MAYLIN2007

  So, here is what appears to be my true mommy format...I am once again sharing a moment when I wasn't at my best. Here goes. Be nice in your comments, for I am sure it has happened (or something similar) to you all. I was checking out a few of the blogs I follow. Maylin was sitting at the table. I was on my last blog. It was the Do They Have Salsa in China Blog. There was a terrific, funny, sweet video on the latest post. While I am watching Maylin calls me. "Mom. Where are you." "I am right here." "Otay" "Mom." "Mom" "I am coming. There are 32 seconds left." "Mom" "Mom" "I am coming. Just give me 15 seconds." "Mom" "Mom" "Alright I am coming." I get to her and ask what she needs. She is standing in her chair and says..."I peed." There she is standing in pee. I say, "Why didn't you go? You go yourself." She says, "Not today. I'm n...

We have had some days that have been filled (seriously) with wind. Of course, the next day there will be snow. Just when we think Spring has sprung, the wind brings winter right back. One day the family decided not to let this weather get the best of us, so we took a big tarp and made our own gigantic kite. It was SO FUN!!! When Jay was having his turn, this big gust came along and literally dragged him about 50feet. He had grass stains all up his pants and white shirt. It was so funny to watch him go sliding across the yard.  

Here is an update on painting. The doors continue to be a nightmare. We don''t have doors on the girls bathroom and no doorknobs on any of the other doors. Hopefully next week. I love everything else. Many of you asked about the glaze in the kitchen. It is an oil based glaze that comes in black, white, brown. You roll it on with a small roller and then take it off with a rag, by blotting it. You can make it darker or lighter depending on how much you put on and how much you take off. Here are pictures of Maylin's room. I was scared to make a change with 2 colors, but I think I like it. I don't know if you can tell but on the pink paint it is a wash (first white swirly, then pink) with light white flowers like the top pink ones. I picked words to go around her room that may inspire her. The Chinese translation is underneath. Of course, we used Meng, that was her first name...Meng ni and they called her Nini. The words are in vinyl and the flowers were painted using a pa...

Click on piano. Piano

  Hee hee ha ha ha hee hee hee. Also, Happy Gotcha Day (2 year anniversary) to Maylin and Emily!

Here are so photos of the people they stayed with, served and met. They will be home this evening.        

The kids worked so hard today. They finished the roof for the family. They really helped them a lot. Here are some pictures of the trailer they painted the other day. They are before and after shots. It looks so much better. After the work was done today, the kids played on the beach and played basketball. Jay told me Austin just played and played...harder than the other kids. Jay told him to sit down and rest and he said, "No dad. I haven't felt good enough my whole life to play like this. I need to make up for lost time." Talk about breaking my heart. Here he is 16, and finally getting to experience real life. My heart is so grateful that the Lord has blessed him to feel well, finally. Tonight was spent in the tourist part of the town. They did a lot of shopping, ate and bought a strawberry treat that has become a favorite. I could hear all the kids in the background when I was talking to my husband and their was much laughter and joy. It has been an A+ experience. They...

Yesterday, the kids worked to themeslves to the bone. They helped a family that lives in a10 by 12 one-room home. There are 4 kids, parents, and grandparents. The little 2 year old is Sophie and man, she loved Rachel and Kelsey, the two girls who went with Austin's group. There is a picture of her somewhere below laying on the bed inside their home. The walls are up on this home, but there is no roof. The kids worked pouring cement into wooden forms that fit across as the ceiling. Today, they will put beams up for the roof. Just a note: this family's washing machine is in their front yard. They have to drag a hose to it to fill it up. It is the only way it will work.You can click on the pictures to enlarge. The pictures directly below are of the trailer house the kids painted on Tuesday.   There were a lot of bugs at this location. Jay said they constantly had something crawling up there leg. They told the kids to be careful to watch for things crawling on them.   They were al...

The 19th of March, Thursday is my father-in-laws birthday and Jia Kang's b-day. TO my father-in-law, sorry I didn't get a card out. Life has been wild with Jay gone and painting. Sorry....your card will be late. But have a great time turning 30 once again. :) To Jia Kang (the baby we were first referred) now known as Addie, Happy Birthday and we are so glad you are in your family and that they are just what you need. You have a great life and a wonderful family! May you have a great day and a wonderful year. Happy birthday to you both!!

Jay just sent me this. It is Nacho Libre and his side kick. If you have seen the movie...you will get this perfectly. Be sure to read the post below. I updated with that late last night.  

Here is today's update for those of you following Austin and Jay's journey. Austin worked with the youth while the grown-ups finished working on the house they started on Saturday. The youth cleaned up several yards for people. After they worked, they all met at the beach. They played soccer (Austin kicked the ball with his barefoot and pulled his toenail back all the way) and enjoyed watching a man sell candy from a wheelbarrow. The kids from the school and those from Mexico enjoyed each other's company. You can see from many of the pictures that they have developed strong friendships already. The boys enjoyed finding the crab on the beach. Any boys dream!     Today, the group painted a trailer house. It was difficult because the power lines were just wrapped around the house so they had to be careful not to touch them. Austin tried all the salsas that they had available tonight at dinner....needless to say he said the old phrase, "What goes in hot, comes out hot...

