We wanted to take the kids on a vacation with Luis and Sandra and Sedona seemed like a good option with hiking, shopping, and snow in nearby Flagstaff. Our kids weren't real fond of the cold weather and snow so it is a good thing they aren't the ones living in WI! We bought sleds but everyone got cold after playing for awhile and making a snowman.
I love the holidays, and this is a very special Christmas because the kids older brother and sister, Luis and Sandra will be joining us from WI. We have kept the kids in touch with each other with Skype and visits but this will be the first time they have been able to join us for the holidays! Luis and Sandra will fly in on Christmas Eve day and spend a week with us. The kids are very excited to see them and it will make this Christmas holiday a very special one to have them here with us. We know they have never had a huge Christmas like we have always given our kids with special new pajamas on Christmas Eve!
We try to decorate for Christmas over Thanksgiving weekend, starting on Friday. All of the kids got involved and helped, which we were thankful for!
We incorporated Santa when the kids came since it was again a tradition they had never had. Juan decided to take Angie's balloons from her party and attach his letter and send it!
Through all the ups and downs, we have a lot to be thankful for. Grandma and Grandpa took the kids shopping for our turkey after school one day and everyone pitched in and helped make things for the big Thanksgiving dinner. Ingrid usually helps make the seafoam salad, Juan the spinach casserole, and Angie the rice pudding. Happy Thanksgiving!
One of the things we loved about sending the kids to school versus continuing to homeschool was the opportunities school would offer that we just couldn't like Spanish class and Band. Band was a huge part of my life and I played both the piccolo and flute through high school and college. When the opportunity came up for the kids to try Band at Odyssey, it was an avenue we wanted them to at least explore. Juan decided to try the trumpet. Ingrid played the clarinet. Angie played my flute. I am very thankful they had this opportunity! This picture was taken at Angie's fall concert.
We have gone from picking out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch to picking out pumpkins at the grocery store but at least we are still sticking with the tradition of picking out pumpkins, carving them, and roasting the seeds! Ingrid and Juan dressed up and went out trick or treating. Even the dogs, Snoopy and Buddy, were forced to get dressed up this Halloween in a costume!!
In hindsight, Ingrid and Juan may have been a little young but Angie already has a boyfriend so needed to hear all of this. We presented her with a purity ring at the end and tried to make it special and a big deal. We are doing everything everyone tells us we should do to be good parents it is just extremely challenging to connect a lot of the time! We will keep trying though because what other choice do you have!
We tried to think outside the box for presents for Ingrid and Juan's birthdays this year and give them something they could do with Dainis, who the kids call Papi. Juan loves baseball so we gave him the gift of a Diamondbacks game together. Ingrid loves horses so we gave her the gift of going horseback riding. They loved them!
Each year, the kids get to go on a class trip now that they are in junior high! Juan gets to go to Astro Camp in California! He is very excited and this will be a great experience for him.
My parents do a great job trying to make things special for our family and are great grandparents. It was difficult when we first adopted and were all living together and trying to homeschool! It is much better now that they have their own home and we have ours and they don't have to deal with the daily emotions and drama that goes
It is that time again and school is starting once again! The kids are still all at Odyssey Preparatory Academy but Angie starts high school this year so it is a big year!. The junior high and high school are on the same campus and just separated by a parking lot so drop off for me will not be difficult. Angie will be a freshman, Ingrid is in seventh grade, and Juan is in sixth grade at the junior high. This will be a big year for Juan too because he is moving up from the elementary school!
Angie made the decision to become a Christian during her first VBS after joining our family in June 2012 but waited on her baptism. We have never pressured the kids to be baptized and felt it was their decision. She decided she was ready, and we were very proud of her!
Juan is celebrating his 12th birthday and time goes by so fast!Juan has a few friends coming over for for a pool party. His favorite thing right now is Pokemon. He will be going into his first year of junior high in sixth grade this year!
It is Ingrid's 14th birthday today! She is having a pool party and loves Star Wars right now. She will be going into the seventh grade this year when she goes back to school
It is time for our church's VBS, called Summer Blast. The kids can choose to participate in a sport or crafts, and it is held at night. All three kids helped out, which we are very thankful for.
We had a nice Mother's Day celebration at my parent's house. My Mom always does such a great job trying to make everything special! We had a nice time, and it was a good day!
