Spanish Lessons

This past weekend, after a delicious dinner had been consumed, our family was sitting around our dinner table playing a rousing game of 'Simon Says'. Daniel was Simon, and was adding in a level of difficulty by giving directions using his newly mastered Spanish (oh to be a language sponge like a six year old).

'Simon Says... touch your ojos'
'Simon Says... touch your hombreras'

Well, this one stumped Suzy and I, for even though we both had multiple years of high school Spanish, neither of us knew that hombreras meant shoulders. It didn't take too many years of schooling for our son to pass us in his pursuit of academic excellence.

So, last night, as Suzy and I were in the midst of a tightly contested game of Sequence, we were discussing our past week, and Suzy mentioned something that Sammy had said. As soon as she said it, it tickled something in my memories of last week. I had heard him utter the same word, but had put it off as him making up funny words during the coarse of conversation. Well, this word, which I can't repeat as I don't want this blog marked as objectionable material (if you must know, it's the Spanish word for someone who is a member of the oldest profession), is definitely not something that you would say to someone who speaks Spanish. In fact, as I thought more about the incident, Sammy had used pretty good inflection, and definitely had a good accent going. After discussing it more with Suzy we decided we better nip this in the bud, so Sammy doesn't inadvertently offend half the population of Southern California.

Me being the adventurous father that I am, decided to tackle the conversation this morning as I was helping the boys get ready for school.

'Sammy, you know that there are some words that I don't like you saying, right?'

'Like butt!'

'Yes, Sammy, like butt.'

'And pee pee head.'

'Yes, pee pee head is also not okay.'

'And ...'

'Okay, okay Sammy, you get the picture. Well there was a word you said a couple of days ago that...'

It seemed like he and Daniel (who was eagerly eavesdropping) got the point, but I am a bit afraid of hearing from the teachers and/or offended Hispanic classmates/parents tonight.

So, if you find that you are on a dark corner in a bad part of Tijuana, and you see a scantily clad young lady who has a bug on her shoulder, my boys can probably help you out with any translations necessary.

35

Yesterday I celebrated my thirty fifth birthday. It was quite a day. Delicious home cooked dinner, two different cakes, party games, presents, emails and calls from friends and family. I am pretty sure that I was sung to five times. Morning with Suzy and the boys, my mom left a singing message for me at work, after dinner/before cake, at bible study, and Tutu and Papa. Yep, that's five. For someone like me who is a bit noise sensitive that is a long day. But very much appreciated.

Lots of generous gifts, Padres tickets, lots of books, clothes, two excellent drawings, and a gnome.

After opening presents and before heading off to study Daniel looks at his Mama and asks, 'So, what party games are we going to play?'

We decided on an impromptu game of bobbing for apples, which was actually quite fun. I can say that because I was the first successful apple bobber. Don't mess with my apple bobbing skills. I missed my calling in life.

So, thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. It was a great day.

John 16:33

Here is Daniel reciting John 16:33 with hand motions. What a great verse to have memorized.

I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Bath Time

This boy sure does enjoy his bath. I thought boys were suppose to detest baths. My dad told me he would go all week without a bath when he was a boy. Not my boys. I get complaints on days I don't give Daniel and Sammy a bath. Not that I blame them. I wish I could soak in a hot water bath everyday, or even once a week, or just once a month. I can't even remember that last time I filled the bath for myself.

Sammy particularly enjoyed his bath on this day because for some reason or other Daniel was banned from bath time, so Sammy had the tub and toys all to himself. A rare event indeed. He stretched himself out and relished every minute of it.

Chevy Luv

I was looking at old photos the other day and came across this picture of my Dad and his little red Chevy luv. This picture just cracks me up. But I am so glad that I have a picture of my Dad under the hood of his truck that he loved so much. He must have spent countless hours working on that truck. I don't know how many years exactly he spent giving that truck TLC, but my parents had the truck when we lived in Texas (we moved the summer before my first grade) and he still had it running after I married Dan. That is a long time.


For me, my Dad's little Chevy Luv holds many memories. I don't remember, but when we lived in Texas my Dad used to drive my sister in I around in the back of the truck. At the time there was no hood and my sister and I (who were probably around the age of my boys now, 4 and 6) would sit up on the tire wheels and watch the world fly by. I can believe that my Dad let us do this, but I am in shock that my Mom (who is now so overly protective) would allow such a thing. My Dad likes to tell the story of when my sister and I were riding in the back of the truck and a lady in the car next to my Dad was making a big fuss at him. My dad rolled down the window to see what the excitement was about. The woman pointed to the back of the truck were my sister had fallen asleep and was hanging over the side. Well, that didn't stop us from riding in the back, but my Dad did get a cover to make sure he wasn't going to lose one of us.

