Picture Post For Gramps

Gabriel the clown

Wow, wow Pudgy

Slurpees at Hutto Days

I have no idea, but how handsome is he?

Pudge is eating the best part of the corn dog!

Gabriel actually TRIED it! woohoooooo!!! That.Was.The.Only.Bite.He.Took.

(look close)

Gabriel's Prayer

The lights were out for bedtime, but you'll still enjoy the sweet words...

Scary Ghosts

"we're twins"

The Week in Review....so far.

We went to our first official small town event, Hutto Ole Tyme Days. And boy was there beer. I thought that was odd, but I'm new here. Then again, there is a big place on the main street (or highway 79) that we call, "Beer". That's the only sign on the joint, so we're convinced that's the name.



Hutto Days was basically a collection of local vendors/retailers/hopefuls? with booths selling their stuff. I entered a raffle, because that's what you do. Wasn't there for the drawing, because that's what I do. The kids nickel and dimed me for some mediocre entertainment. Oh, alright. The pony ride was pretty cool. Even cooler still was how they all thought they were cowboys riding the range. in a circle. at the old mill house.

So, Pandora sent me an e-mail saying that I am approaching my free listening limit. Wha? I don't know if I'm more shocked that they have a limit, or that I have approached the 40 hour mark.

I have clinical tomorrow and I can't tell you that I am looking forward to it. Yes, yes... Nilam and I enjoy one another's company as we walk figure eights on the mother baby unit, but 13 hours of clinical is bringing me down. WAY down.

Anyhoo, you night owls look up at the sky late tonight if you get the chance. Awesomeness is in store for us in the form of a meteor shower. I love getting a glimpse of God's amazing works. and while we're on the subject, let's pray Sebastian found someone to pick up the kids from school tomorrow...

**I'll try and get some pics of the hutto days loaded later. right now, my priority is loading up the kids' backpacks & lunches**

Random Pic Thursday

I didn't take this photo, but the guy that did also likes *loves* pie. He captioned it, "I like pie too". Too funny.

So, how are y'all doing? good.good.good. On to me. I have a mess of t.v. to catch up on. Are you guys watching gLee, or do we not go there? Paranormal activity: must see? don't go? anyone?

I'd stay and chat awhile but Gabi is sick and crying and once I get him settled, there is a little something I like to call Thursday night television that needs my attention. Happy viewing.

I Opened A Box

How come noone ever told me about Pandora? Am I dead to you people? Love it. Enough on that.

We're supposed to get some rain which makes me very, very happy. But, it doesn't take much these days: a can of green beans just about made my day today. So delicious (and free... *stolen?/borrowed from someone else's pantry*).

Tomorrow is Friday and that means that if the boys got green lights all week, we get to go out for ice cream. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to take the boys to get a treat at the end of the week. Or how happy it makes Homer. I'm especially proud of my Gabriel who has turned a new leaf from last spring on the behavior front. He has the most wonderful teacher that he absolutely adores and has had NO problems with behavior. Yes, and amen.

Tomorrow is also my day of the week that I get to volunteer at the boys' school. I am loving it more and more each week that I'm there. The school is amazing, the staff is incredible, and the students are just plain loveable. hang on. Pandora threw out a bad egg. That happens from time to time and I gotta give it the thumbs down. I love how Pandora then apologizes and gives you the "We will never, ever play that song again.." message. It cracks me up. But, really. don't ever play it again.

Where was I? Oh how the time flies when I'm here blogging. I guess I should get my raisin out of the bathtub, make his lunch and snack for tomorrow, and then watch some awesome Thursday night television.

And Pandora, this song gets two

Chicks Dig Us

At least this Chick does, anyway.

The Kids Are Playing

On this. My bad. Did I forget to include this one in the last set of photos? It was a nice addition that came with the house. We wanted dishwasher funds, they offered this. We have an experienced dishwasher. We didn't have one of these.

