The DeSpain Family

The Book Thief...AWESOME!

2011-01-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

I have been in the funnest book club for about...I don't really remember...three years maybe??? I have lots of favorites and this months book has made the cut! The Book Thief by Markus Zusak ROCKS!!!!

In the words of the narrator... who happens to be death...
"It's just a small story really, about among other things:
*A girl
*Some words
*An accordionist
*Some fanatical Germans
*A Jewish fist fighter
*And quite a lot of thievery"

What I love about being in a book club is reading books I would never choose for myself. Like when I began this book I thought in my head...I don't want to read this right now and I longed to put it down and read something else...but I made myself read...for book club, and again, as happens so often...I LOVED IT! I laughed and I cried....I loved it! The writing is beautiful, the story is touching, the characters are so real; Leisel, Rudy, Max and even Death... I want to call you up to see how you've been! I am sooooo sad it had to end! I recommend it to everyone! An easy, fun and enjoyable read!

Poor blogger x2

2010-09-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm such a poor blogger, updating so infrequently! I've been wanting to post about my training and races for awhile now but have not...so tonight I have started a whole new blog about that very topic. Now I can get behind and forget to post on two blogs instead of one! My new blog is stupid girl running....maybe I should start a third...stupid girl blogging???

Please check out this Sweet Courageous Mother!

2010-05-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

This is the most beautiful mother I have ever seen. Her courage and strength inspire beyond imagination. Happy Mother's Day!

Don't Stop Yet!!!!

2010-04-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

Here is Brock at the track meet, in the sack race. He was in first place but thought the race was finished so he stopped. Then he figured out that it was not finished and he started again!!!! Good thing he is such a good hopper! He got second place but it looks to me like he still should of won 1st!

Brock running in class shuttle:

Brock also got second place in the standing long jump!

Mati doing the long jump:

Chase running the 200

Yea boys! You're doing great!!!!

RNC In Pt Obstetrics...yea!

2010-04-04T01:24:00.000-07:00

Check one thing off my list! I took my RNC and passed! My friend Jonie came with and passed too. We were both "VERY STRONG" in all categories but one! All our studying paid off! How did we study you ask?

Sleeping hard is important to brain function!

Good nutrition is paramount!

Meditation is key

Get your aggression out!

Then smile and just pass...Duh!

Valentines Day...Yea!

2010-02-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

Love period mushy stuff. Favorite authors are of course Austin, Bronte and Gaskell so it follows that I simply love period movies. I think I own three quarters of the films featured here. Anyway, Happy V-Day!

Oh yea, pause the music player at the bottom before hitting play!

Resolutions 2010

2010-02-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

Well it’s February so I guess I’ve procrastinated enough…it’s time to write down some New Year’s resolutions! In 2010 I will study for and pass the RNC in In-Patient Obstetrics. I will complete the same triathlons I did last year but beat my times for some new personal bests! I will never let a month go by that I don’t attend the temple. I will take a Spanish class! That’s it…I like to keep it simple to give myself a better chance at being successful!

This is not a resolution, but it is very funny. I talk a lot about babies since it is my job. Emma recently asked what women need to eat to make a baby! Hee hee, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Good logic I guess since what you eat ends up in your tummy!

Those Girlie Red, Gap Shirts!

