Care Bear

So much for my post a few days ago about trying to have a more "saintly" attitude. Today I had to get the girls dressed and out the house in about 3 minutes flat. As usual, they decided that today was the day all the stuffed animals owned by my niece, Sophia, needed to tag along.

I quickly explained to them that this was going to be a short trip, we did not have time to take care of so many stuffed animals, that they could only take one each and that we wouldn't be gone too long.

As I started checking all the rooms and corners for my shoes, purse and keys, I turned to see Isabella walking down the stairs with an arm full of stuffed animals. Grrrrr!!!

Me: Isabella, you cannot bring all those toys with you.
Isabella: Well, I want to so I am because I'm going to take good care of them.
Me: No, Isabella, you can only choose one.
Isabella: But Moooooooooooooom, I really want to take them all.
Me: I don't care, Isabella! You can only take one.
Isabella: No, I want to take more.
Me: I don't care! Let's go - we need to go!!!!
Isabella: You never care! I wish you cared! I wish you were a Care Bear! Then that way you would care more!
Me: Me, too, Isabella. Me, too.

Yes, I know that "I don't care" is not an appropriate response but I had no energy to think of a better one and honestly, at that precise moment, I didn't care! A good Saint never lies! :)

I Want to be a Saint

I once heard someone say that they hoped to make it to heaven and hear God say to them, "Well done, my faithful servant." I used to just worry about just getting into heaven much less what I would be told. Those words have stayed with me for years. It's a shame I can't remember where I heard them.

Yesterday's homily was about today's "All Saints Day" holiday. The priest said a lot of wonderful things but since we have the honor of going to mass with a 5 and 3 yr-old, a lot of his message was lost on me. The part that I do remember was how we should all want to be Saints. He said that when asked what we wanted to be, our response as Catholics should be, "I want to be a Saint." If our ultimate goal is to make it into heaven, then our only earthly goal should be to be a Saint.

I have thought about that all day and especially today when I remember family members who have passed away. My Memere, Abuelito Florencio, my Aunt Celeste and of course, my parents. I think about the day that we will all be together again. I want to see God. I want to see my family and friends. I want to finally understand what this whole adventure has been about.

So now I have a whole new set of words to focus on... I want to be a Saint.

PS: Being a Saint's football player does not count! :)

* Image from HauntedNewOrleans.com

Halloween 2009

We've been knowing for a while now that we were going to be in Dallas for Halloween. The plan was for all of us - kids and adults - to dress as Star War characters. That didn't happen. Oh, well. At least my nephews and niece kept up their end of the bargain!

And checkout my niece... she totally got into character!

Costume shopping this year was a nightmare between my daughter's indecisiveness and the ridiculous costume prices! Isabella and Lucia ended up using costumes that were laying around my sister's house and her friend lent us one so all we had to buy were the crowns. Not bad for a costume that was bought on Halloween Day!!! I love how Isabella isn't wearing shoes in her pic - very Cinderella of her, don't ya think?

Happy Halloween!

Crazy Hair Day

We're in Dallas spending approx. 5 weeks with my sister's family. Harold's doing an away rotation, at Parkland, while the girls and I hang out and attempt to do some schoolwork. It's only been a week and I think I'll grade the week a C+ as far as having five kids and two dogs, under one roof, trying to get along and share.

This morning was Crazy Hair Day at my nephews and niece's school. I love that I am getting to share in these lil things with kids that I love as much as my own. I know this because I put one of them in time-out last night and felt zero guilt. Just like when I do so to my own kids.

Alex's hair is "long" to me but cool to the rest of his friends. Just the perfect length for a funkly lil mohawk - can't get much crazier than that!

Sophia ended up with two teased pigtails - the pic does it no justice. My sis definitely put her 80's bang teasing skills to good use. I feel for the child who sits behind her in class since their blackboard view will for sure be obstructed.

And Joshy, this lil bundle of energy is anything but neat and proper - his hair doesn't even get this slick for church. Too bad we didn't have a bowtie to add to his shirt.

When I told Alex that I was going to post his pics on here he said, "Cool! Now everyone around the whole world can see me!!!" Isn't that sweet? My nephew thinks I have a global following.

I just laughed and moved this week's grading to an A++!

Buzz, Buzz!

Booty Shaking on the Front Lawn

The other day I decided that I was going to celebrate my children. Not sure if I read an inspiring blog post, read a story about a child dying or saw a sweet commercial, but I was determined to see past all things that bugged me and just enjoy being with my children.

Lucia woke up from her nap and we were off to pick up Isabella. I had my new iPod playing and we were both dancing around to Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" and I just knew that it would be a good, good day. We picked up Isabella and, I kid you not, we made it approximately 2.5 blocks down the street and I was screaming at Isabella to stop whining and complaining.

The whining kills me. Slowly. Every. Day. Sigh.

Yesterday, I decided I was a loser mom for giving up so quickly as I thought back on that afternoon. I turned on the radio and the beginning lyrics to "I Gotta Feeling" song were starting. Yes! God agreed and I was being given another chance. Lucia and I both screamed out in excitement.

We sang. We danced. We laughed. We got home way too quickly.

I quickly turned up the radio, jumped out the car, pulled Lucia out and we danced right then and there... in my driveway. Two cars drove by and one actually slowed down, probably because they thought I was trying to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on myself, but once they saw Lucia's smile and heard the music playing they kept on driving.

Nothing wrong here - just enjoying my daughter with a lil booty shaking in the middle of the front lawn.

Time to Pull Out the Suit

Harold's med school "pregnancy" is progressing along. We're in the setting-up-interviews phase so I put together this map to show you guys where Harold will be interviewing soon.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing 2 or 3 other places but he's not home for me to ask - pretty sure I heard something about Emory, Parkland and Baton Rouge. Oh, well. I saw this idea on my friend Katy's blog and totally had to copy.

Katy made the comment that she realized they could end up anywhere after putting her map together. Me? I realized that I should have followed through with my high school freshman dreams of med school when I had the chance. Now I am going to be stuck at home with two kids while my hubby goes of on silent plane rides and sleeps in clean hotel rooms.

So. Not. Fair.

(If you click on the map you can read it a lil better)