I had the most embarrassing experience in my entire life today at the gym. Worse than when I was 12 and peed my pants at the bank; worse than the time I sang shaky and off-key for my "I Will Follow Him"solo in the 8th grade choir concert; worse than the time I spouted off my entire high school graduation speech in less than 1 minute 30 seconds because I was so nervous. Oh yes, this tops them all.
You remember that H2O fitness class I take? Well, those old ladies know how to gang up on the little kids.
I arrived at the pool about 20 minutes late because Qiana wouldn't stop crying at the child care center (that's another story.) After a few minutes, the instructor pointed to me while I was struggling through the reps, and told me that so-and-so in the class was selling a really nice swimsuit for $40 that doesn't fit her that she found in a grab-bag she bought. I felt a little embarrassed because I wear the same swimsuit to every class (I still wash it after every class,) and I knew the ladies have probably noticed that. From my point of view, I don't know if I'll be taking a swim-aerobic class forever, so I don't want to go out and invest a lot into it; I'm fine if I just have one workout suit at this point; however, these ladies think otherwise.
I acknowledged what the instructor said, but didn't even entertain the idea of purchasing the suit. While in the line for the showers, another woman came up to me and told me that I needed to try the suit on. (Hmmmmm, it was at this point that I started thinking that they had all spoken about me in particular, previous to my arrival, when the suit for sale came up in conversation.) So, instead of just politely refusing, I caved into peer pressure and affirmatively nodded my head.
Later, while at my locker getting dressed (already a mortifying situation for me every SINGLE time because I just don't like being part of the sea of bare skin,) four different half-naked old ladies came up to me and handed me a bag with the swimsuit in it. The ringleader told me to try it on. At this point, I could have just said, "Oh, no thanks. I don't need another suit," but did I? No! I caved again and pulled the suit out the bag, trying to jump into it as fast as I could (all the while having four eager, elderly spectators.) Unfortunately, there were about 5 straps to this "wonder suit" and I couldn't get it right; my legs were getting all tangled up and I couldn't fit my head through the shoulder straps. It took THREE attempts to get it right because I was just trying to put it on so fast that I didn't take the time to really assess where everything should go. Each time, I had to take it completely off to put it back on, which only multiplied my embarrassment.
When I finally got it on, I looked up and noticed that a crowd of 9 women had gathered around my locker. Now, let me make one thing clear: although I like these people and enjoy listening to their chatting in the pool, I don't know but three people by name, and I DEFINITELY know that they don't know my name or story.
The ringleader, a nice British mum, went off about how lucky I was to be young and thin (it's all relative,) and pointed out features of my figure that made me so embarrassed that I grabbed my towel and tried to cover up. I kept muttering "Thank You, that's so sweet" all the while desperately looking for an escape from the mob of crooners. My instructor was the next to speak, and told me that I needed that suit and that it looked so good on me. If the suit would have been free, I would have taken it right then and there because I agree that it was a nice suit and that it fit me well. However, it was double the cost of my current swimsuit which is still a good, quality brand, and I just couldn't justify it. I responded to her by saying that my problem is that I'm a bargain shopper and that it was just a little too much for me to spend right now. What's wrong with that answer? If someone had said that to me, I would have dropped the subject altogether.
Not these girls. They started talking about the quality of the suit and that it would outlast any other suit I bought and yada-yada-yada. (By the way, I have the mentality that ideally, you should purchase the higher quality so it lasts longer and saves you $ in the end. However, there are certain financial times that it is not always wise to spend more... i.e. while in grad school.) I told them that my Speedo would have to work for now, and walked away. I handed the bag to the "seller" and said 'Thank You'. She had not been part of the mob, so she asked me if I was going to buy it. I told her "It's okay, but thanks anyway," to which she replied, "Why? Don't you like it?" This time, instead of dragging it out, I just said, "Yes, it's really nice, but thanks anyway," and I grabbed my stuff and darted for the door.
On my way up the stairs, I realized what made me so frustrated about the situation. It wasn't completely because they were all staring me down while in le buff (though that was a big factor,) it was that they weren't very considerate about the cost. I was so embarrassed by the whole situation that my first reaction was to go into the ladies room and shed a few tears in private. Not the smartest thing to do, as I still had to go pick up the girls from the child care center, but it did the trick and I got the humiliation out of my system.
After seeing my puffy, red face, the child care workers were probably wondering where the therapy sessions at the Y were located... especially after the morning they had had with Qiana.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
If I Had Two Million Dollars...
