absolutely me

in no particular order...

2009-06-04T22:02:00.012-05:00

Long time since I updated this blogeroo of mine...

So, this is what my Waldorf doll looks like!!! I'm still trying to find a name for her.

In any event, here she is!

Really loved the end result!

I just loved this picture of Cesar. It's one of the very rare ones that he lets me take without covering his face! This is Perla, his bird that we ended up finding out is a BOY... we didn't bother changing his name.

And this year, both Coco and Cesar finished their religious education for the sacraments of reconciliation and communion (Coco) and confirmation for Cesar. We are so proud of both of them! Papa Riordan was Cesar's sponsor, and we were happy to celebrate with his dad and family

I've been craving the days of summer, but we haven't gotten many, so we are making the most of each one we get. As every year, we had Megan's birthday. This year the theme was Superheroes... loved it!

This year all the boys in our block got together to rent a machine to dethach the lawns of all of them. Brian was in charge of getting the machine early in the morning. The super funny thing is, as soon as he came back, around 7, ALL the neighbors started coming out of their homes, coffee in hand, to see the machine. By the time they started this thing, around 8:30, they nearly had a party going on around that thing. What can I say, boys will be boys!

We went to Wild West town, which we love. Coco and Connor had a blast, and I have to say, Cesar was as nice as teenagers are rarely supposed to be! Seriosuly, I felt proud of him, he was helpful and didn't complain at all.

We are oh-so lucky that our good friend uncle Danny is a White Sox fan. He got Cubs tickets for a game, and Brian and I went. It was a nice date night completely out of the blue (thanks Noni, for babysitting!) and even though the game got called out because of the rain, we did have a good time. AND the Cubs won, which is very rare these days :(

Coco made this tie-dye shirt at school. I love that coco is getting all crafty, just like her mother!

My uncle Nathan made this necklace for Christmas a couple of years ago, and I never wore it before, because I didn't have any matching earings. So, I decided to go out and try to get the materials for a matching pair, and this is what I ended up with. I've been using them almost daily now! I really loved them!

And for Coco's birthday, I wanted to make her dress... It's almost like cheating, though, because I bought the fabric already smocked, but the rest of it, anyways... This year Coco decided to go for a Tea Party for her girlfriends, and then a water fight party at home for the boys. We certainly had a blast! I cannot believe she's 8 already!

And for her birthday, she wanted a Kit Kitridge American Girl doll. She has been wearing the matching outfit ever since for any "special" occasion... like feeding the birds and walking the dog.

Finally, for this edition of this long overdue update of the blogeroo, Cesar "graduated" from Jr. High School. He'll be a sophomore this August! We are very happy and very proud of this kid. The last picture is with Mr. Buck, the school principal... thanks, Mr. Buck!

Ok, I promise I'll start blogging like a decent blogger for a change!

About birds and TEA

2009-04-21T23:50:00.008-05:00

Before I start my update... I just had to take a picture of Connor. He is such a BOY!!! I think boys are programmed to be goofy... If you have a boy, I'm sure you have found these kids of scenes, pretty much daily!

Anyways, this Good Friday I participated in The Way of the Cross celebrated at 3 pm in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic we have in Aurora. I was so glad to see such a large group, it kept growing as the minutes went by. It was pretty cold, and as usual, I was not wearing a sweater or jacket, but it was well worth it. We prayed for the babies being killed, for their mothers and for the doctors and nurses that assist them. May God help them all.

As I did this, Noni came to take the kids to decorate eggs. We did decorate some at home on Saturday, too, but Noni's were a lot more dramatic, especially the one with all those feathers!

Coco and Connor found some presents from the Bunny on Sunday morning. After church, we went to Noni and Papa's to celebrate with our family. Uncle Mike made the BEST shish kebabs ever!!! Everything was really delicious, and it was good to see our loved ones.

Then we come to the 15th of April... our TEA parties!!! We had a very nice response for our Naperville, IL TEA party. It was so nice to see people that think alike. Helps you feel a little bit of hope (REAL HOPE! How sad that these beautiful words have been assaulted and deformed!)

Of course, there's always the nutcase that shows up to counter protest... like they don't have MSNBC, CNN and all the other networks to do that!

In the evening, we went to the Oswego TEA party, where our state senator Chris Lauzen was one of the speakers. I loved that Cesar was able to go with me, and he helped his brother hold his sign. We like for them to get involved as early as possible!

This picture was taken last Friday... about the last decent day we had! I LOVE this family that by now feels like our own. They are such good people!

On Saturday, we went to celebrate my sister Marisa's 36th birthday. She and Hilda decided to take our kids for the weekend as a "b-day present to Marisa" (WHAAAAT????) That was very nice, but I still cannot understand why was my sister so intended on torturing herself!

It was a little bit funny that Brian and I just didn't even know what to do. We went "window shopping" to Menards, and went to see new homes... it was just odd not to have to be scolding kids for a change! (THANK YOU HILDA AND MARISA!!!!)

AND NOW, THE STORY OF THE BIRD (S):

Last Thursday, Cesar came back from track practice with a shoebox. I was coming down the stairs talking to my friend Eliza when I saw that he had a parakeet in his hands. I told my friend I had to go to buy a cage and hung up the phone. Cesar explained that he found the bird at the field, it was hurt and couldn't fly, so can we please keep it, pleeeeeaaaaaazzzzzeeeee???

Of course, I'm a total push-over so I said yes, and let's go to Petco and buy a cage and food. So here comes the whole family to get the cage, and food, and toys, and the bone for the beak, and the little branches of some sort-of-herb that they oh-so-need for their digestive system... you know how it goes. So, a couple of dollars more than we expected to spend, we get back home. We chose a name for the bird (female) on the way back, and Nina takes an official family pet status by consensus. We place the cage on top of a black table, Coco and Cesar decorate it and get it all ready. Cesar reaches out for the shoebox... and finds that Nina is now DEAD.

Oh, the humanity! Nicole was inconsolable, so, push-over as ever, I tell Brian, please take her back and get a bird NOW! And as he leaves with Coco in tow, I yell: maybe two, for company!

(the picture of Cesar kissing the bird shows NINA, R.I.P.) So now, Peach and Perla fill our days with songs. With a LOT of songs. This morning, Coco was telling me, "I think they are a little too loud, mom. Do you think we can take them to the garage while we watch Franklin???"

Oh, the joys of parenthood!

Finally back!

2009-04-01T23:39:00.004-05:00

I don't know where in tarnation has time gone. I cannot believe that it's been more than two months since I posted anything. We've just been busy with life, I guess. But, in any event, and in no particular order, a few shots of what we have been up to lately...

This picture was actually taken tonight at Coco's school (Lakewood Creek Elementary) at their Math Madness night. Connor found the books in the library and asked Brian to read to him. I LOVE the Berenstain Bears!

This was two nights ago. Connor was on the stairs and Brian and I were getting pajamas for the kids, when we heard "THUD, PATOOM!" and the scream... We ran to the stairs and he was in the landing, saying that he has a boo-boo on his head. That's always a scary thing to hear. Coco fell on her head when she was 8 months old, and she ended up with a fractured skull... so we were really nervous. But thankfully just a little bit of ice did the trick! Coco wasn't making fun of him, she was just getting her shoes and jacket off!

I was telling Brian a few weeks ago that i wanted a Waldorf Doll for my birthday. I don't know why, I just have been really "craving" a girly, handmade doll. But when I saw how expensive they can be (on etsy, the ones I really LOVED were over 100 bucks!), I decided I was just going to make myself one. So, I found this website and decided to make my own (because I really have NOTHING else to do!). I started yesterday, and I'm hoping to finish this weekend, including some clothes for it... Hope it'll be pretty!

I cannot believe that they are adding to our school (Lakewood Creek) AGAIN! It'll end up being huge by the time Connor gets to go. Coco got lost once already!

Last Sunday, I asked Brian to stop by the store and pick up something he would like for me to cook. But could he do that??? NO!!!! He actually picked up something HE could cook, and called me to the table when it was served!!! Now, how about that for service? It was DELICIOUS!

And a few days ago, the weather wasn't too bad, so we took the opportunity to go to the park and play soccer with Diggy boy, and play on the swings with Maddie and Steven.

And these are a few of the purchases of late... the dinerwear was TOTALLY a bargain! 29 bucks for a service for 6, plus two serving bowls and salt and pepper shakers!

Did I mention before that we are getting more involved with politics in our community? This is a small prayer service we held outside the office of Kay Hatcher. We are hoping that the FOCA doesn't pass the floor in our state senate, so we went to deliver all the signatures we had collected... and we have more signs on our yard, as our good friend Andy Kaczmarek is running for Montgomery Trustee

I am also organizing the TEA party along with other ladies in Naperville on April 15 at 12 noon... I am praying we have a good turn out!

And finally, a picture of my good friend Tracie's birthday party! It was a GREAT party at our favorite pizza place, Aurelio's. All four of us in this picture have become friends after meeting online. Isn't it great? I so hope that one day I will have the opportunity to meet in person EVERY single one of my online friends... especially all of my bloggy friends!

And that's about all for now!

Oh, the Joys!

2009-01-21T21:41:00.004-06:00

Before going to bed, I like to watch a little cartoon with Coco and Connor. It was so nice that tonight we were all able to just sit and cuddle (daddy wasn't working, Cesar wasn't in his bedroom!) and watch Scooby Dooby Doo together. I just felt it was one of those moments when we were all relaxed, talking and mimicking the voices of Shaggy and Scooby, and Connor of course had to sing the theme song for us.

And this is what my neighbor's backyard looked like on Thursday and Friday. Well, it actually still looks pretty much like that! Today was actually a little bit warmer, but we still have loads of snow. A bit annoying by now...

This is just one of those things that remind me of the incredible family the Sweet Lord was kind enough to help me find. Each season, Noni gets a little something for the kids (place mats, cups, straws). But EVERY TIME she gets something for our kids, she also gets an identical item for my ex-husband's daughter, Cesar's sister Sarah. I really, REALLY am so blessed that my family embraces me and my first born as their own. With Brian, very little people even know that Cesar is not his "natural" son. He doesn't believe in the "step" tag. This little present reminds me of one of my many, many blessings.

Since the kids have been housebound for a few days, I just had to give in and get some Play Dough for them to have something to do. Connor was SOOOO excited! He has been playing every day, and I have to say, I am very impressed. he has been so clean and neat about it!

And last Thursday, I banged the big toe on my right foot sooo badly, I thought I had broken it. I went to the Urgent Care Clinic (I discovered we have one down the street, about 3 or 4 miles away, YAY!!!) and they said it is not broken, but pretty badly bruised. I'm going for a follow up on Saturday, because it still hurts a little... The only good thing was having Coco taking care of me. She insisted on fixing me some lunch. We had some left over instant soup from Cesar's days of no eating anything but soft foods, so she brought me a cup, along with a glass of milk (half full, since she couldn't find a tray to bring the food), dessert (two Oreo cookies), a "cup" of water (that is the cup we use for brushing our teeth in by bathroom) and even a candle holder with a poinsettia for decoration. Oh, and of course, Static Guard, since I was soooo electric. How neat is that? Better than any professional Nurse, if you ask me!

And I had a batch of "friendship Amish bread" (you know, that dough that a friend gives you in a zip bag), and I had to give it a try this time. So, on Saturday I went ahead to make banana nut and chocolate chip bread. And who better to help me than my chef assistant??? Connor came to my rescue! The bread was pretty good. The banana nut was a total hit... the chocolate chip was not as good, although our young neighbor Steven loved it, and kept eating and eating it (thankfully!)

And since I had the kids sleep over, Coco, Maddie and I kept doing crafts all Sunday long. They really had a blast, and so did I. I specially loved the puppets by Martha Stewart, they were on sale at Walmart for 75 cents each!

Actually, maybe Steven did have a little too much chocolate chip bread, as today he just couldn't go to school. He had a sick tummy. Or maybe we gave him our cooties, who knows. In any event, he came to spend the day with Brian and I... for a little bit, anyways! I had to go to work, so he stayed with my BORING husband - NOT!!!

This is the place where I worked today. It is the "old" Kane County courthouse in Geneva, IL. I love that place, although I had to work with a very rude attorney... not my favorite one for sure. Tomorrow I have a job I really am not looking forward to do. I have to translate for a patient in his last two weeks of life. He is dying of cancer... I just know it will be a tough job. I'll have to pray to the Good Lord that I can be an instrument for this man.

Lots of hugs and blessings to you and your loved ones!

YUCK!

2009-01-13T21:39:00.007-06:00

We've been having the yuckies this month. We started with Coco on Monday night (Jan 5), right after Brian left for Nebraska. It's tough enough not to have Brian around for a week, when we celebrate the Epiphany Feast on January 6, but having one of the kids sick is really not fun. Coco spent all night long throwing up, poor thing, and I spent it washing carpets. She was so miserable, that I even let her open her Wise Men day (Epiphany) presents at 2 AM, but nothing could make her happy. She had a quizzie tummy until Friday, but she absolutely refused to stay home other than Tuesday. Then on Saturday night, of course, I started feeling quizzie myself. YUCK!!! It feels like I've been in bed since forever! My head still won't stop hurting, but other than that, I guess I'm feeling better today.

(just hoping Connor doesn't get the yuckies!)

On Saturday, I tried to make Rice Krispies treats with white chocolate, pecans and pretzels, but I decided I will NEVER be Martha... It was a disaster. I think they are still sitting on the counter. Nobody has really 1touched them. My friend Maria promised to teach me how to make them... we'll see if that works.

And we had (finally) Coco's Christmas party at school. They had to cancel it because of a snow day last year (ha! isn't it fun to say LAST year when we're talking about just a few weeks ago?). We had lots of fun! I think everybody was happy with the games we played. This was my favorite, the kids were "skating" with those shoe boxes and the over-sized gloves. Fun!

Last Thursday I went with Cesar (and his friends, of course!) to his new high school. It is soooo exciting! I can't believe he's going to high school in August! I am a little bit nervous, since I still don't completely understand the school system in the US. In Mexico, school is a lot different, so I'm not quite sure what to expect. I still don't understand the "senior, freshman" terminology, and in my opinion, they give the kids too many choices. I'm not sure that I was ready to make choices when I went to college, leave alone high school! In Mexico, you are just in High School, period. I hope that I can get used to all these things quickly. It is a good thing that Brian is by my side to help me help Cesar go through this new face. Really exciting!

It's been horribly cold and snowy around here, and it seems like it will continue to snow for a few more days... let's see how we fare! Coco decided on Saturday to go out and bury Miss Maddie's gloves... and then had to go and look for them on Sunday with Steve. Note the fishing net to get to the gloves!

Today I started trying to organize my knitting and sewing projects. by the way, do you know of a good tutorial website/blog/group for totes? I want to sew a tote, but a decent one... just don't know where to go. I looked into a class at Joann, but the class was $75!!! For that kind of money, I'll just go to Etsy and buy a really cute one, and not even bother with all the work!

I hope to feel completely better in a few more days, and come back to this space like a decent blogger! That is one of my resolutions for this year... let's see if I can keep up with it!

EDITED: Connor just started the vomit and diarrea... oh the joy. He's such a trooper, though. Happy camper as can be!

Page Maps Contest

2008-12-30T22:35:00.004-06:00

Just a small little posting for this LO, based on the Page Map by Becky Fleck. I LOVED having the opportunity to scrapbook and play with my goodies!!! I LOVED this sketch!!! And I loved even MORE to be able to use my old stash!!! These are REALLY old papers and things!!!

Can we do it all over again???

2008-12-23T16:21:00.010-06:00

This is really the most wonderful time of the year. From Thanksgiving on, we get so busy preparing for Christmas. We also celebrate Connor's birthday this month. It was very cute to have him blowing his candle (or trying, anyways!). But even cuter is that every other day, he will come over to my scrap room carrying two candles, asking me if we can have his birthday again. So, we go and lit the candles, and sing the "Happy Birthday" song for him. He gets so excited, even if he doesn't get toys every time.

