Hmmm...

I just don't know how to title this blog. Since Grandma Beth passed away I haven't feel like writing anything, but like a good friend of mine told me DON'T REMEBER HER WITH TEARS, BUT WITH GOOD THOUGHTS! Grandma Beth was buried in Raymon (Canada) next to her beloved husband (Harris Walker). We wish we could have attended her burial, but for ovbvious reasons we couldn't. However, I'm still fighiting the bad feeling that her departure left me. It's a good thing that I have good friends who know how to cheer me up, and of course my great dear husband.

Anyway, on another subject, we are planning to go to the Walkers' family reunion which will take place in Canada. Glenn's grandparents live there. My mother in-law thinks that the reunion should be there, since her parents are too old and kind of sick. I could not agree more with her. I think it is important for my children to know more about their dad's family, (since they already know a lot about were I come from and about my family and friends). It's harder to keep in touch with Glenn's relatives. I love each one of them, but I still feel awkward with most of them. I think I just feel fine around my in-laws. Anyway, I know Nicky is going to enjoy this family reunion a lot.

Anyway, today I went to the park with one of my dearest friends. Our children played and had fun togheter. Although I had to explain to Nicky that holding hands with her friends was fine as well as huging each other, I needed to tell her 'no kisses allowed' unless they come from Daddy, Mommy, or Ian. Last Sunday her teacher of Sunbeams told me that he caught her kissing Jay (her best friend) as well Jay kissing her back. Yes that sounds so cute until you realize that you have to talk about those subjects with your child who is barely 3 years old. You don't want to make a big deal about it, but you don't want to pretend that nothing happened, either. Now she knows the rule too well. If you ask her, "WHO CAN YOU KISS?" she always says, "Just Mommy, Daddy and Ian." Let's see if she does it.

I love that Nicky loves Jay as her best friend, and I know she loves Grant just as much as she loves Jay. Lindsay has become a second mother for her, so I'm not surprised that they are holding hands, and dancing and telling everyone that "they are married." The kissing issue was on the cheek so I don't care very much either, but I don't know when it's the right time to talk about those subjects. Anyway at this point I just pray and sometimes cross my fingers that I'm doing the right thing with her. I just feel most of the time that I don't know what I'm doing.

Anyway Glenn is falling sleep and we still need to read our scriptures and pray . So I guess I'm heading to bed soon too. I'm done with this posting and I still don't know how to title it...anyway let's see If I can think of something later....

To my Grandma!

When I was a child my biggest dream was to have a Grandmother. I remember seeing my friends at school talking about theirs, but I didn't have one since both of mine passed away long before I was born. I remember that I used to see comercials about adopting a Grandma. I always tried to convince my mom to adopt one, but she was too busy with all of us that the last thing that she needed was to take care of another person. So her answer was always, "YOU ALREADY HAD TWO GRANDMAS. IT'S TOO BAD THAT THEY ARE NOT HERE ANYMORE, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER THEM." Well, it was hard to remember a person who I didn't even know. My older sisters and brothers always talked about my Grandma (my mom's mom) like the best, but I couldn't share their feeling about her, for me it was somebody that was important for them, but not for me. Anyway, I grew up and with that I give up of the idea of having a Grandmother. Then I met Glenn, this wonderful man that I'm just crazy about who in all the aspects has fulfilled my life. He is not just giving me a family but also a great Grandma. I met his Grandma 5 years ago. I remember the day that she met me even though my English was awuful, she tried so hard to understand me. She knew that I was feeling frustrated about the languge, so she would explaine in a simple and funny way all her jokes. She made me laugh so hard! She would be the one who wanted me to sit always next to her so she could spoil me with her attention and her comments. She'd be the one who would give me compliments ALL DAY LONG! Then she told me that she wanted to be my Grandmother, too. I remember the day that she told me she wanted to be my grandmother, Glenn was there with me. Since he knew how important that was for me, he joined Grandma and me in crying. It was very sad that a little bit after that time we had to move to Texas. Two years ago she started to feel bad. Little by little she became very dependent on everybody. All the e-mails that relatives close to her would send us just made me mad at myself because I knew I couldn't do anything to help her, being so far away. To be totally honest, that was one of the reason that we decided to go last Christmas to Utah, so we could see her again. We knew that that was going to probably be the last time that we could see her. It was also a great opportunity for Ian and Nicky to get to know better the best Great Grandma ever.
Yesterday my mother in-law sentd an e-mail saying that Grandma Walker was getting worse. She ask us to pray for her, and even though I was feeling so sick just to think that I wasn't going to be able to see her again, it made me realize, too, that it was probably her time to join her husband, whom she hasn't seen for a long time.
This afternoon while I was checking my e-mails I saw the saddest e-mail I had ever recived. She has passed away. Even though I'm very happy for her, I'm sad too because you know I'm a human and I love her. I've been trying to cheer myself up but I had some things that I wanted to send to her, especially our family picture, but it's too late. And even right now the tears are just flowing out of my eyes. I love her so much and I'm always going to love her. She is indeed the best Grandma I could have ever had. I'm so thankful that I got the chance to meet her, to get to know her. I know she was a great friend, wife, mother, grandma and great grandma indeed. I will miss her so much, she meant so very much to me. She fulfilled that emptiness and desire I had to have a Grandma, and she did it with so much love. She is happy now, and that will help me to be happy, too. I will never forget my Grandma.

