It's already that time again?!

Where has all the time gone?

Remember when we were kids and we always heard our parents speak about losing track of time by phrases such as, "I can't believe it's already July!", "Christmas is only one week away?!", or "where did all the time go?"  When I would hear that I remember thinking 'yeah right', because as a kid I had a pretty good sense of time and I knew exactly where my days went.  Sometimes time would just draaaag until the next exciting event.  It was hard to wait for dates like Valentine's Day, the 1st Day of School, Halloween, and of course Christmas.  I used to think, 'how the heck do they not know how close we are to Christmas?!', because I was dying for it to finally arrive.  And not only that, I also had no problem memorizing 50 different phone numbers at a time, or recalling the names of new people I just met.  To think of it, I didn't even own a day planner until I had my third kid!  It was never an issue for me to remember Dr.'s appointments and other specific dates, never having had to write them down.  I'd get a call from the clinic, "your appointment is on Sept. 19 at 11:15 am."  You know what, I never wrote it down!  I showed up at the exact time and date.  If that was even a possibility in my life today I would consider myself a genius.  Newp! Eventually something happened, don't know how or when, but it was like I had come to the edge of a cliff, then suddenly fell off into an abyss of numbers.  I can truly say that I have lost all sense of time.  I have to have a calendar by my side everyday of the week to remind me what I'm doing this day, and which kid needs to be taken where -heck sometimes I don't even know what day of the week it is until I check the calendar.  So this is how 'growing up' can be summed up; you lose sense of time. 

Well, 'nuff said about that.  It was really supposed to lead into the realization that the end of 2012 is just 5 days away.  Not fun when I have a feeling that I'm not finished with something important, and I really can't think of what it is, but I feel rushed for some reason.  Oh, maybe it's the fact that I'm supposed to be driving mom and Julia back to Cheney, WA, in about 1 and 1/2 weeks. Yikes! That's going to be a 4 day trip there; one week stay at mom's; a 4 day trip home; and keeping up with Alex's homeschool while we're on the road.  Noooo I don't like to think about it!  It's going to be cold and snowy throughout the drive.  I hope we can do this.  It has to be done.  Julia is moving in with mom so she can help take care of the house, go to college, and to get out from under our wing so she can flyyyyyyyyy!  Haha, she's such a little adult already.  Of all my kids, I have the least bit of worry for her. She's pretty witty and very inquisitive, so if there is something she doesn't know or can't yet accomplish it'll only be a matter of time until she does!  Good Girl! 

I am also stressing about some personal issues that MUST MUST MUST be resolved, or I just may not make it through: meaning having a nervous break-down, locking myself up in a looney-bin, becoming a basket-case...who knows.  If I don't get it together I will lose out of many beautiful opportunities ahead.  I think it's time for some goal setting, and what better time to do it than New Years 2013!! I'm going to make my list, check it twice, and wipe away my naughty ways to make them NICE!  So, that was dumb, but I had fun with it. 

I will probably have to blog my list of resolutions in the next couple of days...just as a sweet reminder for me to say on track.  But in the meantime, listen to how our Christmas went! 

Christmas eve: 
I decided that having guests over for dinner was the best way to spend it. As always I invited a few families to join us!  Those in attendance were Eliot and Isabel Beltran with their four children and Isabel's mother and step-dad. Also, the Westover's came: Priscilla and Steve brought their two sons, Ethan and Nick.  Then my favorite neighbors, the Varelas' were with us as well.  Actually, Troy and Melissa were the first to arrive on Christmas eve; and of course they brought their two boys, Aaron and Elijah.  Let's see...who else?  Oh, the missionaries showed up at around 8pm.  Elder Mason (who happens to be from Kennewick, WA), and Elder...hmmmm what is his name?  Anyhoo, they were busy gentlemen on Christmas Eve, so I'm really glad they were able to come eat with us at the end of the night.  Then to add to that crowd  we had our own little family! All of us minus Cydney, Plus Mom! OH and MOM, she made...ahhh What a WONDERFUL meal she cooked up!!! She made two types of Pozole -considering she is Mexican, having that traditional dish was expected and much desired!  We all decided to go for a new taste and try out the Green Pozole, or in other words, Pozole Verde, and let me tell you: IT WAS GOOD!  Of course we also had the Pozole Rojo, as usual, and that tasted the same as every year; not that it's a bad thing, it's just that the Pozole Verde stole the show! Our meal also consisted of chips, salsa, tostadas, Ambrosia (made by Julia  and it was delish!), some amazing raspberry punch, a delicious cheese cake (bought at Cheesecake Factory, and then two delectable homemade blueberry pies brought and made by Priscilla!  Oh what a night.