May I Present A Glimpse of My Present

Today was a good day. I thought we would have some rain by this am, because the weather report last night said so. The weather report this am said not until 5 or 6. Bleh. Fine, I'll go and jog. And there was no desire to do it. (hang in there for the run-on) I managed through the first mile and then went on my way to the highschool that is rediculously close to the house with its fancy track that somehow is always locked and I'm not bitter at all about every time I jog up to the stadium and get to see the lovely sign that reads something along the lines of:

H.I.S.D. encourages fitness.

Please feel free to use the track. (we'll just keep it locked all the time and hope that you get fat because we really don't encourage Jack. We do like to post signs that will pump you up, only to let you way down. Thanks for being our Nancy.)

whatever, Hutto High School Athletic Department. You are dead to me. Dead.

Went on with my jog. Just when I was feeling like it was a walk is likely to replace the jog day, another mom comes strolling along at a good pace with her iPod.

I. don't. think. so.

I kept on, people. And she was doing better than a ten minute mile, but I played suit and kept pace with her. Then she rounded a corner just ahead of me. I kept on, jogged about a block, and then preceded to the walk that I had set my mind on. I showed her. Guess who came up behind me? Same mom. Still strutting. Listening to her iPod. So.... long story short. Because I'm hardcore and sick and demented like that, I jogged along with her. I let her take me a good mile and a half (the half is a lie, it was just another mile), and then I turned the opposite corner and headed home. I may be competitive, but I'm not crazy. I need to find my way back, lady. And I don't know where you're leading me that is seeming so desperately far away from my fruit loops and hazelnut coffee awaiting me at home.

That, and I was spent. *just a bit*

Oh, yeah. We bought a new house. More pictures to come...

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing Baby, Baby

Well, if having a sister pregnant with twins who recently has been put on strict bedrest doesn't get you to return to the blog, then shame on you.

And about the above statement, it is all true. Basically, in an effort to keep her cupcakes in the oven a bit longer, I'm willing to provide what entertainment I can. I'm not claiming that I'm all that entertaining, I just happen to have a knack at experiencing life in volume. I'm a magnet for some messed up stuff. Let's face it, if I'm in a room with 3 of you and something is going to go down with one of us, the 3 of you are probably in the clear. Reason #1 why I will not go diving with sharks. Also, why I won't wear a bikini to a water park. (coincidentally, that actually happened and can be filed in the lesson learned folder.)

So, let's get going. Here is a quiz that I need 10 of you to re-post. I kid. I kid. Just trying to get back in the saddle, here.

I'll be seeing you all. And you too, Von. Hang in there, big Sis. I've already put in the call to Albert to turn you q2h. ;)

A Fungus Is Among Us

I recently had my annual eye exam and the doctor had some disappointing news. Apparently, on a scale of 1-5, I scored a 3 in the area of how irritated the inner lining of my eye was. I had been having some issues with my right contact for a couple of days, and figured I better get in to the eye doc and see what the deal-e-o was.

She was all, "you're not cleaning your contacts well enough, and you're overwearing your contacts, and you're never going to be able to wear contacts EVER again if this continues, and are you sure you're qualified to take care of your kids?" whatever.

So I left the eye doctor scared and feeling irresponsible and thinking about how I could go through life wearing my glasses, because let's face it, my eyesight is a notch above legally blind. I've been diligent about cleaning the contacts, although I didn't think I was lacking in that area, so now I'm just manic about the process...thanks, doc. I can't do much about the overuse until I get another pair of glasses, but that day is coming soon.