Good by Harry Potter chapter.4 Welcome H.P.V5

So, about 7 moths ago I decided that I need it to have a hobbie. I haven't read anything (but the book of mormon) since Law School, by the time that I was done with Law School, my brain was so burnt out with all the books that I had to read. The last thing that I wanted to do was to have to read anything again. Well, then I went to the Engilsh Language Center to learn English and guess what my homework was?? MORE READING! So by the time we moved to College Station I decided that I didn't want to see anymore books. After almost 3 years I just decided that my trauma with books was healed and I decided to start a new hobbie. And since I love Harry Potter so much, well I decided that I was going to start reading all the books. The first three took me about 2 months but the forth wow it took me like 5 months. And yes it is one of the longest books of the series, but also I got a"job" as a sitter, plus the motherood and wifehood haha so well I know that is not really a word, but being a wife of a Medical Studient is not very easy and it requires lots of thinking, you know, "is he tired?, did he have a bad day?, is he having low self-esteem...etc,etc,etc" So combining all this there is not too much time left for my reading. Then I have this blog, which I like, but I can't stop feeling like I need to write more funny things that people can relate to, and I come to those great ideas, but those ideas for some reason disappear when I sit in fromt of the screen. So I end up writing stuff that I actually didn't want to talk about. I reckon that I really need to be more organized with my thoughts.
Glenn now is doing his rotation at night from 11PM to 8:00 am. So he comes home and sleeps until 4 or 5:00p.m. after that we have dinner together, which the kids just love. And then we play togheter and the kids go to sleep while I have my husband for myself from 7:00p.m. to 10:45p.m. until he goes again. Anyway 2 more days, then he'll have another schedule. I have been very busy lately that I haven't had the chance to visit with my friends. Well at least I get to see Lindsay once in a while and I guess it's just because our kids are really good friends, so I drop mine off at her house or she drops hers at mine. I still don't know what I'm going to do when she is gone. I know Nicky is going to miss Jay so much. It would be so great if she and her family would match here. So at least I'd be having them for the year that we still need to be here. Well it is a good thing that I still have Haeley and Katie, and even though I don't know how to spell their names, haha, I really think they are 2 good friends who I can trust in.
I'm just funny with all the frienship thing. I really need to trust the person who's going to be my friend, and my nature is not to trust to anybody, so when I finally trust to somebody it's because something really important happened. I don't even now why I started to say all this, maybe because I'm just trying to take my thoughts out of my mind.
Well my NOVELA is about to start and I need to take the remote control away from my love before anything else happens.

My talented children

Yeap! that's right. Ian is finally walking. He started about 6 weeks ago with little steps, but he was too afraid to keep doing it. Well since last week he started to take long walks! He gets very exited everytime that his sister or his sister's friends cheers him because of his new talent.




And of course I can not leave my favorite girl out of the spotlight. She is practicing for the future best singer in the church chores! I think it's very funny the way that she sings, so passionate in the lyrincs:)

My talented children. You can tell that I'm very proud of them. I feel very bless that I have them

Epiphany

I just had yet another lunch meeting (man I miss that sacred hour of relaxation and eating) in my pediatrics rotation. I'm currently in the NICU, where afternoons are light, but the mornings are kind of whirlwind-like. Anyway, I thought I'd take advantage of the light afternoon and write about something that came up during that lunch meeting. We were discussing epiphanies, i.e. powerful realizations that change one's perspective that are also usually abrupt and sudden. They usually occur in the context of a life-changing event, good or bad, afterwhich that person is forever changed and affected. We discussed this in the context of a medical career ("why are you here?" type thing), but moreso about life. My point:

