blessings

Just a few thoughts:

So grateful to finally be in a house with a working washer/dryer, a wonderful faucet with sprayer, to have sunlight shining in our dog licked windows, to have a warm bed (even if it is on the floor!), to have NO workers coming over today, to have kids running around screaming, and to be able to sit in my bathrobe until 9am without having to go anywhere!

I realize that motherhood definitely stretches your patience, but I am so incredibly happy to just be a mom. It is the one thing I give thanks to God for every night, even on those days when Wesley does get a swat on his bootie and put in time out every hour. Or, when Austin refuses to nap b/c he is too busy putting on new "outfits" from the dirty laundry pile.

I am just so happy to not have any huge issues in my life that need to be resolved, like we have had over the last few years (starting up DirectBuy, moving three times in a year, making friends, or just having some stability to feel like a normal person). I am also grateful to have Jared home more often (at least I can guarantee to eat a meal as a family twice a week)...and that he is able to watch the kids when I have crazy 5am aerobic classes....he and I are doing quite well in our marriage, when he is not too stressed out from work.

God really does look out for all of us, even if we are too busy, depressed, lonely or prideful to recognize it. I may not "bear testimony" of him every Fast Sunday in church, but I sure do appreciate my blessings and am grateful for a peaceful time in my life right now(although Austin is climbing on my lap and screaming at me right now b/c Wesley took away his toy...not so peaceful!)...

Wesley's 4th b-day

Wesley's birthday was a month ago, back in December, but we decided to throw him a party anyway now in January. Things were too hectic last month with our move and holiday season, so it was a perfect day today to do it.


Thank goodness the rain stopped though! It was raining cats and dogs all morning long...which didn't work for our scheduled treasure hunt and pinata activity!!!! I LOVE doing pinatas, and we have done one for Wesley's 2,3 and now 4th birthday. He never tires of it and it is so fun to watch all of the kids line up, hit the pinata, duck for prizes and go home with sugar in their tummies.


We had a Transformer theme this year, which was great for all of the new action figures that Wesley received. Jared and I worked hard to get things ready last minute (the backyard needed to be raked, patio cleared off of paint cans and of course random household chores).


I think 4 is a great age b/c I am able to really reinforce how "big" Wesley now is...to make him get fully dressed alone, go potty alone, be an example for his brother, eat all of his veggies, and make good decisions. He is so proud of how big he is, and always says that "when I am a papa" I will be able to drive, kiss a girl, and even cook.


It's always a relief when the party is over...and the cleaning is done..and kids are happy with their new toys...for at least a few hours:)

NOT my best class taught

Let me just give you an idea as to what kind of class I taught today at our local gym. I arrived at the appointed time; 9:30am to teach a cycling class. As I walked in, I saw one woman already sitting down and pedaling. My heart dropped, knowing that she and I were going to be the ONLY ones attending today.

I have had few in attendance lately, but one on one classes have got to be the worst. Do the instructors a favor next time it is just you and her...leave the class! I don't like the "personal trainer" type classes where it is just me and the other poor member.

"Carmen" was listening to her Ipod so loudly that I could actually hear the songs from across the room. I asked her if she would like to switch bikes to sit up closer to me so I could instruct her on the class and have her participate a bit more. She declined my offer and said she would be just fine where she was at. Too bad she was literally at the FURTHEST corner in the room, a good 25 feet away from me...and she was not even facing me! ha! I asked how she would be able to keep up with me, and she said she would just, "watch me."

So, this is how the class went. I pedaled along all ALONE at the far end of the room, while Carmen was at the other end in her own world of Ipod music and her OWN cycling moves! It got to a point where I actually TURNED OFF my own music just to listen to hers b/c it was so loud.

One of the front desk people came by to give a tour to a potential member and they gave the an odd look as the peeped inside the room, only to see me all alone...no music...and doing my own moves by myself b/c my girl Carmen was be-bopping by herself and obviously not listening to a word I was saying.

I looked over to Carmen towards the end to tell her we would be sprinting and then cooling down, did she even listen to me or follow my directions? Of course not. I felt pretty foolish to say the least. I had to keep reminding myself that I was a good instructor, that I have had FULL classes before with lots of people enjoying my class...that this whole experience was just another memory to soon laugh about.

Despite the awkward silence, no interaction, no members and boring conversation...I did sweat.

You know you live in a border town when...

I recently went in to get a new vaccum from a local specialty store....you know you live in a border town when the first thing they ask you is, "are you or your maid going to be doing the cleaning?"

You know you live in a border town when the announcements at the grocery stores are first given in Spanish, and then in English.



We are getting our septic tank emptied out (what a disgusting job!!! What courage and strength it must take to actually do the emptying and handle the intense smell, as well as talk to stranger daily about their "solid mass amount"). As they were leaving from my backyard, I noticed one of the workers taking my pecans fro my pecan tree without asking!




Little by little my house is coming together...our next big project will be the landscaping...any ideas for this massive amount of backyard space???


So far...I do love this border town...