Today, I was cleaning up the bathroom and wiping the vanity down and such. The boys have gotten into a habit of washing their hands *playing with water*, and they tend to get water up and around my little decorative boxes that are basically used for nothing- oh, except my makeup. Which is limited and almost nonexistent: basically, a couple of mascaras and a makeup brush my mom got me for Christmas one year. Y'all know me and make-up, we meet in passing on occasion. Speaking of which, I met up with a friend one day and felt the need to apply some of the mascara. I casually opened my box, took out mascara, applied and was off. I'm a dream of wife in the getting ready department. This all connects, trust me. I noticed that water had pulled up around my boxes again, and I was attempting to dry down the vanity. And then I wondered if I had any tweezers because what if the boys got a splinter and I needed to take it out. I know, random. So I opened the velvet lined box that held my mascara, (because I figured if I had tweezers that would be the place that I would place them).

Well, looky here.





I promise, it wasn't that bad at the time I applied the mascara. I did notice it was damp, though- I have to admit. I just chalked it up to the washing of the hands)
I guess the water had been getting into the box and slowly caused a growth to start forming. I'm thinking that my eye issues had a little bit more to do with that, and less of me being the worst, most irresponsible patient my eye doctor has.

Woke Up This Morning. Got Myself A Gun.

No. I didn't.

But if I have to go another day hearing that song at some point in the day (for the better part of the day), I will be applying for the license. Sebastian watches the Soprano's EVERY day. Thank you ANE for airing it all week long.

If you haven't guessed by now, this is going to be one of those random posts of everything that is swimming in my mind.

• Like how I have wasted my summer away with work and late nights. Speaking of late nights.. I went to bed a little too late last night. But, I slept like a baby and woke up in the best mood I've been in for awhile. Hmmm... Repeat regimen? considering...

• We're potty training. For the most part things are going well. Until the poop comes into play. Why did Sebi make things so easy for me? And why do these two rascals refuse to poop in the potty?

• Our loan officer blows. He blows so hard, he'd knock the third pig's house down without a sweat. Example #1. He urinated while having a conversation with me (This is strictly a belief and not fact as there is no hard evidence of the act taking place while we held a conversation over the telephone. But, let the record state that I am familiar with the aforementioned sound described and feel confident in my statement.)
  Example #2. I faxed a copy of my birth certificate and social security card to his fax number. His fax number printed on his card that he gave to Sebastian less than two weeks ago. A fax number which is no longer his and he claims , "only goes to an e-mail account from my last job that is closed down now." Funny how your e-mail received my fax. Even funnier how there may be a Rebecca Aguilar living it up in Tijuana as we speak on my credit. It's a hoot, sir. And here's a piece of advice: Your business card should read current contact info. That's just plain and simple business courtesy. (

• My dog has been throwing up for days now. I don't know what's up, but I'm getting a little freaked out. Oso will be 6 in October. Hang in there, Pumpkin. You'll soon be running free in a backyard!

• Sebi and I are reading Charlotte's Web. I don't know who looks forward to it more every night. Oh, and he cut his hair -best case scenario to describe it would be to imagine that you saw a little boy and thought, "Awww. He just had brain surgery."

• I am quite hornory tonight, but as I said - a lot going through my mind right now...

Hindsight

(Left to Right: Sebi, Homer, Gabriel)

Summer, Summer, Summer Time

We recently had our first vacation EVER with the kids and it was amazing. My sister and her family live in Los Fresnos, which is a hop and a skip away from South Padre Island. So we managed a staycation (long distance type version), if that makes any sense at all.

The kids were all pumped up about our trip to the beach and how we were going to build sand castles and search for sea shells (and possibly hidden treasures). I'd been building this up for a good three weeks. The morning we were supposed to head out for day 1, I strolled out to the back patio to talk to the dogs. Well, I had three boys with wide eyes watching who begged to come out too. They saw the pool and it was all over. "I don't want to go to the beach! I want to stay here and go swimming!!" over. and over. and over again.

In my calmest voice, I pulled a national lampoon's vacation and said, "We are going to the beach and we are going to have fun. You're going to have fun, and I'm going to have fun. We're all going to have so much darn fun ...." You get me.

