Thursday, August 31, 2006

And the last few

The last one of the kids is blurry but they looked so cute I had to add it.


 
 
 
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more girl scouts and butterflies

The lady in black and white is the First Lady of Arkansas.

 
 
 
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Grand Opening of the Janet Huckabee Nature center

 
 
 
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It's back!!!

My computer is back! Woo Hoo!!!

I've had a terribly busy week so maybe it was a good thing the computer was gone.

I'm going to load some pictures in a minute. We went to a Grand Opening today of a nature center in Arkansas and we met the Governor and First Lady of Arkansas. THe girls were in their girl scouts outfits and it was a really fun experience.

It's great to be back.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

:P

My computer is on the ambulance (UPS ground) to the Toshiba hospital so I'm computerless. I will try to sign in but can't guarantee, this is the first week of ballet and that with school and that Pat and I have decided to start the Body for life challenge starting on friday I might be very limited (and tired) I should be back when the computer is released.

Go Red Sox !

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

morning woes

This morning thing with kids can be such a challenge... Both the girls have been getting up before me, my internal clock really likes waking at 7 am not 6 so if I follow my clock the kids are waking by then and I don't have time to prepare for the day, but if I wake at 6 am it takes me like 1/2 hour to wake up so I wonder if I'm really gaining any time or just irritating myself for the whole day.

Miguel has been in a horrendously whinny mood since yesterday i don't know if this is a learned behavior or if he is just feeling wrong and it makes him miserable. We'll have to see how today goes.

Yesterday I got an email from a friend I hadn't heard from in 20 years! It was great to hear from her and I have to write back but haven't just sat down to do it.

Let's find a quote for the day....

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter.

~Thomas Helm

Monday, August 21, 2006

video of Miguel

Ok this cracked me up I don't know where he was told about armpits but he finds them tremendously funny!

They lost

ugh.. that's all I'm saying, my heart is breaking :(

On other news i was trolling the news websites for well.. news and came about a fabulous piece of information:

Paris Hilton is selling her bed in an auction!!! And she is being so generous she is giving 10% to charity! awwwww...how sweet! Give me a BREAK! This is chick is pitiful, frankly what is the deal with all the attention on this girl, what does she do? well you know besides shopping and nothing? Blech...

Last night was a weird sleep night, with waking at 3 am for the Migueli and then I heard noises and found Boo getting out of his puppy box. Then I went to my bedroom and the door was open and I kept hearing noises and it turned out that Pat had also woken up and decided to put a trade or something. Weeeiiirrrddd....

Yesterday I had a date with my Gabi and we went to the mall and she got American Girls Bath and Body Shop products and a purse, then I did a mini date with Larisa and she got a Beanie Buddy called Opal which is a multicolored horse, very cute, so I got Miguel a beanie baby of a shark, Miguel loves sharks and he about died,he was so excited, he even slept with the darn thing, the name? "shark nemo" LOL

Ok time to get rolling on school here, if you are listenting you will be able to hear the collective moans of my dagughters when I sit them down for school, think of it as putting the milk on your rice krispies and hear them pop :D

Have a good day! Oh that Deception Point book by Dan Brown is very good, I got 17 chapters in before I had to fall asleep.

Quote of the day:

"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children."

Kahlil Gibran

Wow that one is deep! Wow....

Sunday, August 20, 2006

So what's up?

I've been busy the last few days and didn't get to time write. Saturday I had fun though, first I went to see Missy, my nail goddess, and she put my claws back on. They got painted sl*t red and they are beautiful!! LOL

Later on Pat and I had a date, we left the kids with Alix, our steady babysitter and we went to the Olive Garden. The dinner was wonderful but I made the mistake of telling the waitress that we wanted to go slow and boy I tell you, she took it to heart... that was a SLOW dinner. Then we went a did a little shopping but I really didn't get anything. I want a new cell phone but we are not eligible to upgrade until Oct 17, so at least I don't have much time to be able to get it, my cellphone is really struggling to charge and there are 2 of the numbers that stick and are hard to press. I'm thinking of getting a RZOR or something nice and small and cool.

I'm watching the Red Sox right now but don't expect to finish it because it's late already and eventhough we are winning right now the sox have struggled really terribly against the dang Yankees :P

I finished reading Cross Bones which was good and I'm going Deception Point by Dan Brown.

