You've got the Q, I've got the A's.

I'm letting my readers pick the questions since I am lacking a little creativity here lately. I'm worn down to the nubs. 2 year old tantrums are the worst. Alexa is wearing me down. And boy... that child has a set of pipes on her. I never thought I'd see the day that my sweet baby girl was hurling herself on the floor kicking her feet and screaming so loud her cute little curly topped head turned entirely red.

So let's dig in. Vanessa asks me:

Where did you meet your husband?

I met him in Tampa, FL. way back in the year 1999. June-ish. I walked right into his office, and there he sat. I was actually visiting the office with a friend. More like, boyfriend at the time. OK, maybe not boyfriend, but we were kind of dating. I remember my dh telling me I should stop seeing this guy. I think that's funny. Considering the fact that I may have had to club him once or twice to make him go out with me (the husband that is). But I did stop seeing what's his name. And I was the one who asked for the first date (with dh). Because I'm really shy like that.

How long do you expect to be in Chile?

My dh's assignment here is for 2 years. So we are looking at around 18 more months.

Are you children learning Spanish?

Yes. Eddie is enrolled in a preschool like program. And they only speak Spanish there. I just had a conversation with the only person who speaks some English there (she manages the other center and only stops by once in a while) and she told me that he completely understands them, is well behaved (I don't know who she's talking about there.) And follows along, sings (in spanish) and does what they say, when spoken to in Spanish. My daughter can count to 10 in Spanish, knows her body parts in Spanish, and can say some pretty basic things. She's picking it up now too. And when she stepped out of the tub the other day, she said, "Hace frio." (It's cold.) lol~ I know she picked that one up from Eddie.

How was this past winter?

C.O.L.D. And I'm pretty much a wimp. One must keep in mind that I was born on a lovely island (Puerto Rico), grew up in Florida (can we say sunny?) spent some time in Texas, North Carolina, and then also lived in Arizona (land of the heat.) I've never done snow. I don't know what to do when the temperature dips below 35. I never even owned a winter coat. Where I'm from, it just doesn't get cold. So coming here, was pretty cold. The winter months being from June-August, it maintained pretty steady temps in the 30's to 40's. Toward August it started creeping up to the 50s. So yeah. Cold for my taste.

Ashley says: You once told me your husband is originally from Colombia. Is his family still there and how often do you get to visit all of your relatives with your family in the states, your step children in the states, and his family wherever they are?

Good question. My dh is from Colombia. He does still have family there, and apparently this family is extremely large. His grandmother had 12 children. God rest her soul. My mother in law lives in Ft. Lauderdale, and my father in law lives in New York. There are various relatives that immigrated to the US, but not all. So I know he still has some Aunts and Uncles there, along with a whole bunch of cousins and second cousins etc. roaming around Colombia. He hasn't been back there since before we were married. I don't know if he plans to go back. I however am leaving this lovely country on Nov. 21, boarding a plane straight to Tucson AZ! I can't hold out so long. I miss my family like crazy. We are very close, and my kids are always asking for any one of them on any given day. I can't wait. As for the step-kids. They are planning a trip to come to Chile. I just don't know when yet. If they don't get here before June of next year, then we are taking another trip to the states for our vacation. And we are going to see them then. (summer break)

Melissa says: How many siblings do you have and how far apart in age are you?

My brother and I are 2 years apart. And my sister and I are 10 years apart. I'm the baby. Well, figuratively speaking. I sometimes feel all old and creaky.

How did you choose your kids' names?

Once upon a time, I was like crazy psychic. Intuitive. Whatever. I just knew. I was having a son. Like forever ago. I have always liked the name Richard. It's my father's name and also my brother's name too. And even when dating guys, it was fun sometimes to scare them a little bit when I would tell them that I was going to name "our" first born son Richard. And then I would add their name, Joseph, or Michael, or Billy Bob, or who ever I happened to be dating at that time. (which shortly there after I was always single, but hey.... Like I said, fun.) Well, when we decided that we were going to think about having kids, I told my dh (this is a full 4 years before ever conceiving Eddie mind you.) that we were going to have a son. Not just some day, but for our very first child together. I even began buying him clothes. Yes. I did. And I'm sure my mother or sister can vouche for that. They probably saw the clothes and thought I was nuts. But I did it. When I finally did get pregnant in 2004, I told my dh that his name would be Richard Edward. (after my father/brother/and husband). When I told my parents I was pregnant, I also told them my baby's name. Some 7.5 months later, he was born.

