the even dozen

can it be babe? we just celebrated our twelfth anniversary? dang, we getting old! let it be known that we went very low key this year. every year we talk about getting away, just the 2 of us...hasn't happened yet. maybe we are saving it for the 25th? i did quite enjoy our indian meal at the clay pit and out decadent cupcakes afterwards.

but this milestone leaves me thinking about us again. and i am amazed and grateful. i think it rare these days that people stay married for the long haul. many people do stay married, albeit, unhappily. i think of what could be wrong in our marriage and isn't. i am grateful that i still love you and you love me. but mostly i am grateful that i still really, truly like you.

someday these four little heartbeats are going to leave our nest. and while they occupy eighty percent of our conversations right now i'm not afraid of being alone with you in an empty house. because i still really, really like who you are.

i'm not a fool babe. i know this marriage works solely because of you. you give and compromise and look the other way out of kindness and love everyday. i've got my good points and strengths, but you hold us steady. and for that i am so grateful.

oh, and thanks for simply laughing at me when i asked you how much you are worth dead to me. it was really asked in love, but you already know that right?

i love you paco...here's to 80 more years together....

tu vida

Open your Mouth

This is Joseph. I know, right? Basically I told his foster mom that she wasn't getting him back. He is the most delightful, happy child. We got to watch him for a few hours this weekend while his foster parents went to a training class.

I decided to run to CostCo so I took him and Mace. They were both darling the whole time. I mean, come on, free samples every 3 minutes soothe any child into retail submission. So CostCo was crazy busy, as it always is, and I stopped a moment in an aisle and slathered this gem of a child with kisses.

About five minutes later we were standing in front of Beverly. She was a spunky African-American woman handing out samples of red velvet cake. I know, right? She abruptly asks me, "Is this your child?" She was kind of abrasive so my first thought was, "Crap, this is his biological grandma or something. Here comes an ugly throw down."

I looked really confused because Mason is my child, Joseph isn't but when I have a foster child I consider them "mine" for all intense purposes. So, I'm thinking all this and she asks, "Is he yours or are you fostering him?"

I tell her I am fostering him.

And then the floodgates open..."Well, I just want to thank you for what you are doing. Because this is not my child but he is my race. And somebody needs to take care of this child and I thank you for doing it. I saw you over there kissing on him and I just want to thank you."

I actually got a little teary as I thanked her and told her it was our pleasure to do what we do. I moved on behind her so she could continue handing out her samples while I fed the boys.

About 45 seconds later she stopped serving people (and there was a long line, remember it's red velvet...) and turned around to face me with her cakey knife in her hand...

"I mean I just really appreciate you and I just want to thank you and praise you for what you are doing. Somebody needs to take care of these children!"

She was so gracious. I thanked her again for her kindness. We now had an audience of about 10 people listening to all this. I was getting embarrassed.

But I will say this. Parenting is often a thankless job. There are definitely rewarding moments, it seems they are often life events. It was wonderful to hear from a stranger their gratitude for what Carlos and I do. When you parent your own children you ARE great. But, for me, parenting a stranger's child feels very divine. It really feels like God's work... to love and care for a stranger I suppose. I know I need to feel this way about my own children too because they are all the same.

I was on cloud nine though because little miss Beverly opened her mouth to a stranger simply to say "thank you for you". It was something so small and simple but it cheered me through and through.

this face

the face of this child just melts me. little mace is our texas tornado. he is always deliroulsy happy or painfully moody. along with this face comes a wonderful mind and imagination...

because i'm not sure how he came up with the "gloved angel" but it works for him. he really enjoys playing make-believe games and dressing up with his sisters. i suppose i need to purchase some more manly garb since spider-man is no longer with us.

look at that begging, pleading little face. just love his alomond eyes, gorilla nose, and teenie-tiny teeth. he is my favorite little mace. i love you little man.

kitchen rock

Mace & Cora
Paisley Bear

Pear-Pear

Kavers & Mace

I believe the kids were rockin' out to Lady Gaga's Poker Face in the kitchen. They were so funny. Kavi and Mace loved doing the robot, Paisley basically just shook her tush the whole time, Cora gave it all she's worth, & Miss Perry just loves music period. I think we played the song 3 or 4 times. Lady Gaga is one nasty chica but she's got some good music. I love having all the cousins play together.

creative dress-up?

Perry had to dig this bad boy out of the garage. As you can see I let her dress herself and then she strutted around the house for an hour or so in her swim vest. I really do admire kids inhibitions. No self-consciousness here. Isn't she darling?

baby steps or giant leap?

