Long Winter Week

Did this week seem to last FOREVER to you?  It did for me for the following reasons:

1. It's February and the 4th month of winter in Virginia.

2. Its been gray outside ...blah.

3. The upper airway disease in the kids fight the cold air (again for like the 4th month in a row) and it seems we've been hooked up to a nebulizer every 4 hours...(for like the 4th month in a row)...

4. The anticipation for spring is in the air, but no spring in sight except for in the Target candy aisle.

5.  Friends were in the ER this week.

6.  The kids have been stuck inside bored of their toys, getting into things which equals getting into trouble!

Enough of that.  There have been lots of positives this week as well!  In fact I made a top 11 list of great things about this week.  And the positives far outweigh the winter blues.

1.  Brigg LaBarbera got a name and blessing in Jodi's ward in San Diego!  Uncle Rocco in LA was in the circle too!

2.  Austin and I went on a date this week and I got a sitter for Ash.  We saw  The Spiderwick Chronicles.  Ever since the Cheerios box had a paperback Spiderwick book in it, he's been so looking forward to the movie!  It was good, however a little violent and mature for a 5 year old.  After our movie, we went to Austin's favorite restaurant that he picked  which is Cracker Barrel.  After perusing the toys for 45 minutes, we got seated.  After they sat us close to the smoking section and Austin coughed himself into a bronchial/gagging spasm and people were staring at us across the restaurant, we finally ordered.  He ordered a "big boy" root beer.   That means we want it straight up-served in the bottle!  After a few manly swigs, he poured some for me in my cup and asked, "Would you like a cup of Joe?"  What?!? It was hilarious! I  don't know where he comes up with this stuff!

3.  Uncle Grant (Uncle Julio) received two very competitive job offers this week and accepted one with Frito Lay.  Congrats Grant!  He'll be based out of Miami as a Marketing/Sales Leader.  Bienvenidos a Miami Granny!

4.  Ashley did her Munchkin Movers tots class.  She loved it!  Although she seemed  to be the biggest one, there were 11 kids and Ash enjoyed every second of being around other little tots!  Her favorite activity was the 'cuckoo clock' and we throw her in the air when the clock strikes a number and yell 'cuckoo'!  She would say More! More!

5.  Jonathan came back this week from the African trip.  One of his stops was Tanzania and there he bought me some JEWELS!  Some beautiful deep blue/purple stones called Tanzanite that are mined directly there in Africa.  They're beautiful!  I can't wait to set them.

6.  He was home for 24 hours and now he's in Beijing, China. Sniff sniff.  The man's been to  14 COUNTRIES IN 6 WEEKS.  And is Condoleezza slowing down? No.  

7.  Austin scratches my back and tries to massage my back with his little pudgy fingers when he gets something good.  It's like that's how he says thank you-a  little back scratch!

8.  We had the opportunity to play with Lottie Crowley on Wednesday when Gabe was at her class.  It was fun being with her.  Ash called her Blottie.

9.  With the kids getting what I call 'cabin fever' we've played  TON!  Dart-tag, all of our board games, hide and go seek, PSP, building blocks, imaginary games, dress up, the list goes on!  It's been great actually doing all these things with the kiddos instead of having them build blocks by themselves and then showing me what they've made as I'm busy doing something upstairs.  I wish I would have done this more.

10.  On Monday it was actually a beautiful day.  We got Wendy's and went out on the deck and enjoyed a picnic lunch.  Very fun!

11. Almost 3 years ago when we first moved back from Africa, there was  nice little dwarf that worked at Target that Austin was quite afraid of.  This week as we were leaving, he looked at her on his way out (and I thought, oh great-don't stare) but Austin finally said 'she looks beautiful'.  At first I chuckled all the way out the doors, but then on a mature note, I thought I wish I had the childlike quality of seeing people for who they are and not just what they look like or how tall/fat/short/ they are.  It made me want to be more like our Savior.  Don't children always bring out that side? 

Let's pray for some good old sunshine this last week of February!

Love,

Angie

Valentine Week

This week was filled with candy hearts and a red hot fever.   Last Valentines week Austin had the stomach flu.  This year he had a 4 day fever of 103.  As soon as his broke, Ash's started. Yeah!  

Jonathan is in Africa with the President and Sec State.  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania today and tomorrow he gets to go to our old haunt-Nairobi!  He will be at the Embassy and is looking forward to seeing some of the FSI's that are still there.  We left and Austin was only 2!  Jonathan's going to show pix of how our little guy has grown.  It's amazing how even 3 years ago, how much simpler life was.  Before we had Ashley, before we knew of any illness Austin had.  Wow.  I told my brother Grant that while I was in Nairobi for those 2 years, it was like a 2 year volunteer camp.  The amazing things I got to see, do and people I met.  Then Grant said, for you Ang it was like a 2 year fat camp (since I'd lost about 50 lbs of baby weight that I'd gained with being pregnant with Austin while I was in Africa!)  Leave it to Grant.  

We keep in touch with a lot of friends we made there, we keep in touch with the locals there as well.  Phanice our househelp/nanny and Michael our driver/gardener.  Even people from the church there.  In fact, the Sitati family from our branch in Nairobi are mission Presidents and were the ones that translated the LDS temple sessions into Swahili.  Even though there's a lot of political unrest in Africa and specifically Kenya right now due to the re-election, I love the people.  I feel bad for them, the situation they're in, and know that due to the parliament and government that rules, the people really can't get ahead.  I pray for them and hope all the aid the US gives will go to the right places/people.  

The kids' favorite babysitters in the whole wide world are Maggie and  Megan (whom we adore!)   Megan sat the kids on Valentines and Ashley got all dressed up like a princess and of course Austin got all decked out as a Pirate to show off.  

