The Goos

Cassandra is 5

2010-06-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

We love our beautiful little daughter! She asked Dada to buy her a bouquet of roses for her birthday so he sneaked out to the store when she was asleep to surprise her.

Goo's News

2010-05-20T11:40:00.001-07:00

Here is what the Goo's have been up to lately.

Goo has been working on paper trains. He printed, cut out, colored and taped this train together all by himself following directions he printed. He is now working on a sturdier one made of card stock paper but I think that this one is pretty amazing. The wheels really roll.

Cassandra loves dress up. She found this dress up outfit and the señorita dress at the "homeschool trading post" we went to. She is a little virtuoso on the piano. She can just play about anything I show her and she can play by ear. This morning she was playing a song I have been practicing for my piano class. I asked her how she learned it and she said that she "sounded it out."

Caro Caro loves her Winnie the Pooh blanky and takes it everywhere. She loves to jump and sing "Lina goes up, Lina comes down..." from a song that Tigger sings. She knows about half of the letters in the alphabet and knows her colors and shapes.

Little Petita can stand up now. She likes to look at books and to play "This little piggy went to market..." She still loves that pacifier she got at the hospital when she was born.

One, Two Goo Blog Goo

2010-05-13T17:04:00.001-07:00

A kid conversation I listened to while helping the kids to clean their room:

Carolina (singing) - One, two buckle my shoe.

Three, four pick up sticks.

One, five open the door.

One, four open the door.

Goo - One four isn't right Carolina.

Carolina keeps on singing her own way.

Goo - One four isn't how you say it. One four is a number called thirteen.

Carolina still singing the same way over and over.

Here is my own version for baby Samantha:

One, two baby Goo.

Three, four baby Goo.

Five, six baby Goo.

Seven, eight baby Goo.

Nine, ten baby Goo again.

....it almost works.

Ida-go to Idaho

2010-05-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

The kids and I have been sick for about 2 weeks now. For the first week we just rested but the second week we had a lot to do. First of all we had tickets to go on a train at the Heber Valley Railroad with our homeschool group. So we went on Thursday being sick and ended up being in the middle of a windy snow storm. We had fun on the train but afterwards we all felt worse from being so cold while we were already sick.

Then the next day we had to go to Idaho. Felipe had a physics conference in Pocatello and we had already planned to drive up separately as a family. So we went even though we were feeling pretty bad still. We drove in a big windy rain storm.

Felipe was at the conference on Friday and all day Saturday I just couldn't sit in a hotel with 4 kids all day so we decided to get out for awhile even though we were sick and even though it was very cold.

First we went to the Pocatello Zoo. We were the only people there besides the zoo employees. It was a nice little zoo but it is kind of funny that all of the animals there are native to Idaho. I think that some people put up fences and ended up fencing in some animals and then decided to make a zoo out of it. It was so cold though and we couldn't feel our hands. They had a big play place with a big tree house and a slide. The kids wanted to go explore it so I let them. Below you can see the picture of the big slide. Well the Goo was going to be the first one down it. As he was sliding down both he and and I screamed at the same time because in the midst of his sliding we both noticed that at the end on the slide was a huge puddle of dirty green water. Neither of us could stop him in time and he slid right into it and got soaked. So we left and we got him changed into dry clothes in the car.

Next we decided to go to Idaho State University. We wanted to see the Natural History Museum. We were excited to go somewhere that had heating. We got there and took a picture in front of the sign. Then we went in only to see a big mess with a sign that read - Closed for remodeling.

The kids ran around a little and we visited the bookstore. Then we went back to the hotel to get warm

The girls bought these sunglasses at the zoo. They break just about every 5 minutes.

So the kids just jumped around in the hotel. We got home today. We went to church on the way home in a little town in Idaho. Everybody noticed us at church right away. I think I would like to live in a small town but I don't want to live too far from a bigger town. I just want a big yard without neighbors too close.

Well, since we have been home Samantha's fever has gone back up and Cassandra and I have been coughing. I don't think our little train ride and trip helped us much to get better. We had fun though. I have been to Idaho several times and Felipe has been there once before but the kids were very excited to see Idaho for the first time. They love visiting new states and taking little trips.

Felipe as a Missionary

2010-04-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

Guess who he tracted into? :)

I was scanning these today and felt like sharing a few.

Birthday Week

2010-04-23T22:55:00.001-07:00

Here are the April birthdayees at the beginning of April: Felipe and Samantha

Felipe with the birthday sign that the kids made.

Felipe in his new shirt from his mom and new pants from me that happened to match perfectly.

Felipe with the kiddos on his birthday

Felipe made ice cream for his birthday with liquid nitrogen.

The kids made a reversible banner. This side was for Samantha. I love the backwards D and how they ran out of room writing "Samantha."

Here is my 1 year old baby in the sweater and hat I crocheted for her. She looks like a little doll in this picture.

Samantha opening her presents in the morning. She and the Goo have been sick. She didn't feel well at all on her birthday and I think I only got one picture of her smiling. She was pretty miserable most of the day :(

Taking a birthday nap in a sitting down sort of way with her new blanket

Here is her birthday cake. I couldn't decide what to put on it all morning. Then I saw the cover of a nursery rhyme book with the cow jumping over the moon and decided to try it. It kind of looks more like a pig jumping over the moon though and I forgot to fill in the white parts on the cow-pig. It says "Happy 1st Birthday Samantha (Le Petita). We have nicknamed her Le Petite - but usually just call her Petita.

Close up of the cake "cow"

Samantha eating her cake
She is a very neat eater. I only had to wash her hands and dab her mouth to clean her up. She didn't get any in her hair and only a tiny bit on her clothes.

Goo took this picture of my new haircut. I finally got all of my highlights out from 2 years ago.

So the next birthdays are the June birthdays that are almost a birthday week - My birthday is 8 days after Cassandra's. Then we have Carolina in August and that ends birthdays for 6 months until February. So we have 6 months with birthdays and 6 months without birthdays.

2010-04-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

Felipe and I have been laughing about this comic strip for a few days. (from www.snoopy.com)

2010-04-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

Kids at the Lake

We took the kids ice skating. They all did great.

The Goo made this snowman. (It is Dada working on his laptop.)

It has been looking like this for the last few days.

Today the kids and I cleaned their room. It took all day. The four of them share a room. It is a very big room with room enough for a bunk bed, toddler bed, a love seat couch (it is a couch bed that is only used as a bed when we have company), a long dresser, a desk, 2 stand up dressers, 2 wooden toy boxes, a train table and a rolling cart with doll stuff. It has two small closets as well. There is still room to play inside. However it is hard to keep clean. We took out a whole bag of trash (mostly just scribbled on papers, old coloring books, broken crayons and some broken toys.) We took out a whole bag to donate to DI of old toys and stuff. Then we had a bag of things that should be downstairs and another bag of clothes that don't fit or are too wintery. The room looks empty now compared to how it did this morning. I hope it stays clean for awhile but I am sure tomorrow there will be toys out again and then the Easter Bunny will leave that grass in the baskets that gets everywhere and will be all over their carpet for the next month.

We organized the dolls. The dolls now have their own drawer for doll clothes and their own drawer for doll accessories like doll bottles and doll carriers in the rolling cart. We keep the dolls in a big tub container and now only dolls can go in it - not all of the doll stuff. The kids now have a box to put drawings in that they want to keep so they don't pile up all over. Samantha has her own toy box of baby toys now. Well, she did before but for some reason when we cleaned it out it was full of trains and dolls and books. The Goo's train tracks finally seem to all fit in his closet and toy box. Felipe came home and took pictures of their room and closets so we can remember how we had them organized when they aren't organized anymore and so we can remind the kids how we had them organized when they aren't organized anymore.

Felipe took the three big kids swimming so I could have a break. I am taking piano through BYU Independent Study. I love my class so far. I actually am practicing for an hour a day. I have tried to really learn how to play well for so long. I think independent study is best for me since I learn better independently. I have to send mp3's of my playing to my professor. So I practice the same things over and over before I record them. Cassandra will listen to me practicing and when I am done she sits down at the piano and plays them by ear. Yesterday she heard Beethoven from one of Samantha's baby toys and then was able to play it. Felipe prints her music of songs she likes and prints the letters on the notes. He taped the letters on the piano keys so she can begin reading music.

April is birthday month here. Felipe and Samantha both have birthdays coming up. Goo wants to get Samantha a baby movie called "Baby Loves Trains." It looks like a Baby Einstein type movie. I need to take the kids shopping for Dada's birthday soon. They are so excited to have 2 birthday cakes the same week.

So I should probably get to practicing now...

Two Years Later...

2010-03-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

I have been adding labels to my blog, a search thing to search for things in my blog and just kind of cleaning it up tonight. I found this old tag in my drafts. My friend, Sandy, sent it to me over 2 years ago. I thought I would finally finish it and publish it. (There is an episode of "I Love Lucy" where Lucy decides to finish everything she starts...This post made me think of that)

What time is it ?
12:31 am

What's your full name ?
Nancy Goo

What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a Theater ?
Harry Potter 5 (I haven't been to see a movie in a theater since 2007?? I am more of a watch a movie at home comfortably type of person - and really not much of a movie person nowadays anyways.)

Place of birth
California

Favorite Food
Chocolate milk or Instant Breakfast

What's your natural hair color ?
Brown

Ever been to Alaska ?
No

Have you ever toilet papered a house?
Yes

Love someone so much it made you cry?
Yes

Been in a car accident? Was it your fault?
Yes - Many car accidents - only 1 was my fault

Croutons or bacon bits?
Croutons

Favorite day of the week
Friday (I like Tuesdays too)

Favorite restaurant
Black Angus maybe (Just for their chocolate cake) or Brick Oven. I don't really have a favorite restaurant to be honest.

Favorite Flower
Red Rose

Favorite sport to watch
Ummm..... Can I count the Winter Olympics???.......if not then soccer (only if it is the world cup) or college basketball

Favorite drink
Chocolate banana shake

Favorite ice cream
Cherry chocolate

Disney or Warner Brothers
Disney

Ever been on a ship ?
Not really a ship - More like a big boat thing to an island in Chile

What color is your bedroom carpet?
I don't know (kind of a grayish color - we didn't choose the color)

How many times did you fail your driver's test ?
None

What do you do when you are bored ?
Clean the house

Bedtime
About 11

Favorite TV show
I Love Lucy

Favorite time of year?
Fall

What are your favorite colors ?
Red and Tan (Not together though - or I will look like I work at Target)

How many pets do you have ?
0 (We actually have 2 triop eggs in an aquarium project for kids waiting to hatch and ants on the way for our ant farm. A garter snake family lives in our backyard. Our fish died :(

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The rooster????Over a fence??? (Felipe told me to write that???) (He told me to write that 2 years ago when I first started this post)

Have you ever been to Hawaii ?
No

Have you been to countries outside the U.S. ? Which ones?
Yes, Chile, England, Mexico

Time this survey ended
12:49 am (Time for bed)

Shopping

2010-03-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I try not to shop until Felipe can stay home with at least two of the kids. However his schedule is pretty rigorous right now and so I just brave the stores with my four tiny kids. Grocery shopping works with Samantha in the front of the cart now that she can sit up, Carolina in the basket, and Felipe and Cassandra walking. When the cart gets full and Carolina is tired of sitting on groceries she gets to walk (or run, since she really never walks). This is the hard part - keeping track of all three of them and the cart with the baby and shopping at the same time.

Today we braved the mall. I have a sit and stand stroller - meaning Samantha sits in the front and the other three sit and stand in the back. It just has one seat but my kids are so small that I can squish two on the seat and have one stand right in front of the seat and push all four around in the stroller. The hard part is keeping all four in the stroller.

After spending about 30 minutes at the Disney Store and then another 30 minutes at a toy store I felt like it was my turn to choose a store. So we went into one of my favorite clothing stores and the minute I let go of the stroller the three kids in the back of the stroller ran in three different directions and hid in the clothing racks. I couldn't see any of them but I could hear them screaming and laughing. They would see me or each other and scream and laugh and run into another clothing rack. It was a more "sophisticated" type clothing store where kids popping out of the top of the clothing racks and screaming just doesn't seem like a good idea. I really wanted to see the clearance racks though so I tried my best to gather up the kiddos and get them back in the cart - which was no easy task because the minute I would get one in, the others would jump out. Finally I got all of them cornered.

