crazy lovely weekend

i knew it was going to be hectic and i was ready for it... but what i wasn't expecting was that i would enjoy it so much.

friday i had the relief society dinner in my ward. it was so much fun...

i had spent all day making the favors and making the dessert.

i know the presidency had been stressing about that activity, but everything turned out so good, better than anticipated. all the sisters joined in the fun and everyone came. fantastic!

saturday morning we had to stop by the library, stop by the insurance place to sign a couple of things and then we had the McLean yearly Christmas Lunch at the Old Spaguetti Factory.

it was so much fun. and of course all the kids were the ones that loved that the most.

we had thought of going to a movie after but decided to come home and sarah cut evan's and carmen's hair.

carmen looks so cute it is unbearable!

the whole fam was home with us. some people watched "inception" while other people enjoyed watching sarah's talent in action :D

sunday church was good. i am sad we're going to miss the primary party and the ward's Christmas party... so we said bye to our friends till the new year.

we had the elder's for dinner and laura too.

i made bbq ribs and chicken, spinach salad, rice, and buns... pumpkin pie for dessert ( this one i bought).

it was gooooooood.

today i had some spending money fun.

i was getting my hair cut so sarah and i went to get me a new hair dryer and difusor and some hair products.

we dropped off books at the library, got myself a new N ( why would anybody steal it!! they are free! this is the second time it happens to me!) and then i got a new pair of jeans.

i kept the lady helping bring me the right sizes and styles. sarah kept saying:" we really made you do your job"... i don't know if she was happy about it or annoyed... either way, i am happy with my new pair for jeans.

so we got home, i made lunch, sarah put sloan down for a nap, i went to get carmen at school, my friend paula from chile gave more cloths for carmen, came home and got a package waiting for me. our blue ray dvd player!nice. evan left right away to his study group, i finished another two loads of laundry and got my hair cut.

it is lovely.

i love it.

i know i always say my hair looks better when i get it done in spain, but sarah did it awesome.

i am finally free of the dye in my ends. i am keeping my virgin hair intact. no more coloring.

laura came to pick them up shortly after, so we said our goodbyes. i tried to get adriel to stay and live for us forever, but he said he'd miss his mom. sarah said she would miss him too so the all left.

i finished the washing finally! and made dinner, ate and had the treat before the fhe. we saw a christmas video and sang some songs. had family prayer, and bed time. isabel stayed with me and we watched some more Christmas videos and i cuddled with her, sang to her and she fell asleep on my arms.

she is the cutest baby.

so before i started cleaning up the kitchen i wanted to sit in this silent moment and blog about my crazy lovely weekend.

my hubby called to tell me he'll be here in half hour, so i will go clean now and when he gets here we'll probably watch a movie all cozy in our bed.

good night!

DKE

Delta Kappa Epsilon.

That is the fraternity Evan is a pledge for.

They had a semi-formal that we went to.

It was fun, but I seriuosly felt of a bit out of place.

First of all, i was the only one that had a long dress, all the girls were wearing super mini skirts... ALL OF THEM!

And I was probably the oldest one there... there might have been some 25-26 year old gals, but I'm 29.... and not only was I 5-6 years older than the mayority there.... I am a mother of 3! I mean... that puts me light years ahead of them.

Anyway... it was fun. I loved my date with my hubby.

Here are some pictures :D

Dios aprieta pero no ahoga

How many times have I said that???

But I truly believe it.

It has come true in my life yet once more.

I've had a hard time lately.

I hate.... hate is a hard word.... I just felt overwhelmed thru this stage of my life, and to be honest I want to get it over with as fast as possible.

Who likes to live on borrowed money, who likes to live in debt, who likes to have a smaller checque every month that the amount of bills....it is not even living cheque by cheque...

And add 3 kids to the package and a missing husband.... I bet you can understand why I would be so eager to be done with it.

Well... I did what you need to do when things don;t go your way: leave it in God's hands.

And I know life is not fair.... because why else would God bless me so much??

I just make that decision in my heart, growing stronger for a few days and the blessings just start pouring down on me!!

How is that???

Someone tell me!

That is a super dooper Loving God!

That shows me that he is just ready to bless us if we make the first move :D

He does love me.

Everything I have has come from Him.

