BTW

......did I mention I'm in Utah...huh...well I am.....and it is
great!!!!.... It's also a bit hot for this Seattle-ite......the
company I find myself in is WELL worth the heat I assure you....I will
recap the comming of age of my eldest brother...when I get a minute
but for now my mom and I are off to do something...we will be easy for
we know that my father has the children well at hand

a true GRADUATE

here....above is the reason for our southern jaunt

what can I say about this stellar young man

*he graduated magna cum-laude with letters in both English and Orchestra...magnificent

*he makes the violin sing in his skill full hands

*he awakes early for mission prep...thrilling

*he is a great example to my two younger brothers

*he is the 17 year old I wish I was.... girl version of course

my mother let me in on a little conversation that exemplifies this young mans brilliant attitude

says my mother" this is a great day...you are graduating...what an accomplishment"

the newest High School Grad replies "ma...all a high school diploma means is that I've done the least amount of work necessary!"

Indeed my younger Brother...strive for more than this......you are in a fair way to aim for everlasting EXCELLENCE

{although it took more than the least amount of effort to letter & to wear a gold braid}

THE INCIDENT

expanded version:

We {the kids and I } were enjoying a rainy day playgroup at her house......when all of the sudden shrieks rung out as the boss pulled the wooden toy kitchen down on himself, creating a smallish cut with matching bruise & plenty of scream........when in the midst of this trauma down the stairs came {2} 6 year old informants & the bloody headed Liam explaining that he fell from the top bunk onto something {they weren't sure what}...........so i moved from the boss's minor cut to Liam's fear inducing gaping wound.......she was kind enough to let what was left of my children stay at her home until Angelo could get from work to her home to pick them up..... Liam and I took off to the pediatricians office...........here it gets a bit blurry.....i know there was talk of bone fragments {none to report}...paint fragments {white paint}......a few words about irrigation{ then the performance of this horrifying act}..........maybe a couple of sentences regarding the importance of his wakefulness.........

**BUT what I remember most**

was trying to be brave, so he would

buying ice cream on the way to the peeds office to keep him awake

trying not to vomit, 'cause i was sure i was going to,

trying not to faint, 'cause the nurse was sure i was going to

trying to keep him from seeing it, cause he may never have recovered

trying to let him know i was there & he wasn't alone

trying to hold him still while they did what was necessary

trying to fight the urge to grab my son and run away from all the pain the Dr's healing was causing

trying to bridge the gap between my brain & heart

so I did all that mental work as the nurse and Dr. cleaned, numbed, numbed again, then injected numbing, cleaned again, and at last stitched my little brave boy who

let just a few screams escape

during the numbing injection but otherwise was rather usual

calm cool collected

in other words

typical Liam

three words that will never be used to describe his hyper sensitive...emotional....anxiety ridden Mother...........

well there you have it.....now he has 7 stitches for the next 5 days thereafter a gnarly scar to tell the other little boys about....boys who will respond with adjective like COOL, SWEET, AWESOME, WoW, AMAZING........and he will wear his scar like a badge while i will wear a wound in my heart from it & every time i see it a shiver will rush down my spine i'll slip him a little hug or kiss which will either embarrass or comfort him and we will have survived another adventure TOGETHER ......and that will be that

Nothing much to report........

Just 7 stiches smack dabb in the middle of my seconds forhead....oh
yes and a view of my sons skull that I could definatley have lived
without...and a nurses watching me like a hawk making little comments;
she didn't want to catch me, was I sure I was handling this, he's
okay mom, you alright......that's all

Sent from my iPhone

funny MONDAY

the other day........upon a SUNDAY we ( the Don and I) were discussing whether we should take our allergy ridden 3 year old to church..during the discussion her cough came up a few times " I just think with her COUGHING people may feel uneasy"...as soon as the sentence escaped my lips my daughter was standing on her chair in horrified objection

" I DO NOT DRINK COFFEE....I CAN GO TO CHURCH"

.......................................................

today while we trolled the dollar store isles searching for......well i never remember what i went in for, it is far less amusing than what we leave with i can assure you..