The physician, Dr. Santema (rotation director), posed the situation that happened to a past 3rd year student, who was diagnosed with cancer. She stopped school until her treatment (which was successful) was finished. When she returned to school, she was different. She wasn't so stressed about every test, about every evaluation. She looked at things differently, and tried harder to enjoy life. Dr. Santema then asked us if that had happened, what would change for us? What would we do differently, or how would we thing differently? Are there things we would try to do or experience now that we had confronted a life or death situation? I was the first to respond. I essentially sad the following:

Though that experience would change my appreciation of health, and daily experiences, I wouldn't change my life's course, except perhaps to spend more time with my family. I have lived, and done, the things that I have always wanted to do, in the correct time and season of my life, at least in my opinion. I served the Lord and my brothers and sisters in Colombia. I got a great education at BYU, where I met my sweetheart and wonderful wife. I have two beautiful children whom I adore. I am studying and working to become a great plastic surgeon. I am happy, and living my life the best I can. I am in no way content to stay where I am in regards to progress or seeing the world or raising my children or enjoying every second with my wife, but my life's course, where I am headed, would not change. I would most likely, enjoy it more, soak it up more, appreciate it more, but the direction, the foundation, would not change.

Why not some huge change of interest? Drop out of school and change profession? See the world? To put it simply: I am doing what makes me happy, and completes my existence, by the life I live now, by the life I live today. I am grateful for what I have, and have no regrets for doing what I'm doing, or the direction I'm going in. It is hard, and it is filled with sacrifice, but with the family I have, and the life I hope to give them, along with all the opportunities I hope to offer them, I am filled and joyful. The Lord is truly merciful with all His blessings.

In other words, the discussion of epiphany made me realize I did have an epiphany of sorts, but no the textbook definition type. It differs in that it wasn't a sudden realization or revelation, nor was it brought on by the type of "life changing" experience that provoked the question. No, it was simply a realization that I DO have everything I ever hoped to have, and am in the path and working towards everything I hope to have and want to give to my family, my brothers and sisters on this Earth, and the Lord in His work. It was, in essence, a cumulative, slow-building up kind of epiphany, but an epiphany nonetheless. I could not really ask for anything more than what I have and what I see and hope to be obtainable. I only hope that the happiness I have and hope that my family has and will have, becomes reality. It has been so up until now, and I thank the Lord for that. I pray that it will continue to be so.

Now, I just hope nobody sees me typing and not working during this down time. :)

IT's the most wonderful time of the year!

We had a terrific time at my in-laws house. They are just wonderful. The kids just love them so much. I got the chance to see my father-in-law doing silly dances for Nicky and Ian's delight. My mother in-law on the other hand was the best playmate that Nicky and Ian have ever had. And of course Nicky insisting to stay five more minutes out of her routine to go and take a nap or go to sleep was hilarious for everybody. Glenn and I could go wherever we wanted since my in-laws would baby sit for us. So as our anniversary date we decided to recreate our date when he proposed to me. Unfortunately the Chinese restaurant after 4 years got really ugly. We didn't want to go to the dollar movie like we did originally so we went to the normal theater and watch Alvin and the Chipmunks. After that we went and took another walk to our special bridge. It was wonderful. And the tears just couldn't wait to come out of us. 4 wonderful years and 2 marvelous children, lots of adventures and more blessings everyday.
Anyway, Nicky got to play in the snow, throwing snowballs at Glenn was her favorite thing to do, until Santa came. Santa was very nice, bringing what Nicky asked for. She is so happy with her princess castle. Goodness she could play with it all day and night if she were allowed.
Ian also got some presents but he likes bothering his older sister. Whenever he can he goes and tries to destroy Nicky's most precious possession.
Anyway, time flew and we had to come back to Texas again. We spent New Year's just having a great time. Glenn made dinner, we danced and played with the kids. We dressed up with brand new clothes, and did some of my family's fun traditions to end up 2007 and received 2008.
We let the kids to sleep until almost 1:00a.m. After the kids went to sleep it was time to watch a movie with my love, but I guess I was too tired because I fell asleep in the middle of it.
Anyway, last year, on summary, we added a new member to the family (Ian of course). Nicky started to talk more English and Spanish, and understanding more of both languages. We moved to Temple, Tx. I got my driver's license with a brand new mini van (that we are still paying for of course). We went to Monterrey once and to Orem once too. Glenn started with the third year of Medical School. He took his step 1 and he is happy with what he got (of course we all are). I made also some new wonderful friends, and some of them are my neighbors. The 4 of us finished the year with good health, I got a "job" as a sitter of one of the best friends of my daughter. I started with this blog, and more and more things. Lots of blessing to count, to be totally honest. What am I going to do next year? I'll play it by ear to see what I can do to be a better wife, mother, member of the church, friend, and daughter. In general a better human being.
Happy new year, too you'll

