I don't really love to cook anyway. But lately, I detest it. I can't stand how hot it is in the kitchen in the late afternoon. Nothing sounds good to me lately. I've been meaning to cook another 20 or more meals to freeze (as I'm down to about 5) but I haven't worked up the energy to do it. Plus, I feel like we eat the same things over and over. Do any of you have some good easy recipes? Recipes for the crock pot or that don't require too much time cooking? I need some new ideas. Post them here or email them to me.
Thanks in advance!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
my summer to-do list
Here are all the things I hope(d) to accomplish this summer. I have put a star by the ones that I have accomplished so far.
- move the girls downstairs *
- clean out the girls' old room, go through all the toys and books and organize them/give away what we don't need anymore *
- clean out all the closets in the house (*so far I've done 5...2 more to go)
- type six weeks of lesson plans for my sub during my maternity leave
- do A LOT of scrapbooking (I've done some)
- get all the baby stuff out of the attic *
- wash all the baby stuff and set up the baby's room (about 1/2 way done with that)
- cook and freeze at least 20-30 meals so I don't have to cook during the first few weeks after the baby is born
- play with my kids a lot... take them places, go swimming, read to them, arrange playdates, etc. (I've done some of this... I've been terrible about arranging playdates though)
- get 20 or more FHE lessons ready to go so that I don't have to think about it once I go back to work... also, start having FHE regularly. we aren't very good at this.
- clean and organize my office/library/scrapbooking room (this is a huge project because my office is my "dumping ground" and is terribly unorganized... I have yet to begin this)
- go through all my scrapbook pages I've done during the past year and get them organized chronologically and put them into albums (one for Michelle, one for Ella and one for the family) (*about 90% complete with this)
- organize my files at school (*about 75% complete with this)
- read a lot of books (*for me an ongoing project, but one that I'm doing well at... I always read a lot)
- have book club meet at my house in July
- work the last week of July... we have meetings and planning time for the week before school starts. I plan to work that week. I am also hoping/planning to be at school on the first day of school, August 4, (along with my sub) to meet my new students and help the sub get the year off to a good start.
So, as you can see, I still have a lot to do. Overall, I'm pleased with what I've accomplished so far, but I still have quite a bit to do in the next 6 weeks. I know it will go fast. I'm sure my six weeks off with my new baby will go way too fast also. The one good thing is that when I come off my maternity leave, I'll only have 3 1/2 or 4 weeks until I get a 2 week break. So I can get a break again not too long after I go back. That will help, I'm sure.
I'm at 34 1/2 weeks now. Had an appointment this week. Everything continues to look good. The baby is growing, I've gained about 14 pounds, my blood pressure is good, etc. Honestly, other than being quite warm, I can't complain. I feel pretty good. I mean there are minor discomforts, but I have energy and I'm excited. And the girls are so excited to have a new sister.
this past week
Here's a quick summary of our past week:
Last Sunday: My dad and grandparents came to dinner at our house. We had a nice visit. My poor grandparents are getting quite elderly and it is sad to see them decline. My grandma has an incredible memory about anything that happened years ago, but her short term memory is shot. I told her 3 times that Suzy (my sister) was in Alaska for her marathon. Each time she seemed surprised that Suzy was already done with her marathon. So sad. And my grandpa has a very hard time getting around. It is so sad to see them get old.
Monday: Alyssa came over to play with the girls. She wants practice babysitting and so she comes over and plays with the girls while I get stuff done. She is wonderful. And she can use it as a service project for young women's personal progress. I was excited when her mom called a couple of weeks ago and asked if we'd let her come and do this once a week, and she has been great.
Also the girls and I went to the park with my Aunt Elaine.
Tuesday: The girls had preschool and I went to my school and organized most of my files. Very productive. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the girls and I went to their edible art class. They made their own personal pizzas with faces and breadsticks.
I had young women's that night... the trek hoedown. I think trek will be so much fun for them. I kind of wish I could go... but it's a week and a half after my baby is due.
Wednesday: Alyssa came over again and we went to Kearns swimming pool. It was fun, but it was a pretty windy day and poor Michelle got so cold. She has no body fat to keep her warm. Somehow I feel less self conscious in a bathing suit being pregnant than I do when I'm not. I guess I feel like I can blame the extra pounds on the baby (even the ones not on my stomach).
Thursday: The girls had preschool. I started babysitting one of Alfredo's friend's baby. She is 8 months old and I'm now babysitting her on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the months of July and August. She is a really good baby. The girls loved playing with her.
Thursday night I had book club. We read I am the messenger by Marcus Zusak. Had a great discussion and Becky turned it into kind of a game. To go with the book, she put questions on playing cards and if you got an ace, you won a prize that related to the book. It was very clever.
Friday: Michelle and Ella got to go play at Jayda's house. Jaylynn watched them for me while I went shopping with Gerri for all the food for girls camp (which is tomorrow through Thursday.) They had a lot of fun with Jayda.
Alfredo and I went out to dinner that night and went to see Get Smart. We both thought it was very funny. The twins, Ashley and Lindsey, babysat for us. The girls love them. They were so excited all day that Ashley and Lindsey were coming. It was nice for us to go out together for a little while.
Saturday: The girls and I went to the library. Alfredo cleaned the carpets in the whole house. They look so much better. We started getting stuff set up in the baby's room.
We all went to Kodi's birthday party. It was a lot of fun. After the girls went to sleep, Alfredo and I watched The Bucket List.
a busy, fun, productive week...
Last Sunday: My dad and grandparents came to dinner at our house. We had a nice visit. My poor grandparents are getting quite elderly and it is sad to see them decline. My grandma has an incredible memory about anything that happened years ago, but her short term memory is shot. I told her 3 times that Suzy (my sister) was in Alaska for her marathon. Each time she seemed surprised that Suzy was already done with her marathon. So sad. And my grandpa has a very hard time getting around. It is so sad to see them get old.
