First day of school

Well it was an interesting day to say the least. Alyssa was very excited that morning as we got her dressed and I did her hair.
We got to the school and I could see that she was overwhelmed. There were kids everywhere!!
We went to the office because Alyssa's name was not on any of the lists for class. So Brian and I went in and I told the office that Alyssa's wasn't assigned to any Kindergarten class. The lady in the office told me that I was supposed to bring the registration packet in from Alyssa's home school for inter-district transfers. I transferred Alyssa to this school because this is where my step Mom picks up my sisters. I tell the lady at the front that NO ONE told me that I was to pick up the information at Alyssa's original school, the lady in the district tells me to call the school Alyssa is transferring to and I did and left 2 voice mails! Which they tell me that they didn't check until this morning. ARGH! The lady tells me that I need to go to the other school to get the registration packet and come back tomorrow. Yes, the lady tells me to take my kid who is all dressed in her first day of school outfit and new backpack and to take her home. I could not handle it at that point and start to cry. I tell the lady that my Husband and I both have the day off TODAY not TOMORROW to take our daughter in for the first day of school. This is NOT my error... I had taken care of the transfer in June the first DAY of registration. I had to nag the administrator for an answer if Alyssa got into the school that I wanted her to go to. The administrator who called my house last week just told me to call in the school and I did not get a call back! I look at Brian who is looking sad too and the lady says "I don't like making Kindergarten Mom's cry, let me talk to the Principal." So she talks to the Principal and he tells us everything will be taken care of and Alyssa will get into class today. So the lady writes us a note so Alyssa can go to her class.
We go to class and we see our soccer coach who's son is in Alyssa's class as well as another boy Alyssa plays soccer with. Alyssa's friend from preschool also was in her class. Her and Alyssa were really good friends in preschool. So the teacher greets all of the kids at the door and they tell her their names. The teacher is expecting everyone but Alyssa because she did not have her information so she says to her "Oh you are my 20th student!" California Kindergartens are only supposed to have 20 kids so now her class was full. So she tells all the students to sit where there name tags are and put their backpacks in their cubbies. Of course Alyssa did not have any of that and by this time I want to wring the lady at the District offices neck for not getting all of this taken care of or telling me what I could do to expedite the paperwork. Anyway the teacher says to write their names and draw a picture. I go looking for paper and a pencil so Alyssa would not be left out and the teacher helps me out. The teacher announces that it's circle time and now it's time for the parents to leave. By this time my Dad and Step Mom find us and I tell them what happened. My Step Mom laughs and reminds me of the time I cried at Costco (if you don't know the story I will tell it later) which makes me laugh and then I said "Hey if I didn't cry we would be at home with Alyssa now and I would not have gotten my way." We talk for a bit then leave. I get sentimental and tell Brian "We are leaving Alyssa all by herself!!" and get teary again. He asks if I am okay and then we head to the school Alyssa transferred from.
We get to the school and I talk with the principal who tells me that the District needs to get their act together and gives me the registration paperwork. I tell her thanks and we go BACK to Alyssa's school and I give the lady the paperwork. She apologizes even though none of this was her fault. I thank her for helping us and we go to the cafeteria to get Gabby a doughnut. I see a Mom that I know from Alyssa's preschool in the cafeteria and tell her the situation. She tells me it's a mess getting a transfer but Alyssa has the best Kindergarten teacher in the school. She makes me feel better. Then we head home.
It was weird being home with just Gabby. I will have some major adjusting to do on Friday's because it will just be me & Gabby. Gabby is not used to being by herself at home. Alyssa is always with her. She played outside for a bit then I took her on a walk in her wagon. Brian goes to look at the sprinkler system at our church with his Dad because it was leaking. Gabby took a nap and after that we picked up Alyssa since she only had a 1/2 day and got out at 12:45. Kindergarten is no longer 1/2 days I guess because she goes to school from 8:45-2:02!! Crazy!
Once we go to school it was pure chaos. The street was just parked with cars it was ridiculous. I guess I will have to get used to that. Alyssa came out and told us about her day. She made two friends that sit at with her at the green table. The teacher taught her the letter A and read Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She did play with her preschool friend a little but the teacher separates activities by table and her preschool friend sits at the red table. They did play at recess. Alyssa also ran into my sister who is in 1st grade and they got to hang out for a few minutes at recess. I am glad they will see each other at recess since they are best friends.
After school since Alyssa did not have a lunch we went to the Elephant Bar to eat. I realize while we sat down at the booth that Brian, Gabby, Alyssa and I have never been to a restaurant by ourselves! When we go out to eat it's always with friends or family. Alyssa had some chicken nuggets and ice cream for dessert. She loved it and thanked us for taking the day off for the first day of school. It was so cute! We came home for a bit then she had soccer practice which is where she is now. Brian and her are also going to the mall to exchange shoes that he bought because they fit too tight.
All in all it was an okay day. What matters most is that Alyssa had fun! Here are a TON of pictures:

Alyssa with her Top Model pose and Hannah Montana backpack:

Waiting in line to get into class:
Getting a little anxious... she is giving her Dad's look right here:

Alyssa introducing herself to her teacher:

Gabby likes Kindergarten too!
Alyssa writing her name:

Her masterpiece: It's a rainbow and her name:

Circle time and time for the parents to leave:

Alyssa in her class with her new school folder:

I guess I was taking too many pictures, LOL! Typical Alyssa:

Alyssa and the Elephant at the Elephant Bar:

She's a tiger:
Celebrating her first day with ice cream:
Gabby celebrated too although she didn't know what she was celebrating she was going to eat ice cream no matter what:

I think today was a long day for Gabby she fell asleep on the couch at 5:30 p.m.!!

