Here Ya Go, Jen!

Here I am in my Christmas morning glory, reading the directions to a great new word game I got from my in-laws. (I haven't yet convinced anyone to play with me yet, but I'm working on it) Notice the trusty can of Coke Zero close by. How anyone can make it through a morning without Coke is a mystery to me.

Is it Summer or Winter?

Just a miscellaneous picture I took of the girls last week. But while I was uploading photos from my camera, I found the photo below taken just last week when it was snowing. I tell ya, Houston has the craziest weather! It can be 40 one day and 8o the next.

Christmas and all that fun stuff

Since all of our Christmas stuff is in storage in MI, we had to borrow some stockings I found around Mom's house.










Michaela got a trunk full of dress-up clothes. This is pretty much how she looked all day on Christmas.

Mike loves these MauiBuilt shirts that can ONLY be bought in Maui. This is him showing off the latest and greatest from Dad & Trisha.

OK...You Were All Right...especially YOU, Bella!

I LOVE Twilight!!! (Obsessed, Mike says) I gave in to all the peer pressure and read the entire saga in less than 2 weeks...including the Midnight Sun draft on Stephenie Meyer's website. I literally didn't do anything but read, making my kids fend for themselves when they were hungry. It's disgusting (and embarassing) how in love I am with a fictional 17 year old vampire. I was so sad when I was done reading. Sad to leave my happy little world in Forks and face reality again. Is that normal?! I seriously need a distraction...any other wonderfully recommended books?! I will listen to my friends' suggestions now. ;)

The Church Christmas Program

I was an angel this year. Complete with bell sleeves, and a flowing dress.

She's Coming Home

We should have our car back today. Yay! We were told our car was found on cinder blocks in the middle of a street in a seedy neighborhood with the hazard lights on. Isn't that so sad?! Our poor little Durango all exposed out there in the middle of the street! Can't wait to get her home and cleaned up.

We Found It!!

The police found our car! Amazingly, the only things taken were our tires & GPS. Can you believe they didn't want my Tom Petty cds?! They were also nice enough to leave us our jack after they were done using it. It could have been so much worse!
Sent from my iPhone

It's Gone

our car, that is. Yup....the trusty ole Durango we've had for 8 years was stolen from the mall parking lot tonight. I guess desperate times calls for desperate measures. It's a good thing we had it washed, filled with gas, and housed with jumper cables. And why not throw in 20" rims and a GPS while we're at it?

Lesson to learn: buy a Club

I DID IT!!!! I DID IT!!!!! I DID IT!!!!!! I DID IT!!!!! I DID IT!!!!!

I'M A COLLEGE GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!!! AFTER 7 VERY LOOONG YEARS OF CONSTANT STUDYING, I FINALLY EARNED MY BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A MAJOR IN ACCOUNTING. WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the Alley Theater

Every year we go see A Christmas Carol at the theater. These are just some photo ops before the play started.

A rare picture of Mike & I together.











A cute picture of Nadja

The Karate Kid

Michaela has been taking karate for about a month now. She absolutely LOVES it! It's an hour each week and the instructors are fantastic. They have the kids running, jumping, kicking, punching, and climbing constantly. I love it too because it challenges her listening skills and gets her physical. She is showing me how she bows in this picture, though it's hard to tell.

A Foggy Morning

YMCA-Part 2 (no longer singing)

I tried kickboxing...ouch. There was kicking...and punching...and running...and squats...and kicking...and punching...and... Every muscle in my body is sore, but I LOVED the class and can't wait to go back next Friday.

YMCA (are you singing??)

Houston is home to the 4th largest YMCA in the country, and it's right down the street! We just joined today and I am SO excited! The cardio machines have personal tvs, the weight room (yes, a seperate room!) has machines I've never even seen before, dumbells in all the in-between weights like 7.8 lbs, 12.5 lbs, etc., TONS of free group classes like kickboxing, yoga, pilates, Zumba, and Body Combat, a women's only fitness room, indoor pool, outdoor pool, family pool, outdoor running track, a kid/teen center in a seperate building, and an amazing child care room with a rock climbing wall and every toy you could imagine. Ahh..that was a mouthful. But can you tell how excited I am??!!

Even animals are nicer in the South

Addicted to Scrabble

Most people know I have a love for word games, and usually do quite well in them. So my Mom was especially excited to play a word in Scrabble that kept me fighting for the rest of the game. That's because she scored 97 points in ONE play!!! The word? "Bolvines", which was played using all 7 letters (a 50 pt. bonus) on a triple word score, a double letter score, and also finished another word. Man-oh-man! Definitely worthy of a picture.

