Camping Trip #3: Bass Lake

At the end of July this entire crew headed to Bass Lake (all the way up by Yosemite). I know it's a big group so I'll break it down for you...

This is the where the family started. A mom, dad, three sons, and two daughters. My boys know them as Ammah, Papa, Uncle Brent, Uncle Manny, Daddy, Auntie Kimberly, and Auntie Courtney.

 

Then....

The two oldest brothers got married and Christina and I joined the family.

 

Uncle Brent and Christina have six kids.

Justine, Julie, Payton, Collin, Nevaeh, and Jacoby.

 

And there is our family with three kids...

 

So all the grandkids together make nine!

 

There... The crew has been identified!

 

Brent and his family live in central Cali so they didn't have far to drive. However, because it was so far for us, we split the trip into two days stopping half way (170 miles) in Bakersfield at a camp site that had a pool. The exciting part about this stop was that Parker decided to take off his life jacket and jump in. He freaked me out because of course he didn't tell us he was going to do it AND of course it was in the deep end! But, thankfully, he came right back up and swam to the side! So different than Isaac, who shed a few tears when we forced the jacket off him last year!

 

The days were spent playing in the water, riding the jet skis, boating, tubing, and laughing! And of course for me blowing my nose, taking medicine, and sniffing nose spray! Being sick while on vacation stinks!

 

 By night we enjoyed camp fires, singing songs, and playing games! The older cousins helped take care of the younger cousins and everyone got along so well!  

 

our spot

 

Isaac liked being in the boat but, he really liked jumping off of it!

Parker loved the jet skies and the boat. However, I think he loved Jacoby even more!

Bottom right picture.... Thanks Parker!

Blake and Nevaeh are two months apart. Other than the typical "we're almost two" behavior, they got along pretty well. This month Nevaeh should legally be a part of this family. Adoption is a beautiful thing!

This trip proved that Blake loves the camera and the camera loves him. It's too easy to get him to smile... even when his diaper is beyond full of water and he's shaking because his so cold (top right picture)! He loves dirt, going fast, and his hands in his pocket!

Eating Pirate Booty out of a cup holder, playing with Papa, snuggling with mommy, and helping Ammah feed the baby... Life is pretty good!

Watching daddy and cousin Collin wakeboard.

Cousin time!

More of the crew

Night time fun!

My trio has had quite the summer so far! I hope these adventures become memories that last a lifetime!

 

New Journey: Changes are a Comin'

This may just look like a picture of Isaac at the zoo with a silly goat that's trying to get away from crazy little hands that don't have food in them. However, I see something much greater.

 

I see a promise from God that my Isaac will do great things in his life. Abraham was so faithful. Faithful enough to sacrifice his only son when God told him to. Because he trusted that God would provide a way out, he got as close to killing his son as possible. He passed the test and instead of sacrificing his son, God provided a ram, caught in the thicket. Abraham's son, Isaac, walked away unharmed!

 

I desire a faith that strong. However, I don't want the tests that come along with them. Through tears and complete surrender, God has shown me how he has placed rams (goats) along our path. We've never had a near death experience but, there are fears and worries that haunt me as a parent. I'm learning to let go of Isaac in a way that I can deal with. God knows I'm not as strong as Abraham.

 

Isaac going to kindergarten was one way that I was struggling to let go. I knew it was my first test! I know, it's supposed to be something that you just do and everyone does it! All moms cry the first week and can't wait to rush to the door and hug their little babies. I prayed that if he is to leave me five days a week for six hours at a time, then give me a peace about it.

 

The peace never came and never came and never came...

 

We toured a school and it was wonderful! The kids loved Isaac. He fit right in. The teacher was great. I loved the staff!

 

But... The peace never came!

 

Homeschooling kept popping in my head. Sure I was homeschooled and I was a teacher soooo, it only makes sense that I would homeschool my kids. Of course I had talked about it when Isaac was itty bitty but when it actually came time to consider it, I freaked out. Isaac is a perfectionist. Its takes him five tries to get the perfect capitol "I" for his name! I'm very impatient. The two don't mix. Besides, God was working on me to let Isaac GO, not keep him HOME!

 

My emotions have been off the charts about Isaac and kindergarten this fall. How could I homeschool? How could I teach Isaac all he needed to know and still entertain Parker and Blake? 

I, I, I, I. I was making it all about me!

 

Now this is where the praying really got serious.

 

God, if you want me to let go, I will. God, if you want me to homeschool, I will. Both options were equally good AND hard. I was done weighing pros and cons and just wanted the best answer.

 

Feeling the lead push/shove to homeschool, I sat down and read a verse in Proverbs.

 

Be exalted in your strength, Lord;

 we will sing and praise your might!

Proverbs 21:13

 

It finally hit me. It's not about my strength, It's about God's strength! Instead of worrying and making this problem bigger than it was, I just needed to praise Him.

 

We called the wonderful school and told them that Isaac would not be joining them in the fall.

 

Once again, God was letting me keep my Isaac.

 

I still have no idea what I'm doing. All I have is a peace (that surpasses all understanding), a start date, and a kid that needs to learn something!

 

Thankfully we will be connected with a charter school and Isaac will have an Education Specialist (which is a friend of ours. I'd like to give a shout out to Krista Gradias) and will attend enrichment classes every Thursday. I'm also thankful that he will get another year in Bible Study Fellowship on Tuesdays. His name is still on a waiting list at the school where he would go M-W-F (all day) and be home T-Th. In the meantime, we are going to get Sea World passes, LEGOLAND passes, and use the heck out of our trailer by learning on the road!

