Coupon Clipping at its Finest

If you want to learn the fine art of coupon clipping or penny pinching... My sister-in-law, Maria, is hosting a class. It will be Tuesday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to come along let me know. You can hitch a ride with me. Don't miss out! We could all use the extra savings during these economic hardships. Maria, would not mind to have others tag along... so join me!

Once there was a Snowman... or three!

For Christmas Trevino cousins got Leah and Mylo (and Milli) this fun wood Snowman face kit. We can make five different snowmen at a time... We opted to make three. We have been waiting for it to snow again and Monday was the perfect opportunity. While Mish slept we headed outside to make our snowmen. They turned out so cute and we love them! Its fun to make these, but so much work! I could only get the the torso and the head done. Mylo just watched Leah and I and ate LOADS of snow, while Leah and I worked up a sweat. We finished our afternoon with hot chocolate and enjoyed our snowmen from inside. This was really fun!

A BIG Thank you to our cousins Max, Jake and Ryan!

Food Blog...

I have finally updated my food blog... Check it out.

Click HERE

Dancing...

Here are the kids dancing. You can't hear the music very well but check out those moves!

Milli's army crawl

Kid Updates

Here is a quick update of the kids. I haven't done one for a long time and its fun to brag about what my kiddos have been up to. They are the love of my life and I couldn't live with out them. Challenges and all!

Milli is 8.5 months! Wow, I can't believe how fast time is flying by. She is a good sleeper and I finally don't have to wrap her up like a burrito anymore. She is still not very predictable when its time to sleep or be on a schedule, but together we figure it out. She is a great eater. I make my own baby food and she really likes my cooking :) She prefers veggies over fruit and LOVES bread. I won't know her physical stats until the beginning of Feb (when she is 9 months old) but she seems to be chunking up ever so slightly. This picture depicts her perfectly. She is always smiling and I just love those sparkly eyes. She is sitting up and army crawling all over the place. She is content to taste everything in her path, not such a good thing when I can't get all my cleaning done everyday. She is talking a lot and says mamamamama and dadadadada all the time. She loves to watch me and the kids dance and thinks its pretty funny. She has a great laugh I just can't get enough of her every day.

Mylo (aka Professor Goggles, see above picture) is a character to say the least. He melts my heart every day with the sweet things he says. He knows all his letters and recognizes them quickly. He loves to be read to and always asks questions about the book that are a bit to "deep" for his age. He is a huge StarWars fan and I think its safe to say he is a bit obsessed. He often wants us to refer to him as some StarWars character. He uses the 'forest' (that is what he calls the force) all the time (not to shake ;)) and his little face and hands are pretty cute while he is doing it. He is learning his numbers and likes to count really fast to thirteen and then he gets lost with all the teens. He like to break dance, although he doesn't know that's what its called (I will post a video soon). He is really good at one chore (out of ten), He is in charge of recycling. The other day he had some recycling to do and he was wearing socks, so I told him I would pick him up so his feet wouldn't get cold. When he walked back inside I thanked him for always being so willing to do the recycling and what a great help that was. He walked a few steps and said "Mom, thank you so much for helping me so my feet won't get cold, you are very nice mom". He melts my heart all the time with his politeness (<--- is that a word). How cute is he?!?

Leah, boy has this girl grown up! She is doing fantastic in school. She is reading like a champ and is awesome at doing her chores. Leah is in charge of making her bed, setting the table, washing some dishes, reading to Mylo, picking up the TV room and of course her room and any other toys laying around. She is a great at doing those, mostly, with out complaint. She is always willing to open the door for the dog. She is always a great entertainer for Mylo and Milli. She is a girly girl and I love that about her. She lets me play beauty shop with her every day. She says a great prayer and thinks of others feelings (most of the time) She has been known to wipe Mylo's bum, if I am in the shower... what a nice sister! She adores Milli and is super soft with her. It makes me sad to see my baby grow up. She has lots of loose teeth and I am nervous for her smile to change and go through that awkward stage (Although I don't think Leah could really have an awkward stage. I know, this is her mother speaking and I think she is beautiful). She has been helping me in the kitchen a lot and is a great helper. Her favorite responsibility while cooking is breaking the eggs, and she is pretty good at it too. I love to see her progress and grow and become a big girl. Social butterfly all the way! (Oh, Leah got her report card this week and she does have to work on her penmanship AND I didn't cry when we got it... I guess I am getting used to her growing up:)

There's a brief update.

