My Birthday...I'd tell ya!

So my b-day started at 12am, yes, we were awake because Evan's parents just got back from their mission in Trinidad and Tobago!!

It was a really nice surprise!

Sarah and Kyle, and the kids were staying at our house for a couple of days and Jordan and Tracy, and the kids came to pick them up and we had a little visit at our house with everyone.

Evan surprised me with a ring!

If you didn't know he never bought me a ring.

Not an engagement ring or anything. In fact I bought our wedding bands.

I never asked him for one either.

I knew I didn't want a diamond ring.

But I had mentioned to him that I like my birthstone, the Topaz.

So he got me a blue topaz ring on a white gold ring!

So pretty.

I LOVE IT!!

I always give him a hard time about how I don;t like the things he gets me,

but this was a really nice surprise!

I love it!

It is a bit big on me, so I'll get it resized today.

So next morning, I had to get up really early and get some food orders and delivered them.

I was so early I had to help load the carts and put them in my car.

I had to drop them off and carried the boxes again... so I ended up with a HUGE back pain!

To top things I got my period!

So I was exhausted by the time I got home.

Sarah had to go to the doctor with a pink eye.

I slept while she was gone.

When she came back she gave me a haircut and she made me a cake.

It was super yummy!

It was like the deep fried cheesecake in montana's!

Really good!

Then we got ready and while I went to the spa to get my facial ( the other present from Evan!)

she got some things for tonight's pot luck at Tracy's.

The spa was fantastic!

I really loved getting a massage! 

My sore body appreciated it so much!

We also stopped by Mimi McQueen to get a blouse that I fell in love with!

And then rushed home, because I had to get everyone and then I had a funeral.

Yes.... instead of going out to celebrate my b-day, I had a funeral.

And I wanted to be there.

I am glad I was there.

Everyone was at Jordan and Tracy's and it was so much fun.

I'll just say that Doug is hilarious.

I hope madelaine posts the video in facebook.

But just imagine Doug tickling himself!... I still laguh thinking about it!!!

Yes, we had the usual hockey conversation and the linguistic debate....

As always super fun. And we even had Dad this time to share all about why it is that Spain has the Theta sound. 

Shoot me!

I was dead by the time we got home.

Wednesday... more shopping in preparation for the Relief Socitety Party that night.

Stress!!

Wrapping the little packages I got for the visitors that were coming, writing my testimony in the Books of Mormon I was giving out, preparing all the souvenirs we were giving out to everyone, cooking the 2 pork legs I was bringing, getting plates, cups and  the rest for the dinner!!

I went picked up my two friends, picked up a present from a sister who called saying she couldn't come, and got to church just when the elders were setting the tables.

So we set up and decorated.

The sisters seemed to start arriving on time!

We had a lovely dinner!

Everyone loved the new recipe we tried out.

Pork with honey, nuts and rosemary, and grapes.

Yummy!

They sang happy birthday to me!

In English, in Mexican, in Spanish... and they even threw the "manyanitas"!

My mom used to sing it for us too when we were little :D

We had to clean up.

I had to put everything back into our closets, and some sisters helped in the kitchen.

By the time I was leaving I got the shivers and it was hard to talk cuz of my swollen tonsils.

GREAT!

Next morning... to the doctor ( that was a total jerk, by-the-way)

and got some antibiotics... hopefully they start working soon!.

The rest of the day... in bed!

I hate being sick right now.

I have to go to get an ultrasound this afternoon, so we'll get the last shopping done on our outing,

I have to get the dinner ready for tomorrow, and the trukey is marinating already for sunday.

Then Sarah and Kyle are back for New Year's... I hope I can enjoy some of the Holidays!!!!!!!

Issues... Car Issues

Well.... I have issues. Car issues.

And I hate to have car issues.

But what's most annoying is my car deciding to go wrong when I am on my own, with all the kids tagging along.

First of all.

For some reason I need to be in charge of  our car.

I have to get the oil changes, I have to check the tire's air pressure, I have to take it to do the air care ( and it didn't pass!!) .

