Becerra Family

New Bloggity Blog

2011-03-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,
I started a new mama blog! Check me out here. I may not be at Corallis Silly Mama folks, but let me assure you, I am silly as always :). I'll see you there!

Sunday Morning

2011-03-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

I normally would not choose to share a picture of myself right after waking up :), but this picture pretty much sums up my life right now. Lots of chaos and lots of love. Chris is in between jobs right now, so we have been so blessed to have him home a lot lately helping. I have been so spoiled and have been grocery shopping by myself (yes I consider that being spoiled :) and getting breaks as I need them. Miriam is growing so fast. I mean.. with a cloth diaper on, homegirl has a hard time fitting into some of her 3-6 month clothes. I think she is my chunkiest baby yet. She is a happy girl as long as we are holding her. Needless to say, she is a happy girl most of the time :). I will be back soon with more updates.

Living in Slow Motion

2011-01-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

Everyone keeps asking who Miriam looks like. I didn't really know at first, but she is really starting to look like Sofia did as a baby.

Isn't that the sweetest little smile, with just a hint of mischief?

Sofia is our sweet little poser.

Don't mind the poochy postpartum belly. I keep reminding myself that it will only get better :).

Miriam is waking up to the world. We were hoping to get some cute sleeping shots of her today, but she was in the mood for a party.

I took these cute pictures of Chris and Miriam. Not too shabby, eh??

Gabe doing what he loves doing most right now.

Everyone always says that your kids grow up so fast, but I am definitely feeling like I am living in slow motion right now (which I for the most part am loving). You would think that I would have the newborn thing down with 3 kids, but each kid is so different. Miriam is so sweet. She is pretty chill for the most part, but when she does cry, she is pretty ticked off. I keep meaning to post on different topics and to do some book reviews, but let's face it... I live and breathe kids and a newborn all day right now. We are laying low in the Becerra household, but we like visitors :)!

The Birth Story---Miriam Sol Becerra

2011-01-21T19:58:00.000-08:00

I thought that I would post a few thoughts/details about Miriam's birth while they are still fresh in my mind (although my mind is not very fresh with about 8 hours of sleep since Tuesday morning). Wowsa are they still fresh in my mind :). I am the worst person in the world about knowing when I am going into labor. My labor's start so gradually that I spend a large portion of time not knowing/denying that I am in labor. Not hard to do when I was having contractions 20 minutes apart for 2 days before hard labor started. Tuesday night around dinner time, I think Chris and I started realizing that this may be the real thing with contractions becoming a lot more painful. When I laid down to sleep at 9:00, I soon knew that there was no way that I would be sleeping that night.
When I am in labor, I am obsessed with being in the water. I got into the bath tub at around midnight and stayed for a few hours before we headed off to the hospital around 3:00 a.m. We went to the hospital a little earlier this time than we usually do. Upon arrival to the hospital, I immediately got into the water and stayed for another 4 hours. I think that I am pretty calm for the most part in labor, but I have to say that the couple of hours before I had Miriam were very intense and extremely unpleasant. Around 8:15, I felt the urge to push a little, but when they checked me, they told me I was only at an 8. I think that I psychologically made up my mind that this baby was coming, and at a 9,I started pushing. Pushing was insane. I pushed this baby out in 12 minutes!! Chris said that one second he saw the top of her head, and the next second, she was totally coming out. Like I said, I wanted the baby out :). When Miriam came out, is was so awesome to find out that she was a girl like I had suspected. It is so amazing how one minute I was in the depth of despair freaking out, and the next...I am holding my beautiful baby.
What a rush, and to share this whole experience with my husband was awesome. I can not imagine a better coach/partner in labor than Chris. He is pretty much a stud. He is so attentive during labor, putting chapstick on me or anything else that he thinks may distract me from the pain. Seriously....I am never more in love with my husband than when we go through this experience together (although at this point... I don't really see myself doing it again :). The nurses kept commenting on what a good team we are and I feel pretty blessed to have a great husband to share this experience with. I know that there are a million more details that I could share, but I am exhausted. Life is great. I adore this baby. The kids adore this baby. This recovery is going well.... although a bit harder than my last. Let's see if we can get some sleep tonight.

Cute kids, chore charts, and other business :)

2011-01-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

*4 more days until my due date. Lots of contractions happening, so we will see when this little Becerra baby plans to come. Hopefully not right this second, I would love a good night's rest.
*I love how peaceful my life is right now. My plan of eliminating stuff from our lives has worked like a charm. I have so enjoyed the last few weeks enjoying my kiddos without major agendas.
*It's amazing how much better my kids behave when I am fully present with them (my brain has been in the clouds lately). Sounds like common sense, but I am a slow learner sometimes.
*Even though I in theory am not really fond of behavior charts, I thought I would give it a try out of desperation. After a couple of days, it was clear that the kiddo that I was hoping would love the idea... wasn't motivated at all by it, and the kid who didn't really need it as much was eating it up. Hmm.... on to my next plan to see what motivates this little man of mine.
*Aren't these kiddos cute? I have been pooped and impatient lately, but I would not trade my time with them for anything.

Christmas 2010

2011-01-16T18:24:00.001-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year. It was actually the first year in the almost 7 years that we have lived here that we were actually in Corvallis on Christmas. Lots of family came to hang out with us, and here a just a few of the pics (I am not even going to try to get totally caught up).

Sofia wanted to wear her fancy Christmas dress for dinner. We had a family talent show that night, and Sofia insisted that Chris paint her face for his talent :). She thinks that her daddy is the most talented at everything that he does.

Here's Gabe snitching some pumpkin/ginger trifle. I think he had eaten probably 3 servings before we caught him :).

My nephew Devin jamming for his talent.

Sofia immediately went to play with new art supplies in the play room.

This picture cracks me up. Gabe was pretty confused about why Santa Claus would include an orange in his stocking.

Gabe playing with his new horses. Gabe literally played all day.. only taking breaks to sneak treats :).
I love Christmas and New Years. As our family takes time to reflect on the Jesus' birth, it always gives me a renewed desire and energy to be more like him. Too bad nesting and hormones have gotten in my way a little of being the loving wife/friend/mama that I want to be :).

Thanksgiving and Christmas Awesomeness

2010-11-26T20:41:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. We were going to be in California during Thanksgiving, but since Chris wasn't able to finish his Masters degree in time, we instead had a quiet Thanksgiving at home. I cooked a lot on Thanksgiving, but since I wasn't in the mood to deal with fighting a huge raw bird, I bought a cooked turkey from Trader Joes that just had to be throw in the oven an hour before. I won't do that again. It was not very good at all, but I guess I shouldn't have had high hopes. It was still a great Thanksgiving, and I don't ever want to take for granted (although I know that I often do) how much I have to be grateful for in my life.

Today we headed out to Kings Valley to Sunrise Christmas Tree Farm to look for and cut down the perfect Christmas tree. It was an awesome little farm, and I think that beginning next weekend, they will have a little petting zoo along with a few other things for kids to do. The kids had so much fun decorating the tree and pulling out our Christmas stuff (which I realized I don't really have that much of). The joy of children during the Holiday season is priceless, and I plan on enjoying every moment of this Holiday season.

Now on to my more random topic of the day. Nesting is in full gear folks. With a little under two months until the arrival of this baby, here are some ways that I know that I am nesting and a hormonal preggo lady:
*I have 90% of my Christmas shopping done. Although I enjoy shopping, I despise it during the Holiday season. I feel like making late night trips to Target, desperately searching for last minute gifts for people who don't really need anything to begin with is big Holiday ruiner for me. By shopping way ahead of time, I was able to put more thought into many of the gifts. I know that I potentially could have saved a lot of money by shopping today, but it is not worth the stress to me. I like the Holidays to be meaningful and low-stress, so having the shopping out of the way lets me put my focus on the more pleasant parts of Christmas.
*I was obsessed with getting a tree as early as possible, and we have already been listening to Christmas music for a week. I love Christmas, but I'm not usually this intense about getting the festivities rolling.
*I got pulled over two days ago and got my first ticket ever (well actually, I got two). I won't tell the whole story, but I would like to mention that I got a $140 ticket for not having my new address on my driver's license. Are you kidding me? Everything is totally current. Did you all know that you can get a ticket for not having your updated address on your driver's license? After being in the middle of a hard day to begin with, I became a sobbing mess after getting my tickets. I sobbed to Chris for a long time, and my sweet kids kept drawing me pictures to cheer me up, but once my raging hormone tears began to fall, there was no stopping them. I felt a little (actually a lot) insane in the membrane for awhile. I can think of a 1,000 ways I would rather spend $300. Hopefully my tickets will be lowered when I go to court.
*Okay, this one is a little weird, but my senses have kicked into high gear, and while at the beginning of pregnancy there are many smells that I can't handle (my kitchen, garlic etc...), at this stage, there are some smells that I love. I love love smelling lavender. I will literally sit and sniff my lavender essential oil bath salts that my friend made me for 5 minutes. I also found this random soap at the grocery outlet that is all natural that was made in Turkey. It is olive oil soap with Laurel, and I have to go smell it every once in awhile. It smells like dirt, and I for some reason am digging earthy smells right now. Okay, so I am admitting too much of my weirdness maybe, but I wasn't into smell as much during my other pregnancies. Are there any other smell obsessed pregnant women out there?
*My friend Adrienne came over the other day to show me how to make homemade yogurt. I am a changed woman, and I can not believe how economical it is to make homemade yogurt. It made me so happy to see my kids eating it up today. For how little patience I feel like I have lately, it is amazing how good I feel when I make things from scratch for my familia.
Okay... enough blabbing for one night. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Isn't it beautiful out there?? I suppose there is no better place to get a Christmas tree than Oregon.

Gabe is such a big boy carrying the Christmas tree the kids got to decorate in the play room.

Homeboy Chris busy at work doing his manly duty.

On a family walk on Thanksgiving down the street on our way to buy some apples at Twedts. I like my (for the most part) simple life.

You can see a little of my preggo belly. I feel like I am looking and feeling now how I usually feel at the very end of pregnancy, but I'm sure that chasing and lifting two other kids may have something to do with that :).

What's on My Mind

2010-11-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

*I have gotten my feelings hurt over a couple of different incidents in the last couple of days, and I have been trying to follow the advice my friend Tonya gave me (that she received from a good friend). When you want to vent, you can vent 3 different times to 3 different people (which is easy to do considering I have 4 sisters before I even start counting friends), and then you have to drop it and try to get over it...end of story. I found that this is really helpful. Venting is good, but sometimes when I vent too much, I end up getting more worked up reliving the whole scenario again and again. If I get my venting over with and commit to being done, it is much easier to get my head and heart in a more forgiving place. The thing is.... life is too short to waste your precious time and energy on things that don't really matter, because often the things I get hurt over are not that important in the grand scheme of things. I can sometimes make myself physically sick when I worry about something, and that does not help me be a good mom/wife in the present. I so wish that I was a little less sensitive, but while I continue to work on that, I can at least work on letting go of things a little faster. Have you ever noticed people who are always dwelling on the negative and making little things into big drama? I don't want to be one of those people. I also realized that I am not very good often times at taking my feelings to Heavenly Father to help me heal. I need to be better about that. We are not meant to heal on our own.
What do you all do to help shake things off that bother you? I have to say that I think my pregnant hormones automatically put a few strikes against me. I feel a little more negative/tired/cynical when I am hormonal, so I look forward to a more normal Kara (which will happen when..... since I will be nursing for a long time??).
*Day lights savings time really sucks. My little guy who used to wake up at 6:00, now consistently wakes up between 5:00-5:30, and sometimes earlier. On the positive side, it definitely makes it less painful to wake up early to go walking with my neighbor when I am already up :). I am in such a better mood when I exercise in the morning, and I come home in a happy mood. That is how I need to start my day. I am not so much of an early morning person, but I am realizing that as life gets busier and busier, I will have to make exercising a priority in the morning or it probably won't happen.

*I am happy to say that both of my kids dress themselves almost every day. Sometimes their outfit choices are unique, but most days I don't even fight it, because I want to reinforce the fact that my kids can dress themselves!! Gabe usually ends up with his underwear and pants on backwards, but he doesn't seem to mind, so I guess I shouldn't since I'm not the one with the wedgie :).

*We are taking a break from Sofia's preschool in the winter. Sofia loves her preschool, and although it is a great preschool, it involves a ton of work and coordination from the parents (it is a co-op preschool). For awhile I was feeling kind of crappy like, "What of parent am I not to be able to even handle doing preschool?" My mom was here last Friday and saw how hard it is to get Gabe out of the door in the morning after him waking up at 5:00 (he is a homebody who loves playing at home), and the whole process that includes insane parking, walking with both kids, finding something to do with Gabe since there isn't a ton of time to go home, and then dealing with parking and a tantruming Gabe as I try to peel him away from Sofia's classroom, and all of the volunteering in the classroom and childcare swapping I do with other parents when they are volunteering. My mom (the mother of 6 children) asked me how I planned on adding a baby to that chaos in January. It was so good to hear permission and validation from someone who has raised 6 children, that I was maybe trying to do too much with a new baby thrown into the equation. Thanks mom. Sofia loves preschool, but I will take the kids to an art class once a week so she still has something special, and I can do fun stuff with her at home. I also will be taking a break from teaching in the winter, and I am really feeling like it is best for my family right now to simplify as much as possible so we can all make a smooth transition to new baby Becerra.

*My kids continue to be as cute as ever. Yesterday, I was mean to Gabe when he was trying to wrestle with me and accidentally kicked me in the face. He ran off to his room to cry (he likes to pout in private). Sofia immediately ran to his room to try to comfort him, and I heard her saying, "Are you okay Gabe? You just made a mistake didn't you? We all make mistakes Gabe, but it's okay Gabe, we can all repent." I sat in the other room laughing and amazed. Whose child is that?? Not that we don't try to teach her good things, but I feel like she is more spiritually in tune than I am half of the time. My kids love each other so much, and that is one of the things that brings me the greatest joy. I hope that even when they fight, that they will always love each other this much.
*Speaking of living in the moment, I need to stop this long post, I have a little boy who wants some book reading and snuggling.

Quick Book Reviews

2010-11-09T19:14:00.001-08:00

I have read a lot in the last couple of months. Sorry not to share more detail, but with the pregnancy brain and hormones I am experiencing right now, aren't you just impressed that I am reading at all :)??

-I have mixed feelings about this book. It is definitely a quick read and interesting, but I would say that I prefer a couple of the books below if you were going to choose which to start with. It is about a college student who was kidnapped (fictional), and confined in a small room of a shed for several years. During the years, she bears a child from the kidnapper, and the book is actually told from the voice and perspective of the 5 year old son. I don't want to ruin too much, but the book is mostly about their escape and it speaks to me about the love of a mother. Like I said, it is good (and a bit depressing), but read "The Help" first if you are looking for a good book.

-Good old Dr. Sears... you gotta love the dude. Although Dr. Sears can be a fairly predictable dude at times (baby wearing, nursing, good nutrition etc...), this book actually had some very good info in it. Obviously we all know that eating a lot of processed crap would logically affect children's behavior negatively, but it was very interesting to read about what processed foods to do the brains of growing kids (and actually change its' composition). We also hear a lot of high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils being no no's in foods, but I wondered more about other additives and preservatives. It was good to get a list of other additives not to feed kids and some of the specific reasons why. I also really liked how Dr. Sears says that before ever prescribing medicine for a kid for disorders like adhd, he insists on a complete diet and lifestyle change to see how much of the problem behavior is caused by poor health. I feel like we are pretty healthy, but we have a ways to go until I am happy with my family's nutrition. For those of you who have "bad eaters" who are used to a lot of junky foods, it may be harder to change bad habits, but it is not too late. A lot of people talk about how eating healthy is more expensive than eating poorly, but Dr. Sears claims that you will save money in the long run not having to deal with the life long Dr. bills that come with bad health. Good nutrition/health is a wonderful gift to give to our children, and I want to do a better job.