Children's Museum.... Knowing my limits

This past Tuesday I joined my mom at the Children' Museum. We have gone to the museum several times. My mom had Dylan, Nicholas and Alex. I was going to have my other brothers kids come have a play day anyway so why not join my mom at the gateway?!?! I was crazy to take 6 kids with me to the museum but they are great kids and they all play great together. We first played down stairs and after lunch we would go upstairs to do the older kids stuff. So, I lined up all my ducks (Gabi, Mason, Leah, Diego, Mylo and Milli). We had our jackets on and headed out the door to get our drinks and eat our sandwiches. After about a half a block I turned around to make sure all my ducks were still behind me. To my shock one was missing!!!! I freaked out, we ran back to find Diego who was no where to be seen. I was sure he had come out with us. Where did he go? Where was he? Did some crazy person see that I had too many kids to keep track off and just took one? I ran like a chicken with her head cut off. I was running in to the parking garage yelling his name, I was looking high and low, I ran in to stores. People started looking with me and yelling his name. Needless to say I was panicking and in tears. The thoughts running through my head were wild and scary. I finally ran into a store to ask where the police station thing at the mall was and this very nice young man ran with me to try and get help. I ran in there and explained what was happening, what Diego was wearing and gave them all the info I could get out. No sooner do I finish telling them all the info, my cell phone rings and sure enough my mom had Diego in her arms! Thank GOD!!!! I ran out with this young guy hugging me and I hugging him so thankful that all was alright.

What happened was that as we were walking out, Diego got distracted and walked into were all the balls are and stayed to play for a little while longer. Needless to say we just packed up and came home. I was sick to my stomach that night and the stress of the day soon left after I got all the kids safely at home. I have learned my limits. I can watch 6 kids at one time, so long as I am at home and don't go any where. I feel so much love for my children, nieces and nephews. I cannot explain it. I am eternally grateful that it was just a scare. Still the kids had a great time and the first thing Diego said to his mom when he got home was "I got losted"... I hope I haven't traumatized his life for ever. :)

Food Storage at its finest

Have you heard of Wise Company? its a food storage made easy company and my sister-in-law, Amy is having and open house today. Click on her name for more info. These tasty full meals are freeze dried, they have a 30 year shelf life, cost less than a year of food and all you have to do is add water. She will be having a tasting at her house TODAY!... you don't want to miss it.

Food Storage- a peace of mind in an unstable time.

Updates...

Below are some of my updates from the last week or so. They might be boring to some readers, and perhaps boring to my kindred that will some day read this, but they are mostly for my records. Read at your own risk and boredom. :)

Three's a Crowd

Mylo (3.5), Leah (6) and Milli (8 mo.)

Leah and Mylo were in taking a bath the other day, while I was feeding Milli. I looked over to make sure everything was going alright with the little swimmers in the bathtub when Milli's long arm swiped the spoon and got food all over herself all in a matter of seconds! So into the tub she went. It was so cute to see all my monkeys in the tub together. You can see how different they all are and YES they all have the same two parents :)

Utah Gymnastics

For the last 9 years Karen has given me Utah Gymnastics Season Tickets for Christmas. I have been dreading the day when Gymnastics would come up again. Usually we would meet up for dinner with Al and Karen, Dave's Aunt Nancy, Cousin Christina and her family. Then I would hitch a ride with Al and Karen to the meet. Al would drop us of as close to the entrance as possible so Karen and I would waddle to catch the elevator. We often laughed as we walked in sync hoping not to fall. Anyway, last Friday I had a wonderful 'date' with my Father-in-law. We met up for dinner at the Cine Grill in Salt Lake. It was so good! Al is a great great guy and I love him. We then headed up to the Huntsman Center, bought some candied almonds and head down the LOOOOONG stairs case. I never looked over at him but I was definately tearing up more than I was planning on. I must make it clear that Karen and I hardly ever went up and down those stairs, we took the elevator all the time. Sooo, on the way back up the LOOOOONG stairs, at the end of the meet, we hurried out to the car and Al decided to head up the side walk, good idea, right? wrong! The sidewalk had no clear passage to the parking lot. The sides where full, and I mean FULL, of snow. When we got to our car, we had to trudge through two feet of snow and it was a great laugh. (My feet were frezzing, clogs are not made to walk in two feet of snow). We had a great time. Best of all I got to go on a date, we laughed a lot, and the Utes won....GO UTES!!!!

Gifts for Grandma!

When talking to the kids about Karen's b-day and making our list of things we love, miss and remember about her Leah said "I know what we can give grandma for her birthday! We can send her balloons!" Great idea Leah. That is exactly what we did. It was so nice to celebrate Karen's b-day. Our last dinner together was a delicious dinner of Pork Tamales, Spanish Rice, Black Bean salad, Fresh Salsa... I just can't remember what we had for desert! I am sure it was something yummy. So, in her honor we ate tamales (not from scratch, I plan to learn how to make these soon). I made Spanish rice and bought that perfect salsa, it was oh so good. I was so tired and overwhelmed that I could not make myself make anything else. It was so delicious. I made a yellow cake and decorated it with Karen's name on it. (Karen used to always make a round cake for her kids and she would always put their name on it, so I thought I would do the same for her). Then we sent grandma our "gifts". It was fun to watch the kids be so excited to see their balloons fly up to heaven....

