Mami we awake!

My babies keep surprising me everyday. They just get cuter and cuter by the minute. The other day my little girls woke up, and as usual I waited a few minutes before coming to get them from their bedroom. I like to listen to them talking to each other and being able to stay in bed for a little longer. I think I must have taken longer than usual because finally Naomi got tired of waiting that she shouted- "Mami, we awake!" Aaron was still in bed with me and we both just cracked up laughing. Oh my silly little baby! So I get up with a smile already on my face, go in their room and ask Naomi to go potty, like usual-

Mami: Naomi, let's go pee-pee.
Naomi: Mami, dady allready take me.
Mami: Oh really? When?
Naomi: mmm...at seven.

Again, I just had to laugh.

She doesn't know how to tell time yet, but I guess I should take that as a good sign that she might be ready.

Every stage they have gone through has been so fun and cute I wish it never ends, but then it does and I find myself enjoying a new one even more than the last one. I'm reading "Mommy teach me!" A book whose author is a Montessori teacher and on one of the chapters, she talks about helping our kids become independent because after all "Parenting is a job we should be working ourselves out of each day" The thought of it made me tear up a little bit, but I guess she's right. Still, I wish it would never end.

LosFrost on Sarah Palin

Funny or Fact?
It Sarah as dumb as people are pretending she is? Watch this and decide for yourselves.

Jocie's walking skills

This video is a few weeks old (maybe 3) and it's to show Jocie's walking skills. We went to the library last week, for baby story time, and this lady stoped me, as I chase Jocie around, and asked how old my baby was. I told her and then she continued to tell me how impressed she was at how strong and sure she looked walking. She said she had a 15 month old or so, that was still working on taking his first steps. I'm not comparing or saying that my baby is better to hers, I have learned that comparing babies is just not fair (for the baby) or healthy (for the parents). Babies are always different and that's OK. Jocie started wanting to walk at 6 months, but didn't decide to go solo until she had turned 13 months, so she had lots of practice. She has come a long way and is now picking herself up lots and lots of times, and even running- from me most of the time. She is climbing stairs, getting off couches and stepping on a stepping stool I have for big sister. She is growing up too fast. Some one please stop her!

Estas cordialmente Invitado- You are cordially invited.

This is an invitation for all of you who might want to accompany my family and I to my Naturalization Oath Ceremony on Wednesday. Yes, it will soon be official. It seems like I will be able to vote this November! ....

...and why is it called Naturalization? Are we aliens not "natural" enough? Mmmmm..... Does anyone have any idea? Just a thought.

Here's the time and address:

United States District Court of Utah
Capital Theater
50 West 200 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Be there by 9:00 AM
***Proper attire should be worn :) and bring a picture ID. They want to make sure you are "natural" enough.

Tank the man

The other day someone called trying to sell me an alarm system. He told me the installation was free and blah, blah, blah. I just waited for him to finish and then I said "No thank you!" I guess he was very surprise that I didn't hesitate to answer that way, and the he asked "Why don't you want to buy one?" to which I replied "I have a 90 lbs German Sheperd" He laughed and gave up after that.

Tank is very much a guardian dog. Today we went to my parents house and took him with us. As we were getting ready to leave I made my round around the house gathering up our stuff. I thought I had everything, so I hoped in the car ready to leave. Then Naomi said "Tank!" -"I knew I was forgetting something! We need him to keep us safe at night cause daddy has a very heavy sleep" I thought. Not Tank! He hears the smallest noise and warns us about it right away, but when it comes to the girls he is the most sweet, gentle dog ever. They can pull on his tails and ears, and he just lets them do it. They can step on him, fall on him, and he just gets up and moves to another place. Anyway, we love Tank!

Here's Jocie trying to help him eat.

Little miracles happen every day.

