Diary of a South-Paw Pitcher and her Four Belly-Itchers

My Mother's Day Gifts

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:10:45 -0700

I don't like Hallmark holidays. I think they are another opportunity to have tender expectations unmet and longing hearts broken. Birthdays and Christmases are enough already! Plus, every day is Mother's Day, isn't it? Each and every day I have the privilege to wake up and see the beautiful faces of my children, to meet the needs of their bodies and hearts and souls, to stroke their arms and rake their hair with my fingers, to pray for and with them is a gift to me. Every day is my day. So, Sunday was their day, to play, to swim, to laugh, to need and hold onto their dad, to eat cake and blow bubbles, to dive, to cannonball, to splash, to love. Heh, I guess it was Mother's Day after all.

The pic of the cake is for my dear friend, Tasha, who knows what a freak I am for homemade fancy cakes. This year, I asked my sweet young daughter, Fiona, what kind of cake she wanted mommy to pour her heart into for her special day. She thought for a moment and said, "You know that chocolate cake that lady made that one day; you know, your auntie?" It was a simple box cake mix with a hydrogenized tub o' icing thinly spread about it. But it was a hit among both kids and adults. The fancy-schmancy desserts sat lonely and unwanted while the 24-minute chocolate cake was devoured, leaving everyone wanting for more. So, here's her birthday box-cake with sticky-sweet-trans-fat-icing...Momma-style. I just couldn't stop myself. And, obviously, neither could Ian and Ethan. They were repeatedly caught picking at the leftover marshmallows swimming in the luscious frosting stuck to the cake plate. Boys, wonderful baby boys.

Finally, we finished another year of AWANA. Even after missing the last eight weeks of classes, Olivia and David both completed their respective series and Fiona received her certificate; she will have to start where she left off, if we sign up for next year. With a leader less pregnant, sick, and tired, I'm sure she'll do much better. But now that the Coles have switched churches, I have no idea where we'll go! If we never see the halls of Crossroads again, praise God for Mister Dave, the worship leader, for feeding the hearts of my children each week with his fun and fervent singing! We will miss him and his loving songs. *No pic of Livy; they were moving too fast for photo ops once they got around to the older kids.

All this for Lil' Ol' Me?

Let the Cert do the Talkin'

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Fiona is Six--Happy Birthday, Sassafras!

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:36:08 -0700

I love her so much.

If you know my Fiona at all, you already know that she has more personality than all of us put together--maybe even the whole Contreras-Cole mix, although Ian is determined to follow in her fun-filled steps. Fiona is not afraid to speak her mind, she never gets pushed around or led by the nose into temptation. No, if Fiona sins, it is fully and well premeditated and she will be the first to cop to it. She never lets anyone take the fall for her flubs, but I'm worried she's just building her street cred. So, tomorrow we're having a hip-hop swim party. I don't know what something like this looks like, but I know exactly how it sounds...like Fiona's kind of fun. We are all so very fortunate to be closely related to her--she knows exactly how to party hardy...like a pop star. Go on, girl, get your groove on.

Showing off, as always ; )

My future's so bright, but I don't have any shades!

Fake Dunzo-face

She is my Shining Star of Sweetness!

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They Bought the Farm...

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:33:42 -0700

Feeding the Chickens

Wise-Guy...Gal

El Ses Amigos, Minus a Sleeping Ian

Boys and their RC Trucks

Gorgeous George...Go Buckeyes!

...or, at least they wanted to break the piggie bank and spend all their precious coins to stay. I have to admit, I don't blame them one teeny weeny bit. It was the most relaxing and fun-filled weekend we could ask for after such an emotional week. Plus, David, aka Mike TV, only watched an hour of TV the entire weekend! He spent the rest of his time with the kids and my uncle, planting corn, riding on a flatbed tractor trailer and on smaller grass tractors, too. Low and behold! I even put the camera down for an afternoon of kick-the-can, round-up, and fishnet. We were all well spent, reconnected and sunburned after a day of play in the Michigan sun, and happily so. Now that's worth breaking the bank.

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A Little Fun

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:09:07 -0700

We spent some time together out-of-doors and with my camera in tow. Although we had a mission, we also had a lot of fun. I wish I could post them all; some of the very best pictures were not "perfect" at all, but they showed every ounce of each babe's personality and individuality. It was nice to be outside with my babes in the soft Ohio sunshine.

