Wordless Wednesday- What was that???

Are you playing?  Link up here if you are....

"Going to papa's house"

"and we are going to church"

I love my little man!!! He's learning how to spell, I think...

;o)

Six Word Saturday

Link up with Cate if you're playing along today.

My six words this week are:

I have absolutely no motivation today!!!

Seriously, I went to class this morning at  8 am, and have been ready to go back to bed ever since!  Don't know why, maybe because Carlos Sebastian decided 2 am is the perfect time to get up and play!!!!

:o)

Saturday 9- Talking in your sleep

Link up with Samantha at Saturday 9 if you're playing along today.




1. Has anyone in your life talked in their sleep?

Oh my... I talk in my sleep all the time, and the best part is... I talk in english AND spanish!  Oh yeah, both my kids talk in their sleep too! Fully understandable and making absolutely no sense, whatsoever!  I had Isabel at the foot of my bed one night playing a board game in her sleep; Tyler talking about hiding I don't know what so Isabel can't find it.


2. What do you like about Fall?

I love the foliage and the holidays... Halloween and Thanksgiving (who doesn't love turkey day!), warm apple pie with vanilla ice ceam... yummmm  ohhh or warm pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheese cake! OMG I'm hungry again!

3. Do you have an addictive personality?

Unfortunately I think I do... I tend to throw myself into things all the way and get obsessive about things... it kinda sucks.

4. Who was the last person to do something extra special for you?

Hmmmm, I would say that I don't remember... how sad is that.

5. Would you ever take someone back if they cheated on you?

I have, don't really recommend it because the loss of trust usually ruins the relationship.

6. Are you happy with where you are in life?


I am, I have 3 wonderfully beautiful (handsome) children, a great husband, and I have the opportunity to stay home with my kids.  I would like to be better off financially, but hell 2 out of 3 ain't bad... right!?
7. Do you believe that you can change someone?

Absolutely not!  I've tried it and it so doesn't work.  If that person doesn't have the desire or the will to change, then you will get a wonderful lesson in futility... lots of spinning tires and no movement.

8. Have you ever wished you could've had someone but you couldn't?

Honestly... who hasn't?

9. Would you ever fight someone over your significant other?

I almost have, and I do believe I would.  I am very jealous (i know, not my best trait) and I am very possessive.

If you are playing along, leave a comment so I can check out your comments.

;o)

Wordless Wednesday- Sleepy days

Too bad there isn't one of me in there!

Are you playing? Link up here if you are...

:o)

Apple Butter-Banana Bread Recipe

Apple Butter-Banana Bread Recipe

Ok, Let me just point out that I have bouts of "I need to bake" time, and I found this recipe and it just screamed "PLEASE MAKE ME SO YOU CAN EAT A YUMMILICIOUS BAKED GOODY!"


Has anyone made this??

Do you recommend it??

Do you have a recipe you would recommend??

Let me know with a comment.

;o)

Sunday Stealing Meme- becuase I'm such a theif!!!!

Since I love these so much, I rip them off whenever I see one!  So thanks to Melanie that ripped if off of  Judd at Sunday Stealing who ripped it off of... well you get my drift!

Cheers to all us thieves! (Especially ME!!!)


Sunday Stealing: The Over the Top Meme


Part One - Describe:



Your hair?   Dark Brown, little bit longer than shoulder length, curly with chunks of blonde highlights, with a little caramel colored highlights thrown in for fun.


Your mother?  One of the sweetest woman I know, generous and big hearted- even though most people don't deserve it.

Your father?  A good guy... quick tempered (yes, that's where I get it from) but a big heart.  VERY stubborn but you can coax him if you're sweet and nice about it.


Your favorite food? hmmm anything involving one or more of the following: Bread, Potatoes, Pasta or Cheese!!!!


Your dream last night?  Honestly... I have no clue.


Your favorite drink?  I will split this up into two categories: 
Non-Alcoholic would have to be Omnilife's Thermogenic Peach Flavored drink
Alcoholic would have to be an ice cold Corona with a lime... or some Ron Medellin with lime


Your dream/goal?  To one day go and complete law school and become a successful lawyer, not a money hungry one, but a good one... that makes a difference in people's lives.


The room are you in?  My dining room/office... its were the lap top and my school books are.


Your hobby?  Knitting, crocheting, painting (Donna Dewberry style) and reading.


Your fear?  Of being eaten alive by a shark...


Your TV?   On the History Channel- watching WWII in HD  (I'm a bit of a history buff... especiall WWII)

Your Pets?  None... sadly.  I live in an apartment.

