Memories,Smiles, Laughs, Cries, & Band-Aids

My littlest sister, Emma, is getting married in a week (next Saturday August 15) in San Diego, CA so my whole family made it a point to be in NOVA for her endowments in the Washington D.C. Temple. That wasn't too hard for my family considering Emma and I are the only ones who live outside of VA. So Romulo, myself, Emma and Calvin all flew to VA for this event. It was amazing to be with my whole family and to add another one to the crazy large group! We were able to spend quality time together, shop together, have a bridal shower for Emma, go to the Temple together, etc. etc. Here are some pictures to tell the story of what went on.Everyone watching Sarah give Aiden a bath. Who doesn't love to see a baby in a kitchen sink full of bubbles? Calvin and Emma Friday night after the Temple. What a cute couple?Emma with Hudson and Easton the oldest of the nephews. Saturday night we celebrated Emma's upcoming wedding with a bridal shower. Me with my mom and 4 sisters plus one cute little nephew. Clockwise starting to the Left: Ellen, Sarah with Aiden, Marian, Mom, Me, and Emma. Emma with all her nephews. Left to right: Easton in his army hat, Aiden looking at Easton, Emma enjoying her Auntie roll, Zander refusing to smile and therefore crying, Hudson making sure Winfield is okay, and lastly Winfield looking at something that caught his eye!I was trying to squeeze into the picture and help Emma with all the upset kids! Haha, got to love kids.My only brother, who's the oldest, Thomas who is the BIGGEST of all the kids. Thomas showing off on his skills on the razor. Plus, he is feeling better than ever after his surgery which was a little over a month and a half ago. Okay so Romulo taught everyone a new fun game. It's a game Romulo would play in the streets of Brazil growing up. It's called BATS! It's played with 4 people. You take sticks (Romulo used to use broomsticks), a ball (small field hockey ball works great that's what we used here), 2 blocks of wood, and chalk to draw 2 circles (see picture below). Someone rolls the ball to the opposite side to the opposite team and that person who is holding a stick tryings to hit the ball. If the ball hits the block of wood then they switch from hitting to pitching. Romulo and Molly Kay were on a team. So Romulo would be the pitcher and Molly Kay would be the catcher. Hudson was trying to hit the ball and his teammate Thomas would stand on the opposite side by Romulo. If Hudson hit the ball Thomas and him would have to run back and forth touching sticks and touching the circle on the grown. They would stop running when the ball was back in play. I'm going to have to get Romulo to explain it in better terms. Here Romulo made contact with the ball. Romulo pitching it to Hudson and his teammate Thomas standing beside Romulo watches and hopes for his teammate Hudson to hit the ball so they can make points or score by running back and forth touching the circles.Here is what the circles look like on both sides of the playing field. The smaller circle on top is where you would place a block of wood. The bigger bottom circle is where you need to place your stick when the ball is in play or when you are trying to score your stick has to touch this circle for points to be made. Hudson and Thomas running back and forth making points but having to touch sticks when they run back and forth.

While that was going on Zander and myself were playing the the chalk. We were having fun drawing and writing on the blacktop. Plus, Easton who is learning how to ride the electric dirt bike was having a time of his life. Until a wipe out got him. He took a turn too fast on gravel and hit the front brake instead of the back one and well you know what happened. He ate it. Here are the pictures to prove it. Sorry E-E. But no worries he got all cleaned up and patched up and was back on it in no time.Then later on that same night my dad joined in on the fun of BATS but it didn't take him long to have a prize of his own! Thankfully he was fine but he took a dive that caused him to get a boo-boo too!

We Are Who We Are

and there's no way of changing this! At least with me, I try and try to change my attitude towards things but soon enough my true colors will shine! Just some things make my true colors shine! Like when it comes to my family, nobody can touch them. They mean the world to me and I don't want them to get hurt. So your probably wondering what is going on.
Well, the last month I have been trying really hard to be better at Family History and doing LDS Temple work on behalf of my family members who are dead. And I've been trying to get things together so I can do as much as I can before I head out to VA this weekend. Everything has gone great but my Grandmother's work (Alma Catherine Gray Richards).

