Christmas this year was spent in Phoenix and Tucson. Nicolas, Bella and I flew out to Phoenix by ourselves. Nick had to stay and work. The flight was delayed 2 hours and then we sat on the runway for 45 minutes waiting to be deiced, but we finally made it off the ground to warmer weather. We landed in Phoenix and Sean, my Dad and Betsy were all there to greet us. Nicolas was so excited to see Grandpa Phoenix. He practically ran to the waiting area. We were dressed in very warm clothes so we began stripping in the airport. My Dad and Betsy had a birthday party for Bells. My Grandma, Uncle Rick, Sean and Brandi came over to help us celebrate. It was good to see my Grandma and Rick. My Grandma was entranced by the baby. Brandi had made some super good goodies for us all. Unfortunately, my Dad inhaled it all, but I managed to get a few bites before it was gone.
We headed down to Tucson on December 22nd first making a stop at Pop's house. He is my Grandfather thus being Nicolas and Isabella's Great-Grandfather. We had lunch with him, my Mom and Larry and then headed down to Tucson. It took us 4.5 hours to drive 100 miles. There was a 20 car pile up with 3 fatalities. It took us about an hour to drive 8 miles. The distance between one exit to the one where traffic was being detoured. Luckily I had my iphone! I was able to get on the map and see where traffic was backed up and see the back way to get to back to the freeway. At one point we were on a back highway at a dead stop in between two trucks. We couldn't see the tires on the truck in front of us because of all the dirt flying around. It was the worst dust storm I have EVER seen. We finally made it safe and sound thanks to Larry's safe driving. Bella was a trooper and thank goodness for the bag of Kix that was had in the car. I just kept feeding them to her and she just kept taking them. Whatever kept her happy I was doing it.
Tucson was relaxing and COLD. It wasn't -15, but it was still colder than I remember Tucson being. Nick spent lots of time seeing his brother and Nicolas enjoyed playing with his cousins. We went and saw Avatar, and went up to his Uncle and Aunts house in Oracle, AZ. All the cousins played and all the adults ate tamales and menudo. Isabella loved the menudo as the beans. She was passed around and even took a nap. Nick's Grandma hadn't seen Bella in person so she was very happy to finally meet her.
Christmas is always fun with kids and babies. Isabella got lots of fun toys and Nicolas got everything he asked for. He even got a bomber jacket made just for him from Uncle Matt. He is in the Air force. The jacket has a patch with Nicolas's name on it. Nicolas was so excited about that gift. It was very neat to see his face light up about something that wasn't a video game. Nicolas and Grandpa Larry iced the cookies that Grandma made. The recipe was Larry's Mothers. Lots of pressure for my Mom to try to bring the nostalgia back for Larry but I think she succeeded. Santa came and only took one bite out of his cookie and Rudolph took one bite. Isabella found the leftovers and she had to investigate. She took her first bite of sugar and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. We have a great video of her eating the cookies. She finished both cookies and even cleaned up the crumbs.
We celebrated Isabella's birthday on December 23rd with a song and a bib that said birthday girl. We had a party for her on December 28th, but I will post a separate blog for that adventure.
We all had a great relaxing time with lots of laughing with tears. I think the highlight of the entire trip was watching Hangover with my Mom. I don't know what was funnier, the movie or watching my Mom's reaction to the movie.
A big thank you to Phoenix and Tucson for letting us takeover your houses for our stay. We can't wait to get to San Diego to be able to see you all more often.

