Reason #2 I love having boys

So I was going to post only one reason a week in dedication to my sis. Heather. But, I figured I better post them as they came up. Otherwise, I might forget.

Boys are direct and to the point. No messing around, no drama, no trying to get around the point without hurting feelings, etc. They just tell it like it is . . . . and act accordingly.

Scene: Booth at Denny's Saturday morning 11:00 a.m.

Mateo turns to Tino and does a raspberry in his face and sticks his tongue out at him.

Cristian: Mateo, what did you do that for?

Mateo: It was Tino.

Heidi: What did Tino do?

Mateo: Tino was aggrabating me.

Cristian: What!?!

Mateo: Tino was AGGRABATING me. Tell him to stop.

Heidi: Why was Tino aggravating you? What did he do?

Mateo: Look! (pointing to Tino)

Translation: Mateo asked the server for chocolate milk. Tino asked the server for hot chocolate. Mateo decided once the hot chocolate was served to Cristian and Tino that he also wanted hot chocolate. Tino decided to mix things up a bit and make faces to Mateo to show him how yummy and delicious his hot chocolate was.

Now if this would have been an interaction among sisters, the drama still would have been going down.

Another reason I LOVE having boys

My sister Heather is having her first son. She is slightly freaking out. Just wanted to dedicate this post to her. I promised her I would jot down reasons that boys are fun as they came to mind. Here's one . . . fresh from the bathroom, I mean toilet. Let's take a simple task of giving brother (Mateo) and sister (Sarah) the same set of instructions. They were eatting creamsicles and it got to the very end where it starts to drip down your hand, arm, etc. Both Mateo and Sarah don't do well with sticky, gooey messes. It freaks them out. So, in order to circumvent a meltdown times two, I told them both to go throw their creamsicles in the trash can and then to wash their hands. Sarah marched to the kitchen, threw her creamsicle in the trash, and proceeded to sign the word "help". (She needed to be lifted up to the kitchen sink and get help washing her hands). Mateo was missing in action. But, never fear, I could hear him. He was in his bathroom. I could hear the toilet flushing, and flushing, and flushing, and you guessed it . . . flushing. (Is it any wonder why the toilets are always out of commission around here?) He had his entire hand submerged in the toilet water, holding on to the creamsicle for dear life. When I asked him what on earth he thought he was doing, he simply responded: "But, mami you told me to throw it away. I can't let go of the stick and the popsicle is still getting stuck on it." Yes, it was supposed to be such an easy thing to do, but boys always have a way of making a major project and/or physics/scientific experiment out of the very simplest of tasks. Now that I threw away Mateo's creamsicle and washed his hands for him, whose job is it to mop up the toilet water mess on his bathroom floor? Heather, I AM SO EXCITED for you to have a son. Let me just tell you it is a character building experience. Love ya!

Two Strikes

So I struck out big time today. First of all, Mateo has been so excited to play soccer at the YMCA. This afternoon he fell asleep on the couch as per usual. Well, it took forever to wake him up. We got over to practice and he burst out crying. In fact, he wouldn't stop crying. "I don't want to play soccer. I want to go home". Sarah quickly ran out onto the field, grabbed a pink soccer ball, and started dribbling. Too bad her lack of speech skills gives her away. Otherwise I'd try to pass her off as 3 year old MateA. Oh well. We'll try organized sports again in the fall. Mateo's 5:00 p.m. practice ended, so it was off to Tino's 6:00 p.m. baseball practice. WHAT A JOKE! The only thing I kept thinking about during practice, was that my son (the future professional baseball player) was going to absolutely LOSE IT!

Let's just say that YMCA is not about the sports. It's about building character. That's all well and good, and I support their mission 100%, except when it gets in the way of a little 8 year old's dreams. I don't think these kids on his team had ever even picked up a ball before, who knows, maybe they have never even seen a baseball before. Next time Little League and/or Pony League sign-ups roll around and I don't have the cash to pay for it, I am PUTTING IT ON A CREDIT CARD. Future note to all out there, YMCA is not the place for competitive sports. Thank goodness for being able to put Mateo and Sarah in Child Watch during practice and games. Also, yippie for my 25% employee discount. (I'm trying to look at the positive in my big blunder).

