Beach and Hotel Fun!

Here are a few pictures that I said I would post from our San Diego get away last week! The beach was a little cold, but definitely worth the visit! Isaac is such a California boy! The hotel was tons of fun too! Using a different towel for every shower, which were VERY long showers, and not having to wash them was wonderful (the simple pleasures of being a mommy)! Isaac had a good time playing in the roll away crib they brought him too... Well, until he had to go to sleep in it!

I guess it wasn't that cold 'cause I'm still in flip flops!

I'm glad Shaun has his buddy for life!

Click on this collage so you can better see the look on Isaac's face in the bottom, right hand picture! This kid is so animated!!!

Like Father, Like Son

Isaac has had a tough two weeks. He went from the stomach flu, to a cough and a runny nose, to pink eye! Does it ever end? His spirits are high and judging by the way he danced non stop around the doctor's office yesterday morning, he's not going to let a crusty eye spoil his fun! He will always be healthy enough to help daddy clean out the garage and wash the cars too...

His poor eye!

Do we have a third generation firefighter?

Tagged (FOREVER ago) by Hayley & Bekah

The Rules:
1. Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4th folder.
2. Post the 4th picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag 4 people.

This was my 3rd grade class at Adams Elementary (2006). As you can tell, from some of the characters in the front, I had my hands fulls! For Christmas I bought fleece material and made them scarfs... Which turned into ninja bandanna! I am always being asked if I miss teaching. There are some days that I miss the "kids say the darnedest things" moments and the adult conversation at lunch, but I'll admit that I'm quick to respond with "no." BUT let me explain why. It was always my plan to go to college, graduate, get married, teach for a FEW years, and then be able to stay home when I had kids. Teaching was never meant to be my career. Now, looking back, I'm totally amazed that it actually worked out like that. I love the verse in the Bible that says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9. I guess I kinda had my outline and God filled in all the details. Nothing can compare to the job I have now!

So I guess I more than explained the picture! :)

Many of you have already been tagged so if you are on my list of friends and want to give this a shot... then I tag YOU!!! I will make sure I tag Andy and Emily Burton though because they're new to the world of blogging!

I need a vacation from my vacation...

We had a wonderful weekend in San Diego. It was a celebration of being healthy! We were of course a little weak and tired so we tried not to overdue it... Which didn't work. I'm one of those people that has to see and do everything. Poor Shaun just goes with my every request to keep going when I know he would love to stop and take a break. When I get home from a trip, I need just as many days to catch up as I was gone. I need to start vacationing in the exact same spot so nothing would be new and I would have to slow down!

Anyway, I think we broke the cardinal rule of Sea World... We didn't see Shamu!!! Who goes to Sea World and doesn't see Shamu? This trip was all about the sharks! Uncle Aaron joined us for the day so for those of you that know him, he is all about the sharks! Isaac didn't seem to mind though! He was just happy to be out of the house! I have beach and hotel pictures but I'll have to post them later... Isaac says it's his time!

Looks like we're in the water with him...

This was probably our 10th time through!

Check out those chompers!

My shark from Uncle Aaron. You can't see it but Isaac also has a big shark on his shirt.

1 sick kid + 1 sick husband = 1 tired lady

Don't you love my math skills? You would never have guessed I was a teacher!?! I taught multiplication, not addition!

Anyway, here's our week in a nutshell:

Saturday: Shaun left for work and Isaac's stomach flu started at 5:30am.

Sunday: Shaun was still at work and Isaac's stomach flu continued to get worse.

Monday: Shaun got home, Isaac felt better (but still threw up in the evening), and I was in bed all day. I had flu like symptoms (minus the vomiting thank God) but I think I was just tired from taking care of Isaac, and not myself, for two days.

Tuesday: Shaun went back to work and Isaac and I had a GREAT day (He did throw up one time but I'm blaming it on the bumpy ride to Target... We needed more laundry soap for all those loads I was doing)! We're done with the flu... I thought!

Today: Shaun was supposed to get off work at 8am but he was home early. Like eight hours early. He got whatever Isaac had last night and came home at midnight. I guess they don't want sick firefighters running calls. Isaac decided that he didn't want daddy to get all the attention so he continued his 4 day puking streak... Yup, all over me, first thing in the morning!!! Both of my boys SLOWLY improved as the day went on so I have high hopes for a healthy tomorrow! We've had plans to head to San Diego for a night and go to the beach and Sea World! I hope we get to see you Shamu!!!

I'm ready to have my silly boys back...

FYI: Michigan pictures are available for your viewing pleasure

http://isaachiggins.shutterfly.com/

Mom Math...

10 icky diapers every couple of hours
+
9 towels and blankets spread out all over the floor
+
daddy at work (or course) on a 48 hour shift
+
7 throw ups
+
6 loads of laundry
+
5 basic essentials - pedialyte, saltine crackers, Tylenol, mama's milk, and blankie
+
4 carpet spots to clean
+
103 temperature
+
2 hands catching a mouth full of vomit so that it doesn't land on the couch
=
1 very sick boy with the flu!

BitterSweet

We got home from Michigan last night and I have been dreading blogging all day. Where do I start after a trip like that? What could I possibly write to even begin to express how I'm feeling?

This week was bittersweet. Bitter because I know I will never spend a summer with my grandma again, I will never write her a letter and wait anxiously to get one back in the mail, I will never wish her a Happy Mother's Day or Birthday, and I will never see the look of "disgust" on her face for letting my spaghetti strap dress fall of my shoulder. However, it was sweet because I have so many wonderful, priceless memories with my grandma.

From Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, and Florida our family came from all over to be together... I've always said that funerals make the best reunions. We enjoyed spending time with each other while watching the toddler generation run around like crazy. It's always refreshing to have new life present during a time like this.

At my grandma's house she has the first part of the Serenity Prayer framed on her wall. Like every year I'm there, I laid in bed and read it over and over. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference." The rest of the prayer was read at her service. "Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen." I don't remember if this was on of the verses read along with the prayer but it sure is fitting for a time such as this. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6. As I was walking through my grandma's house and looking at pictures, elementary art work I had sent, and all the little "grandma" things she has, I noticed she had a book propped open. I've seen it many times, but I've just never taken the time to stop and read it. This time I did and a peace that passes all my understanding swept over me. It read, "God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around you and whispered 'Come with Me.' With tear filled eyes we watched as you suffered and faded away, although we loved you deeply we could not will you to stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest, God broke our hearts to show us 'He only takes the best.'" Michigan will never be the same without my grandma, but heaven is going to be that much better!

This was what we woke up to our first morning in Michigan. As you can tell I am INSIDE taking the picture!

Isaac's first snow experience. He wasn't a fan of the cold because it involved too much clothing and putting on foreign objects like gloves, boots, and scarfs. He didn't have enough time to get used to it either. He would only poke at the snow.

FYI: More pictures to come. I left my memory card at home so all the pictures are on my sister and dad's camera. As soon as they send them my way, I'll post them! Hint, hint dad and Lisa!!!