This is well worth the 1 minute and 53 seconds. This video was produced by my church, however, the message it shares is not for just those of my faith. It is a universal ideal of improvement and joy. Click on the word "Create" below and take the time to enjoy. It will make your day. Create Thank you Emily for showing me this.

These pictures are for anyone interested, but for the parents out there whose children are on the adventure with my son, these are for you. I thought the moms would appreciate seeing their kids ironing, hanging their shirt to dry on a potted patio plant, see where and whom they are serving. Enjoy!! More pictures tomorrow. Click on the photo collage to enlarge.   NOTE: MRS. L Updike....Austin took the picture of his book so you would know he is reading!!! It is just for you!!

This is part of an email I received from my husband: Sunday was very nice. I really did not understand what was said at church since it was in Spanish, but I felt the spirit. After church we went to a member’s house for lunch / dinner. They BBQ steak and then we made something that looked like a taco. Austin tried to eat a hot pepper and he was challenged to eat the seeds (bad idea). He went screaming around the house saying that his mouth was on fire, we all laughed. At 5:30 we went with the missionaries and the Bishopric to visit some new members. We went in two groups. Austin and I went with Kelsey and her dad. We sang "I am a child of God". The families lived in very humble shacks. We gave a priesthood blessing and shared scriptures and Austin bore his testimony. I played on the cement floor in one of the homes with a little 3 year old girl that was so fascinated to have me talk with her. I have been deeply moved by the humble houses, but yet they have faith and testimoni...

Here are a few pictures of Austin and Jay. Jay found a computer....he is like one of those hunting sniffer dogs, can find one anywhere and he remote controlled my machine and sent me these. Jay said they built two walls and moved about 400 cement blocks. They are helping a family add on to their home. My boys are happy and loving it. They have had neighbors bring them fish tacos. They really liked them. The kids from Austin's Spanish class (including Austin) will be talking at their church meeting today and at a fireside on Wednesday. Jay went to Wal-Mart and bought the family a basketball. He felt bad watching the kids try to play ball with their stuffed animals. The kids went crazy. He also fixed the bike chain for the boy on the bike.

Jay and Austin are going on a humanitarian trip tomorrow with Austin's Spanish class. They are going to Ensenada, Mexico. They will be gone 8 days and will be building houses and fixing up an orphanage. They are excited. I know there is a lot of violence there, but in Ensenada I think things are okay and we feel good about it. Hopefully we will have some great pictures to share when they get home. This should be a great experience. Austin is thrilled that he feels well enough to do something like this!

I did a post last month of Maylin sleeping on the wood floor. I didn't think she could beat that, but she did. Here is a picture of her asleep sitting up, if you can call what her feet and legs are doing sitting. I could never, ever sit like that. She slept that way for an hour. When I tried to move her she would cry and go right back to that position. I can't believe her feet didn't fall asleep. NOTE - The layers of shirts. It continues.     The other day she asked me if she could go to China again for a visit. She also asked our painters how come they couldn't speak English like her. (They spoke Spanish) When I tried to explain to her, she said, "They are brown like me. They should speak English." WOW! Truly what thought provoking questions from such a little girl.

Our two days of birthday flings has come to and end. Our days were filled with glee, surprise, happiness and unfortunately some ugly. Lets start out with the happy first. Maylin wanted princess attire. I think she wanted to be like her friends...and you little princess know who you are! She loved all her presents, but I think she like helping me decorate her cupcakes the best. You will notice that she used at least 1/2 a bottle of sprinkles on one cupcake. I kept calling her "birthday girl" and she would say "I am not birthday girl. I am Maylin!" Guess she told me. she was a doll and enjoyed her birthday completely. Only downside...the next day on Kenzie's b-day she acted like a baby the WHOLE day. Crawling, whining, crying. The only thing she said that we could really get was, "I'm not 3." Maybe she is afraid to grown up. For Kenzie's b-day we took her and Maylin (Kenzie's choice) to a Brazilian restaurant where they walk to each table wit...

We have been living in a complete and total mess for a week and a half. Every room has the furniture pushed up into the middle. My sewing machine is by my front door. I am really getting ready for things to be finished around here. Painters were supposed to finish the walls today so I could start moving things back tomorrow, but no luck. The head painter has a sick child, so they aren't coming. I understand a sick kid, I just have company arriving tomorrow since Thursday is Maylin's b-day and Friday is Kenzie's. There is no place to sit or even stand anymore. We have all been sleeping in the basement. We have three bedrooms down there so the six of us have enjoyed the close quarters. Okay, the first night was fun, but now I am ready to be in my own bed and with my hubby. Right now I have Maylin with me and Jay sleeps on the floor. The bed is too small for all 3 of us and when we tried her on the floor she kept rolling around and banging her head on this and that. Anyway, he...