Yet another

I have started another blog about our families new journey into the world of eating raw. Please check it out, and join us, if you would like.

www.happilyevereating.blogspot.com

Red lights and chemicals

I miss the darkroom. When I was attending our local community college, I took some basic courses, and photography 101, just for fun. I ended up practically ditching all of my other classes and became OBSESSED with my photo class. I loved working in the dark room, cropping my negatives, hearing the beep when the exposure on the paper was done, and immersing the newly exposed paper into the trays of chemicals to develop my pictures. Most of my peers opted for the automatic developer.....in the machine their paper would go, and 5 mins later it would come out the other side. Not me. I wanted to know that I developed it. Yes, I might have gotten a few of the chemicals on my hands, but I didn't mind. I kind of liked the smell. I liked the way everything looked with the red light that was so dim. Near the end of the semester all the serious folks (hardly anyone.....so sad) would be in the dark room. Developing picture after picture. If I could have lived in there, I would've. The darkroom and the studio was where I felt most comfortable. It was my home. I want to go back and be in there again, right now. I want to watch the paper come to life with my work. I want to burn the images (not with fire, with LIGHT). I want to create. One day, I will go back and create with my hands again, but for now, I will settle with capturing life and storing it for another day, when it will be reborn. I miss the darkroom.

A view from my room

Over our tub we have a small window that I like to look out of frequently. It gives me a perfect view of the garden and the woods (the park.....that's what we call it now). Now you can see my view, too.

My beautiful garden.

The "park". Ronald cleaned up in between all the trees and now he mows back there every week. It is really beautiful!

SPEED!

Grace taught me a card game called speed a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE IT (and I'm not a huge fan of cards games)! Tonight, while we were playing she started scolding me (I forget why).

Grace: "Caitlin Rivera. Caitlin Wilson Rivera. (Looking at me with big "you're in trouble" eyes, you know, those eyes that are supposed to intimidate you and make you want to cover your hiney cuz you might get spanked.) I know your full name now!

HAHAHAHA......she knows my full name now. Oh MAN! I couldn't contain myself.....I just kept laughing and laughing. Good thing she was not my mother or father or I would've gotten in big trouble for laughing.

A hair cut for little bear

When I told my mom that I was going to cut Alexander's hair today, she laughed. "He doesn't have any hair for you to cut!" For those of you who don't know me, I do not like scraggly hair, especially on boys. Little Bear had a few "patches" of hair on his head that were nice and long, so I decided it was time to give them a time. I pulled out Ronald's clippers and went to work. Alexander didn't cry at all, he actually seemed to enjoy it.

The first snip.

Some of his baby hairs, see, they were long!

Such a big boy!

Not much hair was cut off, but I was (and am) very pleased.

Ronald's bench

Ronald made an amazing "park bench" for us a couple of weeks ago. He worked hard and got it done in a day. And he designed it himself. Good job, baby!

The finished product.....minus the stain.

Yes, we are very alive!

I know it's been over 2 months now since I've really posted anything, but I just couldn't do it. The internet connection here has been KILLING ME! Dial up is so slow, so it would've been a huge waste of time for me to even attempt to blog. But now we have wireless (thank you promotion!), so I will be coming back to the blogging world. We have been very busy the past couple of months. Mostly we have been outside....gardening and cleaning up the back yard. I love living out in the country. It's such a blessing to have so much land to live and work on. Alexander and Isabella are both doing well and really growing. I have been making all of Alexander's baby food (which I did when Isabella was a baby, too), and he loves it. I though for sure at his 6 month check up that he'd be 20 lbs., but he wasn't, he was 19lbs, 3 oz.....close enough. He's a big boy. He can sit up on his own now, which is fun, and has just started rolling from his back to his stomach. Isabella's memory amazes me every day. She is such a smart little girl, and she's so observant. The other day we walked past a lady who was smoking.

I: Mami, that lady blows smoke outside.
C: That's right, she is. Blowing smoke is very yucky. It makes you sick and it hurts you.
I: No, Mami. It won't make me sick.
C: (stop and look at Isabella.....you know, the "this is serious" look) Yes it will Isabella. It will really hurt you and make you very VERY sick. We don't blow smoke, okay?
I: Okay, Mami.

My baby brother (who is 19....not quite a baby anymore) smokes, and he lives with us. Isabella sees him smoke frequently. The other day we were all outside and Tanner (Tio) came out to smoke.

I: TIO!!!!!!!!!!
T: ISABELLA!!!!!!!!!!
I: Tio, DON'T BLOW SMOKE! You get sick. Mami says don't blow smoke, k?
T: Okay. (Continues to smoke)
I: Tio, you's all done. Don't blow smoke anymore, k? Don't get sick. It will hurt you.

Tanner just looked at me. I think he was a little annoyed that a 2 1/2 year old was scolding him, but he looked proud, too. Like, "good job, sis." How do you teach a 2 1/2 year old about these kinds of things. Well, at least I got my point across to her.

Ronald built a really nice bench for our wooded section behind the house. I need to get a good picture of it, but take my word for it, it's nice.

Alexander eating Isbella's jacket during our picnic.

Papi and Isabella during the picnic. She was really into those pears.
Trying to take herself for a walk.....silly girl.

Me and the little bear. He doesn't fit in the snugli anymore, so sad.

We get to enjoy many delicious meals made by Isabella. She loves to cook for us.