We went to see Santa, of course. There is a small zoo in a town nearby that has a beautiful display of lights. You can drive around to see the lights, and then you can go in and see Santa. Connor was thrilled, but I'm not sure about Coco... I think she was very concerned that she didn't know what to ask Santa for Christmas; she was really mortified. We had to explain that Santa is a real expert in little girls and he would know just what would make her happy.

We also went downtown Chicago to get the kids to see the window displays. I had not done that in quite a while, and it was really the first time we took the kids. Connor was actually not that thrilled. He was downright scared of several of the windows at Macy's. We all loved the manger at Daley Plaza. I was very surprised. It surprises me even more that as of today, nobody has spray painted it, in any other way defaced it, or gone berserk because it offends some religious, gender oriented or animal right group. That alone is like a miracle in itself.

On Christmas eve, the kids baked some cookies with daddy. Now, I was still very busy wrapping some presents for our relatives, so good old store bought dough had to do. We've heard Santa doesn't really mind, as long as there's a glass of milk to wash them down.

Coco was an angel for the vigil mass. She looked adorable!

We came back home to prepare the cookies and milk, and the oatmeal for the reindeer. We usually get carrots for the reindeer, since it seems more healthy, but we ran out of them. Coco even colored a picture of a reindeer to decorate the table, but she made sure that Santa knew he couldn't take it, since she really liked it so much. Santa ended up writing a nice little thank you note on the picture itself. I love taking pictures of that very Holly Night, when all is really calm and silent. It is just magical and mystical. I really, really love this night when our Savior was born.

That Santa is just so kind! Of course, he knew exactly what to get everyone in the house, but I think the happiest of all was Cesar. Santa is very nice and decided he has been showing character and responsibility enough to handle a cell phone (FINALLY!). Cesar was soooo happy, he even let me take a couple of shots of him and the kids both at home and at Noni's, where we went to celebrate. This year I made the ham... but I'm pretty sure it was a little bit of a letdown. Cesar got in the car after dinner, and he said, "I think Noni is loosing her touch a little bit. That ham was kind of dry". I said "Oh, I made the ham, honey". Of course, smart as he is, he said "Oh, you know what I'm realizing? I think I put gravy on it instead of glaze!!! That's what it was!!!". You have to adore this boy.

And even though we had a white Christmas, and had snow to share, that is now gone :( In true Chicago fasion, we went from 0 to 60 within hours, and had all sorts of rain, so all we have left is these pictures...

So, how about you? I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and I hope that the New Year brings blessings to you and your loved ones. Now, we get ready to celebrate the Epiphany and the Three Wise Men on January 6. In the Mexican tradition, they will bring toys to the kids in celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I hope you have a beautiful rest of the season! Lots of hugs!

It's been busy around here!

2008-12-02T22:38:00.007-06:00

Wow! I remember as a girl thinking that Christmas felt like an eternity; a school year was like TWO eternities. I cannot believe how our perception of time changes as we grow into adulthood. It's been so busy around here, it seems like a blink of an eye, and it's Christmas time again.
In any event, this is what our home life has been looking like. Lots of home cooking, and more and more Coco and Connor want to help (of course, Cesar does, too, but he doesn't like to wear the hat and apron). Since Connor didn't have a chef hat, we had to make do with this summer one, and a napkin for his apron...

And just like every year, I love to put up our tree the Sunday right after Thanksgiving. Noni and Papa come over with new ornaments for the kids, and help us decorate the tree (we do everything else before they come). I always cook salmon, and Noni always says "This must be great salmon, because I'm eating it!". Funny that I never remember that she isn't a big fun of salmon, and funny that she doesn't remember she always tells me the same thing ;) My in laws are really awesome. After dinner, we watch a Christmas movie (this year it was Rudolph the red nose reindeer) and then Noni and Papa leave. I LOVE that little tradition of ours. And to make it better, this year it coincided with our 7th anniversary. It was also my parents' 40th anniversary. I was pretty sad that Icouldn't be there with them to celebrate, but they had a nice party in their backyard. How can that be fair??? We are freezing here, and they have a party in their backyard...
Anyways, we always set our nativity scene... I'm wondering how long will this one last before Connor starts playing with it. When Coco was his age, she used to put them all to sleep, and even cover them with towels and napkins.

I'm so happy that I finally bought a tea pot. I know how silly this must sound, but I've always wanted one, and I don't know why I never bought one before (duh!). I just love to make my coffee here. This is one of those little things that make me happy, go figure.

The other thing that makes me so happy, is that I got my new sewing machine. My old one broke just about 12 inches before I finished my Christmas quilt, and I couldn't wait to get a new one. The only problem is, I have never used a computerized one before. This is a pretty simple one, nothing fancy, but I learned how to sew in the old machines, and I am terrified to even start trying this one...Does anyone know of a good tutorial? (Kim, can you help???)

I've also been pretty crafty lately. I am almost done with my Christmas cards (very simple, really nothing fancy!)

And since last year I wanted to make this advent calendar... I really loved the way it came out!

Now, this LO was supposed to be for a challenge on my good friend Kim's blog, due back like on the 24th of November... but I didn't get to finish until a lot later, but I figured I still would post it so she would see I had all the intention to participate... You should go there and visit, and participate, too! She's an AWESOME designer, she gets published everywhere, and she's just sweet and kind!

And, since I'm already at it... A shout out for my friend Kim!!! Last Friday I got happy mail! I LOVE getting happy mail when I least expect it! The week of Cesar's operation (nothing major, just the tonsils) we had a rough week because of the pain, he couldn't do much, so it was just so nice to open my mail and find this from Kim... those ribbons and flowers look soooo good, I could EAT them!!! 9isn't she awesome??) Loved her card... she's had such kind words for me!!

OK, my friends, I think that's it for today! Lots of hugs to all, and thanks for visiting!

Wrestling and other things

2008-11-16T22:36:00.007-06:00

I never, EVER thought that i would enjoy wrestling. I actually HATE these kinds of sports because of how violent they seem. I can't even watch football, because of all the pushing and piling and... I was very surprised at how enthusiastically I embraced Cesar's decision to join his school's team. I thought I would be crying when I saw him the first time, but instead, I was yelling so loud, I'm pretty sure he's sorry that he ever gave me a copy of his schedule. He didn't win on this particular match, but it was a close call. We'll see how much he gets into it.

I love these pictures... Love it when my two boys interact and have fun together. Boy! Cesar IS getting cuter (If I may say so myself!)

Last Friday, Coco and I went to see "Seussical the Musical" with her classmates. It was a very nice play, and I had fun with her friends and her. It is just so awesome to have the opportunity to spend time with her. It was kind of a "date" for the two of us.

Sorry I've been gone for a while. I was sick for a few days, and then the kids were sick, too. Now, Cesar will be going for surgery to remove his tonsils on Friday... poor little thing. I'll keep you posted as to how he does.

Lots of hugs!

So sad.

2008-11-05T06:57:00.000-06:00

Such a sad day for my country.

Tagged!

2008-11-03T23:27:00.002-06:00

I'm usually not very good at doing the tag thingy, because I always FORGET (they call it AGING), but this time I'm sooo miserable in my bed that I need to do something fun before I go insane (stupid allergies!). SO, here's my take on the tag that my good friend Nina Diane has in her blogeroo... Go visit her, she's just a cute, CUTE lady!!!

1. I’ve come to realize that my last kiss was... around 8:30 tonight when Connory-Con-Con-Con went to bed (that's what i call my baby boy)

2. I am listening to… one of my murder shows on TV (Notorious on Bio)

3. I talk… way too much (ditto! Just ask Brian, says I remind him of an oscilating fan)

4. I love… scrapbooking and crafting!

5. My best friend is... ARE... there are a few in a several places... New Lennox, IL; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Turkana, Kenya

6. My love life… is just great!

7. I hate it when people assume… they know who I am just because I am hispanic, OR because they see McCain/Palin signs on my front yard.

8. Love is… wonderful (ditto)

9. Marriage is… an awesome journey and a great commitment! lots of great, loving work, some days great, some others not so great, but always an awesome journey!

10. Somewhere, someone is thinking… McCain can really win, and there is still hope for my beautiful country!

11. I’m always… tired (DITTO!!!)

12. I have a secret crush on… my kids (but I think it's not too secret!)

13. My cell phone… is always nowhere to be found.

14. When I wake up in the morning… I wish I could sleep a little longer

15. When I go to bed at night… I fight it sooo badly!

16. Right now I am thinking about… my stupid stuffed sinus cavities and the pressure behind my eyes.

17. Babies are… worthy of saving!

18. I get on Face Book... daily

19. Tonight I will… I AM... watching and laying in bed

20. Tomorrow I will… go to vote!

Feel free to go ahead and consider yourself tagged if you feel like it!

Just stuff...

2008-10-27T11:14:00.020-05:00

It was Noni's birthday on October 12, but since Brian was leaving that day for Panama, we had to wait to celebrate her b-day when he came back the following weekend. We went for Mexican food at Boca Burritos (if you're ever in Batavia or Montgomery, you HAVE to go to this place). I love it when Coco and Connor can have time to play with them... and love how they are such great sports. Just look at Connor pulling Papa's ears...

Of course, no party or celebration is ever complete unless Brian does something weird. He did start flying soon after he put this on, but I ran out of batteries (HAHA!)

And just a few pix of my weird kids... LOVE this hat, my mom crocheted it for me, and I think Connor looks just ADORABLE in it!

I just LOVEd this picture... these two kids adore each other!

And here is Connor helping mom make some huevos con chorizo... AND frijoles negros (black beans). This is a very typical Mexican breakfast (more like brunch) but I don't cook it too often, since it's a bitsy spicy and Coco and Connor complain about it...

Yesterday, I had a little chance to make a couple of things... a LO about Lladro dolls that remind me so much of my Abuelita Paula, and three ornaments for the kids. They are all a letter C (Coco, Cesar, Connor), but Coco's was the only one I'm showing here...

And this one, which is for a challenge by good ol' Kim (I love that girl!)...

And this is a little challenge of my own: take a picture of the most unusual mess at your home. You know? I just loved seeing this one on our coffee table yesterday. I just had to take a picture and smile... So, what is your weirdest mess at home right now?

I Love October!

2008-10-19T07:06:00.024-05:00

There's something about the crisp air in October that I just love. And pumpkins and scarecrows, and wagon rides, and the smell of burning leaves, and Oktoberfests, and the crunching of the fallen leaves. My favorite thing of all is a nice fire in the backyard, with a mug of coffee or tea or hot cocoa in my hands, a chal on my lap and Brian by my side. Only our firepit really was too old and we had to get rid of it, and we haven't had a chance to go get another one :(

But I still love October. Wish it lasted longer.

I just can't help being in love with this kid. He is so much like his dad. He's just funny and all boy-weird (since you are probably a girl reading, I know you totally understand). I love him to pieces!

Noni came one day with this frozen turkey. I attempted to make turkey once, but even though it looked golden and pretty, it was completely raw inside. AND, I didn't know that turkeys have these little bags with UGLY YUCKY ICKY stuff inside... I learned that after the fact.

ANYWAYS... two weeks ago I had taken the bird out of the freezer, and was thinking of giving it a try, when my back went bananas on me, and I could barely move from the pain. SO, I asked Brian to give it a try. Noni emailed him a recipe, and this was his bird on his FIRST attempt...

I hated that he is better than me at turkey cooking, but I TOTALLY loved the YUMMINESS!!! This was d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s!!! I've been trying to convince Brian that he should be the official cook of the family, but he won't budge.

Brian had to go to Panama on business. Now, if you ask me, Panama DOESN'T count as business. Any trip to a foreign country should have to be counted as a VACATION trip, and the other spouse should get a nice beautiful present like LOTS of scrapbooking goodies from the offending spouse (I know Brian reads my blog, I'm trying to guilt-trip him, blink, blink). Anyways, when he's not here, I just go insane. I LOVE having kids over at the house. It's always a blast. But this past Friday, I thought it's a good thing that Brian was coming back on Saturday, because I was just losing it. This is the crew I had over by the end of the day...

The older kids are too cool for pots and pans, so they were playing with the Playstation. But us, the insane, were on the kitchen floor... These kids were making soooo much noise. It went on for quite a while, until Connor broke the maracas as he was banging them against the pots. I think it was too much chocolate milk...

And then... here's little old me. Last night, as I was sitting here with my good friend Linda, all of a sudden, I get a call from a friend of mine I haven't seen since 1992! WOWSERS! Daniel is a missionary priest, and he went back to Mexico after 13 years working in Cuba. He's been looking for me for a couple of months, but it wasn't until my other friend Ricardo (another missionary priest!) came back from Kenya that they saw each other and exchanged info, and he was able to call me. It is sooo good to hear from my friends! Made me realize that a LOT of my friends are priests now! (long story but it goes like this: dad was going to be a missionary priest -was two years short- so I grew up around boys that were going to the seminary all my life. I met Ricardo, my best friend, when I was 7; and Daniel when I was 13). I thought for a long time that I would be a missionary in Kenya, but life had other surprises for me.

Anyways, Daniel is coming to Philly next week, and he's trying to get things going to come and visit... I'm so excited! He was asking if I had a picture, so this morning I took one. You would think I would AT LEAST comb my hair or wash my face... but anyways, this is me today.

Have a great October! I promise to come and update more often!

2008-09-29T00:13:00.013-05:00

Connor's hair was getting completely out of control. I do not like it when he starts getting this DUCK tail at the back of his neck; that pretty much tells us it's time to cut it. But we DREAD taking him to the stylist. Our good friend Maria cuts our family's hair, but when it comes to Connor, he's just too difficult. So we started taking him to Cutz 4 Kidz (you know, those places with DVD player and bubble makers, and what-have-you-not?), but same thing. He would scream, cry, and try his best to get away from the airplane. So, Anne Victory, his new babysitter, told me last week that she was taking her kids, in case we would like her to cut his hair, too. YES! And of course, did he cry like crazy? No! Did he kick and scream and not let them cut it??? NO!!! I swear, this kid is just soooo good with ANYONE but his MOM! But this was the end result, isn't he cute?

Noni and Papa came back from Mexico, and of course, my parents sent us a few presents: A BEAUTIFUL cross for my collection. This is made with a thorn that grows in a tree in Mexico, which bears thorns in the shape of a cross. It is the only tree in the country with such thorns, located in Queretaro, in an ancient monastery. Legend has it that a friar planted his cane in the backyard, and it started growing. I'm not sure if it is true or not, but I love my cross!

The other thing they sent is a box of CAMPECHANAS (soft ch sound), which are a kind of flaky bread / cookie thing that is DELICIOUS! Funny thing is, they sent a box for my sister... HA! As if!!! I will tell her how delicious they were, thank you very much!

And did I tell you how much I am spoiled by Noni, also??? She came in the other day, with these presents for me... I've been blessed with the best mother in law ever! Love the napkins, they go perfect with the decor! And that centerpiece is just CUTE!

This was one of our first home warming present we got from our friends Ann and Bill Hartford seven years ago. The funny thing is, it was just not growing that nice. It was surviving, but it wasn't thriving. So, this summer I decided to transplant her to this little flower pot, and isn't it cute? I think it's the first time it gives us a flower!

Last weekend, I was kind of feeling a bitsy down (the weather is not helping around here!), so i decided I wouldn't let myself get all depressed! I went out and got a few yards of fabric, got myself a book from the library, and decided I wanted to make a quilt. My neighbor Linda's mom made this GORGEOUS fall quilt for them, and I REALLY want to make one, that was total inspiration... Not sure if I'm doing it right or not, because this is my first time quilting something for real (last year's class was more a sample), but I am having lots of fun!

Finally, the reason I didn't finish at least the top of the quilt this weekend: Diggy Boy was also getting to grow a mullet, so I had to cut his hair. You'd think the Boy would be happy and grateful, but is he???? NOOOOO. He refused to look me in the eye all day Sunday and yesterday. He would just look right past me, and sometimes like right THROUGH me. It's not my fault that he looks like a Chihuahua when I cut his hair! He's just like a teenager. He started liking me again today, when I gave him a couple of treats... yeah, I have to bribe my kids to like me.

