Wouldn't You Know It?!

Here I have an entire afternoon to myself to bake biscotti and goodies for my parents' 36th Open House this Sunday and a technician from Idaho Power just came and told me they are putting in a new transformer and we'll be without power for over an hour. Grrr.

They are waiting 20 minutes for this batch to come out of the oven. Wasn't that nice of them? Seriously, it was!

So, my baking goes on hold, I can't be on-line and I'm not even sure I have a phone that will work!!!

Now, where is that new book I've been wanting to read? That's right - at the store/library. I hope I can come up with something to do beside clean!!!!

All Back Together

Christmas music playing continuously from now until December 26th.

I love this time of year. All my children are home from various other homes they have and we're all together under the same roof for an entire afternoon and evening - glorious! I can't remember the last time we've had this time together. Right now all 4 big kids are downstairs playing the PS2 and getting along! Paco went with his Granda and Daddy to run an errand and I am cooking OUR Thanksgiving Dinner.

What's on the menu for us tonight? Well since we've all had the turkey bit since Thursday, we're having:

Chicken Pipian (similar to brown mole)
Spanish Rice
Flour & Corn Tortillas
Salad
My salsa & guacamole

Dessert - from scratch Banana Cake with fresh Peanut Butter Frosting

I have the table set with our china, the good silver and pretty goblets to drink from. Candles are lit and the smells are overtaking the house. Ahhhh, I love it!

Thank you, Jesus for my family. I love them all so much. For the life kicking up a storm inside me - thank you. For the love of my family and our health - thanks isn't enough.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so blessed. I have a wonderful family, great & supportive husband & a loving God who actually loves me!

We had a wonderful day of thanks. I made the turkey, dressing and a fabulous pumpkin dessert for our feast at my parent's home. After stuffing ourselves there, we moved on to Roy's family feast for more foods, though I opted for tortillas and rice that round.

I miss my kids. It's an even year so that means they go with their biological mothers for all the holidays. 2007 is just around the corner though and that's our year so I can make it through this next month. We will have a nice dinner Sat night with our "little family" and count our blessings together.

I got up bright & early this morning and braved the crowds at Macy's. Didn't buy anything but so enjoyed the time with my Mom. We then went out to breakfast with Granddad, Daddy, Nana, Moma & Paco. Yummy!

I have baked 5 batches of bread today and feel good about that. Here is a cute little picture of Antonio helping me stir.

Updated Belly Shot!

Okay, here I am today, at 23 1/2 weeks:



I'm feeling really good right now. Looking at pictures of when I was expecting Paco, I think I am bigger out front now than I was with him; but I haven't gained the weight like I did all over with Paco, ( I hope.)

Roy took me shopping the other night and I got a new pair of black cord pants and two pretty black shirts, two camis and a few other misc items.

Here is one new outfit, worn for Roy's birthday today.

My Family

MY LITTLE FAMILY

The Expecting Parents:

We had a wonderful night! We went to Sears Portrait Studio (whom I love) and had our pictures taken. It's no small feat to get 7 of us, 5 being children, to smile and look good at the same time. They did great!

After the photo shoot, we went out to dinner all dresed up and had a grand time. Yes, we were all beat when we got home at 1o:00 but it was so much fun.

All Our Children:

Here are single shots of Troy & Reggie:

Caydance Danielle

I am a great-aunt!!!

Welcome Baby Girl

Caydance Danielle was born at 8:43 p.m. on November 15, 2006. Less than 4 hours from sharing her Grandpappy Larry's birthday!!! She entered this world weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 20" long. We're told she has brown hair under her little stocking hat.

Proud parents: Tyler & Lisa
Proud Grands: Larry & Stephanie
Proud Uncles & Aunt: Erik & Mandy, Brady & Virginia
Proud Great-Grands: Granddad & Nana!!!
Many other proud people, including me!!!

Phase 2 in Progress

View from inside the house is to the east

As for the house we're trying to buy.... going good!!!
We had the home inspected on Tuesday and while the list is long, it should be! It's an older home that has lots of TLC. We expected a thorough list and we got one. Now, we have the weekend to go through each item and decide if we're going to accept it "as is" or ask the seller's to fix some things. This is hard to do because it was listed "as is" and to ask them to take care of some things might make it so they walk away from our sell and re-list it. We're waiting for the septic and well inspections to come back, too.

We're getting more and more excited about it as time progresses and it looks like a reality for us.

