This Past Week...

...has been a little hectic, yet fun. We started out the week by going to the Oritz house. My friend Desiree always knows how to throw a good kid party. She had made pins for the kids with their names on it. There were flower pins for the mommas. We played games out front, like toss the egg, hot potato and had a sack race. The kids later searched for the hidden eggs in the backyard. Lots of food and yummy cupcakes. A great day with good friends.

The next day (Monday) I decided to keep the kids home from school. Made breakfast for the family. We did a little running around and then came home. We took advantage of the beautiful summer like weather. We sat around the pool and let the kids play in the kiddie area of our pool. There was no way I was getting in...it was too cold. Later that night we had a BBQ which is always nice on a warm night.

On Tuesday we were invited to go Legoland with the Frederick's. The boys were so excited when we told them we were going. They had been asking us to take them for the longest time. We couldn't pass up the deal Jamie had. It was a nice day, but a bit crowded. The boys enjoyed the rides and Legos. Grandma gave them each Easter money, so they bought a couple Lego sets.
After Legoland, we went and had dinner at Hensley's Flying Elephant Pub & Grill. What a neat restaurant, there are black and red walls with accordions & lots of photos & paintings hung up. The restaurant is owned by Matthew Hensley...a former professional skateboarder and accordionist for the band Flogging Molly.
Ok gotta go...Audrey is crying. This week is not over yet...so stay tuned for more!

Oh and wait...I've also started sewing a few things. Nothing major, just a few "cute" things for Audrey.

Friends @ play:

Perfect day with great friends. Rachel and the kids came over today, to hang out. The kids played pretty much the entire visit. We had lunch and ice cream...yummy! The weather could not have been any better. We snapped some pictures of all the kids, great memories! So blessed to have family friends like the Heisers. I love the fact that our children get along despite the age differences. My kids were worn out. I was tired too...but still needed to make dinner. Poor Charles started to doze off at the dinner table...he ended up falling asleep while watching a movie. I started a new project later in the evening...I will reveal what it is later, if it turns out ok.
Time for bed it's late...brand new BEAUTIFUL day tomorrow. Hanging out with some more friends tomorrow.

Prayer

I found this in One-Minute Prayers for Women:

True Devotion

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful ** Colossians 4:2

God, can You work with me on my commitment issues? Build in me a desire to pray. I want to be a disciplined follower. Steady my spirit to stillness. Quiet and solitude prepare me for Your presence. Direct my eyes to be watching for Your answers, watching as my prayers are heard and responded to. I want to see and recognize Your work in my life.
Cause my faith to grow, Lord. Each day that I come to meet with You, may I know You better. Replace my ignorance with Your knowledge. Help me be strong in my commitment to You. Show me how to pray, Lord.

Ok so one of my BIGGEST fears is praying. I also fear public speaking...so praying with others is not really an option for me right now. What is it that I'm afraid of...that the person will judge the way I speak...am I choosing the correct words? I'd love to do it. I want to do it. Maybe I should JUST DO IT! What do I have to lose right? I've had friends and family pray for me and with me. Why do I struggle with it so much? It's not a big deal...it's a HONOR to be able to pray for others and yourself. It's an HONOR to be loved and cherished by Him. Having my prayers answered or sometimes not answered is an HONOR to me. (Not sure why I used the word honor) I have so much respect for what God has given me...so why not talk with Him everyday...get down on my knees and give him THANKS.
I'm working on it, praying. I've even started reading my daily devotional out loud...it's a start right?

...to be continued.

A Day At the Beach...

Since Gaven (my brother-in-law) was visting us from Indiana, we decided to take the him and the our kids to the beach.  We dressed...well we thought we were dressed for beach weather.  When we got there it was soooo cold.  We walked along the bike path, we warmed up a little.  And then we walked along the Huntington Beach pier, watched the surfers and dolphins play in the water.  Charlie thought the dolphins were sharks because he could see their fins.  After our walk we went and had lunch at Duke's and had some delicious, yummy hamburgers and chips.  

Although the weather was not lousy...we had a good time just hanging out.

My Lucky Blessing:

Happy Birthday to my little man Connor John.  

Five years ago...on March 17th...we were blessed with a little boy.  My how time flies.  Connor has been counting down to his birthday for the past 3 weeks.  He is so excited about turning 5...as for me, I will most likely cry tomorrow.  He tells me he's no longer my baby..."mom, I'm a big boy now".  

My husband's family is from Ireland...how ironic that our 1st son was born on St. Patrick's day.

So tomorrow we will be going to Disneyland for the day & his choice for dinner is Dave & Busters.  Should be a great day to celebrate.   

Just sitting here...

...typing away.  Watching 27 Dresses...I enjoy this movie...it's funny.  Kids are sleeping & so is John.  John had to work a 72 this weekend.  So that means I did to...I was sick the whole time.  "Sick"...that's something I don't have time for.  I'm a mom...a Super Mom...or an AWESOME mom, which Charlie called me today (had to brag about that one.)  

I'm also getting my grandmother's birthday invitations ready to be mailed out.  We will be celebrating her 89th birthday this year...we all thought she was turning 90...opps!  So we decided to still have the party.  She's looking forward to it, seeing her kids, grandkids, great-grandchildren & some great-great grandchildren...and other family members.  The party should be fun.  We hired 5 mariachis, a DJ so we could dance the night away...ok maybe not grandma, I'm sure she will enjoy all the festivities we have planned in her honor.

Ok...better get back to those invites.  My kids should be waking up soon...and when I mean kids...that includes John.  Ha...I'm kidding.

Later : )

We went for a walk...

...a very LONG walk.  Ok so maybe not as long as I thought...it was maybe 3 miles at the most.  Boy was I tired.  

The morning started with John and I taking the boys to school.  We then headed toward Mt. Rubidoux...got to the entrance...CLOSED!  Closed until...?  So now what do we do?  Well we went to breakfast...and tried to find a trail to walk.  We decided to drive home and work out at home.  And then John remembered a trail he'd read about.  It ended up being 2 miles from our house.  We put Audrey in her jogger stroller (she fell asleep), and headed toward the trail.  It was such a beautiful day.  Saw so many colorful wild flowers.  It wasn't a easy walk for me.  It seemed like we walked to the top of the earth...ok so maybe not.  But it felt like we walked forever...going up was hard...coming down was EASY.  I'm looking forward to climbing even further next time...who knows maybe we'll go tomorrow.  YEAH RIGHT!