Going... going...

Big news:
We have bought tickets for Monday, the 6th of August for all five of us. One way tickets. Because...







Jorge has been thrilled to be accepted to both, HEC Montreal, and BGSU (Bowling Green State University) MBA programs!!
After careful consideration & planning we are going to be living in Ohio for the next year, though Canada remains an interesting future option.
We are excited and daunted by our impending international move and are doing our best to take care of paperwork and visas & all that fun stuff. We are more excited that we'll be in the states for some considerable amount of time and hope to be able to visit family and friends as soon as possible, classes and projects and budget permitting. The MBA lasts one full year- Aug 2012 'til Aug 2013, with the possibility to specialize afterward in another semester of classes. It will be a team effort to proof read papers and put toddlers to bed on time, but we're excited to tackle this new challenge. This has been in the making for the past couple of years, and our ducks are finally getting into their row.
Jorge will be a full-time student while Rachel is a full-time mother of three, so for a while we'll be living on our savings and hoping the economy starts improving so we can find good employment at the end of this adventure.
Keep us in your prayers. We hope to see many of you dear family and friends soon!

Realce Punto Yugoslavo - Border Stitch

Español abajo
These are some photos of designs from a magzine called Realce. They are used to decorate table cloths with a decorative stitch in a variety of colors. According to my dh's aunt they don't print these like they used to, and I had a hard time finding designs online, so I wanted to post these photos.
Aquí comparto unos modelos de punto Yugoslavo de una vieja revista de Realce. Yo no tengo copyright, solo pretendo compartirlos para animarles a intentarlo, que es muy divertido y bastante sencillo cuando le coges el tranquillo.

May brings Blessings

On Sunday, May 6th, 2012 our third child was given a baby blessing by his father at the Alcalá Ward. We were so glad to share this special event with family who live near and with Opa & Oma Newberry, who came to visit us from the states. You can see our photos of their visit here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100478527464099.2531794.17805528&type=3&l=55b4f07a25

We've been having a good two months getting to know Oliver & getting used to having another much more interactive toy around the house. I'm so glad to report that his brother & sister adore him, are very gentle with him, and would smother him with kisses if we let them. Here are some photos of the little guy: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100384588558419.2518937.17805528&type=3&l=d2ef37e098

Another exciting bit of news is still in the making, but it is becoming clear that by the end of summer we will no longer be residing in Spain, but rather in North America, in "the heart of it all" or in Montreal.
Wish us luck & send up prayers for our little family in this big move. We'll be there at least a year while Jorge studies an MBA.
Stay posted.

Some new videos I have posted on youtube:
   We went up the mountains north of Madrid to find real snow, though it was also a very cold and rainy day in general around our town.  Besides the cold wind the snow was blown into our faces, stinging quite a bit. Charles did not understand this subjecting ourselves to such uncomfortable weather conditions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZuif0cj4gM&feature=relmfu

   Oliver was really awake, but calm, the other night... right at bedtime, of course...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQmW2CajT2M&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_gW3C0KQ-U&feature=relmfu

   Charles & Oliver had similar outfits on, so I thought - photo op! Then I thought, I'll take a video too, just saying hi, but right as I started recording Charles did the cutest thing and tickled him! In Spanish- cosquillas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=985ogVxdW9A&feature=relmfu

  My favorite little kitchen helper.  Sometimes more of a distraction than a help, but it's always nice too have company, especially when he's so enthusiastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iQiu6AnjqE&feature=BFa&list=UUc0I-K4IbxH2X_md4mi6ITA

Enjoy! hugs from the five Freireberries!

Let's remember the wonderful message of Easter: Jesus Is Resurrected

Last week's false alarm...

So, after three months of noticing my stomach tightening you'd think I wouldn't freak out until it was really time to freak out.  But last week I thought I really was in labor, for about three hours. I started having almost regular contractions (every five or six minutes) at about 10:30, and they didn't let up until 1:30-ish, when I finally decided to put Jorge & I out of our misery and try lying down to see if it was the real thing or not. Still pregnant, so obviously not for real.
You see, according to my two periods on the second of May and the second of June I would have been due on the 7th of March. According to ultrasound measurements I was actually due two weeks later, or the 20th, approximately. So the part of me that knew this earlier "natural date" was freaking out, on top of what I think was the baby freaking out & making me feel some of his stress (it's gotta be stressful being squeezed so tight for a few minutes every five minutes). I also felt like my heart was beating just a little too fast, a feeling reminiscent of the one I had at the end of labor with Charles.