Changes are to come

"Two roads diverged in the middle of my life, I heard a wise man say, I for the road less traveled by and that's made the difference every night and everyday."
-Larry Norman

Take responsibility for what you have done, yet what if this problem was not self done. This man feels he must be an active member of his family. Yet he is scrutinized for taking a step back, reassessing his mental state, his family relationships with his son and his daughter and to rekindle his 11 year marriage between he and his wife. These two young kids have experienced so much together, have been through so much together and have accomplished so much. They are both still standing and standing together.
The husband asks his wife if she is disappointed in him. The wife looks into the eyes of the love of her life and she says, " you're my biggest inspiration in life. You have an incredible work ethic, an amazing drive to always be better, the desire to get people to want to become a team. You truly empathize with those needing it and you have more compassion at 32 than most people will have in a lifetime. You're an inspiration to me, an inspiration to all of your employees and more importantly your son idolizes you. You're great at HR but your also great at being a husband and a Dad. When you do something you go big or go home. You help others see the leader in themselves that they may had not seen otherwise. You're not done, this is just one more chapter that will be added to the book of Nick Mendibles and right now we are choosing the road less traveled. I wouldn't travel down this road with anyone else. I'm so proud of you Nick!

My Dad has arrived. He survived the flight from Phoenix and his flight was even on time. Nicolas was so excited to see him. We waited at least 10 minutes for him to come through the security area, but Nicolas sat there waiting for him. Bella wasn't quite sure about him at first but she has sweetly grown to adore him and smile for him. Nick has had a lot of time on his hands so......... he put up the Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. This is apparently a cardinal sin in this neighborhood. You don't put up the lights before Turkey Day. Tomorrow we are heading downtown to watch the lighting of the Christmas lights in downtown Chicago.
Pictures will follow!

Veterans Day

Today Nicolas wanted to call everyone that had been in the military and tell them thank you. It was all his idea, without any poking or prodding from me. He sure shocks me at the darnedest moments. He called his Uncle Matt, my Step-brother, and his Great-Grandfather. He was so sweet on the phone and wanted to make sure they both knew how thankful he was for all that they have and are doing. It seems as though we are raising a young man that is very caring, compassionate, and thankful.

Happy Halloween 09

Isabella had her first Halloween this year. We dressed her up as a flower. The outfit turned out to be a good fit because it was a very warm outfit with a warm head piece. Nicolas dressed up as a gauze ghoul this year. The only reason he really wanted to dress up as this was because the eyes lit up and he thought that would scare people. The problem that he didn't account for was in Elmhurst they only allow trick or treating from 3-7 pm. So he really only got one good hour of darkness for his eyes to glow. Bella had a great time handing candy out, although as you can see in the pictures more almost ended up in her mouth then in handed out to anyone. She would put the candy in her mouth, with the wrapper on, and then put it back in the candy bowl. She had fun and everyone that came to the door thought she was adorable; which of course she was.

10 month pictures

Isabella and Nicolas sat together to take pictures for her 10 month photo. She loves to have her picture taken she just wants to stare right at the camera while one is trying to take the picture. I can't believe how big she's gotten and how fast!

More Cute Pictures

These pictures of Miss Bella wearing Nicolas's beanie really show how much they look like each other. It's a little eerie. Nicolas loves to take pictures with Miss B and as you can tell Miss B looks straight at the camera and is ready for her close up when ever. Thanks Miss Shannon for the cute bows! I will download pictures of her 10 month photos next and then it will be the Halloween pictures. I hope you have a great Halloween. We are going to take Miss Isabella out for her first trick or treat and Nicolas said he would even grace us with his presence for at least the first hour and then he will go off with friends. Bella is going to be a flower although that isn't scary enough for Nicolas so he's changed her outfit to a Venus fly trap. Nicolas is downright scary, but I'm not sure what he is. It just looks scary.

Football Season is over

Nicolas played for the Elmhurst Eagles this year. It was his first year playing tackle football and he worked us until we finally said yes. It took about four years. The Midwest folks don't mes around when it comes to their football and so we entered the "football zone." Nicolas played a guard and was the kicker. He tackled the quarterback more times than anyone and he even had a few interceptions. He was very good at the defense aspect of the game. Isabella was of course his number one cheerleader although she will not ever be a cheerleader, but she was still there screaming for him. Becca, AKA Mary Poppins, made cute shirts for Bella and I to wear to the games. The eagles had a homecoming and the teams go around and toilet paper each others houses and then they leave yard markers so everyone knows who plays for the Eagles. Then the next morning we tailgate and go play hour homecoming game. It's like high school all over again, seriously. They had fun and that's what matters. Nicolas loved that he could tackle other kids and not get in trouble for doing it. He said he was saving his anger up for the games and would take it out on the other players. Hey whatever works! He hasn't had any problems at school since football started! Now that it's over I'm not sure what we will do.

