Temaiken Zoo

The MAP Man

Squirrel Exhibit - They do not run the streets of Argentina

Which one was the REAL catch?

If you crawl through this tunnel, you pop out the other end like...

this little prairie dog.

Mom hearts D, A, P & S

Loving every minute of it...

Published

I was contacted about a year ago by Schmap DC Travel Guide asking permission to use this photo of the Department of Agriculture in their interactive map and travel guide.    I never thought much of it until I ran across the link of the publication while cleaning out my inbox today. 

Certainly, no big deal, but kinda fun.

More Flu Hysteria

They have closed 7 private school about 30 minutes from us due to a case of the H1N1 Flu, otherwise known as Swine Flu. A student picked it up on vacation to the US and has now transmitted it to 13 of their classmates. They have closed the school to decontaminate for 15 days. The American School has cancelled all after-school activities, as well as closed the park for after hours play. They are suggesting that there is a possibility that school may be closed and classes will be conducted by internet until school ends in 3 weeks. It has also been suggested by some that the government mandate that Winter Break (3 weeks in July) start now and all schools closed.

Now, I have just received an email from the mother of a classmate of Peyton, who has informed us that another local private school (my other choice for my children and just a few blocks away) has a reported case and has been closed. I need to verify the claim.  Update: It is true that the school closed, but it is not our local school.  It is their campus further out in the province, located near the other school closings.

Either Argentines are complete hypochondriacs or proactive. What do you think?

Interesting Read: Swine Flu Myths

Last Sunday

This:

and this:

and cuddling, made for the perfect Sunday afternoon home with one very sick little girl.

Unfortunately, a doctor's visit, antibiotics and 5 days have made little progress.

Our Purchases

I was a bit disappointed that only 5 people choose to comment because according to my map, more than 40 people have visited and read this post. However surprisingly, I did buy at least one suggestion from each of you.

...and the winner of my free CD is...

Robyn.

Here are a few of my new finds from the comments (and proof that I bought them):


PS Feel free to always leave a comment with songs you are "lovin'".

PPS Rob, you saved Steve.

Maybe I need this...

...to help my garden produce something actually edible.


If I buy it in the next 26 minutes, I can save $7.96 on Amazon.

After a few of my recent purchases, Steve wants to know if music is refundable. However, there is a smile on my face and the treadmill is anxiously awaiting my new playlist.

Results will be posted tomorrow.

Free Coldplay TODAY!

Thanks to Rob, I now have 9 new songs from Coldplay, free! This is legit.

CLICK HERE!

P.S. The end of this Live Version of Viva La Vida sounds wildly like a Boca game!

P.P.S. We have already purchased some of your selections, but we still need more! If a free CD isn't enticing enough, I am not afraid to up the ante.

P.P.P.S. Rob has been officially entered...

Music Giveaway

Okay, so there is no better way to get you to comment and offer suggestions than a little incentive. :)

We are bored of our current collection of music. It needs a few newbies. We have already browsed iTunes Top 100 and our personalized Genius. We purchased a few, but need your help.

To enter, include the following:
1) Current Favorite Song
2) Favorite Artist (does not need to correspond with your fav song)

If we like it enough to buy it, we will enter you in a random drawing for a CD of our favorites!

ENTRY MUST BE POSTED BY MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY, MAY 17.

Love Story meets Viva La Vida

My sister Holley just posted this and it is AWESOME!



You can find out more here.

Swine Flu

This morning, I went to the airport to pick up my Aunt Nan who flew in from Colorado. This is what it looked like at the airport:


All official airport employees including parking attendants, rental car salesmen, information desk clerk, passengers, Argentines, young adults, babies and elderly. There were masks everywhere. As proceeded to walk in carrying Sophia in my arms and I recevied many judgemental looks. I finally realized that they thought that I should have left her at home.

I was grateful that their germs were contained in their own masks... Mine were free to roam.

And She's Climbing...

It is 1:22am. Peyton isn't feeling well and was awake with me for the last couple of hours. Then, right about the time I was putting Peyton down, Sophia heard the commotion and woke up to eat. (Don't worry, I don't normally play with her during middle of the night feedings.) I sat her down on the floor next to her Leapfrog table (which we have taken two legs off so that she can sit in front of it) to play for a couple of minutes before we were ready to head to bed. I turned around and found this...

When did this happen? She has been "caterpillar" crawling for weeks, but yesterday figured out how to cruise around the "traditional" way. Now tonight, this?

Life passes too quickly. My newborn, is a full fledge baby now. Before I know it, she too will be in Kindergatern. Every stage is better than the last, but I will miss the time when I could lay her on the middle of my king-size bed and know she would be there when I came back.

And P.S. She is 7 months old today.

Happy 8th Birthday Tyler!

Our sweet nephew Tyler is being baptized today.


Dear Tyler,

Thank you for being such a wonderful example to your cousins. You have made a wonderful decision today and we could not be more proud of you. We love you and wish that we could be with you for this special occasion.