Friends?  Yes, I have some... but I haven't seen them in a while... Hey, Darcie call me so we can get together soon!



Your life?  Ridiculously hectic, with a 10 yo, 5 yo and 4 month old that craves my attention ALL DAY LONG!


Your mood?  Pretty good today to be honest with you!


If you're missing someone?  Not really...


Your best friend?  Hmmm... haven't talked to her in awhile.  I think she's pissed off at me to be honest with you, but since we haven't talked in almost a year I wouldn't know!


Part Two - The Where's?


Where do you want to be in 6 years?  I would like to be living (or at least travelling quite often) in
Colombia in our house near the beach with my 3 children.


Where were you last night?  In my bed!!!


Where did you grow up?  Leominster, MA 


One place that I go to over and over?  Michaels... I have an addiction!


Your favorite place to eat out?  Singapore... the best chinese restaurant in these parts.

Wish list items?  a nice lcd tv for the living room, a new car, a good job for both me and my hubby, plenty of mullah so as to not have to worry about bills and what not every freaking month...

Last time you laughed?  A few minutes ago with Carlos Sebastian, he's silly.

Last time you cried?  about 3 weeks ago... don't ask.



Part Three - The What's?


Something that you aren't?  organized, on top of the ball!  I'm always behind on something...  also fake, I'm very straight forward.


Last thing you did?  changed a diaper and rocked Carlos Sebastian to sleep.


What are you wearing?  red tank top with brown nike yoga pants (yes, I am still in my pjs)


Something you're not wearing?  shoes and socks


Your favorite store?  MICHAELS


That's it... play along... let me know in my comments so I can check it out.

;o)

Turkey Day - T minus 9 days and counting...

Am I the only one that is totally excited about Thanksgiving?  For the last week I've been more than ready for Thanksgiving Day... and... T U R K E Y!!!!

Maybe its all the thanksgiving day themed shows on the Food Network, actually I'm 100% sure that that is the reason.  But come on, who doesn't enjoy a good Turkey Day meal with all the fixin's??? 

So to stay off my urge to cook an entire turkey prior to next thursday, I have been baking.  NOT GOOD!!! I'm going to gain like 10 lbs before thanksgiving!!!  So yesterday I decided I need to bake, I'm going to bake... where's the brown sugar!

Oh well, tis the sacrifice one needs to make during the holiday season... sounds good to me!

So first I baked an apple pie.... oh yumminous, I haven't baked an apple pie in about 3 years. 

Doesn't that look yummy??? Can you tell that I went all out and put cut outs of acorns and maple leaves???

Here's a close up of the cut outs... I can't tell if you can see them, but I assure you they are there!

I thought it would be cute to add some pizzaz to the top of the pie.

So after an hour of baking, the wafts of warm apples and cinnamon filled my apartment.  So off to the oven I bounced anxious to see the final product...

AND..

TAH DAHHHHHH.....

OH yeah baby.... tastes as good as it looks!!!

I also baked a Cinnamon Carrot Bread, but I forgot to take pics of that, and half of the loaf is gone now soo no go on the pics.

I am however baking another carrot bread to give to my dad and his new wife, so I'll take pics of that one.

I do have to say, I bake some darn good bread!  Both kids loved it, even though I had told them it was carrot bread.  AND since carrots are vegetables, that is usually an automatic "NO, I don't like it!!".  Not today though, both kids loved it.  So much as to say that Tyler took some to school today for his snack time treat!  Love it when my baked goods are a hit with the kids.

Yesterday, I also finished a new scarf that I put up for sale on my Etsy's page.  Its about 5 1/2 feet long, and made in Patons Bohemian in Beatnik Blues colorway.  Now... if you have ever had the pleasure of feeling anything made from this yarn you will know that this is one of THE softest, plushest yarns out there!  I have a scarf that I made out of this for myself, and I wear it ALL winter long! 

I'm working up another one in black and white speckled, and I have a pinkish color too that I will be working up after that.  Keep an eye on my page....   (Yes, that was an shameful plug for you to go see my Etsy's page!!!!)

And that's pretty much it for my Monday!  I know... shameful, but OH WELL!!!

;o)

Saturday 9- Man on the Moon

If you know me at all... I'm a stealer of meme's I find other blogs... particularly Melanie's because I read hers more!!!  Sooooo that being said, If you're paying along today, be sure and link up with Samantha!


1. Do you think it was important to send a man to the moon?

Absolutely, it opened up the doors for further space exploration and discovery, as well as opened the possibilities for new discoveries and new technology.