More cries. more screams. and then a really difficult time getting everyone dressed and ready to go. Then the whole.car.ride.there. Homer screamed, "My blankie! My blankie! I want my blankie!" repeat.

Once we got there, the song changed. They loved it! And so did we! I just happen to find it painfully ironic that these pictures suggest otherwise...

Here is a long distance shot of dad about to take Sebi out into the water. This was Sebi's most favorite part! Homer wanted to go and was being sent inland to mama, hence the pouting you see.

And this is the birthday cake that their amateur sculptor of a mama made them. Homer tried to eat it...

Storm Chasers

If you don't already know that I love stormy weather, then may I introduce myself. Sebastian goes nuts whenever the weather gets really bad.

"the news said to stay away from the windows!" and I'm all, "but I just got Sebi's slicker on and we're headed out to watch the storm!..........See ya!"

Sebastian: "THEY SAY THERE IS A TORNADO IN ROUND ROCK!!!!"

me: "I'll let you know if I hear it coming!"

Sebastian: "HOW THE HECK ARE YOU GOING TO HEAR IT COMING??!!#$%"

me: "duh. It sounds like a train. You can't miss it babe, trust me. Only........we live by a railroad track, so we might be S.O.L."

Sebastian: "GET INSIDE -- N.O.W.!!"

me: (as door is closing behind me) "what was that?"

That man saves the drama for the mama- literally. Geez. But heaven forbid something happen to me while he sits on the couch and watches sports. I feel the love.

He hates this about me. And so he switches the sports for every news channel on so he can worry about a tornado sweeping me away. Meanwhile, I get to enjoy one of the most beautiful things in the world to me. And really, I'm not all that unprepared. I have a tornado plan- if it should ever happen ;)

Here we are, "chasing the storm". That's what I told Sebi we were doing, and I had him from hello.

Catching hail in cups.

Today You Sit With Royalty

Doo-dee-doooo..

Just me sitting here staring at my blog and it beeming blue haze right back at me. I know I've been gone and I could go on and on about my absence, but I could have blogged about all that- so shoulda, coulda woulda ...

However, there are big times about to come up so I gotta stretch out the fingers a bit and get them ready to document. We have 4 birthdays to celebrate in the next three weeks! Yes, it's the third annual Vega men birthday celebration. Can I get some sympathy when my husband's birthday falls right before/after (depends on the year) father's day. One week later it's the twins birthdays followed ten days later by little Sebi's. Geez. I've been working like a mad woman trying to save up for all the hoopla.

And when I say working like a mad woman, you may read that literally. Don't get me wrong, it's been well worth it on the entertainment front. One patient repeatedly yelled, "Bomb threat! Bomb threat! Bomb threat!" when I refused to untie her restraints. Though, my personal favorite was the quiet, sleeping patient that woke up, got her purse and lit a cigarette all while I was washing my hands. YOU CAN NOT SMOKE IN A HOSPITAL! I finally coerced her to hand over the cig so that I could extinguish it before we all blew up. She called me a "Ho." I said, "fo sho."

Yes I did.

My parents were in town this weekend visiting and mom always likes to make a trip to Ross which I have come to dread. This time however I threw her a loop and went to town on finding some knit tops and a few dresses for church. It's hot and the black slacks are getting old (and a bit tight if I may add..). So come Sunday, I get the boys dressed and then head off to my room to get myself ready. When I came out to the living room, my sweet Gabriel did a one over on me and then said in the sweetest most adoring voice, "Mommy? You're a Printhcess?"

"Yes, sweet boy. Mommy is a Princess." I take what I can and I run with it.

In Appreciation

This one may not be understood to all, but it will be clear to me. Today was the boys' last day at school until next school year. Thank you, God for pouring out this blessing.

To each of the teachers, I have written a special poem designed around their relationship with each of my boys.

Ms. Jaimes,

I may have been a challenge here and there…. and then again,

And you have gone the extra mile to keep me till the end.

