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!