Nicky's best friends

The other day I helped my friend Lindsay to pick up her car at the mechanic in Austin. We got lost, and the same day I had a party with some of the neighbors. Anyway, when I realized that it was too late to arrive on time to the party, we decided to hit the road and continue to do more Christmas shopping at the Round Rock outlet stores. It was very late and the kids were tired which means they were running around like crazy. Anyway, I got really worried when I couldn't see Nicky at the Guess store. I started to call her and she finally appeared from a pile of clothes. She was playing with her friend Jay. I was very worried so I did like a good mom would do in those cases, BE SO MAD AT HER! I explained to her in a very mad voice that I was so worried and so mad and that she needed to be with me for the rest of the time. At that point of course I was telling her everything in Spanish, which made Jay curious, and he approached close to us to try to understand something, then of course he interrupted me to say "EH CLAUDIA....I CAN SPEAK SPANISH TOO, UNO,DOS,TRES,CUATRO,CINCO,SEIS......(long pause) SIETE, OCHO, NUEVE, DIEZ, YOU SEE?!" It made me and Lindsay laugh.

Anyway, I'm so glad that Nicky has very good friends. Her friend Mason also tries all the time to learn some Spanish words. He told me the other day that that way it would be easier to communicate with Nicky. They love her so much, and she loves them too.

I was always worried about her not having friends because of the language problem. But for her friends that is not a problem which makes me so happy.

Anyway, Lindsay went back to Arizona, and we are leaving next week to Utah or Mexico (it depends of the weather). We are so anxious to go and spend some time with out school and with our families. Yay!

Nicky's pray

Yesterday was an exhausted day for everybody here. I took care of the Jaffers and had some company during the day. My friend Lindsay and my friend Polly came to visit me. Lindsay had a quick visit. But I made my friend Polly to stay a little longer. After that Glenn had to go back to school. There was a lot of noise in the house to focus on his studies. Anyway, At night my little sister came to visit. An the kiddos played with their cousin Merary all the time. Since Nicky didn't take her usual nap, she was already very tired, and so was Ian. You see the thing whit Ian is that when he gets tired he gets very silly and laugh for everything, so by the time that I put him to sleep, he gets very grumpy and could cry forever, and that was it happen of course. He finally fall asleep, so it was Nicky's turn. She was already waiting for me in her bed to say the pray. It was funny one of the things that she was thankful for. "Heavenly father, I thank thee for my mom, my dad, my grandma and grandpa, my Ian, and for Ian to go to sleep" I kind of wanted to laugh but I thought it was inappropriate during the pray:). At that point I was thankful for the same thing too:)

Wow, that's Santa!

As my husband mentioned, yesterday was the Christmas party at the church. I really didn't want to go, now don't get me wrong, but Glenn itinerary it has been very busy lately waking up at 3:00 a.m and coming at 6 or 7:00p.m straight to his book and to bed. Well Nicky has been asking for him. She knows that he is always very busy, and she is very understanding about it. But lately she has been asking more than usual for him. So I thought yesterday could be a perfect day for us to spend together, maybe some Christmas shopping, our catch a movie, or just go to the park. I just wanted to be with Glenn and my kids alone. I didn't want to have to punish Nicky every five minutes for something that she could be doing that was wrong. Anyway, we went to the party, I was such a Grinch. I felt bad saying that, but I really didn't want to go. I didn't feel like, and when I get mad I can get very unsocial. Anyway Nicky heard that Santa was coming to the party, so she was asking me to stay, she was already debating between her new kitchen, or her new castle to ask to Santa to bring her. I felt bad saying no, so we decided to stay. All the time I just wanted to leave. I will reserve the details about the millions of things that I didn't like because that is something that I want to erase of my mind. However there was a few moments that I really want to keep so those moments will be the want that I'm going to write about. Like Nicky singing with me and the rest of the relief society, or when she was copying all the mimics that Young women were doing while they where singing. Or Jay singing Jingle bell and Nicky looking at him so happy singing with him too, (she didn't get the turn on the microphone however it was cute) But the most priceless moment indeed was when Nicky saw Santa arriving, Her eyes were wide open and bright, at the same time that she was doing a exclamation Oh! on her face, cumbering with her small hand. She was so excited. She was so happy looking at him. After that another unlike things happen but then finally her turn to get in Santa lap came. She was already asking for her castle, and her kitchen, but especially for some candies that Santa was giving at the moment. It was very cute!. After that we came home, and put the kids to sleep, then Glenn and I went to bed to watch a movie that a friend of mine landed me. It was good, although Glenn didn't like that one of the characters (a doctor) in the movie was cheating on his wife (who happen to be a resident) with a girl who was also married (with a jerk) Beside that, he said that it was an interesting movie, ha ha, I still don't know if that suppose to be a good thing or not.

