VACATION!!!!! WHOO HOO!!!

We headed to San Diego Thursday morning for our mini vacation. We arrived at our hotel around noon and headed straight for the beach. The weather wasn't all that great, but I promised Malachi that he would get to see the ocean and build a sand castle.

Malachi's beautiful sand castle:
On Friday, we got up and headed to Sea World. Our first stop was the Shamu show of course.




W3 won a enormous Shamu for Chi. Now of course he had to do this at the beginning of the day. We were stuck carrying this thing around for the remainder of the day, which was not an easy task. We definitely got a lot of attention and even got cash offers for the Shamu.
After Shamu, we found ourselves at the sea lions and seals. I found this to be the most entertaining of the whole day. You were allowed to buy fish and hand feed them. They would bark and beg to you for the fish.
This little guy was smart. He perched himself up on this rock and screamed at you as he waved his flipper to get your attention. I think he figured out that the most loud and annoying one would get the most fish. He was definitely well fed.

We caught a glimpse of a few sea turtles. It would have been nice if we could have got a little closer though.
Then we made our way to the dolphins. Chi was trying really hard to get them to swim close enough so that he could touch them. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful.
But he did get pretty close as they swam by the tank. He loved it.
Then we saw the flamingos. There were hundreds of them. They had a jar you could buy flamingo food from for 50cents. I think it was dog food, it sure smelt like it.

After a wonderful fun day at Sea World, we headed about a hour north to my father's house. Chi got some good quality time in with his uncle Alex.
Saturday morning was the oldest of my three brothers, Jack's graduation from High School. His next journey... UC Davis.
This morning we packed up and got ready for our drive home. My father took us out to breakfast before we took off. Chi and he enjoyed making silly faces and playing with each other in their last minutes until next time.

We all had an absolute wonderful time. I was great to get away for a few days. Although, I am happy to be back home and I can't wait to sleep in my bed tonight.

Clarice's Birthday

Speaking of Birthdays....

Clarice's birthday was May 10th, also mother's day this year, so a few of us decided to take her out the Friday before. She wanted to go dancing so we went to Stoney's. I think I speak on behalf of everyone present that night when I say... we had a phenomenal night!!!

My Mama's Birthday

May 20th was my mom's anniversary to the day she was born. And boy am I happy that day occurred. Not only because I wouldn't be of existence but mostly I am thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful woman as a mother and as a friend. ~I LOVE YOU MAMA!~

So I talked her in to coming to Vegas and took her out to dinner. I decided to take her to Texas de Brazil. For those who do not know, it's an all you can eat Brazilian steak house. They offer every cut of steak you could think of as well as chicken, veal, pork, and enormous salad bar that coincide with fresh meats, cheeses, and soups. Sounds heavenly right??

My mother had an absolute blast and she stuffed her little tummy full. She loved the place and I was sooooooo happy that she did. My mother works so hard and gets very little time to spoil herself and I like to wine and dine her at every chance I get. She after all deserves it. She did raise me in all...

Friends of mine as well as close daughter/son like friends to my mom joined us, Sandra and Brandon.
Malachi loved the steak house as well. He tried just about everything and liked just about everything. This picture is him chowing down on a lamb chop.
Green means bring more meat! Red means, no thank you, I'm stuffed. Chi was finally done.
"Mommy, take a silly face picture now..."
My mother and sister, both very beautiful.
The yummy cake I asked Sandra to pick up from the Mexican bakery. It's a tres leches cake and if you have never had this kind of cake you need to put it on your bucket list!
A very happy birthday to you mama!! I love you!!

GREAT NEWS!!!

My camera is going to make it after all!!! Yes, you heard me right, it's a miricle!!! Amazingly enough, after I let if dry all the way out and after recharging the battery, it works. I do need to get a can of air to blow out the remaining sand in it though.

But..... YAY!!!!!!!!!

A Bad Thing... A Bad Thing indeed...

