Maintaining Sanity in Chaos

Summer turns into School Time!

2009-08-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

(at the Rainforest Pyramid in Moody Gardens-Galveston)

So, the summer flew by, again. Don't you remember how time used to be so much slower when you were a child? Why is it that it gets faster and faster the older you get? We had a good summer. It went quickly because I was working about 60+ hours a week, for two months of it. I finally quit and was able to spend the last part of the summer with the kids.

(in Galveston at the Rainforest Cafe)

Alivia went into Kindergarten and Elijah started 4th grade today.

That left just me and Ethan. When I asked him what we should do today, he replied "let's play Bingo!" We never got around to Bingo, but we did have a blast at the jumpy place (indoor bounce house place).

(Ethan climbing on the school playground after we dropped the other kids off at school!)

I would say it was a good summer, but glad for school to start! I start school on Wednesday--I'm finishing my last class (2nd comp. science class) and will graduate in December from my very long college career. Ethan will go to Mother's Day Out program on T/Th and that leaves me to find some new freedom!! To another great school year!

Almost Summer!

2009-05-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

(family picture at Maritza's-Grandma-Graduation)

This crazy thing called life keeps throwing things our way! In a nutshell, I got my personal training certification, finished my semester of school (yes, I passed both my classes and have only ONE class left to graduate), Livi finished Pre-K, Ethan finished his Lambs class, and Eli finished THIRD grade, and Miguel's club volleyball team qualified for the Junior Olympics.

To say the least, it's been one heck of a rollar coaster! Things are about to pick up even more, and hopefully, it'll slow down after 2 months! I start boot camp full time on Monday. I've been instructing classes on M/W/F and teaching at Livi and Ethan's school on T/Th. I teach 6 classes a day, M-Thurs., 4 on Friday and 1 on Saturday. Miguel starts his volleyball camps also, so we're looking forward for the J.O. in Miami, when we get to see each other--that's at the end of June. Here's to the crazy summer!

Charlie's Angels, almost!

2009-02-26T19:58:00.000-08:00

Life has been as busy as ever, but I still managed to get in some paintball action with my friend, Shonna! We 'work' together at school, but really hang out all day! She invited me to go play paintball with her and her family and a bunch of people I didn't know, and I was all over that! If you haven't ever tried, you should. IT's Totally FUN! If it wasn't so expensive, it would be my new hobby!

Besides school, working, being a wife/mom, things are good. Eli's doing well in school, loves scouts and still likes to tease his siblings! Livi is growing up, learning her alphabet (Thanks Mrs. Bonnie & Mrs. Denise) and becoming a pro on her bike! Ethan is my last child for a reason--precious, but has no fear! After all, he's just trying to keep up with Eli and Livi. He likes to do anything that involves running, jumping, kicking or throwing. He's all boy to put it simply. Miguel is as busy as ever! He started club volleyball and that takes him away on weekends! It's a good thing he still loves it!

Ethan and Livi with Marge's dog, Guiness. No, Livi's not homeless, and yes, she did pick out her own outfit and brush her own hair!

Back to School... Back to School

2009-01-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's that time again. School starts today for me. We'll see how it goes. I have my second statistics class so it should be about as fun as pulling my nose hairs out one by one!

(this is my theme song by Adam Sandler)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhuvlchBixw

New Year---New Ambitions!

2009-01-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

Why are they called 'New Year Resolutions?' Isn't a resolution something that is resolved? Well, since most people don't ever finish their resolutions, why not call them 'Ambitions?'

So this year, my ambitions are:

* Graduate from college

* Get my bmi to 19%

* Read my scriptures at least 4 times a week!

* Stop and play with my kids more

* Learn to like to cook

* Paint my house--do touch up's

I think that about sums it up! This last year I really focused on my body and getting healthier. This year, I want to focus on increasing my spirituality. My husband and I talked about our goals this year and a family goal that we set was to do a service project, as a family, every month. I think this could be a really good thing for us and our kids!

Have you thought about your goals for this next year???

