I love a new year, and I love to make goals and resolutions. I think the start of a new year is exhilerating in fact. Refreshing. You get the idea. Well my goal for the year is to be on a strict budget and save every nickel and dime I can to remodel my home in the near future. It's kind of a long term goal but you have to start somewhere right?

Isn't she quaint and cute. And she's the perfect matchup with our current home. We would just be adding a second floor with bedrooms on top and redoing the main floor.

Love it and I'm super motivated to keep my goal.

Onto my kids. They too have goals this year thanks to this inspirational read. I'm not big on parenting books, but this was the most enlightening thing I've read this year. It's all about raising your kids to be REALLY independant when they decide to leave home and all the while building self confidence in themselves. I could go on and on, but just read the book. It is totally opposite of how I was raised.

Anyways, it gives you a chart with things kids can do and should learn at each age starting at age 3. We are going to give this a go this year. So here is what my kiddos will be learning this year.

Julianne: Dress herself, Use potty, brush teeth, pick up toys, say prayers, clean the table.

Sophia: all of the above plus, make bed, make own breakfast, make sandwiches, and clean room.

Gabriela: all of the above plus, vacuum, empty garbage cans, set table, clear table, make own lunch, warm up canned food, get allowance($5), take shower, dust, clean sinks, run microwave, water plants, and make and answer phone calls.

I know Gabriela's list is extensive, but she's playing catch up a little bit, but I think she'll do just fine. Besides, she's going to start getting an allowance and learning about tithing and savings and stuff, so it should be good. I've got a lot of teaching to do this year.

So what are your resolutions or goals for the year?

Here's our baby boy

IT'S A...

 Can you believe it? We couldn't either. It was the best Christmas gift ever and I'm so glad I waited to do it this way. We are still stunned, but so excited. Oh and don't look at our crazy morning hair. It was 7:00 in the morning for crying out loud. All of our family were waiting to hear the news and all said they thought it was another girl, so we got good reactions out of everyone. Miguel's dad was the most excited we think.  This is Miguel telling him the good news.

It is such a defining thing. We will no longer have to wonder if we are going to be the all girl family. It opens so many new doors. Scouting, mission, priesthood, sports, and so much more. It's a little scary because I know nothing about little boys. I have all sisters, so I have never lived in a house with boy toys, clothes, or anything else. Wish me luck! However everyone tells me they are so much easier, so I'm excited about that aspect.

Anyways, we are happy to share our news with all of you!

And there you have it!

 Today was our ultrasound and we all piled in that little room to get a peek at our new baby. Everything looked great and inside that little box shown above is our fate. It contains the answer we all want to know. There is either a blue strip or a pink strip inside that little box, but we will not touch it until Christmas morning. It is so fun to see it sitting there and I just can't stand it. I'm dying to know. Aren't we all?

And on another note, our chickens are finally laying. Hooray!!! They are finally earning their keep. I actually found one two days ago, but accidentally squished it in my pocket when I went to save a chicken. It didn't even make it inside the house to show off to the kids, but today I went out and there were two more. So fun.

Gettin Ready for Church

So here's the pictures you requested mom. She was so gracious to send the girls new Christmas dresses, so we had to try to get a picture before church yesterday. Sophia was in a bad mood and refused to smile. I think the girls looked great.

 This one is just for your viewing pleasure!

Climbing our way out

Wow this week has been a rough one around here. We have ALL had the FLU!!! and it has been a doozy. Gabriela started us off last Friday when she went home from the ward Christmas party with a fever. She attempted to go to her dance christmas party, but she fell asleep during the Nutcracker and didn't touch her food. She proceeded to have a fever for the next two days. Bless her heart, she was dragged to church with us on Sunday because Miguel and I were the speakers and we couldn't leave her at home, so I quickly rushed home with her after sacrament meeting. And wouldn't you know it, all that tender loving care I was giving her caused me to get that night. And for the next two days I couldn't get out of bed because of how much pain my body was in. I cried. I bawled. My kids eventually just got in the bed with me. Next to fall was Sophia. And then Miguel. and finally Julianne. Gabriela has missed an entire week of school. We tried on Wed. but I got a call 30 minutes after dropping her off that she just wanted to lay on the rug and was pale in the face. I feel bad for her. It was spirit week at school and she missed the whole thing. And I'm pretty sure she's going to miss the Christmas party tomorrow as well. She has a horendous cough that would scare anyone away. At least it's kindergarten and doesn't really know what she missed out on. I think I'm doing pretty good until I try to go anywhere and realize it's probably not a good idea.