It is funny how my kids, when they're getting dressed, always remember the person they got those clothes from ( grandma from Spain is so often called)... it happens to me too. Around the house I find thinking of whoever got me what...etc.

And I often think of my blessings.

They are many.

The last one, is a HUGE one.

Evan received a big financial help from UBC.

It is going to get rid of our credit card debt!

Finally, some air to breathe...and peace of mind!

So this is going to be a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I am just going to say this

1. It is not my best day if I wake up at 5 because all Isabel wants to do at that time fo the day is EAT!

2. Over TWO weeks being sick is ENOUGH!!!

3. If I moped the floors the night before and in the morning it looks as if it never happened... I am going to be grumpy!!

4. All I wanted was not having to worry about money ( the lack of).... and when I do have money, I wished I didn't have any :S

Celebration

9 years....

it's been 9 years.

I am different for what happened 9 years ago.

9 years ago I was stepping into the unknown....it wasn't scary though.

I had FAITH.

In fact I had a lot of faith.

Faith that out of my year and a half of sacrificing my will, my time, my all for the service of my Savior I would become His messenger and He could use me to bring souls unto Him.

He did make of it more than I could have ever dreamed of.

He blessed and continues to bless me for the little I did.

And I knew it was little, but I gave it my all.

He didn't deserve less.

It was the best thing I have ever done.... the one thing I can be proud of.

And I am eternally grateful He carried me through the hard times, gave me strength, guided me, loved me....changed me.

I would go back in time any second.

I still dream I am on the mission again.... and couldn't be happier.

I loved it.

I absolutely loved it.

I am so happy He called me... and that I answered.

He is truly a god of miracles.

He stands today at the head of His Church... the only true and living Church.

I testify of its divinity.

muuuuy heavy

Today our other fish died.

How can our "Sally" be so mean???

This is too much.

That's it.

She is never going to have any friends.

She's a loner for the rest of her days..... but I am still going to be nice to her.

I'll feed her, and clean her "house".... even "meaners" need love.

She is really teaching me more lessons than I anticipated.

Poor Sally.

Always angry, always bossy ( I wonder if that's how my kids see me :S)...

I'm determined not to be like her.

I'm determined to do better.... to be better.

losing my mind... finding myself

if i was known for something growing up was for losing stuff. my mom would even say of anything that went missing that i threw it in the garbage...

ok, it's time to accept... it's time for me to accept many things.

yes... i lose stuff.

only in a week i've lost ( i later found it, thank goodness!!) my tithing, i lost the memory card that has all the pictures from isabel's b-day ( that's why you haven;t seen any yet) i've lost the camera, i've lost my car keys ( yet again), i've lost my cell phone...what else... the question is:

what haven't i lost??

everything but weight!! ( that would be nice).

i've lost my nerves, i've lost my cool, i've lost confidence...

all in a week...

it has been a hard week.

and on friday i just exploded.

much to my husband amusement. apparently i am hilarious in the middle of a nervous break down.

evan pushes me hard to talk.

i have a hard time opening up about my feelings.

i am too busy thinking about everything else to give any thought to me.

i don't want to acknowledge my feelings.

that's why.

but there is no escape.

it is hard to realize you're not as strong as you though you were... it is harder to be ok with being overwhelmed... it just sucks.

anyway... we did have some good time together on friday.

we had ( he had) to do lots of things, but instead we just cuddled in bed and had a meaningful, adult conversation ( much needed to this loner with kids here).

it was good.

fridays are extremely hard.

i have to be all week without my hubby and then the army takes him for the weekend and i just loose it.

especially because he doesn't get to sleep at home.

and so it hits me so hard that i get sick.

so now we're sick again.

the whole house.

just hoping evan doesn't get it bad so he doesn't miss classes and gets ready for the finals.

after that we had the first snow fall of the year.

i went to the temple for the first time to the spanish session with my ward and sunday and today we've been home trying to recover.

we'll see tomorrow... more of the same, i'm afraid, cuz i have zero energy and we are all dead.

Surviving

Resulta que Carmen queria un pez por su cumple. Yo q no quiero mascotas en casa, pues accedi ( porq no veas que plasta la ninya).

Justo le regalaron un pez Beta, que tiene que estar solo porque es peleon y nadie puede convivir con el.

