Thoughts On Shopping & Getting Old

I decided yesterday that I’m old. Not because I just had another birthday … although that doesn’t help the situation, but because of the words and phrases coming out of my mouth that I used to hear as a youth and think, “you’re just saying that because you’re old and don’t get it.”

So, this new revelation came to me during an evening of frantic and frustrated shopping. I hate shopping when I need something and, of course, I was shopping last minute for the perfect item to wear for our family pictures. I say ‘perfect’ because somehow I had this ideal that just the right outfit would hide the extra baby pounds that linger on and conceal any well-into-my-mid-30’s wrinkles. Oh how disappointed I became as I just looked like myself in everything I tried on. I digress.

Anywhooo … in my quest to find something youthful I decided to visit some stores that frankly, I haven’t been in since college and a few I’ve never ventured in at all … and for good reason. The first store I go into is so dark I can hardly see three feet in front of me, let alone discern whether I’m grabbing the navy blue or chocolate brown sweater. Of course, this is coming from someone who is one contact prescription away from being legally blind! Second, the sizing in this store was enough to throw even the thinnest of women into an eating disorder. I had to go almost three sizes bigger to get anything to fit half decent. Then there was the blaring music!! I couldn’t hear myself think (see, I know we all remember our parents saying that when we were younger and just rolled our eyes!) Jairo called while I was in this store and wanted to know where in the world I was. He probably thought I had a particularly bad day at work and decided to stop off at the local bar for a pick me up.

I finally headed out of that store and over to another well known store of my college years when I was practically knocked over by the scent of cologne and perfume even before I entered the store. Oh yeah, and then there was the blaring music again and the low lights. I guess the poor lighting makes your look better?? Anyway, I could hardly talk loud enough to get the sales associate’s attention or so I thought. I finally realized it wasn’t because she couldn’t hear me, but that she was in the middle of a very important social conversation with her very handsome male counterpart about who was going to such and such party that night. Aaahhhh, yes, you guys just carry-on. Don’t mind me.

So, long story short, although I left the mall feeling like I hit my mid 60’s instead of 30’s, I finally found a sweater that I love in a store with bright lights, soft music, and sales people that we’re actually more interested in assisting customers than each other.

Birthdays and Sick Days

So, this post is a bit late, as it has now been almost a month since Ethan's birthday. Bad mom!! Anyway, I wanted to share a little of Ethan's birthday. I can't believe he's two already and starting to look like he's ready to head off to school. Time flies! Turning two has brought along his desire to be Mr. Independent, dramatic breakdowns that really test my patience, plenty of funny sayings that keep us laughing, and a little chatter box who loves to call people and give repetitive accounts of eventful moments in his day.































For his birthday we had a little party with some play-group and neighborhood friends. We played, decorated pumpkins, ate lunch, and opened gifts. Ethan had a great time. He especially loved everyone singing Happy Birthday to him and has requested it several times since when we have had desserts of any kind. Thanks to Jairo the kids had fun pumpkin shaped PB&J sandwiches and thanks to my great friend Emily, we all enjoyed her delicious cream of potato soup. MMmmm!
















This last picture is a sad little Ethan a couple of weeks before his birthday. He was quite sick for a couple of days ... I'm pretty sure it was the swine flu since he had all the symptoms and it was cycling through our ward at church. Anyway, for the first few days he just looked so sad and just wanted to lay around and be held all day. As one good friend said, as long as we know they're going to be ok, sick days are kind of nice because we get to hold and snuggle them ... a desire that has long since passed in a healthy Ethan.

Beautiful October

It seems with the start of each new season I hear myself say, "I love spring ... or summer... or..." I guess part of the fun is the change from the norm with new things to do. That said, I love the fall! It's so beautiful with all the colorful leaves and the crispness in the air seems to usher in the start of the holiday season. So far we've kept ourselves busy with a visit from my parents, Ethan's birthday, a trip to The Farm for pumpkins and more, and of course the start of Halloween festivities. So, here are a few pictures to highlight what we've been doing.

I decided that making progress in raking the leaves was nearly impossible with a 2 year old. I would make a pile and Ethan would jump in and throw the leaves out of the pile. He did help with the raking a bit, but it was usually in the direction of re-spreading the leaves rather than piling.

Ethan was all psyched about getting to ride the cow train. He had talked about it the whole time we were at The Farm. He even waited in line patiently for about 15 minutes (which, for those without 2 year olds, is an eternity!). The we got in, took and few pictures, and once the driver headed to the tractor to get the ride started Ethan wanted none of it. Full out scream, "OUT OUT, OFF OFF. NO MOOOORE!" Can someone please tell me how to predict a 2 year old.

With grandma and grandpa Rubalcava at The Farm in Snohomish.

Ward Halloween Trunk-or Treat party.

Yummy blackberry pie!

All around our home in undeveloped fields, along hiking trails, and nearly everywhere there are green spaces you can find blackberry bushes. Each year as these wild blackberries ripen I always say that I will get out, pick some, and make a treat. We've been here 4 years and I finally did it!

Last week while I was with some friends we stood around and picked berries from the bushes surrounding the park near my house while our boys were playing. While enjoying how sweet and ripe they were, we decided to get together the next day, do some real berry picking, and make a few pies. The next day after being stained by berries, scratched, pricked, and rained on we finally had a few bowls full of juicy berries. Too bad we didn't have pictures of the berry picking because it was quite comical!

Thanks to Anjee, we were all successful in making some delicious golden flaky pie crusts and delicious berry fillings. I have a few berries left that I plan to use for a peach berry cobbler. Man ... I sure don't have to wait for the holidays to put on 10 lbs! Oh well. :) I'm happy to have another project off my perpetual "someday" list.

Bran Flakes

Just wanted to share this picture of Ethan trying to take care of himself. We had already finished breakfast and I had gone upstairs to get ready for the day. As I'm up stairs I hear the sound of a crinkling cereal bag and head over to take a look at what's going on. By this time Ethan had already grabbed his used cereal bowl and spoon off the counter, found a box of Bran Flakes, emptied the entire box into the bowl and was shoveling it in, sans milk. Maddie was also joining in the affair by cleaning up anything that didn't make it into his bowl. When I went down to confront him on the situation he was just so proud that he was able to help himself that I just didn't want to take the wind out of his sail by saying that he shouldn't do that. So, I just sat by and watched while he got his daily dose of fiber.