2009-12-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we got our Christmas card photo's taken and what a fiasco! The girls were ready and I thought to myself...good job...that's the hardest part! Boy was I mistaken! The boys were already in their jeans and just needed to put on their shirts so we could be on our way! I passed out the red shirts I had ordered online from Gap and the trouble started...Brock and Mati began to moan and pout! They thought the shirts were "girlie" and accused me of getting them from the girls department. After several minutes of trying to convince them otherwise I gave up and just yelled. Put those shirts on and get in the van!!!!! They did as they were told. The ride over to the photographers was not good. Brock told Chase (who was wearing the same shirt) that he looked like a girl and Chase got angry. Brock thought this was funny and began to make many comments about looking like girls in the picture. Mati was just plain mad and told us all that he would never wear this shirt again. This made daddy mad. "Your mother bought that shirt and it cost money!!! You will wear that shirt and be grateful you have it!!!!" Kenzi commented that the boys shirts looked very nice, which only made the boys more upset. We arrive within minutes and park. Everyone gets out of the van except Mati who does not want his picture taken...he is wearing a very mean look, Chase is mad, Brock is sad...not the way to look on a Christmas card! So now I am mad because I wanted everyone to look loving and joyful in the pic and that is obviously not going to happen! So I say in my meanest voice.."you will walk in there and be happy! You will all act like you love each other and smile so people know we are a happy family!!!!!" And then the threat..."and if you don't I will make you wear those red shirts everyday to school this week!!"
I did not get the desired results (which were at least fake smiles) I got a few scowls! We walk in the studio 5 minutes late with Emma smiling and excited and everyone else mad and unhappy. The poor photographer takes a look and our family and in a very cheerful voice asks "Is everybody happy and ready?" Hee hee...I just told her the truth....nope, the boys don't really want to be here and they don't like their shirts....they think they look 'girlie'. She was not sure how to respond! Anyway after a few whispered threats to several of the children we got a few pics. The funny thing is after we left we went to my nephew's birthday party where we all laughed and had fun together. Then later that day at home again we joyfully spent more time together. Too bad none of that was caught on film. In the end it worked out...the boys smiled for the pics...they did not have to wear the shirts to school...and daddy was pleased that he won't have to have pics taken again for a long while!

Some family Pics

2009-11-19T21:46:00.000-08:00

Amber is so talented with a camera! And her husband Josh is talented with skirts and cookie monster dolls! Hee hee! We had so much fun!

We didn't color coordinate our shoes!!

I love the green alfalfa and the setting sun!

Amber had to stand high on a ladder to get this one!

These guys are so beautiful! Cotton fields...the closest thing we have to a white Christmas!

Brock looks just like his daddy did at this age!

I love this pic of Mati with his soccer ball!

Chase...so serious with his base, and in contrast, Brock sticking his head in a pic that did not belong to him!!! Always the prankster!

Our silhouetted family, the beautiful AZ sunset!

McKay and I against this awesome old tree.

Beautiful girls, but Emma had to climb her tree!

My honey is serious and reserved most of the time and I am most definitely not...I think that's why I love this pic!

I will post a link to Amber's site...Thanks so much Amber and Josh!

Pictures Coming!!!!!

2009-11-19T04:28:00.000-08:00

Yea! Amber Halverson took our family pics a few weeks ago. I've spent most of the night trying to fix up my blog with some of her photos. Tomorrow I will post more info and more pics...I'm soooooo verrryyyy tired right now...but soooo excited about our pics!!!

