The Gonzalez Family Herald

Headlines and commentary from a Northern California family of seven.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

A little boy a little older

You know, it seems like my entire family is having a birthday this month. My sister-in-law had one on June 8. My wife was on June 20. My son is today. My nephew tomorrow. Two of my daughters in a couple of weeks. Man, I am tired.

However, it has been a while since we threw out some pictures, so I figured that a few photos might do my sons first birthday a better justice than any words I could muster up. So, without further ado, here is the boys first birthday photos...


BC - Before Cake

Being cute is hard work, but I can take one for the team

Oooh, this is good...

... you want some?

A happy family of seven

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday my sweetheart
Happy Birthday to you.


I love you. And you are more beautiful today than ever before.

Monday, June 19, 2006

30, right ahead!

OK, it came and gone and did its damage. But now that the dust has settled, everything is back to chaos as usual in the Gonzalez house.

Getting there was a little bit of a task, but it was worth it. Lemme 'splain.

Two years ago I turned 30. I was really feeling in the dumper about being so old and washed up. My wife, God bless her soul, was doing everything she could to keep my spirits up. She lied to me, she cooked for me, she did the laundry. I think she even did dishes in there once or twice. But what really made my 30th a doozie was the surprise birthday party she threw me. It was a looloo, and I thought I should repay the deed.

Surprise parties are not really my thing. A year ago or so I threw my then pregnant wife a surprise baby shower and nearly sent her into premature labor when she opened the door. So I figured that a surprise party was out of the question. So early on, I told her I was throwing her a grown ups only, wine and cheese party with some of her closest friends. She seemed open to the idea and shortly thereafter took over the entire thing. Not that I minded, seeing as putting together a 30th birthday party is a lot of work and she really took it on with vigor.

Needless to say, the last few weeks have been a pain in the a... aaa... achooo. But, now that the big day has come and gone (at least the party part of it), we can rest easy knowing that in just a few days, 30 will come knocking on the door and my wife will answer the door with joy.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

The big 3-0 is a flying down the pipe

So my wife is approaching 30 and the I could swear the world is about to end.

I bet you didn't know that when you turn 30 life as you know it ends and the 'afterlife' actually takes over. Sure, it may seem that everything keeps moving along, nice and nifty as you are used to it. But in reality, at 30, you literally die and move into that life you live after death.

After all, 30 is like forever years long, and after you turn 30, there really is no more need for your existence seeing as you have been around for so long that everything you know is completely outdated.

Well, at least that is how my wife puts it.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

11 Years. 11 Long, Wonderful Years.

A lot can happen in a short time. But even more can happen in a long time.

Take , for example, the span of 11 years. On June 3, 1995, my wife and I got married. We decided to R-U-N-N-O-F-T and git maired. Seriously. We decided on Wednesday, May 31, 1995 that we were going to Reno that Saturday to get married.

It was not a spur of the moment decision. After all, we had been engaged since Christmas of 1994. We knew we were going to get married but we had really never thought of when we would get married. We also wanted to be married before we moved in together. It just made sense to us.

So, sitting at a McDonald's across the street from an apartment complex, we decided that to do things right, we should get married and look for an apartment. Doing things the way I usually do, I went backwards and looked for apartments. And as we sat at the McDonald's, tired from two weeks of apartment searching and sipping milkshakes, I looked over my beautiful fiancee's shoulder and saw a sign for an apartment for rent. How could I pass it up?

We went to what we, er I, thought was that apartment complex. It wasn't. But we did stumble on a nice place, so we applied for an apartment, got accepted, placed a deposit and made plans to get to Reno that Saturday so on Sunday we could move in. And so we did, 11 years ago.

So what can happen in 11 years?
Let's see....
  • 1 Marriage
  • 5 Kids
  • 6 Cars
  • 3 Living Establishments
  • 4 Jobs
  • 2 Businesses
  • Numerous sleepless nights
  • A few marital 'debates'
  • Endless friendships

There is so much more to add to this. But there are so many more things yet to experience that I want to leave room on my list for those. But I will say that after 11 years, I love my wife more today than any other day in the past. And I love my family to the point that I am dumbfounded spontaneously when I see them in the right light.

11 years is a long time, but compared to the length of time I plan on being married, it seems like a mere blink.