Losing my papa has made my family that much more important to me, starting with the fruit of my womb and extending to the furthest cousin. Although I don't know what the future holds, I pray it involves a move back across the continental divide and closer to mi familia, but, if not, at least an ability to visit each and every summer. My family is unique and, as always, a refuge in life's storms and a fiesta for life's charms. Over the many weeks past, I don't have enough fingers or toes to count how many times we were told by both strangers and friends how unique and special my family was and is. It was a calling home to my heart, a reminder of what I ran away from all those many years ago. I ran from my circumstances--a step-father I couldn't love, a mother I didn't respect--but, sadly, I also ran away from those I love the most in all this precious world. I am thankful for the six weeks spent together, loving and comforting one another in our Contreras way. Although we are not perfect, we are family, and that's all that really matters. It will hurt--it is hurting now--to say goodbye to mi familia: my heart, my love, my life. But, I pray the Lord continues to remind us of our need for one another and draw our lives together again and again in the future. My family is special. I always knew it, but now it's official.

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Another Lonely Homeschool Moment

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:15:45 -0700

A Fun Shed Find

A Close-up

Poor Mama

When my uncle brought his summer table and chairs out of the shed this past week, David discovered this water gun that was covered with spider egg sacks. We never found out what kind of spider to which they belonged because we found ourselves rather busy over the following days, but we did discover that we homeschoolers are a breed all our own, and we science-lovers are a deeper sub-category too. Not one of my many young cousins wanted to get within forty feet of the gun with its EMPTY egg sacks and apparently DEAD mother spider. Truly, "Home is the loneliest number that you'll ever see....." Public schools and its teachers' attitudes have sucked the delight in the created right out of its kids.

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Juan Rueles Contreras

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:31:17 -0700

My Papa

Juan Rueles Contreras, age 86, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2008, in his home, joining in Paradise his wife, Herminia Torres Contreras, and his daughter, Deb Armstrong. Juan was born on December 21, 1921, in Timpson, Texas, to Longino and Julia Contreras. He served his country in the U.S. Army, worked as a DJ for WTOD of Toledo, and retired from UNICAST/Midland-Ross Corporation after 32 years.

Juan was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister and is survived by two brothers and four sisters, a dear friend, Benita Cumpian, and four doting children, John Contreras, Jr., Cindy Tobin, Tom Contreras, and Rick Contreras, with their respective families. Juan will always be remembered for his insatiable hunger for life and his bewitching celebrity smile.

***I had the distinct privilege of writing my papa's obituary. According to the need for financial restraint, it had to be short and sweet. There are so many things we will remember about him, but death is big business and we are too poor to list everything. Thankfully, it costs nothing to hold them in our hearts.

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Fiona on Fire

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:16:13 -0700

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Fiona was a hit with Tia Cindy! And when she left, Fiona declared her to be her most favorite auntie ever. I have to admit that she's my most fave too. It was hard to see her go, and it will be hard to leave home myself, but I know that our lives must go on, no matter where they lead us and no matter how different the paths we take. I only hope that we will take time to embrace each other along the way.

Teaching an Auntie New Tricks

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Unconditional Love

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:16:03 -0700

My Papa and I

This time spent with my papa helped to tease out why I love him as much as I do. My papa is platinum in my eyes--he's never been anything less than perfect in my eyes because his shortcomings, if he ever truly had any, were easily forgiven and his virtues innumerable--he loved me unconditionally. He never criticized me, never told me I needed to change, never judged a single decision I made, even if censure was entirely warranted. My papa loved me. Period. And there is not one other person in my life that has ever loved me like that before, and this is why my heart bursts with love every time I see his face, or hold his hand, or hear his voice. Now, I can hardly believe that there will be anyone to love me like that again. I will miss that kind of love...I already miss that kind of love.

My Papa and Fi

Like mother, like daughter.

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The Bopsy Twins in Curls

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:55:10 -0700

Curly Girlies

Olivia and Briana got a bright idea yesterday--to put their hair in curlers. They were both very generous about it and shared the lot, instead of taking turns with the rollers. I appreciated it, too; it made for a good photo op. The glamour girls sat for us very sweetly, as you can see. Olivia will really miss her "sis" when we go.

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Ice Cream Day Dream

nobody@vox.com(Momma Lou and her Little Louies) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:40:19 -0700

Sticky Fingers

Ian enjoyed his first ice cream cone of the season. It was a new-to-us flavor, called Scooperman, which is blue, pink, and yellow, and smells heavenly. Of course, Ian really liked it, asking for another when he finished his first, and, to his dismay and disappointment, I said no--yes, it's true, I said no to my wonderful baby Ian, which is why he doesn't appear too thrilled to be photog'd. Paybacks, Mama, paybacks.

Dream Boat

Sad and beautiful boys make great photogs. Thanks, Baby, paybacks are the best!

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