Tampa

We took a 2 day, 1 night trip down to Tampa for Charlie's interview at a VA hospital. It went well. Currently he's in Albuquerque for the 3rd and final interview. Feb has been a month full of travels for him.

While he was interviewing I drove the kidlets to Clearwater Beach. Oh, how I wish it hadn't been overcast because it was a beautiful beach right on the Gulf. And not the dirty gulf like Galveston, TX. If we end up moving to Tampa we will for surely be spending lots of time here. One more month until the big reveal!

I made the mistake of giving Azure and Vince a cracker on the pier. In a matter of seconds there were 20 or more seagulls surrounding us and they almost stole the cracker from Vince's hand! I could feel them on me pecking and flapping their wings. Azure and I both started screaming. I really hate seagulls.

One of the culprits

We ate at this amazing Cuban restaurant called La Teresita and then drove through quite a large Cuban neighborhood. All in all a pretty good trip, except for every time we drive more than 1 hr in the car with the kids in the backseat I start to question whether or not we really want to have more children. Eternal perspective. Eternal perspective. Eternal perspective.

Valentines

My mother loves Valentines Day. (She just told me it was her favorite holiday.) Growing up, I thought it more to be like a friendship day, which I guess is probably because of her influence which I am thankful for. In college I remember being perplexed at sulking single roommates on Valentines who announced the holiday as "Single Awareness Day". "But, it's not just about romantic love," I would exclaim, "It's a celebration of family and friend love." I want to celebrate Valentines Day not just with my true love but, also my children, friends and extended family. 

I am not a baker. I've just emerged into the baking world this past year. And I am not a crafter by any means. But, usually on Valentines I have an inkling to be a baker and a crafter. I usually like to make heart shaped sugar cookies to deliver to friends. I loved making valentines in high school using conversation hearts somewhat like a candy gram. I especially LOVE the Spanish conversation hearts. Soo awesome.

Since Charlie would be out of the country on Valentines Day he took me out on a surprise date the night of our race. Our good friends the Bryces babysat for us. He took me downtown to Bay St. and we ate at the Shrimp Factory. Of course, it had cleared up and had stopped raining once the race was done. It was a nice evening. Going on dates with your spouse on a regular basis without children is so important. Really keeps the love alive. And it's a commandment from our prophets. Don't you just love commandments that you are excited about keeping?!

On the actual day of Valentines Chelsea and I decided to have a party for our little girls who are BFFs. Their trio has become a quartet. While we were in CA, the Coopers moved into our ward who also happen to have a 3 yr old daughter named Evie.

I made these same sugar cookies with this frosting except subbed vanilla extract for almond. Highly superior in my opinion. They were yummy. I learned however that using lemon extract isn't equal to using lemon zest. I also made a strawberry salad with spinach and sliced almonds.

 Look at those eyes! Future heart breaker indeed.

Race on Tybee

On Sat. Feb. 5 the 4 of us ran a race together. I ran the 5K with the kids in the jogging stroller and Charles ran the half marathon.

Rain was in the forecast from 8am to noon- the exact time of the race. Though, it was only 50 degrees. 20 degrees warmer than the Rex Lee Run. And I think it was 35-40 degrees when we ran the Turkey Trot. In comparison 50 degrees was warm. So, I purchased a waterproof poncho for Azure. I couldn't find one small enough for Vince so I put his legs in a plastic bag :) I really wished that I had one of those weather proof shields for our stroller, however it was only available online and it was the day before the race. 

Rain or shine we were pumped. Running itself is exhilarating but, the energy surrounding a race with hundreds of people lined up at the start line is phenomenal. I am completely addicted to running 5Ks! I told Charles I want to run one every month. If they were free I totally would.

I was pretty pleased with my selection of running songs that I downloaded just for the race, they kept me pumped the entire time. I chose "The Distance" by Cake to start off with the words, "Reluctantly crouched at the starting line...the green light flashes, the flags go up. Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup. They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank... reckless and wild, they pour through the turns. Their prowess is potent and secretly stern. [S]he's going the distance. [S]he's going for speed."
Very appropriate lyrics.

Again, this race was a spiritual experience for me. I was near tears many times. (Not because I was in pain or wanted it to end). Halfway through the race I saw a woman about my age running with no legs, she had 2 prosthetics. It was so inspiring. I had a lot of analogies running through my mind pertaining to the gospel as I ran. One of them was about repentance.  I was wearing a shirt, a fleece pull-over, and a rain jacket. Half way through I started to get pretty hot and the rain was subsiding somewhat, so I took off the rain jacket. I didn't realize how heavy it was since it was wet but, once I took it off I felt so much lighter. It definitely quickened my pace for a bit. A lot of times we are carrying around heavy burdens that we need to turn over to the Lord. We need to apologize to someone and make amends somehow. When we do that we literally feel light.

"Come unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest... For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28,30).

Charlie had to start the half before I finished the 5K so unfortunately he wasn't there at the finish line. I did a good sprint and finished in 33 mins again. Well, "again" if my time was really 33 mins the last race. Pushing a double jogging stroller against wind and rain with a 30 lb 3 yr old and a 20 lb 1 yr old is just as bad as running up hills, just so you know. 

We were able to see Daddy just before the finish line.

I am loving looking at these pics of him since I haven't seen him or heard his voice since last Sat. He's in Guatemala and will hopefully write a post on his experiences there when he returns.

And here is the photo they took of me when I finished. We're thinking of doing another one next month :)

Vince's 1st Birthday

Here is a slideshow I made for Vince. His birth was a miracle for me. But, regardless of the way he came out, he is still a miracle in and of himself.

