Missing

Most every minute of the past 

9 years, 2 months and 13 days

I have spent with our children.

Finally, the time came for Papi and I to take a little break of our own.

So, Mommy went missing for 48 hours.

But I came home to find something else was missing.

DJ was missing a tooth!

He lost his first tooth while I was away.

I don't know how Papi does it.

I missed one tooth falling out.

He misses a lot more.

He really does have the harder job.

I did get to be here to see how excited he was for the tooth fairy though.

And with a grin like his

I couldn't help but smile at that missing tooth. 

New Vegetarian

Having chickens has been fun in many ways.  We get fresh eggs everyday.  We have fewer bugs.  My kids love playing with them.  They really make great pets.  Isabel was thinking about her pet chickens when it occurred to her that "chicken" that you eat and "chicken" like our pet chickens rhyme.

I gently let her know that they were the same thing and you eat the chicken's muscles, (unless you're Papi then you eat the bones, hearts and gizzards too).  After that she decided she was never eating chicken again.  What kind of mean person would eat their pets?

Broken Guns and Cowboy Hats

His gun broke.  He was broken hearted.  But then DJ just discovered there's more than one way to enjoy a toy, especially after it stops working.  I've never seen him sit for that long.  He unscrewed every tiny screw and unhooked every skinny wire.  It was a fabulous disaster, much better than the disastrous meltdown he was going through five minutes earlier because his toy gun had quit working.  He was even content with it not working after it was reassembled. We might have found a new solution for broken toys.

On another note . . . I never knew the Wild West was so alive right here in Mesa.  We enjoyed chicken chases, popsicles, pigs and turkeys at Lehi Days.  Next year I'll have to get a cowboy hat and boots just so I fit in.

Enthusiasm and a Glimmer

Unfortunately, my boys don't have the best example of missionary work at home.  Papi never served a mission and neither did I.  I've tried to talk to them about how great it will be when they serve a mission and we have the missionaries over whenever possible partly because I want inspire my boys to live up to that calling of a missionary.  Usually, after discussing the possibilities of a mission with my children I get, "I don't want to go on a mission" from them or some other negative comment.  I was feeling that my efforts to teach them about the importance of missionary work were failing, that they would never understand one of the core principles of the gospel.  Then yesterday I overheard as AJ enthusiastically shared this gem with his nonmember friend,

"When missionaries come to your house they can teach you about the gospel and about Jesus."  

Did you get the part where he said it with enthusiasm?  He was excited about sharing what he knew with his friend.  That moment made my whole being smile.  I know we've got a long way to go until these precious boys reach the magical age of 19 but I saw a glimmer.  Now if we can just keep that alive and help it grow for the next 13 years my job, at least when it comes to a mission, will have been successful.

Baby, baby, baby

We've got Beiber Fever!

**Edited**

Real.

Beiber. Fever.

Dinosaur Spit

Any guesses what that blob is that appeared on our sidewalk today?  DJ thought it was dinosaur spit.  But upon closer inspection we figured out it was ICE, in Arizona at midday.  Shocking!  This is our version of winter.

In all seriousness, it was cold today.  I think the high was around 40.  The kids actually had to wear . . .a coat!  DJ asked if he was going to pass out after I bundled him up in his scarf, hat, gloves and a big winter coat.  That made me laugh.  I miss real winters.

I remember winters sliding all over the ice on our front porch and making our own popsicles from the ice sickles that would form on our roof.  One year we were sliding down the snow banks onto the ice and I cut my eye open.  It was deep.  I needed stitches. It was Christmas Eve.  I still have the scar.  But I survived.  I still don't consider it winter without being able to slide down snow banks and on to the ice.  So to our little patch of ice, I welcome you.  Thank you for bringing us a piece of real winter.  Next time could you bring snow too?

And just you so know how crazy the weather has been.  This was our kids last week, running in the sprinklers in the dark.  It was almost 80 degrees outside.  They were only a little bit cold.

We are color blind . . .And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Isabel:  (While looking at a picture that DJ drew of our family)  Papi has brown skin.

Me:  Yes he does.  What color skin do you have?

Isabel: (Looks at her arm) Tan

Me:  What color skin does Alexandria have?

Isabel:  Tan

Me:  What color skin do I have?

Isabel:  Tan

Me:  So you and me have the same skin color?

Isabel:  Yup, see.  (puts her hand next to mine) Mine's just a little bit browner.

Me:  Will you give me some of that color?  I want beautiful skin like yours.

Isabel:  No! How would I do that?

On the same note, different child, Alexandria is convinced that her and Isabel have the same skin color. . . .they're white.

So we don't have snow . . .

It's right in the middle of winter and I'm so jealous of places with snow.  I want to be in snow.  I love bundling up in warm clothes and blankets while in front of a warm fireplace and looking out the window at a beautiful blanket of white surrounding me. But we don't get that experience here.  So instead, I'm thankful for the things that we do have here in the winter. . . like sugar cane growing in our garden.

And Papi and the kids enjoying every sweet bit of juice they can savor.

And movie nights with friends in the clubhouse underneath the trampoline.  That's just cool!

But I still miss the snow.

Happy Birthday Alexandria

I finally gave in.  It was your birthday after all.  Here's my baby before the holes

 And here you are after.  Still beautiful!

And who could pass up trying on fun hats at the mall?

A Hug A Day

Dear Mrs. S,

I know you are my boys' Kindergarten teacher and I'm sure you have a good reason to keep your lines of students nice and straight while walking through the halls of the school.  But, if their sister tries to give them a hug while they are in line please don't make them feel like they are doing something wrong by hugging her back.  They are only little for such a short time and in a few years they'll be too embarrassed to give each other hugs at school.  Plus, it's been studied and proven that children who get lots of hugs are smarter than those who don't.  So please give them just a second out of line to embrace their sister.  They'll even be better students for you if you do.

Thank you!