get your waders on

don't get me wrong...
My entire world revolves around my own children... who I adore.
However, about two months ago... I walked into a cave called "babysitting"

I have not been able to find the lights anywhere.

Until today.

at 8:40 a.m. there is a tiny flicker at the end of the tunnel.

EIGHTEEN DAYS OFF! starting today at approximately 4:45 p.m.

After a brief few days of comatose sleep and recuperation, I plan on being so creative you might barf... blog posts, needless paper crafts and possibly... quite possibly... a few afghans.
big plans.
I also told Karina that just she and mommy are going to the "painting store"
I want to paint her room, and even create some art to go in there.

like I said, "get your waders on"

Really, It is all about me

Today is a fun day. It is the beginning of the joy of the holiday season.

Today is Guero's 31st Birthday!

Why does this begin the joy of the holiday season? Well, because I have exactly 43 days to count every one of his gray hairs and frown lines... and remind him how much older he is than me.

but in 44 days - we will be the same age, and the fun will be Over. Until next year - when it starts all over again.

If you are wondering what he is doing to celebrate? You don't know him.
Backbreaking labor.
Some things never change.
He removed many of the cacti in the front yard, only to replace them with boulders?

I seriously think he did it - just for the work of it.

p.s. - he is getting VERY slim. down at least 50 lbs. I wanted to buy him a new suit for church, but he does not want to get one for another 50 lbs. He should have one for Easter!!

Dag-Nabbit

Writing this post is going to be a challenge.

First Rule of being a mom:
1. DON'T LEAVE THINGS DANGEROUS OR EXPENSIVE CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE KITCHEN COUNTER!
We seem to be doing pretty well on keeping the knife block far away from the edge... my cell phone - not so much.
Because of this, I have been without a cell phone for TWO WEEKS! If you could talk to JJ, and translate mono-syllabic, spanglish toddler-ese PLEASE CALL ME (on my house phone!)

2. DON'T GO TO THE BATHROOM!
I don't play baseball, but that must be what they mean by "relief pitcher". When the real pitcher has to go to the bathroom - they bring in his relief? right? I need to buy myself a "relief pitcher" so that I can be afforded the privelege of going to the bathroom EVER AGAIN!
Because while I was in there yesterday, JJ and Jenna counted the number of crackers in an entire sleeve, and how many Cheez-It's that they fit into that useless box.
*no picture available - see rule three*

3. LET NO THING IN YOUR LIFE BE SACRED!
Because if you love it - it will be destroyed, tortured, dropped, kicked, or laden with viruses. I grabbed my camera to post a picture of the DISASTER created by the babies yesterday, and remembered - I DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER!!! I am working on husband's laptop.

I could post a lot more rules - what rules should I add?
The problem is - I need to stand at the door and wait patiently (read: desperately) for my new best friend - the mailman. Hopefully he is bringing my new blackberry, and awesome winter shoes today!
i suffer.

bust out the tiny violins

Do you know what this is a picture of? a. a hurdler training himself for the baby olympics?
b. a baby high-centered, mid-climb over the baby gate?
c. My day going down the toilet?

Every thorn has it's roooose

I am on a silent (barely audible, not so silent) crusade to soften our image - beginning with the front of the house. It does me absolutely no good to see that his cactus does occasionally bear flowers.

This cactus, however, has a spiny mind of it's own. To be sure that it's prickly image is not tarnished by this gigantic flower clip it has donned this morning - it has attracted no less than six bees...

Like a Kid Meeting

How do you know it is sinking in?

How can you be sure that merely by observation and perception they get it?

This is how.

Conversation overheard in the car last night:

Mom: (boring details left out for brevity's sake) ...so after you get home from school you will get to play a little bit, and then you will get cleaned up, and then you need to put your church clothes on. You are going to church (for Primary Program Practice)
...
Karina: Oh, I get it, Mom - It's like a "kid meeting".

(...thinking: yes - and you need to magnify your calling!)

Either she gets it, or we should be ashamed that the only times we get dressed up and go out are the multiple times a week one of us is leaving for a church meeting.

What to do?

When the only thing standing between you, and knowing what you need to know - is a 20 month old toddler?
JJ: "Daddy, I am taking my shoes off!"
Daddy: "Ok, Ton, Your mother has entrusted me with your care while she watches your sister play soccer, and I am sure that she won't mind if I stand here and take pictures of you doing that"JJ: "Wow, Dad. This is a tough job. Are you sure my one and only pair of flip flops from The Children's Place won't break if I do this?"
Daddy: "wh? wh?, Sorry, Ton, Daddy was watching a pretty butterfly. What did you say?"

Daddy: "uh, Ton? Where are your shoes?"

Mommy: Now realizes the reason that they were at the park for the ENTIRE hour and fifteen minute soccer practice. They were probably looking for his shoes for 70 minutes.

gypsy

Go to Cricut Gypsy
if you are as excited as I am about the new Cricut Gypsy!

Quarter Ton

Daddy says you're not even an S10.
Brother is a TonTon (That's two ton)
Well then Sissy must be one of those Mary Kay Cadillacs.

Hmmm? That makes Daddy a Monster Truck. He definitely is a BIG FOOT.
and Mama? Mama does not want to be a minivan (too frumpy), she wants to be a Magnum.

Sick

Here is a quiz:
Tell me which of the following news items makes you want to vomit the most.

a. Karina lost her first tooth this weekend! It was quite loose, Daddy grabbed a paper towel and literally yanked it out.
additional nauseating facts:
*The tooth fairy left Karina five dollars for losing her first tooth.
*My child looks even cuter than she did before.

b. I just babysat for a great friend - her (almost) four year old son did not make it to the potty... created a lake on my bathroom floor, and I had zero clothes, underwear or otherwise so the poor child left my house in a pull-up saved from three years ago and one of Karina's t-shirts.
additional dry-heave facts:
*Then her baby girl made the worst diaper I have seen in a very long time, and I see dirty diapers every day!

c. On a whim I checked Craigslist (again) for a Cricut Expression. Knowing fully well I cannot afford one. There was a (what I can only assume CRAZY) lady on there selling a new in the box Expression with four cartridges for 300 bucks. My salesman husband piped up in my head, and I sent her an email offering 250 for that package - and she took it!!!!
additional projectile facts:
I am so excited, I might wet myself.

The winner of this quiz will probably get something I made at midnight on my Cricut.

