Crazy things

What is the craziest thing you have done?  Well I must admit I've done some stupid things, which I will not share, haha!  I come from a large, close family on my mother's side.  My mom has 9 siblings, so you can imagine parties and get togethers.  It gets crazy.  I think my husband finds it difficult to deal with it, since he is not close to his family. Every year, for as long as I can remember, my family goes on a camping trip. Yes a camping trip, sleep in a tent, bugs and animals lurking right outside. Some of the trips are in the blazing hot summer and some have been when its nearly freezing.  That year, Ayden was just over a year.  I remember having to pile layers on him at night, because I was afraid he would be too cold to sleep.  So I would have to say, the almost freezing at night camping trips are the craziest, yet somehow very fun!



Ayden's first camping trip at Sam Houston National Forrest

 

So this tradition continues every year, with my parents, brother, sister, aunts and uncles, cousins and now with our children.  I love it, hope my children love it and see it as something to look forward to every year.

 

Jace at our camping trip March 2013

 



 

 

The hubs

Husband?  Who is that?  Funny how lots of us moms rave about our kiddos and don't mentioned that guy who we love.  I am very guilty of that.  So here goes a little something about my wonderful bald guy.

Derrick and I met in 2004, after I was stood up on a date.  We are 9 years and some, apart, I was 25, he was 35.  I never pictured anything serious between us, you know besides dating and just having fun.  We had been married with children. Because of our age difference, I always thought that maybe he saw me as too imature and not serious material.  He quickly became my go to guy for venting, problems and to to lean on, making it easy to fall for him.  But like many times in our lives, he was consumed with work and always busy.  Time and time again I walked away from him because I was tired of him always being too busy with his job, but of course always came back.  We have been "together" without splitting back up for about 6 years, married for about 1 1/2 years.

Derrick is easy going, easy to get along with.  Always smiling. When I was pregnant,  he slept so wonderful and great, while I was miserable.  I used to wake him up on purpose because it made me angry, but he always woke up with a smile, which made me more angry, haha!  He's almost completely bald, I never knew him with hair.  He's loves Sci-Fi, which drives me crazy most of the time.  He's very much a home body, loves to watch movies and TV.  He loves kiddy shows like The vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf, but is embarrassed to admit it (now you know, haha!).  He loves dogs.  He's a wonderful cook and loves to do it, but is absolutely the messiest one!  He's one of the hardest working person, who I have ever met.  He loves the boys, he spoils them rotten!  He's a wonderful father to my oldest son.  He's a wonderful person, genuinely caring and supportive in every way!  This past year, with my mother being sick, has always been supportive of me.  Has been my shoulder to lean on, a provider, my babysitter, the taxi cab and my best friend.  Oh did I get so lucky?!

Best Day

Day 4 for Blog daily challenge - Best Day Ever
Thinking of all the wonderful times in my life, I will have to say that the best day ever was April 2nd, 2001.  Well not exactly the whole day, but at 6:45pm, it turned in the best day ever!  I was 21 years old, with my mom, sister and dad (who was in the corner of the room), little cries filled the room.  A little 6lb 10oz baby boy with a full head of hair and green eyes was place on my chest, and even though he was all wrinkled and covered in goo, he was absolutely perfect!

Nathan Eli is a wonderful boy, more like a young man now.  He is kind, caring and funny, as well as the most loving and caring big brother.  "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
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Happy Happy

In the spirit of joining in the challenge by @everydaybay to blog daily, I will try to catch up and keep up. Love all the topics on the challenge!

Happy place?  That's a no brainer here!  For me, it isn't really about a place, more about the people surrounding me.  Being with my boys, my husband, my family is where I can find my happy place anytime and anywhere.  Our lives sometimes get filled with busy schedules, jobs, school... bills, that we forget that the little things, do matter.  Its nice to take a little time to appreciate those small things, which in the long run, bring the most joy.  My boys are my joy, they warm my heart, make me want to be better.
Labor day was a lazy day, since I had worked a 12 hour shift the night before.  After a nap and dinner, took the boys to the park.  My husband surprised us by coming home from work a little early and my oldest son arrived early from his weekend at his father's.  We all played at the park.