2. What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear, which is totally unfounded, is of being attacked by a shark.  I don't know... if you do please let me know! I think I watched too much Jaws as a child!

3. If someone hung a sign around your neck today, what would it say and why?

OMG... PLEASE GET DRESSED!  I've been lounging in my pj's since this morning... its kinda dismal out today, no rain, just gloomy... not conducive to getting me motivated and dressed.

4. What is the longest line that you've stood in and was it worth it?

I believe that would be any line I stood in for rides at Disney when I went as a child.  I would have to say it was worth it, but dammmmnnnn WTF is all the waiting for! The rides only last like 2 minutes!


5. As the holidays approach, what song are looking forward to hearing again?

I love all christmas carols and villancicos (spanish christmas carols) I absolutely love Little Drummer Boy. That's the one that makes it feel like christmas for me.


6. Whose music do you think is the most important of your generation?

I think that my generation is a little musically impaired... and as evidence of such I give you the following:
Brittany Spears ( I really could just stop here)
Back Street Boys
98 degrees
Christina Aguilera
Vanilla Ice - he soooo takes the cake!!!
Sir Mix A Lot-  BABY GOT BACK....

Yes, I am of early 90's generation....


7. Do you find it is to be kind to strangers? Give an example.

If the question is do I find it EASY to be kind to strangers... I would say yes.  Generally people will smile at a smile, and say hello if you initiate.  I tend to think that it makes people feel good to have a total stranger smile and say hello.
8. When do usually lose your patience?

When my 10 yo Isabel decides to whine, stomp her feet and generally just through a tantrum because she didn't get the answer she wanted!  Get over it already!!! jeez!  There is nothing more frustrating than a tantrum from a child old enough to know that that is sooo not ok!

9. Is there a book that you're dying to see as a movie?

I generally do not go gaga over books made into movies.  I love to read great books, I let my imagination run free and make up my own movie.  Going to see the movie is usually a buzz kill because I pick it apart and point out all that was changed or left out.  I don't like it.

:o)

Six Words Saturday

Link up here to Cate's site if you are playing along this week...

My six words for today are.....

rainy days make me sleep alot!!!

Oh my... I've done absolutely nothing today but eat and sleep!  Thank you Hurricane/Tropical Storm IDA!

;o)

Trip to Colombia- part 2

Recreational fun in El Salado

On our third day in Colombia, we went to a recreational spot, which I wish I could describe how relaxing and beautiful it was.  They are like ranches but geared to a very nature oriented experience.  There was a nice pool with a huge kiosk area for escaping from the sun, but there was also a natural pond (actually a few of them) in which you could fish, and what you caught they would clean and give to you for dinner!  You can see a small portion of the pond above.

This is the view of the pool from inside the kiosk... by the way it was like 95 degrees that day!  Whoa baby was I loving the heat and the sun.

The pool was DELICIOUSLY warm... just enough to cool you off, but not ice cold to jar the senses when you jumped in.   As you can see on the sides are swim up tables at which you could sip on a coctail, beer or soda. Soo nice in October!!!

Here we are with Carlos Sebastian experiencing a swimming pool for the first time in his life!  Can I tell you this baby is a natural fishy... he made a "not too happy about this wet stuff" look for the first maybe 10 seconds in the water, then he realized he loved it, and was as happy as can be the whole time I had him in the water.

This is my absolute favorite picture of our entire trip... I love me my chubby cheeks!

So, after a jaunt in the pool, we fished a little... and by "we" I mean my husband and his nephew... I was so all about being in the pool that day! 

Then a little later we went horseback riding, which was wonderful! The view was gorgeous, and you will have to take my word for it, because the stupid ass horse that I was given was more stubborn that I am!  The horse decided he was going where he wanted, as fast as he wanted, and occassionally humored me by slowing down enough for me to hold on to my camera and shirt... the camera was clipped to my tank top which was falling off with the weight of the camera while the horse galloped away to his hearts content.

Against my better judgement, I did not bring jeans to wear while we rode the horses, so I had two massive bruises on my leg that evening... one on my calf where the stirrups were pinching my leg against the saddle when we galloped, and one on my inner thigh near my knees .. again from the stupid saddle.  But all in all it was a good time.  I would recommend it to anyone heading to Ibague, ps... DON'T FORGET TO BRING JEANS AND SNEAKERS IF GOING HORSEBACK RIDING!!!!

As the day drew to an end, I got this beautiful sunset on camera... I love sunsets, there is just something so beautiful about nature when you see it at this time of day.

