1/24/12
To Martha...
Brandon just asked Isabela what my name was. She said, "Momma... Stephanie." What's my name? "Daddy, um Brandon." What's his name? "Xander Brandon." What's your name? "Um....Isa?" like she is guessing what her own name is. So I ask her, Is your name Izzy? "No! I'm Dillan!" Cutest thing ever!
Follow Up on What more can we do
So talking to my sister, I remembered a project I started awhile back. I have to re-learn, but I thought it was a great start.
Making Leprosy Bandages
Handmade bandages are breathable, more durable, and can be reused.
Here is a link to get started. You can donate them here to the D.O.V.E. fund where they will be sent to Vietnam or find other places. Remember, they don't have to be perfect. My first one went from 2 inches wide, to 4 inches wide and in between.
and a youtube video showing you exactly how. They lady is REALLY annoying and you can start at minute 10 or 12 and not miss anything important. But it is a good demonstration, albeit with excessive commentary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeNfV7_8JmI
What it should look like:
Donating
Did you know there are many more funds that you can donate to than those on your tithing slip?
And other ideas from the church:
http://lds.org/service/humanitarian/help?lang=eng
Any other ideas are greatly appreciated. Please comment and share!
Making Leprosy Bandages
Handmade bandages are breathable, more durable, and can be reused.
Here is a link to get started. You can donate them here to the D.O.V.E. fund where they will be sent to Vietnam or find other places. Remember, they don't have to be perfect. My first one went from 2 inches wide, to 4 inches wide and in between.
http://leprosybandages.blogspot.com/2012/01/making-crocheted-or-knitted-leprosy.html
and a youtube video showing you exactly how. They lady is REALLY annoying and you can start at minute 10 or 12 and not miss anything important. But it is a good demonstration, albeit with excessive commentary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeNfV7_8JmI
What it should look like:
Donating
Did you know there are many more funds that you can donate to than those on your tithing slip?
http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/
Look around this website and you will find many many more than just this list. I especially like the Clean Water and Humanitarian Food Initiatives.
http://lds.org/service/humanitarian/help?lang=eng
Any other ideas are greatly appreciated. Please comment and share!
1/22/12
The Happiest Kids
Brandon and I decided we have the happiest kids.
They make us laugh all the time. What hams they both are!
Xander walking with Granpa!
Sportin' cool new earrings! Thanks Grandma!
Xander loves flicking my elastics on his teeth. He thinks he is so funny! And he sure does make me laugh.
What better way to live is there? This is where Xander first learned to stand up (but long before this pic was taken).
By far my favorite face. Fishy kisses.
Lovin' my 'Xander Brandon' at Christmas. Isabela just learned his middle name, so now she always uses it.
Wait, this is a book-what? I thought I was supposed to read inside it, not put my books on it. By the way, the sides and top say 'Isabela,' 'Mae,' and 'Forster.' She insists they say &Mommy,' 'Daddy,' and 'Isabela Mae.' Thanks Tia Kimmy!
Oh, and Hi Jess! I still love your stinkin' guts... even if you haven't given me a real blog post in 4 months. Although I did love your fortune cookie note, and it was way fun to Skype with you. Tell Bill and kids Hi from us all!
1/20/12
What more can we do?
Background: As a student in Mexico, I had a class on international politics. The case studies we did were enlightening, and extremely sad as well. Many high end companies in the U.S. use foreign labor --meaning slave and child labor -- because it is so much cheaper. Nike and Hershey's for starters. Obviously, foreign and international policies dictate a lot of what happens, how much we can actually change the situation, as well as ways to implement a better infrastructure for living, education and labor for workers. Awareness is the first step to change.
I receive a daily e-mail from the UN Wire on international news. I usually read the headlines and delete it. Today, both of my kids are asleep and I got to dig in a little deeper. I realize why I don't read them all everyday anymore. It takes me hours. And a box of tissues later, I resurface to my reality of luxury.
