a little late but...

Our Fourth was wonderful this year, although it passed by way too fast. Prescott is such a wonderful place to be during this time of year, we all just love it. Our 4th of July lasts for about a week and it's jam packed full of things to do, so much in fact it's kinda hard to decide what to do and what to leave out. Prescott is home to the world's oldest rodeo, we got to do that this year and all of the boys had a wonderful time. There is also a huge craft fair at our local square with tons of vendors, there are boot races for kiddos and adults, street dances, and ok I'm going on and on and at this point my blog is sounding more like a travel brochure but there is more. There is also a huge (three hour long) parade and then an all day event at our local park with huge water slides, climbing stuff, carnival rides, food stands, live music and of course a huge firework display that evening. I love living in a small town, a small town with huge character. I hope you all had a wonderful 4th.

P.S Happy Birthday to my firecracker Grama!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, to my dad, my husband, my grandpa and my papa!

Summer time fun

Summer has been in full swing around here and we as a family are trying to capture and enjoy every single minute of it. I love these summer days where the kids and I can just go with the flow, especially love the days where we can come and go as we please with no to do list in sight. These moments with the kids are so precious and as I've noticed recently are going by much faster than I ever anticipated. I remember when the kids were really small I felt like my days would forever consist of changing diapers, making bottles & scrubbing baby food stains off the walls. I can't tell you how some days my heart aches to have those days back. Well enough mushy stuff for today we are off to VBS and well whatever else we decide to fill the day with.

VBS Monday

I feel like even though the kids have been out of school for a little over a week that today is the actual start of summer for us. Two of the boys started VBS this morning, they were so excited about going, they woke up super early and were dressed and ready without me having to even say a word. I am enjoying that they are a little more independent this summer, they are able to get their own cereal and dress themselves and with all of that I find that I have a few extra minutes for myself. Isaac was a little sad to say goodbye to them he wanted to stay so badly with them and that is wonderful because he gets to stay next week.

I survived our very first all boys sleepover, I was so amazed at the boys my son has chosen to be his friends. I am so proud of his choices, all of the boys were so well mannered and really polite. I wasn't looking forward to the sleepover at all, I thought it was going to be loud and wild and I would secretly hide in the bathroom and try desperately not to pull out all of my hair ( I just got highlights so that wouldn't be such a great idea!). But it was the complete opposite in fact I would love to have them all over again maybe even a few times through the summer.
Isaac and I went to the grocery store and bought tons of summer produce this morning and we are chopping it all up and organizing it so that we have plenty of fresh and yummy snacks on hand. Other than that we have a very relaxing day planned, a nap, some playtime, maybe even a little pool time and then we are having a sweet sweet family over for dinner. Speaking of dinner...I was wondering what some of your favorite summer recipes are I would love to try out some new menu items. Happy Monday!

Yikes...what did I get myself into?????

So last month my oldest turned ten, and it just happened that his birthday landed smack dab in the middle of the two busiest weeks in the entire school year. So we decided that it would be a good idea to postpone his birthday party until you guessed it today. So tonight we are expecting seven little boys to appear on our doorstep ready for swimming, pizza, video games, play, fun, hopefully sleep and whatever else happens. Nicolas is so excited, he has never had a sleepover before, and because of this we don't really know what to expect. Live and learn I guess! I will let you know how it goes tomorrow, that is if I survive.

We are also going to try out the new children's museum that just opened up, that should be fun and something different. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

P.S Happy Happy Birthday Sophia, we love you!

picking cherries...

Today marks one week since the kiddos started their summer vacation. We have had such a great week, it has been so nice not having to run around all over and be in a bazillion places in one day. We have really just been going with the flow of the day and it has been so nice and relaxing. We have been hanging out at the pool each day (I am trying really hard to get rid of my glow in the dark legs, at least for the summer). We did the summer movie program yesterday, can't beat it $2 to see Charlotte's Web. I had forgotten what a great movie that is, little Isaac cried when Charlotte died:( In this last year unfortunately he has had a lot of death to deal with.
Next week the kids will start two weeks of VBS, and we are all very excited about that. Isaac will get to participate this year. I ask all of you to please pray for him through this. He is on some new stuff that the new doctor gave him and we have changed his diet, I however have not seen any new changes, good changes I should say. We have had a rough couple of days with him, he isn't taking naps and is having the hardest time falling asleep at night, he has been wetting the bed almost nightly now and yesterday during a play date was really hard to calm. OK back to my train of thought, please pray for him, he usually doesn't do well in social situations, I plan on staying the first morning with him and then leaving him on the second to see which scenario works best for him. I pray that he is happy to join in on the fun. I want him to learn to be happy and play with other children minus the meltdowns. So please if you all don't mind please keep him in your prayers next week.
So I am off to do whatever the day brings about for all of us (how nice is that! Love it).

