My AT-AT is bigger than yours

Jude raked in some major cash for his birthday and decided to splurge by buying a big ass AT-AT.  If you are a Star Wars fan, you know what I'm talking about.  If you aren't, you probably could care less!

I'm not sure who was happier to get this, Jude or Husband.

So, a big THANK YOU to BJ, Lola, and YaYa for the birthday money.  You have made Jude and Husband so very happy!

30 Days of Denim- Day 9

30 Days of Denim

Here is today's outfit:

Shirt: Old Navy
Pants:  Target

Necklace:  Lia Sophia

Earrings:  Lia Sophis

Sandals:  Target (from the grown ups' section)

Today I'm so stinking tired!  So. Stinking. Tired.  

Last night Jude almost had a case of the pukies, so I spent yesterday evening rubbing his belly.  He was really nauseated, but, thankfully, he never threw up.  Because, let me tell you, there is nothing worse than a little kid with a stomach bug.  It's like they lose all control and become these little fire-hoses of vomit.  Last time Jude had a tummy ache, my couch and I got covered in puke.  Oh, the joys of motherhood!

On another note, PoPo (my dad) had knee replacement surgery today.  I spoke to him this morning and he sounded great.  He said he was doing fine.  YaYa (my mom) is there by his side.  

So between YaYa and PoPo, they have had 3 hip replacements, 2 shoulder replacements and now a knee replacement.  Yes, I have bionic parents, and that makes them awesome!  You should be jealous!

What you missed

Here are a few pictures I took during our summer vacation.  Enjoy!

Jude and Felix fishing off my dad's boat dock in Texas.  

Princess (BJ's daughter).  

Jude, looking out the window, during our cruise to the mother land.  

My family and our running buddy friends from North Texas (on the cruise).

At the Star Wars exhibit at the Houston Museum of Health and Science.  

Somewhere between Texas and California.  

Husband and Jude at the beach in Texas. 

This is what we did at BJ's house

We ate at Chick-fil-A!

We saw Lola and Abuelito (Husband's mom and dad), and we went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 

BJ and I went to the Lady Gaga concert and had a blast.  We were in the VIP section, in the 6th row!

Lady Gaga, Born This Way!  She was freaking awesome!

We went to the Children's Festival, and Jude bought a toy gun. 

Let's just say we were really busy.  We visited so many friends and family members.  It was great!

What we did in Texas at PoPo's house

 We spent hours and hours on PoPo's dock, bird watching, catching crabs and drinking beer.

This is what Jude learned in Texas!

Going fishing on PoPo's boat.

Fishing, again!

I caught a fish!

 That's what we did for 20 days at YaYa and PoPo's house.

Let's just say their house is a little piece of heaven for little boys.

The Last 13 Days

Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while.  I've been busy.

Once I arrived in the States, after being evauated from my home in Japan, I kind of felt sorry for myself.  I was living day to day worried sick about everything going on in Japan.  I was worried about my husband and my friends left behind.  I was worried about what would happen next.  I was stuck in a waiting game, and I was miserable.

Then, I decided to go to Houston and enjoy myself. 

In Houston, I tried to let all my worries fade.  I focused on the present and had as much fun as possible.

In 12 days, I managed to eat mass quantities of crawfish, see Lady Gaga in concert,  and went to the Children's Museum, The Children's Festival, The Museum of Natural Science, Chuck-E-Cheese, The Houston Zoo, and saw an IMAX movie in 3D called Sea Rex.  BJ and I partied like rock stars, danced at Pearl Bar and stayed out until 4 AM on both Friday night and Saturday night.  I saw friends and family members I haven't seen in years.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself in Houston, thanks to BJ. 

Sometimes a change of scenery can really make a difference, and going to Houston did just that.  Now, I feel better about my situation, and I'm happier in general.  Seeing all my friends and family members made me realize just how lucky I am. 

The kindness shown to me by my loved ones overwhelmed me.  I was taken care of over and over. 

Even though I still don't know what lies ahead, I don't really seem to care as much.  No matter what happens, I know I'll be taken care of, and knowing that is the BEST feeling in the world!

I am so blessed to have to such great people in my life!

BJ, Thanks again!  Love ya!  Muah!

LOL

Okay, YaYa is going to be mad about this post!


The last month or so, YaYa has been posting comments on my Facebook account.  After each comment, she writes lol.  I'm not sure she knows the meaning of those letters, though.  Here is her most recent comment:


Can't wait for you guys to come back to the states!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, very, very, soon. Miss Julian and you guys!!!!!

lol
Ya-Ya & Po-Po


Did you notice the lol? 


It's becoming a joke in our house.  We'll say something very serious and then finish with an lol and a chuckle.  


Look, I love YaYa.  She's the best momma a girl could have, but she's silly.  Really silly. 


I guess I should just be glad she knows how to use Facebook!


lol


(YaYa, lol means "laugh out loud".)

Happy Birthday!

Welcome to the world, Shepard Azul! I can't wait to meet you. It may be some time before we can actually meet, though, but know that I'm thinking of you and your family.

Now, this world may not be a perfect place, but that's okay, because your mommy and daddy will protect you from all the bad stuff and keep you safe. They will give you everything you need and more.

