The American Girls Handy Book

This book is filled with all kinds of fun ideas & the writing is delightful

written in 1887 it is full of beautiful language and entries from the authors like

"In the girls handy book which it has been our endeavor to make peculiarly American, we have sought to introduce original and novel ideas, and by their aid to open new avenues of enterprise and enjoyment."

I love reading this book

Now our "American Girl"

I know there isn't a MAKEUP section of the book, so here is our addition

My 2 year old is obsessed with MAKEUP, she especially likes mascara & lip stick

She always gets into my make up when I am at the grocery store--when moms away right

Angelo took these pictures of our Makeup obsessed child

She is sure she has done something good.......hmm maybe we shouldn't take pictures when the kids are doing wrong

Road Atlas

Our recent quandary:

How to explain to a 5 year old, 3 year old, & a 2 year old

that we are moving to another State.

The matter seems easy enough to comprehend, to an adult mind.

However the idea that Grandma won't be around the corner is a concept not quite so concrete. We love seeing Grandma, Grandpa & the Tio's , we have always been able to see them whenever we want, so what do you mean Mom, they will always be around the corner, right? After the last out of State move talk Jaxson came up with a plan " I guess we will have to get a Seattle Grandma" so.........if you are a Grandma in Seattle looking for 4 new grandkids give us a call.

We have done a few things to try and SHOW them the distance

*Google Map

* Atlas

*Explain until we are blue in the face

I guess this is one of the learn by experience situations

If you haven't looked at an Atlas lately I recommend it, I think it is very fun to see all the place you can go & how you could get there

Fun Family Activity

***Note from the Author***

The books are packed so........only web pics of my favs from now on, sorry

The Novels of Jane Austen VI Minor Works

You know me

It wouldn't be a book month without mention of one of my Favorite Authors

JANE AUSTEN

One of my friends, who knows my affinity for Ms Austen's work lent me this book.

It has a much more intimate look into the Authors world & work. It is full of letters written both by the author and to her & includes some of her first short stories.

I definitely recommend this book

***note from the author***

" By the time Chaucer is 18 yrs old we are going to be MD's " Angelo said last night

Our Current Credentials

* Able to speak with Respiratory Therapists, and ask wise thought provoking questions

*Able to use a nebulizer, even half asleep in the middle of the night

*Able to set up billi lights, use them, thus curing the patient

This has got to be at least a semester of Med school, right? It was all done while extremely tired and overworked ( I think that is a requirement of Med school)

The Complete and authoritative guide CARING FOR YOUR BABY & YOUNG CHILD

If you have children you know you need help understanding all the medical issues that come with them.

With 4 kids you can bet this book is always on hand

Last night after a long visit to the ER which begun at 11:00pm and didn't end until the wee hours of this morning we pulled out this lovely book to look up

PNEUMONIA

here is what we learned:Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the lung.[1] Frequently, it is described as lung parenchyma/alveolar inflammation and abnormal alveolar filling with fluid. (The alveoli are microscopic air-filled sacs in the lungs responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere.) Pneumonia can result from a variety of causes, including infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and chemical or physical injury to the lungs. Its cause may also be officially described as idiopathic—that is, unknown—when infectious causes have been excluded.
Typical symptoms associated with pneumonia include cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty in breathing. Diagnostic tools include x-rays and examination of the sputum. Treatment depends on the cause of pneumonia; bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics.

Yup, Baby C has it! Here is what the book doesn't tell you:

**You will be up all night... not only because his breathing will be so loud you can't sleep for fear of well...you know, but because you will be in the ER getting X-rays, Suction & Respiratory therapy

** You will not be catching up on sleep the next day either.....you will be at the Doctors office ( not doubt getting more scared than you already are), the IHC medical equipment store learning how to use a Nebulizer (a nebulizer is a device used to administer medication to people in forms of a liquid mist to the airways .Also called "atomizers", they pump air or oxygen through a liquid medicine to turn it into a vapor, which is then inhaled by the patient), & at the pharmacy picking up medicine for the Babe who has already been poked and proded enough for an entire life time... in one night!

** You will be very very engorged because.....the sick baby will not want to nurse because lets face it HE IS TIRED from all the tests, poking, and such

** You will try to convince your 3 other children that watching a movie is just as good as...... doing pretty much anything else ( something you swore you would never do, let your tv baby sit)

** You will also have a Mom & friends who lend you an ear while you come totally apart, then help if with nothing but kind words and understanding......IT WILL HELP (thanks....you know who you are)

**You will wish you were the kind of MOM that was always calm and collected

** You will have a husband who even though he is Extremely busy, will do everything he can for you and your Family & will give your little babe a blessing ( which will be the only time you relax)

I hope you never meet my definition of pneumonia, but if you do have this experience......you are not alone!

Thanks to American Academy of Pediatrics for making these health issues a little more understandable

****Note From the Author***

Baby C not only charmed the ER Doc with his coo's and smiles, he won the hearts of every ER nurse with his dimples, Always the Cassanova

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

It's April !!

I had a great idea for an April fools trick, but instead I am going to start this months posts

This month I will be replacing song titled posts with Book titles

so without further adieu ...

This is a great read as self help books go, thank you Mr. Covey

his seven habits are...