My mom's mom died almost 2 years ago this Fall and my littlest sister is getting her endowments out this Friday in the Washington DC Temple so I thought it would be a great gift to give my mom all the work done up to the endowments for my grandmother. But my Grandmother's personality is still shining through even though she has pasted. But the deceased still can move mountains. She was never a patient soul and needed things done on her demand so it really doesn't surprise me or my mom for the following events.

First, a few weeks ago when I went to the New Family Search website to reserve my grandmother's work it said that someone else has already reserved it. But that can't be my parents are converts to the church and nobody else is doing the work! And mom grandmother has been dead for 2 years and has been born within the past 95 years and nobody has contacted my mom about doing the work for her. That is a guideline to church work; ask family permission!

Second, found out that someone 2 DAYS before the day I went to the Temple to do the work someone had done the Baptism. Seriously, 2 days!
Third, by the time I called SLC Headquarters and got everything figured out and reversed so I could reserve the rest of the LDS Temple ordinances the Oakland Temple was closed for cleaning for 2 weeks!

Fourth, today the Temple finally reopened and I made it a point to be at the temple bright and early. I took my handout to the Records Department and got my cards printed off. But as soon as I saw my grandmother's card, her baptism like I said before had been done and now her confirmation was done 6 days ago! 6 DAYS AGO! Really?

I seriously wanted to cry. Why you must be asking? It's my grandmother and she was really the only grandparent that I truly remember. My two grandfather's past within the same year when I was 9 and my other grandmother died when I was 12. So Alma Catherine Gray Richards means a lot to me. And she had some health issues that caused her to be bedridden for most of my life so I knew I wanted to give her the gift of the gospel!

Finally after some sour feelings I pushed them aside and realized that yes others have done 2 steps of her LDS ordinances and it wasn't a family member but at least they were done. And who knows maybe she was the one in Heaven pushing her work through and couldn't wait. So, today I was able to do her initiatory and if she can wait for Friday she will have everything else completed!

Are you Serious? Really?

We just said "Good Bye" to our good friends the Tukuafu's. They are friends of ours from BYU and wish that they could live closer to us! Hopefully one day! We were lucky enough to have them stay at our place for a few days and sight see around SF and the Bay Area. We went to Union Square and shopped. Luckily for some reason the fire alarm started to go off in Macy's and we had to leave the building because by the way M's fitting was going she was getting into some hot little numbers. Saved by the bell, huh? But I'm sure she will forever remember that Calvin Klein little black dress! We then had some amazing Dim Sum for lunch and then followed it up with a stroll through China Town. Monterey's Aquarium was amazing and enchanting. Who doesn't love deep sea/ocean critters. Plus, I learned a few things about Seahorses. The males are the one's who carry and deliver their babies; truly a one of a kind. And Potbelly Seahorses take pride in their bellies to the point that the bigger the bellies are the more attractive they are to females. Drove the 17-mile drive around Monterey, Pebble Beach, Carmel. Went on a tour at the Jelly Belly Factory and of course bought some of the Belly Flops! Enjoyed a day at the Old Fisherman's Wharf, with a warm bowl of Chowder/Tomato Bisque followed by some chocolate at Ghirardelli. We enjoyed our time with the Tukuafu Clan and hope they will return again for some more! Serious? Really?Lydia, N, and Romulo at the Aquarium!Yeah, we're that cool to post pictures of us with our Jelly Belly tour hats! (What's that face J?)Wait? Who's the GANG at Jelly Belly Factory?

Sunday Afternoon Ride

There's nothing like riding a motorcycle. But the ride into a city has to be the best! Especially the ride into SF from the East Bay because when you come out of the Tunnel you are coming down the mountain and you can see both the city of Oakland and San Francisco. Today's weather was the best because the sun was shining and no clouds in the sky but there was fog over parts of the city. While riding across the Bay Bridge, the only part of the Golden Gate Bridge that you could see was the very top part because the rest was covered in fog. It was breath taking! Plus, there are just parts of the city skyline that you miss when you are driving in a car but you see it all when you're on a bike! I've been over that bridge plenty of times and let me tell you the little details I saw today I never saw before! The high you felt while riding into the city is just something you have to experience for yourself! If you ever come to the SF area just ask Romulo for a ride and witness it for yourself!

