Flashback Jan -Feb 2014

We had some amazing snow storms this year. At least for us.

It was pretty powdery, as you can see by that snowball Marcel is throwing.

Swinging

Snowballs

But we got more and more snow. And ice. And just like in Atlanta (who we made fun of) we got stick in traffic. I always wondered how that would happen, how you could be dumb enough to get in something like that. Then it happened to me. I was supposed to go to a meeting for work, and it looked fine. No snow. When we were almost there it started snowing. Traffic got worse. As we got within a mile of my office (I had the kids with me) they called and said the meeting was canceled and they were closing the office so I should just turn around. Easier said than done. We spent 6 hrs in our van trying to get home. 6 hrs. And most of that was spent on the same road (probably 5 1/2 hrs where we went a couple of miles). It was incredibly awful. But we survived.

Manny's school had a circus!

Manny was a strongman, as you can see by the spiderman suit with muscles.

What a good looking mustache

Flashback Dec 2013

In December 2013...we took a trip to Ohio to visit some friends. It was 10 hrs or so driving. We made the trip with another family. So that was 3 adults and 4 kids and a van. It wasn't so bad, though. We made it just before the big snow storm that made the schools cancel. Yay! More time with our friends!

Marcel didn't really enjoy the snow. He didn't like it landing on his face.

Our friends (the Righters) have some awesome neighbors who had a pinata. Back story to this is the mom accidentally missed a birthday party of one of her kids' friends. The daughter was devastated and when asked what her mom could do to make it better-she said pinata. What a fun family.

Manny fought for the hand of Courtney. He only likes her when there is competition (Hyrum).

Manny starred as Joseph in a very liberal re-enactement of the Nativity.

Who knew Spiderman was at the birth of Jesus? And a fairy? Or maybe that's the angel. 

Manny also starred as Joseph in the school Nativity. Notice his secret crush (Ava) as Mary.

I can tell she would be a great mom. Look at her hug that baby.

We had Christmas at our house.

What a great year 2013 was.

The "LUV FARE" and Poopy Butt

Im never going to catch up. And I've already forgotten half of the things I was going to post...

Today Manny was really sweet. He made me cards saying he loved me. And then he disappeared for a while, then reappeared saying-I just found a note! I don't know where it came from!

The note read- I LUV U MOM      (heart)  THE LUV FARE

In case you can't read kindergarten-that note is from "the love fairy"

Then I would find a cut out heart with "MOM" written on it taped to the door. Or a note saying "U R SPESHL" (you are special). So sweet. And finally I got a note saying- THE SEKRIT IDENTY UV THE LUV FARE IS MANNY.

Super funny and cute.
But don't worry-he's not always this nice. Later that night I must have done something to upset him so he tore up all my notes from him and the "luv fare."  Sad.

Marcel is very funny. One night as I was putting him to bed, he put his hand on my face (like he was caressing it) and said, "You no es poopy butt." Like that was a compliment. I tried hard not to laugh and said, "Thank you." Then he said, "Papi es poopy butt." I did a poor job that time not laughing and then told him that Papi was not a poopy butt.
I like how Marcel is using 3 languages in this sentence. "You" (English) "no es" (Spanish) "poopy butt" (made up kid language). We have the worst grammar in this house apparently.
Thank you, Manny. Thanks a lot for teaching my 2 yr-old the word poopy butt. It's terrible.

Best Birthday Ever

I had the best birthday ever this year. Although Luis was away on a business trip, my boys tried to make it extra special for me. Manny even started the day out with a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help him and Marcel to make it my "best birthday ever."  I went to the gym with a friend (and pretended to work out while having great conversation). We went to a park with the kids for lunch. The boys let me take a nap while they played nicely (which is unheard of). Then I went over to a friend's house where I ate food I didn't have to prepare or clean up.

It was pretty much the best day of my life.

Runaway/Hobo Update

Manny later decided he is hoping to be adopted by another family (preferably a friends family and without a dog...).
Hours later he seems fine. He said "Maybe I'll run away when I'm 10 so I can carry the suitcase. But I'm going to be prepared now so I don't have to stay up all night packing." He emptied both his and Marcel's drawers into the largest suitcase we have.

Running Away

Right as I speak Manny is packing things for him and Marcel to run away. He has said it multiple times, but today he is actually acting on it. I am trying to be as serious as I can. I asked him some questions as to how he would live.
Me- Where are you going to live?
Manny- I'll go to a house that isn't bought yet. I'll bring my money
Me- I don't think they'll sell a house to you. You're a kid.
Manny- Well then I'll be a hobo.
Me- Okay. What about when it is cold?
Manny- I'll find a place that's not cold. And Marcel can go to school with me since he has no place to go.
Me- Interesting. That is very nice of you. How will you eat?
Manny- I'll buy it. I have money.
Me- But not forever. You'll run out. (I think he has $4 in his wallet.)
Manny- Well then I'll call you and you can deliver it to me. I'll tell you where I'm staying.

Here is a list of what he has packed so far-
Clothes/Pajamas
Blankets
A pillow for him and Marcel to share
Sleeping animals (Bunnity, Blanket, Spot, Oso)
A framed picture of himself as a baby so he can "remember the good times, when you loved me"

As he is packing up his clothes and blankets he is singing "Cups" by Anna Kendrick. "You're going to miss me when I'm gone." Marcel is following him around singing "Gone......gone......gone."

And this is all because I told him he couldn't play Star Wars Angry Birds. Well it could be a combination of things that have happened this weekend, but this was the last straw. (He also told me he might take Papi because he and I were not meant to be. I asked why and the reason was that Papi said he could play Star Wars Angry Birds and I told him he couldn't.)

Fist Fight

Manny and Marcel got in a fist fight this morning. I saw them be mean to each other and I told them to stop. Obviously it didn't work. I tried to tell Manny (since he is the only one I can reasonably/logically communicate with) that he would be sad (as he is often the one who ends up crying), but he kept on. I could tell it wasn't that bad so I didn't really intervene. I tried to see how they might work it out. They took turns hitting. And then Manny punched Marcel in the stomach and kicked him in the knees. Really hard. Marcel then open hand slapped Manny and grabbed his hair. Manny screamed and cried and it took me a minute to pry Marcel's hands out of Manny's hair. I couldn't stop laughing. Marcel just stood there while Manny hit him. No expression. Marcel is definitely the fighter/survivor.