It's a Girl

Another little Chiara female is on the way. Poor John is going to be surrounded by hormones, PMS and pedicures.

We are glad that she will be part of our family and look forward to seeing what spunky little personality is being sent to us this time.

Huge news

We have lots of life changes coming up, and it seems like we always lump 3-4 together just to make it more interesting.

1st-Maria is pregnant and the due date is May4th, which means baby will be delivered by C-section sometime in April. Poor girl has been ridiculously morning sick for 10 whole weeks. I've never seen anyone this sick this long, she has actually been losing weight. Hope she gets feeling better soon.

2nd-We are moving to Gainesville, Florida after Christmas this year.

3rd-John is transferring from Texas Tech to the University of Florida for his last 2 1/2 years of residency training in anesthesia. There has been some turmoil in his department in Lubbock and the opportunity arose to transfer to a great program with wonderful tradition and training in a sunny Florida. He is scheduled to start January 5th of 2010, so we have to get on the road as soon as work finishes in Texas.

Chiara Family Jewelry

For those that know Maria, it goes without saying that she and jewelry don't mix. The first gift I bought for her were gold hoop earrings that lasted about 2 weeks before one was lost. Her engagement ring made it at least 14 months before disappearing.

While on my mission I was given a piece of Brazilian lapis. I had it made into a ring and a necklace. Maria promptly lost the necklace, but I have worn the ring for the last 8 years. Today I was letting the girls play with my rings at church. I took Nadia outside and when I came in Anya was leaving the bathroom.

She looked upset and was talking pretty quickly. "Daddy I dropped your ring in the toilet." I told her it was OK, I would just fish it out of the toilet. "You can't I flushed it." I had to ask why Anya would flush the toilet with a ring in it, "I couldn't put my hand in that dirty water." Such an obvious answer. Maria even said that was the kind of thing she would have done. I couldn't be mad at her becuase it was an accident, I just didn't ever think that Maria's bad luck with jewelry would be an inherited trait.

Butterflies

Maria and I both remembered raising monarch butterflies as children. Lubbock, apparently, isn't home to monarchs or any other pretty butterflies. We had to go mail order. After placing the chrysalis' in the enclosure they came out pretty quickly. The girls couldn't have been more excited. Before church we let them release the butterflies and I was able to capture a few nice shots.

You know you are tired when....

Poor little thing fell asleep in a pretty awkward position. It was about five o'clock in the afternoon, and of course she really doesn't need a nap anymore. We didn't let her sleep too long because she would have been up all night.

Happy 5th

Anya's birthday was great. She had the Mad Scientist come and do a presentation, which she loved and then everybody headed out to the pool for an hour. The only problem was that the ever present West Texas wind made it impossible to light the candles. In the end we just imagined that they were lit and sang, and Anya blew them out anyway.

The girls did two rounds of swim lessons this summer and it was worth all the effort Maria put into getting the girls up and to the pool early for an entire month. Anya loved it and by the end was swimming freestyle and backstroke and diving to down 7 to 8 feet to retrieve stuff off the bottom of the pool and Nadia was jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side of the pool by herself.

The things kids say

I should have posted this the day it happened, but this is my first post on Maria's blog, better late than never.

On Veterans' Day we had stopped at United Market Street, the local supermarket, and when Maria and the girls left they stopped by a couple of Korean War era veterans who were selling little silk flowers to raise money for the American Legion.

When they got in the van Anya preceded to excitedly tell me about her little silk flower "Daddy, we got these flowers from the veterinarians!"

I only wish I could remember everything funny comment the girls had made, it is a shame that I haven't written more of them down.

Anya... 4th of July

They both loved watching the parade and the weather was beautiful. Even though I am not a citizen I find myself very patriotic. I love this country and the many things that it has to offer.

The founding fathers were inspired in all that they did. It is truly amazing when you look at all that was done to form this independent country.

Water area on the 4th

Anya Girl

Anya know her guns up!!!

