Just For the Record

Yesterday really did happen.

All for a little bit of Ace

Scenerio:

• The small wholesale market has your $162 for a year's supply of laundry detergent that they say they have in the backroom.  
• You patiently wait for more than an hour for them to bring it from a neighboring vendor (surprise!) before they refuse to give you a refund 
• They tell you for the 15th time that it is in transit and will be "just one more little minute." 
• You tell them you really have to leave and they need to go get it themselves - instead of sitting there staring at you.  
• Time is up and the kids finish camp in 8 minutes - 10 minutes away.  

What does one do???

Solution:

• Start filling your car with product from the store that equals the promised goods, even if it is in smaller quanity bags while the shopkeeper is waving their arms insisting that you just can't do that.  

Yep, they finally got the point and the Tide equivalent miraculously appears in the arms of the shopkeeper who went to get it themselves while you were ransacking their store. Should have been done 30 minutes sooner.

Man, oh man, you sure do have to have a good sense of humor to survive living in a third world country!

Brought to you proudly by:   Today's Latin American Moment

Super Easy Muffins

15 oz or 3 1/2 cups of this:

plus this:

=

24 super moist and delicious muffins with 86 calories each.

I hear that this is fantastic too:

and has a few less calories than carrot. :)

Try any mix.  They all work.

Thanks Cherilyn!

Happy 2011!

We finished out 2010 with italian sodas, cheese grits, steak (are you at all surprised?), chocolate, games and great company.  It seems like years ago that we were celebrating in Argentina, packing and anticipating our trip around Cape Horn.  It is hard to believe that it was only a year ago and yet, I blinked and 2010 was gone.  

2011 resolutions are posted right here on my screen to look at each and every day.  My reminder to be just a little bit better.  One of those goals includes blogging regularly, so you might just hear from me a little more often. 

Happy New Year!  It really will be a great one!

Today I am grateful for...

Extended Family

Seriously, we are really blessed by each and every person in these photos. That is 28 outside of our nuclear family.  Heavenly Father knew exactly what he was doing when He created families and made them central to his plan for each of us.  Read more here.

235th Birthday Marine Ball

I am grateful for

and all of those who risk their lives for our own individuals freedoms.  

(Half of our Embassy Marine Guard Detachment)

(photo stolen from a friend)

Our table companions Raul and Grace

 Jim and Cherilyn

 Breanna and Cherilyn

Last night we attended the 235th Marine Birthday Ball.  It was a great night with our new friends here in Peru.  This is an annual festivity planned and organized by the Marines themselves.  The keynote speaker was Kevin Hermening, who was the youngest American held in captivity for 444 days in the U.S. Embassy Iran from 1979-1981.  In was an honor to hear his story.

I toted around the beastly camera, forgot to take photos of friends and then stuffed it under the table to spend the last couple of hours dancing.  Even Steve surprised himself and joined in the fun!

Today I am grateful to be a 

Stay-At-Home Mom.

I don't always feel this way and often wonder what it would be like to go to work and if I might be more fulfilled.  I always dreamed of law school and/or business school.  I never imagined that I would be home raising 3 young children.  But right now, there is no where else in the world I would rather be...  and I mean it.  

Now we are off to teach Abe's class how to make his favorite cookies - Snickerdoodles!

Today I am grateful for my 

Health

To Run.

To Walk.

To Bear Children.

To Play.

To Breath.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Rich.

Today 

I am grateful for

God's Beauty.

God's beauty 

in the flowers and the trees.

In the mountains and the rocks.  

In sand.  

In the Faces of His Children.

Rich and Poor.

Healthy and Weak.

Young and Old. 

He Lives.

Choosing Joy

So for the first time in months, I actually feel like blogging.  I thought that I was going to go private, and I still may, but for now I am here... until I figure out how I will proceed.

It is November.  In this house, it is a month of birthdays and gratitude.

So for the entire month, I am going to join many others in the blogging world and record some of the reasons I am THANKFUL.

Today

 I am grateful for 

FREE AGENCY 

and my ability to

 Choose Joy.