Jaxson and Liam found the foam swords the isle ahead of me and I heard Jaxson YELL

"MOM it is okay we will protect you from the EVIL DIVORCE"

i was shocked for a moment....when i came to i questioned my protector "what's divorce Jaxson?" the answer " I dunno something I heard in a movie once.....but I am sure it's EVIL and I will PROTECT YOU from it"

That man of mine......

well i must begin with offering all the HAppy BIRthDAY's i posses to my LOVE

happybirthdayhappybirthdayhappybirthdayhappybirthdayhappybirthdayhappybirthday

it's been too long since i tauted his praises..and now is a better time than any to exclaim my admiration & amazement of the man who lent my his surname....

...have i told you of his latest accomplishment...no...that is hard to believe..well the Don of my heart has recently captured a new title...

	Angelo R. Carvajal LEED® AP Seattle Office, Field Engineer Mortenson Construction: Building what's next. www.mortenson.com Please consider your responsibility to the environment before printing this e-mail.

you can see it above..right next to his name...see..he is now LEED AP...do you know that in order to have those 6 words placed next to his name he spent MONTHS studying, practise testing, with little to no free time or hobbying..yes my love has once again proved that native English is not a requirement for taking ridiculously wordy, incredibly long, timed tests in the English vernacular.....now we add the leed test to the long list of English language wordy "aptitude" torture testing devices my knight has slain......i am forever amazed at this MAN....

this of course was accomplished while fulfilling almost every whim of a needy wife...4 children's wrestling quota's ....and taking out the GARBAGE..........what a man!!!

***more about LEED AP certification can be found here, here, and here***

FUNNY day

a funny thing happened the other day....as the family sung I am a Child of God

EMELINE BELTED out

"WITH PARENTS KIND OF DEAR"

as most know the verse goes

"with parents kind and dear"

they say it's your birthday............

if you, like i love the Scripture Scouts you have no doubt heard the song

"sung" by wicked king Noah

i want want want what i want want want

i find my mind filled with i want.....

...to have my favorite lunch..cause it's my birthday

.... no fighting...cause...

.....to read, play my guitar...cause...

....to have everything the way i want it...cause.....

why is it so impossible for me to get over this....

yes it is my Birthday...yes I have been celebrated...as much as a 1, 3, 5, & 6 year old really can be expected...

but the reality is

M is throwing up

the boss doesn't feel all that well & he just removed his diaper and peed on the bench

the boyz when left for too long without my constant supervision fight

so here i sit my eyes tearing to be honest

running through all the ways my special day has wronged me

to make matters worse me thinks to myself

yesterday they all cried and tantrum'd all day

and i only get one shot a year at being the center of attention {LOL}

my b day and mothers day often fall on the same day or as is the case today consecutive days

"why does sickness come when I NEED to be celebrated"

and now we see

the natural woman.....and how she is an enemy to God

i am responsible for how my day goes only i can decide it was an birthday unworthy of

my greatness...huh

so

my resolve today is to remember...

i am home with the children I LOVE getting to care take which is my delight

i have an amazing chocolate cake in the fridge...which i can/will eat for every meal & snack today

i get to stay in the home where we make amazing memories

i am blest beyond that which i deserve

i get to order books from Barnes & Noble thanks to the Internet

& my Mother

i may even get to sneak away this evening...

the day is young..it's not to late to make it the best 28 known to a mother of 4 under 7's

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME may I change my ungrateful attitude in time to enjoy it!

Should I ever become a potatoe

Emeline assures me this is what I'd look like ;)

felicity

is parking it Saturday with DAD in toe

the youngest and his malady

he has started to sleep & play through treatment....this seems to disturb me more than when he fought

i guess when he fought it...it meant it wasn't the "NORM" alas his lung condition

has become a thing we "do"...but isn't he sooo cute in his fishy face?

Soon he will grow out of this {cross your fingers}

and we will have spent a little extra time with the poor chap...

all's well that ends well...i'd like to say

Funny monday...my favs

I don't know if you all get a chance to read the comment section on funny Monday but I get a chance to giggle every Monday...and I am so grateful for it,

it really starts my week out !

so here are some of my FAVS from the past...i couldn't find all the ones that i was trying to but if these don't make you laugh you may need to think about a prescription

Lisa
Lately our sweet little Eliza is more like the other devilish two year-olds of the world. When the older kids appolgise she has started to say, with a dirty look on her face, "Don't sorry me."