This is what I said to them in a very nice voice - I just spent an hour at the Disney store and at the toy store. I was very nice and waited for you all to look at toys and things that you like. Now I get a turn and I would appreciate it if you could stay in the stroller and let me look at a few things I like.

I honestly didn't think that would work, but it did. They immediately sat in the stroller. waited patiently and talked in calm voices. Unfortunately Samantha started screaming now so I didn't get much time to really shop, but the other three kids did their best to calm her down and play with her. They also tried to help me shop and pointed out a few things that they thought I would like - like sunglasses, socks, scarves, etc.

It was still hard to shop but I love that my kids know how to take turns and share. They are the best and I actually enjoy shopping with all four of them even with all the work it is!! (And I did get three great sweaters that I can't wait to wear.)

Smiling Faces

2010-02-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

"The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable." -Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

---I probably need to incorporate this quote. I just got grouchy at the kids for jumping around the room while I am sick. I think I should have laughed :)) Now they are unloading the dishwasher for me just to be nice and I feel bad :( and need to go give hugs.

Tag - "We gotta look legit..."

2010-02-19T22:23:00.000-08:00

What was I doing 10 years ago:
February 2000...I was dating Felipe, breaking up and getting back together, working as a bilingual assistant in an elementary school and working on my BA in Spanish. Wow, I worked from 8am-1 pm ever day and then went to school from 3:30pm-8:00pm every night - with a 30 min. drive home. I don't know how I handled that schedule. I love my schedule now :)

Five snacks I enjoy:
1. Instant Breakfast
2. Triple chocolate mushy brownies
3. Homemade right out of the oven chocolate chip cookies
4. MnM's
5. Saltine crackers with sharp cheddar cheese and mustard

In the real world:
1. ...crocheting and knitting all the time now - hoping to someday be "good" at them.
2. ...homeschooling my kiddos. We have a lot of fun on most days.
3. ...hanging out with people younger than some of Felipe's former high school students - that is what happens when you are still in school and our age.
4. ...thinking I am as young as they are until I realize what year our friends were born in (I was already baptized.) and having Felipe tell me I am not as young as I think I am as I sit and try to knit.
5. ...missing going to young single adult dances tonight after hearing a few nostalgic songs - wishing they had old married adult dances...

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Build a big house with a gym inside (meaning like a church cultural hall for the kids to run and play in - not a gym with exercise machines ) and a library - with a big yard and maybe a chicken or a pony.
2. Buy an expensive sewing machine and maybe just buy the whole fabric/craft store or at least everything in it.
3. Pay a lot of tithing and donate a lot to things on the tithing slip :)
4. Help kids and babies somehow - not sure exactly how since I don't have a billion dollars.
5. Start my own scholarships.

Five jobs I've had:
1. Paper girl
2. Burger King OT and FM (order taker and food maker)
3. Driver and subpoena deliverer all over So. Cal.
4. Smith's Warehouse Muffin Conveyor Belt Person
5. Teacher

Three of my habits:
1. Staying up too late.
2. Waking up too late.
3. Talking to other drivers while I drive (Pretty much telling other cars what to do and what not to do - even thought they can't hear me.)

Five places I've lived:
1. Riverside, CA
2. Syracuse, UT
3. Salt Lake City, UT
4. Punta Arenas, Chile
5. Osorno, Chile

What do you want others to get from your blog:
Maybe a laugh...Maybe a good quote...Maybe help falling asleep....

Now I'm passing this tag along to:
Carolyn , Jean, and anyone else who feels like being tagged - you're it

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

This is actually the second picture Felipe and I took together (taken on May 24, 1999). The first was taken about 2 hours before this picture.

I love the month of February for a lot of reasons. February is short and sweet. It doesn't drag on forever. I like February weather. Felipe and I met at the end of February in 1999. We became parents in February. We used to get two Mondays off of school in a row when I was a kid - now it is just one.

Our first Valentine's Day was in 2000. We ended up breaking up that night (no surprise really if you know our dating story).

On our second Valentine's Day (2001) I thought Felipe was going to propose. I think he had the ring already, but didn't ask me until March 15th on the Ides of March. (We didn't break up that day though.)

I think when holidays are on the weekend we should get a holiday observed day on the next Monday. What happens in Utah when Halloween is on a Sunday (like this year)? Is it observed on Saturday? We are still a little new at at being Utah-ens. I think it would be nice if we could go trick-or-treating on Saturday instead.

Anyways, Happy Valentine's Day to my wonderful husband who copied all of our pictures on CD's for me as a present and to my little valentine kids that make me about 5 valentines a day. I love my family so much!!

More Crafts

2010-02-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

So I am still in a crafty mood. Felipe likes to save boxes we get from things at Costco like diapers, wipes, waffles, oatmeal, etc. He gives the boxes to the kids to put their toys and stuff in. I just don't think that the boxes are that attractive to keep toys in. I was reading one of those books about things to make with kids on rainy days and I saw one that was - Make your own toy box. So we decided to make some even though it was not rainy. It said to paper mache the box first, but I am not a paper mache -er type person. I have never made any paper mache thing in my life so I decided to skip that step. Then to paint and decorate the box. So we bought some acrylic paints and had to paint like three coats to cover up the Quaker man on the oatmeal box. Paper mache probably helps with that. Tomorrow we are going to decorate them with stickers. (The girls already got into some of the stickers.)

While we were painting we decided to finally paint the train sheds that Felipe and the Goo made back in October I think. Goo touched up the paint on some of his trains. The kids also painted valentine boxes for the cards they will get at the valentine party.

So here are some pictures.

Works of Art

2010-02-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures that the kids have drawn recently.

This one is drawn by the Goo. It is our family at the temple at night.

By Cassandra - Our Family at the Temple (there is one extra person that, according to Cassandra, was a missionary walking by when we took the picture :)

My mom painted this with the kids. The kids put it on the refrigerator.

By Goo - Duke (his new train from his abuelos)

By Cassandra - Goo Getting a Haircut (A lady at the hair cutting place saw my kids getting a little squirmy while Goo got a haircut and gave them paper and a pen.)

By Carolina - Circles (She loves to draw circles, make circle train tracks and loves the letter O) I love her circle pictures. This is just one of many.

By Cassandra - Daisy the Train (This is her first train picture of one of her trains. I thought it was very good.)

Now We Are Six

2010-02-05T22:46:00.001-08:00

Felipe is six now. We love him so much!! It is such a blessing to have him in our family!!
I asked him if he wanted to have a birthday party with some friends from church and neighbor kids and he said - No, I would rather just spend time with my family. (I love that answer - I always feel the same way)
He has loved trains since he was about 2 1/2. Now we all love trains.

Here is the Percy cake Felipe and I managed to make last night at midnight.

Here are his new hat and gloves. I made the slippers he is wearing and gave them to him as a present. I am still crocheting.

He lost his first tooth last week.

...and here are our new (and only) pets. We now have 6 goldfish. Felipe named his Thomas and Percy. Cassandra named hers Hello Kitty and My Melody and Carolina named hers Winnie the Pooh and Winne the Pooh.

Crocheting

2010-01-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

I have been in a crochet mood lately. It is all I want to do in my free time. I finally have learned to do some basic stitches. Here are a few things I have made.

Jean - This hat and bootie set are for baby Sammy. I'll get them in the mail soon.

This set is for a friend at church that is due with a boy and day.

I am donating these white ones to a hospital. I just need to make another set of white booties.

Winter

2010-01-26T14:01:00.001-08:00

Attitude

2010-01-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude."
--M. Russell Ballard, "Providing for Our Needs", Ensign May 1981, 85

Goo's Primary Talk

2010-01-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

Goo gave his first talk in Primary today. Felipe sat down with the Goo last night and asked him what he wanted to say in his talk. Felipe just wrote the words down but the Goo "wrote" the talk. (Felipe helped him translate some of it too). He read the talk all by himself (with help on maybe three words) and he spoke nice and clear, and loud enough for all to hear. The talk took about 2 minutes. We are so proud of him!! (He also has his first loose tooth :) Here is his talk (He wrote the title too):

Nuestro Padre Celestial

Yo soy un hijo de Dios. Yo viví con Él en el cielo cuando fui un espíritu. Yo viví con Dios antes de nacer. Todos vivimos con Dios antes de nacer. Dios es el Padre de todos nosotros. Nuestro Padre Celestial nos ve y nos cuida siempre. El Espíritu Santo me hace sentir feliz cuando mi Padre Celestial está feliz. Yo sé que soy un hijo de Dios. Él es nuestro Padre.

A Few Christmas Pictures

2009-12-29T17:48:00.001-08:00

Soap and Water

2009-12-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about water lately. We drink a lot of water. I was never much of a water drinker until I met Felipe. Water is just amazing though. It cleans just about everything. I am so thankful for water.

I have been thinking about soap too. I miss the old white powdery soap that we used to use in school that came out of these dispensers and the big brown paper towels to dry hands. The boys would always use them to make wet headbands to wear when it was hot outside. I also loved the old drinking fountains with that metally tasting warm water.

2009-12-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Pictures of pictures of Felipe when he was about Goo's age. He is so cute!!

Thanksgiving in California

2009-12-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some highlights from our trip to California.

Our hotel in St. George.
The kids get so excited about staying at hotels so we decided to divide the trip in half for them. We also went to the St. George Temple and to the Visitor's Center with them.

Here are some pictures at their abuelo's house. They made tunnels in the couches with Tía Ivy and Otavio and played with prima Gracie.

Felipe and Tía Gracie playing a duet on the piano.

Thanksgiving at my sister Barbara's house. It was also my mom's 75th birthday.

Las tocayas: Tía Carolyn and Carolina.

Cousins Cassandra and Sarah.

My mom turns 75.

My mom's birthday party on Saturday.

With 7 of her 16 grandchildren.

With 4 of her 6 children.

On November 25th Tío Sam and Tía Jean had their beautiful baby boy, Samuel James.
Los abuelos with all of their nietos.

Our adorable new nephew.

The List

2009-11-17T13:57:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when Felipe's and Nancy's personalities meet in the context of packing for a trip.

"Let's make a master list of everything we need to bring when we go on a trip. That way we can just print it up every time."

"The List" ends up being about 5 pages with categories: Large Items, Small Items, Clothing Amounts with sub-lists for each person in the family. The List is 3 columns with three categories: Name of Item, Item Ready (to be checked when the item is near the door), Item Packed (to be checked when item is in the van). Then The List includes "Things To Do Before We Go" with three columns. One to write what needs to be done, one to write who is going to do it and one to check off when the thing has been done. Then the List includes things to make sure to do while we are the location we are going to - whether it is to buy a certain thing or not to forget to bring a certain thing home or not to forget to give a certain thing to a certain person, etc.

When The List is complete, with extra space to write in any forgotten thing, it then needs to be emailed, reviewed, and corrected. Then it needs to be printed. Then it needs to find a suitable place to reside where it will be accessible, not get damaged, not get lost, and be easy to write on.

I guess we aren't the most spontaneous family, but we hardly ever forget anything at any house.

Well, we are still working on our list...

Friday Night Thoughts

2009-11-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here with little Carolina on my lap just about asleep because I think she is too young to watch "Peter Pan" with the Dada and the big kids.

I have been in a sewing, cooking, baking type of mood lately. I think I feel like this when the weather cools down. Goo woke me up this morning to show me the thin layer of snow that fell last night and more is coming tomorrow.

I have been reading a few sewing blogs and I wish that my sewing projects would turn out as beautiful as some of the projects I saw on the blogs. The problem is that I sew and cook by looking at the directions and then doing things my own way.