...I'd use the first million wisely, then use the rest to invent a machine that zaps most everything on this website into my closet.
Stacia likey.
Stacia likey.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Lap 7 Completed
Well, Juan is done with his third year of dental school. Wahoo!!!
But just when we thought we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, he goes to the OR.
(I'm writing this with a smile, I promise.)
Ever since we were dating, he has wanted to be an oral maxillofacial surgeon (the guy who cuts open the entire face and puts it all back together again,) but because of the possibility of being on-call all the time he decided that dentistry would be a profession that would allow for more family time.
After three years of dental school, he got to do a hospital oral surgery rotation two weeks ago, and the flame was reignited the second he stepped into the operating room. The first day was spent putting faces back together. One guy had had a gun shot to the face; another guy got so drunk he couldn't remember the next day how he had managed to get his face beat to a pulp; they also repaired a woman's eye socket so her eyeball could stay put. Pretty gross stuff to me, but fascinating to him. The next week he got to pull out some wisdom teeth and was so proficient that he caught the attention of a few professors who do that for a living. Every time he gets to work on a more complex case, he comes home with a visible elation.
After speaking to some residents and a few doctors, he got more information on the schedule of a practicing oral surgeon (which it really comes down to,) and our worries were a little eased; so we've decided to go full speed ahead and apply to some residencies in Philly and Oklahoma. This does not mean that he will automatically get a position in a program, but we're going forward with the mentality that if it happens--it happens, and if he doesn't make it in, well, then he still can practice dentistry and be very happy with that.
I'll be honest, I was not a huge fan of the idea and it has definitely taken some getting used to the fact that we may not be quite as near the end of school as we had thought; however, I know that if Juan doesn't go for it, he will probably have "what if..." regrets about it in the future. I have to laugh though, because we have friends whose brother-in-law is going that route, and when we heard about all the schooling he would have to go through (12+ years post-high school,) we were in disbelief that someone would possibly want to do that. Now Juan is that guy. It will just all come down to whether or not he can squeeze into a program.
He's going to Oklahoma for another externship in August, so hopefully that will help out, and he is now part of an exclusive oral surgery honors program at the school. We're truly seeing that every little step forward in this process is a blessing and that the further progress he makes, the more exciting it becomes. We'll see if this is what he's supposed to do for the rest of his life, or if it is just an experience to teach us a little somethin' about patience.
So, here's to another 4 years!
But just when we thought we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, he goes to the OR.
(I'm writing this with a smile, I promise.)
Ever since we were dating, he has wanted to be an oral maxillofacial surgeon (the guy who cuts open the entire face and puts it all back together again,) but because of the possibility of being on-call all the time he decided that dentistry would be a profession that would allow for more family time.
After three years of dental school, he got to do a hospital oral surgery rotation two weeks ago, and the flame was reignited the second he stepped into the operating room. The first day was spent putting faces back together. One guy had had a gun shot to the face; another guy got so drunk he couldn't remember the next day how he had managed to get his face beat to a pulp; they also repaired a woman's eye socket so her eyeball could stay put. Pretty gross stuff to me, but fascinating to him. The next week he got to pull out some wisdom teeth and was so proficient that he caught the attention of a few professors who do that for a living. Every time he gets to work on a more complex case, he comes home with a visible elation.
After speaking to some residents and a few doctors, he got more information on the schedule of a practicing oral surgeon (which it really comes down to,) and our worries were a little eased; so we've decided to go full speed ahead and apply to some residencies in Philly and Oklahoma. This does not mean that he will automatically get a position in a program, but we're going forward with the mentality that if it happens--it happens, and if he doesn't make it in, well, then he still can practice dentistry and be very happy with that.
I'll be honest, I was not a huge fan of the idea and it has definitely taken some getting used to the fact that we may not be quite as near the end of school as we had thought; however, I know that if Juan doesn't go for it, he will probably have "what if..." regrets about it in the future. I have to laugh though, because we have friends whose brother-in-law is going that route, and when we heard about all the schooling he would have to go through (12+ years post-high school,) we were in disbelief that someone would possibly want to do that. Now Juan is that guy. It will just all come down to whether or not he can squeeze into a program.
He's going to Oklahoma for another externship in August, so hopefully that will help out, and he is now part of an exclusive oral surgery honors program at the school. We're truly seeing that every little step forward in this process is a blessing and that the further progress he makes, the more exciting it becomes. We'll see if this is what he's supposed to do for the rest of his life, or if it is just an experience to teach us a little somethin' about patience.
