All things good must come to an end..

With the approach of Labor Day this weekend, summer if officially over. At least in my mind. It is so hot that I am having a hard time convincing myself it is fall. Maybe going to Oregon will help.

I thought I would take a look back at what we did this summer. This was the first time I didn't make my kids do school work every day; I think I was too tired. Too much stress this year with daycare and working so much at the office. The kids all enjoyed it, I'm sure! Each of them seems to be ahead (Robby is already beyond my math knowledge) so I guess I have to take a chill-pill and let their school take over.

Most of our summer, at least the first two months, can be summarized by one thing:

My sis took a great shot of Robby doing hurdles 

Aaron throwing shot put

Yep. Track. We spent all summer outside at track meets. Kelbre and Sofi were sure troopers. We tried to make the events as fun as possible, staying over night in Denver and doing other things. Mostly though they were hot; crazy (running all over the meets for the different events); and long. Both boys showed a lot of improvement over the summer. Aaron ended up taking state champion in the shot put. I am just so happy that we spent so much time outdoors. I told Kelbre she may as well join track next year. She is at all the meets anyway! Based on the dirty look I got, I think I forgot that she doesn't like to run.

Sofi in her rockin' her 4th of July outfit given to her by her Aunt Jennifer.

 Reece and Sofi. It is incredibly difficult to get a photo of them together

Kids and cousins.



My baby turned two in July. We spent a lot of time at spray parks and regular parks. The child always wants to be outside. We celebrated her birhday with swings and splash-splash and family. The three best things in her mind. Well, you might have to add a popsicle in there. Then it would be the best.

Thanks to my husband's family, we decided to take a big trip to Vedauwoo, Wyoming to go rock climbing. We love being up there with them. I stayed down below this time, to give some attention to the little ones and my mom. Not sure where Aaron was in this photo; he must have been with his dad and uncle Reed on a separate rock. My sister's family came along, and loved it too. Except for when Jenn broke her foot and ruined her summer. It was a big bummer.

She is still in a cast, but at least now it is a walking one. It is taking a long time to heal. She busted in her camera too by falling. No more rock climbing for her.

Grandma (my  mom) has been here all summer to spend time with the family. We spent some of our time away, taking her to the zoo and to the state fair. But mostly we spent a lot of time togehter here at the house. She even got brave enough to put her rear in the kiddie swings with Sofi. She leaves in a couple days to go back home to Pap Pap and Spunky. We will miss her.

Not the best photo, but here are my girls in their Indian dresses that we purchased at the fair.

Maybe it was the stress in my life, and the hundred's of dollars in gas we spent this year. But the best times I feel we had involved being outside, on walks and working together as a family. It is the first year EVER that we have not camped with the kids. Shameful.

Kelbre had a very girly birthday party this year. Aunt Brooke came and did the hair and nails for her friends and they did crafts. It was a spa party. Her aunt Jacki even made here a big brownie decorated like a flower for her ice cream sundaes. I really appreciate family and all they did to make her 7th birthday special.

And of a very sad note, we had to say goodbye to Aaron's friend Mark. His family moved to Spain for the semester. We will miss them all! But they will be back by December.

Lastly, my FAVORITE part of summer: Finding Obed.

My ancestors, with my great great grandfathe on the lower left. The top left is a cousin and the other two are brothers. I had many photos of the brothers, but nothing of the cousin. It was like Christmas!

My sister came over to my house one morning in histeria, she had been crying all morning. She had a dream and saw a lot of our ancestors on my dad's side. It was very powerful for her. She felt like we needed to search out that side of the family, especially the Mexican's who we knew little about. My dad had tried to travel to Mexico many times but he had the worst luck in getting information. Well, a couple days after my sister's dream, I was checking my email and accidently clicked on the "junk" email box. Usually I just delete this. Well, the first email in there was from someone named "obed estrada" which is our bloodline, so I read it. He is a long lost cousin of my dad's who is a geneologist. We communicated all summer and he shared a lot of info about the family. So many new things, new mysteries and new photos. He looks a lot like my grandfather's family. I love it when the Lord get's involved in my life! Although now I have a lot of work ahead of me to get this information all sorted out.  With is just about impossible with Sofi, who requires your absolue attention if you are conscious.

Great Summer 2012. The grand finale will be our trip to Oregon.

Looking forward to the mental break it will give me.



It's all about the kids...

I am feeling really thankful today for our business. I can remember way back when Robb and I were newlyweds, when he was still making plans for Optometry school, and he told me that he wanted to be in a career where he could support himself but still take time to get away. It was what he admired so much about his dad. His dad stayed with Kodak for son long becasue of the non material blessings he received. Robb believed that the best career would be one where he could take off for a week of scout camp, or little trips with his family, and have the company still bring in money. We are FINALLY at that point. And it is just as satisfying as I dreamed it would be. In just a few days we will head to Oregon. To visit where the dream first started.

