Fun Discovery

The other day the girls and I were playing in the living room, and then it ocurred to me to pull all of the pillows off the couches, stacked them all up for Jocie to climb on, which she did for a little while, but it was Big Sister who made the most fun out of them when she figuered this out.

Areli's Home!

Waiting

There she is, at the very top!

I've been busy with my sister Areli's arrival from her mission, I have not had time to blog about all the fun stuff we've been up to since she got home.



On Wednesday we made our way to the airport at about 8 AM. Her fligth would be coming in at 9AM, so we waited with much anticipation and excitement. Some other missionaries also got there a little before 9AM, so we got all excited thinking that she'd be with them, but no, it wasn't her group. Then her flight finally got there, a group of about 10 missionaries all coming home at the same time, they were letting them come down one by one, it was torture! And yes, you've guessed it, she was one of the last ones! So the excitement just kept building up until she finally made it out. We jumped and screamed and ran to her, all the women that is. My dad and brother and husband all stayed behind and out of the commotion. It was a very happy reunion!



Later that day, after we'd all calmed down, she had a interview with the Stake President and she was also released. She was very sad and tried very hard to hold back the tears as she took her tag off, I was even sad for her. Saturday, during her homecoming dinner we watched a slideshow that Aaron made for her with pictures and videos of her mission. She had handed Aaron all of her memory cards and picture CD's she didn't really know what was going to be in there. Aaron found this really funny video of her and her companion singing and dancing to some gospel music, she was shocked to see that it'd made it into the slideshow, everyone thought it was funny. I should try to post it here later. Then on Sunday, my parents talked during sacrament meeting and then she gave a sweet report. There were so many things she said I wanted to write them down, yes it was one of those talks, but then again I didn't want to miss anything if I did. Wow! She has learned and experienced a lot. I'm so happy for her and very proud of my little sister.



We've been trying to keep her busy, so she won't have time to miss her mission. Thursday my family came to see me at the race. My sister ran in the side line for the last block or so trying to record me and then she was there with water helping me out (thanks Areli!) Then we stayed for the parade. My sisters and brother went back later that night to watch the fireworks. Monday, we went shoe shopping and then headed to IKEA, she needed a bookshelf for the new collection of book she has acquired during her mission. Today we are going downtown. My mom's got this week off from work so we'll try to keep busy before she has to go back to work.



It's good having my sister back. My younger brother and sisters all need her good example at home. But I think my mom needed her back more than anyone else in the house. We are all happy to have her back.

Josie's b-day videos at Grandma's

My sister-in law, Mandy, just posted the cutest videos of both my baby girls. I'm a little challenged when posting videos. I've tried before and have had no success. So here's their blog's link so you can check it out. It's so funny!

Time and address

Sorry for the short notice, but here's the address to Areli's Homecoming dinner and get together. Hope you can make it!

7500 S. 300 W.

It will start at 4:00 PM and go until late, maybe 9PM. So don't worry if you can't make it on time, we'll be there.

Race Results are In!

That was the longest 10K I've ever ran! The race started at 6:00 AM at the Research Park in the University of Utah and ended at the Liberty Park. It felt like it was never going to end! But I'm glad to report I made it all the way and I'm very happy with my performance. I have set a personal record I'm afraid I'll never be able beat! I'm sure that the going down hill for maybe 1/2 of the distance had a lot to do with it. I was thinking this was going to be a breeze, hence the going down hill, but it was my thougest run yet. Going down hill did helped in some way, but then again I was using muscles I don't usually use in my normal runs and I could feel it from the very begining. Everything hurts, even my lower back and arms! I can barely walk! My left shoe was a little loose, but I did not want to stop to fix it, and now I'm paying for it, my left calf kills! I got blisters on both feet too. There were two aid stations (for water) along the way, but I did not want to have anything slow me down, so needless to say I did not make use of them.

My family and Branch President were there and I was very excited to see them all cheering me on. It meant a lot. I also met Allyson, from the Fitness Mamas blog were we log all of our weekly runs. Good job Allyson!

And last but not least I want to thank Aaron and my little girls for all I have put them through during my training. I promise I will fold all the laundry that's waiting for me and I will give my little girls a rest from the heat and sun in the mornings. The only one that I think will resent me is the dog, for he will have to take a break as well, he won't be happy.

I was not expecting or even planing to do as well as I did, so I was very surpised with my time. Here is how I did:

Time: 50 min 52.4 sec
At an 8:11 min per mile pace

This is how I did overall:

Came in at 639th place out of 2030 people

This is how I did overall by gender:

Came in the 196th place out of 1094 females

This is how I did in the female/age category:

Came in 30th place out of 230 females age 25-29

Areli's coming home....Tomorrow!

