Little Lady Turns One!

This last week was a busy one! It was my first week at my new job (which I am liking so far!), campmeeting, VBS at our church, and little Livi's birthday! Sorry the pictures below are so small they are mobile uploads from my Facebook.

The sign welcoming all Ladies and Bugs! (it was a ladybug theme.)

The AWESOME ladybug cake...made by Meredith!

Jonathan, Dalen and Livi

Yummy cake!

Meredith gave her testimony on Friday of campmeeting. She did amazing and I am so proud of her. She is sharing her story everywhere she goes. Thursday night our college ministry fed about 50 homeless people in a park downtown. WOW! Young adults, feeding others. That's exactly what the church is supposed to do! I am so proud of our young people and all they are allowing God to do in them.

After The Leaves Fall

Because I keep such close tabs on my adored Francine Rivers, I was just introduced to a new author a few weeks ago. My heart skipped a beat when I opened my FULL mailbox, stuffed with a package containing my new read. It's called After The Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart. After reading the 1st two chapters I am already wondering will happen next. I think this read is going to be full of vivid descriptions and appealing drama. Anyone ever heard of this author or read anything of hers?

I'm not one to re-read books, so the first person to send me a comment will get my book handed to them next as soon as I am finished. I will cover postage if you are out of town! Off to read!

Work. Family. Life.

Yesterday, was a wonderful day spent celebrating with family and friends. Of course, we celebrated Father's Day and it was wonderful. The joy Dalen has brought to Mario and I is so vast it can't be explained. Then there is the anticipation of baby #2 and how much more we will be in love with our little family. Then it was on to a wedding shower for Katie Dietz. My husband braved it and was the only male in attendance.

Most of you know I got hired on as a caseworker in town. I am excited to help progress our family financially and the rest of our night was spent anticipating my first day of work! Today went amazing! I am doing casework for a HIV/AIDS non-profit organization. I am learning a lot already. My favorite part of the day was when I heard someone enter the building and ask for me. I started thinking, "Oh no! What one of my crazy friends is visiting my office on my first day!?" But it was a florist delivering me a vase full of flowers! My whole office smells of flowers! They were from mario and dalen.

Aren't they pretty!?

5 Days of...

So I boarded baby Dalen onto a plane and soared off to Florida with his grandpa until Friday! AHH!!! When me and my sisters were younger my parents always let us go away with our grandparents and we have never had a problem with being homesick and I feel it helped us be really independent. I am hoping it will do the same for Dalen. He will have full access to the beach and a pool and his precious cousin Livi. (I am sure she is DREADING his arrival.)

So here I am wondering what in the world I am going to do for 5 days! It's not until your child is gone that you realize exactly how much you do for him/her. Everything I do revolves around him. Mario has a full cleaning schcedule on our kitchen white board....BOO!!!! I mean seriously! Our only break he wants to spend cleaning! BOOO!!!! Here are some things I'd like to do while Dalen is gone.

1. Take a nap everyday.
2. Lay out everyday. (anyone with a pool I am gladly accepting invites :))
3. Reorganize Dalen's baby clothes in hopes to make more room for my new baby.
4. Go to at least one movie.
5. Stay up until 11 pm at least once and sleep til 8 am every morning.
6. Hang out with my girlfriends at least once.
7. Clean out my car.
8. Score a job!
9. Get my eyebrows and lip waxed.
10. Shave BOTH legs.
11. Spend lots of time bonding and planning for new baby.

So, nothing too exciting in the works BUT the small things in life are the things I miss. ANy suggestions on how to spend my time?

Loving Day '09

Mildred and Richard

Yesterday was Loving Day. I am sure every reader is wondering what in the world is that?! If you would like to read the complete story go here (be ready to be inspired by strength and love) but for those of you who want the quick version its a celebratory day celebrating the legalization of interracial marriage. I have always acknowledged the day but 2009 is the first year we have celebrated it as a family. We will continue to every year.

Yesterday began at the doctor's office with Dalen. He had to see the ear, nose and throat doctor and we found out he has to have his adnoids removed and tubes in his ears. Not a great start but we didn't let that keep us from having a great day as a family. After the doctor Dalen napped for a while and we had lunch as a family. Then we went to the movies to see Imagine That (great family movie!). Dalen enjoyed ritz bitz and mini oreos during the show.

For us being able to share everyday life as a family, celebrates history. Our family is rich in a historic way I value and treasure. To be honest, unless someone becomes curious and asks questions about our racial difference I don't think about it much just as you probably never look at your spouse or family and think,"Oh, they are white or black or hispanic." But I am proud of what we are, who we are and the history of strength that backs us to be legally married.

So to my family and yours-Happy Loving Day! (one day late)

PS-I will soon began special blogposts entitled Under The Influence. The influence I am referring to is hormones during pregnancy. So brace yourselves as you laugh and I probably cry. COMING SOON!

