I'm Not All There Myself

The Most Beautiful Baby

2007-10-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

O.K. So maybe as the mommy I am a little bit biased on this subject. But I honestly feel that we have the most beautiful baby in the world. Not to say that there aren't other babies that are cute and sweet. But mine is the best.
She is really adorable. Plus she is just the best baby. She hardly cries. She sleep four hours at a time every night and gives us 12 hours of almost uninterupted sleep. (mostly uninterupted for Alex, less so for the Moo Cow Mommy who has to wake up to feed the baby)

She started smiling last week. But this week she has started to smile in response to us. I could sit and stare at her smiling all day. She makes us so happy.
All in all, she is wonderful, we are lucky and I can't think of anything more fabulous that having her.
Here are a few more pics... Yes I am going to be one of those mommies....

On the left we have Caleigh "chillin" with her "beary good friend" . On the right we have "Cool Hip Caleigh".

This picture is of Caleigh in her Brand New Antique Baptism Gown. This gown was handmade for me, when I was born. But by the time my mother had me baptised I was too big for it. But, being that it was handmade Mom helpd on to it for the future. She tried to use it again on both of my sisters, with the same results. She gave it to me at my baby shower. It fits Caleigh perfectly. She is getting baptised in 2 weeks, so I have a feeling it will still fit her then.

I will post more updates soon.

Caleigh Marie Villagran Has Arrived

2007-10-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

Caleigh Marie Villagran came into this world on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 4:52 am. Mommy worked very hard from Monday at 6:30 am to try and have her through a natural birth. But Caleigh would not hold still for the heart monitor. so, after 22 hours, the dr.s decided to do a C-section.
Mommy has had a great recovery so far. She was up and moving around (all be it very slowly) the first day. Mommy and Caleigh are doing very well with the breast feeding. (the breast reduction will have to wait).
Here are the first few days worth of photos.
Love, Sara Alex and Caleigh

View Album

Get your own

TOOO FUNNY not to share

2007-07-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

We Are Having

2007-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

We are having a baby girl. Her name will be Caleigh Marie. She should be here around the beginning of October. I will post the most recent ultrasound pics later.
Love Sara

Happy New Year (again)

2007-02-16T22:52:00.000-08:00

This weekend is Chinese New Year. This is the year of the pig. So Alex and I are Dragons. Two Dragons are not supposed to get along, because they are both strong willed and ambitious. We have found happy mediums to our personalities. As I said this is the year of the pig, which according to Chinese tradition is lucky. Children born in the year of the pig are happy and honest. So Happy Year of The Pig.
After posting this I found out that this is the year of the Golden Pig in Korean tradition. This is fortunate, because children (boys especially) born this year are destined to be wealthy and prosperous. They will take good care of their parents in the future.
So Yay Piggies!!

What do I do now???

2007-02-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know already, but, I am pregnant. Yes, this is good news. Alex and I were going to start in the spring, it seems we have gotten an early start. We think we are between 5 and 10 weeks right now. My first OBGYN appointment is in two weeks. Then we find out how far along we are and possibly what we are having.
I was hoping to enter the intern program in the fall, that is probably going to be on hold until next spring now, because I am due in October. I think it is a little tacky to get a job and then take 6-12 weeks of maternity leave a month later.
So, for those of you that are just hearing about this. We are happy, Alex is still a little wigged out but yes we are happy. I have not had any bouts with morning sickness yet. I am not having any CRAVINGS per say. I am having several things that I want to eat, salads, and bagels. I will do my best to keep everyone up to speed on this and all the adventures that go along with this.
Love you all....
Sara

Visit my new blog!!

2007-01-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

You who know me know that I love to cook. So, why not embrace that? I have a second blog (I know i go from one blog that i posted on 6 times in two years to two blogs???) devoted to food. I called it Happy Healthy Eating. I don't like eating healthy, like sooo many other, because it gets boring. I have started to devise and develop Healthy meals that taste good, are fun to eat and are not boring. So this new blog is where I will talk about all thing foody, recipes, my love of Food Network shows and chefs, kitchen tools and kitchen experiments.
Happy Healthy Eating to ALL in 2007.

