Spring Soccer

Helaman wanted to play soccer again in the Spring instead of giving baseball a try. His team was the Racers, and he had a great time. It was a hard team because many of the parents weren't very committed, so we almost never had a full team. But the kids who were there worked really hard and had fun. Helaman was really improved by the end of the season. He is a great dribbler and is really starting to understand the game. We were really proud of him. Although the game were he was playing goalie was late and hot. He did block, but in between his mind was anywhere but in the game. Mom needs to learn to keep quite on the side-line when she's not coaching she's been told.

Mr. Isaiah Anything-You-Can-Do-I-Can-Do-Better Valle was convinced that he was also a Racer, and wasn't very understanding about not being able to practice and play with the big kids. But he still had a lot of fun this soccer season because his friend Logan's sister was on our team and they got to play at all the games and practices. They were super cute together--they are both very active and talkative and play really well. It was a great season and the boys are already excited about Fall. (Well, the little boys, dad likes having his life back. :) )

Grandma's Birthday

With all the fun we had, the real reason for our April trip to Gridley was to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of the most amazing people I know, my Grandma Ruth. If you know her, you know she was embarrassed to be the center of so much attention, and but in the end she loved it. All of my cousins (minus my brother Billy) were able to be there (some as a surprise). We haven't all be together in a long time now, and it was so wonderful to all be together again. Growing up we were such a huge part of each others lives, and every time I look back at the pictures it makes me miss them all again. Grandma even had a nephew come from Canada, and I know that meant a lot to her. She loves us all so much we can't help loving her back. She's like that with everyone, but I think she saves the best of it for her family.

I've though a lot about what makes everyone love Ruthie so much. I think it's a couple of things. For one things she is totally genuine. She loves life, and lives it to the fullest. She always has, from playing sports, to being dragged on shopping trips with Jeanie to traveling the world. And her joy at the world is contagious and makes you feel more alive when you are around here. Like your braver and stronger because she is.

And she really is brave. She left so much to move to Gridley and farm with my Grandpa. Her family, religion, and country. Not unlike the Biblical Ruth she was named after. It wasn't easy, but she embraced her new family and religion with all her heart, so that to a Carlin, she is not a in-law, but a loved family member. She loves the States (and Canada, still!) and even became a citizen. And she has been a rock from the moment the Holy Ghost confirmed the truthfulness of the gospel to her, never-wavering and constantly serving the Lord she loves. She is just as much a heroine as the Ruth in the Bible her father named her after.

But most of all, I think it's her capacity to love. When you talk to Grandma, you feel like what you are saying is the most important thing in the world to her. She appreciates the good in people, and makes you feel so good about the good she sees in you. If you need something Grandma can help you with, you never have to wonder if she would be willing to help. There is no question she would, that's who she is. And she never complains about it. (Note to self...)

And I know she really listens when people talk because I am amazed about the details she remembers about people's families and lives. She worries about them, and rejoices with them in all the details. I am always amazed by her capacity to love.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Let's just say, I really love my Grandma and I hope to be much more like her before I'm done "growing-up."

More Gridley Fun

April found us back in Gridley for my Grandma's 90th birthday party, it was a huge, fun event, and deserves it's own post. But we had tons of other fun while we were there as well!

We got to read books with Grandma and Ava.


Helaman made this hopscotch all by himself on Grandma's front sidewalk. He did a great job, even writing all the numbers without any help.


Meanwhile Isaiah was having a lot of fun filling up the wagon in Grandma's drinking fountain and taking it around to water her yard.


We went to visit Bompa Luis at work out on the farm, and Isaiah was insistent that he needed gear just like Grandpa's (hat and gloves). He looked so hilarious.


And then we got to check out the pigs


And drive the tractors



And go for a trailer ride.


I think Helaman really misses being a country boy when he's there. Although he seems to be a pretty happy desert rat, too, so maybe he's just happy wherever he is. :)

Whenever we go to Grandma Ruth's house these two have a lot of dangerous looking fun on her exercise machine. They are so crazy.


And they always love playing with Ava. I really miss that little munchkin. I wish we were a lot closer to our 2 little cousins.




Helaman's three favorite things are VW Bugs, PT Cruisers, and, randomly, turtles and tortoises. So when we were home Grandma arranged a special treat with a friend in her ward. After Church on Sunday our friend Merna, who owns a PT Cruiser came over and let Grandma give Helaman a ride in the PT Cruiser. He was so excited, he could hardly believe it was real. What a funny guy!


Isaiah had a lot of fun at Grandma Elsa's one afternoon with everyone's cameras. He was so funny taking pictures so seriously. Some of them actually turned out pretty good. He thinks he's so big, and is completely convinced there is nothing he can't do. I'm always impressed by his stubborn determination.


