Comp Time...

We may not see Joe much at night, but it is nice when he can go in late in the morning. Today was such a day. We enjoyed some breakfast at the big A... none other, Atlantis. Then went to the Wilbur D. May museum for a snake exhibit, that doesn't start until March. I guess it helps to read the whole pamphlet, eh Sofia? None the less, we got to look at the gardens, which even though they were bare, were quite pretty.

Finished!

I finally put up the decorations in our new home. Ok. Not really.

Maria and I went to look at some Model Homes the other day. Reasonably priced. I just don't like the area and that there are huge boulders in the backyards. I feel like if you're going to buy a home there should be no "but"s. But I still loved looking at the decor, knowing of course I have no such talent. Please, no pity party. Our home is safe and child friendly and when you walk in our doors, it may not be gorgeous, but our home is one in which you can feel the spirit strongly. Why?

Josh. 24: 15
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

The Mad Scientist

This girl loves sand. Ever since she was a baby. She could play in sand for hours, literally.

1 year old AND over 20 lbs.

Time to turn the seat around! And it couldn't have come at a better time. She loves sitting up like a big girl, just like her sister. Doesn't she look like a future cheerleader? Also, she got that child's MP3 player for her birthday. It plays 12 classical tunes and is a favorite! I love that I can ask Christina, OK, who wrote the opera Carmen and she'll know it's Bizet. (Which is now her song of the month)

You know it's love when...

She immediately crawls (or walks) over to Yaya with a book in and hand and says, "Up."

NOAH...Before I forget

Christina and I were doing an activity talking about the wise man and foolish man song, then going through some scripture stories and seeing if the people in the stories were like the wise man or the foolish man. (On a side note we've made up our own 3rd verse which goes, "So build your house upon the rock. Build your house upon the rock. Build your house upon the rock, the rock is JESUS CHRIST.") She was doing motions and everything. Then we get to the end of the story of Noah and the Ark.

Mom: So was Noah a wise man or a foolish man?
Christina: He was a wise man, but he was also a bad man.
Mom: How was he a bad man?
Christina: Well, he killed Abinadi and lit him on fire with matches.

(Me thinking to myself, UBER excited!!!)
Mom: OH!!! You're thinking of King Noah. (I whip out the GAK pictures and show her both men) You are right. There was a King Noah who was a very bad man and burned Abinadi alive. The prophet Noah was the one who listened to the Lord and built the Ark.

I then went on to explain, like her and Yaya are both named Christina, but they are different. Just like King Noah and Prophet Noah.

She is brilliant I tell you! And I'd only told her the story one time, but last Sunday during sharing time we did a reenactment of the story. She must have really enjoyed herself. I'm so proud of her attentiveness and just being aware of important details.

Fame... I love David Bowie.

Well, maybe I don't love David Bowie, but I do thoroughly enjoy his song fame. Which currently pertains to my life mate, beloved eternal companion, in whom I'm soooooooooooooo very proud of. That's 14 o's not 13. In today's Sunday Gazette Joe made section B under neighborhoods and voices article, "Minority students laud UNR's diversity efforts. Campus group seeks to bolster unity at school."

Between UNR and TMCC, which facilitate higher learning for some 40,000 students in the Northern NV area, Joe lead a discussion between ARM (Alliance of Racial Minorities), new faculty and staff at both schools along with Presidents, Umoja (Unity group at TMCC with Joe as the academic advisor and founder) and state Senator Bernice Matthews. It was a successful event where students were able to voice concerns and all were able to come up with ideas to help foster more acceptance.

Joe was quoted, "Jody Lykes, a student service employee at TMCC, told faculty and staff members attending the ARM luncheon that they can be the first line of defense for minority students in danger of dropping out. 'We can change that,' he said. 'All of us can influence these students coming on campus. We have the power to say, 'Hello.' That simple little act of saying hello can be an invitation to discuss some of the issues they have in class or out of class."

They posted Charle's picture... but should have put in Joe. He's hotter.

Way to make a difference sweetheart! You make me beam.

A Year of Bliss. Maria's 1st year memories.