So after a long day of experiencing nature, we headed home, exhausted, hungry and bruised (oh, that was just me!)  It was great...


Rancho Valle Escondido

On the fifth day in Ibague, we took a trip to Valle Escondido, translated means Hidden Valley, this is a beautiful mountainous area outside of Ibague.  There are ranch type places were you can rent a cabin and hangout all day, again enjoying the wonders of nature and then spend the night in the mountains enjoying the silence of being away from it all, all the while enjoying natures symphony.

In case you hadn't noticed, I love nature!  I love to enjoy the wonders and beauty that God created and that man has not yet entirely ruined.

This place is gorgeous, it has a main house/kiosk where you can buy drinks and food, then there is a pond and other kiosks where you can kick back and relax.  There is horseback riding too!  So what did I want to do after semi-healing my bruised leg??? Hey... why don't we go horseback riding again!!  Yeah, I know.. I never learn.  Ahhh, but as you can see above, I wore my JEANS and SNEAKERS this time, and I emerged unscathed from the riding!

Here is a lovely picture of my um... rear as seen by my husband...

The horse ride was about 30 minutes up the mountain to a huge granite mine/deposit, the view was amazing... again, take my word for it as I did not have the camera this time.  But unbelieveable gorgeous was the view as we ascended the mountain.

This is the granite mine.  It was enourmous! The entire side of that mountain was being mined for hunks of granite to be used in homes and what not. 

Here I am again... this time my horse was much nicer, although I think he may have had a few drinks before we left because he kept swerving over to the edge of the unpaved road... which when you looked down, was an abysmal drop that would have killed us both!  Stupid horse!  But we had a blast... I laughed the whole time, and on the way back down from the mine, we got caught in a torential down pour! Oh yeah... never a dull moment on our trips!  The best part was, I think the horses wanted to get wet less than we did, because the booked it back to the stables as fast as they could on the dirt road.  I laughed so hard, when I got off my horse... my entire body was soaking wet... EXCEPT my tush! 

Soaked to the bone, we ordered some sancocho, colombian stew, and drank a huge bowl with some white rice.  This warmed us up... didn't do much for drying us off... but at least it took the chill off.  We hung out some, hoping that the rain would stop but nope... it didn't.  So we called it a day.  We went back home, and I went right into the shower and bathed in hot water to warm me up.

Again, if you are ever in Ibague... I highly recommend this trip  sans the rainstorm!

;o)

Trip to Colombia - part I

So, I've been promising this post FOREVER now, and I have finally gotten around to writing about it.

 

I'll warn you, it was a 3 week trip... so it will be long.  But I got to thinking, I'm going to mostly post pics with a little blurb about it, so its not all blah, blah, blah.  Sounds good??? Works for me.

This is the view from the airplane as we left Miami International and flew over the Atlantic Ocean.  I have yet to figure out what islands these could be, but I think that first one may be one of the Florida Keys... at least that is what I tell everyone that see it!

This is Carlos Sebastian enjoying his second ever plane ride... can I tell you this child is the perfect flyer!  He did not cry, fuss or give any to do the entire trip!  The change in air pressure on the plan bothered us more than it did him! 

What a cutie pie... am I right??? I know I am!

Here's my hubby being all serious on the flight out of Miami...

And here I am... all smiles on the flight to Colombia.  Please do not let this picture fool you... I spent about 95% of ALL the flights out cold, and drooling on myself.  I hate to fly.. LOVE to travel... not a good combo.  Oh and I also get airsick, so I have to take Dramamine to help me make it through the day.  Love me my Dramamine... pssst any people from Dramamine, please feel free to mail me some coupons or free samples!  ;o)

So we left our house at 2:00 am to head to the Boston airport for a 5:00 am flight to Miami.  Let me point out a little secret, even though the airlines state firmly that you MUST be at the counter, in line, at least 3 hours prior to an international flight... American Airlines does not open its ticket counter until 4:00 am!!!! So we sat for an hour waiting for the AA people to set up the velvet ropes for the ticket counter, and then let us into the line somewhere around 4:15 am! Yes, a whole 45 minutes prior to the flight!  Bastards!!!!