-This was one of the best books that I have read in a really long time. I was worried at first as it is pretty long, but I wanted to spend every spare second I had reading it. The book explores what the lives were like for different black maids in Alabama in the 60's (the book is fictional but realistic). The author gives the best detail and voices to each character. Please oh please read this book and let me know what you think. Loved it!!

-This was another great book. I was skeptical at first wondering if I would like a fiction novel based off of Old Testament characters (Dinah and the wives and posterity of Jacob), but it was actually really interesting. I liked the perspective it gave of what life could possibly be like for the wives of Jacob. I read this one awhile ago, so it is not as fresh in my mind, but it was another stay up late at night read.

5 Years Old!!

2010-11-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

I have a five year old. It's true. Sofia actually just informed me that she is almost 6 now. Why are they so anxious to grow up? I swear being a grown up is not that cool :). Here are some things to remember about Sofia right now:
*She is really tall. She is almost always way taller than most of her little friends and playmates.
*She is such a nurturing little gal. I know that she is going to be such a big help when the baby is born, and I have a feeling that I am going to need it! She is always mothering Gabe, which is sweet but I'm sure that it will annoy him someday :).
*This girl has the kindest heart. The other day Gabe last his one allotted piece of Halloween candy for the day because he wouldn't listen to me. Sofia immediately said, "It's okay Gabe, I'll pick something out that I can share with you." She is constantly doing things like this, and she is concerned about how others are feeling.
*Girlfriend has a wonderful zest for life. Yes she is loud and pretty much has no concept of using an indoor voice, but there is no denying that she is a happy girl.
*She is destined for great things. I don't know what her future holds, but I know there are great things to come for this girl.
We love this girl so much and our family wouldn't be complete without her.

My brother and his family stopped by for some birthday fun.

Most of the girl cousins. I love fall here, The leaves are so beautiful right now. Not so excited about having to rake them all up though :).

Sofia opening this beautiful blanket that Grandma Sharon knit for her. Isn't it amazing??

Sofia doing an art project with cousins. I made clear gelatin for the kids, and they played with it and shot colors in with medicine droppers. Fun, but a little messier than I thought :)

Sofia dressed up as Little Bo Peep for Halloween.

If You're Happy and You Know It

2010-09-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

We did a quick photo shoot with the kiddos today. Sweet little munchkins. Here are some of my favorites:

Oh, and on another note, I saw this random article on yahoo, and who knows where all of this "research"/info comes from, but I thought it would be fun to assess how things add up for me in the happy department :) according to this article.

1)You were a smiley student

Adults with the biggest grins in their college yearbook pictures were up to 5 times less likely to be divorced decades later than those who looked less happy, according to a new DePauw University study. A smiler’s positive disposition may attract other happy people or rub off on a spouse.
*I was quite smiley in my year books thank you very much.

2)You have a sister

People with at least one female sibling report better social support, more optimism, and better coping abilities, according to a study presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference. Sisters appear to encourage communication and cohesion in families.
*I have 4 sisters. Score..... that must give me extra happiness points. It's true, having sisters is the best.

3)You're not glued to the TV

The happiest people spend 30% less time parked in front of the tube, according to a University of Maryland study that analyzed 34 years of data from more than 45,000 Americans. They’re more likely to spend time socializing, reading, or attending religious services—habits that are linked to better moods and health.
*We have no channels in our house, and I rarely watch t.v. shows online. I do however love me an online episode of "modern family."

4)You keep souvenirs on display

People who use mementos or photos to remind themselves of good times better appreciate their lives and are happier, says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside. Good memories remind you of your “happiness potential” and promise that soon you can reach it again.
*I do have some souvenirs on display, but I am not much of a knick knack collecting kind of person... so maybe minus points for me? Chris has a lot of souvenirs on display, and he is quite the sentimental dude, so I guess he rules the happiness department in this area for our family.

5)You make exercise a priority

People who exercise more are less likely to be stressed and more likely to be satisfied with life, according to Danish researchers. Compared with sedentary people, joggers are 70% less likely to have high stress levels and life dissatisfaction, the study found. Couch potatoes who start moderate exercise—the equivalent of 17 to 34 minutes a day—experience the greatest happiness lift.
*I have been semi lameo this pregnancy in the exercise deparment, but I go walking with a neighbor, and in general, I am a pretty active person I would say.

6)You have a healthy love life

Physical intimacy is a key contributor to happiness, found a study by Dartmouth economist David Blanchflower, PhD, and Andrew Oswald, PhD, of England's University of Warwick. Married people report 30% more sex than singles, which may be one reason they also report being happier.
*I think I am doing pretty well in this department...especially for being 24 weeks pregnant. Enough (or maybe too much) said.

7)You hang out with happy people

Socializing with a cheerful person in your neighborhood increases the likelihood that you’ll be happy too, according to a new study. How often you get together matters most, say the researchers: People who live within half a mile of a buoyant buddy increase their odds of being happy by 42%. If the friend lives farther away (within a 2-mile radius), the chances drop to 22%—probably due to fewer get-togethers.
*I think I hang out with pretty happy people, and I have made a big effort lately to surround myself with positive happy people.

8)You stay warm with hot cocoa

Clutching a steaming beverage—coffee and tea also do the trick—can elicit a flood of positive feelings, according to a Yale University study. This may be because people associate physical warmth with emotional warmth, say the researchers. Study subjects held cups of either hot or iced coffee; those gripping warm mugs were more appreciative of friendliness in others and also felt more generous and trusting themselves.
*I love curling up at night to a cup of Trader Joe's herbal chai. It is soooo good.

9)You have two best friends

Among 654 married adults, those who said they had at least two “best friends” (not necessarily including one’s spouse) were likelier to have better mental well-being, says a study. But additional friends didn’t lead to any more happiness than just a pair.
*I do have at least a couple of best friends. I think that it is really interesting that having more than two good friends doesn't boost happiness.
There you have it folks. How did you rate your happiness after seeing these standards?

It's Cool to Be Corny

2010-09-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today the kids and I volunteered at local elementary school for the first time doing "taste tables." The program is sponsored through the Corvallis Environmental Agency, and it is awesome. Basically, once a month, through the help of volunteers, each elementary serves a new produce during lunch grown by a local farmer. The whole idea is to get the kids excited about trying new foods and to teach them about where our food comes from, and I saw today how peer pressure can be a positive thing. Kids who wouldn't try the corn on the cob today eventually came back after they saw that all of their friends were trying and enjoying it. Corn is definitely an easier veggie to get kids to try than some, but I was amazed at how much all of the kids liked it. Kids were eating so much and wanting more and more, so they eventually had to tell the kids no more and that they had to go to recess. The best part is how excited Sofia was about helping. She wanted to make signs and look the part of the veggie and felt so cool when she was complimented on her attire, and she was soooo into helping pass the food out to the big kids. Next months pick is apples, and she is already scheming what she will wear. Gabe was not so into helping, but he just sat on the floor the whole time eating corn and looking at books. We will keep doing this at least until the baby is born, but what a great experience for the whole familia.

Hi, my name is Kara... and I'm a sucky blogger

2010-09-21T20:35:00.001-07:00

Amazing how alike my kiddos look with a scowl on their faces. Maybe it is genetic :)??

Tonya and I at Lilith fair this summer. We got to see Sheryl Crow, Erika Badu, Colbie Callait etc... It was so fun.

Tonya's baby shower preparation.

One day Chris took the kiddos to the beach and aquarium so I could get stuff done at home all day.

Hello out there... whoo hoo... anybody there?? After a bit of encouragement, I am ready to come back to the world of blogging. Blogging is kind of like exercising. The more it is habit.. the easier it is, but when you have gone months and months without working out, and you can start to feel your bum jiggle when you run, it is overwhelming to think about getting in shape again. So.. I am not going to even attempt to do detailed catch up. I will just give you a summary, and I will be good to go. Here is what has been going on in our neck of the woods:
Chris:
-Chris is a busy dude as usual. Finishing up his Maters, tons of photography, back to teaching full time now, and trying to cram in every spare second with us.
-Chris was named Oregon Bride Magazine's best photographer south of Portland for the state of Oregon, so that was pretty exciting.
-He is struggling trying to find balance in his life..trying to figure out if there are things that he can cut, and he is loving the time he does have in our house.
-We appreciate Chris so much, and I am hoping that finishing his masters will lighten his load at least a little. He is a great daddy and husband.
Me:
-I am now 22 weeks pregnant with baby numero 3. Ultrasound could not determine sex of baby as his/her legs were closed... so it will be a surprise. I am feeling more girlish vibes... so we shall see if I am correct!
-I have been quite the tired/crazy hormonal gal this pregnancy. I had my normal sickness like I did with my other pregnancies, and now that I am much better... I am trying harder to take care of myself (aka... no more greasy take out and a little exercise).
-I love how with each pregnancy, you can feel baby move earlier and earlier. This little baby is moving all of the time. I was kind of hoping for a more mellow baby this time, but I guess that mellow is not in our gene pool :). I love this little baby so much already, and the kiddos are so excited.
*In between trips and visits from family and friends this summer, I worked on gardening and chicken raising. Our chickens are now laying eggs, and I already have plans of things I will do differently in my garden next year. It was a really cold summer (and seems like it will be a cold fall??), so we had lot's of success with some foods in our garden, and not as much with others. Oh, and I didn't know this before... but rats and mice really love the rainy country of Corvallis. We have been at constant war getting rid of rats that try to eat chicken food. If you want to see pregnant Kara get really crazy.... get me talking about my rat phobias.
*I have also been chilling at home with the kiddos more and staying home reading most nights (another thing keeping me from blogging). I have read a lot of good books, and it has honestly felt really good to be less social and hyper.

Sofia:
-Sofia will start preschool next week, and she is so excited. It is a co-op, so I will be helping out a lot in the classroom. I am also very excited, because since I teach for LBCCC, I didn't have to pay anything for her preschool for the term, so that is very nice.
-I could get all teary eyed thinking about how much Sofia has grown in the last few months, but she is such a great kid. She has her moments of whininess (sometimes much longer than moments usually), but she is such a sensitive and thoughtful little gal. She is really concerned about justice in the world and she is deeply offended when someone litters or does anything to wrong another person. She is also very perceptive, and never forgets anything.
-The other day we were talking about how people used to be really mean to black people and other people who were different from them, and that some people are still like that today. She has been trying so hard to understand this and several times has made comments like: "Mommy, I don't get why people think that they are better than anyone else. I guess that they don't know about Jesus." She is constantly saying things that teach me about the kind of person that I want to be.
-Sofia loves the Beavers. Like a lot. She keeps saying that she is going to trick all of our duck friends/family and have them to come to a "duck party", but really it will be a Beaver party.. and then everyone will love the Beavers as much as her. She is very excited to go some games with Chris and Gabe (and I may even be dragged along to a football game).

Gabe:
-As always, Gabe keeps us on our toes. We are really experimenting with him trying to figure out what to do to get that kiddo to listen more. It is really interesting trying to figure this kiddos personality out.
-He will be 3 in a a few weeks. I can't believe that my baby is going to be 3!! I sometimes fee like I try keeping Gabe in a baby roll... because I know that once the new baby is born, he is going to seem even bigger.
-Gabe is always telling us that he loves us, and he loves Sofia so much. They are starting to fight a lot, which can be frustrating, but they really do play well together overall.
-Gabe is so sweetly sensitive (kind of like his padre). The other day I was talking to him in my mama monster voice, because he refused to help clean up toys, and after running away crying, he immediately asked for a hug and said, "Mama, it makes me sad when you talk in that mean voice." Talking about ripping my heart out.
-Gabe has an crazy active imagination. He is in his own world half or the day running around, reading, or playing make believe. It amazes me how crayons or any object all of a sudden comes to life with Gabe with a voice. It is really amusing to sit and watch him play.
-Gabe is extremely determined. If I put his shirt on when he wanted to do it himself, he will take everything off and put it all on himself again.
-Gabe has been potty trained for a month now.. can I hear an "Hallelujah!!" He is still in a pull up at night, but it feels so luxurious to think that I will have only one kid in diapers when the baby is born.
-I am learning patience from this boy daily, and I am trying hard to savor his sweetness, and it will be fun to have some one on one time with him when Sofia is in preschool.

----That's about is folks. I wlll be back to report again soon!

Motherhood

2010-05-19T10:28:00.001-07:00

Some of you have probably seen this already, but take the time to watch it. Touching.

Book Reviews

2010-04-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,
It has been a long time since I have done a book review. I have read many books since my last one, but I have just recently read two books that I really liked, so I thought that I would chat about them for a minute.

Mitten Strings For God-This book should be read by every mom of young children. I was chatting with some friends about how I sometimes commit to too much and overextend myself (like most women). I also sometimes struggle to decide how I want to fill my kid's time and the kinds of experiences I want to share with them. This book is such a sweet reminder to slow down and breathe in the beauty of childhood. The author talks about the many ways that she slowed down with her family and learned to say no to things that weren't best for her family. I so needed to read this book. It really helped recenter me and remind me of the great role I have as a mother. She talks about how taking tv out of the home (or minimizing) is a great gift that we can give to our children. We no longer have channels at our house, so I still have been checking out DVDs from the library. I have become so much more disciplined about how much/when my kids watch tv....and I don't mind if occasionally they watch a little more than usual, but I feel like my kids are way better off when they are engaged in imaginative play. Anyways.. that is just a tangent... that is just a small part of the book.
Seriously ladies... go to half.com and order this (I paid $4.00 for hardcover including shipping). Here is a list of titles of chapters to give you a feel for the book:
Dailiness, Morning, Peace, Quiet, Simplicity, TV, Play, Secret Places, Wants and Needs, Stories, One-on-One Time, Surrender, Breathing, Healing, Listening, Nature, Enchantment, Grace, Rhythm, Truth, Helping, Stretching, Nurturing, Sabbath, Spirit, Balance, Choices, and Wingbeats.
Read and let me know what you think!!!

I actually read the old version and not the revised version of this book, so I would be very interested to see the new additions. The authors of this book take and practice an integrative approach in how they treat patients. Most MD's have a very narrow point of view based off their training that usually includes very little background in homeopathic or herbal remedies. Most MDs are worried about treating the symptoms more than getting down to the root of problems. For example, a child who has chronic stomach pains, may possibly experiencing stress at home or school, so treating the symptoms is important, but getting down to the root of the cause of the stress is more important. An integrative Dr would be more likely to do preventative work and to start with the least invasive treatment first, but also be willing to use modern medicine as necessary. This book REALLY made me think and thinking is good, right :)? In my happy world, I wish that all Drs were more integrative. Obviously there are amazing MDs and probably some crappy integrative doctors, but it just seems like this philosophy is just has the patients well being in mind more. One other example of something from the book that I found very interesting is the overuse of antibiotics in our country. I think they said that in the Netherlands (or one of those Scandinavian countries), that ear infections in children are rarely treated with antibiotics, and that there are more natural remedies used with antibiotics used only in very severe situations. We all probably know that the more that antibiotics are used, the less they work, and the number of prescriptions written today is insane.
Anywho... I could just blab on forever, because now I want to go and do more research on natural remedies. Don't get me wrong, I am very appreciative of modern medicine when it is appropriate, but many times I think that less is more. Okay folks, that is all for now. The next book that I will be reviewing.... "The Wonder of Boys." I really need to start figuring this little wild man of mine out :).