UPDATES!!! HALLOWEEN 2008

2008-12-27T21:13:00.000-08:00

We had a great time for Halloween this year! We went to the Trunk-or-Treat at church on the Wednesday before Halloween. This worked out well, because Eli got sick on the actual Halloween night!

Miguel was dressed as a coach, who would have thought? This is him in action--sitting in the trunk of our van handing out candy!

Eli, a.k.a. Mr. Incredible, was kind (mostly) to take Ethan, a.k.a. Tigger, around to all the cars and teach him how to load up on the candy!Althought Livi, a.k.a. Sunshine Bear had a lot of fun, apparently it was painful to take this picture!!This was the actual Halloween night! Livi was Sunshine Bear, I was a clown (check out the long rainbow eyelashes I had--they were fun!) and Ethan was a dinosaur! We had a good time going house to house. Eli stayed home, since he was sick, and passed out candy.

UPDATES!! Third Annual Sisters Weekend!

2008-12-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

(Lisa, me and Amy eating sushi in Austin)

My two favorite sisters and I (ok, so I only have 2 sister--they're still my favorite ones!) decided we needed to get together and more often, without children or spouses, so we started "Sisters Weekend!" Before I knew it, we were on to our 3rd annual one. Let me tell you about our weekend. First of all, this helps mantain my sanity for a long time. I look forward to sisters weekend for months, literally months, before it happens. I keep reminding myself to hang in there (meaning all the chaos that goes along with life) because I'll get to take a break from it during sisters weekend. Our first ever weekend that we got together we went to San Marcos and stayed in a bed and breakfast. This is where our traditions started. We go out to eat, sometimes dressing up a bit, and we exchange gifts that we've made/bought for each other, and we shop and relax.

Sisters Weekend at a Glance:

First sisters weekend--oldest sister flew down from Utah and we went to a bed and breakfast for a night.

Second sisters weekend--me and older sister flew to Utah, stayed in a cabin 2 nights and a hotel one night, went to Conference at the Conference Center, went to the Salt Lake Temple (my first time there!), shopped, got a massage (that was my favorite!)

Third sisters weekend--oldest sister flew down from Utah, we stayed at my house two nights and a hotel one night, SHOPPED almost the whole time, went to a museum, tried to see the bats fly out from under the Congress bridge!

(this is all our bags from two nights--we got some good sales!)

All I can say is that I'm so glad that my sisters and I have so much fun together! We talk about our kids, husbands, and how we are glad they aren't there (seriously--there's nothing wrong with that!!) We always have such a great time and I always look forward to that wonderful weekend to have a fun time and not have to do anything for anyone else! Love you sisters!!

(this is proof that we went to a museum and didn't shop the WHOLE time! Who's oldest??? Can you guess? Who has 6 kids? Which one is still in her 20's???)

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!

Sept. 11, 2007

2007-09-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Why is Physics so hard?

So, you would think that physics wouldn't be so difficult because all it's really doing is telling us stuff that we already know like, if you hold up a pencil and let go, it will fall because of gravity. We also know that waves travel at different frequencies, that's how we hear different notes when played on a piano--they have a different frequency. Ok, so why is physics so hard? Why do I need to know that when two waves travel on the same surface (like a string) that you can add their equations together? I just don't understand how things that we see, can be made so difficult when we put them into equation form!

Whoever said this was 'Easy' was WRONG!!!

2007-09-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, I thought myself to be somewhat computer savvy, but I have found out tonight that I am NOT!! Maybe it's just that I'm not blogger savvy---I think that's it. That will help me sleep tonight!!

O What a Day!

2007-09-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

So a new day begins. I am going to have to come to terms that my blog is not going to be like all those other fancy blogs. Mine is simple and it's not getting any better! Today is a new day. I love Fridays! A time to work on projects (i.e. livi's desk & the boys' closet) and play with my kids!

I am grateful for: Chocolate Protein Shakes. I get my chocolate fix, and it keeps me going!!

I CAME IN A CLOSE SECOND!!!