Areli comes home tomorrow! Wow! Her flight will arrive at 9:01 AM. How time flies! She left when I was pregnant with Jocie so she has never met her, so I'm really excited that she gets to see her for the first time! (in person). We are all ready for her arrival and so very excited to see her in just a few hours!

We are all very proud of her and all her hard work. I know she was an excellent missionary and I can't wait to see her put to practice all the things this experience has thaught her. I know there is great things in store for her and I'm so excited for her and what comes next, whatever it is.

We will be having a Homecoming party for her at the Church on Saturday the 26th. Everyone is invited to come (my parents will be making barbacoa and carnitas!) I forgot about the time, but I will find out and post it later, along with the address.

GUNS A BLAZING!

(posted by Aaron)

All,

Yesterday was an important day for Los Frost. We had two large and significant things happen to our family yesterday.

For starters, Sarai is one of the countries newest citizens. I am so happy for her. We went to the USCIS (since the country can't afford a good immigration department, they have USCIS in it's place) office for what we expected to be a few hour process. We were waiting in the waiting room for about 30 minutes before they called Sara to the back. We looked at eachother excited, because we knew that this was the time we had worked towards for the last few years. Time, money, stress, all spent in our efforts to help Sarai take this important step, and it was finally here. They let us know that I needed to wait in the waiting room, and that Sara was going to do this alone. :( So, while I prepared for what I thought would be a two hour wait, I started to think about some of the cool things that Sara would be able to do, now that she was to become a citizen. There are some huge advantages, the greatest and most important of which is the right to vote. Anyways, after about 15 minutes into my suposed two hour wait (I say two hours, because the appointment letter we received said that it would take about two hours) Sara came out and said "OK, lets go." I looked at her and said "?????" I was confused. I figured she must have failed, or that we must have forgotten some piece of paper or that somehow, something else went wrong. She reassured me more than once, "Nope, I am done. I passed. Let's go." She had a big smile, so I still thought she was joking.

WOW! That was an easy interview. She had to pass a few tests. She had to pass 1) a quiz of american history, 2) an english reading exam, and 3) an english writing exam. Well, the quiz was torture. She had to know the colors of the flag. Had she forgotten the white stars on the blue canvas, and the red and white stripes, she may have failed and lost her chance at earning the right to sue her neighbors. She asked a few more questions, that were each equally as difficult as the first. For the reading exam, they pointed to a line in her study guide and asked he to read one sentense. She managed to successfully utter the words "Why did the Pilgrims come to America?" She passed! That was the entire test. Then on to the next test, the english writing test. The interviewer said "I am going to say a sentense and you are going to need to write it." Sara agreed. The sentense upon which her future as a US citizen would teeter for the next 10 seconds of her life was "Today is a sunny day." Sara wrote that and was expecting something else. Something that would actually test her english a little more deeply. That was it! She was done.

I am happy for her. She now has several rights that she didn't used to have. She can vote. She can work for the government. She can work with her family and help them get these same privelages. She can carry a gun. Among others.

She still has to take the oath before this is all official. We were told that she would get a letter for an appointment to take the oath publicly. We will let you all know when that is, so that you can come if you want. They told her that it might take up to 4 months, but that they were trying to get everyone sworn in by voting time. So, Sara should be able to immediately start using her new rights. This is awesome!

That was the first thing that happened yesterday. The second is almost as important. I had a second interview for a position that I really wanted. I nailed the second interview as well as, if not better than, the first interview. Within a few hours, the company called my head hunter and let him know that they were writing up the offer and would send it today. WOW! It is a great job. I will be doing what I currently do, for a smaller yet equally as stable company. I will be a lead on a team of 4 people. I will be in charge of the entire software testing effort for this company. It is a stressful position, but will be rewarding as I succeed at it, as I have succeeded in my current position. I am exicited to continue my career with them. I will fill you in with the details later on. I just wanted to let you all know about that change. We are very happy about it and wanted to share it will you all. It has taught me, yet again, that all you have to do is put your mind to it and you came acomplish anything. Now, while that may sound a little reminicent of George McFly, the nerd father from Back to the Future, it is a fact. I have been unbound in my progress over the last three years. With this move, I have effectly increased my marketability, earning potential, and job experience by more than double over the last three years. I am very excited. God is smiling upon my family and I. Before this move I mad 3.5 years ago, I was unsuccessful in the work place and had yet to taste strong success, like I had seen those around me achieve. Now I know that success, and it tastes good!

At the end of the day, I looked at Sara and had a thought that I felt summed up the day for Los Frost. You know how in the old cowboy movies, the guys come out with their guns drawn and they kill everyone before taking names??? Well, that is what happened yesterday. We knocked'em dead, and took names. We came out with our Guns a Blazing and got what we wanted. I hope you can all feel how exciting that was for us and share in the excitement.