1. Be Proactive

2. Begin with the end in mind

3. Put first things first

4. Think win/win

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood

6. Synergize

7. Sharpen the Saw

while we agree with Mr. Covey

Here are some of the Carvajal's highly effective habits

Night FEVER

This is how my weekend went,


that is all I have to say Check back tomorrow to see what April holds March is ending and along with it the song posts!!

Don't Cry For Me...........

Barf........that is what I feel like I am going to do

the laundry is done, stomach twisting, kids are bathed,stomach turning, baby C is sleeping,stomach aching, kids watching a movie, stomach ouch

Now I am going to sleep! Happy FRIDAY indeed !

Potty Song

My little girl has decided that she is not so little anymore!

I took a nap yesterday and was awakened by Emme asking to go potty.......

and she went!!!

I wanted to wait on the whole potty thing until we were settled in Seattle.....but looks like we are going to give it a go!

HElLo ApRil : PottY MOnTh

Who doesn't potty in RED SHOES

She is seriously lovin' her potty time...........she sings & reads

Now the kinda strange part........the boyz didn't do this

She is really excited.........I mean really.........we all have to come look..........even if there isn't much too see

Really truly she calls everyone to the toilet her eyes glittering look poop, Emme poop, look see

She is so cute you almost get as excited as she is, then you realize your face is way too close to the toilet for comfort!

heartache control

I know many of you like me have had some heartache with child bearing

Please read this beautiful essay here

I will just leave it at that it says it all

Billie Jean

I love this song and he is so earnest

I think he is my favorite

this performance was amazing

i think he should record this song---i would buy it

I posted the actual performance in case you want to watch it a million times like I did( thank you tivo)

I can only remember a handful of times I haven't wanted a performance to end

Here are a few of my other favorite performances this season

Love her

I love this song, he is so earnest

I am really impressed this season

When you wish upon a star

If you know my LOVE then you know he has wanted a pick-up truck FOREVER

Well TODAY was his lucky day



a little early graduation present

Now put on your best spanish accent say PEECUP truck and you will smile too!!

Easter

HaPpY EaStEr

I hope this Easter everyone had time to reflect on the true meaning for the celebration.

I am feeling the weight of motherhood more and more these holidays. It is Angelo's & my charge to help these little ones understand & grow individual testimonies of Christ and the plan of salvation.

I have been blessed with a mother who knows how to inspire. I have been watching and hopefully learning how to create experiences for my children. We had our traditional passover dinner followed by the explanation of Christs fulfilment of the passover.

Thank You MOM



Here are some pics from our Easter weekend



Easter started out with egg decorating
feathered eggs are always spectacular

The kids in Easter finest

Easter at my mothers

always beautiful
always enlightening
always exquisite
always delicious

tuquito and his first tie
que guapo

baby got back

The stats are in
Chaucer and Emeline had their well child check ups 2month---2 year

Chaucer came in the healthy bordering on chunkarific 80th percentile

Emeline fell behind yet again with a big Zero, yes you read right she is no longer on the chart for weight

Doctor said " they have very different builds don't they"

yes indeed they are definitely cut from two different molds

I am loving the rolls all over my youngest,we haven't seen rolls like these in the Carvajal home since Jaxson !!!

Funky Town

HaPpY St. PaTriCks DAy

Why is it that upon entering a roller rink you are automatically transported to the um.....the 70's

the dj's were grovin', the smoke was heavy, disco ball turning, the lights low
I kept thinking any minute John Travolta might show up in a white leisure suit

so Here we are

Funky town(classic skating)

this kid is so cool

They still do the tug-a-war boyz against girls........wow time warp

Jaxson took a few spills........well he spent at least half the time on the floor

but he took it like a champ

Emeline even got into the action

I need your lovin'

"mom can you play this game with me"

"yep for a little bit"

I sit down and play with him until my attention to another is mandatory

then of course I start cleaning something

"mom can you play this game with me, again"

"you can do it by yourself Liam"

"no I can't..... see"

" yes I see, you need a mom to play with you"

This kid is so cute!!!

*note from the author*

today I thought I found a grey hair YIKeS

well it turned out that it was dried syrup, LOL

yes I know you envy my glamorous lifestyle

32 Flavors

that I love

( in no particular order)

1. red onions

2. spinach

3. red pepper

4. cheese

5. cinnamon bears

6. Avocado

7. Shrimp

8. Rice

9. granola

10. Whole wheat & flax seed pancakes

11. Cashews

12. Herb tea

13. Mushrooms

14. Tomatoes

15. Cilantro

16. Onions

17. Green olives

18. Water

19. Blueberries

20. Oranges

21. Apples

22. HoneyDew Melon

23. Kiwi

24. Tofu

25. snap peas

26. brown rice

27. Soy Dream

28. Red cabbage

29. Lime

30. Talapia

31. Corn tortillas

32. Cherry Yogurt

owing to the fact that I am no longer "with child" i am cooking again

not only am i cooking but i am actually able to eat as well

it is amazing how grateful not being able to eat what you like will make you

above are 32 things i am enjoying again

**note from the author***



even water gave me heartburn, maybe there is something to that lots of heartburn lots of hair wives tale