California Dreamin'

Although San Antonio is far from being a winter day with temperatures in the upper 90's and feeling like 102 (so says weather.com), I still have California on my mind. My home could use a good airing out with fresh cool night air, but that isn't happening any time soon. We especially miss our family and the fun we had together. Thank heavens for cameras and memories remembered via blogging.



Fernando's brother recently returned from his mission in Portugal. It was fun to have all the family together again after almost 4 years of being apart. (his sister Sulay served a mission as well a few years earlier in Brazil). As mentioned in an earlier blog, our trip started early to make our flight in Austin about 2 hours away from our home. On a billboard, a informative bulletin flashed the time of 4:45 am and the temperature of 87 degrees. When we got on the plane we discovered the 2+ hour flight would land us in temperatures of 67 degrees. We were a bit concerned about our short and short sleeve shirts, but what can you do.

We had about 5 different types of midsize cars to choose from. It wasn't until the 4th 60+year old we saw driving our twin car that we realized what type of option we choose. Oh, well. It offered a lot of head and leg room.

Saturday was spent cooking and cleaning for the hosts of extended family and friends that would be arriving to attend the Non-Homecoming Sacrament meeting of former Elder Daniel Tovar. I was some how entrusted with preparing Beef and Broccoli stir fry as one of the main entrees that would be served the next day. I usually feel pretty ok with cooking, but shifting a recipe from family size to 20+ pounds of meat was a bit daunting. I felt like a Costco employee, up to my elbows in soy sauce marinade. Thanks to Mama Clara's clever thinking, a plastic tote with a lid was used as the holding bin for the meat. Several onions, and cloves of garlic later. . operation Homecoming Luncheon was underway. This event wasn't for the faint in heart, but it fit the Tovar's idea of party perfectly. Someday, Fernando and I hope to build them a larger and fully functional cooking space to make such events a bit more comfortable to undertake.

The Sacrament meeting was amazing. The Spirit was really strong as each sibling bore testimony of God's love and desires for all of His children. Talia was less then impressed and was more interested in joining the noise then keeping the peace. We have always tried to follow Pres. Brigham Young's advice which is: "Noisy children and good intensions should be handled in the same way. They both should be carried out." Unfortunately, climbing over legs to remove the screaming child can sometimes be equally distracting. Once out of the room, I try to make things as uninteresting as possible. This, in my mind, is to convince them that leaving the meeting is far less pleasurable then staying in with coloring options and funny people. I am sure I look very comical every Sunday getting up and leaving only to return a few minutes later and start the whole process over again.

Aside from the excellent meeting and delicious food, the next best thing was getting a tour of Aunt Tirsa's new home. I wish I would have brought the camera. The home was amazing although you wouldn't think so about how modest Tirsa is about it. We were all excited for her new adventure and can't wait to help make it feel more like her own. This is what I had hoped we could help with while we were down there. I just think that it is good to serve with your family instead of just mooching off them for a week.

My wish for service was granted in the form of fire wood maintenance. I readily agreed, imagining that we would work side by side talking about who knows what. I didn't realize what sort of tasks we were about to undertake. I helped as much as I could and even braved a few nasty bugs, but I could only do it while Talia was asleep. We also attempted to declutter some of the back yard to give them a little more room to expand. This required a rental truck from the local Ace Hardware. Aunt Sulay, Mia, Talia, and I decided to pick it up. While the gentleman was filling in the information, I began to ask him about some policy I saw on the back of the computer. I guess he couldn't hear me so he said, "I'm sorry SIR, what did you need to know." I stepped out from behind the computer into his line of sight with a shocked look to match his. He tried to ignore the Sir mess up, but I milked it for all it was worth. I even asked him for any discounts that I would qualify for--Military, Costco Membership, Gender Confusion.

After two days of hard labor, the wood job was halted for better things like bowling. Fernando's parents were in it for the kids' sake, but came out of the bowling adventure wanting more. On our last day, we headed to the Kern River as per tradition. Last time we were there, I was pregnant (unbeknownst to me at the time) and ended up losing my wedding band to the river. This time was spent walking Talia back and forth from the water's edge and accepting swimming challenges from Fernando. The Kern is used as a white water rafting river and can pack a serious current. The bank we always set up camp at has a little inlet that becomes like a mini lake near the rushing waters. Fernando got some genius idea to swim across the river to the opposite bank and back. Sulay and Fernando were the first to try. Once they came back unscathed, I thought I would give it a go. The cold, swift water made the challenge all that more exciting. Probably not the most responsible thing for us parents to do.