Alzheimers

2009-06-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

So I am at work. It has been very busy and this is my 6th shift in seven days so needless to say I am tired and my house is messy. I am in report...this is where day shift nurses report off to night shift nurses so we can continue care. Anyway, report is almost finished (it's about 630 pm or 1830 army/nurse time) when I get a call from my husband who is in Walmart. He has just run into our neighbor who tells him she will be seeing him at our home in about an hour. What? he says...Why?...Well, the Relief Society book club is meeting there tonight she tells him. That's funny he says because my wife is working tonight. So this is what he interrupts my report to tell me, whoops, she is mixed up I say...Book club is the FOURTH Thursday of the month I tell him...long...quiet...pause...It is the fourth Thursday of the month he tells me...my heart is pounding, I feel chest pain, SOB (not what you think, it means Shortness of Breath in nursing lingo!) and maybe even pain in my left arm! No time for a heart attack now!!!! I shout at him...Call the boys...tell them to clean! Quick! Now! I hang up the phone and turn to my co-workers...Seeing as how all the blood has drained from my face they ask me what's wrong. I hurriedly tell them my story, we rearrange patient assignments and I head home...fast! I arrive to see my kids slowly picking up books, socks, shoes and a game of UNO. I wish my best cleaner, daughter #1, McKenzi wasn't babysitting tonight! No I yell...not like that...I pick up as many items as my arms can hold and toss the lot into my bedroom. The kids look frightened but copy me. I call my husband as I am supposed to have refreshments and ask him to bring cookies and drink home. Next we are all Vacuuming, windexing, dusting, mopping Kitchen tile, polishing wood floors and wiping down the powder room (Someone is bound to have to pee!). It is about 7:10 (or 1910) the doorbell rings. What?????? Mormon standard time is LATE not Early! I answer the door to see two men from my ward. We set up a time to visit next week, (I have my scrub pants rolled up to my knees to mop floors, they were kind enough not to stare!) But when I think the conversation is over one of them asks me about OB stuff...specifically...what is involved in an NST...Well I guess I am pretty rude because I tell them come on in and I will tell you! It's raining outside and their shoes are muddy so they have to take them off, they follow me into the house and politely stand in my family room as I mop and tell them in a panting breath (because I'm rushing....what a workout!) about NST's, not a very good explanation either because I can't think of anything else except the people about to arrive and I'm not ready! In the middle of the explanation I yell at Emma to bring in fans in to dry the floors (If the guests see wet floors, they will know I just mopped...can't have that!) It's 7:20 (1920) and my husband arrives, the gentleman (who now believe me to be a crazy lady) leave and McKay unveils my refreshments...Milano cookies...not bad and a gallon jug of Great Value drinking water....Uggggggg! Not even a lemon to dress it up...heck...water comes out of the tap too you know!!!! Well it's 7:32 and I sit and try to calm my breathing while rolling my damp pant legs back down...I did it!!!! I hear my husband exclaim "What happened in here?" as he enters our now, very messy room (as the family room mess has now been transferred to our bedroom). The Kids have been exiled to the basement, cookies and water are displayed as nicely as possible on shiny clean granite. The yummy smelly candle is burning and a copy of discussion questions are in my hand. The picture of domestic bliss I turn on some light music and sigh...A few minutes pass...no knocks...no doorbell...it's 7:38 (1938) Is anyone coming?...7:40...Is it really the 4th Thursday of the Month? 7:42 (my clocks are a little fast) The door bell rings. It's my neighbor who ran into McKay at the store...Should I thank her for saying something to him...I could be at work right now...blissfully ignorant? Five minutes slip by...ding dong...yea...I have the boring doorbell...one more sister arrives...well...what can I say...that's it...the three of us discussed the book...then we talked of having babies (my neighbor is preggos!) and then it is over! Worth it? I don't know but I guess I saved face. My kids were rewarded with all the cookies and water they could eat...and I went back to work...I hope my hubby will take care of me in about 10 more years when assume by then I won't even remember who he is...

Melkam Fasika! Happy Ethiopian Easter!

2009-04-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am a very bad blogger!!!! Lots has happened, I haven't written anything! First off Happy Easter! (in Ethiopia today) We are having Doro Wat for dinner. Mati is running in the middle school track meets, even though he is only in 6th grade...way to go!

Emma had a birthday,my baby is six years old now!!!!!! It was supposed to be at the park but it rained! It never rains here but it did for her birthday. We had to have the party in our home, I stayed awake all night coming up with fun Princess games to fill two hours with what ended up being 15 kids! Very unfortunately we only got through 3 of the games. It was hectic and crazy. All the "Princes" chased the "Princesses" around the house with their swords. Then the girls wanted swords instead of crowns. The poison apple game was a hit though! The kids passed the poisoned apple around to music, when the music stopped the child with the apple had to "fall asleep" the game went on till the last kid had to wake up everyone with a Hershey kiss!