This most recent pic was taken of JJ at McDonalds. My husband has been wanting me to post pictures of them at the same age... next to each other for comparison... AMaZing how they were hatched out of two seperate eggs?

There noses are different - it looks like Karina may have my nose, and JJ has Daddy's?

Hawaii 5 Oh

Today when Kristi picked her up for school, Karina proudly told her,
"Today is my last day to be five".

'Tis pity, 'tis true.

Little does Karina know that she is going to the beach for her birthday. She knows that we are sleeping in the HO-tel (as she pronounces it), but she does not know that tomorrow this time - we will be looking for shells and building sand castles in San Diego!

Important things of note about my Buds:

She has two loose teeth - the top two front, she is still a head above most of her classmates, and continues growing taller every day.

She loves Kindergarten, and her teacher.

She loves Primary, Primary songs CD, and her teacher Sister Bird.

She is signed up to play on a real soccer team, and starts cheerleading next week.

She loves to dance and sing to Radio Disney. If you change the channel - she knows it.

She is afraid of bugs, the dark, being alone.

She loves to paint, color, and make jeweleries (again... for her posterity)

She does not like to go to bed on time, clean her room, or take out the garbage.

She is filled with the Spirit, as we are often impressed by what she is grateful for, and whom she asks the Lord to bless.

She adores her baby brother, tolerates Mom, and hates when Daddy measures her belly button.

She is a great big sister who occasionally gets JJ out of his crib when he wakes up, changes his diaper, and makes him cereal.

We love our Buds, and we are proud to be her parents... even though she is turning six, but going on sixteen.

Dear Wife,

I want you to do all of your errands by 2pm today. I will be driving by and
swapping vehicles with you, and working on your car tonight.
Needless to say, I will be home late. This is what will be done to your
car:

-Check all the fluids
-Clean terminals on solenoid pack
-Clean out air filter
-Check tire pressure to 35lbs
-Check spare tire to 60 lbs
-Check tire iron & Jack
-Wire in power supply (so that we can listen to XM and have DVD player going)
-Wire in 2nd cigarette lighter (so that we can smoke inside the car?)
-Wire in Fan's (something that I have been wanting since last summer to keep kids from cooking in backseat... of course now that the 117 degree weather is over...)
-vacuum
-Check windshield wipers
-Check windshield fluids
-Borrow waldo's lojack (I am quite certain Waldo does not have a lojack... not to mention the fact that if anybody stole my car - I WOULD want to track him down - so that I could laugh at him!)
-install dvd player w/ headphones
-drop suspension 2"
-synchronize hydraulics to Tupac's California dreams
-install sticker of Virgen de Guadalupe back windshield
-install La campesina sticker to back bumper
-drill holes in the muffler
-take out 1 hub cap


Love you, Babe

Fast Sunday

conversation going on while fixing Karina's hair for church yesterday

Me: Buds, Why don't we put that (Very oversized, homemade... maybe embarrassing?) flower in your hair?

Karina: "no, mom. I think I should save that for Fast Sunday"

Me: "OOOOOOK"

(thinking... this little thing is full of balogna, but at least she is Attempting to spare my feelings by not saying, "I hate that thing")

*moment of silence while I continue styling*

Me: (LYING) Buds, It is Fast Sunday

*husband pipes up from the bed where he is putting on his socks: "don't lie to your children"*

Karina: no, mom It is slow Sunday.

Dearest Father

Dearest Father,

It is 0800 hours and I would like to keep you informed of my activities this morning.

I know you will be impressed with my own developing work ethic.

I began the morning at 0600 sharp. I made sure to wake my sleeping sister with a resounding Reveille that would rival any lazy rooster.

While mom made herself busy bathing my sister, I took her toothbrush and detailed the wall and television. Both are now as shiny as they were when new.

I attempted to teach Mom not to leave me by myself at the breakfast table, and told her to drop and give me twenty while she cleaned up my apple juice.

I relieved all of the VCR tapes and DVD's of their duty... standing guard in the cabinet under the tv. I also relieved every single one of the jackets and cases they were contained in.

Upon finding an enemy combatant in the pantry closet, I sought him out and destroyed him. Unfortunately there was a casualty. An entire bag of 15 bean soup that Mommy had been hiding in there. Collateral Damage.

I must say farewell, Father. I have a busy day ahead for the cause of steeling my fortress from the enemy... that is my Sister.

with love,
your adoring protege,
Ton Boy

p.s. Mother is in a bad mood.?

I am Pulling Over today

I went to Catholic school. There was a really mean old nun that taught us history.

School was held in this very old schoolhouse building on Long Island. In it
there were huge windows with thin glass and wooden frames. (in my memory they are ten feet tall). Outside those windows was a fairly busy street.

I will never ever forget this day. It has stuck with me for my entire life.

One day as we were sitting in class, an ambulance went speeding by. Lights flashing. Sirens blaring. What a nuisance.

The mean old nun stopped what she was teaching. She had us say a prayer.

Yes, this was a minor distraction from the boring history lesson for us. But for somebody else - even if only scared enough to call an ambulance, but otherwise completely ok - they will never ever forget this day, and that is important.

I totally get it.

Maybe pulling over means something more spiritual than just yielding to a speeding fire engine.

Maybe there are days we should pull over in life... to say prayers for lives that have changed irrevocably by this... thing.

p.s. It is Friday. I still love Fridays.

There is always room for improvement

He complains that our nightly menu too often includes beans.

I find beans to be "the super food"... healthy and versatile.

But there is always room for improvement... and apparently "the wind" really is a problem.

I was just informed:

Hurricane Guillermo strenghtens to a Category 2 storm far out in the Pacific

p.s. I may be severely abused for publishing this - but I could not resist, I was overwhelmed with sarcasm, and about to burst... and frankly - he can start his own blog to retaliate - but I doubt he will...

a la Psycho

the movie, that is.

Let's talk.

Maybe you don't know what it is like to be a "stay at home mom". Let me clue you in...