Well, I am back to piano practicing again too. I am teaching the kids the basics and I am working at the hymns and primary songs. I actually played all of "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" the other day and I can play a few more hymns as long as nobody sings along :)

I guess tonight I wish I could sew and play the piano without mistakes. I have to admit that I do like the way I cook and bake. I made salsa, potato and broccoli soup, rolls, and brownies this week and thoroughly enjoyed them. Tomorrow if we have nothing to do I think making some sugar cookies with cookie cutters would be fun.

Peter Pan is over so it is time to put Carolina to bed and go back to my sewing project that has a few mistakes.

Primary Program

2009-11-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

Today was the primary program. Wow, I can't believe that I have two kids in primary. Felipe and I are also in primary. We are the teachers of the Goo's class and soon we will have Cassandra's class. Primary is the best calling and we think that our class did an excellent job. Here are some pictures of the kids ready for the program and some videos of them saying their parts.

Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos

2009-11-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

For Halloween we went to the park for awhile and then went trick-or-treating at night. Felipe and Cassandra were Thomas the Tank Engine and Cinderella for the third year in a row. Carolina was a Honey Pot with Bees and Samantha wore the little pink Winnie the Pooh warm mameluco - Do we have a name for those in English - like pajamas with feet?

For Day of the Dead Felipe drove us to the cemetery after church. We visited some of my ancestor's graves.

Patience

2009-10-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

I am back to saving money. I seem to go through a spending and saving cycle and it seems that around the beginning of every season is when I start saving and at the end I forget and spend too much.

So after realizing that we were spending about $100 a month (or more) on diapers and wipes I decided to start back using the all-in-one cloth diapers I bought last year and using wash cloths or homemade wipes. Carolina doesn't like the cloth diapers and so we have been working on potty-training. Some days she wants to and some days she doesn't. Some days I want to and some days I don't. So it will be nice when we both can handle it everyday.

Felipe will have his Ph.D. in less than a year!!! When I was walking through Costco and looking at all of the beautiful little girl winter dresses for $18 I had to tell myself that and then I stuck to my shopping list. (I still probably won't spend $18 dollars on a baby dress though.)

We just need a little potty-training and money spending patience right now.

Here is the homemade wipes "recipe" that I found online for anyone interested. I calculated that they are quite a bit cheaper than store bought - even from Costco.

One roll of paper towels
2-1/4 cups water
2 Tbsp. baby shampoo or baby bath
1 Tbsp. baby oil

Cut the roll of paper towels in half, removing the cardboard tube from the center. Mix the water, shampoo or baby bath, and oil in a plastic container (if you have an old baby wipe container, that would be ideal, but you can also use an airtight Tupperware-type container). Place half a roll of the paper towels into the container, put the lid on, and turn the container upside-down to soak the towels thoroughly. When you’re ready to change Baby, pull the towels from the center of the roll.

Gourmet Cooking

2009-10-17T11:37:00.001-07:00

I have been trying to learn to cook new foods. Here are some pictures of the egg rolls and sweet and sour sauce I amde. With the left over egg roll wraps I made a fried apple pie and last are the pictures of the tamales I made for Mexico's Independence Day. Today Cassandra and I are going to make a chocolate cake.

October

2009-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

The Best Two Ears

2009-09-20T20:30:00.001-07:00

When we were in California we watched the movie "The Best Two Years" and for a few days I had the theme song in my head. Well, I was singing it one day just around the house and Carolina started singing it too. Only she sang "The best two ears, the best two ears..." and pointed to her ears. Now we sing "The Best Two Ears" all the time.

"Our" Snake Had Babies

2009-08-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

We saw a garter snake that was living in a hole by our outside stairs a few months ago. Well, she had babies.

After visiting all of our family members in California I started feeling sad that we don't have a nice yard to play in. I complained a little bit about our yard and about how much I miss our yard in Spanish Fork. Well, the song came in my head "It's what you do with what you got" from the Disney movie "So Dear To My Heart." So today I decided to make the yard a little nicer. I pulled some weeds and sprayed off the rocks. Then we were all on the hill when a little snake slithered past us. I hope it is a garter snake. I know that rattlesnakes and tarantulas have been seen near our house.

I don't feel much like being outside now with snakes. I wish I had a yard though where I could sit on the back porch and watch the kids play without worrying about snakes, black widows, and kids falling off large rocks.

I only like snakes if they are in the zoo behind thick glass. I do love lizards though.

The Search for a Portable Swing

2009-08-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

Several months ago I saw a beautiful portable baby swing at the DI for 5 dollars. I don't know why, but for some reason I decided to save 5 dollars and not buy it. (It was clean and it worked...just needed sanitizing.) Well, they cost about 100 dollars new.

So for the last 3 months I have been running in DI every week or so just to see if I find another one since I kind of need one now. Well, I haven't found one. I have found a lot of other stuff that I probably don't need though. I was thinking about everything I have found and I figure I could have bought about 2 brand new baby swings by now.

Here are some things we now own that somebody else didn't want to own anymore:

The best one is a ride-on battery powered Thomas the Tank Engine with the circle track + the extension track for only 30 dollars for the whole thing. (New it would be about 200 dollars or more so I am happy with this deal). We are saving it for Christmas for the kids.

I bought a Prince tennis racket for 2 dollars. We just need one more to play.

Clothes for Cassandra - about 20 dollars.

A brand-new, still in box, dish set. (The kids unload the dishwasher = broken dishes)- 7 dollars.

A play mat for Samantha with a hanging flower and birds that pop out and play music - 2 dollars.

A pink, hanging thing that I am not sure how to describe. You hang it and put stuff in little compartments but it folds up very small. It looked too interesting not to buy. - 3 dollars.

A first grade Language Arts Program (Harcourt Brace Signatures). It looks brand-new and is maybe 3 years old. 15 dollars

Books - about 12 dollars

Cassandra bought a toy playpen for her dollies. 1 dollar

A kid-sized basketball hoop for the basement. - 3 dollars

A Winnie the Pooh VHS movie - 50 cents

Tap shoes for Carolina - 2 dollars

Felipe looked for a swing one day too. (He is more of a spender than I am) - Here is his list.

A file cabinet. (I wanted one- unfortunately we saw a nicer one the next time we went shopping) 15 dollars.

A fish tank. - 5 dollars

A serving tray. - 5 dollars

A toy that lights up to make the ceiling look like a planetarium. - 5 dollars

Cassandra bought a teddy bear. - 50 cents

Goo bought some wood things to paint. - 1 dollar

Cables - 5 dollars.

A big, whale-bone looking, hammock holder - 20 dollars

A plastic, Little Tikes, swing and slide toddler set for the basement - 25 dollars

I can't think of anymore but there are probably a few more things. By the time we find the swing again Samantha will be too big for it.

Lesson to be learned:

Buy the first time

or

Don't buy stuff that you aren't looking for to begin with

or

Don't buy stuff period.

or

Count it as your good deed for the day because in a way you are actually contributing to the Humanitarian Fund (Little donations bless many nations) Buying the donations probably does too.

or

Go to sleep because it is almost 1 am and you still don't have a swing.

Happy Caro Caro Birthday

2009-08-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

Caro Caro turned 2 yesterday.

Bubbles

Winnie the Pooh Cake

Winnie the Pooh Stuffed Animals and Winnie the Pooh Tent

Goo Decorated (train taped to the wall)

Carolina loves Winnie the Pooh so we had a Winnie the Pooh party (except for that Care Bear that somehow snook in to the festivities). She likes to sing "Winnie the Pooh - Pooh, Winnie the Pooh - Pooh, chubby little tubby..." It is funny to hear her rendition.

We love our Caro Caro.

I ate my anniversary flowers.

2009-08-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

We were married 8 years ago today. Those pictures scanned kind of dark unfortunately. (We didn't own digital cameras back then.)

Today is our anniversary, but unfortunately we have two very sick babies. Carolina has a fever of over 104 and Samantha is almost 101. I had to take them both to InstaCare last night. We have had a very unhealthy summer so far. It seems to me that the kids are more sick in the summer than in the winter.

We did get to go out to lunch though. We had edible flowers. Felipe didn't like them and I couldn't really taste them since they were served with glazed ham. So I ate my anniversary flowers.

We have been thinking about our wedding day today and remembering my mom getting "kidnapped" to the beach and missing the wedding brunch and our surprise Mexican band that showed up at the reception and took over our DJ's job. "Si, si, si, si." Anyone that was there should remember the si, si, si's. We are almost laughing about all of that now (no hard feelings to the kidnappers nor the band orderers).

Most of all we are thankful that we are sealed for eternity because we are inseparable.

Well, I had better get back to being a nurse to the sick babies.

Missing the 70's...but not really

2009-07-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

I found these pictures in my scans. They were probably taken around 1979. The top picture has all of my siblings (except my little sister, Carolyn) and it also has my nephew who is the same age as me. I am the smallest in both pictures. I miss my stuffed dog animal. It is in a suitcase in my mom's garage. I wish my hair was still so curly. I wonder what was on the TV behind us in the bottom picture.

Train Tracks

2009-07-17T09:33:00.001-07:00

Everyday there is a new one....

An Update From The Recovery Room

2009-07-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

I got sick on Sunday morning. I was so weak that I couldn't even lift up the baby. Tre-Goo got pink eye and still has it. Other than that we are all doing much better. I have decided I would much rather be the nurse than the patient (even with Felipe and the kids mopping, vacuuming, and doing the dishes for me - which they did).

24 Hour Shift

2009-07-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

It all started on Sunday morning. The Goo woke me up to tell me that Tre-Goo was throwing up. I got up and cleaned her up and cleaned her bed up. About an hour later she threw up again. I cleaned it all up again. Mr. Goo and I each went to half of church so Tre-Goo could stay home. I went to Primary since I was asked to sub in the Goo's class. During Primary I noticed that Goo Two's eyes were red and puffy. That night they got redder and puffier.

Monday morning I took all of the Goos with me to the doctor to have Goo Two's eyes checked. Goo Two had Pink Eye. We then had to all go to the pharmacy to get her prescription.

Tuesday morning Mr. Goo came home from work feeling sick. He had a temperature over 101. He went to bed and threw up some later that night. Goo started feeling sick that night. Goo Two still has pink eye.

Wednesday morning Goo had a temperature over 101. Goo in bed all day with fever and nausea. Mr. Goo in bed all day with fever and nausea. Goo Two still has pink eye.

Thursday morning Mr. Goo feeling slightly better. Goo throwing up about every 10 min. Tre-Goo has an allergic reaction to some new thing - red and swollen with hives. Goo Two's eyes looking better. Thursday night Goo feeling better. Mr. Goo comes home from a few hours of work with a sore throat. Tre-Goo's allergic reaction getting worse. She begins to cry from pain and swells up again. Mrs. Goo (meaning me) takes Tre-Goo to the Emergency Room very late at night. Mr. Goo completely loses his voice.

Friday morning, very early, Mrs. Goo and Tre-Goo return from Emergency Room and go to bed. Still very early Friday morning (about 5 am) Goo Two starts throwing up all over herself and bed. Mrs. Goo (meaning me again) gets up and gives Goo Two a bath and does more laundry. Then she gets Goo Two back to bed. Just Four Goo wakes up about 2 hours later. Goo wakes up with pink eye. Mrs. Goo goes to the store to get Tre-Goo's prescription, cough drops for Mr. Goo and Popsicles for dehydrated Goo Two. Just Four Goo's eyes looking a little pink... Mr. Goo goes to work with no voice.

Mrs. Goo taking a short break from her 24 hour shift (with almost no sleep, constant laundry and a board to write who is taking what medicine and at what time) in the infirmary and still holding strong (but eyes feel a little itchy and stomach feels a little queasy... )

To be continued...................

I am aware that this is written with conflicting verb tenses and changes from first to third person. That is how this week has been.

Happy Fourth of July

2009-07-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

They dressed up like that on their own and came to show us.

There Is No Place Like Home...

2009-06-30T22:42:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about how grateful I am for my home. I love staying at home with my kids. I love waiting for Felipe to come home from work (school). I love having a peaceful home and I realize that when I am most cheerful and calm so are Felipe and the Goos. I actually love cleaning my house and making it look nice (However, I am trying to figure out a way to find more joy in laundry and dishes - I don't let them build up very often because I don't like to do them. Thus I am doing laundry and dishes all the time so I won't have to do them.) Home is just so comfortable. I love when we are all clean and wearing comfortable clothes and the house is clean - that feeling just puts me in a good mood.