And honestly... why did it take me 2 hours to figure out how to make a slideshow?

Who was at Cabella's?

So, this photograph of Lils is art to me. She is my favorite flasian. (Asian with Flavor) But if you so happen to notice the man in the back... this is the main type of shopper at Cabella's. Thank you.

You've had a birthday shout....

Hooray! Maria has survived and flourished in her first year of life! Today the festivities included breakfast balloons, a trip to Cabella's, a carousel ride at Boomtown, dinner and cake. She seemed to enjoy herself quite marvelously and hopefully had a fantastic day.

I reminisce. The day she was born was one of the brightest and happiest days in my life. 1 year ago, the weather couldn't make up it's mind. It was snowing, it was sunshine, it was raining, it was time to put on a t-shirt. We wanted her to come to us so badly, and she must have too, because after 3 1/2 hours of labor, she was out! She came out talking to us and hasn't stopped since. Her noises, words and timing are the best. I remember Joe rushing to the nursery to make sure he could get her as quickly back as possible. Sleeping with her and holding her was heavenly. As a newborn I always had her on my chest in the rocking chair and we would sleep. She was just always so warm and cuddly and squeezy. I just wanted to eat her. I still do! I could go on and on. This year has been such a blessing.

* Cabella's is HELL on earth. Seriously. HELL. I am soooooooo anti-hunting. But everyone was like, you've gotta go, it's like a museum! More like a graveyard of creepiness and utter sadness and waste.(Where it all stems from: Ok. It's 12:00 AM and I can't sleep. I turn on the TV and there is this hunting show where they kill a whole flock of geese. It was so graphic and horrific. 25 birds shot down. Why? For what?) Cabella's was wall to wall kill animals. And people who were probably going to knife me, telling my kids why hunting is wrong and why we should be kind and loving to animals. Mommy, why are there arrows in the deer? (Pardon my soap box... I don't know why I'm on such an animal rights kick as of late)

"Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by What is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him?" ~Pierre Troubetzkoy

"From beasts we scorn as soulless, In forest, field and den,The cry goes up to witness The soullessness of men."~M. Frida Hartley

The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest. ~Henry David Thoreau (This one goes out to

Ryan Hansen.)

* Then you've got Boomtown. I love this picture because it is so symbolic of Boomtown. Just backwards. The girls loved riding the carousel

Christina picked out her gift for Maria and wrapped it (mostly) by herself. It was a giant spider and little doll. Maria really liked the card Christina made for her. Christina wanted Maria to open her gifts soooo bad, but we waited until daddy was home. Then Christina breastfed Maria's doll.

Lastly, Maria enjoyed opening her gifts and eating her cake. I knew that she wasn't going to be dainty about it. Or taste it little by little. It all went in, and nothing came out.

Yogurt!

I love that my girls are into feeding each other, or anyone who is nearby. Christina invited Maria over, who was already on her way, to a yogurt party. Hooray for calcium! It's always calcium... I feel bad for fiber. Who ever says, let's have a fiber party? Perhaps at a rest home. Did you know that 3 out of 4 Americans don't get their recommended daily dose of fiber. Maybe I shall encourage raisin bran parties from now on.

No... I'm not a member of PETA, but...

Seriously, meat scares me. With this whole recall bit because of animal cruelty. What a shame our lives have become. I've been really trying to make my prayers more meaningful during mealtimes. It's been really helpful to thank and ask blessings upon the famers that have grown the lettuce or the animals that have shared their lives so we could live.

But my desire is to become vegetarian. It always has been. I blame my husband. I don't want to cook 2 meals, but I don't want him to die of starvation or resort to fast food. Thank you KFC cruelty. Where... where will I find nutritional balance? I can assure you, it won't be in corn dogs.... which mysteriously ended up in my freezer... which I know I didn't buy.... because I think the idea of "mechanically seperated meat" is absolutely horrible. But how do I explain this all to my child who thinks they just taste good?

