U.S. Fun and Family

Sand baby. It is hard to believe this beautiful granddaughter is only 5! She is so tall, like the others. She is even taller than her "auntie" who is a year older than her.

Baby! She is 3 and has the most beautiful smile ever.

This leggy girl is a whole head taller than her "auntie" and only one year older. Model material!
And now you can see why the girls are so tall! They get it from their mama!

Contemplating in Texas.

My "baby" is gonna be dirty 30 tomorrow! He feels old, I feel much older. Of course I always explain to people that I started young, that is why I look so dang young, because I am!

Two Years Already

I cannot believe this little guy was born two years ago! Time flies when you are having fun. I also can't believe my daughter was brave enough to birth the boy in the public hospital here in Heredia. It was one scary place to be sure. I know there is a trend for people to come here to deliver their babies so that they can get residency.

Just know that this is not as easy as it used to be. It is lots of paper work, paper chases, as well as the fact they are getting sick of people coming here to do that and are onto that scam. For that reason they have built in blocks making it more difficult to get you residency.

We did have a great party, as usual and enjoyed the heck out of this little guy opening his presents. He was very animated and excited about each and every present he received. Once he got over the guests all looking at him that is.

Happy Birthday Baby

Happy Sixth Birthday to my baby! I told her when she is 18 I will stop calling her baby. She plans to get me up early so we can start her brunch and party. I also have to make her cake and get everything ready as she told me. It is great to have her to get me organized and tell me what to do to take care of things! I hope she has a great day and loves her much agonized over gifts :)

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS

Today was a fun day for baby. We spent yesterday afternoon making cupcakes for her to take to school and share with her classmates for her birthday. Saturday is her birthday and today was her last day of school before a few day break off school. All the kids loved her cupcakes and she was tickled pink to be the boss for the hour.

We all sang "Happy Birthday" in Spanish and then in English. Several of the kids in her class knew how to sing it in English. They are all so cute when I go to the school, they all want to say "hello" and "thank you". It is fun to work with them.

I made the comment to the teenager with me that it is hard to believe that in 10 years they are all going to be a bunch of bratty teenagers! They are so cute right now. We stuck around for a few minutes and watched baby playing on the playground with the other kids. Interesting thing, she plays with the boys! I guess it is having four older brothers.

Teenager got a job today. She is going to work at the internet store at the mall a few days a week. She said there is plenty of time just sitting around so she could get her school work done. We will see how long that lasts!

CONFERENCE WEEKEND

I have been busy getting the girls ready for conference this weekend. I was going to make cinnamon rolls but decided on coffee cake. Now I am thinking, is that appropriate to make coffee cake to eat during a Mormon conference?

This weekend is Micah's birthday and we will miss spending it with him. We were able to spend his 18th with him last year. I decided then that visiting through glass, talking on a phone, is pretty much just like talking on the phone and lots cheaper. I do hope he has a good day.

CARROT CAKE

When Rick and I got married we had three cakes. The first cake was of course our wedding cake. My seminary teacher's wife made it for us for a gift. The second cake was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for the hubby. The third cake was a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. That would be my favorite cake. When we were stationed in Hawaii I made carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting to sell at the local health food store, they were a hit of course.

Today was my son-in-laws birthday. I was so happy that he requested carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Not only do I love that, but my daughter luckily followed in my footsteps and makes one mean carrot cake. It was delicious and I fear I am quickly putting back on the hard lost pounds.

Why is it that it takes so darn much time and effort to lose weight and then bammo overnight it is back? That would be the problem with this tapering thing. My body gets adjusted to the big time exercise and when I cut back even the teeniest bit, I get hit. I guess it is time to start watching what goes into the big ole' bocca!

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

It seems like just yesterday I was holding this big guy wrapped in a little blue blanket! He was born weighing 7lb.13oz. and he was 23" long! Now he is 6'7" !!!! He was a wild crazy kid, and he has not changed a bit.

He is definately the most determined person I have ever met. When he makes up his mind about something it is set in stone. He is pretty ambitious too, so he is already up to something. Lately just working and riding his big red bike.

When he was three we bought him a little red bike with training wheels. The next day he took his daddys tools outside and took off the training wheels. Off he rode into the sunset, and fast! A couple of years ago I bought him a big red bike. He took off on that and is still riding it. He is brave to ride it in Costa Rica, but has discovered some great places to ride and some fun riding partners.

That guitar he is holding is his birthday present by the way! I certainly wish him a happy birthday and an awesome year with lots of success, and of course fun.

MY MOM'S BETTER THAN YOUR MOM!