Here are a few related quotes that I particularly like:

He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. ~Jane Austen

"I believe our problems, almost every one, arise out of the homes of the people. If there is to be reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home. It is here that truth is learned, that integrity is cultivated, that self-discipline is instilled, and that love is nurtured." - Gordon B. Hinckley

"Above all else, children need to know and feel they are loved, wanted, and appreciated. They need to be assured of that often. Obviously, this is a role parents should fill, and most often the mother can do it best." - Ezra Taft Benson

"Teach your children when they are young and small, and never quit. As long as they are in your home, let them be your primary interest." - Gordon B. Hinckely

How Old Do I Sound?

2009-06-24T17:05:00.001-07:00

At least once a month I get a phone call with someone asking to speak to my mother. If it is someone I need to talk to I usually say, "I am the mother." If it is someone I don't want to talk to I say, "She isn't here right now." Last night I got the call in Spanish asking for my father.

When Felipe and I were first married we lived in an apartment for a few months. I called the phone company to get the phone line hooked up. Well, after I gave the lady all the information she needed she asked, "Whose name should I put on the bill?" I told her to put on my husband's name. She started laughing and laughing and asked, "How old are you?" I told her I was 25. She said that she thought I was about 12 and getting my own phone line. Then she laughed some more.

Another funny phone conversation just came to my mind (but not about sounding young):

The Goo had an appointment with the doctor so the office called me the day before to remind me. The receptionist asked if she could speak to the mother of Felipe. I said,"She doesn't live here, but I am his wife." Then she said, "Are you sure? It says here that he is 5 years old." I couldn't stop laughing. That is what happens when you have a Felipe IV.

A Trip Down Birthday Lane

2009-06-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

The Cake I Decorated That Didn't Turn Out How I Hoped It Would

Every once in a great while my birthday lands on Father's Day. This is the first time it has since Felipe has been a father so it was interesting to share the day with him. He told me not to worry about Father's Day and to just enjoy my birthday. (He is a wonderful Dada and I think we might make up our own Father's Day as a surprise to him in a week or two.) Well, to be honest, today just felt like a normal Sunday. We went to church, we volunteered to teach the Goo's primary class because his teacher didn't show up, we came home, ate dinner and had cake. I guess usually we don't have cake but everything else was about like it always is on Sundays. I am just happy that I got to spend the day with Felipe and the kids.

My sister and I always spend our birthdays remembering all of our past birthdays. So I have been thinking about some of the past years.

First birthday I remember: 7th (I got a dress)

Birthday party: 9th (My birthday was on the last day of school and I had a slumber party. It was a bad experience and is why I have never desired a birthday party since.)

Loneliest birthday: 14th (I spent the day home all by myself)

Happy and sad birthday: 20th (I cried all day because my boyfriend had broken up with me 2 days earlier. He called me to tell me he went on a date with someone else on my birthday. Another ex-boyfriend called me. I bought my '89 Pontiac Sunbird. I was sad then but it was probably one of the best birthdays because now I am glad he broke up with me. My family went out to dinner and I started sobbing when the waiters and waitresses sang to me.)

Most anticipated birthday: 21st (I really wanted to go on a mission and couldn't wait to turn 21. I had a mission farewell party, given by a family in our ward, on my birthday and my mission farewell talk was the day after.)

Mission birthday: 22 (It was the first day of winter and very cold in Temuco, Chile. Our baptism scheduled for that day fell through, but he ended up getting baptized a month later - after I had been transfered. The Ramirez family made me sopaipillas.)

Worst birthdays: 23 and 32 (...trying to forget them.)

Fired birthday: 26 (I was off track at the first school I taught at. They called me up to tell me that they were having an end-of-the-year pizza party for the teachers. I went since Felipe was at work. Well, then they thanked all of the teachers that wouldn't be coming back next year and to my surprise I was among them. - I was working on an emergency credential but it was a bit of a shock. They gave me lemon grass scented lotion as a parting gift.)

Bad car trip birthday: 28 (Drove home from Sammy's UC Davis graduation with Felipe, 4 month old Goo and Nano. We ate at Anderson's Pea Soup Restaurant that I remembered from my childhood. Felipe got sick and threw up and the Goo cried for the whole drive. Nano bought me a muffin at a gas station and put a match in it for my cake.)

Best Birthday: 30 (The Goo bought me a box at Sear's. I still have it with pictures that Felipe and the kids drew for me. It was just one of those perfect days that don't happen often enough.) My 25th birthday was fun too. I was engaged to Felipe and we just spent the day together.

Well, I like being a multiple of 3 and 11.

Happy Happy Birthday

2009-06-14T22:26:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Cassandra's 4th birthday. She got several movies for her birthday: Hello Kitty Stump Village, Winnie-the-Pooh, Disney Princesses... So we had a movie day and let her choose what movies to watch all day. (I also bought "Welcome to Pooh Corner" from 1983-1984 that was on the Disney Channel. I am enjoying watching them just as much as the kids. I miss the old Disney Channel!!) I really like buying movies for the kids since there is not much on TV that I let my kids watch. I don't like having the TV/movies on much but sometimes at night we make popcorn and watch some of their movies and make a fun treat out of it. So it is nice to have a good movie collection for them to choose from. Anyways, she said that she had the best birthday so I am happy she enjoyed the day. We are so happy that she is part of our family.

Here are some pictures of her wrapping paper, opening presents, mopping and sweeping with the broom and mop we bought her, the Hello Kitty cake I made (My mom bought me a cake decorating kit and some books about cake decorating. This was my first project and now I am really excited to make more cakes) and a picture of one of the two thunder, lightening, wind and rain storms that passed over us on her birthday.

E.T. Phone Home

2009-06-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

I really like these pictures that my sister Carolyn took when she came up and watched the kids in April. She told me that the first one of Carolina reminded her of E.T. when he is in the stuffed animals. Now every time I see it I think of that.

A Day Out With Thomas

2009-05-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Today we rode on Thomas the Tank Engine. Our kids love Thomas and I think we have so much Thomas stuff that we could have a Day Out With Thomas in our yard and charge money. We just need to get that Thomas train that the kids can ride on.

We went through a maze, went to a petting zoo, played with trains in the Imagination Station, rode on Thomas, shopped a little, listened to story time and saw a short Thomas movie, and saw a Lego train display. It started raining and was cold and windy for awhile but during that time we left to go eat because the food prices were a little ridiculous ($4.00 for a hot dog!?!).

Here are some pictures of our day (one is sideways and 2 came out small but I am too tired to figure out why):

Felipe's Favorite

2009-05-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Here is Felipe's favorite story I have told him about my mission.

In Punta Arenas one of my areas was right along the Strait of Magellan. I wanted to touch the water in the Strait of Magellan at least one time in my life. So I walked over and just put my hand in the water. Well, right after I did that I looked over and was just a few yards away from a huge pipe that was hanging a few feet above the water dumping sewage in it. It was really disgusting to watch and even worse that I had put my hand in it. It was a long time before I could find somewhere to wash my hand off with soap.

Mission Stories

2009-05-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went with Felipe's family to take his youngest brother to the MTC. He is going to serve in the Florida Jacksonville Mission - Spanish Speaking. So I have been reflecting on my mission a bit. I thought I would share a few stories over the next few posts.

When I was serving in my last area in Punta Arenas (Estrecho II) Hna. Flores and I were out trying to visit a few of our contacts. We had an appointment to teach at a certain house but the family was not home. My companion was writing a note to leave on their door and while she was writing I looked across the street and saw a man outside in his yard. All of a sudden I felt very strongly that we needed to go across the street and talk to him. I looked over at him again and he looked up and saw me. Then he immediately got up and went inside his house. I still felt that we needed to talk to him but tried to talk myself out of it since he went in his house the moment he saw us. Well, then I saw him come back outside for a minute and look over at us again. Then he went right back in his house. When Hna. Flores had finished writing the letter I asked her if she thought we should knock on the door across the street. She told me that we had knocked on that door our first day in the area when we were trying to meet the members of the ward but that the person who lived there had told us not to come back. I vaguely remembered that, so again I tried to talk myself out of talking to that man. Well, we started walking and I felt even stronger that we had to visit that house. So I finally gave into the Spiritual promptings and told my comp. that we needed to go back and knock on that door. So we went and the man I had seen answered the door. He invited us in and his whole family came and sat down. He told us he was a member of the church but hadn't been to church for 10 years because of a misunderstanding. He said that when he saw us across the street he was hoping that we would come over to talk to him because he knew it was time for his family to return to church. He was so happy that we had decided to visit him and asked for our help in returning to church. What a blessing that was to follow a spiritual prompting! I only had a few weeks left of the mission when we met him but when I left he had started going back to church.

Discontinued :(

2009-05-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Easter Pumpkins and Baby Names

2009-04-13T21:05:00.001-07:00

This was our Easter pumpkin that didn't quite make it to Easter. We were going to carve a Valentine's Day pumpkin but we were all sick so we decided to carve an Easter pumpkin instead. Unfortunately the pumpkin didn't look too good inside so we decided to not make the seeds. As you can see the kids were very sad.

Here are some pictures of us on Easter. I am sure those dresses look familiar from last Easter. I bought the Goo and Felipe matching ties. I bought Cassandra a big, frilly slip to wear under her dresses and I bought Carolina some bows for her hair. Felipe surprised me with a dozen red roses - my favorite :)

Someone told me about how they always add a present in their kid's Easter baskets that they will be able to use at church. I liked that idea so I borrowed it.

Baby Names

Well, my latest hobby has been voting on baby names at the babycenter site. It is interesting to see what people want to name their babies and how popular some names are. Felipe chose the name Samantha Lucille for our baby but for awhile I wanted to name her Emma. I didn't know that that is the most popular name for girls right now. Now I love the name Samantha. I don't like the nickname Sam or Sami much though (especially since Felipe's brother is named Samuel and goes by Sam and Sammy - So they sound boyish). The nicknames I choose for my kids usually don't have much to do with their names though. I usually call Felipe - the Goo, Cassandra - Babers and Carolina - Caro Caro (that one does come from her name). I think that if I do nickname her from her name I would call her Sama. I like the names of my kids though and I like calling them by their real names. Some other names I like for future kids are Sabrina (I think it goes well with my other girl names), Victoria (but it is the name of my neice) and maybe Josephine for a middle name after my great grandma. I like to have all of my kids named after someone. Felipe after his Dada, Abuelo and Bisabuelo, Cassandra's middle name is my middle name, Carolina is after my sister Carolyn and her middle name is after my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and Samantha will have the same middle name as my mom.

General Conference

2009-04-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend was General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I enjoyed the talks and have a renewed desire to do better in my own life. I especially liked Elder Dallin H. Oaks' talk about overcoming selfishness and serving. Sometimes I think I can't "serve"much having 3 little kids and being almost due to have another, but today I realized that there is a lot I can do to help others and to overcome selfishness. I enjoyed President Thomas S. Monson's talk that "the future is as bright as our faith." He shared stories of people who overcame almost unendurable obstacles because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Often I feel afraid of the future and the world in which my children will grow up, but we can be of good cheer and let our faith influence the lives of our children. I also liked Elder Robert D. Hales' talk which has given me the desire to be more cautious of how I spend my money.

Family Home Evening

2009-03-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

In FHE we had a lesson on the importance of learning. We were talking about how we learn to become like Heavenly Father, who knows everything. So we asked the kids, "Who knows more than everyone?" The Goo answered, "Spiders."

The Robe of the Martyrs

2009-03-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

My mom's book has been published. We are so excited!!! It is called The Robe of the Martyrs by Shirley Woodruff Lewis. It is a wonderful work of LDS fiction that is very testimony building. Check it out on Amazon.

Click on this link to see it: The Robe of the Martyrs.

"Lady and the Tram?"