Did you know Iran has a nuclear program which for years has been suspected of being used to make nuclear weapons? and that one of their scientists was just murdered? and that the U.S. and Japan are working to get them to close down their nuclear program... and threatening to stop buying oil from them? and that Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz where lots of oil is shipped? How if they do most European countries could have an even worse economic decline if they can't find a good source for replacement oil. And then surely the cost of oil per barrel will rise as well. How will that effect the U.S. economy?
And then...
Today I read about the Ivory Coast, how they use slave/child labor to harvest cocoa beans. The children work for nothing more than a meager meal. Granted, the country's infrastructure must change before situations in the fields can change. If all children were freed and had no job, where would they go? what would they eat? There is no public education, no foster care, no social security.
Then I read a release by the Department of Labor on products and countries use the most slave labor.
What can I do in my life to make somebody else's life a little better? How can I really help improve the lives of all of these people around the world?
Just needed to put down my thoughts today...
P.S. Did you know that your iPad is made in China? And it is estimated that if it were made in the U.S. it would cost you more than $1100?
I receive a daily e-mail from the UN Wire on international news. I usually read the headlines and delete it. Today, both of my kids are asleep and I got to dig in a little deeper. I realize why I don't read them all everyday anymore. It takes me hours. And a box of tissues later, I resurface to my reality of luxury.
Did you know Iran has a nuclear program which for years has been suspected of being used to make nuclear weapons? and that one of their scientists was just murdered? and that the U.S. and Japan are working to get them to close down their nuclear program... and threatening to stop buying oil from them? and that Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz where lots of oil is shipped? How if they do most European countries could have an even worse economic decline if they can't find a good source for replacement oil. And then surely the cost of oil per barrel will rise as well. How will that effect the U.S. economy?
And then...
Today I read about the Ivory Coast, how they use slave/child labor to harvest cocoa beans. The children work for nothing more than a meager meal. Granted, the country's infrastructure must change before situations in the fields can change. If all children were freed and had no job, where would they go? what would they eat? There is no public education, no foster care, no social security.
Then I read a release by the Department of Labor on products and countries use the most slave labor.
- Bolivia: nuts, cattle, corn, and sugar
- Burma: bamboo, beans, bricks, jade, nuts, rice rubber, rubies, sesame, shrimp, sugarcane, sunflowers, and teak
- China: artificial flowers, bricks, Christmas decorations, coal, cotton, electronics, garments, footwear, fireworks, nails, and toys
- India: bricks, carpets, cottonseed, textiles, and garments
- Nepal: bricks, carpets, textiles, and stones
- North Korea: bricks, cement, coal, gold, iron, and textiles
- Pakistan: bricks, carpet, coal, cotton, sugar, and wheat
What can I do in my life to make somebody else's life a little better? How can I really help improve the lives of all of these people around the world?
Just needed to put down my thoughts today...
P.S. Did you know that your iPad is made in China? And it is estimated that if it were made in the U.S. it would cost you more than $1100?
1/3/12
Christmas in Utah
My camera battery was dead most of the trip, but here are a couple fun ones...
Christmas morning. Xander was happy with all the people and attention. Isabela loved the fact that gifts were wrapped.
Xander showing appreciation for Christmas all around the world. (He picked Jewish Christmas)
Tyson and Chaga lovin's.
Isabela and her new best friend/cousin, Kylie.
Isabela's new hobby. I feel like this is starting a little young, not a habit I want to start.
12/15/11
Hey Jess
Just thought I would say Hi! It was great seeing/talking to you guys tonight. Still sad that our boys don't remember they are friends anymore. Can't wait to see you all!
12/5/11
Xander 8 months old
We cut Xander's hair again. Almost buzzed it, really. He is a happy little guy, who LOVES to give kisses. He opens his mouth wide and slobbers all over your cheek, then comes away with a HUGE grin on his face. I love that he gives them to me all the time, even when I ask for them.
Xander army crawls everywhere. He cried and cried on his tummy, did not want to learn how to crawl. Now that he is fairly mobile, he pulls himself to a standing position. He refuses to crawl (not that I force him to, obviously). He just wants to walk. He is beside himself with joy if I hold his hands and we run around the house, especially if running means chasing Isabela. Those two are quite a pair. Isabela frequently tells me, "Xander my favorite." Whenever she says his name, she says, "My Xander friend..." I smile every time.
