Snob

We moved from Salt Lake to El Centro 2 years and 1 1/2 months ago. Before we moved I used to like 'mexican' food. Now, I am not talking Taco Bell mexican food, but what I thought was 'real mexican' food. I then discovered that I had never really tasted real mexican food until I came down here. Now, I am sure all of you Americans who live up north think that you have real mexican food, but really, you don't. I know, you don't really know the difference and are probably thinking 'hello rude woman, we do to have real mexican food' because I would have thought the same thing 2 years, 1 1/2 months ago. However, you don't. You have what I now refer to as Americanized mexican food. Tastes good, but there is much better! It is like eating Hersheys cholate and loving it and then eating Cummings chocolate and tasting the difference between chocolate and CHOCOLATE!

After we moved here my mom started saying that I was a mexican food snob. Well, I have come to the conclusion that she is correct, but if you were lucky enough to eat what I get to eat you would be too. Today James took me to a little hole in the wall called D'Poly. It is 100 to 150 yards from the border (Mexican border for those of you who are geographically challenged). You can look out the window and see the fence. We took my mom and sister to dinner here once and I complained as we drove up that it was not a good enough place. Then I tasted the food. mmmmmmmmm.......... Today the two of us went in and ordered. I had a machaca soft shell taco. It was bliss exploding in my mouth! I am so in love with machaca meat and it seems that no matter how hard I try to make it I can not quite get it right. This restaurant and one other (Zarapes) makes the best machaca! The whole way home I kept hmmmmming and wanting to go back and get some more (even though I was full). It is a good thing we don't live in Calexico or I would be getting them daily. So, I will gladly take and treasure the title of 'mexican food snob' so long as I can enjoy the pleasure that exists here so close to the Mexican border!

My Grams

My grams is amazing. I know that you will all think that I am biased, but it is still true, I have the VERY BEST GRANDMA in the world! If you know her, than you know I speak the truth. I grew up with her and my wonderful gramps living across the street from us. What a great blessing that was for all of us! I have a million memories of running back and forth across the street, every single day. I knew that if I was having troubles she was there for me. If I was upset with my parents (you know, teenager stuff), I could go see her. She has always been positive and upbeat. She always finds the good in things, even when it seems hard to. I remember when I was a teenager ( a loooooong time ago) and in my twenties. I would go out with a guy and always find a reason why I should not have to date him again (this part was more in the 20's than teens), you know, like.....he bowls funny....I don't like his shoes....that kind of thing. She would constantly try to help me to see the good in them ( I didn't want to date them, so I had to find something!). I have great memories of eating over, sleeping over, going shopping, going camping, crying...you name it and I have a memory of it that includes my grandma. I remember one day she came pulling in to our driving (not hers) full speed. She then came running in to our house and ran to the bathroom to finish cutting her hair. She did not like how the hairdresser had done it and she had visitors across the street and she did not want them to see her hair like that! lol She also had a great habit of leaving the towels on the floor after I had just cleaned the bathroom! lol (had to say it grams) She has also always had a strong testimony of our Saviour and has worked her whole life to live in a way that he would want her to. I always knew that I could look to her example on how to live. Several years ago she had a blot clot that should have killed her, but luckily she has exercised all of her life, and the doctors said that saved her. She has always been a 'young grandma'. I always looked at my friends grandparents and they seemed old, but not my grandma and grandpa. They have always been so vibrant! So, earlier this summer my grams was having a hard time breathing. She finally went in to the doctor and was diagnosed with Myeloma (which is a blood cancer) and it has caused her kidneys to stop functioning. She is currently on chemo and dialysis and has moved out of a hospital into a care center. My heart breaks to know that she is having to go through this. I love her so much and I don't like to see or hear that she is having pain. My heart also goes out to my sweet grandpa. He has always been so wonderful to her (they both have such a great love for each other and it is has always been obvious) and is taking such great care of her. I think about how much it must hurt him to see his sweetheart struggle so much. So, I just wanted to let you all know a few of the wonderful things about my grams, and this list is very few. She is an amazing woman and has blessed my life in so many ways. I am grateful to have her in my life, to love her and to receive the endless love that she has for me and all of my (personal and extended) family. I love you grandma! My gramps and grams

My grams talking to Kearney

Staying warm

My Husband ROCKS!!!!!

