Jasper. Oh HALE Yes!

My best friend and I are heading out tonight to see Eclipse with probably about a million pre-teen girls. We will be sporting our twilight themed t-shirts (mine says "Jasper Hale. Screwing with your emotions since 1863) and our Team Edward rubber bracelets.

I'm so excited! This is my first midnight movie premier. And although I'm nervous I'll be disappointed in the movie (I'm a huge book fan) I'm still excited for the experience.

Anyone with me?





Pictures from the event to follow!

Kids!

Cowie Gets Adopted

This is Cowie.




He is a very important part of our family. Mateo has had Cowie since his second surgery when he was a baby. He is Mateo's best friend. I know I've blogged about Cowie before so some of you may already have been introduced.

On our way home from church last week, which was Father's Day, this conversation transpired.

Dave: Mateo, who's Cowie's daddy?

Mateo: (chirp, chirp, chirp)

Dave: Are you Cowie's daddy?

Mateo: No.

Dave: Am I Cowie's daddy?

Mateo: No. Cowie adopted.

Me: Cowie is adopted?

Mateo: Yeah, he not have a family.

Me: Oh. Did we adopt him into our family?

Mateo: Yes.

Me: Who else in our family is adopted?

Mateo: Me and Maya!


He's never ever used or even seemed to understand the word "adopted" before so this was a first. And it caught me rather off guard. But it was cute and innocent and I'm glad he's starting to get familiar with the story.

Fathers

I wanted to write a special post to all the dad's out there but especially for my husband, who, in my opinion is the best dad around!

Dads are important. I didn't have one growing up and even now there are moments in life when I wish I did. I had fantasies growing up about what having a dad would be like. Or what I wanted my kids dad to be like. It's hard to fulfill people's fantasies about such things but Dave goes above and beyond what I imagined a dad to be.

He is playful and funny. He makes the kids laugh with his silliness. He's not afraid to make a fool of himself just so the kids have a good time.

He is kind and gentle. He doesn't yell (much, we all have our slips). He doesn't say hurtful things or scare them. He uses a calm positive voice when he corrects them. He is a good listener and always hears them out. He gives each one undivided attention when he can. He cuddles and hugs and kisses them.

Most important of all both children know without a doubt that Dave loves them. That he cherishes and treasures them. That he understands them and that they are valuable and important parts of his life.

What more can two kids ask for in a dad?

Dads give their daughters a role model for how their future husbands should treat them. They give their sons a role model for how they should treat their wives. Dads give their daughters the confidence to be who they are, and feel confident in how they look. They give their sons the confidence to become great men.

I am so thankful for Dave and his significance in the kids life, in my life. We love you Daddy!

Bad Lullaby

I have a string of funny stories to blog about so I'm just gonna do them one right after the other with some pictures thrown in here and there if I can.

First story. I think it's funny, you might cringe.

I was putting Maya to bed and every night I sing her at least one song while we cuddle. It had been a long day and my brain was pretty frazzled. The only song (really the only song) I could think of was one that I'd had in my head all day from the radio. It's not your "traditional" lullabye. In fact, it makes a really bad lullaby.

But since it was the only song I could think of, I knew the words, and Maya was expecting a song, I sang it to her, in my most soothing lullaby voice.

Here are the words. See if you know this song.

I wake up every morning
With a big smile on my face
Never feels out of place
And your still probably working
At a nine to five pace
Wonder how bad that tastes

When you see my face hope it gives you hell
hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way hope it gives you hell
hope it gives you hell
You find a man that gives a damn and treats you well
Well he's a fool hope it gives you hell
hope it gives you hell


Yes, I sang my baby "Gives You Hell" by The All American Rejects as a lullaby. In my defense it's a really catchy song. Do I win the parent of the year award or what?

Best of Birthday 2010!

BEST OF MATEO'S BIRTHDAY, 2010...

Presents:





This last one is my favorite...

My Grandma bought a beautiful handmade Amish wooden train set similar to the one above. It is very high quality and gorgeous. Needless to say Mateo won't be playing with it for a while :) But it is most certainly heirloom material.


Party Moments:

Who needs Chucky Cheese when you have music, a perfectly good floor, and a few kids who think they can break-dance?

Cupcakes:





Money Shots:

Necesito Hablar Espanol!

Since we moved into more of a city/urban area of our state I've realized some key things about living here.

#1: Don't ever leave your car or house doors unlocked, unlit, or un-alarmed, ever!

#2: Don't leave things in your yard that you don't mind someone taking in broad daylight while you watch and scream not to.

#3: I need to learn Spanish.

Correction: I need to re-learn Spanish.

I took Spanish for five years in high school and college and got good enough to basically understand and be understood when I spent a month in Mexico. Unfortunately, that was many years ago and I haven't kept up with it. And learning a foreign language is not like riding a bicycle. At least, not for me. Although I know I will pick it up quickly once I start practicing, I have lost a lot of vocabulary I once knew.

The reason I've suddenly become inspired to speak Spanish is because....well....no one around me speaks English. And I want to make friends with the neighbors. Especially seeing how vulnerable we are to theft and burglary, it would be nice to have friends watching out for us.

Yesterday, a flock of children from the apartment building next door descended upon our outdoor toys like seagulls to a peice of bread. I don't blame them, we do have a lot of cool stuff
(most of which was given to us I might add). I'm sure to them we look muy rico. But by the rest of the country's standards, we're pretty average.

But what I realized after asking a little girl her name and how old she was and being answered "que?" over and over is that these kids don't speak any English. And the older ones, who speak a little bit, don't really understand much. How were my kids to make friends? How am I to make friends (or at least be cordial) with their parents?

The city I live in is 80% Hispanic. Which is great for my kids, since they are Hispanic. And great for us because we love the culture. BUT, we certainly don't fit in. Even in trying to learn Spanish, cooking rice and beans, even with my children who look Hispanic, we will never really be one of them.

But I do think it's important for my kids to have some basic Spanish, to make friends, and because eventually people will assume they speak it because they look like they should.

So...hablas un idioma diferente?

Pictures!

Haven't done pictures in a while. These are from Memorial Day and beach picnic.