Excited and Nervous

Tomorrow is a big day! I have an appointment for an interview with USCIS and I'll also be taking my Citizenship test. I might be able to vote this Novemember! I haven't really been paying attention to the candidates. I'll have to do some research and hopefully it will all be ready and done by then. That means that I've taken the oath and gotten my citizenship cetificate as well, and that means some more waiting. Wouldn't I also need to register? YAY! Anyway, I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I've been studying from the 100 question civics and U.S History study guide and I think I got it all memorized, including the first 13 states. Can you name them?

Happy B-day Aaron and Jocie!

This week were both Jocie's and Aaron's b-day. Josie's was on Wednesday and Aaron's on Saturday, so we celebrated them together this weekend. Saturday at 'Buelitos' house and Sunday at Grandma Kelli and Grandpa Mark's house. We had breakfast on saturday with my parents, home made tortillas de harina, huevo con chile, frijoles, picadillo con papas, YUM! Then on Sunday we headed over to Aaron's parents' to celebrate again, but this time with his family. It was also uncle Joel's b-day as well, Aaron's twin brother, so we had a triple celebration this time. The whole family showed up and we had a nice little evening catching up with everyone. Thanks 'Buelitos and Grandma Kelli and papi Mark for letting us use your house and for all the good food!

My little baby is 1 year old!

Make a wish little Josie!

She didn't like the cake. She kept playing with the icing which ended up all over the place.

The firemen were standing by just in case. Just kidding!

On Friday we went fishing. I asked Aaron the night before if he'd like that for his present and he got so excited. We'd only been fishing together maybe a couple of times since we got married, so he thought it was a really good idea. He called uncle Paul and barrowed the little boat that him, his brother and his uncle all pitched in to buy last year. We stayed up in Park City Thursday night and then drove to Strawberry Lake the next morning.

We didn't catch anything but seaweed!

But it was a nice, relaxing morning that we both enjoyed a lot and left us planning on making more fishing trips this year.

A productive morning

The girls and I woke up at 6:30 this morning, Aaron had left to work already, and as always I started my day by putting on my running shoes, filled up the sippy cups with milk, got the girls into the stroller, grabbed Tank's leash and headed out the door. All this week I have been amazed at how nice the mornings are. I think it's starting to cool down, at least early in the morning. We came home only to find out that Naomi had dropped her hat somewhere in the way. She has done this way too many times! I did not want to run back down our route so we just got into the car and went looking for it. Luckily we did find it. I had planned to go grocery shopping later in the day, but since we were already in the car I decided to make my way to the store. We grabbed some breakfast, went to Walt-Mart and Costco, even got my car washed all by 11:45 AM. I'm an a roll today. Came home and fixed the girls some lunch. Now they are both taking a nap and I need to take a shower and get back to work.

4th of July Weekend

We had to at least take some pictures!

Waiting for the fireworks show to start

We had a good 4th of July weekend. A bit exhausting for the girls, but fun anyway.



In the morning we tried to go to the Balloon Fest in Provo, but did not make it on time to see the balloons. We did see a balloon, so that made us feel a little better after all. We asked someone there if they knew what time had the balloons taken off, and they said they took off at 5 AM. We got there a little before 8 AM, a bit late I guess. We had seen an advertising for a breakfast fundraiser that said would go on "during" the balloon fest from 6 AM - 9AM , but I guess that time was for the breakfast only and did not specify that the balloon fest had a time of it's own. We will have to try again next year. While we were driving looking for a parking spot we saw the Life Flight helicopter, they were letting kids get on and even had the lights on and the twirly thingies going. We got really excited, because the girls love it when they see an airplane or a helicopter fly by, so we wanted them to see it up close. We hurried up and walked back after we found our parking spot only to find out they had shut it down and there was no one there anymore. Bummer! Our trip to Provo didn't turn out so well. We did stay for the parade and that was fun. We then headed home, I went to pick up the girls at the bus stop coming back from girls camp, while Aaron put our little girls down for a nap. They slept for 3 hrs! Then the Collins invited us to their family's 4th fo July swim party and BBQ, and that was a lot of fun. Then we came home planning to put the girls down for another nap to go see the fire works, but did not have the heart to wake little Jocie. So we stayed home and put up a little fireworks show of our own for Naomi. She enjoyed the first few ones that only lit and did not make noise, once the noisy ones came she was really scared and kept crying for daddy to stop, so we did. It was a nice 4th of July. Looking forward for the next one already!

Girls Camp- Part 2

We named our dessert "Like a Rock" which was actually our Camp Theme, so it worked out perfectly!

Sunrise Hike. We had to wake up at 5AM! But it was completely worth it.