Monday: Alyssa came over to play with the girls. She wants practice babysitting and so she comes over and plays with the girls while I get stuff done. She is wonderful. And she can use it as a service project for young women's personal progress. I was excited when her mom called a couple of weeks ago and asked if we'd let her come and do this once a week, and she has been great.
Also the girls and I went to the park with my Aunt Elaine.
Tuesday: The girls had preschool and I went to my school and organized most of my files. Very productive. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the girls and I went to their edible art class. They made their own personal pizzas with faces and breadsticks.
I had young women's that night... the trek hoedown. I think trek will be so much fun for them. I kind of wish I could go... but it's a week and a half after my baby is due.
Wednesday: Alyssa came over again and we went to Kearns swimming pool. It was fun, but it was a pretty windy day and poor Michelle got so cold. She has no body fat to keep her warm. Somehow I feel less self conscious in a bathing suit being pregnant than I do when I'm not. I guess I feel like I can blame the extra pounds on the baby (even the ones not on my stomach).
Thursday: The girls had preschool. I started babysitting one of Alfredo's friend's baby. She is 8 months old and I'm now babysitting her on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the months of July and August. She is a really good baby. The girls loved playing with her.
Thursday night I had book club. We read I am the messenger by Marcus Zusak. Had a great discussion and Becky turned it into kind of a game. To go with the book, she put questions on playing cards and if you got an ace, you won a prize that related to the book. It was very clever.
Friday: Michelle and Ella got to go play at Jayda's house. Jaylynn watched them for me while I went shopping with Gerri for all the food for girls camp (which is tomorrow through Thursday.) They had a lot of fun with Jayda.
Alfredo and I went out to dinner that night and went to see Get Smart. We both thought it was very funny. The twins, Ashley and Lindsey, babysat for us. The girls love them. They were so excited all day that Ashley and Lindsey were coming. It was nice for us to go out together for a little while.
Saturday: The girls and I went to the library. Alfredo cleaned the carpets in the whole house. They look so much better. We started getting stuff set up in the baby's room.
We all went to Kodi's birthday party. It was a lot of fun. After the girls went to sleep, Alfredo and I watched The Bucket List.
a busy, fun, productive week...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
run away
Last night Alfredo and I made Michelle mad. I can't remember why; probably because we told her it was time to come inside and stop playing. Anyway, she told us that we weren't her best friends anymore (her usual response when angry). Then a minute later she comes in and says, "I'm mad at you. I'm going to run away." Alfredo got a little angry, but I was mainly puzzled. Where would she hear something like that? Does she even know what that means?
So I got her to calm down and I said, "Michelle, what does it mean to run away?" She said she didn't know but that her friend Jenni (who is 8 and lives across the street) told her that she should tell us that if we weren't nice to her then she would run away. I hugged her and explained what it meant and that if she ran away she wouldn't get to see Mommy or Daddy or Ella anymore. She got a scared look on her face and said she didn't mean it; she was just mad.
Alfredo had a little talk with Jenni about it today.
I remember once "running away from home" when I was about 8 or 9. I hid outside under a bush for what seemed like forever to me. When I finally came inside, no one had even noticed I was missing. :) I didn't know whether to be angry or sad. And I felt like they should know, but didn't want to just announce it. I don't remember what I did, but I know I never tried it again.
So I got her to calm down and I said, "Michelle, what does it mean to run away?" She said she didn't know but that her friend Jenni (who is 8 and lives across the street) told her that she should tell us that if we weren't nice to her then she would run away. I hugged her and explained what it meant and that if she ran away she wouldn't get to see Mommy or Daddy or Ella anymore. She got a scared look on her face and said she didn't mean it; she was just mad.
Alfredo had a little talk with Jenni about it today.
I remember once "running away from home" when I was about 8 or 9. I hid outside under a bush for what seemed like forever to me. When I finally came inside, no one had even noticed I was missing. :) I didn't know whether to be angry or sad. And I felt like they should know, but didn't want to just announce it. I don't remember what I did, but I know I never tried it again.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
a few insights about Michelle
Michelle is a good girl, with a sweet heart. She cares deeply about others. She is very kind to younger children and is thrilled when friends that are Ella's age come over. She takes them by the hand and helps them play and is very nurturing. (Here she is with our friend Jaylynn's baby):
Michelle is somewhat of a daredevil/risk taker. She learned to walk at 9 months (as did Ella), and soon after she was running and climbing on everything. She taught herself to ride a 2 wheel bike. She can go across our monkey bars by herself. She enjoys fast rides and can't wait to try out a real roller coaster with her daddy. She loves to swing and often worries me with how high she swings.
She likes to know when things are going to happen and to know what the "schedule" is for the day and the week. She is still trying to fully comprehend the concepts of time, and so she wants everything translated into days. How many days until Kodi's party? How many days until the baby is born? How many days until grandma comes to visit?
She understands a lot of Spanish, but she will rarely speak it. Sometimes when I (or others) try to say something to her in Spanish, she'll say, "Say it in real." (meaning English)
I think I have shared this on the blog before, but when Michelle was little she had the best cry. She totally trilled her r's as she cried. I've never heard any baby/toddler cry like she did. I always knew when it was my baby crying.
As I've mentioned, she loves to pose for the camera.
Michelle is somewhat of a daredevil/risk taker. She learned to walk at 9 months (as did Ella), and soon after she was running and climbing on everything. She taught herself to ride a 2 wheel bike. She can go across our monkey bars by herself. She enjoys fast rides and can't wait to try out a real roller coaster with her daddy. She loves to swing and often worries me with how high she swings.