So, here's to another 4 years!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Make
Magnet boards. I know, I know, this trend has probably passed it's prime in Utah, but I'm just now getting into it out here. My friend saw this awesome-cute magnet chore chart online and we said, "Hey! We can do that." So we got all the supplies and snapped out a chore chart in an afternoon. Last night, I decided to make a Family Home Evening board for a friend; so that's what I did because it's so darn easy. It was so easy from start to finish, that I highly recommend making something like this if you want to feel "crafty".
Siena saw us working on the boards and after it was all done, I explained the concept of the chore chart to her. She immediately took a liking to it and constantly begs to do chores. Yep, that's what I said. It's a marvelous thing. (I think it helps that I added some fun chores to the chore chart. Her favorites are feeding the birds, getting the mail, and watering the plants.)
The whole project cost about $6 per board*. HOWEVER, I found a way to make it even cheaper. Instead of buying the boards at Home Depot for $4, I buy them now at IKEA in their scratch and dent section. They are usually around $0.49 and are already mostly finished. The boards I chose out for the FHE chart had two unfinished edges, so I just took some #9 ribbon I had on hand and glued it around the board to finish it. I still have to come up with magnets for the board, but that's not too hard. The rest of the project is DONE.
*The roll of flashing is around $8, but you can make many boards with it. If you happen to get lucky and find the single flashing shingles at the hardware store ($0.10 each,) then I would go with that; however, don't get fooled by the aluminum shingles, the magnets will not stick... even if the teenage worker in the Construction Department at Home Depot says they will.
Family Chore Chart:
Family Home Evening Board:
Okay, so my number one "craft rule" is that the project has to be relatively inexpensive. These fit that category. I went to Home Depot bought a big roll of metal flashing (NOT alumninum!) and then had them cut a 2'x2' board in half ( to make two 1'x2' boards). We spray-painted the wood and cut down the flashing to the size we wanted (I used an old heavy-duty paper cutter... you know, the kind with the handle; we inherited it from a friend and after a year of just storing it, I decided that if the blade dulls up because of cutting through metal, I wouldn't be too upset. It cut through the metal like a knife to butter.) After applying some Epoxy to the metal, we pressed it to the board and weighed it down with cans. Using scrapbook paper and "crafty stuff" we made the board the way you see it. I had bought magnets at the Dollar Tree and just painted them and added circles of scrapbook paper and labels.
Siena saw us working on the boards and after it was all done, I explained the concept of the chore chart to her. She immediately took a liking to it and constantly begs to do chores. Yep, that's what I said. It's a marvelous thing. (I think it helps that I added some fun chores to the chore chart. Her favorites are feeding the birds, getting the mail, and watering the plants.)
The whole project cost about $6 per board*. HOWEVER, I found a way to make it even cheaper. Instead of buying the boards at Home Depot for $4, I buy them now at IKEA in their scratch and dent section. They are usually around $0.49 and are already mostly finished. The boards I chose out for the FHE chart had two unfinished edges, so I just took some #9 ribbon I had on hand and glued it around the board to finish it. I still have to come up with magnets for the board, but that's not too hard. The rest of the project is DONE.
*The roll of flashing is around $8, but you can make many boards with it. If you happen to get lucky and find the single flashing shingles at the hardware store ($0.10 each,) then I would go with that; however, don't get fooled by the aluminum shingles, the magnets will not stick... even if the teenage worker in the Construction Department at Home Depot says they will.
Fourth of July
Waiting...
Waiting...
and Waiting....
(The fireworks were too cool for pictures.)
We got to watch a lot of fireworks and celebrate the holiday early this year. After a really cute Second of July party with Sammy and Hayden, and a fun Third of July party complete with Minute to Win It games, we were happy with just watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. Taking the bikes was the best thing--we avoided traffic and had something to do while we were waiting. The girls loved every minute and were so tired by the end of the fireworks show that they gave up trying to stay awake for the excitement.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Juan's Father's Day Present
This gift needs a little explanation. When Juan was a little boy, his aunt helped him memorize this poem, then he surprised his mom with it for Mother's Day. Luckily, they got it recorded onto a cassette so little Juanito's recitation would be preserved. A few years ago, we tried to get it copied from cassette to CD and the result was a bit of a catastrophe; somehow, the first half of the poem was erased and the rest of the tape was really muffled. It was devastating because the tape was a cherished possession in the family. Well, I got my act together this year and started teaching Siena this poem two months ahead of Father's Day. First, we made a little book with the words and clipart, and we would read it twice at breakfast and twice and lunch. Eventually, we were able to take away the book and she would recite the whole thing. After a week of reciting the entire 20-paragraph poem without help, Siena started making up her own way of telling the story, which meant she definitely did not stick to the original words. Oh well, I was still happy we were able to get it memorized in time for Father's Day.