The night before Kindergarten

Nails painted. Check. Outfit ready. Check. Backpack ready. Check.

Alyssa is now in bed but she did inform me that she had a cough (It's barely there) and can't go to school. Little does she know this is the last night of freedom she has...
I don't know why I am so sad about this. I know that she has to grow up but why?? Why can't I keep her little forever??

Just when you think it's safe...

To go to Southland Mall on a weekday someone gets shot and killed, AGAIN!

Hayward Mall Shooting Over Jewelry

POSTED: 4:49 pm PDT August 22, 2008

HAYWARD, Calif. -- An altercation over a piece of jewelry is believed to have led to the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man inside a Hayward store Thursday afternoon, police said Friday.
Deandre Tyre Demisse Jr. of San Francisco reportedly encountered a group of three men and a 17-year-old girl shortly before 4 p.m. in the northwest parking lot of Southland Mall on Southland Drive, according to Hayward police Capt. Darryl McAllister.
Some sort of struggle then took place over the jewelry one of the men was wearing, and Demisse apparently ended up with a piece of the man's jewelry before the group began chasing Demisse on foot through the parking lot, McAllister said.
The chase led Demisse and the group to a neighboring retail complex and into the Game Shop, where one of the men shot Demisse, McAllister said.
It was around that time mall security called police to report two men chasing another man through the mall parking lot, McAllister said. Police began to receive numerous calls from businesses in the mall area that a shooting had taken place.
When officers arrived, Demisse was found on the floor of the Game Shop suffering a single gunshot wound to the head, McAllister said.
Demisse was transported to Eden Medical Center where he died about 30 minutes later, according to McAllister.
Officers arrested two of the men, 19-year-old Pleasant Hill residents Dijon Newton and Rashad Johnson, moments after they tried to run from the shooting, McAllister said.
The third man involved in the parking lot confrontation, 20-year-old Dalaw Ambers of Oakland, and the 17-year-old girl were detained by officers near the scene shortly after the shooting as well, according to McAllister.
Newton, Johnson and Ambers were booked into Hayward City Jail while authorities investigate the murder, and the teenage girl was released to a parent, McAllister said.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Hayward Police Department's Criminal Investigations Bureau at (510) 293-7034.

Brian was just there today to buy our God Son a birthday gift and he didn't know about the shooting until I told him about it. He said there were a ton of detectives there today. I usually go to Southland on a weekday but I avoid the place like the plauge on the weekends. I guess I will just head over the hill to Stoneridge from now on. Even though these people aren't coming after me or my kids that is all I need to see is a murder while I am trying to buy jeans. Plus last year there was a riot at the mall... I just found the story about it:

Rioting youths shut down Southland mall
Oakland Tribune, Aug 19, 2007 by Karen Holzmeister

HAYWARD -- Hayward police closed Southland mall after about 200 teenagers and young adults stormed the popular shopping center Saturday afternoon and began ransacking stores.
The crowd poured out of bleachers, set up in the parking lot outside Macy's, when a basketball game known as streetball ended at 5:30 p.m.
Alan Black, who worked on the security team for the sporting event, said the crowd became rowdy after the game.
"People began pushing and just going crazy," he said.
Police Lt. Mark Koller said the intruders entered Macy'sand started tearing the place up. Witnesses reported bands of roving youths pulling clothes off hangers, overturning displays on first- floor sales counters and knocking over mannequins.
Employees and shoppers also saw the trespassers kick merchandise and kiosks as they ran through the malls interior, past Mervyns and JCPenney stores.
Rick Novac, a 20 20 Fashion store employee, described the crowd as larger than the estimate given by police.
There were at least 300, easy, he said. They were running through the mall screaming and kicking things.
Thousands of shoppers left the mall by car and on foot as more than 60 officers -- including Alameda County sheriffs deputies and the California Highway Patrol -- closed off entrances to the shopping center and its parking lots from major thoroughfares.
Traffic was snarled on Winton Avenue and Hesperian Boulevard for about 90 minutes. The mall was reopened shortly after 7 p.m., but none of the stores appeared ready to reopen. The mall closes at 9 p.m. on Saturdays.
Restaurants around the Southland perimeter appeared nearly empty during the ruckus inside the shopping center, but diners began arriving shortly after 7 p.m.
No injuries were reported, and Koller was not aware of any arrests as of press time.
Amber Hamblin, Southlands marketing manager, said store operators had not reported any losses or damage amounts.
It appears like a lot of things were just knocked over, she said.
The mob poured out of an And1 Mix Tape Tour streetball basketball game that began at 3 p.m.
The tour is known for players who perform high-flying slam dunks and snazzy moves on the court. And1 Mix Tape Tour has grown in popularity among urban youth, with its games -- including contests with streetballers -- airing on cable sports network ESPN.
Some shoppers remained inside the mall while the shutdown was under way. They later were escorted out by staff.
While the riot was at its height, Hayward police also responded to a stabbing at Smilin Jacks bar, 32681 Mission Blvd.
Lt. Mark Mosier said a 43-year-old man from Union City was stabbed in an atrium outside the bar about 6:21 p.m. The suspect, a Hispanic male adult with whom the victim allegedly had been arguing, fled on foot.
Mosier said the victim was taken by ambulance to Eden Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Mosier on Saturday night would not identify the man who was stabbed or reveal other details of the ongoing investigation.