I think Glenn whites' coat is dry by now. I'm getting tired, so I guess I'll write more about us later.

It's Christmas time again!

I'll just add something short to our blog. I'm still trying to put my shoulder to the wheel in surgery, and it's getting sore. :) I have my final exams for surgery on Thursday (oral) and Friday (written). I learned a lot during this rotation (more on that another day), but am excited to not have to wake up at 3AM everyday anymore. I also got out of 1 more weekend day on call (tomorrow), so will have more time to spend with family. However, that's not the good news. The good news is it's my favorite time of the year: Christmas! I love the decorations, music, food, and overall atmosphere. My wife's done a great job with the house (as always), and it just feels good to be at this time of year again. We went to our ward Christmas party tonight, which wasn't fantastic, especially with the High Priests' Group Leader reading a 30 page story (ugh!), but it was cute to see Nicky with Santa, so excited to sit on his leg and tell him what wants...that issue is still bouncing between a princess, a castle, and a kitchen. :) I'm looking forward to our break, which will take us on our latest crazy trip: driving to Utah and back. It'll be a special trip, but we're still wary of the length. It will be a much-welcomed break from our daily routine. I'm so grateful we have all the things we do in our life, especially our children and our marriage. We lack nothing, and are always provided for. Especially at this time, I'm grateful we have the gospel and the direction of the plan of salvation. It is a special time to remember those things as well. I have a great life with my family. It's late, though, so until later!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well Thanksgiving turned out very well. We had dinner with The Hobbs. We had fun. And the kids, well they are kids, sometimes play good sometimes they don't. Anyway the dinner was just exquisite, the turkey,rolls,green beans casserole, the pie, everything was great!.

After dinner we visit a little bit longer with the Hobbs then we came back to our apartment and got ready to put the Christmas tree. I love this season, Glenn practically had to bit me up so I wouldn't put the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. The deal was to put it the same day of the day after Thanksgiving. Anyway, we are so ready for Christmas.

As I was expecting Ian just want to play with the ornaments, but Nicky is too quick for him. Since every time that she sees him she goes and takes him away from the tree. Last day I was going downstairs (the kids were already there), and Nicky was telling me, MOM IAN IS TOUCHING THE CHRISTMAS TREE, YOU SPANK HIM! ha ha. What a girl, she is normally very sweet to Ian but I guess she knows how important the tree is for me.

Ian on the other hand loves getting in trouble. As a normal baby he loves putting everything in his mouth. He loves to dance. And laugh about all the crazy things that Nicky does. It is so much fun seeing them play together. They are already playing like a team. Both of them get so existed every time that Glenn comes from the Hospital. Talking about Glenn , he talked to his mom yesterday, we are planning on visit them to Orem Ut. for Christmas. We are so excited, we haven't been in Utah since we moved to Tx. I'm so excited.

Glenn is getting ready for one of his test that he'll be taking in 10 days. It is going to be the last of 2007, which is great! Poor guys, he hasn't slept very well lately. mmm I don't know how to finish this post, so I guess I'm just going to see see u next time!

Good Morning Ian!

Every morning Ian wakes up and wait patiently until Nicky and I get ready for the day. As a thank you Nicky and I sing a song that he specially love, the lyrics means nothing really, but the rhythm just makes his Latin blood come out of him.

Where did my cake go?

