Move over Escargot. . .

Our busy girl Talia seems anxious to explore any and everything. One can often hear her squealing with glee as she cruises towards any open bathroom door. Which brings us to curious taste tester number one of this past week: the toilet scrubber thingy. You know that bristly cleaning tool to scrub off all the "stuff" you don't want in the throne? I happened to run down stairs for what felt like was a few minutes in order to throw dinner together and heard a crying Talia upstairs. It didn't sound serious so I ignored it as I was almost finished. Not long after, the crying stopped. I figured it was Mia playing with her to help her calm down. To my horror, she wasn't in the toy room with the kids, but in my bathroom. What is nice about our bathroom is that the toilet is actually in its own enclosed room. What is not nice, is that the door to that particular room is left open to help Tiago take care of business on time. Although I did not personally witness it, all evidence pointed to at least a few moments of inspection. As much as I tried to convince myself else wise, I have seen her "investigation" processes on other items. What is that process? Touch with finger tips, grab with hand, shove the object into the mouth and repeat. Seeing as how the brush was found several feet out of the bathroom, she must have crawled with the brush into the main part of the bathroom. This process is usually done with the object in her mouth. I even sniffed her for possible smell matches. Sometimes its better not to know.

Taste tester number two: after library story time, there is a craft. I allowed Talia to crawl around while I helped Tiago make his craft. When I picked her up to leave, I noticed she was gnawing on something. I proceeded to squish her cheeks thinking I would find a discarded Cheerio. Instead I pulled out a decapitated lady bug.

Taste tester number three: At this point, you might be wondering why I let her crawl at all. After my Zumba class Saturday night, I found Talia chomping away on some other kids Binky. Who knows how she managed get it. More then that, it confused me since she gave up on the binky idea by her self several months ago.

Aside from the various things I have seen Talia eats with her two half grown teeth

(and many more I haven't witnessed), she keep s growing and exploring.

She goes up and down our stairs.
She loves to stand and cruise along the furniture. She is figuring out how to say hello and goodbye. She loves music and dances by bouncing up and down. We love having her in our family.

So long Christmas

Information and communication is vital for a successful life. When one moves into a new area, they rely on various sources to function in that new community. It is important to know where the nearest stores and banks and post offices are located. It is essential to know when your trash will be picked up. And, for those states who love mother earth, the recycling pick up dates as well. Sometimes one forgets to ask the all important questions like "What do we do with our dead Christmas tree?" I knew well enough that I couldn't sneak the 8-9ft (as labeled at the lot) kindling into the trash nor did I want to since it could be mulched. I had to turn to the source of all wisdom: GOOGLE. (they should pay me for that) The search was murky, but I finally found a somewhat clear answer. Unfortunately, I read it wrong and missed our date to put our bonfire waiting to happen out on the curb. It sat for weeks waiting to move on. I finally dragged it to the Civic and pulled out a small saw. The kids enjoyed watching mom whittle away at the tree. Tip for the next person needing to fit an over sized tree into a compact car's trunk, wear gloves. Those dry needles are well like needles.
Mia wanted to give it a go. Yes I realize that the helmet isn't really going to prevent her from cutting her leg off. . .she just got off her bike.

I drove it to the Bitters Road Recycling Station which had an eerie stillness like it was set up to shoot a suspense movie. Staffed with random but silent workers and a small group of people anxious to load their trucks with free Christmas tree mulch, I was unsure of what I needed to do. No one really knew anything and didn't really care to communicate that lack of knowledge. Oh, well. I dropped the tree off in some clippings heap and the kids loved seeing the big machinery. I was the smallest vehicle there, but I completed my own Honey Do List item in time to go to the gym and clean the house. Here is where one could do the snap and arm wave of "You Go Girl!" glory.

BumbleRide The ride of your life

The walk to Mia's school is a fantastic way to get a little meaningful exercise in the morning. Plus it allows us to spend some time together outdoors. We have been using this run down DuoGlider double stroller and it makes the whole process very tedious. Tiago has to go on front, but feels uncomfortable sitting so upright and Talia inevitably sloshes around in the back. I have been looking for a good alternative, but hesitated. I love the movability of the stroller we have but it stinks at doubling as a jogging stroller. A jogging stroller is limited by it's lame and rigid front wheel. Then I found the BumbleRide which claims to be the ride of your life.Aside from the fantastic color scheme, the various ergonomic adaptations make this stroller amazing. I love that the seats can be adjusted independently of the other. I love the fact that the stroller can be used as a jogger with ease of use. Having the safety feature of a five point adjustable safety harness and infant headrest & shoulder pads makes the idea of using it as a jogging stroller that much more possible. We have a DuoGlider and have not been very pleased with the overall feel or storage capacity (and look). This stroller seems to be a perfect fit for our family. To make things even better, they are having a giveaway from the site I Never Grew Up. Someone has to win and hopefully it's me. Check it out.