The growth within our practice has been astounding, and I know it is through the Lord's blessing that we are able to accomplish so much. My dad told me one time, "just keep it small. You don't want to get too big." But how do you turn away these children, these parents? We have had parents lined up ready to pay, practically in tears because we are full. But we always find ways to make more room. I will never forget this high school boy who proudly came in to show off his report card. He was very quiet when he described how he had never received a B or A in his life. Very few C's. He was a D/Failing student. Here was his report card with all C's and 1 B. You could see the hope in his eyes. His whole future had changed. Who wants to turn away a family whose child has struggled so much, and you know you can make the difference? It is overwhelming. From the very beginning we have been cautious in our approach, fearing that any time the growth would slow. But we are now realizing the value in "shooting for the stars." A life of giving to our community. What a dream.

Birthday's

So we had a very busy weekend celebrating Aaron and Kelbre's birthday's with both sides of the family. Saturday was devoted to my sister's side along with my mom, and Sunday was the Johnson's. We had a big Mexican dinner on Saturday, then took some family photos with my mom and roasted marshmallows on the fire pit. We have sure enjoyed the fire pit. There is something about sitting around smelling like smoke that makes everyone get along.

Sunday was a recovery day for me. I went into work for about 4 hours and got a lot done. I am realizing how badly I need to be in the office for long periods of time. I will have to continue to make my crazy schedule work for a couple of weeks, then I can make it happen.

Sunday was also our birthday dinner with Robb's family. We were able to celebrate a cousin's birthday too, who happens to be a day older than Kelbre. I was very excited about the photo I got of them mid blow. Aaron wanted mostly money and Xbox stuff, which he got. He is loaded now with money, junk food, pop and earphones to keep him from hearing mom. What more could a boy want? He is thinking abt getting a Kindle fire, but we will see. He changes his mind so frequently. Kelbre, my sweetheart, got movies, cuddle blankets and all things girly. I can't wait to curl up with her under her blanket to snuggle and watch Mulan.

Kelbre got a mad libs birthday card from her grandma. It turned out really good! It was such a great idea. By the way, "bealo" is a cross between a bee and buffalo apparently. Never knew that.

Now our busy week has started. 4 days to get everything done before we head out to Portland. I am so looking forward to this trip, but I believe I am in denial about getting ready on time. Let's see, I have daycare kids three out of the four days; The kids are busy with school and getting ahead before we leave;The boys are busy with football, karate and a court of honor; I have to work the one day I don't have daycare; somehow I need to visit teach before I go; with my neice moving in I need to get a good housecleaning in; finished laundry might be nice; I need to spend some time with my mom, who leaves to go home while we are gone. My mom in law's advice last night: "Don't worry about it. You can buy whatever you need in Portland if you need to." That's usually what happens. Maybe I shouldn't pack at all.

Early Bird

This week has been a bit of adjustment for me as Robby started Seminary on Tuesday. I am blessed to have a nephew that is 16 and can drive him each morning, but that doesn't mean I can sleep. I usually start worring that I am goin to oversleep at about 4:00, so I spend the next 1 1/2 hours tossing and turning and watching the clock. I keep telling myself that I used to do this 20 years ago and that my body will adjust, but so far all I have done is end up in an arthritis flair up. I never thought about getting old too much, but I realize lately that I am. I am old. I am tired. And it makes me crazy that my husband can snore right through all of it.

Suspended Animation

I am finally making an attempt to join the blogging world again. I finally realize the value of having a space to vent and express my life in written form. I woke up this morning thinking "I feel like I am stuck and unable to move forward, yet at the same time I feel life spiraling out of control around me." I think that is a sign. Perhaps I needed it to have some reflective time. I feel so many demands on my time, from being a mom to four needy children, to performing a balancing act with work and daycare, and then there are just the day to day operations here at home. How does any person handle this many things all at the same time?

Today is day 3 of the kids gone at school and I am already feeling the pressure of occuping Sofi all day long. If I wasn't giving her direct attention today, she was all over me. I feel like I have been a plucked turkey, trampoline, jungle gym, horse, and servant in only a couple hours. I think I have forgotten how to relax. There is always that project in the back of my mind, those stacks of papers that I need to work on, organization for my kids that needs to take place, shopping needing done or dishes to wash. The dogs stare at me with these sad eyes. There are 100 apples on the ground in the back yard and the front yard is half dead from lack of watering. I think I have washed the load of laundry in the washing machine 3 times already; it never seems to make it to the dryer. 

I feel like I am in a cartoon; suspended in mid-air while life is going on around me. Any minute I will drop.