Yesterday was a typical day.
I woke up at 330
*boring details about getting one husband out the door.*
followed by
*boring details about getting Karina off to her second day of school - cue footage of a few tears shed over a hairdo dispute, and getting lost on her way to the playground*

Next, - most of the morning wasted gabbing on the phone, facebooking, planning, blogging, bill-paying, coupon-clipping, crocheting, lamenting my diet...
followed by
*boring details - cleaning bathrooms... vacuuming... etc*

WHOA! It is almost time to go back to school and get Karina!
"I better jump in the shower super fast before JJ wakes up from his nap!"
turn on the water - this better be REALLY fast!
cue cute toddler waking up
darn.
grab baby - put on cartoons, plop him in front of tv for five minutes

let's recap.
in a hurry
only have five minutes
must shower fast

here I am minding my own business in the shower, and suddenly the water feels really cold. I turn around to check it out and
*EEEK EEEEK EEEEK - that is scary "PSYCHO" music*
there is a toddler - dressed in a diaper and tshirt - in the shower with me
ugh.
ok, well - what is one more minute to give him a little refresher. I am sure he needed it anyway.
I take off his now sopping wet shirt and hang it inside the tub.

Next the diaper
*EEEK EEEEK EEEEK - more scary "PSYCHO" music*
ITS LOADED!
in the shower
the five minute shower

MAYBE you are one of my mom friends and you are reading this, and you are thinking... well - at least it was in the shower? WELL? you tell me - what on EARTH do you do with a loaded diaper - full of water - in the shower? Let me give you a hint - there is no garbage can within throwing distance, and seriously - this thing should be labeled "Handle With Care" cause it is hanging on by a thread.

In light of this, I have a proposal. I have heard of "Take your Daughter to Work Day" and I have heard of "Take your Son to Work Day". They even have "Take your DOG to Work Day". Can someone explain to me why there is no "Take MOMMY to Work Day"!?

He knows all my Secrets

(apparently even the one about Alec Baldwin...)
Regardless, this is my husband's take on our anniversary...

To all that have come to read my wife's blog hear this: "My wife is an awesome
writer". What better way to describe our years together then to put the best and
the worst qualities about our marriage. Yes our worst qualities are all about me
including the fact that I stopped being discrete and that I have a distinct odor about me when I come home from work.

This anniversary makes me think of all the girly tear jerker movies that have
cliché lines like "you complete me" or " I would rather be sitting out on the
sidewalk just to see you again... No wait I don't want to get my feet in the
gutter" or "Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo" but I'm not a movie star neither
am I a sensitive guy that cries at movies or at testimony meetings.

In fact I can count with my fingers the times when I have cried in my life. Those
events were pretty dramatic moments so I won't repeat them. My crying is so
rare that I find great value in saying that I would cry my eyes out if my lovely
wife would cease to be in my daily life. I find value in saying that I would
miss every simple thing about her including her yelling and cooking which is an
acquired taste.

She makes a house a home and even though her learning curve has been long and
slow moving she has finally learned to love every annoying thing about me
including my smell and would rather spend her days with me then to move in with
Alec Baldwin.

May the Lord grant me an eternity with her and may He grant her the patience and
love needed to live an eternity with me.
Loveyouwife
Hubband

An Ode. To being a Newlywed

It has been eight years, and this marriage is not new anymore.

Karina has learned that "Daddy Stinks!", even when he doesn't, that seems like the appropriate thing to say.

JJ not only calls Daddy, "Babe!", but he does it in an annoyed, nearly exasperated, demanding tone... and it sounds a lot like he is yelling to him from another room.

8 years ago today... we stopped sharing blankets. We bought a bed so big that there is a climate change from one side to the other. We regulate our own body temperatures in this house!

7 years ago... we (which really means HE) stopped being discreet.

6 years ago... we (which really means ME) stopped kissing before teeth-brushing in the morning.

5 years ago... we stopped finishing each other sentences. We started just enjoying the moment of peace and quiet instead.

4 years ago... HE stopped wearing his wedding ring. After a tragic incident, which resulted in the ring being cut off of his finger. He thinks I don’t know, but I Know - he believes not wearing it helps him get free food at Taco Bell.

3 years ago... We stopped trying to scare the Bishop with tales of couch sleeping, and fake arguments. We are now EXPERTS in the Marriage and Family Class in church.

2 years ago... We stopped bickering about interior decor vs. exterior decor. He now regularly recites the Dr. Phil mantra – “Don’t mess with the nest...” I reluctantly agreed to allow him to plant as many hideous cacti as he wants in the front yard.

One year ago... we stopped the assault on my happiness and freedom - that is being pregnant... so we can get on with the business of enjoying our kids.

I love my husband. Nine years ago we went on our first date, and now today we have been married for eight. On Sunday I stood in the hallway (waiting an hour while he was in a meeting!) while I chatted with a friend. He said, “your husband is a real stand-up guy. He is real salt of the earth. He is a hard worker.” It was not the first time that I heard anybody say this about him. I am positive that it will not be the last. I was so young and naive when we got married. I knew he was good, I could have never dreamed he would be this good.

He always stands up for what he believes in. He never ever compromises when it comes to doing what is right. His testimony is very simple, his work ethic very strong.

He is my best friend and my arch-nemesis. We would not have it any other way.

I love you, hubband. (I know, I know – you love me, too.)

Our Wedding Invitation - photo from our trip to San Diego - nearly nine years ago!

She's been Sentenced

20 years to life.
Medium security.
daily peanut butter and jelly.
lots of pink underwear.

her crime - being a kid.

Karina started her lifelong journey toward eternity today. The eternal gift that is - EDUCATION!
Mom: "So BUDS! How was your first day?!"
Karina: "It was great, Mom!, but I didn't learn to read. Maybe tomorrow.

they are getting away from me

Today JJ said, "OOOO toodles"!
If you have a child ages 1 to 4 (and cable tv), you can appreciate that.

Karina came to me this morning and said, "MOM!, my flip flops are shrinking!"

You do the math!

Kindergarten starts in four days. Neither me or JJ approve of that situation.

Arachnaphobia Scholarship

Wil saved my life
The picture is bad because it was taken with Wil's cell phone camera. I am so glad that I thought of that before I asked him to smash it with a hammer.

He came over to my house yesterday afternoon to borrow some camping equipment. We opened the hatch to the pop tent, and I stuck my face right in there - looking for the potty that he wanted to borrow. I got within a few inches when Wil grabbed me by the shoulders and threw me to the ground. (He said, "Hey, look at that spider".)

He was actually going to kill it with a paper towel when I said, "Here is a ectoplasm ray gun". (Wait, let's take a picture of it"), which he did, then I got him a deadly alien fighting machine gun (a shirt that was going in the garbage), and he tackled the beast to the ground, wrestling fiercely, and bravely. (When he approached with the balled up shirt, the spider kind of jumped at him, and he said, "Was that thing trying to get me?!")

He was a little scared, I know, but he didn't cry

Later, I got on the computer and looked up what I had seen - sure enough, we both survived a monster attack by a ferocious black widow.