Last night as I was putting Naomi to bed I realized Osito was missing. Naomi asked for him as usual and as usual I went on a hunt for him. I usually don't need to look for very long before finding him, but last night was different. I searched the house upstairs and downstairs, the back yard, the car,even in the bathtub, everywhere, over and over again! But Osito was no where to be found. For some reason I had this picture in my mind of Naomi with Osito in the stroller. I looked there, but no luck, which could only mean that if she did have him with her while we were on our run that morning, that meant he had fallen over, I didn't see it and he was now lost. She has lost a few items this way. I always realize as soon as we get home, turn around and whatever we left behind is gone, no where to be found. The whole day had passed, so there would be no chance that we would find him. I went in the room and asked her. Did you take Osito in the stroller with you this morning? and she said, "Yes". My heart just about broke! I had to tell her "Osito is missing, mami can't find him and I think he is lost and we will never see him again" I know, I do not know what I was thinking breaking the news to her like that. I think sometimes I just expect her to understand a lot of things as if she was older. She of course started crying, calling for Osito. All I could think of was praying. I told Naomi "If we pray Heavenly Father will help us find him" and we prayed. I helped her to pray (that means she repeated after me). "Heavenly Father please help us find Osito" as simple as that. Then I told her to wait in bed and mami would go look for him one more time. I went out to the living room, stood in the middle of it, and then turned behind me to one of the corners and....THERE IT WAS! sitting on Jocie's chair, looking right back at me. I sighted with relief and just couldn't help myself but smile. I was SO happy! I grabbed him, put him under my shirt and walked back into the room and surprised Naomi with it. She laughed and yelled out "Osito!" Then gave it a big hug and snuggle against it. Now she could sleep. I told her Heavenly Father had heard her and answered her prayer and that now she needed to thank him. I helped say another prayer "Heavenly Father, thank you for helping us find Osito" as simple as that. I know He once again heard her prayer.

Thanks!

Thanks to the few of you who got back to me letting me know you did contact our Senators, you guys are GREAT! Oprah gave an update today and said that more than 34,000 people (I think) have contacted their Senators as a result of her show, YAY! Still, the Bill has not made it to the floor, and Congress goes on recess on the 26th, so if you have not gotten to contact our Senators, there's time still! Go do it!

Protect Our Children Act (Senate Bill 1738)

Did you see Oprah's Show yesterday? If you did you must have been sick to your stomach while watching, or crying as you sat there. I was. It was unbearable to listen to all those statistics. You couldn't help but feel anger, frustration, helplessness. The topic, Online Child Predators. My whole body goes numb just thinking about it. The information she and her guest shared was very disturbing. She did have a very important message to get across and I understand why she had to go to that extreme.

The message: Contacting our Senators to vote YES, this very month of September, before going to recess, on the Protect Our Children Act (Senate Bill 1738) This Act will increase the budget available to fight against Online Child Predators, with more police officers, high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators, etc. We all have the responsibility to do what we can to help this cause. Specially when it is as simple as sending an e-mail. It doesn't take more than 3 minutes.

I'm very angered by this issue, as I'm sure all of you who read this are. Don't do anything else, don't go reading someone else's blog, don't forward that chain email, before e-mailing Senators Hatch and Bennett. Here's how:

Go to http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20080911_tows_predators

She even has a sample letter you can just copy and paste to then e-mail to our Senators.

I liked what one of her guest said -"We need an army of mothers across this country to mass storm the U.S Congress and tell the Senate to pass this bill!" So with that said, DO IT! Then forward this information to all you know.

(You can read more on what was said on her show on her website)

The Fair

We went to the State Fair this weekend with our good friends Los Collins. We have been friends with Los Collins for about 4 years now. We met in our previous English speaking ward. They were just married and so were we. Julieta from Mexico, and Skyler from here. That's the first thing we have in common. Then a few months later, Aaron and I found out we were pregnant. A few weeks after that the Collins were pregnant too, and so this became another thing we had in common and one that would, more likely, make our friendship with Los Collins a life long one. Our kids are growing up together and we have already made plans for them to get married, he-he! We joke about it all the time. They are just so cute together! and I think Naomi is really in love with Skyler. She imagines to talk on the phone with him all the time and gets so excited when she knows she is going to see him. The other day she told me- "Skyler is my best friend mami. " I don't even know were she got the whole best friend deal from, I didn't teach it to her, but it was sweet to hear her say something like that. Skyler is little by little coming around to it too, I think. A few months ago he would get so upset when Naomi tried to hug an kiss him, (she does that on her own, no need of encouragement from the grown ups) but now he doesn't seem to mind.

Back to our evening at the State Fair. This year was so much funner than last. For starters Jocie was only a couple of months old last year when we went to the fair. Yeah, I do not know what we were thinking! I had to go hide behind some tents in order to nurse her. That alone made our trip not so much fun. This year, was much different. Naomi and Jocie both had a better idea of what was going on and were both really excited to be there and to have seen such sights- the bengal tigers , the cows, sheep, pigs, the lights- all the interesting smells and sounds- the rock band, people screaming- and to have taste that delicious funnel cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Yummie! This was a first for the three of us, as I had never tasted funnel cake before.