Happy Halloween

We had a pretty princess and a vicious vampire this year.

Happy Birthday, Michaela!

Our baby turned 4 yesterday. I can't believe it! We started out the day with Birthday Pancakes, then had storytime at the library, a birthday lunch, signed up for karate, and finished the day with cake and presents. She was very excited to get all the phone calls from family, especially her older cousins that she looks up to SOOO much.

This family is NOT above bribery

Our new living arrangements mean the girls are sharing a bed. Michaela thinks she and her sister are having a sleepover everynight. Nadja thinks this is pure torture. For an entire month we have heard nothing but little wimpers coming out of the bedroom-that would be Michaela. Then we hear "Shhh! Be quiet!!!"-that would be Nadja. This goes on usually until about 10:00 at night when they both finally pass out. The other night, Michaela came dashing out of their bedroom all excited that Nadja was going to give her candy after school if she is quiet and goes to sleep. It worked like a charm, and we couldn't be more proud of our little negotiator.

The Annual Primary Program

We had the Primary Program in our new ward today. It was cute, but I couldn't help but think of all the children I had come to know and love in our home wards, the Warren & East Shores Wards. I had been blessed to be a part of those children's lives as I served them for the past 2 1/2 years. I love them, miss them, and hope they are excited for their own primary programs. I was almost in tears as I listened to the primary songs sung by children I have never met. I wish I could be in Michigan just one more week so I could be there to hear the songs sung by children I do know and to hear how their testimonies have grown over the years. I love those kids!!

The beloved iPhone 3G

I cannot tell you how much I love this phone. How I ever lived without it, I don't know.

Exposed to new wildlife

While at the bus stop with Nadja the other morning, an armadillo crossed our path. I was so excited! I chased after him to try and get a picture with my phone, but it was too dark. (I had to steal this picture from the Internet.) They are the neatest little animals!


Here is another not-so-cute animal, the nutria. They look like beavers, but are actually semiaquatic rodents! Gross!! Nevertheless, Michaela enjoys feeding them at the park. :/

The view from here

Mike & I have both had a few people ask what Texas looks like. Here it is from our view on the 17th floor. Chances are, when you talk to one of us on the phone, it's one of these views were are looking at at that moment.

We have a balcony in our bedroom. If you look to the right you see this, the golf course from the country club behind our building.

If you look straight out from our bedroom, this is the view. If I zoomed, you could see downtown Houston on the horizon right in the middle of this shot.

This is the view from the balcony in the living room. It was foggy this morning when I took these pictures.

Another living room shot. Also an extension of the golf course.

My favorite view. The Houston Texas temple.

Can't remember where I got this

but isn't it funny? I just found it in my documents.

Our last days in Michigan

I went to dinner one last time with my very good friends, Jessi & Jodi. Unfortunately, since The Boy came, he has taken over all photo ops. This is me with baby Andrew.









Nadja with the boys in the hood...Donovin, Austin, and Matthew


Mike & I with one of our best friends, Lisa












Nadja & Austin. These two have been best friends since they were about 3 & 4.

Rachelle (Mike's younger sister) with her husband, Matt, and Mike.














Mike had all the kids in the neighborhood playing freeze tag. It was so fun to watch!







Cousins, Collin & Michaela


















Cousins

Connected at last

We have been living in a house with 5 people and 1 computer (gasp!). My mom could not find her password for us to log in to her wireless network, then the adapter for my laptop was surged. So FINALLY, we are back online in a house with 5 people and 3 computers. Ahhh...to be connected again.

Our first car accident in Texas (we're Ok...don't worry)

We live near this road (FM 1960) that is quite identical to Hall Road (if you live in MI you understand this). It has everything you could possibly need, plus a mall and every restaurant under the sun. It also has a bajillion cars at any given time. Anywho, we were sitting at the red light and SLAM! A little Honda rearended us. Thankfully for us, we were in a Durango with a hitch. The guy in the Honda? Not so lucky. His car got beat up quite a bit and was leaking fluid. I was turned around at the time looking in the backseat, so my neck is a little sore, but I think it'll be fine tomorrow. Everyone else is OK.

PS...still no power/water.

Houston, we have landed

We made it!! After 3 long days of driving, we have finally arrived at our new home. We had an eventful 3 days, but it was quite the adventure. The greatest story is how we experienced southern hospitality for the first time...

