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Well this past weekend our roommates moved out. I miss them already! I really enjoy co-living. We will see who is next. Tonight was one of those nights we wanted to have people living in our basement. The kids were in bed, business was done and the idea of a late night cup of coffee sounded so inviting! Instead we settled for a late night movie in bed. What do you and your love do to connect?
I grew up in a household where we fixed everything. I mean everything, plumbing, car issues, air conditioning. EVERYTHING. I remember one time. One time we had someone come into our house to help my dad. I am not as extreme as my parent were/are, but once and a while I see glimpse of things that remind me of them. Hey if it still works keep using it. Right?
Can you see it? My T has been gone for a month now. I could take it in, but why it works.
Who's like me out there? Any run it to the ground kind of people? H
One of the great finds Jacinda and I found on our shopping day was Disney PJ's for 4 bucks! So what did we do? We made a family night out of them. We had the kids help decorate the table with their favorite bedtime story and one stuffed animal each. We than had them go put on old pj's and when they came back into the kitchen they found their new jammies on their seat.
Jacinda and Seanna made homemade cinnamon rolls for dessert!
For dinner we attempted to make something that resembled a sleeping person. We made a bed out of rice, put a hot dog down to as the person and put some cheese over as a blanket. Then we looked at it and busted up laughing. We just could not serve our CHILDREN this...
It was just wrong. Funny but wrong. Family Night gone bad! So we improvised.
Not bad if you ask me, and much more appropriate. We finished the night with a great movie cuddled up on the couch!
It's been so long since we have had a family night linky. Here's the deal... Write a post on you blog about a family night or tradition you and your family do. Make sure you link to this post somewhere on yours and then enter your info here. Simple as that.
We have a group of friends who meet in our house once a week, our small group. The Losiah just gets put to bed early and the girls get a movie. This works like a charm, however tonight we hear Sohaila crying so Carlos goes up to see what the problem was. He comes down and says..."Did you tell her she will swallow her tooth if she falls a sleep?"
Confession: I might have reworded Darcies words a little to see if she would allow me to pull it out. Obviously that did not work. I have many failed parenting attempts. Lets just add that to the list.
So anyways we did a little negotiating and finally we took some steps forward.
Dad was going to do the pulling. She could stop at any point and best of all the tooth fairy would becoming tonight!
This dance went on for about 15 minutes. Should we do it? Do you want us to wait? Back and fourth, back and fourth. Finally I locked eyes on her and begin to make up nonsense stuff to try to make her focus on me. And it worked a second later Carlos had it in his hand and she had no idea. It was perfect!
H
They were fine with the thunder that clapped as they played outside, but as soon as the wind picked up they were done. The best part, was the fact that I watched it all. They were so cute. They frantically collected their toys and then their brother as they rushed inside. I loved watching it go down! H
Sohaila will not let me get near her. Her front tooth is barely hanging on and she will not let me pull it out. It's driving me crazy. When you were 6 would you wiggle that thing like J-Lo in 2005 or would you just let it fall out on it's own? H
Remember when you were a kid and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, the possibilities were endless. No amount of time or money or ability could stop you. There was a certain sense of freedom with it. There was no ceiling, the sky was the limit!
Then we age.
Reality sets in.
We realize we don't want to spend the next 25 years in college, out of no where bills accrue, and life circumstances hold us back. Chapters in our life books close without ever seeing the light. Essentially our dreams die.
When Carlos and I stared dating our dreams were ramped! Millions of idea's were possible. We dreamed of where we would live, the kind of house we would live in, how many kids we would have, the trips we would go on. Our hearts collided for hours as we dreamed of what life would look like. Then it happened. We got married. Reality hit. Things were not as easy as we dreamed. We struggled and grew apart. Our dreams were dying.
We lived this way for a while, but I began to build up walls. I did not want to put hope into something that I assumed would fail. I had done that to many times. I decided I was closing my book of dreams. Life was going to happen the way the deck of cards were dealt.
Life worked fine this way. It was a bit sad at times. I still set goals, I had my list. But the things on it were things I knew I could achieve. I knew no time, money or ability would hold me back. I was not dreaming I was only surviving.
It was not until God put some circumstances in front of me that opened my eyes to HIS dreams. Even though I stopped dreaming about my marriage, my kids, my life HE DID NOT!
I had a choice. I could continue on the colorless path or I could get uncomfortable allow God to color my pages of my dream book. I am flabbergasted at his art. I am in shock when he does something that is 100% my hearts desire, and yet I would never allow myself to dream that big.
