Guerrero Family

Halloween 2009

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:59:00 +0000

At our Guerrero Family Halloween PARTAY! :) Aaron's Thomas the Train costume that I made out of a box (well, Simon drew the face, but Aaron, Chloe, and I did the rest--cutting,painting). Chloe's Ariel costume topped off with cheap temporary hair color that gets all over everything!!

Chloe went to the ward party as Snow White (and she loved Maggie's pink hair!). Chloe and Aaron at Chloe's school carnivalAaron and Emma at a Halloween party at the Methodist church with a Caring Christian Mother's group I am involved with.

Celebrating Christmas

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:53:00 +0000

Just got this as a forward and I really enjoyed it, so I decided to post it. While the whole "letter from Jesus" idea is a bit on the cheesy side, the message is a good reminder to us all. I hope you enjoy it too!

Natalie
_____________

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

Dear Children, It has come to my attention that many you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. . . although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. Not just during Christmas time, but all through the year. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the president complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sends out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family? Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions and words that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Simon the "Architect" well, almost. . . :)

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:44:00 +0000

Simon found out today that he past the last architecture licensingexam he took. It was his final one!!! YIPPEE!! He's now finished with all of the exams.

Now he needs to finish entering in his internship hours over the past two years into their appropriate categories (there are 15 categories in which he has to have a certain number of post-graduate school internship hours.Categories such as design, construction, office management, community something or another etc. etc.)

He has kept detailed time sheets, but since he's been pre-occupied with studying he hasn't gotten them all logged in. It'll probably take him another few weeks to a month to get that all entered in and see exactly in which categories he needs more hours. We're sure his boss will be helpful in letting him get the hours he needs in his deficient categories. We are so excited!!!

A big "WooHoo!!"

Battle of the Books Team

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Chloe made the Battle of the Books team for k-3rd!! YooHoo! According to her teacher, she's the first kindergartener to ever even attempt the tryout test, much less make the team!! She had 15 books that she read and then they had a test with questions from the books.

The team is kind of like quiz bowl (I think)--all the questions will be about the books. Below is the list of books she had to read for it. She's quite the little reader!! (I did not read them to her, she read them all by herself--but I did discuss them with her and asked her some questions. I was quite impressed with her comprehension and retention of what she had read!!)

Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair by Patricia Polacco
Bedhead by Margie Palatini
Big Bad Wolves at School by Stephen Krensky
Critter Sitter by Chuck Richards
The Dog who had Kittens by Polly M. Robertus
Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio
Lost: A Story in String by Paul Fleischman
Make Way for the Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Max’s Words by Kate Banks
Pictures from our Vacation by Lynn Rae Perkins
Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman
The Secret Science Project that almost ate the School by Judy Sierra
The Spectacular Adventures of Sophie & Sebastian by Ruth Jeyaveeran
Titanicat by Marty Crisp
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski

8 Down 1 More to Go

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:36:00 +0000

Simon got the results today from the last licensing exam he took about a month ago and. . . he passed!! YIPPEE! Only one more test go to and he'll be an architect! YooHoo! His last exam is scheduled for November 2nd. He's been studying hard!

Yay for Simon!!!

just cute

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Book Club

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:35:00 +0000

Simon, "What did you talk about at the book club meeting?"
Me, "Um, the book."
Simon chuckles and we get ready for bed.

Later: Laying in bed ready to sleep, I suddenly start expanding on my answer and tell him about some of the conversations.

Simon, "So it's a lot different than if I had a book club with a bunch of men. It'd be 'I liked the ending' and 'yeah, that was cool.'" [followed by silence]

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Potty Training Woes. . .

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:13:00 +0000

Okay, so my cute, adorable, fun, energetic, frustrating, obnoxious little 3 year old is once again back in plain ole diapers (yes, he will be 4 next month). He's very strongwilled (what 3 year old isn't, right?). We've been trying to train him since he was 2. Trouble is, the harder you push this little one, the harder he pushes back (normal though, right?)

So, we've tried about every possible technique known to man. I just wished I could turn back the clock and we wouldn't have started until he was older. I tried to get my dear sweet husband to back off on many occassions, but well we just haven't seen eye-to-eye on this issue (part of the problem).

We've done instant rewards, charts, potty in front of the t.v., story time and games while on the potty (well, that was all Simon--for a while there he would spend up to an hour or so with them on the pot playing games--this was all a year or so ago. When I took them to the potty, I maybe read a couple of books, but if they didn't go by then, it was okay and we'd try again later.)

So, okay, the past is in the past and now we're here. For the last 6 months he goes on the potty when he wants to and will go to get a treat (if he's in the mood), but it's ALL about CONTROL with him. I have to figure out a way to make sure he fully believes that it's all his decision to stay dry.