2007-09-15T10:41:00.001-07:00

So, in my attempt to achieve this imaginative figure in my head, I headed back to the gym today for a good spin class. I can say all that biking I've been doing in San Marcos has paid off, becuase I kept up with my instructor. She finished before me, but I was right there with her the whole time. For those of you who don't know the secret to a good workout, you always secretly race someone. I raced my instructor and at one point I was totally kicking her butt (translation--I was going faster than her). So if you want to put some fun in your workout, secretly race someone, and when you beat them, CELEBRATE!!!

DON'T FORGET TO DATE

2007-09-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

I had the chance last night to go out with my spouse!!! WOW!! He's a really fun guy! If I could give any good advice to anyone, I'd tell them to take time with their spouse. You never know, you could have a lot of fun! So we went to this Italian resteraunt in Austin that was rated the best place to eat. It's called Vespaio.It's got a really cool atmosphere and REAL italian----like I had to ask the waitress what things meant because it was in Italian. I had a risotto with scallops. Never had anything like it and it was really good. After we ate, we walked down Congress and then back up and headed to Mozarts . We sat outside and listened to Lauren Barrett who was Kasey's twin (maybe it was really Kasey---she plays live at coffeehouses---nice voice Kasey!) Anyways, it was lots of fun!! Don't forget to enjoy each other's company. After all, you are married to them!!! (this is an old pic of me and Miguel but that's all i had)

The Wave Equation takes over my life! (right now anyways!)

2007-09-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Ever had a really good power nap? Me too. Seems like that's what's getting me through these days!! Really, if you want to come teach me physics, I'd be all for it. I'll even make some cookies. After all, is physics really that important? Sounds pathetic that I'm begging for help for physics on my blog. I know. My life these days is pretty pathetic, except, my family sure does make it interesting and all worth while! Happy Monday!

"Calgon, take me away!"

2007-09-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to have something really funny or interesting to write today, but I don't. I'm out of brain cells and can't think since my shoulders hurt so badly. I think I'm going to forget about all that I need to do (like write a lab report, study for my deterministic operations research class, dishes, laundry, and Ethan crying---well, maybe not that one) and go take a bath!! Now I know why my mom used to say "Calgon, take me away!"

Funny Redneck Pic

2007-09-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

This is how you make a gingerbread house, redneck style!

These had me laughing forever!!

Wish I had a beer container (and a cat) so I could pretend that I took this picture!

Ok, never tried this, but it looks like fun. I'm not promoting this at all, but talk about the time of your life!!

This is what you call the "guest bedrooms"

Ok, last one!!! It's a redneck YACHT!!

GOOD, CLEAN, SCARY MOVIE!!

2007-09-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Miguel and I watched this movie last night. If you're looking for a good, clean scare, you have to rent it. It freaked me out (made Miguel sit with/on me in a chair) . At times, yes, I was clinging to him like an infant---it scared me, but didn't give me bad dreams or anything. I highly recommend it!!

IS IT JUST MY KID WHO'S REALLY GROSS?

2007-09-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

While I was in my normal position in the morning (on the couch half asleep) I notice Ethan was being quiet and just standing there sucking on his pacie (pacifier). Usually when he does that--assumes the position--then I know he's doing his business. This position was different. As the fog rolls from my eyes with each blink, I notice there's hair hanging off his pacie. Yes, HAIR. Not just any hair, but long, black hair. It wasn't just a hair, it was lots of hair. As soon as I would grab the pacie and take the hair off it, he would go find more, put it on his pacie and suck it so contently!! I about vomited at this. It was so gross, I had to take a picture and share it. Please tell me my kid isn't the only sick one out there! no, it's not a pubic hair, although it looks like it

DORA TO THE RESCUE!

2007-09-21T16:50:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have mulitple children, you know that fighting and contention can't be prevented. So when those rare moments occur where the kids are playing so nicely, you wish you could make those moments last forever! Here is proof that they do happen.

Both Ethan and Livi wanted to ride the infamous Dora bike, so they took turns being the driver. I love these times!! I'll have these wonderful memories to look back on when they're teenagers really fighting over who's turn it is to drive!! AGGGGGHHH!