We are now raising the funds to get Wil therapy. He can't sleep at night. Post-traumatic stress. Sad.

p.s. Later, when Wil forwarded the picture to me, and I showed it to Guero at dinner, He (jealous that his brother saved my life, and not him) remarked, "oh that ladybug?, I've seen her before"

Hurry while Supplies Last!

The most amazing thing happened yesterday.
Superbaby blessed all of the food at Fry's!

Get your sacred soup now! Hurry while supplies last!
(and I don't mean in the newly expanded Kosher section people!)

RIP Jiminy

Here is the difference between Karina and JJ.

While I am quietly reading in another room, I hear Karina.
A terrified, ear-piercing shrill comes from the bathroom downstairs.
"MOOOOOOOOMMMY!!!"
I, of course, went running to the bathroom. I was thinking, "what could possibly go so wrong in the bathroom when you are only five?"

As it turns out, there was a cricket on the floor and she was afraid to dismount... for fear the cricket might jump on her?

Taking into consideration that, I too, am petrified of crickets... I tried to remember to be calm. I silently reminded myself, "I am the adult here." I am also attempting to teach her not to be so barbaric. Everyday we get out of the car and come up the walk, she is looking for a bug to smash. She feels the need to kill at least one, to satisfy her fear of them.

I tell her every day, "Buds, why do you have to kill them? They are good bugs. They are not hurting you. Why do you have to hurt them?" (She can worry about pest control, and eco-friendliness, and horticulture when she is six)

So I show her how to shoo the cricket away from her, so that she can safely exit the bathroom (that bathroom is WAY too small to stop and wash her hands, she had to run to the kitchen sink to take care of that).

"Daddy will take the cricket outside when he gets home"

fast forward about thirty minutes.

I am scurrying around the house, picking up items disbursed by JJ, and returning them to their rightful place. (Somehow he decided to deliver the empty bathroom trash can to the living room.) I go into the bathroom downstairs, and he follows.

Behind my back I hear JJ say very enthusiastically, "HI!!"

I turned around to see a horrific site. He was squatting down attempting to catch the abomination in the bathroom with his tiny baby fingers. Before I could think to stop him (because that is DE-SGUST-TING!) JJ won.

I surely hope the poor thing died of a heart attack before his guts were squished out.

The gods

If I believed in gods, I would say that they were none to pleased with us yesterday.

The A/C went out (AGAIN).

I still need therapy for the check I had to write two short years ago to purchase a brand new unit. I was in awe when I saw the crane plop that shiny new monster on my roof. Twice now, we have been thrown out of the house by that thing.

So I was taking care of some last minute chores (rushing, I might add because the house was heating up every second.) I went to get the trash cans from the alley and JJ followed me. He started to whine about four steps behind me, and both Karina and I said to him, "No, JJ, you cannot go out there (past the gate into the alley)." Then he started to scream, and I turned around and his legs and feet were covered in about thirty ants... all biting him.

I picked him up and thought,
water
cold water
run for the house
no... too far
the hose
wait... between the hose and me... is the kiddie pool
the pool is full of flies and bees
dead flies, dead bees.
now it will be full of dead ants, too

I think that *might* have been a good idea, because whether it was the cold water, or the fact that JJ seems to be Superman... the pain went away pretty quickly. He still had about thirty red swollen bites, though, so, I decided to give him a baby Benadryl. That combined with waiting at McDonalds (and then over at Sarah's) for the A/C guy... with no nap... seems to induce this behavior...Finally. I beg of you, take pity on me. I need a camera and cannot decide which one to buy! I am willing to spend two hundred dollars (or less)... and I am not afraid of Craigslist (so if you know of one more expensive - I might be able to find it there!) Tell me if you love your camera and what kind you have!

My son, The Gopher

If you ever wonder what is under his fingernails - its dirt.

He wanted to escape so he dug a hole. Then he wanted to cover his tracks so he buried himself with grass.

I did not take a picture of him eating the dirt because Nikki would get mad.

Jr.

your daily phone call

Daddy,

This is going to be a trend, I can tell.
Yesterday I called to tell you that YOUR SON pulled some super hero move while I was minding my own business with the cashier. He actually tore through a nylon braided strap on his stroller (thereby destroying his stroller) so that he could hop right out of said stroller and take off into the girl's locker room.

Today. While watching "My Friends, Tigger and Pooh" he took off his diaper and triumphantly climbed up on top of the piano bench... diaper still in hand.

Pride. One of the seven deadly sins.

Love you, Goodbye

Geez Louise

I actually woke up at 1:30 this morning. I was having a nightmare.
I watched television until 3. I decided that since my husband would be waking up in about thirty minutes, anyway - why bother going back to sleep? I just went downstairs and started making him breakfast and lunch.

He was only in the shower when I was done, so I decided to find some things to do downstairs while I waited to say goodbye to him.

After I switched the laundry and cleaned out the dishwasher, I decided that my efforts ought to be recognized.

I got on the computer, checked my email, and posted this on my Facebook profile,
"I think that if you are up at 3 in the morning to make breakfast and lunch for your husband... you should get on FB and brag about it"

Of course, I got some positive response. Just what I was looking for.

But by 530, man oh man, I was tired.

I went back upstairs and fell asleep.

at 6 AM the phone rang.

Tangled in the sheet, I stumbled out of bed. I was surprised by my own voice when I answered the phone... very groggy.

me: "Hello (croak)"

caller: "Oh, I have the wrong number"

me: (literally - no kidding, I AM this RUDE!) GRRRRR...
(thinking: grrrr... geez louise - if you are going to be calling people at 6 in the AM, at least have the courtesy to get the number right!)

Then...
the caller apologizes to me... personally.

caller: "I am sorry, Nikki, I dialed the wrong number"

that is when it hit me.
I just GROWLED at my husband's boss.

the worst Mommy ever

Almost a week and a half ago we got a GIGANTIC bag of broccoli in our bountiful baskets order.
Partly because of the fact that I was away for four days last week - we had not even TOUCHED it.

Unfortunately for the rest of my family (I love broccoli) we had steamed broccoli with dinner last night AND the night before. (we also had grilled steak the first night, and really good pork chops off of the grill last night - but NOBODY ever remembers the good stuff?... well... they will tonight when ALL three of those things are going into a leftover stir fry - with the rest of the broccoli!)

Karina ate everything else on her plate, but she did not really touch the broccoli. I could have seen that coming.

