Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Welcome to our World

Baby Orlando is here!  He arrived by c-section on 10-20-2010 and was a beautiful 7 lbs 4 oz and 19 inches long. He has a head full of black hair and a Harding look. *EDIT: I've been scolded and chastised.....his hair isn't black, it's brown...lighter brown than any of the kids to date. (Well, and will remain so, since the factory has been dismantled).




This is Granny T's 64th GREAT GRAND BABY!!!



His bilirubin is elevated so he's had to be under the lights for a couple of days....we're encouraged that it won't be for too much longer!

  We are so in love with him!!!
I know it's not much of an update, but it's what I've got right now! New mom, you know, LOL
Love you all!

Monday, August 30, 2010

It's shameful...just shameful

I just really should not try and blog....I think that it's because I'm an all or nothing gal....If I can't do it, and do it BIG, I just don't get around to it.
Things are going well.  Everybody is doing good and school has started and if I can get on top of this crazy anxiety, I'll be on top of the world!
Sophia had a Senior Photo shoot last weekend....you can see a few of the resulting photos at Lambourne Photography (this lady was really fun and Sophia had a great time with her).
The Bobsie Triplets, Alanna, Isa, and Ellie are all in their spanish immersion classes and so far, so good.  We're just trying to get a handle on the Back to School routine....
Gabby is great...reading small words and knows all her letters and most of the sounds...so much fun!  Sammie knows her numbers and can identify them to 10....she'll be 3 in a couple of weeks..I can't believe it! AND, the family is going camping later this month and I'll have 2 days to myself!  NICE! At least I assume it will be nice...I haven't had a moment to myself in nearly 11 years, so I'm looking forward to it.
We're boring right now...truly...and I suppose that's not a bad thing....





Anyway, Sayonara.....maybe I'll update before Christmas....then again.....

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Time Flies...

What a crazy life.  We've had so many ups and downs lately, I'm not sure which one I am at any given moment.

 Sophia has returned to live with us which has been something of an adjustment. I've made a lot of pages lately...here's a couple of Soph...


We've been moving stuff around trying to configure our home....space is always at a premium. Alanna and Isa are in a different room, as is Sophia, Ellie, and Sammie. We'll have to have the new kid in our room for a while, and then who knows where.



































We haven't really done much this summer....but as soon as I can get the discs to work that Josh burned the 4th of July pics on, I can prove that we had fun then, and we'll be doing something fun this weekend for Pioneer Day.
Isa really misses the routine of school...I don't know about her, but I can't wait until it starts again.



Ellie....I swear I have a new page of Ellie somewhere......Hey, there it is!  A birthday page, even.  She's been enjoying her own room this summer. That and the backyard pool.












Gabby is growing up....she's really fun, sayin' all kinds of crazy things....

And that leaves us with Sammie....she's incorporating words like "actually," "quite," and such into her vocabulary and it sounds so funny coming from a two year old.


I think all of the kids have been able to feel the new baby kick, which has been funny...seeing their various reactions.

Let's see....what else is going on???....we joined a food co-op, and it's been fun to get fresh produce and learn to use things we've never bought or eaten before.
The baby's growing well, and all seems to be stable for the moment.  I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the next round of all heck breaks loose, but for the moment....it's quiet on the home front (especially cause everyone's either asleep or out playing).
Well, if I mess with configuring this post any longer, I'll give up and delete it, so you'll have to take it "as is".....I'm Tom BoDett, and we'll leave the light on.....

Monday, June 21, 2010

New and Improved

I decided that I needed a creative kick in the behind.  Decided to apply to a few Creative Teams and be responsible to someone else for getting layouts done, since my mojo has been on maternity leave.  I was invited to be on Danimoy Designs CT, and on the Spirit Squad for MLAS in the last couple of days.

Dani has some really fun designs and a great style, so I had lots of fun with this page...and those of you who know Sophia will recognize how true to form this is :)

I used Dani's new Big Brother and Little Brother kits...they coordinate and are on sale if you wanna check 'em out....



We had a lovely Father's Day at home, where Mario cooked us a lovely dinner, since I was sick in bed.  Been having some crazy stuff going on lately, and on top of it, it looks like I've caught the virus the kids have been spreading around the house.  The kids have taken 5-6 days to work through it, but I'm hoping it doesn't take ME that long.
Sophia has a volleyball camp this week...Sam Atoa is running it, so it should be a fun one.  The rest of the kids are just bumbling around, since most of us are sick and there's not much to do.  Only two more months until school starts (ok, 2 months 4 days, but who's counting???).

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Really? Are you serious?