We have had such fun this month! We went bowling,

had Easter breakfast and painted Easter Eggs

and made cookies.

The boys went on a 25 mile bike ride with the scouts! Whew!

Chase wins again with his Science Project!

2009-03-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

Chase's science fair project was submitted to SARSEF where he won two different awards. The picture is awful but here is Chase accepting those awards at the Tucson Convention Center. Way to go Chase we are very proud!

2009-03-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

I was sitting at my computer the other day when Emma came running in. She was complaining loudly "Mati said the 'S' word!!!!" I was very shocked, nobody cusses/curses however you say it, in my home! I went to Mati and gave him this big spiel, (is that a word?), explaining that certain English words were bad and should never under any circumstances be spoken. Blah, blah, blah! I went on and on. Mati looked slightly confused then said, but mom 'idiot' doesn't start with 'S'. Emma immediately started getting upset "See, he said it again!" Whoops! It was very hard not to start laughing!

Anyway, I wanted to share some fun stuff we have been doing like making homemade pizza. We tossed our dough all over and made quite a mess!

We also went to Amazing Jakes! Very Fun!

Mati and Emma racing Chase and Brock

Brock could make it to the top and ring the buzzer, Way to Go Monkey!

Some of the kids before going home!

Kenzi was feeling sick the whole day but that didn't stop her from cheering the boys on at bumper cars!

Mom and Dad hung out while the kids went crazy having fun!

Bonfire Fun!

2009-03-12T21:21:00.000-07:00

Tonight we made a couple of fires with the mesquite that grows all over our land! It smells sooooo good! We cooked lots of food and had some fun. As we finished off with smores it began to rain, just in time to put out our fires!!!

Dad stokes the fire!

Brock plays with fire!

The rest of us eat around the fire!

Don't be silly, go to bed!!!

2009-03-08T23:36:00.000-07:00

How many times do you need to tell your kids "go to bed!!!!", before they actually do? Mati and Emma kept being silly, an evil ploy to stay awake longer. I am a sucker because it's spring break. We did silly things and made a silly video which may show up on here later! Well eventually dad thought the kids were too rowdy in the family room (that's against the rules!) and said "GO TO SLEEP" just once and all the fun is over! POO POO daddy! Chase has influenza and is too sick on the couch. Brock is too cool to have pictures of his silliness taken. Kenzi took the picture for us... So the picture only contains three DeSpain delinquents. We were the few, the proud and the brave. As Mati says in the picture "Peace Out".

Day of Sporting

2009-03-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Chase won 1st place for his science project! Good job Chase! Today was Mati's first day of track and he ran under a 6 minute mile his first try! Very awesome! McKenzi played in her first doubles tennis match against Duncun. They lost 7-9 but Kenzi played great. Some very nice serves, maybe it's her new racket?

Me Too!!

2009-02-25T08:22:00.000-08:00

Since this is one of my first posts (finally), the little ones wanted to be included. So that all is fair; here are Mati, Brock and Emma before school, about to leave for the bus. Have a great day kids!

Science Fair

2009-02-25T08:06:00.000-08:00

Today is the science fair at DPA (Chase's school). The title of his project is 'It's Heating up Here! Terraforming Mars'. He created the environment of Mars inside a bell jar by using a bicycle repair kit for the carbon dioxide and decreasing the pressure with some equipment borrowed from SHS. He really wanted to use dry ice and had to be given a short lesson on dry ice bombs. Nope, not a good idea!! Good Luck Chase!

Mateos is ours 100%

2009-02-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

This is my first post! Today our adoption with Mateos was finalized here in the US. It was finalized in Ethiopia back in August of 08. We are so excited! Yea! We took several pictures but they kept coming up very dark. Something must be wrong with my flash. It is an old camera. Anyway, here is a picture of me and Mati just minutes after it was made official! None of the pics with Daddy turned out. Poor PaPa!!!