April Mendez News

Hey all. This month's post is going to be a pictorial quick post.

Spring came to Fairhope early, and so did the tulips. . .

Playing in Papa Joe's yard.

 And Mardi Gras! This is the afternoon parade in Perdido Beach.

And this is just a cute picture.

 And more cuteness.

And guess who we made this for!

Here we are at Arts & Crafts.

And our girls being our girls, we spent a lot of time at playgrounds.

Do you think someone is having a good time?

 (This is the look of pure joy that is so hard to capture on film!)

Here we are feeding the ducks. We had to climb on the bridge because the geese were freaking out Lily.

 At the Bay.

 The girls' new favorite thing to do is ride their bikes, so we did that a lot. And they have gotten so good on them!

 

At the bouncy house place. Another preschooler favorite.

And Mommy's favorite because it wears them out.

 We also went to the Gulf Shores Zoo. Don't ask me what Joel is doing here because I don't know. I really hope he wasn't feeding them the animal food because it looked like dog food. It certainly looks like it in this picture though!

Joel decided to kiss a donkey. Not sure what that was about.

And here we are on the "Bunny Train Ride" at Wales West.

 Aaah, the elusive perfect family picture, where we all look at the camera at the same time, with our eyes open, and smiling. As you can see, it didn't happen that day. (This was the best of the lot.)

 My sweetie.

 Finding Easter Eggs.

 Since we went on a Sunday afternoon, no one else was there. The conductor let Abby blow the whistle.

And just to end it all, here is the best picture of my two sweethearts.



So, Joel has left and is back in Afghanistan. The girls and I are trying to re-adapt back to "normal" life, and it's been quite rough on the girls (well, Mommy too. But I can deal.) They just miss their Daddy a bunch. We're trying to keep busy with my work, the girls' preschool, church, ballet for Abby, Easter preparations, and Lily's potty training. I've completely resorted to bribery, and when I've picked a good enough bribe, Lily agrees to use the potty. Otherwise she just refuses to go at all, which makes it really important that I pick a good bribe! So far, we've used M&Ms, ice cream, jelly beans, and painting her fingernails. Right now we're on Little Debbie cakes. Soon though, we'll be doing the hard core tossing all the pull-ups. I don't really look forward to that battle.

So, that's the Mendez news! I'm very sorry if I've not been good at getting back with you all, I'm attempting to get better at that!

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby, Lily

March Mendez News

No pictures this month. I forgot to get my camera fixed!

I don't really remember the month of February too much. Can you believe I had to go find my calendar to figure out what we did all month?

This month I've been trying to finish up the worst of the house stuff, so that it would finally look like a real house, as opposed to a storage locker we just happen to live in. I got a storage unit and took our extra stuff there, until Joel gets home and can help me go through it. That involved many many trips back and forth. We had a built-in bookcase built in the girls' room for all of their books. It's adorable. By the end of the month I got everything just the way I like it, which is good. Means we're ready for the next layer of renovation dust, right?

I also spent waaaaaaaaayyyyyy to much time organizing stuff for a baby consignment sale. Basically all of the girls' clothes that both of them have grown out of, and the maternity clothes. Didn't really make that much money, but almost everything that didn't sell I set up to be donated, so at least it's gone right? I'll have another load of stuff to get rid of. By the time we leave Alabama, we'll be so light on our weight limits! (If you're not in the Foreign Service world, that means we're only allowed a certain amount of weight each time we move. And the constant trick is to take everything you need, and yet stay under that number. And if you're doing good, to stay far enough under that number so you can "shop" wherever you might travel!)

The other main thing I've been doing is working nonstop. I worked with a business coach, and we decided my coaching website needs a complete overhaul. So I've been working on those plans, and studying up on SEO (search engine optimization) so I get better traffic going to my website. I know, I know, oh so exciting. Actually, I do find it really really interesting. Completely over my head, but interesting. Also working on other little things to make the business stuff easier and quicker - automating my monthly newsletter, re-setting up my work blog that sort of thing. I've also started two business partnerships. One guy is going to allow me to do guest blogs on his site that will promote my business and link back to my website. The other is http://www.trailingspouse.net/, where I am now kindof like the Podcast Program Director (fancy title, isn't it.) Basically this is a podcast that deals with the work issues of expat trailing spouses (that's anyone that follows the other spouses' job). So far, we're just gotten to the point where we're moving out of the planning stages, so it'll will be fun soon. Both of these are non-paid at the moment, but my hope is that they will start to drive more and more people back to my career coaching business.

(Told you it wasn't very exciting - to anyone that's not me, at least.)

And yes, just to add to the insanity, I started a new business. I'm now a consultant with Thirty-One Gifts. Yup, I'm nuts. But it's a great business opportunity and I really like the bags, purses, and organizational totes, so I just couldn't resist. I LOVE the stuff, and so far it's been a lot of fun. Didn't really need to add that "just one more thing" to my plate though, I admit it. Oh well. I need some fun.