On a final serious note, one of my neighbors' mom has been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer today. Please pray for her and send positives thoughts her way. We really like her, and she adores all three of our children. She's always visiting her grand kids, and watches them all ride their bikes.

Hugs!

Happy, happy!!!

2008-09-23T11:13:00.004-05:00

My sister Alejandra is having TWINS!!! She's my second youngest sister, and this is her first pregnancy. Yesterday she got the news that they are having twins, and dad just called to let me know. This is their first kid (set of kids, now!) and she and hubby Oscar are so excited! I am also giggling inside... they have NO CLUE what's coming her way (HA!). Congratulations, you two!!

Noni and Papa are visiting my parents in Mexico. Mom and dad have been inviting them over since they met, there was very good chemistry amongst them. They were going to visit them back in April, but then my grandma passed away, and they had to cancel. I cannot wait to see the pictures that Noni will bring. They arrived on the eve of mom's birthday, so dad had a serenade for mom at midnight. Very traditional, so that my inlaws can get a good feeling of what the culture and the traditions are all about. Noni and Papa are having a good time, and so are mom and dad!

Last weekend, at mass, I really loved the sermon by father Dan. He talked about a topic he confessed even he avoided because of political correctness and because of fear of getting people angry, stepping on too many toes and/or being labeled a hater. He talked about abortion. He finally said it in no uncertain terms: it is wrong. And that made me think about my own silence. You see, I started a blog trying to find a voice for myself. As a matter of fact, I remember those days I was so hurt and horrified when an acquaintance of mine had an abortion because her baby had Downs Syndrome. I was sick to my stomach, but I didn't have many friends to talk to. The only "friend" I thought I had, besides my own husband, is a "progressive", very "educated" "free thinking" person that absolutely agrees with this abomination of a crime that has been legalized. And so, looking for a place to "scream", so to speak, I ended up here in Blog. In all honesty, I didn't even know back then that people go to each other's blogs, and leave comments and such. My friend Tracie was the first person who found my blog about 6 months after I started it (I still have no clue how), and she started commenting, and other people started coming over from her blog and leaving comments. After that, it occurred to me that I could no longer express my points of view with honesty, for fear of being label any of those things Father Dan talked about, and for fear of getting people angry and not coming back. I used self-censoreship, and have been blogging only about the things that seemed "appropriate", but keeping tight lips about the things that are important to me, and dear to my heart.

But today, just like Father Dan did last Sunday, I decided to "reclaim" my blog. I know that most likely nobody will comment to this post, and that is OK. I've found that when something has a hint of politics or religion, many will steer away and stay clear. And that is OK. But I will not refrain myself from keeping this online journal for myself about the things that matter to me today. The things that count. The things I feel passionate about. A true account of what I do and who I am and where I stand.

And so, with that in mind, I share with myself, many years from now, that tomorrow, the Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood will be kicking off 40 days for Life with a candlelight vigil. Our family, or maybe just myself, will surely be there, down on our knees, praying like we have so many times before, so that the murder of innocent babies stops. If you care to, say a little prayer so that the good Lord looks kindly upon this cause.

And that is all for now. Hopefully next time I will also have pictures to share with family and the people who still care to read this humble (and at the same time, very proud) account of who I am.

God bless!

Rainy days and Mondays...

2008-09-15T10:15:00.014-05:00

they do always get me down... but yesterday I was determined NOT to get down at all. So, my handy dandy sewing machine came to the rescue.

Remember what the old pillows on our couch looked like? (and by the way, this is what the house looks like again without Brian... I hate it when he travels...)

Well, these are the pillows now...

Now, if only I could learn how to make slipcovers for my furniture... wonder if it's too complicated? Maybe I'll try to find some tutorial online... drop me a line if you know of a good one!

9.11

2008-09-11T22:26:00.003-05:00

All day long, I had to type this date, and each time I felt a physical reaction in my body. I cannot explain it. It wasn't pain, but it was like a blow of sorts to my stomach. By the end of the day, I was just exhausted of remembering that day 7 years ago. The confusion. The horror. The incredulity. The utter disbelief.

Some would like to forget. Some would like to think it didn't hapen. Some would like to believe that when we are nice, others are nice back to us. Sometimes I try to think like a kid, too. I try to put on rose colored glasses and think that evil does not exist, and it's all relative. And then, things like a date -a simple date, two words: nine eleven- bring me back to adulthood and reality.

Even more sobering, I heard about this today. I had to go online and look for the story, because I could not believe it. And then I knew there is no room for childhood dreams or stupidity and indecision. This is what we are facing today. Makes me sad. Makes me thank our soldiers more than ever. Makes me realize we AREN'T a nation of hatred, despite what some will say. May God bless America the Beautiful. May God help us all understand.

Nabatiye Journal
Hezbollah Shrine to Terrorist Suspect Enthralls Lebanese Children

Happy birthday, Cesar!

2008-09-10T22:18:00.010-05:00

My dad called Cesar today to say happy birthday, and I couldn't put it in better words: May you grow in wisdom, faith and in the grace of God, Cesar. We love you dearly! 14 years old today. Each time more challenging, each time closer to becoming a young man. So scary, yet so promising.

Coco's first "formal" game was last Saturday. She was in paradise, although she was a bit dissapointed that "somebody" kicked her leg... We had to tell her it is all part of the game! She also wanted everyone to pay attention to her game 100% of the time, and Connor would just not obligue...

Connor got this little number at the baby sitter... it wouldn't be Connor without a scar, what can I say. His hair is looking more than Shaggy, but I DREAD the day i have to take him for a haircut... We'll hold out as long as we can. Or maybe I'll just shave him as he sleeps.

Also last weekend I went on a 3 day scrapbooking "retreat" at a Hampton Inn close to home (5 miles or less), but I forgot to take my camera!!! Such a shame! We had a blast, but I'll have to wait for someone to share their pix with me!

Finally , please, please take the time to go visit this blog: Silent Auction For Carol. This is one of those stories that make your heart feel heavy to hear such suffering, but light to see such response. Maybe you'll find something cute and you'll be able to help, too!

God bless you, my friend!

2008-09-03T21:14:00.014-05:00

A few weeks ago, after work, I heard Brian scolding Cesar. (If you don't know it, Brian and I work from home, so my office is just a few steps from the kitchen, so i can hear pretty well) He was starting to sound VERY unhappy, especially because Cesar wouldn't own up to his mistake. OUCH! So, here I come into the kitchen and start listening in:
BRIAN: "What do you mean you didn't take them? Are you hording them? Did you hide them?"
CESAR: "Brian, I didn't take them, really"
BRIAN: "What do you mean you didn't take them? Coco and Connor can't reach them. Mom wouldn't take them, and they did NOT grow legs".
ME: "What are you guys talking about?"
BRIAN: "It's just that we had the gumballs' container almost to the middle this morning, and now, there's barely one layer of them. The only one who could have done it is Cesar, and he won't even tell the truth!"
ME: "Eh... mmmhhhh... did we have those many? I think it wasn't so full, Brian"
BRIAN: "What do you mean it wasn't so full?"
ME: "Well... I kind of have been taking a few through out the day, but I don't remember them being so many"
CESAR: "See, Bri? I told you"
BRIAN: "No, Paula, it is too many that are missing... How many have you taken?"
ME: "Let's see... I've taken like... about 7 servings, and each of them has been about 8 gumballs, except for a couple, that I took like 10"
BRIAN: "WHAAAAAAT??????"
ME: "What do you mean what?"
BRIAN: "Are you kidding me! You chew 70 + gumballs??? Why would you take so many?"
ME: "Well, I would start with two, but the flavor would go away so soon. So I'd grab another two, but they would go flavorless again... I really needed this, Bri. I had a rough day at work"
BRIAN: "Do you know that you consumed 700 empty calories on gumballs alone?"
ME: "I didn't have breakfast or lunch!"
By now, Brian is laughing incredulously and reaching for the leftover gumballs...
BRIAN: "I'm taking these away and hiding them"
ME: "WHAT???"
BRIAN: "Paula, step away from the gumballs"...
At this point, Cesar and Brian are laughing an throwing the gumball container as I try to get it, like some sort of pathetic monkey in the middle... I didn't know where they took them, and I have to say, for the rest of the afternoon, I felt in withdraw.
The following morning, I had to go out for an interpreting job. As I came out of court and turn on my cell phone, I find a voice mail. It's Cesar's very badly disguised voice, with a New Jersey accent, saying:

"Names are not important. I know where the gumballs are. I am willing to cooperate with you if you cooperate with me. For further instructions, check your desk when you arrive home"

As it turns out, Brian found the message on my desk before I could find it, so there went my hope to have my gumballs back. He actually would give me a portion of gumballs for the day (A miser 8 for the whole day, can you believe it???) But just a few days ago, he bought a new container. He put it in the pantry in the same place as always. No locks. No hiding.

I think he gave up. He became an enabler... I think they call it co-dependency.

I need to find a Gumball Anonymous before my last two good molars start to give up...

2008-08-29T01:05:00.015-05:00

This weekend, we went to a farm near our home. It was gorgeous weather, kids were petting the animals... so, I actually escaped for a few minutes and started looking around. I always loved photography, but I haven't taken pictures just for the sake of taking pictures since I was in college, on my last semester of photography (I took three... not that you can tell, anyways!). So, it was kind of nice to look around and catch a few. Not good at all, but at least I felt that kind of "rush" you get as a photographer... it was strange, but a cool kind of strange:

But then, Connor found me again, and it was back to taking pictures of the family...

And of course, there's Coco's first day of school. Connor was so proud of his sister, he would not step aside for the picture. Then, he wanted to "walk" to school, with his backpack on tow... I need to take a stroller next time. He was sitting on the sidewalk, crying because he wanted me to carry him. NOT fun to carry my 30 pound child.

Finally, this time i didn't forget to get Coco signed up for Soccer! She is so excited to be playing... So am I! The whole family went out to see her play. Pretty sure that will not amuse her for much longer, but she was beaming, showing us what she can do...

and sometimes I just wonder...

2008-08-21T14:13:00.013-05:00

WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I WENT OUT WITH THIS????

Yup... this is Brian making an OBSERVATION in our neighbor's backyard... I know I should not take this man out with me like this, but what can I say??? I love my nerdy husband!

Love this park in the Oswego downtown area. But i definitely made a mental note to make sure that Coco wears shorts or a skort next time... dresses kind of get in the way.

We finally got rid of the back wheels in Coco's bike. She is so excited and I still can't believe how much she has grown. She has two more teeth ready to move on...

Cesar came back from his vacation time with his dad with a new friend... he brought a snail. I'm not that thrilled, but as long as I don't see it too often, I guess it's ok. He brought also his magic kit and was entertaining the neighborhood kids with his tricks. Doesn't he look so cute in his tie?

And finally, Coco and I went for hair cuts yesterday, and came back to find Connor sitting on daddy's lap with a paper towel to his upper lip. He found Cesar's razor (with the help of a stool) on the kids' bathroom sink and decided to try to shave his upper lip... poor little thing. And that is why you do NOT leave your home to get haircuts, unless you have a good 12 year old GIRL that can assist your husband and your 13 year old boy to keep an eye on your baby boy...

More summery stuff...

2008-08-12T10:00:00.016-05:00

Not much going on around here... just a very pleasant summer. Loads of chocolate ice cream and back yard fun...

Loads of sleepovers (wake up, sleepy bonehead!), and loads of watery fun...

Loads of friends over and fun places to eat...

Loads of Rings around the Roseys...

Tons of fun faces and new bear-y good new friends...

LOADS of catching Cesar off guard (HA! Take that, no-picture-boy!!!)...

Tons of butterflies on our butterfly bush (they DO work! How about Cesar's pix of this one, huh? not bad for a first timer!)...

And lots of friends that we don't get to see in years! This is Coco's Godmother, Eve. We were sooo happy to see her when she came to visit us over the weekend!...

Blissful... I love summer!

The B-day Boy!!!

2008-07-31T15:08:00.009-05:00

Are these the most beautiful blue eyes? Happy birthday, my Irish red bearded hubby!!! Brian is leaving today for a 3 day golf outing with his friends. He comes back on Sunday, but he will be going straight to the airport, where he will be leaving for Florida on a business trip (poor, poor little thing!)

Ok, now, look closely at Coco's face. Do you see them? She has freckles! Who in the world is tanned AND has freckles??? I guess her Irish side is showing. It's just too cute.

Love Connor playing with spiders and trucks. Just like a boy would!

And here he goes, wearing his big sister's shoes. He's just a monkey

We've been taking time to go to the pool in our neighborhood. Connor is a little bit difficult to go with. He demands to be left by himself in the pool (with a floating vest, of course!), but then he gets mad because he floats around and ends up with his face in the water. I lift him up, he gets mad, I let go of him, his face turns to the water, repeat...

NOT fun...

Finally, aren't these hibiscus flowers just gorgeous? Brian and Cesar did a great job with the garden this summer. They are almost as beautiful as my dad's in Mexico. Cesar has been vacationing with his dad in Chicago for a week now, two more to go. We all miss him terribly, but I know he needs this time with his dad and his family... Hope you all are doing great, enjoying the summer, making beautiful memories. God bless!

Block party 08

2008-07-21T00:14:00.020-05:00

I cannot believe the Block party came around so soon! We had a very nice time with new neighbors... These are Maddy's parents, Sean and Linda, and her big brother Steve. Maddy is Coco's BFF. They are always spending the night over, either here or their home. They are a nice family, we're really happy to have them as our new friends.

And of course, the bike race... we really need to get Coco to use the bike without the back wheels. She was a little too big for the tricycle!

We had our Republican Senator, Chris Lauzen, come and visit. He was so impressed to meet Cesar, he extended an invitation for him to come and visit him to the senate in Springfield. Cesar wants to organize other kids and families in the neighborhood to go as well...

And of course, we had our local heros, the firemen. This fireman, Mike, told me my face was familiar, and I told him that one time, as I was pregnant with Connor, they had to come and get me from my bed, down the stairs and to the hospital in an ambulance. He said, "well, we get so many calls through the year, I can't be sure if I was there". So, I told him, "all I can remember is that I was so very mortified because the house was a mess and I was asking Brian to clean up a little so that they wouldn't see the mess"... and he said, "oh, yes! I do remember you!". Turns out, there are not many freaky ladies like that in town!

Thanks, Mike!

And these are the best block party organizers in the world, Mike and Maria!

AS for me? Well, I usually do not drink, but Mike and Nicole prepared this Margarita for me... and I was THE ONLY person that got an actual GLASS... so I could not turn it down :) Mike used Tequila and Mezcal, though, so I did not go for a refill!

On Sunday, my sister came over to visit with her hubby. Steve seldonly has a chance to come over, so it was great to have them over together! Brian made a killer steak, we had a good time.

Now, do you see my sister here? She's such a doll. She's always perfectly accesorized, and everything matches perfectly. She never has a whole in her sock ;) or her hair undone, and you'll never catch her without earrings. I, on the other hand, was (and still am) a little more on the not-so-well-groomed side of things, to my mom's everlasting regret. If for some reason I do remember to wear my jewelry (usually to go work in court), I won't change it in weeks, because I forget to take it off. I usually get the fluffy thing in the shower stuck in my earrings, necklace and bracelet, but I just forget all over again. I wear the same pair of shoes all summer long (again, unless I have court), and the next summer, and the next one too, until they just fall apart (these are actually the ones I bought last year after my last pair fell apart)

But my dear sister still holds this child-like hope that one day I will become a decent woman that cares about her appearance a little bit more than just for birthdays and Christmas, and for my birthday, she got me these puppies (now I REALLY need a pedicure!):

Now, since my sister's b-day is just one day before mine (On June 25 we are the same age, then the following day I'm officially a year older), and since I didn't get any presents for her b-day, I guess that makes me a not-well-matched AND cheap sister!!! (Happy B-day, my dear, fool of a believer sister!)