Out of the mouths of moms

This is going to be so much fun, because I catch myself saying exactly what my mom would say or sometimes the craziest things. I always thought that whatever the kiddos were saying was funny but I do the same thing, maybe talking insanely comes with the territory when raising children. Some things I've been saying lately...

please don't spit and then slurp it up, it's kinda rude not to mention really gross.

Honey please please please don't poop in the hamper, that is where dirty clothes go, not poop.

We DO NOT pee in the pool, no it's not funny, I really think you can make it to the potty, you can't because it's gross, they will have to put even more chemicals in the water to make it pleasant for us to swim in, yes I do believe that other kids with goggles on can see you pee! If you pee in the pool why do you keep getting mouth fulls of the water to spit out, YUCK! Yes if you pee in the pool eventually you will probably drink it if you keep opening your mouth.

Hot dogs are not an everyday meal, because I said so, because it's really important to eat your veggies

Please stop shaking your brother, you are going to give him a headache

please put some clothes on, we do not walk around the house naked just because it's hot outside.
To hear some of what the other crazy talking, kiddo raising moms have been saying head on over to http://mycharmingkids.net

Angel on isle 8

I think sometimes I get so caught up in my own life in my own world, with my own things and my own activities that I lose sight on what else is going on in the world. I have never thought of myself as being selfish but indeed I am. I don't get out of my way very often to call a friend or invite one to lunch. I tend to be the invited and not the one extending the invitation. I always say I have so much going on, the kids need this or have this or that going on. When I stop and realize what I've been doing I realize how often I isolate myself. I have to ask...do I isolate myself to protect myself and if so from what? What am I so afraid of? I know that if I am not careful I will land up pushing everyone away. So being the isolator I am, the self centered in my own world kinda gal I am I found God or should I say He found me. He found me the other day on check-out isle number 8. I am a God loving, Christian woman. I go to church regularly, work in the Sunday nursery, go to weekly bible studies, pray all the time, I look like a good Christian woman from the outside. But I have to wonder if I was such a good Christian woman would I still do all this isolating or would I feel good enough in every situation I find myself. I believe I would because I believe that I would love myself as much as my Father loves me. To prove His love for me He shook me to my very core at the very heart of my little world, the grocery store. Like I mentioned before I go to lots of bible studies and I have heard wonderful stories of everyday miracles happening to other people. Of course other people, things like that don't happen to me. I am nothing special. While having a usual day at our local down the street grocery store a young man in front of me was about to pay for his few groceries. He didn't have a club rewards card I overheard his conversation with the clerk and offered him mine. He looked at me in such surprise, really I thought no big deal. The clerk than offered him the brochure so he could get his own card he turned around and asked if that was ok and I said sure in fact great because I forgot something and while I ran back to get it he could fill out the card. He was new to the area and I told him how having a card would be better than using mine, he could earn discounts on gas and other things. So I ran back and grabbed the box of brown rice I had forgotten and when I came back he was just about done and handing the cashier his cash. Then I heard the woman say "are you sure, sir? He turned and gave me a huge smile and waived and walked out. He had handed the cashier money to help pay for my cart full of groceries. I at first said oh no I can't take it, but the young man was already out the door. My eyes filled with tears. The cashier was about as astounded as I was. The reason I had to share this is because later that day I posted this on face book and a friend of mine sent this back to me... "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" Hebrews 13:2
He was indeed an angel, an angel sent by God to shake me up that day. To show me that I am special and good things do happen to me, I need to stop being so afraid and let life happen and let life in. He loves me and that is all that I need to be good enough, because if I am good enough and so loved by the Lord who gave his life for mine than I am good enough.

Not Me Monday...

Another Monday already??? Geesh where does the time go these days? Well this week I didn't show up late to Nick's baseball game only to realize that we were at the wrong field, nope not me couldn't be, I am totally on the ball and have every time, date and event in my planner. I totally didn't look at the wrong date :) I didn't let Isaac where his cowboy boots and hat and batman cape to the game either, me of course not. On Friday I didn't take Nathan to Sonic for Happy Hour and let him eat an entire banana split by himself, that would just be way to much sugar for his seven almost eight year old body, and I didn't totally enjoy an ocean water as well and then proceed to walk around with blue teeth for an hour or so. I didn't lay on the couch for two hours last night so I could watch the series finale of Lost, geesh on the couch for two hours that would be impossible. I didn't wake my darling husband up in the middle of the night on Saturday so I could ask him where the monkey was on the I spy game and then continue to have a conversation about the game while completely asleep, nope! I never talk in my sleep, that could be soooo dangerous and really embarrassing! (Note to self don't play I spy with Isaac before bed time....I wonder if he looks for clues in his sleep too?) Well what have you not been up to this week? Happy Monday all!
Check out MckMama's blog or click on the "Not me Monday" box on the right to see what others have not been up to this week!

