A Laughing Place

Everyone's got one, I hear. For some reason, I hadn't visited mine in a while


Until this week.


Somewhere between the cramped sides, aching cheeks and streaming tears, I realized that I was once again laughing.


And it felt sooooooooo good.


I have a funny husband and I have funny children. I also have funny sisters.


I guess I am finally getting enough sleep that I can once again see humor in the world. And I am sure that it helps to know that I am MOVING INTO MY HOUSE ON NOV 2!!!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!

ZOO!

From Karli's point of view: When Mom was a toddler, her mom always took her to Reid Park
Zoo in Tuscon to entertain her while her dad was in medical school. So, going to the zoo often is something I've grown up with too. In fact, I've probably been to the Phoenix Zoo more than anyone else my age. And today, being Columbus Day, Dad had the day off work, so Mom and Dad decided to load up the 7-seater mini-van with all 8 of us (painful? yes) and go to the zoo. It was so packed that we had to park in the separate parking lot up the hill, and getting out of the car took 15 minutes with lunch packing, getting kids in the stroller, sunscreening babies, and then making sure we were armed with absolutely everything necessary for spending all day at the zoo. One thing about our family (well, my dad mostly) is we can't ever go at a normal pace. We have to run to everything to make sure we get to all of it. Disneyland, zoo, museums, D.C...running. By the way, it doesn't really work when both ankles are wrapped in Ace bandages, so I caught up to my family at the entrance. I think this was Tressie's first time to the zoo. She started yelling to be carried instead of in the stroller so she could see everything, and soon, she started pointing and Wow-ing at everything (whether animal or plant). The kids' favorite part was probably the petting zoo. Smelly? yes. Unsanitary? definitely. But it's all part of the zoo experience in my opinion. Also, Layton decided that the zoo has enough little turtles in the ponds and lakes and probably wouldn't notice if one little turtle went missing. The boys spent lunch trying to catch the turtles, but of course they put them back. Speaking of turtles, they also have these ginormous Galapagos Tortises. Apparently, when my mom was little, they used to give rides on these things! They're probably the exact same ones. Anyway, by 2:30 Tressie was asleep and the rest of us were just as exhausted. But we did it! We made it all the way through the zoo in just 4 hours!

HOME

We signed the papers and are once again home owners! It has been a long time coming and a longer process than I thought it would be. We get to move in in a few more weeks and we can hardly wait. I am sure the same can be said for our kind and patient housemates, also. We will be right where we wanted to be. The home is about 2 times the size of our previous home and will be personalized over time. That means, we will enjoy starting and completing projects together. I love the yard. There is a play area, garden, hen house, storage, trees, berries, and irrigation. It will be our wonderful bit of heaven.

We are all alive and well. As of my last post, we were infested, but we are now BUG FREE. Dang, knock on wood! In the midst of the worst of it, my Dear was on a week long deployment training in Virginia. (And had a wonderful time, I might add.) I had my 2 oldest to help me when I just had to use the bathroom or step out for quiet and fresh air, but it just isn't the same. You KNOW what I mean. He takes care of my heart and can comfort them when I can't.

Lucky for me, He arrived home just in the nick of time and had an extra day off to spend with ME! We had to celebrate, of course. 19 years is quite an accomplishment, if I do say so myself. Given our current home sharing situation and the fact that we are in homework season, we didn't plan an evening out, but we had a few hours of the day to ourselves. Thanks, Kon. We thoroughly enjoyed lunch and errands alone, together. Those of you who know Him, know that my Dear can be somber and doesn't goof around in public. He was so intent on getting the mango mixed into His lemonade, though, that I teasingly suggested that if he blow through the straw, the bubbles, would be the perfect way to mix the beverage. Ta-da, it worked. I smiled.
And just now, I looked up from my post to see my Dear watching the computer screen across the room and dancing. He informed me that he just learned how to salsa dance! This is new. I love surprises. Especially when they come even when you have been married 19 years!

Encore's Booking Our Holiday Schedule!

Hello, it's Karli again. I'm just posting to let you all know about the singing group I'm in, Encore. We're a group of 18 juniors and seniors who love to perform! We are currently booking our schedule for the Holiday Season, so if you have any office parties or get-togethers scheduled and you need a group to perform, we are more than willing! Our focus is in jazz, but we also do more classical type music on the side. We are also interested in doing gigs outside the normal school-stuff year round, so if you are interested, feel free to ask. Any donations we receive for performing go towards furthering our musical education. Thanks so much!
~Karli

Curse the Bugs!!

The buggiest kind have invaded us.





STREP





Yuck!!!





3 on antibiotics. Not the pink kind, bigger guns for bigger bugs.





In the midst of it all, I did get a 3 hour nap and decorated 21 gingerbread men for my favorite teacher who happens to have openings in her pre-k, k, and 1st grade classes. (Check her out at academicaccolades.com) I never knew a teacher could be as amazing as Miss Rita, but Greta is and is a wonderful friend:)

BUGS!!!

It's not pretty, but we have them. Tried to get rid of them 2 weeks ago, and again last week, and here they are back.

Creepy-crawlies? Nope. The coughy, sneezy, runny-nose, fever, rash, runs (sorry), barfs, no-appetite, sore-throat, ear- infection, can't-sleep, headache, too-tired kind.