Sad News For Charger Town

2007-01-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

There is no joy in Charger town tonight
For the Mighty Chargers have lost out.
With a mythic record of fourteen and two
they went to the post season and lost to
New England and their Patriots.
The game was good, the Bolts took
an early lead of fourteen to three.
In the last quarter the Chargers
fumbled, intercepted and lost the game.
So, our hopes of Super Bowl with the Bolts
are dashed for one more year.

Okay, so that is my little play on my disappointment with todays game. But I still have high hopes for the Saints.

I'm In

2007-01-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

Despite the technical difficulties dealing with the college, I am now in the three classes that I was hoping to get into. With these three classes and one more, I have a full course load this semester. After I finish this semester I will have two classes left in my Teacher Education Credential Program. Also, after I finish these classes, I will be able to enter the Intern Program. When I am in the Intern program I will be able to start teaching, on my own. I am so close now. I can't wait to teach in a real classroom.
Hooray!!

Bureaucracy SUCKS

2007-01-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

We all wonder why it is that ever year or so some college student goes on some killing spree on some campus. Well, wonder no more. It is because of stupid bureaucracies. First you have to go to window A and get this paper signed, then go to Office B and fill out that paper, then go to building P and pay for that paper, now return to Office B t only to find that you were supposed to go to Window A, do all of this just to register and wait in thirty or fourty minute lines each time.
I want to register for two classes that are my pre-requisites for the Teacher Education program. Before I can register I have to have fingerprint clearance through the Federal government, (one trip to the Office of Education and one 60$ money order), then I have to get cleared through the County of Imperial (another trip and another 60$ money order), next I have to get a TB test ( one trip to get jabbed and 20$ to the county health office, and another trip 2 days later to get it checked, then back to the Office of Education to turn that in) Then Back to the Ofice of Education with the 50$ paperwork processing fee, (then I was eligible to be a substitute teacher), now I need to acquire (big word, they say "you gotta get") Professional Liability Insurance. I ask where do I get it, she tells me that she will send me an email because telling me the web address is too long and students have problems with it. So, sends me an email with an address (http://www.nea.org/student-program/), no where on this page does it say anything about Professional Liability Insurance. If you run a search you find something that might be right, but it doesn't matter because I need to talk to one of their insurance specialists anyway, (I can't just buy a policy online and print of proof, Like she told me I could.). I need all of this to try and get into two prerequisite classes for a program that I have already taken four classes from. To further the torture, you have to call the school and get permission to enter these classes. Not for the rest of the classes, just these classes.
Now, you too can understand, why student take rifles into clock towers. Not that I would, but now I understand. I even feel sorry for all the other students.

Happy 2007!!

2007-01-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

New Years is the time that I look back at last year and forward to this year.
Last Year ..

I graduated from SDSU with my BA in English.
I started working as a teacher. Sort of, I started substituting at the middle school.
I went to Ireland.
I had breakfast at Club 33.
I lost 20 pounds.
I read several books. Confessions Of An Ugly Step Sister . Wicked . Both by Gregory Maguire. These books are clever, vivid and brilliantly written Before the Fairy tale stories. I also read House of Mirth and Portrait of a Lady. Classics that have been on the need to read list.
I started donating books to the local Middle School. I look for books when I am at the thrift stores, books that are in good condition and I buy them and donate them to the school. I try to do it about once a month.
Alex and I instated a twice monthly Game Night in addition to our Date Nights. The Date Nights are just that, one night, twice a month; that Alex and I go out. We have dinner, see a movie, and just act like we are on a date. The Game Nights are one night that we stay home and play games. We play Board Games, Card Games and sometimes Computer Games (we have the house wired). We order out and there is no TV that night.
Alex graduated from Canine Instructor Academy.

Wow, when you write it out like that it doesn't look like much. But some of those things are major accomplishments. I am proud of myself and Alex.

This Year....

