Frankie's Birthday Week

What fun we had with Aunt Keni and Cousin Frankie. She is now officially 1 year old!

Cousin Frankie

Cousin Frankie came to play this weekend. She is fun! BT gives pumpkin hugs and kisses. He even shares his trucks. They invented a chasing game, where BT runs away and lightening legs crawler follows along best she can. They both are little vaccuum cleanings eating food and crumbs off the floor.

On Saturday, we went to the zoo with Aseph and saw the elephants and orangatangs. The best part was climbing stairs and pushing buttons.

Mr. BT visited the doctor today. He is 33lbs. 9 oz, he is 35 inches tall. Not a baby anymore, but a little man.

Uncle Ronnie

If I have to hear about "uncle Ronnie" I am going to vomit. BT must say "Uncle Ronnie" at least 40 times a day. You might think he is a super hero for all the talk time he gets. BT's absolute favorite topic.

UR got a Wii for BT for Christmas. His mom and dad really enjoy it, thanks so much Uncle! He gives the best gifts. And Ms. Yuki came too and fed us awesome egg/shrimp/leek dumplings.

This holiday was filled with puddle stomping, LA Zoo, and Children's museum. Each day was different and fun.

BT loves going to childwatch at the Y. Great for me! I attended pilates w/ball and thought to myself, "That was not a very good workout..." Today I can hardly walk because of sore muscles. As my dad says, "Aging sucks!"

Rain, rain, go away!

Water stomping!

We had a water stomping family good time. We got our not best shoes and went out in the rain to prevent cabin fever. It was great! We splashed, splished, jumped, pounded our hands, skipped, ran and sang in the rain.

Los Angeles got more rain this week than in the last ten years. That is a lot of rain. You may have seen us on the news. Houses washed away, bridges collapsed, and something like 1500 car accidents in 18 hours. Yes, we don't do well with rain. We rarely get it.


BT and I had such fun bringing holiday treats to the neighbors. Great fun! Only 3 day to Christmas. This year we have ornaments we put on the tree one each day. Each is relating to a name of Jesus. Immanuel-God with us, and today was The Door. We also did a chocolate advent from Trader Joe's that is really fun too. Christmas is so fun with kids! Everything is delightful. He pokes the ornaments, and angels, and presents. His eyes shine with wonder as he repeats pretty much everything you say.

Yeah, I'm a Survivor!

Cold (super light) is all but gone, except for the hanging on runny nose which may last for years, I've heard.

I am so delighted in my little man. He is so charming. Yes, I know I am his mother but still... he says monkey, hoo-hoo while scratching his armpits.

I am trying to get him to say thank you politely, so I say "thank you, thank you, thank you, Mommy." Yesterday, he said so sweetly, "Thank you, Mommy". He hasn't said it since, but hope springs eternal in my heart.

His little hair cut is adorable. His eyes look so big and innocent and when he is teasing nothing twinkles brighter than his brown/gray eyes!

Where there is the smallest bit of water his feet will soon follow. He is recently enthralled by leaves. No matter what they look like, if they are crunchy, all the better. Today he frantically zipped about trying to collect all of them before the wind swept them away! He got three, but a lovely three they were.

He insists that I wear the too small fireman hat, and pretend to spray and put out all the raging fires around the place. The spittle that comes out your mouth in the process of making the sputtering sound the better.

He got some wibble wobbles and giggles and squeeles with glee when we spin them.

Last night he "helped" me cut out sugar cookies. He loved putting his finger in the dough. Made me think it is time for play dough.

A Cold by any other name is still a COLD.

Yep, BT has an official COLD. Some symptoms: A nose you cannot hope to catch, No patience for things that do not go his way, Whiney and not a chance of understanding what he is trying to say with a stuffed nose, If he sees the thermometer he has an allergic reaction by throwing a fit and shouting, "No, no, no!".

But he is more cuddly, and wants holding and rocking. He also slowed down enough to enjoy coloring and writing and then saying "x". He loves letters!

Happy Birthday, 30 yrs old, Alex

Alexandria, wow, didn't 30 years just zip past. It is so hard to believe that another 30 years and we will be in our 60s. That changes my perspective on 60.

Tavis surprised her. I met lots of fun people. One girl from Grace I had met not long ago, and happens to me my next door neighbor, literally. So glad to meet you, Jane. This is so unique in a church as large as grace to meet people to actually live near you.

It was delightful to be with kids of all ages and really nice friendly believers. I met a woman who will be praying for us to adopt some kids, Tavis' aunt Joy. Her name perfectly suited her! A newly wed couple who knew each other since pre-school and re-met while working at Starbucks, the Pastor and wife of Alex's church, and we even saw our friends from Bible Study.

Mr. 18 months is big and strong and likes to do a one arm stop the train move. He tried it on a tiny 2 year old and when adults from every couner of the room came running to check on the crying girl, he started crying in terror. I hope this is a lesson that sticks, as my little reminders and corrections have not worked so far.

Today when I was going thru my closet he saw a pack of little trucks. He really wanted them. When I said ,"No." he threw an official fit. I really wanted to give them to him, but I counseled myself to do what was best for him for the long-run.