Then, after two months of keeping this poem a little secret from Papi, I made a mistake.
We were all in the car on the way to the store when Siena started making up her own little story about airplanes and doggies. I thought it was cute and wanted Juan to hear, so I asked Siena to tell us the story in a loud voice. She started reciting the poem, and I was so worried about ruining the surprise that I overreacted and yelled out, "No Siena! Not that one!" Of course, THAT tipped Juan off and he just smiled with a shocked look on his face. I was so upset that it didn't happen on Father's Day that tears started to well up in my eyes and I couldn't stop apologizing. Juan was still trying to figure out if it was what he was thinking of when I got my emotions under control. I asked him if he would like to hear the poem and he said yes. Luck was in our favor because Siena didn't get nervous or distracted throughout the entire poem and she recited it completely by herself. Juan even got a bit choked up. So I was relieved, after all was said and done, that it made Juan shocked, and happy, and sentimental all at the same time. He told me that I would probably never be able to top that Father's Day gift, and I think I have to agree.
A Margarita Debayle (To Margarita Debayle)
written by Ruben Dario in 1908
Margarita, está linda la mar,
y el viento
lleva esencia sutil de azahar;
yo siento
en el alma una alondra cantar;
tu acento.
Margarita, te voy a contar
un cuento.
"Éste era un rey que tenía
un palacio de diamantes,
una tienda hecha del día
y un rebaño de elefantes.
Un quiosco de malaquita,
un gran manto de tisú,
y una gentil princesita, tan bonita,
Margarita, tal bonita como tú.
Una tarde la princesa
vio una estrella aparecer;
la princesa era traviesa
y la quiso ir a coger.
La quería para hacerla
decorar un prendedor,
con un verso y una perla,
una pluma y una flor.
A princesas primorosas
se parecen mucho a ti
cortan lirios, cortan rosas,
cortan astros. Son así.
Pues se fue la niña bella,
bajo el cielo y sobre El mar,
a cortar la blanca estrella
que la hacía suspirar
Y siguió camino arriba,
por la luna y más allá,
mas lo malo es que ella iba
sin permisio del papá.
Cuando estuvo ya de vuelta
de los parques del Señor,
se miraba toda envuelta
en un dulce resplandor.
Y el rey dijo: "Qué te has hecho?
Te he buscado y no te hallé;
y que tienes en el pecho,
que encendido se te ve?"
La princesa no mentía.
Y asi, dijo la verdad:
"Fui a cortar la estrella mía
a la azul inmensidad".
Y el rey clama: "No te he dicho
que el azul no hay que tocar?
Qué locura! Qué capricho!
El Señor se va a enojar".
Y dice ella: "No hubo intento;
yo me fui no sé por qué.
Por las olas y en el viento
fui a la estrella y la corté".
Y el papa dice enojado:
"Un castigo has de tener:
vuelve al cielo, y lo robado
vas ahora a devolver".
La princesa se entristece
por su dulce flor de luz,
cuando entonces aparece
sonriendo el buen Jesús.
Y asi dice: "En mis campiñas
esa rosa le ofrecí;
son mis flores de las niñas
que al sonar piensan en mí".
Viste el rey ropas brillantes,
y luego hace desfilar
cuatrocientos elefantes
a la orilla de la mar.
La princesa está bella,
pues ya tiene el prendedor
en que lucen, con la estrella,
verso, perla, pluma y flor.
Margarita, esta lindá la mar,
y el viento
lleva esencia sutil de azahar:
tu aliento.
Y que lejos de mí vas a estar,
guarda, niña, un gentil pensamiento
al que un día te quiso contar
un cuento.
English translation:
Margarita, how beautiful the sea is:
still and blue.
The orange blossom in the breezes
drifting through.
The skylark in its glory
has your accent too:
Here, Margarita, is a story
made for you.
A king there was and far away,
with a palace of diamonds
and a shopfront made of day.
He had a herd of elephants,
A kiosk, more, of malachite,
and a robe of rarest hue
also a princess who was light
of thought and beautiful as you.