A smile or hug you offered me- even when I got mad,

A touch and pat and “good job” you’d say which always made me glad.

I can’t express to you how much I do believe,

That who I’ll be one day will be what you have dreamed you’d see.

And as I age you may not see the man I’ll grow to be,

But know that you were there for me and planted one great seed.

- love, Gabriel


Mrs. Baker,

I don’t know how you handle all of us and all you do.

But as you did all that you’ve done, before your eyes I grew.

I started out reserved and watched you, checked you out

And then you seemed o.k. to me and then I had no doubt.

No doubt that you were here for me any time I asked,

No doubt that I was a priority and one you’d get to fast.

Your patience with my friends and I is warm and comforting,

And I’ll look back and think of you- good days remembering.

-love, Homer


Ms. Varghese

I don’t know how to say goodbye and so I’ll just say this,

I cannot express to you how much you will be missed.

I’d like to give you one last hug before I go away,

But one last hug just won’t replace a hug for every day.

So I’ll just give a hug for every day you spent with me,

And when you’ve gotten all those hugs I’ll give some more for free.

-love, Sebi

The Payback Chronicles: Mommy's Edition

Oh parenting.

We've been having some "episodes" with Gabriel lately. I won't give too many details- as I have a huge monkey on my back reminding me that I perpetuated so-called episodes by catering to him to avoid a meltdown a time or two.... or two-hundred.

Guess who hasn't been catering to him and has dealt with many a breakdown. His teacher. Bless her.

This weekend after a firm attempt to regain the pants in this family, I insisted on Gabriel doing as I told him. Can we say melt down? Oh, the pain. Oh, the shame. Oh, the tears.

And that was only my reaction.

I decided I needed to put the smack down. minus the smack. And since I am a firm believer in the television and all the reality it offers me, I took some advice from Jo-Jo the Supernanny. I busted out the time-out matt.

I am resourceful.

The time-out matt was a great threat for a good part of the weekend. And then tonight, my genes kicked in. Anyone have a childhood memory of outsmarting your parents? Like when you asked for something that you really, really wanted- and they gave in and then you abandoned the very thing you couldn't live without. Then when asking for the next hot item that you really, really wanted, the parentals reminded you that the last time you begged and pleaded with them you didn't follow through. To which your reply was,

"So I lied."

You can't acquire wit and charm, people. You're just born with it.

And then you give birth to it 16 years later.

Tonight, I asked Gabriel to clean up a mess that he had made. He was very reluctant. So da-da,da DAH! Time-out matt was threatened. I walked away certain that he would be cleaning up. Walked back to find him nowhere in sight. Guess where he was?

On the time-out matt. Contempt with his choice over not cleaning up.

child: 1 ; parent: 0

Session 2

Do y'all want to hear about my whole day, or just the part where Neil comes in?


I thought so.


After my first session with Neil last Wednesday, we had an appointment to meet on Friday. We met at 11:00 on Wednesday, so I figured we were meeting at 11:00 on Friday because that just makes sense. But for some reason, we were actually scheduled for 10:00. And that some reason was that I had requested to meet at 10:00 instead of 11:00. go figure. I have no rhyme or reason.


Needless to say, I missed my Friday appointment. Good news is, I hired a trainer who throws caution to the wind with his calendar as well, and he didn't show up either. I learned this when he called me apologizing on Monday for missing our appointment. I played all innocent and said,


"Damn it Neil! My body means nothing to you! NOTHING!"


I kid. I let him know that we both had goofed and it felt like a match made in heaven. Only now I'm thinking I need a responsible party in charge of my fitness regime. Maybe I'll crack the whip on him next week. If we show up.


Long story short. We rescheduled for today. At 11:00. I learn my lessons fast, people. We did lower body. Correction. I did lower body. Neil watched my pain that exists in his dojo. Things were going alright. As I warmed up, he casually asked if I knew what a burpee was.

