To be a young mom....

As I entered the woman's restroom stall, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

In the stall next to me I heard a woman singing...the song was what had me in tears...

"Come on poopoo! Don't be scared...you want to swim in the potty...It's pooping time!"

Yes... a grown woman was singing this to her toddler! She said this several times, and I'm sure she was embarrassed when we met at the sink. Tears were streaming from my eyes and I couldn't make eye contact with her.

This reminded me of when I was a young mom...

As I was shopping at JC Penny's with my 2 year old and 5 month old children, my eldest needed to "go potty." I loaded that little two year old into the double stroller and raced to the nearest restroom. An elderly woman arrived ahead of us and so we used the handicap stall, since it could fit the monsterous double stroller.

"Yes...we made it in time.." I told my little one.

The person in the stall next us lets a huge one rip.

"Mommy! Someone is going poopoo in the big girl potty!" she yells. "What a big girl! Does she get candy for going potty, mommy?"

I wanted to hurry and get out of there before I saw the lady. The stall seemed to be getting smaller by the minute and was dying of embarrassment.

As we were washing our hands, out comes the poor woman. It looked as if she had been in a battle of some sorts.

"You're a big girl!!! You went poopoo in the potty!" My two year old then starts clapping...as the woman's face turns beet red.

All I could say was..."uh-huh"...avoid all eye contact...place my two year old in the stroller then BOLT to the nearest exit!

Ah...the memories of being a young mother.....

Fish Story

A week ago Anna wouldn't let me bare my testimony in church on Fast Sunday. We both thought it would be a little strange to shre how my faith in Jesus is increased by fishing. I thought I would do it here instead. Let me just say that it is a true story, every bit.

(For those of you who are not Mormon, on the first Sunday of each month church members will go to the pulpit and share their personal knowledge of how Jesus is their Savior and other aspects of their faith. They typically share a story from their personal lives of how their faith was strengthened. Sometimes you get some real weirdos up there talking about some off the wall subjects. Anna didn't want me to be included in that crowd.)

Since this isn't an official church meeting, I'm going to go ahead and tell this story as I would have liked to have heard it told if I were in a Testimony meeting. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but you have to admit to yourself that you've already heard worse at a real testimony meeting.

Brothers and Sisters, I want to tell you how the Lord helped me catch 5 fish with my bare hands yesterday.

Now, I'm the Scoutmaster for the Young Men in our Ward, and I was asked to teach the Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge up at Scout camp this next week. One of them requirements was to either get the stomach contents of 3 fish or some scales from 5 different fish. Well, seein' as there weren't gona be no fishing ponds up at the camp, I figured I needs to get these fish guts or scales for the boys before camp and bring them up with me.

I went to the local fishin hole over at Desert Oasis park and tried to catch me some fish. I brought the wife and kids, figurin I'd have better luck with 4 pairs a hands rather than just one. But we had no luck. All I caught me was a sunburn.

I went back a few more times, but no luck. I even got to the point where I figured I would just ask folks if I could take a few of them fish scales from their fishes, but no body else caught none neither. Exceptin some catfish, but them don't got no scales (and I wasn't gonna ask if I could take their guts).

I was getting desperate. I had been prayin each time that I would be able to get me some fish, then that I might just get some scales. I wanted these Scouts to be able to have a good experience and to be able to learn about their fish. I thought the Lord would want them to be successful as well.

The final Saturday before camp had come. We left before dawn on Monday, and I wasn't gonna do no fishin on a Sunday. So this was it. It was well over 100 that day. My daughter and I went to the park and walked around askin folks about their fish. I found one guy who had caught a small Bass and was able to get a few of his scales. I was very greatful, but I prayed even harder- because 1 fish is not 5 fish, no matter how many of its scales you take.

That evenin I took my wife out to celebrate our 15th anniversary early, see'n as I would be up at camp the next week. After our date, around 10 pm, I asked if she wouldn't mind goin' to the park one last time to beg for some more fish scales. She was a good sport and was willing to give it a try.

As we were walking up the path, she tells me she don't want to bother folks for their fish scales. I told here I was right there with her, but what else can you do?

"Well," she says, "why don't you just use those fish?"

"What fish are you talking about, wife?"

"Those fish, right there!"

I turned and looked, and there were 5 fish lying right there on the shore that we walked up to. Now, I don't know if some fisherman caught them earlier in the day and threw them back or if the Lord commanded those fishes to come up and wait for me right there. I knowed He did it with His friend Peter, so maybe He'd done it for me too. Either way, they were fish and they had scales! I picked them up with my bare hands and got me my scales.

I went home rejoicing and amazed that the Lord would provide so miraculously just so his little deacons could finish their fish class.

All kidding aside, I do want to acknowledge the Lord and give him the credit for this. It really was an answer to prayer.