2009-03-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight Felipe was reading the book "Lady and the Tramp" to the kids. It reminded us of the time we borrowed the movie from the library. Cassandra found it and said she wanted it. The Goo asked what it was called and I said, "Lady and the Tramp." Well, he got so excited about the movie so we checked it out. We watched it and afterwards the Goo said, "That movie was only about dogs. I thought it was about trains." I asked him why he thought it was about trains and he said, "I thought it was "Lady and the Tram" about Lady the train and Toby the Tram Engine (Thomas and Friends trains)."

Sewing Projects

2009-03-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

I made matching pajamas out of this material for Cassandra, Carolina and myself at Christmas. I didn't like how the waist fit so i cut it out and made it like a maternity waist. They are so comfortable now. (I also made matching Mickey Mouse PJ's for Felipe and the Goo for Christmas.)

I found this material at DI for $1 and the patter for 10 cents. I fixed the PJ's with it and made this comfortable maternity shirt. I still have some left. DI material is great because it is new and soooo much less money than fabric stores.

I made this dress and headband for Cassandra just as a sun dress. She wanted the pink bow on the front like Cinderella's dress that the mice make.

Oops!!!!!

2009-02-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

What do you do when someone brings you dinner because you are sick and then....you melt their tupperware in your dishwasher???

February 2009

2009-02-14T22:18:00.000-08:00

This month marks 10 years since I met Felipe. We met at a fireside at Institute. I had been home from my mission less than 2 months and didn't know anybody. So I went to a fireside with Carolyn. A guy I had met at a dance was there serving ice cream after the fireside so I went to get some. I started talking to him but while I was saying something he started talking to someone else. So I was a little mad about that and walked away. Then Felipe (whom I had never seen before) walked up to me and handed me a flyer for some party at institute. I asked him who it was for (to make small talk) and he said, "you" and walked away. For some reason that made me really mad. I went over and sat on the couch next to Carolyn and pointed at Felipe and said, "That guy is a jerk." Well, a few minutes later Felipe walked by and Carolyn asked for a flyer. I don't really remember what happened but he sat down with us on the couch and we started talking and Carolyn left. He got home from his mission only a few months before me so we talked about missions and we talked in Spanish the whole time. He always says that my Spanish won him over :) Well, we went on our first date in May and spent the next years breaking up and getting back together almost weekly which drove our families insane!!! We were married 2 1/2 years after we met. Later when I asked him why he said the party was for me - he said he thought I meant who the flyer was for not the party. Lol.

This month the Goo turned 5. We bought him a scooter. We really wanted to buy him a Thomas scooter but they are all out of stock everywhere. So we ended up buying him a Batman scooter. He doesn't like Batman, but it was on sale for $10 at Walmart. So we bought it and transformed it into a Thomas scooter overnight. He also wanted to decorate his own cake. He made James (the train) on the cake because James is number 5. Then he poured sprinkles all over James because it was his birthday. Here are some pictures:

Happy Valentine's Day. The Goo and I are sick :(

Charlotte Mason Quote

2009-02-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

"If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in "wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye - she would let them be."

Thomas Jefferson's Ten Rules

2009-02-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

I saw these hanging in a friend's house and really liked them.

1. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap.
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain the evils have cost us that never happened.
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
10. When angry, count ten before you speak, if very angry, count a hundred.

I am making a homeschool blog so I can write a little about what I am working on with the kids and display some of their work.

2009-01-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

My 100th Post

2008-06-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

In honor of my 100th post I am going to write my 100 Things About Me List.

1. My mom has always called me "Nancilator Jones"
2. My favorite Beatles song is "In My Life."
3. "Sister Act" is a movie I have always refused to watch.
4. I love the smell of Downy Fabric Softener.
5. I played AYSO soccer for 5 years.
6. I would never want to be an actress.
7. I love memorizing geographical facts like that the straits on either side of Greenland are the Davis Strait and the Strait of Denmark.
8. Felipe proposed to me on the Ides of March.
9. I once carved a pumpkin on the top of a windmill.
10. I served a mission in Osorno, Chile.
11. I loved walking along the Straits of Magellan in Punta Arenas.
12. I came in second place in a basketball shooting contest in Mexico on my honeymoon.
13. I didn't like junior high and missed a month of school in 7th grade.
14. I used to draw talking mushrooms when I was little.
15. I worked at Burger King in high school for a year and a half.
16. I am not allowed to work at any HomeBase store in the United States because I quit without giving a 2 week notice. (HomeBase went out of business)
17. I wish that I could play the piano perfectly.
18. I love to buy books.
19. I majored in Spanish.
20. I wish that I would not get lazy about speaking Spanish at home.
21. I am excited to homeschool my kids.
22. I like Worcestershire sauce on rice but not as much as Carolyn.
23. I am trying to laugh more.
24. Jonathan and I lost Carolyn in St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
25. Carolyn and I lost Jonathan on the Underground in London.
26. My favorite show to watch is "I Love Lucy."
27. I like listening to most Billy Joel songs.
28. I don't like to eat very often and it is hard for me to think of something to eat when I am hungry.
29. I usually just drink Instant Breakfast and eat Goldfish.
30. I love to play board games. (Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit are my favorite)
31. Felipe always wins at Scrabble in Spanish.
32. I love staying home with my kids.
33. I grew up going to Dodger games, Angels games and UCR basketball games with my dad, Jonathan and Carolyn.
34. I have 3 older sisters, 1 older brother and 1 younger sister.
35. I am the shortest.
36. I worked at the Smith's Warehouse for 1 day picking up muffins from a conveyor belt and boxing them.
37. When I first met my mother-in-law I accidentally told her that I was going to marry Felipe. (It was a Spanish miscommunication.)
38. We were married over 2 years later.
39. Carolyn once put cooked Top Ramen in my hair.
40. I once stole my mom's car at church with Carolyn and re parked it (before I had my license). She came out and the car was gone so she went in told some people that her car was stolen and her daughters were missing.
41. I ate brain tacos on my first date with Felipe.
42. I ate frog legs on our honeymoon.
43. I ate seaweed on my mission.
44. My brother and I built a tree house.
45. I built a tee pee out of bamboo.
46. I accidentally threw away my sister's camera.
47. I wrote on her car with whip cream at her wedding reception and ruined the paint on her car.
48. I miss swimming at night in our backyard and sleeping in a tent in our backyard when we were kids.
49. I named a cat Halifax after Halifax, Nova Scotia.
50. In sixth grade our class competed in a trivia buzzer competition. The question was "Complete the title: Dr. Jekyl and ____." I buzzed in and said "Heckle." My teacher couldn't stop laughing and I didn't understand why they said it was wrong.
51. I am editing a few entries on this list several months later.
52. My brother worked at Disneyland and used to get us in free whenever we wanted to go.
53. I saw Ronald Reagan give a campaign speech at the Tyler Mall before he was elected president.
54. I locked my keys in my car at the Palm Springs Courthouse when I had a job delivering subpoenas.
55. I used to take Carolyn with me when I had that job. I quit because they said I had to drive alone.
56. I have always wanted a lot of kids and I wanted them all to be born in different states.
57. I once had a pet rat named Euclid Spelunker Paul. He bit me so we returned him to the pet store.
58. Cats are my favorite animal.
59. We don't have any pets.
60. Every time I say I can't lift something Felipe reminds me of the time I picked up a loveseat out of the back of his truck and threw it. (I was mad because all of the thrift stores where we tried to donate it said they were closed)
61. My favorite job was teaching a 3/4 combo class in San Bernardino in Spanish. (I did like teaching first grade too - but the Spanish was great practice)
62. I love to translate between Spanish and English.
63. I like to clean and organize things.
64. I didn't like working in preschools and daycare because I felt sorry for the kids that had to be there everyday.
65. I don't like being in crowds of people.
66. I prefer small parties and small groups.
67. I am a backseat driver.
68. Once when I was driving a person riding a bike crashed into me. I saw him coming right at me and so I completely stopped and he ran right into the front of my car. (He wasn't seriously hurt)
69. I was thinking of erasing this list but Carolyn told me not to.
70. I like spring and fall.
71. My favorite Disney character is Donald Duck.
72. I miss the old Disney Channel from the 80's.
73. I used to play Nintendo all the time when I was about 12-15 years old.
74. I don't like video games now (but I still like the old Nintendo games)
75. I don't like watching TV much either.
76. I love to play with my kids and with Felipe.
77. I once went to a Backstreet Boys concert (We had free tickets)
78. I don't like to wear shoes that show my toes.
79. My brother and I always try to have the high score in mine sweeper.
80. I used to love to play tether ball and two square. (I think I still do)
81. When I was 10 I fell off the top of Carolyn's friend's bunk bed head first and knocked out a tooth.
82. I like the hymn : "Santos, Avanzad."
83. I like Tapatio Sauce but not as much as Sam.
84. I get bored with the way my house looks if I don't move furniture and "decor" around occasionally.
85. My favorite birthday was when I turned 30.
86. My least favorite birthday was when I turned 9.
87. I love to reminisce with family about funny stories from the past.
88. I used to like to read the magazine "Reminisce." My great aunt's subscription got transferred to our house when she died.
89. I like keeping a journal and wrote everyday for several years (or at least about every day). Now I write about once a week.
90. I got my ears pierced when I was 10. I had to take the earrings out for a soccer game 2 weeks later and they closed up.
91. I let Felipe pierce my ears when I was 30.
92. I want my daughters to be 12 before they get their ears pierced.
93. I like to drink water.
94. I love eating avocados plain.
95. I don't like traveling much. I just love maps.
96. Reading my journals usually cheers me up and makes me laugh.
97. I like breezy days.
98. My favorite element is vanadium.
99. I cry when I get really really tired.
100. I am glad to be done with this list.

Cassandra is 3!!!

2008-06-14T12:33:00.001-07:00

My beautiful little girl turned 3 yesterday. We had a little ladybug party. Little Felipe did most of the decorating when Cassandra was asleep. We went out for lunch and then came home and had cake.

Here are some cute reasons why I love Cassandra:

She loves bugs, especially ladybugs. Every time she sees a bug she asks me if she can touch it.
She loves to sing "Las historias del Libro de Mormon" (Book of Mormon Stories). It is so cute to watch her do the hand movements with the song.
She is such a fast runner and loves to race - and almost always wins.
She loves to help me with the laundry and will fold my dishtowels so carefully and put them in the drawer.
She loves to share and when she is eating and gets down to just two goldfish or m'n'm's or whatever she is easting left she usually will give one to me or Felipe just to share them.
She gets herself dressed everyday and has a very cute sense of fashion.
She has a great imagination and loves to pretend.
I love have a girl's day and taking her shopping or just watching movies with her.
But most of all I love her smile and her big hugs and kisses.

We love you, Cassandra!! Happy Birthday!!

This is Cassandra's picture of Humpty Dumpty. I love it!!! She told me that that egg on the edge is Humpty Dumpty and he is about to fall.

Books for Kids

2008-06-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a few books that I really enjoy reading with the kids or hope to enjoy reading with them someday.

I think my favorite books to read to them are the Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parish.

When I was in first or second grade I bought one of the books from a book order and read it over and over again. These books still always make me laugh. I haven't read all of them and unfortunately our library doesn't have them all. I wish they had them all in one big hardback book. There are about 3 illustrators that have illustrated different versions of Amelia Bedelia but I prefer the drawings of Lynn Sweat - like the picture on the side.

Carlos y la planta de calabaza/Carlos and the Squash Plant by Jan Romero Stevens.

This is a bilingual book with both Spanish and English on each page. I personally like it better in Spanish but the English is fun to read too. I first read it when I was a billingual aide. It was one of my favorites to read to the kids.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
I remember reading this book when I was little. It is a classic bedtime story. I love the pictures and the changes from black and white to color throughout the book.

The Runaway Bunny also by Margaret Wise Brown
I also read this story when I was little. We have the book in English and Spanish. In Spanish it is called "El conejito andarin."

This New Baby by Teddy Jam/Karen Reczuch

I found this book at a library sale. It is a very fast read and the kids love it. It has a poetic/artistic touch to it. I love the pictures of their house and yard. It is exactly what I want my house and yard to look like someday.

