My Uncle Jr.
So today (feb 26, 2010) my favorite uncle passed away. I just thought that I would write a few things about how great he was to me and his family. When we first moved to Trinidad I was about 12 years old. We didn't have alot and we didn't have anywhere to stay at first. Then after a few months we moved into my grandparents house. My grandfather passed away when I was 1 yrs old and my grandmother was living in Canada at the time.
My uncle didn't have much to give, but he had a big heart. When we moved in we had nothing to sit on, sleep in, or cook with ... we were living out of a cooler and didn't have money for a fridge. We had a tv with bunny ears that we watched and my mother spent most of the week everyday doing loads of laundry by hand and hanging them on the line outside. She didn't have time to cook. One day he came over with chicken. duck, vegetables and more. He came to make us a meal. He knew we were living off of bread and cheese and powdered milk. He took whatever money he had an made us one of the best meals in my life. There was so much food that we had to give it to the neighbors because it wouldn't fit in the cooler that we had!
He was a generous man like that, he had a very different personality then his siblings which was great. He spent a lot of time cooking, he loved to feed people. He always told me that as long as people are full they are happy! Not to mention his food was something to look forward to, everyone that knew him loved him and his food! It was like an explosion of flavor in your mouth like you wouldn't believe... maybe that was because of all the pepper in the food.My dad always said "Junior cooks a pot of pepper with a bit of duck in it"!
The best part about having a uncle like Junior was that he was nice to me, he listened to me and never forgot about me when there was a party going on. He would make me, and only me a huge pot of my favorite food, just as his way of saying ... I love you kid! I will miss his sweet, kind personality... his food and of course his wonderful cooking stories.... You will be missed Uncle Jr.
We all love you tons!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Date Night
This is a wonderful thing to look forward too, mainly because it involves some conversations that dont include cartoons or talking about what happened in the latest episode of Dora the Explorer! It is usually a time to eat food without having to stop halfway through to clean someone up or to get up and get someone a drink that they just spilled. It also doesn't involve a compromise of what the punishment will be if all or most of the vegetables are not eaten within the next 3 minutes. The best part about it is the fact that I can eat dessert without sharing it with three other little people!
On the rare occasion that we do go on a date, we get to visit certain places that kids dont usually go to, like the movies, a nice restaurant or the temple. It becomes less stressful to drive through traffic without screaming and fighting kids in the back seat. The best part about is NOT holding hands... not holding hands of little kids that like to dart in front of a car as you attempt to cross the street, not holding hands of little ones that like to grab certain expensive items off the shelves at the store and NOT holding hands of kids so that you dont lose them in a crowded store... but holding your husbands hands as you start your date night!
Of course there is still a compromise... where to go, what to do, should we eat, what about dessert? All these questions are asked when the kids are with us and when they aren't with us but it seems like its easier to choose without thinking about the family friendly places, or if they have a 'potty' that is somewhat cleaner for those little ones that dont like to go when they really, REALLY need to go. Or if they have a kids menu,that has healthy choices!
Date nights mean watching movies that you actually want to see, not having to cover someone's eyes at the 'kissing' scenes or having that awful sensation running up your spine when your little one has heard a 'bad' word, or having to get up a million times to take each kid to the potty and stand in line for what seems like a hour each time you do go. It simply means.... watching a movie!
Along with date night you get to talk to the person your married to... not about bills, or kids, or what the kids did today, or worrying about the next thing to do on your calendar... date night means a real conversation .... about anything..... I wish we had more nights like this.....but even though we dont get date nights every week or even every other week.. it just makes us more appreciative of the time that we do get together... whenever we get it!
This is a wonderful thing to look forward too, mainly because it involves some conversations that dont include cartoons or talking about what happened in the latest episode of Dora the Explorer! It is usually a time to eat food without having to stop halfway through to clean someone up or to get up and get someone a drink that they just spilled. It also doesn't involve a compromise of what the punishment will be if all or most of the vegetables are not eaten within the next 3 minutes. The best part about it is the fact that I can eat dessert without sharing it with three other little people!
On the rare occasion that we do go on a date, we get to visit certain places that kids dont usually go to, like the movies, a nice restaurant or the temple. It becomes less stressful to drive through traffic without screaming and fighting kids in the back seat. The best part about is NOT holding hands... not holding hands of little kids that like to dart in front of a car as you attempt to cross the street, not holding hands of little ones that like to grab certain expensive items off the shelves at the store and NOT holding hands of kids so that you dont lose them in a crowded store... but holding your husbands hands as you start your date night!
Of course there is still a compromise... where to go, what to do, should we eat, what about dessert? All these questions are asked when the kids are with us and when they aren't with us but it seems like its easier to choose without thinking about the family friendly places, or if they have a 'potty' that is somewhat cleaner for those little ones that dont like to go when they really, REALLY need to go. Or if they have a kids menu,that has healthy choices!
