A total stranger saved my kids today

I was getting my kids into our new/used double jogger this morning in the BC parking lot. I had them in and the stroller packed. I put the lock on the brake and went to quickly put my purse in the back of the car. I shut the door and the stroller was gone. Gone!!!!! I looked across the parking lot and saw them rolling away very quickly it was like a movie that you think would never happen to you. I started running as fast as I could but I wasnt going to get to them by the time they hit the speed bump and went right into the traffic pulling into the parking lot. Luckily the van that pulled in noticed something was wrong and slowed down. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone running. I looked and saw a young guy with flip flops on running faster than I was. He got there just in time, maybe a foot away from the speed bump. I cried and told him thank you over and over again. I'm so grateful he was there. He was my angel today. I'm grateful my kids are safe, and now I know not to use the brake lock on the double jogger. I almost didn't post this because I felt so stupid and embarrassed but I feel grateful even more so I did post it.

Gardenias and I go way back

Many years ago when I was in elementary school, I felt lonely a lot. I knew a lot of kids that I went to school with but I didnt have a best friend because the only best friend I had known was a year older than me in school and we didn't spend time together at school very much. I didn't feel as cool as she was. I was very naive and gullible and I got teased because of how I ate my sandwiches with my sensitive teeth. One day I felt particularly lonely and I didnt have any one to sit with at lunch so I went to the office and called my Mom. She asked if I wanted her to come to school and sit with me while I ate. I said yes. She came and I climbed in the car and we sat in the parking lot while I ate. She started to tell me about her Gardenia plant that she had in her front yard that wouldn't bloom. She had been waiting and waiting for it to bloom. Well that morning a flower had bloomed and she said it must have bloomed for me. So she picked that flower and she gave it to me. I cried and felt so blessed to have such a wonderful mother. After I finished eating I said goodbye to my Mom and hugged her. I started walking back to class and one of my friends from band saw me and asked why I was crying. I told her that I had felt lonely and that my Mom had saved the day. She put her arm around me and told me she would walk with me back to class.

When we moved into a house, I knew that I wanted to plant Gardenias so that I could always remember that day. I bought a Gardenia plant and planted it, I was worried because after a while it started to look a little droopy so I fertilized it and watered it more and it in a few days it started to look much better. All these little buds started growing and I was so excited for it to bloom. On Sunday I walked outside to find a small Gardenia flower. It is so beautiful and now there are so many of them. Thank you Mom. I hope I can be that kind of Mom.

The Longest 4th of July ever

I'm not kidding. It started Saturday morning with the pancake breakfast at Craig and Marci Nevilles house. Jesús was helping with the cooking and I got up late so by the time the kids and I got there he had to go down to the rafting warehouse. My oldest and dearest friend Lori helped me get the kids fed and then I let them run around a bit.

Jesús was going to be rafting all day and I really didnt want to wait for him to get home for us to do some fun stuff so we headed up to the Nichols place for swimming and BBQ. It was fun to hang out with the friends from our old ward and meet some new ones.

Elena was hilarious with these goggles and tube on.

Patrick hadn't seen Lucy in such a long time and he had a great time playing with her.

After a few hours of swimming and eating I took the kids home for a nap. When Jesus got home we packed up dinner and went to the Monica field ballpark. There was a small group there but it was fun to hang out and eat.

We called the Cluffs on our way over to invite them and lucky for us they showed up and we had even a better time. We needed to our Cluff time before they move. Patrick and Holdyn get along so well and they had such a great time.

We bought some sparklers and the kids loved them, ahhh the simple things in life.

The Delgados had bought a bunch of fireworks in Utah and we were lucky enough to watch them. Elena was scared the whole time but Patrick loved them. Elena kept saying she wanted to go home.

The next day after church we decided to go to Katy and Tylers for some more BBQ and fireworks. This is typical Jesús.

Elena loved the sparklers until she got a little burn but she picked it right back up and kept playing.

Patrick loved writing on the ground with them.

After a while we heard the Seven Oaks fireworks going off so we drove over to our old building on Old River Rd. to watch them. Elena was scared again but they were so amazing. If BC doesnt do theirs next year we are definitely going there.

Monday morning we took the Cluffs and their friends, the Nichols and the Manus down the river. It was so much fun. Probably my best time. We even stopped at one point to jump from a tree into the river. I learned I have no balance.

Then afterward we headed to my parents for swimming, naps and BBQ. It was seriously the longest weekend but so fun. I'm still trying to catch up on the house since we were barely home all three days.
Here are the girls paying with the doll house. Elena is eating the baby.

Thank you everyone that let us come to your parties, it made for an amazing 4th of July weekend.

The Shower

We have one of those too. A while back I probably posted some pictures of the shower but now its done and we have loved using it. Its nice not to have to kick all the kids bath toys out of the way.

The doors were put on shortly after this picture was taken. Now all we need to do is paint and decorate!

A fence

We have one. That seems like such a simple thing, but to us, its amazing. We have been looking at this since we moved it.Then one day when Marc Hansen got here with his marvelous brothers and dad this is what we saw
Now we can look at this
Its beautiful

5 years ago

I married the man I love for time and all Eternity. Times have been good and times have been bad but still I wouldnt trade them for the world.

I love you Jesús.

(This is the ring ceremony my Dad performed since he wasnt able to be in the temple with us)


This is a picture of us the December after we were married on a beach in HawaiiWe went to lunch and a movie to celebrate

Happy Birthday Mom

My Moms birthday was this past week. We went out to dinner on Saturday when everyone was more available but we wanted to do something fun on her birthday.

We bought rainbow Smiths cookies to eat and cut a hole in the middle for a candle.

Mom modeled her new apron that Aunt Patty made her.

Elena had about 2 bites of her cookie and was done. I didnt complain, I enjoy my childrens leftovers.

Then we went outside for popsicles

We love Grandma and we hope she had the best birthday ever!
To see just how amazing my Mom is go HERE