And his guns he loves so much he sleeps with them clutched in his hands like a lovey. Omar says he gets it from his Uncle Joe. Thanks Joe.


And my favorite part of the trip was hiking to the waterfall on table mountain. We used to go every year, and the wildflowers are so beautiful. I have so much fun spending time with my family. I was sad Omar didn't get to go with us, he waited and came later that week with his brother. We've been going up there every year since before we even had monkeys.


Yesterday I was trying to explain to Isaiah that Grandpa Steve was my dad. He got VERY angry because it was his Grandpa Steve and he didn't want to share.










We had so much fun with everyone. Thanks for letting us come play with you!

Easter

Easter was pretty low-key. We had a blast dying eggs with the boys the night before. It was General Conference weekend, so we stayed home and enjoyed hearing from our Prophet.

Our good friend, Steven, came over to help daddy (and the Easter Bunny) hide eggs.

And then we hunted for the eggs. The boys were too excited to hold still for a good picture. After the hunt we came in and ate eggs. And to this day Isaiah complains to be about how Steven ate his "painted eggs." I'm pretty sure he still loves him anyway.

We spent a lot of time this Easter talking with the boys about the meaning of it all. Isaiah gave a great FHE lesson on the resurrection (with a little help) and we tried to really focus on it all month. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His amazing atonement and resurrection. I know that He lives and that we will all be resurrected some day because of his sacrifice for us. I pray that I can live my life to show him my love and gratitude for all He's given me.

Silly Faces

Me and the boys being silly one day. I really love playing with these two.
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When we first moved to Ridgecrest it was a hard adjustment for me to not be working, and sitting on boards, and all the other things that took me away from home. It was just me and the boys all day every day, and I didn't know what to do with them. But now I can't imagine life any other way. I love playing with them and laughing with them and spending our time together. Isaiah and I are going to be very lonely when Helaman goes to school...

Spring Break

It's been so long since Spring Break, I'm having a hard time remembering all the fun stuff we did. It was a whirlwind of crazy fun every day that week. Now that I finally get around to writing it down a month later, I only remember what I took pictures of! How did I get this terrible memory?!?

On Tuesday we went with to the fish hatchery above Kernville with a bunch of friends. The hatchery was broken, there were no fish, and the gates were locked tight. But the kids had fun for a little bit in the parking lot, before we went to the next part of the adventure. (Notice Isaiah with his girlfriend Danielle in this picture--she's 10, but her mom says if he was a little older the would date for sure.)

Since the fish hatchery didn't work out we headed down the road to have lunch at a cool park in Kernville right on the river. The kids had a ton of fun playing on the equipment, and throwing things into the water. Some of the older girls were great organizing games for all of them to play. I think they would have stayed there happily all day. We had never been to Kernville before, and really enjoyed it. It was a perfect afternoon and we all had a lot of fun.

I know we did fun things the rest of the week, but at this point I have no idea what they were because I didn't take any pictures until Friday. If the fun we had was with you, and you're reading this, please don't feel unloved, I just have the world's worst memory!

Friday morning we went to a presentation at the museum about tortoises and other desert dwelling amphibians. We took some friends with us, and met a bunch more there. The kids loved the presentation and will tell you all they know about poisoness snakes and tortoises any time you're interested.

Then we headed up to hike Short Canyon and see the wild flowers. It was a harder hike than some of the little kids really wanted to do, but we still had a lot of fun enjoying the hot desert sun. They all really love climbing on rocks, every where we go. And of course being together. After this rock climbing picture the littler kids went back down to the cars while the more adventurous went on. Helaman decided to be a hiker at the last minute, and worked really hard to keep up with everyone. He loves exploring, and I was really proud of him for working so hard at it when it was difficult for him. I sure love my kids!

Saturday we got to go on another train ride with our friend Cole. We were supposed to meet them there, but we are always slow to get going on Saturday, so they had already ridden quite a bit by the time we got there, but they went around with us again. My kids love the trains, and Isaiah asks to go ride a train almost every day. I'm grateful for friends who invite to come share the joy of their hobbies. It really is amazing what people do with the model trains.

And as the culmination of our Spring Break we went to hear a Mexican band in the park at the college. Isaiah and Helaman had a lot of fun dancing to the music and climbing a little hit next to the band. Isaiah would climb to the top of the hill and do his funny marching dance for all the world to see. He was cracking us up.



I loved spending so much fun time with my kids during spring break. It's silly that we have it so early here, but I'm glad it was still cool enough for us to have so much outdoor fun. I can't wait to have all summer to spend playing with them. Hooray for family time!