Love,
Uncle Steve and Aunt Jaclyn

Almost 7 Months Old

By popular demand, here is your Sophia fix. I just can't decide which ones I like the best. I love these candid photos because they really capture what she really looks like.  She has a special infatuation with shoes. Hers, yours, mine, dirty, clean, black, white, brown, red, pink. She loves them. Surely this cannot be indicative of the future - or is it? 

Sushi

Our first attempt:

Peyton is a big fan.

A Few Finished Projects

Instead of spending $299 on this Galaxy LED art from PB:

Steve and Abe painted this:

And instead of spending $179 on this Bella Butterfly Art also from PB for Sophia's nursery:

I created this thanks to a little sequins and Angela's endless supply of buttons:

I may fill in the center with a few fabric patches, but not until I find a fabric that I really like.

El Superclasico

Boca Junior vs River Plate

April 19, 2009

Come What May & Love It

I LOVE these messages! I really needed this today. This is not just a message for members of my faith, but for us all. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all heeded to this counsel?

Life is not about the trials in our lives, but about how we handle them.



This was Elder Wirthlin's last conference address before he passed away in 2008, at the age of 91. 

Jesus is the Christ and Son of the Living God

My First Photoshop Action

I used this one to make the frame just to get an idea of how they work.  I found it here with these freebies.  I have quite a few photos that would be awesome with a little work.... like this one in the frame for example. 

Clase de Danza

Peyton is in this great dance class on Monday afternoons. Instead of sending the girls to a studio, the moms from her kinder 3 class have all come together and hired a private instructor. One mom, who lives in a gated community, offered the studio in the main plaza. The instructor is wonderful. I am very impressed. This is a great start. The room is small and it is hard not to disrupt them with my large black camera. So this is the best I have for now.





She has dance clothes too, but for now, "They bug." We'll see if we can find something that does not bother her.

St. Patrick's Day

Last year, Abe read this post and laughed and laughed and laughed. He even mentioned it a few times in the week that followed. So this year, about 2 weeks before St. Patrick's Day, he and I were saying our prayers before bed and I hear him say, "...and please send the crazy leprechaun to our house to mess everything up." What in the world? Now the leprechaun was sure to make an appearance.

So without reinventing the wheel, and Daddy out of town, the Crazy Little Leprechaun did this:





When Abe realized that he had come, he proclaimed, "See Heavenly Father DOES listen to our prayers."

Peyton just kept repeating, "What a crazy little leprachaun!"

The Hair

It has been mentioned in many posts before. We tried to tame it, comb it, and gel it, but to no avail. Here it was moments before the haircut:


And sound asleep after crying and pleading to keep it (and a bath):

Facial Recognition

The New iLife ' 09 for Mac has more than exceeded our expectations!  The new iPhoto program includes a facial recognition software, which is unbelievable!  Once you "name" a face, iPhoto pulls all of the other photos from your library with that person in them.

Now the funny thing is, Sophia is throwing the program for a loop.  Just like the rest of us, it does not confuse Peyton and Abe, but often pulls their photos when looking for Sophia. 

Facial Recognition software in the standard package?  What will they include in iLife '10?

Just another reason, I LOVE MY MAC! 

Happy 1/2 Birthday

Disclaimer: Yes, I am fully aware that this is doting.  This blog is also a journal and is printed for our family. 

Sophia, or as I like to call her, my perfect angel, is 6 months old today! Where has the time gone? Seriously, this has been the fastest 6 months of my life. Steve agrees.

Today we started solids and in lieu of the traditional rice cereal, we opted for the nutrient-rich avocado. She LOVED it, but I think that the big kids enjoyed feeding her even more.

When I informed Abe that Sophia was 6 months old today, in a sarcastic grin, he said, "Oh no, she is going to start crawling and chase me around the house now!" He has been anticipating this since she was born and realized that it was going to take some patience to wait for her to grow. They truly love her.

Sophia is such a dream... We couldn't have been blessed with a sweeter child. She is inquisitive and alert. She always wants to play, puts everything in her mouth, is fond of her left thumb, is a great sleeper (exclusively in her own crib), love the Jumper, smiles on demand and laughs on cue.

Sophia, I can't imagine our life without you. You are such a blessing to each one of us.

I will post photos when I find my camera cord that has grown legs and unplugged itself from my computer.

A Little Ingenuity

Who needs a minivan when you have this?

Voila - a seven seat SUV.


They are rear-facing, completely level according to the seat, tethered snugly and sit over a wheel-bed for added protection. Not a minivan, but it will save us $30,000 in buying one for the times when we have additional guests.

I think that we really might be going native... oh wait, if that were true, I might would be asking, "What is a car seat?"

Little Jaclyn Bitz

One Month

Seven Months

3 years old (Don't you love the outfit?)

4 years old with my favorite dog of all time, Denver Bear.

Kindergarten photo (obviously Farrah Fawcett was very popular at the time)