My BETTER Half

Romulo has to be my better half! I know everyone says this but he is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me! He is the best husband that I could have ever dreamed up of having one day! I think the Lord was too good to me for giving me someone like him! He truly makes up for my weaknesses and I know I don't tell him enough of how much I love and appreciate everything he does for me! The things I make him do or go through, I wonder why he stays around. Seriously, this boy has so much patience with me and has this calming effect over me. I know there are many areas I need to improve in to be worthy of him but one thing I am so grateful for is his willingness to work them out with me!

I love you! Oh and nobody will care if you say you are 29 years and 24 months old!!! Have a Happy Birthday!

Joyful Day: Birthday and Temple

Some of the neatest experiences you feel in life are sometimes the hardest to express. Today I had some really cool experiences that I am selfishly going to tell for memory sake. My younger sister's, Carrie Ellen Johns, birthday was today and it's so great to be part of some one's life. To know them and to be able to share many fond memories with them. But then there are moments in life that you are taken away from them. And I'm not meaning life and death just simply separation; living away from the family. So you might be wondering where I'm going with this; there's a point I promise. Today I felt very close to my sister and my Great-Grandfather.

Some little background of my family (my dad's side). My dad was the youngest of 7 children (4 boys 3 girls) and his mom was an only child, Ellen Naomi Johns. Well her father was named John Reginald Cochran (born in 1893). He had a love of film, making movies. He loved it so much that when Mom-Mom (Ellen my grandmother) was a little girl he filmed her peeling an apple and then playing with the film and reversed it so when you see the movie clip he made, you see her actually peeling the apple and then having the apple peel go back on the apple (in reverse). Then when she got married it actually rained on her wedding day so he wasn't able to film the events. But he loved his daughter and film so much that he made the WHOLE WEDDING PARTY come back the next day to re-enact it. Yes, it's true because we have it all on DVD. The film was actually 16-mm and about 3 years ago we were able to go to a company that restored the film and put it on DVD for us. It's pretty cool considering the year and how much filming has come.

So my sister, who my family grew up calling her by her middle name Ellen, was named after Mom-Mom (Ellen Naomi Cochran Johns). And today on Ellen's birthday, Romulo and I were able to do Baptisms for the Dead. (Please click on this link if you want to know more.) And after doing a family search we saw that my Great-Grandfather, John Reginald Cochran, needed his work done for him. Our Ward had Temple night but not just for endowments. Anyone who wanted to do other work like Baptisms could do so. Romulo and I quickly knew we needed to do some of our family work. And Romulo was able to do almost all of his work today. It's just so amazing to be able to connect the dots to these great members of my family. I don't know much more of my Great-Grandfather but what I do know I will cherish forever. And what I do know today is I felt the closest to him as I've ever and I THANK everyone who was able to make this happen.

(Side note: John Reginald Cochran married to Marian Naomi Cochran. Parents of Ellen Naomi Cochran Johns mother of Robin Laine Johns. And Carrie Ellen Johns' Great-Grandfather John Reginald Cochran.)

What a Night

Romulo and I were invited by my friend Allison to go to the New Kids On The Block concert at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord. What you might ask, Romulo at the NKOTB concert? Yes, yes what a great husband I have. Allison snagged these box seat tickets for FREE and I knew I didn't want to miss out on this experience. Because 20 years ago (wow, that's a long time), I went to see NKOTB when I was in 1st grade. They were my first concert and who wouldn't want to relive that! Allison and I share that experience because KNOTB was her first concert and she too was in1st grade. I love it! Anyway, the night was full of screams when it came down to the "OLD STUFF", seeing the boys trying to sing and dance, and looking around to see that there were mostly women either our age or a little bit older. Love it! And I must say considering they haven't been around for a while now they still were able to really sing (no lip singing) and dance at the same time! I think Romulo enjoyed himself as much as he could at a boy band that's well, been around! Let's just say if Romulo had to choose his boy band it would be MENUDO! Ask him about it sometime!
Back to last night. We had box seating and let me tell you it was super fancy! We were V.I.P.'s for the night and before the Boyz came on we lounged in the lounge area that was equipped with flat screen TVs, tables, and had free food too! That is where we watched Jesse McCartney perform. Sorry didn't miss much there! But our actual concert seats were nice. Right there in the middle of the pavilion in little "box seats" and had perfect views. Thanks Allison!Romulo and I (pre-concert) with our souvenir cup!