Now as for Alexa, we just didn't have any boy names picked at all. I had a feeling she was going to be a she. And I have always liked the name Alex. Ever since my brother dated this beautiful girl named Alex. (100 years or so ago.) It stuck, and I think I always thought that would make a nice name. And then Billy Joel named his daughter Alexa. So I thought that was pretty too. Brooke just seemed to go along nicely with that name, and we both agreed.

Amberdenae says: I found your blog through another. Hope you don't mind my reading :)

Oh my heavens no. Sit and stay a while. But please don't let me scare you off with all my wild children's stories. Things can and frequently do tend to get messy up in here. But feel free to give me a shout every now and then. I don't bite. I don't mind you peeking around at all, you see, even though you didn't officially ask me a question, I've made it into one. Sort of. You just come on back now, any time ya hear? ((Oh goodness, there I go again, gettin' all country on ya!))

Vic-Vic says: (And I can call her that, because she is related to me, and I've seen her do a roach dance, with a live roach crawling on her body. LOL. It still makes me smile to this day.)

What do you want to eat when you get here on Saturday?

I want some of that pizza from the new take and bake pizzeria that just opened up. Or wings. Or maybe some Chili's. But I have a feeling that I will be having all 3 anyway. But not at the same time. That would be gross.

Are you going to make your mashed potatoes for Turkey day?

You betcha!

Are we there yet?

Um. No.

Are you packed yet?

Um. No.

What are you having for dinner tonight?

Carmen (our maid) cooked vegetable water. I'm so not kidding. Things are a touch different here. They use meat sparingly, and they don't cook large portions of food. There aren't many leftovers, because usually only enough is made to eat at that time. Just enough for whoever happens to be joining you for dinner. I cooked up some thinly sliced steaks to go with our very tasty, vegetable water. OK ingredients in vegetable water: squash, beans, very few beans, and corn. But like I said, mighty tasty! Just not filling.

Casey wants to know:

Did you ever picture yourself as a military wife?

No. But I could (or should) have seen it. My dad is retired Air Force, so I've always had an admiration and respect for the military.

Do you think you are the typical officer's wife, or the atypical officer's wife, and why?

Well. I think this would qualify as the toughest question thus far. As I started to answer you, it went on and on... So I've decided that you get your own post. I would like to make sure my answer is clear. :)

What do you want for Christmas? :)

I really wanted to see my family. So since I've bought the tickets and am prepping to go, I guess I get my Christmas wish. But as for things... I'd love a new cell phone or ipod or some techie gadget. Maybe a blackberry, and I could put my songs in there. I don't know. I do know that my dh has kind of adopted my old ipod. And he uses it a lot more than I do. He travels for work and it's always in his briefcase. So maybe that. Ipod, or cell phone. Or i-phone. Hey, that could work. lol!

Spoiled Mommy has an inquiring mind:

I want to know what you & the kids do all day? shhh...besides when you are on here!

We wake up at the crack of 6:50 when my dh is leaving for work. I get cups of milk. We watch Jimmy Neutron, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I make breakfast. The maid comes by 9. We play. Or they play. I moderate fights. We brush teeth and get dressed. I take them downstairs to run in the "yard" of grass around our building. We have busy activities that range from painting, play-doh, blocks, legos, stamping or puzzles. I also have hooked on phonics preschool edition that I let Eddie play with on my computer, and Caillou's learning numbers and letters. So Eddie gets to log some time on the computer. We have lunch between 12 and 1, and we get Eddie ready for school. Alexa and I walk him everyday at 1:55. At 2 pm Alexa takes her nap for 2 hours, sometimes 2 1/2. Mommy gets computer time! ;) Alexa wakes up between 4-4:30, we have snack. I read books with her or play what she wants to play with. Dh and Eddie both come home at 5:45-6PM, we eat. (Maid goes home at 5. Dinner is made. Love that.)

