Family Galore!

Thanksgiving began with my sweet little helpers!

And was delightfully treasured with my family...

My Brother in law Gabe

My sister Sunny, Brother in law Anotonio, and their sweet children!

My tiny sister, Santana, and her little belly too!

Of course, my hubby....

I practices panoramic view with the cook...my Momma!

The TV watchers and conversation chatters!

And then I had to secretly preserve an image of the beautiful decor with which my Momma decorates...her style is gorgeous!

Mimi took all the grandchildren out for a walk, an exploration night time adventure!

Maya was probably the best child eater of the night!

And then WE ended our night with Daddy pretending to be a crazy ninja

Against the ultimate ninja of all..."Aiden Obi"

I tried to preserve the sweet love note from my hubby at days end....

Sadly, the following day, I dreamt and woke in a panic because Sara, Tim and their children didn't attend thanksgiving with us.

You see, when we lived in PA, they lived here...she is my twin, married to my husbands brother.

When we moved back to NM, they had just moved to PA...

I'd say I'm having some PTSD??? HAHA!

Magic of the Season!

This year, to start off the Christmas season at our place, Mimi and Papa took the boys, Steve, and me to see a magic show!

But first, of course, we had to grab a bite to eat...

 If Connor looks a little glum, he is...he was sick for the last week prior to this show...and was still fighting a respiratory bug!  Aiden was just beginning his fight with the bugs too!

Mimi walked with the boys...well, the boys escorted Mimi, as we walked down town to the classic Kimo theatre...which Mimi gave them lessons on during their stroll together.

Then I grabbed my two escorts...feeling a little out of sorts without two boys gently walking me.

We stoped at the hotel my little sister Sunny had her wedding reception in, and we marveled at it's original and renovated beauty!

And then....it was showtime!

Mimi was caught performing a card trick with a magician and his invisible deck...

I still have no idea how the 8 of spades made it's way into Mimi's hands!

Connor had the honor of participating in a magic trick too!

And wouldn't you know...my ace of hearts was given the ace of hearts!

Steve was lured into being a table for another magician....

Who magically brought love into the air and, by magic, had Mimi discover her King of hearts....and then Papa discovered his Queen of hearts....

What am I talking about....this has been going on for years.

Connor was truly so sick that he lost his voice this day....I saw his dreary eyes watching the show, but i know it would have been 10 times better if his sweet little body wasn't fighting such a terrible bug.  Yet, there were still instances when he would lean forward upon the rail in those mezzanine seats and look with anticipation at the magic that was performed!

Then...we had LOTS of fun! 

Thank you for the fun times Mimi and Papa....we love you sooo much!

Frugality

Maya, you are learning from your Momma!

Every time I get a soda...I place it in the fridge instead of letting it go bad through the day, melting that sugary substance into the ice to create sugar water.  No...I NEED that soda to stay fresh and delightful!  Well, I guess I just want it to!

All of my children have taken to this standard...and they usually never visit THEIRS again...but they will come and sip on mine!

Last week, Maya received a meal from her aunt Sunny at Sonic!  She was a good girl and ate all of her meal and even brought home her goldfish from Aunt Sunny.  She protected her half sipped today, her bag of goldfish, and her toy...there in the back (in front of sparkling grape juice...I promise!)!  I told her she was more than welcome to take a few things out, but she insisted that in order for them to stay good, they had to go in the fridge!

I love you Maya!  Stay Beautiful honey!

Things That Matter!

I am watching transformation in our home.

We have always been diligent with a nightly routine with our children; it consists of a hymn, scripture study and family prayer.  It has been one thing we can most likely rely on to be a constant.  

I recall, in sacrament meeting a few weeks past, a closing prayer being offered that the fathers in the wards would lead out in their home--in prayers and family home evenings and scriptures.  Steve was in the hall with the girls at the time, so I told him about the prayer and the spirit of peace that a I felt when it was said.