We're having a boy....I'm in shock!  Mario almost passed out when he heard them say boy...he was looking at something else and thinking it meant girl, LOL. I've felt "boy" all along, but kept telling myself it was because I wanted it so bad.
What am I going to do?  I'm going to have to think about all kinds of things I've never had to consider before....WOW. This is crazy. We had fun watching the little guy during the ultrasound.
Have you ever seen a new baby accidentally touch it's mouth with it's little fist, and then turn it's head back and forth, trying to latch on to it?  We got to watch our little one do just that in the womb as the tech was looking down at the top of the head...SO CUTE! And he's a wiggler....wouldn't sit still for a second during the ultrasound.  Bless their hearts, both the Ultrasound Tech, and the perinatologist double checked their answer on gender when they heard we had six girls :)
Anyway, we're thrilled...all the little girls are so excited except Sammie, who wanted a "girl baby." She's somewhat mollified because we were talking about nicknames for the baby, and since he'll have Agustin as his middle name (a fourth generation thing...wasn't even going to try to talk him out of it),  I teased her and told her she can call him "Gus-gus"....she just finished watching Cinderella for the first time :) Sophia hasn't weighed in yet on her opinion. She's taking the ACT today....GOOD LUCK Sophie!

Anyway, that's our big news!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Never a dull moment

I know it's been a while....I just haven't had any GOOD news in a while. What's happened in the last two weeks?  Well, shucks.  The kids are out of school (2 days now). Thank heaven for the internet where I can find age/grade appropriate worksheets for them to do.

Mario and I had to go in and visit with the nurse so she could teach him how to give me alphahydroxy-progesterone injections that I have to have weekly for the duration of the pregnancy. She fell in love with him....said he was a natural.  I have my first shot without "supervision" tomorrow....I don't think I'm nervous, LOL.  I also have to go in and have an early 1 hour glucose in the morning. We're all getting anxious to have the ultrasound.  One more week.


We had some drama this past weekend.  Sophia decided to leave home, and packed all her things and moved in with a friend.  The upside? She was able to attend girls camp, which she wouldn't have been able to do otherwise, with her friend's ward.  I'm hoping she is having a life changing experience.  There's also been very little contention since she left.  The downside?  She really belongs here, and I don't think she understands what it means to be on her own, financially and otherwise.  It will be interesting to see what happens when she gets back from camp tomorrow.

We're working with Isa on Spanish letter sounds and flashcards.  We meet with her teacher tomorrow to learn the next step. 

Everyone else is good...Alanna's butterfly has left it's cocoon, and we're all having fun watching it flex it's wings. I've actually completed a few pages lately...it's been nice, since I feel like my creativity has left on maternity leave....


I know this part is boring for everyone else, but it's a nice little personal inventory for me, so if you wouldn't mind humoring me.....(prompts from the Christian Homekeeper Network)

In my kitchen ….. nothing...but I need to have bread going.  We're back to relying on our food storage, so I'm going to have to be creative.  Something with rice, because Mario has noticed the lack of late (I can't really eat much rice because of it's glycemic index, so I've been trying to do other things....not going over so well with the person who thinks that a meal isn't a meal unless it includes rice).

My marriage or relationship …...  I have to make a constant effort to be calm and loving.  I really like the book "The Love Dare"....I need to get back to it. But things are relatively calm, all things considered.

With my children ……already been over a little of this. Praying for the ability to recognize their needs and their learning styles.  Trying to teach civility...what a novel concept.

I feel so relieved when …..everyone is settled and quiet for the evening and I can breathe by myself.  I know...that sounds so selfish, but hey, at least I'm being honest.

My spiritual life is (choose one) flourishing, declining …. (and talk about why)…I think it's flourishing....I've decided to do the Personal Progress program again.  I'm on my third Faith value experience, as well as saying prayers and studying scriptures each day (most days anyway :).  Faith is critically important to me right now, so it's been a great experience so far.

If I am honest, the thing that keeps me from praying as much as I should is ….. good intentions.  I mean to, but get swept away/overwhelmed by the pace of life, and forget.

I see God moving in ( a particular area) and ……my life in the area of Sophia and her opportunity to attend girls camp, even though it came about as the result of a not great decision, and I have great hopes that this will make a difference for her.

This is in the deepest, darkest recesses of my mind, but should be moved into the light ….

I am struggling with my age.  With the thought that I haven't accomplished nearly what I would have liked to at this point in my life.  I don't know what the answers to that are, since I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to be at this point in my life, but it still lurks there, and makes me doubt myself at times.