Why must people be so ghetto???

Only 4 1/2 days left....

Until the first day of school! I just got the call that Alyssa has been accepted into my sister's school which is great! This way my step Mom can pick up my sisters and Alyssa all at the same time! We live in the same town but since I live on the other side of a main street Alyssa was supposed to go to a different school only 2 minutes away from the school she just got accepted in.
Last night Alyssa tried on her first day of school outfit so Grandma Marge could see. I put it on her and told her "I am going to cry ALL DAY when you go to big kid school". She told me "Then I will hug you and tell you it's going to be okay Mom." I thought that was so cute!! My baby is getting so big.

Grandma Marge is staying with us this week since my Step Mom is taking the week off on vacation to Monterey. Gabby is getting to know Grandma a little better. She calls Grandma "MAM MA!". I am loving the cooked food every night! I also love that I can sleep in a little longer and don't have to rush the kids out of the house in the mornings. We will be sad when Mam Ma leaves us on Friday.

The Rugrats

That is the name of Alyssa's soccer team. The coach gave the kids an option to choose and the only name they could come up with was Sponge Bob... not a good soccer name. So another kid came up with The Rugrats.
Practices have been going well. The coach really works the kids and makes them stretch and run laps.
I took pictures last week:

The team doing their stretches:

Running laps:
Practicing making the goals:
Team meeting:
I thought this was cute the coach had them stretch with a teammate:

The first game is in three weeks! Between soccer and school we are heading into a few busy months. I need a vacation....

My house is THAT house!

You know the house that has all the kids in it? Well remember when I said that I was going to do nothing today? At 9:30 am Brian called and said Paulie wanted to come over. Jill was watching Paulie and Lexi and she had to go and decorate a cake for a wedding. Paulie didn't want to go to the cake shop and he asked if he could come her. So I said yes. While they were playing Alyssa's neighbor friend came over to play. They had fun I made taquitos and so Jill and Lexi came over for dinner. After dinner the back door opens again and it's the neighbor girl's sister who is the same age as Lexi. So they all play. I realize that I am that house where all the kids go to!

Neighbor Girl and Alyssa have declared each other Best Friends. So I guess this makes for Alyssa's 3rd best friend since my sister Erika and Paulie have also claimed the title as BFF's.

Alyssa is VERY social. We were at Old Navy last night and there were two kids in line. Her and Gabby started to talk to them. Alyssa has also made friends at the doctor's office and in line at the grocery store. If this is what I am in store for at only age 5... I am already envisioning her own phone line!!!

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Last Saturday we celebrated my Grandma's 80th Birthday. We had a great time hanging out, playing poker and of course EATING... a LOT! I made the Pioneer Woman's Sheet Cake and my cousin and I took the liberty of eating half of the cake!!
We had fun until my Grandma got a call right before she blew out the candles that her sister Alice had a blood clot and might not make it through the night unless she had surgery. It was sobering news on a day that we were supposed to be celebrating life not death. My Grandma went upstairs and prayed the Rosary with my Aunts and Mom. Aunt Alice is still with us thank God!
We ended up singing Happy Birthday an hour later. It was nice hanging out with the fam! Here are some pictures!

Gabby with Grandma Marge's silly hat:

Without the hat...
The guys playing poker!
Gabby getting some love from Auntie Del.

My little poker player:
This little stud (aka my cousin's son Benji) blew out my Grandma's candles:

He got a big smooch for his work:
So did Alyssa. My Grandma loves these little stinkers:

Then it came time for Gabby's personality to come out. "Crabby Gabby"

All because she was tired... My cousin said this was a boob shot for my blog, lol!

On my Grandma's 80th birthday which was actually on Tuesday my best friend Lety lost her Grandmother. I forgot my cell phone that day and I got a message from her that her Grandma who suffered a stroke a few months back had died. Lety's Grandma was one of her best friends. After she had a stroke Lety was in the hospital and nursing home with her at LEAST every other day. This opens my eyes not to take advantage of the time that I still have left with my Grandma's. Please pray for Lety for strength. We know that her Grandma is in a better place with no pain but I know she is going to miss her a lot.