Random Thoughts

2010-04-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

-I went to see Nobel Peace Prize Laurette Jody Williams speak. She has done tons of amazing work, but her main work was on getting land mines removed from countries around the world. I am feeling all inspired to think of ways to make the world better. She talked about how in the richest country we make excuses about why we don't have time to help and volunteer, but we have to stop making excuses and start acting. She talked about how the worst kind of people are those who whine about causes or injustices but do nothing to help. I think that I've done some of that in the past, so I'd better make my actions meet my talk.
-I'm getting ready to embark with the kids and I on a crazy quick trip next week to visit family in Oregon and then California. I'm really hoping the kids are up for this adventure.
-Okay, so this is really bugging me. Sofia wears some 4t, but she can also wear 5t. 5t is the last size sold in the "baby" sections of stores. I've been starting to casually look at stores in the "big girl" section to see what my options will be. I am so bummed. My choices went from sweet innocent dresses/leggings/regular clothes to clothes that look like they should be worn by teenagers. I can't believe that starting at size 6, all of the clothes are starting to look like clothes for pre-teen girls. Seriously. Usually I buy most of her clothes at garage sales, but that gets harder to do as they get older. I know this is totally random, but sorry people, I'm not dressing my sweet little girl in Hannah Montana and sparkly mini skirts at the age of 4. Have any of you had luck finding affordable clothes for bigger girls that are still sweet?
-I have a new breakfast discovery that is changing my world :). I always wanted to cook steel cut oats, but found myself too hungry in the morning to make them. Wait no longer my friends. I've starting making them in the crockpot at night and cooking them on low all night. I just add: 1 cup steel cut oats, 2 cups water, 1/2 cup milk, cinnamon, pinch of salt, a little brown sugar, and I've either added fresh diced apples or pureed pumpkin. You wake up with your house smelling like cinnamon and it is so nice to have something healthy for breakfast that took 2 minutes of work on my part.
-I think that I am going to be obsessed with gardening. I can't go to a store without wanting to look at their starts and flowers. My friend and I did a bunch of starts in her greenhouse, so we are anxiously waiting to discover which things are growing best. The weather is going to be great this weekend, so I am excited to hang out and finish our chicken fence!! That's all folks.

Through the eyes of a 4 year old

2010-04-14T23:15:00.001-07:00

I thought that since my kids are always saying cute things, that I would start writing things down more! Here is a series of fill in the blank questions that I asked Sofia today:
A Home is.... "A place where you live."
A family is...."People that stay together."
A brother is...."Just a brother."
A mother is...."Moms take care of their children."
A friend is...... "Somebody that you could play with."
What we need to do to be happy.... "Help others."
My favorite things to do are: "Play with my friends a lot, play at the park, spend time with my family."
My favorite color is: "Pink."
My favorite food is: "Strawberries and Celery (not sure how accurate that one is)"
When I grow up, I want to be: "A gymnastics teacher/diver/swimming teacher, a baker with my cousin Kira."

Her Cousin Kira just won a big writing competition writing about her pet, so when I told Sofia about that, she wanted to dictate to me a story about her pets too:

"Chick Supreme" (I thought that was a clever title)
Our chicks are the friendliest chicks, but Roosters are really mean to girls. Our chickens are our pets. We get them fresh food and water. Our chicken coop outside is for when our chicks get big. They could have a bigger chicken coop. We fed them worms by digging them in our back yard.

Spring!!

2010-04-09T20:30:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,
It has been a busy spring. We have added 8 new additions to our family. I first planned on getting 6 chicks, but when I saw that they ones I ordered all looked very similar, I decided that we needed a little diversity in the coop. The kids have named the chicks, and a few of their names include: Fuzzy Wuzzy, Elizabeth, Rufus, and Orangie. I have a cute video that I will post soon of the kids' first reactions to our new friends :)
I just finally uploaded pictures from my camera, so here are some here are some of the things that we have been up to:

*Here is Sofia with her little friend Tessa at their creative movement dance class. It is a really low key class that she does once a week.

Here is Chris chillin' like a villian. He is actually doing so much better now. He is still walking around with a limp, but he is on to physical therapy now.

We have been spending lots of time with cousins. All of the cousins but Jackson were here during spring break. One day all of the kids came up to hang out in Corvallis. We went swimming, roasted marshmallows in the yard, had an easter egg hunt, and all went on a walk at Jackson Frazier Wetland. It was so good seeing people!!

*A nice day in the park with friends.

*Sofia is obsessed with babies. Here she is with our little friend June. She could seriously sit and hold her for more than 15 minutes if we let her. She is such a sweet nurturing kid.
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*Here is Grandma Sharon hanging out on the play structure with the kids. That woman is so adored by my little munchkins.

*Aren't these the sweetest kids ever! I have so much fun with them every day. I would not change a thing about my life right now. I would say that for the most part, it is sweetly simple.

What's on my mind at 11:30 at night.

2010-03-23T23:28:00.000-07:00

*I just got home from an indigo girl concert with my sister. It was awesome, and I am so busting out my guitar tomorrow.... I am inspired! I know there is a rockstar somewhere deep within me waiting to come out :).
*My sister Kris just picked up 3 hens from my neighbors while we were at the concert. I get my chicks in 1 week.
*I went to the coast last weekend with my lovely in-laws. Love those people. We went whale watching, and let's just say that there were no whales seen, but plenty of throwing up done by yours truly. It's a long funny/scary story that I am too tired to tell right now. When we got in the van afterward, Gabe said in his most serious voice,"That scary Mama."
*Kelsey and Jeremy just welcomed their 3rd baby girl Camia Grace into the family. We are way excited to meet her.
*Everyday new flowers are blooming at my house. Few things are a nicer surprise than coming home to a bunch of beautiful blooming tulips. It's the simple things I tell ya.
*Every time I hear Nickelback sing, I can't help but cringe my face at the sound and then ultimately laugh at their lameness. I heard them in a store the other day, and I am always amazed with how much that dude's voice bugs me. That one was really random. Time to go to bed. Sometime I will actually post picture. I am looking forward to lot's of time and fun with family this week.

Cutie-isms

2010-03-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

Here are a few funny/cute things the kids have said in the last 24 hours:
Sofia:(After taking a picture she drew to a sick neighbor girl)"Mom, whenever anyone in the neighborhood is feeling sick, I can make them some thing and BOOM-SHACKA-LACKA! They will feel all better."
Gabe: I asked Gabe if we should cut his hair since it is getting so long, his response:"No,scissors are for cutting paper, not little boy hair Mama." It may be hard to convince him to get a haircut, but it sounds like he won't try it on his own hopefully.
Sofia: We stopped by the yummiest bakery on the way to Eugene today, and Sofia announced the the lady who works there and everyone else: "Mommy, why are all of the people here soooo old?" Luckily they all thought that it was funny, and when they asked her why they look old, she said," Because everyone here has old grey hair."

American Idol

2010-03-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I will say that I am bummed that I don't get to watch American Idol this season, and it is really hard to find online. From what I have heard online, the girls are amazing this year. Seriously, there are finally people that I would go and buy a cd. Lilly,Crystal, and Sioban are amazing from what I've heard so far online. Yeah...for the girls this year!

The Race I Won (Kind of)

2010-02-27T16:35:00.001-08:00

This morning I dragged my butt out of bed to go and run a 10k for the parent enhancement program. Seeing how I am not in amazing shape right now, I was especially nervous, but I had committed to do it a long time ago to do the race. I literally got to the starting line 2 minutes before the race started, turned my i-pod on and, and I was off. There was a different race going on at the same time as our race on almost (key word almost) the same course, so there was mass confusion with everyone of where to go. I was going straight through a corner, and was told that I needed to instead turn left for the race I was doing and that 5k people should go straight ahead, which was the exact opposite of what we should have all done. I continued to try to follow the few signs, and I when there was occasionally someone to ask a question to, I would be assured that I was going the right way (although the couple of people never knew how far we had gone). So basically, I finished the 10k in 39 minutes, but obviously as I finished, I realized that I in fact had run the course wrong as there is no way I ran the race in even close to that time. People at the end were apologetic for all of the confusion,and I later found out that I ran closer to 4 to 4 1/2 miles. So, the embarrassing part comes in when during the award ceremony, they call my name as the winner of the women. I immediately yelled out to everyone that I had run the course wrong and was not the winner, but they insisted that I come up and accept a prize (a $20 gift card to a local sport store) as they realized that many people had run the course wrong. So there you have it folks, I "won" my first 10k today :) even though I never ran a full 10k. Someday I will have to tell you about the time I accidentally scored a goal the one year I played soccer in high school :).

Update

2010-02-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

Here is what has been going on in our neck of the woods:
*Chris broke his fibula, chipped his tibia, and may have torn tendons or ligaments in his ankle. Oh, and I was in Utah when he did it. I never leave the kids, so I was quite stressed about them when I first heard the news. My sister Heather bailed us out and picked up the kids for a couple of days. She is a rockstar sister. Thank you so much to the neighbors and friends who help us out during the days that I was gone!!! Seriously.
*Despite the stress of everything going down on the home front, I did have a great time in Utah. My main motivation for going was to surprise my friend Amanda for her 30th birthday (which I almost pulled off), but I was able to see my sister Niki (who drove to meet me for less than one day) and a few good friends as well. Here are a few of the awesome things I got to do: Cafe Rio, Avatar, Brazilian Food, and a little shopping with Niki. Running, temple, and hanging out with Elisa's family. Facial, massage, and good ol' hanging out with Amanda and family. I got to see Lyndi briefly on Monday morning as well. I am hoping to be able to do more weekends like this every once in a while, minus the whole broken leg business.
*Chris' parents were in town for the weekend, and I am afraid they weren't able to relax a lot. They were helping Chris and Gabe and I are getting over colds as well. Carlos worked on and almost finished a chicken coop for us. He is my hero of the day. Seriously.... I am so excited to get chickens, and I thought that I may not get a coop with Chris not able to build one. I am pretty blessed in the in-law department I must say.
*I am not pregnant or trying to get pregnant (sorry if tmi), but I have been contemplating a home birth for our next birth. I am going to call insurance tomorrow. I am guessing there is a good chance that it won't be covered, but I definitely want to look into it to see if it is an option.
*This last week has been beyond beautiful here. Since Chris can't really get around, we have enjoyed hanging out in the yard while I try to get some work done. I'm sure it will be back to cold and rain soon, but this break in the weather may be just what I needed to get through a rainy spring.
Okay, that's it friends. I really need to be on top of taking more pictures of the kids. I can assure you that they are still both cutie patooties.

Happy Early Valentine's Day

2010-02-10T22:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Early Valentine's day. I am especially feeling the love for my sweet little family this year. Chris is such an amazing father and husband, and my kiddos....well, I am smitten. I seriously think that they are both at the best ages ever right now. I wish I could freeze time and just keep them this young for a long time.

Day 3

2010-02-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm not doing too incredibly wonderful. Valentines' week is a tricky one. So now I know that I am a social eater and a holiday eater. Here's the list:
Breakfast-Bagel with cream cheese
Lunch-Leftover spaghetti and salad
Snack-waaay too much popcorn that we were making popcorn ball valentines with.
Dinner-Tacos and homemade pinto beans. Might I add that dinner turned out really gross tonight.
Okay... this may be the last time I post now that I am in the habit of writing down what I am eating.

Day 2

2010-02-10T01:32:00.000-08:00

Breakfast: Cheerios and half banana
Snack: Grapes and carrots (had to resist cookie)
Lunch: Leftovers from dinner
Snack: Cheese and crackers
Dinner Spaghetti with salad
Dessert: Chocolate Chip cookie and handful of caramel corn. I realized that I don't always have dessert at home, but when I am with friends....I eat. Some people are social drinkers. I am a social eater I guess.

Day 1

2010-02-08T23:17:00.000-08:00

Here it goes folks~
Breakfast-Oatmeal with raisins and 1 tsp pumpkin butter.
Lunch-Bagel Turkey Sandwich with 4 kettles chips and 6 oz OJ.
Snack-1/4 sugar cookie and 3/4 cup fresh pineapple
Dinner-Pineapple Chicken/Rice/1 raw carrot
Dessert---I tried to resist, but my friend Adrienne lured me with her Heath ice cream. I only had a tiny scoop. Promise :). It was good though.
The End

Food Journal

2010-02-07T20:53:00.001-08:00

So as normal, I gained my nice 5 pounds over the holidays. Nothing new here folks... it always happens. The problem is, I have gained a couple of more pounds in the last week on top of the Christmas weight, and I have no idea how. I haven't been eating too bad, and in fact, I had a stomach bug for a couple of days where I hardly ate anything at all. If any of you remember the "before" picture that I posted last year, I am sad to say that I look the same if not a few pounds heavier (although I did get in much better shape than I was in the picture).
I still feel fine about how I look overall, but since I have a tendency to eat like a lumberjack in the first place, I think that now would be a good time to get my eating under control. I have tried to keep food journals in the past, and when I was consistent.. it really helped...but the consistency thing was hard for me. So my dear friends... I ask for your help. I will be posting what I eat (I mean everything) on my blog for the next few days to help me get in the habit of keeping a food journal. I realize that you could all care less about what I eat, but it will be a good way to hold me accountable and think about what I eat since I have to write it down. I think that once I get in the habit of writing things down, I will be good to go, so help a lady out will you? If anyone wants to participate with me... we could all help each other out, and maybe it would be good to hear about healthy meals/snacks that other people eat on a daily basis.

Gender Roles

2010-02-01T22:28:00.001-08:00

This picture cracks me up. Not only is Gabe dressed up in full diva attire, but he has colored all over his face (and legs) with marker. So speaking of Gabe being dressed up in diva attire, Gabe really loves to dress up. I attribute it to the fact that he has an older sister who loves teaching him the ways of girliness. I do not worry. Chris doesn't for the most part either, but I think he wishes that I would encourage more "manliness" with Gabe. I don't discourage manliness at all... in fact, anyone who knows Gabe probably has a vision in your head of a little guy who never walks.... only runs and jumps everywhere. He loves to wrestle and growl, which I suppose could both be classified as "manly" things :). He just loves being like Sofia too.
I know that parents play an intricate role in helping kids identify with a gender identity and role. You often hear dads telling boys to stop a behavior, because that is what girls do. You probably don't hear parents as often telling girls not to act like boys, though.
For those of you who have older girls and then boys, do you or your husband discourage "girl" behavior at young ages? I think that gender is essential and that Gabe will be shown the ways of manliess or whatever, but 2 seems like a young age to be pushing it too hard to me. I think that as parents, we sometimes push weird issues/cultural prejudices/ onto our kids, and they pick up on it. We make things that are innocent and sweet into more than they are sometimes. I know that Gabe will grow up to be a great man someday, but at least for a little while longer, I will let him enjoy the innocence of a crown and tutu.

This is how we roll

2010-02-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that we have been doing recently instead of blogging :).
My sister Kris just welcomed her new baby Relia (my Grandma's name) Lily into the world last Friday, so we headed down to get a baby fix. She is absolutely precious!!

Gabe was in a bad mood when we got there as he had just woken up, but I was very surprised how long it took him to warm up to the idea of my sister having a baby. He clung to me and whined/cried for a good 1/2 hour and wanted nothing to do with the baby. As you can see, he eventually warmed up.

Sofia was ready to hold Relia from the get go. She looooves babies. If you are around us with a baby, Sofia will immediately ask to hold the baby.

I have had a bit of an obsession with making things out of felt lately. Felt hair clips, little animals for the kids to play with, and now I am on to headbands. For those of you who know me, I am not crafty.... so I am excited to have found something easy enough that I can do :)!

I have been making more of an effort to get the kids outside this winter. Last week we fell in love with Jackson Frazier Wetlands by our house. It is a great walk for the kids, and we are working on toughening Sofia up as she has a rep for whining on walks :). Oh, and I'm really not sure why Gabe scowls in almost every picture. I assure you that he really is a quite happy kid :).
Life is great right now, and I am feeling pretty busy, but good busy. Gabe continues to make us laugh with almost everything he says lately, and Sofia is always amazing us with her insightful comments. More posts to come.

My Love Affair With Shoes

2010-01-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

I think that I've mentioned this before, but oh how I love shoes. I own waaay too many shoes. I think that many women who have had kids can relate. No matter how much my pant size changes (and it has been known to vary many sizes with the whole pregnancy... post baby fatness etc....), my foot always remains a constant size 9.
If any of you are in desperate need of shoes...please, come shopping in my closet and I would gladly part with a couple of pairs. Oh... there is only one catch. I kind of have a thing for grandma shoes. You see folks, here in Oregon, yes... I'm sure that there are still people prancing around in their Jimmy Choos, but it seems like the majority of people are into comfort shoes. Crocs, Keens, Born, Earth Shoes, Danskos.... these are part of the shoe language that I speak. In case you think that all of my shoes are dorky sporty shoes, alas, did you know that Clark has a line called indigo that has high heels? And yes, they are funky and still comfy (and Heather usually supplies me with these). I know I may be too young to have fallen into the Grandma shoe trap, but I just can't help it. I think that my shoes are adorable too... so they are more like cool Grandma shoes.
So, my question for you... if you live in Oregon, do you wear comfort/sporty shoes... or cool people shoes like the rest of the country? Have you ever made fun of all of the comfort shoes you have seen Oregonians wear? And if you live in a place where people around you are way into appearances/boob jobs... I recommend that you consider relocating to a place where dressing comfortable is the norm :).