In true Karina fashion, she says, "Mom, eating broccoli makes my teeth hurt."

"Karina, eating broccoli does not make your teeth hurt. Eat your broccoli."

"But Mom, I am really true (i.e. not LYING!)."

"Buds, if you want to have a popsicle for dessert you will eat your broccoli"

*more whining*

I leave the table to go brush my teeth

a weak threat is issued... eat broccoli or no dessert again...

I come back downstairs, and sit down on the couch... Karina comes over -

"look, Mom, when I do this my tooth wiggles"

Gasp! Both Guero and I are shocked and disturbed... and not at all ready for the fact that Karina has her first loose tooth!

Guero did not even believe that it could be right - but in truth, she is one of the last kids in her preschool class to lose a tooth.

She is the only one that will be allowed to pick the broccoli (but not the carrots or the snap peas) out of her stir fry tonight - on account of how mean her mom is.

Creativity

What did I just read? I had to go back and re-read the post AFTER I had already replied.

Do you ever do that? Read posts so fast - because you have so many to get through, that you may be unsure of what you just read, EVEN AFTER you commented (supposedly accurately) to the post?

Well, my friend, Elisha posted something on her blog about the FIRST FIVE people that respond to her particular entry will get something homemade - by Elisha - within the next year. I was so anxious to WIN that contest (Elisha is VERY talented) that I failed to slow down and read the fine print.

The caveat that I conveniently MISSED until I went back is that, if I responded, I too, had to post the same thing on my blog!

But that is ok, I am kind of excited about making all of those string-y potholders... or buying Karina all of the wooden birdhouses and watercolor paint that she so loves! Just kidding! Really! It will be something fun... but probably a fun potholder. Sorry.

So THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE THAT RESPOND TO THIS POST WILL GET SOMETHING HOMEMADE BY MOI WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR!, but they, too - must do the same on their own blogs...

Fruits of my anguish

I just got home from the grocery store. My trip to Fry's was seriously not fun. These children do not appreciate the excitement of a good bargain. There was a lot of crying and wailing, and the kids were noisy, too.

Anyway, I got a lot of good deals. I was not surprised, however, when my bill was 117 dollars and I was going to walk out of the store just like that. For some reason (a prompting, I KNOW!) I decided that even though my kids were being evil, I was going to stop and look at my WHOLE receipt.

Well, I am so glad I did that. I got the wrong cheese. Even though I am 100 percent sure that I only grabbed bags under the dollar tags, I paid 4.50 for something I THOUGHT I was paying $1 for! And then there was a limit on the pork chops. I definitely did not see a sign - I would have yielded. SO I bought a family size thing of pork chops that I thought was like... 3 dollars and change, and it was really $13.58!! I went over and returned all of that stuff and I got back $27.42!!!!

Anyway, I just want to share with my best friends - you should always check your receipt! EVEN if it might mean verbally abusing your children (in your head). It is worth the money!!

The countdown to Nursery

Three months.

JJ is fifteen months old today.
He is so sweet and adorable. We all love him so much.

Some interesting things about JJ at fifteen months.

He has his full set of teeth. No more teething for at least a year.
He really loves treats - popsicles and lollipops.

He clearly says "Mommy" and "Bye" - even Daddy is called Mommy.
Not so clearly, he calls Karina SEETsi.
Today we were in Costco with all of his cousins. He was feeling overwhelmed. All of his cousins really love him. They were jumping and climbing on the cart trying to get his attention. I was hanging back pushing another cart about fifteen paces behind him. He caught site of me, and in a pathetic, nervous... near scream... he yelled, "Mooommy!?" I walked fast to catch up and he put his arms up to be pulled out of the cart. I put him in the front of mine, and he was quiet and clearly relieved.

He is very cuddly. He really likes to be held and cuddled. He loves soft things. He loves to get a pile of blankets or towels... or dirty laundry and try to bury his whole body in it - head first.

Much to his Dad's dismay he seems to like to have his nails clipped. He sits in my lap very patiently and lets me clip his fingernails. When I am done with that he gives me a foot to keep going. He likes to take anything (tonight it was a popsicle stick) and pretend that he is cutting his own nails. He also likes to take my very sharp, very expensive nail scissors and pretend that he is cutting your nails by stabbing at you mercilessly with the sharp end.

He is super tough. The child does not cry for nothin'. He falls down and gets hurt and just looks a little mad... and rubs whatever was injured and keeps on going. It is impressive.

JJ loves cars and trucks and anything with wheels. He loves balls and legos and playing with SEETsi. They like taking baths together. There is always a lot of splashing and bubble blowing and banging... and mopping involved.

JJ loves SEETsi. He calls for her when he is upset. He does not like to see her cry and will sometimes reach out to her or pet her if she is crying. He looks for her as soon as he wakes up. He laughs as soon as he sees her.

SEETsi loves JJ. She is really good with him. She is very gentle with him. She gets upset when he cries. She was relieved that she would be in school during his last doctor's appointment because he cries when he gets shots, and she does not like that. She is protective of him and makes sure that he always gets his fair share. She is so helpful. She does quite a bit to make my job a lot easier.

JJ has no problem being dirty. He loves dirt. Camping is dirt heaven. He loves to rub his hands and feet and anything else that he can find in the dirt.

Since he learned to walk about a month ago - he can now run. He can take off pretty fast and seems to gravitate toward anything that looks dangerous. Today as we were getting out of the car at home, he spotted a chihuahua puppy before I did. He tried to take off across the street, but fortunately being a mom makes you magically more agile and I was able to catch him.

I do love the little Turkey. We all do. He makes our little family feel complete.

Peter Cottontail

...came to our house.
He did leave gifts. Strange bunny. He left some a few pieces of candy (mostly shared with the Elders in Priesthood by Guero). But this frugal bunny filled Easter baskets with socks and a bathing suit for Karina? and sippy cups and snack cups for JJ? You might think that the bunny had serious internal conflict with throwing good money after bad? He did also bring moon sand and a new little truck for JJ.

We were fortunate enough to have a really nice dinner with Jessica's family in their very beautiful backyard. Jessica got fantastic pictures of the kids.My new favorite picture of the kids.

This is a picture of the cake that Jessica made. It is an Easter bonnet - I can TOTALLY see that now - but for some reason I kept trying to figure out why she did such a funny egg shape?? It was the most delicious carrot cake with cream cheese icing... Guero loved it - even after he found out that it was cream cheese.