Chicken Pox Boy

There have been many requests for chicken pox pictures. For some reason, I am having issues with my digital camera. So, here's a picture of Tino's red ant bites when he got attacked and was transported by ambulance to the E.R. back in November. Big marks on the skin . . . close enough. By the way, Tino has WAY more scars on his legs from the ant bites than he will have from the chicken pox. Even though the chicken pox vaccine didn't prevent the chicken pox, it was certainly a very mild case. He's going back to school tomorrow. YIPPIE!

What Not to Wear

So for those of you who don't know, I have the best personal trainer in the planet. She goes far beyond the call of duty. In fact, today she offered to go shopping with me. I have been stuck in the blah, blah, blah stages for quite some time now. I would definitely be a contender for one of Oprah's shows for who has let themself go. For the last month, I have been taking time each day for ME. Yes, ME. Should I say that one more time? O.K. I've been carving out time each hectic and busy day for ME. I've been training three times a week, working out six times a week, TRYING to put makeup on every day, working on some diet and lifestyle changes, and today it was "let's go to the mall and get some new clothes day".


Since I still haven't been a contender in my favorite show What Not to Wear, and who's to know when I will ever get on the show, Gisselle hooked me up today at the mall. We got some pieces for church, date night with Cristian, working out, and just casual/ hanging out stuff. She even introduced me to her favorite accessories store to get some bling.

Gisselle was Mrs. Florida 2005 and 1st runner-up to Mrs. USA 2006. She was trying to teach me how to do one of the beauty pageant poses, but I am just TOO BORING. Kudos to Gisselle for an awesome day. And can't forget to thank Cristian for watching Tino, Mateo, and Sarah while I went for my 6:15 a.m. walk around the lake, shopping at the mall, and then again when I went to the Relief Society activity tonight.

P.S. Do you just love my farmer's tan? That was from last week's Elder's Quorum picnic. Gotta love those overcast 75 degree days.

Mateo's "I Don't Want to In Bed" Song

I remember the day when all three kiddos were in bed by 8:00 p.m. Mateo is in this phase where he naps in the car while we're doing errands in the afternoon or he will fall asleep on the couch while I am cooking dinner. Now he's the last one to go to bed every night. 11:00 p.m., 11:30 p.m. He came into the office last night around 9:45 p.m. and started singing me this song. Too bad I didn't have the camera handy for the entire song. This was during the tail end of his musical rendition. Now that's my Kindermusik Kid. :0)

To Zumba or not to Zumba?

So first of all, can you find me in this video? Look for me in the back rows. Because that's MY PLACE. Cristian have a new date night on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. We go to Latin Cardio together. He's always been a great dancer . . . but now he's learning even more. With Tino's chicken pox, we're still trying to decide who gets to go to class tonight and who gets to stay home and attend to the sick boy.

Manny's Cousin

I just noticed that my first entries have to do with Tino's younger siblings. Now it's time to give Tino some press. He is determined that all of his chicken pox will be scabbed over by tonight at 6:00 p.m. Even though it's just day #2 of chicken pox, he couldn't possibly miss baseball practice. You see, when he grows up, he wants to be a professional baseball player. And to be a professional baseball player requires a lot of practice and determination. That means that even though he is laying in bed right now with a fever and he doesn't have enough energy to walk out into the kitchen to get his own breakfast, his teammates most definitely need him tonight at baseball practice.

I hope by him missing practice the next couple of days will not jeopardize his future career. The other day he told me that when he is a professional ball player, he will be RICH and famous. He will have so much money that he will be able to pay for us to have cable t.v. or satellite again. How excited am I? We've been without cable since 4-7-06 . . . but who's keeping track?

Where Papi go?