Right after my sister left, Noni and Papa came by. We just love our Noni and our Papa!

A few days ago, Noni came to visit. She came in with a 12 x 12 box under her arm. That can only mean one thing: Scrapbooking goodies!!!! She told me she had been watching HSN, so she got this for me:

And it wasn't even my birthday present! I'll have to insist with Papa to get some more channels in their cable service... I'll bet that'll be cheaper! Thanks, Noni!

how cute is this?

2008-07-12T22:28:00.021-05:00

But before the cute stuff, here's what I did today... I spent the day SCRAPPING, YAY!!! I actually had a project in hands. The kids are no longer going to miss Amy's day care, which has taken care of all three of my children since 2003. So, I really wanted to finish a little mini album for her. Here's the mini album:

Coco made the hearts on linen paper, colored with markers and she cut and designed them herself... Mis Amy's favorite color is red, and she loves stars and swirls.

now, for the cute stuff...

Coco came over to my little office and told me about a robin's nest, and how she could see it and see the Mama birdie feeding the little ones. I didn't really pay much attention, because I just couldn't understand what she was talking about. BUT then, when I went outside with her and Maddy (her BFF), this is what I saw:

I'm pretty sure the nest fell from the tree. I feel so nervous that the chicks will be hurt , since there are some wild animals around us. We were very careful, telling the kids to stay very far away so that we don't get our scent on the babies. We could also see the mommy robin waiting for us to leave, so that she could come feed the babies. It was pretty cool, because we could see the worms in the mommy's beak... so neat! After she fed them, she took off. Not sure if you can see the beak of one of the babies up there in this next picture, but it really was pretty. I'm praying that no animals will attack them and they will be alive tomorrow.

Just a little picture of my favorite two year old... This kid has us ALL wrapped around his little finger.

Coco and Maddy are probably the weirdest girls I've ever met. Coco spent the day going back and forth to Maddy's home today (she lives almost right accross the street from us). then, they decided they wanted to spend the night at Meddy's, so there goes the pilgramage to Maddy's with Coco's bedtime stuffed animals and sleeping bag. Around 10, walking comes Sean (Maddy's dad) with both girls, wrapped in their blankets. Coco decided she wanted to spend the night home. So I ask Maddy, "So, are you guys spending the night here, then?", and Maddy asks her dad: "can you please bring me my Panda bear so I can spend the night here???"

Absolutely nuts, I tell ya. And here's Brian, inflating the sleeping bag/mattress for miss Maddy... took him probably 35 minutes!!!

Happy birthday, USA!!!

2008-07-04T08:32:00.011-05:00

We will be having a totally lazy 4th of July. Brian just came back from his trip last night, and I think he must be needing a lot of rest. He's loving his new job, but since he really is very good at "fixing" accounts, every time he fixes one and he's starting to enjoy the fruits of his work, another one gets "broken", so he has to go in and fix that one as well. It's nice that he gets such a good reputation in his industry, and it's great that he gets to know so many new people, because it's always good to have such a network of contacts, but it's really exhausting.

Anyways, a few days ago I went to buy a watermelon, because we all are fans (big time!). We come home, our mouths watering, and we open it to this...

WHAT??? Cesar was brave enough to try it, but I just cannot bring myself to eat some yellow watermelon flesh. It does taste the same, but I just couldn't have more than a bite or two. I'll have to give it a try again today.
And since my friend Kim posted that challenge with ice cream, I was craving COLD STONE, so yesterday I decided to take the kids for some. I love the kids that prepare the treats at this Cold Stone in Oswego (the next town to ours). They are such well mannered, nice kids! They are always in great spirits and make us laugh. (NOT THAT WE GO THERE TOO OFTEN... I'M FAT FOR SOME OTHER FOODS!)

Cesar gets so into his ice cream he didn't even realize I was taking a picture of him (actually, I took THREE!)

And ever since we went to see Kung Fu Panda, Connor cannot stop doing his Kung Fu moves... just look at this...

This is actually my favorite. I call it the I-can't-kick-without-support-"flying"-kick... really frightening. Really.

And yesterday was the last day the kids will go to Miss Amy's day care. She is downsizing for the summer, and will be closing her doors in the fall. So she gave Connor her son's Matthew's (Coco's very best friend since babyhood) kindergarten Thomas the Tank Engine back pack (WOW! did you follow?). He has been wearing it since we left day care.

Finally, you just have to go visit this blog... her name is Loretta, and she is an Aussie. You are going to LOVE her paper crafts. So fresh and unique!

It {was} my birthday!

2008-06-29T07:42:00.008-05:00

And who shows up at our door with these two beauties??? Noni, of course!!! I love Brian's parents, they are the best. Noni is ALWAYS so thoughtful! She brought chocolate, strawberry and lime cake, something for each of us. Brian was insisting on putting all 39 candles on the cake, but I was afraid it would start a fire, so we went for a LOT less than that. Kids helped blow the candles (and eat the cake, of course)

Thank you all for your calls, emails and cards!

Now, you have to go to Kim Watson's blog and PLAY this week with her challenge. It's the PERFECT excuse you need to eat a nice special treat. Actually, the challenge involves ice cream or dessert or something sweet you love. But since I realized I have NO pictures of me or the kids eating any sort of sweets (and I will just STICK to my story), I had my SCRAPBOOK DOCTOR'S permission to prepare my fave, chocolate ice cream with nuts (preferably, pecans!) The above pictures of the kids eating birthday cake DO NOT COUNT for this challenge, as determined by ME.

On my birthday, we started our Financial Peace University Class at a local church. We are very excited about it! Thanks again for the tip, Nester!

Summer Bliss

2008-06-23T22:35:00.015-05:00

This weekend, we had the town's garage sale, and our neighbors had their sale going on. They invited Coco over to sell some lemonade. Other neighbors came over and gave Coco a Kool-Aid sign, so she walked up and down the street with her sign every time he saw any person coming close. They did sell a good $10, and the neighbors were kind enough to split the money three ways

And this is what Cesar and Brian made for me... isn't this just sooo cute? I really love the way this project of theirs turned out!

And then, we had Connor and Digger fetching the ball... isn't that what you train kids for?
I love Connor's idea of a hat. Basically, anything that can fit through his head and/or STAY on his head for half a minute or longer, can be considered as a hat. I really do love how resourceful he is, and how many items fit the bill...

And so, here's probably Cesar's fakest smile ever... but at least he let me take a picture. This morning I noticed that Cesar needs to start shaving his chin, too! That really hit me like a thousand bricks... I started crying. Of course, he finds it very amusing that I cry, so he laughs. One day, I tell him. My avenger will be here sooner than he thinks ;)

Our neighbor's brother built this car (Can you BELIEVE IT???) and he came by to show it off. Of course, everybody wanted a ride! Coco was so shy, but so excited to get hers. I LOVE the car. I must confess, I really wanted to get a ride myself, but I thought I'd really look silly, plus I would probably BREAK IT!

This is my LO for my friend Kim's challenge. I really loved this picture of Nicole... she's really my princess :)

Finally, Brian is gone again :( to Ohio. They gave him a new bigger account (he was handling Macy's), so I feel all lonely... I know he'll be back on Wednesday, but it still feels lonely without him around driving me insane.

Our living room feels so lonely without him playing his PlayStation 3.

TAGGED!

2008-06-18T23:02:00.015-05:00

I was checking SWEET Kim's blog this morning, and I found myself TAGGED! This is a pretty cool photographic tag: 'photographic evidence of places in my home right now'. Since I found it this morning, I took pix in the morning. Should've waited until night, so that it would be a little bit cleaner, but anyways...

This is Brians' Office. It's really a loft on the second floor. The kids have their table and chairs there, and their keyboard... not too bad!

This is the living room. In the mornings, Connor wakes up around five, so Brian or I take him downstairs and get him cereal, and we watch the choo-choo train (Thomas). The baskets contain our mini scrapbooks. The long cable is for the antenna of my xm radio (mother's day present from Brian and the kids!). The other cables on the floor are Brian's Playstation 3 thingies... The beautiful baby boy is ALL MINE!!!

This is our bedroom, just how I found it today at 6:30, when I went to take pix of my bathroom and closet... we love to jump on the bed and yell "wake up, you sleepy bone-head!" when daddy is in bed. If I am the one in bed, though, NOBODY dares. They are just too smart to do that!

This is our closet. The messier side of the folded clothes is BRIAN'S. I simply gave up.

Our vanity area (is that my BRA on top of the laundry basket???) This is embarrasing!

This is our bathroom. On the floor you can see the kids toys. Funny enough, they have their own bathroom, but they ALWAYS have to take their baths here. Except for Cesar, of course!

This is my ROOM! My scraproom! Not too messy, I think! I was just making room for the newest challenge on Kim's blog! :)

Now, this is the kitchen. I'm kind of glad that I took the picture from FAR AWAY, because the kitchen was a disaster zone this morning. This is Cesar's idea of cleanning the kitchen... my mom would not be happy looking at this picture! (SORRY MOM!)

And this is our fridge. I have an organizing kind of obsession, though. I saw the mess that this was, and I could not resist it. I started organizing the fridge immediately. The problem is when that happens at Walmart...

This is my ideal holiday... Tulum, Mexico (pretty close to Cancun). I SO NEED to go to a Mexican beach!!!

My camera's battery died, so I couldn't take a pic of my feet, which were BARE and un-pedicured, so you can really be grateful for that...
Ok, enough for now. Brian already has enough material for my insanity hearing, I don't need to publicly admit to my OCD...

I tag Susan, Nina and Kim - Scrap to my Lu. And if you want to play, just let me know! Lots of hugs!

Happy Father's day!

2008-06-15T23:10:00.010-05:00

This is the little box that we used to wrap Brian's present. I think I just wanted to practice my doodles! I had a blast doing this last night, while Coco and I "pretended" to go out for a girl's night out.
Now after breakfast in bed and taking 3 Excedrin for a KILLER headache, this is the way Brian spent his Father's day:

I Love what he did! He really loves his yard and he and Cesar are working hard this summer. Cesar has also been mowing the lawn of our neighbor Tom. He had a stroke that left him paralyzed, and his wife Claudia has been trying to do the yard... but Brian and Cesar will not allow that. Cesar goes that and cuts the grass, although Claudia will not let him do it for free... It's nice to know that Cesar would do it for free, though!

And I don't know what is it about Brian that draws the neighborhood kids to him, but when they saw him cleaning up, they came over to help him. Actually, Corey saw him driving down the street and said, "Here comes crazy Brian!" and they just helped him sweep the floor and get the sand and dirt into bags. That is just too cute!

Finally, I finished this LO for a challenge on ScrapDragons! I'm going to upload it right away before midnight! It was so much fun to do it. It was inspired by their designer Wendy's LO for Challenge #17, and Laura's LO for Challenge #13. Now, I'm going to try to finish another one due tomorrow, for a challenge on my friend Kim's blog... I LOVE challenges. They make me SCRAP!!!

Sweet days of summer

2008-06-10T21:30:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, I was having a very busy day at the office. Brian came to my office a couple of times, but I had no idea what was he asking or saying. So, I pretty much ignored him. Next thing I know, what's on my desk?

Oh, do I love this man or what!!! I felt so embarrased that I didn't get to help him, but he told me, "well, you cook dinner for me, too, and I don't feel bad!"

Now, I have to say here that my office used to be the garage, and we divided it and turned part of it into an office, but we don't have AC in here. The lights are so hot that during the winter I usually don't need any kind of heating, but in the summer, it can be brutally hot!

Anyways... a little bit later, I realized that my office wasn't hot. I bought a small little fan and placed it inside my office, but it usually doesn't work, it only blows the hot air around. I went on and out of the office two times before I realized that Cesar placed this by my office door...

That thing was bringing in ALL the cool air!!! I was sooo happy! These guys really look after me! At 1 pm, I got a call requesting a Spanish interpreter urgently at the psychiatric hospital where I work from time to time, so Brian had to make dinner, too :)

When I came home, I found my kids doing this:

Yup, that is shaving cream on my dinning table. They were making drawings on it. I have to say, the table looks very shinny where the shaving cream was. I'm tempted to give the rest of it the same treatment. And to end the day, I found this picture in my camera:

Yup, my children are all very proud of their WEIRDAN heritage. This is my super dorky Cesar pretending to be some sort of Star Battle Galactica character...

Love these sweet days of summer... and summer has not even started yet!

I still can't believe it!

2008-06-07T22:18:00.005-05:00

When we moved to this town, almost 6 years ago, I met Hannah. She's the daughter of my good friend Amy Leckinger. When we met her, Hannah was 6 years old, just about Cesar's age. They were friends for several years, and then Cesar became a weird teenager (what can I say! I love the kid, but he's a Weirdan!). Well, last Thursday we had to go out with Cesar, and who came to look after Coco and Connor??? Hannah, of course!!!! Isn't she such a beautiful young lady? She brought Matthew with her, because of course, he is Coco's best friend forever. They made matching best friends forever necklaces, and we were so very happy to see what a responsible nice girl Hannah is.

Not much happening around here. Just plenty of resting time after a very busy week!

My sister asked me to post these pictures of the cakes from Joe and Lynn's weeding last week. They had small cakes on each table, each one different design, and on their table (a table for two), they had the cake with the groom and bride...

Happy Birthday, Coco!

2008-06-03T22:54:00.013-05:00

It's been busy, crazy busy around here. We celebrated Coco's birthday this past Saturday at Build A Bear. I'm not sure who enjoyed the party more...

They asked all of us if we wanted to put a little fabric heart into Coco's bear. We were supposed to rub it on our heart, and head, and those kinds of things, to share our love, our thoughts with her... but seems like daddy had some other things to share as well...

Love how Coco and her cousin Megan get along so well!

Then we had the wedding of Joe, one of Brian's best friends of years, and Coco's Godfather. He and Lynn looked so happy, and we are happy for them. We wish them both the BEST!!

Then, we had Coco's field day at school. We don't have field days at school in Mexico... ok, we do, we just don't call them that! Anyways, I went so prim and nice, with my jewelry and makeup... and then I spent all day under the sun! Soooo sweaty and TIRED! But the kids had fun, they were asking me if I'll go back next year! You betcha!!

Today we had the cake for Coco. It was so nice that Kiana (Cesar's friend) remembered and came to say happy birthday! But Connor had a major COW because he couldn't get the ice cream cake on the fork. i tried feeding him, but he threw a tantrum... agrivated by mom taking pictures.

Finally, I just will NEVER understand why can't guys go to bed... Brian just crashes into the couch and comes up to bed around 1 am... and then he wonders why is he so tired!

Guys, I tell ya! Never try to understand them! ;)

I love you, Sweetheart!

this stinking weather...

2008-05-15T22:14:00.012-05:00

Yesterday when we got ready for school and daycare, it was pretty chilly. The forecast said it would get better, but I've heard that one before... so Coco and Connor were wearing the long pants and sweaters. In the evening, we had such good weather, Coco was not happy with her long pants. They played with our neighbor Collin most of the evening.

So, this morning, Coco refused to wear long pants. The result?

All parents dropping off their kids must have thought I am a VERY bad and irresponsible mother. She was freezing, although she wouldn't admit to it. In my defense, I have to say that in solidarity, I wasn't wearing a sweater, only short sleeves. That way I don't look so bad, just plain coo-coo in the head (what else is new...)

Now, you may think Coco's hair got undone with all the air and the running. But truth is, i don't think Coco has let me brush her hair in the past 4 years. Especially not before school. I also have to say that in solidarity, I didn't do my hair, either (only I'm not going to take a picture of myself attesting to that! That way, you may THINK I'm coo-coo, but you cannot prove it!)

Dropping off Coco, especially when we walk, is very tough for Connor. He was so happy to see her through the window doors, standing on line waiting to go into her classroom

I loved this picture of Connor! Pizza all over his face and all, I just loved it!