My Weird Theory

2010-01-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

I think that I am pretty friendly gal. I make friends pretty easily, and I love chatting with and getting to know people from all walks of life. I think that I get along with 95% of the population, and I don't usually encounter drama with other woman folk. It's just not my style. I really really hate drama.
So, I mentioned before that 95% of the population I can get along with just fine, but every once in a while, I meet someone who I can just tell I completely rub them the wrong way. I see eye rolls when I make my light hearted cheesy jokes. I can see eye rolls when I act like a spaz or when I'm..... basically just being myself.
The other day as I was contemplating a few people I have met who I felt like are/were completely bugged by me... I noticed a pattern. This may sound like a crazy theory, but here it is folks. I've noticed that the people who tend to not especially enjoy my company tend to have a common denominator: people who are really good at math. You know, like engineers....... and all of those other professions that require awesome math skills. When I realized this, I wondered... why? This is what I came up with. People who are really good at math tend to like equations. They like predictability and the power to figure the equation out and for things to make sense. I am not a predictable equation. I change the subject mid-sentence, I might bust out into song spontaneously, I am unorganized, and I don't make sense like an equation does. These people like things to be logical... which I am not always. I do realize that my theory can be proven wrong. I am sure that I can get along with many people who excel in math, and that on the flip side, there may be some English majors who find me quite annoying too.
What is the point of all this nonsense you may ask? I have noticed lately that I care way too much about what people think about me. Not enough to be something I'm not obviously, but I always feel baffled when I feel like I am very friendly and nice to someone, and I get rudeness in response. The truth is, that all of us will encounter people who rub us the wrong way... it's just human nature. There will always be some people that no matter how nice I am (or maybe because I'm nice to them) to them... for whatever reason.... we won't mesh. People have things going on in their lives and issues and insecurities that shape how they act. I can not be super sophisticated or articulate, or whatever. I am me. I am not perfect, but I have good intentions and l should feel good about the fact that I am able to get along with many kinds of people. Do any of you struggle with this? I am hoping that as I grow and mature and gain some wisdom, that I won't be so affected and care about how other people see me. I need to continue to receive inspiration on how I live my life and always try to be better, and love life and that is all I can do. It does not matter in the end what everyone thought about me, but what kind of person I am. Well, thanks for listening friends. This is just something that I have been thinking about lately. Any words from the wise? Not that I care what you think :).

Mom Talk

2010-01-02T21:18:00.000-08:00

It's weird how as moms, some things become a part of our daily lives, and we aren't even phased by the weirdness of it all. Tonight I was talking to a girlfriend on the phone, and this is how the conversation went:
Me: (interrupting our conversation) Oh shoot, I think that Gabe just pooped on the floor.
Her:Do you need to go so you can clean it up?
Me: (Talking, wiping a butt, and cleaning the carpet all at the same time) Nah, I'm good... so what were you saying?
And our conversation just continued. No big deal. Poop on the carpet...that's just normal mom life I guess. This whole motherhood thing is a strange gig sometimes, but I love it.

Pre-Christmas Bliss

2009-12-31T09:14:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went downtown to take the kids for a ride on the Christmas Trolley. Here are a few pics, and I am working on Christmas pics too!
While we were out and about, who should we run into, but our little adorable friend, Will Rosling.

Gabe was all about Santa, but it took a lot of convincing to get Sofia to sit on his lap. I guess it is kind of strange that we don't force our kids to sit on stranger's laps, but then all of a sudden, we are convincing them to sit on some old dude's lap with a red cheap santa suit on :).

Normal Life in a big family

2009-12-30T19:22:00.001-08:00

In case any of you have small families, you may wonder what it is like when lots of little cousins get together. It is chaos and craziness but so much fun.

My little piece of heaven

2009-12-30T18:23:00.000-08:00

So I know that many people have asked for us to post some pictures of our house, and we haven't.... but I did find this picture that shows part of our lovely yard. Isn't it lovely? Can't you just imagine.... a huge garden, composting, chickens..... I just get giddy thinking about this summer. I am figuring out the composting right now, and I would be happy to accept help from any master gardeners or chicken experts as I really have no knowledge or skill to back up my enthusiasm. Oh, and I really need someone to help me learn to prune fruit trees/grape vines. Come hang out in my yard with me this summer. (P.S. I am really trying to get my act together to post about Christmas... I promise).

My Love/Hate relationship with Technology

2009-11-19T18:13:00.001-08:00

I really have had a love/hate relationship with technology through the years. Technology is a blessing to our society and families, but it can be a curse as well. I could go on and on citing a million examples of this relationship, but I will list a few.
Cell Phones
*I had a cell phone from the time we got married until a year after moving to Corvallis, so I have been cell phone-less for more than 4 years now. Initially, I just dropped my plan to save money, but it has ended up being a very good thing overall.
Cons of not having a cell phone-It makes me a little nervous when I am driving down south to visit family with the kids by myself. There is also a very rare occasion when I feel flustered that I don't have a cell phone. When my sister was picking me up from the airport as I just flew a red-eye flight alone with the kids a few months ago, we didn't find each other at first. I was exhausted, and I remember feeling very frustrated that I didn't have a cell phone. I actually am thinking about getting a phone where you pay as you go for the minutes, so I can have it in case of an emergency, but not something that I would use on an everyday basis.
Pro of not having a cell phone-It forces me to interact with human beings more. When I am at the park, I can't ignore my kids while I text message the whole time (not saying a lot of moms do this... but I've seen some). It allows me to be present when I am with people more. I am not interrupting someone's train of thought so I can respond to a text message really fast. It is only after not having a cell phone, that I realized how rude many cell phone habits are. It is also really dangerous to talk on a cell phone while you are driving. I have already been accused by Chris of not being the best driver in the world, so I really don't think that I want to do anything to ad to that. I'm not trying to make people feel bad at all if any of these habits describe you, because like I said, I was only able to notice these things after I got rid of my cell phone. Oh and the last thing.... I don't want to be accessible to the world 24 hours a day. I love talking to famliy/friends on the phone, and I have many opportunities to do so when I am at home.

Television
As we were moving into our new house a month ago, we were looking at finding any bills that we could cut, and we decided to cut t.v., at least temporarily. Chris was a good sport about it, because it is just the beginning of basketball season.
For me, I have really enjoyed not having cable or any channels. I have really been taking advantage of the great resources of our library by checking out dvds to watch(I also like to think I am helping our city run nicely with my overdue fines :). I am currently watching Season 2 of Lost, and when I am done with that... I can get even more reading done. It's a good thing. I check out a couple of dvds from the library (like Blues Clues and Sesame Street) for the kids to watch. So obviously we are still watching shows, but no commercials, and I get to be really picky about what the kids watch. Although my kids still watch limited dvds, they definitely aren't watching as much as they were when we had channels and on demand. I am happy keeping our arrangement how it is now, but Chris and I will have to decide if he can continue to live without the Blazers. We shall see.

Facebook
Facebook has been my most recent love/hate relationship. I have a bit of an addictive personality, so I was not one of those people who could only check every few days or even once a day. I definitely was not on there doing all of the strange quizzes like "What kind of vegetable are you?", but I was feeling like I was on there way to much for my liking. I loved loved staying connected to good friends and family and socializing with people, but there is this whole other part of facebook that I hate. I hate that people who don't know you at all try friending you. What, do they just want to check out pictures to see if I got fat? I've had several incidences where I would deny a request for someone I didn't know very well, and they would try to friend me again (or 6 times in one person's case.... that's just creepy). I hate the fact that a person on facebook could get 100 happy birthday messages, but very few of those people if any would actually call the person in real life to say happy birthday. It all was starting to feel a little superficial to me. I was online chatting with people, some who I hardly know, and in real life, I had real friends and family that I sometimes feel like I neglect. Like I said, I wish I was one of those people who could just check every once in awhile, but since I wasn't able to and I was on too much, I decided to just deactive my account. It's been a few days, and I am doing good so far. I strangely feel like a recovering drug addict or something... with my drug of choice being facebook. When I told people I would be taking a break, a few said "You will be back within a few months. Everyone who I knows who tries to quit.. always comes back." Wow, thanks for the encouragement. Anywho... I will stop now before I blab on. I do not mean for this post to seem self righteous at all. I am probably still on the internet too much, but I am trying to take baby steps to try to live in the present more and enjoy my great life. What do you all think? Are you addicted? Have you tried giving up any part of technology...even for a while?

Sofia-isms

2009-11-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

I just had to hurry and write down what Sofia has said in the last 1/2 hour.
1) Chris asked Sofia: "Sofia, what is the purpose of life?" Her response: "To love each other." This girl is so insightful.
2) As Chris got up from dinner leaving his plate on the table, she said: "Daddy, you are not being a very good example. You need to put your plate up." Amen girlfriend... you read my thoughts :).
3) On the lighter note, just a minute ago, she said: "I wish that God didn't make people fart." I can so relate Sofia.
Who knows what the next 1/2 hour will bring?

Sofia Turns 4!!

2009-11-15T19:52:00.001-08:00

Sofia turned 4 on November 7th, and she was able to share the day before her birthday with my parents, then we took off to the coast for her actual birthday with Chris' parents. Here are some things I love about Sofia right now:
*She is such a perceptive person. She notices everything around her and listens to everything we say. She knows when people around her are sad, stressed, and she doesn't forget anything.
*She is such a good big sister. Although the kiddos are starting to fight a little more, for the most part, they get along so well. Sofia is always hugging Gabe and comforting him. She is such a little mother.
*Sofia makes our family be better. She is always reminding us to pray, have family home evening, and reminding me to "chill out."
*I'm not sure I have ever met a more curious kid. She talks and talks and talks. She asks questions upon more questions all day long. I am used to it (for the most part), but people who aren't around us very often often comment that they have never heard of a kid who talks so much. Maybe it gets old to them, but I think her curiosity is a wonderful thing. They say that we spend the first couple of years teaching our kids to talk, and then the rest of their childhood telling them to shut up. When we were at the coast with Carlos and Sharon, Sofia was laying down with us (to go to bed) while we watched "Pride and Prejudice." I told Sofia that she couldn't talk if she wanted to stay with us, to which she responded: "But mommy, if I can't talk, then I can't breathe, and if I can't breathe....I will die." FYI, she talked and asked questions the entire movie.
*I could go on and on about why I love this girl. She brings drama, exhaustion, fun, energy, and joy to our lives.

Sorry

2009-11-11T18:32:00.000-08:00

(pics by Steve Wagner)
I just don't think I have it in me to be a hard core blogger. I may blog more now that winter is coming upon us, and I am cooped up more. These are things that have been going on in our neck of the woods lately.
*We have been in our new house for a few weeks, and we are loving it. Our neighbors have cows and alpacas. We have fruit trees, a grape arbor, garden area, huge yard... ah... we are loving life. We will at someday post pictures for everyone, but that is just honestly not a huge priority right this second, so the best way to see it is to come and visit us :).
*Sofia just turned 4. I will post more on that later.
*I am slowly getting out of shape. Help!! I need people to consistently push me out the door!
*Life is great right now. We are excited to spend our first Thanksgiving in our house!

Free Falling

2009-11-02T20:52:00.001-08:00

Tonight when Sofia was saying family prayer, she asked to sing the prayer. It took me awhile to recognize the tune, but she was singing her prayer to Tom Petty's "Free Falling." Classic.

Teachable Moments

2009-10-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

Don't you love those teachable moments that you have as parents when you have the opportunity to share something that you believe in with your child? I often times feel like I miss teachable moments, because I am too focused on other aspects of my life or day. The other night, Chris was such a good example to me of taking advantage of a good moment to teach Sofia.
Sofia was for some reason really scared to go to sleep and crying, because we were leaving the room after laying by her for awhile. She usually goes to bed really easily. so we were concerned with how scared she was. Then Chris calmly told Sofia,"You know Sofia, if you are scared, you can pray to Heavenly Father any time to feel safe, and he will help you." She perked up a bit and said, "I can pray whenever I want, and he will help me?" We said a prayer together as a family, and she immediately went to sleep.
The next morning (bright and early I might ad), Sofia came and laid by me, and the first thing that she said was,"Mommy, last night I prayed to Heavenly Father a hundred hundred hundred times. I responded,"Did it help?" She cheerfully responded,"Yep."
This sounds like such a simple incident, and it was, but it made me feel so good that she knows how loved she is by Heavenly Father. I couldn't help but think afterward, that although I 100% know that Heavenly Father is there for Sofia any time she prays, I sometimes don't know if I believe that for myself. At times when I need his help the most, I withdraw from His help and love. I need to start calling upon His love and share my appreciation more, because He really does love each of us and wants nothing but the best for us. There is so much for me to learn from this whole parenting gig, and so far it seems like the majority of the time, my kids are the teachers, and I am the student.

What's your laugh like?

2009-10-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love those people who laugh so easily and naturally? They make you feel so funny, even when you are pretty sure, that you aren't being comical? It's good for the ego either way :). Or how about those people who have those full on belly laughs. Their laughs are so contagious that you are just happy to be around them. Then there is me... the silent laugher. Chris and I were talking the other day about how I don't really laugh out loud all that often. Don't get me wrong, I think that things are funny quite often, but although many times my heart is laughing, I just can't get the sound out. Why does this matter, you may wonder? Well, it really doesn't... except for the fact that I feel bad when people are being sincerely funny, and they may not think that I think they are funny, because I have a wussy laugh. There of course are times, when people really aren't funny to me (I have a strange sense of humor)... in which case.... it would be convenient if I could do some sort of fake chuckle just to be polite... but I just can't (literally). Is there anything I can do to make my laugh known more so that people really are aware when I think that something is funny? I do smile a lot, however, so if I smile at you a lot, consider it as good as a laugh.
So, I ask you all... what kind of laugh to you have? Do you laugh easily? Were you that flirty girl in college who laughed at everything and made guys fall in love with you, because their egos were soaring around you? Do you laugh easily? What kind of humor do you have? What can really get you laughing. Here are a few things that get me laughing (perhaps loud enough to hear):
-My kids. If anyone can get me to laugh heartily, it would be these munchkins.
-Chris when he dances or is in a cute teasing mood.
-A good episode of Ellen.
-Often times when a friend recounts a funny story.
-Occasionally my own jokes get me laughing pretty hard (no one else usually is laughing as hard as I am, however).
I know, this is a random post... but these are the random things that I think of.

Happy Birthday Gabe!

2009-10-07T20:20:00.001-07:00

Doesn't this little guy just melt your heart? We celebrated his 2nd birthday a few days early with family, and besides Sofia's hair catching on fire (see video on Chris' blog), it was a great day. Here are some things about Gabe that melt my heart right now:
-Before naps or bedtime when he wants me to lay by him, he says, "I lay by you mama." Or if he wants us to carry him he says,"I carry you mama" in his sweetest little voice,
-Speaking of voices, boyfriend can sing. When Gabe is trying, he can sing in tune, and he loves loves to sing. Do I foresee a boy band like the legacy his father left :)?
-He mimics everything people say, especially Sofia.
-He says the cutest prayers before dinner.
-He loves to yell out,"Family Hug," and we all run to each other and hug. So sweet.
-Before bath time, he is loving to do a little pee pee on the toilet every day. Even if he lets out one drop, he jumps off the toilet and yells,"We did it, we did it, we did it hooray!!" and does a little victory dance.
-He loves books. No matter where he is, he usually finds the pile of books and plants himself to read on the ground for a long time.
-His boundless energy is exhausting, but he has such a zest for life, you just can't help but fall in love with this little guy.
I got all teary eyed looking at his baby pictures the other day. This child brings such joy to our lives, and we love him so much!
-

A few Virginia Pictures

2009-10-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Of course my camera was still broken when I was in Virginia, so here are a few pics that Kim sent me!

