Today

Marco got new underwear today and he loved modeling them for me, but wasn't so keen on sitting on the potty. So, after a little while, he got the diaper back on. Not quite ready for potty training yet. He does love potty humor and when asked anything he answers with "Poopy" at the end of every sentence. For example, "Marco how old are you?" Marco, "Two and a half poopy!" Marco, when's your birthday? Marco, "August 11 poopy!" You get the idea.

Today, Sylvie is 5 months old! I can't believe it, time has flown by! Here are some things about our beautiful Sylvia Rose:

1) She sleeps through the night-sometimes Mommy has to wake her up to feed her because Mommy needs to-otherwise she'll keep on sleeping.

2) She is happy most of the time-loves being on the floor on her back.

3) She is very fair skinned compared to her siblings and her eyes are an interesting greenish color.

4) She loves being out and about, but doesn't like church so much.

5) She is petite-weighs about 13 lbs. maybe.

6) Her family adores her because she is the sweetest thing around!

7) She loves to suck her thumb.

Finally, Lucia got to go on a field trip today with her class to Lowe's Hardwear. I felt bad I didn't get to go (no younger siblings allowed and no babysitter). She had fun building a time capsule, seeing how paint colors are mixed, eating lunch in the "train room", and got her own apron and set of goggles. Sounds like fun, wish I could have gone! We did appreciate Madelyn's dad Tony for taking her with them.

I guess that's all for now! Until next time...

Play Group

So, we've been attending our ward's play group on Tuesday. It's been a lot of fun for the kids to get together and play and for the mom's to socialize. This week we had a yummy lunch to say farewell to a family in our group that's moving away. We had lasagna, salad, garlic bread and cake and cookies.

Here is a picture we took of the group on Tuesday.

Monday Madness

So, I finally got my Christmas present in the mail from Julio-a blog book. It is so cool-he put together a book of my blog posts from the past year. It's so fun to look back and read what happenned and remember the good and bad times. It also reminded me that I need to post more because in a way, this is like a journal.

Mondays are always crazy, trying to get back into the normal routine and get the house back in order. Marco decided this morning, to stack a stool on top of a box and then climb up on it and jump off of it onto Lucia's bed. Well, he missed the bed and whacked his head on the corned wood part of the bed. You can't see it very well in the picture (too much light), but it's a good shiner. Poor Marco, he's a little bit reckless.

Anyway, I also posted a picture of me and Sylvie. She's been wanting to be held today. Some days are like that. Oh, my new food kick is mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwiches-YUM! I've had one for lunch the past three days. So, I'm just waiting for Lucia to come home and interupt my peace and quiet. Gotta start on dinner too before Sylvie and Marco wake up. Happy Monday!

Food, food, food

So, I feel like I make a lot of food. Three times a day I'm officially in the kitchen preparing something for someone. This week for dinner we've had some variety and it's been pretty good. Monday night we had grilled talapia with homemade salsa, rice and spinach salad. That was a pretty healthy meal. Tuesday we had meatloaf, baked yams, and spinach salad again. Another pretty healthy meal. Then last night I tried something new-mozzarella sticks. They were so yummy, but very fattening. We also had gnocchi with tomato sauce and green beans. I think occasionally I need to write things down so I don't have to think so hard about what to make for dinner all the time! Here are some good back-up meals:
Tostadas with beans, cheese and salsa
Homemade pizza
Hot dogs and potatoes
German pancake
They are all fast and cheap. Anyway, just thought I'd blog about food for once, since it is such a huge part of our daily life.

The search is on!

Julio has been looking for the perfect attorney position. It doesn't seem to exist here in Sacramento. Without experience as an attorney, it's hard to get in. He had an interview today at a bankruptcy firm and they said they start at $3000 (yes, you read that correctly) a month plus $50 for each new client you sign on. Um, I don't think so! We will continue to pray for the right job and I will pray for more patience.
In addition, another thing I learned about Julio's childhood-he would syphon gas through a hose from one of his parents' cars to put into the other car. This was when he was like 7 years old. He said, "It was fun! Don't all kids do that?" (the camera adds 10 lbs. btw)

It's Over!

Yes, I voted for Nader twice! But at least Bush's time in office is comming to an end, his last full day on MLK Day. Did you know that Obama is being sworn in on MLK's 80th Birthday? Let's hope all goes well.

Thinking back...

So, today Julio came home from work and said, "I feel my life is going to change soon" (he has a job interview this week)and it got me to thinking. I thought about how much my life has changed in the past six or seven years. I was talking to my friend Camille today and it made me think about our single years in LA (we were in the same singles ward and lived in the same building). The single life down in LA was so eventful-we would go out to dinner every weekend, go shopping on the Santa Monica Promenade, have picnics on Malibu Beach, go to concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, we traveled, we hung out with "Industry People" (I dated a guy who is in Napoleon Dynamite), go to parties in Bel Air. Seven years ago, Camille and I and some other friends went to Washington DC for a week. Eight years ago, a friend and I went to Europe. Our lives were so glamorous then and we did a lot of fun things, but I was so lonely. I wouldn't go back to that time for anything.It seems like not that long ago, but so much has happenned since then! I love my life now with my husband and children. As challenging and unglamorous as it is, it isn't ever dull and I feel so much love in my life that I didn't have back then. I'm so grateful for all the experiences I've had in my life and what they have taught me. Being single all that time helped me to appreciate my family more and I love them so much!

Sylvie sucking her thumb

Should I be concerned?

When I see Marco in an outfit like this and ask him, "What have you got on?" He reassures me, "I'm a boy Mommy, I'm a boy."

This is incredible!

The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned
By Heather Idoni
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Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming, almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in production are required to include a "lead-free" certification and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

What does this mean to your family?

Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books! Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.

No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or giving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" -- libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.

(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included in "children's toys".)

Just how serious is this new law?

Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply. No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manufacturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause to be able to grandfather- in older books or even rare out-of-print books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.

I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living books from the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book after February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.

(Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly violating Federal law.)

So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that sells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business? Or your EBay business selling children's items?

ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at 888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc. gov/cgibin/ newleg.aspx

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPart sTesting@ cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact information, just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz. com/americanappa rel/dbq/official s/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://change. org/ideas/ view/save_ handmade_ toys_from_ the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition.
http://ipetitions. com/petition/ economicimpactso fCPSIA/index. html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

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For the complete story, read the following links:

http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/cpsia. html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index page for Children's Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and other rulings

http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/legislatio n.html#summaries

Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory requirements -- The use of forward effective dates appears to force current inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009

http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/summaries/ 101brief. html

Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be included in the testing of lead based products

http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/faq/ 101faq.html

Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180 days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date
can be found on our web site at http://www.cpsc. gov/library/ foia/advisory/ 317.pdf

Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's books
http://news. bookweb.org/ news/5695. html

There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pediatrician
http://health. yahoo.com/ experts/childhea lth/3955/ is-there- lead-in-baby- books/

Sickies

So, I've been holed up all week with sick kids. It sucks! It can be quite depressing and exhausting. It seems like we've been sick a lot this winter. We're sick of being sick. Marco is dying to go out and play but it's been way too cold. Anyway, this picture was taken today. Do these kids look sick? Looks can fool you.