A Dream.....

I feel like I need to document this emotional journey of the last couple of weeks. This whole pregnancy, I have been thankful for a healthy baby, and have been prepared to have another little boy. Jonah melts my heart so much and is so fun-loving that I can't imagine not welcoming another sweet boy. However, knowing this will be our last baby, I was really dreaming of having 1 more girl. Julia is so sweet and brings a softer element to our house, among all of these boys. She has been praying for a sister for so many years. I can't deny that I would love to balance out all of these boys a little, too. Plus, we have 3 upstairs bedrooms available to the kids and a girl would also allow a nice division among the rooms : 2 boys, 2 boys and 2 girls. I prayed and prayed. I worked hard not to get my heart set on a girl, but the desire was always there and I would share that with God constantly (while trusting His perfect plan).

     At 16 weeks (2 1/2 weeks ago), I had an ultrasound with my OB. I started to get really nervous because, that day, it dawned on me that I may find out the gender. My OB looked and looked and all he would tell me is that he "couldn't see anything between the legs". I don't think I realized how much those words would torture me for the next 2 weeks. It gave me a hope that it might be a girl but it was really too early to confirm anything. So, all of these months, all the work I put in to trying to convince myself it was a boy, was kind of starting to fade. I didn't want that. I didn't want to start envisioning the baby as a girl, unless I knew for sure. I needed to guard my heart. It was a long 2 weeks because of how hard I had to work on controlling my thoughts.
     So, last Wednesday (at 18 weeks), I was at the perinatologist for an ultrasound. My appointment was at 4:00 and I was so nervous. I continued to be tested as I sat in the waiting room until 5:45, when they called me back...the last appt of the day. Well....both the assistant and the Dr. confirmed that it was a girl. I thought I would faint. My heart was beating so hard during my ultrasound (before I found out it was a girl) that the assistant said it sounded like the baby's heartbeat. I found it so hard to believe them and had them tell me over and over. They even gave me a picture to take home with the "3 little lines" to show me it was a girl. When I left, I felt like I was floating on a cloud. I cried on the way home.
    The kids wanted me to tell them in person. So, I stopped at the party store on the way home and got a bunch of pink balloons. When I walked in the door, all the kids came running to greet me. Their jaws dropped and they all screamed and jumped with happiness. There was a giant group hug. Julia told me that she felt like she needed to cry for Joy. So, she clung onto me and whaled for quite a while. The boys kept checking to see if she was ok. It was so surreal and so fun to see how excited everyone was.
     Today is Sunday, and it still hasn't completely sunk in. Every time I think about it, I can't believe it. God is so good to give me my heart's desire, even though I don't deserve it at all.  I am so humbled. God is good...even when He answers us differently than what we ask for...but He has been so gracious to us. The funny thing is, if I had a girl instead of Jonah, I have a feeling I would have felt "complete" and maybe wouldn't have had such a strong desire for another baby. Then, I wouldn't have sweet Jonah. I am so happy that it happened this way. Now I have Jonah and a baby girl on the way.      Excited for a new journey again, after not having a baby girl for 8 years! It should be fun. (And....so many cute girlie things have come out in the last 8 years!)  I am even excited for Jonah to have a baby sister, because Josh and Julia have such a sweet relationship with each other. I feel like I MAY just finally have a feeling of "completion" after this little one. I never have felt like our family was complete. The Lord always put this desire in my heart for another baby. I can't know for sure now, but I am hoping and praying to have that feeling after this precious one is born. Loving this baby and excited to meet her. The kids are wishing it was already June. In some ways, I agree with them!

Griffith Park

When our 2 oldest boys were young, we use to love taking them to Griffith Park. There is this cute little place with train and pony rides and then Travel Town Museum is at the other end of the park. Jeremy use to be so obsessed with trains, that they loved to go and climb on all of them! Today was the 1st time we took Jonah there. He loves anything with a motor and/or wheels : trucks, trains, planes, cars....etc. 

When we got there, he was so excited to be out of his stroller and running around. The thing that cracks me up about him is his funny little "trot" he does. He doesn't run. He frolics, or gallops, or trots. I really don't know how to explain it but it is totally hysterical and we crack up about it all the time. The more excited he is, the more dramatic the frolicking! I had to post this picture because it actually caught him in action!

I think the kids were more excited for him to ride the little train than he was. But once he heard the whistle and it started moving, he was beside himself.

Very happy after his ride!

Then......he got to go on his 1st pony ride. He felt so "big". We loved his proud expression. I couldn't believe how little he looked as the pony circled the track with him.

Then, of course, he had a blast chasing the pigeons.  

