This is what I did..and I CAN DO IT AGAIN!

3-Day Intro Video from Komen 3-Day for the Cure on Vimeo.

Well, it is official my sister and are both doing the 3-day walk again. If you are reading this post that means that you have been to my blog before but if you are new I invite you to watch the video above to see what the 3-day is all about.

But this year it will be about so much more...in the last couple of months since returning from the 3-day in Tampa my Aunt Ine and my father have both been diagnosed with breast cancer. They are in the initial stages of the fight, but this year I walk for them. My hope is that they are both there happy and healthy at the finish line when Moqui and I finish the 60-miles.

My father's diagnosis in the family has pushed my sister and I do be diligent in our checks and investigate whether we have the breast cancer gene or not. My father, his sister and his mother all had breast cancer and with a family history like that chances are high. But Moqui and I are doing the check-ups and tests and we will be ok. So many strides have already been made with this disease. Early detection and screening for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are one of the many advancements. If we do have one of these breast cancer markers in our genes, we can take steps to prevent from ever getting breast cancer. This is amazing...and all this was accomplished with funds for research....coming from donations, just like the donations I will receive from friends and family like you.

Well, as I take my tests and do my screening I will try to keep you updated and let you know how things are going...but I urge all women AND MEN out there to ask questions and do all the proper screening.

Lastly, I will leave you with this link. Please if you want to do something to kick breast cancer's butt the first step is making a donation. This year we want to double what we raised last year, but we need your help.

You can always just use the icon on the right side of this blog.

THANK YOU!

Wild Life...another Animated Short Film

Here is Wild Life, another one of the Animated Short Films nominated in this year's Oscars. These little short films always fascinate me with their beauty and mostly just for their pure imagination...and then I think how many other wonderful little films are there out there. These are odd little beautiful creations that make me feel like I am in the middle of someone's dream. Watch this film and you will see what I mean...Enjoy!

Best Short Film (Animated)...One of the Nominees

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a beautiful film that during this age of e-readers I think we can all appreciate. Well, it is about 15 minutes, so grab a glass of wine and get ready to escape into the "pages" of this animated film.

I will keep posting all of the short films that I find online.

Countdown to the Oscars...

(click on the image to see it larger)

Okay, I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to the Oscars and when they announce the nominees I move heaven and earth to try and see all of the movies on that list in every category...doesn't always happen but I have fun trying. Living in La Paz brings many challenges to watching these movies, but I buy pirated movies, download from the internet and watch anything I possibly can at the movies before February 26th, actually Mozambique wasn't any easier.

Here (photo above) you can see what I have seen so far and on the agenda tonight when the kids go to sleep is War Horse and Tree of Life...

Who doesn't love the movies? Who would like to join me in this challenge then we can have a virtual competition the night of the Oscars to see who was right and who was WRONG...maybe we can make it interesting by betting for charities....just an idea. Will have to expand more later.

Right now I am off to the movies to watch Puss in Boots...hey, guess what it is nominated for best Animated Feature Film. Wow, today three off my list!

If you are in La Paz and would like to join me for some Oscar movie watching just call me or send me an email.

Made me smile...

Lately my life has been stressful to say the least. I will talk more about that later, but for now I just had to share a poster my friend Bianca sent me...man, she knows me so well. You know if I had a Target in La Paz I would go just go up and down the aisles and peruse all of the beautiful items in the store. Don't you just love the $1 section at Target...and what about that stationary section...and the toys...they are always so organized....and the clothes. I love Target clothes and the special collections from a guest designer. Well, just rambling about one of my favorite stores. Open one in La Paz already....

Luka's 1st Karate Class

(Luka warming up for Karate class)

Luka is 4.5 years old now and I have really been slacking in the after-school activities department. Here in Bolivia the parents or some type of adult have to be present with the child during after-school activities...so it is an activity not only for the kids, but I have to be there as well and sometimes it is really difficult to coordinate it with my work schedule. Luka also has Dutch school twice a week after his regular school for almost 2 hours. That doesn't leave a lot of time in this 4 year old's agenda...but on our last trip to Miami he got to attend his cousin's ceremony where he received his orange belt. Luka loved it and wanted to start doing karate right away.

Well, as a new year's resolution I promised to schedule more time for the kids so this week he started his once a week karate class and next week I will work on organizing a weekly swimming class for him. He really needs to learn how to swim.

But seriously, it is hard work getting him to and from all this activities while trying to juggle client meetings and work. Okay, I work from home so I have that flexibility, but it is still a challenge. Most days I don't even find the time to actually "work" at home. What am I going to do when Sam wants to start going to Karate too...oh, no!

My hats off to all the moms and dads out there that don't have any help and a demanding job...i wouldn't know how to juggle it all. How did my mom do it...she used to take me to all the cheerleading practices, pick me up from Student Council meetings, take my friends out to lunch...seriously mom & dad...you rocked. And I remember you always did it with a smile. It seems I am always rushing and running around and I wonder if Luka thinks I see it as something I don't want to do.

Well, back to the class. Luka seemed to like it, although he wasn't very expressive on what he did. Thank you to Andrea (his classmate's mom) for taking these photos for me. The class is semi-private in a friend's house. Since they are really young the professor said that once they are ready they can step into the group class at the facility.

Here are some photos of him during the class. Here he is taking a stance.

After all that kicking, there was stretching. Wow, he looks really flexible no!

Luka Learns to Save $

Lately my 4-year old son has been asking him to buy him toys. It seems that everywhere we go he wants me to buy him something. I think the abundance of Christmas gifts from family and friends has kept him in the "receiving" mood. I tried to explain to him that he doesn't always need to buy a new toy and that things cost money and are expensive. Well, I am starting to sound like a broken record...so I decided to teach him how to save.

I told him that now he would be receiving an allowance every week (10 Bs, roughly 1.30 USD). I tried to explain in my best 4-year vocabulary that he could either spend the 10 Bs every week or save money to buy a toy that he wanted. I agreed to give him the allowance every Friday.

Luka: Is Friday today?

Mommy: No, Luka in three days.

Luka: So I can go shopping when you give me the money?

Mommy: Luki, sweetie...10 Bs is not a lot money, but if you save for a couple of weeks then maybe you can buy a toy.

Luka: Mami, I am going to buy a Hummer or a Subaru.

Wow, my little boy is going to be saving for a long time and hopefully I can steer him in the direction of a more fuel friendly vehicle.

So we made this piggy bank for him to start saving...he was involved in the design. He picked the name, the colors and selected the art from a google search I did with him.

I have a feeling all of the spare change is going to start disappearing around the house.

Here is the art on the piggy bank, just in case you can't see in the photo. By the way his two favorite cars are the Hummer & Subaru Outback..go figure!

1st Modeling Job

I should have taken photos inside, but it was a little hectic with Sam causing havoc in the photographer's studio. Luka and Sam were asked to participate in a photo shoot for an upcoming ad campaign for Anatina Toys and their new 2012 catalog.

JJ took this photo while he was taking a walk with Sammy and Luka was busy posing inside. I was actually surprised during the photo shoot. Sam did really well and Luka just wasn't into it. They are going to send me some photos soon. I will post them when I get them. I am very curious to see what the final product looks like.

For now you have this cute photo of Sam and JJ...that Sammy is real trouble!

Look at Our Big Boy

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Wow, Sammy is growing up so fast. I can't keep up emotionally...one minute he is a baby and the next he is in the 2-year old class at daycare. His school year starts in January and here he is in his new class during the first week of classes. Look at him sitting next to the teacher in circle time...he looks so BIG!