I Had to Know

Yes. I write this blog strickly for my posterity. And I find this information important.

Quote Wikipedia: "Technotronic is a studio-based Belgian music project formed by Jo Boageart (born Thomas De Quincey, 1954, Aalst, Belgium) in 1988, who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various new beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Together with Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi, 1972, Kinshasa, DR Congo), he produced the hit single "Pump Up the Jam" which was originally an instrumental. An image for the act was later put together utilizing Zairian-born fashion model Felly Kilingi as its album/single cover art and "singer" in the music video."

And I did not add " " to singer. It was just there. Please Enjoy.


Also, at one point in my life, I seem to remember my father playing this song repeatedly... at least 20 times a day. And I think this was in the past 5 years. I feel bad the video is blurry, but if you happen to be on meth and reading my blog, then perhaps it can be of benefit to your addicted self.

Pump It Up

Pump up the Jam...Yo Pump it. I don't want... a place to run get your booty on the ?? floor tonight? Make my day... Are those the words?? I'm not even sure who sings that song, but it makes me want to wear large gold hoop earings and spandex. Or picture my husband doing so.

On Saturday we attended a fun birthday party for a cute little boy in our ward. You really can't get much better for a birthday party! I was quite impressed because Maria was climbing up a large slide and there were some boys behind her. I was sure they'd push her out of the way and she'd fall and break her neck... but gentleman Conner put his arm out and wouldn't let anyone pass her until she was up there safely. Then Maria got stuck in the back of one of the inflatables and Conner's sister Regan was holding her while she cried and waited for me to get her. Such good kids.

Christina was king of the hill and enjoyed jousting. I couldn't believe how aggressive and competitive she was. I really love the group of kids in our ward that are Christina's age. I look forward to seeing them develop and grow up!!

I love this picture. Maria is thinking... watch where you put yo' hands conner. Watch it.

Speed-O

This is my uncle. Theo Speedo. I think he's one of the most wonderful people on the earth. He's my mother's brother and you can tell. They have a lot of similarities, but then again, they are quite different. He's very tall and intimidating on the outside, but on the inside you won't find a person who is more willing to help people.

Favorite stories about Speedo:
* He single handed took on 2 drug lord neighborhood pit bulls. He would shuttle people to and from places they needed to go in safety.
* Skipper the cat. And many others. He always is taking in stray animals and feeding them.
* My Uncle = Ultimate Garage Saler
* The time he taught me how to ride a motorcycle.
* He always... and I do mean, literally, always took care of my grandparents... whatever they needed. And now he takes care of my grandma.
* He wore a suit once... at my wedding.
* He is Santa at Christmas. He always goes above and beyond to spoil the girls during the holidays.

He is ultimate car fixer. He helps us find all our cars for cheap.
Thank you: Mumbles 12 years for $2,000
Death Star 12 years for $1,000??
The beast Going on 2 years for Under 4,000??
Roadmaster/Dynaride Going on 2 years for $2,000
Olds Going on 2 years for $1,000

The other day my car wouldn't start. I didn't want to take it to the shop, so off Theo Speedo rushed to my house spending hours putting in a new battery, alternator and fixing a leak in my transmission fluid. He suffers from severe arthritis, yet he slaved away so we could save some money. I love my uncle. There are few people that are as generous and loving. He truly is such an example to me.

Hair Done, Rent Paid... Thrills Ya'll

I love that I can make my manly-man husband giggle. I feel like I could throw him on my back, say hold on tight spidermonkey and Kristen Stewart would have nothing on him in the tee-hee-hee department.

So Jody gets his hair done... a lot. In fact, he gets his hair done more often than me, my mother, my grandmother and my 2 daughters combined. What is my point? My point is if you should ever see him, please sing Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio to him. That. Is. My. Point.

I enjoy his twists. It didn't take as long as it would have to be braided. And I'm grateful he didn't go with the dreads. The length isn't there and I rarely see him barefooted... so it just doesn't work. My favorite is when it's shaved or complete fro/after braids.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2009

There is a bit too much hate and indifference in the world. I love Martin Luther King Jr. I love men and women who stick up for what is right in life. 80 years ago Joe and I wouldn't have been able to marry. Because of the sacrifice of others we can live and love freely.