She likes to know when things are going to happen and to know what the "schedule" is for the day and the week. She is still trying to fully comprehend the concepts of time, and so she wants everything translated into days. How many days until Kodi's party? How many days until the baby is born? How many days until grandma comes to visit?
She understands a lot of Spanish, but she will rarely speak it. Sometimes when I (or others) try to say something to her in Spanish, she'll say, "Say it in real." (meaning English)
I think I have shared this on the blog before, but when Michelle was little she had the best cry. She totally trilled her r's as she cried. I've never heard any baby/toddler cry like she did. I always knew when it was my baby crying.
As I've mentioned, she loves to pose for the camera.
She loves her mommy and daddy. She is so happy that I'm home for the summer and asks often when I have to go back to work. How many more days do you get to stay home?
She knows her letters and numbers. But for some reason when counting, she always skips thirteen. :) She loves to write. She loves to be read to. She likes to play rhyming games.
She has an incredible memory. She often will remember things that happened months ago (or even years) and say, "remember when ...." I am often surprised by what triggers her memories and how far back they go.
As a baby, she was a very picky eater. It took months to get her to eat solid foods. (although she's always loved spaghetti, as you can tell from the photo above :)) She stopped nursing at about 2 months. She would arch away from me and scream. So after a week or so of that, I gave up. So I pumped and gave her breastmilk in bottles until she was about a year. And when feeding her a bottle, you had to hold her a specific way... with her head on your knees and her legs toward you. Then you'd put your hand on her cheek and hold the bottle with your other hand. I think (but I'm not sure...who knows?) that she was already so curious that nursing or being cradled close to you was too confining. She wanted to see what was going on around her. Fortunately, instead of getting pickier when she became a toddler, she has slowly become less and less picky. She still has her favorites, but she'll eat most things now.
She loves art. She likes to draw, paint, color and play with playdough. Right now, we are taking an edible art class on Tuesdays and she really looks forward to it.
I've been trying to think what her "obsessions" or extreme interests are (for Ella, it's dinosaurs and rocks) and can't really name any. She loves to be outside, to be swinging, riding or running/moving. But so far, I can't think of any subjects that she absolutely loves. I guess animals. She loves the zoo, especially the elephants. Ands she loves books about animals. But that's all that comes to mind.
She is my sweet, smart, beautiful girl. I can hardly believe she is already five!
TTA: taste
This one will be easy. There are so many things I love to eat!!!
I love fruit! Almost every kind. I love summer because of the watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, and raspberries. I bought a flat of raspberries on Friday and we've eaten all but one little carton. Yum! I also love mangoes, pineapple, apples (especially with peanut butter), oranges, pears, nectarines and plums. I don't love bananas and don't like blueberries or papayas. But other than that, I love just about all fruit.
I love ice cream. I can eat it all year long. I especially love rocky road and mint chocolate chip. But I like most flavors (but not most fruity flavors, ironically!)
I love hot chocolate. Drinking hot chocolate is my favorite part of winter.
I like most anything with chocolate... chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, pies, candy bars, etc.
Other things that I really like:
I love fruit! Almost every kind. I love summer because of the watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, and raspberries. I bought a flat of raspberries on Friday and we've eaten all but one little carton. Yum! I also love mangoes, pineapple, apples (especially with peanut butter), oranges, pears, nectarines and plums. I don't love bananas and don't like blueberries or papayas. But other than that, I love just about all fruit.
I love ice cream. I can eat it all year long. I especially love rocky road and mint chocolate chip. But I like most flavors (but not most fruity flavors, ironically!)
I love hot chocolate. Drinking hot chocolate is my favorite part of winter.
I like most anything with chocolate... chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, pies, candy bars, etc.
Other things that I really like:
- broccoli cheese soup
- chips and salsa
- scones
- chimichangas
- Biaggi's chicken florentine soup (to die for!)
- enchiladas
- pecan pie
- fruit salad
- stuffing
- homemade mashed potatoes
- homemade rolls/bread
I'm sure there are other things, but these are some of my absolute favorites.
Yum! It makes me want to go eat, even though I'm really not hungry.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
super marathoner
I just wanted to say how proud I am of my sister Suzy. She completed her marathon in Alaska yesterday. She took about 3 hours 40 minutes to complete it. (I'm quite sure a marathon would take me about 15 hours...even if I weren't pregnant...and that's if I could actually complete it... I'm not confident I could.) She placed ninth in her age category and 34th out of all the women. Quite good for her first marathon.
In addition, she raised $5,800 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Way to go Suzy! My sister is amazing!
In addition, she raised $5,800 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Way to go Suzy! My sister is amazing!
Guilt
So I've been bad over the past year and have just made a pile of all the scrapbook pages I've completed, but haven't gotten them in albums. So I have been working on that over the past week (just a few minutes here and there... it's not really THAT big of a project.) Well, Michelle has a whole album (about 70 pages) of her 18 months. Ella has about 60 pages of her first 3 years! I swore I wouldn't do that... take more pictures of my first child or slack off on subsequent children's albums. And yet I have. Now it's not quite as bad as it seems. I take a lot of photos of both girls together and I've put almost all of those in a family album instead of in their own personal albums. But still.... So yesterday I did about 4 more pages of Ella than of Michelle.
But it seems that I get less done since having two kids...and probably less once number three makes her debut. Most of Michelle's 70 pages were done before Ella was born. Her album of 18 months to 5 years is only about 20 pages. I've just slowed way down in how much I get done.
Don't worry I'm not feeling that guilty... just a little. The main thing is that I have preserved a lot of memories and both of my girls know that I love them.