And this picture I post just because my family visit my blog, and when they see all the pix of the kids and even the dog, they ask why are there no pictures of Cesar... This is why!

2008-05-12T23:14:00.016-05:00

Last week, we celebrated our nephew Gus' b-day. We went to eat at Giordano's, a pizza place very famous here in Chciago (they have the BEST pizza!!!) I was able to take some pictures of the kids in the car and the restaurant...

Now, somebody should teach this kid some lessons... Believe it or not, this was his best poker face as he was flirting with a beutiful blonde little girl sitting at the table next to ours! It was really funny to see him try not to look like he was flirting. I love my baby boy!
Happy B-day again, Gus!

This is part of the group of neighbor girls that started playing Bunco last week. Next month I'm hosting! I hope I make it as fun as Maria did!

I thought a class at ScrapAddict this weekend. As I walked in the store, the first thing I saw, was the layout I finished on NSD... That was just SOOO COOL!!! I also saw a couple of layouts that I made for a class coming up in June. It was just neat to see my stuff being used at the entrance :)

My class was probably the funnest to date, since it was just two girls taking it, and they both happen to be very good friends Amy and Tracie. Of course, I had chocolate for my "students", like I always have for my classes... it's the best way to scrapbook, with delicious chocolate from a nice handmade place around the corner, called Coco's! Afterwards, Tracie and I went out for dinner. It was a good time!

And finally, these pictures of the kids, starting with Connor. It was hillarious to see him getting dizzy, and poking his eye and crying... He just didn't get it! He kept doing it, too!

This is Coco with Amy's son, Matthew. He is Coco's "Best friend since babyhood". Coco is hillarious when she says that. It is so cute that they indeed are friends and have been ffor a long time now. He's a frequent visitor at our home.

Finally, Cesar and I... the day before Mother's Day. For Mother's day I got breakfast in bed and lots of cards from my kids! We did lots of cleaning and we went to Portillo's with Noni and Papa fro dinner.
Hope you guys are all good and you all had a great Mother's day!

Back... Again, anyways!

2008-05-05T06:54:00.014-05:00

It's been a long couple of weeks around this house again.

Thank you all for your prayers and your good wishes. My Abuelita passed away on Thursday, April 17, so I hopped on the next plane and arrived on Friday for the funeral. Mass was said at this beautiful church:

It's called Iglesia del Carmen, and it was built between 1802 and 1807 by a famous Mexican architect, Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras. This is in Celaya, Guanajuato, where my grandparents lived when they returned to Mexico from Chicago in 1973.

These are my maternal grandparents, Luis and Teresa. Grandpa Luis (I used to call him Grandpa Duck. Can't remember why I started calling him that!) passed away 8 days before Connor was born, so I was not able to go say good bye. He was an extraordinary man. Brian reminds me of my grandpa very, very much. Same silly sense of humor, same kindness of heart.

Most of my dad's sisters went to be with mom (six of the nine sisters are shown in this picture, the rest are cousins, my dad and my sister to his left). It was a great thing to be able to see them all, since it's been years since I saw a couple of them. My parents families are large. My dad had 14 siblings, and the first three or four of his brothers / sisters had 10 or 12 kids of their own. The rest of the siblings had less kids, but not necessarily very few: most 3 to 5.

My mom had 7 siblings, and countless uncles, cousins and so on. We were very close to all of her extended family as well, so I really have lots, lots, LOTS of dear ones all over (we are very spread out, too!). It was a real blessing to see so many of them. This is a picture of my grandparents children and spouses, and their children. just a few, of course, as many couldn't go from the USA, including my family.

I came back that monday, just after Brian left for his two weeks in Ohio and southern Illinois. So I have been really busy trying to juggle the kids and the job and just daily life... I'm pretty sure you know what I mean! Brian finally came back on Thursday night, so I finally have a few minutes to update my dear bloggeroo. I hope you all have been well, and I will be doing rounds to try to keep up with everybody! I love visiting blogs, I've been missing them terribly!

PS.- Before I go, just want to let you know, the scrapbook store where I teach, ScrapAddict, is having an AWESOME SALE!!! They have a 30% off everything (except clearance items), check their online store! All new products from CHA are arriving everyday, go check it out!

Now, this pic is for my good friend Kim. Coco does have a helmet, but for some reason she thinks this is a lot more dangerous than riding her bike. Since we grew up without wearing a helmet, we always forget about it!

One of those rare, rare occassions in which I can catch Cesar without her hands on his face (right after I took this, he took his shirt up and covered his face with it).

Finally, Connor just out of the blue picked up the helmet... Pink looks good on him, actually! Love that little boy!

Spring finally here (somedays!)

2008-04-15T23:51:00.017-05:00

First, thanks for your prayers and good wishes. My Abuelita is not doing a lot better, unfortunately. My mom and her family have been taking care of her at home, and abuelita seems to be more comfortable now, although still very ill. She's not able to speak, open her eyes or move very much. Again, thank you for prayers and good wishes. Please keep them coming.

But life has to go on for me and my family. Spring has been showing up some days now, so I took a couple of pictures of the kids, since now we can pick up Coco again.

When you see this picture, you'd think my sister and Brian don't get along very well, but they do. Actually, Brian is a little too goofy for Hilda (I think), but she loves him dearly just the same. And Brian makes fun of her with lots of tender care ;)

Now here, we were laughing so hard at Coco. She put on her pants inside out, so the yellow things you see there, are her pockets. She's a goofball, her dad's daughter!

Finally, my friend Tracie and I went to a small town nearby to scrap for a couple of days. Nothing fancy, just a couple of days of GREAT company, good food and a nice little town. And we ended the trip with a little shopping at their outlet stores, now how can you beat that! I really enjoyed, thanks Tracie for coming with me!

Not much more going on. I still feel pretty sadden, but very grateful to the Sweet Lord that I have been so blessed. Many hugs to you all, and please keep your prayers coming.

Please, pray with my family

2008-04-09T00:53:00.003-05:00

My Abuelita Teresa, my mom's mom, is very ill. She has been very sick for quite a while now, but tonight I called my mom and she let me know they are pretty much waiting now. I was very, very blessed to have known so many of my grandparents (all of them) and even three of my great-grandparents. I didn't start losing them until now that I am an adult, after i hit my twenties. Abuelita Tere is my last grandparent alive. We know she is suffering with this illness, and her body is a pure source of pain now. All we can ask the good Lord is that He calls her soon. Her faith is so strong, that she is praying and asking to receive the Lord in her heart.
Sorry to bug you with this again. And thank you for your prayers. I know my family will feel the comfort they will bring.
Diligentibus Deum, Omia Cooperantur in Bonum. Romans, 8:28

Back...

2008-04-02T08:16:00.015-05:00

Last Friday, Coco went to have tea with the girls in the family to a BEAUTIFUL SHOP called The Little Traveler in Geneva. It's like an old traditional place to visit, and it's the place to be for any girly girl. I was suposed to go, too, but I had a last minute job to do, so I had to miss the tea party. I arrived for the SHOPPING part. WOW! That's probably the GIRLIEST place I've EVER seen in my life! But we absolutely enjoyed it! Coco bought a tea set for her very first sleep over with one of her girlfriends, Elizabeth. I'm not quite sure who was more excited, her or myself, but we really enjoyed chosing the set she would buy.

Coco and Meghan

Noni, Coco, Ashley and Auntie-Grandma Kathy

While we were there, I found a beautiful cabinet that had all sorts of Lladro figurines. I had to take a picture. Lladro figurines always remind me of Grandma. She used to have this hand carved mahogany cabinet where she kept all her Lladro collection. Her favorites were the ballerinas... They are probably not my style, but I absolutely LOVE the memories they bring to me. Maybe one of these days I will get myself a ballerina, and make a little glass box for it, just to think and be reminded of my Abuelita Paula.

And then, the sleep over. Coco and Elizabeth had such a blast! We had races down the stairs on a sleeping bag. We had pedicures, and make overs, and scary stories... and OF COURSE, the tea party!

Yesterday we had a chance to go outside for the first time in a LONG time!Connor was trying to learn, and Coco was trying to teach, but in the end, I think Connor found it a lot more amusing to throw his tricycle down the driveway

And my sister Hilda came over to visit with her son Gustavo. Taking these pictures was REALLY fiun, Gus HATES my camera! I love these kind of candid pictures...
Thanks for the visit, sister, I just hope that next time you can stay awake LONGER than 2 hours! (she's getting OLD. She fell asleep from 4 to 8, so she came to snore on my couch! We couldn't even listen to the TV!!!) :)
Of course, I'm laughing thinking of my sister's face when she reads these lines HAHAHA!!!

In the blink of an eye ;)

2008-03-13T22:55:00.013-05:00

Well, so much to tell here...

Not quite in the blink of an eye, but things have changed so much in two months, it's just amazing.

We've been working like little bees trying to get the house looking PERFECT, because we saw there were several (and I mean, SEVERAL!) homes in this subdivision for sale. So we were keeping an eye on the market, as well as the house. In two months, the value of our home has dropped about 20 grand! And to make it even worse, the base price of our new house has dropped 30 grand! Of course, the builder doesn't even want to begin talking about it AT ALL!

We had to think about this long and hard, and we had to come to the decision of not buying the house after all. We are so disappointed, but at the same time, we know that we cannot sell our home for less than a certain amount. And we can't get the house sold as soon as we had planned because of it. We have seen MANY homes taken off the market at this time. And the fact that two homes just like ours, right down the street, are down on a price war is not helping. We are afraid by the time they do sell, they will drive the home value around here to the dumpsters.

Now, we are trying to see if the builders will negotiate, but they have been a bit tough. I am pretty sure we will be losing the down payment, and although it's not a lot, it was our very last penny. My sister also decided to back out of the deal, but my sister is the SMART sister when it comes to money, so they signed with several reservations, so they can actually back out of the deal. I have to admit, I was very devastated about losing the money. But thankfully, I have a great family and friends that are always, ALWAYS reminding me of all the blessings I have.

First of all, I felt embarrassed praying to God for money. One of those days, as I was opening my computer at the wee hours of the night, because I couldn't sleep, I was praying to God to please help us get that money back. And as I did, I saw an email from a friend. She keeps us updated of the progress her little girl is doing in her battle against leukemia. She's 6. She was diagnosed last October. I saw the hairless pictures, and the beautiful smile, and I just could not keep praying for money. I had to change my prayer to, please help us find a solution to this dilemma, and please help me accept the outcome. My worries really seemed very, very petty at the time.

Then I talked to my dad about it, and was telling him I am very stressed over it. And dad very, very wisely told me: You know, honey? The GREAT part about the ordeal is this: IT'S ONLY MONEY! And he is absolutely right! It dawned on me, it really is ONLY money. Then, my dad reminded me of one of his favorite Bible passages Romans 8:28 - DILIGENTIBUS DEUM, OMNIA COOPERATUR IN BONUM. It is true. Everything works for good for those who love the Lord. But even better, the Lord loves me a whole bunch more, and I know he will help me get over this rather quickly.

And then, Brian. He is my rock! one of those days I was very down and desperate, I was telling him: I'm tired of us making bad decisions! His response? "You know, Paula, when it matters, we have made the best decisions. We chose to say welcome to Nicole when we didn't expect her. When the minister asked us, we chose to say yes, and here we are, going strong. We chose to have another baby, and Connor is now filling this house with joyful noise. We decided to say yes when your dad needed us, and we took out whatever money we could to help him. No, I think you are wrong. We mostly make good decisions, Paula". Isn't Brian AWESOME? I absolutely love this man. Yes, when we put it into perspective, we've made the right decisions when it has come down to it.

And then Coco, this past weekend, came back from Noni and Papa's. She came in so excited, she ran into the kitchen and told me: "Mommy, mommy! I just saw a wishing star for the first time in my LIFE!" Of course, I asked her what did she wish for, and she said: "I had a very hard time deciding, mom, because I REALLY wanted to have two wishes. My first wish was that I get EVERYTHING I want for my birthday. And my second wish was that everybody in the whole wide world has a happy life. I thought about it, and I thought, 'well, I have lots and lots of toys already'. So, I chose that everybody in the whole wide world has a happy life. Do you think God can grant me that wish?"

Wow. I could not ask for more. I am ever so grateful it is only money that we could (almost certainly will) lose. God blesses me in so many different ways, He surely makes up for every penny!

It may sound like I'm very easily ressigned to this, but believe me, it's been hard. It's just that my friends and family makes it a lot easier for me. My dear friend Carlos said to me the same as my family. It's just money. All you have to do is get to work, and eventually you will have it again. That simple, Paula. So get back to work! (he also happens to be my boss :) I know, I know I sound corny... I guess my life gets pretty corny, even when we are having a "major" crisis.

But in any event, since we had started so many projects, now we are stuck trying to finish each one of them! I finished the chairs, and I got the slipcovers for the couches, so I started some of the pillows... I'll get to the rest SOON! Not sure when will I finish the curtains, it's been a little crazy trying to get the kitchen floor, too! My BIL came to install it (Thanks, Mike!!!). It's just vinyl, but it looked sooo cute! We (ok, ok I, not we, just I) wanted to grout it so it would look more realistic. Now, you may think grouting looks sooo easy on those tv home improvement shows, it's a piece of cake: WRONG! We still can't get the haze out of it, it's been a little bit frustrating. And now we still have to finish painting furniture, and painting Coco's room and ours... the list doesn't end.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with these pics of the few things we've accomplished...

These are the two colors we chose for the house. The yellow is the main color, the burnt orange is just the accent color...

Our new slipcovered chair with one of the pillows ( I LOVED the glittery button!)

One of our dinning chairs,

And finally, Connor trying to find out how to operate mommy's undergarments (I just HAD to take this picture... it's a classic blackmailing photo for our "I'll-embarrass-your-teenaged-highschooled-behind-off-if-you-don't-clean-your-room" photo collection...)

Hugs to you all! May you have a great Easter, Passover or just plain and simple great couple of days!

Still ALIVE...

2008-02-28T00:31:00.004-06:00

... but swamped with fabrics and paint. It's kind of funny, I ordered some fabric online from Joann, and then when it arrived, I really didn't like it. See, I'm making new curtains for the back door (it's one of those sliding doors and we used to have blinds there), new pillow covers (because we got new slipcovers for the couches) and I'm re-upholstering the dinning room chairs. And so, I ordered different fabrics that I thought would match. Very orangy-yellowish, those are the colors we chose for staging the house. Anyways, when I saw the fabric, I was very tempted to return it, but instead, I started the first chair today... And I think it looks AWESOME!!!
I just finished cutting all the fabric for the back of the chairs, tomorrow I'll be busy sewing. Can't wait to see the first one finished. I'm actually getting EXCITED! Bought a couple of lamp shades, too, and I'm almost done painting the tables black (coffee and end tables). Of course, the kids are even faster and they are already chipping at the paint.
Wonder if there's any storage service for kids. Maybe we could pick them up after the house is staged. Or even better, after showing the house. Ok, maybe we could pick them up after they are all ready to MOVE OUT???
Did I just WROTE that OUT LOUD????
Ok, I'll post pictures tomorrow, when I finish at least the first chair. I'm going to crash right now...
HUGS!

I'm a Brat... and some other happenings

2008-02-16T09:21:00.018-06:00

Last night, I was making a mini scrapbook for a nice couple who sent Coco a Christmas present. After a little while, I went to the kitchen for a nice cold iced coke... only to find out we were out. I knew Brian had drank the last one, so I went and asked him if he bought some more, since he was the one who finished the coke. Of course, he didn't. I already knew this, since he didn't leave the house after dinner. It was sort of a passive-aggressive trick I was trying to use on him, but of course, it didn't work. Brian HATES the passive-aggressive approach. He will always tell me he needs me to tell him exactly what I expect or want him to do.

Anyways, I went back to my little office, and kept working. After a while, I decided to go to bed. As I started going upstairs, I stopped and hand had this nagginsation (conversation mixed in with the nagging element) with Brian, as he read on the couch:
Me: "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a glass filled with ice and coke right beside my bed, on my night stand".
Brian (rolling his eyes at me): "Nag, nag, nag!"
Me (with a condescending smile): "Well, don't ever again tell me to tell you clearly what I want if you are not willing to DO what I want". And then I went to bed.

