my long lost sister

the zoo

was great fun

the favs included

monkeys swingin'

zebras grazin'

jaguars starin'

bears jumpin'

but our absolute favorite

was this compulsive cleanin'

ORANGUTAN

she cleaned for so long

I finally got out the cam to video the tail end

I hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed watching this

obsessive animal

just another pretty face??

Well if you were to ask Jaxson

the answer would be NO

I'm really not his type

so I am really working on being MORE

LOL

yeah I know you probably aren't following

so let me lay it out

My comment section has been wack

and I have played the blame game

instead of looking into it

well......

I AM SORRY

I think that the PROB is rectified

now

I think so

if you have any more problems

please feel free to place the blame

where it should be

on

ME

and let me know

GRACIAS

Me

AMIGOS

Here am I, this is me there is no where else on earth I'd rather be

sitting in front of the compu

trying to be cleaver

nothing

so here I sit

heading to ...

...the zoo

knowing..

... 2 Grandmas await pictures

I should fulfill the request

...kids are waiting

dreaming of ..

...CHOCOLATE

...new shoes

thinking about...

...SEWING

...what to make for dinner

wishing ...

... my comments contained MORE funny stories
to buoy me up

...for a haircut

pedicure

and

a massage

needing...

...stiches?? cut my finger pretty bad while preparing snacks for the zoo

...to post pics of the bambino's

for the abuelas

... to move away from the computer

on my lap..

.a babe snoring with milk driping from his toothless mouth

outside is...

beautiful grey

green

windy

looking like rain

is MONDAY funny......well from NOW on it is

So today we are going to try something

new
it goes like this
I say a funny thing happened the other day........

then you say ( in the comment section)

something like

..........I found myself blow drying & round brushing the hair of a " my little pony "

or

........my 33 year old friend got asked if she would like a kids menu ( the joy of being 4'11)

or

.....my kids wanted me to replace their father with a guy who has a MOOstash and spent the entire dinner planning for the replacement DAD

then WE ALL LAUGH

and yes laughing out loud is recommended

see here

Sleepless in Seattle

okay I have had a few babies

but I will readily admit

I am not an expert

especially where teething in involved

The BOSS

is Sleepless

which as you may have inferred

means I am as well

We...the two of us are resenting

our state of "unrest"

if you have any magical ideas

please share

Teething tablets are OUT

a recent discovery showed caffeine to be an ingredient

so we have been using some baby orajel

the prob seems to be that it needs re-application throughout the night and into the wee hours of the AM

so this is my shout out

please if you have any hints to prevent our sleeplessness here in Seattle

feel free to post any and all ideas in the comment section

sorry this is not so romantic as the cinema version

what can I say

This is how Glamorous my life is

don't be to envious

really

just another dinner post

My new friend Eryn served her mission in Japan and when she came over for the girls night she taught us how to make this great summer dish

I couldn't remember everything she did so I improvised a bit

But it turned out great so here you go

here is what you need

3 eggs

1 carrot

1 cucumber

( I used an English cucumber, but reg will work)

tomatoes ( not pictured)

I added Tofu

cut the carrots, cucumber, & tomato

press tofu

then brown each side in a bit of olive oil

stir eggs in separate container then put in a frying pan with a little olive oil

flip until both sides are done then cut in strips

boil spaghetti noodles

drain

add a bit of olive oil

about 1/3 cup of brown sugar

about 1/2 cup of soy sauce

5 of 6 garlic cloves pressed

place noodles in bowl

add cut veggies, tofu, & eggs

and ENJOY !!!!

I am not great at recipes

mostly I just throw ingredients in until it tastes good

I hope the amounts work for you

Let me know how it goes !!

a moment

a friend who I went to elementary, junior high, & high school with

was in a plane accident

she along with her husband are in critical condition burn unit

and the flight instructor was killed in the crash

We have not been close the last years but I have checked her blog daily as she is creative, stylish, & all in all very inspiring. She and her husband have 4 children, two boyz and two girlz.

I have always felt very connected to her because when I was pregnant with our first daughter Emma she was pregnant with her first Claire. We lost Emma & she had Claire very close to Emma's due date. I have loved to see her daughter grow older, it has felt like a piece of Emma still exists for me.

I cannot even find words to describe the sadness I felt at hearing of the accident. Even now I sit trying to put words together to express my thoughts, I cannot.

I guess I would just like to request that you all keep her in your prayers.

You can find details here

and in her sister's blog here

Depressed..Depression.......