But it seems that I get less done since having two kids...and probably less once number three makes her debut. Most of Michelle's 70 pages were done before Ella was born. Her album of 18 months to 5 years is only about 20 pages. I've just slowed way down in how much I get done.
Don't worry I'm not feeling that guilty... just a little. The main thing is that I have preserved a lot of memories and both of my girls know that I love them.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Saturday Scrapper
Every three months, Heartland Paper Company has an all day scrapbooking crop from 10 AM to 10 PM. I've been once before, and I went today. It's a lot of fun and I get a lot done. Today I completed 20 (12 by 12) pages, plus worked on a "year in review/month by month" album. I was hoping to get a little bit more done, but that was still pretty good. Now I'm tired, but also still a little wired and can't sleep. Hopefully, another ten minutes and I'll be able to go to bed.
The All day crop is fun. They serve lunch and dinner plus have snacks and a teacher on hand to help you. And they give away prizes. ...Everyone gets a small prize (they have a basket with a bunch of stuff valued at $3-$5 and you choose what you want.) Then they give away 2 big prizes. And today, surprise, surprise, I was the lucky winner of one of the big prizes. I got a bag that had a t-shirt, an 8 1/2 by 11 album, a train shaped chipboard album, and a package of coordinating products. The total value is about $50 worth of stuff. Pretty cool!
I find it hard to get much scrapbooking done at home. Too many interruptions and other pressing things to do. So I like to go the Friday night crops (6 hours) and the all day crops. I'm much more productive.
The All day crop is fun. They serve lunch and dinner plus have snacks and a teacher on hand to help you. And they give away prizes. ...Everyone gets a small prize (they have a basket with a bunch of stuff valued at $3-$5 and you choose what you want.) Then they give away 2 big prizes. And today, surprise, surprise, I was the lucky winner of one of the big prizes. I got a bag that had a t-shirt, an 8 1/2 by 11 album, a train shaped chipboard album, and a package of coordinating products. The total value is about $50 worth of stuff. Pretty cool!
I find it hard to get much scrapbooking done at home. Too many interruptions and other pressing things to do. So I like to go the Friday night crops (6 hours) and the all day crops. I'm much more productive.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Some facts about Ella... just because
Here are a few things to know about Ella:
She loves to wear dresses and skirts. In fact lately, she wears a dress or skirt every day because if I try to put anything else on, she either throws a fit or takes the clothes off and finds a skirt to wear.
When she is pretending, she has a different voice, sort of a "mommy" voice.
She is a talker. Often, people think she's quiet/shy. She is around strangers sometimes. And around a lot of men. But she can talk. She had about 50 words by the time she was 15 months (i kept track) and even a couple of two and 3 word phrases like "wan up momma". Now she talks and talks.
She calls me "Mama" and Alfredo "daddy".
She hates getting her hair brushed and styled.
She loves books ("bookies"... that's her term for books). She loves to be read to, but she also "reads" to herself a lot.
She is so proud to be a big girl and be going to preschool...even though she always cries when I drop her off and tries to cling to me. But she does fine once I'm gone.
She can be very stubborn. She knows what she wants and doesn't like when she doesn't get her way. (Oh well!)
She loves to talk to people on the phone (thanks to so many of you for indulging her) but when she's ready to be done, she usually starts talking in jibberish. Then she'll hand the phone back to me. (But good luck prying it from her fingers before then!)
She loves dinosaurs. Her favorite movie is Land Before Time (any of them...but thankfully, we only one one... The Great Day of the Fliers). She loves books that have dinosaurs, especially Dinosaurumpus. She has foam dinosaurs that she loves to play with. She loves dinosaurs.
She loves to wear dresses and skirts. In fact lately, she wears a dress or skirt every day because if I try to put anything else on, she either throws a fit or takes the clothes off and finds a skirt to wear.When she is pretending, she has a different voice, sort of a "mommy" voice.
We always get compliments/comments about her big brown eyes.
She is a talker. Often, people think she's quiet/shy. She is around strangers sometimes. And around a lot of men. But she can talk. She had about 50 words by the time she was 15 months (i kept track) and even a couple of two and 3 word phrases like "wan up momma". Now she talks and talks.
She calls me "Mama" and Alfredo "daddy".
She hates getting her hair brushed and styled.
She loves books ("bookies"... that's her term for books). She loves to be read to, but she also "reads" to herself a lot.
She is so proud to be a big girl and be going to preschool...even though she always cries when I drop her off and tries to cling to me. But she does fine once I'm gone.
She can be very stubborn. She knows what she wants and doesn't like when she doesn't get her way. (Oh well!)
She loves to talk to people on the phone (thanks to so many of you for indulging her) but when she's ready to be done, she usually starts talking in jibberish. Then she'll hand the phone back to me. (But good luck prying it from her fingers before then!)
She loves dinosaurs. Her favorite movie is Land Before Time (any of them...but thankfully, we only one one... The Great Day of the Fliers). She loves books that have dinosaurs, especially Dinosaurumpus. She has foam dinosaurs that she loves to play with. She loves dinosaurs.