After refilling at a gas station somewhere outside the great town of Bucksnort, Arkansas, (yes, Bucksnort) we got back in the car to realize our car battery was completely dead. The plugs were totally corroded. One guy stopped to give us a jump, but the car failed to start. Mike and I just looked at eachother like "what are we going to do??" Then a group of managers from Geico insurance rolled into the gas station. They were driving RVs that people use during catastrophes back to Houston. Coinky-dink? I don't think so. These were THE nicest people! They first tried to give us a jump, then helped Mike to scrape off some of the corrosion from the plugs. That still didn't work. One guy went inside to ask the store clerk where the closest auto supply store was. That guy came out to our car, phone in hand, to find out what kind of battery we needed. Turns out, he was on the phone with the auto aupply store, which closed in 10 minutes. The guy at the store not only had the battry we needed, but kept the store open until we got there. One of the Geico guys drove Mike to the store, while the other 2 men stayed with the girls and me. It was a total blessing that these guys came at the right time. Let me tell you, had this happened in Detroit, we would have walked 2 miles to the auto store just to be told they're closed and we'll have to come back tomorrow. Then we would have slept in our car.

Our second experience with southern hospitality...

First of all, let me remind you about that hurricane I was driving toward. Since my mom lives in a high-rise condo on the 17th floor, she not only is still without power, but also is without water. The building's generator only has enough juice to pump water up to the 9th floor and light the lobby. SO, mom's good friends, Carolyn and David, have taken in us refugees. They have a big house just 5 minutes from my mom's. They have given our family the entire second floor which has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 "sitting" rooms, a library, 2 tvs, and a computer. I tell you, it's almost nicer than being in my own house! Carolyn & David also have a playroom with a large screen TV...my kids are in heaven.

So our move to Houston is starting off a little rough, but we are happy to be here nonetheless.

It only makes sense...

that I should leave Michigan to head toward a hurricane. Many of you probably don't know that the reason I came to Michigan in the first place was to avoid the impact of Hurricane Georges (a cat. 4 storm) in Puerto Rico. I was supposed to stay a week visiting friends while PR regained electricity. But then my friends convinced me to stay longer. 9 years later, I'm still here. BUT, now I'm leaving again and heading straight for Hurricane Ike's path of destruction. For some reason it feels like I'm heading home.

I've been tagged!

*Tagged by Michelle*

THE FIVE
10 years ago I:
1. Graduated high school
2. Moved from Puerto Rico to Michigan
3. Had a one-year-old, Nadja
4. Worked as a hostess at the Pancake House in Grosse Pointe

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. STUDY...I have an accounting final tonight
2. Go to the gym
3. Make something with pumpkin (gotta get rid of this food!)
4. Visit with friends & family (every minute is valueable right now)
5. Pack and pack some more

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. chips and dip (any dip really)
2. chocolate
3. cucumbers
4. cheese pretzels
5. bananas & peanut butter on toast

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off student loans
2. Travel
3. Have more babies
4. Invest
5. Buy a new car (oh c'mon- you would too!)

5 places I have lived:
1. Virginia/DC
2. Pennsylvania
3. Puerto Rico
4. Michigan
5. And Texas in 5 days!

Five jobs I have had:
1. Student
2. Bagger at Smith's
3. Hostess at the Pancake House
4. Accounting Clerk
5. Mom

Great Quotes

Michaela told Mike, "Daddy, I have Jesus in my heart." (Thanks Ms. Lisa for the Bible sing-a-long cd! It is hilarious!)

Nadja the other day: "Can I please, please, please, PLEASE go to school tomorrow??!!" My reply..."NO!" (I didn't see the point in putting her through 2 weeks of middle school here since we're leaving so soon)

Nadja again:" If only we had lava in this neighborhood. Then I could study it." (She was questioning if rocks melted under extreme heat)

Bishop Bear has moved

Sadly, my Mom lives in a high-rise condo that does not allow dogs of this size. So while we are shacking it up at her place, Bishop Bear has gone to live with my Aunt Mary & Uncle Ray in Chicago. (Who coincidently, are moving to Dallas in May) He left Monday for his 8-month stay. Lucky for him though, because he won't have to endure this anymore.

The countdown is on!

