variation on a theme of soccer

Miranda has her first soccer game on Wednesday. To get pumped for the big game, she wanted to put on her daddy's old soccer shirt from when he was little. So we made an event of it and Sammy wore one of daddy's old outfits too. We had quite a time running up and down the halls pretending to kick and score. For someone with no soccer experience or ability, I turned out to be a great pretend player. Amazing how much easier it is to be pretend good at something than it is to be really good at it. Imagination really lends a hand sometimes.
We had quite a wonderful time and I have to say that it strikes me how little it takes to make us all happy. I should remember that.

"I wish..."

"Me too..."

Emily's Jewelry Shop

My friend EMILY is having a promotion at her new jewelry shop. Check it out! She is just as nice as her lovely jewelry.
I don't know how to paste it in here properly with all of the links and stuff, so go to Emily's website for details.

everyday life

Well, since I still haven't blogged the trip I suppose I will just share a few daily life things while I read and grade annotated bibliographies. Exciting, I know.


Sammy's recent developments include a dramatic shift from good eater to food artist. At least that's what he considers himself. Luckily he'll still eat cottage cheese, occasional cereal, yogurt, and spicy, flavorfull foods, and strawberries. There is a point, however, that even these foods become art.


This is a yogurt popsicle gone art. I know, I know. If a food is that color I have no business letting him put it into that pure little mouth of his.


Miranda can communicate with aliens. And vegetables. The vegetables ARE NOT happy with the way they are being treated by humans.


No I didn't graduate again; that would be nice, though. I participate every year in the faculty processional for LDS Business College Graduation (LDSBC is one of the places I teach). It always gives me a nice feeling and rejuvenates my desire to teach, which is easy to lose while I'm grading annotated bibliographies. The kids came downtown with me, and Dad took a break from work and walked around Temple Square with the kids while I was in the Assembly Hall for the ceremony.


Miranda wanted to go see "the big Jesus" and so they went to the visitor's centers, a few fountains, and you know, beautiful Temple Square. Dad did a great job. He told mom afterwords that was his turn for the year. I think he was just kidding (heh heh nervous laugh), but it was a lot of work. You can see Miranda was worn out by it.


Fernando cannot pass by the strawberries at Costco without buying. In fact, as I'm writing this I'm wondering if he's ever passed by strawberries without buying. The kids always like what he likes. Usually when you carry people in your womb they come out liking the things you ate while they were in there. But my kids come out liking whatever Fernando ate while they were in there. Another example of the power of the Seminario genes. Luckily I have a strong personality.


So, in sum, I'd say that our lives are a series of fun and memorable moments punctuated by a few boring ones in which I grade annotated bibliographies.

Truth reflects upon our senses

CONFERENCE!!! How we love thee.

Fernando and I were able to attend the Solemn Assembly. What an amazing feeling to stand as a member of the Relief Society and covenant to sustain my Prophet.

Other highlights for me included President Monson's talks, especially the insights he shared about his wife and how she's supported him. It made me cry and tell Fernando I wanted to be better at supporting him. Hearing these speakers and stories reminds me how far I still have to go. Yet I don't feel discouraged, but happily motivated to actually be able to become a better person. Amazing the way the Holy Ghost teaches us.

I also really appreciated the focus on the family, and particularly Elder Ballard's talk, which is obviously very poignant for me right now. I found myself longing to lock away each precious moment I have with my children so that I can always keep it. I already feel so blessed by every second I have with them, and Elder Ballard's words reenforced that feeling and confirmed the truth that as a young mother or a mother of young children, I am truly experiencing a sacred time and working through the moments and details towards an eternal purpose. I have renewed desire to prioritize and to make memories with my children that will matter.

This is different from my usual funny kids post, I realize. For all of the crazy things that happen around here, I can truly say that I have been taught, inspired, and blessed by my children, and I've only had them for less than 3 years! Each time I hear Miranda pray or talk about the Holy Ghost, or each time I get a little hug from Sammy, I know that I am a recipient of the pure love of Christ. This is a wonderful life.

I didn't say you were fat...

I know it's been forever since I posted. My apologies to Katie and Xiao Yu for keeping your pictures up for so long! Horrible. I am ashamed. I've been grading at every spare moment at this computer. I'm starting to come out of it now, a bit.

So this morning, Miranda wanted to play a computer game on PBSkids or Noggin or one of those sites that makes learning SO fun. I was grading something, and holding Sammy at the same time (it happens a lot) and she came in and tried to sit down in the same chair. I tried to wiggle over, but it was still a tight fit. She kept saying, "Move over! You're squishing me! I don't have any room!" in her best early morning I-shouldn't-have-woken-up-yet voice. I asked her to stop the whiney voice and told her "I'm trying to make some room."

Then she told me I was too fat and said some other things, and then I said, "We're all going to the other room. No computer games right now."

So we got to the other room and she asked why I wasn't letting us play computer games right then. I said, "Because we need to wait until Sam's nap so I can help you and because you were using a whiney voice."

"No, I wasn't!" she whined. :)

"Miranda, this is what you said (and I put on my best life isn't fair voice), 'I don't have any room! Move over! You're squishing me! You're fat!...Do you think that was very nice, Miranda?'"

"I didn't say you were fat!" she exclaimed, fasely accused. Clearly she felt hurt by the gross misquotation.
"I said you were fat like a fat grandma's bum!"

Well, I'm sure glad she corrected me or I could have really gotten my feelings hurt. And thank you Grandma Cynthia for introducing her to the term.

appropriate punishment

This is what happens when you do not post anything on our blog while we are on vacation: I post THIS picture of you which I stole from your very own computer while you are on Temple Square magnanimously showing the place to a new member of our Church. But sometimes these things must be done in order for a certain person to learn a lesson.

Okay, I just posted these because I LOVE THESE PICTURES and I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!!!
Not only did I get two incredibly hilarious and freely geekified siblings to start, they also marry people to match! What more can I ask for?

I guess I should mention that these are pictures from their performing days during the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. And yes this was the base costume over which "4 Calling Birds" floofy headdresses and so forth went over. I'm sure the Tab Choir would not be singing anything that these two could dance to wearing just the black. It is fun to imagine the possibilities though.

I did ask Xiao Yu's permission to post these, by the way, but of course, I did not ask Katie's. I welcome whatever retaliation awaits me. It was worth it.
And the grand finale:
(press play...it's there even though it looks black)

A moment I can measure my parenting by

Me: "Miranda, what's your favorite fruit?"

Miranda: "...Frosting."

Easter

Well, Katie the guest blogger turned out to be a ghost guest. She apologizes and said she didn't ever have anything funny that was also blog appropriate about the kids to post. So you can imagine what that means.
We had a great trip and we loved coming home to the kids (thanks to the crew who took care of them), and after I'm done dogpaddling around in laundry and grading I will surface with an excellent trip blog. For now, here are some pictures of Easter!