Eagle Scout, Piano, and Dawna

Mario was trying to motivate Eric last year by telling him that once he made Eagle he could quit piano lessons. Eric has taken lessons since the day after he turned 7. He is finally good enough to play in Priesthood meeting and so he does when the Bishopric asks him to. When I first heard of this "deal," I immediately disagreed with it. I think he needs to continue to play or else he will forget everything.

Erin was recently talking to some young women about what they were looking for in a husband. The typical LDS responses came up like, attended seminary and went on a mission. But some said that they would only marry a man who knew how to play the piano. One girl that has this requirement is Dawna Herr.

Eric may deny this, but I think it was love at first sight when Eric and Dawna first met. Too bad they were only 12 at the time and they still have 2 1/2 more years until they can date each other. I say too bad because Mario and I love her family and we would be thrilled if Eric married someone like her. But we may not even live in Tucson long enough for them to ever have that first date.

Anyway, back to quitting piano. While we were discussing Eric being able to quit last night, Erin looked over to Eric and told him that Dawna said he couldn't quit piano. I knew why since Erin had told me about her conversation before. So Mario immediately said that no, Eric would not be able to quit even after Eagle. He was convinced that it was in Eric's best interest to continue piano.

At that point, Eric threw up his arms and said, "I'm not even dating her or married to her and she is already controlling my life!".

We all got a good laugh and he went back to practicing the piano. I wonder if he will still ask to quit now.

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MacBook

Eric liked all his new teachers. He said the Spanish teacher was a little weird. But the rest seem very good. He is LOVING his new MacBook, which we only have to pay $150 a year including insurance. After 4 years, if he stays at the school, he gets to keep the computer. Not a bad deal. He has no books to lug around.



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High School

My baby is starting high school today. It is so depressing. I think I will cry all the way home just like I did his first day of preschool after dropping him off. Hopefully this time I won't get pulled over for speeding. Looking back now, it was kind of funny because the cop thought I was crying because he pulled me over.


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1st LT

My little brother Charlie was promoted to 1st LT recently. He even had a visiting Major General promote him. Fortunately, he has only one more week until he finishes up his Afghanistan deployment. He has endured some tough times there. But, he is honoring our country by serving and I am so proud of him. I am proud to be an Air Force wife and have a brother serving in the Army. I know my children will have a brighter future due to all these men and women who volunteer to serve our country and put their lives on the line to protect our many freedoms.




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Physical Therapy Update

Today I finished up my third set of physical therapy referrals. It was bittersweet. I am not going to miss driving into town twice a week for appointments, but I am going to miss all the great massages. Not only did they work on my knee and hip, but they would work on anything that was sore. Like once, after using a terrible pillow in a hotel, I woke up with terrible neck pain. She spent the entire time working out the pain, while her assistant worked on my hip. It was great! I've been going for almost a year now, so I am going to miss the clinic and all the great conversations I had with the therapists during my hours of treatment. They are a bunch of interesting people, especially the owner Stacy. She and I could not be more opposite in our lifestyles, so the conversations were always quite interesting.

As far as my hip, I don't think I will ever get it back to 100%. But I don't have the pain that I once had. I started jogging very slow last week and only for a few minutes, but my hip was fine. It was so great to be back on the treadmill. But I need to build up slowly.





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2 Hours of Recommended TV

We are still going strong on our tv fast. Our family has watched a total of 2 Little House on the Prairie episodes in the last 10 days. Erin is reminding me that she only watched one. Not bad. Today Erin asked if she could watch tv while she folds her laundry. I told her no. Her response was that she isn't getting her recommended two hours a day of tv. Is that the same as the dr recommended 4 fruits and vegetables a day? I asked her what dr recommended 2 hours of tv day. She said her Tricare dr. I am not buying it.


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10 Houses in 17 Years

I am getting very antsy to move even if it just means to a different house in Rita Ranch. I need a change. Now I know why, Mario and I have never lived in the same home for more than 23 or 24 months. We have lived in this one for 27 months.

I am ready for my own pool and if my kids agreed, a new ward. Sometimes I get tired of living in a ward with such "rule intensive engineers."

We have a huge house which is great, but it needs a lot of work like all new floors and it needs a pool. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate my house and my super great landlord.


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Another Brace Face

Eric finally got on his braces today. We've been waiting forever for 2 adult teeth to come in. One finally did and so the orthodontist went ahead and put the braces on so he wouldn't be a high school junior or senior with braces.

Now comes the complaining. He has a very deep bite that needs corrected, so he has some bumpers in his mouth that apparently are no fun. Poor kid. I'm just glad Erin never complained. Eric will be starting school on Friday so his complaining to me will be quite limited fortunately.