"One of the best ways to have heaven in your home, is to have someone you love in heaven"

My sister-in-law gave me a tile with this saying on it and I love it! Its true, our daily lives seem to have a different feel to them. We want to see grandma again, and we know we will. BUT we must do our part to make that wish/desire/hope come true. We had a great day! For now we keep her memory alive.

I am a slacker!!!!

I have sucked at blogging... I have been way to busy with my training schedule and the daily motherly tasks that I have put my blogs on the back burner. I hate this and I have TONS to blog about. I need someone to come organize my life for me so I have time to do EVERYTHING I need and want to do. I am a crap blogger AND lately, totally addicted to food. I am going to rehab this week to cure my addiction. :) The snacks are being thrown out and all the goodies are going to be given away, don't be surprised to find some goodies on your door step.

Happy B-day Karen!

About the picture: Taken at our yearly trip to SunValley this past July 2008. Karen and Al and 10 of their 11 grandchildren. This picture went out to many of Al and Karen's family and friends this past Christmas as his Christmas card. We (the kids) gave all this picture as a gift and the fun memories held in this picture are priceless an innumerable.

I started this blog February of 2008. I missed Karen's B-day and I have been looking forward to this day ever since. After her passing, I still looked forward to this day. Its finally hear and as usual, here are a few the things we love about Karen and remember about her.

1. Her Chicken Broccoli Casserole (oh, so yummy)
2. Her frugality
3. Her blue nightgown (when Dave was little)
4. Her presence at home (just knowing she was there)
5. Her concern for others
6. Her support with whatever we wanted to do
7. Her zeal for genealogy work
8. "Bring me the change" (when Dave was young)
9. Her fear of driving in the winter, even when the roads were not bad
10. Her raspberry jello (YUM!)
11. Her love for the gospel
12. Her blue eyes
13. Her sugar cookies
14. Making rolls with her on Thanksgiving and totally failing, we laughed about it.
15. She always showed interest in my running and was encouraging
16. Her friendship
17. Her quiet example
18. Giong to IKEA and getting meatballs or a little toy for one of the kids
19. Going to Gymnastics together
20. I remember bumping into her to the beat of the music at Gymnastics, then she would give me a smirk and say "oh stop"
21. Waddling with her to and from the car where ever we would go. We had to walk in sync and hope we would take each other down.
22. Going to eat was always fun. BUT going to Rodizio, a Brazilian Restaurant, was always so funny. She couldn't help but use every spanish word she knew and every time she did we would laugh.
23. Drving with her on the White Rim. When we had to make a tight curve or go up a scary hill she would say "Ah Chubankey". Loved her funny phrases.
24. She was 'crafty' and always made a birthsampler for all the grandkids. Treasured and displayed proudly in our home.
25. Knowing that I could call her at any time just to chat.

Some of what the kids remember

1. She always said "I suppose"
2. She made yummy cakes
3. The Oso's (bears) that she gave Leah
4. Going to Einstein with her
5. Going to IKEA and eating there
6. I remember her with Jesus (Mylo said this one)
7. Going to IKEA and getting a little Kitty (Mylo)
8. When she said "why are we whispering" (Karen, the kids and I were at her house and we were whispering for no reason and it was really funny... you had to be there)
9. She always let us borrow movies
10. When she got upset that Mishi got her ears peirced

We miss Karen, mom, grandma and friend. But we know that we will see her again. To celebrate her today, we are going to have cinnamon cake (one of her favorites that I made) and for dinner we were going to have our last meal we had with her BUT we decided to go to Training Table, one of her favorite places to eat. We are also going to send her balloons, this was Leah's idea and I think its a great one. She is still a huge part in our lives. Her example still is very influencial in our daily lives and it is the daily little things we miss most about her. We are fortunate to have known her and blessed to be part of her family along with Al's. She wasn't one to express herself very much but we know how much she loved us. May we meet again!

LOVE YOU & MISS YOU!!!

Emotional Workout

This is so silly but whatever...

This picture was taken after a 'run'

I have signed up to do the SLC Marathon this year and as a result I have been going to the gym. On Thursday, new year's day, there was a Zumba class at the gym, so I thought I would do the class and then run my 4 miles. Zumba is a Latin Music class, that is SO much fun. It was my first time and I was a blast. A total work out and SUPER fun. I love dancing and I LOVE dancing to Latin music. I have never felt a real tie to my Latin roots so ANYWAY... There we were dancing when this song comes on, "desde que me dejaste", I start to tear up as we are doing our moves. I was totally feeling the music and overcome with emotion. I thought of my early years when I used to dance with my sister at home. Then I look up at the mirror, and I look just like her. I tell myself I better get my act together, this is not cool to cry during a gym class. Whatever, the class goes on and I keep doing my thing THEN this other song comes on, "mi negra tomasa". My brother Marcos will sing this song to my sister all the time. So there I go again, I start to ball again! I was singing, dancing, crying and staring into the mirror thinking of my sister. Who knew I would be such a basket case at a gym class!? Oh well, I certainly will keep going. I love you "Poopy Squatz".