Hawks in my yard

Sunday morning I was awakened to a strange sound. There was a loud screeching, screaming, yelling sound right outside my window. I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep but it was so loud. It was probably around 6 am and I could not take it anymore so I got out of bed to see what was making this sound. I could not believe what I saw. There was a red-tailed hawk perched on my fence holding a pigeon in its' talons. I was so excited I woke up Neil to tell him about it. (He didn't really care about the hawk. I think he just wanted it to shut up.) I quickly got on some shoes and went outside to get a closer look. When I went out there I noticed that there was a second hawk perched on on the back fence.

There were two hawks on my back fence!!! I know I am revealling the nerdy science geek in me but I was really excited. I love watching hawks and I have never before been this close to one. My closest encounter to a hawk was when I was hiking in Santa Barbara and I saw one swoop down and snatch up a mouse. It was probably 30 feet away. This was even better...these hawks were probably only 10 feet away.

I think that hawk #1 was trying to protect her breakfast from hawk #2 who was trying to steal a piece of the yummy pigeon. One thing that I noticed was how easy the hawk handled the pigeon. Soon after I went out there the hawk with the pigeon flew into the neighbors yard and up on her fence. She (the hawk) just flipped that pigeon around like it was nothing.

I am grateful for those hawks and hope they kill all of the pigeons around here. GO HAWKS!

Click on this link to hear the noise that woke me up:

http://www.hangingrocktower.org/calls/red-tailed.htm

HAWK FACTS

• The eyesight of a hawk is 8 times as powerful as a human's.
• Like all hawks, the Red-tailed Hawk's talons (claws) are the main weapons.
• The Red-tailed Hawk has hoarse and rasping 2- to3-second scream that is most commonly heard while soaring. The scream of the Red-Tailed hawk is the sound used to represent hawks and eagles in movies around the world.
• 85 to 90 % of the Red-tailed Hawk's diet is composed of small rodents.
• In the courtship display a pair of Red-tailed Hawks soars in wide circles at a great height. The male dives down in a steep drop, then shoots up again at nearly as steep an angle. He repeats this maneuver several times, then approaches the female from above. He extends his legs and touches or grasps her briefly. The pair may grab onto one other and may interlock their talons and spiral toward the ground.

How do you like them apples

I am so excited when Fall comes. I love the cool weather and the fall decorations. Yesterday we went up to Oak Glen to pick apples....a perfect fall activity. Brody had a great time.

He enjoyed picking the apples.

He checked out the horseys through the fence.

His favorite part was probably eating the apples and carrying the basket.

We had a lot of fun. Sometimes I wish I lived on a farm. I love big white farm houses, split rail fences, bright red barns and home grown fruit and vegetables. It was so peaceful and relaxing up there. However, I am not sure that my family would have any food to eat if we had a farm because I am a horrible gardner. This year I had 3 tomato plants, 3 bell pepper, 2 cucumber, 1 watermelon and 1 cantaloupe. Here is how they did:

tomatoes: 1 plant did okay. They weren't the tastiest ever but definitely better than store bought.

cucumbers: 0

bell peppers: maybe 4

watermelon: I had one small fruit that shriveled and died

cantaloupe: I was so excited to have 1 cantaloupe growing that was about the size of my fist...then my dogs puled it off. None since then.

Maybe I will have better luck next year.

Okay...I know what your thinking

Finally I am posting a new blog. I know that I am lame and have not changed my blog for a long time but I have been busy. I started working again and since I teach online and am on the computer constantly, I do not want to be on it any longer than I have to. So, I am sorry to all of you who had to look at the same picture of Brody over and over again. Hopefully you haven't given up on me altogether.

So, here are some pictures of me when I was little. I haven't changed a bit. What do you think? Hey, doesn't the one on the swing set look like Brody? Maybe he does look like me.

I don't know why the pictures are all over the place, but what can I do. They won't move now and Brody is about to break something so it is what it is. Gotta go.