Two kids down and two more to go for braces.


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Back to School

Despite the grumpy faces (because I am a mean mom and insist on back to school pictures)
the kids seemed excited to get back to school, especially my twins. Erin is a little nervous about all the homework her Algebra teacher has promised. But she isn't afraid of hard work so she'll do great. Eric starts high school on Friday, so I'll post pictures then (now that I know he likes making it into my blog.)

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Erin's Piano Recital

Erin played Taylor Swift's "Fearless" last night at her recital. We all thought she did great. It was over 3 minutes and she had the whole thing memorized. Eric wanted to "make it into my blog" so he posed with her.

Eric and Erin have become best buddies this week. I think having no tv has helped. They stay up late reading and making themselves snacks. I always find a mess in my kitchen the next morning. They tell me they don't clean up because they are afraid to wake me. I'm not buying it. Too bad they have to go to bed early now that school starts this week. But I have really enjoyed them getting along so well.

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Rocks and Ropes

Mario didn't want to climb at first, but he quickly changed his mind. I had to practically drag him out of there 3 1/2 hours later so we could attend Meet the Teacher Night.

Mario, Eric, Erin, and Zachary were all able to climb to the top. Mario even climbed some overhangs. Nathan and I were a little more cautious. It was a long way down and you have to really trust the person at the other end of the rope.

We all loved it. Maybe next summer we will get a family pass.

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Coming Home Early

Gotta love how the military pays a fortune for their plane tickets. The tickets are quite expensive because they have no restrictions. First Mario told me he changed his ticket to arrive home early Saturday morning instead of late that night. Then he texted me yesterday saying if he could get a flight back to Bogota in time, he was going to be home on Thursday. I got a text from him today saying by a miracle he made it back to Bogota and by another miracle was able to catch the red eye flight tonight. So he will be home by the afternoon. We are all excited. Now he can go with me and the kids to meet all their teachers on Friday.

He also texted me and said he changed his mind about retiring in Florida. He likes Rionegro, Colombia. I looked up the weather and it looks to be 70 degrees year round. I don't think he'll have a hard time convincing me. That sounds like heaven. I just won't be able to speak the language.


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Eric's Letter to Twins

Here's a little letter Eric wrote the twins when they were first born. Eric was in 1st grade.

I came across it while cleaning out my files tonight. It is amazing what I can accomplish with no tv and my husband in Colombia!

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Eagle Project

Eric is wrapping up his Eagle Project. We came up with approximately $538 when we calculated the donations. We turned them over to the VA today. What a good feeling to finish this up before starting high school next week.

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Breakfast in Bed

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Twins Are So Cute

I read an article today about how a family hit the jackpot with 2 sets of twins. I am not sure that's how I would describe 2 sets, but definitely 1 set!

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No TV, Day 1

Mario has been begging for years to be a tv-free family. But I always fight him on it because I like the news and I like sitting down to watch some movies and shows with the kids. We use Clearplay for all of our movies, so I try to justify that it is ok because all our movies are edited. Well, a couple weeks ago, I woke up about 4 am and I came downstairs and found Erin up watching tv. Then last night, I woke up about 11:30 and was surprised to hear the tv on downstairs. Eric couldn't sleep. Both times, the kids were watching "Seventh Heaven." So it could have been worse, but when I am sleeping, I expect my kids to be asleep also and not watching tv (or reading) in the middle of the night.

Well, I did something to make Mario happy this morning. I put away all the antennas (we don't even have cable) and the DVD players. I left the wii because I do have a lot of appointments and other things to do this week that will require the kids to be home alone. But I put a one hour limit on the games and they have to play together. Meaning, they don't each have an hour on it a day. One hour total the wii can be on while I am not home. Of course, the computer is always password protected while I am gone.

So I expected my kids to go through some electronic withdrawals. I know it is only day 1, but so far so good. We swam, rode bikes, played lots of games and enjoyed an electronic-free house today. The big kids are up now making up lots of weird games with a punching balloon and the water from the refrigerator door. I have no idea what they are doing, but at least they are having fun and getting along.

I have friends who only bring out the DVD player for family movie night or date night with their husband. I am seriously thinking about doing this in my house. Fortunately, Mario is very supportive. I may be the one in the family with most severe withdrawals. The kids go back to school next week so they will be too busy for tv anyway. But I will be home alone all day and without tv, I may be forced to actually accomplish some work around the house!

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Glow Stick

This is what Erin was using as her light source for reading her Kindle after she was sent to bed...to go to sleep. She must be desperate to read if she is willing to use this. I purposely didn't buy her a light for the kindle and I don't lend her mine because I don't want her reading after bedtime.