So, about a month or so ago I began to really wonder if he indeed had a bladder control issue because I would take him to the potty and then take him again 30 min. later (sometimes sooner) and he would've already gone again in his pull-up.

But, knowing my little guy, I had a sneaking suspicion he had the control, but was just playing games with me. So, I decided to take him to church in regular underwear. It was fantastic! He went to the bathroom when I took him (no complaining or screaming--apparently he prefers public restrooms to ours at home) and came home dry. But, once we were home if I tried to take him to the potty it was "I don't need to go potty" and "I promise I will tell you when I need to go" followed by my eventually checking his pull-up and it'd be wet or dirty. . .every once in a blue moon he'll actually tell me if he needs a diaper change.

So, for 4 weeks or so, I left him in regular underwear during the day and diapers at night. It was always the same story, if we were out and about, he was fine--liked using the public restrooms--but at home, well, accident after accident and he NEVER had to go when I tried to take him (but then, he would mysteriously be wet just five minutes later. . .hmm)--even when he was having to clean the poop out of his own underwear. . .and did he tell me he was poopie or wet??? Of course not--I always had to just figure it out.

So, for 4 weeks I think we actually had one day where he stayed dry all day, so I know it's possible. We rewarded and praised. . .to no avail. After a few weeks of excitement (I was really thinking we had made a breakthrough and he was going to decide he prefers dry underwear, but alas, he doesn't. He continued to pee and poop in his underwear (on purpose, mind you) until a few days ago and I finally gave up, declared him the winner, and put him back in regular diapers.

I'm done. When he wants to be potty trained he'll just have to let me know. . .

Suggestions are welcome, but most likely, I've already thought of it, tried it, and it failed. . . I think I'll wait until Emma is 4 before I'll even attempt to introduce her to the potty (unless she insists on it before that and just does it all on her own---here's hoping!)

Emma

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:50:00 +0000

Rain and Piano

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:42:00 +0000

A week or so again when we were having a rash of lots of rain, I walked into the living room to this cute scene (though the scene I first saw but didn't catch on the camera was even cuter cause Aaron had his arm around Emma). Cute!! Aaron had opened the window and they were watching the rain through the window screne. I love rain!

Our little squirt can now reach the piano--she's so proud of herself! And, what a cute big brother :)

Soccer

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Chloe's soccer team
Aaron's soccer team

Haven't played much. . .been a lot of rain. . .hopefully will get to have practices AND a game this week! Here's hopin'

6 Years Old!!! & Camping!!

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Chloe's birthday breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and milk. We were going to bring it to her in bed. . .but she woke up before I had it all finished and then said she didn't want to eat it in bed--likes to keep it clean :)

Chloe's pink princess cake!! (she helped me make it)

Chloe and her cousin, Christian, with the pinata Chloe, Aaron and I made! Christian helped us get it all hooked up with a rope and ready to hit :)

Presents!!! (Aaron, Alexis, Natalee, and Chloe)

Yeah for our pop-up gazebo! Shade is a wonderful thing :)

We fit two airmattresses and a pack-n-play in that tent. We even had a little room to spare :)

Now, if only the wind hadn't blown so hard around 1 or 2:00am and woke Emma up. . .other than that, she was quite a good lil' camper :0)

Aaron and Emma--Chloe still asleep? (btw--Emma did not sleep with Aaron and Chloe--she was in her pack-n-play)

Ahh. . .they do love each other :)

Chloe gives her Uncle Cesar a big hug!!

Emma enjoyed some of the sights from her Pack-N-Play

Chloe and her cousin, Alexis, doing some fishing. (it was Aaron and Chloe's first time to fish--they enjoyed it, but didn't catch anything this time.)

Chloe and Aaron

Simon's sister, Sandra, her husband, Josh, Natalie & Chloe

Cesar, Vipha, Elijah--beautiful campgrouds!

*Simon's sister, Sandra, her husband, Josh, and their kids, Alexis and Christian, all camped overnight with us. It was fun. On Friday night we roasted marshmellows and ate smores. Chloe and Aaron were SOO excited to get sleep in a tent. The weather was perfect!! Not too cold (cold enough we had to bundle up for the night--but not freezing--nice and cozy), and definitely not to warm (well. . .not too warm until mid-morning on Saturday--it started to really warm up by the time we left). And, no rain !! Hip hip horray :) (since it's been raining almost nonstop for the last few weeks. . .)

*On Saturday the kids played at a fun little playground. Simon's brother, Cesar, his wife, Vipha, and their kids, Nick, Nate, & Natalee joined us for lunch and a birthday celebration for Chloe on Saturday.