Do I know what a burpee is? Please. I have three kids. I don't use them anymore for their intended purpose, but I have learned that you can strap one on the swiffer in place of one of Johnson & Johnson's disposables and it lasts a lot longer.

Wrong burpee.

I forget that Neil is not middle-aged with 3 kids. And that I am paying him because I am. Allow me to enlighten anyone who also has no idea what a burpee is. First off, it is not a word that you should ever want to hear come from your trainer's mouth. If they speak it, run. You're better off. Trust me.

Neil subtly throws in the next exercise by saying, "o.k. first you squat down, pop into a plank, do a push up, pop back into a squat, jump up arms raised and repeat. Ten times.

I turned around and he asked what I was looking for. "My rascal, you idiot."

I did it. And it hurt bad. Real bad. Then he had some other torture and it was back to the burpee. Seriously? AGAIN? But I didn't want to be the whiny client who says, "I'm fat. help me." and then quits. I stuck it out.

Y'all want to know just how hard it was? I threw up. I just said that I threw up. Just clarifying for y'alls sake and mine. I felt so sick when we were done with the second set, but I hung in there. Then he had me do 50 reps (four sets!) of different variations of ab work that about killed me. He did mention that I wasn't dead and "whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" Thank you, Plato.

I didn't throw up at the gym. I beelined for the van and made it home thank goodness because I had to hang on to some piece of my dignity. Half way through the work-out I gave up and just went ahead and farted because I had to. He wasn't letting me go anywhere, and I already hated him at that point.

So, if you would like to picture me doing the burpee. I have found this for your viewing pleasure. The version our beloved Neil had me do is the one demonstrated at the end of the video, but she doesn't do the plyometric jump up from the squat position. That made it totally harder.

I'm Offering This On A Need To Know Basis.

O.k. We all get those e-mails that say you're going to explode if you read this and don't send it to 47 people in the next 2 minutes. And whatever. I'm still here.

But y'all know my fear of the cockroach. We go back. In fact, (ironically as I am typing), I am hearing a scurrying to my right. which all signs point to as cockroach. Thank you, Murphy. Your law does rule with an iron fist, again.

Anyhoo. I'm gonna type real fast to get up out of here and have Sebastian investigate the scurry. Though, I don't think cockroaches scurry at all. They stealth their way into your room and then act all ninja like you can't see them when you turn the lights on.

Hey, roach. Just because you're not moving doesn't mean that I think that you don't exist.

Read on if you lick your envelopes. Or don't. Just know I'm talking about cockroaches and your licking of envelopes. Your curiosity should be peaked.

Here is the e-mail I got. And if whoever sent it was doing it as a joke to scare me then guess what. Job well done.

CAUTIONOne day a girl licked the envelopes and postage stamps instead of using a sponge. That very day the lady found a cut on her tongue. A week later, she noticed an abnormal swelling of her tongue. She went to the doctor, and they found nothing wrong.. Her tongue was not sore or anything. A couple of days later, her tongue started to swell more, and it began to get really sore, so sore, that she could not eat. She went back to the hospital, and demanded something be done. The doctor took an x-ray of her tongue and noticed a lump. He prepared her for minor surgery. When the doctor cut her tongue open, a live cockroach crawled out!!!! There were cockroach eggs on the seal of the envelope. The egg was able to hatch inside of her tongue, because of her saliva. It was warm and moist...This is a true story reported on CNN.

Andy Hume wrote: Hey, I used to work in an envelope factory. You wouldn't believe the....things that float around in those gum applicator trays. I haven't licked an envelope for years!" I used to work for a print shop (32 years ago) and we were told NEVER to lick the envelopes. I never understood why until I had to go into storage and pull out 2500 envelopes that were already printed and saw several squads of cockroaches roaming around inside a couple of boxes with eggs everywhere. They eat the glue on the envelopes.

