Who Me?

I am helping in Emma's kindergarten classroom this year and today was my first day. Her teacher gave me some work to do which included calling the kids over to do one on one assessments. Every time I would call a child over that sat near Emma I would hear her say "That's my mom!" It was really cute. She kept looking over at me and smiling.

After working in the class, I went to pick up Mia from preschool. I walked in and two of the little girls in her class try to fill me in on how the day went. Brianna tells me Mia was not nice today. Then Peyton says that Brianna is right. Uh, oh. The day had been going so well. I just hope it is an "off day" and not a regular pattern starting.

Europe

Charlie and I just got back from Spain and Portugal with our friends, Tim and Roma. We had so much fun. There were a few rocky moments, but all is well. We arrived in Lisbon Saturday morning and waited in the customs line for just under two hours. It was in a very large room and it seemed like we were the only people wearing deodorant. Yikes! Then we eventually made our way to the car rental where more waiting then off to the parking garage. More lines. The garage was so jam packed that the parking attendants would e-brake and spin the car in place so that they could pull into the parking spots! It was a little scary, but reminded my of a James Bond movie. It was kind of cool.

It was too early to check into the hotel so we drove over to some sites we wanted to see. We sat in traffic for a while before deciding to postpone the Sintra trip. We headed back and went to Belem tower and Jeronimo Monastery. Belem tower is really cool and located in the water. It is 500 years old and still in good condition. It was amazing. The monastery was breathtaking. We headed back to our car to find it unlocked and everything in it gone. All we had left was our camera, passports and credit cards. Tim and Roma only had a camera and chap stick. Luckily the thieves left the printout of our hotels in the car. We spent the next 5 hours at the tourist police station. Thankfully Tim speaks Portuguese. We were so tired that we literally slept on the floor until it was our turn. By this time all we could do was find our hotel and eat dinner. The next morning we tried to buy a few things, but nothing is open on Sundays. Eventually we found one pharmacy and bought some toiletries. It was about $9 for a toothbrush! So in all of our pictures we are wearing our glasses, no make-up, and clothes we bought in Spain(Thanks Tanner and Vanessa for letting us buy some new clothes on base. You are life savers!!)

We headed on to Cadiz, Spain and visited some of our friends who are stationed in Spain. We ate at the best restaurant. It was really amazing. It was great to see them again and they helped us out a lot. Then on to Granada where we probably got a little carried away with the European ice cream. So yummy!! We saw the Alhambra and wandered around the city. It was great. Then we drove to Sevilla for more castles, cathedrals, and ice cream of course. There were beautiful gardens around the castle in Sevilla. We had heard that the police station had some of our things back in Lisbon and were very excited to hear that they had Tim and Roma's passports. We had been dreading spending a whole day at the embassy trying to get temporary ones. We were not able to go to Morocco because of the passports, but we could see it and Gibraltar on our drive from Cadiz to Granada. Wow, that was one of the best parts. We had a great view and were able to take some pictures. Another highlight was the monastaries. The detail that the artisans put into the monasteries in particular was astounding. I was touched by all the effort that went into every square inch. One of the towers we went in had been there for over 1200 years! I loved my trip.

On the way home we went through security in Lisbon. I got through first and waited for everyone else. Tim joined me and we watched in amusement Charlie get pulled aside and the guard snap on some rubber gloves. I was laughing, but he only got a thorough pat down. I tried to take a picture, but another guard came over and made us erase it. :( Like I said in my previous post I was getting homesick at the end and really wanted to see my kids and eat some American food. I was really missing cold milk, soft bread and salad dressing. We were really fortunate while we were there and the food was very good, but after a little more than a week we were craving something a little more familiar. I think I need a relaxing vacation next. ;)

God Bless America

We just got home from Europe tonight. I had a great time, but I don't know what else to say except I love America. When we landed in Philadelphia I was between crying and singing the national anthem. Charlie made fun of me because I told a couple random people that I love America. Actually, I think I only told the guy in the airport restaurant that I love America... I told the customs guy that it is great to be home. I was smiling really big. In the Philly airport they have the liberty bell made out of Lego's and the signatures from the Declaration of Independence on a glass partition. It just stirred so much emotion in me to see the signatures and to know what they were risking and what they were creating. I think being away, no matter how amazing it was, makes me realize just how great we have it.