Pues Evan Jr, entendiblemente, como ninyo q es, tb queria uno. Pues mi buen senyor marido fue y averiguo que hay unos peces q los llaman "sobrevivientes" que si pueden cohabitar con los Beta... asi que compro dos.

Desde el principio observamos que el Beta siempre era el primero en pillar comida, y si alguno de los pequenyos se acercaba se encargaba de mostrarles quien era el jefe. Pues los pobres tenian que esperar a que el grandullon se llenara para comer ellos.

Pero, incluso uno empezo a atacar al otro... hasta tambien evitarle comer.

Vimos que no iba creciendo como el otro, incluso mi marido profetizo que se iba a morir.

Hace unos dias tb vimos que le habian comido parte de su cola, que estaba como mordisqueada.

El pobre ya ni nadaba. Se quedaba por abajo de la pecera.

Pues esta manyana,, le vimos muerto, flotando entre las plantas.

No me gustan los animales, pero se me saltaron las lagrimas.

Q pena! Pobre animal.

Antes no queria animales en casa pero ahora menos. Q pena!!

Ahora bien... voy a decir dos cosas acerca de tener animales confinados. Cualquier sitio que no es su casa, su habitat, su amibiente: NO ES SU CASA.

Igual que cualquier persona con la que hables que viva en cualquier lado q no es su casa, su familia, su ambiente, su cultura, aunque sea en mejores circumstancias o situacion economica, o con mayores niveles de vida... lo que quieras.... NO ES SU CASA. ( Experiencia propia)

Pero aqui va lo que mas me ha hecho pensar.

Sobrevivientes.

Era un sobreviviente.

Pero no sobrevivio esto.

Quiza fue la traicion de un "amigo", la soledad, su impedimento fisico... o la combinacion de todo...

La otra:

Soy una Beta??

Una de esas personas con la q es imposible vivir??

Prefiero ser un sobreviviente :D

Y mi linea de pensamiento me lleva a esta escritura:

"... porque nadie es aceptable a Dios sino los mansos y humildes de corazon; y si un hombre es manso y humilde de corazon, y confiesa por el poder del Espiritu Santo que Jesus es el Cristo, es menester que tenga caridad.

Y la caridad es sufrida y benigna, y no tiene envidia, ni se envance, no busca lo suyo, no se irrita facilmente, no piensa el mal, no se regocija en la iniquidad, sino se regocija en la verdad: todo lo sufre, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta.

Por tanto, amados hermanos mios, si no teneis caridad, no sois nada, porque la caridad nunca deja de ser. Allegaos, pues, a la caridad, que es mayor que todo, porque todas las cosas han de perecer."

Moroni 7:44-46.

La caridad todo lo soporta.

Todo lo sufre...

Si no tengo caridad no soy nada.

Pasaremos de todo en la vida.

Cada uno lo suyo.

Y ante las dificultades, CARIDAD hace la vida mas placentera.

Caridad.

Caridad es lo que me ha ensenyado mi pequenyo SURVIVOR fish :D

Birthday Girl

Isabel turns 2 today!!

Two already???

She is so big... yet she is my baby.

She still asks me to nurse like a mad woman, she still wears a diaper, she doesn't even talk yet... like we've heard her say things before and she won't say it again!

She still sleeps with us.

She is super bossy, everything has to be her way or the highway.

She gets so mad sometimes all she wants to do is pinch you so hard so you'll hurt.

I guess this was supposed to be all goo things :S

Don't you just love babies???

She is hilarious!

It is all the little things, the gestures on her face, the times when she grabs my bag and puts on my shoes ( the tallest high heels she can find) and waves goodbye and blows kisses and says bye-bye! The times she comes to the bathroom with me so she can sit on my lap when I do my business, or when she pretends to put on make up and says: guapa!

How she loooves shoes, the look on her face when she's doing something she's not supposed to, or when she finds something hilarious on the tv and starts laughing and tries to tell you what it is in her baby talk. Or when she says LOO for look!, or when her hair is all over her eyes and she has to look up to be able to see you. The times when she'll just start singing her made up songs that are so cute. Or when she is sad and you hug her she'll pat your back.

I love to cuddle with her little soft squishy body.

I am so happy I had her.

With her, and because of her, I've learned that I love to be a mother. That there is nothing else I'd rather do.

