Easter Co-op

Co-op was really fun the Friday before Easter. For science, we studied creation vs. evolution so the kids read through creation in the bible. For History, they studied the Crusades. Then, we had a fun snack and craft for Easter.

We made Rice Krispy treats into Easter eggs (which sure beats hard-boiled eggs)!

Then, the kids got to dip them half-way in milk or white chocolate, and decorate them with sprinkles!

These plates were not actually "posed" in a very cute way, but each kid ended up with 3 eggs and jelly beans to eat in the end.....happy kids!

We also made a craft of Easter Lilies and the flowers were actually created out of the kids' hand prints. (I'm a sucker for anything made out of their hand prints because it is so touching to look back on later!)
The end product was really cute. here is a bouquet of all of my kids' lilies in a vase!!! Fun Day!

Tea Time!!!!

We love the Huntington Library. For years, it had been an annual tradition. the last 2 years didn't work out so we hadn't been since 2006. So sad. This year, we were actually able to make it work. One girl had a C-section a week before, one hurt her Achilles tendon, and I was 7 months pregnant. Not sure we would all get around the grounds so well, but the weather was great and we had such a nice time! So excited already for next year!

We cracked up at the above plant. We couldn't believe how huge the leaves were. Stefanie, Julie and i decided to pose by the leaves as a reference point to show just how huge it was!

Then, things got sillier and sillier. Here is our version of Anne Gedes. Hmmmm?? Think we have a future in this?

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!

Last Trip to the Snow this Season...

This was a really fun trip. The kids knew this would be their last snowboarding trip for the season so they couldn't wait to try new things. I was getting over a cold and couldn't ski because of being 24 weeks pregnant. However, I enjoyed dropping them off, seeing them off and picking them up after, to hear about all of their new adventures for the day. In between, I would relax and get work done on the computer. All the kids are really confident on the snow now and everyone does a good job "keeping up" so it is fun for everyone. As a matter of fact my kids have far surpassed me! I am scared to death of steep hills and speed....something most people enjoy. the older I get the more scared i get to fall, and therefore do not enjoy feeling out-of-control....which is how I feel when I am going too fast. Major wimp, I know. My husband constantly teases me!

Above is a picture of the whole gang just before getting on the lifts together!

The above picture cracks me up. Josh did so well this trip and wins the "most improved" award. He wanted to snowboard all day, when the other kids would want t come back to the cabin to sled. He even conquered a double black diamond run, the hardest run on the mountain, called "The Wall". The name says it all and makes me feel nauseous to even think about it! However, when he has had "enough", he falls to the ground, with no warning and buries his face in the snow! Thankfully, daddy and Uncle Franco were able to talk him into 1 last run after the melt-down, so he would leave with a positive feeling!!!!

Daddy and Josh!

Here's another picture (above) that needs and explanation. Julia and Josh were hanging out together in the snow, collecting things. When they were told to come in, they dragged their sled, full of treasures back to the cabin. Josh proceeded to pull icicles out of his pockets to show me, and then set them in the sled with their other treasures! It's kind of hard to distinguish the icicles here. I don't know why, but it made me laugh so hard that he put icicles in his pockets! Maybe too much time collecting shells at the beach!!!

This is our favorite Mexican restaurant to eat at every time we go to Big Bear. It's almost impossible to get that many people to smile at the same time! ☺

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

These pictures are kind of hard to tell what you are looking at. They do so amaze me though. I had my 23 week ultrasound yesterday and got a few pictures to take home. He looks just like a little baby you would see out of the womb....but yet is still developing and being sustained by God inside the womb, until every little detail is ready for him to come into the world. These 2 pictures are of his face (with his arm in front of one side of his face). It's amazing to even see a pouty lip in one picture! It just makes me that much more excited to see him and meet him!!! What a blessing and amazing creation!

Funny Girl

Julia makes my husband and I laugh on a daily basis. She loves to be goofy and corny to make people laugh. She seems to have the perfect balance...she loves to dress up, wear make-up, get her nails painted and have her hair curled; yet, she is the 1st to wrestle and roll around in the dirt with the boys! The other night, we sent the kids up to get their jammies on for bed. Soon after, she came running down the stairs, posing and acting up in this outfit she found in the costume box: a power ranger with built-in muscles. She proceeded to pose in as many poses as she could think of, while even kissing her biceps (where did she learn that?). She had us laughing very hard. Is it that obvious that she has all brothers?

Valentine's Day Party

It has been so much fun to be meeting for our co-op group again, after such a long break for Christmas. It's amazing how much more enjoyable and relaxed it is this year, now that we have a year under our belts! We had a good time throwing the kids a little mini class Valentine party. Lots of food, and a card exchange, of course! The kids had a great time!

Lights, Camera, Action....