Haven't been taking many pictures lately.  I need to get back to it, I know. Anyway, that's about all that is going on...I've probably forgotten something big...I may remember and I may not.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Boil, boil, trouble and toil....

We are currently under a "boil order." Our city water supply "may" be contaminated since thursday, and until Sunday night at the earliest, we are boiling all the water we use for drinking, brushing teeth, and washing dishes.  The good news?  We have/had enough water stored to get through it, AND we haven't been sick so far (some people in the city have been seriously ill...think the worst flu you've ever had times 5). The biggest revelation?  That I am SPOILED for my modern conveniences....like water you don't have to think about, and a microwave...yeah, ours sort of "blew up" yesterday, LOL
Spoiled.

Blood pressure meds (which I am back on) are working to regulate my blood pressure, the baby is a wiggly little thing (FUN, since I never expected to feel that again), and summer is looming. 

We'll find out the beginning of June the gender of this little surprise package.  It still feels a little (LOT) surreal, but I'm slowly getting used to the idea.

We are feeling sad that we aren't close enough to visit the two new babies in the family, but respectfully request frequent photos posted. Sigh. Spoiled.

Sophia and Mario are on their way to her last club tournament.  They won 2 out of 3 tourney play games yesterday....hopefully they do well today. 

That's the update.  Terribly exciting, I know.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Busy, busy, busy

Things are crazy as usual.  Between Volleyball, sick kids, end of school mania, doctors appointments and birthdays, I feel like I haven't taken a breath in a few weeks.
I'm in the middle of creating some DVDs of Dancing Princess Designs kits to be auctioned off at the Spanish Immersion Silent Auction fundraiser this weekend.  It's more work that I thought it would be, but I'm glad to have something to donate.
No more birthdays to worry about until September...yeah!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Who woulda thunk?


I watched a cowboy rope a calf earlier this week.  Who knew there were still cowboys, and that I'd see one during the "get the kid to volleyball" run-around?  No lie...it was poetry in motion.  One of the most beautiful dances I've ever seen....the rope sailing through the air, and the cowboy (chaps included) sliding off his horse in one fluid motion, throwing the calf to the ground......  Wow....it made me want to pull the car over and just stand there with my arms over the side of the fence and wait to see what else I could see.  Didn't realize how that would effect me. 
In other news, Our 10th anniversary and Mario's birthday are coming up later this month.....I wonder if he'd like some cowboy boots???


(photos courtesy of Ree Drummond{cows} and Mary R. Vogt {cowboy})

Thursday, April 1, 2010

LDS Blog Train: Called To Serve

You can start to collect all the gorgeous pieces to this missionary themed digital scrapbooking kit by visiting my blog:
http://dancingprincessdesigns.blogspot.com/

 And for those of you who want to make soap......check it out here:
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

This morning has been crazy, as the Spanish Immersion applications were due, and the competition is quite fierce and it's on a first come, first served basis.  While some people were there at 4 am, in a freak winter snow storm, I might add, I arrived at 5:45 am, and shortly after, the janitor had pity on us and opened the doors to the school so we could wait inside.  Ellie was #5 for the girls, and has a pretty good chance, since her teacher is all in favor of it...thinks Ellie needs the challenge, LOL..imagine.

I'm so tired....I may have to go take a nap.

Have fun!!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Soap Making...

Ok, now I realize I shoulda taken pictures.....next time.
Laundry Detergent Soap Making.....went great! It wasn't too hard, took less than an hour, and the hardest part of the whole thing was the strong smell of the soap (my nose is rather delicate right now).
Been using it for 3 days and I think it's great....the clothes are clean and smell good, and that's all I want.  For a fraction of the $$$.

Haven't been on the computer in a few days...Mario had surgery on his head yesterday and had a lump removed from the back of his skull.  They don't anticipate it being anything more than fatty tissue, but the surgery ended up taking an hour longer than they'd told me, because it was so deep. I was a little freaked to be sitting in the waiting room for over two hours when they told me it was only going to be a 1/2 hour procedure.  And then Mario took a really long time to wake up from the anesthesia.  So I was at the hospital a lot longer than anticipated.

But it's all good.  He's still alive. 
Ahhh, now if I could just get some good sleep.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Shopping at DI and making laundry soap

I actually went to DI of my own free will, and bought a pot for $2.00 and a wooden spoon with a really long handle.  Why would I buy a pot at DI?  Well, I'm going to be making my own laundry soap, and I didn't want to use any of the ones I use for cooking.  I've got all the soap bar shaved into tiny bits, and I think I'm going to wait until Saturday to do the actual cookin'.

