscar pull up just as the kids made a beeline for the playset.

Now my birthday was complete!




When the sun finally set, we headed home to light the candles on my gourmet cheesecake brownie. Don't let the size fool you. That thing was so rich, a tiny wedge was enough to satisfy my cravings for both brownies and cheesecake!



And then we retired for the night. The very first night I was 39. Thirty-nine.

Sigh!

  

I guess I can now resign myself to the fact that I'm officially pushing 40. But that's okay.

Running after them keeps me young!

SWEETS FROM MY SWEETS




This year, Valentine's came one day early for me.

I was home, fighting the flu. My temperature reached 105 the day before. I also had pink eye on both of my eyes, earache on both of my ears, and a very sore throat which would later be diagnosed as tonsillitis.

Yes, I clearly needed some emergency lovin', and my family was only too happy to step in.

Lance and Daddy were the ringleaders, by virtue of being the only ones who were well. Reanna, who kicked off our big family flu love-in, was still checking in at the 100s, and Troy, who was home from school for almost a week, still ran 104 the day before. Unbeknownst to us sick folk, the two conspirators had already cased nearby supermarkets the day before for chocolate-covered strawberries, Mommy's favorite Valentine treat. Since none were being offered this year, they found the next best thing:




Just to let you know, I didn't mind sharing top-billing, as long as it was clear those strawberries on top were mine.

I guess I'd better explain. See, now that Reanna's big enough to understand, the boys decided that Valentines would be all about the girls in our family, not just Mommy. So aside from us sharing the cake, both of us got balloons too. Mine had a personal message from Daddy, while Reanna's displayed her new title, "Valentine Princess". I also got a handmade Valentine, especially designed by all of my boys, which was my most treasured present of all.

Finally, the tea was ready. We sang "Happy Valentine's Day" and blew the candles. Yes, candles. By now, you should know that no cake would ever be complete without candles in our home.

And then we attacked that picture-perfect cake. Yum.




We spent the rest of the evening making homemade Valentines to be given to Lance and Troy's classmates, but the biggest and best Valentines got to stay home with me.



Indeed, what could be sweeter?

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SERENO FAMILY

BACK IN THE TRAIN GANG
The Christmas Train, Sierra Railroad Dinner Train
December 12, 2006

Remember THIS?



These pictures were taken on the Sierra Railroad dinner train two years ago. Well, now, we're baack... with a slightly older cast this time around!




Troy's kindergarten class went on the SIERRA RAILROAD Christmas train for a field trip, so of course the rest of us just had to tag along. Well, most of us, anyway. Poor Lance couldn't join us because of school.

There was a strange feeling of deja vu as we waited to board that train. Two years ago, we capped our Thanksgiving dinner train trip by watching the newly-released movie, "The Polar Express". This time around, we were living it. The Christmas train's theme is...you guessed it: "The Polar Express"!

All the children were dressed in pajamas, their favorite stuffed toys in tow...




They also had elves, a conductor, and pajama-clad attendants serving cookies and hot chocolate.

   

It was really good hot chocolate too, rich and creamy with marshmallows floating on top. Kids and kids-at-heart savored the sugar rush as they stared at the passing scenery. We sang Christmas carols, the parents getting a glimpse of the upcoming Christmas program, as their kids proudly demonstrated their sign language skills, singing and signing "Silent Night". The hobo from the movie came and sang to each table, and the kids got to sit on the floor in the train's aisle as an elf read them a Christmas story.

But nothing compared to the grand finale of the trip: a visit from the man in red!

 

It was such a joy to see the looks of wonder cross my children's faces.


The train ride ended shortly after that. As we stepped back down on the tracks, we saw Santa one last time. He gave Troy a hug. The smile on my son's face was just priceless.



And now, all my kids are tucked warmly in their beds, with visions of snickerdoodles most likely dancing in their heads. I'm ready to retire myself, still hung over with the magic and wonder of it all. Who knows? Maybe I'll wake up to the sound of a steam engine waiting to pick me up in the middle of the night.

Now that's a pajama party I wouldn't want to miss!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!