But one afternoon the princess
saw high in the heavens appear
a star, and being mischievous,
resolved at once to bring it near.
It would form the centrepiece
of a brooch hung with verse, pearl,
feathers, flowers: a caprice
of course of a little girl.
But also, because a princess,
exquisite, delicate like you,
the others then cut irises
roses, asters: as girls do.
But, alas, our little one went far
across the sea, beneath the sky,
and all to cut the one white star
that saw her wondering and sigh.
She went beyond where the heavens are
and to the moon said, au revoir.
How naughty to have flown so far
without the permission of Papa.
She returned at last, and though gone
from the high heavens of accord,
still there hung about and shone
the soft brilliance of our Lord.
Which the king noted, said: you,
child, drive me past despair,
but what is that strange, shining dew
on your hands, your face, your hair?
She spoke the truth; her words shine
with the clear lightness of the air:
I went to seek what should be mine
in that blue immensity up there.
Are then the heavens for our display,
with things that you must touch?
You can be altogether too outré,
child, for God to like you much.
To hear that I am sorry, truly,
for I had no plans as such. But,
once across the windy sky and sea
I had so much that flower to cut.
Whereupon, in punishment,
the king said, I'd be much beholden
if you'd go this moment and consent
to return what you have stolen.
So sad was then our little princess
looking at her sweet flower of light,
until and smiling at her distress
there stood the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those fields are as I willed them,
and your rose but signatory
to the flowers up there that children
have in dreaming formed of me.
Again the king is laughing, brilliant
in his robes's rich royalty,
he troops the herd of elephant,
in their four hundred, by the sea.
Adored and delicate, the princess
is once more a little girl
who keeps for brooch the star and, yes,
the flowers, and the feathers, the pearl.
Beautiful, Margarita, the sea is,
still and blue:
with your sweet breath have all the breezes
blossomed too.
Now soon from me and far you'll be,
but, little one, stay true
to a gentle thought made a story
once for you.
Then, after two months of keeping this poem a little secret from Papi, I made a mistake.
We were all in the car on the way to the store when Siena started making up her own little story about airplanes and doggies. I thought it was cute and wanted Juan to hear, so I asked Siena to tell us the story in a loud voice. She started reciting the poem, and I was so worried about ruining the surprise that I overreacted and yelled out, "No Siena! Not that one!" Of course, THAT tipped Juan off and he just smiled with a shocked look on his face. I was so upset that it didn't happen on Father's Day that tears started to well up in my eyes and I couldn't stop apologizing. Juan was still trying to figure out if it was what he was thinking of when I got my emotions under control. I asked him if he would like to hear the poem and he said yes. Luck was in our favor because Siena didn't get nervous or distracted throughout the entire poem and she recited it completely by herself. Juan even got a bit choked up. So I was relieved, after all was said and done, that it made Juan shocked, and happy, and sentimental all at the same time. He told me that I would probably never be able to top that Father's Day gift, and I think I have to agree.
A Margarita Debayle (To Margarita Debayle)
written by Ruben Dario in 1908
Margarita, está linda la mar,
y el viento
lleva esencia sutil de azahar;
yo siento
en el alma una alondra cantar;
tu acento.
Margarita, te voy a contar
un cuento.
"Éste era un rey que tenía
un palacio de diamantes,
una tienda hecha del día
y un rebaño de elefantes.
Un quiosco de malaquita,
un gran manto de tisú,
y una gentil princesita, tan bonita,
Margarita, tal bonita como tú.
Una tarde la princesa
vio una estrella aparecer;
la princesa era traviesa
y la quiso ir a coger.
La quería para hacerla
decorar un prendedor,
con un verso y una perla,
una pluma y una flor.
A princesas primorosas
se parecen mucho a ti
cortan lirios, cortan rosas,
cortan astros. Son así.
Pues se fue la niña bella,
bajo el cielo y sobre El mar,
a cortar la blanca estrella
que la hacía suspirar
Y siguió camino arriba,
por la luna y más allá,
mas lo malo es que ella iba
sin permisio del papá.
Cuando estuvo ya de vuelta
de los parques del Señor,
se miraba toda envuelta
en un dulce resplandor.
Y el rey dijo: "Qué te has hecho?
Te he buscado y no te hallé;
y que tienes en el pecho,
que encendido se te ve?"
La princesa no mentía.
Y asi, dijo la verdad:
"Fui a cortar la estrella mía
a la azul inmensidad".