So, my friend Lindsay came back from visit her family in Arizona while her husband was doing interviews. While she was gone I made sure that her fish were fine, her plant was hydrated, her apartment was fine, and also sent her the messanges in her answer machine, you know in case that Ron would get an important call. Ayway she came back from her trip last Friday. As a thank you she made me a cake call BETTER THAN SEX!. What a name for a cake, I couldn't believe it when she told me the name. This Americans really have some weird name for meals or dessert, don't they?. Anyway this morning I saw the last piece. I thought that I'd keep it for later on. After dinner to be precise. I had to use all my straight to not see it again until was the right time to eat it. After dinner (which was great by the way) I decided to give the kids a bath they were too messy by the end of the day. I could heard Glenn cleaning and putting everything away. Oh my dear husband, always thinking in make my life easier. Anyway, there was a moment of total silence, I thought Glenn was probably enjoying the moment of being alone downstairs. I was done with the kids. So we went downstairs to start with family home evening. All about thanksgiving, of course in my mine I was just thinking "OH YES I'LL FOR SURE SEND A THANK YOU NOTE TO LINDSAY THIS CAKE IS SO YUMMY I'LL EAT IT AS SOON AS EVERYBODY GO TO BED" after those thoughts I couldn't keep the smile out of my face. Anyway, Glenn had to go to sleep early as usual, and as usual he was so kind to put the kids on their beds, while I was reading my magazine that another friend provided me. Anyway finally I heard some snoring, so I thought it was the perfect time to eat my delicious cake. I went to the fridge and I saw a big bag with left over that Glenn was so kind to put it away so I'd not struggle tomorrow to make something. So kind he is. But the cake wasn't there, mm I thought it may be behind the left over, but there was nothing behind it. Finally my heart started beating so bad, I couldn't find the cake anywhere. I practically shake the fridge to look for my cake. But there was nothing, not even the plate. I'm not the kind of wife who likes to wake up her husband, but this was an emergency. What could I do, so I ran upstairs and went to my room, and see him there sleeping under the covers, so kind, so cute, so handsome, BUT HE PROBABLY ATE MY CAKE! Anyway, one of those moments came to my mind, imagine myself shaking him and asking him HOW DARE YOU TO EAT MY CAKE?. But then what was I thinking, that cake was driving me nuts. So I finally decided to write in my blog and take this out of my chest. I'm still mad at him for eating my cake. So I might go tomorrow for the recipe and put a big note on it DON'T EAT ME, CLAUDIA IS WAITING FOR ME!. Perhaps that way nobody will eat it. In conclusion I honestly can say that that cake is not better than sex, but indeed it is very addictive.

no title!

Finally I had the chance to wash my mini-van. It was hard. Since I hadn't wash it for the last two months. The weather wasn't helping either to do it earlier. After that I came home and what was my surprise my friend Lindsay was back from her two months and a half vacations!. I didn't want to bother her, so I just called to see if she needed some food or something. I assume they wouldn't have too much since they just came back. Anyway we drop the food and catch up the latest of our lives, and of course we visited more that I was expecting. Anyway, Nicky was so happy to see her friend Jay again, and their little Grant well...he is not little anymore. I feel bad because I know next year they are going to be gone probably forever. Well at least I don't reckon we are going to leave in the same town and that is going to be pity. I know is going to be very hard on Nicky and me to have to stop seeing them. It is always hard for me to make good friends, I think I'm very elite about it. It normally take me a long time to trust on people. I think I started to feel more comfortable with Lindsay after 2 years that we met at College Station. She has been always very nice to me. The best friend. But I don't know I guess I'm weird. Anyway I have done very good friends since I move to U.S.A. But it is very pity for me have to stop seeing them because our constant moving. Sometimes I feel like in the military just moving haha. In one year in a half we are going to be moving again, for 6 more years after that I dunno were are we going to end up leaving. I guess that has been very hard on me since I grew up in the same area until I got married with Glenn. Well, I really can say that I CAN'T WAIT FOR US TO BE SETTLE DOWN!. But I guess I need to practice my patience. I guess I shouldn't complain. Even though we haven't been settle since we got married. we have met excellent people. We had good memories of each one of the places that we have been. Lindsay just told me on her visit to Lubbock she got the opportunity to see an old friend of us from College Station. She is so happy and send her greetings to us. Glenn and I remember her because she was so supportive during my second pregnancy. So I guess it is not that bad to be moving all the time. I think the sades thing is that I've been making good friends and each one of the areas that we have been, and then I have to stop seeing them, and then start all over again. Well it is excited to make more friends and knowing people and new places, but it is hard to leave the ones that we have already behind. Oh well I can't do anything so I'll stop complaining.
We are getting ready for Thanksgiving. This is a tradition that Americans have. I love it. It makes me warm up for Christmas too. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU'LL.

What a song!

