Thanks for making me a wimp MOM!!!

If you know my mother you know that she will cry at an AT&T commercial, if someone else is crying (or should be) or ... well if you know her you know, almost anything.

I would like to publicly thank her for making me a boob! 

Today some good friends of ours left for Africa.  I was sad that my husband was losing a good friend but even sadder that my daughter was losing her friend. 

The family headed for the airport before the kids even got home from school so I went over to say my good-byes.  As I hugged my daughters little friend tears came to my eyes because I knew that it would be years if not longer until these good friends got together again. 

I would like to point out, no one died, they have only been friends for 7 months and I was not even saying good-bye to my own friend.  But because my mother gave me the wimpy cry genes this is what happens to me when an AT&T commercial come on the TV, at the end of a particularly sad Grey's Anatomy or when I have to say good-bye to a 10 year old that my daughter loves.

As usual .... it is all my mother's fault.

WIFE OF THE YEAR!

So some friends invited us over for a Chinese New Year Party.  We were very excited to go.  A night without the kids, grown up talk that was not kid related and being with friends we won't be with very much longer.

One of the activities we (my hubby) participated in was eating the bizarre things that the Chinese eat; but they did not tell us what we were eating until after we had done it.  We (he...because he will eat pretty much anything) ate seaweed, dried anchovies, dried squid, duck feet... and this orange ball thing.  My husband was in the middle of chewing and swallowing this orange ball when I leaned over and asked, "So how is that duck testicle?"  I have never seen my husband almost lose his lunch before but he nearly did.  As soon as I realized that he was gagging I yelled, "It's an egg, it's an egg. I was just kidding."  Although he did NOT lose his lunch (and again I would like to point out I didn't eat any of that because I would have) it might have been the meanest, but funniest, thing I have done to him all year.  (Yes, I am aware we are only a month and a half into the year.  This leaves me plenty of time to improve on this event.)

None-the-less, I hope you all have a very happy Chinese New Year!

Would We All Make the Same Choice?

Isaac has been so sick for the last week.  He has been begging to go back to school but because of his fever I couldn't let him.  On Saturday he got up and asked, "Mom, if I give my sickness to someone do I get rid of it faster?"  When I explained that it didn't work that way his reply was, "That's okay I wouldn't do it anyway, I don't want anyone else to feel as yucky as I do." 

I was so glad to hear him say something that thoughtful, and wondered how many of us would make the same choice.

God's Sense of Humor

So if you are my facebook friend you might recall that a couple of weeks ago I posted on my status, "I love WebMD. I either have a Pulmonary embolism or the common cold." and then the next day, "Good news, I don't have a Pulmonary embolism. I have pneumonia; the common cold might have been better news." 

Well my pneumonia was not getting better so my hubby insisted on taking me back to the doctor.  We went to the local Urgent Care and after a brief examination he said, "Here is the deal I won't call the ambulance if you promise to go right to the ER.  I think you might have a pulmonary embolism."  Oh my crap, did he really just say that??? 

To make a very, very, very long story short.  We sat in the ER for nearly 7 hours, did a whole battery of tests to leave with what, you ask???  More antibiotics for my PNEUMONIA! 

I guess my day could have been worse. 

Isaac's Love for his Siblings

Today Shawn and I were talking about how expensive a family of 5 is and jokingly suggested that we should sell one of the kids to pay for the other two.  Without hesitation Isaac suggested Eli.  When I laughed and said something about not even thinking about it, he paused for a moment and said, "No wait, Emma she doesn't share her stuff."

How Did My Life Get so Busy?

I feel like such a slacker not updating this blog; but in my defense I really do this mostly for the grandparents and since the kids (at least the big kids) have been in with their grandparents for the last month I felt less pressure to do so. 

Christmas has come and gone, and like the rest of the year was very different from years past.  We had to plan the entire Christmas morning experience around what would fit in our suitcases for the trip home and what would have to be packed away when we move in a couple of months it put things in a whole different view.  So Santa brought the kids Nintendo DSs for Christmas.  They were/are excited and I think it should make traveling especially to South America less hair pulling for me.

The best gift however came on Christmas Eve when my sister gave us a beautifully personalized frame announcing the coming arrival of their twins.  We are so excited!  Funny how it took me 10 years to deliver 3 grandchildren and in one swoop she will nearly double the count.  My kids are so excited about the additions to our family and let me assure you tears were shed (I won't say by who) when we realized we will be in Paraguay when they arrive.  Travel plans in the works, we will pray it works out.

The kids have loved their time with their grandparents.  I'm so glad they got this time before we leave.  Although both kids got the flu while I was away and then managed to pass it to my mother.  I'm sure this was a Christmas they will never forget. 

I would like to take a minute to share what I am grateful for:

I am grateful for a husband that takes care of me even when I whine.
I am grateful for parents who are willing to take care of my sick kids without complaint.
I am grateful for children who think of others and are honest.
I am grateful for a baby that makes me smile everyday.
I am grateful for a gospel that I can feel the spirit even in a language I don't understand.
I am thankful for the opportunity to learn Spanish even though it makes me want to scream.
I am grateful for a family that is selfless.
And last but not least, I am so very grateful for my Savior and Redeemer and the time given to us each year to remember his tender birth. 

I hope you all had a wounderful holiday.  I'll try to get Christmas pictures up soon.

Isaac's Logic

I know this is 2 in one day but my kids are so smart.  I can't believe the depth of their minds.  Tonight after being asked 3 times to go read Isaac got a swat to the butt.  This was pretty traumatic for him since it almost never happens, but after several weeks of blatant disregarding of direction it was deserved. 

When I went into talk to him about the decision he made and the consequence to follow he was looking at a picture he had drawn at church.  He explained it all to me earlier in the day.  The picture is of Nephi in his armor and a sword, blocking arrows in war. 

He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I wish I had looked at my picture before I made that choice." 

"Why?"

"Because I want to be like Nephi.  In my picture he is fighting with his armor on, blocking the arrows that want to hurt him.  It is like he is using his sword to protect him from things that tempt him.  And even when he is done fighting he has to be careful about when he takes off his armor because something might sneak up on him and kill him when he is not even looking."

"So what do you think you should have done?"

"I should have used my sword and followed directions.... (long pause) but I do have to say... it was Emma's idea."

Well at least he understands the concept of the Armor of God.  But I wish he wasn't so willing to throw his sister under the bus.