Summer Concert Recap

I was just looking at some pictures from the last few months and I realized we've been to some pretty cool concerts and I figured I recap them real quick with pictures. ;)

Skid Row and Warrant @ the Freemont Experience

We made a small trip to Vegas this summer for a variety of reasons. Not only did we want to get away just for a few days, but Chris had just finished his Upward Bound program and it was a way to give him a chance to relax after 6 weeks of a lot of hard work.  Also, we had never done The Freemont Experience in old downtown Las Vegas (which is now closed off) and they have free concerts on 3 different stages every weekend during the summer. Skid Row and Warrant were going to be playing that weekend we were there, so that was the highlight for Chris and Jerry to enjoy.

Rick Springfield at the Starlight Bowl

The last time we saw Rick Springfield was back in 199?? when he was making his comeback after being out of the spot light for soo many years. We saw him at the Universal Amphitheatre and he really impressed us with the great show he gave. So when Jerry saw that he was coming to the Starlight Bowl, which we've never been to before either, he got us tickets and we invited my BFF to go with us. It was a beautiful night and at 63 years old, Rick put on another incredible performance. The guy can still move and sing! The place was packed and he has fan of all ages.

Chris enjoyed it too and actually said it only made him want to perform his music even more. So it served as an inspiration for him.

JUANES @ the Hollywood Bowl

In all the years of being a Californian, born and raised, I had never been to the Hollywood Bowl...yes, I know hard to believe. Christian has even been to the Hollywood Bowl before me. But after August 17th that has changed. I now have officially been to the Bowl and my first concert there was appropriately to see Juanes, the Colombian Spanish rock star, was in town playing with YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles)!!  I originally didn't even have plans to see this concert, but this was all thanks to my brother and my new SIL who graciously made every effort to get us tickets so Jerry and I could go. They had gotten tickets themselves (garden seats btw), but they got us tickets as a thank you for helping them out with their wedding. This was not expected or necessary, but I couldn't refuse such a chance. Serg even went so far to arrange my babysitting for me. It was truly all last minute and we didn't know we had the tickets until hours before the show.  We quickly put together some food, wine and drinks and drove down together with them. 

We also knew that our friends Adriana and Lina were going so of course we met up with them and hung out until we got kicked out of the seats next to them.

In the meantime we enjoyed our picnic style dinner, toasted with some Aguardiente (Colombian version of Uzo) to the excitement of just being there with them.

 The concert was a blast! Juanes was amazing and such a cutie pie! He is one of those artists that sounds just as great live as he does recorded, and then to add the enthusiasm and festive environment we were in...there was nothing like it.  We didn't have a lot of room at our seats, but that didn't stop us from dancing and singing along...Juanes even had Jerry dancing!! Lol...for those that know Jerry, that is truly saying something!!

For those of us there that were Colombian, you couldn't help but feel that sense of pride as you heard the LA Philharmonic (who was also there to play with Juanes) play music from another famous Colombian composer as a tribute, and then to hear YOLA play Juanes' music....OMG!! Then add the beauty of the stage itself  that lit up in all different colors to match the music...I was mezmorized!

Summer Concerts at the Park

These are usually a staple for us during the summer, and we usually attend at least 4-5 of these, but we were soo busy this summer we almost missed out on going at all. So to make up for it, we went to 2 back to back this past weekend. We went to see Wanted (The Bon Jovi tribute band) at the Santa Clarita Central Park on Saturday. It was a beautiful summer night, the weather was perfect and the music was great. We got their kind of late and we got lucky to get a pretty good space.

Then on Sunday night, we went to see DSB (Don't Stop Believing) a Journey tribute band we have seen a couple of times in the past, at the Valley Cultural Center in Woodland Hills. It was there last concert as well, and since we had gone earlier in the day to save a good space we were pretty close up and had a great view.  We always see the same local crazies at this place, and the kids and I got a chance to walk around.  Although there is nothing like the original Steve Perry and the Journey we all grew up with, they definitely are close enough to sounding like them and put on a great show. Great way to close off the summer series!

Thank you Brad Sherman?? Not sure what he means to me politically, but I was thankful that he so graciously had girls there to face paint my kids for free that day!! LOL! They loved it!
 
So looking back we actually experienced some great concert moments listening to a variety of music genres, and I love that the kids are exposed to all of these genres as well. Music is a huge part of our family life and going to concerts makes it all come alive.

What concerts did you go to this summer??

