SoCal Mom: Special Moments

Mandi-ism's - Constantly being updated

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:33:38 GMT

Mandi-ism's

A Mandi-ism is what I refer to my daugther's words of wisdom that she spouts off when she should probably be keeping her mouth closed. I usually just write them down, but have decided that I should be sharing the pleasure of her wisdom with everyone else. I will do my best to update this blog as they roll off of her lips.

26 Mar 2008: I have been spending the past few days gathering everything together so that I can get our taxes filed. After several hours of sorting receipts yesterday I was losing patience with the task at hand as well as her incessant begging for MORE Easter candy. I said to her, "Amanda, you are just about on my last nerve! Go do something!" Without thinking she blurted out, "I was on your last nerve yesterday, so I can't be on it today because you don't have one left!"

27 Mar 2008: After giving a big long stretch to work out the kinks, I said to her this morning, "Oh, that felt good. Whata'ya think, do I look taller?" She said, "Mom, old people don't grow, they get littler. Don't you remember Granny?"

13 Jul 2008: While doing the laundry today I had just finished a load of Mandi's dance leotards and asked her to go to her room and bring me some hangers. She asked, "Why?" I replied, "I need to hang your dance suits up so they can dry and I'm out of hangers here in the laundry room." She said, "Can't you get them yourself?" I said, "No, I asked you to get them." With a heavy sigh and a roll of her eyes she said, "Ooooh! Alright! But I'm only bringing you the empty ones!"

Tie Another Ribbon for Kolby

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:20:25 GMT

Let's put up another ribbon for my 'adopted' son

Kolby Peterson

He's headed back to Iraq for his 2nd tour of duty.

Keep him in your prayers to come home safely!

Christopher Niels Chavez - Updated 8-2-2007

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:34:29 GMT

Christopher Niels "Chris" Chavez

1965-2007

On Jul 11, 2007 Chris was riding with Kevin and the guys to work on their motorcycles when Kevin was hit by a hit-and-run driver. Rick and Chris were the two guys who gave chase and ultimately after 60+ miles from the scene of the accident, Chris was able to give the police department a location as to where the driver and vehicle were as well as identify the driver. That day, Chris went far beyond the call of friendship and union brotherhood by putting his life on the line for his boss, union brother, and friend. For this he has been praised and will always be remembered for this unselfish act of courage.

On Jul 28, 2007 Chris died in a motorcycle accident in Upland, California. He was a free-spirited person with a wonderful smile that never seemed to fade. We enjoyed the times we had with Chris on the runs he joined us on and the parties out our home that he attended. He was loved by his fellow employees at FTR Int'l and will be greatly missed by all.

Please take a moment to view the photos attached to this blog. I have also opened the comments up to the public, so please feel free to leave your thoughts.

SERVICES FOR CHRIS

Emerson White Mortuary

13304 Philadelphia St.

Whittier, CA 90601

562-698-0304

SATURDAY, Aug 4, 2007

Viewing: 10 a.m. - 12 noon

Services: 12 noon

Tie a Ribbon for Kolby

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 07:31:03 GMT

LET'S ALL TIE A YELLOW RIBBON FOR KOLBY

For those of you who know him & for those of you who don't....

KOLBY PETERSON...TJ's bestfriend from High School & one of my 'kids' is

in the 'sandbox' of Iraq.

Please, everyone, keep these kids in your minds, hearts, & prayers until they are back home safe & sound.

Mandi, Jeffrey & an Easy Bake Oven -- 9-12-06

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 05:22:08 GMT

As most of you know Mandi loves to cook with me and as I did with Jeffrey & TJ, I allow her to get right in the mix, get her hands dirty and create her own culinary delights. After much nagging from Mandi, we recently bought her an Easy Bake Oven (she calls it her microwave). When I saw the price of the Easy Bake mixes I decided that we can do the same with a regular cake mix for much cheaper. So, Monday night her and I venture off to Target to get her mix and frosting with the promise that since it was almost bedtime for her that she and I would make cakes on Tuesday.

With Tuesday upon, us I clear and prepare the kitchen prep table for the destruction I foresee. While I'm getting all the bowls, spatulas, cups, & mixer out, Jeffrey wanders into the kitchen and wants to know what I'm doing. So I fill him in on the Easy Bake oven and what his sister and I have planned for the rest of the afternoon. At this point I figure he'll go back outside and finish working on his Bug, but instead we have the following conversation....

