Kə myo͞onəˈkāSHən

Com·mu·ni·ca·tion (kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSHən)

There are many definitions of this word; the imparting or exchanging of information or news.  A letter or message containing information or news.  Social contact.

My choice definition is: The successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings.

I know that this is going to come across as hokey.  I know that this is going to come across as clichéd.  What I don't want this to come across as preachy, snobby or "I know better than you" because that's not the intention.

The intention is to let you know how important I found this word, communication, to be in my life.  As hokey as it sounds, communication helps bring my husband and I closer.

I get upset with my spouse at times, but keep the anger in, not wanting to rock the boat.  He does not say anything negative, not wanting to rock the boat.  Eventually, though, my blood gets to boiling over a perceived slight that he did not even realize he'd made. We fight and realize we're both thinking the other is thinking something else/wrong.  Why?  Because we don't communicate like we should.

Recently, (after a fight the previous day over a perceived slight, that  ended in me crying that I hated his night work schedule and I missed him)  we were in the kitchen alone together, and he hugs me and says "I know this is going to sound weird, but thank you for the fight.  Thank you for letting me know you feel the same way I do about us."

How'd he not know that I miss him?  Had I not communicated this in my actions and my words?  No, I had not.  I got lazy.  Shame on me.  Shame on him too.  We both got lazy.  Were we a bit proud too? Probably.

Together 14 years, married 11.  You'd think we'd have it down, right?  Nope.  It's a never-ending lesson, communication.  It's about knowing that your spouse/mate is not a mind reader and  you are not to be expected to be one either.  It's about not keeping it in, tamping down the emotions until they burst out in anger or tears.  It's about being able to talk to your "other" with love and affection, not accusations and contempt.  It's about sacrifice and putting "we" before "me."  That's hard to do.  We're  not wanting to be the first to cave; to show weakness.  For me, it's VERY hard and I have been making a super-strong effort  to be "we" before "me."

It is  not hard to communicate, when both parties are willing to try, that is.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Thanks to by sister Brenda for the cute banner.

44

Wow.

Between my 11th anniversary at Buca Di Beppo, 

celebrating early on Sunday so my hubby could sing me Happy Birthday and watch me open gifts

and receiving a watch brand I have been wanting since high school as a joint anniversary/bday gift

I've had a heck of a great time!

Paint Dripping, MLP Friendship is Magic, & Hulk Smashing

Don't you just hate it when you spill paint?

Isabel wanted My Little Pony Friendship is Magic nails.  There was no way I could paint ponies on her nails, so we decided instead to paint "Cutie Marks" on them instead.

White with blue diamond is Rarity's cutie mark.  Red Apples are on
Applejack's cutie mark.  Pinkie Pie has yellow and red balloons as her mark.

After working on her left hand, she lost patience and left.  :)  I never got to make Twilight, Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash's cutie marks.

HULK SMASH!

I was just playing with colors and it just looked like The Hulk to me.





This next picture is completely fantastic, in that I did not do these at all.   Isabel  decided she missed having the Power Puff girls on her hands and asked if she could do them.  With instructions and techniques from me, she did these all by herself!!

Bubble, Blossom, and Buttercup.  SO COOL, ISABEL!

I did her right hand because that would have required her to use her left hand and she was not confident with it.

Lastly, I created these nails based off of something my sister Vicky pinned or posted.  The one she liked was more of a Tiffany blue, and actually in person, the nails looks less baby blue and more aqua.  SO cool to see come together,

Eleven!

Happy 11th Anniversary to us!

I love you David!

Dance!

Isabel's taking dancing classes.  She's SO not coordinated.  Sadly, she does not have my Puerto-Rican rhythm.  I love her gumption though.  She's taking dance classes, dagnabit!

She took classes during the summer.  The class was mixed ages because it was summer.  This fall, she's in an age-appropriate class with kids ages 7-10.  She's had ups and downs.  She is very much like her big brother; if they can't get it right the first time, they get upset and quit.  This I do not understand.  I have explained to her over and over "These are dance lessons.  So you can LEARN.  This is supposed to be fun.  There are no tears in dancing."

This week, the class was in low attendance.  The chatty gal that tends to get herself (and Isabel) into trouble was not there.  Isabel was focused and for once, no tears!  I was very excited.

Her dance instructor is a high school classmate of Jacob's.  They graduated the same year and share all the same friends.  The instructor's mom goes to my church and is the lady that gave me the "Shine" award for my  volunteering efforts.  She's a nice gal who I am sure was not sure what to do over Isabel's tears.  We were both happy about this most recent lesson.

I asked if I could record the class so Isabel could practice her dancing at home and she & the other parents were ok with it.  Of course, my hi-def video camera was at home, so I used my craptastic non-Smart phone video recorder.  Ugh.

The two kids in the front are doing separate dance moves while Isabel and the older kids dance on the "stage" a few beats later.  They are rehearsing for a December showcase.

I just want to pinch her, she is so darned cute!  She's just trying her darndest, God bless her.  :)