Of course the grown ups were only there to watch over the kiddos and cater to their every need and desire. No we didn't get to go on any of the rides and were not as excited to see and smell the pigs and cows but I have to say it was funner (and I think I speak for all of us that were there) for us to see them giggle, and laugh and jump and dance around. I wonder if it gets funner with more kids to take? We'll have to find out.

Dancing

There are several times during the week we find ourselves dancing, in the car, in our living room, in the kitchen, or whenever we get the chance. I think we all know where the girls get it. No it is not from their father, even though he is very talented at other things, I have to say dancing is not his "fuerte" He does try hard and that's what counts. I think if he was to be born again he would choose it'd be into a dancer, ( I'm not making fun of you sweetie, I love you) or at least someone with more of this talent. Me in the other hand... (ha-ha!) I think you get the point. I'm not claiming to be the great, but I like to think I have some rythm, (he-he!) It's one of those talents that I didn't fully developed but did get the chance to explore. I think my little girls might posses this talent. They already show obvious signs and I'm hoping we'll give them the chance to develop it from an early age, even if it's starts in our living room.

The problem with giving Jocie a bath.

There's a couple of problems when giving Jocie a bath. Here's to illustrate.

I have not figured if she's putting her face in the water and holding her breath or just drinking the water. Sometimes I think she is just holding her breath and other times when this goes wrong she ends up actually breathing the water in, dangerous and scary, but even then she continues to do it! I have tried to stop her from doing it , but she just laughs at me! Yes, she laughs, encouraged by her big sister, which does not help. So I have to hurry up and scrub and rinse to get her out soon, and then we get drama. I know it's disgusting. So to put and end to this battle they are to be given big girl showers from now on.

Precious memories I thought I'd lost

I have not posted much on the girls and there's a reason for that. Our memory card broke or something. A couple of weeks ago I took it out of the camera to download all the cute pictures and videos I had of them and the computer wouldn't read it! They were nowhere to be found! I looked and looked, pulled it out and then back in, but nothing! I just wanted to scream and pull my hair out! I had seen this happen to my sister just a few weeks earlier with lots of pictures from her mission now lost and I couldn't believe this was now happening to me. Argh! All those sweet memories! Can you tell how upset I still am!?

That is one of the sad reasons I have not posted anything on my sweet baby girls with cute pictures to accompany the entries. I went looking for an extra memory card we had somewhere and found these pictures of Naomi when she was about 18 months and me pregnant with Jocie. It was scary when I first looked at them and saw how puffy and chunky I was, I thought; "Why didn't anyone tell me I looked like that?" Then I figured I was pregnant at the moment and sighted with relief.

The good news is that I was telling my neighbor about what happened to my card and she told me that these cards usually come with a warranty that includes the recovery of pictures when they go bad and that they'll even replace your card. I was just so happy to hear that recovering my pictures could be even possible, forget getting my card replaced. Aaahhh..... :) Now I just need to figuer out where to call to get my pictures back.

What has this lesson thought me? That I need to download my pictures into the computer more often and even back them up and start printing my favorite ones, which will probably account to hundreds. Better start soon!

So I ran a 10k this weekend. What did you do? :)

I loved this race! Just the cause and the fact that it was for women only made it really fun. It started at 9 AM, the weather was perfect!It was open to 600 women only, so there wasn't a huge crowd you could get lost in. We had to go around this loop twice, so it enable me to see my family more than just once during the course. We all warmed up and stretched together before the race, which was nice. It was just a nice and very well organized little race.

My time was great too! I expected to do way worse, but I was very pleased with my performance once again. Yeah, I guess this is me bragging. Which is really all I get from running, no medals or anything, just the credentials to brag, and happy self accomplishment feeling :) I came in 32 place from 215 women running the 10K at 53 mins 32 secs. I wasn't able to beat my previous best time, but I was still happy. The course had lots of going up and going down hills, more challenging than the previous, so I knew this would happen.

On another note. It was so fun to see my family, specially those little cuties that I have. I could see the excitement in Naomi's face every time I'd go by and then to hear her cheer me on was the funnest, most encouraging thing-"Go mami go!" Everyone who heard her knew that this little girl's mami had just gotten a big boost. Josie didn't even have to yell out for me, I could see her big smile as she saw me come into sight, and that was more than enough for me. Again my husband and my parents were there by the sidelines and at the finish line. Thanks for your support! I love you!

