And then there were TWO!

This morning we all had the revelation that we should get one more rat so Daisy can have an inmate (uh, I mean soul mate...) Now is the time to introduce another one, because often once they are older, they will fight with one another if introduced later. So Austin and Dad went to the pet store this morning and picked out a companion for Daisy (perhaps it is even her sister, as they were in the same cage at the pet store). The new one is a white rat, just like Lilly, and we have named her Rosie. We can already see that she is very different from Daisy. Daisy is very laid back and relaxed, and Rosie is a total spaz! I'm sure they will be great friends. The boys just can't get enough of them. They are so cute!

The newest member of our family....It's a girl!!!!

Our beloved pet rat, Lilly, passed away last week from a large tumor that had grown on her chest. The boys wanted to bury her in the backyard, so they dug a hole, buried her, and placed a Calla Lily from our garden on top...A lily for Lilly. Luke made a "headstone" out of a piece of bark and wanted to carve R.I.P. on it!

Well, wouldn't you know it, the boys begged for a new rat. And although I relished in the absence of the cage shavings that were always dragged all over the house, I was inclined to acquiesce to their request....means "YES!" So today, we stopped at Petco and picked out a darling new little baby girl. She is white and gray, and we affectionately chose the name Daisy just to continue the flower name theme. She is very sweet, but a little nervous and scared. It will just take some time for her to get used to her new home. The boys are already doting upon her and loving her up. She will be loved genuinely three times over! Welcome to the family, Daisy!

Vance goes to Disneyland!

Vance's birthday present from his Auntie K this year was an all expense paid trip to Disneyland! He was "abducted" from church on Wednesday night for a sleepover and trip to Disneyland yesterday. He started off his day with his favorite flavor of Pop Tarts, and then it was off to the Magic Kingdom with Auntie K and cousins Drew and Emma. They had a fantastic day full of rides, food, and fun. He especially enjoyed Space Mountain and Soar over California at California Adventure. He also went on Tower of Terror and the Indian Jones ride for the first time. Karen said Vance buried his head under the seat during Indiana Jones for the entire duration of the ride out of sheer fear, yet after the ride was finished, he said "I loved it!!!" Go figure! He was very adventurous and enjoyed all the rides they went on. My sister asked me on the phone during the day, "Does he eat you out of house and home?" My answer: "YES!!!" He pigged out during the day on chicken tenders, fries, lollipops, and ice cream sandwiches, and then scarfed an entire In 'N Out Burger on the way home. All in all, he had a great time, and they only had to wait a few minutes at the most for the rides, which made for an enjoyable day. Vance was returned to me this morning with pirate accessories in tote, including sword, eye patch, and all. Thanks for the fun day, Harasick family! And Happy Birthday again to Vance!

"Wicked", TOTALLY WICKED!!!

This past weekend, I had the immense privilege of seeing the Broadway musical "Wicked", the story of the witches of Oz. Karen had been to see it earlier in the month, and enjoyed it so much that she wanted to see it again. So we decided to take my Dad as a gift for his birthday. We then found out about the Wicked "lottery". About 3 hours before each show, you can appear at the box office and put your name into the lottery. They then pick 13 names, and sell the winners each two tickets in the front row for $25 a piece. What a deal, considering those tickets are worth over $150 each! Well, Karen tried for the lottery last Saturday, and their name was not called. She decided to try again Sunday afternoon while she was at the box office. I mean, you may as well try for the cheap tickets before buying them full price! Well, Karen gave me a heads up and told me to be ready to go out the door if they won, because the four of us would be going (Karen, Emma, my Dad, and I). I said "Yeah, right, chances of us winning are pretty slim." Well, wouldn't you know it, Drew's name was picked!!! Two tickets in the FRONT ROW!!! Karen was then able to find two more single tickets at the box office in nearby seats. So I rushed down to the Pantages, my Dad met us there (he was on the way back from Pacific Palisades at the time), and we all relished in the quick moment we had to take it all in- we were at WICKED!!! Emma was absolutely beside herself!!! And not to mention the fact that she met "Glinda, the good witch" in person when she walked outside of the theatre to walk some friends out.

So anyways, the show was phenomenal. Absolutely stunning in every way, from the music, to the costumes, to the professional cast. To say the story is creative would be a huge understatement! The writer thought of every single detail, and the story was flawless! I would highly recommend this show to anyone. Just be warned, it is addictive, and you will not only find yourself humming the songs all day, but you will find yourself somewhat obsessed with how you can return to see it as soon as possible! The four of us had a wonderful time together. We stopped at Jerry's Famous deli on Ventura Blvd. for a late night snack and synopsis discussion afterward. Happy birthday to my Dad a little early!!!

A trip to Islands In Honor of Mom

April 9th is my Mom's Birthday, and since she passed away, we have gathered as a family each year with my Dad at her favorite restaurant, Islands, for dinner. It is a good way to remember her, by enjoying something she really enjoyed...a good hamburger. My Mom would often pass up a good steak at a nice restaurant in favor of the classic American food we call the hamburger. My Dad would tease her about that, too. She was a simple woman, and in many ways, so am I. Austin wrote a very cute poem about my Mom and Islands shortly after she passed away, and read it at the restaurant last time we went. Well, my Dad brought the poem to the restaurant again this year, and asked Austin to read it out loud. It was very sweet. We had a lovely evening together eating, laughing, and remembering Mom. We all miss her so much, but are thankful for all the memories we have of her life, including her love of hamburgers!

Vance's 6th Birthday Celebration!

On April 6th, Vance, our youngest son, turned 6. I can't believe my "baby" is 6! His birthday fell on Good Friday, so Dave had the day off. It is my tradition to allow the birthday child to pick what will be served at all three meals of the day, so we started with Vance's requested breakfast of French Toast, bacon, and homemade hash browns. He then opened his presents. We got him various art supplies, a new pair of Vans (as a treat for learning to tie his own shoes), and a full face bicycle helmet. You heard me. I refuse to allow any more of that cuteness to be destroyed by pavement! And we need to keep the rest of his teeth until they actually fall out naturally. He is in love with that helmet!

Moving on to lunch, the kids enjoyed their own "Lunchables", those gross pre-packaged fun foods that I NEVER buy them, except on occasions such as these. We were then off to Karen's house for an awesome pot roast dinner and the Good Friday service at church.

The next day, we met our friends, the Berggrens, at the park across the street for bike riding and playing, followed by the meal Vance requested for dinner: Hamburgers and corn on the cob. We made some chocolate cupcakes topped with green "grass" and a marshmallow peep. They were so cute, and Vance loved them. And Vance got to test out his new helmet. And wouldn't you know it, he didn't fall at all. Now that we have it, he probably never will. Go figure. Well, two birthdays down for 2007, and one to go. Tune in late June for Austin's celebration.