Our Nani

John and Maria 4th of July

Hiking the Y

Hairy Kids @ Temple open house

We had a great visit to Utah and the kids had a lot of fun. We went to the temple open house and it was beautiful. I got to talk to the girls about the special spirit that can be felt in the temple and the kids were so good and reverent and asked questions that told me they were listening.

Bridal Veil Falls

Blisters

Nadia wore some shoes that gave her blisters, she had been moaning after that, that she couldn't walk "it hurts too much mummy" so I am carrying her all around. We get home bathe her and put some plasters(band-aids) on her feet. "THank you Daddy" replies. Slowly she gets to her feet, puts some weight on them and then looks up at us and smiles. "Look I can walk again!!! ..YAY" Thank heavens for the Bandaid Miracle

NZ trip

We played at the beach and did all the tourist things, While we were at the beach the girls got to see some people bring in a contiki and they got to hold the snapper and gernard that were caught. They loved it!!! we also built a fire and cooked fresh seafood on the fire. Nadia loves fish and Tuatua's (they are shellfish that are similar to mussels), anyways we had a great time.

Huka Falls in New Zealand

We had an amazing time back home and the weather was beautiful, I ate a ton and the kids just played and played. This falls is about 10 minutes from my house.

Sick Nadia

Nadia has been throwing up all over the place and so I gave her a bowl that she had to take with her everwhere around the house as I was sick of cleaning throw up.... I told her that it was (the bowl) to be her new bestfriend. She was walking around the house talking to her"new bestfriend"... Daddy..she said "have you met my bestfriend?" It was really funny she is also just in her panties as I had done so much laundry and it is easier to throw her in the bath if there are less clothes to take off.

Play action at the 7's Rugby

oh by the way she missed this one but made the next try

The girls had so much fun and we took so many photos that I just keep posting them.

Nadia basically watched her sister run the track, not really cheering her on more like jeering her... oh well they both can give as good as they get.

Kiwi Style

action at the 7"s Rugby

Digging and burying

7's Rugby Tourni

Rugby

So I am finally able to get to the real MEAT an Potatoes of the trip.. well thats how we would say it back home anyways..

We went out to San Diego to play in a touch rugby tourniment. It was awesome. We practise d before hand, and, the day even though it was cold ended up being fun. I am going to do some boasting here as we won the Co-ed section (yehaw!!!) of the tourniment and I was even MVP for the women...Not bad for an old lady huh..

So I am hooked, Nationals are in November. Now I have to save up so we can go, and get my butt into gear so that this time I don't hurt so much the next day..

Here are some

Pics from the day, we don't have to many as umm we were all kind of busy

Beach Time

We got to hangout at the beach with some friends from home and it was awesome I really needed to connect with home and they helped me get over my homesickness...

Anyway since there were others to take a photo, John and I finally got in a picture together.

Hanging with the seals

Visiting with Friends

Isn't she super cute!!!!

San Diego Temple

We had a wonderful vacation in San Diego, played at the beach everyday, got sun burnt and had a chance to have some quality family time... we drove out there which was interesting and I have found that the words "are we there yet" are words that I do not want to hear for a very long time...

All in all it was the best vacation that we have had ever and that is saying something. Mostly I think it was because we were all together and enjoyed being together.

Sleeping Beauties

Yes they actually fell asleep together. Anya had been in trouble and was upset so she jumped in bed with Nadia snuggled up and actually went to sleep. We went in to check on them and lo and behold there they were snoozing with their heads together....

It is times like this that I think ohhh you guys are so cute, go figure while I am typing this they are fighting.

Swim Team

Because Anya has a mass of hair we put a swim cap on her to go swimming. One of the lifeguards saw her and asked if she was on a swim team?. After we told her she was just 4 she kind of laughed and said maybe in a few years....try 3 to 4. Anyways Anya heard her and wants to be on a swim team, so here she is posing...

Super Ballerina's

The girls went to a super hero party, These were their last minute costumes and they loved it. They were both superballerina's. It is amazing what some tape, paper and crayons can make.

They also had spatulas as wands, because if you don't know Super ballerina's have magic powers,.