I struggled before with the thoughts of going to school, or work, or even just do things for me just for fun... but no. I want to be the mother of my kids. They are my happiness.

And with them I feel complete.

Everything else has moved down the list of my interests.

That's what happens when you're in love.... and I am in LOVE!

I've been in love with them even before they were born!

Happy Birthday to my dear Isabel...

I hope to celebrate many more by your side!

Amigos! pero que pasa???

That's a quote from Sid the Sloth in Ice Age 3. Maria and Jane ( my nieces) came for a sleep over and once they found out what that meant, they kept saying it over and over.

It is hilarious to me when somebody with ZERO idea of Spanish practices all they know with me.

It is just funny. It always makes me smile :D

I speak with an accent, they probably think I sound hilarious too... though Evan keeps saying my accent is sexy ;P

Now that I go to the Hispanic Ward they also pretend to speak with my Spanish accent.... and they always suck!! They want to speak with the "zeta" sound and they always use the Z in the S!

I love my ward!

We had a talent show last Saturday. Carmen sang with me and then I sang on my own. Evan Jr wanted to do break dance, but he backed down on the last minute. Evan had to work -but don't get me started on what I think about spending the whole weekend on my own :( ...

I invited some friends and it was fun!

On Sunday I got my calling: Secretary in the RS... a first for me. But I'm super excited to work with the amazing ladies of the ward... and I must mentioned I got the most beautiful blessing.

I am also in charge of the women's choir and it seems I'll be playing for everybody else's musical numbers. Every Wednesday I am at the Church in every kind of activity -meeting, I am super excited!That's all I've known growing up: total involvement in the ward, so... I am loving it!

Anyway.... December is coming fast and I can't wait!!!

I am super excited about Christmas. Since we decided to go down to the Leonard's ( Our most favorite family... it's as if we were truly family) son's wedding that's all I can think about!

bringin' healthy back

Holy moley!

These past six days have been the most horrible of my life! More than giving birth, I tell you.

I've had the highest fever, the most horrible nights ( Evan Sr, Evan Jr and Isabel were sick too), I have lost 6 lbs because I couldn't even swallow my own saliva!, I got my period in the middle of all this!! so it doubled my body ache... ( I don't know why, by the way, I wasn't supposed to get it for two more weeks), I was so dizzie.... the first drugs were making me

have palpitations and pressure on my chest, so I had to go to the doctor again to get new ones...

So I am happy to say, that I am FINALLY feeling better.

I woke up nice and early today. Carmen had a Halloween party at her school, so i had to do her make up, help her get dressed as a WITCH!

She wanted her face green... I wasn't too sure. I wanted her to look beautiful, but she wanted to be an ugly scary witch....

And this is what I got.

She can't be ugly even if she tries....

she is just beautiful!

The other good news is that I got a lap top!

yes!!

with a camera so I can talk to my family on skype!

I know electronics and I don't get along well... I hope I can take good care of it :D

Being Sick Sucks

I haven't been sick like this in ages... and it sucks.

For some reason I sensed it was coming.

Evan was off work on Saturday and so I asked him to leave with the kids because I really needed some time to relax.

Evan is gone all day, every day...sometimes even the weekends and I felt my body giving in.

So he took them out to a pet store to get new stuff for the fish ( sally is her name) and they came home with two more :D

Instead of relaxing...... what did I do?

I cleaned the two bathrooms, changed everybody's bedding, did 4 loads of laundry, I was folding the last load when they came in.

I showered and left to do grocery shopping. At least I went on my own. Jordan was coming over to watch the Habs game with Evan.

When I got home... I was dead.

And we had people coming over the next day, so I had planned this great meal to have with them... and I was getting stressed my the minute.

I had the most horrible night. My fever as high as ever, and my throat was on fire.

I could barely move...every part of my body hurt... I SHOULD HAVE RESTED RIGHT??

And what made me feel even worse was to have to cancel in such short notice.

I was getting a calling at church too, that I was super excited about... oh well....

Evan took the kids to the Richmond ward to practice their Primary presentation.

When he came back he took great care of me. He prepared me a bath, gave me some pills, prepared chicken noodle soup, and made me a nice frosty citrus juice.

He made the kids food, cleaned the kitchen and tidied up around the house while playing with the kids.

He joined me in bed for a little nap and informed me he was getting sick himself. GREAT!