Seven

7 Things I plan to do before I die

1. Watch my children grow up

2. Build my own home

3. Go to Europe (I get to cross this one off tomorrow!!)

4. Convince Charlie that he wants to build our own home

5. Not be afraid to show my emotions and tell people why I love them

6. Be a grandma

7. Learn patience

7 things I do now

1. Watch my children grow up

2. Pray

3. Play

4. Study

5. Blog (probably too much)

6. Try to do everything (I should probably seek treatment for that)

7. Cook

7 things I can't do

1. Sing

2. Be understanding when someone hurts my child

3. Skateboard

4. Hide my emotions on my face.

5. Drive as well as Charlie
6. Play an instrument
7. Stop thinking about Ginger

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex

1. Sense of humor
2. Eyes
3. Intelligence
4. Playfulness
5. Athleticism
6. Sensitivity
7. Dorkiness

7 things that I say most often

1. Bummer
2. I love you more.
3. Cereal or waffles?
4. Want to play/race?
5. What did you do first?
6. Okay, your turn.
7. actually/really

7 celebrates that I admire ( I don't really admire any, but here are some I like to watch in shows or movies.)
1. Tina Fey
2. Morgan Freeman
3. Shawn Connery (back in the day)
4. Drew Berrymore
5. Lucy Lui
6. Adam Sandler
7. Johny Depp

7 favorite foods
1. Chicken Milano
2. Spinach and Artichoke dip
3. Cereal
4. Avocado
5. My BBQ hamburgers with green chilies
6. Tri-tip
7. Carne asada or pollo asada

7 people who need to do this

1. Christy
2. Ashley
3. Candace
4. Heather
5. Mery
6. Amy
7. Laura

Memories I Want To Keep

Before I had my blog I tried to write down funny things the kids did in my journal. I would often forget so I started quickly writing down notes on paper when something would happen. I am trying to clean off my desk in the office and came across a few of these notes.

Emma pretended to conduct primary(the children's meeting at church) and did a random version of the First Article of Faith, then prayed that her eggs would be yummy and soft. Then she told Mia to give the talk. Mia started to pray and Emma yelled at her to stop and give a talk. Mia stopped praying and began to sing "We Will Rock You." Somehow this was acceptable to Emma.

I told Emma that the aquarium has things that live in the ocean. She asked if it had pirates. I told her no. She said pirates live in the ocean with sharks and dolphins.

A Few More Firsts

Justin just started scouts. This is his first activity with his uniform. Doesn't he look handsome? Just like his dad. He had a pack meeting last week without uniform and a swim activity a few weeks ago. He loves scouts so far and is excited to participate.


















Charlie started a new job last week and had training in NY. This week was his first real week of work. I took a picture while he was getting ready. He asked what I was doing and acted like I was being weird, but I think he secretly enjoyed the attention. We recently got a new camera and I really like taking pictures now, so get used to it.


















This last picture is not a first, but I like that my kids are so random and goofy together. This is Mia and Emma pretending to be monsters and ghosts.

Uh, I Don't Think So

This is how Mia looked right before we left for church on Sunday. Notice two different socks, one inside out. I am all for the kids dressing how they want at home, the park or store, but I draw a line at school and church. Call me old fashioned.

I Heart Britney

My niece works for Mac make-up. She has to sell tickets to their classes every so often. She called and asked me and my sister, Christy, to go. We bought tickets for last night. Yesterday morning I get a call from Christy telling me that the Britney Spears has also signed up for the same class. Christy was REALLY excited. She said she wanted to take a picture with Brit and blow it up into a huge poster. I suggested making it into a t-shirt or purse. Then I started to get excited too. I thought it would be really funny to have a shirt or mug with our picture on it. We figured that she probably wouldn't be there, but we were really hoping that she would be. We brought our cameras and thought about how to sit closer to her in the room, get her picture, etc. Well, Britney stood us up. We had fun anyway and still took pictures. I took quite a few shots to get a good picture (see previous post), but it was really fun to hang out with my sisters and niece. My niece did my make-up and someone else did Christy's. I might have to remove Christy's "before" picture if she threatens me, but I LOVE it. She was trying to get an exaggerated before picture like in magazines. I might just have to make that one into a t-shirt.