Getting back to my Roots

I thought I'd give a great suggestion for anyone who hasn't resolved yet. More often then not New Years resolutions have to do with physical appearance. So, why limit the potential wow factor by just eating better to lose a few pounds. Try my new program for free and get noticed. Warning, this takes serious time and pride commitment. First, lower all your standards. For example, stop trying to get showered before you see people in public. So what if your deodorant has worn off. Greasy hair, not a problem. Make up, forget about it. Keep up this routine for awhile. To add additional oomph to the end product, highlight your hair and let it grow out about 2 inches or so as seen here: (you know there is a lot of love coming from me to post such a heinous picture. I just want you to understand the depths one must sink.) What's great about this program is you can tailor it to work for you. Then, if desired, work out daily doing such fun things as Zumba. It's up to you, but it adds to the end result. After awhile, people get accustomed to your mediocrity and love you still the same. When you finally are ready for the new you, dye your hair back to it's original color (or if you want to keep up with those highlights, be my guest). Wash it like hygienic people do and may be even bust out some styling products when you do your hair. It's fun when people have to look several times to recognize you. By comparison, the new average look takes on a high level of appreciation to those surrounding you.



Such is the transformation that has happened to me this last week. In fact, the funniest compliment/conversation I had about the new me happened at the mail box a few days ago. One of the dad's from the bus stop we used to pick Mia up from bumped into me. After starring for a good minute he asked, "Have you done something new? You've lost some weight and something else. You looking good." (Note, although my blog is riddled with spelling errors, that last You was intensional and a direct quote.) All other comments from said man were a bit more friendly then desired, but I will attribute that to the swagger of African American men and their ability to share such compliments with friends. It kind of reminded me of a good friend's hair stylist's mantra. . . . .you don't want people to recognize the hair color change, but may be that you've lost weight.

Second warning: old habits die hard. Showering daily before being seen in public or even after working out isn't a guarantee. None the less, it's good to have the one color. At least for now.

Just because

On Tuesday, a week before Christmas, the weather just happened to be completely beautiful and it seemed like a perfect time to head to the zoo and to a rare, but free trip to the Witte Museum's Tree House on Tuesday evenings and then to see the Luminous Lights at the University of the Incarnate Word. Fernando had been coming home after the kids were in bed, so I had high hopes of easy entertainment and an early bed time due to exhaustion and then some down time for me. One problem: Mia's school was going to end in an hour and a half. Not long enough for us to go without her, but too long to wait. So I made the executive decision to pick her up early. I had imagined in my head that she would leap for joy to get a surprise outing with us since she always talks about how much she misses when she is at school. no leaping, in fact, more like angry vibes were coming behind her curiosity. I kept reassuring her how much fun this adventure would be and how much she would enjoy the "beach" at the zoo. Unfortunately, no beach due to routine maintenance. (gosh, pick a day that isn't gorgeous to fix the water front play area). Good thing the goats were still rearing for a good time although it didn't save me from plenty of griping. As seen in her Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde face going on with the drums.
(We even had music class outside at the zoo. I know, I'm awesome and justified for making my Kindergartner skip school.) Serves me right. I shouldn't be pulling her out just because it is good weather. Heck it's San Antonio. Good weather in the winter is a fact not a phenomenon.

Even with all the bitter feelings, she did have fun and we (Tiago especially) loved a weekday non-holiday outing with her again.

(Best friends. Mia helping Tiago enjoy the beauty of falling leaves)









(See, it was educational. When will Mia get the chance again to touch a South American Armadillo?)


Mia trying first hand to see which type of pulley system works the best at the Witte. Again, look at the learning.


PS The Lights were a bit on the lack luster side of things. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the light the LDS church puts up at Temple Square and at the DC visitor center.

