INSTAFRIDAY

linking up the jeannett again this week at life rearranged

yay for INSTAGRAM Friday's!!

Friday after work i took the boys for froyo

it's our favorite treat

saturday morning i had a grocery store helper

he was loading up on kiwi

in the afternoon we took the kiddos to san antonio for their final tournament of the season

and as an orange belt

there is a lot of waiting involved

but the kids are pretty used to it now

they first call the kids to the mats from the stands by age groups

then they line all the kids in the age groups by height

one day this boy will probably be last in line in his age group

he's a tall one

noah and skyler road with us to the tourny

we had two first place winners and two second place winners

good job kiddos!

sunday afternoon after church, lunch and naps we headed to the silvert's for a swim

the kids played in the water for hours

we had a yummy pizza dinner

and called the weekend a wrap

our favorite team advanced in the playoffs

GO SPURS Goooo!

getting closer to another championship!!

oh the sadness of this tragedy

i'm an okie

this happened in my home state

 too close to family

but thankfully they are all safe and sound

much prayer and love for all that are displaced and have lost so much

these two are really into their DS these days

daddy put some tunes on there

a few summers ago

on a plane

anniversary trip

dreaming of another one day

just he and i

they lingered with us a little longer this morning
not wanting to leave for school

wanted me to walk with them

lots of kisses bye and "love you's"

i'm always praying for their safety, comfort and well being when we are apart

and that they learn, place nice, get along, and stay out of the principal's office

oh geez

happy friday!

celebrating 7

we had fun celebrating the boy's birthday this year

 it was a non party year

instead we let the boys each choose a friend to hang with us for the day

cooper, alex, dylan, corbin & travis

they picked indoor go karting, Gatti Town for lunch and games, and a short trip to the park for some exploring

we also made a stop at the donut shop for breakfast

strapped in, geared up, and holding on TIGHT

he almost forgot to put down his shield

corbin was a little nervous

i think he kept having questions and was afraid he would forget which side was the gas/brake

he sat out

but next time i think he's gonna give it a SPIN

travis zuniga was a pro

he cruised around the track 

little dylan hung out with us big kids

his big brother alex was focused and pretty fast

cooper was cautious but had fun being the driver
12 lap around

 we had pizza buffet for lunch
and each boy got a $10 card to spend in the game room

the bumper cars at Gatti Town were FUN

good times
alex and cooper rode them 3-4 times

I'd say it was a pretty great day

boys had loads of fun
sharing a day being spoiled
with their friends

happy birthday big Coop Corb!

thankful

my life has not been perfect, easy or ideal... at times

divorce

teen pregnancy

juvenile delinquency

drug abuse

loss of my young nephew in a car accident 

major life dibilitating stroke for my dad at age 56

12 year prison sentence for my brother

infertility

my brother being shot and paralyzed 

yup i've seen it all

been around it all

experienced hurt, witnessed great suffering

grief

loss

pain

but through it all

 i still have faith
 in god's plans

i am blessed to know i have eternal life in heaven to look forward too

a day when none of this hurt or suffering or grief will matter anymore

praise GOD

and even though life hasn't always been easy

i still have MUCH to be thankful for

RIGHT?! 

don't we all

i remember my days in africa last summer

i would say out loud over and over "we have so much"

they have nothing

i am blessed to be an american

i am blessed to have a beautiful family to love and care for

a roof over our head and a means to feed our big family of 4+ 2 dogs + 1 guinea pig

abundance, favor

we have it

we have a church family that is a dream come true

 total GOD thing

and i have a wonderful group of christian girlfriends who are the funnest people i know

these girls are so great

and their husbands are equally amazing and all friends with adam

like family friends

i have the privilege to work now while the boys are in school

and another blessing came in to our life when we found our adorable nanny, Celina

she cares for the boys and pets 3.5 hours a day

in a very calm, nurturing, engaging manner

a total gift from God

we have these amazingly loveable and smart and complex and FUN twin boys

who are a total MIRACLE

and the reason we get up everyday

they are our everything

we worry and pray and cry and fret and research to do it right by them

it's harder than anything we've faced thus far in life

the importance of getting it right feels overwhelming

we aren't perfect parents

but thank god we have each other
we aren't alone
we have tools and determination to always try harder
intentional parenting

i am beyond blessed to have a committed husband
who is a great partner

who is completely devoted to his family

so wise beyond his years

he is the best problem solver

offers solutions for me A LOT

i am challenged by him

and aggravated by him

and i know i am loved

i would never want to do this without him

he puts up with me

i am lucky

and our furry kids are such a happy part of our days as a family

feed, water, hug, walk, brush, pet, snuggle, play

they offer us so much unconditional love and attention

coach and mocha are so loved

life is good

through it all we grow and change and adapt and learn

it's all good

Field Trip {1st grade}

The boy's 1st grade class had their first field trip of the year this week.

We went on a guided tour of the state Capitol building.

our guide was ms Georgia. 
She knew her Texas history! 
And taught us a lot about the Senate, House of Representatives
 and told us about famous people who our city and counties are named after.
 It was interesting and amazing!

this is the Senate chambers. 
 They meet here to make new laws every odd year.
the seats on the 2nd level are open to the public
to come listen in while they are in session

ms. georgia pointed out the famous pioneers in texas in this giant painting

and we memorized the location of the san jacinto monument... east of houston :)

this is the house of representatives

so beautiful this time of year

our little class of 1st graders

17 sweet boys and girls

6 girls and 11 boys

oh my!

we are excited to go back in the 4th grade to learn in-depth

 the workings of the senate and house of representatives

wednesday

i talked to my sister in law today

it had been too long

made me miss africa more

we have that bond now

i love love love that

i knew it was a good idea for her to go

with me

who is going next year?

hmmm, i wonder

we already have dates from kelly green global

for 2013

i kid you not

the trip is for one week or two

i wish it was 10 days long, but i could  

handle 14 days

someone has been a really good boy

at school

so he earned a BIG surprise

a new bigger bike

i think he likes it

golly he looks so grown up
he's tall
and a cutie pie

coloring in their room after school

i'm all for anything that isn't video games all afternoon

which is more typical then this

so i had to take a picture

it's been a good day!