Week Two

Tuesday Emma and Justin went to school and then I had to take Charlie to the airport for a business trip. Just before I left to pick up Emma from school I received a call from the school telling me Emma was in the office because she was kicked in the tummy. I also needed to bring a change of clothes. I was a little confused by this and went to the school with the clothes. I get there and Emma is covered in vomit. I ask the nurse how hard she was kicked. I was thinking about how to hunt down and punish this kid. The nurse said "no, sick to her tummy, not kicked." Oh, that makes a lot more sense. We change her clothes and go to her class to get her backpack. Her teacher, Mrs. Hunt, said that Emma had had a great day that day. Emma had started to talk to Mrs. Hunt a lot more that day and interacted well with the other kids. Mrs. Hunt had even stayed and watched Emma at recess to see how well she played and made friends. (How awesome to have such a wonderful teacher!) Then at the end of the day Emma was playing at one of the stations in the corner of the room when she suddenly laid flat on the ground. Mrs. Hunt called her over and asked if she was alright. Emma broke down and cried. She was sick to her tummy, her throat hurt and she was thirsty. Mrs. Hunt walked Emma to the office where the nurse proceded to give her three glasses of water. That is when Emma threw up. It turns out Emma was the third kid in kindergarten to get sick that day. When we got home Emma covered her mouth and said "Oh, no. Not again." We ran to the bathroom where she threw up again. Where is Charlie when I need him? Oh, yeah, he is hard at work so I can stay home. Emma was feeling better the next day, and wanted to go to school, but I kept her home. I was glad that she was sorry to miss school.

Wednesday was Mia's first day of preschool. She has been looking forward to preschool for months. She threw a tantrum before school over which socks to wear and threw a tantrum after school over Daddy being gone, but she was good at school. I will settle for that. She was so excited that every time I tried to take her picture she either stuck out her tongue or was jumping. She is such a funny kid. She is developing her own sense of style, or maybe Emma's is rubbing off. Mia picked out shirts for both of them. They were really excited, but the store didn't have both of their sizes in the same color. They kept telling me that they didn't match, but I still think they look so cute.

Uh, Thanks, I Think

So I don't think that I have taken a really good picture in the last two years. I always look weird, my head is huge, one eye is not open, etc. It started to get to me the last few weeks, so I asked Charlie the other night if I was really that ugly or just not photogenic. It actually took a little courage for me to ask because I know he would tell me the truth. He started to laugh really hard and said "Oh, you're hideous. Ha, Ha, Ha...Wait, is this about your international driver's license picture?" His reaction did actually make me feel better, and yes my international DL picture is too bad to post here.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I love vitamin E oil. If you haven't tried it you should. Just rub on your face before bed. It is amazing. Last week we were really lucky and got to go boating with some friends, who we just love to spend time with. I had a new swimsuit and got a virgin burn (when your skin gets burned in a new place for the first time.) I rarely burn so this was a perfect opportunity to try something new. I only had a burn in about 2x4 inch area so I applied vitamin E oil to one half and aloe to the other. I repeated the next morning as well. In the morning the E oil side was a soft pink instead of red and felt normal. The aloe side was still red and stung. Now the aloe side has peeled and the E oil side didn't.

Another of my favorite things is the PBS show "Word Girl." If I were a super hero she is who I would want to be. She can fly, is super fast and has a super vocabulary. It is hilarious. This is one of my favorite clips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZOAygrQAtk&feature=related Emma keeps asking what things mean that I say and then I explain it to her. One time she said "wow, Mom, you are just like Word Girl." Such a flatterer.

My favorite sound is Mia's giggle. It is high pitch and really deep at the same time. I wish I knew how to record it and post it on here, but I don't. It always makes me smile. She is just so cute and happy.

White Kids Can't Dance

Ever since Justin was a baby he has loved when we play music and dance around. His love of music has steadily increased and he loves to dance and make "dance videos." He will even perform for guests. The girls love to dance too, but have a lot less moves. Emma likes to twirl, spin, or hold something she likes as she moves. Mia either dances with Emma or tries to copy Justin. Justin has recently added some new moves to his repertoire. He has this break dancing type move where he spins on his hands on the floor. Our favorite part of Justin's dancing is the hilarious faces he makes. He always wants me to take pictures and video of him. I am always happy to comply. It should make for some good material as he gets older. He also wears weird outfits and likes to accessorize.