Do you have twitter? I am signed up for twitter. But don't you need a phone? Twitter from your phone? Someone clue me in on how it really works. When I'm all hooked up, I'll let you know, and we can chat. Or tweet. Because I want to be cool like that.

Laural asks:

Are you going to have any more kids?

According to my dh, when asked this same question by a total stranger at one model home center about 1 year or more ago. (As if this was any of that weird nosy man's business.) Dh says, "I am 300% sure we are done." I said nothing. As I said in one of the previous questions above, I have a little bit of a psychic streak. I have always felt that I might or could have 3 kids. Of course I could, I am woman, hear me roar. But seriuosly, I have seen another little girl. I even had a dream about her. Strange? But the timing is wrong for now. My kids are too wild. MY. KIDS. ARE. TOO. WILD. They wake up and begin bouncing. They don't stop bouncing until they are actually sleeping. If they stop bouncing for a moment, it means that they are fighting, falling or getting hurt, or eating. But they can fight, eat and get hurt all at the same time. Once they are finished eating, they resume bouncing. So right now, child number 3? I'd jump off the balcony. It could be open for discussion at a later date.

Will you be putting Eddie into an English or Spanish speaking school for Kindie? By the time Eddie starts Kindergarten, we will be back in the states. So I'm not sure where we will be moving to, but most probably it will be English speaking.

My friend Karen says:

What is your typical breakfast?

Because fruit is so cheap here, we often have so much laying around. We eat oatmeal with strawberries/bananas. We have eggs and pinapples. The kids still love cereal (with yucky milk.)I make pancakes, and french toast. Or we just have plain toast with fruit. They love it, it's cheap, and they eat lots of it, if nothing else.

Favorite TV show?

Grey's Anatomy. Days of Our Lives. And honestly, I used to watch more of the mainstream Favs. but I can't remember it's been so long. The only one I actually watch right now, and stalk it down on the internet (Thanks Casey for the sidereel tip!) is Grey's.

Favorite place to buy clothes (in the US)?

Dillards, NY and Company, Marshalls, Ross, Target. I'm all about a sale. But then again, you knew that! ;)

The best meal you make?

As far as tasty goes, I've had incredible reviews on my spaghetti. But I am going to say my best is the chicken bow tie pasta with broccoli. I make it with a cream cheese sauce, and it's FAB. Makes me want to make some right now.

When are you going to come to Chicago and visit me?! :)

Trust me, when I come to Chicago, you are on my list! Along with a trip to the mall. And we can let our boys tear up your house. (OK, not really tear it up, but they can play really hard.) But you might want to put up some padding before we arrive. Keep it to one room, that way we can minimize the damage.

Shannon would like to know:

What is your favorite time of day?

2 PM. When Eddie is off at school and Alexa goes down for her nap. Ahh. peace.

What is your favorite season?

Spring. I enjoy the crisp cool air. I love it when it's not too cold and not too hot. It means summer is on it's way. It means I can start pestering my family for birthday presents.

Have you ever been on a blind date?

Never.

What famous person would you like to meet?

Robert Pattinson. Have you seen this man? Oh my. And his accent? Oh my. Yeah. For right now, it would most certainly need to be him.

Have you ever met a famous person?

Yes. And as I am laughing and typing, I must provide a link for all of my younger readers who have NO IDEA who this man is. We are talking Urban Cowboy. I met Mickey Gilley. And never anybody else really cool like Queen Latifah or Hugh Jackman.

And finally my last question from my very dear bloggy friend Stephanie:

What ONE thing are you going to be happy to have "back" by being in the states?

Only one? Oh yeah, it's my blog, I can say what I want here. lol~ I will be thrilled to order a drink and actually GET some frikkin' ice in it. Milk. Again see, milk post that I linked above. Target. Lovely Target. And mexican food. Because it rocks. But mostly, I will be thankful to have the ability to communicate freely with those standing within ear shot. I can't wait to be able to say random things and have people understand me. I feel like I've been locked in this bubble and have not been heard. You won't be able to shut me up once I get off the plane.

Thank you so much for playing along. That took a little while to compose, and for Casey, your question will be answered in full soon! If you made it all the way to the end, God bless you and thanks for sticking with me. ((cyber hugs for you.))