I had something changed ( $200) and tried it again.

It didn't pass again!!
I .... I said I again.... had to find someone to wacth my kids while i took it to the shop to get it repaired ($600) and took a bus home.

Then again, I got someone to stay with the kids and this time my VT drove me.

I took the air care test again.... it didn't pass again, but they gave me a conditional pass.

Then I had to renew the insurance...

I am not even the primary driver!! the insurance is not in my name!!! Evan had to sign some documents!!
 All this stuff with the car BUGS me!!!!!!

So... today, I am all stressed and driving off , just around the corner of my house, a FLAT TIRE!!!!!!

Again!!

Evan is working.

My neighbour ( the mecanic!) is not home. I have a spare tire, but my jack is missing one part, so i pumped the tire but couldn't put it on.

Jordan came to the rescue.

He took as to our McLean family gathering and Laura brought us back home.....

Now $180 later, I am a proud owner of BCAA and my car is now drivable.

In a few hours I have to go get Evan from work....

 he'll be happy to know he just got his Christmas present! 

I hate to have an unreliable old car.... 

I wish Santa was real.

A new car is my list.

I know he would give it to me.

I really need one.

Santa!!

I need Santa!

Especially now that my car is eating away all our money.... my kids are going to wish there was a real Santa as well.

:(

10 Years

i realized it's been 10 years since one of the most defining moments in my life.

of course i look back in wonder.

i entered this temple ( Madrid, Spain) for the first time in my life.

a moment  to make sacred covenants.

a moment of learning, of immense joy and testimony.

i thought i had a testimony before, but right then, there was NO doubt in my mind.

that experience transformed me forever.

a couple of weeks later i entered this other temple (Preston, England).

that time as an ordained missionary of Jesus Christ.

WOW.

that's all i can say.

another experience that was out of this world.

it was the experience of my life.

nothing like 18 months of your life to share eternal truth to the world.

 it's been 10 years. 

10 years ago i was embarking in the most amazing journey. 

the start of covenant making in my life.

i'll be forever grateful to my God for everything that led me to make that decision to serve Him.

it continues to be a blessing everyday of my life.

in january will be 8 years since i made the most important covenant in this other temple (Seattle, WA, USA).

this time it was marrying the love of my life and being sealed to him for all eternity.

our love, only through this covenant, is ETERNAL.

last saturday i was able to attend this other temple ( Vacouver, BC, Canada).

  

i feel so blessed.

we are so blessed to have temples.

we were there to perform covenants in proxy for Evan's grandma.

some of his family was there.

when we were sitting in the peace of the celestial room, i looked around.

his brother, two sisters, and his aunt and uncle were there.

his aunt heather and uncle dennis are some of the most special people i've ever met.

"you're so lucky" i whispered to him.

tears rolled down my cheek as i thought of my uncle Pablo that just passed away.

one day we'll do the work for him.

one day, i hope, i can sit with members of my family, being united to them throughout all eternitties.

that's the beauty of temples.

that's the beauty of the Savior.

that's the beauty of the restored Gospel.

i have no doubt in my mind where to find truth.

click here.

Seeing things as they can become

It was primary presentation sunday!

I get as excited as the kids :D

( on a side note, can you believe I will have my 3 kids in primary in a little more than a month!!! :0  no puedorrrrrrrrrr!!!)

Carmen and Evan had been practising their phrases all week, and a few months ago we started this thing on the mornings, before scripture reading, where we practise a new hymn each week. and this month we did the songs they were performing at the presentation.
we also sang them on our drive to school each day.

so they had them down....easy, peasy, lemon squeezy.

and they did sooooo good.

i was a proud mommma.

there was a boy who recited the Joseph's Smith first vision...and it was the highlight of my day!

children are just powerful.

the presidency spoke at the end.

she encouraged us to look at the children, see what they did and see what they can become.

If only we could see them as who they really are.

I definitely have had some glimpses.

Isabel's Party

 My little princess... on her birthday party!