Pumpkin patch

We went shopping for Nicolas and Bella's pumpkins and it was super cute. Nicolas kept pointing out that this was Bella's first Halloween. He wanted to make sure that she got as big a pumpkin as he did. I thought that was nice seeing how he is very competitive. Bella of course didn't get it all but she loved having her brother be there and help her. She loves him so much.

So much!!!!

Nick is having a hard time right now. I don't need to get into the details, but he needs some time to think about where his life and job are going. It is one of the most stressful things to just have to sit back and watch your husband suffer and really not be able to do anything beside listen. I listen to what he is feeling and reassure him that he is doing a great job. He is a greater critic on himself, more so then anyone else could be. He is feeling pressured to comeback sooner and this just makes him want to push back even more. He is a husband who is feeling guilty for traveling so much and not being here for his family. I am reassuring him that I am not going anywhere, nor are his children.
He needs to be okay with that though. He needs to feel comfortable leaving and knowing that we will be okay. This last year and a half as been a very STRESSFULL time for Nick. Not seeing his wife, his ten year old son and his 9 month old daughter has been a stress that Nick was not ready for. He was told he would have heavy traveling for 6 months and then it would slow down. I don't know if Nick would have taken this job if he had been told he would have to travel non-stop for a year and a half.
Kelly Clarkson's song is spot on for me. I wish I could save him! I wish I had been a little more aware of his feelings. I can tell how much this is killing him, but I feel stuck and unable to do anything for him, but just be here for him. I for once don't know the answer, I don't know what to say to him as to what he should do.
I love my husband more than anything and it truly is killing me to see him like this.
Hang in there my Nick, we will get through this.

Kelly Clarkson Save You Lyrics:

I can tell
I can tell how much
you hate thins
And deep down inside
You know it's killin' me
I can call
Wish you well
And try to change this
But nothing I can say
Would change anything
Where were my senses
I left them all behind
Why did I turn away Away

[Chorus]
I wish I could save you
I wish I could say to you
it's gonna be alright
it's gonna be alright

Didn't mean
didn't mean to
leave you stranded
Went away 'cause I
didn't want to face
the truth
Reachin' out
Reach for me empty handed
You don't know if I
care you're trying
to find the proof
There were ties I'd wonder
Could I have eased your pain
Why did I turn away Away

[Chorus]

It's gonna be alright
Save you
I wish I could save you

[Bridge]
We can pretend
nothing's changed
Pretend it's all the same
And there will be
no pain tonight

It's gonna be alright
it's gonna be alright
it's gonna be alright

Save you
I wish I could save you
I'm not going no where
I wish I could say to you
it's gonna be alright
it's gonna be alright
it's gonna be alright
Save you
I wish I could save you