Y el rey clama: "No te he dicho
que el azul no hay que tocar?
Qué locura! Qué capricho!
El Señor se va a enojar".
Y dice ella: "No hubo intento;
yo me fui no sé por qué.
Por las olas y en el viento
fui a la estrella y la corté".
Y el papa dice enojado:
"Un castigo has de tener:
vuelve al cielo, y lo robado
vas ahora a devolver".
La princesa se entristece
por su dulce flor de luz,
cuando entonces aparece
sonriendo el buen Jesús.
Y asi dice: "En mis campiñas
esa rosa le ofrecí;
son mis flores de las niñas
que al sonar piensan en mí".
Viste el rey ropas brillantes,
y luego hace desfilar
cuatrocientos elefantes
a la orilla de la mar.
La princesa está bella,
pues ya tiene el prendedor
en que lucen, con la estrella,
verso, perla, pluma y flor.
Margarita, esta lindá la mar,
y el viento
lleva esencia sutil de azahar:
tu aliento.
Y que lejos de mí vas a estar,
guarda, niña, un gentil pensamiento
al que un día te quiso contar
un cuento.
English translation:
Margarita, how beautiful the sea is:
still and blue.
The orange blossom in the breezes
drifting through.
The skylark in its glory
has your accent too:
Here, Margarita, is a story
made for you.
A king there was and far away,
with a palace of diamonds
and a shopfront made of day.
He had a herd of elephants,
A kiosk, more, of malachite,
and a robe of rarest hue
also a princess who was light
of thought and beautiful as you.
But one afternoon the princess
saw high in the heavens appear
a star, and being mischievous,
resolved at once to bring it near.
It would form the centrepiece
of a brooch hung with verse, pearl,
feathers, flowers: a caprice
of course of a little girl.
But also, because a princess,
exquisite, delicate like you,
the others then cut irises
roses, asters: as girls do.
But, alas, our little one went far
across the sea, beneath the sky,
and all to cut the one white star
that saw her wondering and sigh.
She went beyond where the heavens are
and to the moon said, au revoir.
How naughty to have flown so far
without the permission of Papa.
She returned at last, and though gone
from the high heavens of accord,
still there hung about and shone
the soft brilliance of our Lord.
Which the king noted, said: you,
child, drive me past despair,
but what is that strange, shining dew
on your hands, your face, your hair?
She spoke the truth; her words shine
with the clear lightness of the air:
I went to seek what should be mine
in that blue immensity up there.
Are then the heavens for our display,
with things that you must touch?
You can be altogether too outré,
child, for God to like you much.
To hear that I am sorry, truly,
for I had no plans as such. But,
once across the windy sky and sea
I had so much that flower to cut.
Whereupon, in punishment,
the king said, I'd be much beholden
if you'd go this moment and consent
to return what you have stolen.
So sad was then our little princess
looking at her sweet flower of light,
until and smiling at her distress
there stood the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those fields are as I willed them,
and your rose but signatory
to the flowers up there that children
have in dreaming formed of me.
Again the king is laughing, brilliant
in his robes's rich royalty,
he troops the herd of elephant,
in their four hundred, by the sea.
Adored and delicate, the princess
is once more a little girl
who keeps for brooch the star and, yes,
the flowers, and the feathers, the pearl.
Beautiful, Margarita, the sea is,
still and blue:
with your sweet breath have all the breezes
blossomed too.
Now soon from me and far you'll be,
but, little one, stay true
to a gentle thought made a story
once for you.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Scavenger Hunt/ Sleeping Beauties
...I was supposed to post these yesterday, huh?
Something foreign:
Something LOUD:
Something that smells like oranges:
A TWO FOR ONE! Something geriatric + green underwear:
Qiana is a really light sleeper. At any slight noise, she sits up abruptly and then flings herself back down and however she lands is how she will continue sleeping.
This picture, well, it speaks for itself. Have you noticed that we have given up on pajamas this summer? It's too HOT, even with Central Air! Siena is one crazy girl, though, because she insists on sleeping with a large fleece blanket. After she falls asleep, I usually sneak it away from her sweaty body so she can cool down.
Cheese weighing more than 10 lbs.= The Moon:
Something foreign:
Something LOUD:
Something with the word "Ultimate":
Something that smells like oranges:
A TWO FOR ONE! Something geriatric + green underwear:
Something covered in chocolate/caramel:
...and my sleeping cuties with their strange sleeping habits:
His feet were hanging over the end of the bed. I don't know how that can be comfortable.