Patience

I got home from a lovely lunch with friends, but JJ was beyond tired.
This was one of those times that he was begging me to put him in his crib.

He heard a diesel engine pull up in front of the house and ran to the front door thinking that it was Daddy!

Disappointment.

It was, however... interesting, Gonzalez Concrete?

Irony.

I dragged the cranky baby up the stairs, fought him all the way in changing his diaper and taking off his socks and shoes - JUST LET ME SLEEP, PLEASE?!

Finally, in bed, now... Senor Gonzalez - no relation to the actual Daddy or resemblance - other than driving a diesel truck... is digging a HOLE TO CHINA in the concrete in front of our house. Apparently this requires him to create some sort of shift in the tectonic plates under our house... BECAUSE THAT EARTHQUAKE IS GOING TO WAKE MY BABY!

... and lemme tell ya... one more thing that Senor Gonzalez is going to do... if he wakes my child - I am taking cranky baby out there and making that stranger stop the screaming.

Right on cue - here comes tiny Senor Gonzalez

JJ's Manifesto

...should be due out any day now.

It will read something like this (translations to follow):

Da-dooo, Daddeee, (possibly Daddy?)
ESisseee (Sissy)
Mommy. Mommy? Mommy!! MOMMY! MOMMY!

(thank you, and...)

BYE! (with a wave combo!)

all the tenderness of a rotten tomato

This is copied from the very personal email that Guero sent to Jessica for her birthday:

Another year passes. Here's a few things about getting old (older)

Your (wiring) in your brain starts wearing out and you start forgetting things.

Your bowels lose strength and you start having accidents.

Your skin loses tension, hence the wrinkles and the sagging and the itching.

Your bones start wearing down and making noises therefore causing pain.

Your ears and eyes stop doing their job, then you can't see or hear (well) so you think people are trying to eat your Jell-O or you think they are talking behind your back or you think everything is a conspiracy.

You become very cranky, paranoid, and confined: which leads to more people thinking you are weird and not wanting to be around you.

For some reason you start smelling bad.

Your pants get closer and closer to your chin

You start having to eat more fiber so your butt does not hurt so much when you go.

Your dogs keep getting old and dying. Nothing good obviously

And your prescriptions keep getting more expensive every time.

Anyways good thing Wil married you and will not suffer the indignity of living at my parents house forever while getting older and grouchier.

Its a good thing he found someone that will love him when all these things happen to him and will stay with him even though she will be more marketable and can get a younger husband at an older age then the wrinkled sack of potatoes he is to become.

Thank you for loving him.

Happy birthday.

Enjoy every minute of it.

Guero

My two cents:
Please remember a few things...
one... Guero is OLDER than Wil by a number a years.
two... I, TOO, am MUCH MUCH MUCH younger than my husband (6 whole weeks!!)
three... years of experience with him have taught me - the fact that he said anything at all means he really loves her.

She completes me...

Well, that is a bit on the melodramatic side, But my Sister-in-law, Jessica is very special. She makes up for all of my short-comings as a sister-in-law and daughter-in-law and aunt.
She is very tender and loving with the nieces, and frequently asked to babysit. (I adore them, but I think I come off bossy and aloof... they adore her)
She also does not mind having the party over at her house. That makes me nervous and a little nauseous. She doesn't seem to mind at all.

I am grateful that she is a part of our family.
I especially love that she brought Anna along for the ride!

YESTERDAY on April 8th, Jessica turned 24. I look forward to many more happy memories.
Happy Birthday Jessica!

Camping Grand Supreme

There is a lot of bad stuff on television. Do not watch Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC. I actually had to turn it off when Karina came into the room, because it is inappropriate for young children to see. Deeply Disturbing. Just like this weekend's camping trip. Unsettling. Strange and wonderful wrapped in the same dirty package. But, if you have ever seen the show, or know anything about child pagentry... you know why we are proud "Grand Supreme Campers". Hooray for the first annual Gonzalez Family Conference Camping Trip!

Due to the sacred nature of General conference, and in honor of hearing the words of Prophets and Apostles of the Lord instructing us on the importance of the bonds of family, we decided to abandon every last breath of sanity and good judgment that we had, and enjoy some good quality time as a family... of wildebeest.

If this was a camping beauty contest - we took first place. We were the "Grand Supreme" belles of the ball.
First, Miss Photogenic!
That is right. Our little pop up was the prettiest little trailer in the whole state of AZ! This is her good side!
As previously promised:
Miss Blue Collar Beauty!
That is right! Due to circumstances beyond our control... we used a 2009 Cadillac Escalade to pull our 25 year old pop up tent trailer. If I SOLD MY HOUSE I would not be able to live in this car... but I could live somewhat comfortably in the trailer. That is her - dying of embarrassment behind the trailer.
But I digress...
Mister Child Neglect Prevention
Thanks to a trade on Craigslist, we picked up this tiny quad. Without proper supervision or safety training from her parents, Karina left it "on". JJ jumped on, hit the gas and fortunately for us - hit a rut and got stuck before he went off the mini-cliff on the other side of the trailer.
Miss Smoky the Bear
We learned our lesson from camping at Seven Springs last week. We couldn't even be sure if it was as cold at Stoneman Lake because we bought (paid THREE TIMES!!! what it was worth at Cabela's) an open flame and kept it going constantly in the paper trailer with little ventilation or room to move safely avoiding catching clothes, hands or in Karina's case - elbows - from getting a little too close.
Miss Frugal: After spending so much on the heater, we were short on funding. We had to employ some multi-taskers. As you can see, this potty doubles as a table for Karina's breakfast. (dinner from the night before is also doubling as breakfast!)
Miss Good Neighbor: Our camping neighbors, President Webster and his wonderful wife, Mary, seemed to take pity on us and shared their leftovers with us. We ditched the sandwiches that I had prepared back at home, and all of us were able to feast on their generous donation. Guero said it was the best camp food he ever had, so he took a picture of our leftovers. It WAS pork chops, with Potatoes, green beans and mushrooms.
Mister Right on the Money:
JJ says, "My parents have lost their ever-lovin' minds"
We'll see ya next year folks when Donny Osmond will host the 2010 Camper's Pageant!

I wish I could say we froze our butts off - camping for the first time in our "new to us" trailer at Seven Springs... but we came home, and I was still fat?!

We nearly froze to DEATH, however. (only reiterating the notion... we will die before we get skinny!)

