A Taste of Africa

Our friends the Spendlove's are serving as the Mission Presidents in Maputo, Mozambique (Marcos' hometown). We get a newsletter each month telling us of the happenings there and the miracles occurring because of the gospel. (They are the one's who have been instrumental in his sisters interest in the church and baptism. See that post coming soon!)
This is a video of them arriving in a very remote village far, far away from any sign of civilization. Here these people built the church with their own hands and consider themselves members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints even though they have not been baptized or seen the church in anyway, but they have read the Book of Mormon and believe it. What a testimony it is to me that the Gospel is going forth unto all nations like a stone cut out of the mountain without hands. AMAZING!

Stripper or Sticker?

Well, we went to have Zaquel's little check-up and he is always one to be-friend the lovely ladies who are about to poke him! This time he asks:

"Do you have a stripper for me?"

I say, "WHAT?" Zaquel says,"You know a stripper." Ummmmm, "WHAT!" I say.
Zaquel, now smiling and impatient says, "A STICKER!" Oh, yes when we are through!

For a boy who loves the gospel of Jesus Christ so much, I was a bit worried when that came out!

Kids say the darn est things!

Family Pics continued w /the kids' pics

Starting off with our gorgeous silhouettes!







A smile from Briel was Pure Luck! Kim said that herself!
















Three amigos! (some days)

Good thing I had a blanket in the car!

Family Pictures November 19, 2009

Well, here we are in all our glory! Screaming baby and all! It was FREEZING cold at Gardner Village on this day with the wind blowing at us from every direction! The kids tried to huddle up but it didn't always work for the pictures. However, there was NO SNOW! That is what we were hoping for! My friend Kim did an amazing job for us. She did not have the easiest of jobs with kids saying how cold it was, a crying baby if she was put down, and a Daddy who has a short torso who can't sit up straight or cross his legs! But in the end, she made us look BEAUTIFUL and that is why she was hired!

So, now I need your help. I need to order some prints for our frames and I am not sure which one I should order for our family one. Please take a look and tell me which is your favorite. Here's a tip, since some of the pic's are cut-off, just click on it and it will show you the whole thing then use your back button on your browser to see the rest! Thanks!

Being Neighborly

So, here we are out delivering our gifts to the neighbors for family night last night and of course our little Briel was doing this the WHOLE time!

You see, she is just so attached to her Papa and he was the one doing the delivering up to the door. (The rest of us sat in the warm car listening to Christmas music) Each time he got out of the car and shut the door to deliver, yep, you guessed it, screaming ensued! He'd come back, quiet baby. Next house, shut door, screaming baby. This went on for each house! Ok, well she fell asleep at the second to last house. OF COURSE!

I tell you I love this girl, but it is insane how attached she is! Maybe it is because he never puts her down, or because he dotes on her so much, or because he can't bear to hear her cry. Hmmmmm, or all of the above! He really is a softie but we are paying for it now!

By the way, she did this at family pictures too, each time I took her away from her Papa!

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Well, in true form here is my conversation with Zaquel during breakfast this morning. Here is a bit of preface so you will understand his inquisitive mind! On his birthday, I was telling him that he was such an active baby in the womb and that he would kick me incessantly. I told him I knew he was going to be a very active boy!

The conversation:

Zaquel: "Mama, was Papa crazy like me in your belly?"

Me: "No sweetie, Papa was NEVER in my belly! Just you and your sisters were."

Zaquel: "Well, were you crazy in Papas belly?"

Me: Ummmm, NO! (Then laughing hysterically)

Maybe he will GET it when he is a bit older! Love that boy of mine!

Yours Truly!

Yes, you guessed it! This post is all about me! We had some family pictures done a few weeks ago and my wonderful friend Kim did a fantastic job! See her magnificent work here. She did some of the kids, family together and of Marcos and I. I absolutely love the ones she did of me and I am rarely in the hundreds of photos I take of the kids so yes, I am being a little selfish and posting something all about me! This also goes to show that I DO clean up nicely!

Another post with the family pics will be coming soon!

Getting the Christmas Spirit

This year we are really trying to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Not that we haven't tried it before, but we are doing it a little different this year. I got the idea from my sister-in-law who did it last year. It comes from the book, The Last Straw. Go get it if you can! It is fabulous!

So, we start with the empty manger and explain to the kids that we need to fill it up with straw so on Christmas baby Jesus can have a nice soft bed to lay in. The only way to put straw in the manger is to do an act service for someone else in the family or at school etc. So once a service has been done, they can come get a piece of straw and put it in the manger. The goal obviously is to have all the straw in the manger by Christmas Eve. Then we will put baby Jesus in it and talk about how we filled it with acts of service and that is just the gift Jesus would want us to do not only now, in December, but all year long.

They seem to be catching on, I have to remind them about it from time to time. I would like them to think about it on their own, but I think Isabel is the only one who might do it. Zaquel might surprise me though...you never know! I am sure they will remember this each year and get better at it as the years pass. But, for now, all is well!

The Big 4

I cannot believe it has been 4 years since I had my little agile boy! He brings such joy and laughter into our home. I mean what boy will tell you not to say the word "fat" to girls and then talk about "Shushas" or "boobies" to the missionaries? Only our Zaquel! Happy Birthday to a sweet, fun, strong, and handsome boy! We wish you many, many more birthdays to come!

For a good Cause...

Hey friends! If you need some fabulous gifts for any occasion, my friend has this awesome website which was created to raise money for her sons brain surgery next year. So stop on in and see if anything catches your eye, and then buy! Love to all!

Almost a Winner!

Isabel won "Honorable Mention" for her painting of me and Briel picking flowers. The theme was Beauty is... and Briel was Isabel's inspiration! Too cute! She said she really wanted a blue ribbon(1st Place). I said, maybe next year! She still did a great job on her piece and all of it was her idea and the process of the contest is really worth doing. It is so good for kids to learn how to express their thoughts and put it all together in a piece of something. Way to go Isabel! We love you! You will always be a winner to us!