May....

Well what a month this has been. Full of ups and downs with tons of loops and twists thrown in as well. Isaac has not been doing so well. His behavior is getting harder and harder to deal with. I pray every morning when I first open my eyes before my feet touch the ground that God will teach me to be the mommy that Isaac needs. I thought that the older he got the more he would understand and the easier it would be to calm him. Nope I couldn't have been more wrong. The older he gets the more severe his meltdowns are. I think I have been walking around like a sort of zombie for a few months without even realizing it until the last week. I feel exhausted to the very core of my being, and naps just don't cut it at this point.
He went to see a new doctor last Friday, Doc S. is an amazing and wonderful person. Isaac is usually very temperamental with strangers especially strangers that are doctors and have waiting rooms. We walked into the office and the atmosphere was wonderful and as soothing as a spa. There was soothing music on in the background and everyone there spoke in quiet calm voices. The paint was even neutral. I loved it...there were a few toys in a basket in the corner for him to pick over, no overwhelming cartoons blasting on the usual mounted tv ( totally not knocking those either, they provided my other children with hours of entertainment at our other pediatricians office in the past), no bright colored paint or heaven forbid a colorful mural, and no other children in the waiting room. Isaac and I sat on the floor to play for all of two minutes until this calm and collected doctor came out and greeted us. Isaac stood up shook his hand and walked us into his office. I was very ready for this appointment, I started packing for his days in advance. In Isaac's bag were crayons, coloring books, sketch paper and blah blah blah. Everything and anything I could think of that would keep his attention long enough so that I could maybe have a conversation with this new doctor. I was put at ease instantly, I think Isaac was too, his mood and behavior were beyond awesome! For the first time in a long time maybe ever...someone understood me, understood what my days are like, validated me and didn't want to pack me up and ship me out to the looney bin. Finally and I think Isaac felt it too, someone understood us! After (drum roll) two hours, yes two hours in a teeny tiny office he gave us a few recommendations. Isaac is now on some amino drops another drop that has an extremely long and hard to spell name and is on a glutten free diet (again!). I am so happy and optimistic about this new journey. Today was a week on the diet and drops and today was an extremely difficult day, but we are on our way and that is a great start!

Brotherly Love...

a couple of firsts...

Since Easter Isaac has been a busy busy little bee of new activity. He went to the dentist and had his first ever cleaning and check up, all went great. No cavities his teeth are in tip top chewing condition, music to my ears because the rest of the boys have extremely soft teeth and are very cavity prone.

Isaac also started t-ball this past week, and he loves it. And I mean all of it, the bugs, the grass, the clouds making funny shapes in the sky, and I'm not totally convinced he doesn't think it's soccer. I do however see running in his future. Things are going great around here. We've been busy as usual, the boys have about five weeks of school left and the teachers are jamming them with swimming lessons at the YMCA, really cool field trips to meteor crater and some other really cool northern Arizona destinations.

Nick (as he wants to be called now) started baseball too! He is in the minors and I will post pics of his first game soon, he is the pitcher. We are so proud of him. Well that's all for now, hope you all have a blessed week!

Had to enlarge this one because...

I love this picture and when I saw how it came out on the previous post I had to repost the pic just a bit bigger, Isaac is holding the reason for Easter in his hand and I just love it!

our very colorful Easter

We had a fantastic Easter this year, one of the many reasons it was good is that Manuel got to spend his very first Easter at home with Luis. Last year we in Mexico with him for Easter but didn't really get to celebrate so this year we did it all, the who kit and caboodle. We dyed eggs, had two ok three egg hunts, grilled outside, opened easter baskets, you name it we did it. I think there was a different feel this year but a great one, more of a complete one. Sometimes it's really neat to watch Manuel celebrate all these firsts with his son. Well here are some pics, sorry so brief but these kiddos have me running lately. Have a great day!