What do I find this morning besides my bed???

And Brian's question when he wakes up? "Was there still ice in the cooler? I put some ice packs in the compartment to keep the ice from melting"

I AM SUCH A SPOILED, SPOILED BRAT!!!! I AM SOOOOO SPOILED BY MY DEAR LORD, WHO GAVE ME THE BEST HUSBAND IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!! I LOVE YOU, SWEET LORD!!!! AND I LOVE YOU BRIAN!!!!!

Now, if you ever hear me complain about my dear hubby, please knock me back into my senses!

And then, the "other happenings":

Connor woke up at 5 (as usual), and we both came downstairs to have milk, cereal and yogurt, like we do everyday. Then, we sat down to watch cartoons together. Then, right around 8, Sponge Bob came on. That is the family's favorite cartoon, so, Connor and I were excited to watch. After a good 15 minutes, though, I realized that Connor wasn't sitting on the floor with his toys anymore, and I also realized that everything was very quiet. Too quiet.

So, I went looking for him in the kitchen, and this is what I found...

Oh, yeah! Did I say before that we are trying to sell this house???

Good thing we had already decided to put new floor and carpet. Now, the range will just have to get some elbow grease, that's all. It's great to have your kids help you decorate when you want to stage a house...

Beyond belief

2008-02-14T21:23:00.004-06:00

I'm still trying to take in this newest masacre. Why? How can we all live amongst this much evil and not see it? How can parents not care what their kids become? How can these beings lose their souls and all hope, and let evil live in their hearts?

I called my friend Amy as soon as I heard. Thankfully she was home today, and not at NIU at class. She's the mother of Coco's "life friend" Matthew, and has taken care of all 3 of my kids. She is now studying for her masters there. I also got an email from my friend Linda, who works in the next building. She was the room parent for her daughter's room Valentine's party, so she left early today.

That made me happy. But I feel such a heavy heart. I can't think what can we do or where can we go to raise our children. A place where God hasn't been banned from schools and from life. I cannot imagine raising my children in this maddness... God help us all.

So happy to have Brian back!

2008-02-12T15:06:00.001-06:00

I mean, seriously: Who wouldn't be happy having this magnificient specimen of a man back home??? I can't be happier, really. These two days working from home are just so nice. Very quiet, we don't get into each other's business. It's just nice to have a chance to glance at him and smile. Life is good.

I love my baby boy. I love seeing Connor doing these kinds of thing. He is the cutest thing

I love it even more when Coco and Connor play and get along so good (and Cesar, too, only Cesar doesn't let me take pictures of him!)

Diggy boy got a haircut, because in the winter I refuse to cut his hair (I'd have to do it outdoors, and I won't freeze out there!) He looks so cute, but oh-so-not-happy! (he hates looking good!)

Coco had a school event on Friday, and I took them to dance a little. It was just AWESOME to see them having so much fun...

Now, we need to get serious here. Need to get the house ready and staged to get it in the market, which has been horrible, as I hear it... Not looking forward to all that work! We're painting and taking just about everything that is not "needed" (i.e. my books, videos, toys, etc) to storage so we can show the house and how spacious it is. We need to order slipcovers for our couches... the whole works. Brian started prepping walls today. I am SOOO not looking forward to this!!!

The new neighbors...

2008-02-02T21:54:00.000-06:00

Last week, Brian came back from his training in Ohio to have our Christmas dinner with my co-workers and the owners of the company I work for. So, my nephew came over to babysit, and of course, my sister came as well. We had a very nice time at my company's dinner, the guys are always a lot of fun, and Brian was his silly self, as usual.
Hilda and Gus spent the night here.

(just in case you are wondering, I'm the fat lady with the short hair... Yup! I haven't been doing the diet thing, and I really don't care to do it at all!)

The following day, we went to look at model homes around the corner (almost literally) from where we live, and she decided to come along. I'm still scratching my head thinking how we went from looking at, to buying one, but by the end of the day, we ended up the new owners of a new home YAY!!! Best part is, my sister called her husband, and in two hours convinced him to buy a new home around the corner from us. So, there goes the neighborhood!!! I'm very thrilled... although very nervous! We need to put our home on the market PRONTO! However, Brian is still in Ohio, and this time around, he didn't come back for the weekend (major bummer!). Hopefully next weekend, when he is SUPPOSED to come back, we can call the realtor.

These are the pictures of the model home we chose...

And this is how close we will be living...

So, anyways, just a few pictures I've been taking of the kids with the new camera. I still need to learn how to operate it correctly, but I have had absolutely ZERO time to do so. And since next weekend I have the class I'll be teaching at Scrapaddict, I'm not quite sure when will I be able to read through my manual, or look for a class...

I LOVED the picture of Connor reading the scrapbooking book...

Boys WILL be boys (forever and ever!)

2008-01-31T23:37:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when your husband is the person in charge of the Christmas decorations:

Every day I find a new thing around the house that should be in one of the Christmas boxes. Jingle bells. Poinsettias. Red velvet bows. Something. I still have to say, it was the BEST feeling to come home to a nicely decorated home. So thoughtful of Brian. Only next time, I'll volunteer to take over...

So exciting...

2008-01-22T23:00:00.000-06:00

I have my new camera! Since I was a little girl, dad taught me to love NIKON cameras. To me, there is no other option. And I found a superdiduperdy GREAT offer at Amazon, so I was able to get my NIKON D40 with a 17-55 ml and a 55-200 ml zoom. YAY!!!! It's been years since I had my SLR, but I still remember the basics. Will need to check my manuals a little bit, since I've never used a digital SLR before.

Brian is leaving tomorrow to Ohio, where he will have his training. I would've gone with him, only SOMEBODY needs to stay with the kids, believe it or not!

So, here are just a few pix that I was able to take with my Nikon... Pretty bad, I know, but at night there's not much that you can take a picture of without the flash...

So happy!!!

I've got a NEW Office Mate!!!

2008-01-21T12:14:00.000-06:00

Brian got the job he wanted, so he will be working from home right along side me!!! YAY! Well, not quite so. We both are pretty loud, so i don't think we could co-exist in the same room. Sooo... we have decided that we'll re-decorate our bedroom so taht we can accomodate his mini office in it. I will be working from my office downstairs. I am very excited. I know I may sound like a geek, but Brian is my best friend and we do get along very, very well. So, I really am excited to have him around.
He will be going to Ohio for his training, probably next week. We'll see how this goes...
Thanks for all your prayers. God is good to us. Even when we don't understand His plans, He takes care of us and looks after us.
Many blessings to you!

Maybe tomorrow...

2008-01-18T01:09:00.000-06:00

Brian has had a series of phone interviews with a company based in Ohio, and yesterday he actually met with them at O'Hare for the interview in person with 3 of the officials of the company. They are calling him tomorrow to "talk numbers" (men are sooo weird when they say those kinds of things. "We'll discuss an offer" or your salary. But no. They're going to talk numbers)

We are hoping this is a good offer, because the best part of the job is that he'd be working from HOME - YAY!!! I'm soooo excited! Actually, we really get along so well, and we have been handling being in the same very small house without stepping on each other's toes, I think this will work fantastically. As a matter of fact, when I get off work and come downstairs, he asks me how was my day, because he has no clue ;)

It will be very, very well received, since we need health insurance SOON (ours will expire by the end of the month). Cesar had mono, probably for the last few months, but we didn't even realize it because his symptoms didn't get too bad until this Christmas break. Makes me feel a little bit guilty, because he did complain about pains and aches, but Cesar has been a hypochondriac since age 4, so I really couldn't know if it was for real or not. He also wasn't doing a lot of homework and his grades really suffered SEVERELY (actually, he has NEVER had bad grades like this before, he's usually an honor student, and this time around I was dismayed when I saw Cs there!!!), but I just tought he was being a teenager and being lazy, so the poor kid has been grounded since December. I'm pretty sure that the illness had something to do with this. And NO, he didn't kiss anybody. That's my story, that's his story and I'm sticking to it!

Connor had a bad ear infection that reached his eyes last week (two other of his little friends had it). And yesterday he was again running a fever, so we took him to the doctor's office today. And what do they tell us? Maybe it's mono! Darn! We're waiting for the test results. Poor little thing has been miserable for two weeks straight now. And he may have a little problem with his private parts, so we'll be seeing the urologist on the 28th. At least Coco only has a good old cold...
Never a dull moment at the Weirdans!
Hugs to all!

just to let you know...

2008-01-14T23:26:00.000-06:00

I've been visiting blogs today, but Bloggeroo doesn't love me today. I cannot post comments any longer. Don't know why he's mad at me. I'll try again later (or tomorrow... most likely tomorrow!)

Happy {Belated} New Year!

2008-01-06T19:13:00.000-06:00

This New Year's Eve, just like all of our New Year's Eves, we played it low key. Our dear friends Bill and Ann invited us over for the most delicious tacos, and the kids played until they were tired and ready for bed. Brian, Bill, Ann, Cesar and Evan (their oldest kid, 12) played a pretty neat game of ping pong, and some pool, and some air hockey. We had a wonderful time, even if we came home early.

Two nights ago, I was recording Coco with my little coolpix Nikon camera, and I set it down, still on and with the lens opened, to look for something I needed. I came back to sit down, and of course, I sat down ON my camera. Needless to say, it is gone, the lens could not survive the ample abundance of my behind. I'm so not happy with myself! I NEED my camera. I really do. Today was the Epiphany Feast, the Three Wise Men day, and of course, I couldn't take pix of my kids opening their presents to upload to my blog. I'll have to wait until I send the roll in, and order a cd. I wanted to go out and get another, but Brian wants me to get a real camera (like a digital SLR), so he wants me to wait a little bit, until he gets a job and we can get a good one. I, on the other hand, CAN'T SURVIVE without a camera!!! I feel like I'm crippled without it, so I really wanted to go out and get just a not too expensive one...

Oh, bummer! I guess I'll wait this week, but I don't think I can last that much longer without one. I am so not happy with myself!!

Until I have a new one, I'll have to post without pix :(

Just a few observations about these days...

2007-12-30T20:13:00.000-06:00

I love to see the snow falling. I can sit and just watch it fall... isn't it pretty?

This is Connor having breakfast. Yes, that is a CANDY CANE that he had for breakfast yesterday. Nope, his daddy didn't see this (Brian already says I am a softy... I'm NOT telling him!;)

And Coco's breakfast? GARLIC BREAD!!! She's kind of weird. Well, what can I say? She's a Weirdan, after all!

And this is Cesar, being as geeky as it gets... He got several gift cards, and what did he go and buy??? LEGOS! The best part, is that he was playing with them. Seriously. He had them fighting each other, and going at each other with their swords. Nope, Coco, Connor, Brian or I were not playing with him. All by himself. Geek.

I found this paper that Coco did at school around Thanksgiving time. It's just the cutest thing. It reads:

"How to cook a turkey from the kitchen of: Coco

Ingredients:
Turkey
Corn
Bred (sic)
Flower (flour)

Directions:
Put them in a pot.
Mix them together.
Bake at 10 degrees for 5 minutes.
Eat with family"

I'd have to add: Call 911 as soon as the meal is over...

And finally, I scrapped today! This is "Beach Buddha". nope, we are not buddhists, we are Christians by the grace of God... but Connor's belly in this pix looks just like a Buddha statue, we were all laughing about it.

If I don't get back to the Bloggeroo before the end of the year, have a very Happy New Year!!! I'll pray for many blessings for you and your family! Lots of hugs, my friends!

Introducing Andrea (and Josecito)

2007-12-28T08:12:00.001-06:00

Let me start by telling you that I have 4 sisters, all younger than myself. And my sister Maria Luisa (the one right in the middle of us five) just checked my bloggeroo yesterday. She's the one who posted the comment in Spanish, and she was complaining (formally) that I don't have any pictures of HER daughter on my blog. And so, although not entirely true (She's in the family picture that I posted back in October when I came back from Mexico), I introduce to you my niece (and Goddaughter) Andrea. Isn't she such a beautiful thing? Her mom and dad are very proud of her.

My beautiful niece is now 15 years old, and the sweetest thing in the whole wide world. She lives in Mexico with her parents, very close to my parents. The first time I ever saw her, it was through the window of the nursery at the hospital, and the nurse was bathing her. She was sound asleep when they started, and she never woke up. She went through the whole bath absolutely asleep, and she remained sleeping after they put the lotion, diapers and clothes on. Talk about sleeping like a log!

We all miss our dear Anerita (she used to live here in the USA up until 2006)

Now, since I only have one nephew left, I might as well just introduce him and avoid my other sister's wrath ;) He is the cutest thing ever, too! His name is Jose Arturo, but I call him Joselito, or "Super Amigo" (super-friend). He is the son of my youngest sister, Mariana and her hubby. He loves the Backyardingans, and Shrek the III. When we were in Monterrey, I bought the movie for him and he watched it day and night! He's 3 years old and he can talk up a storm. I LOVE this kid, too!

Finally, and since I'm already at it, this is my sister Alexandra. She is the second youngest, and she is the only one who doesn't have kids, so that's why I'm featuring this picture of her and her fiance (they got engaged the day I took this photograph, only a little bit later, and with nice clothes and makeup on!)

And so, those are my nieces and nephews (and my only single sister) in a nutshell. I have a very large, insane, beautiful family!

A New Class (maybe...)

2007-12-26T18:26:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to come up with a new class for my LSS, Scrapaddict. I've been wanting to make this exploding box that I saw on {glitter adventure} and now I will take it to the store and see if they pick it up... then, I'll see if somebody wants to take the class! I really loved making it, it was very easy and lots of fun!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T22:19:00.001-06:00

We had a very Merry Christmas. We hope you did, too! May the Lord bless you, always!

Finally two!

2007-12-19T23:03:00.000-06:00

I really can't understand what is it with boys and cameras. Yesterday was Connor's birthday, and I could not take a good picture of him to save my life. We went to the store to buy his present (we didn't have a chance to get anything before!), and as soon as I would call his name, he'd turn his face away from me. Today, I tried to take a picture, and I chased him all over the house, but he'd hide UNDER THE BED!
Papa was pointing out that he is now on the TERRIBLE TWOs, but I had to correct him, for Connor has been at that stage since about 3 months ago. Coco has been at that stage since 2003, and Cesar since 1996, so there's really not much difference amongst all three of my children...

This is another thing I cannot understand about Coco and Connor: they do this

Nope, they don't make ceramic figurines for nativity sets... Do you notice how these figurines are all lined up? Well, both Coco and Connor do this, all the time. They're ALWAYS lining up things. Always. Coco will do that even with her presents on Christmas! I never thought that I could pass them my clean-freak condition to my off-springs, but I guess it is genetic, after all...

And finally, today was a weird day, ending with a lot of fog. Doesn't it look so pretty? I'm glad we don't have to drive anywhere! The street looks just too cute, and the Christmas lights just look amazing in the middle of the mist...

Happy Almost Birthday, Connor!

2007-12-17T22:01:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Connor's birthday, but since Papa will be working, we had a little celebration with Noni and Papa today. Loved the candles noni brought, and we all helped Connor blow them. But I think Connor's favorite thing was the Elmo card that he got from Noni and Papa. Forget about the totally cool present Thomas the Tank Engine game for the WizKidz he got. All he wanted to do was hug his Elmo card. He was giggling and hugging it... really cute.

Happy birthday, my dear baby boy!

Back home...

2007-12-13T19:40:00.000-06:00

Dad was released from the hospital on Tuesday, and is now back home. He still needs to gain some weight, and will need to be very careful with the medications to keep his blood as anti-coagulated as possible. But we're all happy that he's doing better now.