Reno Auto Show 2008

So. Well. What do I even really say? I read in the paper there is going to be an auto show with fun activities for the kids. LIARS. LIARS. It was like an indoor parking garage that you pay $4 to see. We could have gone to a dealership and it would have been the same. I was thinking it was like a classic auto show. Thank you Reno Gazette Journal, you are trash. Literally. But we did make the best of the occasion. We practiced our colors, opposites, learned about Hybrids, saw lots of balloons. Also, since I was the only person who brought kids, Christina and Maria did get to use the bounce houses for about 1 1/2 hours. I'm looking forward to bedtime tonight. They shall crash. Solid. We also got to sign up for a FREE house safety inspection. I guess a person from Nevada's Child Safety Board comes and gives us pointers, free first aid kit (the type that is $25 at traget), free stuffed animals and a free fire estinguisher. I am really looking forward to that! Ah, the life of a stay at home mom. Heavenly! Maybe not so fascinating, but heavenly!

New Haircut...Or is it?

So I'm not quite sure. She cut my hair and styled it, it looked completely different, it was so light and fluffy... then I got home and couldn't figure out how to do it like she did. Hence why I would never make a good canidate for those make over type shows. Because 2 days (literally) I would look like I did before. Why? Why can't I just look like Eva Longoria Parker. (Sp?)

Glen Duncan V-Day Par-tae

We walk in and there are screams. It's like star treatment. The students whisk Christina away, get her food, drinks, gifts and cards. They take her to play games, she sings for the them. I feel like I'm the mother of a child hollywood actress or something. Then they start with the baby. 10 year old boys dancing for Maria, playing peek a boo, making faces trying to get her to smile. But she just stares on. Stares on. I decided to eat a brownie, I don't know how Maria knows, but everytime I chew she brings her open mouth to mine. Am I a bird? Do I look like I'll vomit in her mouth. Odd child. I also noticed, heart day was a bit like halloween. Emptying out the valentine bag, tons of candy. Why do we always have to gorge ourselves at the holidays?

The Lyman's Part-ae

Alicia was quite nice to throw a party for our kids. It included valentine making, games and a spongebob video. I personally am I fan of lighting things on fire, with that said, I'd like to see spongebob on fire. Burn the mother down. All pardons Miss VenHuizen. So! It was fun and Christina got to play her all time favorite carnival game of fishing! Maria just enjoyed sitting on Mom's lap. When there are a lot of people around, she stays close by. Thank goodness... I hope the same goes fof when she is a teenager. Minus the holding her in my arms part.

Mr. Valentine's Day Mailman

The ladies and I woke up to such a surprise! Happy Valentine's Day indeed! A special Valentine's Day mailman had scattered love cards all over for us, gotten some balloons and flowers and made our morning quite special! I couldn't believe each valentine was signed! There must have been at least 100 in the kitchen, in the study, refridgerator, in the car... in the first aid box???

Remember when we first fell in love?

Yes. I do Joe. It was when you were hiding in a tree, peering at me like a stalker that I knew- you were the one. Happy Heart Day to you too my love. Also, why do we look like we're 14 in that one pic?

Let's go outside!

The weather was warm enough to go outside and actually enjoy ourselves. Christina thought it was pretty special, so she got dressed up pretty fancy.

Lowe's: Valentine's Mailbox

This time, it was Mommy's turn. Good thing there was a teacher there, because when it comes to building things, I'm a little slower. Christina did a great job though, patch #2 ON!! Great way to kick off the week of Valentine's!

Friday Play Group

So we've been doing a play group for the past month every friday and it's been fun. What a great group of kids! (Especially Conner... he's just really laid back and fun)

One Giant Leap For Mankind

The day my children were born, was one giant leap for mankind.

I finally was done and decided we needed something "really" fun to do. Going to savers or smiths wasn't cutting it. So off to the Truckee Discovery Museum it was! They are the same people that do the discovery museum in San Fran. A fantastic space play exhibit was up and the girls had a blast! No pun intended! Ok. It was intended. I'm lame.

Christina loves to play aliens with Joe, so this was right up her alley.

Maria loves to kiss herself in the mirror, so this mirror was absolutely amazing to her. So many Maria's to kiss, so little time!

I wonder where she gets putting her hands on her hips from? Crazy.