Pantry Pleasure

What joy fills my heart to stock up my pantry!!! I have been living from small rations, to limited supplies for so many months...that is just such a treat to buy "a few extra bags of chips" or extra ice cream for visitors that I ANTICPATE WILL COME ANYDAY!! (hint hint). I keep thinking, "what would I want to eat if I were a visitor?" and then buy it for the hopes that someone will come and hang out. I want to always have yummy stuff on hand so that I can be a great hostess. Usually food is what brings the best out of people...I just came from Wal-Mart in this border town on a Friday night. Naturally, the shelves were pretty empty, but the lines weren't too long and I was able to do it all before 9pm!

I also have decided to work twice a week at DirectBuy. A few reasons: health benefits are covered 50%, I have more time to spend with Jared, I get a chance to get dressed up and out of the door by 9am, and it allows me to socialize with adults and learn more about our "family business." My nanny came over today, she is a 19-year-old and I feel good about her. She obviously doesn't have kids, but seems to interact well with mine and can cook without scraping up my pots and pans! I always leave her a list of activities, foods to prepare, some light housekeeping, and other ideas. I am sure she will be bored working tomorrow a full 10 hours...she asked me what I do all day long...and I just told her that I try to stay busy! My kids definitely were testing her buttons with nap time, movie watching and fighting with each other. Either way, I was super happy to come home and chase them around for kisses.

While I am on here...a few New Year's Resolutions:

Write in my journal, as well as the boys' journals once a week
Cook dinners 4-5 x's a week, and take them to Jared at work when possible
Is getting pregnant a goal? (not sure when quite yet...still indecisive)
Read scriptures with my boys during breakfast 4-5 x's a week
Read one book a month
MORE PATIENCE with my toddlers!
Overall, just be a better person spiritually and physically for my family....how does anyone measure that?

Hallelujah!

Tonight I am making history for myself. Never again will I take for granted having free access to the internet and posting pics, blogging, getting info, reading articles, etc....

The local cable/internet guys came by today and we are back in the cyberworld! Already Austin has climbed under the computer desk, refuses to let me type and read to him a night time story (he takes my hand off of the keyboard and starts
yelling at me, "libro!"), and

Wesley is addicted to the bright lights coming from the screen....

Please enjoy the before and after pictures of our home....it is missing some fine details (some end tables, mirrors, throw rugs, pictures, paint, etc)...but, you can get an idea of what all of our hard work when into since August!!! Good grief already!

Our newest member of the family...Rascal! Wrangler has been reunited with us and he loves his new brother Rascal, another black lab who is not quite 2-years-old. So, they wrestle, play and slobber all over each other. Wrangler has definitely made Rascal know that he is in charge with all of his humping action. Gross! I am glad they have each other to play with, at least until we get out backyard landscaped...




You can see we re-painted the exterior to white and fresh red paint...we replaced the door as well and put in a pretty red one...thus the pics of my cute boys this last Sunday in their best dress...yes, Austin has scabs all over his face from a previous "moto" accident where he fell off...yikes!






The fireplace was re-finished with stone and granite will be placed on the hearth this week...







Our family room has new paint, diagnol tile, new arches in the walls, and light fixtures...





The kitchen was expanded, all new cabinetry/appliances, walk-in pantry, an island was made, new lighting...the list goes on and on on that project...






A few extra pics of our master bath (I LOVE OUR RED AND BLACK GRANITE!!!!!!!), front entrance and extras...


The boys have a baseball theme in their bedroom (I love the vinyl April and their quilte Arianne!), and their toy room is a fun blue, lime green and white polka dot idea...



Tell me what you think!

Surrounded by men!

We moved into our remodeled house on New Years Day....quite exhausting to say the least! We didn't have a lot of functioning things, but now that it has been a full week...I am thrilled to say that we have mostly all of our kitchen installed (appliances and granite), 2/3 bathrooms completed, all the baseboards and trims, and lots of lots of garbage and boxes piled up in our garage.

Why am I surrounded by men you may ask? Well, because we moved in early, the workers have been coming in everyday to complete their tasks. It's not such a bad thing if you don't mind being the only female with 8-10 male workers (strangers to say the least!!!) and home-bound all day long. You just never know who might take something, not finish their job completely or have questions about certain things.

It was a rough day yesterday b/c with our kitchen out of commission, Wesley, Austin and I were toy-room bound ALL DAY! Have you tried to entertain two toddlers in one room for 12 hours???Not fun or practical. I also have been keeping the house at a cool 68 degrees since the workers come in and out the doors as they please, as does the heat in the house. I haven't even started to explain the MESS of grout, dust, water or dirt that has been piled up b/c of them.

Needless to say, I am SO SO SO happy to finally unpack and be in my spacious house. My BBF Arianne Pearce came for a last minute visit at 1am all the way from Phoenix to help (with her three kids and hubby) us unpack and get set up. She is a professional organizer and more than anything, such a blessing in my life to come and get me set up. I wish I could have provided at least a shower for them! They left in a hurry, but their help and love was priceless.

I hope to finally get internet/computer set up this week....which means I can include pics from the last 6 months....before and after the remodel...and thousands of dollars later!!! ugh...

So far my favorite part of my house is not only having a faucet with a sprayer, but of course the garage access, washer and drier...and being able to unpack things from two years ago!!!