doctor visit
Both of my girls went to the doctor yesterday. Michelle had 20/20 vision and did a great job reading the letters on the chart. Ella didn't want to cooperate. She kept moving around, sitting down and calling any shape she wasn't sure of a triangle. The nurse kept saying, "Look up here. Stand on that line and look right here." She said Ella has 20/30 vision, but I'm not entirely sure if that was accurate or just her guess with an uncooperative 3 year old. I didn't write down their statistics, although I know Ella is about 29 1/2 pounds. But Michelle, while tiny, had gained wieght at her normal pace. And Ella is between lean and average weight... a really good weight gain for her. Both of my girls have always been below average to underweight. So that was good news. They asked Michelle to write her name and draw a picture of herself while we waited for the doctor. I thought she did a great job. She drew herself holding "the new baby" and carefully counted that she drew five fingers and five toes. Wish I'd brought my camera to take pictures of her drawing. Ella had to get one shot, which made her cry. She told me that that was NOT NICE of them. Michelle laughed because she was shot free. Afterward, I took them out to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. (My favorite, but a pretty rare treat.) Michelle got vanilla bean ice cream with kit kat mixed in. Ella got cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears. And I got one of the specials that has banana, caramel and nuts (cashews I think? can't remember) mixed into sweet cream ice cream. Yum!
ouch
michelle and ella are at preschool this morning and i had a list of things to get done. 10 minutes after i started i slammed my fingers in a closet door. ouch. the middle finger is really bruised and a half hour later i can still feel the pulse beating in my finger. so i'm getting almost nothing done. how stupid and annoying and surprisingly painful.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
TTA: favorite smells
Here are the things that come to mind:
*food being cooked on a grill
*fresh bread coming out of the oven
*Bath and Body Works soaps...especially Mango Mandarin
*newborn babies
*strawberries
*roses
*rainstorms
*the forest
*food being cooked on a grill
*fresh bread coming out of the oven
*Bath and Body Works soaps...especially Mango Mandarin
*newborn babies
*strawberries
*roses
*rainstorms
*the forest
Monday, June 16, 2008
who's the boss?
Yesterday at church, Ella spoke loudly once. (Other than that one time, I thought they were very reverent and good...even better than normal.) I whispered to Ella that she needed to talk softly at church. She looked at me and said matter-of-factly, "You're not the boss of me."
I wanted to laugh, but refrained and said, "Oh, who is your boss?" Her reply: "Daddy is."
I wanted to laugh, but refrained and said, "Oh, who is your boss?" Her reply: "Daddy is."
Slide Show of Daya's Birthday!
Alfredo's cousin's daughter, Dayanara, turned five. Her birthday party was Saturday. The girls had a great time at the party. We also were able to visit with many of Alfredo's relatives. Michelle has gotten quite good at hitting pinatas... she shows it no mercy.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
You're the best dad ever!
Michelle and Ella must have said that 10 times yesterday. They love their dad, as do I.
Alfredo does so much for our family, but yesterday he just about outdid himself. Here are all the things he did for our family in one day, after working at least 55 hours the previous week:
*before the girls and I even woke up, Alfredo went to Lowes. Our toilet handle had broken a couple of days before, and he fixed it.
*He also bought and installed two new swings for the girls on their swing set.
*he mowed the front and back yard.
*he figured out why the maintenance light was on in the minivan and fixed it
*a friend had a trampoline that he didn't want, so Alfredo went and picked it up, brought it home and assembled it and spent some time jumping with the girls
*he took us to his cousin's birthday party and took many of the photos for me during the party, played with the girls, and helped them have fun... also, during the party, his elderly grandmother got tired, so he took her home and then came back for us.
(Michelle loves the new trampoline and told everyone about it at church today!)
We love you! You ARE the best dad ever.
Alfredo does so much for our family, but yesterday he just about outdid himself. Here are all the things he did for our family in one day, after working at least 55 hours the previous week:*before the girls and I even woke up, Alfredo went to Lowes. Our toilet handle had broken a couple of days before, and he fixed it.
*He also bought and installed two new swings for the girls on their swing set.
*he mowed the front and back yard.
*he figured out why the maintenance light was on in the minivan and fixed it
*a friend had a trampoline that he didn't want, so Alfredo went and picked it up, brought it home and assembled it and spent some time jumping with the girls
*he took us to his cousin's birthday party and took many of the photos for me during the party, played with the girls, and helped them have fun... also, during the party, his elderly grandmother got tired, so he took her home and then came back for us.
(Michelle loves the new trampoline and told everyone about it at church today!)
We love you! You ARE the best dad ever.Wednesday, June 11, 2008
April's Reads... for my records
Life You Longed For by Maribeth Fischer
When Secrets Die by Lynn Hightower (both of these first two were about Munchausen by Proxy syndrome... both novels, both interesting)
Point of Entry by Peter Schecter (novel about terrorism)
The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh (set in India, about tigers and dolphins, quite good)
Persian Pickle Club
Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (so-so)
Havoc by Jack DuBrul
When Secrets Die by Lynn Hightower (both of these first two were about Munchausen by Proxy syndrome... both novels, both interesting)
Point of Entry by Peter Schecter (novel about terrorism)
The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh (set in India, about tigers and dolphins, quite good)
Persian Pickle Club
Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (so-so)
Havoc by Jack DuBrul
strange dream
I often have bizarre dreams during pregnancies. This time I had a few early on, but I really haven't had any for a couple of months. Until last night. I dreamt that I went into labor...at only 32 weeks, which was the first weird part. Then my mom and stepdad were here (they live in Arizona). They refused to let me go to the hospital. They said that since I had Ella at home and had no problems, I'd be fine to have this baby at home too. And they wanted me to think of all the money we would save if they delivered the baby themselves. I tried to point out that first, we have good health insurance and second, this baby was very early so that I should definitely go to the hospital. But they would not let me leave. Then as the dream progressed, I found out that their main reason for not letting me go to the hospital is that I was only 18, and Alfredo and I were not married and they were upset that we were having another baby again (yes, we did have Michelle and Ella already... guess I started having babies at 13). I told them that I was sorry they were upset, but could we discuss it all AFTER I had the baby. At about this point, I woke up. Grateful to NOT be in labor, not be only 18 having my 3rd child, not be forced to have my baby at home and to know that I am married! :) Pretty crazy.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
tagged
Okay, Shannon, here it goes. But I think I get a break from being tagged for awhile now.