Kinda excited....it's kinda fun to get back to our "roots" and away from all the commercialism...(being a Tide-a-holic..I hear that laundry actually DID exist before Tide did).  I'm excited to do something good for the budget and the family.

I may even try to make other things, too....like....bar soap and other stuff...

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Holy Cow

Really, at this moment, that's all I have to say....

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

On Your Mark........

Get set.....GO!
And we're off!
This week we are focusing on a couple of new concepts.  The first is Weekly Couple/Family Meetings...novel, I know.  We'll add in Parent/Child Mentoring sessions at some point, but you know, you gotta start slow.
We're also learning the first of four basic skills: Following Instructions, Accepting Criticism (positive and negative) Accepting a "NO" answer, Accepting a Consequence, and Disagreeing appropriately.

Here are the steps to following instructions:
1. Look at the person
2. Keep a calm voice, face, and body
3. Say "okay" or ask to disagree appropriately
4. Do the task immediately
5. Check back (tell the person you're finished)

My personal goals for the week are learning to be assertive and teach that skill through example to my kiddos. We've got far too many aggressive and passive-aggressive dynamics going on here. Also to look for answers/parallels in the scriptures. Staying calm no matter what.  (I've already had a couple of boo-boos, but I'm getting there.)

Here's the rundown:

In my Kitchen: Just made whole wheat bread.  Was out of salted butter, but made do with unsalted butter and a little sprinkling of sea salt....I'm flexible like that. ( Can you eat fresh bread without butter?  Probably, but I'd hate to try and prove that theory) Note: Kirkland Mac N' Cheese, no matter HOW much they claim different, is NO WHERE NEAR to Kraft Mac N' Cheese....sorry but even Western Family Mac N' Cheese is better than Kirkland.....so disappointing...I was beginning to think Costco was the answer to all that was wrong with the world.

With My Marriage: Well, working on setting up couple meetings once a week, and practicing assertiveness.

With the kids:
Had a major meltdown of teenage proportions over the weekend, but held my ground and stayed calm.  Seemed the calmer I was, the more out of control the meltdown became (trying hard not to smile here)....WOW, I had no idea simply staying calm was so effective.
Alanna and Isa are working the elements of the system pretty well, so far.  Ellie is pushing the limits, as is to be expected.  Samm and Gabby are learning how to ask for things/ say things politely....even some grown-ups haven't mastered that one...believe me, I know! Can never start too young.

Around the homestead:
Well, working on making a poster of the Steps to Following Instructions.....what's that  you say?  That everything going on in my home is centered around this crazy "self-government" idea? Why yes, yes it is, thank you :)
Working on getting and keeping the kitchen clean.....haven't had any luck and getting my fix-it-guy out to take care of some little things, so I'm going to try my hand at fixing the drawer under the stove that the kids broke AGAIN.  AND start a dream journal.  Getting some ideas on what I ultimately want to do in each room of my house, so that as I have time, energy and resources, I can slowly turn this house into a home (that I'll probably never end up leaving). Might as well make the best of it. I have to say, I LOVE the Flylady.  I may delete most of her email reminders, and sometimes only say "hmmmm, that's a really good idea" and then delete some of them, but I know that perfectionism is counter-productive and that I only have to do anything 15 minutes at a time.

Inner Man?:
Well, mostly talked about that above....but here's a little story to illustrate my focus....

Once upon a time, there was a boy who ate too much sugar.  His mother, who wanted him to stop, thought that if the boy wouldn't listen to her, then perhaps he would listen to his idol, Mahatma Gandhi.
So she walked for many miles through the scorching heat to ask Gandhi, "Would you please tell my son to stop eating sugar?"
Gandhi replied, "Bring your boy back in two weeks.  I will speak to him then."
Confused, the mother left, then brought the boy back two weeks later.
Gandhi looked the boy in the eye and said, "Stop eating sugar."
The boy nodded, and promised to stop.
His mother of course was grateful, but still confused.  "Why did you want me to bring him back in two weeks?  Couldn't you have said the same thing to him then?"
"No," Gandhi replied...

"Because Two Weeks Ago, I Was Still Eating Sugar!"

 Love and blessings to all!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Amazing Digital Scrap Race #5

I am racing for my life....not really...just my mojo. This is the second year Liz and I have been partners for the ADSR....and I'm LOVIN' it!  It's good to have challenges every once in a while, and these ones, while challenging, are also FUN!
 
  
  
  

I'll try to post credits later, as I am on the run to volleyball!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Big changes a-happenin'.....

