Weekend Recap

I know...its Thursday and I'm doing a post called "Weekend Recap". I just haven't made the time to sit down and post some pictures. We had a full and wonderful weekend. On Saturday Rebekah and I celebrated my cousin, Marina's, college graduation. It was a fun party with a live reggae band and Bekah danced her little heart out. I stood back and watched, wondering at times what in the world kind of moves she was doing. The next day she informed me she did the "hot dog dance" like Goofy on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. So that's what she was doing. Meanwhile Jose took Annie to their first "father/daughter" banquet at church. Annie was excited to get all dressed up and even borrow Mommy's pearls for her big date with daddy. Look how nice they looked!















It was a fiesta theme...















The next morning was Father's Day and we were up early with lots of love and cards for Daddy. Off to church we went in Canoga Park for the second Sunday. Jose was asked to preach for a classmate of his from seminary...in Spanish. Every opportunity Jose has ever been given to preach is in Spanish. I'm thinkin' I ought to make a conscious effort to learn it. I took my 2 years in high school but it's the conversational Spanish that I get totally confused with.

In the picture above, Jose got to address the fathers for Father's Day and the children were able to go present little gifts for them. Annie included....it was really sweet. And each time Jose has ever been allowed to give the message I've always wanted to take a picture, but I suppose that would be a little inappropriate :) . So the next best option is having my 6 year old do it while he prayed. :) We won't do it again, but at least I got a picture!

Here is my wonderful husband with the two beautiful reasons he can celebrate Father's Day...

We topped the day off with a yummy dinner at Vince's with my dad, Jeff, Renee, and of course my honey and sugars.

It Finally Feels Like Summer

After the last couple weeks of awful June-gloom, it finally feels like summer! I am bound and determined to get my kids out for a good time in the next couple months. I can be rather boring and un-imaginative, but that shouldn't stop my kiddos from having a great summer. So since Mondays will be Jose's days off until August, I know we'll be taking advantage of that. This last one he took Bekah out on a date to make a Good Will donation, then on to their favorite Pho noodles restaurant, on to Jiffy Lube (hey, a 4 year doesn't care as long as its still her daddy and her), then to Krispy Kreme's for a little treat. On Wednsday we went to the movies for FREE! It was awesome....I popped popcorn at home, packed snacks & drinks, and waltzed right in to the theater. I'm hoping to do this several more times before the summer ends. Here is link if you don't have it already: Regal Movies. Today we went to the park with our friends. We had a good time with them....although its difficult having a complete adult conversation with kids :). Hopefully my friend and I will get to have coffee one day soon. Her little boy is super funny...he had me smiling the whole time we were together. Look how cute...














Tomorrow Jose and Annie are off to their first father/daughter banquet. So sweet! I told her she has to take lots of pictures so Mommy can see everything that happens. :) On Sunday Jose will preaching for the 2nd week in a row for a Spanish minstry his seminary classmate leads. It was so awesome watching him last Sunday. Even though I couldn't understand every word, I got the major points. He did a wonderful job and I have no doubt this Sunday will be any different.

Congratulations, Annie!

My little girl graduated from kindergarten last Friday. She looked so stinkin' cute in her red cap and gown. I was so proud of her getting her certificates and reading trophy then sitting nicely through the rest of the ceremony. She is a big 1st grader now...man I feel old!!

Sister Love

I just love love love having my two girls. I love it that they are only 21 months apart. I love it that we can save money and use clothes twice. I love it that they can easily share a room with pink walls. But most of all I love that they have that sister love. They truly are best friends and understand one another. Sure, they also fight every now and then, but the worst consequence in the world for them is to not be allowed to play together. My desire is that they grow up looking out for one another, loving one another, and sharing their lives together.

There isn't much they don't do together. They draw and color together, play with toys and use their imaginations together, watch the same shows together, read with mommy together (it can never just be one at a time), and of course one of their favorites....catch bugs together. My girls are pretty girly except for the catching bugs thing. The other day they caught a caterpillar and a moth. They even caught their first lizard a couple weeks ago. And in case you're wondering...I still have ants at my house.