Jaxson has asked to go on numerous & various bike rides this week

all of which I couldn't get the energy up for

so for the last few days I have been bummin' around the house

with

NO...ZERO...ZIP

energy

yes, I have still ironed all the male family members shirts

yes, I made delectable blueberry crumble bars ( fresh blueberries)

yes, I cleaned the house ( 2 weeks without toilets cleaned, you can imagine)

yes, I finally got the laundry caught up

yes, I nursed a chunkarific baby

( shirt courtesy of my cuz Natalie, THANK YOU ! we love it)

yes, I took this lot to the Seattle Aquarium

( the boss was on my back, thus not pictured)

yes, I have manicured & pedicured all the children who bare my husbands last name

yes, I held a mini disco party in my garage ( with just the carvajal kids)

**plans for a disco ball and a genuine back to school bash to come

yes, I scouted weekend activities

but all was done with with my limbs draggin'

I thought I was depressed , you know I had to do good byes again

It was a lot of EMOTION

then

this AM

Liam threw up in his cereal

you know

upchucked

spewed

lost his lunch

reliquished his cookies

the big V

Yep....I have never been so relieved

I am not DEPRESSED........

I am SICK

hooray, I am sure that a little residual depression is hangin' out inside me

but I think with a little R&R

I should be up and riding again

much to Jaxson's felicity

******note from the author******

I am fulfilling a request to post recipes with my pics

Blueberry Crumb Bars

INGREDIENTS

1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional)
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons cornstarch



DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and cinnamon, if desired. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the shortening and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Gently mix in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Chaucer & Grandma

Chaucer became a "mover" while in Utah

he learned to crawl and pull himself up to standing position

He also learned some housekeeping skills from Grandma

they swept the floor

&

cleaned the fridge

and had an all around great time

His smile & the way he raises his eyebrows when you talk to him

won his Grandma's heart

Back with a ..........well you know

So I think we will go in rewind

the car trip back

was

well

LONG

and

maybe

LONGER

oh and

did

I mention

It was

LONG?

here is some of the scenery from the .... drive

just entering WA

Oregon ( I am pretty sure)

this young man ( Andrew, my bro) declared I could trust him with some driving

BECAUSE HE WAS 17

well in spite of the fact he is 17

I really needed a little r & r

it was a luxury the previous drive didn't provide

thankfully he was cautious and he had neither his first accident or ticket while driving my clan

the sunset in SOUTH SOUTH washington

taken out side of a MC Donalds where aside from bribing my kids with sugared dairy products

We also sustained MULTIPLE mosquito bites

OUCH

The Welcome to WA

was as expected

RAINY

THANK YOU

I lOVE MY PEEPs in UT

But I LOVE my

WA

Weather

Hostage

I hereby commandeer this blog for the following message...(It was tougher than I thought to crack the code though). brand




I hope you don't mind. We just need a way to tide ourselves over while you drive...

for 13 hours...

with 4 kids...

under 6.


WOW, that's special Sarah! We'll be expecting some very cool entries upon your return ma'am.

We love you and will miss you, again.

are we there yet ?.........and other toiletries

(m& the ikea potty somewhere between Seattle, WA & Highland, UT)

Every parent who has driven long distances with children cringes at two questions

"are we there yet?"

&

" can I go potty?"

typical to any long drive the

"are we there yet's & gotta go's " started just after the sound of seat belts clicking faded

but this is not where our story today is going to begin

here we are just one week after the 13 hour + drive

We took a little vacation within our vacation

Destination: Emeline & Edward Cox Family reunion

Location: Castle Dale, Utah

Distance: 122 miles

travel snacks purchased, suitcases reloaded & refreshed, seat belts secured, freeway entered

the are we there yet's commenced then.......... less than 10 minutes passed

shrieks, squeals, groans from the far back

Jaxson yelps "Emeline has pooped"

"It's not just poop MOM"

"It is DIARRHEA"

"Yuck"

"Gross"

"MOM, It really is the big D"

next Andrew (16 yrs old) & Liam join in

"oh yep we smell it"

"gross"

I stubborn to continue the drive question the accused from the driver seat

"Emme did you poop?"

"M are your panties dirty?"

her sly reply that did less than ease my fears

"nope"

"no poop in princess pantine"

So off the freeway the NOT so weary travelers went

stopping at the nearby gas n' go

I careful unbuckle the guilty looking child

ALAS

nothing

not even a little number 1

not a streak

not even a hint of the afore mentioned "big D"

just perfectly laundered princess panties

of course I wasn't going to chance a rerun

so

I took her to the potty

where she confessed

" I farted"

now this may sound like any other time you have heard that slightly offensive word

but I assure you

you have not heard the word farted until you have heard it from the most beautiful blue eyed two year old, with a slight accent on the "Fa"

I laughingly re buckled the falsely accused into her car seat

and we were off, for real this time

the next sound which in a different time and place would send chills down my spine was actually welcomed

"Are We there yet"

I greeted this question like and old friend.........at least no one has the BIG D

to open a can of worms.......without any idea

So last night I was having scripture study with the kids before bed

in Tio Jonathons room which we have taken over and has become

temporary Casa de Carvajal

We read

Alma 12:24

" And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death;nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead."

I said

so, in this life we get to prepare to meet God

what can we do to prepare?