His feet were hanging over the end of the bed. I don't know how that can be comfortable.
Qiana is a really light sleeper. At any slight noise, she sits up abruptly and then flings herself back down and however she lands is how she will continue sleeping.
This picture, well, it speaks for itself. Have you noticed that we have given up on pajamas this summer? It's too HOT, even with Central Air! Siena is one crazy girl, though, because she insists on sleeping with a large fleece blanket. After she falls asleep, I usually sneak it away from her sweaty body so she can cool down.Monday, June 28, 2010
It's All Here
Juan's Nose: Yes, he was playing softball when his face got in a fight with the ball. The ball won. He was one of three people in the E.R. when we got there at 8:00 pm, so we thought it would be an easy in-and-out stop. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm............. not so. We waited for an hour and a half, all the while Juan was spitting out blood in a bucket, until the nurse told us to move to the "Fast Track Waiting Room". (Rather than making this a sardonic blog entry, I will just tell it how it was, and let the reader add the intonations.) We then waited for another 45 minutes or so before they called for the "nose bleed", then were led to a tri-patient room. Around 11:30, I walked up to the nurse's station and asked about Juan's treatment plan. They didn't have one, but a doctor overheard me and said that he would be in to see Juan shortly. He did come in and had a quick look; unfortunately, the swelling was too much to do anything about it, so he asked Juan to wait in the chair until the bleeding stopped and then sent us home. 12:00 wasn't so bad, considering that when our friend broke his arm, he was there until 6:00 am. Juan got some heavy meds and slept with an ice pack on his nose. Wednesday is the big day when he gets to visit the Ears, Nose, Throat doctor. Wish him luck!
E.R. Waiting Room: 9:00 pm.
After Patient/Doctor Consultation
Yep, it's broken all right.
He went through about 5 of those ice packs
Tornado Town: That same day, there was a micro tornado that landed all over Philadelphia and the suburbs. Both of the girls slept though it! There are fallen trees EVERYWHERE! Our neighbors up the street had a tree fall on their houses (about 4 in total) and cars (2.) In our friends' neighborhood, a huge tree had fallen right on a car and crushed it like aluminum foil. It is actually a scary sight.
There are at least two cars under those trees
Bored: We have to get a little creative sometimes when it comes to going on dates. It rarely happens without the girls, but we like them along for the ride most of the time. We were sitting on our sofa Thursday night... just sitting... when all the sudden we decided to go out and do something. The options first at hand were 1: (can't even remember now) and 2: Scavenger Hunt. I'll admit, I knew it sounded a little juvenile, but we decided to go for it. Both Juan and I made the rules: We each would write a list of 5 things to find and they had to be found within a 5-mile radius, but we could use pictures and the Internet if we got desperate; after that, we conglomerated the lists and were off to find:
Juan's list
Sleeping Habits: They all have their own way of falling asleep. (Pictures from Juan's phone to come.)
E.R. Waiting Room: 9:00 pm.
After Patient/Doctor Consultation
Yep, it's broken all right.
He went through about 5 of those ice packsTornado Town: That same day, there was a micro tornado that landed all over Philadelphia and the suburbs. Both of the girls slept though it! There are fallen trees EVERYWHERE! Our neighbors up the street had a tree fall on their houses (about 4 in total) and cars (2.) In our friends' neighborhood, a huge tree had fallen right on a car and crushed it like aluminum foil. It is actually a scary sight.
There are at least two cars under those treesBored: We have to get a little creative sometimes when it comes to going on dates. It rarely happens without the girls, but we like them along for the ride most of the time. We were sitting on our sofa Thursday night... just sitting... when all the sudden we decided to go out and do something. The options first at hand were 1: (can't even remember now) and 2: Scavenger Hunt. I'll admit, I knew it sounded a little juvenile, but we decided to go for it. Both Juan and I made the rules: We each would write a list of 5 things to find and they had to be found within a 5-mile radius, but we could use pictures and the Internet if we got desperate; after that, we conglomerated the lists and were off to find:
Juan's list
- A block of cheese weighing more than 10 lbs.
- A black and white giraffe
- Something with the word "Ultimate"
- Green underwear
- A Christmas tree
- Something geriatric
- Something that smells like oranges
- Something that is loud
- Something foreign
- Something covered in chocolate and/or caramel
Sleeping Habits: They all have their own way of falling asleep. (Pictures from Juan's phone to come.)