Our Branch President and my Young Women.

First Year's snipe hunting! Some one was very dissapointed.

Girls Camp was fun, different when you go as a leader than when you go as a kid. Very exhausting! I came home ready to sleep for 3 days in a row, no interruptions. Yeah, right!

Pulling the trailer was a breeze, with the exception of a couple casualties. OK, we got a little lost on the way there I had to pull up to look at the map, but then I had to back up in order to get back on the road. YIKES! I thought I was never going to get out of there! Aaron warned me "Don't go anywhere where you'll have to back up!" Why do I do this things to myself!? Then on the way back from camp our tarp that was covering the trailer almost flew off. Good thing someone drove up next to me and pointed it out. It was scary standing on the side of the Hwy, trying to fix it, with all those high speed cars and eighteen wheelers passing me by. Scary! But other than that the driving with a trailer part was just fine and I lived to tell the story.

At camp we had a Dutch Oven cook off the same night we got there. Each ward was making a dessert and the judges would be blind folded when they got to taste our desserts. Good thing for us, because our "Monkey Bread" didn't look so good. It got ridiculously burned, it looked like charcoal! That's how burned it was. Yeah, needless to say, we didn't win. The rest of my dutch oven cooking experience during camp, didn't turn out so bad. We flipped over the lid to cook pancakes and scrambled eggs, but we ended up doing most of out cooking on the ashes. Tin foiled fajitas, baked potatoes and corn on the cob. I think we deserved a special medal for all the fires we had to start and put out. We were the only ones cooking cowboy style, everyone else had gas stoves. The girls actually thought it was more fun this way, even if it meant waking up earlier than everyone else to get the fire started and cook one pancake at the time. We had the real campers experience. Those were my two main concerns and I'm happy to report that I made it through camp. Not all the girls liked my food, but most of them did. So I'll take it.

Tagged

I was tagged by my friend Areli Olsen.

Ten years ago - That would be 1998. I was a sophmore in High School. Had only been in the united States for 3 yrs. Lived in San Antonio Texas. I was still trying to figuered out this place and still missed Mexico a lot, specially my friends. That summer I made the try outs to be in the Dance and Rope Team. That was also the summer my brother and sister and I went back to Mexico to visit. It was the last summer I would ever spend, as a kid, in Mexico. It was a fun summer!

Five things on today's "to do list" - Go to my cousin's to take her some food and help her around the house. She just gave birth on Sunday. Mop my kitchen's floor, vaccum, fold laundry. Be upset at my husband for taking off with his brother to go fishing :)

Things I would do if I was a millionaire - Pay off our debts (basically our house). Buy a sweet house! Make sure my kids will have a good education. Help family with their debt. Give a lot to charity. Go on a mission with Aaron. Go on vacations all the time!

Places I have lived - Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico. San Antonio, Texas. Midvale and Salt Lake City, Utah.

I tag: Kelli, Joel and Mandi,

Rules of Tagged - Each player answers the questions themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answers.

Reliving childhood memories

I've been babysitting for a Sister in my branch this week. Her older girl left to the Beehive's camp this week, so I volunteered to babysit so she could go. Lolita is 8 years old, so it has worked out great. Naomi likes her a lot and it kind of helps to have someone, other than me, that she can play with.

I took them to the park this morning. There's a little river that runs through it and every time we're there Naomi wants to jump right in. For some reason I've never let her, but there were other kids there today that were doing it, so I thought "What the heck, Go on!" She almost couldn't believe it. I remembered my little brothers and sisters and I "swimming" in a similar river like down in Mexico and how fun that was. There was also this other canal where the water was filthy, and I mean filthy! Black and gooey! But we never seemed to mind, we were swimming!

Back to this morning. Naomi immediately made friends with some girls there who were about 11 and 12 yrs old. She introduced me to them and told me they were her friends. "They my friends mami" She is so cute. Then we notice there were mulberries that kept coming in the current. So I thought there most be a tree somewhere near... and we went looking for it. We didn't have to look very far when we saw this couple pulling on the branches and filling up a big container. Their little girl was covered in purple. They just let her crawl around on the grass where all the mulberries had fallen. I wasn't planning on letting my little girls eat them until coming home and rinsing them, but that didn't happen. Before I knew it, both Josie and Naomi had purple faces as well. They both were really excited about eating them and kept chugging them one after the other. This also reminded me of my childhood, when we (my little brothers and sisters) climbed the mulberry (moras) tree near our home to pick moras.
All this made me wonder why I, a modern parent, freak out and won't let my kids do things like this often enough when I, as a child, went through all this things myself. Nothing ever happened to me. I turned out OK, build some immunities in the process and not only that, but I get to have all these sweet memories of growing up. Anyway, that is the thought for the day.