1. What I was doing 10 years ago:
I had just graduated from BYU. I was just about to start my first teaching job. (I hadn't been hired yet at this point, but my first year I taught sixth grade at Mountain View. I then moved down to fifth grade for the next four years.) I was still living in Provo at the time, enjoying my last few months with my roommates, working part time, interviewing for jobs, and wondering where life would take me. My hope/plan was to find a job near Provo and stay near my friends but the job market seemed pretty saturated with teachers. I also followed leads in Granite and Jordan district. In Salt Lake District, all I did was mail in my application/file. They just stumbled upon me somehow. Boy am I glad now. I love where I live and I think Salt Lake District is the best.
2. What 5 things are on my to-do list for today:
Well, as it is 10:30 at night, my to do list for today is to go to bed soon. But here is what today's to-do list entailed:
take girls to preschool, clean out their old room (organize toys in their new room, take unwanted things to DI, vaccuum, etc), have Bryce and Sylas over to play, take girls to our "edible art class", go to Xaria's birthday party, go to Young Women's (and yes, I realize that is more than 5 things)
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Ice cream. Granola bars. Fruit, especially watermelon and strawberries and nectarines. Yogurt. Apples with peanut butter. Nuts, especially almonds. Every once in awhile, popcorn.
4. Things I would do if I was a billionaire:
Pay off my house. (Alfredo would say move to a different state and to a bigger house, but really I'm pretty content here). Make a few changes to my house (new carpet, new tile ... I currently have linoleum, add a garage with an extra bedroom on top). Quit teaching until my kids were bigger. (or perhaps forever, but probably not). Take some vacations/travel. Give some money to Alfredo's family in Costa Rica and, if they'd take it, to my family. Give most of the money away to charities and/or the church's humanitarian efforts.
5. Places I have lived:
Utah(birth to 3 months, age 18 to present). Arizona (3 months old until 18 years old).
1. What I was doing 10 years ago:
I had just graduated from BYU. I was just about to start my first teaching job. (I hadn't been hired yet at this point, but my first year I taught sixth grade at Mountain View. I then moved down to fifth grade for the next four years.) I was still living in Provo at the time, enjoying my last few months with my roommates, working part time, interviewing for jobs, and wondering where life would take me. My hope/plan was to find a job near Provo and stay near my friends but the job market seemed pretty saturated with teachers. I also followed leads in Granite and Jordan district. In Salt Lake District, all I did was mail in my application/file. They just stumbled upon me somehow. Boy am I glad now. I love where I live and I think Salt Lake District is the best.
2. What 5 things are on my to-do list for today:
Well, as it is 10:30 at night, my to do list for today is to go to bed soon. But here is what today's to-do list entailed:
take girls to preschool, clean out their old room (organize toys in their new room, take unwanted things to DI, vaccuum, etc), have Bryce and Sylas over to play, take girls to our "edible art class", go to Xaria's birthday party, go to Young Women's (and yes, I realize that is more than 5 things)
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Ice cream. Granola bars. Fruit, especially watermelon and strawberries and nectarines. Yogurt. Apples with peanut butter. Nuts, especially almonds. Every once in awhile, popcorn.
4. Things I would do if I was a billionaire:
Pay off my house. (Alfredo would say move to a different state and to a bigger house, but really I'm pretty content here). Make a few changes to my house (new carpet, new tile ... I currently have linoleum, add a garage with an extra bedroom on top). Quit teaching until my kids were bigger. (or perhaps forever, but probably not). Take some vacations/travel. Give some money to Alfredo's family in Costa Rica and, if they'd take it, to my family. Give most of the money away to charities and/or the church's humanitarian efforts.
5. Places I have lived:
Utah(birth to 3 months, age 18 to present). Arizona (3 months old until 18 years old).
TTA--Favorite sounds
Hmm... this one seems a little harder. What sounds do I love?
I love hearing my children talk (almost all of the time). It is amazing how their language skills evolve from just crying to babbling to single words to short phrases to complex sentences with often crazy, silly or interesting things to say. Side note: Ella has a regular talking voice and a "make believe/pretend" voice. When ever she is pretending, she shifts into this higher pitched voice as if she is the mom. It's too cute.
I love hearing waves lapping or crashing on the beach. (Since the beach has been featured in both of these Tuesday Tell Alls so far, you might think I visit the beach often. In fact, I have been to the beach less than a dozen times in my life, and yet I love it and wish I could go there more.)
Music. ... I find some classical music very soothing and calming, although I don't listen to it much. I mostly love/relate to/listen to country music. Not all country music, but most of what I listen to is country. Often it seems to have lyrics that I can relate to.
When Michelle was a toddler, I loved to listen to Michelle's cry. I hated that she was crying, but she had the best cry I've ever heard. She would totally trill her r's as she cried. In a big group of kids, I always knew whether it was Michelle crying or not, because no one cried like her. She has her daddy's spanish blood. She doesn't cry like that anymore, and I'm not sure if I ever captured it on video, but I hope I did. It was priceless.
I love to hear Ella say "Mama." She has never really called me Mommy, but always "mama". There is something so amazing about the way she says that one word... not just that she's talking to me, although of course that is a big part of it, but there's something so sweet about it.
I'm sure more will come to me later, but for now, these are my favorite sounds.
I love hearing my children talk (almost all of the time). It is amazing how their language skills evolve from just crying to babbling to single words to short phrases to complex sentences with often crazy, silly or interesting things to say. Side note: Ella has a regular talking voice and a "make believe/pretend" voice. When ever she is pretending, she shifts into this higher pitched voice as if she is the mom. It's too cute.