Friday, June 25, 2010
What's up in Philadelphia?
We're here. Pictures will come. Stories will be told.
Just not tonight.
....but, I knew you were begging for teasers:
Just not tonight.
....but, I knew you were begging for teasers:
- Juan's nose + Softball = Hispanic Owen Wilson
- We're not in Kansas anymore, but it still looks like it
- What our family does when we are bored...
- Sleeping habits, and more!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"Little Baby Monkey" Poop
Fair warning: the title of this post is a very accurate description of what you are about to read.
And so the story goes... Siena has been identifying and naming her bowel movements. One day she looked in the potty and said, "Es una galleta!" (It's a cookie!) Um. Okay. I tried not to encourage it and just acknowledged what she had said; then we proceeded with the ceremonial flushing song, "Flush-ed-y-flush-ed-y-flush" in an arpeggio style. (Incidentally, any time she hears an arpeggio, she starts singing about the potty. You wouldn't believe how often arpeggios are heard in our house on a daily basis because of sound toys + Siena's singing.)
Then it happened again. And again. "A salad!" "A cake!" "A late-Renoir painting!"..... The tipping straw for me blogging about this came yesterday when she (pardon the following:) squeezed out a little poop. She was so excited that she got a "baby poop" and continued to say that it was a baby monkey and that it needed to go with it's family. Then she flushed. Little baby monkey poop was gone. "Bye Bye baby monkey." As Siena's mother, the one who should be a guiding influence and steer her into a proper rearing devoid of unbecoming behavior, I laughed. Today's B.M., well, let's just say it was a similar story but I was a little more prepared to keep my laughter in check. It seems like I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again.... "Ahhhh, the joys of potty training."
And so the story goes... Siena has been identifying and naming her bowel movements. One day she looked in the potty and said, "Es una galleta!" (It's a cookie!) Um. Okay. I tried not to encourage it and just acknowledged what she had said; then we proceeded with the ceremonial flushing song, "Flush-ed-y-flush-ed-y-flush" in an arpeggio style. (Incidentally, any time she hears an arpeggio, she starts singing about the potty. You wouldn't believe how often arpeggios are heard in our house on a daily basis because of sound toys + Siena's singing.)
Then it happened again. And again. "A salad!" "A cake!" "A late-Renoir painting!"..... The tipping straw for me blogging about this came yesterday when she (pardon the following:) squeezed out a little poop. She was so excited that she got a "baby poop" and continued to say that it was a baby monkey and that it needed to go with it's family. Then she flushed. Little baby monkey poop was gone. "Bye Bye baby monkey." As Siena's mother, the one who should be a guiding influence and steer her into a proper rearing devoid of unbecoming behavior, I laughed. Today's B.M., well, let's just say it was a similar story but I was a little more prepared to keep my laughter in check. It seems like I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again.... "Ahhhh, the joys of potty training."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hot Air Balloons
Last weekend, we met up with some friends at the West Chester Balloon Festival. We got there just as the balloons were leaving ground and stayed until the end of the fireworks. So fun... loved it!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Cape May Weekend
Around the campfire, making ice cream:
P.D.A. at the Lighthouse:
The next morning, we went to the zoo (which was free and amazing,) then straight to the beach; there we stayed until late afternoon. What kept us entertained for so long? Burying Siena in sand, beachcombing, and boogieboarding. It was too relaxing for words. No pictures, even.
That night we got stuff to make homemade ice cream in Ziplock bags (after a long trip to Home Depot for rock salt,) and had fun doing that around the campfire. Despite Qiana tumbling out of the lower bunk, I think the girls really liked sharing a bed while we were there.
The next day, we left Cape May and started for home. On the way back, we visited the largest annual garden in the United States, Leaming's Run Gardens. It was hot and humid, but beautiful. It was another wonderful trip before we leave the East Coast....
(I'm still messing around with Photoshop Actions... don't mind the in-continuity of the pictures. Most of these are running on a "Seventies" theme.)
Leaming's Run Gardens
Leaming's Run Gardens
...our potty-training history lesson.
u
Hot and Humid!
Siena really took this picture all by herself. She was struggling to even keep a good grip on the camera, let alone trying to find the button to push. It is amazing that it actually turned out!
Siena really took this picture all by herself. She was struggling to even keep a good grip on the camera, let alone trying to find the button to push. It is amazing that it actually turned out!
We came back to a rainy Philadelphia at 95 degrees Fahrenheit!
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