Out with the Old and In with the New

Here we are, at the very end of the year 2008. I look back on the year, and am pleasantly ok with what has taken place. Amidst the normal ins and outs of our days, there were certainly some extra sad moments and some exbuberant ones too. I believe that to be normal. I can remember in the past feeling let down by the year and wishing for so much more in the year to come on New Year's Eve. This year, I have none of that. Must be I feel content with my life.
Of course, there is always room for improvement and so I make some resolutions.

OUT:

1. 10 more pounds
2. spending money on junky crap that has momentary value and no lasting power.
3. foregoeing exercise and healthier eating
4. lazy stay at home mom behavior
5. clothes that are from eons ago and have no place on my body or in my closet

IN

1. better budgeting
2. weekly visits to see my grammy
3. more taking care of myself time
4. read more
5. understand the basics of small business start-ups (for the salsa an food products we hope to establish in the next year)

I make similar resolutions every year. Most the time, they get ignored even past the 1st month. I did however make huge strides in my reckless spending, recognizing the power of my few dollars, bettering my health (lost 13 lbs since May) and exercising (can run 2 miles easily), finding time for myself and having some adult sanity time.

I guess the overall goal is to better myself and my family. I am a list person and so to write it down is effective...even more so if I publish it to the web.

I wish for all my friends and family to have a year that is every bit the best possible.

Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!

Homemade things...

Here are some pictures of my crafty ways. I know I promised eons ago. In light of my current brain freeze in creative writing, I will post my handywork for all to see.

PEEK BAGS (aka I-Spy Bags)

Felt Foods for Imaginative Playing

Fortune Cookies

Cupcakes

Bow tie Pasta

Quesadilla

Raviolis

Ham Sandwich

Ham Sandwich parts

Sausage and Cheese Pizza

Breakfast

Merry Christmas!

I know....

Not sure how to start back in again, so instead I will post a couple of holiday pics and then start fresh after that.

Enjoy the family fun!

Bad Blood

I know....I have been gone, but as they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder".

I however had so much going on...la ti da. No really, I was busting my butt to complete my self imposed "work", I mean crafts. When I had a few minutes I was honestly just plain lazy. THEN, my world went a lot dark and glum.

Last Friday, after the holiday boutique, I was vegging around and my auntie called. Apparently, my Grammy fell while decorating her Xmas Tree. (Stupid tree!) She managed to drag herself to her phone, dial 911, and we assume back to the door to allow their entry. She was taken to the hospital, where they supported her with pain management over night waiting for the specialist coming in the next day. She had her surgery, and the leg was repaired just fine. Then my aunt called again. She had lost blood during the surgery and recieved a transfusion. This caused her body to react with antibodies. It caused a downward spiral from then on. I was called in to the hospital Saturday morning. My grammy was not doing well at all. She was having trouble with her blood pressure (the night before it went dangerously low and during the next 2 days it was super high with meds), her kidneys were not functioning, and her heart rate was erratic.

I hauled ass and was crying as I was driving in the hour to the hospital. I practically ran in from the parking lot, not knowing what was waiting for me.

What I saw, made me so so sad. My Grammy, pale and tied to her bed with about 10 different IV bags flowing into her. She had a breathing tube and arm restraints keeping her from pulling it out. My Grammy, at 80 is more vivacious than people lots younger than her. She stands 5'11" and is strong. Here she was, motionless and unresponsive. So freaking hard. We all collected. My brother and mom, my aunts, uncles and cousins all made the hospital our 1st home and Grammy's house our 2nd. We were there for all the visiting sessions on Saturday, with each one more grim and saddening. When we left for dinner we were certain our return the next morning would be the one where we had to decide....We ate a large table at Applebee's. The waitress, unwittingly asked what our occasion was. I said sadness...she was a bit speechless. We congregated at Grammy's. A giant family sleepover such as never has happened-without her. We remembered, and passed the Jack Daniels around. After being stupid and silly in our grief we managed to quiet down and most of us didn't sleep. I was up a few times, just sad. Sitting next to her favorite chair and remembering and feeling sad about the visits I didn't plan.

The next morning we doused in coffee and choked a few bites in. We even went so far as to make some calls and investigate some funeral homes.

We made our way (leaving 2 cousins and an aunt at the house to come to terms). When we made it to her room...what an amazing, amazing change!!! My Grammy was awake and gesturing and rolling her eyes and shrugging. We called the others, who came as fast as the law would allow.

Now, 3 days later, she is without the breathing tube, is feeding herself the ensure, is off of all meds but the pain med. She is still having kidney issues, and has recieved dialysis twice. We are hoping for this to kick them back into gear on their own without having to continue the treatment. However, she is alive, coherent, questioning her status, and all the little postive steps that tell us we have her back. Simply amazing.