So Jen, I know your question was specific about how much time we dream/talk ministry/church in our marriage and I have not answered that directly. I wanted you to know about my life's journey with dreaming and how vital it is. In regards to your question I would have to say that we are always talking about it because it is our life. But we make it a point to go out at least once a month and dream together. Its a date, but one with a purpose. We bring our journal and we dream. We dream big. And let me tell you our marriage has changed. Drastically. Dreams keeps you alive and it has awoke our marriage!
Let us to get real here. How many of you have stopped dreaming. Have you let go of something that you once hoped for. Is time, money or ability stopping you?
What did you want to be when you grew up? What's your dream Now? What's stopping you?
H
Oh I have so many blog posts so much to share! I had a wonderful BIRTHDAY PRESENT! It was such a great past week. Yesterday we had a great lunch with Eric and Angela. There is just nothing like being with your two best friends at one time!
We had all the kids and ate at the hottest place in town. Literally!
We sat down when it said 85* and watched it slowly creep higher and higher. We had 6 kids and did not want to pile everyone back in the car so we decided to stay. My man, the optimist that he is said..." We just want to give Jacinda a authentic Southern meal. Barbecue, Sweaty and Nasty!" I would have preferred to give her another experience but this is what we got! H
So the saga continues, the little birds hatched. Momma bird would constantly bring them insects of all sorts and then it happened... Dun, Dun, Dun.
My dad had a great idea of celebrating my birthday with fireworks. I know where some of your minds just went, and let me stop you right now the birds were not part of a tragic firework accident.
Ok back to the story, the night of my birthday we went outside to light sparklers and roman candles. It was quite festive and fun. My sparkler was finished and I wanted another one so I asked my dad where he put them. I looked over and he placed all the boxes right on top of the birds. OOPS! The next morning I went out there and all was good, babies alive and well. The following morning after that however, they were gone. Thankfully there was no sign of a animal getting them like last time! The explanation to the girls was simple... They flew away, see they are no longer in the nest. :) It's just so sad that we get so far and get left hanging.
We woke up early and went on a hike near our house! You got to love the nature that is in the heart of the city limits! It is amazing!
Carlos let tus have a fun day out with out the kids! We shopped till our feet could not carry us any longer.
Then we came home for some Korean food by our roommates and then the grown ups went out on the town!
It is 4:05am and we are still going. I guess I am not going to do my 10 mile run in the morning. Opps!
Tell me what is the best thing you did today?
Mine was to dream! Oh how refreshing and powerful and hopeful dream can be! What is the best thing you did? H
It's day two and Carlos has been demoted to the down stairs room. We keep asking him and he is fine with it. I can't let Jacinda leave my sight!
But you can't take the Korean out of him! My little man sits (get this) like he is Asian! H
I gave her fare warning about possibly seeing one of the finer things that the south has to offer, but when it actually happened she yelled like a girl and bolted for the door. Look who came to visit...
Look at the Kelly doll that is in front of this animal. It was gigantic! I immediatley called James who was in his room down stairs, but no answer. I had to attack this myself. So I pulled out the bed...
I tried to make it run from out of the bed, but it ran into this blanket.
Carlos came home but refused to help me. He is the biggest girl out there.
Finally the deed was finished. Thanks to my macho man who ran like a girl after he did it!
Oh how I love the south! H
Carlos worked hard on this video last night, but did not get to put it on his blog because he fell asleep. I was a little sneaky and logged into his youtube account so I could up load it first. :) Oh he is gonna be mad, but all is fair in love and war!
He is the best! Please go tell him so... H
I have to say that I have had many wonderful gifts with this month long celebration, but Carlos toped it all when I got this today...
Jacinda is HERE! In Atlanta! In my house!
I had a hunch that Carlos was up to something. I even thought it was this, but the way it went down had me thrown way off guard.
I talked to Jacinda yesterday and she had no time to chat because she was throwing her dad's 50th birthday party last night. We had talked in detail about this party so I knew she was telling the truth. However last night Carlos was acting funny. He said "What could I do tomorrow that would make your birthday the best birthday ever? " Because he was asking such funny questions and acting awkward I was thinking that there was a big possibility that J was going to be coming. What was throwing me off was this birthday party for her dad.
This morning Carlos left early because he had a "video to shoot". I questioned his story, but in my head knew that there was no way Jacinda could throw a party in Fresno and get to Atlanta by the morning so I thought his story was legit. When he returned home i took a double take in his car just to see if he was alone. He was. So he came in and looked at me with THOSE kind of eyes and told me he was horny and needed some special time. As the great wife that I am we went up stairs and did the deed. Once we came down Carlos told me to look at my present and there Jacinda was sitting on my couch. I was so excited! I cried, of course I did... that's what I do now that I am thirty.
