The Bid is In

The bid is in... will it be accepted, will it be rejected, will they counter offer? I must admit we put a low bid in and were hardballs about it. I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm peaceful for today. I'm tired. Our real estate agent spent from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM at our house explaining and doing paper work.

So now, we wait.

"II" Blessed "II"

I guess our leaf blower has 2 settings. I and II. II obviously being the more powerful and quick setting. Leaves only took me 1 hour instead of 2. Interesting how it only took me a year to figure that one out. The girls loved playing in the leaves and being blown on by the blower. It was magical as we did this at dusk and the way the light was hitting the leaves. And the weather was summerly splendid almost! Ahhhh... how I live life for moments like this... and doing leaves nonetheless, who would have thought??!!

Rocking Tucker

(Natural Models... I was telling them I need more attitude, more vogue...)

When Ang and Carson (and now Tucker) come over, it's always just laid back and nice. I actually rocked Tucker to sleep!! It was heavenly, he is such a little man and is really advanced for his age. He holds his head up and is sturdy and you just want to give him a bizillion kisses! Carson is always great, just fun and thoughtful. He gets it from his mother. I still have the workout CD she made me in the CD player, ready to pump me up when I start exercising again.... ahhh, as I eat a twix as I write this post.

Let's Make Eye Contact

I'll admit, I'm a "going out" junkie. Case in point, I got a sales flyer for a Toyota Mega Pumpkin Sales Event at the Grand Sierra Casino's parking lot. The flyer said free food, bounce houses, fun and pumpkins!! Really, who takes their kids to something like this when they have absolutely no intention of buying a car... hence I tap my forearm.

We arrive and are immediately spotted by a wolf-like sales person drawn to prey. He starts asking me questions and I tell him we're very happy with our beater cars and don't want a car payment, we're here for the "Free pumpkin festivities". The thing is, he wouldn't break eye contact. What, is this a stare down? Why are we doing this? I'm ALL for making eye contact, but 20 minutes later can we look at the birds or cigarette butts on the ground. Thank you plentiful.

So we jumped to our hearts content, all by ourselves as no one was there. Thank you recession. And then when I asked for a free pumpkin the guy said take 50. So I took 20 ish and felt like Kris Kringle driving around town dropping them off. As a side note I "won" $450 worth of free gas. Yeah. We'll see if this online redemption thing works. But Bravo Toyota, Bravo. I give it a 6 out of 10.

Tidbits

* I finished Elder Eyring's Because He First Loved Us... very easy reading, great message 9 out of 10. I like having compilations of talks all together in one place.

* The little ladies have always read together, but now they do so closer. Christina actually holds Maria and she'll sit there and listen to her sister. It's beautiful.

* I started Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith... WOW. I'm on page 30 and it's already a 10000000 out of 10. Surprisingly easy to read even with the differences of speech compared to the 1800's.

* Maria and I are still enjoying library on Wednesdays. She is now fully singing and dancing and talking. Very fun! She especially loves the leaves in the garden room. Me too!

* I went online one night to show Joe some baby pictures of the boys. I was very surprised at what we found. I asked the boys to clean it up and they said they would. I'm so proud of them. I don't plan on checking on them, I trust them. But I did find it interesting that Kevin would say, "I didn't think you would be on there or else I would have cleaned it up." What a wonderful teaching lesson in that statement. Afterall, isn't Heavenly Father or His angels always watching?

* I went to a couple different Halloween Festivities with my little ladies, Kaeli, Nick and Leah. I love how my children love the people we love. Maria lets Tony hold her, will give high fives to Kevin and smile at Darnell and say hi. Christina went trunk-or-treating with Leah. Nick is talking a little bit more and even said he wanted to go to more Halloween parties with us. And Kaeli won a pie at the cake walk. She was the last prize and she desperately wanted it, so I'm glad she got it.

* We might put a bid in on this beauty. 2,800 Sq.Feet. 2 blocks from a golf course duck pond. 8 blocks from one of the best elementary schools in the county. Very fair price.... thank you recession.... Hmmmmm......

* I haven't watched The Office in 2 weeks now. And that's just fine with me. Who would have thought??

