Prom # 2 For Our Gentleman

Emric invited his sweet friend Rebekah from another ward in our Stake, to her High School Prom.

He was the only Guy in the party of 10 girls that went together.

I did not bother him on bit! :)

These are Rebekah's mom words:

"Rebekah did have a wonderful time that night. 

Overall, it was an enjoyable evening.

Emric was such a gentleman and Bekah truly appreciated that. 

It meant so much.

She felt like a princess because she was asked to Prom and was treated like royalty. "

As a mom, those words are music to my ears! hihi

Emric is a Gentleman and Bekah looked and totally had a princess demeanor... 

What a lovely girl!

Temple Service

Today was a special day!

Amelie was able to do a couple of baptism for her french ancestors at the Houston Temple.

I hope she learns to love entering this special place as much as I do.

There is so much peace felt there.

Eternity 

is put into perspective

&

Time 

Stands Still

Chloe's Pendant

Check out Chloe's lovely pendant she found in the greenbelt!

Let me tell you it was not fun getting it unstuck from her collar!

And yes, it is what it looks like:

A stinky smelly disgusting rotten animal carcass with fur on it!
Yuck!
Needless to say she got a good shampooing after that walk!

The washing of shame...

A Birthday to Remember

5pm
Mike goes to bed sick from work exhaustion.

8:40pm
Mike wakes up and comes downstairs.
Emric - as told by his mom - asks him if he wants Chicken noodle soup.
Emric opens the can of soup.
Having trouble with the lid, he tries to get more leverage by prying it with his thumb.
- Not your best call -
His thumb gets cut and starts bleeding profusely.
With his thumb bleeding over the sink, Emric was somewhat surprised at how much blood was spilling.
So, as some of us might react, he gets queasy and passes out.

He either hit the tile floor chin first or hit the counter with his face then the floor.
- This will remain a mystery -

9pm
I get home from taking Amelie to diving to this scene:
Emric laying on the living room floor, moaning with his chin split open and a pillow under his head.
He says something is wrong with his jaw and the left side of his face is numb.
The decision was quickly made to take him to the ER.

9:15pm
 I hurriedly get into comfy clothes and grab some pillows and blankets.

Before getting up and walking supported by Mike to go in the car,
Emric - the lifeguard - asks himself how may fingers he is holding up, what day it is and what's his name!

9:45pm
He is seen by the Urgent care staff.
They take Xrays, Cat scans and put 4 stitches in his chin.

10:45pm
Mike and Amelie go home as it is getting late, and Mike has a massive headache.

11:10pm
We are told he has a fractured Jaw bone and a fractured Temporal bone.
They want him taken to Children's Hospital ER for further observation by specialists.

11:12pm
Mom is not feeling so good, is going white and need to lay down and be given some apple juice.

11:20pm
Mom says a fervent prayer with and for her kid.

11:30pm
Emric is taken in an ambulance to Texas Children' ER.
Mom is following, worried, with no idea what the future holds for her boy
and wondering what does this all mean.
Will he have life long consequences form his head injuries?

Tuesday 7th
My 47th Birthday
12:20am
Emric is admitted in room 21 of the ER.
He is put on a vital signs monitor that will loudly beep randomly every 5 sec to 15mn
for the next 10 hours!!!
Doctors and nurses randomly come and go asking questions of how it happened
while pocking and touching his face.
Often not knowing others had already come...
Emric and I just drift in and out of sleep all night - him in the bed, me on 2 chairs put together.

Sometime between 4am and 6am
Doctors come and talk to mom and Emric about his fractures.
Again, mom gets all weak and almost passes out. Crackers and OJ are prescribed.

 8:30am
We are told Emric can go home, no surgery needed just no Diving and no chewing for 6 week.
And 2 followup visits are to be scheduled, one with a Plastic surgeon and another for a hearing test.

11:00 am
Emric is discharged.

What a night!
I'm just so happy Emric has no complications!!!!
He is going to be just fine...

PS: See my feather pillow under his head? Well it never came home... :(

You Never Know - LOVE this Video!

Parenting Mistake #1075674890...

Do not buy a used Kawasaki Ninja 500 for your 17 year old inexperienced teen boy!

Who granted wants it and thinks he can handle it and would like the freedom, 

and is a responsible good kid, but and lets face it is also a little clueless and has NO Business on a bike like this monster!

What was the irresponsible mom thinking you - and everyone else to that matter including dad- asks? 

Well she wasn't!

She was clueless and made a huge mistake!

End of Story!