BEWARE OF LITTLE CHILDREN

2007-09-21T20:04:00.001-07:00

I finally downloaded a whole bunch of picture from my camera! Yeah!! When I saw all those wonderful pictures it reminded me of a great story I could retell. So we have some friends that got married down at this old mansion in Galveston this past summer. They have been friends for awhile and have known our kids most of their lives. Well, since Miguel and I got married and had kids so young, it works out for our friends. They are all now just getting married, and our kids are in their weddings(since we're really only the ones with kids, let alone that they are the right age for being really cute in weddings). This was the first wedding that Livi and Eli have both been in together. Eli was the ring bearer and Livi was the flower girl.

James and Rheanna (the wedding couple) had their wedding at 6pm. Not the ideal time for Livi since she still naps in the afternoon (i can't believe they didn't schedule it around her nap---the nerve! j/k). Let's just say she was being good but getting tired and getting into stuff. By the time we got to the mansion, she's ripped the seam on her dress (i just finally cut it off) and she'd pulled a bow off! Thank goodness I had "borrowed" one of those little sewing kits from a hotel and it had some pink thread and a needle in it (Thanks so much omni!) so I sewed that bow on in the car on the way to the wedding! Go Martha, I mean Mom! While I was in the process of having Eli take a picture of me and Miguel, I noticed Livi was no where to be found. I started freaking out and then I found her. Any guesses to where she was??? Yes, she had taken a fork and was eating the bride's cake. Now in a normal, not in public place, especially not at a wedding, I would have totally freaked out, but I didn't. I thought to myself "self, you can look at how bad this is, or how bad it isn't." I took the latter. I figured, at least she ate off the back side of the cake, and she used a fork and not her hands!! That's a story to keep forever!

BEWARE OF BIG MAMA's

2007-09-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

This is a confession to all you ladies who have children and have never hurt them. Today I thougth I broke Livi's finger. As we went to do my favorite thing (take children to places that they shouldn't go and do things I don't want to do) renew my tags on my HUSBAND'S car (don't know if I signed up to do that one or how I ended up doing it), things went bad quickly (can anyone tell me if this is a run on sentence or if I can just keep putting things in ( ) and it doesn't count). I was holding Ethan's hand and Livi was right behind me. A gentleman held the door open for me and we walked in. I knew Livi was behind me. All of a sudden I heard a loud scream and twirled around to see Livi's hand stuck in the door. As we were in about a 10' x 4' room with 4 other men in there, I quickly removed her (and Ethan--making sure he didn't get his hand caught in the door) outside and looked at her pinkie. I held it up and immediately I could see blood all inside of it like a blood blister was forming. She was screaming out loud, while I was screaming inside b/c I couldn't believe I had done this to my baby girl and I didn't know what to do next. On the knuckle on the back of the hand, it was all white and had a huge crease in it (where the door was on it). I thought I broke her finger. After about 2 minutes, she calmed down and we were able to get Miguel's car legal again. Thank goodness the Lord made kids so resilient and pliable! pretty much the same thing as the picture except Livi's a girl, it wasn't in the car, and I didn't take a picture while my kid was in misery!

LESSON OF THE DAY!

2007-09-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Another great lesson was learned today, thanks to good old Physics class. I only share these wonderful tidbits of information because they are so interesting (yes, I'm a totally physics nerd). Say there are 2 speakers placed some distance apart. You are standing between them, but about 20 feet away. This forms a triangle, but it's not an equilateral triangle (distance b/2 each speaker to you is a different length). Well, these speakers interfere with each other and cause the sound to reach you (meaning each of your ears) at different times. If you were standing at the right position, you would have a constructive interference. If you were standing at another position, you would have a destructive interference and ultimately not be able to hear the speakers--they would cancel each other out!!! Wow, what a cool concept. Now all this depends on the wave length and the phase angle. Now, go share your plethera of information! Stay tuned for next time....I'll tell you how you can shatter a glass!

What the.. Bee?