Austin loves to help me cook, set the table and run little errands for me.  Ashley loves to be mommy's "helper" and assist me in tasks around the kitchen,  laundry etc.  A lot of the time I am hurrying to get dinner ready and cleaned up and when the "help" it normally means spilled food, a huge mess, half the silverware out and dirty and sometimes glasses broken.  But I just need to remember that I won't have a 5 and 2 year old that want to be with mommy all the time.  

I will miss these times when they're older and don't care to be around mom at all, much less help with dinner/setting the table.  Over the past little while I have been savoring the time I have to be with  my kids.  I love being a stay at-home mom.  I love it that my kids always want to know where I am-even inside the house (yes, that includes even when I'm going potty).  I used to get bugged.  But why?  They think I'm the best thing in the world.  I know they'll grow up and that's the Lord's plan.  Life is short and I'm savoring every second of motherhood.  I love my job.  

Angie

2 quick Austinisms:  "Stay out of my puberty Ashley!"  (instead of "property")

Also, he was tormenting Ashley the other day and suddenly she retaliated and started chasing after him with a pretend sword screaming bloody murder.  He actually looked fearful even though she's a quarter his size.  He was yelling mommy!  But I shook my head no.  As he's running circles in the living room away from Ashley he says, " I guess I deserve this don't I."

I had to chuckle.  

Surgery Date

We received a date for Austin's surgery.  April 8.  

Mid March I'm going to visit family in  Charleston and Florida and my mom is driving back with me and will stay with Ashley while we're at the hospital with our little buddy.

We will be at DC Children's Hospital.  Austin will be in ICU the first night (due to his tracheomalacia-to make sure he's breathing okay after his stomach surgery) then in the pediatric unit for the next 4 nights.   Please continue to keep him in your prayers during that time.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

Love,

Angie

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!  

I love Valentines Day.  The treats , making the cards, the boxes for the kids, it's all so sweet!

I have the opportunity to help out with Austin's Valentines Party today at school!  There will be treats, games, and prizes.  The only downer is that my little Valentine is under the weather.  He has a nasty little cold.  He gets breakfast in bed whenever he's not feeling well.  We'll see if he feels any better to go later today.

Jonathan and I are going out to dinner at our favorite celebratory restaurant, Ruth's Chris steakhouse to celebrate the lovey dovey day.  He  surprised me with 3 dozen red long stem roses delivered to our home!  He is quite the romantic--especially  for a man with the name of Duane!

Enjoy your Valentines Day!

Love,

Angie

The New Beast!

We turned in my leased BMW X3 last week.  Sniff sniff.  It was such a fun little sporty SUV to zip around in.  But, functionally, it wasn't that great for me.  It was very small.  So on Friday... we bought a 2008 Honda Odyssey! It's black, tan leather interior, EX-L, capt/bucket seats front and back, navigation system, DVD, 6 disc cd changer, heated seats, and all the bells and whistles the mini's provide.  I've gotten so much hassle about buying a mini-van over a Tahoe or other type of SUV.  But I just figure your car is only as sexy as the person driving it!  And I LOVE my minibeast!  So do the kids.  Austin throws on his headphones to watch movies, Ashley kicks her little feet without bumping the back of my seat, they have their own air/radio controls back there.  It's great!  

It was also my buddy Gabe's 30th birthday this week!  Happy B-day Gabers!  Awesome party! We love you!

One of the best parts about my new car, I have my personalized Goose plates. :)

Munchkin Movers

So Ashley signed up for this class called "munchkin movers" and it has been cancelled twice now.  But every Wednesday, we get dressed up ready to move and groove.  She has more princess/ballerina/"shay shay" clothes as she calls them (?) and she loves to wear them all day long!

Austin had lots of his buddies over this week to play.  He was finally over his respiratory problems and loved playing outside (it got up to 72 degrees!)

Brigg LaBarbera, (Christian and Jodi's son is now 2months old.  Happy Birthday big Brigg!

I had Bunko this week and won a little Valentine heart!  It's so cute!  And learned how to make truffles and toffee at our enrichment activity.  Fun week!

Smokin' Hot

Austin is doing great this week.  After a solid 24 days of the horrible respiratory issues, he's no longer coughing.  We're still working to get a specific date for his surgery in April.  I will keep you posted.

This week has been filled with funny little sayings by the kiddos.  The things kids say!

Austin: (While playing an eye spy game at a restaurant) looks around and sees the tortillas smoking.  He says, "Eye spy with my little eye something smokin' hot."  I say, hmmm, the tortillas!  He said, "No, my mommy is smokin hot!"  Is it sad that it gave me the biggest ego boost?  Anything you want for Christmas dear.  It was just so funny to hear those words come out of my sons mouth.

Austin: During the testing before a parent teacher conference at his preschool, the teacher asked Austin to read a sentence.  He said, "Mrs. Burch, what are you thinking?  You know I can't read!"  Luckily I found out that Austin was in the top third of his preschool for reading.  Phew!

Ashley: We have a new picture of Jesus on our wall and whenever we walk out, Ashley looks up and says Jesus!  It's really sweet.  Well, sometimes if I get upset I'll say "Oh Gees."  But Ash thinks I say something else.  So when she gets upset she'll yell out "Jesus!"  All the time!  

Ashley:  She loves to do anything Austin does.  Color out of the same book. Use the same crayon.  Pee in the same toilet he just used.  Eat the same snack, same color, etc.  Austin is patient 90% of the time, the other 10% he's had it.

We feel very fortunate to have a week free of illness.  Also, that Austin bore his testimony today in chuch.  

We're saddened at the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley this past week but know he's in a better place with his wife and our Savior.  

We hope Jodi and Brigg have a wonderful stay in warm San Diego the next few weeks!  

Love,

Angie