Monday Memories

Since Brody's birthday is on Wednesday I thought that I should devote this week's memories to his birth. What a wonderfully awful day that was. I went into labor on September 11th...yes on 9/11. Neil told me that I could not have him until the next day so he would not have to share his birthday with such an awful day. Luckily, I do not have short, easy labors so he was born on September 12th. At a whoppng 9 lbs. 12 oz. he looked and acted like a 2 month old. I cannot believe that something so big was curled up in my tummy. I must have been huge. That just proves that when people say you look great when you are 9 months pregnant...they are lying.

Here he is just a few minutes after he was born.

I can't believe that I evern took this picture. I felt like I had been hit by a truck and my legs were shaking uncontrollably.

What a sweet baby boy.

Here is daddy and his little minime. Brody looks just like his dad.

Although I hate being pregnant and I hate labor, this was a wonderful day. I love my son and love every minute I get to spend with him (even when he throws his food, pushes other kids and refuses to go to bed).

Yahoo! I am an aunt! This is baby Sofia and my sister-in-law, Taylor. Sofia was born on August 25th. I have finally reached aunt status for the first time. I am so excited. I can finally spoil my very own niece and Araia and Brody have a life long friend. Isn't she a cutie!!!

Monday Memories

Every year around this time Neil and some of his buddies from high school go on some sort of camping trip. Normally they go to Mammoth but two summers ago they went to Yosemite. Well, since I had never been to Yosemite I decided to tag along. Usually their trips consitst of fishing and sitting around. Well, that was just not going to cut it for me so they went white water rafting and hiked everywhere. We had alot of fun. Here we are after hiking to the top of a waterfall. We had to climb up a super steep granite staircase to get here.

There was a freezing cold pool at the top.

Here we are walking down the granite steps.

I think I did pretty well with all the hiking since I was 8 months pregnant. I am not sure that I fit in with all the guys, though. They went back to Mammoth the next year.

gophers and flies and bats...oh my

I love science, I love nature and I love animals. I have a hard time kiling spiders in my home, afterall, I did have a pet tarantula until last year one of my students dropped her and she passed on (I was crushed). I usually pick up spiders and let them go free outside where they belong. I struggled with my husband over spraying our yard with bug spray and I do not let my husband smash insects or spiders in front of my son in fear that he will think it is okay to step on the poor little things. However, recently I am almost to my limit with animals and bugs.
Case #1: About a month ago I was cleaning off the patio and found 2 of the biggest and blackest black widows that I have ever seen living beneath one of my sons toys. Keep in mind that I used to have a jar of at least 30 black widows on my desk that my students would bring in to me so these were definitely abnormally large.
Case #2: Pigeons seem to enjoy our neighborhood and tragically end up dead in our backyard. In the last 2 weeks there have been 3 dead pigeons in my back yard.
Case #3: A gopher has moved into our front yard leaving it covered with holes and dead grass.
Case #4: The flies. Since, I live near a dairy I expect to have extra flies; however, I did not expect them to make my front door their home. During the day I am afraid to open the front door because of all the flies that hang out there. Yesterday I looked around at all of my neighbors doors and of course there are no flies. So I wondered....what about my door makes it a fly attractant. The only thing I could see was the door mat so I removed it to see if it made any difference. Today I checked and there were less flies. HOORAY! I thought it would be a good idea to hose off the entryway too see if that helps more. That brings me to case #5
Case #5: Every night some rodent decides that it should poop right in the middle of our entry way. So, there are about four new little black pellets every single day. It must be a rodent family.
Case#6: Today, with Araia in my arms, I started to hose out the entry way and out flies a bat. Yes, a bat. Of course I ran inside to get my camera but it was gone before I could take a picture of it. I am actually a little bummed that I scared it away because I would rather have the bat than the flies!

Sorry this is so long but I am getting a little irratated with my animal friends. Maybe I should just start stepping on spiders.

Just another bad hair day

It is about 6:30 pm. Normally at this time of the day I am sitting down eating dinner with my family. Brody would probably be eating his food (with his hands even though he knows how to use a fork and a spoon) and throwing what he does not want on the floor. He has a bad habit of "removing" his unwanted food from his high chair, he likes things neat and orderly. Today, however, Neil is at work and Brody is at Sea World with grandma. So, Araia and I are having our first official Girls Night. We are going to eat pizza and soda, watch girly movies and of course there is the laundry, dishes and other cleaning that has to be done while the boys are away. I also thought that we would do each other's hair. What do you think? I have always pictured my daughter having brown, curly hair just like me. I was so excited to see Araia's brown hair when she was born. Brody has super blond hair just like his daddy did when he was younger and many of you know that I was very worried that Araia would have blond hair. Not that anything is wrong with blond hair...I love Brody's hair...but seriously...brown is much better. Although, what is up with the poof? I guess she really does have my hair.

