Start Date

Omar has a start date. We finally know what we are doing... well, more like when we are doing it. He received his official offer letter this week with a start date of September 2 (ironically, our anniversary). We're going to move the beginning of August. We've got a busy time ahead of us, I think.

In some ways, it's a relief to finally know what's going on in the world. And in some ways, it's really stressful. It's very real now. There's lots to be excited about, lots to do, and lots to worry about. And lots to miss and be sad about.

Anyway, that's the deal with us these days.

My Big Isaiah

[gallery]

My baby seems to be growing by leaps and bounds before my eyes. If I cut his hair, and he looks more like a baby, maybe he'll be a little baby again? He's so much fun, so full of life and energy. Now if only he would sleep at night so I felt like I could keep up with him...

Incadesent Bulbs

Omar's been talking about this forever, I guess he's not the only one concerned. I wonder if someone will change this law by 2014?

The Mean Mommy Solution

I've been trying for a long time to find a solution to the mean mommy problem. I can be patient for a long time, but then I have this snapping point, and I become the mean mommy. I have been praying really hard for help, since just trying to exercise self control didn't seem to be working.

The answer came this week in an unexpected way. Whenever Helaman is having a hard time remembering to be kind and/or gentle, we sing this the primary song "Jesus Said Love Everyone" and it helps him remember and calm down.

When I started getting frustrated the other day, the song came into my mind, but with different words:

Jesus said love Helaman,
Treat him kindly, too.
When your heart is filled with love,
You'll know what to do.

This has worked for me every time so far. I don't freak out, and I'm able to stay calm and treat him with love, instead of getting lost in my own selfish frustration. I'm so grateful to know that Heavenly Father loves my boys and is there to help me take care of them. What a blessing to have Heaven involved in my parenting!

Father's Day

I've loved Omar for what seems like forever. We've always secretly thought we had one of those special made for each other and only each other kind of loves. I thought when I married him I couldn't love him more, but of course, the longer we are married, the more I grow to love him. But I never love him as much as when I watch him be daddy to my babies.

I love his kind heart and his patience. I love how he worries about his responsibility to take care of them. I love how he makes them giggle. He has a special gift for making people feel like the most important person in the world (I happen to know), and I love how Helaman and Isaiah's face light up when daddy comes home. I love how he is amazed by them, and teaches me to appreciate all the little wonders of everyday with those two. I love how he is always gentle when he's mad and rough when they're having fun. I love that he calls them his buddies, and wants them to go everywhere with him. I love that we are the most important things, and he lets us know that in word and deed everyday. I'm so blessed to be the mommy to his daddy. :)

My Dad

As for my dad, the older I get the more I grow to appreciate you. I know you're thinking I chose this picture to tease you about napping all the time, but I didn't. I loved watching you sleep with my baby that day in the hospital. I always love watching you love my babies. Thanks for everything you do to take care of us. I know our lives have been easier and happier because of all that you have sacrificed for our little family the last four years. Thanks for your never-ending example of selfless service. For us, and for anyone else who needs you. I learn a lot about being Christ-like from watching you, and I'm grateful to have been here to see that example at a time in my life when I was ready to appreciate it.

Thanks for your goodness, your teasing because you love me, your sense of irony, your thirst for knowledge, your integrity, and all the other things that make me grateful your my dad. I love you.

Llael's Graduation

Omar's sister Llael graduated from U.C. Davis this Saturday. She participated in the Chicano/Latino Commencement, and it was tons of fun. There was a reception before the graduation, so we got there in plenty of time to play some games at the Student Center in the building next to where graduation was going to be held. Grandpa Luis bought Helaman a bunch of tokens, and we all had tons of fun spending them (as you can see by the look on Omar's face as he "helps" Helaman do the ski-ball).

The graduation ceremony started with some Quetzecoatal Dancers doing an Indian ceremony. They had amazing costumes and drumming, and we all really enjoyed watching them, even the antsie boys I had on my lap. They were mesmerized by the drumming to the point that Isaiah actually fell asleep.

Then there was an intermission with some more Mexican folk dancing. I love the graceful long skirts as the women twirl to the music. I love all the colors and sounds and vibrancy of this culture I get to be a part of by marriage. The boys were getting pretty bored with the ceremony, but they loved the dancers. Llael said she could see Helaman bobbing along from clear down on the stage. I wish I had more pictures, but everyones camera batteries died at the same time. :(

We had lots of fun, but there was one scary moment. After the graduation as we all gathered to take pictures Helaman ran up the hill behind where we were standing. He was only a few feet from me but there was a sudden swell of people around him, and for a moment, we didn't know where he was. And he had lost site of us. When we found him he was standing there balling, calling for me. He kept asking me why I forgot him. It was heartbreaking. When I explained what happened, he seemed to be fine, but he's been very clingy today. I don't blame him. It made me want to hold on a lot tighter too.