Christina has a hard time understanding she is black because her skin is not black. Race should not define her, but I hope that she can look to the rich heritage of African Americans and find strength through their story. She is Greek. I hope that she can look to one of the most powerful civilizations in history and find wisdom. She also has the blood of Israel coursing through her veins and I pray that she will never forget the sacrifice given by the Jewish people to preserve and keep the commandments of God.

On Sunday a man said that situations don't really matter and that whatever situation we are given we should rise above. I really disagreed with this. Our situations do matter. We can't ignore life and what we've been given. We have to look at our situations and grow from them. Slavery happened. We don't ignore that. We cherish those that survived, that had high hopes and never gave up. We learn from their hope and honor them. Women throughout history have been regarded as inferior to man, weaker and less valuable. Do we pretend this never happened? No. We look to history and find gratitude in the now.

Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated in our home with colorful art projects, lots of books on him and equality and a rainbow M&M party. We watched the inauguration the day after and I was deeply grateful that President Obama, a strong and respectable man... a black man... was made President of our great country. Our skin is different, but it is the same.... as our Sesame street book pointed out. Some may be white, others black or yellow... But all skin protects us and keeps our blood safe inside. I cried during the ceremony. Here's to hope!!!

Artistic

Christina is not a photographer. She is an artist. She loves to take pictures and I rarely let or encourage her with our expensive camera. However I notice that her shots are always so "surreal". Very modern. Most with a blurry haze suggesting that life isn't always clear, but life is there. Then we have this shot where there is a dirty triangle of spots between the refrigerator and my 4 toes. Symbolically, I don't know why there are only 4... but I shall ask her. She is brilliance.

And did I mention Maria? Yes. She's singing her ABC's very clearly along with Nephi's Courage and It's too late to apologize. We were playing Sequence and she was placing her chips with precision and naming all the animals she got. Really, Kangaroo, Dragon and Unicorn? Anyone? She has also taken strongly to breastfeeding her "babies" and shhing and rocking diapers from the diaper pile or taking them for walks in the doll stroller... I should say clean diapers. Creative little thing. When we're in the car she'll randomly start laughing and say, "Nina so funny. Nina great."

Happy Girls

I don't know if it's because we listen to a lot of reggae... but really. We have happy girls. And they are so beautiful.

No More Monkeys

They could jump on the bed for hours. I often get tired just watching them.

Trundel Me Tyrona Tuleeda Tuesdays

Of recent we've been thinking about bed situations. Currently Maria is in the crib which has a side off and is shoved next to the bed. Then Christina is in a toddler bed. Costco sparked a thought... trundle bed. Christina at night loves to fall asleep next to Maria on our bed, then when we go to bed, we move her. We often find them holding hands. It's sweet. It's life making happiness utter joy sweet. So I told Christina and Maria about trundle beds and they both were screaming and jumping up and down. My only concern is that Christina would roll off the top onto Maria. We could put them in a full size mattress together... Ahhh the choices... the joys of a family bedroom. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!!!

What is it about stamps?

There is something magical about stamps. Maria gets them at library and will go potty for them. Christina daily reports on how she got a stamp at preschool and who didn't get one and why.

Stamps. Body art. I just hope they don't come to me one day with their father's picture tattooed on their neck. Thank you rateef. No. That's a L. Sure it is.

The Bee Lady

We bee makin' bee's wax candles.
Head. Thorax. Abdomen. The 3 parts of a bee.

Smoker... Smokin'... Calmin' down the bees.

The best lookin' bee keepers in town.

The Bee Lady herself. I must say it was a fantastic, perfectly planned evening for children and families at the Robb Dr. Library. I learned quite a few new bee songs and facts.

We bee chillin' now.

Tears. Tears. And more Tears.

As of late, I've been crying a lot. This morning took the cake though.

This morning I went to pick up Christina from school. She saw me and started excitedly to run to me and stopped. She turned around and went back to her 2 teachers and said thank you. Then she went up to Shelby (her friend in a wheelchair) hugged her, got in her face waving and saying bye. Then she ran to me.

What more can I ask for ever in life? I didn't need to say anything to her. She just knew to be a grateful little girl and to be kind.

And then at lunch, we were finishing up and just picking at our plates when Maria reaches out for my hand. I give it to her and she just holds my hand while she eats the rest in the high chair.