Since Miguel and I spoke on gratitude and also being grateful for our trials. The thought I've tried to keep all week is that at least we didn't go through this over Christmas. Just get it out of the way now and not let it drag on forever. I'm grateful we all had it together (even Miguel) so we could all lay down together. None of this, mom in bed, and kids take over the house while dad is still working. Nope. Everyone has more than happy to take a nap during the day.

Boogie Woogie Santa

Gabriela had her annual Christmas concert and she performed her first tap number. Grandma and Grandpa came to watch her too and we were really proud. She did a great job!

Curling

Yes, you read that right. We went CURLING with the people from Miguel's office. We met up for a quick dinner and then headed over to the Utah Olympic Oval for a lesson. Let's just say after we had to try "sweeping the stone" we all realized why this is an olympic sport. It is a serious cardiovascular workout and not recommended for pregnant women. I stuck to delivering the stone, even though bending down like that is a little tough. I did attempt sweeping and after a few steps thought it best not to do that again.

Miguel actually took a really scary fall that night and landed right on his shoulder. He came so close to hitting his head and about gave us all a heartattack.

 Just look at that form. It is pretty fun to slide across the ice like that.

 It was a fun new experience that we got to do together and would be willing to do it again sometime, maybe next year when I'm not pregnant.



Traditions

I'm really big on traditions. I absolutely LOVE them. But I can't really say more, because I'm teaching a mothers group in a couple of weeks on traditions and don't want to spoil it for them. But that being said, here is one tradition that I'm trying to launch into the Ruiz family.

Christmas Tamales

This is what all of Mexico eats at Christmas time. It's like their Thanksgiving turkey. But our family has never had them on Christmas. We never have them now, or at least not handmade within the family.  Miguel's mom is the only one left who knows how to do it. The story goes, that she only made them when her mother came up from Mexico and now that her mom has passed away, I'm afraid that tradition and knowlege has passed away along with her.

Everytime I mention it to his mother, she kind of hesitates, and his dad says it's too much work. But it's about being Mexican and passing along tradition and being with family. It's only once a year. And if this did become a tradition in our family it would bring all of us together for many generations I believe. I love that Miguel is Mexican. It could be my favorite thing. Just kidding. But seriously, it adds so much flavor to our family. I love to celebrate anything that is Mexican. I want my girls to know the ways of their culture and embrace it. It's so fun, and tamales is one of those things.

Anyhow...I found this video last night that captures perfectly what I had invisioned for OUR family. I only hope I can get Graciela to share her knowledge with the next generation, so that we can then share it with our children.
Afterall, they already have 9 granddaughters who could possibley make them someday.

I'm Grateful for...

...a kid whose is learning to write. This is one of my first official notes that Gabriela has written me. I would have scanned it, but she wrote in on top of one of Miguel's work papers. It reads:

"MOME I im So icsidid decs uf The dade"

which translated means

"Mommy, I'm so excited because of the baby"

she got her "b"s backwards.

I love that kid!

(There was also a nice picture drawn of our family and me looking huge with a big belly) This note really made my day.

?

This post could be titled a lot of things. Something along the lines of "Lord, help us all!" or "if we survive" or maybe "Somedays I wish I could throw in the towel"

Those just about sum it up around here for me. I feel like I'm a terrible mother right now. I loose my voice from yelling at my kids most nights. There are days when I think, what was the Lord thinking sending me these great kids, and I have no idea what I'm doing. There are so many principles I want to teach them, but I don't have a clue as to how to do it.