Our final night was filled with camp fire and s'mores. What a perfect way to end a great vacation with the Tovars. It passed too quickly, but that's how it goes. We were off to Camarillo to visit my sister and her family for a day. Fernando then left with his family to Sacramento for his cousin's wedding. Because of his departure and the timing of our return flight, we spent Father's day and our wedding anniversary in different states. Good thing, love knows no bounds and we can celebrate another day.



*the Mama's and the Papa's song was what the Title of the post and beginning lines were inspired by.

Going Home

Family vacations are always a bittersweet experience. Time always passes more quickly then it should and I am left with the question, "why?"

Why is it that some families grow up 30 minutes away from each other instead of in different time zones? Why is it that some cousins grow up as playmates instead of people in a picture and remembered from past vacations? Why do people get to enjoy living next to my family and I don't? Why are these girls so dang cute?

(side note: Talia loved her little cousin. She would hug and kiss on her and try to make her smile. This picture was Talia during a love on Naomi session.)


And, although I have loved seeing my family in California City and Camarillo, it's time to go home. Time to get back into the routine of housework and summer school. Time to head to Sea World (after Mia's sunburn dies down) and feel the brunt of humidity. Time to download vacation photos and blog about the good times we had. Time to give Fernando a big hug and kiss and be our family again.

Irony, Sweet Irony

Rachelle has been asking me to write a blog for some time now. Well today is the day I give it a go. Now, remember, this is Fernando, so don't expect the intelligent prose and witty humor that grace Rachelle's posts...



Let me give you Background information lest you think me an absent minded fool. On days that I finish early at work I try to use the extra time to enjoy a little stint of exercise, jogging, swimming and the like. Today was such a day and I decided to go swimming. On other days I have lugged a duffel bag containing my swim shorts, goggles, etc. as I jog the 3/4 mile to the pool, which, as you can imagine, makes for an interesting time as I try to keep it from jostling about. Today I had the brilliant idea of leaving it in the car and only lugging along my trunks along with a few essential items. Unlucky for me, the car keys did not make my list of essential items. I came back to find both spare keys to the car, my only house key, my cell phone and my wallet locked in the back seat. No problem, I thought. I'll just call someone to bust the lock.

Well, after waiting an hour and a half by my car on a beautiful San Antonio day, I walked back into the hospital to call "Pop-a-lock" to see what the hold up was. Let me detail the conversation, it tells the story nicely:

Me- I was wondering when you were going to come by and unlock my car?

Heidi- Let me see if our technician has passed by.... It says that he passed by but no one was by the car. It will be a $10 dollar extra charge to send him back.

Me- I'm sorry but that's not true. I have been standing by my car for the last hour and a half and no one has come by.

Heidi- Well he has written that no one was at the car, so it will be an extra $10 to send him back out. (total of $45 now)

Me- Well he didn't pass by my car. No, I will not pay the extra $10 dollars because I was by the car the whole time. Not only that, but you will deduct $10 dollars from the total for the inconvenience you've caused by making me wait outside for an hour and a half.

Heidi- Let me talk to my manager to see if we can wave the fee....(click) (dial tone)




So I call back.




Me- I just called about getting a technician to come unlock my car. I first called an hour and a half ago.

Kathryn- Oh, okay. Let me see if the've passed by yet... It looks like he passed by and nobody was by the car. It will be a $10 fee to send him out again.

Me- That is not true. I have been standing by my car for the last hour and a half and nobody has passed by. I will not pay the fee and I want a $10 reduction in the total price for making me wait so long.

Kathryn- (mumbling) I just talked to my manager and we will not waive the fee. If you want him to come back out it will an extra $10.

Me- Let me talk to your manager, please.

Kathryn- Okay, just one second...(click) (dial tone)




So I call back once again.




Me- Can I please talk to your manager. I have been waiting for an hour and a half in the sun for a technician and been hung up on twice.

Kelly- Okay...(click)

Manager- Hello, this is Regina. How may I help you?