One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian

This is another book that I read as a child. I am always so sad for the poor fox and his poor tail. The ending can make me cry if I am in a crying mood.
I bought this book a few years ago and keep up high so that the kids won't tear it up.

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

Felipe and Cassandra love this book. I think I almost have it memorized and it is pretty long. I love that the little blue engine tries to help and does it cheerfully.

Night House, Bright House by Monica Wellington

Another of my favorites from childhood (I am seeing a pattern here). I love the artwork in this book and the cute little rhymes. The kids love to look at the pictures and find the one's from the rhymes. "'Time to get up,' said the cup" is a favorite quote of mine to say to the kids.

The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats

The kids checked this book out at the library on Monday. I read it to them last night and it made me cry. It is more of a Christmas book. It is the Christmas carol with illustrations. It is one of my favorite carols though - along with "O, Holy Night," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "What Child is This?" but now I am getting off the subject.

Amelia's Road by Linda Jacobs Altman

This is another book I read to my students when I was a bilingual aide. I love stories about migrant workers. It is a little sad, but an interesting viewpoint into a very different life style than what I grew up with. My kids are a little young for this book and I don't own it, but someday I will find a copy of it to buy.

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora

Here is another migrant worker book. This book is based on the true story of Tomas Rivera. I read it when I taught fourth grade. It is another book I hope to acquire someday. It is just a beautiful story that is a definite must read. I have always liked the name Thomas but it would sound silly to have a son named Tomas Rivera.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Here is yet another book I found when I was a bilingual aide. It is a Christmas book. Felipe's family always has tamales on Nochebuena as well. I found this at the library last Christmas but my kids seemed too young to really follow it. Maybe they will like it this year.

Well, that is enough for now. I wanted to put in the Encyclopedia Brown books. I remember reading them in the summer with my brother. We would see who could solve the mystery first. Those are for kids a little bit older than mine though.

Maybe I will make a Kid Book List Part 2 because as soon as I publish this post about 10 books that I forgot to put are going to enter my mind and drive me crazy.

My Week of Relaxing

2008-06-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today we started our week of relaxing and having fun. We went to the library, read and checked out some books. Then we tried out a new park. We played and went on a walk. We cleaned the house a little and made dinner for the missionaries. The kids helped me make chocolate chip cookies (and they didn't taste like soap - we had a problem with our flour in the food storage - but now we have new flour and so everything tastes better). We cleaned up from dinner and made hygiene kits to take to the humanitarian center for Family Home Evening. Then Cassandra and I went to the pool.

I think we are exhausted but in a fun way.

Projects

2008-06-08T15:14:00.001-07:00

For the last two weeks I have been working on a few projects. I bought a steam vac with some of our tax return. So I spent a week steam cleaning the carpets. Then last week I spent the whole week sewing some dresses for Cassandra's birthday. I finished last night at around midnight. I made her two dresses with little matching purses and matching headbands and scrunchies. I love the pattern for the purses. They are the perfect size for a scripture case. I want to make myself one when I feel like sewing again. Cass's birthday is Friday so I will post pictures of her with her new dresses. This week I am just going to spend time with the kids and time getting ready for Cassandra's birthday. I am not a party person. I just like to celebrate birthdays with a small family party which will just be us since we don't have family close by. Cassandra is really into ladybugs so I am going to make a ladybug cake.

I am also working on reading with the kids. I bought a book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." I really like it. Felipe is really doing well with it. Cassandra isn't quite ready for it yet. I think that when she is ready she will like it. I think it is a good book to start with for a young child who is interested in reading.

The Goo said his first prayer in Primary today all by himself. He got to sit up in the front of the room in the chairs for the prayer, scripture and talk. He looked so happy to sit there.

Cassandra can't wait until her birthday. She is so excited to be turning 3. It is hard to believe that she is only 2. I usually think of her as being the same age as Felipe. They are best friends and the same size.

Carolina is crawling so fast now and starting to get into everything. She is hard to keep up with.

We also volunteered in the MTC last week. I can't believe that almost 11 years have past since I was there.

The Wedding

2008-05-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Sam (Felipe's brother) and Jean (our new sister-in-law) were married on Saturday at the Mt. Timponogos Temple. Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the Seventy sealed them. He was her mission president. Their wedding was so beautiful and was one of the happiest weddings I have ever been to. Cassandra danced and danced at the reception. We loved meeting her family. They are so fun and friendly. We loved having Felipe's family here for the weekend. We are a little sad that it is all over :(

So, Congratulations, Sam and Jean!!! We hope that you have a wonderful life together!!!

Piano Lessons

2008-05-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am taking piano lessons again. I started today!!!

"Stay the way you are...

2008-05-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

A nice sensible, reliable, comfortable woman that accepts the coming of age with grace and dignity." (from the Original "Parent Trap")

That quote has been in my head lately, actually just since my traumatic hair experience on Saturday. I decided to get highlights. My family seems to gray early and I wanted just some well-blended, moderate highlights to hide the gray a little. Well, I sat for almost four hours on Saturday getting highlights and when they were all done my hair was white. I looked like a zebra. I really didn't realize how bad they were until I was in the car. I sobbed the whole way home and the rest of the day. Saturday night I had Felipe dye my hair back brown. The whole incident cost me $90 (and I have been so good about my budget lately that it is hard to know that I wasted that much money).

Someday maybe I will laugh about it, but it was very traumatic. I am not quite over it yet. I miss my hair, but I am grateful to still have hair after all it has been through. It is brown and nobody can really tell from a distance that it was dyed. Up close you can see a few highlights still and to me it looks a little green, but at least it isn't white.

On a happier note, Felipe's brother, Sam, is here. He and Jean (Elizabeth) are getting married on Saturday. We are all excited for them. The kids say that they can't wait. Our central computer has been down so I haven't been able to post pics lately. I should be able to access them after the wedding so lots of wedding pics are in store.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!!

2008-05-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's Day in Mexico and tomorrow in the U.S. So I have decided to celebrate both. :)

I went to the Temple last Saturday while Felipe took the kids shopping "secretly" for Mother's Day. Cassandra gave me 3 silver necklaces and the Goo gave me some earrings. Carolina got me a warranty on the heart locket that Felipe bought me. (She would probably be the one to break it since I am always carrying her.)

I have wanted a locket for a long time so I am so happy. There is room for 4 pictures in it. So now it has a picture of Felipe and each of the Goos.

When we were done putting in the pictures I called the kids over to show them. I told them that they each had a place in my heart and showed them the pictures.

Then the Goo asked, "What about Uncle Jonathan?"

We couldn't stop laughing.

Then Goo and Goo 2 wanted to play with the boxes that they came in. So they ran in their room and filled them with Legos for me for Mother's Day while Tre-Goo ate the bag.

Sandy Tagged Me...

2008-05-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

*DO YOU REALLY KNOW ME?

Two names you go by:
  1. Nancy
  2. Mommy


Two things you are wearing right now
  1. Felipe's UCR T-Shirt
  2  Stretch pants
  (AKA pajamas)

    
Two of your favorite things to do:
  1. Talk and laugh with Felipe
  2.  Play outside with my family

Two things you want very badly at the
moment:
  1.  a carpet cleaning vacuum
  2.  warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies

Two pets that you have or have had:
I don't have any so in the past I have had
  1. Growlbert
  2. Boy Boy

Two people who will actually fill this out:
  1.  Carolyn
  2.  Sharla or Elizabeth (Sorry, I put 3)

Two things you did last night:
  1.  Went to Colloquium
  2.  Had a dream about my globe


Two things you ate today:
  1.  Water
  2.  Nothing  (I just woke up)

Two people you last talked to:
  1. Felipe
  2. Cassandra

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
  1.  Going to Ward Mother's Day dinner
  2.  And.....maybe....take the kids out to play


Longest trips taken:
  1. Chile
  2. London


Your favorite holidays:
   1.  Christmas
   2.  My kid's birthdays


Two favorite beverages:
  1.  Water
  2.  Great Value Instant Breakfast
   
TAG, YOU'RE IT!

Budget or A Glimpse into My Personal Finances

2008-05-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

I am back to working on budgeting money. One of my goals was to not spend over $200/month on groceries. This was a little too strict. I count anything I buy at Walmart as a grocery which sometimes includes diapers, medicine, health and beauty, gifts, etc. So I am now increasing my monthly amount to $300. I think this amount is enough to buy what we need. My goal to insure that I don't spend more than this is to pay in cash. I shop about once a week and so I will only bring $75 dollars to the store. That way I won't buy things I really don't need. I really don't like grocery shopping and usually my goal is to get out of the store as fast as possible, so knowing that I can't buy anything but necessities will help that. We eat out or buy fast food sometimes less than once a week so that shouldn't interefere too much. Sometimes Felipe will buy food at school, but I am not including that in my budget.

I also made a notebook to keep track of my finances. I used to use the computer but when Felipe reinstalls things or changes things on it I get off track.

A few things that seem to save money for me are:
1. WIC (Women, Infants, Children) - We are poor college students at the moment so we qualify. I think you have to make under $35,000/year. We get free milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, carrots, juice, beans and tuna. -It helps us soooo much. At first I felt too proud to apply for it, but now I am very thankful for government help. I still am looking forward to the day when we won't need it though.

2. I use these cloth diapers They are not the best but they are the least expensive I could find. They do about as well as Target generic brand diapers in leakability. I don't use them at night or if I am away from home for over 2 hours. So I still buy disposables. However, I don't have to buy diapers that often so it helps with finances and I am glad not to have trash cans filled with diapers. I have a waterproof/smellproof bag that I put them in. Then I wash them and wash the bag.

3. I shop at Super Walmart. It is a little farther than other stores but KSL did a study on it and found that Walmart is cheaper than Super Target and Albertson's by up to $17.00 per visit. The gas station at Walmart is also a few cents cheaper. I think it would be about a $25.00 savings if it were compared to Allen's. If I am only using WIC I will go to a closer store but for my once a week shopping I go there.

4. We have a closet with shelves devoted to our food supply. I usually have something in there that it easy to make for dinner on the nights when I just don't want to cook - like macaroni and cheese and cans of foods that are easy to heat up. This helps me not to eat out. Also about eating out - I think about how much money we are going to spend and what I would rather buy with that money. I also love shakes and malts from Dairy Queen or Sonic but I have my Magic Bullet and so I convince myself to make one for so much cheaper.

5. I try to make beans or lentils once a week. In Chile we had porotos or lentejas every Monday. I just have to remind myself to put them to soak the night before. We get them free with WIC but they are usually less than $1/per bag and feed us for 2 days.

6. I buy bread at the discount Wonderbread stores. They are often called a "Day Old bakery" but the bread is not old. The expiration dates are comparable to the store. Felipe's parents gave us their old freezer. So I buy about 20 loaves at a time and put them in the freezer in the garage. This usually costs about $17.00 - $25.00. My mom bought me a bread maker so I make bread too.

7. Last but not least I try to make things like cookies or brownies instead of buying prepackaged. I do have a weakness for Keebler Grasshopper cookies though.

Well, I would love any more ideas on how to save money - so if you have any please share. I am excited about my budget so hopefully I will follow through this month at least to see the results.

Perspectives of a 4 Year Old

2008-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

The Goo found our camera and took about 150 pictures on Saturday. After seeing some of his shots I have come to the conclusion that he is a better photographer than I am. He took all of these on his own. I love the feet, the sleeping and the shadow pictures. I also love the last picture because of what it says. Enjoy!!

So I call his latest work: "Perspectives of a 4 Year Old" and "The Essence of Carolina" (for the Carolina pictures)

Happy 31

2008-04-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Felipe is 31 today. I can't believe that I met him when he was 21 (almost 22). I think that these two stories really describe Felipe's character:

When we were dating we went to Fairmont Park in Riverside. We were walking by the lake talking when I noticed a duck walking in front of us. Someone had tried to catch the duck. It had a cord tied around his neck. It was with a few other ducks and they were quacking in a distressed sort of way. I wanted to help the duck but I was scared it would bite me. Before I even could say anything about the duck Felipe walked over to it. He gently picked it up and untied the cord. The whole time the duck showed no fear at all. Felipe got the cord off and put the duck back down. It ran to the other ducks and we could actually hear a difference in their tone of quacking. They had a happy quack instead of a distressed one.