That was a "happy place" moment for me.  Hearing the little ones laughter, sharing conversation with my oldest, watching them run and play, their smiling faces... no words describe that happy feeling inside.   I hope they remember moments like this.  My new goal is to take time each day for the little things.  Even if its something so random that you think it's not worth the minute or two, it does.  I remember my father tucking me in bed as a child.  It wasn't daily because of his job, but I have a clear memory of it.  I remember him whispering in my ear, "goodnight my kitty eyes".  I am thirty three years old, and it still brings a smile to my face and warmth to my heart.  Take time to make a happy place today, because it might be a happy place you save for the future!

Daughter

We all have different roles, different hats we wear in our family roles and daily lives.  Sometimes those roles overlap.  I work fulltime outside of home, am a mother, wife and also a daughter.  This past year, I have found it difficult at times to juggle those four.  My biggest role, I would say is being a mother. Being that I have two toddlers, this role is a constant one.  But one can not forget the other three.



"My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune" - Graycie Harmon

My mother is a 59 year old, hardworking and wonderful mother of three.  This past March, she was diagnosed with cancer, after her tumor literally burst, causing her to bleed internally.  It is a miracle for her to be here and we pray for a miracle for her to continue to do so.  I've been through difficult times in my life; death of a mate and loss of a pregnancy, but these last months have been extra challenging.  Hard to juggle children, marriage, work and finances, as well as that of a daughter.  But I guess all mom's have lots to juggle, right?  That is why we have the capacity to do many things at once, specially if we have the support of family and friends.  I am more than thankful for my husband, who has been my biggest supporter in every way!

My mom is my friend, my shoulder to cry on, my rock. She's always given so much to my siblings and I, worked with what she had and tried to do the best.  Her and my father brought us to this country for a better life, worked multiple jobs to support us.  For them I am very thankful, love them deeply.

So we choose to live daily, with hope, happiness and make the best of each day. We never know what could be tomorrow or if there is a tomorrow.  Thank you for letting me vent! So If I am stressed, missing in action or don't post at times, you understand why!

Shopping!

It's no surprise I like shopping.  It is often said that most women do and I would have to say that I am most women, I love to shop!  Most of my shopping is not for me, I see things and think of buying them for my children, my husband and even my nieces.  Clearly I have a problem and no, I don't want any help!  I find myself buying things then praying the boys don't ruin them on the first wear!  I tell myself, they are boys and getting dirty is the detrimental to their childhood, right?  Who doesn't remember getting dirty when they were kids?  I remember like yesterday, playing in the sand/dirt next to my "Buela's" (Spanish slang for grandma), with my cousins. We made mud pies all day long! Yes, we got yelled at for making a mess and getting our clothes dirty, but we loved it!  So I try to think of things like that when they are ruining a perfect shirt or shoes that I adore!  Yesterday, I found Jace, my 2 year old, had taken a marker and drawn all over the sofa pillows, his shirt and pants.  He had a confused look when I took out the camera and took a picture. How do you reprimand a child after taking a picture and laughing and his silliness? I decided there was no way of me fixing that. I mean who can resist a cutie's shenanigans?!  Again I say, hooray for playtime and getting dirty!

 

We have some new favorites that we have become fans of.  We recently bought some Mini Rodini items from Chicky Pop Shop, they are so soft!  This mama has some awesome items at her shop, follow her on instagram @chickypopshop.  Yesterday, we went by Baby Go Green, and picked up the Mini Rodini penguin sweater, which is beyond soft, wish it was a blanket! We got to meet Debi, the owner of Baby Go Green and she is awesome! Baby Go Green also carries other organic baby and kids brands like Quinn + Fox's Messy hair shirt, like the one Ayden is wearing on the picture below. Drop by these two ladies sites, support small businesses!


Shopping at Houston City Centre at Baby Go Green
 

First things first

Funny how things turn out. Once upon a time, around nine years ago, if you asked me about more children, I would of told you NO! But things change, you age and sometimes mature.  Things that mattered no longer do while lots of things that you never dreamed or mattered, now do. My home and life are filled with boys and shenanigans.

My boys are Nathan who is twelve going on eighteen and sometimes on five, Ayden who is three and Jace who just turned two. They keep me laughing and going, although at times I can not wait for their bedtime!