He went to school on Monday but called me to go pick him up....

I might go to the doctor today. I hate being like this, no opportunity to rest... and now Evan Jr and Isabel are getting sick too...OH this is horrible. I don;t want to take antibiotics because I get a yeast infection E-V-E-R-Y-TIME! But it might be worth it.

Anyway... I'm going to bed... I need more drugs :(

A Big Difference

I met with Carmen's teacher today.

What a difference from last year!

I was happy to know she was going to be in a split class with 1-2 Grade, but I was happier to know that she wasn't getting the same teacher as last year.

Carmen always comes home saying nice things her teacher said of her, or the nice things she did in class... etc. After meeting with her, I too adore her. She even made me cry.

She sees the potential I see in my daughter, and she really showed me she cares and loves her as I do.

She is in a mission to make Carmen the best student she can be.

She is very amazed at Carmen's level of comprehension, reading, writing and spelling skills. So even thinks she might be a gifted child... so she's going to be evaluated.

But... she made me cry when she said Carmen has a huge heart.

She kept going on how special Carmen is, how loving and kind.

She said she could tell she came from a loving home.

It really touched me.

Because we love her... I love her! And there is nothing that gives a child more confidence than to know that she is loved.

And that's the best knowledge I can give my daughter... more than any teacher can give her, or what any gifted school can teach her.

I don't need the results of that test to know

SHE IS A VERY SPECIAL CHILD!

The best years

Carmen turned 6 years old yesterday.

She had planned her party since we celebrated Evan's 4th birthday.

A Black Cat theme.

It is very handy to have a baby born so close to Halloween.... the theme is easy ;P

So we did their make up, put a little tail on them and decorated their cupcakes as kitties.

They said it looked more like mouses and rabbits... so never mind.

It was fun.

I tend to stress myself when it comes to birthday parties for my kids. I want it to be especial! But this time I controlled myself and took it easy. After all I am on my own, with three kids running around.... it gets more complicated than you imagine.

Carmen wasn't expecting a present from us. She said that we were family! that we didn't have to get here anything... But first thing in the morning, we went down to the garage, where her very first bike was waiting for her!

It took her a second to realize it was for her.

She is so cute!!

She is so smart, so beautiful, so loving, so bright, so driven, so caring, so thoughtful, so loyal...

I am totally in love with her.

I remember driving down to Seattle Temple to get married and deciding with Evan on the names of our babies.

Carmen was the first one.

I knew I wanted to have her in my family. I just knew.

The sealer told us about these especial spirits that were there, watching, waiting, excited to meet us and to be part of our family.

Carmen was born 9 months after that day.

I am so happy that it happened that way.

I remember the first time my eyes met those big wide open eyes.

They seemed to pierce my soul.

Her spirit talked to my spirit.... we belonged to each other. We were meant to be together forever.

Such an unforgettable moment.

Such and instant bond.

We were finally reunited!

I love her.

I'll love her forever.

She has my heart.

She is my daughter!

Slow Down

I started running again. I didn't do much exercising since Evan left for training for the summer. Now that he's been home for a month it was time to resume our "activity".

There is so much to do in our morning routine, that leaving to go running was a goo thought but not realistic. So we decided to buy equipment to exercise at home.

We bought this and this.

( except the older model and second hand).

I had been running for 15 min ( 6.6 speed) and couldn't do no more, so I speed walked the other 15 min. at 3.8.... and to push myself a little ( I like the pain) I went up to 7.2 for the last 2 minutes.

I'm dead now.

I couldn't help but to think if E. Uchtdorf

"There is more to life than increasing its speed".

So as I ran, I focussed on putting one foot in front of the other.... and sometimes that's what I find myself doing in life. Just the basics.... it might not seem as much... but I'm moving forward.

Didn' you know running was such a therapeutic session? ;P

Controversy

I have to say how much I've loved General Conference!

All of it was great.

Starting form the Relief Society and President Monson's amazing talk on CHARITY!

Just the day before I had been pondering ( after watching the show "The Apprentice") on how much the world promotes looking for the weaknesses of people, on how much we put people down because of the things they do wrong...etc. And then I hear this talk and I can't but desire to be better and to follow his counsel.

The same inspiration I've found throughout all the sessions in General Conference.