I am also back home with my family, getting ready for the holidays. It was awesome to come back home to the house all decorated by Brian and the kids. As Brian put it, Cesar was in charge of the kitchen and dinning room, Coco was in charge of the nativity and the ornaments she could reach, Brian was in charge of the living room and the rest of the tree. Connor was in charge of playing with the nativity set, the Christmas Village and the ornaments HE can reach. So far, we have two headless village kids, two armless shepards, and earless donkey, and all sorts of ornaments on the floor several times a day. I think he is the most successful of all (can you see his contribution to the village? Love his helicopter in the middle of it...)

This was the note that Coco wrote for me to welcome me back... am I not a lucky woman??? (by the handwritting, though, you would not be able to tell if it's Coco OR CESAR!)

Now we're trying to get back to the swing of things, although I have to say, it has been tough. While my dad was having surgery on Monday (the first one that wasn't very successful), Brian called me to let me know that he was let go from his job... I feel almost relief that is over with. I have never seen Brian so unhappy in my life. And he is such a professional man, that as soon as they heard about it, his last employer called him and asked him to go back there. He's trying to find something different, although it's not easy this time of the year...

It will be a tough time, for a little bit but I really am very confident that the good Lord will look after us, just like he always does. And I absolutely believe it is the company's loss, not Brian's. He's such a great guy, I know we will be ok. We all love each other, I am madly in love with him, our family is just awesome. That is all that matters. We will find a way.

I hope your Christmas season is BEAUTIFUL, and i hope to be back in the swing of things SOON! I miss my blogging friends and my scrapbook pages!

PS.- The banner is our christmas card for this year... I like to hand make them, but this year, I'll be glad if I'm able to send them, let alone make them! Cesar hated the way he looks, but I think he's just adorable with that peach fuss over his lip... my boy is growing FAST! These are some of the take outs... Connor couldn't stay put to save our lives, so I had to go with plan B...

Dad is recovering!

2007-12-05T12:29:00.000-06:00

Doctors decided yesterday to do the catheterism today and injected blood thinners directly into his artery all day long, since they had the inductor from Monday's catheterism still inside dad's leg. Today the operation was successful and they were able to remove the blood clot and clear the other artery as well. Dad asked me to extend his gratitude to you all for your prayers and get well wishes. We are all hoping that his recovery is fast and we can take him home soon.
Thank you, with all our hearts. God listened to your prayers and we can't do anything but give thanks and praise His Holy name!
Love you all!
PS.- Sorry I haven't had a chance to visit blogs at all. Once I come back home (soon, I hope!) I'll be able to visit and thank you all for your support and your prayers. THANKS!!!!!

Not so good news today

2007-12-03T23:20:00.000-06:00

Today dad went through a catheterism, but we didn´t have good news. The blood clot clogging his artery is now calcified, so they couldn´t unclog it. The bad news is that doctors may have to go for an open heart surgery, and he´s too weak now for such a thing. They will let us know tomorrow what is the best thing to do. Please keep your prayers going, so that God´s Will be done, and we have the strenght to accept it.
Love you all

He pulled through!!!

2007-12-01T17:00:00.000-06:00

Thank you all so much for your prayers. Just a brief update: dad came out of the coma! He is still ill and still at the hospital, but we have hope. He still has to undergo a catheterism, but we hope it will go through without incident, but we still ask for your prayers, since anything could happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers and good wishes!!!

Ever so Thankful

2007-11-26T21:11:00.000-06:00

I am very, very sad. My father is very ill in Mexico. He had another heart attack today. As they were trying to stabilize him, he had a second heart attack, and his lungs collapsed. He has been hooked up to a machine since this afternoon, breathing for him. He's stable now, but we still don't know if he will make it out of this one. It looks very serious, and the odds are only 20%. And then we will need to see if there will be any permanent damage both to the brain and the heart. But the doctors are still amazed. He's a stubborn old man. He refused to be driven to the hospital, or to be wheeled in, so he drove and walked in by himself. They couldn't believe he was walking, given his condition. And they are amazed that he's still clinging to that 20% chance. In their book, he should be dead by now.
I am still waiting for my stupid passport, but I've decided to go to my congressman's office tomorrow or to the passports office downtown Chicago, and see what I can do in order to get in a plane to see dad. If worse comes to worse, I'll just have to go to the airport and say "Me no speaky Englich, me illegal inmigrante", and I'll see what the heck do I need to do to get back when the time comes.
But in the meantime, I have to say that I am so grateful to have had this man for my mentor, my guide, my dad. He's far from a perfect guy, I know that, but he's been a great dad. I love him so much. Last time I had to go down there in such a hurry, as I kneeled by his side, I told him how much it hurts knowing I won't be there to say goodbye when the time comes. And he told me there is no need to say goodbye, since we have said it so many times already. And there's no need to say I love you, since we have loved each other so much... and we've made sure we both know it.
Still, the pain is so deep. I know that God's Will could be for my dad to raise from this bed and live many more years to praise His Holy name. But I also have to be realistic, and the odds don't look good. As I'm trying to go to bed, waiting for the day to start, I will say a prayer to our Heavenly Father. It's a prayer of Thanks, for having been so blessed by having such a man in my life. It's a prayer to Honor and Praise the Sweet Lord who gave me such a great father to look after me. It's a prayer asking God that His Will be done, and that I have the strenght and faith that I will need to stand by my sisters and my mother when the time comes. It's a prayer of celebration for a life that slowly comes to and end, and to a new beginning, at the same time. Please, say a prayer with me.
Love you all,
Paula

SO... here's to my sister Hilda...

2007-11-14T12:51:00.000-06:00

My sister Hilda reads my blog off and on, and she's been complaining that there are no pictures of her son Gustavo on it. Which is true, but it hasn't been on purpose. It's just that teenagers don't like posing for pictures, particularly boys. BUT, just to honor her and get her off my back, here goes to my dear nephew...

As for me, I've been a little bit down. I don't like to blog when I'm down, I usually like to wait for better times. But, as it turns out, we had bad news with dad again. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease last Saturday, as I was in the middle of an awesome scrapbook retreat that Jodie organizes twice a year. However, one of the ladies that attends each year was telling me that her husband has the disease, and he's doing very well; they are controlling it with medication.
That made me feel a lot of relief... only yesterday I learned that, in my dad's case, they will not be treating it. The drugs and treatments for it have very serious adverse effects for my dad's blood health, so in order to keep his treatment against the blood clotting he suffers from, he won't be treated for Parkinson's.
Brian was telling me that it is difficult to imagine our parents' death, but it is not his death that concerns me, but the quality of life that he will have. I just can't even begin to imagine to see my dad without control of his face, or his arms, or legs. That is what hurts the most.
Sorry to blog when I'm sad... I guess God will find a way to help dad and my family, either way. Sometimes it just feels a little overwhelming. I need to pray for more FAITH and PATIENCE.

YAY QUILTING!

2007-10-29T06:22:00.000-05:00

I made this in a Saturday class... only took 4.5 hours! (I should be making scrapbooks to sell at the Promenade Craft Show at Cesar's Jr. High... at this rate, I will be selling all the materials I bought, at cost, if that!!!). Love that last picture... Connor's tongue is always sticking out, for some unknown reason...

Because I REALLY have nothing else to do...

2007-10-24T21:44:00.000-05:00

... I started a new craft addiction this week! Well, it's not an addiction yet, but I ALWAYS wanted to learn how to quilt, and today I started!!! Down the street from us, there's a store called A Stitching Good Time, and I finally stopped by and signed up for two classes. Now, I have to admit that I am NOT liking my choice of fabrics, but I am liking the process. It is a lot less complicated than I expected. This is a mini Christmas tree skirt, and I was thinking of using it for our mini trees (we always have one in the dinning room and another one in the bathroom), but I'm not very sure anymore. It really is looking kind of HIDEOUS to me... maybe when I put the edge THINGY and the other STUFF, it will look better. See how technical I already am? And this is just my FIRST CLASS!!!

We went to the park and to pick our pumpkins over the weekend. Seeing the pictures of Connor, I must confess: I AM IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN!!!! (What can I say?? I love all THREE of them!!!)

Hugs!

Above all, God is Good

2007-10-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

I never expected Brian's new job to be so taxing on us, but it really has been. I was used to Brian helping around the house, helping get the kids ready in the morning, helping with their homework in the evenings. But September really was a trying month for us. Everyday I fall asleep by 9 or 10 pm, and I'm up before 6. I know a lot of women do this on a daily basis, but this is my first time doing it without Brian's help and I feel permanently exhausted. Then came October and I got a call. It was that dreaded phone call. By now, all of my sisters have gone to Mexico to live by my parents; I'm the only one left in my dear country. So, on Sunday 10/7 one of my sisters called me with the news that dad was having a heart attack. It's very serious. He's dying. Get down here NOW.

I didn't know that American citizens can't travel by air to Mexico with their birth certificate and an ID any longer, which is the way I always traveled before. As of October 1st, if you want to get on a plane to Mexico, you need your passport. So, I called just about every airline I could think of and they all told me I had to go by land, I couldn't get on the plane without my passport. Not even if my dad was dying.

So, I gathered whatever I could think of, and got on the first plane going out of O'Hare close to a border town, San Antonio. I rented a car there, and started driving to Laredo, where I returned the car and hoped on a cab that took me one block east of the bridge that crosses the Rio Grande. It is the eeriest sensation to cross the border by foot; there's some sort of surreal element to it. I felt like I was on the Twilight Zone. I walked to the Mexican side and got on a bus that took me to the town where I grew up. I arrived on Monday at 11 pm, and I went straight to the ICU in the hospital where my oldest son was born, and I saw dad. He survived the angioplasty, and was recovering moderately fine. "I knew you'd come", he said. I could barely speak.

Because of my dad's blood clotting condition (thrombophilia), the attack became what they call a heart attack in progress. Each time the clot in his aorta would move a little, it would let the heart beat again, and then stop it again. It was like a succession of heart attacks in a row. And they estimated that he was having this over a period of 4.5 - 5 hours, so the doctor was explaining to my family that the permanent damage to the muscles of his heart would be about a 20% at the very least, but he was afraid he would find more afterwards. He was very happy, though, to see that my dad survived the operation. After it, he told my mom he wanted to stay out there and cry with her, because he never thought dad would survive.

But to everyone's amazement, dad recovered so fast that by Wednesday they released him from the hospital. We took him home and made sure he didn't do ANYTHING, which is NOT an easy task. Dad is the most active 64 year old man in the county! He loves to climb mountains and loves taking care of his garden, and going to work bright and early every day. It took a lot of convincing, because they have a very precarious economic situation now. They used to live very comfortably, but my dad's illness has been eating away (fast) all the assets they used to have. So, it was a very hard to get the money to pay his hospital bill. Mexico doesn't have health insurance companies, really; very few hospitals offer a "major medical expenses" insurance, but by the time this was around, dad was no longer eligible (he had the first case of thrombosis 22 years ago, disqualifying him).

So my sisters and I called upon the generosity of friends and family to get the money together. We covered a lot of the bill ourselves, but lots of friends and family contributed. When we called upon them, we were able to attest how much our family is loved in our community. It just doesn't cease to amaze you how the power of prayer can make miracles happen. And how God is always with us. One particular story comes to mind. We called the institute where my dad was studying to become a priest back in the 1950's and 1960's, Misioneros de Guadalupe, and asked for their support. The Superior explained that he couldn't divert money from the missions, but he would find an anonymous sponsor that could support our family. He sent $2,000 dollars. Later we learned that his mother died the day after my dad was released from the hospital, and she gave him his inheritance before her death. This is the money he used to help my family. I still can't even write that without crying tears of joy. He just had his knee operated, and he came to our city, a 5 hour car drive, just to say mass in our home, so dad could have communion, and left afterwards. A true blessing this man was to us.

Our Noni (my MIL) was another true blessing to my family. Without her help, I wouldn't have been able to go to my dad and help out. She came by every morning at 6 to get the kids ready and drive them to daycare, and then she came at night to feed them and do homework with them. My friend Amy, our daycare provider, was also incredibly nice, and refused to charge her regular rate to keep an eye on our kids, even though she had not only Connor, but also Coco to drive and pick up to and from school. She donate that larger portion to my dad's fund. Tracie started a prayer chain amongst our friends, and kept praying for my family until she knew that dad was fine. My sister's MIL-to-be brought sandwiches everyday to the hospital, and let us use her home (two blocks from the hospital) as our family's headquarters. Great, great people that love us and showed their support in one way or another.

I had to come back home this week and I've been calling to ask what the doctor said after the tests to see what my dad's permanent damage will be, and the restrictions he will have. And that's when we again where shown of the power of the Good Lord. On Thursday 10/18, the doctor ran the tests on dad, and after seeing the results, he asked to have the tests done again. He could not believe it. But when he saw the second batch of tests with the same results, he told my parents: "This is nothing short of a miracle. You must really have some job left to do in this earth, because the Lord looked kindly upon you (parenthesis just to say that THANKFULLY, in Mexico doctors CAN SAY the name of the LORD without fear of lawsuits!!!!). The permanent damage to your heart is around 2%. You can go back to your normal activities". I still feel goosebumps when I think about it.

So, that's why I've been away for so long. I have to thank every one of my online friends who have been sending emails and asking how are we doing, showing their concern and love. I didn't have much time to call anyone, or send emails to explain. I'm sorry if I had you concerned! I'm glad to be back with my family and to know my dad is fine now. Thank you for your prayers, thank you for your messages.

Lots of love to all.

The cast is off

2007-09-05T20:22:00.000-05:00

I took Connor to the orthopedic surgeon's office, and he recommended to take off his cast yay!!! He asked to see him again in two weeks if he continues limping, but I definitely didn't see him limping anymore, so I'm thinking this is it.
When we came back home, we had again the visit of Noni and Papa, YAY again! I really love it when they come by just out of the blue, with no other reason than just visit. Of course, they came with all sorts of goodies for us, from fruits to cookies, to ice cream cake, to a new Scraparatus for Coco and me!!! Isn't that Awesome??? Noni saw it on HSN, and ordered it for us, along with some tag dies... very neat! I didn't have one, so it was a very nice addition to my scrappin' tools... THANKS, Noni!!

Since we had plenty of food for dinner, we just invited them to stay over. We had a very pleasant evening, but at the end, Coco came in bleeding from her mouth and crying. It took me a few seconds to realize that her tooth FINALLY came out, so in all honesty, it scared me a little. But after putting some ice on it, and lots of hugs and kisses, she calmed down enough to get excited about the tooth fairy. I had told her that if she was extra nice, the fairy may even leave a chocolate or two, so she went to sleep without a peep.

Feels like now I can sit back and try to get into my new fall schedule... although it's already Thursday. We'll see how the weekend goes.

My 'Holiday' weekend... so far

2007-09-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

On Friday, I received my new scrapping bag... this is just too cute!! I am loving the color and the picture frames. I also got my CraftMates containers, and I can't wait to go to a crop in order to use them for the first time! (Thanks, Jodie!)

Yesterday, I was supposed to go to Tracie's, but I was still feeling under the weather, and thought it wouldn't be such a great idea, so I stayed home. Then, in the evening, when I was feeling a bitsy better, I went to ScrapAddict, since they were having their 20% off everything -anniversary sale (they have been 5 years online with their monthly kit club). As I am walking to the door, this familiar face comes to greet me to the door: "We don't let crazy people come in this store" Elaine Davis (and her friend Andrea)!! She's an online friend I met at... who else's place? TRACIE'S!!! (everything happens at/through/by Tracie! This woman is amazing she know everybody!!!) It was so fun to see her, she is hysterically funny so we were laughing like crazy. She hasn't met Connor or Cesar in person (she met me pregnant). As it turns out, she reads blogs (one of those LURKERS! hehe!!!) mine included, and she wanted to see the acrylic book that I left at ScrapAddict. That really was a GREAT surprise. Elaine, get a BLOG!!! We need to see your child and hear what you have to say!
To make my day even better, Felicia (the store owner) ended up giving me not 1, but 3 free kits and lots of freebies! She is just the nicest person you would want to meet. I love how she, her mom and her store manager make you feel like HOME! She's really an awesome LADY!!! I was just sooo happy! Can't wait to start scrapping, although that may have to wait... These are the kits I got, aren't they CUTE?