Responsibility? Respect? Listening? Obedience?  I feel like I'm getting nowhere. I honestly don't know any good system to teach these things. I didn't grow up in a home with charts and stickers. I was taught by threatening, yelling, spanking and a good amount of fear. But then again, I hated that, and I hate every time I find myself doing those same things. I don't know what else to do. Being nice doesn't seem to work.

But then I realize too, I'm pregnant and my hormones are out of whack and I'm exhausted and nauseated (still) all day long. By 5:00 in the evening, I've exhausted my patience. Miguel is working late most nights, so there is no relief pitcher and my girls are forced to deal with me. I'm a WITCH. I'm not smiling. I feel bad, because although they are little terrors, they don't deserve someone with no patience at night. 

My house is a disaster. I have no energy to clean it. It puts me in a bad mood.

There are moments when I honestly think, "oh my gosh, what was I thinking adding another one to the mix. How on earth am I going to do this with four?"

For the first time in my life, or at least in a long while, I'm starting to see my limits. I have reached them and gone beyond them. I have overextended and am now desperately trying to retreat. I have to realize that I can't be room mom, and class art teacher, and volunteer for enrichment, and teach primary, and be a single parent most days, and run everyone to their activities, and clean the house, and be the chef (especially while I'm pregnant). I CAN'T DO IT!!!

And it's depressing me. I've got to get through these next five months some how. I've got to stay sane. I desperately wish my family was around to help me out. I don't know how women do it with eight kids. I don't know how women can be pregnant over a fifteen year span. This pregnancy seems so much worse than the others. Maybe I'm older? Maybe I'm busier? Maybe it's a boy? Who knows, but this may be the end folks. I know the Lord blesses us with forgetfulness on purpose, but it's going to take a while for me to forget this one.

I read something this week that gave me a little hope and direction. Elder Uchdorf's talk from conference talked about slowing down and only choosing the best things when we are hit with stress. Our natural tendency is to speed up, but it's often best to slow down and take it slow. That's what I'm aiming to do. Simplify my life. If I seem flaky or distant, just bare with me for a little while. I've gone into survival mode. I'll make it through, but only if I disappoint a few people and get out of a few commitments that I've made. (What was I smoking when I thought being room mom and committing to teaching art once a week was a good idea while I've got two preschoolers at home and pregnant?..................must be first time kindergartner inexperience)

Don't worry folks. We'll all be all right around here. It may not be pretty, but we'll make it.

Our Soggy Halloween

(As a disclaimer, these photos were taken with my video camera since I have no working camera at the moment. I figured it's better than nothing)

The girls have been waiting a long time for this night. They love dressing up, but then again, they get to dress up everyday. We have a whole bedroom dedicated to dress ups in our house. I think it was the chance to wear makeup that really excited them. Gabriela's turned out awesome. I pulled out my old makeup kit from my theatre class at BYU and went to work. She looked good!

So here is MULAN

 And here is a MERMAID

 Everyone just loved her hair.

 And here is SLEEPING BEAUTY

 I'm not sure what I was trying to pull off. It started out as a Rock Star but ended up as a cross between Frankenstein's wife and a Halloween mistress. You should have seen the attempt at a mohawk.

It flooded like nobody's buisness after about 20 minutes at the trunk o treat. Luckily the girls got plenty of candy and we felt good about getting out of the rain. No extra trick o treating for us. Julianne was one soggy looking princess after it was all over with. Bless her heart, I'm sure it didn't help the cold she had going on.

 Miguel got creative and went as a referee. I told him to stick yellow hankies in his pocket so he could throw a flag if needed. He decorated our trunk to go along with his costume. He's eating the food the ward provided. It was awesome. You drove in, rolled down your window, and handed you to-go boxes with your families food in it. Very clever.

 Once the rain started the girls decided to make another round with their umbrella in tow. Unfortunately, they left Julianne behind and when another dad brought her to us, she was soaked.

 Once we finished up, we went and visited the Hatches, a wonderful family in our ward. Sis. Hatch is Gabriela's teacher in Primary and my girls absolutely love her. She's kind of an adopted grandmother to them. She always invites us in to have donuts and witches brew. So, so, fun....and nice and dry too! I think it's so neat that my kids have a place like this to go on Halloween, because growing up, there was always a house we could stop at and the lady would invite her special children in to have cupcakes. When I'm a grandma, I'm going to do the same thing.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Sophia's Riding Lessons

I blogged about Sophia and her riding lessons a day or so ago, but here are some pictures that I took a few months ago when she was getting started. She has to help brush the horse off.