And he took his 1st drink from a drinking fountain....big day for little man!

Then, we finished up by looking at and climbing in the trains at Travel Town. He will probably never remember this day...but we will. :)

Snow souvenir

Is it weird that this snowball is still crammed in my freezer and 2 of my little ones were hoping to save it until next winter?

New Pots and Chili!

So, for Christmas, my mom got me these new enamel-covered, cast-iron pots. I am obsessed. I love them so much. I love the quality, the color, the sizes....everything. I couldn't wait to use them! All of this cold weather and SNOW, made me NEED to make chili. This is a simple recipe that I have been making for years. Originally, I got it from Weight Watchers. I think it was something like 2 points a bowl....and really filled me up. I make it from memory now. It may have gotten tweaked slightly, but nothing that would affect calories. Someone told me once that it won a chili contest.....but I can't confirm it. What I love most about it is that I can always keep the ingredients on hand, I can make it in a very short time or I can leave it in the crock pot all day...and it makes great left overs!

Weight Watchers Chili Recipe (from memory)

1 lb ground turkey (I have used ground beef when making it for other people)

1 onion

3 cans beans, drained (I like a variety so I use pinto, black and kidney)

1 can corn, drained (I've also used Trader Joes frozen, roasted corn)

2 cans diced tomatoes in juice

1 can tomato sauce

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 envelope dry ranch mix

1-2 cups water (depending on preferred thickness)

So, I chop the onion and brown the meat with the onion. Then, I dump everything else in the pot and heat until warm. I have also done this in the morning and allowed it to slow cook all day so that the kitchen is clean and it is ready and waiting when we are hungry. Toppings my kids love are: shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips. 

The nice thing about this recipe is that you can add or take away ingredients, according to your taste. We love it. It's basic and healthy! Hope your family will like it, too!!!

(I think the original recipe also added a small can of diced green chilies but I usually leave these out)

Snow Day!!!!

Ok.....so the last time I remember getting snow in Santa Clarita, where it stuck to the ground was in high school. That was a LONG............. time ...........ago! Well, we were sitting home yesterday afternoon, anticipating the rain, when we saw snow flurries! The kids were giddy and running around the house with excitement. However, this has happened before and then stopped several minutes later. Not this time!!!!! We didn't know that at 1st, so we ran right out to get pictures.

 I wasn't sure how well the snow was showing up in the picture so we were trying to capture the snowflakes on their hair. 

 Jake was trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue!

 The snow started coming down harder! Is this really happening in Santa Clarita???? :)

 Jonah wasn't sure how he felt about it....so he decided to watch from inside the warm house!

 The snow started to stick! The kids were so excited!!! We had to get another picture!!!

 I cracked up when I saw that they got out our sleds!

 ...and when I saw them making their tiny snowman! So cute!

A view from upstairs! So beautiful!!!! what a great last day of Christmas Break!!!! 

Big News and a Good Explanation (I promise)

Well....if there is ANYONE who still even bothers to read my blog (out of the 2 of you that ever did, when I was writing regularly), I think I owe you an explanation for my absence. I would have explained sooner, but couldn't.

Around the time that I stopped posted regularly, was around the same time that my morning sickness kicked in. Yes...you heard right...morning sickness. I am sure you are not nearly as shocked as we were but we are starting to get use to the idea now. In 2 days, I will be 14 weeks. We told our parents and our children on Christmas. Now that my kids know, it will be public knowledge!

It's hard to believe that in about a month, we will know the gender of the baby. Everyone in our house is praying HARD for a girl. However, we realize that we seem to make boys a little easier than girls. We also know that God chooses for us, exactly what he wants us to have, and what is best for us. So, we will be thankful for whatever precious gift he chooses to give us.

For those who care, I am due in June, again! Jonah will be 2 in June, right before this baby is due. That will be our 3rd June birthday.

Anyway, I thought things would make more sense  (to anyone who bothers to read this blog), now that you know why I have been so absent. The last couple months, I have been on survival mode....adjusting to the news....trying to figure out how I will get by with more on my plate....rejoicing that Jonah will have a playmate and that we will see another baby in our house....dealing with sickness....going to bed right when the kids do...homeschooling in PJs lots of days...etc. You get the picture. It's almost comical. I was off to such a great start to this school year and was on a real roll with my attempted organization and healthier cooking, etc....all to come to a screeching halt! I know it will all be worth it and I am going to attempt to ease back into the blogging. I do need to be realistic, though, with my expectations!

Thanks to the 1 or 2 of you that may read this!!!! Otherwise, it is here for my documentation! A new and exciting journey is ahead!