I love hearing waves lapping or crashing on the beach. (Since the beach has been featured in both of these Tuesday Tell Alls so far, you might think I visit the beach often. In fact, I have been to the beach less than a dozen times in my life, and yet I love it and wish I could go there more.)
Music. ... I find some classical music very soothing and calming, although I don't listen to it much. I mostly love/relate to/listen to country music. Not all country music, but most of what I listen to is country. Often it seems to have lyrics that I can relate to.
When Michelle was a toddler, I loved to listen to Michelle's cry. I hated that she was crying, but she had the best cry I've ever heard. She would totally trill her r's as she cried. In a big group of kids, I always knew whether it was Michelle crying or not, because no one cried like her. She has her daddy's spanish blood. She doesn't cry like that anymore, and I'm not sure if I ever captured it on video, but I hope I did. It was priceless.
I love to hear Ella say "Mama." She has never really called me Mommy, but always "mama". There is something so amazing about the way she says that one word... not just that she's talking to me, although of course that is a big part of it, but there's something so sweet about it.
I'm sure more will come to me later, but for now, these are my favorite sounds.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
handy manny... i mean Michelle
For those who don't know, there's a show on Disney channel called Handy Manny about a repair man. Michelle really likes this show, although I don't think she's seen it for a couple of months now. Today after we got their room set up, we ran back to Ikea. They had a shelving system I wanted for storing toys (about the same as yours Shannon). I'd seen it at Ikea, but wanted to look around and see if other stores had anything better. No one had anything I liked even half as much, so we went back to get it. Michelle was eager to help Alfredo put it together, helping to assemble it and put in screws.
Such concentration
"This is hard, Daddy," she said.
She even got a chance to use the electric one to put in a screw.
Such concentration
"This is hard, Daddy," she said.
She even got a chance to use the electric one to put in a screw.a new room
Alfredo got the girls' furniture all moved downstairs today and got their new room set up.
Here is a shot of their room before. It was painted and decorated before Michelle was born in this cute purple with a bug theme. We loved it. But the girls have Precious Moments bedspreads (which were given to us) and Disney Princess sheets and they have outgrown the room and the decorations. 
Here is the new room as of today (without any toys moved in yet... we didn't get that far.)
Check out the lamp. We think it is very cool and totally matches the polka dots on the bedspreads and the canopies.
Michelle, of course, struck a pose (or 10) to show off her new room.
Even Ella was willing to smile and pose for the camera. She loves her new room. We'll see how actually sleeping in it goes tonight. We promised they could keep their lamp on all night.
One more shot from a different angle.
Here is the new room as of today (without any toys moved in yet... we didn't get that far.)
Check out the lamp. We think it is very cool and totally matches the polka dots on the bedspreads and the canopies.
Michelle, of course, struck a pose (or 10) to show off her new room.
Even Ella was willing to smile and pose for the camera. She loves her new room. We'll see how actually sleeping in it goes tonight. We promised they could keep their lamp on all night.
One more shot from a different angle. cool math trick
Yesterday I spent my day at a math inservice for teachers in my district. (my last day of work... wahoo!) Part of the day was spent learning alternative algorithms for computation. To put that in plain English, we were all taught a specific way to add, subtract, multiply and divide (particularly with large numbers....think long division). Yet the way we were taught is not the only way to solve these problems... nor is it necessarily the most efficient or easiest way. It is just the way that has been taught here in America for a long time (but not necessarily in other countries.)
So we learned other ways that kids might think about problems or that might help kids be more successful at solving problems. At the very end the presenter shared a cool trick that works... but I don't really know why. I hope I can explain it. It's called the Russian Peasant Method of multiplication.
Take any two numbers to be multiplied. half the first and double the second until you reach one. (If you get a half, say 12.5, just write 12 and keep going).
For example: 24 x 25
half is 12 50 doubled
half is 6 100 doubled
half is 3 200
half is 1.5 so write 1 400 Now cross out any that start with an even number on the left (so you cross out 24, 12, and 6.) Now add the second half of the problem (the part on the right so 200 +400) This is your answer.... 600
Here's an easier number:
8 x 7
half is 4 14
half is 2 28
half is 1 56
cross out the lines that have 8, 4, and 2.... so the answer is 56
Hope that makes sense. I recognize that it isn't that fast and I don't know why it works. But it was pretty cool. Try it. You'll be surprised.
So we learned other ways that kids might think about problems or that might help kids be more successful at solving problems. At the very end the presenter shared a cool trick that works... but I don't really know why. I hope I can explain it. It's called the Russian Peasant Method of multiplication.
Take any two numbers to be multiplied. half the first and double the second until you reach one. (If you get a half, say 12.5, just write 12 and keep going).
For example: 24 x 25
half is 12 50 doubled
half is 6 100 doubled
half is 3 200
half is 1.5 so write 1 400 Now cross out any that start with an even number on the left (so you cross out 24, 12, and 6.) Now add the second half of the problem (the part on the right so 200 +400) This is your answer.... 600
Here's an easier number:
8 x 7
half is 4 14
half is 2 28
half is 1 56
cross out the lines that have 8, 4, and 2.... so the answer is 56
Hope that makes sense. I recognize that it isn't that fast and I don't know why it works. But it was pretty cool. Try it. You'll be surprised.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
big girl
Ella started preschool today (it's summer camp at Write Start). Janene was nice enough to not only take the girls to preschool and pick them up, but also to snap some pics for me since I was at work. It sounds like it was mostly a good day, but Ella did cry for a little bit. (She said she wanted to play with her dinosaurs she brought for show and tell and teacher said it wasn't quite time yet. So then since she was crying, she didn't get to do her show and tell. Poor Ella. She was too upset to even tell Michelle or Mrs. Barnett why she was upset.) But Ella was so proud to be a big girl and get to go to school. She can't wait to go back. Michelle was also thrilled to be going to summer school (it was her idea) although she's sad that most of her friends aren't in her class anymore, especially Abby.