A very unfortunate thing happened to me yesterday. We were at the beach and I was cruising the shallow part of the water. Well a big wave came in and I ran up so I wouldn't get soaked. Next I know Justin is scooping my camera out of the ocean!!!! It fell out of my pocket when I ran. I'm pretty sure it's agoner. I'm so depressed. 

First of all I definitely don't have the money to replace it right now and secondly it my camera!!! My memory taker! My witness to my life! Luckily I have a decent camera on my phone and have been able to capture memories on it.
Anyone want to start a camera fund for me??

The World's Best BBQ Sauce

SHHHHH!!!!! It's a secret!!!

My grandfather put together a recipe for BBQ sauce years and years ago. Hands down it is the BEST I have EVER tasted. It's very unique and doesn't taste like any other.

Since my grandfather has pasted, my mother has been in possession of the recipe and would make it every now and then or when requested.

A few years ago, I made the comment about taking the sauce to a distributor and marketing it. (It's seriously that good!!) My mother damn near died and then she reconsidered and damn near killed me!!! 'How dare I even think to do such a thing! This is a family recipe and that's where it will stay!'

Seriously Mom??? I tried to tell her that Papa would have wanted us to. That if he knew people would enjoy it and that it would set her, me and the rest of the immediate family up, he would be for it.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

My mother then vowed to not only never give me the recipe but to never make it in my presence either!

I remembered some of the ingredients but there was no way I knew the quantities. And besides I would never defy my mother like that.

Oh well...

So last mother's day I got a gift from my mom. It was a cook book that you write your own recipes in and then pass down to your daughter. I loved it! It had all the family classics in it. A little breakfast, a little dinner, and even some yummy desserts. And low and behold... in the back... listed under other.... it was there! the recipe for "Papa's Secret Sauce"!!!

When I saw it, I just looked up at my mom, like, really???

She immediately spoke and asked me as nicely yet very stern, to NOT ever give out that recipe. It is for our family only. It is the little bit of papa we still have that is special and unique just like him. And for a marketing company to commercialize that was obscured.

I now understood and agreed. ~ At least until she decides to join my dear Papa ;o)

So, a couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to break out the recipe and make it for Chi, my sister, her dad, and her gf. Kaylie had commented about how she wouldn't remember it if it hit her in her face. I told her, yes you will, it's something you can never forget. Just wait until you taste it.

Some of the ingredients call for 'to taste', so of course we had to taste it several times. Once Kaylie had her first taste test, it was like stepping back in time. What a warm and happy experience. It was it Papa was there in the kitchen with us.

Malachi tore the BBQ chicken up! He even requested extra sauce.

While in D.C.....

We made time to visit a few museums. We made it to the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History. At the Natural History Museum, they had a scene set up from the new movie featuring the Smithsonian's. It appeared to be just a big pile of junk, but it was neat to see.



The one museum that left the biggest impression was the Museum of American Art. They had Louise Bourgeois' collection and it was a little strange. Here are a few of her pieces.

(I dare you to google her name and look at her other disturbing yet intriguing art!)

She had many other strange pieces, however we were not allowed to take photos. I'm pretty sure this woman had a pretty demented childhood.

At the Air and Space museum they had a display of WWII service men and women in their uniforms. Of course I had to take a picture of the woman, she gave me goose bumps.

The last night we were in DC, a friend of mine that lives in the area offered to cook dinner for us. Unfortunately Kristina and I were the only ones that could make it. Fortunately, there was more food for us!

Perry is an outstanding cook. He is the spitting image of a Italian New Yorker and boy can he cook like one too!! I told him he needs to open his own restaurant up and leave the law enforcement career behind.

Kristina and I just relaxed and had a glass of wine while he did all the work. Although, I did make sure to take mental notes, I had plans of recreating this master piece.

This is Chicken Marsala in the making. It was so moist and so good!! And surprisingly very easy!

This was the Gorgonzola cheese sauce he made. He had to keep his eye on it because Kristina and I were going to steal it and eat it all with the bread!!

The almost finished product of the chicken marsala. Ummmmm..... now I'm hungry....

And this is the finished product of the gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese sauce. Absolutely delicious!!!

Is it lunch time yet???