At Least I Don't Pay The Help

So the other day I made some bbq chicken with mashed potatoes. Sebastian surprised me by saying, "Don't worry about the dishes. I got em." I'm a clean-as-you-go cook, so usually what's left is whatever is holding the food.

Look what I found in the fridge the next morning.

That's about a tablespoon of mashed potatoes in a bowl of barbeque sauce. No chicken. Just sauce.

Know This.

I'm just gonna waltz in here like nobody's business and pick up like I never left off. I'll just toss you a salad of what's been going on, catch everyone up real quick, and it'll be like old times. Promise. ;0

Nursing school -

• Going well. A on every test. Not that (in the words of my former instructor) any patient "will ever ask you what your GPA was". Thank you. How about grad schools? Do they care? Cause I can underachieve it a bit if that's the case.
• Spent a whole day starting IVs in endoscopy. Just to clarify, a whole day was from 6:30 to 1:00 and I officially started 4. The one I didn't get was a screamer. She screamed just as I was sticking her and I retracted my needle, turned to my primary nurse and stated, "I don't do screamers." I don't know how I had the audacity to even speak those words, but it's the Gods honest truth. Lesson learned. Patients don't appreciate you ever-so-slowly advancing a needle into their arm. Apparently it hurts when you go slow. Whatever.
• I have this week and the next 3 weeks! off from clinical. Then I start my mental health rotation. what shall I do with myself but return to the blog.

The boys

• Anyone else's kids been sick since like.... December? It's been a cycle that has got to end. Today we got a cold front. yippee. great. just what we need around here. Although, we do need the rain. I just planted some calla bulbs. Yes, people. I'm going for it again this year. You cannot separate the necrosed thumb from this gardening wanna-be. It just hangs on every spring and recooperates over the remainder of the year.
• Sebi surprised me a few weeks ago by saying that 2 + 2 is 4, and 4 + 4 is 8. He's my little math whiz. When asked what 6 + 6 was. "7." It's bigger, right? He totally gets it.
• Gabriel is getting really attached to me. He wants mommy to change his diaper and mommy to put him to bed and mommy for everything. He also gives me kisses when I leave him at school and that makes up for the extra pull on my end. That, and he did allow Homer to hog me for the first two years...
• Homer is developing an attitude. I'll leave it at that. If it weren't for his dashing looks, we'd have a problem on our hands.

The body

• My best friend, Angela told me that she gained weight in nursing school. I love to look back now on that conversation when I was sure that I would be the exception. "Not me." I'm gonna look better when I finish nursing school. I'm gonna look back and be all, "Look how fat I was when I started nursing school" Well people, if I keep on at this rate, I'll be looking back and thinking how skinny I was when I started nursing school. Hence, Neal.
• Neal is my new personal trainer. We "trained" today. I'm sure I'll have lots to say about him in the weeks to come (or further on down in the post), so I'll leave him be for now.

The gym

• Gold's is so inspirational. Posted on the door as you enter is a sign that reads, "Know that showing up is half the battle." Really? Because if you could send Neal over 30 minutes into my workout with that half the battle malarky, it might seem more real to me. Strutting into the gym was not hard. Neil's "cool down" was hard. 55 minutes into the workout, "Let's go ahead and cool down." That consisted of me getting on a stationary bike and peddling like there was a fire at my tail. Also, I was in the unfortunate position of being at the bottom of a hill with gail winds opposing my direction. Cool down my ass. Excuse my french.
• As you leave the gym, the door reads, "Know that you'll be back for more tomorrow." Sure I will. Me and the rascal I will ride in on.

Chief Vega

There are no words for this one. I mean, come on. He obviously runs a tight ship.

I Guess I Was Good, And Here Are The Kids

If word didn't get out, let me shed some light on the uninformed. My dad got me a laptop for Christmas. And I LOVE IT. *shout out and a big thanks to you, Dad*

I could go on and on about my love of the laptop computer and whoever was genius enough to invent it, but honestly, I'd lose a lot of you. So, I guess I'll move on to the updating of the family.

