Our final summer camping trip

 

We are convinced that Dos Picos is where to go for a great family get away. It's close enough to home that we don't have to hear, "are we there yet?" 50,000 times but, far enough to make all the packing up feel worth it. Isaac could hardly wait for this trip because the Villarreals would be joining us. Danny and Leticia have three boys and their youngest, Gabriel, is one of Isaac's best friends. They have been in the same class at church since the nursery. I was able to sit more than usual because Christian (15yrs old) and Daniel (9yrs old) did a great job of helping entertain Parker and Blake.  

 

Riding bikes by day and wrestling by the fire by night... It was a boys dream vacation!

 

 

The top three activities:

Playing army guys, riding bikes, and exploring.

 

The boys were trying to lay eggs... The pushing was a little too real!

Six handsome young men!

Two peas in a pod... These boys are crazy together!

 

Gabriel turned six when we were there so the boys helped me make a sign for him...

 

And then we had a party... With lots of cake and ice cream!

 

All the boys hanging out by the fire!

See, wrestling. They even grabbed a rope and played tug of war. Blake was right in the middle of it, which was good because it forced the boys to not be so rough.

 

Last time we were at this bridge was November 2010.

It's hard to make it a point to get individual pictures with my boys!

 

This never happens... However, now that we have little photographers it's getting better!

 

And a highlight of the trip:

Parker learned to ride a bike! I'm a firm believer in the balance bike!

 

Blakesters is TWO!!!

Please, no!!! Don't let him grow up!

 

There are many things that Blake's loves. However, when choosing a theme for his 2nd birthday, Mickey seemed the easiest to decorate and is loved by all little ones. Disney has patented most of the Mickey things I liked, which means I would have to buy them at full price. So, thanks to Pinterest, I was able to copy and recreate for a fraction of the price!

 

Blake doesn't have his two year check up till early September so I can't give any stats. But, I can tell you what some of his favorite words/sentences are:

 

When I tell him to call for daddy he says, "No, Shaun. SSHHHAAUUUUNNNN"

 

Telling you, "I'll be right back. I go that way."

 

"No, Blake do it!" Comes out of his mouth ever two seconds.

 

"You are my bubby (buddy)!"

 

"I wuv wo, mommy"

 

"No, I want that!"

 

"Mommy, watch... Watch. Watch. Watch, mommy. Mommy, watch"

 

"I watch dirt bikes. Beke (Blake) watch motorcycles! Mommy, I watch bikes" All in one breathe, over and over and over again until I turn motor cross on! He is his father's son!

 

The morning after his party I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he told me, "chocolate!"

 

He can repeat, or at least tries to repeat, everything you say. I can understand him but, I usually have to interpret for others.

 

Blake loves animals (zebra, giraffe, camel, puppy dog, kitty cat, hippo, rhino, and jaguar are some of his favorites to say).

 

He would be content reading, wrestling, playing catch, watching dirt bikes and tractors, and rolling in the dirt all day long!   

 

 

The Higgins brothers!

Blake may or may not have me wrapped around his finger...

I don't even think I could begin to guess how many times a day I kiss his yummy little body!

Daddy and his boy!

My family with Blakesters

Thanks Mummu and Iso for, once again, being my party planning team! 

 

Uncle Aaron and the big boys did the decorating outside! Naturally there has to be a shark at a Mickey party! I would say maybe it had something to do with it being shark week. However, that was just a coincidence and we all know it had everything to do with Uncle Aaron.

Tati got Blake hats, which made for a cute brother picture!

Shaun's family with Blakesters

(you can tell this was at the end of the night because Parker couldn't wait to go without a shirt)

Sitting so nicely waiting for their Mickey Mouse cookie!

Friends that came to the party!

Happy birthday little dude!

Going, going, gone!

Two men that were forced, by their wives, to wear Mickey shirts to the party! HA!

 

 Presents!!!!

 

For those that know Blake well, know that all he wants to do is throw. He loves balls and has a very developed arm! He can even throw a spiral! I'd say he's going to be pro someday! Anyway... Uncle Aaron got him a rebounder net. AND as soon as he learns to throw the ball AT the net (and not as high as he can OVER the net), he's going to love the fact that the it comes right back to him!

some of the décor and yummy treats!

 

Oh how we love you to pieces Blake!



The Day Before I Became Complete

Two years ago, tonight, I put my two boys to bed and then wobbled to the car. I knew that the morning would bring a whole new love for me! My heart would again be given to someone else and I would fall madly, deeply in love with another precious boy! The little life inside me, that had me going crazy just trying to imagine what he would look like, would soon make his grand entrance... 

 

Blake was born perfect in everyway! He was gorgeous and I fell harder than I thought. He was only seconds old and already had the title of a thief! This little 8 lbs 10 oz creature, along with his daddy and two big brothers, held the key to my heart! The trap was set and I was caught in an unexplainable love. 

Even big brothers were taken by him!

 

 

Our Rockstar

 

No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one that knows what my heart sounds like from the inside!

 

 

Thank you God for blessing me with three little boys and a daddy that loves them just as much as I do!

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! :)