 

Whoever said vacations should only be enjoyed in the summer?! Not us! :)

  

 

 

 

Cousins in California

Seeing as how we won't go to Arizona in the summer, it means that family has to come see us. But, considering that we have the beach and cooler weather... It's not too hard to convince them to make the drive!

 

In mid-June, Lisa and her family and all her in laws rented a house in Mission Bay for a week. We were able to join them for one of the days and it was absolutely perfect for the little ones because there were no waves and the water was a little warmer (actually, that was better for the adults... Kids don't care how cold it is)!

 

In early July, my sister came back with her two boys and Mummu. Iso was in Connecticut for five weeks doing tennis stuff so this trip was a great distraction for my mom. The only thing on the schedule that week was the 4th of July and taking all five boys in to get their pictures. Fireworks went off on both occasions! ;) The boys ran wild and played from sun-up to sun-down! It's fun to sit back and watch these cousins entertain each other!

 

The gang in June

One of each of the boys

Kayaking around the bay 

Let's play ball!

Uncle Mike pitches the ball to Parker while his two brothers and Isaac stand ready in the outfield.

 

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The gang in July

Getting five little boys to look and smile at the same time means that this is one of those pictures where the real action and craziness is going on behind the camera!

Gosh I love them!

Blake's curls are to die for but, they need to be tamed from time to time! Chop, chop Mummu!

Even boys can play house... Of course the big boys were some type of secret agents. Even restaurants need protection! 

Landon's birthday is easy for me to remember because he's born on a 12th just like Isaac!

Camping Trip #2: Dos Picos

 

Our Coronado Island trip was spent with LOTS of friends. This Dos Picos trip was just Shaun, me, and our trio! We went from palm trees to oak trees. From the massive pacific ocean to a little murky pond. From sunny days to canopies of trees sprinkling rain from the overcast sky. Both were perfect in their own way.

The boys loved exploring the land, playing at the playground, talking to other families that were camping, going to the Safari Park (it was only 17 miles away), roasting marshmallows, and riding their bikes.

Getting the big boys to ride their bikes was the greatest accomplishment of the whole trip. At home all they want are their quads, plasma car, big wheels, and any other vehicle that has more than two wheels. We have catered to them long enough... Suck it up soldiers and get on your bikes! Isaac knew how to ride his bike but always protested it. Weeeeellllllll, he is now a pro AND loves it! Parker always fought his balance bike because he was following in his brother's tantrums. However, Parker actually asks to ride his bike now. The secret to getting your kid to learn something new? Take them on a family vacation and tell them they can sit in a chair or face their fears! Too many distractions at home!

Oh what a wonderful time it was!

 

The set up!

Parker found a duck's egg. Daddy really wanted to crack it open but I made him go behind the tree just incase he cracked open a little chick (Thankfully it was just the yoke).

SOOOOOO much fun... Just like bike riding should be!

At the elephant training show

Hands on attention... Blake loves talking to the goats!

 

Up close and personal. They looked right at me!

My boys do pretty well for as many pictures that are demanded from them!

On our way back to camp from the zoo... I think they're tired!?

 

Sometimes I wonder how many boys I really have!?

And when you take well over one hundred pictures it's really hard to narrow it down... So, here's a few more!

 

Camping Trip #1: Coronado Island

 

This summer, we had three very different camping trips planned. The beach, the woods, and the lake. And we are still trying to squeeze one more in. This is probably our busiest summer ever! We spent four days on Coronado Island at Silver Strand. It was soooo much fun! Our trailer was right on the sand so Blake's naps were very convenient. We saw lots of friends and got way too much sun!

The fam bam!

Uncle Aaron was in San Diego for a wedding so he came for the day.

My Nichole was staying in Del Mar so we all got to play in the sand one day!

My three boys love Aubrey, Hailey, and Charlie. I don't think we ever had to break up a fight... It was perfect. Nichole and I even got to sit on the beach and relax while Blake napped, Parker and Charlie took a break and watched a movie in the trailer, and the three big kids dug in the sand! With six kids between us, talking has become a luxury that doesn't happen often! Not to mention the fact that she lives in Las Vegas!

The Gradias family was staying at the alumni housing at Point Loma so of course we had to get together. Isaac has announced that he is going to marry Madison and Blake and Malia seem very comfortable around each other. Hmmmm.... ;)

 

One of Shaun's partners from work was camping with his family at the same beach. Great timing cause when we realized we forgot the seasoning for the zucchini we went straight to them. Here is Blake helping Blake ride the razor! :)

 

I could have sat in my chair and watched them for hours!

Our beach trio

 

Isaac is such a good big brother!

 

I think Isaac played the hardest and longest each day. By the last night he had to close his eyes for an hour and hold a cold cloth on them because they hurt so bad. If it's possible to burn your eye balls, then he did it!

We all know Parker has a cute smile but it wasn't showin' through pictures. However, here's proof that I tried on several occasions!

My goofy Blake. This little guy will smile at a camera even if it's not pointed at him! Check out the picture in the middle of the collage. We were sand dollar hunting one morning and I handed one to Blake. Next thing I know, he had taken a bite out of it. Duh, of course he would have no idea that it was a sea creature and instead think it looked like a yummy cookie! Oops, my bad! Yuck!

This trip started on our anniversary and this is the only picture we have of the two of us... How sad!

Stripes

We wear a lot of stripes... A lot! I guess it's kind of my way of being able to match my boys. For some reason Shaun doesn't like the idea of them in floral!

My almost two year old!

Blake is happiest with his hands in my hair!

Even Mummu wears stripes!

 

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Why are all the pictures of Blake?

 

Does this explain it!?