I have noticed lately that Xander tips to the side a lot when he is sitting. He seems really happy doing so. Saturday we stopped by Walmart and they had a Santa (not a particularly convincing one at all!) there to take pictures (they give you a cheesy 5x7 for free). So of course, we did it. Isabela greeted Santa, talked to him, said he was nice, then cried when we asked her to sit on his lap. She adamantly refused and I didn't force her. She said "Santa scary." Xander took a picture, all smiles, flopping over to the side like he does. Just to have his 'leaning' documented makes me happy. When Xander was done, Isabela thanked Santa. She was so happy and outgoing, I asked if she wanted a turn so she could have a picture, too. She cried again. But she told Xander he did a good job. What a good little example he is, without even know it :D
Xander army crawls everywhere. He cried and cried on his tummy, did not want to learn how to crawl. Now that he is fairly mobile, he pulls himself to a standing position. He refuses to crawl (not that I force him to, obviously). He just wants to walk. He is beside himself with joy if I hold his hands and we run around the house, especially if running means chasing Isabela. Those two are quite a pair. Isabela frequently tells me, "Xander my favorite." Whenever she says his name, she says, "My Xander friend..." I smile every time.
I have noticed lately that Xander tips to the side a lot when he is sitting. He seems really happy doing so. Saturday we stopped by Walmart and they had a Santa (not a particularly convincing one at all!) there to take pictures (they give you a cheesy 5x7 for free). So of course, we did it. Isabela greeted Santa, talked to him, said he was nice, then cried when we asked her to sit on his lap. She adamantly refused and I didn't force her. She said "Santa scary." Xander took a picture, all smiles, flopping over to the side like he does. Just to have his 'leaning' documented makes me happy. When Xander was done, Isabela thanked Santa. She was so happy and outgoing, I asked if she wanted a turn so she could have a picture, too. She cried again. But she told Xander he did a good job. What a good little example he is, without even know it :D
12/2/11
All before 7:30AM
For months, Isabela wakes up dry. I still put in her diapers every night, just in case. I didn't really want to chance it. And except for when visiting family out-of-town, Isabela hasn't had a dirty/wet diaper in weeks, either. So last night when I got home and she was ready for bed and no diaper, I wasn't too worried.
After Brandon left for work, I walked in to get a diaper to change Xander's wet diaper. Then I smelled it. The room wreaked. Izzy turned over. I asked if she was dirty. She started to cry. She managed a "Yes," through her tears. I felt so bad. Luckily, Brandon had put a towel under her before he went to bed last night. It still soaked a little into the mattress, but not really bad. I picked her up, pulled off the sheets and headed to the bathroom. We cleaned her, the clothes, sprayed her off, and stuck her in the tub.
Then I turned to find Xander who I had left with a wet bum. He had crawled into the kitchen (I am sure to watch us in the bathroom). He had spit up everywhere, then rolled all over in it. His pajamas were practically dripping. And he had a blowout diaper (ya know, the one I was about the change before I found Isabela laying in bed all gross). Poor kids! Luckily, he had crawled into the kitchen! Sopping wet, I picked him up, repeated the process we started with Isabela, and stuck them both back into the tub to play. I started the laundry and looked at the clock. What a great beginning to the day.
After Brandon left for work, I walked in to get a diaper to change Xander's wet diaper. Then I smelled it. The room wreaked. Izzy turned over. I asked if she was dirty. She started to cry. She managed a "Yes," through her tears. I felt so bad. Luckily, Brandon had put a towel under her before he went to bed last night. It still soaked a little into the mattress, but not really bad. I picked her up, pulled off the sheets and headed to the bathroom. We cleaned her, the clothes, sprayed her off, and stuck her in the tub.