Really. What more could I ever ask for? I have the best little girls in the entire world. But God sees fit to keep blessing me for some odd reason. I don't deserve the love and happiness I've been granted... I feel so whole and complete. But yet, now here I am. Tears. Crying. More hormones. Another little sweet baby on the way. Due July 25. I have a feeling it's another little girl and if so we'll be naming her Ella Claire after my father's aunts. Also, the name Ella is a derivative of the Greek Eleanor which means "light". Claire is Latin for "bright". Both words light and bright are very fitting as we love names that will help the girls to remember Christ.

Wow.

We put a bid in on a short sale house awhile ago, but just in case it falls through we've continued to look at houses. And what should we find? A house with a large... large plant smack dab in the front of the house. It makes me wonder if they illegally held monkeys as pets there. Poor monkeys.

Out of Commision

As of Dec. 22 we have had the flu, colds, full body hives, bodily fluids leaked on 60% of our home, fevers...etc. Today is what? the 5th? And after a trip to the ER and a trip to the pediatrician we are on the mend. Christina has a high tolerance for pain according to our doctor and had a double ear infection. Hello. She was breastfed for 2 years, what is going on. But now we have the meds and are praying and giving thanks that all is well.

Joe enjoyed snow camping and it proved to be a very spiritual experience. He got to bond with a great guy in the ward, one of his young men and some random Ukrainians. It was a trip that this family has been going on for 8 years and this was the only year that they had such exceptional, beautiful and warmer weather. God watches over Joe. At testimony meeting Lurch was talking about how if Joe could do it, anyone could... and about preparation. There were so many people that pitched in to make sure Joe could survive. Such kindness! When we went to Scheels today, Joe was quite giddy and rambling on how he felt like a true Nevadan because of the snow camping.

Christmas was wonderful. We had a large breakfast, large lunch and ate too much. We spent it with family, were spoiled rotten and enjoyed fresh snow in the morning. It was beautiful. One highlight included a doll we got the girls that makes noises. Every time it cried Maria screamed and ran over sssshhhing it and rocking it. There was a binky that came with it and Christina said, "What is this? The doll has a voice. Say it loud girl. Say it proud girl." We also got a doll from Yaya Sofia that possibly is possessed. It makes me nervous. I loved doing small Christmas devotionals with the girls this year. I think it invited the spirit and definitely made the holidays more meaningful.

Joe has a new love for the British due to the bbc soap "Cranford". And so do I, it was fantastic! Highly recommend it to anyone, you can get it at your local library it's a DVD full of high strung fun.

And Maria weaned herself. Sigh. She breastfed for 22 months. At night she always says, "Milk please." but then she'd eat for 15 seconds and shout done! at the end. So I figured she was ready. And it was really smooth and natural so I'm grateful for another wonderful experience. My baby is growing up. I can't rave enough about breastfeeding past a year. It's so beneficial health wise. But really, if I died I be so pleased to tell my Father that nothing in this world was more important to me than being there for my children. I know it was only possible because Joe was so supportive. But Maria had 1 bottle (with 1 ounce of formula) because she didn't quite get the hang of sucking yet (at day 5 my milk hadn't come in and she was starving) We did latches and voila, 22 months of Mommy's milk. I woke up in the night, no one else. No one ever gave her milk except myself. I never pumped bottles. I gave her my everything. Is it possible that I'm psychotic? Yes. Definitely. But I truly feel blessed to have had such wonderful and natural experiences with my children.

Flesh of my flesh

Tonight we had a family home evening lesson on giving thanks. My girls are always polite, but I know Maria likes the leper story, so gratitude it was. Quotes of the evening:

Mom: What is this I'm pointing to? (Skin)
Christina: Your flesh.

Mom: We've been reading about a story of a family that left Jerusalem. Who is that family?
Christina: Well. There's the son Nephi, the father Lehi, the mother Sariah, the bad brothers Laman and Lemuel.

Maria is sitting in daddy's lap looking at a picture of laban:
Maria: Cut off his head!! Cut off his head!!

Mom: Who is this Maria? (pointing to leper)
Maria: LEPER!! LEPER!! LEPER!!!!
To which she was mumbling about the rest of the lesson. And then (at dinner) she bursts into song, "Happy Birthday to Scheels. Mommy! Let's go!! Let's go Scheels!! Happy birthday to Scheels."

Earlier at Scheels we walked by one of the wax presidents and I asked Christina who her favorite was to which she replied, "Bishop Mooney." :)

And at Dr. Sachdev's office-
Maria: May I please have a sucker?
Dr.Sachdev : Very good Maria. (Looks at me astonished.)