The kids watched a movie today called Hoot and they really liked it. It had Jimmy Buffet in it and it appeared to be good.



The Quote of the day is a comment from Pedro Martinez the ex-pitcher of the Red Sox. I'm putting this one for my dh Pat who loves his Red Sox and wants them to win tonight, also for my friend Didi and her husband Mo, extraordinary Sox fans:

"I don't believe in damn curses" he said refering to the by then infamous Curse of the Bambino. "Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass."

Friday, August 18, 2006

Mya is coming home!!!!

My dearest friend Amy just became the mother of another beautiful little girl, her name is Mya and she is gorgeous and she should be home within 2 to 3 weeks. I'm so very happy for her (and a little jealous but she knows this) Mya sounds like the most amazing and spirited little girl and I can't wait to meet her and see her home.

CONGRATULATIONS AMY, MYA AND THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

People BBQ

Oh boy... it sure is hot out there again today! The kids and I were kidding that God is making people BBQ.

I went out to do my pool maintenance today and noticed that the pumps that I left running last night were not working this morning so I figured the breaker had messed up or something so I went and set the breaker and nothing happened so I pushed the little red button on the outlet and boom they went on, just long enough for me to say, yes! and then they went down again :P Tried that several times, moved the extension around and even hooked a new one on. Nope no luck, it would appear that something has gone haywire and doesn't want to work. At least the other pump is working so the pool can run and the chemicals can turn our old "pond" back into a sparkling, inviting and refreshing pool.

the kids are on day 2 of homeschooling. Things are going pretty well, except for a few complaints from the kids and some several hundred interrumptions from Miguel. I found some really good ideas online and others suggested by my friend Cindi (Thank you Cindi!) One that worked well this morning was giving him stickers and a sheet of paper, and a couple of crayons. Also he is fascinated with the pencil sharpener so he might be our official pencil sharpening specialist :D

Larisa is taking huge strides in the reading department, HUGE ones! I'm thrilled with it. Gabi has been getting perfect scores on her Saxon Math 54, but it has been pretty basic yet, not that she cannot do as well on the rest but definitely the concepts will become quite challenging as the year rolls in.

*************
Ok this post is from yesterday and I never sent it to post.

Dh took us to Outback last night and then we went to the bookstore and I got 2 books so this is my new reading material.

Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs - so far so good pretty interesting about a forensic anthropologist.

Deception Point by Dan Brown - haven't started but I've always enjoyed his stuff, i love thrillers and mysteries.

I'm listenting to (or really should but i haven't sat down to) a new Mana song I downloaded, it's a preview song from a new album that I preordered, the new song is: Labios Compartidos

I really do like Mana. Pat says the lead singer sounds like a spanish speaking Sting. I think that is a compliment.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

CindiK

I've been thinking about you and wanted to get in touch with you. Please leave me a comment with your email and I won't publish it so I can get in touch with you. Thanks for reading my blog :)

What to do with a 2 year old....

while you are homeschooling? That is the question of the century at this point. I'm gathering a list so if you have any ideas send them my way. This is what I have so far.

Playdoh
Paper and crayons
Safety scissors and paper
Beads and boxes
Poker chips and boxes
Boxes to play in
Sesame Street
Sand Box
Kitchen sink

I've done a schedule for Gabi and Larisa and will do one for Miguel also as we really need to be much more organized and I also want to have some one of one with him to teach him letters. He really is such a very smart little boy and I know he would love to learn them, he learned colors all by himself.

The Red Sox lost last night :P

We have a list of 5 things to return to the library and it appears we lost one, at least it's a magazine so it won't be a costly one.

Last Saturday when Pat and I had our date we went to the Bath and Body shop in the mall and I found out they have a special line of products for girls from American Girls so I told Gabi I will be taking her there on a special date just the 2 of us this weekend. She was so excited :) My little girl turning into a big girl and then a teen. YOu should see how beautiful she dances and how much time she spends practicing her dance moves.

I quote from a piece given to me on the importance of priorities:

"Pat attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There always will be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

Sunday, August 13, 2006

This one is for the BoSox

 


The little wild thing rooting for the team!

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We won!

::doing a happy dance::

The sox won and in a sweet way too!