Any how, the flights were all uneventful.  We arrived on time in Miami at 8:30ish am, then headed over to the next gate for our flight to Bogota at 9:00 am, which amazingly was on time and off to Colombia we went.  We arrived in Bogota promptly at 12:30 pm.  After navigating through immigration and customs, off we went to see if we could find a cheap flight to Ibague (the city/town where my husband is from) well... apparently since it is a small airport that can only hand small 20-30 passenger Fokkers... there are only 2 (yes that is TWO) flights a day.  The fist of which is sometime early in the morning, the second being at around 6pm.  Ummm, yeah, I didn't want to hang out for another 5 hours in the airport not doing anything.  (NOTE TO SELF... its not such a bad thing considering the flight only lasts a whole 20 minutes and no I am not exagerating!)




So in all my wisdom I said to my hubby, why don't we just take a bus to Ibague??? Its only a 4 hour road trip, we won't be driving, and I can get to see a lot of Colombia that I have never seen before.  He agreed.  Love my hubby, but it was an awful idea. 




We jumped on a small bus at around 2pm, comfortable enough for me because I'm super short... not so much for my hubby who is 5'10" and was quite cramped during the almost 6 hour road trip!  Yes I said 6 hours, apparently there were a few stops along the way, but that wasn't that big of a deal... what my husband neglected to tell me is that apparently all bus drivers in the country take driving lessons from Mario Andretti! (Juan Diego Montoya for the Colombians)  These people drive like the devil in on their asses and there is no regard what so ever for posted speed limits!  Having said this, I swear to never voluntarily put myself on a bus in Colombia again!




So sometime around 8pm we arrived at my mother-in-laws house... AMEN! What a long freaking day!!!  But us being us, we couldn't just go to bed, we talked and ate some food, then crashed a few hours later.




Sooo... anyways, so much for not jabbering too much, but that is day one... as long as hell, but thankfully uneventful and we made it with all our luggage and our wits!




Now here are some pics to make up for all the gabbing....

This is Bogota, well a views from the bus as we were leaving... I love the Colombian skyline, for some reason the sky just seems bluer and prettier.

This is our "Welcome" sign on the entrance to my mother-in-law's apartment the night we arrived.  Oh and this is my husband's nephew... I kinda got him unbeknownst to him... not a good pic but too bad.

Here we are with my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law the morning after we arrived.

I love this pic... my mother-in-law bathed Sebastian ever single morning we spent at her house!  It was actually funny, because she'd come into our room, hand me a coffe and whisk away my baby.  He loved it, and she got to bond with the baby.

That's all I have for right now... I'll post more in a bit, I have to run and do some laundry now (yuck) before the kids get back from school.

;o)

Kindle Giveaway contest

I'm such a whore for giveaways!  (I know, very nice way to start a blog post!)  BUT SERIOUSLY, I will attempt to win just about anything, because if I win it... its FREE!!!!


So I was reading Stephanie's Blog at My Life In Words, and she posted about a Kindle giveaway, so OF COURSE I had to go look and see what it was all about!  And lo and behold, its actually something I really would like.  I love to read, hate to haul books or having to buy books, because as much as I love them... they tend to gouge the purse that is perpetually empty!


So, I have entered the giveaway contest and was sent this wonderful linky poo that helps to get me more entries, SOOOO if an ebook reader interests you at all, or if you know of someone that REALLY wants one for Christmas... (Namely ME!!! HELLOO!!!)  please jump over there on my link and help me out!


Besides, it would be really cool to win one!




:o)

Wordless Wednesday

Are you playing??? If so, link up here....

Aren't they the best looking kids ever!!!

You know they are!!!

;o)

Remembering....

I just was thinking, I wanted to thank all those brave women and men that put their lives oh the line to protect our freedoms and way of life around the world.  Those that do what I personally am not willing to do, to ensure that we have the freedoms that we take for granted.

Home Sweet Home

I'm back from vacation!  Well... I actually got back on the 27th... last week, but staying true to form for when I travel to Colombia... the drastic change in weather kicked my butt and I landed a wonderful welcome home head cold that has lasted until pretty much now.  I am still sniffling, but functional... and what more could I ask for right?

So I'm making this one SUPER short... just wanted to say HI... No I didn't fall off the face of the earth and I didn't decide to just not write ever again.

I'm am still uploading pics to my piece of s@#$t laptop, so I will post pics later today or tomorrow.  Just know that I am completely ready to move my family to Colombia!  No joke.  We had a great time, everything is beautiful, and with the right business... we could live comfortably while the kids get a MUCH better education.

So... I will leave you with that thought.

OH... btw, anyone that reads this... so yes, this is directed at you Mel!  What the hell is going on with Fish World on Facebook??? I can't get my stupid tanks to load and my fish have ALL died for like the 5th time in two weeks.  GRRRRR!

;o)