Flowers, flowers and more flowers!

The weather has been so beautiful lately, so why not enjoy it? - Today we went to the Botanical Gardens. So peaceful and beautiful. The kids enjoyed running around and exploring. They also got an opportunity to join in and celebrate the Japanese culture in the Kumamoto En Day. Natalia's favorite part of the celebration was the story called The Peach Boy, a popular traditional Japanese story. Even the boys were listening attentively as the lady read the story with sound effects and all sorts of props. They also made some crafts and Carson and Luke got their names written in Japanese - now that was pretty cool. ~Oh, what a wonderful time we had! Everybody was in their best behavior which makes it for a good day.

This is a little house in the middle of the garden next to a huge pond. Luke kept saying "my house" and when people went in "his" house, he wouldn't like it. He would say, "oh oh, in my house."

Ah yea, and this is Luke at the end of the day....that's when we decided it was time to go.

Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)

While Daddy was in SA last week, he gave Natalia her very first dance lesson! It was so funny. At the end, she kept saying: "But Daddy, I don't want to go around the world anymore."

I'm glad today is over...

Wow, what happened today?  I'm not sure but I thank the Lord that today is over and that everybody is okay.  Morning hours were great.  Got a lot accomplished and things were running smoothly.  Met people from work for lunch at Red Lobster.  So far so good.  Then this is what happened next:

1.  Found out about a small problem at the Aztec Office and Retail Building.  After an hour or so of talking on the phone, I finally figured out how to handle it.

2.  Air condition stopped working at the building I office at.  NOT GOOD!   Recently, we've lost a few compressors and the tenants are really not enjoying this.  

3.  I forgot that I had to go and pick up Natalia at school by 2:50.  At 3:05 p.m., I looked at the clock and all of a sudden remembered that my precious little daughter was still at school. Talking about feeling small.  When I went to pick her up, she had the biggest smile on her face and asked me:  "Mama, what took you so long?"  Hopefully she won't ever find out what truly happened.  

4.  As soon as I got back to the office, I fond out that we had NO water in the building.  At this point, I wasn't too sure of what was happening.  For the past week or so, we've been experiencing low water pressure from the city.  We also found out that we have a bad pump and parts to the pump are hard to find.  The upper floor tenants are not happy about this.  You know, now they have to flush 3 times instead of one.  

So, to make a long story short, my day was not going the way I had planned it to go.  There I go again, making plans. 

Things started to get better.  I got off from work and drove by my favorite place, Chick Fil A, to pick up dinner for tonight.  I got home, we ate and then we took my aunts and my mom to the mall.  While they were shopping, the kids and I spent some time at the park.  While at the park, Carson told me what had happened to Luke today.  I thought he was exaggerating, but he was telling the truth.  As soon as my mom got in the car from shopping, she started telling me the story. 

Okay, this is what happened!  My mom gave Luke a Lifesaver (you know - candy).  Nobody thought anything of it.  As a matter of fact, he eats those all the time.  My mom goes outside, while Luke stays inside with tia Lety y tia Naty.  All of a sudden,  (they tell me) Luke puts his little hands on his ears and doesn't make any noise.  He goes to my aunts searching for help. He can't breath, he is chocking.  As you can imagine, my aunts are freaking out by now.  Tia Lety goes to find my mom, while Tia Naty performs the Heimlich Maneuver.  Finally he stars crying and then he throws up all over my mom.    

Now, you understand why I'm so glad today is over.  I just thank the Lord for protecting us and for always being with us. 

You know what's interesting?  On Wednesday, Natalia's Awana's teacher asked her to memorized Psalm 23.  Well, in order for Natalia to be able to memorize Psalm 23, I have to quote it over and over again.  Wow, how appropriate this Psalm is for what I went through today!

Daddy, this one is just for You!

Last night, I was so excited that I was going to get some alone time. I had it all planned out! Well, I should know better than to make any kind of plans because nothing ever works out the way you had planned it in your own little head. Carson's Cubbies teacher didn't show up last night. So, he didn't have Cubbies. But it all worked out anyway. Carson and I got some one-on-one time. We went to Starbucks and then we played on the playground. He really enjoyed himself. We got to talk and play and really concentrate on one another.

During our little visit to Starbucks, we called Daddy. Carson talked to Daddy while he enjoyed his chocolate milk. After he was finished talking to Daddy this is what he said:

Carson: "Mama, I'm going to save this chocolate milk for Daddy."

Mama: "Okay - That's really nice of you, Carson."

Carson: "But, it's going to take Daddy a long time to come back. The milk is going to be old."

Mama: "You are right Carson. Why don't you just drink it all?"

Carson: "Na, I still want to save it for MY Daddy. Here, I'm going to clean all the germs off."

So Daddy, get ready because Carson is saving his leftover chocolate milk in the refrigerator just for you! Don't worry, the germs are all gone. Carson cleaned them all off with his shirt :0)

Correction to my most recent post!

Per my editor, Dave Stovall - Aggie - Class of 97, I need to make an urgent corrction to my post of April 30, 2008.

I should have said "Daddy and the kids watching the t.u. band, instead of "UT Band". I appologize for the mistake.

I know, I know, I know

I stopped blogging and now all of a sudden, it seems as if I can't stop.  It's just that there is so much going on and I have to post it.  Going back to our weekend with Daddy...

Daddy was such a good sport this past weekend.  Saturday morning, we went to see my cousin's daughter Elizabeth compete.  For the past two years, she has been horse back riding and loving it. I remember her love for horses since she was a little girl.  The competition started somewhat late so we were not able to stay for the whole thing.  But the kids enjoyed hearing, seeing and touching the horses. 

 

 

After all that excitement, we went home to eat lunch and to rest a little.

Then at 5:00 p.m., we went to the parade.  That's right, we went to the Battle of Flowers Parade!  The owners of the Aztec (the building I manage) allowed me to bring the people I work with and their families to the Aztec to watch the parade.  We brought food and we watched the parade from the 2nd floor.  Good set up, if you have kids.  Dave wasn't too excited about this - as a matter of fact, he hates parades, crowds and traffic.  And as you can imagine, we experienced all three.  He did so good though.  He was such a trooper.  We finally got home around 11:30 p.m.

  Dave enjoying the parade!

  Daddy and the kids watching the UT band

  

   

  

  Ladies I work with.  Left to right, Yolanda - Property Manager (I've known her for 14 years); Sarah-Assistant Manager; Peggy (Assistant to the Leasing Agent and NHRA racer - click on her name to read more about it) and last but not least Terese - Accountant and Property Manager (I have known her for about 10 years).

Ready or Not, Here I Come

The kids love playing hide-and-seek with Papi. As soon as he gets home in the evenings, he eats dinner and then it's time to play hide-and-seek before the kids need to go to bed. ~I'm sure that's something the kids will never forget!