Off for a few days

I took a bit of time off because I've been feeling really funky and weird. Didn't really have much to say or share but I'm back even though I have a monster headache and I've been nauseated all day long.

Yesterday Pat and I had a date alone, which we hadn't done in a loooooooong time. We decided to try out a restaurant called Rolando's, it's considered "Noveau Latino" food. Boy it was sooooo good. Pat had this Camarones Bohemios, which is Bohemian Shrimp, I had this Tilapia fish with this caper and spice sauce. It all had rice and beans and the presentation was just fantastic and so very apetizing. The place opened at 5pm, we had reservations and were the first ones there, I kid you not within 30 minutes the place was almost full. I can't wait to go back but we are trying a new place next time called Bravos, recommended by Pat's optometrist that is a "local place to eat" fan. He talked to pat forever and told him all the good, off the beaten track places to go eat at. So far so good :)

Let's see what else is up... I'm having a party for Pat and asked my dad if he wanted to come. He surprised me by saying he would love to and that he might be able to come up on the 4th of September. So we are very excited at the possibility and hope he can make it.

Tonight I'm making Salmon with mango salsa and something else that I have not figured out yet. Probably rice and beans since everyone likes that.

What am I listenting to?

Barcelona by Russell Watson, beautiful voice and awesome song

What am I reading?

The latest Marie Claire has some really fabulous articles. I don't have a subscription but I might have to get it.

On the best news the Red Sox are just like -->this<-- close to sweep the Orioles :D

Friday, August 11, 2006

dissapointment

Before we left for vacation I had set up several things like the yard, pool and newspapers so it would all work "seamlessly"

Well I'm feeling pretty confident that the pool guy never showed the entire 2 times he was supposed to ^%(*)_)(*&&**%%# I hate, hate, hate unrealiable work, just hate it. I sure hope he doens't try to show today and charge me 'cause I'll chase him with my pepper spray.

On good news I had pain on my right side all day yesterday and felt quite miserable but I woke this morning feeling a LOT better. Yipee!!!

Other good news is that Larisa's school work is on the Fedex truck for delivery today!!! YAY!! I'll have to organize all the stuff and we hope to start on the 21st once I have read all the stuff and put it in order.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

:P

I don't feel too good today, last night I woke up in the middle of the night with pain on my side and I was shivering and had nausea and a headache. I took some tylenol and feel a bit better though I still have pain, maybe I pulled a muscle or something.

On other ugly news the Red Sox fell for the 4th straight game, and last night to the mighty Kansas City Royals. Not happy, really not happy about that.

Ok, gotta go do stuff :) Have a great day and hope you are not travelling by plane since it's a zoo right now in the airports, Yikes!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Hump day

It's wednesday and we woke up to Miguel telling Pat his ear hurts, argh!! This poor baby, he is just getting one over and over again. I feel so very badly for him. HIs doctor is moving offices and is essentially impossible to reach. I'm so frustrated :(

On happy news a friends baby is home and life is wonderful! I'm so happy for her and her husband. THey waited so long for this precious baby girl and now she is home. I can't wait to see her in person!

Quote of the day:

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. ~Rabindranath Tagore

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

School is near...

Ok so school is within 2 weeks of starting and i'm starting to get organized for the kids but I need help.

2 of the kids will have full schedules and then we have a full time Miguel ;) so I'm working on having a pretty good schedule that includes time also for reading and playing with Miguel.

Soooo, give me ideas! How tight is your schedule, is it done by the hour? how flexible is it? I want to start letters and numbers with Miguel because he already knows his colors.

Let me know what you do I want to hear :)

Monday, August 07, 2006

1000 hits!!

My blog just hit the 1000 mark, which means it has been looked at that many times!!! Thank you all for coming to my blog to check out our latest news.

Hugs!

Maria

Our final day in Alexandria before we drove 2 days home.

 
 
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Tomb of the unknown soldier

 
 
 
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Lincoln Memorial, amazing

 
 
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World War II memorial

 
 
 
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National Mall and Smithsonian

Very Beautiful, very hot, lots of walking...

 
 
 
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Arlington National Cemetery, attempt 1 to see the Tomb of the unknown soldier.

 
 
 
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The DC Metro is the best entertainment the kids found.

Miguel called it the choo choo and he would sit like a big boy in it and beg us to ride it over and over.

 
 
 
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