It's gonna be alright

Chicago at it's best

Today we wanted to drive down to Chinatown. What we are used to is San Fran.'s Chinatown. That is not what we found. So I called Dori, a friend who's lived here her whole life, and she said we won't find anything here like San Fran. She did suggest cute neighborhoods. So off we went to the yuppie neighborhood called Lincoln Park. This is the same neighborhood that is next to Lincoln Park zoo. We had a great time and what a beautiful area. Lincoln Park zoo is free, they make their money on concessions, parking and knick-knacks.
We walked around the outdoor farm and Bella got to see rabbits, goats, pigs, and how to milk cows. Nicolas loved her reaction to all of the animals.
We then decided we were hungry so we were off to try to find a trendy restaurant in this very trendy neighborhood. I enjoy taking pictures and so I was taking pictures of so many different architectural homes, blooming flowers and of course Miss Bella and Nicolas. One man stopped me and said one house that I was photographing has been in many movies.
We finally made it to Pasta Palazo. It was a small but very crowded restaurant. Nicolas enjoyed his usual pasta with marinara sauce. Nick ordered the jalapeno gnocchi and I got the tortellini with some fancy sauce. It was all very good, but I couldn't really taste it. My mouth was really hurting, so I ate two bites and asked for a box for the rest.
The whole point of the trip was, we live in Chicago. We need to get out and experience this great place before we are gone. I can't believe that we live in Chicago. I mean really, two kids from Tucson, AZ now living in one of the best cities in the world. This is a great city for architecture , food, wine and anything that has to do with Oprah . What a great place for our family to live but even more, what a great place for Nicolas and Isabella to grow up. Nicolas has lived in many cool cities and I hope from each he will take something different and have memories for years to come.

Wisdom teeth MIA

Thank goodness I have finally gotten the last of my wisdom teeth out. The whole experience was anything but simple but needless to say it's over and hopefully I can have a few months of no more painful happenings.
What I did learn from this experience is I am so glad I did not live in the early 1800's. Good lord they just had a shot of alcohol and pulled the teeth out. Oh my I wouldn't have made it through that.
After I got out of the chair today my entire back was covered in sweat. I thought I would be going to sleep so when they tried for the second time to find a vein, and were unsuccessful, I had a panic attack. I already don't like going to the dentist so when I saw the dentist with a pair of pliers, I lost it. I went in on Wednesday for the first time and they tried over 15 times to find a vein and I decided I would come back again, after letting my arms rest, and see if they could find any. I went back today with warm packs on my arms. They again tried about 8 or 9 times but were still unsuccessful. The one nurse said she'd worked at this office for 18 years and has never had a patient where none of the doctors could find a vein. The good part of this experience was it ended up being cheaper because I didn't go under. So look, there's a positive in every situation I just have to look real hard sometimes.

Letter to God

Dear God,
I was just wondering if you were taking your friend Mother Theresa's quote a little to literal. "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Well by God, I ought to be the friggin strongest person. While I greatly appreciate the things I have been given I have given up many things to get them. I have had a hell of a year and 2009 just seems to keep getting more and more biblical. I am trying my hardest to look at the cup as half full, really. Yet I am tested everyday. Type one diabetes would have been enough in my opinion, but you threw in endometriosis and all 15 of those surgeries. You were kind in giving me my healthy little boy, but even that was a huge climb. I lost a little girl, but 4 years later I was given another. Again though I was almost killed giving birth to her. I was then almost killed by another Doc four months later. I wonder if getting in a car crash and totaling my Mom's car was supposed to have a higher meaning. Yes I was not killed and I didn't seriously hurt or kill anyone else. I needed one weekend, just one, to have no stress!!!!!! What part of that memo did you not receive? I am starting to feel better from that incident and now I get to have my two remaining wisdom teeth taken out. One is very infected.
I wish I could figure out the place you are setting me up to go or the goals you're wanting me to accomplish by always having something to overcome. At this point I'm getting a bit irritated and very jaded.
Please let your dear friend Mother Theresa know that I'm not dead yet but I'm sure not feeling stronger!
Your friend,
Errin

On the move

Isabella is moving all around. She is non-stop pulling herself around the house and getting into everything. Isabella is figuring out that she can open and look into hiding places. She loves the dog. Winston, the dog, is so patient with her. He sits by her and lets her pull his ears, tail and paws. He will nudge her away when he's had enough, but for the most part he loves to be touched. Isabella loves to check the mail and go through all the papers. Our mail comes through a door slot, so it drops onto the floor. This is right at Isabella level. So is so curious and it is amazing how every item in the house is something new, even if she had just touched it. Her mind is flowing daily. Everyday I am thankful to have a healthy and happy little girl as well as a happy, healthy and quite vocal ten year old boy.