2007-09-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

We had a very scary encounter with a bee this weekend. Ok, so i'm exaggerating just a tad. I saw it out on my back porch, and it was squirming around. I ended my misery, ok, everyone's misery by using enough bug spray to kill a small family of bees. I've been researching (really just looking at pictures on google) to find out what kind of bee it is. If you have a husband like me, you have to wear the pants in the family and just kill the bee. It was pretty scary!

I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD!

2007-09-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

We had our annual neighborhood party this past weekend and boy was it a blast! I hadn't been to one yet, since we were out of town last year when they held the annual shindig! I was in for a surprise. Let me take you to the situation.

It was a Saturday evening, sun still shining so brightly. I placed my two youngest offspring's in the stroller and followed my eldest offspring to the 'partah in the cul-de-sac.' (At one point, Livi was holding onto Eli as he rode the scooter.) As sweat was dripping down my back and across my brow, I rounded the corner to see a little piece of sweetness! The expression on my face was one that could be confused with a child on Christmas morning. There was more than my eyes could digest and more joy than anyone should experience at a neighborhood party! There was a slip and slide, a jumper for the kids,

a petting zoo, face painter, the UT game on an 8 foot screen with any man's wildest dream of a sound system, and the biggest, most enthusiastic grill any die-hard tailgater could ever want! To say the least, we enjoyed some good food, ok, fabulous food. I only say fabulous b/c it was free and I didn't have to cook it! The kids had so much fun, and my favorite...the firefighters. Did I say firefighters? I meant the fire truck (there was this one hottie that could put out any fire I ever had).Was that out loud? Dang it. It was a blast! Here's the proof!

(Livi did this pose all on her own. If I don't say, she's got it goin' on! You go girl!)

A DEAL, if you have time

2007-09-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

My mom told me about this deal that Wachovia is having. You open a checking account and you get a $75 gift card to Academy. I thought that it wasn't worth the time, but then remembered Christmas isn't that far away, and decided to go for it. So, I took my 2 little kids to the bank (would not recommend this to any sane person) and opened my account. Since I told them that my mom referred me, they send her a $25 visa card and me a $25 visa card. I told the bank lady that I had to be home soon, so it literally took her 5 minutes (with the promise that i'd come back and she could go over everything else another time) and I got a $75 gift card and will hopefully get a $25 visa card in the mail. I figured that putting $100 in the account for 6 months was worth getting $100 in free stuff!!! I love a good bargain! Oh, about another good, ok, GREAT bargain---OLD NAVY OUTLET has everything 75% off. Yes, that's 75% off. I bought khaki pants for Miguel for like $5 and $3.75 for Eli. They had polos for $2. (you can't hear it, but if I was saying this, my voice would be getting really high when I tell you the price and I'd be getting more and more excited the more I told you about the loads of money I saved)! I have to take a deep breath! I get really excited about a deal, and even more excited about an awesome deal! Old Navy outlet is changing into an Old Navy store so they are getting rid of everything. They open as a regular store on the 2nd of Oct. so i don't know if they have anything left!!! Happy Shopping!

ok, these aren't my children, and we weren't outside, but you get the picture!

p.s. i would recommend NOT taking small children. I did and they were running around everywhere b/c I filled the stroller up with clothes!

Busy Weekends!

2007-10-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Was this weekend busy or what?? With all the usual fun filled tasks such as laundry, vacuuming, and picking up, it was CRAZY!!! My mom did come to visit so that was so fun!!! We went to Eli's soccer game and watched him play!! I know I'm a little biased, but he's got some quick feet! What a soccer player!!

Eli's the cute one on the far left. Yeah!! He's not the shortest on the team!

Then we headed to Ashlee's for a haircut! She really does a fabulous job!! Then Miguel went on a "date." We went grocery shopping without any kids!!! That counts as a date when you're as old as we are and have 3 kids! Then off for some more fun with my mom! We headed out shopping before we went to the RS Broadcast! I loved it! So nice to hear inspiring, encouraging and praise for what we do as moms/women/wives/latter-day saints! Then over to Marie Calendars for a quick bite and dessert. Let me give you a word of advice. When you tell them you want a brownie sundae, BEWARE! It was the hugest thing ever. Three people couldn't have eaten it. I made a dent in it, but that was it!!!