Then I turned to find Xander who I had left with a wet bum. He had crawled into the kitchen (I am sure to watch us in the bathroom). He had spit up everywhere, then rolled all over in it. His pajamas were practically dripping. And he had a blowout diaper (ya know, the one I was about the change before I found Isabela laying in bed all gross). Poor kids! Luckily, he had crawled into the kitchen! Sopping wet, I picked him up, repeated the process we started with Isabela, and stuck them both back into the tub to play. I started the laundry and looked at the clock. What a great beginning to the day.
11/29/11
Izzy-isms in Espanglish
The other day Isabela caught a live spider. She said, "I caught spider lips." She calls anything that looks like a spider or anything fibrous, spider lips. She grabbed a tissue from the bathroom, smashed the spider with it, and threw it away. It was great!
Later she painted my face with a clean brush used for blush. Usually she says she painted me into Dora, or Alicia. Today she said, "You a pretty girh, mommy." She doesn't quite get the 'L' pronounced. It melted my heart.
Spanglish she used today alone:
Manana my birthday party!
Tu be nice a mi.
Es mi platano (but really it was a half-deflated globo)
Viene bebe dinosaurio... y VIENE BEBE VENADO! CORRE!!
Evidently, baby dinosaur now has an imaginary friend, baby deer.
Our family conversation:
Isabela points to Brandon "Es my daddy."
Me: El es tu papa?
Isabela: No. No es papa.
I tell Brandon: That's news to me.
Me to Isabela: No es to papa?
Isabela, exasperated: No! You guys Forster's!
Me: Tu eres Forster tambien?
Isabela: Si! Soy Forster.
Then we had been in the car for 5 hours, with two crying, hungry children, late at night. With 1.5 hours still to go, we were on the look out for a McDonald's or anywhere really that the kids could get out and breathe. After 20 min, we arrived. When she sees it, Isabela laughs all excited and cries out, "I wanna abrazo a McDonald's!"
Later she painted my face with a clean brush used for blush. Usually she says she painted me into Dora, or Alicia. Today she said, "You a pretty girh, mommy." She doesn't quite get the 'L' pronounced. It melted my heart.
Spanglish she used today alone:
Manana my birthday party!
Tu be nice a mi.
Es mi platano (but really it was a half-deflated globo)
Viene bebe dinosaurio... y VIENE BEBE VENADO! CORRE!!
Evidently, baby dinosaur now has an imaginary friend, baby deer.
Our family conversation:
Isabela points to Brandon "Es my daddy."
Me: El es tu papa?
Isabela: No. No es papa.
I tell Brandon: That's news to me.
Me to Isabela: No es to papa?
Isabela, exasperated: No! You guys Forster's!
Me: Tu eres Forster tambien?
Isabela: Si! Soy Forster.
Then we had been in the car for 5 hours, with two crying, hungry children, late at night. With 1.5 hours still to go, we were on the look out for a McDonald's or anywhere really that the kids could get out and breathe. After 20 min, we arrived. When she sees it, Isabela laughs all excited and cries out, "I wanna abrazo a McDonald's!"
11/10/11
The result
Isabela woke up shortly after I posted last time, about 9:15PM or something. She didn't go back to sleep until almost 1AM.
Xander woke up at 4:30AM to eat. I got him back to sleep about 6. Then Brandon got up to go to work. They were both up again about 7:30 or so. Something like that... the joys :)
But we have slept through the night every night since. Hooray!
Xander woke up at 4:30AM to eat. I got him back to sleep about 6. Then Brandon got up to go to work. They were both up again about 7:30 or so. Something like that... the joys :)
But we have slept through the night every night since. Hooray!
11/6/11
An extra hour?
As many of you know, Utah State played at Hawaii in football last night. Every time they play in Hawaii, it's a late game... starting at 10PM. So Brandon stayed up til 2AM to watch it, and when they won, yelled and celebrated! Yay!!! Go Aggies! But, of course, I got to wake up at 1AM, too. Then Xander woke up at 6, then Isabela, and so on....
We ate lunch/dinner with friends so the kids got a late nap. They both fell asleep at 6. I can't wake them up. I've tried, multiple times, including picking them up, talking to them (in which Isabela talks back), etc. They both just half respond (or half open eyes, in Xander's case), then roll over and sleep again.