I just had to say that! Today is my Moms birthday and I came all the way to the U.S. and I am not spending her birthday with her! Better than that I am able to sister sit for a few days so she can get a much needed break to the beach. She is spending the week with a couple of brothers hanging out at Hilton Head and chillin.
When my mom was 26 she was widowed with four kids under 8. My dad died in two hours from a brain aneurysm. He was 32 and like I said they had four kids. My older brother was 8, I was 6, and one younger brother 3 one 6 months. Try to wrap your head around that kind of trial for a few minutes! I can't even imagine something like that. But it made Mom tough.
Not tough like mean tough, just tough like stand your ground never let anything get you down tough. Three years ago when she was 65 she graduated from NAU with a bachelors in counseling. It took about 10 years but she completed it. While she was working on it she was also nursing my step-dad who was dying of cancer, and actually passed away while she was finishing up her degree.
Oh and did I mention she also has five other kids from my step-dad? Now when you sign up for 9 kids you can pretty much count on just about every trial known to man to be sure.
You can imagine who I call when I am down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself and my lot in life. She can talk to me and put things in perspective like no one else in the world. And of course it only takes a couple of days of walking in her shoes so to speak to realize I do not have it too bad after all.
She is one woman who when the going gets tough she gets more faithful! That has always amazed me that she just gets stronger with trials instead of letting them pull her under.
I guess if I would aspire to anything spiritual in my life it would be to be more like my Mom! Happy Birthday Mom if you ever get time to read this!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I have to give a shout out to my senior gaupo, or when I am angry senior viejo, (all depends on the mood of course) and tell him HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We will go shop this afternoon to pick out his book. He loves books as evidenced by the books and bookshelves all over our house. We have three bookshelves, overflowing I might add. I belive he has already talked to my son-in-law about a new one.

It's a good thing books are so expensive here or we would probably have even more.

HEALTHY KIDS

"Increased study of science and nature, especially in the very young, has proven in studies extremely beneficial for cognitive functioning, reduced symptoms of A D D and increased self-discipline and emotionsl well being. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

"Almost 50% of children age 8-16 watch 3-5 hrs of T.V a day. These kids who watch the most hours of T.V. have the highest incidence of obesity. (word on health, "Childhood obesity on the Rise" Torgan Carol )

These are getting to be pretty tough odds for us parent to beat! I believe the key to keeping our kids healthy and happy is to teach them healthy lifestyles. It is pretty simple actually, be an example and be fun! I say this as I pass out doughnuts to my kids and class for Ricks birthday.

As I was saying it is not really that difficult. Seeing as we do not have a car we have to walk everywhere, or take taxis or busses. So if you get to jonesin for a hamburger you have to really work for that dude. We would take the bus downtown. Then walk the half mile to the McDonalds. Then we would eat and walk back up the big hill to catch a bus or taxi home.

Of course there is the delivery guy. My husband does not like him because the food gets cold before he gets up the mountain on his scooter. It looks like we will just have to make our own burgers, and enjoy being healthier because of it.

HAPPY 25 BIRTHDAY

Today is my daughter Rebekahs' 25 birthday! It was fun and we had a great day celebrating. We took the girlies to the pool for the day, then it was out for ice-cream, then it was home to make her favorite dinner, salmon patties, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

It is hard for me to believe that 25 years have raced by so quickly. I was telling Rebekah while we were at the pool that the day was very similar on the day she was born. She was born in Wahiawa Hawaii, so the weather was pretty much like it was here in Costa Rica today. About 80 degrees with a slight breeze and beautiful.

Rebekah was one month early so she was only five pounds when she was born. She also was born with her thumb in her mouth! It took us about 10 years to pry that thing out of her mouth and that would explain why she is wearing braces now at 25.

I have to brag about her a little bit since it is her special day. She has always been very quiet and mellow. She is a super hard worker and a great mommy. I am very proud of the mom and woman and hotmom she has grown up to be. I am thankful for her and that we are best friends, running partners and partners in most crimes. She told me when we made our resolutions this year that like alcoholics that avoid friends that influence them to drink we influence each other to eat and should really not hang out if we really want to get skinny!

Forget that I will take the extra 10 lbs. and a great friend to hang out with. Happy Birthday Rebekah!

RAIN

"Rain rain go away and don't come back until May." That is the census of opinion these days here at the tail end of rainy season. The interesting thing is that once it rains the wind dies down a little and it gets a little bit warmer. For sure looking forward to the beach next week for birthday week.

I am hoping that I will hear from all of my boys next week for Thanksgiving or at least for my birthday. They tend to be a little bit forgetful this time of year.

It has rained all day for the last three days, letting up to a small drizzle once in awhile but all in all wet. Not to complain of course considering my boys are all snowed in. I will take the rain any day.

I have been scouring for tips for holiday savings and I will post some on Monday. Supposedly people are slowing down this holiday season and trying to give more "thoughtful" gifts. We shall see when it comes down to the 11th hour and they have not made any thoughtful gifts.