Sunday's with Grandpa

The kid's favorite day of the week is Sunday! This is the day that my dad comes for dinner. If he goes anywhere else for Sunday dinner, the kids are mad. :) They don't like to share their Grandpa on Sunday's. Sometimes he stays for a while, and sometimes he needs to rush home for something, but we love that he comes! It is a special treat to have him for dinner each Sunday. I am sure that the kids will always remember their grandpa coming for dinner after church. They love to play with him and have him watch and laugh at their silly tricks. Sometime he is even their own personal jungle gym. The best thing about Grandpa is his laugh!
We love you Grandpa!

Little Miss Stubborn

Doesn't she look just like "Little Miss Stubborn"? She definitely fits the character in the book. Aside from being stubborn, Lauren is also very sweet and kind. She made up a song the other day about Jesus and our dog Bruno. Bruno died almost a year ago, and she talks about him often. Well, this sweet song talked about Jesus coming alive and Bruno being alive again and about how much she loves Jesus and that she knows that Jesus loves her too. It was sweet and brought tears to my eye's as well as some suppressed laughter. Right after she finished singing her song, she wanted to say a prayer to tell Jesus that she loves him too. Where does she come up with these thing? My sweet, sensitive Lauren.
I love her so!

Mr. Dress Up

Can I just tell you how awesome this boy is?!? He wanted a batman mask to go with his batman costume (jammies), so he made is own! He is so cute! So creative and smart! I just love this little man! He changes his clothes and dresses up at least 3 or 4 times a day.
So inventive and creative.

When the Ants Go Marching One by One...

A few weeks ago, while Cesar was extremely busy with work, I decided to take my little family on a hike up the canyon to cool off and to use up some energy. It had been a long week as a single parent, and I needed a bit of a break from the norm. So, we grabbed some subs, and headed up the canyon. At the last minute, I decided to do a hike I haven't done before, that came recommended from a good friend. (Word to the wise...don't do a hike with little kids...by yourself... that you have never done!) Anyhow, so off we went to hike up to Bell's Canyon Reservoir. IT WAS HARD! I seriously almost turned back! It took us over an hour! Rocky, steep terrain with a boy running ahead, totally oblivious and having a grand ol' time! A little girl, crying and complaining LOUDLY the entire way, and falling, stumbling and crying and complaining and crying and complaining and crying and complaining. A baby strapped to my back in my favorite Kelty (everyone needs one of these!). And last, but not least, me in my STUPID FLIP FLOPS!!!! I totally forgot my own footwear! Lauren asked repeatedly if we could turn back and go home, but me, the persevering mother, said, no, that the lake is so beautiful and will be totally worth the journey. I really almost did turn around. I was trying to catch up to Sam to tell him that we were going to start back down, and lo and behold a beautiful lake! It was so calm and still and perfect! We sat and eat our sandwiches and played a bit it the water. Then I was beyond ready to go home. It took us a good hour up and about a half hour home. I am so glad I didn't turn around! But this is what I learned...

1. Don't do any hikes by yourself that you aren't familiar with, especially with little kids.
2. Don't hike in flip flops!
3. Don't fall...it's a long way down! (I was really nervous, but I didn't fall. Sam did, but he was ok, even though he thought he was going to bleed to death.)
4. Come prepared (with extra formula, or a bottle at least!)
5. Hiking is funner singing "when the ants go marching" and making up the words that you can't remember....
6. Hiking really wears out the kids! (easy bed time)
7. Hiking is almost always worth the journey!

Good times, that Bell's Canyon. Maybe I will do it again when I forget how stupid I was and when I have Cesar with me. :) You don't need to remind me about hiking prepared. I know, I know, I know! But, I learned some valuable lessons.