The girls are doing really well. Abby goes to ballet weekly and loves it. She now wants to turn twelve because Ms. Gina told her she had to be twelve before she could dance "en pointe." She's growing like a weed, and I just had to buy her the next size of shoes. She's just gotten so tall (for Abby). Makes me miss my little baby. I said that to Abby, and she told me just go to the store and buy one!

Lily is in the middle of her terrible two stage and so far it's quite comical because her terrible twos are NOTHING compared to what we went through with Abby. You gotta love it when Lily's idea of defying me is taking her shoes off. Yeah, that's it. She will get all angry about something and take her shoes off. Then, if that doesn't get your attention, she will lay down on the floor in the middle of wherever you walk and act like a rock. Me ignoring her drives her bonkers, and is actually quite fun because it works.

On the other side, Lily is potty training at preschool! Oh my gosh, I am loving it! She's probably about 50% there, and would be further, but I'm not in the mood to push it and deal with it right now. After Joel leaves in April, I'll probably cave and start forcing the issue a little more if she hasn't done it all on her own by then.  She very rarely has accidents at school, and I've got my stash of M&Ms for rewards at home. But really, just two months in preschool and the teacher is telling me Lily's ready to go pull-up free! How awesome is that!

Joel is still working like a madman. His beard has grown in thick and dark and now looks like he should be in Fiddler on the Roof. He loves the work, but I'm not sure when he ever sleeps.

So that was our fun month of February. I know, it really was a month of drudgery, but needed to have one of those so March could be better. Now, March is gonna be FUN. Mardi Gras, Spring is on its way, Joel comes home just in time for the Arts & Crafts Festival, and I've got a long list of fun activities for the family to do while he's here. So, up until then, I'm gonna toil away, so we can all relax for the three weeks he's around.

Talk to you all soon.

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby and Lily

February Update

January was a quiet month (well, as quiet as our house ever gets) for us. Mainly I focused on nonstop unpacking, and the remodelling of our new place. Mountains and mountains and mountains of boxes are gone, I donated and purged tons and tons of stuff. The renovations this month focus on places to put things away - a built-in bookcase, a built-in closet for the master bedroom, and fixing up the other closets so they were usable. Oh wow, does the house look so much better. We've still got a ways to go, another built-in bookcase for the girls' room, the bathrooms, and the kitchen. But it's livable and functional at the moment, which makes this one happy and tired mommy.

Oh, and hauling those boxes and that stuff up and down our three flights of stairs? I was down about seven pounds at the end of January. Go ME! Can't wait to get rid of the rest of the baby weight!

The girls started a new preschool. Yes, I finally got both girls into preschool, the same preschool and they are having a blast. Lily took to it right away, and gosh darn it if her teachers don't have her halfway potty-trained after only a month? I am LOVING that. Of course, she still refuses to use the potty for me, little bugger. Oh well, we'll deal with that later.

Joel is doing fine, by the way. He's working a million zillion hours and has GROWN A BEARD. The dude has gone totally native on me. We try to Skype as much as possible, but the time change makes it pretty difficult. I sent Joel tons of stuff to throw a Mardi Gras party at his base (part of his job is morale) and he's now requesting St. Paddy's stuff and he wants to make green beer. I might have created a party planning monster!

My big camera started acting wonky at Christmas and I've yet to get it fixed. So here are some random pictures from my camera phone this month.

Here we are at the bouncy house place nearby. The red blur inside is Abby, happy as a clam.

Here is Lily's new found "I'm acting like a two-year-old" pouty face. Dish it out, honey, I'm bigger than you are.

Oh, and three seconds later, here is her "I am the sweetest and most adorable thing in the world" face. Gotta love 2-year-olds and their mood swings.

We love pizza, by the way.

Here are pictures of Abby's ballet class. I've taken to sitting outside in the waiting room since Lily's at school now. (Before she'd throw a fit because she wanted to go dance too, so I would always leave.) The blur with ponytails is Abby.

And here we are on our new bikes at Papa and Nana's house. The girls LOVE their bikes and the nice long driveway at Papa and Nana's. I can't wait until the weather gets better.

Abby's road rage face - she's screaming "Get out of my way!" and ringing her bell.

And then, her "charm" face. We're in such trouble when she's older.

Finally, at the end of the month, Abby had tubes put into her ears and her adenoids out. The nurse talked me into taking this picture. Abby was floating high as a kite at the time (right before they took her in) and asking the most random silly questions. Like "Why is the letter R the letter R?" She was quite irritated and um, "opinionated" afterwards, though. (We're talking major DIVA here.) "Get this gown off me, it's ugly. This hat is ugly. I don't want a orange Popsicle, I want a red one." That sort of thing. She's doing fine now though, back to school and everything.