E. Holland is always one my favorites... it just didn;t help that he started me crying from the very first talk!

One of my favorites is E. Christofferson. I loved his talk.

Everyone's, really.... this time is hard for me to pick a favorite.

Apparently some people have some issues with E. Packer's talk.

I was surprise to hear from criticism from members!

And I couldn't help myself and had to make some comments.

All this happened while I was in the middle of reading "The miracle of Forgiveness" right in the chapter where President Kimball addresses rebellion... even more, he later calls them traitors.

I want to share some parts:

"Among Church members rebellion frequently takes the form of criticism of authorities and leaders. They "speak evil of dignities" and " of the things that they understand not" (2 Peter 2:10, 12)... In a word, they have the spirit of apostasy, which is almost always the harvest of the seeds of criticism...

One would wish the rebellious would stop and ask themselves questions such as: " Do my philosophy and my critical efforts bring me closer to Christ, to God, to virtue, to prayer, to exaltation?..."

"What shall be said of those members who press so hard and publicize their criticisms of the Church that they give encouragement to its enemies and embarrass its leadership and the other faithful members?...

What could be more despicable than a traitor to a friend, a church, a nation, or a cause?..."

( The Miracle of Forgiveness pages 42-46)

There is nothing that makes my blood boil more than hearing members publishing openly critics on God's chosen. Like would you hear Jesus talk speak and say it wasn't a good talk?

There are things I don't get. There are people who willingly walk on thin ice.

I know how Alma must have felt when he said he wished to be an angel and preach repentance unto ALL people!... I do sin in my wish too.

It is not a new thing to twist the Prophet's words to satisfy one's own will.

It's been done from the beginning of time... it appears it will go on forever... but it will have an end. We'll see eye to eye.... and there will be no confusion no more.

Can't wait for that day.

But for now... My Church, my leaders have my full support!

You don't mess with E. Packer if you don't want to have a piece of my mind.

Rolling up my sleeves

Yes! I am excited... after a year of living here... I am renovating the kid's rooms.

I found this cute bedding for the girls!!

I am trying to figure out the paint and found some cute frames to hang, plus looking for decoration for girls is so FUN!

I am having more problems for Evan's room.

I have nothing.

I have no clue.

I can't find any bedding I like. I thought about making a quilt for him myself... but since I want it now... not just before he goes on his mission, I am afraid I have to find something ASAP.

So if you happen to see anything fun ( but no childish, please)

let me know!

I am super excited!!!

We had a good weekend, even though Evan had to work. His fist month home from training and he's had to work 3 weekends :(

They told him he might not be getting that many weekends due to budget cuts ( even in the army) but it looks like he's going to have to work lots if not more than last year.

I will not complaint because that means money... but we miss him.

He's so busy with school, and now he joined a fraternity and he has some gatherings to go to twice a week... I feel we never get to see him.

This means that I ( I!) get to do the whole bed time routine on my own.

Trying to get three kids bathed, changed in their pajamas, brushed teeth, share bed time story, prayer and in bed IS HARD!

By the time I am done I am ready to hit the sack myself! But I wait till Evan gets home... or else I really have no time with him.

I had my treat, though.

I went to the Relief Society Broadcast.

I sat down and the first hymn just hit me to the core.

2nd verse of " Count your blessings":

"Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings every doubt will fly

and you will be singing as the days go by."

This hymn was chosen for me to hear this.

I know.

It was such a special meeting.

The whole thing... I was amazed I got to hear these things.It is amazing to me.

So I was uplifted, re energized and recommitted.

And came back home with a box of KrispyKreams under my arm... not bad ;P

This time is different

* We have started to have scripture reading with the kids every morning.

We alternate Spanish and English every other day and Carmen participates.

She is such a good reader.

She loves reading the scriptures and when she wakes up she comes into our room carrying her scriptures all ready to start!

I love it!

Evan Jr can't wait to help reading, and he's already asking for his own set of scriptures!

* We have started to attend the Spanish Ward in our stake.

I love it!

I feel at home there.... learning in your own language is something extra powerful!

I felt the spirit to strongly from the very opening prayer... I love it.

Evan felt good too. He even said the closing prayer in Sacrament :D

The kids love it too... apparently Isabel was a bit of a terror in nursery. But they still loved her! :D

So I'm excited.