Day 2 of the Packout

...and I am tired.

...and I am sad.

...and I am excited for a new adventure to begin.

La Despedida de Abe

Abe class threw a great going away party for Abe and I.  Nearly all of his classmates (27) and most of their moms came to big us farewell.  Unfortunately, I only took these three photos which do no justice to the great afternoon.  The kids gifted Abe a beautifully handcrafted silver belt buckle with an additional belt so that he can use it for many years.  

It was a joy and privilege to know these wonderful Argentine women.  Thanks for all of you kindness and support! 

After the party, Abe brought a few of his best friends to the house for his first pajama party.  He had been talking about it for weeks.  This photo was right before I dropped them off the following morning at a birthday party.  He truly misses his classmates and these great boys.

Our Last Visitor

My sister made a last-minute trip to see us here in Buenos Aires, just in the nick of time.  I love that I get a small vacation when people visit and it is always nice to take a break from our standard routine and experience what the city has to offer. 

Grand Canyon

We made an over night trip to the Grand Canyon while we were in Phoenix with my in-laws.  We had a great time hiking to Oh-Ahh Point.

We stayed in Williams about an hour from the Canyon.  It was such a great little town right on Route 66.  There was a street gun show and a Wild West town replica.  

More photos to come...

Random

• We have a house in Lima and more importantly, it should be ready when we arrive.  Steve has seen it and thinks it will be great for us.    I am a big fan of the location in relation to the temple (2 mi.), school (10 blocks) and SUNSHINE!  
• We are having trouble finding a place for Abe at the school, but are hopeful.  However, the admissions director is not as optimistic.  Think happy thoughts, right?
• Buying a car has turned out to be a much bigger deal than we had anticipated.  I might just save this for a post of it's own.  International moves are tricky.
• The movers will be here bright and early on Monday morning and will drive the truck away on Wed.
• Abe's going away party is today and 4 boys coming over for a slumber party afterwards.
• Organization for the packers is coming together.  
• Only 7 more nights in this house... How has 2.5 years flown by so fast? 
• Man, I will miss this third floor.  We really have spent 80% of our waking hours up here and I love the sunshine from the 3 large windows!

Cristi

The coolest little sister

anyone could ask for

has come to Buenos Aires

for a last-minute visit

before we move.  

and that

MAKES. ME. HAPPY!

Movie Night

We invited some of our great friends here in Buenos Aires over for a fun-filled Friday night.  The kids brought their movie tickets to the door to receive a tub of popcorn and a drink, and vote on a movie.  17 kids ages 18 months -10 years headed upstairs to watch Peter Cottontail.

While the kids enjoyed their movie, the 14 of us played Blurt, Taboo and Bananagrams.  The boys even considered a late night of Risk, but decided to hold out and save that for later. :)

Happy Easter 2010

I find that I am not a very good photographer on Christmas and Easter.  I would much rather be in the mix than taking photos for a few feet away.  I did manage to take a few.

Peyton insisted that the Easter Bunny would love a gatorade and definetly needed his own egg with a piece of candy in it. Evidently, she was right.

To: E.B. Enjoy your carrots.  We (heart) you  From: Peyton and Abe-e

Sophie quickly learned that the real eggs didn't provide the "goods".  She wouldn't even pick them up in the hunt unless they rattled. :)

EB was tricky and really his Peyton's basket well.  She was elated to find it after all of the searching.

The photo is 100% Abe humor.  It goes something like this:  Oh, little bunny is hiding in the grass.  His mommy told him to never leave the grass or a big monster would eat him.  Oh no!  Little Peep didn't listen to him mommy!  (then Abe eats the Peep in one bite!)

Is it any surprise she loves those Peeps too?  Look at all of the chocolate on her face from all the other treats.

Cleaning

Spring Fall Cleaning

It feels good.  But sometimes it feels like you are giving away your heart or a small memory.

Today.. it is liberating.  Extremely liberating and I am thinking of all of the possibilities.

When hit the kids closets, it might be more like agony.

Just posted.

Here.