These are pictures of the kids digging in the sand... until Daddy realized that everywhere they were digging was probably a place where a man - camping - relieved himself in the middle of a below freezing night. So he took the shovels and pails away.

I could only think of my mother-in-law because she would be mortified at how underdressed the kids were for the below freezing weather. Fortunately I have plenty of natural insulation, so I was able to give some of my clothes to the kids. Karina is wearing my sweatshirt. JJ has a pair of my socks on, pulled up over his pants legs.

JJ had a check up yesterday with the Pediatrician. I think she was a bit on the jaded side. She said something about how she feels that he needs to "expand his vocabulary". She was not even impressed when I showed off his newest trick... "BYE" with a wave combo. Not as easy as you would think for a baby! His mother, the human dictionary, is not concerned. He is saving his efforts for his first novel, which has already been picked up by the publisher and is due to release by his second birthday.

She mumbled something about Quasimoto... like... "this kid is lucky to have such gorgeous genes cause he's got a crooked head and flat feet..." I'm thinking that it proves that he is the most handsome and charismatic baby in the universe because people never notice his shortcomings. Daddy says it just adds to his "Bruiser" status. (he may get that pretty face from Daddy - but he is not afraid to use that bumpy head as a weapon!?")

Karina had a lunch date with Pele. He wanted to meet with her a discuss her technique after their little pick-up game at the park. Becks wanted to join them, but they were trying to keep it low key. Afterwards they signed autographs and got haircuts!

The next few days are going to be very exciting. Costco on Thursday!, Karina has a field trip to the farm tomorrow, leaving for a big camping trip (two nights in the wilderness) and some RIDICULOUS pictures... that will inevitably be in the next "Blue Collar" slide show - a decked out Cadillac Escalade pulling a craiglist pop tent.

Eat your heart out, Iron Chef

Thanks to Jessica (my lovely sis-in-law) I remembered something that Karina had done this weekend.

She loves to eat over at Tita's house. Because my mother-in-law is usually feeding a gigantic crowd she often puts all of the food out buffet style. At Karina's age, I just put the food on her plate and she does the assembly.

Apparently she caught Jessica's eye this past weekend. She had a plate with rice, beans, guacamole, and strawberries on it. ("Strawberries?", you ask? I have no idea - it's a buffet people!) Apparently Jessica observed Karina assembling a taco... first the rice, then the beans... then the guacamole... then the strawberry slices.

Before Jessica was able to get her camera to get a picture of it - the taco was gone. HUGE SURPRISE! She is five. What can I say?

Jessica says that the second taco was pretty much the same, sans strawberries. Live and learn, I guess.

JJ is very enthusiastically learning to "show off" for the ladies mostly. Guero's aunt and cousins are in town for a visit. I brought JJ in the house so that they could see him for the first time in nearly a year. The crowd of ladies was anxiously waiting to see some new tricks. I stood him up at one end of the room and tried to get him to walk... or say his new favorite word. No luck. He just stood studying one person, and then the next. I tried bribery and trickery to no avail. Finally I said, "sorry guys, no show today, maybe later?"

I turned my back to him to walk to the door, he quickly followed as fast as his little chubs could carry him, nearly yelling "BYE!" His new favorite word! "Bye" means everything from "mommy" to "more" to "please" to "hello"... As his mom I knew that this time "bye" meant - get me outta here, Mama, these ladies are gonna eat me alive!"

Have you seen this guy?

Happy Birthday, Uncle, brother, Cunado.

I hope this year brings you all of the things that you wish for... including truck parts, bbq ribs and a sister-in-law... for your sister-in-law. I know that is what you'll be wishing for when you blow out the candles!

Foolishness in me

The scripture of the day:
Alma 37:6 (having been interpreted by me to apply to this situation)

...Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

Now ye may suppose that buying the tiny tent trailer that he has been begging for is foolishness in me.

But behold, I say unto you that by tiny tent trailers and simple family outings are great things brought to pass.

And small sums of money that knock hefty digits off of savings accounts in many instances doth confound the wise... but behold there is wisdom in this transaction.

Any and all debts to my husband are cleared.
Husband is deliriously happy. He was a child last night - still awake at midnight, unable to sleep for excitement.
Karina will spend some quality communing with nature.
JJ will eat dirt and kill bugs with his bare hands.
And for this bargain price, I will watch my family... get dirty... together.

Make fun of yourself

it is good for your ego

a friend suggested that I read this blog and I love it.

Here is an article I recommend reading.

Freaky Friday

It is Friday the 13th and I just wanted a post that had that title.
So here are updates on the freakiest things in my life... and leftover pics that need to be posted.

Freak accidents:
Mom broke her hip on her hike on Thunderbird mountain. After a surgery to put a plate and screws in her hip her biggest concerns are:
When can I go hiking again?
When can I sit on the floor and play with the grandkids again.

Freak of Nature:How did we get THE most gorgeous kids that ever lived?
*Thanks to Tito for creating this and mass emailing it to all of our friends and loved ones!

Freakonomics - crazy and fascinating link of the day.

Freak-in Mess:
JJ eats Jell-o with a spoon for the first time. Notice the Watchtower in the recycle can behind him... thanks Freak-o J-Dubs.

Gotta go - my house is a freak-in disaster, and my husband is hanging his head in shame because of the language in this post.

what would a nice wife do?

Yesterday my husband requested that I purchase two additional white shirts for church.

I sent him an email this morning letting him know that it would be necessary for me to actually go to the mall to do this. He would rather be poked in the eye than go to the mall... with me... and the kids.

I tried to make it as enticing as possible ... offering barbeque chicken for dinner before we left, and a promise to stop and look at something electronic while we were there. I stopped short of saying that I would allow him to get a Cinnabon... I was keeping that Ace up my sleeve just in case.

This is an excerpt from his response...

"I" don't have a problem going to the mall with "you" but "I" do have a problem going to the mall with "me".
So if "we" can go without "me" we should be fine.

This wife would like to pinch him. Tell me, because I am trying to improve my countenance. What would a nice wife do?

An Apostolic Blessing

a note for my posterity....

We were so privileged to have the opportunity to hear from an Apostle of the Lord this weekend in church.

Elder Russel M. Nelson came and spoke at our Stake conference.

Guero was able to go to the leadership meeting as he was called the previous week to be in the Elder's Quorum Presidency in our ward. I am so pleased for him, because I know what great enthusiasm he has about magnifying that calling to the best of his ability... and he is so capable.