* Gas is down to $2.95!!!!! At the local Grand Sierra Psychics ball/convention they said we'll have a more sharp downfall and then within the next 2 years come back out of it. Well, at least 8 out of 10 said that. ROAD TRIP!!!! Although I might wait until it is $2.50.

Can we just go to Hawaii already?

This weekend Ram came up with my niecey Miss A. First of all, I love that my children love Ram and Miss A. Even my Maria was holding hands with Ram... it was just natural. My only regret, that Ram and Miss A couldn't stay... for let's say, forever. I know the girls would get along splendidly. Ahhhh.... if only.




So my little niece. I love you. You are beyond precious. You are happy and alert. You are laid back. You sleep... through noise... and don't wake up.... which is odd to me. You are beautiful. You are perfect in every single way. God willing I hope I live to see every special moment in your life and be the best aunt I can be to you sweet girl. Even just looking at you brings happiness to my heart. You will grow up to be an amazing person, just like your mommy.

Carriage Averted

I know. I'm a bad mother. But I saw Maria's horse costume for $1 and the Unicorn for $7... how could we not be those? (Thank you savers) Christina was thrilled and Maria also. We wear these at least 2 hours out of the day. I must admit, never in a million years did I picture being a mother with kids dressed up as horses, neighing and squealing while driving a barbie jeep. Talk about joy. Not too mention they drive by the neighbor's cat, talk to it, throw leaves at it in hopes it will eat the leaves and then wave and drive off. Repeat. Repeat again. Then the radio starts to work and there are tiny fists in the air, up and down to 80's pump it up music. I am so blessed.

Too Much Time Part Deux

Joe as:


The Fluffster and Lionel Richie

Ryan, ram's brotha and Himself in 1994

Biggie Smalls and Himself in 2004 minus the bowtie

My dad in the 70's and Speedo in the 60's

Tito Jackson and Malcom X

JFK and The hispanic guy from Napolean Dynamite

Too Much Time on My Hands

Thank you 1994. You were a good year.

The scary thing is that 1994-1999 my hair really did look like this.

RIP curls. RIP.

1st Poopolino

Wow. Today Maria told me "Poo Poo" so I took her to the potty and she went!!! Hooray!! 19.5 months!! I don't expect her to be potty trained, but it was nice that I didn't have to change a diaper. Ahhhh, the small joys of day to day living!!!

*Update: Maria went potty a second time today!! Woah!! 2 in one day!! What a lucky mama!!

Best $40 investment EVER

I was tempted. $400.... We could do it. But then that's almost half of what we paid for Joe's car. So no. No longer tempted. I decided to keep an eye out for used power wheels at Savers, garage sales whatever. Then on craigslist it appeared! And in Reno, that doesn't happen very often. So off to the other side of town we went. We drove 25 minutes with it in our trunk held by a measly string and made it, thanks to prayers and Heavenly Father blessing us with safety.

Maria has learned a new phrase, "Barbie Jeep."

The girls started screaming excitedly, jumped right in and THEN!!! Tears. Christina was very nervous about driving Maria. BUT after 20 minutes, she was a pro and we were off man. We drove 2 blocks to the Halloween tree to say Hey. (Whenever we see trees that are cool, we talk to them and they talk back to us! It's amazing! Some toilets also speak to us, but that's another post) So 3 hours later, and after picking up another little friend who was looking on in envy, Mommy said break time. We skipped naps, had a snack and were out for another hour and drove to Nancy's house to show off the new ride. And now my daughter can drive. Wow.

I love watching them together. They have always loved each other, but now as they are a little older, they are glued at the hip. I love their best friendship.

I love their wave in unison at the end.

Prayers Sweet Prayers

Christina : " And please bless that Maria will not eat her food while I say prayer.

Please bless that Maria will fold her arms and be reverent while I say prayer.

And please bless all the people in the world to be happy. And bless RC to be healed.

And please bless that we'll have a good time sleeping."

Some other recent favorites...

Christina: "By any chance can we play by that bear?"

Maria: Knock Knock.
Mommy: Who's there?
Maria: Mommy
Mommy: Mommy who?
Maria: (laughs really hard) And then we repeat this at least 20 times.

Christina: Knock knock
Mommy: Who's there?
Christina: Mommy
Mommy: Mommy who?
Christina: Mommy I love you!!! And then we repeat this at least 20 times with other names like daddy, yaya, papa, maria, yaya sofia, vacuum... etc.

