PRIDE.

I just returned home from dinner out with the kiddos. At dinner, I asked Cristian about having his teacher back from maternity leave. "Did Ms. Land say anything about you reading over 4,000 minutes?" I queried. "No," Bug replied.

And because I am me, I pushed further. "So who has read the most minutes in your class," I asked, knowing full-well the answer. "Me," he said while stuffing refried beans in his mouth. He appetite is another blog entry.

"Wow, Bug that is so cool right?"

And this is where the parental pay-off comes in...so focus here....

"Yeah, I am really proud of myself for reading those minutes," he smoothly states.

"Yeah, you should be proud of yourself. You worked really hard. I am glad that you are proud of your efforts. That's great to realize good things you do."

I totally have this mom-thang down...

"Yeah, I am always proud of myself when I do something good. Like making a good choice or doing good things. I'm proud of myself when I read and earn new DS games. I am proud of my mom and dad. And, I appreciate mom and dad."

Holy Helen-a, who is this kid?! For real, he is just a miniature Carlos. Trust me, I get it that he isn't a normal kid.

Fear not, we got those lying around here too.

How do YOU watch the tele?

This child just amuses me all day, every day. I guess because the older 2 kids use their creativity in such different ways, so Mason's material is always fresh to me. The plastic hardware goggles have been sported for several days now. Evidently, they enhance his television viewing pleasure. It is similar to Cristian wearing swim goggles on his forehead for weeks after watching "Hellboy". I know, what kind of parent lets their child watch a movie titled "Hellboy"....I dunno, me I guess.

Ode to the Berry & Shay

Dear Shay, look at what you have done to me...Cora & I are pooping blue and blackberries. You have introduced me to another addiction. They are so positively divine, sweet, tart, and succulent. Cost Co has the best deal on these little humdingers. Oh, and Cristian is addicted to "Just Bunches" thank you very much. How is it that you make me spend money when you are three states away. Truly, you are a magical force.

Current Favorite Reads

"Madame Bovary" - I picked this book up from my dad's library during my last visit. He let's us pick out a book to add to our library whenever we visit. I positively hate Emma, the main character. She is an evil, selfish, kniving wife. I skipped to the end and found out that she dies. I hope she dies a slow, long painful death from an STD.

"Drummer Hoff " - This book is set in a battlefield with lots of rhyming and crazy colors and pictures. "..but Drummer Hoff fired it off!" That's Mason's line.

"The Daring Book for Girls" - Cora loves to flip through the pages and gawk at the pictures over and over. It's like a Nancy Drew manual. She keeps it on her nightstand and refers to it often, kind of like a Bible. Personally, I think she likes the book because of the glittery cover.

"When the Rooster Crowed" - Perry's favorite things are babies, kitties, doggies and singing. I think she likes this books because of the many farm animals.

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" - We think this is the first 'chapter' book Cristian all the way through. I'm a bit surprised that he picked this as his favorite, but maybe not so much. After all, there is a giant squid in the book. This, along with several others Cristian has read made it's way through the family turnstyle: Cristian, then mom, and then dad.

Rightside Up

This was taken a couple of weeks ago when Jen took the kids to the park. I just thought it was a good picture.

...Missouri

this is my "cousin" Faith. she was the matron of honor at Erin and Jeff's wedding. we haven't seen each other is several years. she is as beautiful and classy as ever.


this was the view outside our window on our way to the wedding in the middle of nowhere, iowa. i was laughing almost hysterically because the car was on empty, gps finder said we were still miles from the gas station, and shay was wildly driving in the sticks. it was funny to me.


i thought the shadows pretty in mom's backyard of the huge trees behind me. i certainly don't have trees like this in texas. and they dropped thousands of leaves just asking to me raked by little 'ol me!


so kavers looks like he is posing for children's place here. he and mason got along very well together and played in the back yard while nana and I raked leaves for a couple of hours.


mason and i went to the lake to see if we could crack the ice with some old fashioned rock throwing. i was surprised to find only mild chipping from all our best attempts. a couple days later the ice was melted because the temps were in the 60's.


this kid makes me laugh. this was a candid shot for his mama. he is forever hamming it up whenever he gets the chance. i do believe one-on-one time with mommie for a week was good for him.


"umm, excuse me, i have a question." this is the phrase and pose we get every time he wears his charlie brown shirt. i bought this shirt for 2 reasons. first, it was super clearance - like 2 bucks or something. second, it was SO mason and SO kavers. i thought kavers could have it when mason outgrew it. they are both silly, quirky, odd kids.

Forever Friends

I am browsing through some old photos and found this little number. My older brother Brandon and I probably got along swimmingly when we were this age. All I remember are the fist battles when we both had muscle to throw around.

This was taken on Paco's citizenship ceremony day. Bug looks goofy with his loose tooth and Cora with her Oriental eyes (thank you daddy very much!). But these two critters are such good friends. They always have been and still are being 6 and 8. I look at Mason and Perry and they too are good friends with each other. The four of them love to play together - and fight together- but the "youngsters" (as Cristian calls them) enjoy one another when the seasoned, mature children are away at school. We really are so lucky to have 4 darling, loving children.

I notice I write these posts at nap time and after bedtime. Hmm, why aren't such blissful posts created during other times of the day?!!

4,000 Minutes!

This is where I get to brag about one my kids.

Cristian entered the 2nd grade in the fall and is beginning to read like crazy. I will admit, however, a HUGE motivator has been an idea that Jen had to get him a Nintendo DS if he read 4,000 minutes. She made this deal Cristian several months ago and Cristian has been reading like a maniac ever since. Once we realized that he was going to stick to his goal, Jen bought the DS for him during the 'after Thanksgiving sales' and it has been waiting for him ever since. Cristian knew we bought it and never asked once if he could get it early.

He would read at least 30 minutes most nights until about 2 or 3 weeks ago when I told him that he would get to his goal twice as fast if he read 60 minutes a night. Starting that night, he read 60 minutes a night until last night we tallied up his minutes and realized that he had just 73 minutes left to reach his goal of 4,000! Guess how many minutes he read last night...of course, the requisite 73 minutes. He was so excited when he finished. I was downstairs in the kitchen and once I heard the footsteps start I knew it was him. He turned the corner to the kitchen and let out a big, "I'm done! Can I get my DS?" It was 10:30 at night, but I couldn't say no. He had waited so long and read so many minutes that I couldn't resist. He stayed up for another hour and I couldn't be prouder.

Way to go Cristian!

SAY WHAT?!?

Carlos is the lovely donater to this addition this time. We were in bed last night after getting the munchkins all nestled. Cora made her first of usually three visits to announce something direly important that we hear. She gave us her message and then Carlos told her to come snuggle him for a bit. She gladly jumped in bed and began chattering away to Carlos. I zoned out in my current read.

She finally left to her room and Carlos watched her walk out with a huge grin on his face.

He turns to me and says, "I just love talking with her..."
"Oh yeah?" I replied.
"...when she's sane," he finished.

I had a good, deep laugh. That would be Cora in a nutshell. The drama - the superior highs and lows - in injustice of a 6-year-old life.

She is however, a keeper.