Not Me Monday

Well well where do I begin. I've absolutely not been slacking on my blog I would never do that, I am the picture of perfection at multi-tasking so I would never ever let more than a month go by without a single post, Nope not me! Isaac turned four on friday and I didn't let him put his entire face into one corner of the cake and eat up, nope that is disgusting and would be horrible manners, I teach my kiddos way better than to do things like that. I didn't let all of them stay at Peter Piper's Pizza until closing time nope they are always in bed by bed time. That would be so silly of me. I haven't yet again let my laundry pile up into mountains I swear are higher than Everst, nope couldn't be me. I haven't been running all the kiddos around to their many practices that I dream of being in my car and I actually want a Sienna after seeing how the mom can take a nap in it with her feet reclined, nope not me I never ever want to get rid of my SUV! I didn't this morning barely make it to the gas station...I never ever drive on fumes. I told you earlier I'm so organized and on the ball it's amazing! So please share don't leave me hanging out here all alone what have you not been up to? Click on the "Not me Monday" box on the right to see what MckMamma and everyone else have not been up to this week.

Upward

This winter the boys have been participating in our local Upward basketball program. This was the first year the boys have participated and I have only the best of things to say about it. Nathan played on one of the kindergarten and first grade teams, he was one of the older kids and totally took advantage of it. He was taller, faster and his motor skills were way more developed. He loved it and was the highest scoring player on his team. Nicolas played with the older kids, fifth and sixth grade kiddos. He did an amazing job, he may have found his calling folks! He was aggressive, competitive but more importantly had great sportsmanship. At each game the kids are given a star to put on their uniform. Each star is a different color with a different meaning, the green is for participation, white for most Christ-like, yellow for sportsmanship and so on. This has been a wonderful sport and we are sad to see the season end. Last night at the Upward end of season celebration a Christian magician ( as featured on Oprah!!) came to perform for about 200 or so of us. He was amazingly talented and really funny. The reason I mention this is because at the end of the presentation he began to pray over all of us and asked all those who were unsure of Christ to come up (all the rest of the crowd had their eyes closed, so those going forward would not be embarrassed), then he asked if all of those in need of prayer would come up, when all was said and done 44 people accepted Christ into their hearts or with prayer mended a tattered relationship with Him, it was an amazing and loving experience. I love to see people find the Lord, it is so inspiring to me, and the feeling in the room as it happened was overwhelming in a loving way.

As soon as this snow lets up it's on to baseball for two of the four kiddos. Isaac will get to participate for the first time in something so he is super excited and I'm sure we will all enjoy watching this little wild child out on the field.

Snow, snow go away

Yummy Yummy thanks Grandma

This is for my Grandma, thank you so much for the magazine. This is one of those look what I made pics. Monkey Bread...it was....DELICIOUS! So delicious in fact I had to make two of them. I made the first one for my lovely ladies at WOW and the boys and I were all salivating over it so bad I had to make another one for us to eat that night. This is one recipe I will absolutely make again it was wonderful, thanks Grandma! Love you:)

Not Me Monday

So this is my very first "Not me Monday" so here it goes, I hope to read some of your too, don't leave me hanging here all by myself.
I absolutely did not take a two hour nap with Isaac today nope not me that would be so lazy of me. I did not watch television last night while my darling hubby cleaned the kitchen after dinner. Me? Are you kidding I ALWAYS clean the kitchen right after dinner with absolutely no help from anyone. I do not have a mountain of laundry to move today, nope not me I always keep up with all the dirty stocks and stinky clothes all these boys accumulate. I didn't leave the gym today in such a hurry that I forgot my keys in my locker, nope wasn't me who could ever be that forgetful! And right now I do not hear my children arguing over who gets the next turn on the PSP, I wouldn't allow that, I would be right in there dissolving the situation. Well that wasn't so embarrassing go ahead what did you not do this week?
MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.opy.jpg"/>

Growing pains...

As we close in on April, I find myself preoccupied with all these feelings. It's been a very difficult 11 months. In case you missed it I will do a short recap. Last April my husbands teenage son came to live with us, less than a month later my grandfather passed away, and only a few shorts months after that my other grandfather passed away. So so many changes have happened. I feel so blessed with all that has been given but I still feel such loss and change in my heart. I love my stepson dearly and pray every day that God will teach me to guide him and be supportive of him. I feel completely lost sometimes raising a teenager, and sometimes long for the days when most days I felt like I knew what I was doing. Making pb & J sandwiches and singing along to Barney. I miss when life felt a little less complicated. I was so naive before he came to life with us, I expected it to just be a smooth transition in our lives. He would jump right in and life would continue as usual. Wow what a surprise, I guess I just could have never imagined all of the changes that would happen. I know I'm really on a tangent here but I feel like I have to be honest about my real feelings about this. I love him yes, I love that he is here yes, I love that my husband gets a chance to know his son and my son's a chance to know their brother. Yes, yes and yes I am very grateful for all of this, however at this moment I feel lost and overwhelmed and I feel a little dismayed that it has almost been a year and I still don't fell like this transition has been completed.

Lots of Love,
Shiri