I have a feeling we will all be waking up at 3AM for breakfast.
We ate lunch/dinner with friends so the kids got a late nap. They both fell asleep at 6. I can't wake them up. I've tried, multiple times, including picking them up, talking to them (in which Isabela talks back), etc. They both just half respond (or half open eyes, in Xander's case), then roll over and sleep again.
I have a feeling we will all be waking up at 3AM for breakfast.
10/31/11
Painting faces and Push-ups
Isabela loves to pretend to paint your face with a blush brush. She paints herself and says, "I Dora." Mom is usually Alicia and Dad or Xander is Diego. Today, however, without painting, she declared, "Xander: Baby Jaguar," as if she was dubbing him a knight or something. She definitely made me laugh.
Xander can get up onto all fours now. For the first time, though, I saw him do a really good push-up like babies do before they start crawling. I never was able to capture a picture when Isabela did it. I am going to try my darndest to get Xander in the act. He is a funny little kid.
Xander can get up onto all fours now. For the first time, though, I saw him do a really good push-up like babies do before they start crawling. I never was able to capture a picture when Isabela did it. I am going to try my darndest to get Xander in the act. He is a funny little kid.
10/30/11
One season ends as another begins
We are nearing the end of our first high school football season in Colorado. It is bittersweet. The kids and I loved going to the freshman games the most. They were earlier in the day when it was warm, fewer people in the stands, and I could really watch the game while Bellie ran around and played.
However, coaching and politics have been outrageous to say the least, nothing like when Brandon has coached other years. Today he said, "I wish I had coached soccer this year rather than football." Holy Cow! It must be bad. Never in my life would I have imagined those words coming out of my husband's mouth. I told him, "Yeah, but we would never have guessed it in a hundred years before the season started that you would feel that way now." I am way excited to see my husband a little more often! We miss him so much! (So hoping when basketball starts the week after that it isn't so demanding!)
However, coaching and politics have been outrageous to say the least, nothing like when Brandon has coached other years. Today he said, "I wish I had coached soccer this year rather than football." Holy Cow! It must be bad. Never in my life would I have imagined those words coming out of my husband's mouth. I told him, "Yeah, but we would never have guessed it in a hundred years before the season started that you would feel that way now." I am way excited to see my husband a little more often! We miss him so much! (So hoping when basketball starts the week after that it isn't so demanding!)
10/26/11
Close one...
Isabela is all about the liquids today. First, she peed all over my bed this morning... Yuck!
Second, at the library drinking fountain, water splashed on her, the walls, the floor... you get the picture.
And precariously close to her 3rd spill of the day, I caught her just in time. She was "washing dishes" but I hadn't initially realized that she actually plugged the sink.
Notice the water level is quite high. Yes, I turned off the water before taking the picture.
And fourth, as I am writing this, Isabela is dumping laundry detergent all over the bathroom floor!
Oh, the days of a 2 year old! Oh, and her imaginary baby dinosaur is still here. I wasn't sure it would stick, but we are into day two...
As for Xander, we went on a walk the other night and he was SO HAPPY to be outside!
Second, at the library drinking fountain, water splashed on her, the walls, the floor... you get the picture.
And precariously close to her 3rd spill of the day, I caught her just in time. She was "washing dishes" but I hadn't initially realized that she actually plugged the sink.
Notice the water level is quite high. Yes, I turned off the water before taking the picture.
And fourth, as I am writing this, Isabela is dumping laundry detergent all over the bathroom floor!
Oh, the days of a 2 year old! Oh, and her imaginary baby dinosaur is still here. I wasn't sure it would stick, but we are into day two...
As for Xander, we went on a walk the other night and he was SO HAPPY to be outside!
He really is such a cute little man!
And this is from our walk that night... I was enthralled with all of the criss-crossing clouds! They seemed to cover the whole sky, like a swarm of jets went by in various directions. Brandon finally told me to stop taking pictures. I just couldn't get over it. The sky here is always sooo beautiful!