A couple of months ago I started talking with Cristian about sharing his testimony at church in front of the whole congregation. I know how to set him up for success (he's a real easy sell most of the time) so I began real gradual.

I laid out the end result first. I thought he was old enough to share his beliefs about our church. This was pretty daunting for him. I have several friends that still as adults are unable to do this due to anxiety and fear of public speaking. I want all my children to feel at least semi-comfortable speaking to groups so this was the ideal venue.

We got out his journal. I asked him what he thought his religious testimony was. He gave me his ideas and I jotted them down in his journal. We then went to the dictionary and looked up 'testimony'. We simplified the definition, talked about its meaning, and wrote it down in his journal. From there, I asked, "So what do YOU believe or know to be true about our religion?" He immediately rattled off these 4 things: 1) families can be together forever, 2) Jesus will someday come back to earth, 3) Joseph Smith restored the Book of Mormon and the church, 4) I love my family to the furthest galaxy and back.

Be.Still.My.Melting.Teary.Overflowing.Heart.
Darling, right?!

I told him that was perfect. That was all he needed to say if that's all he had to say. He was surprised, he thought it had to be a lot longer. We wrote it out on an index card and tucked it away.

Every week I would remind him of the countdown until he would be able to speak in church. He seemed chill. The day of, I had him practice reading his card three times. I told him to speak loud and clearly (he mumbles a ton).

At church he went up to the stand, took his seat, and waited. He got to his turn and beautifully read his four sweet lines and closed his testimony. He did a fantastic job. I was so vastly proud of him. He is such a superstar!

His actions inspired little Miss Cora. This past Sunday was a month after Bug's testimony. Cora whispered into her daddy's ear and they both walked to the front of the chapel. Carlos gave his testimony and sat down. Cora bravely took to the podium and said two things. They were that she loves her family and that she knows our church to be true.

It amazed me how calm, confidant, and assured she was. Cora has always been our sugar and spice, our yin and yang, our salty and sweet. This year has been very emotional for her. She is often very sensitive. She's been easily hurt. Daily come home drawings and letters of love for family members. This year has been her sensitive, shy self taking force. I was blown away at her assertiveness to get up in front of all those people - like 150 people.

A month ago I gave my testimony (same day as Bug). When I sat down Cora handed me a note that she had just written. It said, "That was sweet. Thanks Mom. Love Cora"

Be.Still.My.Melting.Teary.Overflowing.Heart
What freak'n amazing, wonderful kids I have! I adore them to pieces!!

cheap thrills

i
spy
a

broken
pinata



Happy 4th birthday baby girl!

the mossy "c"

if you are ever bored and want a cheap, easy, white-trash project to make you feel talented...then keep reading. again, i have no original creative thoughts - this was totally snatched from another bloggie. i simply wrapped the letter with floral tape to cover all the sides with green and then glue-gunned the reindeer moss to the wood.

tah-dah. i am quite pleased with it. it only took about ten minutes to do, and only two of my fingers were burned in the process. i loathe those glue guns. p.s. i purchased the frame for two dolla at the thrift store. can i hear an "amen"?!

Oh Happy Day!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss! Mason is in L-U-R-V-E with Dr. Seuss at the present moment. He had me read him Green Eggs & Ham before bedtime last night. I reminded him it was the doctor's birthday tomorrow. I promptly sent my "good man" out for ham after the kids were tucked away for the night. This morning, I colored the eggs and Paco tinted the cream cheese. The 3 older kids were pleasantly surprised with their breakfast. Mace was grinning from ear to ear, but asked me why the ham wasn't green too. (I've no idea how to color that product. Any suggestions?)

Happy birthday to a fellow of great rhyme and bizarre characters!!

Face Lift

My first project redo. I bought this footstool at a thrift store for $5. We didn't need a stool but I could see its potential and needed a "first" project. It was covered in ugly upholstery fabric.

Only to discover the original fabric underneath it. It really looks like a granny stool with the flowers and basic wood. Fortunately, the crackle finish was pretty easy to strip away too.

The finished product...I painted her black and recovered her in a funky green print that I quite like. Even Shay was mildly impressed with my redo skills. The kids like using the stool to reach their CD's for the tele. Simple pleasures right?

My Inspiration

I bought this sweet little vase at a thrift store a couple of months ago. I love the shape of the vase and it's oriental crane and designs drew me to it. It has sat on my window sill in the kitchen so I look at it day in and day out. It's soft blue color has inspired me to use it on a piece of furniture. Martha Stewart (goodness, I despise her) had a color similar to the vase. The project is halfway complete and I love the results so far.

I'll keep you posted!