Fun times!

"Do you need something for your breasts??"

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:26:00 +0000

What Aaron asked me rather loudly in Wal-Mart today as we were walking past the bras. . .maybe they shouldn't be visible from the aisles :)

And, when I gently ssshh'ed him, he whispered the same question to me. . .(followed by a smile)

Smiles. . .Happy

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:20:00 +0000

So, apparently in his class at church yesterday (Sunbeams), Aaron learned that when you smile it "makes people happy again." So. . .all day almost immediately after he got caught doing something he's not suppose to, he turned and looked at me with a huge grin on his face to "make me happy again." It's the cutest darn smile in the world. I will have to take a picture of him with the goofy grin on his face tomorrow and post it with this entry.

So, I think now he thinks it's okay to do something wrong as long as he smiles right after doing it. . .poor Emma, he's been sitting, hugging, etc. on her all day until she starts to complain about it and I say "Aaron" in my 'what are you doing--please leave her alone' voice and then he gets in Emma's face with a big smile and turns to look at me with that his big cheesy grin.

(hmm. . .maybe I can come up with yet another paragraph that starts with "So". . .)

Aaron's 1st Salon Haircut--a month or so ago

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:39:00 +0000

We love that Simon's sister, Sandra, is attending the Ogle School of Hair Design! It's great for the whole family :)

So far, my mom (Karma), Aaron, and I have gone to have our hair cut by her at the school's student salon. (Chloe has opted out because the only thing she wants is for her hair to be longer. . .it's pretty long already).

Aaron also, at first, asked for his hair to be longer and picked out a picture of a little girl with a bob when I asked him how he wanted his hair cut. But, thankfully, he changed his mind when I pointed out the picture of the little boy with a cute short haircut.

Anyway, below are pictures of Aaron's experience at the salon. He was quite the sport. He was in that chair getting his haircut for about 1 1/2 hours!

He was especially excited to get his hair washed! He had come with my mom and I a week earlier with the plans to get his hair cut, but we ran out of time (Sandra is very detail oriented/perfectionist and it took her a while to cut my hair and my mom's--Aaron was quite a sport and did pretty well being stuck at a salon watching us get our hair washed and cut for 3 hours!)

So, he and I came back about a week later for his cut--just the two of us. Good mommy and me time :) By the time we got home he was sound asleep in his carseat.

BYU OU Game @ new Cowboy's Stadium

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:34:00 +0000

Way fun game!! What a fantastic stadium!! Loved the humungous screen where they replayed EVERY play so I didn't miss a thing!!

(notice the sea of red. . .poor OU fans. What a disappointing loss for them.) What a fantastic, unexpected win for BYU!!! YOO HOO Go Cougars!! (fun cheering--felt like I was back in college again :)

My brother and his son and excited fans!

Our stadium neighbors

BYU Quarterback, Max Hall

My brother and his family from Arkansas, my sister from Mississippi and her family, my aunt from Florida, and my sister here in Texas all came! Fun times! Simon and I originally had offerred to babysit everyone's kiddoes while they went (not because we didn't want to go, just economical reasons), but then my sister and her husband here in Texas decided to give us their tickets (they've been stressed out by job searching, selling house, etc. etc. and decided to just go home and relax instead of going to the game). So, YOO HOO! We found a babysitter and got to g0 (and my sis did end up going too because my brother decided not to take his youngest son, so she got his ticket).

So, to make that long story a bit shorter, thanks to my fantastic sister (DeeAnn) and her great hubby (Dale), Simon and I got to attend the awesome game at the fabulous new stadium! :)

Asinine

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Okay, I was just watching the news. . .story about a speech on education that President Obama is apparently giving sometime soon to students across the country.

So, Plano school district (in north Texas) is planning to have the speech available to students on their website, but apparently due to numerous calls from concerned parents are not going to "interrupt" the school day to show the speech.

Is it just me, or does it seem simply asinine to anyone else that any person would be upset about the prospect of, heaven forbid, "interrupting" the great learning taking place during the school day to watch a speech from, oh, the president of the United States?

I don't care who the president is (Bush, Clinton, Carter, Nixon, etc. etc.) I would think that a speech from the President to the students is in and of itself educational (this coming from a former History teacher).

Please comment, I'm just curious what others think!

1st Day of Kindergarten

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:41:00 +0000

Here she is! All dressed and ready to go! This picture was taken on Monday. She's now got one week of kindergarten under her belt :) She loves it! Great teacher, friends from pre-k, new friends, recess, lunch, music class, etc. etc. fun times!

