Moral Rights Movement

The other day we watched the movie Amazing Grace that focuses on one man's quest to destroy the slave trade in Britain. Although the movie could have been a whole lot better considering the topic and the true story, it did leave me hankering for a good passionate debate. Fernando was a little more then tired from work that week and we share the same opinion on almost all important matters making a debate impossible. All night I kept thinking about how wonderful it would be if everyone who stood for any moral decency would voice their opposition to the tide of evil that is flooding our country and world. If the collective whole could stand up for the moral rights we have cherished, but taken for granted. This voice could at least match the loud lobbyists from "special interest" groups that get laws passed that seem crazy. For example, Maryland just unanimously passed a bill that would allow people of any physical make up to use facilities that are for the gender they feel more attached to. Translation: men or women can choose what locker room or restroom or any other gender assigned and separated area that would like to enter if they felt more female then you would suppose by their genetic make up. I am sure that there were several people who thought that slavery was wrong, but didn't think they could stop such an economically and politically sound institution. Luckily, it did to some extent. So, it's my turn. I need to find some way to let my voice be heard whether or not it makes a noticeable difference. At least I can try.

Best Friends

Tiago and Mia are best friends. That includes the occasional tiffs that come with that territory, but on the whole, they think the world of each other. I love to here Mia call for Tiago using her nickname for him. . .Boy. And love to hear Tiago yell at the top of his lungs, Meekies, in order to find his sister. Mia's job seems to be explaining the mysteries of the universe. For example, Tiago was informed that after he was married, he would be able to kiss a girl on the lips. (You better believe it!) Tiago's job is that of endless adoration and encouragement to try new things. It's always more fun to have a partner in crime. I often learn great lessons of love from watching them interact. Mia tenderly speaking to Tiago when he is throwing a fit or sharing her favorite things with him. Tonight, Tiago wanted to cuddle and comfort Mia since she seemed to be in a little bit of pain. He would give her hugs and kisses and wanted to sleep in her bed with her. He even said a little prayer in order to help out. Someday, I hope to love as they love and care as they care.

235 pound paper weight

After searching high and low for a gym that had decent daycare and coming up empty handed, Fernando surprised me with an elliptical. I have been keeping my eyes on getting a Life Fitness wonder for a few years, but the price tag of $7000+ new and $3000+ used kept me from buying it. Fernando looked around ebay and found a used and refurbished elliptical for a pretty good price. With shipping and set up in the home, it came to $1850. I'll give you the clips from the humorous set-up since it took almost 5 hours! First, the man drove the machine for 3 hours in the back of an open pick up truck, uncovered in the rain. Then with the dripping machine inside they attempted to disassemble the machine in order to take it up to our third floor bedroom. Even though they insisted that they knew what they were doing, it was more then obvious that they didn't. An hour passed before they realized that it would be better to just try to go up all in one piece (or at least all the pieces that they put back together). Five minutes was all it took to get up the stairs. The next several hours were spent reassembling and realizing that water and batteries do not mix. The whole unit didn't become functioning until a few days later. Sadly, I have only used it a few times since then. I hope that I find a better use for my machine than a giant paper weight and carpet holder.

Invincible

Here is a little amazing look at the inside of Tiago. I had to look at the picture several times to make sure one of the doctors didn't just give us some skeleton drawing that they had left over from Halloween. Fortunately for Tiago, little kids bones seem to magically float under their skin. This is how he managed to still have a functioning pinkie finger after being completely shut mid pinkie into the hinge part of the door (meaning the door was able to be locked with his finger wedged into the narrow crack of the inner part of the door). I was on the phone with Fernando while he was making his long drive home from Texas when it happened. Thanks to Kristi and Josh, I was able to make the trip down to NNMC with only Tiago to entertain for the many hours we would wait to be seen. Tiago was a trooper and love the radiology part. They gave him a sporty little apron to wear around his waist and there was a lot of moving, noisy parts to poke. All in all, I am glad we left with only the x-ray and a few token stickers.

We're Going on a Lion Hunt!

Mia was quite insistent on being a lion for Halloween and so I tried to brainstorm several cute options that could tie us together as a group. Upon looking for the obvious Wizard of Oz collection, I found several cheap looking giddie ups (literally and euphemistically speaking). My ideas never really transformed into actual costumes. I think that the main problem came from my overall dislike of the holiday itself. I really couldn't bring myself to buy any of the costumes because they cost too much in relation to my desire. Not wanting to ruin it for everyone, we thought of a working option. We luckily have a wide assortment of Hawaiian shirts for Fernando and even one for Tiago. Slap on some black socks and sandals and you have yourself a perfect tourist outfit at no additional cost. I dawned some earthy colored clothes and a funky cowgirl hat and called myself a tour guide. Not terrific, but fun enough for the kids.

To mask my dislike of the holiday, we thought of some fun activities that would get us in the mood. We went to a pumpkin patch and splurged on a pumpkin carving kit (way worth the $5). Tiago and Mia each got a real Red Flyer wagon to bring back their pumpkin finds. Tiago took matters into his own hands when we all stopped to admire the funny looking turkey that lived near the pumpkin patch. Focused on the goal, Tiago took his wagon to the place of pumpkins. We were pretty impressed and well as grateful for the fact that he could lift the pumpkins without breaking them.


The food all followed a Halloween theme--Halloween shaped pancakes and orange juice for breakfast and even pumpkin shaped pizzas with a skeleton shaped veggie tray for dinner. Now that it is done, I can openly focus on my favorite holiday-Thanksgiving.

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home

What is better than Christmas morning? I'll tell you. It is the morning you come upstairs and see your daddy laying in bed where he belongs after a month in far off Texas. Nothing could match the excitement and somewhat disbelief of the kids as the clung on to any body part they could. Fernando, exhausted from the 14 plus hour drive he just finished the day before lovingly cuddled with his children giving them a gift that was worth more to them then I think either of us could imagine. Mia kept smelling him and Tiago couldn't stop kissing him. A little view of heaven.

A Bug's Life

Because I have an innate fear of bugs and especially spiders, I have worked really hard on not passing on that fear to my kids. So much so that I will constantly be pointing out strange bugs and spiders. Once we watched a spider catch a bug and wrap it up. It was actually quiet interesting. Now that it is fall, we have a plethora of grasshoppers in our front yard. Grasshoppers have to be the best of all bug worlds: they are big enough to see body parts, the jump and fly, and don't bite. Mia dumped all the chalk out of the container in order to catch the grasshopper and let Tiago get a closer look.