This is Sebi at his Thanksgiving celebration. I don't know how he scored being the chief amongst all the other Pilgrims and Indians, but rest assured I was a proud and beaming mama. and then I overheard the teacher say that nobody wanted to wear the "heavy headpiece". *cough* And I raised my head a bit higher knowing that my sweet boy took one for the team. Or was persuaded to...

And this is Homer and Gabriel at their Thanksgiving celebration...

I am proud. Homer's cup is hiding his face, but you can pretty much get an idea what it looked like by checking out Gabriel. They also threw a major fit as soon as I got there because *gasp* I was 7 minutes late and other parents had shown up and they were feeling left and abandoned and forgotten and felt I needed to feel their pain. I'm sure that's how it went down. It was fun times. Especially since I was the only parent with screaming 2 year olds that both wanted to be held at the same time. And they aren't newborn weight anymore. I hope that the other parents saw past my profuse sweating which was brought on by the carrying of close to 70 pounds of joy. I smiled and made conversation over the wails, and maybe, just maybe- they didn't notice.

The brotherly love is here and it's strong. And I LOVE IT. Each time that I get to see Sebi voluntarily taking care of his brothers, it completely melts my heart. Here they are at Texas Jumping Beans. I was prepared to take a picture of someone coming down the slide. I had no idea that it would be two of my boys- and that Sebi would be holding one of his little brothers!

By the way, the brotherly fights are also alive and well. I just never seem to think to grab my camera in the midst of those bouts. I have no idea why.

I believe I mentioned the day that Sebi snookered me into letting him skip school for a day at Chuck-E-Cheese. Here he is having a blast. That face made it totally worth getting behind in my studies.

















I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't take many photos over the past few months. The computer issues that began at the start of my school year sordof made me throw in the towel on the picture front. So, if you can imagine a lame drum roll....this is all I've got of Christmas.





Sebi decorated the whole tree on his own. The chair was there so he could put ornaments up high. Now, if you don't know me, this is a big deal. Decorating the tree is a big deal for me. I get anal and Christmas becomes not fun, but a project. A project of hanging ornaments equally spaced and hung on branches, not resting on them. It's bad. But this year, Sebi was so excited that I gave him the ropes. I had absolutely no problem with those three red ornaments that you see in close proximity to one another. None. Because he had fun. And it wasn't about the tree being perfect. It was about making memories for my precious boy. He did a great job.





See.





Oh, tilt your head right. sorry. still figuring out the new laptop.







And by the way, the tree is still up. I'm doing another passive-aggressive challenge to see how long Sebastian will allow this. I'm betting we'll be seeing Christmas in July. any takers?

Besides all of that, there has been a whole lot of this going on. The kids have been battling a stomach bug that rivals all others. Seriously. I'm just praying that everyone will be well by Monday as I get to start my 2nd semester next week.

They're gonna let me do I.V.'s, people.

Vintage Video

I really have no idea when I took this video. It has been on my camera for some time, though. I think it may have been close to 6 months ago. I do know that it was right about the time that Homer and Gabriel FINALLY started playing together and not just one or the other with Sebi.

I love how Homer asks Gabriel before either of them throw the ball, "Ready Gabriel??" Gabriel usually answered with a, "Yes!" or his ever-so-popular, "Yes Sir!"

Hello, Blog. Have We Met Somewhere Before?

O.k., so I've been slacking on the blog. I know. But seriously, I'm waiting for my NEW LAPTOP to arrive- because y'all know I'm all about staging photos in blogs that have nothing to do with my family.

I'm trying to make the come-back. I'm thinking about it. I actually blogged in my head today when I was jogging. So hang in there. Or hang around.

Estimated ship date of the laptop (courtesy of my parents): January 13, 2009.

And by the way, Happy New Year to all!