Then when we were married we had a ward BBQ in a park one Saturday. Felipe and I went. On the playground were a few teenage boys that were not from our ward. They started rolling up the swings on the top of the swing set so that nobody could swing. A few of the kids wanted to swing and were sad because of these boys. Felipe saw the whole thing and went over and climbed up on the swing set to get the swings down while the boys were still there trying to swing more swings high enough to get them stuck on top. He didn't say anything to the boys he just worked on freeing the swings so that the kids could swing. The boys saw him up there and they climbed up too and started to help him. They all worked together and got all of the swings down.

I can't describe Felipe in words that would match up with what I see in him when I think of those two stories. I just know that I am the luckiest wife in the world.

One more reason why I love Felipe---He made us ice cream with liquid nitrogen for his birthday. It was soooo good.

Love

2008-04-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Goo drew this for me today. He wrote "mama" and "papa" all by himself. He told me he made me with long hair and that we are holding hands. :)

No Surprise

2008-04-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday is Felipe's (big Felipe's) birthday. I ordered him a pair of shoes that he wanted from Land's End. Well, they came in the mail yesterday and we hid them before he got home.

So this is what happened when he got home:

Felipe to kids: "What did you do today?"

Goo: "We hid your birthday shoes that came in the mail."

Felipe always finds out what I got him before his birthday. Usually it is my fault because I can't wait to give him his presents, but this year I was so proud of myself. (...I still have another present he doesn't know about :)

Exercise Music Nostalgia

2008-04-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Felipe and I are on an exercise kick. He plays handball 2-3 times at week with some of his physics friends and teachers. He walked to school today and made it in under an hour. I turned our big family room in the basement into a mini-gym for the kids and me. The kids have a slide and some foam squares that they jump on. We bought a jogging trampoline, a mini (travel size) stair climber, a jump rope, a step aerobics step thing and an exercise mat for under 12 dollars at DI. (I am a germ/cleanliness person so everything was very sterilized.) Carolyn gave me a pilates ball too. So that is our gym. The kids and I are going to exercise down there when the weather outside is not inviting.

I made an exercise playlist on the computer that Felipe hooked up to the TV upstairs and somehow we can turn on the TV downstairs and hear it. While we were exercising today the songs made me feel nostalgic. So here are some of the songs and what they remind me of:

-"Don't Stop, Never Give Up" (This song reminds me of our trip to London. I think Carolyn said that she heard it in London and so now it makes me think of London)
-"Every Little Step I Take" by Bobby Brown (7th grade Pow Wows)
-"Dancing in Heaven" and "I Can Fly" from the "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun" Soundtrack
-"Another Part of Me" by Michael Jackson (-Reminds me of walking out of the theater after Captain EO at Disneyland)
-"Be Near Me" by ABC (-Listening to Barbara's tape when I was in 4th grade)
-"Dancing Queen" by Abba (Young Single Adult dances - I think my favorites were Riverside, Anaheim and Newport Beach)
-"Fernando" by Abba (-ummm, I guess it makes me think of my brother-in-law, Fernando - especially of the time we crossed the Rio Grande)
-Several Billy Joel songs like "This is the Time" and "I Go to Extremes" to name a few (What do Billy Joel songs not remind me of?)
-"Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News (Back to the Future)
-"Let's Hear it for the Boy" by Denise Williams (Reminds me of being a kid in the '80's)
-"We Got the Beat" by the GoGos (Reminds me of watching the video with my sisters - we were each one of the GoGos - I played the guitar)
-"I'll Make a Man Out of You" -Mulan Soundtrack (Reminds me of my brother - It was on his walking music playlist)
-"La Locura de Tu Amor" - It was the music for a novela and I would hear it at Felipe's house when we were dating
-"Where the Sidewalk Ends" by George Strait (Reminds me of Carolyn watching "Pure Country"everday)
-"Ritmo Total" by Enrique Iglesias (Enrique Iglesias songs remind me of Felipe - the first song we danced to was -"Miente, dime que me amas..." at a Cinco de Mayo party - he sang it while we danced - sigh..., then we danced to "Enamorado por Primera Vez" He actually doesn't like Enrique Iglesias music but does great impersonations of him. He also does the best Elvis impersonation that I have seen.)

So I have a few more songs on the playlist and want to add a few - maybe a few "TropiHits" -more music that Felipe doesn't like. He is more of a Maná type of person.

Well, to sum it up - I feel better when I exercise. As Uncle Alec said to Rose in Lousia May Alcott's novel Eight Cousins "A happy soul in a healthy body makes the best sort of beauty for man or woman."

****Carolina said "Mama" today. :)
(She also said "Dada" but that was a while ago... Felipe's Edit)

Goos News

2008-04-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today it is so sunny and warm. We went outside and the kids wanted to run in the sprinklers. They got soaked and came in and changed. I noticed the Goo was not as active as usual and asked him if he was o.k. He said he had a headache. It turns out he has a fever of 102. So he had tylenol and is lying down. We have a birthday party to go to tomorrow that he was really excited about so hopefully he will be better. I am actually starting to feel a little sick myself as I type this. That is not good.

The Goo has started reading. I am so excited about this. I was reading when I was four and so it is hard for me to wait for my kids to read. I don't push them or force them to read, but I do read to them a lot and surround them, literally, with books. We rarely watch TV and movies are a special treat as a family. BTW, my kids love Fred Astaire movies. So as I was saying, he is reading the "Dick and Jane" books. I found a beautiful hard back copy of "The Best of Dick and Jane" at Deseret Industries. It was in excellent condition so I bought it for a dollar. Well, he loves it. Dick has two little sisters just like him. He laughs and laughs at the stories and can get through most of them on his own. He brings the book to me all the time. I love that he instigates reading and enjoys it so much. Cassandra likes to try to read too. She asks me what every word says. She loves to write the letter "C" for Cassandra.

I also plan on reading more Bible stories to the kids. In the "Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion" there is a list at the end of the stories in the Bible with the chapter and verse references. I like the way they are listed. They are relatively short so children will able to follow them. So I am marking them in my Bible and plan on reading them at night to the kids.

We are speaking Spanish almost all of the time now. Our goal this week is to speak Spanish ALL WEEK. I have slipped a few times all ready, but we are doing better and the kids are picking it up pretty quickly.

Carolina can clap now and is getting close to crawling.

Homesick

2008-04-11T06:58:00.001-07:00

It snowed again. I am starting to feel the seasonal depression that comes from lack of sunlight. Today I miss my home in sunny Southern CA. I miss having an orange tree, a lemon tree and 2 avocado tress. I think it is in the 80's in Riverside and today the Goo said, "Mom, let's put our shorts and our bathing suits in the car and drive to California and go to the beach and go swimming." I like that idea.

I guess next week it might get up to 70. Maybe I won't feel homesick then considering it will be in the 90's in Riverside.

Words to Live By

2008-04-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

This is what the Goo said to me this morning:

"Mommy, I won't plug the vacuum into Cassandra's eye anymore."

Hair Goo?

2008-04-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

Goo 2 loves to do Tre-Goo's hair. As you can see in the picture taken last week, there isn't much hair to do. However, she gets it a little wet with water from her "ba" and smooths it out with her hand. Then she tells Tre-Goo how pretty she looks. Tre-Goo loves it for the most part. Tre-Goo loves to pull hair and has taken a few chunks out of Goo-2.

Another Blog

2008-03-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

I made a new blog called My Reading Nook I have been following a tutorial on how to design your own blog. I am practicing on that one for now. My friend, Marinda, made a blog to post about the books she is reading. I like that idea so I thought I would use my experimental blog to comment on the books I have been reading this year.

President Hinckley Quote

2008-03-29T21:16:00.001-07:00

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

I read this quote on Ivy's Facebook page. I just had to steal it and post it here. I love hearing that everything will work out - especially from a prophet.

Last Week...

2008-03-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

Last week we went out to dinner with a Angelene Randolph. We served in the Chile Osorno Mission together. She is now a cartographer in Washington D.C. but was out this way visiting family. That job sounds so exciting to me. I love maps. Felipe served his mission in Washington D.C. North and loves that area. I have never been to the East Coast. I did have a layover in Miami twice so maybe I saw the Southern East Coast.

The kids had too much fun with the crayons that came with their menu. I didn't know that you could color your face with crayons.

Felipe and I were talking about humor and attitudes today and so I wanted to add these quotes that are great reminders of how to make our lives easier.

"The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances."
-Martha Washington

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."
-Abraham Lincoln

"Whoever is happy will make others happy, too."
-Mark Twain

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."
-Anne Frank

Happy Easter!!

2008-03-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

Baby Gracie, our niece (Pretend she is in the dress below)

Baby Gracie's Dress

Felipe and Cassandra

Carolina

Felipe and Cassandra in their Easter Pajama Pants. They picked out the material. It was my first time sewing pants. I think they are so much easier than dresses!!

Los Tres Goos

Sideways (I am too tired to fix it.)

Here are the pants again. I made the kids Easter bags this year instead of baskets. Now I am done sewing for awhile.

Indoor Shoes

2008-03-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

I finished Baby Gracie's Easter/Sam (Felipe's brother) and Elizabeth's Wedding dress. I am almost done with Carolina's. I wanted all three dresses to be the same, but I ran out of the green and pink ribbon I used on Cassandra's. I only had enough for the waistlines and then a few extra flowers to sew on. Well, I called the fabric store and they were no help. So the other day I picked Felipe up from school and on the way home we drove by a fabric store. I wanted to run in and check if they had the ribbon, BUT...I was wearing my indoor shoes.

I have indoor shoes and outdoor shoes (all of my shoes are outdoor shoes except my indoor shoes). I can wear them in the car too but nowhere else. So I begged Felipe to go into the store and ask if they had anymore "ChicBoutique" ribbon. (This reminds me of Wickham shopping for ribbon in "Pride and Prejudice.") So he went in and asked and told me the lady was trying so hard not to laugh at him. --And they didn't have any. She recommended another store so we went there. He wouldn't go in this time. So we sat in the car trying to think of what to do. He suggested I wear his shoes in. He wears a size 12 (I wear a 7 1/2). Well, I finally agreed to it. The lady had me follow her to the ribbon and looked down when she saw how I was walking. I explained the shoes to her and she laughed. They didn't have it either. So we went to another recommended store. This time neither of us wanted to look ridiculous. The store was right next to a dollar store, SO....Felipe bought me a pair of one dollar flip flops to wear into the other store. AND...they didn't have it.

So we went home.

I did go to Walmart the next day though and I found some beautiful kind-of-ribbon that matches perfectly. I am going to go finish Carolina's dress now and post a picture when I am done.

I hardly ever take all three kids shopping alone, but I did to Walmart. Carolina screamed the whole time, the kids kept jumping out of the extra long cart with the two seats in the back with broken seat belts, they were out of my favorite instant breakfast and the two bags of dry macaroni in my cart had a hole in them. They burst all over the place when I took them out at the register. They were all over the register, my cart, the floor and the cart of the lady behind me. BUT...I got the kind-of-ribbon.

My Latest Creations

2008-03-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my latest sewing projects.

Cassandra's Easter dress. (Still working on Carolina's...)

This is the cushion I made for my glider chair. I made 3 matching pillows too.

A-Z Tag

2008-03-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

Marinda (The Wessman Family) tagged anyone who wanted to be tagged so here it is:

A-Attached or Single: Attached
B-Best Friend: Felipe

C-Cake or Pie: cake (I really don't like pie crust)
That cake looks so good too :)

D-Day of Choice: Friday

E-Essential Item: Water (I am addicted)

F-Favorite TV Show: I Love Lucy

G-Gummie Bears or Worms: Bears

H-Hometown: Riverside, CA

I-Indulgence: Death by Chocolate Cake

J-January or July: July in Utah (January in CA)
K-Kids: Goo1, Goo2 and Tre-Goo
L-Life is incomplete without: Mr. Goo and the Google Bears

M-Marriage Date: August 3, 2001

N-Number of Siblings: 5 (3 older sisters, 1 older brother, 1 younger sister)

O-Oranges or Apples: oranges (but not the dry oranges you buy at the store - I am partial to home grown in Southern California :)

P-Phobias or Fears: I can be a hypochondriac at times...
Q-Quote: "Be a little kinder to other people than others are to you."

