Spring Days

Carlsbad Beach with the Carlsons and VanderPols

Nick with Daisy and Charlie

Easter with the Flores cousins

Carlsbad Flower Fields- Ranuncula
Brynn and Amy at Carlsbad Flower Fields

Brynn's kindergarten class at the Flower Fields

I has been a beautiful April- my favorite time of year around here. Beautiful weather, combined with flowers and bright green foliage make for a gorgeous month. I feel so thankful to God for all his gifts to us! I feel God's love and presence when I see such beauty around me.

Psalm 104

O Lord my God, you are very great;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

He wraps himself in light as with a garment,...

How many are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures...

they all look to you...when you open your hand,

they are satisfied with good things.

Girls Weekend in Palm Springs- Amy, Veronica, Sarah, and Kristin

Sea World with Isabelle and Laura Dunn- my cousins

American Girl Cafe with my cousins- Kristin, Becky and Laura

The Grove, Los Angeles, CA with my cousins, mom, grandma and aunt.

American Girl Store with Isabelle and Brynn

We've had a fun last couple of weeks. I had a girls weekend away with 3 of my good friends. Between the four of us we left 9 kids with their dads for the weekend. We had fun lounging at the pool, shopping, and going out to eat.

This past weekend my cousin Laura came out to visit from Missouri with her daughter Isabelle. We had a marvelous time, and made some fun trips to Sea World, American Girl Store, and lots of extended family time.

Sledding San Diego Style

We had a fun afternoon on Sunday at Moonlight Beach. The weather was in the 70's on the coast. The kids took their boogy boards sledding down a big sand dune. It was a riot to watch. Those kids are little beach bums. It was good to have a relaxing weekend because it has been a hectic week. I had Spanish class on Monday, and studied a good part of the day. Tuesday I worked, and then headed down to Mary Birch Hospital to do my yearly competency stuff. Yesterday I worked again and had a student nurse with me, which always makes the day longer and more tiring. It was fun though. I only slept about 5 hours last night and did some volunteering in Brynn's class today, so now I'm pretty pooped. I even took a little nap this afternoon. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, my parents are coming down and spending the night. We have a fellowship dinner at Calvin Christian tomorrow night.

25 Random things about Me

This was something fun from facebook, so I thought I'd put it on my blog

1. My favorite smell is orange blossoms in a warm breeze.
2. I am pretty good on a scooter.
3. I NEED my coffee in the morning.
4. My kids are the most hilarious and creative people in the world.
4. I feel loved.
5. I enjoy listening to my neighbor Carlos play his Mexican folk music.
6. I have been shit on 3 times at the beach by seagulls
7. I love being a nurse. It is rewarding to feel like you make someone's life better.
8. I think life is too short to be a workaholic.
9. Sponge Bob cracks me up.
10. I love drinking wine and playing cribbage with Lauren.
11. Sports on TV is BORING.
12. I always cry when babies are baptized.
13. My favorite song is"What a Wonderful World" even though the world is not always wonderful (hopeless optimist)
14. Mean people suck. (Sometimes I suck)
15. I love reading, and can't put a good book down.
16. Being at the ocean makes me feel FREE!
17. I talk to my sister 2-3 times a week, even though we have lived in different states for almost half of our lives.
18. I love buttercream frosting.
19. It makes me laugh when people fall.
20. My husband is shorter than me. (short and sexy)
21. I believe it is never too late to start something new.
22. I want to travel the world.
23. I want to eat whatever I want and never get fat.
24. My best pet ever was a rottweiler named Clyde.
25. I love reading poetry.

10 Year Anniversary

Me at "The Grand Tradition", where we got married 10 years ago on this day, Jan 2.
Lauren and the kids outside at the Grand Tradition- we were married in the gazebo.

At our favorite restaurant Las Olas, on our anniversary with Nicholas and Brynn.

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary January 2. We took the kids up to Fallbrook to see where we got married, and had fun looking around and reminiscing. Time has flown by so fast, but when I think of all that has happened in those ten years, I guess I can believe it has been that long. I feel like the luckiest woman being married to my hubby. He is my best friend, and so good to me. I love my life with him. He is the most loyal and good-hearted person.

Wild Kids and Dogs, and Me.

Santa and his reindeer ate our goodies
Russ, Chris, Nick and Brynn

Russell and Auntie Amy

Crazy days

Two little dress-up fairies are screaming and being chased by two little grubby boys. Three dogs are barking and climbing all over my furniture. It is loud and chaotic, with crazy laughter and shouting. A remote control dragonfly is buzzing around my head. I am in between loving it and being extremely annoyed. Soon it will be time to banish them to the backyard I think. It is Christmas vacation, and we are babysitting my in-laws dogs and each kid has a friend over. Now I remember why I was glad summer vacation came to an end. I love spending time with my kiddos, but when things turn sour and the remote control dragonfly is getting tangled in a screaming 5 year old girl's hair, it makes me glad school will be starting again next week. We had an awesome time with my sister and family last week, I wish it didn't go by so quick . Hope you all had a great Christmas.

My Christmas Angels

Lauren and Brynn

I am eagerly awaiting tomorrow, when Nicole, Kevin and the boys arrive for a week in California for Christmas! I love this time of year, and love spending time with my family.

These pictures were taken before the kids performed in their Christmas programs.

Hope you all have a blessed Christmas!