From my corner to yours, may music come alive for you as well.

Have a great weekend!

Going out with Sofia

This is Sofia. She is my 6 year old niece and the youngest of the Camacho nieces and nephews...well one of only 2 nieces in the family as the boys rule in majority, but she truly has learned to hold her own with the boys. She is also our lovely Goddaughter, an honor in itself.  She brings the girly, girl world to our life after living with 3 boys and we love it! We love her!

This summer, now that she is a little older and more independent I wanted to take the chance to have a Sofia and me afternoon, something we haven't had a chance to ever do. I mean our families hang out together often as families do, but we've never had that one on one time together. I want her to get to know me, and know she can always count on me as her godmother, aunt,  and friend.




So before she went back to school today, we decided to go out on Monday afternoon for a little ice cream and some shopping at Michaels.  How could we go wrong!



She wore her cute new shoes for our outing. Grey/pink, polka dotted high-tops...loved them! She's already a fashionista I tell you.

And we were on our way!

We were very excited to go to Menchi's so we could pick our own toppings and that we did!

I'll let you decide who's is who's. Lol!

A few things I learned about my Sofia as we enjoyed our treat:

She ALWAYS gets "cake batter" flavored yogurt at Menchi's along with gummy bears, gummy worms, and poppers as toppings

Her favorite colors:  Red, yellow, pink and purple. But she also likes black, blue, green and orange because those are her family's favorite colors and she likes whatever they like.

Her best friends are: Madison, Sidney, Kailyn, Reese, and McKenzie

Talking about "boys" - makes her VERY nervous!!! (Lol- it was so cute to see her eyes go real big. Fun moment for me!)

and she loves to play on the monkey bars at school during lunch

See... now I know!!

She got all kinds of goodies and treats while we were there.

 The puppy sticker is her new favorite character too.

 

 Then it was time to draw on the chalk board

 She drew herself as a stick figure and then said...

"Sofia...meet Sofia!"

 :)

 We traced our hands

And she left her signature and we took a picture together. 

Soo much fun!

 

Menchi's was yummy and it was time to go shopping. We went to Michaels for a few things, and she was great to shop with. She loved suggesting paint colors and things while she told me about projects she had made in school. And she is such a girl too... oooing and awwing at everything cute! And of course she found a little something that she's "always wanted to have." Of course, and how could I resist?!

She made my day when she told me all about how her school has a Grandparents day, and how they should really have a Godmother's day so she could take me! OMG! Yes...they should! (sniff, sniff)

Thank you to my Sofies for going out with me! I had a lovely time and I can't wait to do this again!

From my corner to yours, I love you and I hope you have a great first day at school today!!!
 
XOXO

Your Tia Sandy

Our Danny Boy....

Is 13 
Years old today!!!!

We officially have a second teenager in the house!

Oh no!!


How did he get here soo quick!






The truth is we've come such a long way with Danny. We knew he was special from the minute he was born, and our life with Danny has been a ride in itself.  He is our Aspy baby and we were blessed and honored to be chosen to have this little boy in our lives.  We thank God for all the love and joy he has brought to our lives as well as the difficult moments we've had as they have only helped us help Danny become the boy that he is today.

My sweet Danny, I remember when:

• You'd keep me up all day with your 15 minute cat naps
• We would cry together on the sofa when I didn't  know how to console you
• You had us running after you through parking lots
• we'd have to leave parties with you crying
• you'd take off ALL your clothes when you went to the bathroom...George Costanza style, lol!
• you'd have to hold a toy figure in your hand all the time
• you were our little Peter Pan in the backyard
• you'd swing in circles for hours at a time...
• I felt the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders when we found out why you were doing all of these things
• We lost you at the park...one of the worst moments of my life!

But when we found you, everything changed for us! We hugged you more, we watched you more, 

we understood you more and if it was at all possible....we loved you soo much more! 

To love you has meant to:

• accept and understand that you are going to see and do things a little differently
• help others understand this too!
•  help you expect the unexpected in life and know how to deal with it
• help you get through life just like everybody else
• give you the same experiences that any other boy would have
• expect the same from you than the other boys
• not give you any excuse not to succeed
• allow you to gain your independence as you grow up
• help you depend on yourself 

To love you JUST the way you are with all our hearts!!!

