*Something a little disturbing happened today. Okay, I lied. It's VERY disturbing. Juan got stuck with a needle today. Now, this is not so great because the patient could have any number of diseases (HIV, Hepatitis, etc. come to mind.) I'm kind-of freaking out but Juan is staying pretty calm about it. We'll see what happens when the blood-test results come back....

Hmmmm, what else can I write about?

It's been a long time since I shared a great recipe. We've been loving this one lately because our local market has had tilapia fillets on sale the last couple of weeks. You know it's good when you make it TWICE within 8 days.

So there you go. Eat fish this week.

Also something funny that Qiana says:

"Mami, can I kick the baby?" (This translates to, "Mommy, can I feel the baby kick?")

...and she calls Family Home Evening, Noche de Jugar. This is only funny if you understand Spanish. It's really called Noche de Hogar, but she switches the words and says "play" instead of "home". What a sweetie pie.

Let me introduce the eventual theme Juan decided on: THE ULTIMATE V-DAY CLICHE. He sent me texts with clues throughout the day on where to find my Valentine's Day gifts. These included all of the typical V-day gifts you hear of: a rose, box of chocolates, stuffed animal with candy, a mix tape, and jewelry (a plastic princess crown and wand set.) I'm pretty sure he found all of them at the Dollar Tree, which is right on track with this year's theme. I loved it because now I can check off that I've received all of those items on Valentine's Day. :)

You can't heat a house with just desire.

In days of old they had places for fire.

Today is different, in terms of HOW;

we keep our house warm with THIS now.

He figured out it was the furnace almost instantly, and when he got there, he saw a little frame with a Valentine's Day card inside from me and the girls. Again, lame... but it was something silly for him to laugh at and I knew he didn't have high expectations. It was of our thumb prints, drawn into little people with the saying, "3 little {thumb} bodies love you!" (Thank you, Pinterest... and by the way, he did laugh.)

I made him an Italian dinner, going along with our "cheesy" theme. Lasagna Rolls, Spinach and Artichoke-stuffed Portobellos, crusty bread, and Virgin Apple-Cranberry Bellinis. Instead of having to make dessert, I relied on the little heart cakes my mom made with the girls. It was perfect!

After dinner, Juan played the "mix tape" he made and the girls put on an impromptu Valentine's Day ball (to which Juan and I were invited as special guests.) They had already changed into dress-up clothes to match the new crowns and princess jewels I bequeathed upon them, and requested that we change into our formal attire as well. Siena even went as far as to tell Juan exactly which suit, shirt and tie she wanted him to wear. Then she asked me if I had any flowers left over from a wedding I did a few days ago. Why? Well, Juan needed a boutonniere, of course! Once his flower was pinned in place, the dance started and we were all whisked away to the girls' fantasy land of princes and princesses. It was such a big deal to those little girls, that Juan and I couldn't help but play along. THAT is a memory I want to keep forever.

News:

Well, the end of January finally came and went and we now have an answer on Oral Surgery Residencies. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you want to take it,) Juan was not accepted into a program. There are two open positions left in the country waiting to be filled and he's applied for them, but since odds are not in our favor we are looking for jobs now. It's kind-of exciting! As to where we are looking, it's pretty much anywhere in the West so we can be closer to family.

Throw quilt for the rocking chair (my project):

I haven't been feeling very crafty most of my pregnancy, until a few days ago. That's when the project bug hit. I think it's because we got the Residency MATCH results that day and I had nothing else to keep my mind in a frenzy anymore. So the projects I've completed so far are:

Quotable:

When I asked Qiana yesterday what name she wanted for the baby, she said "Sandy". Our neighbor, Sandee, is one of Qiana's best friends so that's probably where she got it. I just think it's sweet and funny of her to want to bestow that name on her brother. I also asked her what she was going to teach her brother when he grows up. She said without hesitation, "Jumping Jacks, and futbol, and basketball." So excited to see them all become little friends!