Isn't this the life? This was the property of Kim's friends that we went to. It was so beautiful!!

Sofia could not wait for her swimming suit to jump in the water. Oh well. Isn't childhood great?

Family Picture Special

2009-10-04T12:18:00.001-07:00

Chris is running a family photo special for the month of October. Check his blog for more details. The weather is supposed to be great this week, so book him now!

Your Baby Can Read (but shouldn't)

2009-10-03T18:44:00.001-07:00

Am I the only one who keeps hearing ads on the radio and tv for programs that will help teach your baby (yes, I repeat BABY) how to read? I've also had a couple of moms in my baby classes in the last year ask me my opinion on these programs. Although I usually feel like I am pretty good at giving a semi-unbiased answer to moms when they ask me questions..... I just can't on this one. I STRONGlY disagree with teaching an infant how to read with these crazy canned flash cards (or videos). However, I believe that most parents who use these programs are really good parents who are just being lead astray by misleading advertising and societal pressures. Even if these programs can teach a baby to read off words on a flash card, they have absolutely no context to help this to be beneficial. There is no good research to show that these programs would have any long term benefit on infants/toddlers, and in fact, most good research would tell you to avoid these programs like the plague (well, maybe not like the plague... but maybe like you would avoid having stomach issues in a foreign country). The fact that we try to teach tiny infants to read... is so telling of how many parents today are pushing their kids to achieve earlier and earlier. I know that as a parent, it is worrisome to think that maybe your kids are going to be behind or not be given the right experiences that they need to thrive. I remember when Sofia was a toddler, there was a mom who proudly told me that her 22 month old daughter could say 454 (or something like that) words. She wondered how many words Sofia could say, and I had no idea. I hadn't realized that it would be necessary to keep track so that we could all compare... but I knew that it wasn't 400 something.
It is always comforting to me (and should be to all of you great parents out there), that research tells us that the many of the things we do intuitively as parents are the best things that we can do. Reading to our kids a lot, singing with them, playing with them, giving them opportunities to explore and learn, hugging and snuggling them etc....... I am no where close to being a perfect parent, and in fact, most days I feel like I feel short in many ways, but I am just chipping away at my imperfections (does anyone else remember Bro. Rookhouzen saying that all of the time in Sunday School). Babies are for snuggling and loving on, not for drilling with flashcards. If anyone is ever interested, I love BAM radio. Rae Pica (a leading expert in childhood health and movement) interviews different leaders in the field every week about different parenting topics. Scroll through and listen to the interviews that look interesting, but I have loved having the information from these 10 minute interviews as I don't have as much time to read as I would like.
http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=66&limitstart=70
Thanks for letting me vent on this topic. I feel better now :).

Sweetness

2009-10-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

Sofia to Gabe right after he woke up from his nap: "Oh little boy, it's okay. I know, you need a big sister to take care of you. I can take care of you little boy." Pure sweetness.

Family Pictures 1

2009-09-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's family picture time again. These are a combination of pictures that Chris snatched and that Steve Wagner took. We haven't seen many of the ones that Steve took, so I will post more when he sends them to us. We are so lucky to be able to switch with the wagners. Nicole is a big time makeup artist in Portland, so she was so nice to do my makeup for the day. Now if only I could ever figure out how to do that on my own.....

Catch Up

2009-09-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

I blame my lame blogging skills on the fact that I am just now getting my camera back (but now I have to find the battery). Life has been pretty crazy, but here are some highlights from the last month and what we are up to:
The kids and I headed to Virginia to see my sister Kim. I will post pictures when Kim sends them to me. Besides adjusting to the Eastern Time Zone and the kids getting sick one night... Virginia was great. We hung out a lot, went swimming, boating, and kayaking (mellow versions with wee ones :). Kim and I went to Williambsburg one day, and the kids loved playing with their cousin Jackson. It was so nice to bond with Jackson more since we don't get to see him enough. He is such a cutie. While Virgnia was fun... the flights... oh mercy that is a different story. Some ugly/pitiful sides of Kara came out during the flights. Sofia was literally comforting me as I cried at 3:00 in the morning, because my kids would not sleep on the red eye flight and I was crazed and delirious (as were they as you can only imagine). I am very glad that we made the trip, but I am quite confident that I will not attempt flying with the kids alone for a very long time ( at least cross country).
-For those of you who don't know, we sold our townhouse, and we are now living in an apartment. We have a house that we are hoping to buy in the next few weeks if all guys well (so far the process is going well). We will give more updates on that after the appraisal!

Now for the kiddo updates:
Sofia: Sofia is definitely my daughter. Lately, she is all about trying to be funny. The majority of the time, her jokes really aren't that funny, but the effort sure is cute. After doing something silly, she always asks,"Was that funny?" She cracks herself up, and that is all that matters. I tend to also crack myself up when no one else around me seems to think that my jokes are that funny, so perhaps one day Sofia and I will bond in our unfunniness, and we will both have someone to laugh at our jokes :). Sofia is going to start a little OSU gymnastics class in a couple of weeks, so that should be fun for her. We opted to hold off on preschool for now, so the kids and I will also be taking a creative development class together where we will do art projects and play with other moms and kids. Fall is my favorite season, so I am excited to just enjoy and play a lot!
Gabe: Although Gabe is doing adorable things all of the time, I am so exhausted by this kid's poor sleep. No matter what time we put Gabe to sleep, he is usually waking up between 6:00 and 6:30 at the latest (oh... and he gets out of bed at least 10 times before he will fall asleep). Too early folks. We usually try to ignore him for awhile and encourage him to either lay with us or look at books on the floor. He almost never falls back asleep, and once he says the word "cereal" or "I hungry," we know there is not even an ounce of hope of getting him asleep. I really dislike the word "cereal" now, because that means that I have to face my day really early again. You think that I would just get used to it and jump out of bed and try to be peppy, but every morning I find myself so tired, because I don't go to bed early enough. I am going to work on the peppy factor, but oh I miss our crib days. Gabe is not ready to be in a bed yet at all, but because of his extremeness, the crib was not a safe place for him to be anymore. Oh well. I'll keep him, because he sure is cute.
Well folks that about wraps it up. I need to go to bed, because 6:00 is creeping closer and closer. Buenas Noches.

Whoas of a public restroom

2009-09-07T21:25:00.001-07:00

Don't you hate it when you take your toddler into the bathroom stall at Target and he figures out how to open the door immediately. As you are sitting and peeing... you are whisper yelling "Gabe.... shut the door" over and over again while he swings the door open and shut. And what else can you do... really? Few times in life have I felt so powerless.

Hood to Coast

2009-09-06T20:50:00.001-07:00

This is a late post, but last weekend, I participated in the Hood to Coast Relay. I think that the relay is almost 200 miles, starting at Mt Hood and ending in Seaside, with 12 participants on each team. I have been so busy this summer, so I was really worried about how I would do since I knew that I wouldn't be in great shape for it.
Here are some highlights from the race:
*The ladies on my team were so great, and it was so nice to get to know them all better. Most of the ladies were from Corvallis, but there was one lady who came up from San Diego.
*My first leg was a 6.5 mile leg running through a trail in Gresham. I surprised myself and did better than I thought in this leg.
*Leg #2 (where my journey ended :(). My next leg was running 7 miles at 3 in the morning in the pitch black forest (except for an occasional runner passing). Yes folks... 3 in the morning. The first 1.5 miles were all uphill (which I suck at hills in general), so I was very happy that the remainder was downhill. With about 2 miles left, a car came towards me with its' brights on. I was running pretty fast down the hill, so with the light and momentum of going down the hill, I totally biffed it down the hill trying to get over to the shoulder as the car passed. I fell and couldn't get up at first. Two ladies passed, and after trying to reassure them that I would be okay, they left me. As I was trying to stand up, Peter from Lake Oswego passed. He asked if he could help, and I tried to reassure him that I was fine, although it was very obvious that I probably wasn't. He told me that if his wife were in this situation, he would hope that someone would help her, and he insisted that he wasn't going to leave me. Then nice old Peter, stayed with me to help me gain my balance, start walking, and eventually run again. After 10 minutes of running with me on a sprained ankle, I insisted that he go ahead of me and finish. Peter from Lake Oswego, seriously saved the day. If he would not have stayed to help distract me from the pain in my ankle, I don't think I would have been able to finish. It is so nice to see that there are Good Samaritan's out there still who care more about helping someone than the race. I was really touched by his kindness.
*So, the end of my second leg ended my hood to coast career (at least for the year). There is no way that I could have run my last leg (the easiest leg... dang it). The ladies on my team all did so well, and I hope that I will be able to do the race again someday!

The picture drout has ended... can you give me an hallelujah!!

2009-08-30T21:32:00.001-07:00

So sorry for the lack of kiddo pics over the summer. My camera has been broken and hasn't been sent back to me yet, but it has also been ridiculously a crazy summer. Here are some of the events that have happened in the last month:
*My High School reunion. I was in charge of planning the family picnic. It was so nice to reconnect with some people and see a couple of beloved friends, but over all, it was not the most exciting event of my life. Blah blah blah... I am sure I could post more about the reunion, but it really wasn't that eventful.
*Selling our town house!!! Our house closed last week, and we are currently renting an apartment until we find a house that we like (we have a couple of prospects already). This was my first time moving with small children, and it was more insane than I imagined that it would be. If you want to see Kara in a psychotic mood (and who wouldn't??), you should have seen me the day that Gabe dumped gallons of paint all over the carpet and hardwood. Long story.... blah blah blah.... but that just kind of sums up moving with small children. Anywho.... apartment life has been great, and I inherited the most awesome neighbor ever, so life is good.
*Running Hood to coast. That will be my next post/story... hopefully with pictures if I can track some down since I didn't have a camera.
*The kiddos. My kiddos are awesome. I love them so much and missed them while being away for 2 1/2 days, but it was also a much needed break. Sofia is such a great kid. I see good things in that kid's future. She is still as social as ever, and still adds some nice drama to our lives. She is such an amazing big sister, and my heart seriously melts every single day seeing how good she is to Gabe. Gabe is just down right hilarious. Don't you all love this age right before 2 when almost everything they say is so funny and precious? He is still crazy energetic and part of the reason I am tired all of the time. It is good that I am having kids young, because I already feel like I lack energy to chase after that boy. Love him. His smile is so contagious, and I am so grateful for the chance to be able to grow as a person being responsible for these sweet spirits. So sorry to all of you that I have been ignoring or losing contact with over the last couple of months. Life should slow down this week... and then it is off to Virginia with the kiddos by myself to visit Kim... so maybe not. I guess this is just how we roll around here.

Free give aways!

2009-08-22T23:01:00.001-07:00

Check out all of these free give aways on my sister-in-laws blog!!

The Giving Tree might need counseling

2009-07-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

Almost all of you have read "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, and like me, many of you probably own it. It is a story that warms our hearts and makes us feel good inside, right? Well, have any of you really taken the time to think about the story and why the giving tree is actually a bit codependent tree lacking self-worth :)?
I'll give you all a reminder/cliff note version of how the book goes. There was a little boy who loved playing around/cllimbing this tree. The boy gets older and doesn't ever visit the tree. He comes back and the tree offers its' apples for the boy to sell, because the boy wants money to buy things and have fun. The tree is happy. Then the boy comes back when he is older and doesn't have time to play or enjoy the tree but jumps upon the chance to take the tree's branches to build a house when the tree offers. The tree is happy. The boy comes back when he is an old man and wants to sail away on a boat. The tree tells the boy to take his trunk to make a boat. The tree was happy.. but not really. After a long time the boy comes back. The tree is depressed, because he has nothing left to give the boy. The boy says he is too old to do anything anyways and that he simply wants a place to sit. The tree is excited that the boy can come and sit on the stump that is left. And the tree was happy.
So, I ask all of you.... was the giving tree a bit too giving? She gave literally everything that she had to the ungrateful kid who never really seemed to show much gratitude and only came around when he needed something. Couldn't the boy given a thank you at the very least? This book makes me think about the sacrifice a parent makes. We love our children. We would do anything to make them happy. Is it possible that giving them everything may be doing them a disservice? Maybe instead of just handing a kid a bunch of apples to go and have fun with, the kid could get a job or an education so he really appreciates what he has. I know the whole point of giving is not to think about what you will get in return, but dude, couldn't the boy just have at least seemed a little more peppy when he came to suck the tree dry of all of it's assets? Okay, that is my rant. Sofia likes the book... so I very well may continue to read it to her, and maybe we can talk about the message a little bit. Has anyone else every noticed that the message is a little confusing... even it though it seems to warm our hearts.. or am I just reading into it things more deeply than Shel Silverstein ever meant? Well, either way....I still think the tree has issues , but don't we all :)?

And The Mother of the Year Award does not go to.....

2009-07-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Me. I have gone back and forth on my decision to make the following post. Even though I know the story is ridiculous, I am still embarrassed and kind of feel like crap about the whole situation.
So.... here it goes. We have been traveling a lot over the last month, and traveling a lot= breaking routines alot which= crazy sleep deprived children who were so ready to be home. The first night I was home, getting Gabe to sleep was not fun. Usually we do our whole bath and reading routine and he goes right to bed. Well, since he has been sleeping with me for the last month on all of our trips, he was not fond of the idea of being in the crib again. After letting him cry for 1/2 hour in the crib, I finally went and got him and walked him to sleep.
Night numero dos-Gabe immediately starts crying again when I put him in his crib. I sit outside the door not knowing what to do, because I hate hearing him cry, but I also don't want to have him used to drawing out the bed time routine forever each night. So... I decided that I will let him cry for up to 1/2 hour and if he was still crying... I would reassess and make another game plan.
At this point I go and call my friend Amanda and notice that he stops crying about 20-25 minutes later and is sound asleep. Randomly a few minutes later, I hear a knock at the door. I open it and am very surprised to see a police officer. I hang up with Amanda and ask how I can help him. The first thing he asked me is if I have small children in the house. Being the freak I am... I panic and think "Did one of them fall out a window or escape or get kidnapped..... (all of you other freak moms know those crazy thoughts). After I tell him yes, he tells me that one of my neighbors called the police, because they heard a young child crying for "an abnormally long period of time" and they were "extremely concerned." I was seriously in shock that someone called the cops on us, but I remained very calm as I talked to him, because I obviously hadn't done anything wrong. The cop was actually very nice and understanding as I explained our situation. He also understood that since it was a hot night and all of windows were open (in townhouses very close to each other) that they were able to hear into our house much more clearly than on another night.
He is very understanding and leaves.... clearly he has more important things to get to. I am left feeling confused. Mad at a pesky neighbor for freaking calling the cops on me. I have no idea who did it, but obviously it was a neighbor very close to me who doesn't know me at all or have kids. Then of course all of my insecurities that I already have as a mom sink in and I start feeling like the world's crappiest mom... seriously... who has the cops called on them??? I am a playgroup mom. I am for the most part a happy, singing, silly mama who LOVES being with my kids. I love my kids more than anything. I know that I am no where near perfect and make many mistakes and lose my patience way too often... but I am pretty sure that I am not the kind of mom you call the cops on. To give credit to the person who called the cops.. they probably don't have children and maybe they were extremely concerned... but it would have shown far more concern to knock on my door to see how things were going like neighbors used to do instead of immediately calling the cops. So...... I am trying to let this not affect me and trying hard not to dwell on it, but it has been hard. So... when any of you mamas are feeling like you are having a bad parenting day take comfort when you think to yourself, "At least I didn't get the cops called on me like Kara."
Chris took this mugshot picture of me tonight and my best attempt at playing the role of a dead beat mama.

My husband is a stud because.....

