heavenly

Sammy says the sweetest prayers.

First of all his voice raises like 2 octaves when he starts to pray. He must associate tiny high voices with reverance.

Then, he prays for us to "be better." I think this started out long ago with Miranda as praying for us to "get better." But I always love to hear it because I need so much help from Heaven to "be better."

Then he prays for awhile for Heavenly Father to help him not to have bad dreams, and not to have a bloody nose.

For the last several weeks every prayer includes, "Bless the people in Haiti." And after my dad's lesson on donating to Haiti a couple of Family Nights ago, he decided he wanted to give money at our church to the Bishop for the people in Haiti. So he gathered up coins and so did Miranda and they both donated around a dollar the last couple of weeks in an envelope for Haiti.

I have loved being a part of their philanthropic spirit which I absolutely believe is a part of childrens' souls. I pointed out Haiti on the news one day and he said, "I'm giving ALL my money to dem." Full of goodness.

The best was the other night, he said "Heavenly Father...he's my favorite guy."

And He's my favorite too...He let me be a mother.

the object of my affection

He's a cute little squish face. He's getting to be a fatty guy.


And he is still getting mauled by his loving loving loving brother. But in this picture he doesn't seem to mind. (sneakily another important member of the family, sippy cup, steals a cameo here)

He's getting so smiley!

We all love him so much! (Even when our look is less than polished. I promise they clean up well.)

But the thing that Miniman seems to be most dedicated to, the thing that has captured his attention for weeks and demands his devotion and even causes me to post this up-the-nose shot of him gazing, completely enamored...

is this:

bwuthers

There may be future moments when you two disagree or even fight.
Maybe you'll have moments when you compare yourselves to one another.
Maybe you're going to go through periods when you have different friends, or interests.

When those times come I'm going to do my best to remind you about these moments.
When you snuggle together and spend all your time in the same places.
How S-man comes to see Miniman the VERY first thing when he wakes up.
That one of his favorite things is to have me wedge Miniman in the recliner so he can sit by him and watch cartoons together.
That S-man would kiss Miniman every 3 minutes, no exaggeration, if I would allow it.

You two are going to be close.
You will have each other's backs.
Boys are tough.
But I know somewhere inside you will always have the love and tenderness towards each other you have now.

necessary love and mitten ears

Today after church some of Fernando's scouts that are grown-upper than they were when they were his scouts crossed the parking lot to the minivan to see the babe. They are such good looking boys, and so nice. Mimi and S were chatting with them, then they were talking with Fernando again. I began buckling Mimi into her seat when she leaned in and whispered, "Mom, since, you know, we're not related to these guys--do you think, maybe, someday, it might be, uh, necessary, for me to fall in love with them?"

Ah love. Unfortunately it becomes necessary sometimes.

The other day I was trying to amuse S while we were waiting outside of Mimi's choir practice. We get desperate for amusement during choir practice so I dug into my purse and pulled out his mittens, which, of course, I put on my ears. Then I started making faces. He gave me prize worthy smiles for it and I was feeling pretty hilarious when his face turned serious. He paused to survey me and finally said, "Well, you don't see that every day."

And for something TOTALLY off topic...aren't these two the most handsome? Swoon! Be still my heart. You'd think I married him for his looks. But nope, he's got qualities even better than that! Handsomeness was a pleasant freebee. Sorry honey. I know you will not like this post but the month of Valentines is about to launch so cut me some slack.

Rainbow: A Eulogy

He was steady, always there.

He asked for little, just a moment or two of our attention each day.

He was left out of family vacations, yet he never complained, at least audibly.

It was a solitary life.

His dearest friend even pretended he was a girl, and he coped.

Rainbow was good to us.



As you can see, Mimi was so excited to get Rainbow, her first (and hopefully only!) pet. Rainbow was a "kinda blue with some green and red stripes on his fins with some orange on his tail" beta fish, born sometime before July 2009 and died December 2009. It was a long life for a beta fish.

And although I heard the tearful words, "Mom, it was all your fault," when Rainbow died because I forgot to add a filter pill to the water after I washed his tank a week previous, we think it was his time to go.

His mortal remains rest in peace in the corner of the backyard in a medicine box. Dad and Mimi and S were there for the service where Mimi said a few words and the three said a prayer.

Rainbow's death was difficult for Mimi. I thought she would cry for at least 2 days straight. But it was only about 2 hours straight. So we were thankful.

On a more serious note, she was genuinely comforted by her knowledge of the resurrection and the life after this one, even if she was upset that Rainbow would probably return to live with his fish family and perhaps not us (we can visit him, though).

What would we do without our knowledge of God's plan for us?!

(and isn't Fernando such a great dad?!)

retry

This video wasn't working on the last post...it's a ventriloquist version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," the Figgy Pudding verse, so I'm trying it one more time. I will post something new soon.

Welcome 2010

Did you know the New Year actually started today????

Well, for me at least. I am finally getting things in order. It took a bit longer this year since I have the little guy and also the others. :) Endearing terms for my children, I know.

Here's to a new year where I'm a better mom, a more thoughtful wife, a dedicated gospel student, less flaky and more compassionate, more fit, and less busy. Oh and more organized. And more prompt!

But while we wait indefinitely for me to reach these goals, here is a little recap of Christmas.

Pa reading Twas the Night to us on Christmas Eve. Don't know why Miranda is looking on with condesending disdain. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve over at KT, Gma and Pa's...we had homemade Egg Rolls, a new tradition...and we even got to see PK and XY and Lucas in China on the computer!!! (Insert me crying like a baby the whole time they were on because I missed them so much. And because my hormones are out of whack.)

New Christmas P.J.s,

Silvia stayed with us (BLISS!) and we went to see The Princess & the Frog (note: scary villain. Cmon Disney!). Silvia is the ultimate. She has most of the new years resolutions I listed above mastered. When she gets married and has kids she'll have the rest accomplished immediately I'm sure. We love having her with us for holidays. My kids might actually picket at the airport when she has to go back to Italy after graduation this year.

Temple Square at Christmas!!! This one event is reason enough to live in Utah. And of course perfect and huge snowflakes started falling as we walked around just especially to remind us about the day we got married six Decembers ago.

Although the kids had the best Christmas thanks to Santa's helpers who shopped for me since I was still a brand new Mommy, thhe three best presents by the tree were...

I might add here that Miniman gets a LOT of love. Too much? We won't know until he's old enough to slug people in the face.

Mateo meeting new people...Aunt Jo:

Cousin Rachel

and.....drum roll please....Mami Rosie! Who came to visit and did our laundry EVERY SINGLE DAY she was here. She didn't even rest for one second. I can't believe how incredibly blessed I am to have had her here, and to be able to have her for my mother in law. I told Fernando I could talk to Mam for 6 hours and never get tired of it. I LOVE HER! I am so blessed.

And we drove Rosie home so we could all attend the beautiful sealing of Cesar, Alex, and THE SOPH in the LA temple. It was absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite sealers of all time...I learned so much and felt so much joy. Isn't Alex BEAUTIFUL?!?!!!

Here's Mateo and the Soph as yin and yang. So cute.

We had such a wonderful Christmas. Having Mateo join us just made me feel more reverent, spiritual, more family focused....thank you to everyone who made this Christmas so wonderful for us. We have everything we could ever ask for and more. God truly loves His children, and Christmas, especially the gift of His Son, is evidence of that.

Okay, I had to include this as the last little farewell to Christmas and 2009. Sammy is a ventriloquist! The reindeer is singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"....the figgy pudding verse. Notice how Sammy barely moves his mouth. He is truly mastering the art...