So, this is to let all of you who didn't know (if you have met him than you should already know it) that James rocks! I am so proud of him right now! Many months ago he decided that he was going to try out for Borstar (Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue). It is an elite, special ops group in the Border Patrol. It is also extremely difficult to get in to and complete the training (thus the elite part). He worked for months to get ready for the try-outs and in August he did the three day long try-out and passed. Yay! I wasn't really surprised, but I was still nervous for him. He continued to prepare physically for the five week academy and left us at the end of August to go to Texas for the training. Their class started out with 57 people (55 men, 2 women) and after 1 1/2 days they had dropped down to 38 people. It is a hard core (physically and mentally) training. By the end of 4 weeks they were down to 25. One woman and the rest men. Last night I received a call from James to tell me that he had graduated! YAY!!!!! He was one of the 25 of his group! He also informed me that his class had a higher amount graduating than most (they usually get down to the teens). They usually worked at least 13-16 hours a day (sometimes more) and all they had to eat were M.R.E.s (meals ready to eat...i.e. YUCK). He said that he had lost so much weight, that he had no body fat on him (although a lot more muscles than before), and he needed new pants because the old ones wouldn't stay up and he has the nickname of Ethiopian and had instructors wanting to make sure he was eating enough (I say to them.....Give him some real food and not the m.r.e.s!). He still has the rest of this week in training (swift water) but it is as a member of the team and not part of the academy. There are thousands (almost 20,000) of Border Patrol agents in the U.S., but only a few hundred (not more than 400) that are in Borstar and James is one of them! Congratulations babe! He will be bringing home a video of the training, so if there are good shots of James you can bet I will be posting them on a future blog!

My, How The Tables Have Turned!

When we first moved here and started having earthquakes I was a basket case. Really, that is putting it quite mildly. Yesterday I was laying on the couch, lightly napping, while the girls and one of their friends were playing in their bedroom. I heard this sound and thought it was them jumping on the bed. I started to say 'stop jumping on the bed' when I woke up and realized it was an earthquake. I quickly called the four girls to come and stand in our 'earthquake spot' to make sure we were all safe. It lasted a short time and then I told them to stand there while I went to check on Parker. He was at a neighbor's house. Now, before I go on with the story, I need to point out that my heart was not racing, I was not scared, nor was I running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. How great is that?! Okay, back to my story. I walked out the door and was heading to the neighbor's house. She came running out and looked scared to death. She practically screamed 'Did you feel that earthquake?!' lol I asked her if she and the boys were okay and she informed me (quite frantically) that this was her first earthquake, she was terrified and did not want to live here anymore! haha I said 'that actually was pretty small' and she was not thrilled about that. What I find amazing is that not only did I stay calm, I didn't even go on line to see how big it was until this morning (5.1-bigger than I thought). This is a big moment, and my husband wasn't even here to see how much I have grown! haha See, the tables have totally turned. Gayle was me two years ago (okay, even one) and I was James (he is always calm)! Aren't you proud of me?!

It's Alive!!!!

Laundry! I hate laundry. I swear that it is alive. I did laundry on Tuesday and low and behold I had ten, yes ten, loads to do today! You might ask 'how is that possible?'. Well, let me tell you. Four kids, four school uniforms a day = 20 shorts/skirts and 20 shirts a week; gymnastics uniforms - Kylee 4 x's a week , the twins and Parker 2 x's a week; Clothes that they wear when not at school or gymnastics; Pajamas; My clothes; Towels (both cleaning, dishes, and body); sheets and blankets, etc. I am just grateful that I am not having to wash all of James' work clothes, etc! I guess it will be even more after next week! I do the laundry and then I get back inside, and surprise! There are more clothes already in the laundry basket! How does that happen? I really think it is alive....kind of like a virus on the computer!

Half of the laundry to be done for the day.

Clothes that mysteriously showed up in the laundry basket while I was washing the other clothes.

The Beach Is My Solace

I have come to the realization that the beach (both the sand and the ocean....mostly the ocean) are my solace, my catharsis, a great blessing in my life right now. When I am out in the water with the waves crashing over me I feel like it is washing away my stresses, my sadness, my frustrations, my loneliness...well, you get the point. I can't help but think about God and all that he has created and is capable of doing as I sit on the sand and watch the waves crash in. I am so grateful for my knowledge of him and that I am his daughter.

So, on Saturday the kids and I went to the beach with a friend (Veronica) and her two kids. It was such a beautiful day! When we got there it was overcast, but not cold at all. It stayed that way for a few hours and then the clouds completely disappeared. We had such a good time.The kids and I had gone a few weeks earlier and the waves were pretty tame. This time they were crazy! The longer the day got the bigger the waves got! It turns out that we had plunked our stuff right in the middle of the area where there was a rip current. We didn't know that at first. Of course I was letting Parker go out and ride the board. He LOVES it. If we lived closer, he would totally be taking surfing lessons. Veronica and I took turns on who stayed on the beach with whatever kids were there and who went out body boarding.