Yay for MOMMY

My mom is in town....she is helping me with some of the food designs that I couldn't figure out. We are trekking to San Fran today..my lil bro's bday is today so we will be lunching with him. Looking forward to the visit and to the city. Opposed to many I LOVE going to the city. Gotta bring my camera....maybe some good shots to find today! Happy Friday!

Busy lil Mama

I am working. Well, sorta unofficially. I am my own boss. Not that I mean I am doing those work from home programs. I have been using my craft skills for good. Been making things, and selling things. It all started in August....



My mom was on the organizing team for a quilt show where she lives. We decided to run a booth. Jose was to do his booth for the food vending and I would put some crafty shiz together for sale. I got this brilliant idea to make I Spy bags. I had read about them online and wanted to try it out. So for the show I set out to make 22 bags (11 girl based and 11 boys based). THEN we were rained out. UGH....what to do...I shared them with the owner of our learning store in town. She bought 10. Then I shared with my previous principal. She bought 2. HMMM a concept became real! I sent the remaining with my friend to a few craft fairs. She sold 6. Then I had to make more, and a few orders later (yes! people are ordering them from me! Amazing!) I have made to date, 40 bags.

Now, I have a new venue. I am making felt foods! These are so addicting. I am making inventory for a small holiday craft boutique in a few weeks. I have made, breakfast foods (bacon, pancakes with butter and eggs), fruit (lemons, limes, oranges, watermelon) veggies (snow peas, green beans, carrots --working on more), cookies, and pizza.

I hope to have pics up to share...but in the meantime I am just explaining another absence from my blog world. Apparently with my limited free time, I can only have 1 hobby in the limelight. At the moment, my crafty stuff takes 1st place. As I juggle life around to accomodate holidays and family visits, and my list of porjects I hope to complete, I intend to make space for the blog.

TTFN!

The Number 1 Hit

When I was born, this was the Number 1 hit in pop music. When Jose was born, this was Number 1. When Elly was born, this was the hit and for Bri it was this.

Enjoy the musical programing for the evening!

Halloween Candy....

...has been put away. I really don't need to act as clean up person for the girls. Between their bags and our "didn't get passed out" candy, I have been eating wayyyyy to much. So: the Hershey's, Reese's and M & M's have been frozen for future baking, and the hard sugary candies in the trash. I told Elly that Daddy took it all to kids who don't have candy. It works as a reason, since we have done some fundraisers in the past for children in need. She accepted it. She did say though "Don't worry Mommy, there is more at the store!" Ahhhh yes, she has a good concept of commercialism. I am raising a future shopper for the world.

I already know I will be making fondue with teh Hershey's and cookies with M's (as Elly calls them). However, I am open for suggestions regarding the peanut butter cups. They are mostly the single regular sized candies. Any ideas?

Ecstatic!

That is my overall feeling from the Presidential Election 2008. I am thrilled that our country will have a new direction to work towards at the hands of the man I believe will be wonderful for our country. I originally believed Hillary to be the better candidate...but no regrets baby. Not now. I have watched his debates and public forums. I feel very confident in him. He is solid. He is real. He is not cocky or egotistical or condescending. He comes from a place where I do-no silver spoon in his mouth. Barack Obama also represents a slice of America's melting pot. For my daughters, also of mixed heritage, this is huge. My daughters are half Mexican and 1/2 me (little bits of everything with Italian as 25%). They will not see a white man running our country. For their futures, they will see that race does not keep you from being the President of the United States. (Next I hope to see women break in...Hillary or some other equally capale and remarkable woman!)

Watching people's eyes and faces as they listened to the acceptance speech last night was awesome. I felt the unity of hope. I am excited to bid farewell to GW and his horrible legacy. I realize that we have a tough climb ahead of us. However, we would have been seening the same difficulties with McCain. At least now, I feel that there will be positives in exchange for the negatives, and not more drudgery.

Halloween Fun!

Whew! Halloween is over and I am thankful. It was super fun, but we started "Doing Halloween" just into October. By last night, my kids where nuts and I had no defenses lol. We have been to pumpkin patches, halloween parties, created crafts, dressed up 6 different days in 4 different costumes, watched parades, carved pumpkins, and ate lots of candy (admittedly I have demolished a few bags on my lonesome....). Since we all know how wordy I can get, I will allow pictures to speak for themselves.