It has met our checklist of musts and then just overflowed into desires:

1) Same school district

2) Close to a Friends Church

3) Has some acreage

4) Outbuildings or place to build outbuildings

5) Enough space for our family of 8.

At 4400 sq ft of living space it more than meets our "needs" and flows into the wants. With 4 bedrooms upstairs and 1 down all the kids will be up with us except the big boys. The bedrooms are small but I think they built it with the thought in mind that the bedrooms were for sleeping as they made the family and living rooms H-U-G-E!!!

The kids saw the house for the first time on this week and for the most part love it. They realize it will be work, too, so that takes a little of the "fun" out of it for them. That's okay, they're kids!

CRASH!

Exciting last night but not in the fun sense.

We had just left Melynda's basketball game and were on our way out to Nana's to drop her off when a mini van pulled out from Ustick in front of us on 10th Ave and we hit her.

Thankfully, we were all wearing our seatbelts (always) and we have a big heavy rig. The van's entire side was crushed in but they weren't hurt either. Airbags did NOT deploy.

We took me to the hospital for observation of the baby and they thought they detected some small contractions but after 2 1/2 hrs they had completely subsided and they sent us home.

We had Antonio with us but again, nobody was hurt. He did not like the firemen making a fuss over his moma and that's when he really cried and got scared.

My neck is really sore today as are my hips and low abdomen from the seat belt. Roy's sore as well.

Our car is still drivable but will need a whole new front end.

The other driver is from California, was in a rental car and she was given two citations. 1) Failure to yield at the stop sign 2) No proof of insurance.

Thanks for your continued prayers for us! Roy and I are sore but the kids haven't complained or acted hurt - Praise God.

As for the house update - inspection was today and went well. We should have the full report by tomorrow. Also met with the septic man and that was beneficial. The well water is being tested and things are moving right along! YEAH, another praise!

Phase 1 Complete!!

hA quick post from rainy Hood River, Oregon. Conference is going great - learning lots and having fun, too. Missing my baby Paco and wonder how he's doing without his Moma. I guess fine since he hasn't called.

House update - I think we have completed Phase I of the offer. If so, the house is now off the market, they won't entertain any offers from anyone else while we are in Phase 2.

Phase 2 consists of the inspections, tests and appraisals. During this time, we can back out if we don't like any of the results and still get our earnest money back without penalty.

Phase 3 is if we accept all inspections, appraisal and tests we wait until we close in mid January. After the 1st, there is a financial penalty if we don't close.

So, we enter Phase 2, see what the results end up being and what we decide from that.

YEAH!!! So exciting and scary at the same time.

Ta-ta for now.

Emotions

So, I posted the exciting post on our baby boy earlier today. My emotions are just about shot to be honest with you! I just felt I needed to journal a minute here.

Feelings of having another boy - I AM excited for another son. I never set out to have a daughter and have prayed the whole time that this will be just what God wants us to raise. I trust in Him still for that.

I do, however, have to say that deep down there must have been a desire for a girl as I am overwhelmed with the fact that I will never be the "mother of the bride,"etc. I know it's just emotions right now as I love my children all very much. I just have to share my daughters with other women and I don't have to share Antonio and now this son... until they take a wife, that is!

So, we are thrilled at having a son!!! They will grow up the best of friends and worst of enemies and will love each other all the more through each battle they face together.

House news - Ugh, this is stressful stuff! They countered our initial offer and we countered back last night. Now, they have until tonight to respond to our counter. I just keep praying that if it's meant to be it will be!!! It's hard when we want it so bad and they are dealing with other offers at the same time they are looking at ours so we have to make ours look "good!"

So, we wait and pray. Won't you please join us?

Now, we are off to a youth worker's conference in Oregon for the weekend. My parents are keeping the kids so they'll have their hands full! I've never left Paco for this long before so it will be hard, I'm sure. Thankfully, he loves his time with them and shouldn't have any troubles besides wanting his moma.

Ta-Ta for now!

Trick or Treat?

Paco had a blast trick or treating! When asked if he liked it he said, "walked and walked and walked..."
He has not forgotten that he got candy and asks for it all day long from the time he wakes til he falls asleep at night. Sigh.
The other pictures are on my parents' camera so I'll have to post them another time as the girls were so cute.

IT'S A BOY!!!

All looked and measured healthy and well on the ultrasound. So, score anothe for the blue time as we're going to be way outnumbered here come March!!!