The fun part of the story is how I got all of the hospital & overnight bags packed for everyone. Jorge will have to fend for himself, but it's only 15 minutes from home to the hospital, so he can come home to shower, etc, when he needs to. The kids didn't have pajamas in their overnight bag, now it's *totally* ready. I didn't have clothes to wear to leave the hospital, now they're packed too... Most of Jorge's collared shirts were un-ironed, and I ironed seven of them before I finally went to sleep, besides some of my own.
(An aside about ironing: We don't have a dryer, we really don't need one, as the climate is so dry. The downside is ironing, because dryer-fluffed clothes are easy to fold and relatively wrinkle free, in my memory, but line-dried clothes are not. I never used to iron anything, except Jorge's Sunday shirts, but that gradually ended with Charles and my realization that we all looked better with ironed clothes.)

I finally decided Jorge was right, that I should at least try to sleep, just to have gotten some rest in case it was the real thing. Well, I lay down and that was the end of it. Almost as soon as I lay down my stomach relaxed and the baby moved around a lot, for quite a while. Thanking me for finally letting him relax, it seemed.
I've continued to have lots of stomach hardening contractions, especially when walking, occasionally when sitting. But when lying down I have hardly any, or they don't bother me at all. I remember with Miriam I woke up (at 2 am) because of the contractions, so I'll just have to try to remember that feeling and not freak out any more. It's rather annoying to have your stomach get so hard you can't continue to sit up straight, but that'll soon be just a memory, and I'll have many not so sleep-filled nights to make it a just a blur.
I have hardly put on any weight this past month, but that doesn't mean the baby hasn't... and he is going to be a big boy like his brother it seems. Maybe he'll be able to sleep through the night sooner. *fingers crossed*
So that's what we've been up to lately... oh no, wait, that was only about the baby. The rest of us are doing fine, living life, having fun, working hard, studying for tests & sending in applications. I've gotten some energy back, (besides becoming repulsed by the idea of coming home to a really un-organized and rather dusty house) and have been cleaning and keeping on top of orderly-ness in our home. I'm beginning to think that I really won't have to kill myself to take care of three kids, provided I sleep and adopt a "little is better than nothing" attitude toward the cleaning the first month(s).
We are already trying to adapt to daylight-savings time, which in Spain starts March 25th this year.

Lots of Love! The next post should be about the new little one.

p.s. I keep having thoughts & occasionally dreams about losing the baby or having it stillborn, etc. I wonder if these are just crazy pregnancy dreams, subconscious anxiety dreams, or maybe are preparing me a little for what might happen. After Charles was born a friend had her second little boy, but prematurely, and he only lived in the NICU, for a few months. Maybe I'm preparing myself just in-case. ~ rpn

Things I've made recently...

This was our family activity after all the holidays and after everyone went home, but we got to share it with Teresa Diaz on her birthday, at least! The kids thought it was great, especially the gum drops.

 Some scrumptious zucchini muffins I made for snacks and breakfasts. They make me feel better about snacking, after all, they're part vegetable, right?

Not everything I make is edible. I got this idea from Motherwear, only I wanted it in flannel to keep me warmer in winter and spring. I bought the fabric, and made the braid with strips I tore from a really old sheet, which was super soft. I really think the neck line "makes" the nightgown. I also plan on adding nursing openings when they become necessary.

I've already washed and worn it, and am really pleased with the results. I made it in an afternoon, using a large t-shirt as my guide. The pleats were harder to figure out than expected. FYI- you have to make the top, mainly in the neck, wider than the hem to have enough of a pleat to hide the nursing openings, something they (naturally) don't show or explain on the site. If you want to know more email me, ok?

The most amazing tasting Banana Cake I have ever made. That's why there is only a photo of the very last piece! I made it again to test the recipe, but I forgot the oven was still on, while I was putting the kids down for their naps. It survived, but was a bit drier, though still moist and delicious. Email if you'd like the recipe, ok?... maybe I'll put it on allrecipes.com.  

Did I mention I love my silicone bundt pan? 'Cuz it's awesome.

Pan de leche, similar to brioche, was the recipe used here. I hadn't made it in a long time, and the cold makes me want to bake more. Also this is a slightly sweet bread that doesn't need eggs, and I was out after making two banana cakes.

The second time I tried to make a cinnamon swirl ring, and it turned out great!






The only downside is that it was hard to slice for the toaster (wedges instead of uniformly thick slices). I used 3-4 tablespoons brown sugar and one of cinnamon for the filling, spreading it all over the rolled out dough, like making cinnamon rolls, just a lot less sugar. Then I let it rise a really long time, more than two hours, 'cuz the house was cold, and I wanted it as fluffy as possible. Next time I'll try adding raisins... though that can get tricky, and sticky...

