Yosemite day-tirp

Sunday April 25, 2010 we took a day trip to admire God's work in Yosemite National Park with our friends, the Griffin Family.

Because it was ‘National Park Week’ we got into the park for free, but we donated a portion of what we would have paid for an entrance fee to the Yosemite Foundation… Our day started off at Bridalveil Falls. We walked up to the viewpoint and got sprayed by the waterfall. It was a neat experience.

After that, we drove to the Visitor’s Center and made the 3.6 mile (round trip) hike to Lower Yosemite Falls. Then we went to the Cathedral picnic area for a yummy lunch. I bbq'd some carne asada and we had tacos. The kids had hotdogs. Then we walked across the parking area to a beachy area where the river runs through the park. It was fun to watch the kids play in the water.

We even had an adventure-drive on the way home, thanks to the GPS.

Justice, Keira and Kayden on the trail to Bridalveil Falls. Because of the spray, I had to put my camera away after this.

Justice with Upper Yosemite Falls in the background

My Family with Upper Yosemite Falls in the background. This was on the walk to Lower Falls

Justice, Kayden, Colin and Keira at Lower Yosemite Falls

Kev and I at Lower Falls

This is Kayden's "cheese" face. He cracks me up!

My family at LYF

I LOVE my stroller, but here is a new reason why:

no complaining kids on the 3.6 mile walk - the stroller accomodated them all!

The kids playing at the lunch area

Kevin skipping rocks in the river after lunch

This spot was our favorite place to pray and talk about everything the Lord made,

that we are fortunate enough to enjoy.

like father, like son. Kayden was not to be outdone, so he threw 2 rocks!

This is my favorite picture of the day. I am completely blessed with amazing children.

Parent/Teacher Confrence

Today was my first parent/teacher confrence where I wasn't the subject. But the news was good: Justice is a normal 3 year old. (duh!). She has the uncanny ability to sit unfidgety-if that is even a word- for extended periods of time. Unlike most 3 year olds.

She is progressing beautifully and will be ready to start the new school year in the 4's class with most of her classmates. Yay!

There was never any doubt, but it is always nice to hear that your kids are doing well and doing what they are supposed to.

In every category, Justice got a "G" for Good. (The other option was "W" for working-on skill)

I can only pray that God will continue to bless me and my children with continued excellent reports in schooling these next 20+ years, or until they have achieved the level of education at which they are satisfied.

Well, I did it......

...... I signed up for the NIKE Women's Half Marathon in October. Whew! SO excited though!
I'm sure I'll post more on this later!

The busiest day of the year (so far)

Saturday, March 27 2010 was the busiest day of the year so far for us! Justice had a soccer game at 8:30am and the kids celebrated their birthdays...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~THE BIRTHDAY PARTY: ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Diego, Justice, Sydney, Kiera, Colin, Elijah, Tyler, Kellen and Kayden

March 21, a day in photos

Kayden's shirt speaks vloumes about his personality!

Justice wearing Poppy's shoes.

A view I hope to never forget.

There is just something about grease and dirt that reminds me of my childhood.

I love you, Mom.

He may be goofy, sometimes a little funky - sometimes a gigantic pain in the butt, but he is my brother and I couldn't love him more.

Mom's Wisteria

Tot Soccer, game # 3

Justice warming up...

This is what the majority of the games look like - its pretty funny.

Look at the intense look on her face. You go, girl!

Sidney and Justice held hands and ran around the field. It was cute!

Kayden's Piggy Bank: Phase Two-still under construction.

Side 1, remember, has the hand print. This is side two, so far. Kayden picked out the colors for the letter of his name, and also all the other stickers that are there. Kayden had fun putting the stickers on (with Mommy's help)... On the piggy bank's butt there is a little blue snail and on his forehead, right between his eyes, is a bright yellow cross. I love that Kayden chose that spot for the cross.

It makes this momma proud that my kids are starting to learn the importance of God in their lives.

Thank-You, Jesus!

The new "pets"....

Today we got to celebrate Kayden’s birthday –again- with Grandma Georgia. She and Rudy took us to lunch at Applebees, and gave Kayden a wonderful gift. Can you see me rolling my eyes?

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the latest craze meant to drive parents completely bonkers: Zhu Zhu pets. These little things are just like real hamsters except, well, they are fake. They roll around the house making noises and get caught under the couch, insighting riotous cries from my children to “get them back for us!”

Without further adu, here is "Zhu Zhu" - so aptly named by Justice,

 

and "Pink" named by (suprise, suprise) Kayden.

 

This is the car and surf board that they play with:

 

 

Pictures Of My Son

This post is entirely comprised as the title implies… pictures of my Kayden Noah at two years old. I think that he needs a haircut (don’t tell Grammy that) because after his hair dried, it was a big red puff… lol.

401 on Tuesday Nights at BCCC

Our God is a God of order.

The slightly OCD part of me LOVES it!

I am going through a class through my church called

'Touching God In Prayer'. It has been completely eye opening and enlightening. Prayer is our highest calling, as children of God. Jesus' life flowed out of prayer. He talked (with God) then he walked. Jesus' ministries were between His times of prayer.

So I have been learning that there is a God-designed order to our prayers.

I also just learned the correct way and the reasoning behind the Armor Of God, and have been teaching my kids to 'put on' the armor every morning. It is quite entertaining.

I encourage everyone to spend time alone with God daily.

 If Jesus needed to do it, how much more should we?

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!

St. Patrick's Day Blessings!

A busy Weekend

This weekend/weekend has been soooo busy! Following Wednesday/Thursday SWAT and K9 ops/callouts, we thought we would be in for a quiet weekend. Ha! Think again.... Friday Kevin went to work as usual, after K9 training. He (Praise the Lord) got off a little early, so he could get some sleep before Justice's soccer game.

Justice was completely miserable, and didnt want to play at all. She did, for a minute or ten, then just wanted to sit on my lap.

She had been battling high fevers since Fri evening. Saturday evening landed us in the ER, where the doc confirmed that Justice has a double ear infection. Her very first, ever. Which is weird, according to the Doc, because of her history with allergies.

The 4 of us in the ER, waiting...

So, they perscribed her Azithromiason and sent us on our way. Once we got the medicine in her, she immediately threw up. Not uncommon for her, so we thought nothing of it. Again, we thought wrong. Justice woke up Sun morning with a rash all over. We went to church anyways, and it wasn't long before they paged me to come get her. She didnt even want to play with the other kids, she just wanted to sit on my lap. During prayer time, Kevin and I took her up to be prayed over.

Sunday afternoon, I called the pharmacist and the ER again, and they switched her perscription to a sulfa drug. Thank God, by Monday morning, she was basically back to normal. Whew!

Monday we spent time outside, and cleaning out the garage.

Here are the kids petting a chick at Robinsons, when we went to get dog food for Bronx.

Monday night I got a special treat, a date night. I cannot tell you how long it has been! Kevin took me to Lodi Lake, to scout out some good spots for me to take our family pictures, and watch the sunset. It was so nice. Then we went to dinner at ShangriLa.

Today we are doing yard work, and more cleaning out the garage. Fun. (not)...

Kevin and I bought the kids new piggy banks, and I decided that we could decorate them today. Here is phase 1: 2010 handprints. I think that it would be cool to do a new hand print every year, in a different color.

During quiet time today, we watched the Princess and the Frog. Cute movie. Good thing Jus' birthday is coming up, it gives me a good reason to go buy it. lol