When I was a child I remember my mom used to sing us a rhyme every time that I had an "injury" (of course as a child even my hair use to hurt me sometimes that I was crying with pain just because it), every time after she sang the rhyme I was feeling way better. Well now I see myself doing the same to my daughter. Anyway one day I was taking care of one of my daughter friends. He normally cry pretty much for everything, so that song it's perfect for him so he think it is actually a good medicine just singing it for him brings a big smile in his face. Last day I was at the kitchen and he was crying because he said that his stomach was hurting, well I ask him to wait just one minute so I could wash my hands and check on him. But Nicky was so concert that she started to sing the song to him in English and SPANISH! just to make sure that it'd work. That made laugh so much, of course when she was done singing the song Mason (my daughter's friend) told me, "CLAUDIA IT DOESN'T HURT ANYMORE, I FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW" Well, it is definitely a good song to distract the children:)
Sana, sana colita de rana si no sanas hoy sanaras manana
Heal, heal little rabbit tale if you don't hill today, you'll hill tomorrow. Silly song but it works!

like a Dejavu

"Here with our friend Fernando, Gloria, Fernandito, Yovana, Our kids my love Glenn and me"

Almost like a dejavu. That was something that is how I felt about the quick trip that we did to Monterrey Mx. It was such a short trip for the kids, for us but specially for our families and friends there. Although we had a terrific time with everybody there, everything was so fast. We were eating all the time. Everybody was inviting us to go and eat with them. We had the opportunity to spend time with almost all our friends and family. Almost I said since we couldn't met our new nephew, and we didn't have the chance to see our friend Gloria and Milton, since they were working that night. We couldn't either meet our good friend Tono's girlfriend. And our friend Martha was so disappointed that we left without saying good bye. Everything was so fast. If I weren't so tired because of the quick trip I'd promise that that was just a dream. I wanted to buy some souvenirs for my good friend Polly and also Glenn and I wanted to go to our favorite restaurant there. We couldn't make it. Monterrey is getting bigger and bigger every time that I go and visit, that our friends wanted to show us all the new things that it has. We were out until 3 a.m. Poor of the kids they were so tired, so were we. But we didn't want to be the party poppers, saying good bye early since they were doing everything for us to feel comfortable. However we all agreed that we are not young anymore, we felt so old. By 12:00 a.m. on Saturday we were just remembering when we used have fun until very late without getting tired at all. Now most of us are married, and having children.

Anyway everybody was very disappointed about us departing on Sunday. My aunt Gloria prepared a great lunch and some of our family was there to say good bye. They told us that it was pity to have a short visit with us. (from Friday night to Sunday noon) They kept complaining and asking us to stay longer. Unfortunately we couldn't do it because of Glenn busy schedule at school. However we are talking about spending Christmas and New Year in Monterrey Mx. We haven't done it since 2004. We're still thinking about it because we want to go and visit Glenn's family in Utah, but that depends of course on the weather. We'll see what happen.

Anyway on the way back to Temple, Nicky was singing Spanish songs for Ian who was laughing of her sisters silly faces. She was a great helper. Every time that Ian cried, Nicky would start singing his favorite songs, and we'd stop crying. Glenn drove on the way back home after the border of course. (he still nervous about driving in Mexico).

It's getting late so I might have to stop this post. I'll be posting some pictures later, since my Internet connection is not working very well tonight.

Family trip!

Well, Glenn and I thought that it would be a great idea to take this weekend off to go and visit my family and friends in Monterrey Mx. Well but now I don't really know if I want to go or not....what I mean is, I really want to go but there is some issues that I can't get rid off my head, like the money, my mini van spend too much money on gas! (but I guess that would be our excuse for the next 10 years). Anyway another reason, Glenn is going to be at the hospital tomorrow and he'll come back at 8:30am on Friday same time and day that we are planning to depart, which mean that he is not going to be able to sleep at all. We need to drive 7 hours from here. Plus we still don't know if in the border immigration is going to require our passports or not. We don't have them yet. Those are the reasons that I kind of don't want to go. On the other hand, we haven't visit my family for two years, the kids don't know or remember very well my family there, I really want to see my family and friends, and I'm craving for a special taco called "gringa"(it's a mix between a special beef and a special pork) anyway, I really miss spending time with my friends three of them are married now and one of them have a baby already. Anyway, I think I will post again next week with my resolution about our family trip!