Sleep

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:26:00 +0000

Kids sure do go to sleep quicker when they've been playing outside during the day. . .didn't feel like cleaning up wet, dirty children today. . .I'm tired, not feeling great, so we stayed inside and watched too much t.v. . .but then children take longer to go to sleep at night. . .We did make it to storytime at the library, just not outside for running off energy. , . Did I mention my children take longer to get to sleep when they don't get to run around outside in the sun (and water--during these hot summer days)? Guess we'll be sure to go outiside tomorrow :)

I'm sleepy. Will update with more entries and photos one of these days. . .

I know this is a disjointed entry. just seems easier than writing complete sentences. i think i like it.

"Emma thinks I have a breast"

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Okay, just too funny not to share. In the mornings, Simon is usually up before I am and gets Emma when she gets up to bring her to me to nurse. I normally nurse her in bed (get a few more minutes of rest while she eats) and then get up.

Well, Aaron and Chloe also like to come climb in our bed in the mornings as well.

Anyway, Aaron had already come climbed in bed with me when Simon brought Emma in (about 6 or 6:30ish) and put her in between Aaron and I. First she turned to look at Aaron (not use to him being there when she comes in)with her big happy smile (she's such a Happy baby!!) and Aaron says to me, "Emma thinks I have a breast."

Kids are great.

Hi Beautiful!

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:57:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm on the computer the other day when I hear my oh so sweet 3 year old in is grandma LeVar's room using his favorite insult/cuss word, "dumb." Then I hear my mom tell him that he won't get to have any m&m's (a favorite treat for my kids that my mom keeps stocked in her room for when she needs to bribe them into submission. . .) if he's going to call her that. A silent pause ensues. . .then Aaron's honey sweet voice says, "Hi beautiful!"

hmm. . .

Parents and Kiddoes

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:51:00 +0000

Natalie and two of her babes (I think this picture makes my face look thin--or at least thinner than it really is--yeah for good picture angles :)

Simon and his girls.

Simon and his little boy (and top of baby girl's head. . .)

Anyone know a good plumber?

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:03:00 +0000

In response to a question about what happened with all this:

Well, we are still trying to get some competitive bids. . .another plumber came by to check it out and was suppose to get back with us a week ago and hasn't returned our calls. He thinks there is not enough of a slope to take the washing machine drainage pipe around the house (which is what needs to happen since the drainage pipe under the house is corroded--and there's really no good way to fix it) and was going to call the housing code office to see how much latitude he has in how deep the drainage pipes need to be so he could have enough of a slope for the water to drain well. But, he's never gotten back in touch with us. I'm beginning to think he doesn't want the job.

The kitchen sink and dishwasher are going to be re-routed through a bathroom that shares a wall with the kitchen. We'd like to at least go ahead and get that done, but this guy (who seemed to know what he was talking about and was somewhat reasonably priced--for a plumber) has not gotten back in touch with us since he was here.

Meanwhile, we have been able to use the kitchen sink, dishwasher, and washing machine, but because of that we have a nice little swimming pool on the side of our house from washing machine drainage and we know that under our kitchen we're just watering the ground since the bottom of the pipe is essentially nonexistent. . . Oh, and we also still have a nice 6 foot tunnel under the foundation which can't be good. . .(there is a pile of dirt next to the tunnel, not sure how easily it's going to be to get that back under the house and packed in correctly. . .)

So, in other words, it's still a mess. We basically paid about $1000 for the initial plumbers to dig a tunnel under our house, clean out a clog in the pipe, and determine the pipes were corroded and needed replacing. But, nothing has been fixed yet. . .grrrr. And, their price to fix it all was quite high. But, who know, we may end up having to use them anyway. . .still waiting to hear back from yet another plumber.

I'm sure many more details than were necessary, but hey this is for my posterity, right? So, lesson for my kiddoes, do not buy a house whose foundation was built before they began using PVC pipes for the plumbing. . .

"No Dumb-It"

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:05:00 +0000

"No Dumb-It," Aaron screams as he chases Chloe around the room. . . typical scene in the Guerrero household. (sigh) "Dumb" is Aaron's new favorite word/insult/frustration word, etc. We've had many conversations about name calling. Oh, well, one day it will sink in, right? Until then, I guess it could be worse. . .;)

Baby Food

simonatalie@att.net (natalie) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:36:00 +0000

So, my friend Olivia steams and purees veggies (i.e. butternut squash, green peas, green beans, etc.) and puts it in ice cube trays to freeze individual portions and then pours them into a large freezer bag. And, voila, individual baby food servings. What a fantastic idea!!! I started doing this and it’s GREAT! So far, I’ve only done frozen peas and fresh butternut squash. It has worked like a charm! I’m so excited about it!