Brandy
Georgia was sitting on her bed for yet another pee incident. She kept calling to my mom to come see her. My mom yelled, "George, I can't come in there, you're being punished." Down the hall Isaac chimed in, "Yeah, you're being punished for your own sins, and not for Adam's transgression."
( ***note from the author of flourish***i still laugh every time i even think of this story..i guess it is my all time number 1 favorite funny Monday story)

Ams
Last week, my hair was a little crazy. I desperately needed a cut. Tons of hair plus tons of curls equals frizz when not done. I was babysitting my nephew, and he promptly asks "Aunt Amber...is something wrong with your hair? You look like a clown."

Trish:
Michael was inside the movie theater the other night and called me to see which movie I would like to see. I said I just don't want to see anything Dramatic. Too which Kailye promptly said "Hey, dramatic! That's what I am!"

ohhhh that George....one more from
Brandy
Her Uncles were showing her off to their friends during the final four basketball game and I heard them ask Georgia (in the other room), to recite the Articles of Faith. She said a few and they all cheered for her. A few seconds went by and she says, "Can I have a dollar?"

creation is marvelous

in tribute to a little show on NPR called science Friday

i saw fit to mark Friday science day

today we learned about weather patterns...clouds...rain...tornado's...hurricanes...snow....sun...and the like

then we made a rainbow...unfortunately it didn't show up in the picture but take it from me it was a beaut !

then we watched the clouds while laying on a blanket

((((I LOVE FRIDAY's))))

***note from the author***

yes..Liam is wearing his birthday crown, and yes his birthday was 3 days before the photo was taken...hey take what you can get right..why not don your birthday crown throughout your birthday week....the best is that he is TOTALLY unaffected by what others think....he was asked more than 3 times why he was wearing it when it wasn't his birthday and his answer was "I LIKE IT!!"...that's enough reason for anyone i suppose..you can imagine how this affected our resident rule cop {Jax}...he he..."MOM it isn't his birthday anymore tell him he can't wear it"

FELIZ CINCO

last night as is customary

we , the 'rents

spoke with Liam about his wishes for his 5 year celebration day

here is the list....mind you he was being relived of his generally strict bed time so it drags a bit

i would like ...........

* to read

* to learn about Jesus

*to draw

* to eat

* to play with balls

*to wrestle

* to play wild horse with Dad

*to build my train

* to take LOTS of pictures

*to draw a picture of Jesus

*not to eat too much cake & candy

and here you may find his tiredness & longing to stay awake may show

* to maybe wash some dishes

*try some ironing

* to wash the sink out

LOL

He is

a

JOY

he is...

a bit wiley

a bit sneaky

a big sweet heart

a mathematician in the making

a calm cool collected gentleman

a avid wrestler

a sword wielding....pirate, Jedi, knight

is a witty young lad

and

WE LOVE HIM

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

LIAM

FUNNY MONDAY {belated....for i took a few personal days}

the funniest thing happened the other day..........

after a very chaotic week...and the passing of a friend

I brought up the need I felt for us to make wills...the DON{my Spanish Mr.}

looked very confused

then

"we need to make WHEELS ?"

my response

"yes we will need to have Will's...should the unspeakable occur"

it went back and forth like this longer than you might suppose it should

then

"don't they have something for us to use....we don't have to MAKE them"

perplexed i

"what"

"we need wills to tell people, family, government, etc. what our wishes are"

finally

"ahhh i see......a will"

laughter erupted...and the giggles lasted through the night

my love actually thought I intended to make

WHEELS

on which to transport our coffins

i guess he knows me better than i do...........

your turn

your turn

your turn

su turno

Funny Monday

the funniest thing happened the other day.....

sitting around the table

dad says "time for naps"

kids say : " not me...I'm not taking a nap...right??"

dad says: all those who have two eyes..it's nap time for you

immediately thereafter

i had 3 one eyed children

your turn

your turn

your turn

...in which an answer is received

“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27).