There were times I loved that truck as much as my Dad and times that I wished we had a different car. When we were younger my sister and I loved riding in the back. We loved playing, rolling around and watching out the back window. But when I got older and started going to a private school where Mercedes and BMWs were the standard, the little red truck became a source of embarrassment for me. My dad usually drove us to school since my Mom, who was the librarian at our school, had to be at work early. I always got stuck sitting in the middle since I was the smallest. Sitting in the middle was fun when I was little, my Dad would let us shift for him, but when you are wearing a mini skirt it can be pretty uncomfortable. I can remember so vividly puttering up the big hill to school. The three of us in front. Me in the middle. No A/C and just an AM radio usually tuned to the oldies but goodies. Packed in like sardines with all our binders and backpacks and stuff. My Dad would fall in line with all the luxury cars and when it was our turn my sister and I would jump out of the truck and run off to school.


I have to admit I was a little sad when my Dad told me he was going to sell his truck. I often have a hard time letting things go. Especially things that hold memories or that are meaningful to me. So I'm glad that I snapped this picture, could it really be almost 15 years ago? My Dad in his flip flops and short shorts with his red Chevy Luv truck.

Spring Dance

Yesterday was the Preschool Spring Dance. All the classes preformed a dance from countries all over the world. Sammy's class preformed an African dance. I think Sammy enjoyed his 5 minutes of fame very much. He had a great big smile on his face the whole time and thought it was pretty cool that he got to dress in a skirt. I thought that he was pretty darn adorable, but then again he is my kid. Sammy appears to have rhythm and coordination. Not to sure where that came from. I wish I looked that cute when I danced. Go Sammy, go Sammy, go-go-go Sammy!

Say Cheese

Yesterday was Picture Day. The kids all looked so cute all dressed up and ready to pose. Thankfully Daniel was able to get his picture taken this time. He missed picture day earlier this year as we discovered Daniel (like his mother) gets car sick. I had him all prepped and pampered and didn't think much about him looking at a magazine on the way to school. I parked the car, Daniel stood up, declared he didn't feel so hot and then puked all over himself.

I was a little nervous today on the way to school, but we made it with no incidents. Can't wait to see how the pictures come out.

Rock Climbing

Our campsite at Agua Caliente was situated right at the base of a rocky mountain. It was the best and worst site in the camp. The best because the boys could be climbing rocks within a couple steps and the worst because the boys could be climbing rocks within a couple of steps. The mountain side was kind of strange because there was a slide of granite/minerals on the bottom half. It looked as if someone had come along and dumped a big load of concrete down the side of the mountain, but it was soft and crumbly and very easy to climb.

The boys could not escape the lure of the mountain and those rocks. The mountain called to them, 'Come. Come and climb my rocks and explore my hillside." When the boys woke up in the morning the first thing out the their mouths was "Can we go climb the rocks?". After breakfast, "Can we go climb the rocks?". When lunch was over, "Can we go climb the rocks?". You get the picture. They probably would have spent the whole day on the mountain side had we allowed them to.

I was very impressed at how well Daniel and Sammy scrambled up and down the rocks, although they managed to get quite a few cuts and scrapes in the process. And they have proudly shown off each and every one of them.

On Saturday morning we climbed all the way to the top of the mountain. Going up wasn't too hard, but I was not too sure how we were going to get back down. Luckily there was a trail leading down the back, so we did not have to resort to slipping and sliding all the way down.

Rock climbing was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for the boys. Really what could be more fun for little boys?

Desert Adventure

We are back home from our camping trip out in Agua Caliente. Besides some bumps, bruises, cuts and scratches (the boy's arms and legs are quite impressive) we survived the weekend without any major injuries. The boys had a blast and fun was had by all, but we are wiped. There is so much to tell, but I have to hit the sack and try and make up about 10 hours of sleep. I will write more as soon as I am able to stop yawning.

No Fooling

Happy April Fool's Day! Actually this is the third April Fool's Day we have had this year. For some reason I kept thinking it was April 1st when in fact it was not. I am not sure why I was so anxious for it to be April 1st. April Fool's Day has never been an important day for me. I can't ever remember fooling anyone on this day or being fooled by someone else. And though it might be fun to fool someone it is usually not very fun for the person being fool. And for Dan it is one of his least favorite days (you don't want to fool with him).

Unlike their parents, Daniel and Sammy found today to be great fun. When I came home early this morning from my workout I could hear two little giggling voices upstairs. As I walked upstairs I could hear Daniel and Sammy trying to 'fool' each other.

'Sammy, are your eyes blue? April Fools!'

'Daniel, is your hair long? April Fools!'

I didn't quite get it but the boys thought it was hilarious. Luckily they don't quite understand the concept.

So today is the first day of April. I really do love this month. The weather is turning beautiful, baseball has started, Dan and my sister will get to celebrate their birthdays (they both were born on the same day and year), Dan asked me to marry him in April eleven years ago, my first rose buds have begun to bloom and sometimes we get to celebrate Easter (although not this year). Now I know why I was so quick to say it was April already. April is a great month.