Summer 2013

I love summers!  What I enjoy most is the time with the kids.  Once you have kids you understand the chaos that is school morning routines and after school activities and homework.  You learn to appreciate the summer!  We spend some time, well a lot, of time in Cali.  The kids also spent a week with my parents in Yosemite and surrounding beautifulness.  Looking back at the pics, I miss summer now that we are back in school.  Oh, and we also went to Girl Scout Camp!  so fun.  It was family camp, so we invited my mom.  It was a great, short, introduction for the girls into all that is wonderful about girl scout camp. So I know a lot of picture will follow this, but we did lots this summer!

 The Girls in Hollywood with Shrek!

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.....one of our favorite places to explore!

 Oh and how could I forget, we celebrated our babies 5th bday!  Here are the crazies at Rustler's Roost for the bday dinner.

 Girl Scout Camp 2013, outside our cabin.

 Horseback riding at camp.

 

 4th of July, waiting for fireworks, with Queen Mary in back ground, so pretty.

 Made a visit to the American Girl Store in LA, wow amazing store.

 Monterey Bay rock!  We did not spot an Falcons! but did see Otters.

 The fish Nora saved on one of our explorations in Pismo Beach as low tide.

 Exploring the caves of Pismo Beach.

The list...

Realizing my children are growing up and growing up fast and within a blink of an eye they will be  off in the world making their mark and forging their own path, I wanted to write down the FEW things that I hope to impart on their hearts.  This is what I have come with. 


1- Love God, Trust God.  Trust that he has a purpose for you and he made you special.
2- Never stop dreaming and DREAM BIG!
3- Never stop laughing.  A sense of humor will do you wonders in this turbulent world. 
4- Stay close to your sister.  Love her, trust her, and if need be, always forgive her.  Never let go of each other.  She will be your best friend when there is no one else.
5- Make love, kindness, compassion, and honesty the foundation of who you are, and never forget it. 
6- Nurture your spirit.  Find things in life that you are passionate about. 
7- Your heart WILL get broken at some point, and maybe even more than once, but never ever let it leave you bitter.
8-Never settle for the path of least resistance.
9-Never lose your sense of wonder.
10-Never stop learning.
11-Get enough sleep, eat well, and take care of your body.  Life is so much more enjoyable when you are healthy and strong of body.
12-Always see the inherent goodness in people. Have faith in humanity.
13-Hate, fear, and negativity will destroy you. 
14-Civic leadership is the foundation in which our community's thrive on.  Be an active part of your community and work to make it better.  We are in this together.

15-When you fall on hard times and you are knocked off your feet, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and have faith!  Life will go on, God will provide, and there is always light at the end of the tunnel.   
16-Always remember all things come back to God, make God the pillar and center of your life.  Live a life full of Grace!  If you do, God will do great things in your life.

A girl and her dog

There once was a little girl who loved her puppy so much.  She ran around telling everyone that she was a veterinarian and dog trainer.  She took special care of this dog, feed her everyday, got her water, brushed her, took her for walks, and when the dog was not feeling so well-took extra special care of her.  She took her to the park and read her stories and made her up a bed.  That little girls name was Nora Grace and her puppy went by the name of Lexie.

 

A break to celebrate Spring!

For Spring break we took a much needed vaca to Cali.  The time was spent at the long beach aquarium, whale watching (for my bday), eating great food, spending time with loved one's (my parents came along), and of course ghost hunting at the Queen Mary.  Here are pictures to prove it!

My greatest gift....

As I rocked my sweet little B, Nora, the other night at about 2am, I began to think about being a mom.  As I sat in the darkness, she finally settles, I feel her heartbeat and her warmth.  I begin to thank God that I am here for her.  I know somewhere in the world there is a child crying and noone there to comfort and love.  My most charished moments as a mom are those times when I can comfort and love my girls. For me, being a mother is not only a responsibility but a privilage.  I am humbled my God's faith and trust in me to love and guide these two beautiful creatures.  Being a mom is the hardest, most challanging job but truly the most rewarding.  I know that these two souls are not mine, but I am given the opportunity but for a fraction of a second to raise and guide them.  There are days as a mom, I cry to God to help me, to give me the strength to do what is expected of me because some days it does not come so easily.  There are other days, it comes so naturally and easily.  I know that I have one chance to get this right.  I also know that I am human, with imperctions and faults, and with a a lot thoughtfulness, a lot of faith, and God's gentle hand, I can do this, yes I can do this!

Nora the drum player!

This was taken the day she got them from Santa, he delivered them all the way to Mexico.  Thank God we had no one else in the condo's around us so she could play to her hearts content.   She practices everyday.  It's only a matter of time before she starts up her own band.  She says if she had a band it would be called "the Diamond Sparkles".  

Living life with Grace

Nora Grace, 4 years old, crazy, caring, kind, funny, happy, smart and "our light".  I asked her the other day if she could please stay 4 forever.  Her reply was "sure mommy, I will try and when I grow I will just try to squish my head down".  I am excited for the future and seeing her grow into a wonderful young lady, but can't help but think how much I will miss her at this time in our lives.  She breaths fresh air and spontaneity into my otherwise boring life!  She keeps me in the moment and keeps me on my toes.  Nora Grace has always been a very active, lively little creature.  She is constantly on the go since she could crawl and every year I am thankful we have gotten through a year without any major injuries.     She has termed herself "the energizer bunny", and trust me that name fits.  She is so funny and witty and sometimes the things that come from her mouth are so hysterical.  She is unbelievably bright and smart.  She loves to play the drums and soon to be getting drum lessons.  She will be going to kindergarten in 7 months and not sure what the heck I will do with myself!   I guess all I can do is live in the moment with both my kiddo's.

Christmas Time!

This Christmas was full of school programs, the Nutcracker, ginger bread house making, high tea, visits with Santa, and Christmas at the Ocean!  We made such fun and wonderful memories this season!  Hope sang at her annual school concert and she loved it!  They sang songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Mozart, a wonderful joyous song in African.  Nora was the Angel that came on the night of Jesus birth to spread the good word in her program.  She was such a beautiful angel!  We had so much fun and excitement leading up the Christmas and so amazed it is already over, but so excited for this year to come!

School time!

I can't believe summer is over and it's that time again! Hair has been cut, new clothes bought, backpacks and supplies gathered. I am sad to not have all the extra time with Hope but so excited for her second grade adventure! Nora starts Pre-K and is thrilled! She is smart as a whip and I am sure will be reading and writing in no time! It seems like yesterday these two were born and now we have a second grader and a soon to be Kindergardener!