Spring Break- Santa Barbara Zoo

We LOVE the SB Zoo. So many times, during our marriage, (before and after kids) we have made lots of special memories in Santa Barbara. We almost got married there. We have gone to that zoo with all of my kids, no matter what age, and they love it. This is the 2nd time Jonah has been there. The 1st time, however, he was only weeks old. This was the 1st time he went when he "knew what was going on." He gets so excited over animals and creatures so we knew he would have fun. He loved every animal he saw...even the rattle snake (which creeped me out a lot). There is something unsettling about seeing your baby try to grab a rattle snake with a big smile on his face. Anyway, we bought a family pass for the year and I hope we get to spend many more days up there, as a family, this year. It was a very good day!

The pier--another place we love!

October recap (1st half)

Continuing to speed blog!!! Lots of things still going on in our house. Dad and the kids have been working on projects around the house here and there. Jeremy is learning from dad how to measure and cut wood and loves every minute of it. He is self-motivated and a quick learner so I think he will be pretty handy when he is older. Even now, he completes many items on my honey-do list when Louie is at work!

Daddy also got roller blades for Julia and Josh because they were attempting to skate with our old ones from pre-marriage years! They have been having so much fun with them. Here, Julia is rollerblading in a mini mouse costume! :

Jeremy's best friend, Andrew, came over for a night and the boys thought they were so cool BBQing burgers and dogs for the kids. Boy, they are growing up fast! :

The 3 specks on the hill above our house are Jeremy, Jake and Andrew....they love to explore the hills behind the house!
Poor Joshie had to send his beloved Beta fish, Flame, to the deep blue sea. He was very sad, here he is bravely washing out Flame's bowl, rocks and shell, despite his sadness. He is deciding whether or not he will want to replace Flame. :
One day when daddy was working close to home, he stopped by for a visit! IT was a real treat for the kids!

Summary of March

Well, life has been really busy! That is why I have not had a chance to update my blog in so long. the easiest way to catch up is to upload a few events as a summary. There isn't a ton of pictures of exciting things but it weighs on me to not be "current".

The above picture was actually right before March....my husband took me to see the "Phantom of the Opera". I saw it in college but ha never seen it with him. We had such a nice time going to Cheesecake Factory and seeing the show!

March 5th is my birthday. I am not one to love big parties, etc. to be thrown for me....my husband has tried it all (not that I haven't appreciated it). This year, we didn't have big plans on my birthday. Actually, my husband was scheduled to work that day and night. So, he surprised me by getting off in time to come home and make the kids and I a yummy dinner. He also brought home flowers and pie from Marie Calenders, as well as a gift. It was a nice surprise, since i thought it would be just another ordinary day at home. the kids were very excited to participate in the candle-lighting, etc. I loved being able to spend that night with all of them!

Another trip to Carpinteria. this trip was much cooler than the last one, but it was still beautiful and we still had a great time. The above pictures is one of my favorite views...it hardly "catches it".
Frank and Yvette and their kids came up to spend the day and evening with us...it was tons of fun!

Our little monkey........

Freezing shower after a freezing beach!

We needed to add RV parking to our house, so while we were at it, we decided to add the hardscape to the front that we have always wanted. So, this is mid-process with a new wall, pilasters and the concrete on the new steps being poured. I t looks so sad without all the plants and grass but I know we'll be happy when we re-do all of that!


Lastly, a silly picture of Julia with "crazy hair" on "crazy hair day at Huckleberry Learning Center. She loved having 4 different colored braids!

And Then There Were 5!

On thanksgiving, we finally told our kids and parents that we are expecting baby number 5. I was almost 12 weeks at that time so we felt "safe" enough to tell them. After having a miscarriage at 10 weeks this past summer, and winessesing the devastation of the kids, I didn't have it in me to do that to them again. Yesterday, I had my 4th ultrasound and am a little over 13 weeks...so far so good. We are so thankful and so excited to meet this new little one!

Summer Time Fun

It's hard to know where to start when just beginning a blog. So, I am adding various photos from some of our fun times this summer.

Julia with grandma's new puppy!



Grandma's pool with our good friends

Jeremy, surfing in Ventura

Josh and Julia: a little too much fun with the sand!

This was a very funny cartwheel race we had on the beach

Paddle-boating in the channel in Ventura

This picture of Josh jumping off the boat cracks me up!

With good friends, climbing a giant anchor in Santa Barbara

My husband took my to Palm Desert for 2 nights...we had a great time

Daddy and Julia in Newport

Clowning around in Newport

Jake and Josh

baseball on the beach

Finally, A Day at Disneyland