BT was trying to sing the Alphabet song with the Alpha bug. It was really really precious! Nanna Deanna worked really hard to teach him to hug her tight, and his hugs are so dear. He hugs great! Mommy moments are worth every minute.

18 months, how can it be?

Yes, It is 18 months to the day since little BT entered our lives. We are blessed more than we can count. No word is safe from his vocabulary! He repeats all that he hears.

He just discovered that pens, pencils and crayon make marks, so this is a whole new game. I am purposefully holding back on markers. He is also checking out the paintbrushes I bought at a garage sale as well as sidewalk chalk. He loves the way the chalk makes a clunking sound when it hits other pieces of chalk.

Uncle Ronnie came by to see BT and brought a girl along. BT loved the attention and the adorable backpack wheely case with the monkey on the front. Too cool! We went to the hometown chinese restaurant and "Aunt Helen" the head waitress took BT to see the euye...(fish) in the giagantic fish tank.

Thankful for my family, sanctifying hubby, delightful son, and my sisters. We had such a fun time at Cathy and Keni's this year. We love cousin Frankie and Uncle Edgar. That is such a fun name to say, right BT? Uncle Edgar taught us a great new game that was so funny and silly. We also played Skipbo to think of Grandma Wanda. We love and miss her and called her to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving.

Christian Family, bargains

My dear sisters broke down on the way to Michigan, and what shall we say but our friends the Taylors live but an hour away. In all this drama it has been quite lovely to know the Taylors are willing to help if the sisters need help. God is good all the time.

Today we had such fun yard sale shopping. I found great little tonka trucks for BT. However, he is leeking a selfish heart. He quite insisted that he not share with Frankie. We had to keep insisting that he do. We shall see about tomorrow. More bargains to be had on the morrow.

The Sisters are Off

LOL, that could be taken in two ways... I think I may mean them both. Carol and Cindy are off for Michigan via the Grand Canyon. Cindy has never been before. Carol packed up each inch of her vehicle, and no opening the back door, drivers side. I think Cindy may have to sit on her left hip with no moving her feet which may be wedged between bags of things. I am impressed, cause if I tried to move I would most likely need a full sized semi truck with the additional wedging also

What fun we have had with the sisterhood. It is fun chatting and laughing. I got to go shopping by myself, got my hair done, and then we got our pictures done at pennies. What a hoot! Some great photos indeed.

We ate out at Garcia's Mexican Restaurant. Jonathan did not enjoy the food. His Chinese stomach rebelled against the fried beans and spicy chicken. I however was grateful for the fun food.

Tomorrow we go to hunt for bargains at yard sales.

Phoenix with

Don't cry over spilled

Don't cry over spilled rice, yeah, I know it is usually milk. But in my case it was bulk rice. You do know that if one grain makes the leap he convinces lots of other grains to follow. Soon a large herd of rice will pile and spread across your floor. You will keep finding rice for days. I am thankful that my little man was napping, otherwise, that would have been totally up his alley to make up a fun game of rice rummaging.

More toddler news....

Today BT was downstairs and periodically he would call out to me, "Eh?". I answer, "Yes, baby." Then it was quiet, really, really quiet. I zipped downstairs to find my climbing monkey standing on a chair next to the table tasting peanuts, yogurt covered raisins and raisins then spitting them out when the favor was gone. Also he had been putting Mini moo creamers into his mouth and trying to suck out the milk. He had a nice orderly system and grouping of the already been sucked creamers...

Today was also the day I gave him a hair cut. Not too bad considering his mama did it.=0) If you look closely you will find a couple of crooked places where either he moved or his barber is shabby.

Halloween with the Rios

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year! We delighted in the cool weather, the gorgeous leaves, fun with friends and costumes.

Friday was another doc visit and shots and a blood test for Lead. BT did not cry for the first one, the second one he checked to see if he should be crying, and the last one, which the nurse said was the most painful he took a shakey breathe, waited a long time, then sobbed with his whole heart!

Friday nite was a hoot at the YMCA seeing lots of little people dressed up. BT went dressed as an elephant. Sometimes he liked it, and at other times he did not... The Y had an old fashioned shadow puppet show. Kind of slow for our kiddies of this day and age.


Saturday we visited the LA Zoo. What a blast! It is so delightful to see BT point to animals and say the correct names of them.

Sunday was a Rios visit day. We had fun watching Mr. J and BT learning how to interact. We can see certain areas where BT needs shepherding. Things like obeying, and sharing, and NOT pushing, pulling, or otherwise terrorizing smaller monkeys. He loves, adores, is fasinated by cars, trucks, basically anything with wheels. Mr. J had a big car that really moves, but if you can believe it... he was scared of the thing. But fighting over the balloons was a favorite activity.

As soon as Mr. J is a bit bigger, Steve and I think he will be telling BT how things work, since he is a small but powerful personality, I am impressed that he is climbing already. BT tends to sit back and watch versus being a go-getter. Make no mistake, he has a true sin nature...which he demonstrated by knocking Mr. J down, and screaming when he did not get his way. Also he randomly bit a hole in the tablecloth???? I know, I have no idea what that was about! Hungry?A big congradulations on a great little Rios man, we can't wait until more of the Rios tribe gets here!