 And then she helps saddle it. Here she's tying her "pretzel" knot.

 Does this kid look like she's happy or what. She sure does love those horses. (And so do I)

The battery died on my camera before I got any pictures of her riding.

Catching Up: Pumpkin Carving FHE

So I'm catching up a bit. Our family had our second annual Pumpkin Carving FHE. We like to make it interesting, so we turn it into a competition. Last year, Miguel and Gabriela won. So this year I was out for revenge. I had it all planned out. I was going to make a pumpkin that Sophia would love and that might catch me the prize. We don't believe in using kits bought at the store. Our designs have to be original and the only tools you get are the kitchen knives and spoons.

Our comptetion kind of went down the toilet when Sophia dropped the camera after these few shots, so we never got one of Miguel's finished masterpiece. He created a cyclops. So without an official blog vote, I guess it's a tie. At least you can see mine and Sophia's. We topped the evening off with some homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookes and milk.

Sophia is sure ours is #1. She got a horsie pumpkin this year. Her mom rocks!

Gabriela has her first dance performance this season at the Covey Center on Nov. 12th. She is in the matinee performance if you would like to come support her. But not only will you be supporting her, you will be supporting a great cause. This concert is a benifit concert for Shriners Hospital. All proceeds go to the hospital. It's a little pricey, but it's for a great cause. The Dance Club is amazing and promises to give a great show.

Also if you can't come or can't afford the show, she is selling hearts for $1.00 a piece that will go up in the children's hospital with your name on it. If you would like to help us with this fund raising event, please leave us a comment and we can come by your home to pick up the donation. Thanks everyone.

My happy

Yesterday was an o.k. day I guess. Nothing memorable or thrilling, but then again there was not a whole lot accomplished. Or at least I thought. Last night as Miguel and I were going to bed and we were removing all of the laundry that was covering our bed, he asked, "have you washed my green swimsuit?" As I looked around at our room with a dirty laundry pile over there and a clothes basket with the girls clothes in it over here and an empty laundry basket with clothes draped over there, I immediately read into it and said "NO!!!, look, I know the house is a mess and it looks like I haven't done anything all day, but I did get the white load of laundry folded and another load washed and well, come to think of it, that's about it.

He just looked at me and stared. He said, "I didn't mean anything by it!" I then proceeded to tell him how discouraged I was with the house and how behind I was and then he simply asked, "What was your happy today?"

I stopped. Thought for a minute and then told him that I actually had a good shopping trip with the girls to the grocery store. They were helpful and then on the way home we talked about the little red hen and how Mommy needed helpers to get dinner ready for us to eat. They all helped me carry in the groceries and then actually helped me prepare dinner. I had the little ones shucking corn and Gabriela preparing biscuits. It was a really successful time by us all and we enjoyed working together. Those moments are rare, but I was really enjoying them and so proud of their behavior.

Once I related the story, I laid down with a smile on my face and realized the day was worth while anyways, despite the mountains of laundry all over my room. I'll get to it today.

(Our family started doing Happies and Sads at the dinner table some time ago. The kids love it and it helps us reflect on the day. Everyone gets a turn telling everyone else what their happy and sad was for the day. We've kind of slacked off lately, but it surprised me when Miguel asked me that. He's a smart one.)

What's the latest?

Since my blogging is almost nonexistent these days, I thought I better write something before people start not checking it altogether. But I can say that my disappearance has been justified.

You see, first off, I'm about 11 weeks pregnant with baby #4. I feel like I'm going to loose the contents of my stomach every waking moment of the day. If I move, I get severely nauseated. My kids probably think I'm dying from all the laying around I'm doing these days. We are excited, but boy am I ready to be over this first part. I usually clear around 12 weeks, so I'm crossing my fingers that it's the same this time.