We sat and laughed at the means Carlos took to get me upstairs so he could get Jacinda inside without me knowing it. I mean it was a win win. He knew he would have me for at least a few minutes locked up in our room plus he got a present too!
I love my man! He has made me feel so loved. This however takes the cake. I am so excited to have my best friend here. To meet all my new friends, to see my church, to see my life.
Oh and by the way she did have the party, took the red eye and made it here by 8am! H
I guess like mother like daughter. I have this habit of hitting people on the butt. Back at Sandals Church it was not a big deal. It was kind of the norm with the people I knew. However here it has got me in a couple awkward situations. But that's my confession of the day. I like butts! :) H
My poor brother came to visit at a terrible time. He was here two weeks the first week was our road trip and the second week was a week of recovery for me from the road trip. Needless to say, I was not able to give him my perfected tour of the ATL. So with less than 24 hours left together, we decided to loaded up the car and go camping!
We drove out to Stone Mountain. For those of you who are not familiar with this area, Stone Mountain is a huge rock that protrudes from the earth and they call a mountain. It is cool, but when you grow up with this as your back yard it is hard to be awe-struck. The campground was beautiful! It was nestled right on the banks of the lake and had great views. The kids were so excited to play in the water. All was well, until we realized that swimming in the lake was prohibited, but being the good rule breaker that I am, we continued to swim! It was the hottest day of the year here. How could I tell these guys to get out of the water?
Anyways the day went on. It was hot! No, it was HOT! You know the kind of hot where you begin to loose all sense of rational thinking. Where you will simply do anything to keep cool. (Like swimming in the lake).
Around 6pm things began to look better. Carlos arrived, dinner was cooking and best of all the sun was going down. However, after a hour of dusk the heat had not let up. It was so bad that Carlos asked me if I was crying, because he saw "tears" rolling down my cheeks. Nope it was sweat! When that happened I threw in the towel and said I was done. I was 20 minutes away from my own bed and AC. There was no way I was going to sleep in this. I am a camper, I love to be dirty, I love to sleep on the ground, but the heat... NOPE not going to do it!
My poor brother worked so hard to get he tent up, he was a good sport! Once we packed up, a storm rolled in and we were so glad to be on the way HOME! We did have to stop and get my brother's canvas bags off the roof! I am telling you it was one thing after another!
H
I am not filling up landfills with my hand towels, I am using what I got to the end! How much longer do you think it can last? Is it time? HA!
H
Confession: I don't do moving water well. No rapids, and since this day, NO WAVES!
So while everyone was in the water having fun, I parked my back end on the beach and watched. I have no regret, I have tried, failed and now I get the pull the No Thank You card. What's your fear? H
When was the last time you touched the sands of the beach? H
UHH, it was one of those mornings! I wanted to use that cap gun that the kids got me for my birthday, however things have calmed down now and I smile when I see this picture...
I love my family! H
Alyssa and James got me a whole new set of pots for my birthday! This is the best present because we have never had new pots and pans. We got hand me downs for our wedding and it is something I use absolutely EVERYDAY! I am so excited to say good-bye old friends good bye.
I got to check something off of my list that I am so excited to cross off!
WE RAN A 1/2 MARATHON THIS MORNING! 13 miles. I know we posed for 31, lets just say we were tired!
THINGS TO DO WHILE I AM ALIVE!
*Climb half dome: (2004, '05, '06, '07/video)
*Hike to "my tree"
*Skydive: (Madera, 4/2005 and Kauai 8/2005)
*Learn to scuba dive:
*Dive to a ship wreck:
*Run a 1/2 Marathon: July 19, 2008
*Run a Marathon:
*Walk on the Great Wall of China:
*Drive across the country:
*Learn to surf:
*Hike the John Muir trail from Half dome to Whitney:
*Go on Dog Sled Ride:
*Adopt a child: X (11/27/06) Korean Videos
*Go on a Safari: (2/16/08)
*Volunteer in a hospital:
Learn to ride a motorcycle: (3/2006)
Work at a soup kitchen:
Climb Mt. Whitney, The highest peak in the lower 48 states! (8/15/2007)
Take a Massage class:
Ride along with a police officer: X ( 5/4/07) Helicopter: (Sept 15, 2007)
Drive a race car:
Read a book once a month: X so far so good.
Travel to: Spain, South America, England's countryside, China, Africa, Korea, New Zealand
See Garth Brooks in Concert:
Backpack through Europe:
Jump off a cliff in Hawaii: X (08/2005)
Learn Spanish:
Go see a live Volcano:
Be on a disaster relief team:
Bungee Jump off of Victoria Falls:
Swim in all 5 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Run the great wall of china:
Heli-snowboard:
Ice Fishing:
Travel to Kodiak Island and see the bears.