Monday went grocery shopping and then we went to Vet park. A friendly grandma swung BT for a while which he loved, then another gma corrected him on pushing her 2 and 1/2 yr old granddaughter off the steering wheel. Then Mexican grandma shared a ball and blue truck with him. So I guess today was grandma day.

Guam friends visit LA

Ah, our dear Guam friends who will shortly be our dear Greek, Guam friends. The Traughts stopped on their way to Guam. What a dear family. The kids are lovely! This is my first time to meet the littlest man Jordan.

Nathan is 11 and I was his aunty in Guam. We used to put treats in the microwave for him to open the door and discover. Oh what fun days. And bro #2, he will always represent a miracle to me. I watched him come into the world. I think that was one of the most beautiful things I ever saw. I was supposed to helping Mommy with backrubs and encouragement, but I just sat there sobbing as I saw Stephens head and body pop out! I will be eternally grateful for Mommy sharing such a private and special moment.

Princess Leslie is cute as a button and a bubble of joy. All these little ones inspire me to continue to shepherd my little man's heart so he will be a blessing to those he meets.

Oh, and Kathy, the mother in law offered to come along to help pack up the place in Guam for the big move to Crete. This lady was a great inspiration to me and I only met her one time at the wedding. She taught me about something to look for in a hubby. She taught me about collecting collectables, ie...dust collectors, and she looks like the all American picture of a gorgeous grandma. She even brought me chocolate candy made by her sister-in-law and homemake sugar cookies. What a lovely woman. She is someone I would love to live near and learn from. While I was putting Jon to bed she even cleaned my kitchen, Wow! Can I get one of these?

Harvest Celebration

Thank you, Julie, for hosting a fun play group for the little people. I had a brainless moment and totally forgot BTs elephant costume. JJ graciously let BT wear a bumblebee outfit. He along with most others were tired and cranky and did not wish to wear such things.

Claire's gma made an amazing zebra costume. It was so adorable! It was a little top heavy with couch fringe as the mane. But so precious. My fellow moms are so talented with sewing I am amazed!

Jose was a pixie pink fairy. Noel was a duck that looked a lot like a chicken, but she insisted was a duck.

Wide shoes

BT inherited my wide feet. Thankfully Nora was able to direct me to Payless shoes which carries wide shoes. We got two super cool pairs for the boy.

My sister, a die-hard garage sale queen, has been buying clothes for BT. So we have the next three sizes for under $75! What a blessing! Especially since I do not really like shopping.

Mrs. Sobaje suggested a video from Leap Frog, The Letter Factory. BT and his cousins after watching it one time have been making alphabet sounds. BT makes the "X" sound and finds the letter everywhere as there are eXit signs almost everywhere we go. Jack, jack told mom the letter M says "MMMMMMM!" The drawback to the film is the catchy songs stick in your head and randomly you will break into song as a sound or sight will trigger the "on" button for the song or sound. Since I left the three film set in Michigan I will need to get another from Target. It is a little over $20.

Home again.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig! Jon is adjusting to playing alone again after two solid weeks of playing, fighting, wrestling with cousins only slightly older than him.

Today Frankie will be coming from Phoenix for a couple of days. We are so excited to see her after not seeing her for several months. We will go to the zoo, swim class, sign class, and the park if it clears up!

Tried OMG Chicken from "Lost Recipes". Super flavor, but lots of work! Brought it to the Joki family to celebrate the birth of their new little son!

Packing, repacking, re repacking

Ok, Thursday we are back to LA. I hope the flight is as good going as coming.

Check out the family Tao band. We sound umm, well, how do you describe how we sound?

Steve in Hong Kong

Steve just emailed me that he has 17 students in his age group.

Michigan Adventures

What fun we are having!

We have been apple picking. The cousins and BT had a blast scampering about in the grass while we picked 9 bushels off apples. My mom makes the best applesauce and apple pie and apple slices and apple dumplings and you get the idea.

Jonathan saw real cows and horses and chickens and cats and dogs galore.

He is so excited to see tons of trucks and diggers and bulldozers and excavators and tipper trucks and semitrucks and delivery trucks and mailtrucks and the moon. He just loves to tells us he sees the moon. He sees the moon in books and over and over when he looks out the window...

Tonight we had music time with papa. He was so delighted to play a yukalale, a guitar, and a mandolin. His eyes lit up and his face just smiled and smiled. He laughed to say the names of the instruments and if you heard him you wouldn't have known what he said. But to him it was just magic. In fact when I tried to take it from him for night time rituals we had a bit of a protest on our hands. Loved that, DAD! If I learn to play just three chords I can play tons of songs like the ABCs and the Wheels on the bus and 100s of others. I have G and C down pretty good.

Tomorrow is Mom and Dads 50th anniversary party. As always my sister Cindy knows how to throw a party!

Tonight I hear a thunder storm! I love thunder storms, the energy is just electric! (pun intended).