Red, white and black

Selene, AM and her friend with Ayleen.

Alex has a new friend, Jenine that is staying for a month or so, he's so happy to have somebody to play with. They hit it off right away.

During dinner, I think the kids must have had a bit of a sugar high... they just couldn't sit still.


Dress in red, white and black, give little appreciation notes and chocolate away and have a nice dinner.
That's one way to celebrate love... and friendship.

Feliz Dia del Amor y la Amistad.

Why friends are better then chocolate?

They aren't fattening.
They can hug and be hugged ,without melting.
You don't feel guilty for having to many friends.

They don't cause cavities, no matter how sweet they are.
You can stay in on a Friday night with a friend, and not feel pathetic.
Laughing with a friend is more fun then a sugar buzz.
True friends last forever.

Happy Valentine's

Legends will be legends, with some elements of truth and mostly fantasies. But I was a little curious about this memorable day worldwide, and came upon this version of the history of Valentine's :

"One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death."

Benji's Birthday

That's Benji turning three.
Since daddy isn't home we decided to just do a special breakfasts and celebrate when we are all together. He's a real character. He's an Aquarius. The most stubborned baby I have yet seen.
This morning everyone in the home went up to my bedroom to sing him "Happy Birthday " while he got his traditional breakfast in bed. Other years we've done it just our little family, but this time, I was quite surprised at his reaction. He curled up in a corner between the pillows and didn't even want to blow out his candle, his dear brother didn't mind helping with that.
I'm positive that if it wasn't because there was people all around he would have tried to hide somewhere.
I was quite disappointed myself since his "birthday" was turning out rather different then the perfect replay I had envisioned in my head.
Once every one left he was himself again and happily open his gifts.
I guess the moral of the story is things don't alway play out the way you imagined them, and in those times when you want everything to be perfect, sometimes it doesn't happen that way, but it can still be special; it doesn't have to be perfect to be special.

Later on, I was feeling a bit bummed out about it, thinking that the only special thing I was gonna do for him on his birthday, breakfast, was a flop, and the Lord reminded me of that story in LOG #2 , when he's turning 9 or 8 and his friends get together and organize a surprise BD party. His reaction to the lights turning on and the cheering and Happy Birthday song is to run away and hide for the rest of the day. I'm sure glad Benji didn't do that. :D

11 months

Four Men and a Trailer

I was reading the blog the other day and thinking how much the Internet has changed our lives.

I wooed Ali through the Internet. (or was it the other way around?) lol And now when I travel, through the blog I get to see the kids, what there up to, how they're growing, the cute things they're doing and saying. It helps me fill connected with my family while I'm away.

Thanks sweetheart for taking the time , normally late at night after a long day, to post.

Well now that Alis let me into the blog :D I thought I'd do a small post on this job.

We're in Richmond, Virginia. A very pretty city in a very pretty state. It's only about three hours south of DC so it's COLD!!!!!!!! When we First got here the average temperature was 35 degrees Fahrenheit that's 2 degrees Celsius for those of you who never learned the right way tell temperatures. lol

This was a week or so after we got up here. Disclaimer about this picture. When our wifes saw this picture they all freaked out saying we'd all gained weight. NOT SO! We're all wearing like three layers. lol

Here's a few pictures of our lovely home away from home. It's a little tight with four big guys in it but it's home for now. lol

And this is the Hotel

No there hasn't been a toxic spill. This is just what I look like when I spray!

I can walk

Simple.

