Sunday, July 19, 2009

Amidst all the stress there is still light at the end of the tunnel. Nooo not that light...

This weekend was a productive one. There's lots to be done at the house, but oddly enough it's the kind of work that makes me feel that I'm in control again. Too many things have been happening that has made me edgy and confrontational. Cross me the wrong way I was likely to get in your face and start smacking you around. I'm not talking about my family : )

This weekend was a project weekend. Fix the electrical wiring on the dishwasher, put the aquarium back together, clear out my old clothes (who am I kidding? They're too small now!), and general cleaning which managed to do alot of - I was just finishing the last touches. For weeks I've been resodding the front lawn and both cars got a much needed cleaning. El cleared out stuff waiting for a pickup out of our garage so we reclaimed that space. Carpets were steamed, computers were back online. More things to check off the mental laundry list. It felt good. Oh and I made El very happy by working on a new dish she loved. So much, in fact, she asked me to make it again Sunday night as well - spicy shrimp & grits. A twist of a southern dish and Vickery's Seaffod Saute with an asian twist. A little smoked paprika, siracha, creamy slow cooked grits and sweet white shrimp...mmm.

And just like paid tv advertising I can blurt out "BUT WAIT! There's more!" I got a call last week that certainly lifted my spirits. Another project I've been "working" on that also solves one of my biggest headaches. That story will play out soon enough. Slowly, but surely, our lives will straighten out the messes and we can get back to being a normal family again.

As we sipped on a beer after a long, hard weekend El and I relaxed in our family room with the lights out listening to some music and watching the fish in the newly stocked and cleaned tank. I can only think of the day's events with the kids. Those two knuckleheads only make me smile. Sure I get mad sometimes, but I love them. Nico Boy's smile and twinkling eyes makes me laugh, especially when he stands at his crib in the morning to greet me. His new learned thing is to wave at you and say in his quiet, husky voice "hiiiii"! His mother gave him a new nickname, "Killik Boy". The name has stuck and my parents have adopted it as well for him. In our weird filipino family slang language it roughly means "He Who Wants You To Carry Him Everywhere".

His big sister loves to goad him into screaming matches with her. Isabella's vocabulary has expanded greatly. Her baby talk is almost completely gone now. She surprised me this weekend when I was upset with her for being too rough with Nicholas. She looked at me later and said "I'm sorry you're mad at me, daddy". She then hugged my leg and kissed me. Then she kissed her brother and gave him a big hug and said "I'm sorry Nicholas". How could I be angry with THAT???

Later on she realized her beloved bunny was missing and accusingly said " Daddy did you take bunny? DID YOU???" Yes I did. He was being washed and I pulled him out of dryer to give to her. She squealed happily, kissed him on the nose and promptly flipped him over and asked me "Is this bunny's butt"? Hahaha! What a clown.

I feel pretty good.

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