VOTE NO ON PROP 8

I was reading Lia's blog the other day and she had a sweet argument for against Proposition 8. All I could do was nod and applaud her. We all know I can run off at the mouth-but when it comes to succinct tidy debates, not really my thing. I get too emotional, and the facts get mumbled. I am against prop 8. I do not believe that anyone should decided who gets to be in a marriage except the couple directly involved. It's not my buisiness if Joe and John or Mary and Anna want to make it official and legal that they are in love and are intending to join homes, hearts and all that go into a marriage. I am a bit desensitized though on homosexuality. There are many from both sides of my family that are gay. So to me, not a big deal. I have no dissillusions about it. As a child I was introduced to the concept of AIDs early...like at 10 years old. My uncle had contracted it in the 80's. As an early case, he received horrible treatment (medically and personally). There were many fears that have since been erased. His funeral home refused to dress his body because of the fear of contagiousness. DUH-dead body=no transferring of the disease...(our family won that lawsuit...).

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot of the stupidity of the prop. On my block we have a fundemntal family, and they proudly have tacked up their YES ON 8 sign. I really want to shake them....and change their minds. I was at the lake Sunday picking up the wee one. There was a crusty old fisherman tinkering with the motor on a boat for 2 ladies. From their appearance and body posture I could guess they were gay. Towards the end of his mechanical check up he says..."Ok girls, its good to go. So how do you feel about Prop 8? How will you vote?" Oh man.....They were classy and didn't even address it....

Then last night the doorbell rang while we were eating. I went to see who it was, and lo and behold...a momma I know from around town. Happens to be from the LDS mommy group. I am not a fan of her and her blase parenting skills (her kid was spitting in the faces of others and she turned a blind eye, then he karate kicked at my face-same result). My fun was being able to tell her I was voting against the prop. She went on her merry mission of persuasion to make marriage sacred. UGH.

Here is something I copied from a message board. I LOVE IT!

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong...

1) Being gay is not natural.


And real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning, tattoos, piercings and silicone breasts.


2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay.


In the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.


3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior.


People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract. Lamps are next.


4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all
Hence why women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal

5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed;
And we can't let the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage be destroyed.


6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children.


So therefore, gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our population isn't out of control, our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.


7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children,
Since, of course, straight parents only raise straight child?ren

8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion.


In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.


(Did I miss the lesson where Jesus says He hates homosexual people?)

9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home.


Which is exactly why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.


10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms.


Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.


***Thanks for reading my novel....if nothing else I was able to spout off a bit.

Steppin Back Up to the Horse!

I went jogging yesterday. It was my first intentional (as opposed to my everyday little bits) exercise. Since Daddy took his little sweeties out on the boat, and left me our furry boy Chester I took advantage of some kid free time. Chessie and I went a joggin'. Consequently, I am very sore today. I realized that it is a different set of movement than jogging behind the stroller. I am sore in places that didn't get tender when I run with the girls. There also are advantages. I had a better distance endurance. I was able to keep a faster pace and run for longer distance than other times. Good! That doesn't mean I am heading out again for a few days tho....lol. I need to recoup! Here are a couple of random thoughts that floated in and out of my head while I ran....

-I like the stroller because I don't need to hold things in my hands. I had my cell phone, the remote to the electronic training collar for Ches in one hand and the leash in the other.

-I saw TONS of recycling (which I normally pick up...environmental and civic duty and a few extra pennies my way)...but no container nor a free hand.

Anyway, Jose liked taking his babies with him on the lake, so I may have more opportunities to work my poor tired body into shape!

-

It's the little things...

As my babies get older, I get glimpses of them turning into little people. The baby-ness fades (and that makes me a bit sad...once it's gone, there is no getting it back-unless you are Mrs. Duggar).

In trade for this, I get nice treats. For me, seeing the future is not a talent I can claim. I have to rely on getting my picture as each puzzle pice comes into play. What I mean is, we all want to know that our children will grow up to have rich and rewarding lives. In that, I want to know that they will have a sense of humor, compassion, enjoy things, be able to manuever in the world with flexibility and success.

How does this have anything to do with my babies? I am watching them grow by the minute. When I am not overpowered by the complete take over of being a mom, I can step back and enjoy my little people.

Today alone, I was able to "see" these things:

• Elly laughing at a tv show
• Bri Bri waving and smiling at the Homecoming Parade
• Both girls enjoying sitting on a pony
• Interacting with our friends
• Bri enjoying a candy bar (a rare treat for her) and begging for more....
• Elly eating a soft serve ice cream cone.

I compare this to a time when I was teaching. We are so ready to blow the whistle and yell and make little people conform. One day in the fall, I was on yard duty for recess. A fellow teacher and I were chatting near the playground and watched a set of students begin to jump in a freshly raked pile of leaves. We both brought the whistle up to our lips. Before I blew I had to laugh. It was so refreshing watching them enjoy the moment. It was pure. It was simple. It was harmless fun. The grounds crew probably disagreed. We did allow it for a few minutes and then gently corrected them. Instinct was put aside, and with that we were able to see kids exploring and entertaining themselves (no electronics, or commercial involvement, all healthy fun).

