Happy Birthday to our Sweet Elena

Today our sweet little girl turns 3. Its hard to believe that 3 years ago was an amazing yet scary day. We are so blessed to have her in our family and that she is healthy and happy. Sometimes I look at her and think she is the cutest little girl I have ever seen and I can't believe she's mine. She wanted to celebrate princess style so I got her a crown which she wore all day. She wanted to wear her tutu which made her look even more like a princess. We got her birthday balloons and set them outside her door before she woke up. The first thing she said when she opened her door was "What the heck is that??!!!!

Some things about this darling girl are:
She loves anything girly. When ever we pass anything pink in the store she says "I see girl stuff!"
She talks like crazy. Some times, especially at bedtime, I can't even get her to stop talking.
She loves to cuddle. Whenever I lay down on the couch she runs up to lay down with me.
She eats completely different from her brother. She doesn't like Macaroni and cheese and loves beans.
She loves/tortures our cat. Whenever I hear the cat meowing I'm almost positive its her torturing the cat.
She will not potty train! Its making me crazy but I finally decided she is not ready.
She loves her brother, she loves playing with him whenever he will let her.
She says the funniest things for a 3 year old. Hence her first statement on her birthday.

We love her so much and are blessed to have her in our family.

Our first sleep over attempt

We have been entertaining Roegan Cola while his house is packed and his Mom is busy with the movers. We decided to try a sleepover since the boys only have one more week together. They played cars and played outside. After dinner they ate popcorn and watched part of Iron Man and the Bee movie. At 10:30 Roegan got sad and missed his mom. He said he changed his mind and didn't want to sleep over. I took him home but Patrick cried because he thought no one would ever want to sleep at his house. I explained its a little scary sleeping away from home without Mom or Dad. I told him we can try a sleep over again when he's older.

Patricks first day of school

Patrick started Kindergarten yesterday. He was excited to wear his new backpack and use his new lunch box. He even got new shoes. Before he went to bed the night before he picked out his favorite shirt(s) and shorts to wear.

Elena wanted to be in the picture too.

He's a very cool kid.

We met the Colas at the donut shop extra early so we could pick out our favorites and head to school to eat them.

We all piled into the Cola van to eat our yummy not so healthy breakfast.

We waited outside for the gate to open. Patrick and Roegan were really excited.

Once in the classroom the boys checked out the classroom and had all smiles. Once it was time to sit down, Patrick got nervous and Roegan started crying. When I picked Patrick up he was much happier and he had a great first day. Since this morning was his second morning I was told that the kids are taken into the cafeteria and then when its time to go to class the teacher comes to get them. I figured I could drop him off and someone would be there waiting to usher him into the cafeteria. Nope. Everyone was waiting outside because now the gate doesn't open till 8:00. There was no parking and I had no idea what to do, then I saw Amber Cola waiting with her kids. I left Patrick waiting with them. I feel bad because he was nervous about being just dropped off and I was so unsure of what to do that I didn't take the time to reassure him. I should have just driven off to find somewhere to park to wait with him. I will be sure to tomorrow. I hope he's ok.

Listen to the spirit-

Even though you're scared of what he's telling you.
The other morning I woke up and had the feeling, sort of at the back of my mind, to tell Jesús to look for a job in Texas. I thought about it for a sec then decided not to say anything because even though I love his family and Texas was really fun, I have never lived anywhere else but Bakersfield by entire life. I have never lived away from my mom other than the other side of town. I was scared to even think about it. So I ignored it for maybe a week or so. However, it was still there. That soft voice at the back of my head telling me that we needed to look for a job in Texas.
While on a play date at a friends house, I was told that her husband was interviewing for a job in Mississippi. That was crazy to me! Thats so far away from here and from their family! We started talking about it and she had some really good advice about moving. I started to feel a little bit better. All of a sudden I got a text from Jesús' dad saying "If Jesús found a job in Texas would you think about moving here?" Then not long after I got a text from Jesús asking me if he were to find a good job in Texas would I consider moving there. Well obviously there was something that I needed to accept. We could possibly be moving to Texas. I talked to my friend a little bit and she reminded me that even though I would be moving away from family, I would also be moving to family. Another positive about moving to Texas is my best friend Amber is moving to Florida in just over two weeks to live there for a year and after she and her family will be moving to Texas. Hello!!! It was a scary thought but now its a likely possibility in my mind. Jesús has applied to many jobs in Texas and we are just waiting to hear back. I think the hardest part about it all now is not knowing when. It will still be difficult to move so far away but I'm mentally preparing myself. Also the house we would buy would be big enough for Mom to come visit as often as she likes.