Date nights mean watching movies that you actually want to see, not having to cover someone's eyes at the 'kissing' scenes or having that awful sensation running up your spine when your little one has heard a 'bad' word, or having to get up a million times to take each kid to the potty and stand in line for what seems like a hour each time you do go. It simply means.... watching a movie!
Along with date night you get to talk to the person your married to... not about bills, or kids, or what the kids did today, or worrying about the next thing to do on your calendar... date night means a real conversation .... about anything..... I wish we had more nights like this.....but even though we dont get date nights every week or even every other week.. it just makes us more appreciative of the time that we do get together... whenever we get it!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
VROOM VROOM!
Ok, so as some of you know... I dont drive... not that I cant drive, I just dont! I have a permit but we have one vehicle, a truck, and its a manual... so I dont drive. Occasionally I do get to drive a friends mini-van but not unless we have company and need it. So lately I haven't driven anything. Due to the weather and the fact that every time I get in the car it is with the kids and Jared, I just let him drive so that I can deal with the kids.
But just this past Thursday, I signed up at the nearest driving school. It is a 9 day course with 6 hrs of daytime driving and about 6 hrs of night time driving. Hopefully if all goes well I will be driving all the time in my new car, but first things first, pass driving school...... Wish me luck!
With a license and a car of some kind, I will be able to take the kids to school in the snow and rain, take the kids to the doc or WIC appointment, go to the library, go shopping, take Lizzy to whatever after school program she gets involved in and whatever else NORMAL people do with a license! I dont plan to drive on the Highway anytime soon. Lucky me, I live in a area where everything is close by and I dont have to get on the Highway unless I really REALLY, want to! This will make our life so much easier. This will be great for Jared too, because he will be able to work longer hours without rushing home to take the kids and me somewhere.
Ahhhh the FREEDOM!
Ok, so as some of you know... I dont drive... not that I cant drive, I just dont! I have a permit but we have one vehicle, a truck, and its a manual... so I dont drive. Occasionally I do get to drive a friends mini-van but not unless we have company and need it. So lately I haven't driven anything. Due to the weather and the fact that every time I get in the car it is with the kids and Jared, I just let him drive so that I can deal with the kids.
But just this past Thursday, I signed up at the nearest driving school. It is a 9 day course with 6 hrs of daytime driving and about 6 hrs of night time driving. Hopefully if all goes well I will be driving all the time in my new car, but first things first, pass driving school...... Wish me luck!
With a license and a car of some kind, I will be able to take the kids to school in the snow and rain, take the kids to the doc or WIC appointment, go to the library, go shopping, take Lizzy to whatever after school program she gets involved in and whatever else NORMAL people do with a license! I dont plan to drive on the Highway anytime soon. Lucky me, I live in a area where everything is close by and I dont have to get on the Highway unless I really REALLY, want to! This will make our life so much easier. This will be great for Jared too, because he will be able to work longer hours without rushing home to take the kids and me somewhere.
Ahhhh the FREEDOM!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Jared Samuel...
So my son is about 17 months old and he is really just a sweet heart, but at the same time he drives me crazy. He gets into everything, the toilet, the kitchen cabinets, the pantry and of course the laundry. I haven't had a clean house in months due to his constant searching and discovering. Sometimes I dont even bother picking up, because I know that in a hour or so he will just undo everything I just did! As for the girls they do their best to try to keep up with their own messes and their brother's messes. So Jared works late and gets home later now, like around 6pm -7pm, just enough time to eat dinner with us and help me put the kids to bed. Once all of that is done, we are both too exhausted to get up and put the rest of the toys away!
So while my son has his moments where all he wants is his daddy, he also has his moments where he wants his mommy, and that is usually when he is hungry, tired or sick. Other than that, he just holds onto my legs and screams at me, or he throws his sippy cup at my head if I dont get him a drink when he wants it, or he throws his cars at my head if I dont pay attention to him. So he is great .... I have been having alot of headaches lately and I wonder if it has anything to do with the number of times that I get hit in the head with a metal car!! hmmmmmm
But honestly, after the messes and having cars thrown at my head on a constant basis, Jared Samuel is really a great little boy, he loves his sisters and hugs them at least 20 times a day. He LOVES his daddy very much and gives him lots of kisses before he leaves for work and when he gets home from work. He loves to watch tv, and loves Barbie movies (dont know if that is really a good thing or not). He is usually not a fighter unless he is fighting me, and he loves to snuggle with his teddy bear and his blankie... even though he might drive me crazy (just like his daddy) I cant help but love him...He is truly a sweetheart!