Secondly, I've been  fluish sick for a straight two weeks now. I eventually ended up on antibiotics, but I think it amplifies my nausea. The bright side is, I'm not blowing my nose every five seconds and I only have one more day left of the medicine. Although my throat feels a little soar right now...not a good sign.

Thirdly, I don't have a camera right now. So sad. Sophia killed our last working camera last Monday during family home evening. We carved pumpkins and when I asked her to take a picture, she dropped it right on the lens. Without pictures, I loose the motivation to blog. I better figure out something, because the holidays are coming up quick!!!

But on a brighter note, I completed and executed my second Primary program today. The kids did amazing and I was very proud of them. I have THE BEST chorister ever. She's amazing! Gabriela sang a solo again to "Follow the Prophet." She eats that kind of stuff up. And for the record, I did not write my child a solo into the program. The chorister picked her to do it. I don't want people getting the wrong idea since she sang a solo last year as well.

Sophia is taking horse back riding lessons (maybe I'll have pictures one day). She absolutely loves it with every fiber of her being. It has been the best thing for her and Julianne has overcome her fear of horses since she goes and watches every week with me. She brushes it, helps saddle it, leads into the arena by herself, and is really really good at riding. She started trotting last week and she can weave the horse through cones all by herself. Her teacher told me that most kids her age get stuck on one skill for a month or so, but with Sophia, she teaches her something new each week.  Another trainer actually commented on her last week as well. Who knows where we'll go with this?

Gabriela lost her first (well really her second) tooth yesterday. She has had this wriggly tooth for like two weeks and the other tooth has actually popped up behind it because it wouldn't get out of the way. It was never really loose enough for me to feel confident I could pull it out. Well yesterday, Gabriela and I were talking about it and she told me she had an idea. She's been full of ideas lately and most of them are pretty good ones. Anyways, she proceeds to tell me that she needs some of that stuff you put on your teeth and you can't feel them anymore. Are you talking about Orajel? I told her I didn't think I had any of that stuff, but I got up to check the medicine cabinet just to humor her. I did not think this was going to work. Well low and behold, right there, front and center, was the Orajel. I gave her a tiny drop on her finger and she sticks it in her mouth. It wasn't three seconds later, that she didn't pop that tooth right out of there on the first attempt. It shocked her. It shocked me. I was totally impressed. She has carried that tooth around 24/7. She actually lost it last night and was devastated because she couldn't put it under her pillow. We found it later and then to my horror, I noticed she had taken it to church and had it out showing it to her primary teacher up on the stand. I could not believe she brought it to church and I apologized profusely to her teacher about it. I will be happy when the tooth fairy comes and picks that thing up!

And lastly, our biggest challenge right now is Sophia and the potty. The child has reverted back to peeing and pooping her pants. Don't know why? Can't figure this one out. It is about to kill me though. She was completely potty trained for six months at least. Now it's like she has no bladder or bowl control. My only guess is that she just holds it and when she decided to go, it's too late. It is gross, frustrating, and did I mention gross. But here's the crazy thing. She wakes up in the middle of the night to go potty, just about every night. I guess she's not distracted at night. I don't know. Who knows?

Today was definately refining

Man alive, has it been tough around here this week. We've got every ailment under the sun under one roof. I've been sick since Sunday. Call it a head cold, call it the flu, call it what you want, but it is miserable. I think my voice is going to go out tomorrow, because it has moved into my lungs and the coughing is killing my throat. Julianne ended up with a double eye infection and taking her to the doctor is like taking a cat to the carwash. Not a good thing and then you have to WWF her to get the eyedrops in her eyes. She runs away proclaiming, "I don't want toooo!!!"

Well then Gabriela has the Egore eye today, so I started her on drops and then Sophia's complaining that she doesn't feel well either. She coughs here and there, but nothing serious...that is until about 7:00 tonight when she starts crying about how bad her ear hurts. I make and afterhours appt. for her and take the perscription to Walgreens. As we are standing in line, she pukes in the floor, right in front of the massive crowd around the pharmacy. I was kind of stunned and didn't know what to do next. I eventually, with the kind suggestion from a spectator, rush her off to the bathroom where I strip her of her jammies, wash her off, and zip her into my jacket and we bolt for the door.