After all the picture taking we all went out to a delicious Mexican food dinner. It was lots of fun to be together celebrating such an awesome event. Graduations are still probably not the most fun way to spend an afternoon and evening, but if you must attend a graduation, try to hang out with the Mexicans!
[gallery]

Another Week Already?

People always say the older you get the faster time goes. I guess that make sense since God is infinitely old and time is supposed really fast for him. Okay, that's probably not really how it works, but the world does seem to be spinning faster these days.

It was a very busy week. Omar's Aunt Rosalba had a beautiful baby boy, Giovanni, on Monday, and we got to go visit him at the hospital. Tuesday Helaman had his final play school day and our good friend Nick is in town, so we got to spend some time with him before he moves off to his next adventure in Arizona.

Thursday we went on a picnic to Ellis Lake with Grandma Maggie and Greta and Tara and Ava Belle. We had lots of fun eating sandwiches surrounded by ducks staring and waiting for food. Well, Tara was creeped out by the ducks, but that just made it more fun for me laughing at her. Isaiah and Helaman couldn't get enough of them, though. One duck kept getting close to Isaiah in the stroller, but it never would let him touch it, much to his dismay (and my relief). Then Greta and Helaman took the crusts and leftover bread and fed the ducks. Helaman was so excited he didn't even notice that he had sat in a big pile of some nasty bird poop! So, we were off to Mervyn's to buy some new shorts.

When I went to pay for the shorts I discovered that I had no idea where my wallet was. Tara bought the shorts for me (thanks, and don't let me forget to pay you back!) while I went to search the car. I searched and searched, to no avail. I said a prayer, didn't find it, and figured it must have fallen out while we were picnicing, so we decided to head back to the "lake". I asked Tara to drive, and as we hopped in the car to leave, there was my wallet, right where I had just looked 40 (is that the right number Tara?) times before. I know it's a little thing, and maybe even silly. But I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who is involved in all the scatter brained details of my life, and loves me enough to care about the silly things that worry me.

Anyway...

That night we got to go the dinner at Tara's house and have some delicious BBQ. We lucked out because Michael had signed up forgetting that he had a class that night, so we got to go chaperone. :) The boys loved spinning in the chair together after dinner. I love when they are playing together happily. They already fight over toys (how is that possible) and Helaman derives a certain familiar joy from torturing his brother, but most of the time they love each other and love to play together. I guess Isaiah is just going to be tough, right?

I spent all day Friday sick on the couch watching the news about the awful fires in Paradise. So far no one else has gotten whatever it was, thankfully.

Saturday, I still didn't feel great, but there was no rest for the weary, because it was another big day for our family. Omar sister Llael graduated from UC Davis. Yaye Jelly! We're so proud of you.

Bringing us today, another non-stop day. We went to church then came home and had a BBQ with Omar's family for father's day. Then, Omar's friend Dennis stopped by to meet Grandma because he is going to be painting her house, and we got to visit with him for a while. Then we were off the Brent McDowell's homecoming party, and then to visit my dad and play there for a while. We finally got home and started bed-time business about 10:30. We really need to get better about this bedtime thing.

As of right now there is nothing on the calendar for next week. Will we actually have time to just "chillax" as Omar says. Somehow I doubt it.

A great long weekend

Our weekend started on Friday because Omar took the day off. Things have been so busy lately we haven't had a lot of family time with daddy, so it was nice to have him home a little extra this weekend. We always have so much fun when we are all together!

Friday started with park day, then Helaman and Omar mowed the lawn and then we did haircuts. We played all afternoon, and then we took Grandma Elsa to Red Robin for her birthday and did some Wal-Marting, then stopped at Ava's to play for a while and eat Tara's most delicious cookies.

Saturday Isaiah got to go on his first fishing trip where daddy and Michael, as usual, caught nothing, but tried really hard. Actually, Tara and I got to fish too because it was California's free fishing day. The kids had lots of fun enjoying the river, and didn't care much about the lack of fish (though I cannot say the same for the men...)

Here are some of the pictures from this weekend. You can always click a pic to get more details. :)

[gallery]

Catching Up

Life has been crazy, and I have been busy and tired. But so many things have happened since my last post that I don't want to forget. So, here goes...

You can click on a picture to read more about the memory, or just enjoy some of our crazy pictures.

[gallery]