He really enjoyed the meeting. He said that during part of the meeting Elder Nelson took questions from the group and Guero was so impressed with his spirit and love of the scriptures. Guero said that he was especially inspired by some comments made about home teaching... and the important missionary work that is being done through faithful home teaching.

Unfortunately, he was getting the opportunity to go to Adult Session immediately following that, and I made him come home because earlier that day mom fell on her hike, broke her hip and was having surgery to have a plate and screws put in. I wanted to go to the hospital for mom. I made him come home so that he could take the kids.

On Sunday, we made the decision to hear the conference broadcast from about a mile and a half away into our own building. We got there an hour early and we were able to sit right up front on the soft seats!

President Farley was released, and a new Stake President was called. President Dave Williams. We are familiar with him from our last ward. He is a really special man. I look forward to working with him through my calling in Stake Primary.

Finally, I was able to hear Elder Nelson speak. It was so inspirational. I hope that I am able to remember most of what he said, I was wrestling a very cranky baby by that time.

He bestowed us, the Peoria AZ Stake with an Apostolic blessing. He advised us to teach our children that Heavenly Father lives, and loves us. We should teach our children that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and teach our children of His mission on the earth. The most poignant part in his talk for me was how he advised us to teach our children spirtual independance. My interpretation of this was that we should teach them how to listen to and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. We should be "cheerleaders" on the side, but to allow them to make decisions about what is right and wrong on their own.

He told us to pray together as a family. And that each of us individually should pray night and day... just check in with our Heavenly Father. He told us to read scriptures as a family every day. He did with his children, even if he had to wake them up to do it... because he wanted his children to memorize the sound of their father's voice reading the scriptures to them.

We should teach our children about prophets. He mentioned how amazing it was that the Book of Mormon is being translated by the best translators in the world... and they can do only about a page a day, but that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon at a rate of ten pages a day!

We should prepare our children to serve missions. There is a need for young missionaries in the world right now, and a lot of times there are urgent needs in the mission field that are not being met for lack of worthy missionaries.

Teach our children about the Word of Wisdom and that keeping the word of wisdom will bless our lives with health. How it has become increasingly easy for us to keep the word of wisdom as so much health research supports its ideas, but that the newest plague that destroys families is pornography and that we should stay away from it.

I am so greatful for the opportunity to listen to Elder Nelson. It is so hard to know what it takes to be a good parent, and clearly the objective of his talk was to give us help in knowing what to teach our kids and how to teach them.

A (polished) Silver Anniversary

So I have been the recipient of a lot of really good gifts lately.
I am really pretty lucky to have such good family and friends.

I have posted about that before... I want to repeat all of the awesome stuff that I have gotten - but that would be bragging? Hopefully all of those people know how grateful I am.

THEN...
I got another gift.

I have a friend that I met when I was five. We went to Kindergarten together at the same Catholic school in NY.
We grew up together.
After high school - our two paths split.
We kept in touch a little, but not enough.

Over the past year we have done much better to love one another long distance.
She lives in CO now. We have sent little gifts back and forth and mostly traded stories about the life we have lived so far.

The other day, I got a package. I rushed inside to check it out. She made me a mix tape! Well, how on earth would I play a mix tape? It was a mix CD.

She carefully picked out songs that would remind us of certain times and places from our childhood. It was not just a mix of songs we love, but songs that reminded us of the things that we had experienced. I just had to post it because I think it is a hilarious and eclectic mix of memories. They are not necessarily only our memories... but anybody our age could appreciate this list.

Thanks to the magic of Youtube - wherever possible I included a link where you could hear the song!

1. Move This
2. Blame it on the Rain by Milli Vanilli She knows I hate her for that one!
3. We didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel
4. Walk the Dinosaur - from one of our favorite movies - Can't Buy me Love
5. I think We're Alone Now by Tiffany
6. Pump up the Jam
7. I Want Money
8. Straight Up by Paula Abdul - My friend was also quite the tap dancer herself!!
9. Only in My Dreams by Debbie Gibson (I love this video on Youtube - ya gotta laugh!)
10. Don't Worry be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

Amazing how music can be the tie that binds you to people... and to the past.

Pan Dulce

Poor, poor, Sissy.
This Friday we took my niece, Clarisa, for a sleepover. It was Karina's first slumber party. As a treat we took the girls to the Carniceria and they each got to pick a piece da bread.

Karina picked a huge cupcake. It had strawberry jam in the middle, and red and white frosting on top. We only let her have a piece and save the rest for later. She stored it neatly in a tupperware. I had no idea that she put it in the snack cabinet instead of the fridge.

JJ, apparently knew.
Or he sniffed it out. I am seriously amazed at how quickly the tide can turn from... *allowing him to pull things out of the cabinet to keep him busy while I use bleach* ... to... this...


I know it is difficult to see... but I wanted to immortalize how he was so excited about this most delicious find that his bottoms were actually drenched with drool.

Please note the strawberry jam on the cabinet.

Sissy is going to be so mad when she finds out.

and the time is 3:41 a.m.

My sister-in-law, Jessica posted that reading list from the BBC that has been going around the blogosphere.

It is a list of 100 books, mostly classics. The BBC reports that most people have only read as many as six of those books.

Apparently I have much reading to do because I have only read 17 of the 100 books listed.

In my defense, that seems to be fairly average compared to many of my friends that have posted their own lists.

In my offense, it annoys me that "The Agony and the Ecstasy" by Irving Stone was not on that list. I read it for my high school English class and it should count as two books - one for it's length and one for it's painfully boring content. The book is all about the Agony of having to read it to write a reasonable paper on it and the Ecstasy of getting a C.

I really love to read. But it seems like lately the only things that will capture my attention are those shiny magazines. I have not made room in my schedule for my old friend the book. I have been uninspired.

I have horrifying news. The next few sentences are not for the faint of heart... so you may want to look away. A friend of mine, incredibly excited about Twilight, urged me to borrow her very precious copy and read it... then call her in the morning and tell her what I thought. I read the first three chapters that night. The next day... I could only do three more. Then I was done. While I was reading it I found it very easy to think of other things I should be doing instead. Not a good endorsement from me.

Of course, Until I have whittled down that BBC list a bit, I have little credibility.

I have started reading with the Book Club in my ward. The first two selections were good. Last month we readNow this book... I loved. This was a fabulous story. I could not put it down.

A very generous friend loaned me the sequel.

So good, in fact, that I am up at 3:41 to get some work done in the house (and apparently on my blog) so that I can read more during nap time.