2009-07-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

He took the kids to Portland spontaneously to the zoo leaving me by myself to:
-Run 8.5 miles
-Go to Home Depot
-Go to the library to pay a fine and returning to my car to find a ticket, because I fed the wrong meter in my hurry to get one more errand done. Dang it!!
-Get a cheapo pedicure
-Go to the music store to get a new string for our guitar so I can finally become the rock star I always dreamed of.
-I should have cleaned my house and taken advantage of the kids being gone to get a million things done, but I can save cleaning for every other day of my life.
Thanks sweetie..... it is amazing what 8 hours alone did for my sanity.

Are you a heavy sleeper?

2009-06-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am. I swear that I could sleep through an earthquake. I obviously eventually wake up if my kids are crying in the night, but ask Chris, it is hard to wake me up. Last night I suddenly felt a little "Gabe" sleeping next to me. I woke up (kind of) suddenly and wondered why he was next to me and how he got there since he sleeps in a crib. I waited for a little while snuggling and then decided to take "him" back to his crib. I laid him down, went to the bathroom, and then came back to check on the kiddos before I went back to bed. I looked at Sofia's bed and freaked out when she wasn't there. Chris was still up downstairs, so I yelled for him in only the way I can when I am half way asleep still. He ran up, and I told him that Sofia was missing. He laughed when he looked in the crib and saw Sofia and Gabe sleep there soundly. What the heck... why did I think that Sofia was Gabe?? I know that most of you are probably thinking this is kind of a lame story, and it kind of is if you weren't there. I am just freaked out that I am so out of it when awoken that I didn't even know the difference between my kids. Scary. Any other heavy sleepers out there?

Southern Oregon

2009-06-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

This last week, we took the kiddos down to Klamath Falls to visit the Becerras and then over to Central Point to see my padres. We had fun swimming, going to the temple, the discovery play place, running with my padre, eating, and then eating some more. Why do I always gain 3-4 pounds every time I come back from a trip? It is time to hit the pavement :). Here are a few pictures of the kiddos from our trip... more to come soon.

More Good Children's Music

2009-06-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

"Catch the Moon" is a great CD for families. Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell sing all of the songs, and maybe I am a weird parent who likes good kid's music, but even I sincerely enjoy listening to this CD. There are even a couple of songs in Spanish that are really sweet. If you are in need of good music for car rides this summer, this would be a great pick!

Mamahood

2009-05-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

Warning:Semi cheesy post ahead.

A few weeks ago, I was able to go with a couple of gals from church to listen to Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea) speak at U of O. It was such a great night, and hearing Greg talk about all of the work being done to help educate the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan was inspiring. One example that he gave that really touched me as a mom was when he was talking about how for $800, they were able to help a young woman become a nurses assistant (which translated to being her villages doctor), and after receiving her training, the village went from 9 women dying within a couple of years during child birth to 0 after she received her education. The night was great as a whole, and we went to Sushi afterward.. (which I officially have to say that I just don't really like :).

Now fast forward a couple of days. After hearing the lecture, I kept pondering what my role is in educating the world and other humanitarian work. I kept thinking about how fortunate I am and how I am not doing enough to help other people and how when much is given, much is expected. My mind kept rattling and I couldn't stop thinking about what I can do today to make a difference. To be quite honest, I was feeling a little down feeling like I am falling short of my potential.
That night after my kids went to sleep, I tip toed into their room to quietly watch them sleep for a minute, and all of a sudden as I stared at their sweet sleeping faces (aren't they just the sweetest when they are asleep?? :) I heard a voice that said: "You are doing enough right now." All of a sudden I had a moment of peace, as I realized that doing my best to nurture these sweet spirits and to help them grow as human beings is an amazing job. I have so many goals in life (going back for my masters.. traveling more, making a difference in the world and my community), and although I can do small things in my "spare time" to work on my dreams.. I am realizing that I can someday accomplish all of my dreams, but it may not all be in my timing, because the Lord knows best for me. I am excited for all that my future holds, but I don't want to get so caught up in thinking about what I'm not doing or what I want to do, that I don't take the time to savor the great point in life I am at right now. Life is exhausting but oh so sweet with our little family right now. Okay, cheesy post is officially over :).

The Hippie Chick

2009-05-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

I have become really bad at blogging. Like, really really bad. Life is busy and something has to give, but I am back and better than ever my friends. So, last weekend I ran the hippie chick half Marathon with Wendy and Tonya. It was so so fun, and three days later, I can finally walk again :). I see more half marathons in my future, but unfortunately,I am not thinking that I will every try a marathon (sorry Tonya). My homegirl Marianne came to be my cheerleader since Chris was shooting a wedding all day, and I have to say that she made a great one. Hopefully I will still stay motivated to stay in shape now that this is over, but I do have Hood to Coast in August to look forward to.

Kara's thoughts on British Music :)

2009-04-21T21:32:00.001-07:00

So, I have two random topics to discuss that have to do with music.. both sharing one common theme (even though they are fairly unrelated :). They both have something to do with British music.
Thought #1-Why does the United States produce bubble gum singers (obviously I am generalizing) like Brittney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Miley Cyrus and the UK produces cool and soulful singers like: Joss Stone, Adele, Corrine Bailey Ray, and Amy Winehouse? I love the sounds of the UK girls with the orchestras behind them. These girls have pipes. It seems to me that we have such a large focus on appearance, and although I am sure that England has the same focus to an extent, it seems like really talented girls get noticed more. Seriously, there are thousands of girls all over the country who can sing better than Miley Cyrus. Has anyone noticed this trend too? Don't get me wrong, we as a country produce some amazing singers, but it just seems a lot harder for these people to be noticed if they aren't good looking... but this also does happen in the Uk.. to be demonstrated by my next point :).

Thought #2-So, to bounce off of my last point... I need to talk about the whole Susan Boyle, Britian's got talent thing. I am sure that most of you have seen the you tube video by now. I like most other people who watched the video, got choked up, but mainly for me, I think it was because I was sad. The words of the song she sang are emotional, and I couldn't help but thinking about her life in relation to the song. With that said, it took me a while to figure out why I continued to feel bothered by the clip and all of the publicity that it has received. I first of all realized the obvious like others that looks have nothing to do with talent. I have heard many people sing beautifully in my life who weren't super models themselves. I know that everyone was rooting for Susan as an underdog, but I am the only one who feels like making such a big deal out of it like "wow, the poor ugly lady really can sing" is almost demeaning and exploiting Susan Boyle? Once the media caught on that this would make a good story, they have gone nutso.. and I even heard one news anchor say,"When will the US find our Susan Boyle?" What in the heck does that even mean? Meanwhile, the Britain's got talent judges are soaking up publicity... and I don't know... I am just bugged by it all. Susan Boyle has talent, and she certainly deserves a break, but I am just tired of her being exploited and teased. Okay, before I keep repeating myself over and over again.. I will stop. I don't know if this will make sense to any one. Oh well, I am tired :). Good night.

Easter

2009-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Sofia's Easter dress was so cute. I'm sure I will get more pictures in that dress where you can see the detail more.

I wasn't going to include this snotty nosed pictured, but it is sweet.. and well.. Gabe usually does have a snotty nose.
Easter went a little something like this:
*Chris let me sleep in until 7:30. I never thought I would be overjoyed to sleep in until 7:30.
*Chill morning with easter bunny excitement and getting ready for church.
*Walking to church with mi familia and Marianne and George.
*Going to church.
*Walking home.
*Eating dinner with Kris and Dan.
Yep... a pretty low key Easter but nice.

Spring is Here... or at least today it was today!

2009-04-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

This picture truly captures perfectly the brother and sister bond that Sofia and Gabe share. It is precious. They wrestle and love on each other all day long.

It has been so beautiful here the last couple of days. It is nearly impossible to be in a bad mood with the weather we have been having, especially since we probably have quite a bit more rain to come. Here are updates on the kiddos.

Sofia-The other day when we were in the park, Sofia started playing with a little girl from Spain around her age. The little girl was shy, but she slowly started warming up when Chris started speaking Spanish around her. She also spoke English and after a few minutes, Sofia and Nora were in serious play together. As they were building sand castles... they had a conversation that went a little like this:
Nora:I am really strong.
Sofia:I am a little bit strong,but not too much.
Nora:I am really strong.
The conversation repeated itself a few time and then Sofia busts out."I'm not too strong, but I am adorable. Yeah.. I'm adorable. Are you adorable?"
Nora: Yeah... I'm adorable, and strong.

Where did Sofia come up with this?? She is one funny girl.

Gabe: Gabe sings now! If you leave out words in twinkle twinkle, he can fill them in. He and Sofia melt my heart when they play together. First thing in the morning after nursing, Gabe runs in and yells "Sissy"or "Fia" to wake her up. Sofia always responds by yelling "I'm sleeping1!!" but within a few minutes they are laughing and playing. I love it!

Water for Elephants

2009-04-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

Pictures from my baby class

If any of you are in need of a page turner.. this is your book. I was so excited to have a book that I was anxious to read as soon as the kids went to bed. The book is about an old man living in a nursing home who flashes back to when he was a young man who joined the circus after tragedy strikes. Sound random? It kind of is, but the book seriously is great. It has an amazing love story as well. I love love the parts of the book that describe Jacob's life in a nursing home... how lonely and desolate, and how Jacob is coherent to the fact that he is treated like a little kid...except for by one nurse who he adores.
For the last 3 terms, I have started a tradition in my Live and Learn with Your Baby classes to go and visit an Alzheimer's care center. The residents adore the babies as many of them have not been around babies in years. The activity coordinator has said that it is very therapeutic for them. It seriously almost brings me to tears to see the residents adore the babies. One lady rocked a baby for 20 minutes feeding her her bottle.... it was so precious. Humans need to be touched and loved by other humans.
The other thing that this book compelled me to do.. was to call my own grandparents to tell them that I love and appreciate them. I had a great chat with my Grandma, and she still raved about how appreciative she is for Chris fixing a broken drawer in her kitchen (7 years ago). I couldn't believe she still remembered and cared about that. It goes to show how important simple acts of kindness are.
So... I don't want to ruin anything, but this is a great book. Oh.. and for modest folk out there like me.. there are probably 5 pages in the book that are way too graphic and explicit for my liking.... so if you want, I will seriously find the specific pages so you can just skip them!

Random Catch Up

2009-04-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Here are a bunch of random pictures from the last month in no particular order!

A snapshot of my sweetie pie family at the end of a long day.

We had lots of fun with Scott and Jaime and the kiddos during spring break. We went to the Aquarium one day and Omsi the next.

Abuelo and Gabe hanging out.

Scott and kids came to the Becerras to go swimming with us.

Kim and Jackson came and visited from Virginia. We had lots of fun hanging out with them and wish that we could see them more. Grandpa took us to wildlife images in Grants Pass. Bye the way... my dad must be a heavenly sort of dude, because every picture I have from him that day has a glowing light around him. Seriously.

Another sheep barn trip with Aunt Kris and Heather/kids.

I promise to post pictures tomorrow....

2009-04-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

But until then... I will share a video of Adele. I love this girl's voice. Seriously.. she has to be one of favorite finds this year. She has such a soulful voice, and I love this cover. So romantic.

Sesame Street Quality

2009-03-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

If you spend a lot of time with me, then you may have seen this video. When Chris taught ESL a few years ago, he and his students made this video. It makes me smile every time I watch it, and Sofia loves to see it too. Check it out :).

I love it

2009-03-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Sharon just showed me this picture of Chris when he was close to Gabe's age. Not only do I think that they look alike, but that grin is sooo Gabe. I love it.

What's been going on in my neck of the woods

2009-03-14T21:55:00.000-07:00

I will have to write a longer post later about my time with my hermana and in-laws (I am still with them), but I thought I would at least post the moose picture. Why on earth is Kara wearing that crazy thing you may ask? Well, this morning my mother-in-law and her sister Chris informed me that each person who walks with them on Saturdays has to wear this hat (they claim they both have worn it). I am not a person that is ashamed to be myself in public, but even this was pushing my comfort zone. I did wear it the whole 3 1/2 mile walk and smiled at everyone who laughed at me. Empowering??? A little, and Sharon did tell me that I pulled it off fabulously.

Update

2009-03-08T19:34:00.000-07:00

*I am an aunt again. After a complicated labor, Anita and Mark welcomed little Pax into the world. We are so grateful that everyone is healthy, and I Can Not wait to hold a newborn again (it will be nice to see you too Anita and Mark :).
*I am starting my journey with cloth diapers. I am going to be a part-timer. I will try to use them as often as I can, but I occasionally will throw in a disposable.. maybe when traveling or at night time?? I will have to experiment to see what works best for us. I will do my first load of diapers tomorrow, and so far it really hasn't been bad at all. Thank you again Marianne for all of your time helping me make diapers!! You rock girl!
*Sofia continues to keep me humble. Today in primary, we were talking in sharing time about fathers and how although they try their best... they are still not perfect and make mistakes sometimes. Sofia of course felt the need to yell out "Yeah.. mommies too!" This morning I was in a bad mood as I tried to look for two lost items that I really needed, and Sofia very sweetly said to me:"Mommy, you get what you get, and you don't throw a fit." (She has heard that a few times :), and although it didn't completely make sense in the context... I was kind of throwing a fit). Sofia is really excited to go camping this summer and after watching Man in the Wild with Chris, she is convinced that we will kill and eat frogs when we camp.
*Gabe is a parrot. He repeats everything. Speaking of repeating... I know I have mentioned this before, but those of you who haven't seen him in awhile, will think it is hilarious how different he is. He also started nursery (we snuck him in a little early), and he is doing well!
*This week is my last week of the term teaching, and it has been a great term with amazing families. The pay could be better, and the politics aren't always fun with any job, but I love love being in the classroom with the mamas and babies.
*My sister Kim is in town, and I am going to leave for Medford to hang out on Tuesday after work, and then head down to Klamath to see the Becerras who are missing the grandkids. I am leaving Chris so that he can get a lot of work on his classes done without us here distracting him.

How to Make a Buttermilk Sandwich

2009-02-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Sofia loves having me write down recipes and grocery lists. Today she explained to me how to make a Buttermilk Sandiwhich. Somebody test it out and let me know how it turns out.
-Corn
-Soup
-Bananas
-Pickles
-Olives
(Heat these up)
Next add-
-Leaves
-Beans
-Cereal
-Angel Cookie
(Toast everything)
Next... this is the important part of what you do with the ingredients
"Paint it."
"Hug it"
"Squish it into a squishy Pile."
And there you have it, a delicious Buttermilk Sandwich.

Randomness

2009-02-26T21:40:00.001-08:00

It has been too long since I have posted.. so I will just ramble.
-I am thinking about attempting to do cloth diapers part time with Gabe. My rock star friend Marianne said that she would help me make some pocket diapers. I will let you all know how it goes.
-I think that I am too social. I need to have more days at home with the kids just chilling. The only problem with being at home is that I am starting to slowly wean Gabe and when we are hanging out at home, I am constantly trying to distract him so he forgets about nursing.
-Chris is a crazy man. School, Masters, Photography, Counselor in the Young Mens', and Family. He is stressed. I love this dude and so appreciate what he does for his family.

Here are some Sofia updates:
-She insists that her name is Annabelle and that Gabe is Chucky Sue.
-I don't think Sofia is going to be a super girly girl. When we showed up at the park the other day, she enthusiastically yelled out, "Everybody, let's get dirty.' And she did.
-She loves sneaking out of her room a million times lately after we put her to bed. The other day she yelled out "Mom, I love you more than ice cream." From one ice cream lover to another, I took that as a sweet compliment :).

This was our 6th visit to the aquarium in 5 months :). On this trip, we went with our bilingual playgroup. It was fun, and the kids never get sick of going.

Ahh.. nothing bonds siblings like some good old fashioned tv watching. Okay not really, but I did think that the hand holding was cute.

I never know if Gabe is going to nap when I work all day on Tuesday. When we got home, he literally sat on the couch and fell asleep within 1 minute.
More Gabe news:
-I mentioned the whole stitches saga in the last post.
-Gabe is seriously a climbing monkey. That is why I am surprised that he hurt himself simply stumbling and tripping.... he does many daring things at home that scare me to death.
-Gabe is saying soooo many words. Every time he talks it cracks me up.
-Gabe loves to give kisses and to push. He is a passionate little man.