We are leaving Michigan exactly 2 weeks from today. Here's the update for those that care...My kitchen table/desk is gone and in storage along with almost everything else we won't need within the next year or so. The walls are bare and the house now echos. I have taken so many trips to the Salvation Army they know me by name, and the garbage men will soon start avoiding our street altogether. We found THE most perfect renters. A couple with 2 young children. The parents are both black belts in karate. He owns a karate school and she is a professional fighter. Wow. I know. Both kids also compete in martial arts. I'm bummed that I won't be here to get to know them more, cause I sure would like to! They also are interested in possibly buying the house after the year lease is up. Oh yeah- and they move in the day after we move out. How great is that? Pretty great! I was in Wal-Mart this morning and noticed they had fall decor all around the store. I checked the weather, and yep-it's still 94 degrees in Houston. I guess I won't need my sweater box out of storage quite yet. That's about it for now...check back later.

The Ladies

These are the ladies from the 'hood...Cathy, (Me), Jillian, Lisa, and Michaela. These are the ladies that I do the garage sale with every spring, go trick-or-treating with every Halloween, BBQ with on every holiday, watch fireworks with every 4th of July, and talk to every day. They have basically been my family since we moved to Center Line 8 years ago. Even our kids are best friends. I cannot even describe how much they mean to me and how much I am going to miss them. ugh...I'm getting emotional just thinking about saying goodbye.

I know I said we might move in 4 months

But it's going to be more like 4 weeks. Actually, less than 4. More like 3 really. We got a storage unit for all of our junk and a house-sitter to occupy our house until we rent it out or sell it. We plan to drive out of here on September 15th. Texas here we come!!

An update on Nadja...

Nadja has been having a blast in Texas! So far she has been swimming (a LOT), had a party with her cousin, Michael Skye (I don't know why we always refer to him by his whole name, but we do.), and seen an armadillo! How very Texan. She is now on her way to Dallas to visit with my brother Matt and his girlfriend, Super Becky.

We miss her, but know she is having a good time enjoying the rest of her summer vacation.

If you go to an End of the Summer party...

does it really mean that summer is over?

Thanks Ann, for the awesome party! We had SO much fun!!

And She's Off!

If you count 23 windows back, you'll be looking at where Nadja is sitting this very moment. Though right now she's hovering over northeastern Texas. She's off to spend a fun-filled week alone with Beach Grandma in Houston. This is the first time she has flown alone, but she's a pro so I'm only a little anxious. What I really am is jealous! She is going to have SO much fun!!!

Let me explain...

I've been questioned by a few people about my motherhood post so I now feel the need to explain. It all started at church the Sunday before...

Nadja got up during Sacrament Meeting to use the bathroom. 10 minutes later she has not yet reappeared. Since I have a 3 year old I do not trust to stay seated as I go look for her sister, I stay in the chapel. 10 more minutes pass and I consider going to look for her. The problem I then faced was that I didn't want to get up in the middle of someone's talk. The closing prayer is said and done, still no Nadja. When I get out of the chapel, I find her chit-chattin' it up in the hallway with friends from the other ward. She is immediately grounded for the day.

This is the conversation we had the second we got home:
Nadja: "Can I at least go outside?"
Me: "Uh, no. You're grounded." (Grounding at our house means NO privileges)
That ends that conversation.

Meanwhile, Michaela takes off to her room to hide and go stinky in her pants. I am sure most of you know how frustrating potty training is when the child has the capabilities, just doesn't want to go. Especially when the child is almost 4! So I sigh and go change her. If you didn't already know... changing a stinky diaper is completely different than changing stinky panties. In the latter case, you have to deal with rollouts, mudslides down the leg, then inevitably a load of laundry. Yes, it is every bit as gross as it sounds. So I do this, again have the toilet talk with Michaela, and send her off to do whatever. Meanwhile...

I can't find Nadja, who should be sulking in her room. I'm searching the house and cannot find her. I look outside, though I shouldn't because of course she is not out there...she's grounded. But sure enough-Nadja came rolling down the street on her rollerblades, soaking wet at having just rolled through a sprinkler, with her friends running alongside her. WHAT??!! Oh yes, you can imagine my anger.

So there you have it. I guess when I posted 2 days later, I was still upset. But I'm better now. Really!

NOBAMA!

The lady in pink is my stepmom, Judy. To quote my dad, "The person depicted with Obama does not reflect upon those ideologies posed by her husband." I couldn't have said it better. Cool picture anyway, if you're starstruck like me.

Photo taken from Yahoo! News (2008)http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Barack-Obama-Ravenna2C-Ohio-Sen-Barack-Obama/ss/events/pl/020807obama/im:/080805/480/7cad55d0ee0643abb5fc9dd18f4ab51c/