There Are Ants in My House!!!

The kids' final activity for homeschool arrived in the mail on the first day of summer vacation :) . Bad planning on mom's part but oh well, the kids are still loving it. We did a unit on insects and so now the kids get to observe a real ant hill. Those ants are huge and strong! I'm just glad there is no way for them to get out! :)

Every Now and Then...

I meet a person who truly encourages me in the Lord and the endeavors He has placed before me. A couple days ago I met the sweetest lady ever. She has five children and has home-schooled them K-12th grade, each and every one, and is graduating her youngest this month. Wow. And you know what? She isn't glad to be done. She is actually sad that this season in her life is ending. She only had wonderful things to say about her family's experience and reminded me of a few very important things like that we are making disciples of Jesus Christ. She gave me her phone number and most sincerely offered to talk or get together if I would like to. She is definitely someone I'd like to spend time with. I see where she is as something to shoot for. I know homeschooling in no way guarantees children who follow the Lord whole-heartedly, but hers are. And the family all seems very close...and highly functional socially (for anyone who is wondering). :) And stong academically. These are my goals in our homeschool and I got to meet someone who crossed that finish line.

I thank the Lord for people like her who are willing to reach out and offer help to those of us just starting out.

Gotta Love the Honesty

Today I was reading some stories to my children. We came to one where the question was posed, "What would you do if you were walking on the street and found a purse full of money?" I asked Annie what she would do and she said, "I would pick it up and walk door to door asking whose it was and give it back." Great. I'm happy with that answer. I asked Bek what she would do. She said (with a delight-filled smile), "I would pick it up and get the money and put it all in my piggy bank!" Well, at least she's a saver not a spender, right?

We had a little talk.

Ah, the Scent of New Workbooks...

If you know me at all, you know that the above picture brings excitement to my heart, a smile to my face, and delight to my sense of smell. :) I know, I'm so wierd, but apparently I'm not the only wierd one. I've heard of others who love the smell of a new book.

I received a large portion of my kids' curriculum for the next school year last week...it felt like Christmas opening that box! :) I love paging through and seeing all the wonderful things they'll be learning and mastering. Annie has shown quite an interest in learning cursive, so all her writing next year will indeed be in cursive. I hope she sticks with it! I guess she has to since we already paid for the books. I ended up changing curriculums for next year after much prayer and consideration. I loved using what I used this year, but after a few months it became apparent I needed to supplement the academics. I have decided to go with A Beka for everything except math. It looks challenging academically and excellence in academics is something Jose and I both feel strongly about. If we are going to be responsible for our children's educations, we want to do it whole-heartedly and with the best materials the Lord guides us to. One of my conscious endeavors next year while using this curriculum is to keep things fun. We did lots of crafts and outings this year and I don't want that to end. I'll just have to be creative with time management.

We only have 3 days left of school! I can't believe how quickly this school year went with the kids as well as with Jose in seminary. By the way, between online school and actual "in-person" school, he earned a 4.0 GPA in his last semester, all the while working full time, loving and caring for his family, and serving in ministry. Yes, I am married to Superman....and am quite proud of him! :) Here is to a much-needed summer break for all of us!

Glimpses I Don't Want to Forget

I love these shots. The one of Bek is actually her dancing face. :) She makes this face and shakes her little body around. She is SUCH a character! I love her little personality...she is like a ray of sunshine, bringing so much joy to me as well as laughter, and lots of cuddles.

The shot of Annie is just her working away on her school work. She is so stinkin' cute, I just love looking across the room as she focuses and works away. She is such a mama's girl. She is 6 years old, but still gets upset when I leave the house without her. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this little girl loves her mommy. She is always telling me that I'm so pretty, or that I'm her favorite sweater, or just that she loves me. She keeps me on my toes...I need to be a good example for my daughters.