Christmas morning was not an easy one: we all had to wake up early and we were T-I-R-E-D! Alex had stayed up ALL night to separate everyone's gifts into their own special piles.  HAHA, to think of it, Julia and Corey described the scenery.  He had posted sticky notes to make a seating arrangement.  He placed Andy and on the floor, Corey and Julia separated, and Nani in an awkward place at the couch, and I think Mitch had the recliner.  Anyway, he's so cute to think of each of us, I just think he was way too excited to care where we all sat.

I don't want to get into what each and every person received this year, but let me just say that we were all very, immensely blessed. The Lord is good to us.  How can I possibly repay his love?  I am thankful that I have the faith that I do, it gives me hope and the desire to do good in this terrible and cold world!

Hope that each of you had a Merry Christmas!

Scouts are amazing...

Troop 668

 

Boys Scouts, that is.  OK Andy is right there, on the left. Cuuuute isn't he?? Oh and my baby boy, Alex, is standing in the front with the blue long sleeve shirt and the pack on his front. 

They took a 4 day canoeing trip down some river in KY.  I think it was a great bonding moment for Andy and Alex.  As a matter of fact, Alex said to his father, 'dad, I'm glad we could have this time together to bond. I enjoy sitting in the canoe with you, just the two of us,' at least that's the report Andy gave me. How sweet! 

I thought I would enjoy the time away from Andy, but I proved myself WRONG! I missed him like crazy!!! He's a fun man to have around. This definitely solidifies the thought that I am NOT going to let him do long haul trucking!!! 

I told you so...

Right now Andy and I are at the sleep study clinic at Hardin Memorial Hospital. Now you know where we are, don't come looking for us! He looks pretty dang funny with the 30, or so, wires stuck to his head, arms, and chest. I really can't look at him right now because it's making me laugh and he's getting irritated. He's going to lay right down on that bed right in front of me and attempt to sleep for the next 5 hours.. in the clinic. Oh boy. The bed that represents the who "household queen" is a little lopsided.  The room is kind of cozy but it still feels like a hospital. I would have put some pictures up on the walls to give it a more "homey" feel, or something. What about those artificial fireplaces? I saw some small ones for less than $300 at Big Lots. There's a wall right in front of me that would be the perfect place for a fake fireplace. Hmm come to think of it, we STILL haven't replaced the fireplace the guys tore down about three months ago. I'm considerably patient, but as soon as summer's over I'll be needing that fireplace.

So, the whole purpose of this sleep study is to figure out why Andy doesn't get a good rest each night. It doesn't matter if we go to bed at 9pm or 2 am, it's all the same scenario. He dozes off and begins to lose consciousness. Good, right? But within two minutes of his sleep cycle he starts to move his wrists, in a twisting manner. He twists them back and forth for about three seconds, then stops moving for about fifteen seconds, then inevitably twists them again. This cycle goes on for hours. I've stayed up counting the number of times per hour and gave up at an hour and 1/2.  I can't stand the wrist-twisting! He doesn't even have a clue that it's happening!  Sometimes I wake him up and tell him to stop, and he looks at me in a daze...then falls back to sleep.

Andy At the Sleep Clinic, prepping for the night.

Another interruption to his hollowed sleep stints is the seldom snoring that occurs when he's had a particularly busy day.  I will let him snore (keeping me up) for about two or three hours until I finally push him off the bed, or leave the room to find solace.  I am usually too tired to leave the room, so he gets a good beating from me most of the time.

Dang funny if you ask me!

Andy dreams a lot; I can tell! At least I think I can.  I've read that dreaming occurs during REM, which is the part of the sleep cycle that occurs once every 90 min. I've watched in this cycle on nights he's able to achieve REM, and in the morning he can usually recall a dream or two.  When he gets into a deep sleep and dreams (or doesn't dream) he usually doesn't know whether he's had a dream or not.  I know he has, though.  One way I found that out was the recent time he karate kicked me in the back of the thigh. I had to yell, "what the hell was that?!" And upon waking he had NO clue. HA!

Sleep, it's definitely precious, vital and something that our whole family lacks! I have to force myself to sleep most of the time, and it's been a real challenge.

Not the original, but it's a new start.

Taken at the Coliseum in Rome. The archway symbolizes a passageway into new adventures. Adventures we discover every day! 

I've probably started 5 or 7 blogs in the past -never kept up on them! I usually lose the blog address, or forget that I've even blogged. That's O.K., it's lost in cyberspace; and if I can't find it, no one can.

Today I am a bit heartbroken. I just got a call from my mom; my oldest cousin, Rogelio, was killed in a terrible accident at work. I feel so bad for his wife and children. It's going to be hard on my tia!

Andy knows that news like this usually gets me down. I'm going to be depressed for a few days, then I'll remember how blessed I am to have a beautiful family, a good life, all that goes into being human.