Coming up in February is another month of nonstop work work work for me. I've gotten my desk set up and my computer set up (hence, why this blog post is late again) and I am attempting to get back to work. Gotta help out paying for all that reno, you know. The girls are being their preschooler selves, and I'm about to go buy earplugs. We are counting down the days until Joel comes home in March, and hoping to get the house looking nice before he gets here.

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby, and Lily

January Mendez News

My apologies, I have no idea why some of my pictures are loading sideways. I can't seem to make them do what I want to today.

Our December started with Joel leaving Alabama and on his way to Afghanistan. Something we've been preparing for for over a year, and yet not something you're ever ready for.

So, my way of coping? Keeping us as busy as humanly possible.

The good news is all of the Christmas activities made that VERY easy to do, LOL.

First, here I am with one of my little human blurs. Abby moves so fast, not even a camera can catch her, LOL.

So, we started out meeting Santa at the Fairhope Public Library and getting our picture with him. This is the real Santa, who also just happens to have a condo on the bay, across the street from my aunt. So in addition to there being hardly anyone there, we got lots of extra attention and time. This was fabulous because it gave Lily plenty of time to really think about it and warm up to the Guy in Red.

Not many of the pictures came out that well, but this one turned out pretty well.

Here is Lily showing Santa a picture she drew for him.

And here we went to the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Fairhope. Now for you non-locals, this is not where they light a Christmas tree. No, they literally light up ALL the trees lining the streets of the downtown area. Over a million lights this year. It is really gorgeous. And they leave it up through Mardi Gras. It's one of my favorite things about Fairhope.

Now the ceremony is kind of lame, I will admit. But the girls were fascinated.
The Fairhope High School Band playing - (go Bucanneers!)

And the Dogwood Trail Pageant court in attendance. Now this is REALLY what the girls were into. They are famous for their perfect curtsey. (Yes, you yankees. We Southerners take silly things like this very seriously, haha.) Anyway, Abby loves those dresses and has been practicing her curtseys ever since.

Lily fell in love with candy canes.

And here we are at the Christmas Parade. What a fabulously fun cheese-y small town event. I think every single Boy Scout troop, church and civic organization had a float. And of course Santa came in on the fire truck at the end.

Here are Abby and Lily showing off their stash.

And Abby, well, being Abby.

My mom and dad joined us on a Christmas train ride to the "North Pole." It was a little dorky, but exactly right for the preschool crowd. It's a 20 minute train ride to see the lights with a stop at the North Pole to see Santa and get a present (a little wooden train to decorate) with a gingerbread cookie and hot chocoloate at the end.

Abby told Santa she wanted a bike and a ballerina doll. Thank goodnesss "Santa" had already picked those out for her.

This Santa Lily wasn't too sure about.

Nana and Papa Joe really should get this thing for their yard.

And here is Abby at her school's Christmas pageant. After the ornate extravaganzas in Chile, I wasn't really impressed with this one. Abby wasn't either. She was obviously bored and goofed off the entire time. She and her angel posse spent most of the forty minutes talking to the shepards sitting in front of them. I really wish they had told me not to put that big bow on her head, but at least it made her easy to find.

Halfway in the middle of the month, in the middle of all these festivities, the girls and I moved into our partially finished, partially unpacked house. I got just enough unpacked so we use the kitchen and put up the tree in the living room.

Here we are making Gingerbread Men in our new house. I LOVE AMERICA. Why? Because here you can go buy a little tub of pre-made gingerbread cookie dough. In Chile, we had to make that from scratch.

And here was our very quick, thrown together shoot for our Christmas pictures. This one was actually done in our church parking lot!

And that was our December. I rang in the New Year by falling asleep by 8pm with the girls, and then spending New Year's Day cleaning and unpacking some more. Yep, that's me. Party Animal.

We talk to Joel via Skype often, and he is doing well, though working long hours. He says it's like drinking from a firehose.

Love to all,

Joel, Julie, Abby, and Lily

Mendez Christmas

My apologies, I have no idea why some of my pictures are loading sideways. I can't seem to make them do what I want to today.
Here are pictures of Christmas.

Santa ate our cookies! (These we bought, just didn't have time to make them this year.)

Here is the stash once Santa got done with it.

The girls got bikes!

Riding the bikes down the hallway of our townhouse.

And our not-so-little playhouse. The cool thing is that the girls can color the house.

Barbies were also a big hit. (Barbie mermaids.)

And here is the after-effects once the girls were done.

They got toy cell phones in their stocking. A huge hit!

Posing with presents!

Our Christmas dinner with Nana and Papa Joe!

And dessert was cupcakes to celebrate Baby Jesus' birthday. Both girls got to blow out a candle, which made them happy. I was also required to get balloons and noisemakers, because Abby informed me that it couldn't be a birthday party without balloons and noisemakers.

That was our Christmas! Hope you enjoyed it!

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby, and Lily