Brothers and Sisters, I also learned from this that the Lord has a good sense of humor. Because when I was pullin' scales off of one of them fish, I felt some water drip on my toes. (I was wearin my flip-flops.) It wasn't until I got home that I realized it wasn't water that dripped on me it was actually a giant fish turd that by now had run down all over my foot. Whoooweee - if you think fish by them selves can smell funny, just try a fish turd. Now that's a powerful stink!

How does a 10 year old boy try and earn $$

As you all know, our Mr. Joseph owes us quite a bit of money due to his game buying spree via his cellphone. On the last day of school I went to pick him up and he had a box of pizza with a few slices in it.

Hmm....strange....I never dropped off pizza...Wait! This kid is lactose-intolerant...I'd never donate pizza to his class!

This is how the conversation went when he entered the car:

"Hey Joseph. How was your last day of school?"

"It was fun. Can I play the Wii?"

"Uh...first...Where did you get that box of pizza?"

"A boy I saw on the playground gave it to me"

Puzzled look...This kid is a germaphobe. Hmmm..

"Do you know this boy?"

"He's in my class and was going to throw it away. I asked if I could have it and he gave me the box"

"What are you going to do with it, since you can't eat it?"

Sheepish grin from Mr. Joseph....:)

"Don't worry mom"

I still couldn't figure out what the deal was with the pizza until I saw this on the counter...


This is how Mr. Joseph planned on paying us back. Grin... He planned on selling this to his sister when she got back from school...What a resourceful young man!

Does this count?

Ahh...Summer break has begun and my kiddos are out of school. Unfortunately, the weather has intensified already. I keep wanting to add pictures that are long overdue, but something always seems to come up. I'm taking an English course this summer and I'm actually enjoying it. We'll see how much I enjoy it when challenging papers are due.

Since summer is finally here and the sun rises by 4:45 in the morning, Mr. Joseph thinks it's time to play on the computer. I've had to implement a few things for him to do PRIOR to playing computer games. Why did he install Warcraft??? Ugggg... Is this a male geek thing?

The first thing he absolutely HAS to do is read for at least 30 minutes for one hour of computer time. That's reasonable, right? Someone has found a loophole. He checked out the book "Where's Waldo" from the library and is now using it as part of his reading time.

Huh? Whaaaaaat? Does that count?

Uh....okay....

"Well as long as you find Waldo, it counts" was my response.

Huge smile on Mr. Joseph's face :D

I figure this should help him in the future, as many men have...

Man blindness ...grin...

Alycia is semi-famous!

A few months ago, Alycia submitted a comment to the church's New Era magazine. It got published in June's edition. I'm still amazed it made it through! We're super proud of the choices she's making as a young woman. Here's a link to the article!

It's titled "Be Strong"

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=e5a1c79fed3b8210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Am I evil or what????

As many of you know. Arizona has passed an Anti-illegal immigration bill that have people divided. The day the Governor of our state signed that bill, my mother called my cellphone and left a message. (She watches Telemundo and other hispanic TV stations). I'm paraphrasing her message...

"Anita! Don't go out. Don't leave the house. There are riots in Arizona and the police will arrest you because you're hispanic! Be careful!"

Whaaaat??? I turned on the television and saw that there were people crying and screaming. Hmm....

I called my mom and left the following message on her voicemail...

"Mom. I just got pulled over and they're arresting me. I'm not sure how long they'll let me keep my cell and Brent's not answering his phone. Can you get a copy of my birth certificate to show the cops that I was born here. Mom....I'm REALLY scared! Call me!"

This is when it gets Wicked....

I have Alycia call my Mom from her cellphone. This time my mom answers and this is what Alycia tells her...

"Abuelita. The police just took my mom to jail and she needs a copy of her birth certificate. Do you have a copy?" "I'm (giggle) scared (giggle giggle) "

"Haha...She can stay there!" my mom says.

Bummer... the joke's over....it was fun while it lasted! hehe

Yikes!

Yikes! I can't believe it's been 5 months since I've blogged! I have so much to share ...so many pictures. But I must first finish up the sashes for the dresses AND sew on the zippers on. Ugg... I know I should NOT have procrastinated.

Once I'm done with the dresses ...I promise to add pics of our lovely family..okay?

I must ask...How in the world does one young 10 year old use up $70 worth of cellphone minutes in 2 MONTHS? He doesn't call anyone...Mind you..This phone is to used for emergency use ONLY! Apparently, Mr. Joseph decided he didn't like having the cheap free games on his cell. So...my little man decided to purchase and download Lego, Pokeman, Sonic something?, Iron man, and a few others. Arrg! We had no idea he could access this or figure out how to download with his little phone. I guess he has the engineering gene....Gee...I wonder where he gets that from?

I almost wanted to cry when we told him to empty his piggy bank. That was such a sad moment. Pitiful little piggy bank. We explained to him that there are consequences to one's actions and he now needed to pay restitution. He has extra chores to make up the difference and I really hope he learns his lesson.

Ugggg.... now we have to add more minutes to his phone AND make sure this never happens again.....