HAPPY ONE YEAR!

WE HAVE OFFICIALLY LIVED IN UTAH FOR ONE YEAR NOW. I have mixed emotions about it. It was SO HARD to leave Maryland. I had the greatest friends, church, job, students, town and most of all, we were close to my stepson. I started my life out there. It's where I was married, where I had my babies, where I started teaching again and where I purchased 2 vehicles with my husband for the first time. That was our first investment together. I had the greatest support system. Our Ward was amazing. My whole perspective on the LDS Church changed. My whole life changed in Maryland. I was cushy and comfortable, despite the trials and not being closer to my family geographically. So, why the heck the big move to Utah? Well, with alot of pondering, planning and prayer (the 3 p's), we felt it was in the best interest of our family to move out here for a little while, so we can achieve the 'American Dream'. We wanted to buy a home. We wanted to be closer to my family so my kids could develop closer relationships with them. My mom and dad were unable to watch their grandkids grow. I wanted them and my kids to have that opportunity. My family missed us. We wanted the family support. We wanted a house to own. And we wanted a change for future growth. We went through heck at first with our decision. The big move was hard and by the time we hit Utah, I was very depressed. I was weepy and sad the first few weeks. I missed Mater ( my stepson), I missed my little apartment, I missed my friends, and my Ward(church). Well, we stuck through it and within a month, I had a teaching job and Boricua was working again. We started house hunting and put an offer in the first house we looked at by December. And here we are today, one year later. We've experienced alot and have had many ups and downs. It's been wonderful having my family around and getting closer to them once again. Of course it's GREAT owning a home. I LOVE my little gingerbread house. I love every part of it, except the neighborhood. There's rough areas around here and it being an older area, we have an ally out back and it's totally ghetto. BUT, we lucked out having a nice Ward(church). It's diverse and there's a good amount of converts. The converts really inspire me becuase they've seen and experience both ends of the spectrum in life. So, they're generally more understanding of people's situations and ideals. I really like that and wish it filtered throughout the entire World. It's been a BLAST decorating and doing what I want to my house. It's nice having a monthly mortgage that's cheaper than renting a 2 bedroom apartment out East. And most importantly, it's nice to call my mom, dad or sister and they can comeover within minutes.
We did have a few setbacks. Boricua had to suffer a pay cut. I've recently had to stop working because of my health. It's taken a HUGE toll on us financially. I had to get Emergency surgury. My brother in law was in trouble with the law and needed to leave the East Coast. We let him into our home day after moving in and he stuck around for 4 months. Its was a huge challenge. It was a great learning lesson for me and helped me to realize what to do and not do when my boys grow up into teenagers. Within a year, we've only been able to see Mater for 3 days total. He wasn't able to come out this Summer because his mom didn't want him to. Although he was supposed to, he didn't. That was discouraging.
So, all in all, it's been quite an experience. We will be here for another 2 years. Then we will sell our home and move again. I'm hoping it'll be back to Maryland!
Here's to ONE YEAR IN UTARDED!

My multi-dimensional DAD

I feel I need to post a brief summary of a man I know as my dad. He is the most gifted, unique and multi-dimensional person I know. OFten times people are intimidated with his large vocabulary and ecentricities. He's a radical thinker and only the few can understand his complex cognitive levels. He is extremely spiritual and feels a oneness with a higher Entity. He writes, drawes, reads and has always been an avid biciclist. His artwork is truely a gift and it's astoundingly amazing ans surreal. He's written a text book type thesis on Cognitive Conseptual Mapping, that he did all on his own. He first thought it was a breakthrough to Cogntive Behavorial Therepy, but then, to his dismay, found out from his older brother, it's already been discovered. Only a noted Genius has been able to achieve that.
I'm so happy to say he's my papa. I remember the lessons taught growing up. I learned the meaning of retaliation. I learned what assertiveness, aggressiveness and passive aggressiveness was and it's distinctions by the time I was 8 years old. I also learned the destructiveness of Triangular Communication and what being dysfunctional is.
Amiss the great blessings mu dad has, he's suffered great tribulations. In 1987, on his way home from a bicycle race, he was struck by a driver who was legally blind. He suffered severe Brain Trauma, a badly broken neck and other life threatening wounds. He was not even a centimeter of a miracle to becoming a Quadropolegic. And all of this going on, my mom had 4 little kids, a dance studio and full time school to juggle. My dad spent months in a Rehabilitation Hospital. He could no longer work, barely speak and his dreams were shattered.
As the years went on, he struggled. My mom struggled but yet still kept her business alive and never neglected our needs and wants as children. My dad became Mr Mom. He made our dinner and tucked us into bed at night. There was never a night without our family coming together for prayer. Never a moment we were not learning something or reading something.
LAter on, my dad went back to school and obtained his Masters Degree. He then decided to do part time work as an Anger Management and Substance Abuse Counseler. With his disability, he is never allowed to work over 20 hours in a week. With that, he's focused on his gifts. He's putting out several pieces of his art and turning a youtube video into a visual art. He writes alot and has a 4 inch thick binder of notes about the Brain. He's an avid studier of the Bible. He has a strong conviction of there being a Jesus Christ who is our Savior. And still, he has the time to goof off and act like a boy.
My dad is A brilliant man.
PLEASE watch his work at You tube. CALLED RANDXERO.

Reeeeeeeeeee-CAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!

GOSH! I've been really horrible with keeping on the blog train! Who reads it anyway??!! I guess I only have time for Facebook and that's it. I've been sick too! Go figure! I'm always getting sick! I developed a sinus infection from a nasty flu/cold bug. It lasted for 2 weeks! Ugh, and I'm still to grip with this whole surgery thing! Ever since I had my abdomen pulled, tucked, cut and stitched, I've had chronic nausea and heartburn!! Is that normal?? I'm still having gas issues! It's quite annoying; I'll admit. Should I give you the V Fam run down??!!
Okay, if you insist...
*Prince is doing awesome is school and he loves it. Coinsidently, his teacher is from Maryland! Funny eh??!
*BRAIN FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRttttt haha.
*I'm not working rightnow! I need to focus on getting better before making any other extra commitments!
*I started dancing again!!!! And start performing again soon too! YEAH!
*I'm going back to school this Winter!!!
*I've gained 10 pounds...do you love it??!! haha. Thanks to post surgery madness. I'll lose it soon.
*Wise is ALMOST potty-trained! We're almost done with diapers in the V Fam house! YESSSSSS!!

His first day!

Yes, Prince had his first day of Preschool in Tuesday! We was so excited! He showered, dressed and fed himself. Despite his goofing off with little brother, he was rearin' to go!
And what an eventful first day it was! Right when he got there, he washed his hands so the 'home germs' would stay at home, found his name tag and traced over it for name writing practice and recognition(they do that every time. What a great idea, eh?). He istantly delved into the trains and happily played til class started. The first day was shapes and colors. He had alot of fun! He made a fruit loop necklace, an 'i spy' shape and color finder( a toilet paper roll w/shaped glued onto it) and he made a special picture that said; 'A mouse lives in the BLUE house'. He then played outside with sidewalk chalk and in a playhouse. When I picked him up, I've never seen a cuter face than that very moment!
It was pure bliss!!
He's so happy to be in preschool!