if you are like me maybe this or this will help

....in which the youngester learns a new trick... to the delight of all who happen upon him

everything we need to know we can learn at the ZOO...provided you've packed an adequate lunch

today I packed a lunch & we headed to the ZOO

it was a great day for the zoo

it was a great day for running

it was a great day for a picnic

it was a great day for learning

i packed a little mediterannian pasta from the night before...nuts...& dehydrated papaya

chaucer digs papaya

m just couldn't eat sitting down

& the boyz

well they took off before i could take the lens cap off of the camera

after our bellies were full we headed over to see

these beautiful birds

the children were enchanted

the habitat contained mostly flamingos {32 in fact}

a couple of ducks {2}

and one beaut of a swan

after we had observed them for awhile I thought i'd try this whole teaching thing again

"how many flamingo's ?"

the answer like rapid fire

"32"

"how many ducks"

quicker still

"2"

"what else do you see?"

"one swan"

"so how many birds are in this exhibit?"

"35"
cool

"how do you know they aren't all flamingo's ?"

"the ducks have shorter legs, wider beak & smaller bodies"

"the swan has a wider beak & shorter legs"

"the flamingos have really long legs and beaks that look like a hook"

cooler

"how do flamingo's bend there legs?"

"they have a knee like us"

"except their knee doesn't look like ours"

"really, what is different about it?"

"well...... it bends backwards"

coolest kids

fun day fun lunch fun learning

in which we see the CARVAJAL's in EASTER BEST

I hope your EASTER celebration was a blessed remembrance of our SAVIOR


While ironing the children's new clothes, I spoke with our Children about the symbolism of a "NEW" Easter clothing

I have been reading this book and realizing that we don't know the WHY in a lot of our traditions. I spoke with my young ones about the symbolic putting on of new "perfect" clothing and its relation to the resurrection & the putting on finally, eternally of our perfected bodies. Oh what a joy it was to hear Jaxson's excitement as we entered the chapel..."I wonder what my teachers are wearing?....to the lay observer I am sure this questions seems a bit on the silly & on the worldly side..but to me I heard in his voice the sound I imagine will ring in the land as the morning of the resurrection occurs...."where is my mother, aunt, uncle, friend........etc..and what does their perfected body look like" to those who know someone who's body has been ravaged by cancer, disease, sickness, or accident..I know you will join me in your desire to see what they are wearing Resurrection morning.

After our Easter week dedicated to learning of our Savior I am grateful for my life..my love...my posterity...and most of all the older Brother to whom i am so indebted.

I have been very hard on myself this week..noticing every short coming...crying over my incapability's...and finally realizing that for this was he come into the world...to take the burden of my short comings & failing...and for this if I can but obey I can be relieved of my sorrows & sins.

***Grandma sent the kids BEAUTIFUL EASTER clothing so, I made a goodwill run and came up with some "matching" clothes for the Mr. & I ****

in which something lost was found.....or something forgotten was relived

After General Conference the Mr. and I decided we could definitely do BETTER

in our TEMPLE attendance.

So we agreed that alternately every Thursday one of us would attend.

This is his week.

It is nothing new to me of course because

As most of you know he was working {full time} & attending BYU {full time } for the better part of 7 years and 4 children.

The thing is....it's been about a year since we choose for him to be away at night.

Yeah he's worked late here and there

BUT

Satan didn't work on me those nights--not really a surprise

This evening as I was placing dinner on the table, greeted with a fair amount of boo's and hiss's from our resident foodies { really they always love everything I cook...just when they are tired..you see...nothing sounds good when you are an over tired..1..3..4..or 6 year old} I realized I had been agitated since the morning...something about knowing I was in it for the long hall I guess. I felt the anger/resistance/tiredness/patience less and decided NOT to give in which you all probably KNOW is VERY VERY VERY difficult.

I GRINNED big and passed the tofu...to which they all grinned and scarfed down every single BITE.

Next baths, jams, books, prayers, & kisses.

