CoNnOr TuRnS 16 tOdAy...

The night before last...actually I guess it was morning...I woke up at 2 am & could not get back to sleep for about an hour, then I woke up again at 4 am! Since going off of caffeine I have been sleeping really well, so I was pretty frustrated that I kept waking up. As I was laying there wishing I was asleep, I realized that 16 years ago I'd had a pretty restless night too! I was very uncomfortable & couldn't fall asleep...at 2 am when I woke up because I was wet, without realizing why, I changed & went back to bed. When I woke up an hour later because I was wet again a light-bulb went off! My water had broke! I remember thinking, "but if this baby is as tired as I am, he wants more sleep" then going back to bed. I slept for a few more hours before going to the hospital. After a lecture about not coming right in, a long day & night of labor began! At 2 am Connor Thomas Escamilla was born!

(Our first family picture - Connor's 2 days old)

So, to celebrate Connor's 16th birthday, I've created a list of my 16 favorite things about Connor.

1) Connor is a hugger...I love Connor's hugs!
2) I love that Connor has such a quick wit & good sense of humor.
3) I'm proud that he honors his Priesthood.
4) Connor is a very good cook.
5) He writes really good poetry & short stories, and has even had a couple published.
6) Connor has always been very artistic.
7) I love that he enjoys reading SO much!
8) As much as I hate to admit he's taller than me, I love that he can reach the high stuff for me.
9) Learning is easy for Connor, especially when it's a subject he enjoys.
10) I love that Connor can help me with my math!
11) Connor is one of my favorite people!
12) He is a good big brother.
13) Connor is a hard worker & very helpful around the house with some of our big projects.
14) He is a good leader & follows through with his responsibilities.
15) Connor is full of little known facts & has one for about any situation.
16) He loves the gospel & is proud to be a Mormon.

Happy Birthday Connor!

Just call me the homework nazi!

I don't get it! Is not doing homework a guy thing! I don't ever remember my mother being on my case to get my homework done. Nor do I remember doing the homework, but not turning it in...what's up with that?!

Making Lemonade!

So...on November 13th as I was getting out of the car after getting home from work, Eli came dashing out to greet me! In my mind I was thinking, "oh cute, he's excited I'm home" but alas, I was wrong. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he was glad I was home, but the reason he was meeting me at the car was he had bad news he didn't want to discuss in front of the boys...He had been laid off from the school where he was teaching.

Luckily, about a week before this, he had taken a part-time job at WalMart, working evenings in the Dairy section. At the time that he was inspired to apply it was going to be extra money for Christmas & paying off some debt we incurred while he was in school...thank heavens for that still small voice that we sometimes think is our own good ideas! We actually didn't tell many people at first, because we aren't the only ones affected by this economy & although things have been a bit tight for us, we've been okay.

So why am I writing about it now? Well, earlier tonight I was counting my blessings and realize that some of them are because Eli was laid off!

I am thankful for a messy house...because it means Tanner has had friends over. After Eli was laid off, we transfered Tanner to our neighborhood school. It has been a wonderful move for him, for the first time in a long time Tanner has made some really good friends!

I am thankful for a tight budget...because it means we aren't spending our money foolishly & we are more appreciative of the things we have.

I am thankful to be tired at the end of the day...because it means I had to get up early enough to take Connor to early-morning seminary. There have been many mornings, when after snoozing my alarm too many times, Connor comes to remind me that he can not miss Seminary. I am SO glad that he enjoys studying the gospel!

I am thankful for sore feet...because it means I was able to go walking with my friend before work.

I am thankful for a pile of work on my desk...because it means I will be busy! I love my job and feel so good at the end of the day to be able to see what I have accomplished.

I am thankful for static on the radio...because it makes me turn it off & gives me the peace necessary to hear the promptings of the Holy Ghost to call a friend, not knowing that she had just had a lousy day and needed cheering up!

I am thankful to have a sink full of dishes...because it means my growing boys are getting plenty to eat...not to mention the fact that they are the ones that get to wash them!

And believe it or not, I am thankful for traffic & stop lights...because they teach me patience. Some times it's just not worth stressing about getting stuck at every red light or getting mad at another driver...because in the end you always get where you were going, but if you let those things bother you, you just end up in a bad mood & can't enjoy the things going on around you!

Yes, right now there are many lemons in my life...but I choose to make lemonade!

May 10, 1991...More strolling down Memory Lane!

Life has been pretty boring lately, & I've been wishing I had something for my blog. The last time my Life Story group got together the topic was our wedding day, so I've decided to post what I wrote.

Where’s Sem…

It’s a good thing Eli & I both have a sense of humor, considering the comedy of errors that we call our wedding day!

