Saying good-bye to 2013

We were truly blessed in 2013 and I'm looking forward to the new adventures in 2014! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Station Five! Sadly, Shaun had to work Christmas so we spent half the day at the station with him!

 

 

This is probably my last post of 2013 so I figured I'd finish strong with a really, really, really long picture post from this month's activity! Let's start at the beginning...

 

Miss Elfie came to visit this month and Parker was by far the most excited! She would greet us each morning from different places all over the house. A few of our favorite where...

 

Drawing on our pictures that are hung in the hall.

Hunting for deer above the cupboards.

Showing us selfies she took with the boys at night while they were sleeping.

Head first in the cereal box.

The Star Wars guys even held her hostage one night!

And of course holding baby Jesus so that we would remember the true meaning of Christmas!

 

Parker asked a lot of questions this Christmas about what is real and what he should believe in. On one occasions, this was our conversation:

 

Parker: Mommy, is Santa real because I've never seen him?

Me: Well, there are a lot of things that are real that you haven't seen before.

Parker: *pondering my words*

Me: What is something you believe in but, you haven't ever seen it.

*me waiting for him to say Jesus or God*

 

Parker: Hmmmmm.... Have I ever seen a moose? 

 

Blake got his first REAL big boys hair cut! My mom has cut it up until now and she's never cut it so short that it gets rid of all the curls! Well, daddy is to blame for this one. I said no clippers but, apparently Shaun had other plans when he took him in! My baby, where have you gone!?

 

 

Isaac was cradled in this Santa's arms when he was only one month old!

Shaun helps out with Make a Child Smile every year so we joined in too.

Parker and Blake with Sparky the fire dog!

 

Uncle Manny graduated from college so all the Higgins and Donleys got together to celebrate!

 

Daddy turned 33 and the boys showered him with gifts the color camo!

Mummu and Iso were also in town so they watched the boys while we went on a date!

 

And then we had Christmas with them! However, I didn't actually get any pictures of/with them! Oops!

 

We went to the Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside at the Mission Inn!

I was freezing but all my boys were just right!

 

Bass Pro Shop is always a must...

And we really wanted a picture with Santa but, his line was waaaaaaay too long so we settled for a photo with his reindeer!

We ever found Mrs. Claus!

Kylie and Jeremiah join us for some shooting practice too!

 

Trees that light by night and hold swords by day! I'm also a fan of the idea that angels aren't pretty little things that float in the sky. Instead, they fight for us! Good job boys!

 

Uncle Aaron sent Shark jerseys (the hockey team) and shark jaws! 

 

Then there was our Christmas morning on the 24th! They tried so hard to keep their eyes closed until we were ready!

These boys were beyond spoiled but they loved their big gifts. Isaac got a Star Wars clone space ship thing and the little boys got a side-by-side!

 

The green team!

 

We headed to church that evening for our candle light service!

 

Showing off their true personalities.

Parker refused a picture so all was right in universe!

 

Overdue Trip to AZ

The day we left Glamis (Monday the 25th), Shaun drove the boys and me straight to Blythe to meet my dad. Iso then took us the rest of the way to Phoenix. Thanks dad... I know that's quite a boring drive! And extra long when the boys fight the whole way! Shaun headed back to Glamis, enjoyed the rest of the day riding, and then went home to work Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving (he joined us the day after Thanksgiving).

 

The last time we were in Arizona was in April, Maddox's 2nd birthday! The boys were ready to be back to play with cousins and Aalie (the dog). We visited with friends, did a lot of park days and playing in the backyard, and celebrated the boys birthdays for the last time! We're hoping to make another trip out in February!

 

 

We got to see Julie and her boys a couple of times! Waaaaaaay too many boys!

Celebrating the three November birthdays!

For all our Michigan family... They are watching freighters!

Iso built a playground in the backyard, just like when I was little! the boys loved it!

Kyle and Ryan came over and humored my boys by playing TMNT! Thanks guys!

Enjoying their new razors!

 

Shaun got to Arizona two hours before Aaron left to fly home. It gave us just enough time to take a family picture. Last one was two years ago!

The End!

Glamis

I wasn't going to blog about Glamis but, I changed my mind... For two reasons!

 

1. Glamis is Shaun's dream spot so it's only fair to him that he remembers these special trips with his boys.

 

2. If Shaun gets to go on his dream vacations then it's only fair that he takes me on my dream vacations! Right?

 

Soooo, here's to Glamis and my crazy husband that could spend weeks out in the sand (that's not connected to an ocean)!

Here is part of our group. The Lopezes and Villarreals! All together there were 12 kids. Nine boys and three girls!

I enjoyed taking the boys out in the new rhino before...

... it broke down and Uncle Brent had to tow Shaun back to camp!

I tried encouraging Shaun and reminded him that he still had his dirt bike that he could ride.

He looked at me and said, "How would you feel if you went to Hawaii and the ocean was gone?"

I shot him a look that said, "That's an unfair comparison."

So he continued with, "And the palm trees and the good weather were gone too?"

I laughed and replied, "Well then you pretty much have Glamis so I guess I would be extremely depressed!"

HA!

If we were to steal Nevaeh, then we'd have twins!

Isaac riding with cousin Collin, Julie, and Payton!

Isaac borrowed Nevaeh's helmet! Isn't he pretty!?

It was FREEEEEEEEZING!!!

 Parker and Gabriel are always silly!

 

This was Isaac every single day!

Monkeys & Koalas

 

If it hangs from a tree, makes funny noises, and looks a little funny... The Higgins brothers feel right at home!  

 

We love the zoo!

Birthday Celebration: #3

Our third, but not final, celebration was with family! Shaun's family and the Gomezes came over for dinner, dessert, and a little more ninja action!

The boys with Kylie and Jeremiah!

Cowabunga!

Higgins + Gomez = Lots of Fun

 

Adriana and I have been good friends since 2005! She's one of my favorites and I'm so thankful for her!

Papa Sr. and Nana loving on the boys!!! Uncle Manny too!