I try to remember this lesson as I parent. It helps me take a pause and assess the whole situation. It also allows me to enjoy my role, and take pleasure in the small treasures in my life.

Oh CRAP! (in other words...&*^%%##!!!!!!)

Last night Jose crunched the car.....He was driving home and thought he had more stopping room (as taught to him in UPS training). Sadly, he ended up under the rear bumper of the truck in front of him. Thankfully, he is totally fine-physically. He is mentally bashing himself though. The truck in front had minimal damage and the driver was fine just exchanging info. Our car....not so good.

4th Annual Pumpkin Patch Trip

Since Elly was 6 months and our other friends were just as tiny, we have been going to the same quaint country pumpkin patch. Yesterday was our field trip day. We go, bring costumes, dress them up for a group pic, and then explore the fun places. Afterwards, we hit up Chili's for lunch. (YUMMY!). Here are a few shots of our fun:

Today the 3.5 year old said....

Here is a sampling of the funny things she has said just today...

1) I am a weirdo kid!

2) Hey there's Ellen (saw a commercial on tv with Ellen and our local news personality). Then she proceeded to show me how Ellen dances in the beginning of her show...Me thinks she notices so much more than I think!

3) Hey they are naked! Regarding the men dancing on Dancing With the Stars after they shucked their jackets off.

4) My tummy hurts. I think we need to call my dentist so I can have my new baby.

UHM yeah....I just listen, remember and record. I don't even bother with corrections. That will come with time. In the interim, I am not ashamed to say I take full advantage of it for my personal entertainment.

I took the plunge!

(Before, Front new, back new)

So what do you think? I finally did what I was threatening to do for-ever! Honesty is appreciated...

For what it's worth, I printed out my trusty picture of what I thought I wanted and shared it with the expert. She agreed it was cute, and I could make it work-even with my mostly wavy/curly hairs. Today's look is courtesy of my stylists patience of blow-drying, rolling out, and ironing. I can honestly say it won't be straight every day. It will be curly some days too. Kinda like a twofer. I get 2 styles in one cut! NICE...

yUMMy New Snack!

Ok, so maybe not so diet friendly...but damn good!

Ingredients:

1 medium crisp apple (I prefer Gala)

4 FUN SNACK sized Snickers

Directions:

Cut apple to snack sized pieces. I like to chop around the core and end up with 4 biggish pieces.

Open 1 candy bar...Bite the apple and then bite the candy. DAMN good! Proceed to eat the rest in alternating fashion. I often will rotate bites. 3 bites apple, bite Snickers etc.

ENJOY!

You're welcome.....and I apologize.....

Politicians and Trains...

I feel like this is the 1st year I am actively interested in politics. I have had bits and pieces in the past 14 years (if you do the math you will catch how old I am...) that were intriguing and pulled me in. I know it's my civic duty to know the issues and people and to vote. However, I admit to being bored or not fully understanding the hot topics. The television commercials are fine and dandy, but they are biased. The gobblety-gook printed is equally confusing do to the wording used. I do remember that I was very against Prop 227, and I was activated to vote in the famous Recall of Governor Grey Davis. Otherwise, I vote because I can. I also vote because I would like to see results of my voice in elections. When I don't truely understand or have an opinion, I don't respond to that item. Sad...I know.

This year, I am so so into it. Our local politics have my eye/ear, as do the state level and national level. I am voting with a mail in ballot. I will be able to vote without the pressure of my peanuts pulling at my legs from their stroller. I can concentrate on what my vote will be and why.

The presidential elections are exciting to me. There are definitely hot item topics that shout out to me (and I love the debates! get the popcorn and diet coke out!). Of course, the reactions of people are always interesting.

Here is an email I received from my auntie. I think it's funny!

I Fixed It!

So today I was tooling around on my dashboard...actually was thinking about a new layout for a new site I mentioned. I was planning on making the switch to a new blog to allow for the missing comments button. Harumph...I saw something that hadn't been then before when I started to have problems with the layout and comments. "REVERT TO DEFAULT". So I did....and I do....have a comments button that is.

Needless to say...I will delete the post I had ready about moving to a new site...and I will be sticking it out with the Fishy Tales Blog.

I am looking for Welcome Back comments. I know I have a small following of readers. I also know that some people have confessed to be too lazy to leave comments the old way. I also know I have some secret stalkers....

Talk to me people! Can we rack up a higher total than ever before? My highest comment day was 5. Yup. 5. Chatter....