"Really, you got her one of those?" Jeffrey tells me.

I reply, "Yes, she's been wanting one for a while & now we're gonna make a bunch of little tiny cakes."

Jeffrey asks, "Can I do it with you guys. Mom, you don't understand. When I was little I wanted one of those so bad. That's all I thought about was having an Easy Bake oven and getting to make cakes and cookies and sh!t. But I never asked you for one because I thought you would think I was gay."

I was shocked and told him, "I wouldn't have thought you were gay. Look at your brother, he cooked all the time and was good at it. If you would have asked for one, I would have gotten you one."

"Well, I just thought you and Larry would think I was weird and gay so I never asked, but everytime I saw a commercial for them that's all I wanted," he added.

So, instead of just Mandi and I having a 'girls' day in the kitchen it was Jeffrey, Mandi and I making itty-bitty cakes ALL afternoon. Does anyone have any idea just how many little tiny cakes a full-size cake mix will make? Well, I do.....

Check out the photos below of Jeffrey & Mandi with the Easy Bake oven!

Mandi gets a phone call from Captain Hook

Sat, 05 Aug 2006 16:58:19 GMT

I guess I should probably give a bit of background to set the scene...The job that Kevin is currently assigned to is the Santa Monica Performing Arts Center/Madison Theater in Santa Monica. One of the people heavily involved in this project is Dustin Hoffman and he frequents the jobsite often. A few weeks ago there was a large catered BBQ commissioned by one of the other trades on the job for all the guys. Unfortunately Dustin's schedule prevented him from attending the lunch, so on Tuesday he commissioned In & Out Burger to cater lunch at the jobsite and partook in the festivities with his wife and son. During the lunch he met the guys, signed autographs and had Kevin take photos for all the guys that were later printed out in 5x7's and signed by Dustin. Kevin asked him if he would sign a hat for Mandi. Dustin asked him how old she was and thought it was great that Daddy was bringing her a token.

When Kevin brought the hat home Tuesday night (and I might add it was his new Choppers hat from his truck that he hadn't even worn yet) he showed it to Mandi and to get her to relate the signature with a real person we explained that the person who signed the hat is Caption Hook from the movie she enjoys. She was thrilled & won't let us hang the hat up in her room yet (right beside her other autographed hats).

Yesterday when Dustin was on-site and in the office Kevin once again thanked him for signing Mandi's hat and told him how we made her understand who he was. Dustin asked Kevin again how old she was and Kevin told him "she's 4". Dustin said to him, "Get her on the phone for me." When I answered the phone Kevin told me to put Mandi on the phone that Captain Hook wanted to talk to her. How cool! Dustin came on the phone before I had a chance to gather her up - when I told her Captian Hook was on the phone she became very embarrassed & shy and ran to hide in her room - He was in full character, voice & all and said, "Is this Mandi, this is Captain Hook."

From there the conversation on Dustin's end bloomed, but it took a couple minutes for Mandi to quit being shy and talk to him. He asked her how old she was and taught her some new pirate words like "Argh, Argh, Argh." She told him she was a pirate also and threw in some of her own lines like "Arrrrr, Matey" and "Shiver me timbers". He asked her if she liked Peter Pan. She told him, "I really like Peter Pan." He said, "Oh, no we mussn't like Peter Pan. I hate Peter Pan!" He then told her to repeat after him, "I hate...I hate...I hate Peter Pan!" She very adamantly said, "But I don't hate Peter Pan!" He then asked her if she'd like to take a ride on his Pirate Boat and she said, "YES!" He asked her, "When would you like to ride on my pirate boat?" And she said, "NOW!" He laughed and told her that he was working right now and couldn't right then but that he would take her and daddy on his pirate boat.

The whole call was just too cool and before he hung up he motioned to his secretary to write down her name & kevin's phone number and told Mandi that he was going to sign a movie poster from the Hook movie and send it home with Daddy for her.

She is just so thrilled and hasn't stopped talking about the call. She told everyone at Asaderos last night and anyone else who would listen to her that Captain Hook called her and that she's gong to ride on his pirate boat. She would try to imitate the voice, but never really got it quite right. So, she has now oft her Cinderella, Snow White, Minnie Mouse, Jasmine, & Tinkerbell dresses and has informed us, "I need one of those pirate suits with the eye thingy and boots! Argh, Matey!"