Everyone says this, but I really can't believe that Vince is a yr old. It truly has gone by so quickly. Here are some things our chunky monkey can do.

•  He is learning to wave and point.

• He can say Mama, Dada, and Hi! (a new word just in the last week or so)

• LOVES to be held up to the light switch to turn it on & off.  Even if he's crying he will instantly stop and get a huge smile on his face if he sees the light switch. It's easier for him to turn them off than on.

• LOVES to be held up to pictures hanging on the wall. I ask him, "Who's that?" as I point. He smiles when he recognizes the face. Either Jesus, him, Azure, me, or Daddy.

• Has been eating table food for the past month

• Has clapped a few times (not consistent)

• Has 4 teeth (2 on bottom, 2 on top)

• Can pull up to his knees, not a stand yet but at least his knees :)

• He can gracefully go from lying on his back to sitting, to crawling and reverse

• Mostly army crawls but, will get up on hands and knees when he stops momentarily. Seems like he thinks he can crawl faster on his belly.

• Loves to eat bananas. He can eat a whole one in one sitting.

• Is starting to like Baby Signing Time more but, has yet to do any signs

• Nurses 4-5x a day, sleeps about 12 hrs straight at night

• Drank whole milk for the 1st time today and chugged it. Now, I'll gradually start weaning him to nursing 2-3x a day

• Loves to flick his finger against his teeth.

 Look at my 2 top teeth!

We just had a low-key family party for him today. I made some banana cupcakes with a banana glaze as the "cake". And we opened presents sent from family. Thank you family!

Finally: Christmas Eve & Christmas

For as long as I can remember my Dad's side of the family has celebrated Nochebuena. The last time we were able to celebrate it with everyone was in 2006 when I was pregnant with Azure.

The menu usually consists of pork roast, yucca, mojo, rice, black beans and fried plantains. This is a tradition that I hope to continue on with my children as it is one of my favorite Cuban traditions. That and have them all take Salsa lessons :)

We usually draw names and open gifts after dinner. Sometimes we have sung Christmas songs and read out of Luke 2. Since my brother in law, Angel, has joined our family we have been singing a lot more since he brings and plays the guitar. Thank you Angel! I really wish I would have taken pics of the food.

Azure is pretending she's playing the guitar in the bottom right corner.

Looking through the kaleidoscope with both eyes closed. Classic.

Only Jen and I are looking at the camera. Nice.

When we got back to my parents house my mom, Azure, Charles, and I got to do one of our Christmas Eve traditions of listening to the song "Toyland/Sleep well little children" by the Christmas tree with all the lights off.

We started Christmas morning off eating latkes and waiting for the kids to wake up. We never told Azure that Santa was giving her presents. We told her Mommy & Daddy were and Nana & Papa and other people but, not Santa. She still thoroughly enjoyed it all.

 I love Charlie's expressions in these pics!

 I tried to get a cute Christmas jammies pic in front of the tree. This was the best I could do.

 And another one by the fireplace.

 Vince's 1st Christmas

 Our stockings :)

Following our Christmas tradition, the 4 of us, along with Natalee and Angel went to a nursing home to sing on Christmas Day. Last year we went to a Hospice and went around to different rooms and sang to people individually. This year, they were all gathered together in their front lobby waiting for us. And we were about 15 mins late so we felt kinda bad.

I have to say that singing there was the BEST part of Christmas day. As we sang of the Savior's birth (as a family + extended fam no less) and looked into the eyes of those sweet old folks, the spirit burned in my heart that this was a tradition we definitely need to keep. And we should do it more often than once a year on Christmas. I could tell it meant so much to them. 

Afterwards we spent some time with my Nana & Papa and sang with them too which was great.

And what Christmas would be complete without playing a superfun board game while snacking on delicious Christmas goodies?! So glad Talls was down to play Ticket to Ride. One of our top faves for sure. Especially when I beat Charlie savagely :)

Then the next day we started our l o n g cross country road trip back to Savannah. It took us a week, stopping to see family though. 

Oh, Azure!

We have been trying to get Azure to stop sucking her thumb since a little before her 3rd birthday. To no avail. When we tell her to take her thumb out, she says, "But, I will cry!" or "But, I LOVE to suck my fumb!" Indeed, she does.

So, much in fact that she regularly asks Heavenly Father in prayer to bless her "fumbs". (She has trouble making the "th" sound). I can't help but, chuckle quietly at this sincere request.

A couple nights ago Charles put hot sauce on her thumb. She screamed and screamed. I assured her that the act of him putting it on her thumb was not going to hurt. As soon as he finished she ran to the bathroom to wash it off with soap and water and soon after her thumb was once again in her mouth.

Just now I told her that Daddy was going to have to put it on again if she didn't stop to which she replied, "No way! Mommy, you throw that hot sauce away now!" I kinda of laughed and said that it was Daddy's so we weren't going to throw it away. Then she said, "Well, I'll just wash it off."

Apparently this method doesn't work :)

Update

Living in Tucson, AZ or Winston-Salem, NC are no longer options for us. We weren't offered interviews there. But, we were offered interviews in Tampa, Albuquerque, and here in Savannah. So, those are the current options.

All 4 of us will go down to Tampa next weekend for the interview and to check it out! I'm excited! Truth be told, that's my first choice.

Charles really likes the program in Abq the best. I don't jump at the idea of living in the barren desert. But, they do have a temple there. And that is really important to me.

Or we could also stay here another year. We're not too keen on that.

I know that wherever we go, that's the place the Lord wants us to be. Having faith in that is so comforting. So, the poll has been changed. Please vote again :)