Big Meadow 2011

Yes we went to Girls Camp again this year. Jesús was asked to be in the kitchen again and I was asked to be the 3rd year hike leader. Believe me that struck fear into my heart. It was so difficult to finish that hike last year and I was terrified to do it again. Jesús and I packed our bandannas for camp and of course the kids wanted to wear them too. I found Elena like this as I was pulling out our camping gear.

The cows were daring this year. I heard the were even close enough to sniff one of the tents. I had to do an activity in the meadow and I was nervous that they would charge me. Luckily Jill Galyan saved my life. Isn't the meadow beautiful though? My favorite part of the day was going out before the girls were awake and before the sun came up over the mountain and sit on the meadow and think. That and of course the partaking of Carls cobbler.

Our hike group. Jami Larsen was the hike assistant but she saved me in preparing for the hike and working with the girls. Jesús did go on the hike this year and I was glad to have him with me. He really pushed me to keep going when it got difficult. I love that guy.

I can't leave them alone for a second

The other day I was getting some stuff ready for girls camp and I noticed it was dangerously quiet. That scares me. I started the routine check of the house to see where the kids were. Patrick was playing quietly and watching cartoons and I found Elena hiding under my bed. Why was she hiding under my bed?
Well let me show you whySomewhere she found a highlighter and decided our sheets would make the perfect canvas. She had also found a spot of mattress that wasn't covered by sheets and wrote on that too. I guess its my fault for not making the bed that morning.

Is he really old enough?

Patrick will be starting Kindergarten in almost 2 weeks. I can't stand it. No way is my child going to be attending elementary school. I have a child old enough for that? Well he really proved it the other day when he decided to make his own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. All he need help with was getting the lids open. He likes to do it a lot now, even put his own waffles in the toaster. Can you believe it?

My sweet date

A friend of ours and her husband were being baptized and Patrick is good friends with their little boy so we decided we needed to support them. It was such a spiritual experience and I'm glad we were there to witness it. Afterward I took Patrick to Daddy O's for some frozen yogurt and we got to talk, just the two of us. I need more dates with this sweet kid.

I felt the strong urge to post this

My friend Janiece has a friend from nursing school who's little boy was diagnosed with the worst kind of e.coli. I don't know them but I have been reading the blog and feeling so much love towards this family and trying to imagine all that they are going through. I can't even imagine how I would endure such a trial. I felt very strongly that I should pass this information along to all that might read it.

Here is a link to their blog http://www.williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com/
so you can read about this sweet boy and if you can please make a donation to help them. If prayers are all you can offer then please keep this family in your prayers, I'm sure they are greatly appreciated.

Out with the old in with the older

When Grandpa Gene died we all started wandering through the house looking at all the stuff that would need to be split between the families. We got to make a list of things we wanted and cross our fingers and hope we get it. I think we all had Grandmas piano on our list. Well I thought about the table and chairs that my Grandma and Grandpa have had since they lived in that house. I thought it would be nice to have that but how would we get it back to Bakersfield. Well I kept hoping there would be a way and luckily for me my cousin Ryan and his wife were headed to Las Vegas soon after we left Utah and they dropped the table and chairs off in St. George. My mom had to take a trip up to St. George and picked it up and brought it home. I was so happy to get it, and not just because we have never had a good sturdy table but because of the memories it brought back. I thought about all the times we sat around that table eating pancakes that Grandma forced us to eat or sandwiches with Miracle Whip or stale cereal that Grandma kept in the cupboard for when we would come to visit. Those were all good memories because we were always laughing and having a good time. I can't help but get sentimental thinking that we will make no more of those memories but I am excited to make new ones with my family.