Montoya Kids' Annual Pumpkin Pie Party!

One of my fond childhood memories was gathering with my cousins at Thanksgiving time and baking pumpkin pies with my Aunt every year. As we grew older, this turned into a little competition between the cousins as to who would turn out the best pie of the year. Now, in grown-up land, the tradition continues... Only now, I am the Aunt!

Here's how things went down at my house on Wednesday.

Some of the girls armed and ready.

The boys

prepare

to smack down.

Some action shots

require no words.

Don't mess with the older kids station.

There is some serious baking going on here.

The proud bakers head off for a little R&R while the pies hit the oven.

The End Product

The Coveted Trophy

Funny back story about the trophy:
It was intended to read "Master Pie Chef of the Year".
As I left the trophy shop with the trophy in the bag a couple of years ago, it never occurred to me to double check the spelling. (Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to operate under the assumption that certain skillsets accompany those who operate engraving devices.)
We could have made due with a "Master Pie Chief" were it not for that darned
"i before e except after c" rule.
I am sure the trophy shop crew would be more than happy to correct the problem if I bothered to take the trophy back to the shop (especially since they marked the bottom with their business information - forever giving credit where credit is due), but now we are all attached to it just the way it is.
It makes us laugh.


And the winner is...Bella!





2008 Montoya Family Master Pie Cheif

Last year's winner respectfully congratulates this year's Master.

The Epilogue:

Hostess with the Mostest

(Yeah, mostest dishes.)
Admit it, you're jealous.

B - Boys!

Shoot! When we do birthdays in this family, we do birthdays!

Joey and Isaac AND Gramps all had their birthdays in a two week time frame, so we decided to have a boys' birthday bash.

Three boys. Three cakes. Lots of fun!

Gramps gets the "aged to perfection" award for turning 89!

Joey comes in second place at age 11. I simply can't wrap my mind around the fact that I have an eleven year old son... especially since I am only 23.

Isaac is trying to get rid of his "baby" rap by turning two. TWO. This is also mind boggling since I just had him yesterday.

You might think that this takes care of our birthday boys for the year, but you would be wrong about that. Paul turns 40, the BIG 4-0 tomorrow, and if you thought THIS was a party...well... you just WAIT!

We Didn't Go Rollerskating...

If I tell my kids we are going to do something, then barring divine intervention, we are going to do it. When I told my kids I'd take them rollerskating the last day of fall break, they had every reason to believe me. I believed me. I had every intention of following through...until... well, I had a better idea...

Because I just can't resist a few unnecessary moments of wailing and gnashing of teeth I broke the bad news first: "I'm afraid we have a little change of plans today, and there is no possible way I will be able to take you rollerskating..."

The wailing and gnashing and body thrashing began.

Then the good news:

"...Your dad and I thought we might enjoy a weekend at Disneyland instead, and I just don't see any way we could make it back in time to skate today if we leave this morning."

Strangely, the wailing continued a moment longer than expected while the information reached the place in the brain capable of stopping all the funny business. (I second guessed my decision to play this unfriendly joke on my children.) Eventually, there were cheers in the house, and I was forgiven for renigging on the skating trip.

We had a fabulous weekend!

A couple of my favorite moments:

Isaac enjoyed the carousel. He really enjoyed the carousel.

We almost brought the carousel home with us.

Isaac spotted Buzz Lightyear walking by.

He was determined to follow Buzz.

Paul and the big kids were riding Space Mountain so Christiana, Isaac and I got in line for a photo op with our favorite space ranger. When we got to the front of the line Isaac realized the the "real" Buzz was significantly HUGER than he anticipated, and he took off running... so Christiana smiled quickly and we decided a blurry picture was just fine.

A couple of my favorite characters:

The cheeky Cheshire Cat



Jack Skellington

I don't know why, I just like him.




More fun:

The best view of the parade...

We'll just have to go skating another day.

A Little Behind...

Has it really been almost a month since I have updated?

Shame on me!

We have had a lot of adventures over the past couple of weeks, and I am just running a little behind (hee hee). Rest assured, lots of pictures were taken, and I am ready for a weekend of blogging catch up!

Come back soon...

Campy Camping...

I am having some fun "alone time" tonight because the girls and Isaac are already asleep and my boys are on their big father-son overnight camp out for Scouts.

Wait, let me get a better shot of that tent.


Wait, it's really hard to get one without the patio in the background.

Okay, okay, I'll stop teasing.

All Done Pouting...

So, it turns out that fresh squeezed orange juice really is a good thing - even after brushing your teeth - if you just give yourself a minute to get used to it.