Neil and I were talking about Blu Blocker sunglasses and he had never seen the commercial. So, I thought I would share it with you guys in case you missed out. (make sure you turn off the music to listen to it.)

I love NKOTB

Talking about the New Kids on Amy's blog inspired me to put them on here. Enjoy!!

Here is the picture that I was looking for. Here we are at a school dance...where, yes, he went with my best friend.

Monday Memories (is it Tuesday already?!?!)

I know it is already Tuesday; however, I wanted to post a "Monday's Memories". Neil and I met and dated when we were in high school so I thought I would show off some pictures from the good ole days. We did not date for very long and were definitely not high school sweethearts. Although, we did know right away that we would one day get married. I could not find a picture of both of us so I thought I would just embarass Neil a little.

Look how cute he is!

This is after a school dance where he went with one of my best friends (by accident). Neil had a strange habit of going to school dances with my best friends.

Nice hair Neil. It is long and blonde. This is where Brody gets his blonde hair from.

virginia

So, from Sunday to Tuesday I was in Virginia and left Neil all alone with the kids. Let me first tell you about my trip home. My training ending at 4:00 Virginia time so I quickly grabbed my luggage and a cab and headed for the airport. My flight was not until 7:00; however, the front desk said that with traffic and security I should leave by 4:30. Well, there was no traffic and security was a breeze so I was at my gate at 5:30....alone. I was travelling with a collegue who decided that bringing a knife onto the plane was a good idea so he was stuck with security. The first part of the trip to Dallas was perfect. I had a short layover in Dallas and was again on another plane. As we were about to take off there was a mysterious burning smell coming out of the vents. Hmmm.....after about 2 1/2 hours and a new plane we were finally on our way. We arrived in Ontario at 1:00 in the morning. When I finally got home at 2 there was Neil and Araia laying on the couch waiting for me. What a wonderful husband I have! (and the house wasn't even a mess)

me and my friend

These pictures are about 2 weeks old but I couldn't resist. Look how cute Araia and Sienna are in their party dresses!!

Well, I guess I should start this blog since I have been tagged.....thanks Kim.

Jobs I have had . . .
1. Biology Teacher...actually earth science, physical science, health, and pe teacher.
Right now I am teaching science online and I love it. I can stay home with my kids and teach...what a wonderful job.
2. Home Depot...the electrical department
3. Devereaux School...working with developmental disabled children
4. In-n-out...mmmm

Movies I can watch over and over . . .
1. The Wedding Singer
2. Stupid dancing movies...Center Stage, Save the Last Dance, Grease
3. 50 First Dates
4. Pirates of the Caribbean
5. Star Wars...Neils favorite

Places I have lived . . .
1. Menifee, Ca
2. Riverside, Ca
3. Corona, Ca
4. Huntington Beach, Ca
5. Santa Barbara, Ca
6. Moreno Valley, Ca
7. Anaheim, Ca

Favorite TV shows . . .
1. 24
2. Man vs. Wild
3. American Idol
4. Food Network
5. Lost...sometimes
6. Dawson's Creek...reruns are on at 6 am when Araia wakes up

Places I have been on Holiday . . .
1. Cabo San Lucas
2. Kauai
3. Oahu
4. Cozumel

Favorite dishes . . .
1. Pizza
2. Tomatoes
3. ice cream
4. thai food

Websites I visit daily . . .
1. caliva.org (work)
2. Hotmail
3. foodnetwork.com
4.

Places I would rather be right now . . . !
1. Kauai,Hawaii
2. Yosemite, CA
3. Bear Lake, Utah
4. Cold Stones :)

Guilty Pleasures . . .
1. Dark Chocolate
2. my punching bag
3. reese's peanut butter cups
4. ice cream

People who I am tagging . . .

Well, I don't know many people who have a blog so i will have to answer this one later. :)