Jaxson looking bereft of knowledge

Well, I just don't get it Mom

how do babies come out of you anyway

Liam rolled to his back spread his legs apart then pointed in between them

They come out from here, right Mom

I said

yes, Liam you are right

Jaxson again

so, what Mom they cut your penis off

Liam, Emme, & I chimed

mom doesn't have a penis

Jaxson

so, what it's like a transformer or something

I said holding back laughter, tears, & anxiety

yep, something like that

Okay so this life is to prepare to meet God, what can we do to prepare ourselves?

All I can say is this mother gig is definitely a mixed bag

left hangin'

I know I know I know

I kinda left ya hangin'

well

I went on a little impromptu vacation

I was on the phone with my mom

Wednesday morning

and she said well why don't you just come for the 24th

I said why not & 3 hrs later we were on the road

Yes, I drove it

with 4 kids

yes it is a long drive

we all had a great time and we are now enjoying being spoiled by Grandma

for pics of what the kids have been doing

check here

Sorry about the week of Reminiscing

we will try it again

soon

When I met the MR. for the first time

I thought " Wow this guy is sooooo handsome"

when he asked my to go salsa dancing with him I thought " Wow this guy likes to dance"

So I did what most would do

I went shopping

I bought an OUTFIT

head to toe in Banana Republic's finest

I met my future Husband

He..........I guess hadn't thought about impressing me with his wardrobe

My beautiful Latin dance partner was wearing

a bad tweety shirt

(tweety bird had on a backwards cap & earrings)

along with a flanel shirt

It was a sight for sure

All I can say is

IT is A GoOd THiNg My mAn cAn DANCE

another funny thing about this night

the night of our first date, this is also the night Angelo asked me to be his girlfriend, when I hesitated he said he would give me until the next day to decide........LOL

He now refers to this conversation as a lesson in why you should be a good missionary .......he was using the commitment pattern

Well IT worked out DIDN'T it

I am glad to have married such a great man

He truly makes me laugh each and every day & that is a BLESSING indeed!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program

To announce a LOSS in the family

yes my oldest is without tooth

this involved** a week of giggling, that grossed the mom out, crying by mom, and one swift PULL by dad

while still a little emotional my love mentioned that this was the first tooth our eldest had got

I still can't believe that he is this old

he has been asking when he would loose a tooth and I kept saying not for another couple years

WRONG MOM

we can see the adult tooth surfacing---yikes I really can't believe this is happening it seems as though yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital, scared to have charge over such a little person

I remember thinking as we drove away from the U of U hospital

they just let us take him, I can't believe they don't ask anything, how do I know what to do with a newborn

Well it seem to have worked out we have had 3 such car rides since each

easier than the previous

I am grateful to Jaxson for putting up with being the first child

I know it is hard teaching your parents how to be

PARENTS

we are just trying to enjoy the learning curve!

a new week has come

it has become a custom of the family Carvajal
to tell stories of how the family came to be

this week I will share some of the reminicings


sunday the kids asked why we were using a vase
as a water pitcher
so the story came out
when Angelo & I were first married we got the most beautiful glass pitcher for a wedding present
I LOVED IT
then a week into the new union my husband
BROKE IT
which was sad in its self---but the same week my love tried to do laundry and ruined my
FAVORITE Mohair sweater
which he tried to make up for that Christmas by buying me a sweater from
LANE BRYANT
----he just wouldn’t listen to the sales women who told him they didn’t carry size 2 in the store
----he said fine if they wont help me I can find something on my own
which he tried to justify by calling me his little fatty--which is an endearment in
COSTA RICA
Jaxson says: did MOMMY cry
Angelo replies: I think mommy cried the whole first year we were married

LOOKING back I just can’t help but
LAUGH OUT LOUD

I am definitely not the 19 year old bride I once was,

and that my love and I are both grateful for!

just another dinner post

(tofu,roasted peppers, red onions,teriyaki sauce,on top of brown jasmine rice)

I think I have finally convinced the MR. that Tofu can be delicious

This Monday meal was enjoyed by the whole fam

THE BOSS has talent

don't mind the wrestling match in the background...........i don't

if this doesn't make you laugh......your no friend of mine

deception pass

Angelo's company

had their annual clam dig/salmon bake

at Deception Pass national park here in Washington

the beautiful water and landscape was lovely

Emeline loved the water

Daddy, daughter, son, beach

the scene from above

can it get better than this??

the day was perfect for spending out doors

especially by the water

he is a smiley one

the boyz

there was fun, food, and lots of

DESSERTS

you can see a sample on Liam's face

Family, Fun, Water, & Sun

Angelo & Jaxson

aka : mocha smack down & solid tuna
had a little wrestle mania see video to your right

the kids dried in the sun

Emme posed for the cam

Angelo cooled on the slip n' slide

the boss loves fresh fruit today: Cantaloupe

there is a naked baby on the slip n' slide

the boss LOVES water

What a beautiful life we have !

& for dinner we enjoyed

tuna on ciabbata with spinach, basil, tomato, & Parmesan cheese