Three's Company, Four's a crew, Five's a crowd and Six is...utter chaos

So the pic is a little blurry but just incase you can't read it Dalen's shirt reads BIG Brother. Yep, that's right our little family is about to expand to 4! We figure if 3's company than 4's a crew! I have always wanted 4 and began thinking that 5 would be a crowd and 6 will just be utter chaos. I can't wait until our little family continually expands until complete.

I found out last week after taking a test at home in the company of Mario and Dalen. Yesterday I went to the doctor and was told my due date is Valentine's Day! Thank God Mario and I have always celebrated on the 15th! Our anniversary is on the 25th...what a month!

Dalen is so funny. He really does understand what it means to be a brother and everytime we ask if he wants to be one he says, "UMM, NO!" Oh well, he has plenty of time to adjust! Of course, we are so estatic, thrilled, happy, hopeful and honored God has blessed us again with such a great and rewarding responsibility. I've already been laying in bed thinking, "Wow! God's hand is in my womb. Right now, he is physically touching me and our new baby." That's pretty amazing that he forms our little ones inside of us with his hands that he created the universe with. What an honor that he would choose me!

Twirps

This week my mom asked me to help her with her summer camp that she is in charge of for her county. Obviously, we are in desperate need of money and even though I have had to get up at 5:30 a.m. I was up for the challenge....and pay.



Please understand my mother's kids are in the Horizon Program (for advanced learners a.k.a. know-it-alls). To be pretty honest-to be considered "brainsy" they have not displayed smartness. First thing this morning the biggest problem child at the camp was scolded by me for licking the trash can...literally he is one of those who are "too smart for his own good."



Here are a few highlights of the week so far...



A young boy with feathered bangs, ironed and starched shorts swears he is allergic to mud. "Uh-huh," I responded. "No really! I am!" This was brought to our attention right after he was assigned to an outdoor class called "Let's Get Dirty". It was obvious this was NOT his cup of tea. They did things like chisel rocks to find fossils-he hit his thumb with a hammer-I promise we will never hear the end of his "pain". I kindly explained it hasn't rained lately so there won't be any mud out...mud and dirt are different, aren't they?



Sorry to all you only children readers but he is the poster child for an only child. He's the kind who doesn't want siblings so they can have their mommy all to themselves. The kind who have their mommy pack a lunch because the previous days snack didn't have enough "nutritional value". Yea he said that and did that. Sorry but I just don't do well with a 5th grade male who's shorts are "ruined" b-c a spec of dirt landed on them. I am all for nutrition but mom, can't you screw it for a week?



Then there is the trash can licker...he is hyper active, too smart, very immature and the strangest kid you will ever meet. After I told him to cool it he collapsed on the floor making fart noises and then smiled saying excuse me. I kindly expressed I would gladly excuse him...excuse him straight home if he didn't straighten up....right NOW!



Oh and of course I can't forget Evan. A very cute 5th grader who appears athletic and popular. Only when he didn't get the class he wanted you would have thought the whole world had come to an end, stopped spinning and sunk to the bottom of the ocean with all of us still on it. He stomped his foot, huffed and stormed off. "Umm, Mom aren't you going to do anything about that attitude?" She let it go. About 5 minutes after sending him to his undesired class I found him trying to SNEAK into the class he wanted!!!! The nerve of that conniving twirp! Then later when he got directions to his next class I discovered he didn't know the difference between right and left. I have to confess I had a lot to learn in 5th grade but sense of right and left direction was strongly established.

It hasn't been that....I am definitely not going out to pursue a career in elementary ed. but it's given me a lot of laughs, tried my patience (doesn't take much) and let me see the lighter side of life.

This pic has NOTHING to do with this post but it's from our biker sunday at our church.

Please, Thank You & Excuse....YOU!

Dalen has definitely entered into a new phase that makes us proud and took a lot of hard work. Personally, I think as soon as your toddler begins speaking they can start exhibiting good manners. We have been in the process of teaching please, thank you and excuse me. Of course, Dalen can't learn anything without something funny happening.

The other day I went to help my mom at her school and my mom wasn't kind of just brushing by Dalen without being very mindful of his little body. She did it quite a few times and Dalen finally said excuse YOU! We couldn't help but to laugh. You can always expect once he learns something that he will begin to try to teach others the same thing.

We just got Dalen a small pool from Wal-Mart. It's just big enough to make some splashes with cousin Yibby. Yesterday, they had a pool playdate that went...ok. Yibby didn't much care for the pool. We aren't sure if it was Dalen's big splashes or just not her cup of tea. Hopefully we can try again with better luck.

Last week Yibby was put in the hospital for pneumonia. After a few days stay and a lot of love and care her parents were able to take her home. She has improved a lot. Continue to keep her in her prayers for a 100% recovery. Enjoy a few pics of two of the cutest kids in Cleveland.

PS-Thank you all for voting for Dalen in the modeling contest. Two very pretty girls were chosen as winners.

Dalen playing with the hose.

Little Livi in the hospital.
Yibby in her new butterfly swimsuit. Meredith put sunscreen on her head to prevent burning. If you are in need of a mega hold gel...just try sunscreen it spikes great and holds firm!
Our little Hawaiian Goddess.