2nd Saturday- Transportation

It's so nice to be able to do this. The kids love to create!! And I LOVE watching them!! This time around was the first time Christina wanted to just help a sibling instead of do her own work.

Man. How times change. And how grateful I am for her help. I couldn't do it without her or Maria.

Maria's 1st Temple Trip

This year brought some BIG changes at church!!! After decades, church will now be 2 hours!! We already attended the 2 hour block and it was beyond fabulous. It is exactly what my faith and my spirit needed. I feel hope again.

Another change was that girls turning 12 in the new year can attend the temple, even if they aren't 12 yet.

Let's just say Mama was a proud mama. If anything I can do in this life, the one thing I want to do is teach my children to know who God is. And God is at the temple. His spirit is strong there.

I know Maria felt it. It was a wonderful experience for her and her sister. I must be honest. I was very heavy in my heart to be there alone with the girls. But even though my heart was sad, I know that I wasn't alone. I know that Heavenly Father knows all things and that He loves all His children. That His ways are just and merciful, and that all will be right.

I also felt very unworthy to be there. I am so down of late and I know it's because of some of the choices I make. But I'm still trying. And I know God will help me.

 

Anyways, I'm glad that Maria made the righteous choice to attend the temple. They both gathered names with Amy's help and it was a spirit filled experience.

Thank God that He is every mindful of us. I pray He will always bless my children and that they will choose Him and only Him.

Fly High!!!!!!!!

FYI: Never go to a trampoline park after you've hit the gym really hard. I WAS SO TIRED!!!

However, it was still a blast with these little beasts.

At one point, Ella was cheering on her brother. I thought to myself how lucky I am to have children who love and support each other. I couldn't ask for a greater blessing.

Then!! As usual. Maria made a friend with a timid little soul. Actually, timid is not the right word. This beautiful Indian girl was downright TERRIFIED of everything at the park. However, she desperately wanted to do the obstacle course, so I went with them.

She was scared the entire time. At one point though, after she had completed a part she started talking to herself, "I am here to have fun. I am having fun. I AM having fun. Because I'm here to have fun." She wasn't too confident, but SHE MADE IT!!!

And I'm proud of Maria for the way she encouraged and helped the little girl. Again, I look at my kids and wonder why God would be so good to me. To watch them is to see glimpses of what heaven is like. So pure. So Christ like.

Teeth Removed

Poor Nina. Papa, being the wonderful grandpa he is, blessed her with the gift of braces. She had overcrowding though and a couple permanent teeth needed to be removed.

OUCH!!!

Fortunately, she did really well and survived the ordeal!!

It's horrible seeing your baby in pain though!!!

Christmas at Papa's. Starting the New Year completely SPOILED

Supposedly the Greeks give gifts on New Year's Day and Papa wanted to try that out. Let's just say it worked!!

Papa, who isn't feeling up to par... man. What are we going to do with him!! Ends up cooking a delicious feast even though he's losing his voice and super tired. We are so blessed to call him Papa. He gives everything.

Funny story. Couldn't find the indoraptor anywhere. Day before Christmas I just "happen" to look at this pile of junk by a price checker... and there that baby was. All the boy cousins got one, so hooray for Jesus and miracles.

This year I made a list. The kids all told me what the wanted and needed. Voila. Done. Easy and everyone was happy.

Ahh... the joys of giving. Love this precious picture.

So glad to have Manny and Josh a part of the festivities.

Nancy gave us such a fun gift!!! The girls had a great time playing it.

Ella was thrilled with her barbies.

I love how they work together with legos!! So fun to watch.

Maria, our pop culture girl!!

The girls really wanted a straightener this year. I did some research and got a good one. It worked well on their hair and they were extremely happy with the results. I must say I was blown away too!!

Jody and I worked out this morning doing weights. He just sneaks in. It's funny.

Such magic to watch them. They are always so thrilled and grateful for what they receive. I hope it stays that way for all their lives. That they realize the only reason we have it so good is because of Heavenly Father and how He watches over us.

2018 Top 10

10. Ultimate trip to Arizona!! It was a vacation to remember!!

9. Christmas in California with Withers family!!!

8. 1st place in mile run for Eli!! Also Eli rips out multiple teeth, including 2 front teeth.

7.  Marvel Super Heroes... we watched EVERYTHING!!!/The Office binge-ing

6. Mt. Tallac & Half Dome for Mama

5. Nina gets braces

4. Year of Cupcake Wars on Sundays tied with so much shit breaks... but hooray for new TV, refrigerator, and STOVE!!

3. Death of the mini-can. RIP white maiden. You were totally rad and good to us. Also possible death of Atlas, Jody's Rodeo.

2. Jody cuts his dreadlocks. Say what!?!?

1. We support and love our Papa in all the soul searching he's done this year.

New Year's Eve - Burn It Down Daddy's First

It was so crazy wonderful to have Jody with us!! 

Jody adds a certain flare to things. He has a random knowledge that is super entertaining. He notices things like during the music of the fireworks, "I'M GAY!!!!!!!!" was shouted twice.

He is fun.

When he's awake and fed.

Let's see what this year and the end of his PhD will bring.

The fireworks started. 

Right. On. TIME!!!!!!!!

We are freezing and then we're burning. Literally, our skin feels like it will melt off our faces.

I like to picture all the negative of the year burning in the bonfire flames. It's cleansing for me.

Bless you Fallon.

We then carried the party over to Papa's. He treated us to Trader Joe's appetizers and yummy cream puffs. We watched Crazy Rich Asians, Manny got teary eyed and I love him all the more for it.

Christina was partying at the church at the New Year's Dance with her friend. We did some minute to win it TV shows and Office episodes.

Jody was non stop wrestling with Eli. Eli was in 7th heaven. Totally rowdy, but so wonderful. It's exactly what that little boy (and big boy) need.

We were all exhausted though. Eli wanted to stay, but Ella wanted bed. At one point Ella said, "Can we just go?!?! Let them walk home."

I got a small little peck from Jody at midnight. He was asleep. 

It was simple, but so very nice. Dad always treats us to such a good time, I don't know how I'd live without him. And the kiddos are life.

The end of 2018. Peaceful.