At the end of the semester at the Huckleberry Learning Center, the kids always participate in an end-of-semester show. This year, Jeremy played in a mini guitar recital for the guitar class he was taking, the older boys were in a play called "The 13 Colonies" from an "American History-Theater and Art" class, and the 2 younger ones sang a song from their "Classical Kids" class. For some reason it is always so painful for me to watch their performances...maybe because I am so terrified to be up in front of a crowd and I am picturing myself in their shoes. Kids plays and performances are always just so goofy and funny to watch. It was entertaining though and the kids worked really hard to prepare so I figured I should reserve a spot for it on my blog page!! :)

Louie thinks they look like convicts in the above picture!

The above picture isn't a very good shot,but I had to include it. It made me laugh so hard to see our giant boys break out in "song" and "dance" for the musical. So funny! They did a good job though!

Julia got VERY "into" it...Josh was a bit more embarrassed!

Gotta love California.....

Well, we came home from the beach Thursday, and left for the snow Monday. The kids have been begging to go to Big Bear since before Christmas. This year, they all had season passes so we knew we needed to go! Louie had 4 days off so we headed up to the mountains with our dear friends, the Modugnos. We had a fabulous time. Josh and Jacob needed a quick refresher course on snowboarding but Jeremy retained everything from last year. Julia took a few runs to warm back up to skiing, but once she did, she was back to skiing faster than me, on bigger slopes than me. I think it's just that it is so scary to fall as an adult and kids think nothing of it. I feel like such a chicken when I ski with them! This year, however, I could not ski, because I am 19 weeks pregnant. I actually enjoyed dropping them off, watching them, having quiet time while they were all there, and picking them up after the fun! Overall, a great trip. We are so blessed!

I don't know why, but I love how cute the kids look all bundled up in their snow get-up...sometimes they can hardly move because they have so many layers on! :)

So cute!

Jeremy snowboarding (picture taken from the lift)!
Jeremy and Josh:
Daddy and Josh on the lift!
All the boys taking a break to eat the lunch we ran up to them.

This lot is across the street from the cabin....(snow summit is in the background). They had so much fun sledding in the afternoon, after snowboarding and skiing!

Carpinteria!

Louie has been dying to go camping ever since we got the RV at Christmas. I realized I had to give in or he might explode! So, we went for a quick 2-night trip to Carpenteria! Everyone had so much fun and no one wanted to leave. We LOVED all the grass and trees around our camp for the kids to play...but, if there were hook-ups in that section, it would have been perfect!

Below is a picture of the centerpiece that Julia made from flowers in our backyard, and replenished with flowers around the camp. she also added a seashell border for extra decoration...she felt every table should be "pretty"....even a picnic table at a campsite....so precious!

This was the tree right behind the RV, where we kept out bikes and the table we BBQ'd on!

This picture was taken just after we parked and set out the mats and Sophie's little play pen (that she refused to be content in).
This is the view out the front window...the beach is just beyond the grass.
Daddy and Julia heading out to the water....
Julia playing T-Ball!
Josh and Julia loved climbing all the trees around our motor home!
We all rode our bikes into town for Mexican food!
S'mores for dessert when we got back to camp.

Tis the Season....A little Late!

Christmas is always my favorite time of year. We had a special time again this year but it is always so crazy because we have 3 separate celebrations! Julia got an "elf" for her birthday that was supposedly sent from the North Pole. The funny thing is....in our home, we have never "believed in Santa". However, at the classes Julia goes to, lots of the kids had these special elves. They supposedly come to visit for 10 days from the North Pole and get up and get into mischief at night when everyone else is sleeping. So, one night she "had a snowball fight" and Julia woke up to cotton all over her room. One night she "got into the treats" and there were candy wrappers all around....you get the idea. Well, next to her new American Girl Doll, Noel became her best friend. Those 2 girls went with her everywhere. She started crying uncontrollably 2 days before she knew Noel would go back with Santa....made me wonder if it was worth having her visit. Anyway, the picture below is Julia sound asleep with her 2 friends on the night she knew Noel would leave. The funny thing is, when I went to get Noel to pack away for next year, I found that Julia had tied her to her so that she couldn't leave! The next morning she explained to me how tricky or strong elves were. She was sad for days and is counting down to her visit next year.

Christmas Eve morning, we wake up and have a special breakfast and do "Christmas" as a family. We want "our" celebration to be the 1st before they are bombarded with gifts and attention at 2 other homes!

Then, Christmas eve, we go to Louie's parents' house to celebrate with his family....this is always when they have celebrated so that worked out well for us when we got married.

Finally, Christmas morning, we go over to my parents' house for breakfast, presents and we have a mellow day and usually hang out all day until after dinner. Louie worked Christmas day this year, which was sad, so it was that much nicer to be able to just hang out!