TTA: Favorite sights
For the next five weeks, the Tuesday tell alls are about the five senses. This week is sight. Here are some of my favorite sights.
my girls hugging, kissing, holding hands, dancing together
the beach... the tide rolling in and the lap of the waves on the sand.
my girls hugging, kissing, holding hands, dancing together
books... especially a pile of new books from the library, waiting to be read
(I know I have way too many books and this is just a fraction of them)
the beach... the tide rolling in and the lap of the waves on the sand.My girls laughing.
Ella "reading" to herself.
Michelle dancing... She has rhythm, like her daddy.
My girls sleeping. There is something so sweet and innocent about young children when they are asleep.
the temple... any of them. Salt Lake is special, because that is where we were married. We walked around the grounds of the DC temple on our honeymoon. Many others are very beautiful and all are so peaceful.
my students performing or really working hard and finally "getting it"... there's something magical about seeing kids have an "a-ha" moment
family
friends
my grandma's house... it has been sold now, but it was always a haven for me as a child. In fact, when I was in labor with Ella, I used it as a focal point to get my mind off my pain and it worked better than I could have imagined. When the contractions were bad, I would imagine I was young and curled up in my grandpa's lap on their couch hearing a story. The images were so vivid that it really kept me from feeling as much pain.
Monday, June 2, 2008
cell phones
If anyone has any old cell phones lying around their house that are no longer being used, send them my way. My sister, Suzy, is running a marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She has committed to raising at least $4900 (and is about 80% of the way there). Anyway, she can recycle old cell phones which gives her money for the race.
Also, if you are interested in donating, see the link on the side. Her race is June 21 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Here's a few more details about it, from an email from Suzy:
I just wanted to give you an update on my marathon training and fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
My training is going great! I've been doing 21-mile runs for the past few weeks, and I feel ready to run the full 26.2 miles (June 21 in Anchorage). Here are a few stats:
Time to run 21 miles: 180 minutes (3 hours)—approximately an 8 ½-minute mile
Total marathon training miles I've run (starting 2/11/08): 447.5
Pairs of shoes I've worn out during that time: 3
My fundraising is also going well. I've raised 76% of my goal of $4,900. The money I'm raising will support blood cancer research and provide patient services to those with blood cancer.
If you haven't had an opportunity to donate yet, it's not too late! You can make a tax-deductible donation quickly and securely by going to my personal fundraising Web site: http://www.active.com/donate/tntdms/suzyqbills. (At my Web site, you can also learn more about the Society, blood cancers, and the two individuals I've dedicated my training to.)
Every donation, no matter the amount, will help those running the truly long distances—those battling blood cancer. Thanks in advance for your generosity. And on behalf of the true marathoners, thank you, too.
Also, if you are interested in donating, see the link on the side. Her race is June 21 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Here's a few more details about it, from an email from Suzy:
I just wanted to give you an update on my marathon training and fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
My training is going great! I've been doing 21-mile runs for the past few weeks, and I feel ready to run the full 26.2 miles (June 21 in Anchorage). Here are a few stats:
Time to run 21 miles: 180 minutes (3 hours)—approximately an 8 ½-minute mile
Total marathon training miles I've run (starting 2/11/08): 447.5
Pairs of shoes I've worn out during that time: 3
My fundraising is also going well. I've raised 76% of my goal of $4,900. The money I'm raising will support blood cancer research and provide patient services to those with blood cancer.
If you haven't had an opportunity to donate yet, it's not too late! You can make a tax-deductible donation quickly and securely by going to my personal fundraising Web site: http://www.active.com/donate/tntdms/suzyqbills. (At my Web site, you can also learn more about the Society, blood cancers, and the two individuals I've dedicated my training to.)
Every donation, no matter the amount, will help those running the truly long distances—those battling blood cancer. Thanks in advance for your generosity. And on behalf of the true marathoners, thank you, too.
writing
On Sunday morning, I was finishing up preparing a lesson for young womens. Michelle decided she needed paper like mine to write on. She first wrote Ella's name several times by herself. Then she wanted a big piece of paper to write on. With my help sounding out the words (but not actually telling her any of the letters) she wrote all of our names plus Dora and Isa. She was so proud that she had to take her paper to church and show all of the young women. (She had a yucky cold so I didn't want her to go to primary and share with all of the kids. She did a pretty good job of being reverent while I taught the young women. And she thought she was pretty special to get to go to class with me. She and Ella sometimes come to the activities but never to class.)
Here she is, still in her nightgown, busily writing.
Her strip of paper with Ella written. She wrote this all on her own.
I'm impressed. She wrote her J backwards and one of the N's, but she's doing pretty well I think. My sweet girl.
Here she is, still in her nightgown, busily writing.
Her strip of paper with Ella written. She wrote this all on her own.
I'm impressed. She wrote her J backwards and one of the N's, but she's doing pretty well I think. My sweet girl.
new paint
We have decided to move Michelle and Ella downstairs and their current room will be the baby's room (since we only have 2 rooms upstairs). Since they are moving downstairs into what is actually the master bedroom, Alfredo said they could get new comforters and paint their room. So we painted Saturday. It is a very bright pink... about the same color as the sides of my blog. Here are a couple of shots of us painting...although Alfredo did almost all of it. I'll post more pics when we get their stuff moved downstairs and the room set up. I think it will be pretty cute. Michelle is especially excited. I'm a little nervous, but I think it will be okay.
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