I knew that coming to a new ward and starting friendships will take time... but I feel so different in my new ward. I feel part of it already! after only two weeks.

So I am happy. I can't wait for my kids to give talks in primary and have my parents watch them and understand them! I am super excited!

* I've started to give Carmen piano lessons. We spend some time in the piano, she practices her hand position, she plays some songs by ear... I play for her, she sings... very casual, nothing rigid...but she is so talented!

I have plan some good special number together for sacrament :D

Can't wait to sing with my daughter.

Ok...

She looks just gorgeous!

On two wheels

Evan got a motorcycle on the weekend.

He needs to get his license now, and I'll get the car.

So that means I couldn't sleep very well the last few nights.

I'm not kidding.

I'm that pathetic.

I'll practice some more tonight, after FHE.

I need to get it soon or else I'm stuck at home :S

I love how Evan is so ticklish under the chin.

Carmen's got another two wiggly teeth.

Isabel apparently was a terror in nursery on Sunday. She hit everyone that wanted to get a toy she was/had been playing with....so everyone! :S

And yes... we are the newest family in the Spanish Ward now :P

( Not officially yet, but Evan is all on board now!! yeah!!).

It came out!

Carmen always asked me when her teeth were going to start to come off... I kept saying: "Once you get in Grade 1 you'll start".

Well, I had no idea that it would be so soon!.

She was so excited when she found out her first teeth was wiggly.

We made a couple attempts to pull it out... with no luck!

But the Wednesday night, she went to bed and came running out so excited to tell us

HER TEETH FELL OUT!

yeah!!

Here is the before picture (on monday, when we first tried to pull it out)

... and the happy girl showing off!! ;P

She was even happier the morning after when she found out she had a visit from the tooth fairy!

I can see her eyes

Hace algo mas de una semana fuimos a cortarle el pelo a Evan asi que ya de paso le pego un corte al flequillo de Isabel.

Ya era hora... pero es que me resistia a cortarle el pelo cuando por fin empezo a crecerle algo!!!

Pero es que la pobre no podia ni ver porque todo se le venia hacia los ojos y no creas que se deja cositas en el pelo....

asi que asi ha quedado.

Guapisima como ella misma!

Hablo Espanyol

Last weekend Evan had to work.

Friday to Sunday.

At least he could come home to sleep instead of staying at the base.

But it still sucks.

I love him at home.

We talked to our bishop last week about starting to go to the Spanish Ward in my stake.

Surprisingly he was very supportive.

Attending that ward was one strong reason to move to Vancouver.

So I went on my own... and I LOVED IT!!

I was so excited to come home and tell Evan all about it.

He wasn't as excited.

He loves our ward.

Me too, but... I loved the singing, discussing, learning the gospel in my language.

I loved the people too.

Very humble, and so close to the spirit.

I loved it.

Next Sunday we'll all go.

I let Evan think that I'm waiting to see how he feels... but I'm afraid he has little to say in this.

If I want to change we will! ;P

It is going to be great for his Spanish too.

I am excited!

Picking Blackberries

One of my favorite activities of the summer.

My dad loved it when he was here and saw them growing everywhere for us to pick!!

I can do hard things

It's well known I'm not one who likes to put herself out of my comfort zone.

Always too afraid to do something different from what I'm used to, even extremely content with things the way they are so I do very little to accomplish more.

I say that, and I realize that it's not as true as an statement coming from someone who left everything to go on a 18 month mission to a foreign country, married someone who barely knew and moved thousands and thousands miles aways from her home, had NO ONE, has three kids under 5, had moved homes 5 times... and many more things that totally contradict myself.

BUT... I guess I should say that ALL those things I've done, I would have never done if I hadn't known God would have me by the hand through it all.

Now, I'll tell you about my new adventure... what has put me in my place, what has humbled me ( yet one more time!).

It is a small thing...

learning to drive a standard car.

So you would think that after the major things I've gone thru this would be a bliss...

well, after the first try I thought I wanted to die before having to drive it again.

It was that bad.

All these horrible thoughts were running thru my mind, I couldn't even fall asleep!!

I later read about some ladies going through much more difficult things that made me repent from feeling sorry for myself...because POOR me had to learn to drive while others had to learn to deal with the death of a baby, to face disabilities, to start a new life after a divorce...etc

There's nothing like that to give you a WAKE UP call.