Danny you have amazed us when you:

• can tell us exactly when a movie is coming out and who the actors are and what other movies they've made
• can memorize movie lines verbatim
• can know exactly where my keys and my phone are at all times
• can recognize what kind of pizza there is just from the smell and from miles away!
• you give up what you want to do to make sure Mikey is ok
•  
• when you enjoy things we wouldn't expect you to ever enjoy 
• you know yourself enough to know what you need or don't need
• found yourself around a big middle school without our help
• we told you about having Aspergers and your reaction was to giggle because it sounded like it has the "ass" word it in it!
• you took this knowledge and learned to be proud of all the great things you can do because of it

You amaze us when you tell us and show us that you love us back with that beautiful silly smile you've always had!

Daniel there are not enough words to tell you just how much we all love you. You have taught us things about life and ourselves that we wouldn't have learned otherwise. You have made us better people, and we couldn't be prouder of the young man you are today!

So instead of crying as I write this,

 I am going to celebrate You this day!!!

We are all celebrating with you today, Lil' D!!!!

 Happy 13th Birthday Danny Boy!

WE LOVE YOU!

First Day of School is Here!!

So here it is again! This day can be so exciting for most and yet almost just as dreaded by some at the same time. It means a new year, new classes, new school supplies (always fun), and even new friends and adventures. But it also means, new schedules, waking up early, making lunches again, carpools begin...that old routine is back! But its what we do, right?! Its all part of what we live for and love.

I had a lot of fun with the kids this summer, so I wasn't entirely ready for them to go back. However, now that the day is here it is nice to know that the kids are back in school, and that I can resume somewhat of a normal routine again (whatever that means)!

Mikey started school yesterday, and is starting his 4th grade year. In taking his picture yesterday morning, I realize how much he is changing and growing up. .

One thing that struck me was that HE noticed how much things are changing. He made a comment about how in Kindergarten everybody played together and were all friends, and that now its not like that and that made him sad. After hearing my heart break, I had to somehow tell him that unfortunately this is true, and that it was normal because he and all his friends were growing up and that his friendships were going to change, but that he should be looking forward to making new friends that had things in common with him. He agreed and was happy. He's not only growing up, but is getting to be almost too intuitive for his age.

Nevertheless, he had a great day. He liked his teacher, Ms. Leonard, which I honestly don't know very well, but we've been very lucky at CHIME so far. We've had some great teachers for all our boys, so I'm hoping for another great year. So far she made a great impression with all of us as we walked into her classroom which she decorated in a Rock-N-Roll theme!! What a perfect match for us, Lol! It is very clever and each student table center is named after a specific rock band. Mikey is sitting at "the Doors" table, but there was a Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, The Beatles, and Metallica table. Each table has 4 students and each one is given a band member position to play, so Mikey is the "drummer" of his band/table. She had rock-n-roll lyrics that applied to school all over and the library was given a cool "Rock-N-Read" theme because reading is meant to be cool, of course!  It looks like its going to be a very fun year for him, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else she has in store for them. Teachers can make such a difference in how kids see things and these are the things teachers do to make school interesting. I Love it!!

Daniel and Christian started school today. Danny is going into the 7th grade and Chris starts his Sophomore year of High School!!! OMG! Its hard to believe, but in no time Chris will be graduating and he has had a great time this summer making sure I knew that because he knows it scares me soo much that he's growing up soo fast.








We are excited and nervous for Danny as 7th grade is always that transition year where things get a little harder anyway, and then add to boot that puberty kicks in! But he showed us this morning he was also maturing as he let us know that he didn't need us to take him to school today. Oh ok! He said he was perfectly ok to go in his carpool with his best friend Zachary, and could figure out his schedule on his own. To be sad or very proud was my question?? So we giggled nervously but encouraged him and we knew that he had his friend to help or he'd figure it out. Soo proud of him!

For Christian, this was old hat for him this year, and instead it was his turn to help out and welcome a new Freshmen into the school. Our friend Jacob starts out today at the Cleveland Magnet that Christian attends, and being that he was very nervous about the whole deal, wanted to drive to school with Chris. So they both walked in together as casual as could be, and I know that Christian will be there to help him figure things out too.



So it looks like we're going to get settled in pretty well, and we're still buying last minute school stuff but otherwise we should be back in the groove by the end of the week. And that includes me too! Part of me needs to get focused back on work, the house, and myself!! But I'm taking this week to get things in gear for all of that.

For now, I will enjoy all the stories and mishaps that might come from this new week of school and I'm hoping you all will too!

From my corner to yours...Happy Back to School Week!