My first post

I just finished another delicious slice of green cake from Nicky's birthday party. Ummm...cake. :) I'll recover from it later, like I hope I will from being on call over the weekend. Saturday call was ridiculous, but working for 31 hours straight (daylight savings is cool when you're not working at 2AM) was nuts. Plus, realizing my family was at a nice BBQ and having fun that afternoon...oh, well. We all make sacrifices. I also got a calling the day after, to be the Sunday School teacher in our ward. They were supposed to call me last week but they forgot. I'm excited about the calling, but I'll need a substitute because we'll be going to Mexico this weeken since I'll have Friday as post call and the weekend off. We'll just go for a quick visit and to have some fun. I think it'll be a fun experience. I don't like getting a sub my first week but it'll be okay. I hope the kids do well during the trip, it'll be our first long one. Better get used to it because we'll be out of money for trips like that for a long time! It's good for character building, though, so I don't feel guilty. I'm in my 8th of 12 weeks of surgery, and loving it but am tired, literally. It's also time consuming, and I'm looking forward to the easier rotations and Thanksgiving and Christmas for some breaks. Ummm...Thanksgiving turkey. :) I need to go, some children's book is calling me and I have to go to bed early so I can get up early for another busy day at the hospital. Until later, blog!

Happy b-day to my big girl Nicole!

That's right! my daughter Nicole today turn three years old. We celebrated her b-day with hot dogs, cocktail fruit, goodies bags, and b-day cake. She had as a guest her good friends, Mason and Bo Cochran, Mathew Hadley, Carter Chapman, Tylyn Galloway, Mason Jaffers, Selma Rodriguez, Merary Garza, Hanna and Grant Jordan. I think those were all the guest of her list. Of course she missed a lot her good friend Jay Hobbs, but we couldn't bring him from Arizona ha ha. She had a wonderful time. But since she was the Queen of the night she wanted to be the first in everything. Ian had fun just seeing her big sister and friends dancing, and jumping around the apartment. Glenn was a great helper since he was the one that organized the games. My friend Martha from Austin helped me a lot too. Right after the party was over my sister Dina and her husband Beto with my niece Merary came to join us. She received lots of presents, but her favorite it was a book that her grandma and grandpa Walker gave her. She actually asked me to go to bed with her new favorite book. This party was very exited for me since I prepared it with just a short time. The parents kept asking me if I was crazy, since I told them that parents weren't allowed to be at the party. I think they were happy to relax for a couple of hours with out their cuties. This party was planned just yesterday so I guess to be a improvised party turned out very well.

Thank you my little big girl to be part of our family. You are indeed one of our most precious treasures that heavenly father sends us. Your daddy, your brother and I love you so much. You are so smart, so beautiful in the outside but most important in the inside too. TE AMO CON TODO MI CORAZON MI PEQUENA ERES LA MEJOR HIJA QUE UNA MADRE PUEDA QUERER!

And before I start crying I'll stop this posting.

Happy Halloween!

We had a great trunk or treat at Church yesterday. Nicky was dressing up like princess and Ian was dressing up like a bear. They collected too many candies, and of course Glenn wanted to give himself a treat too by buying the last movie of spider man. We watched it yesterday and went to sleep until 1:00 a.m. My poor guy had to wake up at 3:00 am which means he couldn't sleep too long. Good think that today he was able to come back early. So he already took a nap, and is now ready to go to sleep too.
Tomorrow is going to be Nicky's b-day she is turning 3 years old. So I was trying to explain her that she shouldn't said anymore that she is 2, instead she needed to say that she is 3 years old. After a while she asked me "MOM, TOMORROW MY B-DAY, RIGHT?" of course I told her "YES HONEY!", after 5 minutes of thinking she said to me"MOM TOMORROW B-DAY CAKE, RIGHT?" I was so excited she understood the conversation that I had to her so very exited I answered her again "YES HONEY!". so she finally asked me her petition, "OKAY MOM, LISTEN TO ME TOMORROW TOMORROW I WANT MASON, CARTER, MATHEW, TAYLYN, COWING..." and the list didn't end it there, she kept asking for all her friends to come to cut her cake with her. Of course my smile turned into a surprise face. I always thought that I was going to start throwing parties for her by the time that she was interested on that (perhaps 5 or 6 years old). Well I guess she is interested already and I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT!. But I"m doing it already so I shouldn't complain. I already called everybody today to tell them that Nicky will be having her b-day cake around 5:00. Taking advance of the loads of caddies that my children collected yesterday I have already lots of goodies bags for the kids that will come tomorrow. This is going to be the first party that I organize for a child, TOO MUCH WORK, ESPECIALLY IF IS YOUR CHILD PARTY!. Let see how it turns out.
Anyway my book of Harry Potter is practically telling me FINISH ME NOW! so I might go and read a little bit of it and a little bit more of a new book that my friend Katie lent me , it is call GADIANTONS AND THE SILVER SWORD. wow! I'll be readying three book at the time. I haven't done that since I was in Law School:).