The 6 babes have all taken their turns with various combinations of symptoms, even having repeat "catchings". I don't think that's even a word, but it happened.

Luckily, we have a few days of healthy before the re-infestations. My 2 in elementary missed yesterday, and it looks like one will miss again, tomorrow. I couldn't take the babes to toddler-time at the library today with good conscience, so we stayed home and spared the public.

My favorite part of the day was when they NAPPED AT THE SAME TIME! I quickly tidied, lunched, checked my email for the much anticipated home appraisal which didn't come, and then had a treat. Imagine if you will... 2 chocolate-chip cookie bars, 3 scoops of Blue Bell vanilla bean ice-cream, coconut flakes, and QUIET. Wow. Moment of silence. It was delicious. The only way it could have been better is with carmel-syrup, but I couldn't find any. Simple pleasures to get me ready to battle the bugs.

Thank you for advil and tylenol, digital thermometers, puffs plus with lotion, barf bowls and kids who can aim, baby wipes, naps, dimetapp, pink medicine, Dr Lim, Dad and Ed, great insurance, big kids who help, diversional baths, and a sweetheart who saves me even when he is exhausted himself.

Home

Sunday evening is Visiting Night at Granny and Opa's house. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, treats, laughter and sometimes tears, swirl together. Yes, it can be messy with swirling treats :). The yard, remember is the same one we shared from January to June. Our 2 boy walked to each door on the back of the blue house, wiggled each knob, hoping to find one open. He finally gave up and climbed into the tree house to be eye level with the boys sitting on the monkeybars.

In the car on the way home T asked, "Where we going?"

Me: "Home. (Realizing that might be vague to him...) To G and T's house, where our beds are."

T: "GRRRR"

We all turned to look at him. T had never made this sound in the context of a conversation, unless we were talking about a ferocious animal. Poor guy was exasperated.


It really is interesting how perspective can change. 7 of us have been living in 2 rooms for quite a while now, with only minimal personal belongings and clothes and sharing one bathroom. (Yes, there are 8 of us! I am not counting Princess K. She has managed to have her own room in both houses we have shared. Lucky girl!) I have started to wonder if we really needed to sell, needed more space, or wanted. Somewhere in my mind, I guess I knew this would happen. On the morning we started packing up, I took a minute to record just how crammed into our space we were. For when I lost perspective. Yeah me! It's not for naught!

After his growl, I asked, "T, where do you want to live?"

The clear, sweet answer from my 2 boy... "In the temple."

Perspective.

She's sleeping now. I sat her on the floor, she lolled herself onto a pillow, and that was it. It is about time. For some reason, my baby girl has the idea that bedtime doesn't apply to her. She almost gives in at "bedtime". The others all relax, brush teeth, read scriptures, and pray. She'll snuggle with her eyes closed, but as soon as the last smooch is smooched, her eyes open. It's like she knows she has me all to herself. Just like 10 months and 10 days ago, I could just sit and stare at her for hours. Not very productive, I know, but I am smitten.

Last night was hard. One of the times I wished I were a superhero. Her cries were desperate and inconsolable. The worst kind. Pain that I couldn't fix. 2 of our 3 favorite docs were unavailable for house-calls, the other says take her in. Even as we sat in the ER she smiled shyly with tears spilling out of her red rimmed eyes. She was miserable, but so good natured. Just as dad thought, an ear infection is the culprit. Pink medicine, and big sister is not here to lick the drips. K has always loved that stuff!

In the ER we made friends. An unkempt woman came in at 11 with 3 small, rowdy boys. She walked to a corner and gathered them close and handed out lunchables. Did she just need a cool place to be? Did she have a home? She didn't check anyone in like the rest of us had. I felt bad when she started getting annoyed looks from others. The man next to her moved. This was my chance. Dumplin' and I moved over and offered a smile and some kind words. 3 boys can be a handful, and hers were so close in age. She was a good mother. Her husband was waiting to be seen. She had been told he might be finished at 10 and then 11, but he still hadn't seen a doc. She didn't want to put her boys to bed at home because she didn't want to wake them up again when she needed to pick her husband up. So, here they sat, wiggled, squirmed, giggled, jumped, skipped, and danced. Waiting. Entertaining my dumplin, and me.

My others were home in bed. Their dad is healthy. Family, friends, and church buoy me up constantly. Even in the middle of the night if I need. I am blessed.

I don't know how long we will be here in the Figueroa home. They have made us so comfortable we may never leave! The house hunt is fun, confusing, exciting, aggravating, exhausting. Bargain shopping at is best. Luckily, we feel at home and are so loved here. Thanks.

When I left the ER to come home, I saw 3 small, still boys and their mom. All eyes closed, and held tight. Now it's my turn. Goodnight.

Change is in the air

Our home sale should be final this week. We looked at a couple of homes on Saturday, and will see more tomorrow night. It is fun and surprisingly nerve racking. G and T promise they are not getting tired of us being here. We are so blessed to have them and the rest of our great families.

Good friends are blessings that our Heavenly Father gives us to help us through all the different stages of our lives. It is a blessing to remember old ones (TR), keep close ones, and make new ones. I love you all :)