Allison and myself (pre-concert).

Then there was one moment in the concert that some of the stage crew guys were setting up little platforms, like literally in front of our box seat area. As they were setting them up Alexis, Allison and I were freaking out wondering if they were coming to us and if so which one! Romulo was probably saying to himself, "I'm close enough to you guys please don't come any closer." But sure enough, one of the stage guys came up to us and told us to stay put because the next song they are coming over here! OMG, the closest I will ever be to NKOTB! JK!
Yup, that's Donnie for you! Here he is trying to be the thug he is with these what 20 year old girls! Come on! Okay okay let the BOYZ relive their youth! Well I guess even when they first came out they weren't that young considering the years they were born range from 1969-1972! Haha! I love it!
Not to knock any one's love for them but for Allison, Alexis, and I we were just simply reliving our childhood and making the most out of something that you really can't take that serious anymore! I know physically I'm not 6 anymore but in my heart last night I sure was 6 again for the New Kids On The Block! I joked with Romulo that last night he was my dad for the event. Because like I said, when I was 6yrs old and in the 1st grade my dad took me and my two older sisters, Marian and Sarah. So last night Romulo was my dad because "he took" Allison, Alexis and myself to the concert! Like Romulo needed to protect us from anything, we all are in our late 20's. Wow, that is crazy!
One last story to finish this post up!
When I was 6-7 years old my family moved within our town, Purcellville, to the Country Club neighborhood (that was right across the street from the Golf course/Country Club). I'm not 100% sure but I believe it was around Spring/Summer time because the weather was nice enough for me and my sisters (Sarah and Marian) to go bike riding. So as we made it down our drive way I remember seeing a group of kids also riding their bikes. Well, as we got closer to them I heard one say while pointing at us, "Are those the NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK?" Being 6-7yrs old and liking NKOTB band I don't remember saying anything besides giving my sisters the look like "What where really?". And my sister Sarah said, "Not the band Lydia, WE ARE the new kids on the block!" Hahahaha, oh only in the mind of a 6-7 year old girl who likes a boy band!

Life's Life Savors

Lately in my life I couldn't survive without one of these!


That's right, a Granny Cart! Call me what you want but for me it makes LIFE so much EASIER! And I don't care what you think, but I think this thing is AWESOME! This shopping was light compared to the one last week. I fit $150 dollars worth of food into this cart and only carried the bag of eggs and bread on my arm. Thanks Mom for hearing my cries about carrying groceries up the stairs. Now I load it in my Granny Cart and ride the elevator!

Romulo's life savor is probably these:
Haha NOT WHAT THE SHIRT SAYS, even though I would argue this point that I am probably his LIFE SAVOR. But its his SUNGLASSES and I'm not talking about any type of sunglasses. They must be OAKLEY'S! When Romulo was little he had Scarlet Fever and it left his eyes very sensitive to light. And he has found that over the years that Oakley's are the one and only thing that helps protect him! And here he is showing off his new pair of sunglasses to everyone at California's Great America!

2009's 4th of July

Romulo took an extra day off of work so we could have a 4 day weekend together. It was great because his first day off we just laid by the pool, swam, and enjoyed the California sun. Then on Friday we wanted to relive our youth so we went to California's Great America and road all the rides. There wasn't much of a crowd that day so we were able to hit all the big rides in about 2 hours. Then we hit the water park. We had so much fun together and it was crazy to think that our last time in an amusement park was before we were married, when I went to Brazil for the first time 5 years ago! Then on July 4th we were at the pool again for hours (lost count because we played so many card games). Little things like that make a stay at home vacation a true vacation! (Last year's 4th was probably better by Romulo's standards because he got his Harley Davidson bike!)

Beginnings

of anything are so exciting! But it's hard to believe how fast time goes! Just when you say to yourself "I want time to stop!", it's 5 years later! Don't get me wrong, I have loved the 5 years Romulo and I been together but man that was fast! On this day 5 years ago I was in Brazil for the first time with Romulo. On my 3rd day there Romulo and I got engaged. The little island off of Sao Paulo, Guaruja, will always be a magical place for me. The night I got engaged.Us at the beach.A view of the city.