(See previous post.)

After just finishing lesson #2 with my new dance teacher this morning, I am feeling that I just can't wait until my next lesson! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and learned so much, and left as a better dancer than I was when I arrived. This is the feeling I love to have.

So, I must conclude that I like this guy after all.

So, I must also conclude that the pouting is officially over and it turns out I am not so bad with change after all.

Well, as long as you don't tamper with my spaghetti sauce.

Oh, and one more bit of trivia - it turns out my former dance teacher has actually "vanished" to California where he felt he simply must live. Could there be a hint of irony at play in my life here?

Picture This...

Phone Call: "This is ______ from ______ Elementary attendance office calling about your daughter's absence from school today."

My Response: "Ummm, both of my daughters are IN school today."

Caller: "Er, hold on a minute. I'll call you right back. Let me check this out."

Response: No response actually.

...Three very slow minutes pass on the clock...

Phone Call: "Mrs. Montoya?"

"Yes..."

Caller: "She is actually in class. I apologize for the mistake."

Actual time my heart stopped beating? I would say about three minutes - give or take a few seconds.

Bye Bye, Baby...

It is a bittersweet moment in my house today. There are a whole lot of people about to gasp as I tell you what has just happened.

I am having trouble telling you, that is why I am stalling.

Okay, here goes...

The Bosendorfer has been adopted.

Yes, I mean sold.

YES... I KNOW!!! (Regaining composure...Sorry about that little outburst.)

One minute I am posting an ad on Craigslist (not exactly guerilla marketing), the next minute I am fielding several unexpected phone calls, and the next minute she is sold to the very first person who came to see her. I was going to wait and post real goodbye pictures of the piano movers hauling her away on Tuesday, but that would have been a lot like stopping to take snapshots of burly men as they kidnap your child.

I am a little (okay, a lotta) sad.

Then again, our family has come to realize that a few temporary lifestyle downgrades would really help speed things along for some of our other goals... (the semi-sweet part of the bittersweet). So - we concluded that maybe we didn't need to own the finest piano made in the world...Yet.

Choices. I guess we all make our share of tough ones.
My most beloved know that I really do need a hug right now.

I am sure it won't be long before we find a suitable (tolerable) stand in (for my baby?!?) - After all, an hour and a half is a long time to entertain Mr.C (our fabulous piano teacher) every Thursday without any instruments in the house.

Here is where you console me.

Good Mommy Points

I could have been on the beach in San Diego somewhere. Or, I could have been hiking the Grand Canyon. I have been thinking about the Grand Canyon again lately. It has been a good many years since I last visited and took the killer hike to the bottom, and I am ready to do it again. This weekend would have been perfect, but I was not in San Diego or at the Grand Canyon this weekend. I was at home helping Joey complete his 5th grade science experiment.
I spent a great deal of time helping him create one of those poster boards you were jealous of when you were in the fifth grade, because you knew when you saw the kid at the next desk walk in with it that his mom probably worked harder than he did last night. (Was I the only one?)

Well, tomorrow Joey gets to be the kid at the next desk. So there!

Tonight I get good Mommy points.

The Grand Canyon will still be there next weekend...

Good night, son.

Maybe The BEST Idea Ever!

Well, yes, there was electricity... Oh, and penicillin... The airplane... But just humor me for a moment, because this is revolutionary!

Concept: The Fit Flop. Shoes that shape your legs as you wear them.




You haven't known me long if you didn't already know that happiness often comes in the form of a shoebox for me. It is a bit of a condition really, but that is a story for another day. Imagine my delight when my fabulous sister in law, Diane, informed me that two of my greatest loves - Shoes AND Exercise had been combined into one!

Out of my way, people!

I could not find them fast enough. Nor could the internet deliver them fast enough, so Diane & I headed down for a fit flop purchasing excursion first chance we had.

(If you are already on board and impatient like me, Macy's keeps them in stock.) (If you are not already on board - did you not see those legs? I know... once a shoe dog, always a shoe dog.)

Definition: "Shoe Dog" - One (like me) who has sold shoes for a living at some point, loved it, and is now forever a shoe advocate - Selling shoes (almost by accident at times) to any and all who will listen.

Do they work? I almost don't care - they are actually quite cute, comfortable, and I want a shot at those legs. (For the record - It could be my imagination, but I really do believe I have noticed a difference in the tension in my leg muscles as I walk. Could this be magic? Confirmation that a higher power really does look after my interests here in this life?)

I have already been back to buy my second pair. YES, Diane, it is true.

I have already made mention of my condition, and I will just leave it at that.