Can I tell you how FRUSTRATED I am right now? O.K. not frustrated over the fact that Tino is homebound with CHICKENPOX, but a little upset over my daughter's stellar accomplishments yesterday. O.K. now usually under normal circumstances, I would be elated when my child did something well, but not in this case. I have been jumping through all the loops, hoops, and other such obstacles since the beginning of November to try and get Sarah evaluated and qualified for speech therapy. She FINALLY had her full-on evaluation yesterday. She had to do little tasks like put the puzzle pieces in the correct spots, bounce a ball, give baby doll a bottle, hold a book, identify pictures from a book, follow basic commands, etc. She was tested in all areas . . . fine motor skills, gross motor, socialization, receptive language, communication, and other developmental stuff that I can't remember off the top of my head. Anyway, when we get to the part where the evaluators are doing the communication part of the test, Sarah busts out with the following:

Sarah: Where Papi go?
Mami: Sarah, shhhhh, I don't know. The lady is trying to ask you a question.
Sarah: (Insisting a little more . . .) Mami, where papi go?
Evaluator #1 : Did you hear that? Did you hear what she just said?
Evaluator #2: No, I was busy entering information into my laptop. What did you say Sarah?
Sarah: Turns around to both the ladies who keep asking her all these silly questions and this time blurts out really loud: WHERE PAPI GO?????
Mami: Sarah, shhhhhh. We are in the middle of testing. Do you know how long and hard I have worked to get you where we are today? Please be quiet. NO TALKING. I really, really need you to qualify for speech therapy services.
Evaluator #1: (Busting out in laughter). I can't believe you just said that mom. You must be an educator and know how this testing works.
Evaluator #2: (Busily thumbing through testing booklets and charts). Uh yes, that phrase she just said is equivalent to a 3 year old's speech.

Yes, so the long and the short of it . . . NO SPEECH THERAPY. She definitely has gaps in language and communication skills across the board, but she was too high to qualify for services. The only thing she did qualify for was 3 months (1 session per week) with a behavioral therapist. And did I forget to mention the part that the reason she has her behavioral issues (biting, kicking, hitting, tantrums), has to do with the fact that she can't effectively communicate her needs? Well, Sarah, GO FIND PAPI!

On the move

I couldn't quite figure out where Mateo and Sarah got their desire to always go somewhere in the car. My sister Heather was just giving me a tutorial on how to add photos to my blog . . . when I came across several pictures. One picture. . . park and PLAY/Fantasy. And then I had an a-ha moment. When we go to the park, they get in their pretend car and go to their pretend places. Since they do such a grand job at the park, why not transfer those skills learned into real life? Hence, the second set of pictures.



Last week, Sarah and Mateo were missing in action. Missing as in missing. Couldn't find them anywhere. They were not in any room in the house, not inside any closet, they had not escaped from the house and gone down the street for a little walk . . . I absolutely could not find them. Then, I heard the garage door opening and closing and opening and closing and opening. JACKPOT. As I headed out to the garage, I stumbled upon Sarah's tricycle that had been used as a stepping stool to hoist Mateo up to the place right outside the laundry room door where I hang my car keys. Apparently they decided they needed to go somewhere. And the most effective way to get there would be to drive. So here you have it . . . pictures at the park in their play car and the honest to goodness real life adventures of Sarah and Mateo at home sweet home in my Ford Windstar.



Oh yeah, and that whole concept of me feeling comfortable enough that Sarah and Mateo are at an age that I can run and take a bathroom break without me having to worry about them getting into any mischief . . . COMPLETELY THROWN OUT THE WINDOW.

P.S. Heather's next blog lesson will teach me how to take the underlined blue words out of the first paragraph.

So much fun!

So I'm 18 minutes into this endeavor. Still can't figure out how to post pictures or videos. Maybe we'll try this again tomorrow.

Why blog????

So my mom and sister have really been trying to convince me to do this blogging thing. I have been mighty reluctant because what do you write about in a blog? Poopy diapers? Cub Scout activities gone bad? "Sad Sarah" because her brothers are at the pool and she is stuck home feverbound 102 while mom is trying to figure out how to set up a blog??? I've actually been taking lots of pictures the last couple of weeks to add to my blog. Now that the pics are a couple of weeks old, do I still add them? Or do I just start from today? Yeah, and how do I even put the pictures into my blog? All these questions. And P.S. I'm not nearly as creative or funny as my sister or cousin. My blog will most likely be blah, blah, blah. But I will give this a try.