And Now is stuck having to selling the darn-speed-monster-thing and having to live with her shame! 

Our Very Own New Eagle Scout

After 10 years of Cub Scouts and Scouting, Emric has finally joined the honorable rank of Eagle Scout.

Way to go Emric!

He had set a goal and made a promise to be the first Eagle in our family.
He wanted to get it at 14 years old and was well on his way, but then we moved to Texas.
And that kinda slowed things down a bit, right Emric?

But he made it!

Got his gazillion badges
 Fund-raised (THANK you Friends and Family)
Started and finished his project at the local animal shelter HERE
Aced his interviews
And last but not least, got through the paperwork!

We are
Sooooooooo HAPPY
for Him

 And only moms of Eagle scouts know how happy I am and glad it's done and over with! :)
Getting a kid through that program can be like... a 10 year birthing process!
Moms should be able to add that to their resumes!!!!

Eagle Oath

Buddy & Moms who nagged, pushed and helped make it happen!

Awesome Accomplishment! To be worn with honor...

Lovely Mentors & Cheerleaders

Eagle Official Paperwork, letters from officials, flags & Joining the Eagle's Nest

Pinning the Parents

Again Way to Go Emric!

A Good Sunday

Grateful for an almost 'perfect' Sunday.

When we all (especially the kids) get along, eat, play games, have little spiritual discussions,
and pray together.

Family life can be tough sometimes.
These are some of the little moments that make it all worth while.

Alexi

Here are my favorite pictures of Alexi.

I love my firstborn.

The first to teach me what it means to be a mother.

Stretching my capacities to love, care & protect another more than oneself.

Freely forgiving me for my mothering blunders and shortcomings.

I loved his long morning hugs as he woke up, it was the first thing he did: 

Hug his mommy.

I don't remember when those daily hugs stopped.

Alexi as a kid, always had a curious-fun-inquisitive-quick mind,
knew what he wanted and gave it 100%.

Now a man, dealing with a lifelong disease, he is an example of quiet courage, endurance and hope.
Oh and still has a fun quick mind! :)

R.A.D Self-Denfence class

I thought that taking a R.A.D self defence course would be an excellent thing for Justine and I to do.

So I signed us up at our Local County Sheriff's office.

They offer the course for free.

We went from 10am till 4pm, 2 Saturdays in a row.

The 1st Saturday was about educating us on self defence and the statistics of rape & domestic abuse, and what to do if you or someone you know is a victim.

And on being 'house' and 'street smart'.

One of the main factor of preventing abuse/aggression/abduction is your demeanor. 

You want to walk confidently, like you are saying with your body language 

"don't mess with me" "I will give you trouble".

The second Saturday was the actual learning and practicing self defence moves.

That was scary, empowering, and even a bit exhilarating!

Justine in full combat

Moi, in full combat mode, after the initial shock of being thrown backwards!
I do have to mention that it helped that I had just taken a boxing class 3 times a week for a month!
Thus the 'good stance'! :)

We rock and don't mess with us!

So when I got home I tried some of the stuff I had learned on Mike.
Unfortunately, since he is a very good wrestler, I did not get far!
The only thing I did get was frustrated!
I was totally pinned and could not move even a finger...

But hopefully, if and/or when put are in a situation where self defence is needed,
having it done a few times will help and we will be less likely to freeze.

In a couple of years, I will be taking Amelie through this course!
I have a feeling she will be a natural!

Mother's Day Spur of the Moment Photo Shoot & Ramblings

After all the photos we took with my phone, I decided to bring out the big camera.
Sure, we could have thought about matching outfits, but we didn't,
and it's OK because they turned out pretty cute in black and white!

I've been using my neglected Canon Rebel with my 50mm 1.4 a little more...

I do love the photos it produces.
I think I had it on the wrong ISO like at 800...
Oups!

*****

I love photos.

Photos are awesome for capturing life as we live it and personalities.

It is such a big part of who I am.
I may not be this powerful woman with a carrier or medals or tons of achievements and worldly success.
But I have my family and I will certainly leave behind lots of photos! :)
I love life.

I love capturing life and recording it.
I love Journals.

Since the age of 14 I have kept records, in Journals and now in blog format.
I love blogging.
I blog and record and snap because unfortunately our memories don't get better with age,
like french cheese.

I love french fromage. With french crusty baguettes.

*****

This is a sample of some of my favorites
I'm uploading all of them on google+

There that does it!

To make mother's day even better, I wish Alexi would have been with us!

My thoughts were with him.
Love ya Lexi!