Arrow Of Light and Another Birthday

The titles to my posts lately have been really dumb but I don't know how else to put any of them. We have been busy with several different things so I find myself just posting about each of them all at once.

Victor had his 15th birthday an August 23rd. Can you believe it? 15. I feel like he is just growing so fast. He is already a sophomore in High School and I know in no time at all he will be graduating. What is a Mom to do? He is a great kid and is very helpful. The teenage years have kind of pulled us a part. We find ourselves arguing A LOT but I still love him very much and am proud of his accomplishments.

Emilio received his Arrow of Light at pack meeting the other night. He is now moving out of Cub scouts and into Boy Scouts. When he got into Webelos he set a goal to earn every pin you could receive which is pretty rare but he did it! Luckily, I have been a Webelos leader and knew how to do most of them so I was able to help him. In our ward when you get your Arrow of Light they have a big crossing over program with an Indian, bridge and all. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the best pictures. I am so proud of him for setting a hard goal and achieving it.

Birthday, School, Yard Sales.....Oh My!

All I can say about this yard sale photo is thank goodness its over! I know it is silly to take and post a picture of your yard sale but I am hoping when I look at it I will be reminded of why I only do this once every five years. What a pain! At least we made a little cash and got rid of some clutter. I love going to them but hate hosting them.


SCHOOL DAYS






Alesia decided that since I was snapping photos of them that she should snap one of me and the belly. Here it is...25 and a half weeks aren't I glamorous at 8 in the morning.


The kids went back to school on the 19th. It is always a bitter sweet time of year for me. Usually I don't want them to go back but this year I think we were all ready. Unfortunately my teens aren't into any me taking any school pictures of them so I have none. And Emilio wouldn't let me walk him to class no that he's a Big fifth grader. Can you say, tears.


HE'S GETTING OLD!







Two days ago on August 18th Emilio turned 11. I'm still in shock that I gave birth to him 11 years ago. His delivery was a fast one considering he was my first to deliver. Only four hours and 48 minutes. When he was a baby he cried and cried for the first 6 months due to colic and ear infections. Sometimes I wondered if him and I would ever get through it. At 6 months old he got tubes in his ears and he has been the most calm, quiet and loving boy I could have ever asked for. I seriously never find myself getting mad at him. He just gives me no troubles at all. He celebrated his big day by having some friends over for a "movie party" and they were angels. Seriously!I'm so lucky to have this sweet boy as my son.

One Month

Always a joker! Posing over his pre- bought headstone.I miss his humor


This picture was taken several years ago at the cemetery. We gathered as a family to plant a tree for my cousin Kim who we lost to cancer. As you can tell my Grandpa was overtaken with emotion. He sure loved all of his grandkids. I'm glad Kim was there to welcome him home when he passed.

It has been one month today since my Grandpa left us. I started my day out with a good cry. Which even surprised myself since I have been holding it together pretty good lately. I guessed I just realized how much I really miss him. I have been spending a lot of time at his house checking on my Grandma and spending time with her. I love every minute I get to spend with her but it is still hard for me to be there with his absence. I miss seeing him in his chair when I walk in. It is had for me to go in his room with all of his things still there.

I guess I just don't deal well with that kind of stuff. I was the only kid in my family who couldn't sing at his funeral or go up to the casket to say goodbye. It was just more than I could bear at the time. Now I'm kind of kicking myself wishing that I could have been stronger. I hope my Grandpa understands. It's not that I don't have a clear understanding of the plan of salvation or that I don't believe it completely, it has just been hard because of the deep absence I feel. I have lost others that I loved before but I have always felt a sense of comfort and peace and I still haven't felt that with him. Which has surprised me because of how close I was to him. I am hoping it is because he is just too busy visiting with his loved ones or playing with our little boy. Perhaps in time it will get better.

I never imagined it would be so hard to lose someone so close to you that you love so much. I am guessing this must be how it feels to lose a parent especially since he filled a parental role in my life. What does help is having my sweet Grandma close by. She is probably getting sick of all of us "checking in" on her. I admire her so much and her strength. Sometimes I wish I could be as strong as she is. She has spent a lot of time telling me, "I can't cry because I know he is in a better place and not suffering or sick anymore." But, she still lets me cry on her shoulder. She teaches me so much and for that I am grateful.

See Ya Later Summer!

24th of July Parade


Fireworks









Some of you may hate this post and for that I am sorry. Usually I'm not in too much of a hurry for summer to leave. But I am this year. It hasn't exactly been the best summer for me or my family.

Carlos has worked pretty much every day including his days off which has left me and the kids at home with not much to do. Being 6 months pregnant in the heat has proven to be as uncomfortable as you can imagine.(I'm still very glad I am pregnant. I just forgot how much more uncomfortable the heat is to a pregnant body.) I have spent the summer being bit by every bug you can imagine which led me to many sleepless nights of itching and a wonderful visit to the dermatologist to try to figure out whether it was a pregnancy related rash or bites. ( Which ended up being unhelpful to say the least.) Our car has been giving us major headaches. Emilio and Alesia almost drowned the other day in a pool. Long story that I won't get into but very scary. I have played every board game, colored every picture and watched every movie with my kids just to hear them say "I'm bored" every five minutes. And worst of all, had to be losing my sweet Grandpa who I miss terribly.

Pretty depressing huh! The dumb thing about it is it seems like we have been even busier with all of our kids extracurricular activities. Victor has cross country every morning at 6:45. Olivia has soccer practice 3 nights a week and Emilio has karate two nights a week. I have spent more gas money this summer than I do probably all year. Oh well, this is life right. Enough complaining.

So bring on the Fall! I can't wait for the cool breeze at night, high school football games and the orange pumpkins on everyone's doorsteps. I'm excited for the smell of baked apple pies in the air and of course Halloween. Most of all I'm excited to welcome our little boy into our family.