The Radical Militant Sparks Librarian

picture courtesy inju on flickr.com

Ok. You know the story. You take your child to library time and there are probably 3 or 4 kids who can't sit still and end up screaming bloody murder. But life goes on, next book, awkward glances, look at the clock...etc... sit down right now or else (but then there really is no or else) more running, distractions...

Not today, not last week either my friend. Our hero Sparks Librarian has taken a stand. If you can't learn how to discipline and teach your child good manners, she will make sure you feel bad as a mother!! And I love it! Although, I do feel a little bad because some people just don't know what they're doing.

"Your child is screaming. You need to leave. If you don't sit down boys, you will need to leave. Why did you come back? She was screaming? Please leave." You tell it to them sister. I'm there to enjoy some books and songs with my child who can sit and pay attention. And if she couldn't sit and pay attention I'd wait till she could. But she can, hence we go.

Today the numbers were less and I hope by next week the one or two scragglers will take the hint, au revoir my rambunctious friends. Because it's not the kids, it's the parents that drive me nuts. The stairs are dangerous. The kids aren't supposed to be there. If the children want to walk around, let them do it in the back. If your child is screaming you need to leave. Screaming bothers people. I don't want to listen to your kid talk back to you.

Do I sound harsh? Do I sound judgemental?I don't care. The Radical Militant Sparks Librarian has given me new hope and perspective. Enough is enough, let's take back toddler time.

On the same note, Maria has been loving library. She is always repeating the words and I've noticed she can repeat all the numbers to 10. She sings, she dances and she loves to get stamps at the end! We do some puzzles, play in the leaves and then pick up Christina at preschool. Hooray for Wednesdays!!

Yes on Prop. 8

The text of Proposition 8 is as follows:
"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

I really need to be honest. I didn't have any qualms whatsoever with gays getting married. I still don't have a lot of problems with it because honestly, we don't know what is in a persons heart. What that person has gone through in life. However, our church has asked us to support Prop 8 so I am. I'm not much of a political person. I am curious as to all the hate that this issue has spurned.

Granted there has been hate from the beginning of the world. What it comes down to is this, John 15, what is truth.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We are to love each other. Plain and simple.

A Blizzard in October

From this:

To this:

We were getting our ballet tickets when Christina says, Mommy it's snowing. I glanced briefly and didn't see anything. Sure enough, we go outside and there are a couple flakes! 3 days ago it was 80 degrees. 3 minutes later, it's literally a blizzard. We ate lunch at Yaya Sofia's and quickly left to get home. 1 hour later her power went out. And supposedly in 2 days it's supposed to be 80 again. Hmmmm....

The Ducks

I must have taken Christina when she was younger to feed the ducks weekly in the bay area. Poor Maria has gotten gypped. The ducks here are just vicious and aggressive. However!! I've found a better spot!! And with it brings new opportunity! And it really is a beautiful spot right by the truckee river. This morning was especially cold and I was actually prepared with boots and coats. The weather man said a 20% chance for snow which either meant sunny skies or a blizzard. We live in Reno after all. Christina got her 4 year old immunizations which meant 5 shots. She was so brave and didn't even cry. Thank Heavenly Father for the miracles of medicine!!

Maria wasn't going to let the ducks get her, no sir.

Troy: The Finale

Well, another man in the bushes gone and out of my life. And I must say, I'm a little sad. It didn't end happily. I was talking to Amanda, who is moving and come to find out Troy was a crack fiend. He was her deceased son's best friend and before her son died he asked her to take care of him. But Troy bailed on her and he's gone. She's moving because she doesn't need such a big house and I'm sad. I really liked Amanda. We would go on walks in the morning and see her and she always had a big smile and hello for my girls.

She was originally from Oakland and worked her way out of the ghetto. Her daughter is a physicist in France and she does work for the county. She was a good neighbor. Troy kept things lively, but it just is really sad how the choices people make destroy lives. Where is Troy's happiness? Perhaps this is the end, perhaps it's not. It is crazy though how people come in and out of our lives so quickly.

My Lil' Pumpkins

Because my child loves to wear a patch and my other child walks around with purses and an extremely small little lion she calls "kitty meow".