Oh and did I mention Julianne is naughtier than ever and has taken full advantage of me everytime I try to lay down and get some rest. I rented and movie for the girls today and while I was watching with them she was upstairs, ditching her diaper, and pooping in Sophia's closet. Yep, you read that right! She pooped in the closet. It's actually a really large amoir, but sill, who does that? But before I discovered that I had to make my way up the stairs trying not to step on the entire bag of trail mix that she dumped down the stairs. Not one peanut, chocolate chip, or cranberry left in the bag. I think I'm going to lease her out for a year. Anybody want a naughty two year old. She has a great smile, but that's about it lately.

It's hard not to get depressed at times like this. The house looks like a bomb went off, I feel like I am a walking time bomb, and well I feel like I've been hit by a bomb, so my spirits are a little down and out. I can't really rest because I have naughty preschoolers who as soon as they know Mom is laying down, drag kitchen chairs over to the pantry to start their rade. It never fails and what is more astonishing is that they think I can't hear them. Anyways, I'm tired and am going to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

The Blessing of Your Health

Today I'm a little down. I just hasn't been a good one for me. Primarily because of the way I'm feeling. It all started about 12:30 last night when I woke up and realized I couldn't breath. I got up hoping to find my inhaler next to my bedside, but soon realized it wasn't there. I started fumbling around my room, and then made my way to the kitchen, the medicine cabinet, the bathroom, my purse, back to my bedroom, under the bed, and all the while feeling more anxious than ever, that I NEEDED THAT MEDICINE! I was starting to panic as I was gasping for air. Finally on a whim I started searching underneath the piles of clothes in my room and finally found it.  I guess I should keep my room a little cleaner from now on, so stuff doesn't get hidden under other stuff.
Once I took the medicine, I went back to bed and when I woke up in the morning, I could tell I was still symptomatic. And the day has pretty much been the same. How is that only a few weeks ago, I was healthy enough to compete in a triathalon, and now I can't walk up the stairs without gasping for air. It's frustrating, it's defeating. My allergies are what triggers it and it is apparent that fall is just as bad a spring for me. I also think I could be coming down with a cold and that could be triggering it as well.  It just really makes me grateful for my health when I have it. I don't want to be on inhalers and medication my whole life. But it seems, I just can't do without them right now. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to winter, so that everything that grows is buried under a foot of snow. Maybe then I'll find some relief.

A Sneak Peak

 We had our picture taken by a friend in the ward, and I went to bed in sheer joy last night. It was the best family photo session we've had to date. Mostly due to the fact that my kids cooperated and were happy. Christina was great with the kids. We got in and out and everyone was still happy when we were done. And then I saw the pictures and my heart melted. I was actually seeing the fruitition of and idea I had months ago. Back when I picked the patterns, the fabrics, the location. It all came together and I just couldn't be happier. I just wanted to give a sampling here. I've got to save some for Christmas cards, right? You can see the rest at http://www.handsfullphotos.blogspot.com/

A Follow Up

After posting last week, it hit me that I can't change everything all at once. If there is going to be change, it has to happen little by little. So I determined last week that I would focus on our bedtime routine. It has made such a difference for us. We have done our best to get our kids in bed by 8:30 with a routine that starts at 7:40 if we can help it. We read for twenty minutes, get jammies on, pick out our clothes for the next day, brush teeth, and then say prayers. I initially wanted to spend part of that time putting their room back together, but that hasn't worked out yet. My friend suggested we do a five minute pick up with a timer. So maybe we'll try that next week. But I'm realizing even a little bit of a routine is better than none.

Seeking Motherhood Mentor.............................Quickly!!!

Man alive, I feel like a chicken with my head cut off. I'm flying by the seat of my pants most of the time. I don't make advanced decisions and am the world's worst about consistency. I have awesome intentions and can make a plan with the best of them. The problem is, I can't do it. No, not really, I can do it, but there is nothing that makes me do it, and I simply fall back into playing defense. Maybe I need a sticker chart!