We both would like to lose weight. My goal for this year is 40 pounds. Alex would like to lose 60.
We are going to get into shape.
I plan to actually be teaching by this fall. Quite possible at the school I have been subbing at.
We will probably go on another cruise this year.
We want to save up lots of money this year, so we can go to Ireland and England next year.
I am going to be good about sending out Thank Yous, Birthday, and Holiday Greeting cards.
I will be good about writing in my blog...(i will try just for you Kevin and Z)

So, that is the looking back and looking forward, in honor of Janus . Janus is the Roman God of Time, he looks both ways into time. He is what January is named for.

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Safe, and Prosperous 2007.

Love Sara

The things that bartering can get you.

2006-07-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

In our every day world, money is king. You can't do anything, get anything or go anywhere without spending any money. Or maybe you can. Enter Kyle MacDonald one year ago he decided to try and trade One Red Paperclip for a house. No, the paperclip wasn't special. But apparently he is. Through a cunning use of Craig's List he has traded his way across the country and with big stars, to finally achieve his goal, a house. The city of Kipling in Saskatchewan traded a 3 bedroom, 1100 square foot house for a speaking role in a Hollywood movie. He has been on Good Morning America and the likes in three countries.
So for all you out there, I guess you still can't get something for nothing, but apparently you can get a 3 bedroom house for a red paper clip.

What happened to Sara?

2006-07-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

What happened is... I was in college. For many of you that is "enough said". Allow me to explain. I was an english major, with a full course load. During the semester I had to read 500-1200 pages of novels a week. So, needless to say I din't have alot of free time. What free time I did have I felt guilty spending online, because "I should be doing homework."
So, what has happened in the last year. In response to my last posting, i don't know if the Long Beach Police ever caught the dog murderer.
I got a new kitten last fall. We named him Stevie Ray Underfoot. Stevie Ray for Stevie Ray Vaughn, because we had seen a cover band a few days before. The Underfoot part of his name comes from the fact that he always seemed to be under foot. He sleeps behind my feet when I am cooking and doing the dishes, and he lays across the middle of the hall.
So he brings the Casa Villagran Menagerie up to 8.
Maxamillion Espresso (He is the little on in the pic. Chihuahua and Papillion) and Cheyenne Elizabeth Princess Muddy Paws (The golden retriever.)

Mica, a five year old American Shorthair, black and grey tiger stripe.
Some of you are saying, "Well that only comes to four." True enough. But, my husband's take home K9 adds one more dog. Then there are the assorted reptiles (notoriously camera shy) Vern, a twenty something box turtle, and Menally, a ball python. (yes, that is a snake. She is already full grown and she is about four feet long.)
Finally, there is the 25 gallon aquarium full of fish. (I count all of them as one) Three angel fish, Hoover, Dyson, and Kirby. A fresh water baracuda (Oooo Baracuda). Two Bala sharks, an eel and two bottom feeders. So yes feeding time is quite an experience.
Other things that happened in the last year. I graduated!!!!!
(hip hip hooray) I graduated from San Diego State University with my BA in English. So, what am I going to do now? I am going back to school in the fall. I live in California, and we have a 2 year credential program. I start the teacher education program in the fall.
That is pretty much the last year in a nut shell... Oh. Don't get me wrong lot's of stuff has happened that is all that I can think of right now. So in further postings, of which there will be more, I will tell you about my current adventures and escapades. Like my upcoming Club 33 visit, my trip to Ireland, and my sister's ongoing participation in a beauty pageant.
Love, The Cheshire Cat

What The Hell Is Wrong With People???

2005-02-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

This poor woman in Long Beach, CA, recently one of her show quality silky terriers was killed. It is insane the world that we live in. I have a small dog, Max, and when we lived in San Diego we had problems with the neighboors saying that he barked constantly. One day, I had stayed home from work and Max was in with me all day. My neighboor came over to tell me that if I didn't "shut my dog up, he was going to kill it." I tried to tell him that Max had been in the house with me all day. So it couldn't have been him. ever since then I was very careful to watch for strange things in my yard. And we moved out shortly after that. This is a crazy world and it isn't right that peoples pets should have to suffer because people can't be civil.
That is all...