Sure enough, Steve, my husband, is leading out.  He IS doing family home evenings and scriptures upon his initiation, which I love!  Our lessons are full of the spirit, we bear testimony, the boys ask questions...deep questions, and we go to the scriptures for answers.  

Miss Lydia threw a tantrum last night and I took the girls and placed them in bed half way through family home evening; I knew there were questions waiting to be asked by my boys...and they needed answers.  Soon, Miss Lydia, you will have the patience to sit through an entire night of gospel study and talk.  For now, feel so honored that your brothers have a deep desire to know the things of God. 

These two boys spent an hour asking questions of their Daddy...one questions led to another and they were pondering deep as the scriptures were opened and they studied the words of the sacrament prayers, as they learned why people make covenants and what the second coming of Jesus Christ will really be like.  They are so full of a desire to learn, and we have determined that one FHE a month will be focused on a question and answer session with the boys...on the gospel, life matters, ANYTHING!!!  We talked for over an hour, and the spirit was so very strong! 

These children don't really need my glasses, they already have eyes that can see!

Third VCUG...

We are getting far too familiar with the process of a VCUG, from a personal standpoint.

Sure, being nurses, we familiarize ourselves with these diagnostic studies every day....

But when it's personal, it hits home a little harder.

Suddenly, every step of the process becomes more painful and wrenching, and each part is memorized in acute detail...imprinted with the face my baby has made with particular steps.

The night before her VCUG, someone asked about Maya's appointment at the hospital, and she heard....

She went from being carefree and happy to screaming and crying, "No, nah my poin-men"!  It was so hard to console her.  She finally did go to bed that night, but in the morning, while her brothers and sister were eating this and that for breakfast, I was forced to tell her that she was not allowed to eat ANYTHING...only drink some water or juice.  Of course, when Lydia pulled out a cookie (breakfast of the champions) Maya was sent into a outrageous fit, tears falling to the floor with eyes red as can be, over that cookie.  Lydia saw the sadness embrace Maya, so she offered her the cookie...before I could grab it away, Maya's tiny hands had found the cookies sweet sticky luring, and her mouth was headed for a bite of heaven.  I intervened, and she cried harder...

Still, I cannot explain to her why she is unable to eat...she doesn't understand...

Maya had cheered slightly by the time we were waiting in the radiology department... 

But on days like these, a smile is quickly followed by tears.... 

We simply enjoyed the smiles as we sat and waited! 

Maya always has a little play time before the big thing! 

And then the "ow-ee"s come...they roll off of her tiny tongue over and over and over again.... 

When she feels she is not being heard, she screams them a bit louder and the tears fall every so quickly.

Ow-ee with a squeeze from the blood pressure cuff.

Ow-ee with the little flashlight which is placed on her tiny finger to measure her oxygen saturation.

Ow-ee over everything!

Soon enough, the tiny bit of sedation is given to her, and the procedure is well underway!  Good nurses, good doctors, and very good child life specialists...make for a good experience! 

On this particular day, my sweet Maya had to run to another appointment with Mommy (as is familiar to her these days!).  She thought she was well enough off to stand and walk herself in.  I knew that she wasn't.  Her loopy mind grasped hold of her body and she was violently forcing her way out of my arms.  Finally, as all parents do at one time or another, I let her learn on her own; it was so hard for me to do, but I walked in fingers length to her as she was placed feet first on the sidewalk.  I knew she would fall.

I was with her...step by step, she drifted to the left...and to the right...and then she fell face first onto the concrete.  I scooped her up and told her, "Baby girl, that's why I can't let you walk on your own anymore for awhile.  I need to take care of you..."  Through her tears was a sobbing "Ohh..Kaaay". 

She was thrilled with her ability to sit on the step stool and play with the gifts she received at the hospital.  She was asked what the little doll wanted to wear, how she felt, and even what color everything on her would be.  It was obvious, Maya knows enough about what happens yearly to know that it's just a very sad thing to go through! 

Maya...you are my hero!!!