Me- Hi, I have been waiting by my car for the last hour and a half for a technician and no one has shown up. I've called back and been told twice that he passed by and no one was at the car and both times been hung up on. That's not true because I've been standing out there since I first called you.

Regina- Well, it looks like he couldn't find the car and so it will be an extra $10 to send him back.

Me- I will not pay an extra $10 dollars and you will reduce the final cost because you've made me wait so long and hung up on me twice.

Regina- Well, your first call shouldn't have even been accepted because you didn't leave a call back number.

Me- Please explain how I can leave a call back number when my cell phone is locked in the car with my keys?

Regina- We will not send back another technician unless you pay (click)




I had enough. I began scheming on how I could pick the lock myself. I rummaged through the surgeons locker room and left someone's poor unsuspecting uniform without it's wire hanger as I headed back out the door. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and I thought to call USAA, our car insurance company, for some "roadside" assistance. After taking my information, the rep had me hold on the line while she contacted someone to open the car.

After a long pause the voice on the other side of the line said:

Okay.... Pop-a-lock of San Antonio will be there in 35min.



Half an hour later a "technician" was shoving an air bladder along with a thin bow looking contraption with pink thread tied around a black rubber band in between my doors. After several failed attempts, he proceeded to jam a spackling spatula along with a wooden wedge in the interface between the window and the door, followed by some long, thick, strangely twisted wires. 15 min later he succeeded with a long malleable wire by tapping the electronic unlocking switch, ironically enough, while I was saluting the flag as the National Anthem played.

So, 4 hours after first placing the call, there I was, with keys in my hand, and not a penny poorer.

May be we could Home School

Fernando and I have often talked about where we will end up after the military no longer owns us. It's strange for us to think about hunkering down for the long haul in any one place. Since getting married 7 years ago today, we have lived in 5 permanent houses, 2 extended stays, and 3 states (not including the the 6 months spent spread over several medical school rotations in different states). And that is just the beginning.

Yesterday, we went to a beach by some mountains and watched the sun set into the wave cresting ocean bundled in jackets. Several majestic birds skimmed the water and a few seals peaked up to say hello. After several scenic drives and reveling in the fact that windows can be opened to air out the house, I contemplated CA as our resting place.

Family would be close by, I could once again enjoy the cool night air, and much much more until I remember CA's weirdo school situation and the types of things they teach in school. I remembered the pollution and traffic and thought, "I guess no place is perfect."

Isn't that your job?

Part of the joys of buying a car is having temporary plates while the dealership orders your new license plates. As we were approaching the day of expiration that also happened to be the day before we were driving the van up to Austin for our vacation, we tried to figure out where those new plates were. Upon calling the dealership we discovered that the plates indeed arrived and were over nighted to us. Whew!

Then, when the mail came and went with no new tags, we got nervous. We called again only to discover that the overnight shipping really was normal snail mail the was assumed to arrive the next day since it was coming from Dallas to San Antonio. To me, overnight and snail mail are not the same. Furthermore, when we explained the perdicament of leaving town and needing to drive with legal license plates we were told just to drive our van illegally. The car dealership seems to have the missing tag perdicament often, because that is their standard protocol. The tell their customers to drive and if pulled over and ticketed, that the customer can then send the ticket to the dealership to pay for it.

Does anyone feel more then strange about this "solution"? First, ok I have about 10 1st problems but here are a few that instantly popped into my mind when they flippently told me to send the ticket on to them. 1st: Said dealership already seems to have a problem getting paper work taken care of on time, why would I trust that they would pay the ticket at all nonetheless in a timely manner? 1st: Who's going to pay my insurance increases and/or remove the ticket from my flawless driving record? (or at least never been caught driving record)? 1st: Isn't that your job to get license plates for the cars you sell?

I was doing my best not to yell at the sweet receptionist. I felt bad that she had to get the brunt of disappointment when she probably had nothing to do with this mess. Then again. . .may be she was the one responsible for cheaping out on the overnight mail. I asked her to figure out the problem and get back with me. Meanwhile, I called the police station to see what could potentially happen in our given situation. I know that once I got pulled over for something (not ticketed) and discovered that my insurance print out had expired. No biggie, the police officer just looked it up in some magical record and we parted ways. I figured the same could be true about the tags that exsist but are lost in mail land. Just so you know, you do have to have the physical tags on the car. On top of getting that piece of devisating news, the police lady remarked "Well, you should have called them before to make sure the plates would arrive." (ok that is a toned down version of her snide comments) Thanks civil servant.