Visit
all 50 states (more than a layover.) : Alabama
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
*Visit all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia
Well my dearest decided not to use the conventional way to keep bugs off of her with bug spray, instead she came out like this. I did not have the heart to tell her some can still bite or the fact that it was blazing hot outside. I mean really how cute is she! H
In honor of my favorite fruit we had a watermelon night.
Everyone dressed in either red, green or black.
We made watermelon maracas.
We attempted to make watermelon balloons but they kept popping.
For food we had chips and watermelon salsa, watermelon juice, and watermelon cut into fun shapes. Then we made watermelons out of green rice, shredded chicken and black beans.
We went bobbing for watermelons!
We then tested our skills with a seed spitting contest!
Then we went and did watermelon bubbles out side! They even smelt like watermelon!
And finally we had a watermelon shaped ice cream treat!
I would have never imagined all the fun things we could do with one fruit! It was a great night!
Now it is your turn. If you do family nights or have a fun tradition to share please write a post on your blog, link to me here and then put your blog address below. I love seeing what others are doing. I have gotten some great idea's for you out there!
This was in Cali 7 months ago...
This is in Virginia this week. It was so weird to have my whole family out together on the east coast. It was like we were having Christmas in July. We have never all been together in a location other than the typical holiday party in So Cal. It made me feel like I was in Cali for a few moments!
After things have settled down from our road trip I decided to clean out the car. All of the bags were already out, the toys were long put away, but there were enough leftovers in there to feed a army. I know you are not suppose to feed a kid when they are crying, but when you are driving through five states you do what you got to do to keep the kids alive. And WE FED THEM! Over and over again. Crackers, lollipops, chips, cookies, watermelon, juice boxes, you name it we had it. <br>Lets just say the car was covered in remains! <br>So I unbuckled the car seats and did the shake to get all the chunks out. There was quite the pile! I figured the little squirrel would be very happy!
Little did I realize that the squirrel would be Loisah. I found him munchin away on all the leftovers!
What's the worst thing you have seen someone eat? H
It's been a hard year for me. So much has changed. Things look different than I thought they would on this day and that makes the organized planner inside me a little uncomfortable! Yet the dawn of this new decade has come with a bounty of love. Enough to hold me over for a while! I feel so loved! Thank you everyone who made my day.
I got so many calls, emails, and fabulous presents! People I have not talked to in months reached out and that makes me feel loved. My family came out to be with me and that was the best thing I could ask for. A friend drove out of their way just to bring me a gift! But the thing that pushed me over the edge and into a blubbering mess was this... LOVE.
Thanks Bri and J. I love you, too!
My mans view on it. H
Well H mart made me so happy that I took my mom there too and mother like daughter she loved it too!
I woke up to the Whittaker's tradition of the Birthday string. The girls and Carlos put it up a string through out the house that had special presents!
Present #1 was a note saying that this bithday string was to make up for the few days missed on my 30 days of Love. I got two wonderful magazines to read while I rest!
Present #2 was a bottle of wine from the year we met! He's so creative!
Present #3 was a cap gun from the kids with a note written by Sohaila. The note said something to the effect that she know some times I want to shoot them.
Present #4 was a little fan and a note from Carlos, that explained that now I have my own fan so stop stealing his in the middle of the night!
Present #5 was a deck of cards and a note reminding me of all the times Carlos and I would play rummy together while we were dating.
The Birthday String is so wonderful. I feel so loved! H
29 Roses for my last day of being 29!
I loved this moment in our trip. Seeing this couple have a moment was just beautiful. Their obvious decision to serve a religion of their choice is everything that America stands for. It was just powerful. H
Here is one for us all...
*Your husband seams to be very "tech conscience" and "connected." When Carlos is at home do you ever feel like you are having to compete with the computer for his time and attention. If so, how do you deal with it? Have you set rules?
Posted by: Erica
Dear Erica I do hear your question and yes there are things we do to draw lines, but I must confess that I am pretty connected myself. I do however like a clean house, and have three kids to occupy my time, but truth be told I am online A LOT too. Honestly the simple answer to this question is that I just ask him to stop and he does. His time at home during the week is pretty limited so he does not really get on his computer when he gets home until the kids are asleep. Then we sit like to little happy old people watching jeopardy together but instead we are on our mac's.
I will admit that the world is to connected and there needs to be a little reality in everyones life and so we make sure that happens. We date, we play, we have a relationship. After that we blog, twitter and spend our time online.
Ok peeps confession time. What is the average time you spend on line and what are you doing? H
I love your to-do-in-your-lifetime list. It inspired me to write down my own. What's the next thing you plan to mark off your list? Posted by:laura