So, welcome to this wonderful world. It's grand!

Scared Skinny

I come from a good family. The kind that sits around telling stories and jokes while eating mass quantities of delicious, homemade tamales. The kind that would help you out in any situation, if you asked. The kind that pays taxes, works hard and never complains. The American kind!

I also come from a long line of over eaters. I know this. It is evident when you attend a quinceanera, a wedding, or a funeral which involves my family members. My family loves food. I love food.

But, unfortunately, a love for food can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes and so on. I know this, and I know what I can become if I make unhealthy choices.

And, I don't want to become that.

And recently, I've been eating way too much crap food. I've also stopped exercising regularly. But all of that is about to change.

I'm going to try to be a better example for my son. I'm going to exercise 5 days a week and make healthier choices when it comes to food. I'm going to get back on that wagon and stay on it.

After all, I know what I can become.

They made it!

So, we've been enjoying the company of BJ and her husband for the last few days. They arrived safely on Saturday night, and it's been a party ever since! We've been sightseeing and eating our way through Tokyo. I've tried to offer them every Japanese culinary delight I can find. Needless to say, BJ's husband is now hooked on mochi. He, too, sees the greatness in mochi that I see!

Happiness is mochi and the company of wonderful friends!

I am the ultimate Survivor Champion

Okay, those useless people on the CBS reality show could never survive this:

1. a five year old with H1N1 Influenza;
2. getting puked on several times by said five year old;
3. stuck in a small apartment with Limpy (YaYa), and Gimpy (PoPo) for 2 long weeks;
4. stuck in a small apartment with Limpy, Gimpy and SISTER for 2 very long weeks;
5. making over 150 tamales;
6. eating said tamales;
7. co-habitating with Husband, Jude, Limpy, Gimpy and SISTER in an apartment the size of a shoe box;
8. getting coughed and sneezed on by Limpy (YaYa caught a cold while she was here visiting);
9. running 14.5 miles; and
10. running 17 miles a week later.

Yep, I would like to see those pansy-ass people on Survivor survive this!

3 Generations of Crazy

During YaYa, PoPo and Sister's visit, we took time out of our busy schedule to have some family photos taken. This is the result:

Even though Jude was VERY uncooperative, we still managed to get a few great pictures.

Here we go again

Last year for New Year's Eve, we made a plethora of tamales. We are planning on doing the same this year.

So, if you drive by my apartment and smell dead pig, don't worry! We aren't performing some Satanic ritual on a dead pig. No! Instead, we are making a shit load of tamales.

Retaliation

Sister is pissed off that she has to spend her Christmas holiday confined to my apartment courtesy of the Swine Flu. So, to get revenge on those fucking pigs, we will be eating mass quantities of pork and wrapping everything in bacon.

This is what happens when you fuck with us!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Festivas, Feliz Navidad, and Happy fucking New Year to you and yours!

We're Contaminated

You've guessed it! One of us has the H1N1 flu, and it ain't me. Actually, my poor, sweet, adorable, 5 year old has the Swine flu, and is attempting to kill the rest of us with his cooties.

Since we've all been contaminated with Jude's germs, we are laying low and have basically quarantined ourselves.

Sister is here to enjoy the festivities and remind us of the important things like Velveeta cheese and Fritos. YaYa and PoPo will be here in a few short hours to join us in our plastic bubble.

This should make for an interesting holiday season. Wish me luck!

Oink, oink!

Christmas with my family

Okay, my parents and sister will be invading my place for Christmas. There's nothing better than the joyous sounds of yelling and the smell of tamales being made. The combination will forever remind me of Christmas in Japan.

Don't shake the baby

...but it's okay to hold the 5 year old upside down by his ankles!

The winners

*******Obscene language below. Read at your own risk!
Okay, the mother effing computer finally worked. Here are the "chosen ones."

******This was written before the pictures were downloaded to Blogger.

Okay. I picked out the 3 pictures I'll be using for our holiday card, but I keep getting this message from Blogger saying Internal Fucking Error every time I try to download the pictures. (I added the word Fucking, obviously! Because if it did say Fucking, at least I might giggle when the error message popped up every time I pressed the freaking Enter button.) So, I'm pissed because I can't show you the pictures.

Piece of shit computer and Internet! I hate all electronic devices. They were created to make our lives easier, but all they do is fuck up and piss me off!

It seems all week I've been having computer issues, and I'm getting really tired of it! I'm about to hurl this piece of shit out the freaking window. But, for fear I might kill someone, seeing as how we live on the 5th floor, I'm resisting the urge.

Damn computer! Damn Internet! Damn Blogger!

(Isn't it amazing how I can turn something like joyous Christmas photos taken by an awesome photographer into a bitching session?! Talent, that's what I got!)

Strike a pose, again!

Here are more awesome pictures from our photo shoot.

Now, I just have to decided which pictures to use for our holiday card!

Strike a pose

Yesterday morning we took pictures for our annual holiday card. These are the results:

This is my favorite one, I think.

I think our photographer took great pictures. If you are live in Japan and need someone to take awesome pictures, you should give her a call! I've got her contact information if you're interested.