I busted her when I went to kiss her goodnight. Her covers were slightly glowing. She tried to quickly cover the glow with a stuffed animal, but was too late. I look forward to reading my blog with my grandchildren one day and telling about all about their mom's shenanigans...I won't feel a bit sorry for Erin when she complains to me that her kids won't go to bed on time or when they wake up grumpy the next day.

But, Mario always reminds me that there are worse things that our kids could be doing besides reading after bedtime. I guess I agree.

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Colombia and Dominican Republic

I had to say say goodbye early this morning to Mario. He is going to Colombia for a week. He'll fly back one day to spend with the family and then he is flying out to Dominican for another week. Before his deployment, these small trips were not a big deal, but now it is hard to say goodbye because it reminds me of the morning he deployed.

I was surprised he was coming back for one day. I thought he should just fly to Miami and visit his family there. But he insists on coming home. It is a lot of traveling and I know he will be exhausted. But then I realized that he will be home on Sunday night to give the kids back to school blessings since they start school the next morning, July 18. He will be able to drop off Erin, Nathan, and Zachary for their first day before he heads to the airport. High school doesn't start until that Friday, so I have a few days to spend with just Eric. I always look forward to one-on-one time with each of my kids.

These small trips aren't so bad. Plus they are a great time for him to practice his Spanish.


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Eric's Eagle Project

Eric has been working on his Eagle Project for the last couple months. We were having trouble coming up with ideas so Eric called the Veteran's Administration and asked them if there was a service project he could do for them. They suggested he collect household supplies for veterans. Eric created the flyer with this description: "Over 131,000 US veterans are homeless. Through a Veterans Administration rehabilitation program, many have found employment and housing. However, their new homes need common household goods. Your donations will help our veterans as they become self sufficient members of our community."

We have been very impressed with Eric because he put in many hours with this project. Hours were spent making dozens of phone calls, sending emails, making neighborhood maps, and finding a printer. Only once did he not want to make a phone call and that was because the man had just lost his wife the night before. He wasn't quite sure what to say. But he made the call anyway and when he couldn't get a hold of him, he went to his house. He found 20 families to deliver his flyers to their neighbors. Today he organized 20 people to pick up the donations. Now he just needs to deliver the items to the VA and write up his final report. Mario and I took him to Chili's to celebrate tonight. I am so proud of Eric and that he is doing so well. He has a couple merit badges to finish up and then he will be able to go before the board to get his Eagle.




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The Cousin's Visit

My sister and her two kids, Justin and Max, came for a visit for a week. This is the third year in a row that they have come to Tucson. Tucson is so boring and ugly (that's probably too harsh, it's just so...brown!) So I am disappointed that she didn't get to visit when we lived in really awesome, beautiful places like Guam, Hawaii, or Monterey. But I am glad they were able to visit. I just wish we had more to do here in Tucson besides look at cacti and sweat to death.

She and the kids flew into Mesa last Thursday. It was Mario and my 17th wedding anniversary. I was really sick from a sinus infection, but was feeling slightly better after the antibiotics the dr put me on. So Mario and I left the kids at home and enjoyed a lunch out and some sealings (what a great way to celebrate a wedding anniversary...it's almost like renewing your vows) at the temple before we got them at the airport.

The rest of the week is kind of a blur since I wasn't feeling well. But we did swim a lot, Mario took all the 7 year-olds to the movie to see Cars 2. Another day Melissa and I took all the kids to the dollar theater to see Soul Surfer. Eric and Erin enjoyed all the time they had with their aunt. Nathan enjoyed playing Legos all day with Justin. Poor Zach was left out a bit because although he likes Legos, he doesn't want to play 24/7. But we tried to entertain him by playing games with him.

My kids have been reading all summer with the library reading program and after 24 hours of reading, you get a free ticket to the waterpark. We were hoping to go with the cousins, but couldn't because I never felt up to it. Then on Tuesday, I broke out in hives from the Amoxicillin. So I couldn't go out in the sun on Wednesday, the day before they left.

We were sad to see them leave on Thursday and I felt bad that I wasn't a better host. But I think the cousins had a lot of fun together and that's what really counts. Justin is a sweet boy who we enjoy seeing each summer. Max turned into a big kid this last year. Fortunately he still has a cute little voice. I tried to talk him into staying with us but he was anxious to get back to Grandma Jeannie's house.

I am glad we had that week together. But since I was sick the whole time, I look forward to seeing them in Florida in September when I hopefully feel a lot better.


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