It all started at 2 am, when we rang the doorbell of the temple apartment that my mom had reserved for Eli’s parents, so they could spend the week prior to our wedding doing temple work. Imagine our surprise when a stranger opened the door…I guess he was pretty surprised too! Not knowing where to find Eli’s parents, we both went to the room my parents had reserved for our family. When we arrived at the room there was already a crowd, due to the fact that not only had my parents decided to invite Guinevere & Evan to spend the night with us, but Suzy & Brent decided to spend the night also! The apartment had only two hide-a-bed couches, but somehow we found a place for everyone to sleep. Poor Eli spent the night before his wedding sleeping on the floor! Come to find out, earlier in the week there was construction going on next-door to the apartment his parents should have been in, so they had been given another room.

So much for not letting the groom to see the bride before the wedding!

We found Eli’s parents the next morning & all walked over to the temple together. As we entered, some very friendly temple workers greeted us & I was rushed off to the Bride’s room, along with my mother & mother-in-law. I assumed Eli had been rushed off to the “groom’s” room with the two dads…Imagine my surprise as Eli & I were brought into the Sealing room & Eli’s father was not present!

Eli’s father, who does not understand English very well, had been lost in the hustle at the front door & had been lead in to a regular temple session. This was before the temples were computerized, so a very helpful temple worker had to go check all the sessions in progress looking Sem, my soon to be father-in-law.

While we were waiting for Sem to be located & brought to the Sealing room, we learned that the Sealer performing our ceremony had been the mission president of a Spanish-speaking mission and was able to translate the ceremony for my father-in-law.

What a wonderful blessing for my father-in-law who had been lost & confused to be able to understand the sacred ceremony being preformed that day.

Sem, Maria, Eli, Me, Mom & Dad

Pictured L-R: Dad's side, Eli sleeping, Brent & Suzy in the corner on the floor, Evan, Me & Guinevere.

A Few more fun photos from the day...

What a beautiful bride? ...poor Claire was SO sick!

Eli being silly...

Monkeying around... Suzy, Me & Lori Harper

Getting ready for the kissing pic...

...we couldn't keep a straight face & ended up laughing instead of kissing!

And the car...does anyone know who these kids belong too!

Joseph, what's that behind your back...

Done...just done!

...we had grass clipping coming out of the air conditioner for months!

Memory Lane

This year we had Christmas dinner with Eli's sister Maria, her family, Grandma Escamilla & Uncle Dennis. It's been a while since we've seen some of Maria kids and their families, so it was a lot of fun...the boys even got to spend the night & "hang out" playing games with their cousins.

When I went to pick them up in the morning after their "sleepover" Maria and some of the kids started remembering when the boys were younger & we started reminiscing about days gone by...so when the boys and I arrived back home, I got out some old photos & sort of took a walk down Memory Lane. What fun to look back and "remember when..."

As I was looking through the old photos I got the "bright" idea to create a slideshow of the boys through the years.


It was a lot of fun putting together, but I noticed there are gaps in the photos, so I decided one of my New Year's resolutions will be to be better about taking pictures & getting the film developed that I have sitting in a drawer...no more gaps!

My first attempt at digital scrapbooking...

Tis the Season

I received a Christmas Edition of one of those "getting to know you" emails from my cousin Kerry the other day, but figured that instead of sending the answers out in an email I post them to my blog.
It was kind of fun filling in the answers.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas...a few times after everyone leaves on Christmas day!

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Chrissy doll...you could push a button to make her hair long or short

7. Hardest person to buy for? Dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? Eli & the boys

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...I collect them

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I always buy them with good intentions, but don't always get them mailed...hopefully this year they go out tomorrow!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? An UGLY necklace from a guy I was dating at the time!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping? It doesn't matter...I'm still shopping on Christmas eve...even when I start early!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Well.......a lot of the creams & candles I got from students when I worked at Challenger made good last minute gifts!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All the goodies...especially Fudge!

16. Lights on the tree? Definitely...as many as possible!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Christmas Island

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We always talk about going somewhere "next" year...but something usually happens to change our plans!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes...Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzn & Rudolph

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel...but not one of those ugly plastic ones with the lights under the skirt!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Only one on Christmas eve...funny how it always turns out to be new jammies!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Icy roads & stupid drivers...I love the shopping & the crowds!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My mother gave Eli & I a beautiful "Our First Christmas" ornament for our first Christmas which started our tradition of adding a special ornament each year that represents the year for us...my favorites are the Surfing Santa from our California Christmas & the firetruck from the year of the fire!

24. Favorite at Christmas dinner? Mashed potatoes & homemade rolls

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new digital camera would be nice

So now for those of you with the time & inclination lets see your answers on your blogs...