My last night (Monday, Feb 13) creation was my bouquet for Valentine's Day. I chose and arranged the flowers all by myself, and I like the result, or it wouldn't be photo-worthy. The best thing about it is that it will last until our little boy is born next month, and I can even take it to the hospital with me if I want! They don't let you have real flowers in your room, as they could trigger allergies. I really think it's worth it, especially if you buy your flowers in IKEA on a sale day. This bouquet cost as much as a fresh one would today, and will last as long as I like.

And I was tired of roses... though they do smell lovely.

The last thing I got out of my unfinished projects box was this shirt, which I made from a mini dress I bought last summer (with the idea of making it over). It was already empire-waist-ed, and had a mock turtleneck that buttoned in the back. Well, I cut off the neck, cut the dress at the empire waist, and sewed the neck onto the front. Oh, and finished the neckline again, with a double turned under edge.

Then I shortened the final product by cutting the top of the skirt part of the dress, leaving it at long shirt length. I also took it in on the sides, about a two inch seam at the bottom narrowing towards the top, making it less of a dress and more a loose shirt. I added elastic to the top front of this "skirt" part, to make it a nursing shirt like the one explained here. I then sewed the top to bottom at the sides, overlapping the front, and then sewing the back of the "skirt" to the top again.

I really like this design, actually, I bought two of these dresses, and already have one modified which I have used and lent, and is well loved. I had this one cut up and ready to go, but never finished it, til today!

So that's what I've been up to lately. Most are from the last week, all from this year.

Hugs to everyone!

YouTube videos from 2011

If you are interested in seeing some fun, adorable, memorable, and endearing videos of our family from this past year, then check out my videos on youtube. They are public, and I don't think too many people besides family are going to be interested in them anyway.
This is my channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/rpnewbs?feature=mhee

I'll check the link later to make sure it works. If it doesn't the search rpnewbs' channel and you should be able to see my videos. Don't get confused, there are other videos with similar titles or tags, but you'll want to look for more videos by this user: rpnewbs. Ok?

Enjoy!

At the Supermarket last week

So last week, once we finally got in the blissfully empty checkout line, I started to take things off the stroller to put on the belt and the lady who got in line behind me put her three items down first. Her daughter, who looked about my age, quickly pointed out the failure of order and her mom quickly apologized and that was that. The punch line came 5 minutes later, while I was getting out the bags I'd brought and trying to fill them and pay while keeping my third and fourth eyes on my two little ones.
The daughter: *She's already got two kids, I think.* ('whispered' to her mother over the noise of cash registers)
Just in time to confirm their theory Charles begins to wander further from our line, while Miriam stands patiently guarding the stroller in front of me.
Me(sharply): Charlie, come back here.
And he begins to wander back with a smile at me...
Daughter: *You see?*

Of course you can't type the tone in here, but it was something like surprised bewilderment. Not really negative or condescending, more, "how is she pregnant again already?!"

I laughed a little to myself, and made a mental note to share or record the story somehow, and this accomplishes both. Thanks to all the great moms I know and the inspiring blogs I've been reading I didn't feel the least bit slighted, but rather happy that my afternoon had gone so well, even with all the stores we'd been to and that it was almost dinnertime.
I know that the best time to enjoy living with my little cuties is right now, and I plan to enjoy it as much as possible.

Review and Renew

Hello one and all.

I know I haven't posted anything in forever. I've mainly used Facebook as a means of communicating with family and friends abroad, and until I recently read some of my friends' blogs I hardly registered the existence of this one.

So, since I've been organizing photos recently it seemed like a good time to post an update.

I found a friends' facebk status update an interesting way to do this, we'll see how it turns out for me. Here are some photos to keep you entertained...

2011 top 10 Memories, in chronological order:

1. Friendship Festival (Festival de la Amistad) activity at church.

2. Charles started walking, stopped nursing and turned 1 year old in March.

3. Visiting Raquel Freire and family in Lille, France, and also a day in Paris via TGV.

4. BYU Students living with us for April & May and Chinese students in September

5. Miriam's 3rd birthday in July, celebrated in Hontoba, Guadalajara, Spain, also where we spent the majority of the month of August.

6. Finding out we'll be a family of five in 2012!

7. Miriam starting school, adapting, getting up early every weekday.

8. Rome for our 5th Anniversary: Colliseum, Roman Forum, Gelato, Gnocchi on Thursday, Pantheon, Via Appia Antica, and lots of public transit!

9. 26th Birthday and iPad

10. Freire Family Reunion in El Hito, Cuenca, Spain and holidays all together in Alcalá.

Stay tuned for future posts and recent updates. Hopefully my new tablet will help me keep in touch.