I want to ride my bicycle

The bike presents have been worth every craiglisted penny. It is so fun to watch the kids ride their bikes around. Fernando is far more patient then I am when it comes to learning. I catch myself near barking orders on how one should or should not ride their bike. Luckily, I am better then myself sometimes and can just enjoy the feeling of being a kid again. Enjoying the simple pleasures in life (it's hard not to when you jump onto your kid's bike and try to pedal around in a circle). The weather has been perfect, except when San Antonio thinks that it should have normal winter weather and drop into the 40's.

When pedaling gets too tough, we head to the park for more fun.

Christmas Leftovers

My mother has many talents. One of them is the verbatim resuscitation of several Dr Seuss books. I often remember her starting the Grinch Who Stole Christmas and waiting for her "gnarled Grinchy frown" and "fingers nervously drumming". Her intonations and facial expressions made the book (and waiting in the car for my dad to get some things for "Santa's Sleigh" from yet another store) much better. Sometimes, even when it wasn't Christmas, she would burst into Seuss stories.

Christmas leftovers are plentiful and usually have more umph. Here's to the leftover memories we had, including the shoes that became two sizes too small (for those not as familiar with the story, that was one of the possible causes of the Grinch's grumpiness). At least one foot survived. San Antonio sun is a killer on plastic and these poor little Crocs can testify.

Santa ("He's real you know" so says Mia) and reindeer and the True meaning of Christmas fight for the kid's attention during the holidays. Daily we had new reenactments. They were more interesting this year since Mia's school lessons focused on Holiday traditions around the world. She would often draw pictures of various Christmas holiday fun like wooden shoes placed out in Holland for Sinterklaas. I wish I had a picture for all the various hats she made to represent those various countries' celebrations. Alas, we just have her with her Reindeer Relay hat on.

We even got to spread reindeer feed on our grass. The feed was a special mixture made of oatmeal and red sparkles. (I was witness to this process when I helped out in Mia's class for their Christmas party).
Here is Santa Tiago pulling his Christmas loaded basket via a bungee cord on his car sleigh. Mia the reindeer is helping from the back. Talia is an unwilling participant.
That is much like her unwilling participation in the manger Mia made from two Costco boxes

or as our live Baby in our family play. (it needs a little work and sorry for my solo. The kids practiced, but didn't really join in which is too bad for all of you)


We had the babe in playdough form as well as on a Catholic candle. STORY:
Fernando wanted to surprise me with a candle lit Christmas Eve dinner. I suggested that the kids go with him. When they came home with this candle I had to hear the story. Turns out that after Fernando found his ideal choice, the kids spotted the shrine selection at the store. Fernando did his best to redirect their attention to other candles, but was thwarted by clever and persuasive arguments. Fernando pointed out that said candle was for a religion different then ours, but the kids reminded him that they believe in Jesus just like we do. Then he tried to point out the beautiful other options, but was reminded that this should be a Christmas candle. When all else failed, the kids suggested that it be put to a vote. Tiago dropped his selected candle with Christ pictured with thorns on his head to get the two to one vote needed for the said candle.
I hope that it isn't offensive to any Catholics that we bought this candle. Fernando felt like he had no other choice.

Cookie making is a must for the holidays.
Besides making cookies at home with Fernando and I, the kids got in on the action at the Bass Pro Shop before getting their picture taken with Santa. Genius of this store. Everyday they had a Santa, but the pictures were free and they gave you a coupon for a free kids meal. Then each weekend they had some free activity such as decorating cookies for the kids to do.


Mia also got to write a note to Santa which included the following: a cat, a real ginger(bread man), a dog, a lion, a star, a bell. Although the items weren't all exactly as she would have wanted like the animals being real, Mia did get all those items for Christmas one way or another.


Talia testing out the various water craft for sale to keep busy during the decorating time.

Attempt at a family photo.

How many times have you seen the ad for a car as a Christmas present? Well, I got a shiny car for Christmas!

It wasn't new. It was actually my Civic, but I got to wash it since the weather was so dang nice. That's right, part of my Christmas Eve activities was hand washing the car with the kids.

I loved every minute and almost gave Fernando the same gift, but dinner was calling.

Christmas Eve we opened up some new pj's

in hopes to preventing other previously placed presents to be opened.

Christmas presents came from all sorts of people. Grandparents, parents, siblings, friends and even Mia's school teacher Ms. Cortez (all good things get attributed to her whether or not she was even a part of it).

In any case, these leftovers will be remembered fondly and retold as all good Christmas memories do.