After all the above were satisfied and I was cleaning the kitchen it struck me...i kinda missed being the only one..the one to kiss, pray, & read with each of my blessings...i don't do that very often any more Dad is always actively taking care of MOST of those little treasures....I really missed it..i did...funny how one decision can turn the night around..my lovies are asleep...my Prince has yet to return...and i am going to finish up my bread bags...

LIFE IS SWEET

{because i am a MOTHER}

and i almost forgot it

Gotta run ...

this.........isn't me but I fancy this is what I look like {LOL} in my pj's

We'll catch up soon...I'm in the midst of embroidery on my bread bags!

in which we disclose our funnies this MONDAY

the funniest thing{s} happend today

the first being a "new" word carvajal style

a

SniSS

{ a sneeze and a kiss}

would you like your children to laugh out loud for hours well try a sniss the only problem being that you must be ready to kiss your little one's belly while sneezing.......LOL this just happened today..then happened again..and again...i mean it every time I went to give the babes a razz an involuntary [are there any other kind??] sneeze arrived and bless me it set the house off !!!

next if you have yet to experience this song

you must

the giggles are endless...if you fail to giggle whilst listening imagine little M very seriously in a deep voice bobbing her head while singin' i like 'em big i like 'em clunky.....

now your turn

you go

try it

couldn't resist

in which spring arrives just in time for the Families first annual SPRING CELEBRATION

we started a new tradition in our family....it's called spring celebration or bunny day...this is when the "Easter Bunny" comes

this day happens the Saturday one week prior to EASTER

We explained to the kids that the Easter bunny comes for us a different time than it comes to others...it didn't seem to ruffle any ones feathers...the fact that candy was allotted 8 days in advance seemed to bode well for the little ones

{we did this because of THIS great book, which begins Palm Sunday and continues until Easter Sunday...we just want the bunny & the Resurrection to have separate days}

so the bunny came he left his treasures...just in time for General Conference...hooray for art supplies ( thanks Bunny aka Gramma) the kids had a great sugar high and on such created terrific art work!!

in between sessions we took a picnic to the lake beach

the boss and M had a grand ride around the lake

they may be getting the hang of riding together...now Liam has joined the bi--cycle riding world with the speed and accuracy necessary to forgo the trailing experience

the boss has found a seat, although I do feel a bit sorry for him I know it is safer for him to ride a la trailer I do sense he may miss the comfort and visual stimuli the back pack provided

with much appreciation we thank spring for joining us in our celebration of her

balls were kicked...wading was accomplished......welcome spring
THANKS FOR a BEAUTIFUL day in which TO celebrate YOU

in which a guided tour through our mini school is given

In which the youngest hits a milestone

How many kids do you know {yourself as a child included} Are without a
"sleeping in your food "picture

don't you just love the rice and bean induced coma... the best part is
that the other children tried very hard to keep him from the peace you
see here...each attempt was greeted with a poliet smile full of sleepy
wonder....que RICO{ delish:: for all those non Spanish speakers} !!!!!

in which i try some new things with the homeschoolers

Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree.....

--Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.

so each Friday a simple spelling "test" is given to check the students knowledge of the word

then new words are given...unless some of the old words have yet to be learned then a mix of new and old are given

SPELLING gives my kids the perfect opportunity to work on penmanship so each day after our devotional they take their trusty pencils out and write down the spelling words for the week {3 times}

well this week i thought that i would change it up a bit ( you see they are now coping the articles of faith for handwriting)

Friday each child showed they had mastered the weeks words and were allotted new ones in their place

then they were given the option

they could write each word 3 times { as usual) or they could write it...then sew it...then create it with pipe cleaners or magnets

they were eager to get to work Jax's pillow will be on his bed tomorrow next to his previous sewing creation and Liam had a grand time with the pipe cleaners & magnets.......ahh life is grand

even M got into the action during her Phonogram time

gotta love pipecleaners

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

....the pink boa on M's head is her substitute for long hair....she loves this thing & has it in two colors (hooray)....i am actually shocked and a bit surprised it hasn't shown up in more blog pics...guess i got lucky...anyhow there it is in all its glory and should you visit you may be asked to wear the purple one..but only if she really likes you....just a heads up refusals will not be allowed...you should see the Mr.'s face when i am wearing one upon his homecoming...