R-Reason to Smile: Listening in on the conversations the Goos have with each other.

S-(there was no S for some reason but I need one for my own personal sanity-so I will make one up. Hmmm...How about Smurf of choice: Handy all the way!

T-Tag: I tag everyone who reads this - That means you (if you want to :)

U-Unknown fact about me: I was mistaken for a first grader by the lunch lady when I taught first grade. She thought I was one of the students in my class. When she found out I was the teacher she couldn't stop laughing.

V-Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I eat meat sparingly. I actually only like meat maybe once or twice a week.

W-Worst Habit: Nail biting
X-X-rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds

Y-Your Favorite Food: Great Value Brand Instant Breakfast
Z-Your Zodiac: Sometimes Gemini, Sometimes Cancer (depending on the source)

Sister Hinckley Quotes

2008-03-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

When I am having a week like this week, Sister Hinckley quotes always help me feel better.

"My mother taught me some basic philosophies of rearing children. One is that you have to trust children. I tried hard never to say "no" if I could possibly say "yes." I think that worked well because it gave my children the feeling that I trusted them and they were responsible to do the best they could." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinckley ~

"Find joy in your children. Don't overschedule them or yourself. You may not be able to take them on exotic vacations. It doesn't matter. When the day dawns bright and sunny, take an excursion to the canyon or the park. When it's cloudy and wet, read a book together or make something good to eat. Give them time to explore and learn about the feel of grass and the wiggliness of worms." -Marjorie Hinckley

"We each do the best we can. My best may not be as good as your best, but it's my best. The fact is that we know when we are doing our best and when we are not. If we are not doing our best, it leaves us with a gnawing hunger and frustration. But when we do our level best, we experience a peace." -Sister Marjorie Hinckley

"If we can't laugh at life, we are in big trouble." -- Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Sleeping Goos

Warmer Weather

2008-03-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to our homeschool group Valentine's Day party (It was canceled on Valentine's Day because of snow). We spent the week making Valentine bookmarks since all of the stores were out of Valentine's. I think it was perfect that it was postponed since it is Valentine's Day all year to my kids. Since last year every time they talk on the phone to anyone (Grandma, Abuelo, Abuela, Aunts, Uncles, etc.) they always end the conversations by saying "Bye bye. Happy Valentine's Day. Bye." Well, we really enjoyed it. There are so many kids right in their age range. They also have been playing more with the neighborhood kids and we found out that an Elder from my mission lives a few houses down. His kids were outside playing too. We were outside yesterday until it got dark. It was actually sunny (and cold). I am just so happy that the snow is ending :)

I have been reading a lot about Charlotte Mason and her theories on education. She really stresses LOTS of outdoor time - even meals outdoors. I like that idea so that all of the crumbs stay outside and not under the table. So I am anxious for the warmer weather. I still like the Thomas Jefferson Education model but I feel that children are ready to learn more through lessons before they are 8 years old. I loved learning in K-3 and so I don't agree with only focusing on play and not teaching reading, writing or math. I don't believe in pushing kids beyond their capabilities, but I think you can work below their level of frustration and accomplish of lot. Charlotte Mason also encourages journal writing every day. I have the kids dictate to me everyday (OK, not quite everyday) and I write for them. They really enjoy that. I am often amazed that we never studied anything about Charlotte Mason in my credential program. She has some amazing ideas and I am enjoying reading the 6 book Charlotte Mason set that my mom bought me for Christmas.

Carolyn and I are trying to get my mom to start a blog. She has so many funny things happen to her and I think it would be so fun if she wrote one of them everyday. So I will keep you posted if she gets one up an running.

Homeschool Poll

2008-02-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

You can vote in my homeschool poll on the right. I want to edit it but it won't let me once it has a vote. So to clarify a little: choice number 3 (no, I prefer public school) is for people who would not homeschool by choice, but possibly would out of necessity or if their child really wanted to be homeschooled. I think 3 and 4 sound to similar so I wanted to make a little more distinction.

Pictures

2008-02-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

We finally have some pictures to post. Felipe takes the camera to school to photograph vanadium dioxide slides. So it takes awhile to get my pictures accessible to me.

Tre-Goo at Christmas time

Goo 1 and Goo 2 in the snow in January

The Goo's train tracks in January.

The Goo's 4th Birthday

The Goo's "Percy" Birthday Cake (We had trouble with the frosting, but he loved it.)

Too bad the pictures from this weekend are not here yet. My mom, Jonathan (my brother) and my sister-in-law, Robyn, came up to Utah this weekend for my nephew, Carson's, missionary farewell. He is going to Antofagasta, Chile. I served in the most Southern mission in Chile (Osorno), with rain, snow and just cold weather and he will be in the most Northern mission with little rain and mostly hot weather.

Late Happy President's Day

2008-02-24T11:47:00.000-08:00

In honor of George Washington's 276th birthday on February 22nd here are a few quotes by him:

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.

And in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 199th birthday on February 12th here are a few quotes by him:

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.

If you intend to go to work, there is no better place than right where you are; if you do not intend to go to work, you can not get along anywhere.

Life

2008-02-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

I finished reading Little Britches by Ralph Moody. http://www.amazon.com/Little-Britches-Father-Were-Ranchers/dp/0803281781/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203394719&sr=8-1 I usually don't cry when I read books, but I was sobbing at the end of it. I think I cried because the book really happened. I also finished it at 1:00 am so that could have something to do with it too. It is a beautiful story and a book that I will definitely read to my children when they are older.

Felipe has been so sick for the last week. He hasn't been able to get out of bed for the last 3 days. All of the kids have been sick as well. I am so grateful that I haven't been sick, but I have been the nurse for the last two weeks and I am getting a little tired of this illness. I went to the store today to buy the ingredients to the concoction for colds/flu (or not getting colds/flu) that his parents swear by. Here is the recipe: you blend the juice of 3 limes, 2 cloves of garlic, a wedge of red onion and a little branch of parsley together and take 2 tablespoons twice a week. It tastes awful so I make it as a last resort. Today I took some though because I really don't want to get sick.

In other health news I am exercising every day. I do "Total Body Workout." It comes on BYU TV at 10:00 am Monday - Friday. http://www.byub.org/programaz/program.asp?id=931
Sometimes I tape it the old fashioned way on a vhs tape to do later if I am busy at 10. It seems that the show alternates between aerobics and yoga. I never knew yoga was so hard.

On the subject of health and exercise I wanted to put on the quote from "The Happiest Millionaire" about life - "you have to dive into it, you have to taste it, you have to feel it, you have to use it and the more you use the more you have. That's the wonder of it." I am not sure if I got that right - I am just going by memory here. (I have probably seen that movie over 100 times.)

I searched for quotes from "The Happiest Millionaire" to see if I got it right. I couldn't find that one, but here are a few of my favorites:

John Lawless: Now there's a gorgeous sight! Are you getting ready for a party, Mrs. Worth?
Mrs. Worth: [seriously] No, Mr. Biddle's on a chocolate cake diet.
John Lawless: I beg your pardon?
Mrs. Worth: He says it's the perfect food, containing "every essential element."

Angie Duke: Cordy, you and I are going to elope!
Mrs. Duke: Over my dead body!
Angie Duke: Only if absolutely necessary, Mother.

Miss Cordelia Biddle: Oh, no, I'm not getting married!
[runs out of room]
Angie Duke: Then I'm not either!

John Lawless: [to the audience] Well now, that answers a whole slew o' questions, don't it?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day here are 14 facts about us.

1. We met in February 1999 at a fireside at Institute.
2. I misunderstood the first thing he ever said to me and I told my sister he was a jerk because of it.
3. Later at the same fireside we started talking and became friends. We talked for an hour in Spanish.
4. Our first date was to the Los Angeles Temple (Felipe was a temple worker at the time and he asked if I wanted to go with him one Saturday at 4:30 am.)
5. After the temple we went to a little taco restaurant in LA where I tried tacos de seso for the first and last time (brains).
6. In May of 1999 we knew we liked each other but we dated over 2 more years until we were married.
7. We used to break up and get back together about every week for those 2 years.
8. I think our families and friends got tired of that.
9. Once we broke up in LA and I told Felipe we couldn't break up until we went to the Original Tommy's close to Dodger Stadium. (Now he loves Tommy's)
10. Another time we broke up after getting into a car accident on the 5 on the way to a Padres game in San Diego - but I said we couldn't break up until we watched "The Great Muppet Caper." (He loves that movie now, too).
11. We broke up once on the Newport Beach Pier.
12. We were married in the LA Temple on August 3, 2001. (And we haven't broken up since :)
13. For our honeymoon we went to San Diego and then rented a car and drove up Pacific Coast Highway all the way to San Francisco. Then we flew to Mazatlan, Mexico for another 5 days.
14. We have been happily married now for 6 1/2 years :)
"Love is what we go through together." -James Thurber

Pictures taken by Erick Castillo and Tara Whitney

Un poquito de Castellano...

2008-02-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

Anoche pensé que debo escribir en castellano de vez en cuando (También debo hablar en Castellano de vez en cuando :).Felipe y Cassandra estaban dibujando mientras que yo estaba cuidando a Carolina. Por fin se durmió y cuando regresé a la cocina vi que los dos habían pintado la mesa roja con marcadores. Tratamos de limpiarla con agua y jabón y ahora la mesa está rosada.

He estado cosiendo almohaditas y un cojín para mi mecedora. También pinté tres de nuestras sillas, la caja de juguetes de Felipe y Cassandra y mi caja para cobijas que Felipe me hizo. Todo se ve bien (aparte de la mesa rosa). No quiero pintar mas por mucho tiempo. Pondré fotos de lo que hice cuando Felipe ponga las fotos en la computadora.

Happy Birthday to Goo!

2008-02-08T14:31:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that my Google Bear is 4. His birthday was a few days ago. We bought him real Legos for his birthday (the small ones). He is growing up so fast. Now he loves trains and Legos.

Here are some things I love about my Goo:
I love when he sings "I am Like a Star Shining Brightly" and "I am a Child of God" in English and Spanish.
I love that he loves to read books and he loves me to read to him.
I love that he loves to invent for hours with blocks, Legos and train tracks (and pretty much anything else he gets his hands on.)
I love that he says fridgerlater instead of fridgerator.
I love that he loves his little sisters.
I love his cute smile.
Happy Birthday Goo.

Teenagers

2008-01-31T22:32:00.000-08:00

I was reading in the news about how thousands of high school students went to school on Monday in their Sunday church clothes to pay respects to President Hinckley. I guess they passed the message along through six states by text messaging Sunday night. I think that is a beautiful story.

Also, speaking of the youth, I was very impressed Saturday night. We went to Kmart and while we were there 4 couples came in that were dressed for Midwinter. I think they were buying music CD's. Anyways the girls all had on modest dresses. They weren't Napoleon Dynamite style dresses, but actually very cute and stylish dresses. The 8 teenagers were not obnoxious or loud either. That just made me happy.

2 Years Later...

2008-01-31T15:23:00.000-08:00

Puppies

2008-01-30T15:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olFiP18emnQ

There is a link to Carolyn's youtube video. If you like dogs you need to watch it her sing her puppy song. My kids watch it over and over and get it in our heads all day. Puppies.....

The other night I was dreaming that I couldn't sleep and in my dream I decided to sing myself to sleep. The next morning Felipe told me when he came in to go to sleep I was singing "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel. An odd choice to sing for a lullaby I admit.

The kids are sick and I am getting a little tired of the snow. I need snow, a week of sun and then snow again. Too bad it doesn't work like that.

I am making my mom's famous Jello Ice Cream pie. It is in the fridge setting. I can't wait until it is done. When the kids feel better we are going to make pizza with homemade dough for the first time. I am very excited about this.