This is Gabe and I enjoying a lazy morning. Little did we know that just 2 hours later we would end up in immediate care with stitches :(

We made our annual visit to the OSU sheep barn to see the sweet new lambs and the mamas in labor. We were standing with a group of people all watching a Ewe about to deliver her baby, and Sofia was quite entertaining with her comments: "Mama, when you had a baby, were you a sheep?" I on the other hand was having a hard time watching another being suffer to bring life into the world. Call me sentimental.. but there is something beautiful about birth.... even with sheep!

What a day!!!

2009-02-26T21:23:00.001-08:00

We had a Crazy day Monday! I was at Sunnyside up with a few friends... and all you mamas know the drill. Chat with girlfriends, chase toddler, pick up where your conservation left off, chase toddler... and then repeat. Gabe smiles and starts running away from me, trips, and bangs his head into the corner of a chair. I am actually from behind not worried as this looks like one of the 10 tumbles he takes a day. I hear panic in my friend Alyssa's voice as she says "Kara, he is bleeding." Gabe was bleeding like crazy (I never knew the whole thing about the head bleeding so much). He has blooding pouring down all over both of us as customers look on. My poor Gabey Baby. My friends took over keeping Sofia away, but I had to yell for someone to help me with Gabe as he is still bleeding as we are both becoming drenched in blood. Chris says I always know how to drag a story out forever.. so the gist. Gabe and I in immediate care for over 2 hours, a straight jacket, 4 adults holding Gabe down, 5 stitches, and a mama that was almost fainting and trying to keep it together. It sucked. I went from being a laid back mama to one of those hovering mamas you see in the park who is gasping at everything their kid does.I am sure that I will chill out more when he is healed up. More out of the ordinary things happened with the next 24 hours that I am too tired to write about :). I am glad that is all over. There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain. Nothing.

Gabe enjoying his sympathy Jamba Juice.

Kara's Year: 2009 and Feelin' Fine

2009-02-11T21:33:00.000-08:00

This is my year. I have a goal to establish healthy habits in my life this year that I can carry throughout my life. When I told Chris that I made Tonya take these pictures, he carefully asked "Are these the before or after pictures." They are my before pictures I guess.... but the truth is, this is much better than I looked a year ago... so maybe they are my middle pictures?
I tried to look extra serious, worn, and without any makeup, so that even if I my body doesn't change, I may still look more dazzling in the after pictures :).
Holding in my love handles to visualize what I would look like without them

So, let me explain more about why this is going to be my year. First of all, I have to say that I don't think that I look horrible... in fact... I think that I look fine for having two kids. Yes, I have some nice love handles and jiggly thighs, but I don't really have a super poor self image. Mamas need a little bit of padding to snuggle up with.
This is the problem. I have established some poor habits that I want to get rid of. I actually am a pretty health conscious gal, but I have one habit that I can not break, and that is...drumroll please.....over eating. It all started in high school when I had an extremely high metabolism, and I got teased for being able to eat anything without gaining weight. Well, when I started college, it slowly became obvious that if I kept eating a lot, I would no longer maintain but put on weight. I have never really been able to break my habit of eating too much. Baked goods are the worse. I am not lying when I say that if I totally lose control, I could eat a small loaf of banana bread by myself in one day or 5 freshly baked cookies. This is actually kind of embarrassing to admit that I eat like a hungry lumberman. I realized how bad my bread/food addiction was when after Christmas when I actually felt sick of baked goods and stopped making them, I dropped 4 pounds immediately. Not to get all Oprah on you all, but I really am trying to figure out why I am overeating. Is it habit? Is it boredom sometimes? Is it a comfort? Maybe a combination of all of these things. I really want to gain control of this, so I can establish life long healthy eating for myself and my family. I would love to have help if any of you ladies would like to support each other.
Being a woman, I have had dozens of dieting/weight loss/post mama body conversations with women, and I am starting to wonder if we are all making this too complicated. We do not need fancy diets. There is no easy way about it. We all just need to figure out what amount of calories our bodies can handle (with the right healthy foods) and stick to that to maintain... or cut down a little bit to lose. Add consistent exercise to that and walah.... I know that it is not that simple for some women who have health complications, but for me, I feel like I need to stop making excuses so much and try harder. I actually feel like I am getting in much better physical shape as I am training for a half marathon, but I really have to get control of the overeating!
So to you my dear friends, I ask:"What is keeping you from being the healthiest you can be?"
I want to lead a long and healthy life and continue to have energy for my family.... so it is time for me to gain control while I am young. Do any of you have tips that help keep you from overeating??

Funny Lyrics

2009-02-10T22:47:00.001-08:00

Margaret, I dedicate this post to you since I am still laughing about your post on funny song lyrics. Doesn't this picture of Fergie just make you laugh? She is so ridiculous, but somehow I found myself cracking up on the way home from running tonight ,when I caught myself whole heartedly singing these lyrics by Fergie:
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do

And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry

Okay, I realize that most of you may not find this funny, but it is so funny to realize that the lyrics of most "Pop" songs are so dumb. Don't even get me going on "My Humps"

Another song that made me laugh when it came on the on the other day by Brian McKnight singing (and this also brought me funny memories of college Margaret):
1 you're like a dream come true
2 just wanna be with you
3 girl its plain to see that you're the only one for me and...
4 repeat steps one through 3
5 make you fall in love with me
If ever i belive My work is done So i start back at one\
These lyrics make no sense and are just silly. And finally, the one that made me laugh the hardest from Margaret's blog was by the lovely faith hill singing:
If I could grant you one wish
I wish you could see the way you kiss

Of all of the wishes in the world that she could wish.... she wished that her man could see the way he kisses? Chris, if you read this.... please know that if you ever could grant one wish.. I don't want to see the way I kiss you :).
Okay sorry.. that's it. Please do share your funny pop lyrics with me so I can laugh for another 6 months (I am easily amused ).

Wait... who is the Mama??

2009-01-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

Sofia (and maybe other 3 year olds too???) has a bad habit of making requests in a whiny and mean way. Instead of saying, "Mommy, can I have some water please", it is (imagine a really really whiny voice "I want water. Get me water!" I have to stop and wait for her to ask me the right way. When she does make a request in a nice way, I make sure to say, "Thank you so much for asking nicely."
The other day, I asked Sofia to throw something in the garbage. She looked up at me and said, "Thank you for asking me nicely, Mommy." The funny thing is, is that I needed the reminder. I often times do the same thing that she does. I get impatient and ask her to do things in my monster voice many times (usually after I have already asked her several times). I love how kids teach us the lessons that we are trying to teach them (if that makes any sense?).

Going private

2009-01-26T18:30:00.000-08:00

For many reasons and concerns, it's official. This bog's going private. If you would like to be able to have access, drop me an email at: becerra_karalynn@yahoo.com . Oh, and by the way, if you are a blog stalker (I know there are many out there) that I know, and if I can verify in my head that you are not a total weirdo, don't be embarrassed to drop me an email too :). I will probably change over in the next week, so my 5 loyal reading friends... send me an email :).

Sesame Street Music Videos are cool now

2009-01-24T21:49:00.000-08:00

I never imagined that I would be as thoroughly amused as I am by the music videos on Sesame Street. Seeing the Feist video on Robyn's blog reminded me of how much I also enjoy singing along with my kiddos. Are there other parents who enjoy these videos, or am I cheesier than I thought?

I never thought that the ABCs could be so beautiful until India Arie came along. In case you didn't know this before... I love love India Arie.
This one is super cheesy with Chris Brown, but I can't deny it, I was busting some dance moves. Good thing my audience thinks that I am a cool dancer. This may only last another few years :).

This I Believe

2009-01-23T21:54:00.000-08:00

I just discovered a series on NPR called: "This I believe." I have listened to a few with my IPod while running, and I have to share. The few I have listed to have touched me, and I can't wait to listen to more. These are a series of essays that different people have written to share their life lessons and beliefs. One that amazed me was written by a seven year old boy. Here are a few examples of what Tarak McLain believes:
I believe life is good.
I believe God is in everything.
I believe we are all equal.
I believe we can help people.
I believe everyone is weird in their own way.
I believe that when I meditate, I feel peaceful.
I believe we should be generous.
I believe people should wake up early.
I believe people should go outside more.
I believe it's okay to die but not to kill.

There are more, but those are some of the ones that were the most touching to me.
If you have 5 minutes, please listen to this one as well: "Caring Makes us Human." This is an essay by a man who has been serving prison for two decades, and he beautifully explains why recidivism is so high and what is missing in our prisons today.
I can not wait to listen to more of these. I am hooked.

Gabriel Antonio

2009-01-20T22:03:00.001-08:00

This is Gabe's cheesy weird grin that he flashes at strangers walking by. He flashes the grin, waves and says, "Hi." So cute.

This is Gabe's:"I don't like what you are telling me to do" look.
Gabe is changing so so much every day. Here are a few things that he is up to.
*This is a ritual that Gabe does probably 100 times a day. He pushes a chair from the table to the kitchen. Before he is caught, he climbs up on the counter, reaches for knives, or tries any other dangerous thing imaginable before I stop the fun. He cries when I push the chair back, and 10 seconds later, he is off trying to do the same thing again. I will not lie.... this is making me absolutely tired and crazy. He is obsessed. I have tried turning the chairs upside down. I would chain the chairs to the table if I could. Good thing that 15 month old kiddos are so so cute, because this stage is exhausting.
*Gabe is saying a lot of words, and if you are lucky enough (you probably won't be) you may be lucky enough to hear him say: Mama, Dadda, dog, sissy, agua, no (you most definitely will hear this one), ball, hola, nana (means he wants food.. banana), and hi. I forgot how dang cute it is when toddlers start saying words.
*Gabe is crazy. He is obsessed with tickling and wrestling people. This boy energy thing is new for me. He has been known to leave scratches on belly buttons while he tickles you and says:"Ticka ticka ticka ticka." He is also known to make much older children cry, because of his desire to playfully wrestle. He does it all with a smile on his face, but the boy is in your face.
*Gabe melts my heart. Even though this kid exhausts me, I can't get enough of him. He is so sweet and cuddly. He flashes the cheesiest grins that crack me up.

Sofia Sky

2009-01-20T21:45:00.000-08:00

Sofia is quite the girl. As she gains more and more vocabulary, I am amazed at how articulate she is. Here are some random things going on with Sofia.
*Sofia and I started a little swim class together, because I felt like I needed some one on one time with her.
*Sofia is bossy. I know I have mentioned this before, but there is no way this girl is a follower. I know that this will be a great trait as an adult, but it can make interactions with other kiddos a little tricky at times. On the same note, her leadership makes her want to always help everyone around her too.
*Sofia is a Sunbeam at church now and loves it.
*Speaking of Sunbeams... I have a cute/disturbing story that was told to me the other day. I guess all of the kids in her little class made pictures for their parents and as she was folding hers and ruining it, her teacher said,"Don't you want to give that to your mama? She'll be sad if you don't give it to her" to which Sofia responded, "It's okay,my mom's already sad." What the heck!! Seriously... I know I am impatient and in bad moods sometimes...but I'd like to consider myself to be a chipper and happy person, but apparently Sofia thinks she is living with a sad mom? Chris told me not to read into this, because kids' say crazy things, but the analytical side of me can't help it.
*Sofia is silly. She is always making jokes that she thinks are hilarious even when they aren't (I think she got this from me..I am used to laughing at my jokes when no one else thinks that they are funny).
*Sofia is sweet. I love this little gal so much. She is such a joy in our lives....drama and all. It is so amazing to see her become her own little person.

My sweet/strange husband

2009-01-15T17:02:00.001-08:00

Chris is sweet. Something that I appreciate about him is that he never has complained about my cooking. He eats anything I make, and he is quick to compliment me when he really enjoys what I make. So, back to the fact that he eats everything I make. I have noticed a strange pattern in my husband over the last week as I have made a couple of dishes that didn't turn out very great. Chris doesn't complain that the food is gross, but he immediately goes to the fridge and pulls out the sour cream and salsa to add to the gross food, and apparently sour cream and salsa make everything better?
The strange part comes in with the fact that I haven't made Mexican food this week. Chris has added sour cream and salsa to gross pizza and to my attempt at pad thai. I just can't believe that adding sour cream and salsa could really make bad pad thai taste better. Your a funny one Chris, but hey I can't complain, because he doesn't :).

Book Review: The Last Lecture

2009-01-10T22:18:00.001-08:00

I am sure that most of you have already read this book or at least heard about Randy Pausch. This is a professors' "last lecture" he gives to hundreds of people months before he dies of pancreatic cancer, leaving a wife and 3 young children behind. Randy Pausch was an amazing person with great integrity and love for his family. This book really made me check to see if my priorities are in order and wonder what kind of example and legacy I want to leave for my children. Read this book (it is a really quick read) and go to youtube to watch the full lecture.

Christmas

2009-01-10T21:43:00.001-08:00

Okay, I promise I will be a better blogger now. I have just not been into blogging lately. We had a lovely Christmas spending time with my family in Medford and with the Becerras in Klamath. I really do wish that we had family closer. Here are some random pictures from our break.

Sofia getting ready to help Grandma Pam make cookies

Gabe was obsessed with my sister Kris' dog Henry. He actually obsessed with dogs every time we see them. It will take a lot of persuading for me to get a dog someday.

You always feel like a good mom when your wee ones are reading by themselves.

Jaime and sweet Macie (you are sweet too Jaime).

Gabe and Grandpa

Here's Chris looking all handsome and fatherly helping Gabe make bubbles at the children's museum in Ashland.

Sofia loved sleeping with both sets of Grandparents while away, and I thought this was too cute. I don't think that Sharon and Carlos thought that it was very fun to sleep with her when she threw up on them 5 times one night.

Sofia with cousins Kira and Ellie

The boys.

Sharon and her sidekick Sofia. Sofia does not give this poor woman the chance to even pee by herself when she is with her. She loves to help her all day long, and Sharon is soooo patient with her.

A few pictures and quick update

2008-12-22T23:22:00.001-08:00

Here is a picture of the kids in the new Burley. This trailer is awesome. We are able to take the kids on bike rides and then quickly convert the trailer into a stroller. We are braving a walk in the snow here. I can't wait to take the kids all over in this when the weather is nicer.

Gabe is so funny these days. Today after we told him not to climb onto something, he went around the room waving his finger smiling, saying:"No, no no." I am so glad my kids take me so seriously. In the first picture, Gabe is sitting next to his gift from Santa. Santa had to visit us early this year since we will be in Medford on Christmas day, and he doesn't know how to get to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

This is the doll house that Sofia got from Santa. Santa definitely underestimated the size of this doll house and how much room it would take up in our small house. I have already started giving toys away to friends so we have room for it. Oh well, Sofia loves it although it wasn't the most practical choice looking back. Speaking of Sofia, how do you like the short hair? After seeing her cousin Kira's short hair, she begged and begged to get her hair cut short like hers.

Sofia playing in the snow. My kids are a little too young to enjoy being in the snow for long amounts of time, but they had fun for a little while. Chris only had to work 2 1/2 days last week because of the snow (all 4 inches of it :).

I Heart the Grocery Outlet... and shoes

2008-12-22T22:43:00.000-08:00

I know... annoying, I am posting again without pictures of the chillins. I finally just got my camera back, so I will be taking lots of pictures during the break. But until then... let's talk about the grocery outlet. Have you been? If not, you are missing out. I remember Elisa Street telling me about the great cheese that they had for 1/2 the price, but I never went. Then recently my friend Adrienne told me about its' wondrousness. Some of you probably haven't been for a reason....namely, you think that it seems a little ghetto. Don't get me wrong, a person who wants to eat a bunch of processed crap would also love the grocery outlet (like the guy in front of me who spent $300.00 on chips, skittles, and soda)..... but did you know that the Grocery Outlet has a ton of gourmet/specialty foods as well as a very large organic variety for 1/4 of the price? You never know what you are going to find, but there is always some goody awaiting. If you don't believe me... come with me, and I will show you.
Okay, now on to item of business #2. I love shoes. I haven't always been that into shoes... just lately. I think that it is a postpartum thing. When I buy clothes, I have to worry about my muffin top hanging over my pants or how my butt looks (even though I am pretty much down to my old size.... .let's face it girls, for most of us, the body does a whole lot of shifting), but this is not the case with shoes. My size never changes. It is awesome. I know that despite my sagginess in some areas, my feet are firm and ready to show off a cute pair of shoes. Am I right, is it a postpartum thing?