Fernando was tag teamed for the call back. He asked to speak to everyone's manager and discovered that the only solution all those car people could come up with was illegal driving. SO, we the consumer, pay for the goods and the misgivings of the company with no reprocussion to the dealership at all. We can demand nothing nor punish them.

Our solution: squeeze back into our Civic and be grateful that we decided to fly instead of drive to CA which was our original plan.

Busy Girl

Little Talia has big personality. As she grows and develops we get to enjoy more of that personality. Here are a few pictures and videos so you can enjoy her too. These pictures were taken the other day. Talia put every single lei on all by herself.



She loves trying to put on any clothes whether they be hers or anyone elses. She will usually end up with some shirt around the backside of her neck and try relentlessly to put someones socks on. Here she is wearing my purse slung over her shoulder.




Did you catch her hand position? She has this cheerleader pose while she walks. The protruding fist is the side that usually leads the toddling walk.

B/C just because

So I felt like I was really scraping by for B and C day. I am learning quickly how much better things could go if I thought more about the overall themes and structure.


I had high hopes of making B day focused on the body and taking the kids to a Yoga class just for their age groups, but traffic precluded us driving to the gym. I, on the other hand, made it for my Zumba class (after A day's discovery of my "real" size, I wouldn't dream of missing it). We sang songs and even learned a dance to emphasize our bodies. Breakfast had berries and lunch was peanut Butter on Bagels. The highlight for me was dinner on B day: Lettuce Wraps. You may ask, where is the B? Well, the lettuce just so happened to be Boston Butter Lettuce so there you go. The recipe was discovered at a recipe exchange and I loved it so I will pass it on to you (thanks Kimberli)

Lettuce Wraps/AKA too bad PF Changs
2-3 chicken breast (cubed and cooked in oil - or however you like, I usually use cook my chicken in the crock pot, then shred it)
5-6 lg carrots - peel and grate
1 bunch chopped green onion
1 sm can water chestnuts - chopped
1 bag bean sprouts (This only stays fresh for about 2-3 days. I've also used canned bean sprouts and it works too. Not quite as good though. I've also used sugar snap peas or edamame and that was yummy, but harder to eat.)

Add all veggies to chicken, then add approximately
1/8 c sesame seed oil
1/4 c soy sauce
2/3 bottle bangkok padang peanut sauce (bottle is 11.5 oz - made by House of Tsang... you can usually find it at Wal-mart)

Stir and let simmer until veggies are done and sauce gets sort of thick (approx 20 min)
Wash bunch of romaine lettuce (I've also used boston). Put sweet and sour sauce down the vein then add the above mix.

C day went a little better. I even busted out some letter tracing books for Tiago to practice writing c's and had Mia imagine some stories using C. It was funny because Mia made all the people with the C shape and lots of curly hair. After Library storytime we headed to the Commissary to get some Cereal and Chocolate milk. (and some other essentials, but how else could I justify it as a field trip to the kids) Lunch consisted of Corn dogs, Cucumbers, and Chocolate milk.
Snacks: 1) Chicken nests made from Carrot shavings and grapes; 2) Cherries (I felt good about paying the $3 per pound price since it was for educational purposes).

Later we busted out some shaving Cream to Create C words and pictures. Too bad it just turned into a texture exercise, but at least they did it while listening to Classical music.


Dinner was Chinese beef and broccoli stir fry which I only realized while cooking would have been a better B day meal, but oh well. With Cookies and Chocolate milk for dessert, we made up for the blunder.

Since we haven't given up on our Family Night themes, I came up with a song for Music night. The hymn of choice, "Come unto Jesus". It wasn't until I got to the second line that I realized some words might be a little difficult to explain. I introduced the story with the picture of Jesus and the 1 leper who returned to thank Jesus for healing him. This kind of helped me when I tried to teach the next lines "Ye Heavy Laden; Careworn and fainting by sin oppressed". Hmmm. . .lots of visuals including me fainting and pushing down on their fists to show how something can be opPRESSED. Yeah, pretty weak sauce, but they learned it.