And this is from our walk that night... I was enthralled with all of the criss-crossing clouds! They seemed to cover the whole sky, like a swarm of jets went by in various directions. Brandon finally told me to stop taking pictures. I just couldn't get over it. The sky here is always sooo beautiful!
10/25/11
Imaginary Friend
Isabela now has an imaginary pet baby dinosaur. She talks to it in a squeaky voice like she does to Xander… because it is a baby. She pointed up and told me it was on the ceiling, then it came down and sat by her. “Look, mommy, bebé dinosaur! Come with me…” She was walking around the house and in circles, babbling nonsense behind her at the floor where her baby dinosaur was closely following behind.
When Brandon came home for lunch earlier, she had been playing, saying “The dinosaur get me!” and running to hide under my blanket. Then dinosaur gave daddy cosquillas (tickles). It has just evolved into a baby. I love her imagination!
10/24/11
Wellness check-up
Xander has his 6 mo check-up today. He did really well, and only cried a little bit when he got his shots. I fed him right after and he as his cheery self.
Isabela kept asking for a treat. At the doctor office in Logan, they always gave her a treat or a sticker. The office here isn't quite as child-friendly, I guess you could say. No books in the drawers here, either, that she can read while she waits. She whined at me the whole time, but she survived :)
Random thought: In Colorado, it appears that you can take classes OR take a test to add an endorsement to your teaching license. Oh, the possibilities... If I can just test out of everything and teach Spanish and other things, like science or math...
But then I remember that I want to be a stay-at-home mom. And I see the kids at Brandon's school and don't really want to hang out with a hundred hormonal teenagers all day. What I really want is to continue learning and going to school. When I grow up, maybe I will be a professional--part-time--student.
Weight: 18 lbs (75%)
Height: 27.5 in (80-90%)
Head: 18 in (95-97%)
Isabela kept asking for a treat. At the doctor office in Logan, they always gave her a treat or a sticker. The office here isn't quite as child-friendly, I guess you could say. No books in the drawers here, either, that she can read while she waits. She whined at me the whole time, but she survived :)
Random thought: In Colorado, it appears that you can take classes OR take a test to add an endorsement to your teaching license. Oh, the possibilities... If I can just test out of everything and teach Spanish and other things, like science or math...
But then I remember that I want to be a stay-at-home mom. And I see the kids at Brandon's school and don't really want to hang out with a hundred hormonal teenagers all day. What I really want is to continue learning and going to school. When I grow up, maybe I will be a professional--part-time--student.
10/22/11
10/21/11
Addicted to the LIbrary... and it's FREE!
Our libraries here are the most amazing! All of the libraries in the county work together. They have this amazing courier system. You can check out a book at any of the 7 libraries and return the same book to any of the 7 libraries. You can also request that a book be sent to your library for pick up. Needless to say, I have been reading a lot, maybe a little too much. Just fiction. But it has been a good escape. Why don't all counties have library systems like this one?
10/20/11
Today I made pasta for lunch. Isabela said she was hungry, but wouldn't eat. I told her to take just one bite to try it. She refused and chose to go to bed. Since she had just gotten out of the shower, she was naked, and fell asleep for 2 hours. I stewed the whole time whether I should risk waking her to put on a diaper. I didn't. Miraculously, she didn't wet the bed!
Picture updates!
20 October 2011
Watchin' daddy's football game. I chose this for my tub today :)
Hmmm... these glasses are HUGE! Grinding wheat with mom. When we are rich
I won't have to do hard labor anymore...
We'll have an electric grinder!
Sittin' at the restaurant all by myself. Sittin' by myself... again! Ha!
So cool!
Dressed myself, thank you very much! Picking mini apple things.
I like them (they were bitter)
Rained out at daddy's first football game this year! ALL of my clips in my hair...
My favorite picture of ALL! I love their eyes.
I won't have to do hard labor anymore...
We'll have an electric grinder!
So cool!
Going to crawl now. Psych! And you really believed me. You can't make me do anything.
I like them (they were bitter)
The COOLEST girl of ALL! Say "CHEESE!"
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