This time I had the little bit of experience the last race gave me and I was going to use it. This is what my very short running career has thought me:

Do take it easy at the beginning of the race.
Do make sure to securely tie your shoes. Go double on the knot.
Do take the water from the aid stations. :)
Do run in good shoes.
Do spend some money in some running clothes that will keep you cool.
Do reserve your energy for the last stretch. (example: 10K go moderate the first 4 miles, then pick it up after that, not the other way around)
Do go to the restroom before the race, I almost had an "accident" last time at the finish line.
Do sprint off at the end. It's fun to pass some people at the end and take their place :)

Do not take off like crazy at the starting line.
Do not wear the race tee-shirt you get. According to some: It makes you look like a rookie, which I am, but nobody else needs to know that. Besides you never know if the tee-shirt will be black, like in this case. I was sorry for all those girls wearing it.
Do not over do it going up hill.
Do not try to go at someone else's pace.
Do not forget your watch.
Do not hold back going down hill. Use them to your advantage.

I can already see that experience is what makes you better, and of course training. I am back in the game. This is what I needed to get me all excited for my half marathon. I can see why people like to do this, I'm getting a taste from it and I like it!

Good luck to Ryan and Alisa! They are training for a half marathon coming up in October. You guys will be my idols after you finish this race, no pressure. You can do it!

On running

I am running another 10K this weekend. I am a litle nervous about it since I have not trained as hard as I did for the first one I ran back in July. I'm kind of just doing this for fun, to keep me psyched about running in a race and just running alone.

Some people like crafts, scrapbooking, collectings stuff, traveling, etc. I decided that this is my thing. It works for me and the girls. I don't have to pay for it, except for entering the races, I don't have to spend gas in order to get there, as opposed to going to a gym, or pay for a gym membership, I don't have to leave my babies or get a babysitter, it is entretaining for them as well as we often stop by the park, even Tank is benefited from it! He loves going on a run! I'm setting a good example for my kiddos, it keeps me healthy, it's even kind of therapeutic (if that's how that's spelled) and on, and on. Yeap, I've decided that this is my things.

I don't have any other things where I can escape to just get away, except for this. I don't obsess about buying shoes, or decorating my house, or going to the Spa. This is my thing. I'm a runner!

I have had a couple of persons try to deminish what I do, saying "Oh running is for crazy people! Who runs without having somewhere to get to?" or someone else asked "So do you run or do you just jog" I said, I don't know, I regularly do 10 mins per mile, I'd like to think I'm running" "Oh so you just jog" was their reply. Well, I guess I do. I'd like to see you jog for at least 5 mins! I thought. Oops! Did I just say that out loud, ha-ha!

It is also funny that people ask me if I'm sick, or tell me that I'm skinny just because of the fact that I have slimmed down some. It makes me wonder if they have ever seen someone sick or skinny. I don't think I look like any of those two things.


Anyway, I run for me, the most importan reason of all.

Labor Day

We started the day going for a run. It looked kind of iffy outside, but still I didn't take the rain shield. Were only about a mile out into our run when the strom broke down. Yes! It hailed on us. You'd think I learned my lesson since this was not the first time I do this, but NO! I was so mad at myself for doing this to my poor babies, AGAIN! GEEZ! I promise this will not happen to me again. The girls are such good troopers though, they never complain. We were able to take shelter at the doggie day care we always pass by, and waited there until the storm passed. Then I ran home really hard, in case it would come back. Aaron had stayed behind so I didn't know where he was, then found out he didn't see us go in so he kept running, hail and everything. We were only a couple of blocks from home when we saw him drive around the corner. I was relieved to see him. He had woken up the night before with pressure in his chest and difficulty breathing because of his asthma and allergies, it had been really windy on Sunday while we were outside and I guess the dirt and stuff got his allergies acting up. So I was worried that after being running maybe his asthma had come back, but then he reminded me that he does not have that kind of asthma and he only gets it as a result of his allergies. Anyway, we both got a good work out, better than we were planning on for sure.

We spent the rest of the morning sitting on the couch under a warm blanket with Naomi, watching Disney movies, while Jocie took a nap. It was a perfect day to stay in and snuggle.

Didn't do much the rest of the afternoon. We went out for lunch and then came home, watched a movie while the girls took a nap then spent the rest of the evening with Jocie chasing Tank around the house and Naomi and Aaron at the table playing with play-dough while I amuse them with my choped up piano pieces of Primary Songs.

I love days like this where we don't have to rush around trying to get anywhere or having to meet with anyone. Aaron does not have to leave all day long for work and school. I don't have to worry about cleaning or having dinner on the table. The girls don't have to go ignored while I cook or clean and both can have either one of her parents attention at any given time. Ahhhhhh...It was such a nice day. We didn't plan it out this way but that's how it turned out and it was perfect.