I spent some time with Kylee helping her learn how to use the board when the water was over her head. She went out farther than she had ever gone before. She was scared but then thrilled when she learned out to work it. One of the waves we both caught together and rode it in side by side. We were on it for about 20 seconds (it was a long ride) and she kept looking over at me and was laughing the whole time. She bit it a couple of times and all you could see was her board for a minute. After that happened 3 or 4 times, she decided it was time to go in. We did it again later, and after the 2nd time she was done. It was really getting wild out there. Parker went out with Veronica a couple of times and then with me at the end. He also found a group of guys (they were huge...muscley huge) to play with. The were doing some kind of a baseball type of thing and were very kind to include him. He LOVES anything like that that adults will let him do. lol

I was out with a group of guys (I was not with them, but with them as in the same area) and I ended up loosing the top of my suit a few times. Not my happiest moment in life, but the waves were huge and totally merciless! Sometimes they were so big it took my breath away as I watched them getting ready to crash over me! I did think about James and missed him being there. There has only been one time that we have been able to be out in the water riding body boards at the same time, and that was because my aunt (who does not like to go out in the water) was on the beach with them while we went. (thanks Patrice!) I wish that he had been able to be there (his being gone is part of my loneliness). On our way home we stopped by Denny's (they have 'kids eat free' on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 4:00-10:00 Yay!!!!) and fed the kids (thanks Veronica) and then headed home. It was such a lovely day. It is good to be with friends and the beach!

Kearney, Kylee and Ireland
Parker, riding the waves. This was before they got HUGE!!!!

My friend Veronica and me.

Me and Kylee

Kearney, Parker and Ireland. Eating lunch.

Finally!!!!

The story of my dealings with the El Centro elementary school district have FINALLY come to an end (I hope). I called in to the district office yesterday to find out if I could fill out the necessary forms then instead of waiting until Tuesday so that my kids could go to their new school on Tuesday. The lady (the horrible one I have been working with -term used very loosely) told me that there was no room at the school. I reminded her (quite nicely, I assure you) that there were spots in both the afternoon and morning kinder classes. She then informed me that since I did not fill out the paperwork to transfer the twins in May I could not do that, I could only try to transfer Parker and Kylee and there was not room for them at Hedrick (the school where the twins are currently attending). AHHHHHHH!!!!!! She informed me that even though there was room for the twins there was nothing she could (really, she meant would) do to help me. I told her that didn't make any sense (okay, slightly antagonistic) and she said she would have her boss call me (that has happened before and the boss has never called). I hung up and burst in to tears. I bawled for about 45 minutes and finally got myself calmed down. I then called the superintendent (again) and had to talk to his secretary to tell her what was going on. She said that she would have him call me back. Fast forward to late afternoon. I still had not heard from either one of them. I was talking to my mom (crying again...this had happened many time throughout the day) and she encouraged me to call Sunflower and see if the principal might be able to help. He couldn't, but while I was talking to him he informed me that a concerned neighborhood citizen had called the school that day to let them know that two blonde kids were riding their bikes to school and crossed a busy street against the light, without looking for cars and were in a dangerous position. The principal said 'We don't have many blond kids and so we knew it was Parker and Kylee'. Now I am freaking out about them getting hit by a car and I have no other choice since I have to get the twins to school at the same time in a different school! I called the superintendents office and spoke to his secretary. He is not taking my calls and is referring me to the office of the lady spoken of above. (great, she is sooooo helpful) The secretary said 'have they not called you yet?'. Nope, they avoid calling me! I burst in to tears (again) and told her about Parker and Kylee and that they were too young to be riding across that road but that I didn't have any other options. She put me on hold and then came back and said that the lady would be calling me today. A bit later the lady called and said 'your twins will be starting at Sunflower on Tuesday in the p.m. kinder class'. Hurrah!!!!! Between my mom's prayers and my kids nearly getting hit by a car I FINALLY got all four of my kids in to the same school!!!! Here's to hoping that they don't switch them back next year and I have to go through this all over again!

Single Parent

While I am not really a single parent I am totally feeling like one. I have not really had James around to help me since the beginning of July. The first 6 1/2 weeks was due to my staying in Salt Lake while James had to come back to El Centro to work (so I could stay in Salt Lake). We got home for a few days and then he had to leave for 5 weeks. He tried out and made it in to BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue). I am so proud of him for doing it. It was/is/has been extremely difficult. Anyway, back to me! lol He has been gone for almost 2 weeks and has 3 more to go. I have been doing all of the parenting (he can't even really call home) while we have been apart. Since school has started we now have homework, gymnastics, scouts, my church calling (which should be kicking in any time now) etc. I have been missing James immensely and appreciate all that he does to help me around the house and with the kids (when he and I are both here at the same time). I am also glad that I don't have to do this forever. Yesterday Kylee came home with some math homework and she didn't know how to do it. I looked at it and then asked her 'does this come with instructions?'. Nope! I didn't have a clue of what I was supposed to do! Need I remind you that she is in the 2nd grade?! James is the 'math person' in our family and he was not here. I had to call my dad to help me figure it out, and as I am typing Parker is asking me another math question (3rd grade) and I think I am going to have to call my dad again! Talk about feeling dumb and having everyone know it! For many reason, but certainly with the math, James better not die before the kids get through high school or we are in trouble! (not to mention my dad would be bombarded with phone calls). I am looking forward to James coming home to be my helpmate. I also have a lot of respect for true single parents. My hat and sympathies go out to all of them! Oh, and just to clarify, I just figured out how to do Parker's math problem! I am not totally math stupid!