Well, I've gone and done it.  I finally made the leap of faith that I'd been fighting with myself over for....oh, you know, a YEAR.  My family needs my attention.  So MUCH so, that I don't have time for other things right now.  So I've decided to close up the Dancing Princess Designs shop, at least until they're all in school and I'll have some time during the day.  It was not an easy decision, it was not necessarily a supported decision, but I have peace about it, and so I know it was the right decision. Even if I have to talk myself out of changing my mind several times a day. 

So here's the rundown:
In My Kitchen: Well, it's clean,...and I have a big crockpot full of pinto beans a-cookin'.  The kids adore Bean Burritos.  I also have some pecans I pulled out of the freezer sitting on the counter....gonna have to come up with something to use those in.....maybe Pecan Tassies....

With Our Marriage:  I made a page for Mario for Valentine's Day....I challenged myself to come up with at least 10 things....and I did it! I can hold my head high, LOL.


With My Children: As mentioned, I am now a full time and then some mom.  It will be hard, but I have confidence.  I came across a book that I knew my family needed, and so I bought it.  It's called "Parenting a House United: Changing Children's Hearts and Behaviors by Teaching Self-Government" by Nicholeen Peck.  WOW....can I just say WOW.  Applying the  principles taught in this book have made an improvement in my home already, in the less than a week that I've had it.  Most of them have been in my own heart as I try to master Self-Government so I can more effectively teach it, but I've seen improvement in other family members as well.  Can I just say....It's well worth the time to read it. 
Although there are differences among our family members in our "Family Vision" I have faith that time, and love, and Heavenly Father, can make the changes in our hearts to bring our family to a place where we are united...in vision and purpose. 

Sophia is heavily invested in Volleyball (and she's not the only one).  Her team took 13th place out of 111 teams at a recent Las Vegas Tournament.  They have a local one this week, and then after a week off, they'll be in Denver for a Qualifying Tournament (whatever that means, LOL).  


Alanna has holes all over her mouth.  She's lost so many teeth at once, that she's got a fun new look.  She is improving her Spanish, and many times will respond when spoken to, without even realizing that she's made the transition, and without hesitation over the words.  



Isa turned 8 last week, and will be baptized on the 6th of March.  She has discovered that (like Alanna) she likes to read really big books, so Harry Potter has been a familiar character in the family of late.


Ellie....I've learned (or realized that I already knew) that Ellie's love language is touch.  I can motivate her with hugs, I can calm her down with hugs...it's almost too easy!  I'm still working on the other kids love languages, but I'll get there.  She's been struggling a little, as her school teacher's husband passed away recently, and I think that's been a difficult thing for Ellie to process.  But we're getting there and she's a smarty pants.


Gabby...how on earth am I going to keep this kid challenged?  She can write her letters, she's reading small words, she can spell her name, and she's 3 1/2.  I'm afraid...I guess it's just one more reason why my time is 100% theirs now...with no distractions (well, at the end of the month anyway, when all my store responsibilities are completed).



Sammi-bambo...she's had so much attitude lately as she tries out the behaviors she sees in her sisters. It's been a little challenging, but she's usually pretty easy to coax out of a bad mood.  We're still working on potty training...she knows how to do it, but lacks motivation. We're trying a sticker chart this week.


Around the homestead: It's been a tough few months.  Mario's car died the 2nd of January and we've been operating with one car while we figured out what to do.  This has been predictably difficult.  But we hope to have the Nissan back this weekend, and for things to ease up a little.  I have a huge list of home improvement projects that need to be done, or ones I'd like to have done, as well as a plan to make a daybed with trundle for Isa and Gabby's room.  We found this great blog with blueprints for all kinds of things, and I'm excited to get started. 

My Inner Man: It's been a month of interesting experiences.  Learning to love people whether or not they display loving behavior towards you, learning (even when someone is VERY wrong) to try to see their feelings and/or the motivation behind their behavior.  Learning to maintain a "Soft Voice." I hope that as I perfect these skills, I'll see even more changes occur in my home.  I've read my scriptures and exercised every day so far this week, and am hoping to make this a permanent part of my routine.  It's been sorely lacking lately.  I've also been called as the Primary Chorister, which has been a fun challenge.
Came across this in my scripture study this morning, and it seemed particularly applicable to me of late: Alma 58: 37 and 40
But, behold, it mattereth not - we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies.......they (stripling warriors) stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are STRICT to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statues, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
Emphasis is mine. 

 

One of my fantastic Creative Team members challenged us to make a page about what we like about ourselves.  Wow...talk about hard.  But I did it.  

Spring is coming....I can feel it.  That alone is cause for celebration!
Anyway, look for more blogging, as I chronicle my adventures in mothering 6 dancing princesses....