Love the voice... Love the video

2008-12-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

Sorry, still no pictures of the kids. I am taking a blogging break during the holidays it seems, but my camera comes back next week. I love this video (Bye the way, after posting this, I realized that I may seem a little morbid for liking this video... I just think it is artsy and creative). What an awesome voice Adele has!

Book Review: Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason.

2008-11-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

This book was really really interesting. I would really be interested in having other parents reading this book and telling me what you think. I will warn you that I have a feeling that some of the book would tick people off, because it questions many things that most parents commonly do (myself included).I was a little on the defense during some parts of the book when it talked about things I do, but in general, I love the challenge of reading something that makes me question how I parent and live my life. How can we improve if we don't learn about ideas that question how we do things? How I will incorporate some of the changes mentioned in the book... I am still brainstorming, but I have some ideas in the works.
Although there are some concepts in the book that are harder for me to grasp and I am still trying to figure out if I totally agree with Kohn on.... the main concept of the book is amazing. When we use rewards (sticker charts, overusing the phrase "good job") and punishments (lots of times outs, "Because I said so" mentality, or physical punishment to name a few examples), we are often times teaching kids to do or not do xyz because of what the result will be (good or bad), and we are taking the focus away from teaching them to do things because they are right.
Kohn says: "How do we raise our children to be really happy? That's an important question, but here's another one? How do we raise our children to be concerned about whether other people are happy? It's important that we don't allow the first issue to upstage the second, or for that matter, that we don't spend more energy trying to get kids to be polite and well behaved than trying to help them become genuinely compassionate and committed to doing the right thing. We want our kids to ask, "How will doing x make the other kid feel?" not, "Am I allowed to do x?."
Read this book. Like I said, it will make you a little or maybe really defensive depending on your current parenting style, but I am excited to explore my parenting style more to make sure that I am teaching my kids (through word and example) how to treat others and to leave the behavioristic part of parenting behind when possible.
Okay to end this post (I have a way of dragging things out, don't I?), I will just write some points to work on to become a more unconditional parent that are mentioned in the book:
1)Be reflective
2)Reconsider your requests
3)Keep your eye on the long term goals
4)Put the relationship first
5)Change how you see , not just how you act.
6)R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
7)Be authentic
8)Talk less, ask more.
9)Keep their ages in mind.
10)Attribute to children the best possible motive consistent with the facts.
11)Don't stick your no's in unnecessarily.
12)Don't be rigid.
13) Don't be in a hurry.

Soap Box: Consumption in America

2008-11-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

I had a sick feeling in my gut all day yesterday after I saw this article in the New York Times:
I never go shopping the day after Thanksgiving, because it gives me anxiety thinking about a bunch of Americans in stores pushing each other around so they can save $20 on a kitchen aid (not saying that everyone is pushy obviously). I enjoy good shopping (too much sometimes), but shopping during the holiday season is not fun for me.
We as a society need to slow down. The fact that something like this could happen is just too difficult for me to imagine. It is disgusting and I am so sad that someone had to die because of people's need to consume. Hopefully this will be a lesson to us all! It definitely makes me rethink how I consume and do things.

Baby Steps

2008-11-27T21:26:00.000-08:00

Right now it is 9:30 on Thursday night, and I am proud of myself. This is the first night I have begun the weaning process from Grey's Anatomy. I been a lover and defender of Grey's Anatomy for a long time, but it is just getting ridiculous. Come on Izzie, you are doing what with your ghost boyfriend? I have to draw the line somewhere to the trashiness, although I don't want to because I am addicted. No offense to anyone else who loves the show, because I do/did too.... I just want to try to fill my time with more worthwhile things... like blogging Haa.. :). (p.s. I know that my blog is getting lame without pictures, but my camera is broken and I need to send it off to get fixed).

Good Advice

2008-11-25T22:58:00.000-08:00

I like my doctor. He is not your average doctor. I think that I mentioned in another post that he is the one who initially planted the idea of natural childbirth into my head. When I have asked him questions about circumcision/vaccinations and many other topics, he is open to listening to my ideas and then in a fatherly way telling me his ideas.
At Gabe's last well child appointment, I was telling him about sleep issues... namely the fact that he doesn't sleep great. I explained to him that he slept with us for the first 11 months and that he was having a much harder time adjusting to the crib than Sofia did when we transitioned her around the same age. The first thing he asked me is if they sleep in the same room. I explained to him that Gabe is a really light sleeper and that Sofia would wake him up all of the time so they are in different rooms. He told me that he wonders if they would sleep better if they shared a room. He then went on to tell me his fatherly story of how at one point, he had 5 of his own children in the same bedroom when they lived in a small apartment, and that they all slept great with the comfort of having siblings close by.
That night I went home and asked Sofia if she wanted to move her bed into Gabe's room. She was so excited..... and we all lived happily ever after.. J/K. Things are not perfect still, but Gabe is sleeping better, and they are both so happy being in the same room. Why didn't I think of this before? It makes sense that kids would sleep better together and be happier with the closeness of another human that they love. Most of us would believe the contrary (and Sofia has woken Gabe up a couple of times), but it just makes sense. I'm not saying that this is a cure all for sleep problems, because like I said, things are not perfect, but don't be afraid to try at least if you are running out of options!

Christmas Music

2008-11-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

I had to do it. I got carried away making a playlist of Christmas music. I know that it may be too early, but I love love love Christmas music. Why I get all teary eyed when I hear Judy Garland sing "Have yourself a merry little Christmas,"... I do not know. Christmas music brings such a great spirit into the home. I am already adding a disclaimer that some of the people I chose are cheesy. Clay Aiken is a dork (not that we all aren't too), but the boy has pipes for singing Christmas music. Enjoy!

Look Alike

2008-11-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

It is always funny to see who people say your kids look like. People always say that Gabe looks just like Chris, and I never really saw it all the way, until my father-in-law sent this picture. Holy Cow!

The Omnivore's Dilemma

2008-11-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

We've all heard the old saying "Ignorance is bliss." Let me tell you friends, when it comes to what we eat, Ignorance is bliss. Once you read this book, you will not be able to eat the same. I promise. This book traces the history of 4 different meals. 1)Mcdonalds 2)Whole Foods 3)Food from a local amazing farm 4)He does his own hunting and gathering for a meal. This book is not a fast read. I actually didn't finish the last 75 pages in time for book club, so you may be thinking that it is boring, but it isn't. It is just a lot of information to process. The first 50 pages alone talk about corn. While I'm on the subject, the overuse of corn in our country is freaky. You'd have to read the book to understand, but the next time you go to the grocery story, see how many items you can find in the cereal isle that don't have some sort of corn as an ingredient.
Another topic they talk about that is insane, is where our meat comes from. What is injected into beef to make them beef up, ready to slaughter so fast, how many organic "free range" chickens are still treated horribly and live in disgusting circumstances.
The book even explores the idea of organic. Organic is better then most alternatives, but since this market has been industrialized, it too has many many flaws. Eating locally is the best. Okay, this was a lameo cliff note version of the book... but there is so much to talk about, I don't even know where to start. We had such a great conversation about this book at book club. Although I still have many things to work on concerning being aware of where my food comes, here are some things I am working on to try to be more conscientious of not only what I eat, but where it really comes from.
1)I buy local eggs from free range grass fed chickens (this is important) from a friend every week.
2)I try not to buy anything that has "High fructose corn syrup" on the label or "partially hydrogenated oil."
3)In the summer, I buy pretty much all of my produce locally or pick as much as I can. I actually have a little bit of an obsession with this if you will remember from a previous post of mine. I like seeing where my food comes from. I like harvesting. I like being outside with my kids.
4) I try to make as much homemade food as I can... thus avoiding processed food as much as possible. (Obviously we eat processed foods too... I just try to keep it to a minimum). I am on a homemade applesauce kick right now, and I try to make homemade bread when I can.
5) Meat... I am having a hard time deciding what to do with meat. I am not ready to throw in the towel and become a vegetarian, but I do have issues with meat. I buy non-hormone oregon chicken... but this probably isn't good enough. I am not sure what I will do with chicken. I also found a place that sells oregon beef that is hormone free. I really want to find someone who will sell me part of their grass fed cow next summer so I can freeze it. The ultimate thing I am learning about meat is that we really should eat it sparingly. I need to make more vegetarian meals, and I also am starting to use less meat when I do cook with it.

This list is not mean to make people feel bad if they are not doing the things on this list, because like I said, I have a lot of things to work on. I was already doing some of these things before I read the book, but the book made me want to be even better. Read the book and tell me what you think!!

Primary Program

2008-11-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

Sofia, Gabe, and the beloved "Baby Chuck" before church
Yesterday we had our primary program at church. I am the music person in primary, so I was really excited for the kiddos, and also a little excited to have it over with so I can just focus on Christmas music now!! The kids did such an awesome job, and the spirit was so strong when the kids sang. I love working with the little kids. It is the best calling in the church. I love that in primary we focus on the simplicity of principles instead of making everything overly complicated. I love that children are humble and teach us how to be better people. I love all of the songs that we have worked on this last year, but there are two songs that touch me so much when the kiddos sing them. I thought that I would share the lyrics in case you need a pick me up today :).
"If the Savior Stood Beside Me"

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

"I'll Walk With You"
If you don't walk as most people do
Some people walk away from you
But I won't, I won't
If you don't talk as most people do
Some people talk and laugh at you
But I won't, I won't
I'll walk with you
I'll talk with you
That's how I'll show my love for you

Jesus turned away from none,
He gave his love to everyone
So I will, I will.
Jesus Blessed all he could see
then turned and said,"Come follow me,"
So I will, I will
I will, I will
I'll walk with you
I'll talk with you
that's how I"ll show my love for you.

I've Been Tagged

2008-11-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

Alright Karli, I will go along with being tagged. I will name 8 people at the end to be tagged, but don't feel like you have to do it. Here we go:
8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. Ellen
2. Oprah
3. The Office
4. America's Next Top Model
5. Grey's Anatomy (I know it is trashy... I need to wean myself)
6. American Idol (although I am really bored with it the last couple of season and don't really watch).
7. What not to wear
8. Baby Story (I am obsessed with this show for a few months after giving birth, and then I have no desire to watch it anymore).

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Blew my nose a lot. I am feeling congested and yucky.
2. Hung out at Heather's house with family in Eugene.
3. Went to Kris' house to do a family birthday party for Sofia.
4. Exchanged shoes at REI
5. Made cupcakes for the fiesta
6. Read a few more pages from "The Omnivore's Dilemma" (book review to come soon)
7. Went to Trader Joes to stock up on food. I love Trader Joes... we need one in Corvallis.
8. Worried as little kids kept almost hitting each other on accident instead of the pinata.

8 Favorite Restaurants (Disclaimer... this is hard since we don't go out to eat with kids very much... it's just not fun with kids)

1. Cafe Rio (I used to dream about it after we moved here from Utah)
2. Tucanos (Also in Utah.... the best Brazilian food)
3. American Dream (the best pizza in Corvallis)
4. Big River (I have only had a meal there once, because it is spendy... but if I could I would eat there more).
5. Sweet Tomatoes (food is not that awesome, but it is an easy place with kids).
6. Jamba Juice
7. Nearly Normal
8. New Morning Bakery

8 Things on My Wish List

1. To learn to have better self control
2. High Metabolism (come on, why didn't I get Buddy's genes?)
3. A ranch style house with a family room
4. A trip to Brazil and to Machu Pichu in Peru (Elisa... we will visit you someday if you stay long enough)
5. To live abroad with my family
6. To have the courage/time/resources/energy to start my own non-profit.
7. To become a better musician and write children' music.
8. Perspective. I just want to be happy and to have a happy family. I wish there was a magic fairy dust that could be sprinkled to help give me an eternal perspective when I am sweating the small stuff and help me prioritize my life better.

8 People I Tag to Play Next (Although I know that many of you won't do it)
1. Niki
2. Kim
3. Jaime
4. Anita
5. Sharon
6. Adrienne
7. Tonya
8. Margaret

Be the Change

2008-11-07T20:49:00.001-08:00

Warning: This is a happy, cheesy, and optimistic post ahead. Leave your negative thoughts and energy at the door.
I have gone through an emotional roller coaster since we have found out about our new President. Here are a few examples of why.
1)I am so hopeful and happy. The day after we heard the news, we were having a family dance party (yes, we really have those) to the 'Yes we Can" video. I got all teary eyed when Sofia and Gabe held and hands and danced around in a circle with Sofia chanting "Yes we Can." Do you all have this picture in your head? It was so sweet, and how can I not be hopeful... it was so pure, sweet, and foreshadowing of the great future in store for my children. I just have to believe they have a great future a head of them, despite some of the awful things going on in the world right now.
2)Things that made me sad. Reading in the news, on blogs, and listening to anti-Obama people's reactions to his winning. Some people have been saying some craaaaazy things this past week. I'll admit that I have jumped in a couple of times to defend my beliefs, but it has just been hard for me to handle the ignorance.
What do do from here:
It is obvious that people all over the country are disagreeing about pretty much everything. The truth is, I could post 100 more political discussions, and we may never all agree on all of the issues. This is why we need to all be better and rise up to become the UNITED States of America (key word...united). It's that simple, we need to unite. It is so easy for us to all focus on our differences, but the truth is, positive change will only come about when we come together and work to make the change we want. I think that Obama is a genuine guy with good intentions, but the truth is (and what he has been saying all a long), is that the change has to come from us. We are all different, but most of us want the same things for our future, and especially for our children's future-Happiness,joy, education, opportunities, strong character.. the list goes on. Let's stop focusing on our differences and how we all disagree and use that energy to become better people and to make a better country. I know this may all sound overly optimistic to some of you, but this is my blog, and I am allowed to be however I want to be.
I have been brainstorming and setting goals as to how I can improve my self and the country, and here are a few ideas that I have had.
1) Simplify my life. We live in a society that buys too much, eats too much, and worries to much. I am going to continue to buy second hand as much as I can to cut down on waste (do we all realize what we do to other countries so that we can have lots of stuff?). I feel like I have been spending way too much lately on things I don't need... and guess what? It doesn't make me any happier. I will not go into debt so that I can live a lifestyle I don't need. I am going to work on being healthier (I signed up for a half marathon). I am going to only add things to my life if they bring balance. I am going to try and enjoy my family and my life more. I have a great life. What a waste for me to not take time every day to appreciate what I have. I am going to keep a gratitude journal to remind myself of how fortunate I am.
2) I am going to drive less and bike more when possible (or stay home more).
3)I am going to find causes I am passionate about and find ways to help. I am thinking about looking into becoming a CASA volunteer. Chris and I talked and thought that it would be a great idea to spend Thanksgiving this year doing service for others. I want to show God that I am thankful by my actions more.
4)I need to work harder to receive spiritual guidance and to become more like the Savior. I need to put into practice what I read in the scriptures(oh and I guess that means I should read the scriptures more regularly).

Those are a few ideas that I have. I am so so far from perfect, and I am sure that I won't be perfect in working on my goals, but I thought that writing them down may help keep me focused. Imagine what this country would be like if we all committed to stop fighting and to instead use our energy for good. I can not look at these pictures of my sweet children, thinking about their futures and not try to think of how I can do my part to make things better. Actions speak louder than words, so let's all stop talking and fighting so much and start doing!!!

My Cutie Pies

2008-11-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Chris took the kids up to this new wedding location a couple of weeks ago to go pick up some equipment, and left me at home to take a much needed nap. Thanks Chris. He took these adorable pictures of my sweeties that just melt my heart.