I need a good offense. I need a coach!!! Anybody want to volunteer to be my mentor? I just need someone to help me make a plan and then hold me to it. Check up on me each week. I know my life would run much smoother and I would feel like I'm ahead of the game instead of always running to catch up.

For example, this morning I don't wake up until 7:10 and then realize that I'm late and I need to get Gabriela up and going. She hates being woken up and tells me she doesn't like this family and she only smiles when I'm not around. That made me feel just peachy. By the time I get her to school it's 8:15 and then I have to rush home to get Sophia up, fed, showered, and to preschool by 9:00. I send her to school with soaking wet hair, Julianne with soaking wet hair, and me still in my workout clothes unshowered. I know there is a better way of doing this. I should be getting up at 6:00, showering, reading my scriptures, and making Miguel a lunch all before 7:00. We should be laying out clothes the night before and the kids should have a specific bedtime. There is just no accountability. I wish I was just that disciplined but I'm not.

Any suggestions, people?
How do you stay consistant?

It's Always Fun When the Millers Come!!!

This post is long overdue, but it has been nonstop since the end of August, so I'm doing a lot of catching up. The girls have looking forward to their cousins coming into town for months. They love them so much and there was a lot of anticipation for their arrival. And once they did, it was nonstop action for a week. We started off with a family bowling night. My kids loved it, especially since they cut the music loud and turned on the blacklights. They were more interested in shaking their tail feathers than bowling and then it ended in an impromptu ice cream party at our house at 10:30p.m.

The next day, once Gabriela got out of school, we headed up to Deer Creek, and spent the day on some seadoos. We were suppost to have a family campout, but Rebeca suggested this and it was so fun, that we have decided to make this the back to school tradition instead. Sophia was hooked after the first ride and she went out as often as she could. She didn't care who she was riding with.

When the kids weren't riding, they entertained themselves in other ways.

When I took Julianne out on the lake, after much coersion and finally by force, I looked down because she was heavily leaning on my arm, and she fell asleep. I guess the wind and waves rocked her to sleep. It's actually the story of her life. So I had to bring her back in and Miguel went and laid her on a blanket to finish her nap.

So this picture has a good story! I took Elena and Sophia out for a ride, they are both 3, and we decided to ride the north perimeter of the lake just to see what was out there. As we got closer to the edge, I decided we better stay back for fear we might get stuck and as soon as I had that thought we ran up on the grasses and they got sucked up into the seadoo. What does that mean? Well we broke down and were stuck at the northern edge of the lake. I tried not to panic as we just sat there floating in the lake. I tried sitting on the back edge and pulling the stuff out, but it was useless. I didn't know how long it would take for someone to come looking for us. The girls were hopeless and said they would never see their daddies again.

So I used the opportunity to teach a lesson in faith. I suggested we say a prayer that someone would know we were missing and know were to find us. I tried flagging down other boats with no luck. The situation was looking bleak as a big dead fish floated by and we were drifting closer to shore. Then we saw our rescuer. Uncle Mike, Elena's dad, was coming. I was waving him down and then desperately tried to get him to stop before he ran into the muck and was stuck too. Luckily he stopped, but he ended up floating into it anyway. After a while he cleared and towed us in. That was scarier than being stuck, because it felt like he was just going to pull us over. The girls would scream with fright. It made for an interesting story. It was probably and hour and a half adventure.

The Ruiz kids: Beto, Rebeca, Graciela, and Miguel

The oldest of the girlie cousins: Gabriela, Annabelle, and Raquel

Miguel and I thought we better get some practice in before our big Sea World audition! We practiced all our tricks and syncronized seedooing to an eager audience. It was great. And then we decided that that was enough and a race sounded more fun instead, so Miguel dared to race him to the other side of the lake and reach a speed of 50mph. Yeah, no problem there. I actually felt like I was 16 again with the wind whipping through my hair. I like adventure and this was right up my alley. Thanks guys for a great day.

And as a side note: we had family pictures taken a few days later. I don't have them yet, but here's what I do have.

And don't let Miguel fool you. He's the KING of ugly face making!

We're a little crazy in this family.