So my son is about 17 months old and he is really just a sweet heart, but at the same time he drives me crazy. He gets into everything, the toilet, the kitchen cabinets, the pantry and of course the laundry. I haven't had a clean house in months due to his constant searching and discovering. Sometimes I dont even bother picking up, because I know that in a hour or so he will just undo everything I just did! As for the girls they do their best to try to keep up with their own messes and their brother's messes. So Jared works late and gets home later now, like around 6pm -7pm, just enough time to eat dinner with us and help me put the kids to bed. Once all of that is done, we are both too exhausted to get up and put the rest of the toys away!
So while my son has his moments where all he wants is his daddy, he also has his moments where he wants his mommy, and that is usually when he is hungry, tired or sick. Other than that, he just holds onto my legs and screams at me, or he throws his sippy cup at my head if I dont get him a drink when he wants it, or he throws his cars at my head if I dont pay attention to him. So he is great .... I have been having alot of headaches lately and I wonder if it has anything to do with the number of times that I get hit in the head with a metal car!! hmmmmmm
But honestly, after the messes and having cars thrown at my head on a constant basis, Jared Samuel is really a great little boy, he loves his sisters and hugs them at least 20 times a day. He LOVES his daddy very much and gives him lots of kisses before he leaves for work and when he gets home from work. He loves to watch tv, and loves Barbie movies (dont know if that is really a good thing or not). He is usually not a fighter unless he is fighting me, and he loves to snuggle with his teddy bear and his blankie... even though he might drive me crazy (just like his daddy) I cant help but love him...He is truly a sweetheart!
Kindergartner #2.
So this past year has been busy with Liz, starting Kindergarten and then all that comes with it like PTA meetings, Field Trips and of course homework. She had a hard time adjusting to the whole school atmosphere, and to the kids in her class. Turns out that she was one of the youngest in her class so she struggled at first with making friends and then sharing with the kids that were a few months older. Those other kids seemed like they were in second grade, they had the worst attitude towards Lizzy just because she wasn't a Hannah Montana fan and didn't watch iCarly. So now she pretty much has two friends at school, Leana and Regann. These are the the girls that are younger than Liz by a few weeks. They all love the Disney Princesses and they all still watch NickJr.
So now that Lizzy has finally adjusted, has friends and is finally catching up with her class, now we can focus on getting Jamie ready to start Kindergarten in September. I am definitely a lot more nervous for her to start then I was with Liz. I dont think that Jamie will miss me but I think that she wont really make any friends and that she will have a hard time trying to focus on her work with all the other kids around. She has a hard time just sharing her toys with her little brother and my concern is that she wont be making any friends because she wont share.
There are a lot of issues that I think will hold her back academically when she starts Kindergarten. She has a hard time remembering her ABC's and her numbers but she has a harder time listening to simple instructions. So we got this Calliou Kindergarten Program that has helped Liz with math and sorting, Jamie is working on it but she can only stand the PC for about 30 mins and then she gets bored. So we have our work cut out for us to get Jamie ready for Kindergarten.
As for Liz she is excited to go to school and she is even more excited to do some homework ( never thought I would hear that in my life! ) But as difficult as her homework is for her she enjoys sitting with me and getting her work done and then she is all excited when she gets a smiley face one her completed work at school! ...
More posts to come on the kids progress in school and preparing Jamie for Kindergarten in September.
So this past year has been busy with Liz, starting Kindergarten and then all that comes with it like PTA meetings, Field Trips and of course homework. She had a hard time adjusting to the whole school atmosphere, and to the kids in her class. Turns out that she was one of the youngest in her class so she struggled at first with making friends and then sharing with the kids that were a few months older. Those other kids seemed like they were in second grade, they had the worst attitude towards Lizzy just because she wasn't a Hannah Montana fan and didn't watch iCarly. So now she pretty much has two friends at school, Leana and Regann. These are the the girls that are younger than Liz by a few weeks. They all love the Disney Princesses and they all still watch NickJr.
So now that Lizzy has finally adjusted, has friends and is finally catching up with her class, now we can focus on getting Jamie ready to start Kindergarten in September. I am definitely a lot more nervous for her to start then I was with Liz. I dont think that Jamie will miss me but I think that she wont really make any friends and that she will have a hard time trying to focus on her work with all the other kids around. She has a hard time just sharing her toys with her little brother and my concern is that she wont be making any friends because she wont share.
There are a lot of issues that I think will hold her back academically when she starts Kindergarten. She has a hard time remembering her ABC's and her numbers but she has a harder time listening to simple instructions. So we got this Calliou Kindergarten Program that has helped Liz with math and sorting, Jamie is working on it but she can only stand the PC for about 30 mins and then she gets bored. So we have our work cut out for us to get Jamie ready for Kindergarten.
As for Liz she is excited to go to school and she is even more excited to do some homework ( never thought I would hear that in my life! ) But as difficult as her homework is for her she enjoys sitting with me and getting her work done and then she is all excited when she gets a smiley face one her completed work at school! ...
More posts to come on the kids progress in school and preparing Jamie for Kindergarten in September.
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