Chronicles Of Narnia coming to the BIG Screen a la LOTR style

2005-02-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you that are C.S. Lewis fans or just loved the LOTR series and are witing for another EPIC, your wating now has a goal. The Chronicles Of Narnia; The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. (LW andW) Disney and WETA are doing the first in the series and has optioned the entire 7 book series to be movies. WETA is the company that did the visuals for LOTR, they are responsible for the character creation, the weapons and all the visual stuff not done in the computer.
From what I can tell, they have combined an all star cast and a whole flock of newbies to do this picture. As I said Disney is financing this venture, however as of yet it is not being billed as Disney's Chronicles of Narnia, so it is entirely possible that it is being produced by a disney holding company, does that mean it will have a higher than pg rating? To do it well is to include all the parts of the book including the killing of Aslan and the several battles between good and evil. One can hope that this live action version will be on par with LOTR, we all know this book is capable of it.
That is all for now... I will keep you updated..
Love Me

Warning Disney Freak

2005-01-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

This is just a little warning, I am a bit of a Disney fanatic, child at heart, big kid, all of that. Disneyland is one of my favorite places on the planet. I forget about all my problems, worries and whatever and just act like a kid again. Which as I get older is getting harder and harder. I have a new found respect for my step-father, who always went on the Matterhorn Bobsled ride with us kids. Here is where the respect comes in, my step dad is considerably larger than I am, last time Alex and I were at Disneyland we went on the Matterhorn. We were squished in, every turn, corner, dip and drop, I was slammed into Alex's legs, and my legs were folded up in front of me, so mine got slammed into the hand rail and everything else. I don't know how James did it all those years, except maybe that the person sharing his seat was a five year old.

Wow, the things you remember, I just remembered that the reason i liked the Submarine ride soooo much is probably the same reason my parents dreaded it. It was small, like I was, and they weren't. It must have been terribly clostraphobic ( I know I spelled that wrong) for them.

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled programming of Cookies and Milk.

The trip to Club 33

2005-01-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

OH MY GOD. It was soooo fabulous.

When alex and i got together, he (like many people) had no idea what Club 33 was. For those of you scratching your head. Club 33 is a relatively high class restaraunt inside Disneyland. It is above the Blue Bayou in the Franch Quarter. It has a secret entrance and a very expensive membership, as well as a two year waiting list. Alex has a friend who is friends with somone who is a member and got us in last July, for dinner.

For most people dining in Club 33 is a once in a lifetime event. I have gotten to do it twice now. When I turned 18 a friend of the family arranged for me and my family to have lunch at Club 33. Then I wasn't there for the food. Which was good, I was there for the experience. Which was unforgettable. (Even though I can't remember everything) This time I actually remember everything. I was like a visual, emotional sponge. I soaked up everything I could, took pictures of everything and got to watch Fantasmic from the balcony of Club 33. (the view was through the trees, but still, from the balcony.)

We had a five course meal, with appetizers, salad, main dish, cheese plate, and (to die for) chocolate mouse with Gran Marnier. We all had a drink with or after dinner. I had Frangelico and coffee, alex had a mohito (he is cuban afterall).

Our reservations were for 7:30pm. and we pretty much closed the park. It was so wonderful, the people, the dinner, the evening. If I could change anything about it, I would have remembered my dress shoes, and pressed everything the night before.
I want to do it every year, Alex says once a decade would do him. So I think we will probably do it about once every five years.

2005-01-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Our Trip to Club 33

I'm Not All There Myself...

2004-12-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

Possibly one of my favorite quotes from the 1951 Disney Alice in Wonderland. I love Alice in Wonderland and have an odd collection of books and pictures. The Chechire Cat is just so wonderfully crazy and unique that you have to love him.. Ok being that this was supposed to be a test I guess I should stop ranting for a moment, so I can figure this Blogging thing out...
Love Me