I have no ulterior motives
or objectives for loving you -
I simply do.
Jesus

Candy

Friday night is usually pizza night. The kids really look forward to it all week, not only do they get to eat pizza but they can watch a movie as well.
This week for Friday night we had some friends of the home visiting for the weekend. After dinner someone asked me if they could give my 2 year old some candy, since he was standing right beside me, he told them a confident " No, it's bad , you can die". I felt mixed feeling of embarrassment and pride . Right, you can die!.. well he knows the theory, in the practical is a little bit harder. :D

BD

My birthday was so nice, I really felt loved and appreciated, it started out with a great breakfast in bed courtesy of my wonderful home and ended with a nice Italian dinner, my favorite; everyone worked so hard to make sure it was nice and I would enjoy, the teens watched my kids for dinner so I could relax and enjoy, which I sure did. I also want to thank everyone that left me off lines, e mailed or called wishing me a great BD and upcoming year through t the day, I'm blessed to have so many wonderful friends. LU and u all really made my day.
Planning on posting a couple pics when I collect them from the other camera, sadly I'm having a little problem recharging the batteries in mine.:D

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

As your Birthday comes around this year I was thinking of your birthday 7 years ago.
We met right after your 19th Birthday and I was thinking of all thats happen in those 7 years. What you've become to me in my life!

Here a just a few of them:

First and foremost my friend, My other half. The one that is always there with a listening ear for when I need to vent, a word of encouragement when I'm down, a kick in the pants when I need motivation.

After much blood and sweat (thankfully no tears or if there where I won't be saying here. lol) girlfriend and lover!

Girlfriend

Lover

After much wooing, many gifts with lots of begging thrown in. My Wife. It still fills me with amazement that you said yes. I'm the luckiest man.

A Mother. Three times over! And still HOT!

These are just some highlights. If I where to try to list all that you are to me there wouldn't be enough room. I love you very much! Your the world to me!

Happy Birthday!

This serious boy...

... invited himself to my blog , so you might be hearing from him more often. Don't get your hopes up though.:D He's a man of few written words.
Looking good after a haircut.

A good year

I know that's the title of a movie but it just seam to suit the recent, collective thoughts of my mind.
I 've been doing a mental recap of this past year.
I find it a good exercise once in a while to take a look back , dust off memories, experiences or just remember how something made me feel, that is, after all what life is, our experiences and how we react to them.

This year:

I started a blog
met new great friends through this little insignificant page.
put a dent in our van
got my drivers license
was blessed with a beautiful baby girl.
got to know one outstanding person;
Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.
Had to rush one of my kids to the emergency room for the first time, it felt awful.
bought one new pair of shoes.
got my green card.
went to a Retreat.
Was deeply moved by Jesus is Enough and Perfect Love
Felt & experienced in my life the power of positive praise.
Took a trip to the US.
Had our first, only us, family vacation in Ixtapa.
Crossed the States of Michoacan, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Durango and Chihuahua.
Taught about 900 hours of school.
Commemorated my 7th year of sharing my life with someone.
Celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary.


.. and those are just a few things, I have so much to be thankful for.
Just yesterday I went personal witnessing to the Children's hospital and I realized how much I have to be thankful for, here I am , having a trial that my daughter's front tooth is coming in divided in two pieces , what is that compared to not knowing if your 3month old baby is gonna make it having already undergone six operations? It's nothing... looking at the bright side... it's her milk teeth.

10 months.

This past month

I gave my first three steps on the morning of the 24th of December.
I can walk about 9 steps without tumbling down and falling.
I can stand up by myself, sticking my bottom up in the air, from sitting or laying down position.
I love climbing on top of anything I am able to, like boxes, small chairs, and beds.
I love trying to run away from mommy when she's trying to catch me.
I 'm a fast crawler and like going up the stairs. I specially love my brothers and really like getting tickled by them, I also like to have all their attention and I specially like it when they crawl with me, push me around in their tricycle or play crawling race with me.
I really like spaghetti, juice, bananas,apples and this month I don't like my food mashed up.
I can wave bye bye, clap my hands for please and point to things when I want to.
I 'm learning to flip the light switch and to sleep in my own bed, I don't like that so much, I like to cuddle with my mommy. I also need to learn to not tear tissue apart and not stick my hands in the toilet, my mommy says that's groce.