Needles to say, I've driven the car again... and it was so much better.

I keep repeating to myself:

I can do hard things

I can do hard things

I can so hard things!

It's my lesson.

To never say: been there, done that. The "better than thou" attitude just because you are over your difficulty.

I believe I've mentioned the virtue of EMPATHY before.

But it is my biggie.

I so need it in others, I so want to offer it to others.

I got my baby back

He's home now, and it feels as if he had never left.

Our computer has been funny on us so I haven't had the chance to sit and write, but I love having him home with us.

When we went to pick up the kids after we had some time for ourselves, Isabel saw him and her face broke. She reached out to him, held on tight to his shoulders and didn't move for 5 minutes.

Needles to say , that broke my heart and I wished he would never leave again.

I couldn't believe she had been waiting to see him as bad as I had.

She always wanted to talk to him on the phone forever, and she would fall asleep while holding the phone to her ear as he and I talked on speaker phone.

The doctors even mentioned that it could be the reason why she was so sick.

She loves being with daddy.

We all do.

The kids are always trying to get his attention, showing them all the new things they can do... etc.

And I love waking up and cuddling with my baby.

There is nothing like being held in his arms.

So, if you excuse me now, I will go and enjoy my hubby's company!

He starts classes next week, and I won't see him much then :(

I have to mentioned he did GREAT on his course. He got TOP Candidate, the BEST student there. His report was outstanding. He is getting promoted and that is such good news.

I am so proud of him.

I always knew he would do amazing at anything he did... but this and his grades in school...are surpassing my highest expectations!

I love him!

Weekend fun

I went to my first activity with the Spaniards of Vancouver!

It was fun!

I like my people :D

There were just two young couples...the rest had been living here for 40-50 years.

I made friends with two of them from Madrid. One guy from Vallecas, and the other from downtown Madrid.

I hope we can get together again.

And now...

the FOOD!

Paella!!

It was soo good I couldn't believe it!

And CHORIZO!! Spanish Chorizo!!

The best!

And Jamon Serrano, and Manchego Cheese!

I was suddenly in Heaven!

Good thing there was them so my kids had somebody to play with!

Sunday we got together at my brother in law's to celebrate Jane's birthday ( bron 5 days after Evan)

and we had a cake for him too.

We've sang the happy birthday song so much that Isabel sings it all around the house!
It is super cute!

With cousins and friends!

Good weekend!

B-day Party

The only moment of peace when you have 9 kids running around your house is when you put on a movie!

Look at them all nice and quiet! :D

These are my mexican friends from the Spanish pre-school group I take the kids to.

We had so much fun visiting :D

The dinosaur cake :D

The presents.

Cars are a HUGE hit for a 4 year old boy :D

My Son = My SUN

That is

EVAN MIKEL CLARKE JABONERO

Born August 17th 2006.

He just turned 4...

And he couldn't have given me 4 more joyfull years!

I melt at the look of this face... these eyes...

this smile.

He is my little prince.

I love him beyond words.

Everyone says he is the one that looks more like me.

I look into his eyes... and I see me.

I see all my dreams and hopes.

I see the purpose and meaning of my life.

I see my destiny.

I love you...

son!

The best neighbors' pool

It does help to have good neighbors.

My kids play and play with their 11 year old.

It does help too, that they have a pool!
They've had lots of fun!

Summerrrrrr

Summers are lovely in this cute little part of the world I live in.

We have ocean, river, lake water.

My kids are missing the ocean beach so far, but we'll make it to one before the summer is over.

We have a little water park close to us, and another with a little wadding pool that we love and have visited almost everyday!

I hope my kids had fun this summer.

I know they missed daddy.

He is the cool one, I admit to that.

I miss having so much fun with him too :(

We've been busy though, and I haven't posted anything...so here it goes:

Sara's birthday.

She's the daughter of my Columbian friend Francia.

This young lady is obsessed with shoes and sun glasses!

The water park.

Always fun!

Seriously...it doesn't get old! Week after week, and they have so much fun!

The park.

After dinner, we go out and have a last go to the park.

It is quite relaxing, actually.

There is something about a sunset....incredibly romantic, if you ask me.

And at the end of the day all I think is: One day closer to see my babe :D