I picked up some Chinese food and brought it home. After dinner, Coco couldn't wait to open her cookie. She was pestering about it, really. "Come on, mom! How can I know my fortune if you don't open my fortune cookie?" She was relentless! Anyways, I opened her cookie, and a second later she's yelling with such excitement! "Mom! Look, mom, look! Look how fortunate I am!" She was almost in tears, so happy she was. And this is what her fortune cookie said:

She was really excited, and so was I. He sure does, Coco! Your Heavenly Father sure does!

---------------------------------------------------

Then comes today. Brian and I were cleaning the house so that we could go to the Yorkville Days Carnival at night, since I really wanted to see the fireworks and take the kids. Carnivals are such an essential part of summer for me, and we haven't done that since I was pregnant with Connor. Coco and Connor were playing in the family room, Brian was setting the washer and I was cleaning the cupboards and pantry when we hear Connor screaming. But this wasn't his normal I'm-angry-at-Coco kind of scream. This was something else. So, here we come to find Connor laying on top of the pillows that Coco placed all over the floor. It doesn't look too bad, but he's still crying unusually loud. So, I pick him up and try to comfort him, while Coco (crying her eyes out) is trying to explain what happened. She held him up, and threw him on the pillows, like she sometimes sees us doing on the couch. Ok, so it can't be too bad. She's not all that tall, it wasn't a bad fall.

He seems to be better after a few minutes of consoling, so I put him down on the floor. He tries to walk but he starts limping. WHAT? Then he starts touching his right foot and crying. I put him on my lap again and start touching his foot. And he starts crying again. Then I pay attention and I see that his foot is pretty swollen. We really started to be alarmed, but it was Connor's nap time, so we decide to put him down and see how he wakes up. Two hours later, he's still limping. Darn! So, Brian gets him to the ER. They took X-Rays, but they are not completely sure if it is fractured or not. They placed his foot in a boot-cast, and want us to see a orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday to evaluate him, since his foot is still swollen and he's still limping.

Connor is such a great sport, though. He had a hard time trying to walk with the cast at first, but he is trying a few steps. Just very few, they told Brian not to let him walk very much. Poor Coco! She felt so guilty! We had to explain to her that although we had told her not to hold her brother, this was just an accident, and it's not her fault. We had to tell her about the day she fell from my bed and her Big Brother felt so guilty, too. I think she did feel a little better, and all she wanted to do was help Connor and color pictures for him.

Which brings me to tomorrow... I guess we aren't doing anything tomorrow!

I'm sick like a Dog...

2007-08-30T22:33:00.000-05:00

Why is it that we say, sick like a dog? anyone? No clue here, but I am. Got a major cold, can't breath, chest hurts, head hurts, you know, the WORKS. But I wanted to post these pix of Coco and Cesar's first day of school.
You see, when I posted the news that it would be the first day of school for my kids, that brought Noni that very day to visit. So, I'm hoping this post will have the SAME effect! In all honesty, I LOVE my in-laws. I have been blessed with an awesome husband, and I can also say that I have been also blessed with the awesome parents that raised him to be the man I so much love. When you meet Noni and Papa, you don't wonder why is Brian so fantastic. Both have a special place in my heart, and I TOTALLY love when they just show up at our front door, unexpected. Such a pleasant surprise!
My in-laws have never, not ONCE done a thing to upset me, or have been rude or unkind to me. I am very ashamed to say that the times I've been pregnant, I've been SNAPPY to my dear Noni, and that really has made me feel bad. But thank goodness, she's a loving, forgiving soul, and her heart is BIG like the MOON! So she never held it against me, and attributed it to the hormones (thank you, Noni!)
I'm not trying to score point, really. It's the honest truth... Anyways, and before I start crying (how CHEESY!!!), I gotta report also for my parents, (who SAY they read this blog and whom I also ADORE! I have been blessed on both ends!) that the kids' first day at school was AWESOME! Cesar took the bus EARLY in the morning, and he was magnanimous enough that I could snap ONE picture of him. AS for Coco, we took Matthew with us, and headed to school. Matthew has been Coco's 'bestest' friend since she was 1, but last year they didn't have the same teacher (Matthew was a PM kinder, Coco was morning).
Of course, we found Jakeroo on our way, and all the other kids we always walk with. Coco has many friends from last year and from daycare in her classroom. And I totally loved her teacher, Mrs. Pavelka. Although I think she's very young, she seems so nice and sweet! I'm sure Coco will have a great experience this year!
And so, here they are... and now, back to bed. I hope tomorrow I can STAY in bed all day!

You'd think I'm torturing this boy... Had to open the door and try to snap one more shot! He started running (I give up!)

In stark contrast, Coco gives me the cheesiest smile ever... I love it!

School is starting

2007-08-28T21:06:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow! Summer went by sooo slow for me, working full time. I really, REALLY didn't like this. But now, I'm starting with my part time schedule. It was really bad to have to work all summer long, since there was no time for the kids and fun stuff, but I knew that I needed to give the guys in my office a break, they really needed me.
although we can't really understand most of it. I love seeing him playing pick-a-boo and smiling all the time. Coco is so ready to go back to school, she's been reading up a storm. She's so into her big sister roll, protecting her brother, but also pestering him, as all big sisters should. She also is a master at pestering Cesar. And Cesar... growing pains, that's all I can say. He'sIn any event, these were the fun things about summer: Connor is starting to be a chatterbox, challenging everything he hears from me or Brian, but the truth is some of the things we say, DO stick. I don't get teenagers, but I'm pretty sure my mom never "got" me, either. It's still nearly impossible to take pictures of Cesar and/or his friends.
My sister Hilda left for Mexico, where she will be living, at least for a while. She wants to be close to my parents and help out with grandma, since she fell a few weeks ago and is recovering. But I miss her terribly, and that now makes me the only one here. I still have several uncles and aunts, but my immediate family is all back in Mexico now. Feels kind of strange, pretty lonely, but she will be coming and going, since she's starting a business down there, and her husband is still here. He may be moving down there next year if the business they're starting works out.
I did manage to squeeze some time for scrapping with Tracie this past weekend at the ScrapAddict (I LOVE this store!!!). I took my acrylic book, and the owner, Felicia, asked me if I could leave it as a sample, since she will be getting an order with these books soon, that way she doesn't have to make a sample. And we may even get a class going...
We had a very fun time, and even though I didn't manage to get MUCH done, at least I got started on a couple of projects. Cindy and I will be participating at a craft show in December, and I'm trying to start with little mini albums for this occasion. We'll see how it goes. I don't necessarily think I'll make loads of money, but it will be nice to have a showcase for our projects.
I also started doing a little bit of beading... like I REALLY need to pick ANOTHER thing to spend money! Pretty simplistic, really, no big project to begin with, but I'm liking this. Maybe I'll take a class, I'll think about that one...

And can somebody tell me please what is it about this KATAMARI game that makes guys get glued to the TV??? Brian ordered this one (this is the second version, mind you, he already has the first one MASTERED!) and couldn't wait to get it here... jumped with joy when it came, and has been playing it ever since...

Finally done!

2007-08-18T09:31:00.001-05:00

Last month (or maybe even June!) I saw the most amazing acrylic mini albums. I ABSOLUTELY fell in love with them. I just HAD to give those a try. So, I ordered one and started THINKING about it. I did my research and found this VERY useful class that tells the DOs and DON'Ts for this kind of album.

I thought of working on this the day my friend Tracie came over to visit, but I only chatted away and didn't even touch my project (except to show Tracie the first page, which I had already done). Who wants to scrap when you haven't seen your good friend in AGES? I love this wonderful human beeing that Tracie is, so I had much more interest in chatting than scrappin. I have to say, Tracie pretended to work on swaps, but the truth is she barely finished 4 little journaling tags or something like that. But we did go to my favorite "hole in the wall" Mexican restaurant, and had DELICIOUS garlic shrimp. Then, we went to one of the new lss, which I love, ScrapAddict and had a good time shopping (just a little bit!).

In any event, I didn't have a chance to touch my mini album, or anything else besides the kids and work. But FINALLY, this weekend we had nothing going on and it's been gloomy and rainy, so I decided to finish and this is what I came up with...

I really enjoyed making this book. The pictures are not all that great, but I guess you get the idea. I'll have to make some more of these mini albums...

If you are a crafter of any sort...

2007-08-07T20:57:00.000-05:00

Consider yourself TAGGED. This is your job: Post a picture of your crafting area as you are creating. I just want to know if everybody's space gets as messy as mine!!! I cleaned this are just Saturday. And I've been trying to work on this new mini scrapbook since yesterday, but the mess sometimes I think TOTALLY handicaps me (ok, maybe I'm just NOT very inspired, or this is a little more difficult than I expected).

SO... go to your BLOG and tell me all about your CREATIVE MESS!!! Leave me a link, please!!!

A wedding (and a funeral of sorts)

2007-08-05T22:11:00.000-05:00

Danny boy has been one of Brian's best friends since they were teenagers. And ever since I have known Brian, Dan became my friend instantly. I felt such a maternal instinct towards this big boy that would come and spend weekends with my family, playing all sorts of video games with Brian and Cesar, and just being a great company to us all. So, everytime he would come and tell us about his latest breakup with his girlfriend, we would tell him time and again that he could find someone so much better (don't we all tell this to our friends when we see them in a relationship we think is not good for them???) I just have never been able to understand these relationships where they breakup more than they are together. It's just insane.

But of course, Dan would go back and they would get back together, and he would always tell this girl what our thoughts were. Then one year, my parents and my sister, who is still single, came for New Year's, and so did Danny (he always spent New Year's with us). They hit it off immediately! I was kind of happy and kind of concerned for Danny, since well, my sister was going back to Mexico. In any event, that didn't work out, but it did spark the girlfriend's fear. I guess she realized that Dan could indeed end up with someone else. So that time they got back together, and he proposed shortly after. They still broke up a couple of times, but finally, the wedding was on.

Which brings me to this weekend. We, of course, attended the wedding, but it really was bitter-sweet. I am happy for my friend's happiness, and I am praying with all my heart that this marriage works for him. He is a great guy and deserves it. But on the other hand, I was telling Brian, I felt like I went to bury our friendship. She sooo hates us. I don't blame her. But I'm sad. I know there will be no more visits from uncle Danny, and we will be lucky if we see him for our kid's big days, like first communions. But I really, really wish them the best. And I guess I'll try to keep our home open, and see what happens.

We did have a chance to see friends that we see once every year or two, and I LOVE these guys! They used to be Brian's roomates at one time or another, and the stories they have to tell had me laughing like crazy, I think we were the loudest table in the place! And the wives are just adorable, I really laughed until my tummy ached! It was a lovely outdoors wedding, although it did rain on us most of the time.

This weekend, Connor started on the fever that most ALL boys suffer with Thomas the tank engine. We bought his "official" first set of trains (Noni had given him one for Christmas, but since it's battery operated, Cesar gets to play with it more than Connor) and he's been playing with them all weekend long. And Coco got to do some crafty stuff. And we got to (finally!) go and buy a new bed!!! I am sooo happy about that! This is our third bed since we've been married. This time we went for the Tempur-Pedic one... let's see if FINALLY we can sleep without tossing and turning. They won't deliver it until Friday, and I really can't wait for it to come. I have not been able to sleep weel these last couple of weeks, my back pain wakes me up. We'll see...

ScrapDragon Challenge and a wedding

2007-08-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

For some reason, I just cannot sleep lately. Pretty frustrating, but instead of laying in bed, I got out of bed at 4 and came to my scraproom to try and finish this challenge... I love challenges, they keep me thinking and scrappin'! Thanks ScrapDragon, for the inspiration!

Now, to get ready for Uncle Danny's wedding... Uncle Danny is one of Brian's best friends, and I have come to love him dearly... He is the best and we wish him a great marriage!

Scrapbooking a little

2007-08-02T21:46:00.001-05:00

Just a couple of layouts I've been able to finish. It's just awesome to have CHALLENGES going on everywhere, so that you can keep active and creative with your hobby. Both these LOs were challenges at The Untamed Scrapper, I just love this newly discovered website! Another GREAT new website is ScrapDragon. My friend Gaby and some of her friends have awsome challenges going on, every 1st and 15th of the month, with a NICE prize for the winner! Go check it out and send your LO before the 15th of August for your chance to win!!!

AS for me, I'm on my way to my scrappin desk to start on this one...

JINXED...

2007-07-29T22:22:00.000-05:00

...But we'll get to that when I tell you the end of the weekend.

Yesterday we went to the mall, which is probably Coco's favorite place "in the whole wide world". She thinks that the mall is Build a Bear, so she assumes that every time we go to the mall, we WILL make a bear or other stuffed animal (which is the reason why we only go once every two years. Last Christmas we went, but we were able to NOT pay attention to BB thanks to Santa)

She ended up making a monkey, whom she named CURIOUS GEORGE (is there ANY OTHER monkeys???). We are convinced that Connor does NOT like rides yet like his older siblings. Maybe in a few more years, but this day we had to take him off (not before mom took pictures, of course. Poor little thing)

This morning, we were trying to come up with something fun to do with the kids, and Brian mouthed THE ZOO. And so, the zoo it was. We haven't been there in AGES, so we wanted to surprise Nicole. She asked for clues to the place we were going, and we wouldn't budge. But as we get closer, she starts asking, "are we going to the zoo?" No, we are not. Why would you ask? "Because it says there, Brookfield Zoo". Oh, no Coco! That is spelled backwards, that really is OOZ. We are going to an oozy place, with lots of mud and bugs that ooz yucky stuff (where does Brian get these stories? Where did my in laws take him as a child????). "Are you sure, dad? That sign has a giraffe!" No, hun, I think you are having vision problems. "No, mom, I see very well. People start getting vision problems when they get to be old, like you" (so, how come when I try to be funny, it's not like Brian???)

I love how you have to take hundreds of pictures to be able to get at least ONE decent!!! I took shots at every creature that I came accross with, and just very few are decent shots. But in any event, we had a blast with the animals, and especially with Connor's behavior. He is a BOY, no doubt about that. We would get near an animal habitat, and he would stand up and start roaring fearlessly at the animal. The only thing he was missing was hitting his chest with his fists. The funniest part was when we went to the petting zoo. He went ahead and charged against a goat with his head, and the goat turn her head around and hit him right back. Now THAT did get to him, since he was pushed (fortunately, it wasn't something bad, just really, really funny). He was not happy for a little while after that, but got over it fairly fast.

Over dinner, he said his FIRST words, we were so excited!!! Pretty clear, too: "Thank you". Those are my son's first words. I tell you, God has blessed this home so much. Thank you. How lucky can we get??? That boy is such a joy to have! He was stopping traffic as we walked. Not because of his looks, mind you... just because he would start walking in the middle of the road and people just had to stop, or walk OVER him... it's hillarious to see him "running" with his arm going back and forth like he needs it to go faster.

I am now TOTALLY exhausted and my feet hurt like heck, but very happy that we had so much fun. Which brings me to the jinxing part of this post: My black sandals BROKE today!!!! I was so not happy!!!! The very sandals I was mentioning on my last post, that I have had for 3 years now (as I was checking pictures I realized this!), broke today. We were coming out of the zoo, and I took a pretty bad step that made my foot go sideways. It hurt pretty bad, but I also felt the ripping. I was really not happy, but Brian said "doesn't God love you, Paula? This happens at the end of the day, when we're going home, not when we are just walking in!". Man, this husband of mine makes me get things into perspective! The best part is, had it happened when we first arrived, he would still have found another reason to see why God is good to me, and it's good that I have this man to remind me of this undeniable truth. I love his outlook in life, really. From being mad, I went to being grateful... not a bad way to end the day!

And finally, these are my tanned and dirty feet (I NEED a pedicure!!!) just to show you my tan strips (yes, even I can get sunburn!) and my dirty jinxed shoes :(