Our Sweet Elena

As most of you know we welcomed our #5 into the world a little over a month ago but we wanted to formally introduce her to everyone.  Elena Rosa was born on April 19 @ 10:42 am. It was one of my easiest birth so far and she has been such a wonderful little baby.

Ces, my Mom, sister Kim and my sweet eldest boy Miguel (6) were there to welcome her. I was a little hesitant to let Miguel come because he is so tender hearted.  I was afraid he would get upset seeing me in pain and I wasn't sure how he would handle the whole birth thing. He was fascinated by the fact that she had lived in water for 9 months and then she'd come into the world and breathe and live like us. So we decided to explain to him how it would all happen and that Mommy would be hurting and I'd make funny faces, there would be blood ect. and see what he thought then. He was still very determined to see his little sister take her first breath of air. So at 6 am He and my Mom came to the hospital with us and waited ;for what he says was FOREVER; but was actually only  4.5 hours to meet his new sister. I progressed very quickly once my water broke. About 1 centimeter every 3-4 mins. When the Dr. came in he said, "OK, you can push anytime you want." I took a deep breath to give a really good push and he said,"Ya know, I really just need like a cough."  What?! is what I was thinking but I gave him a cough and out "shot" (my husband said it looked like she had jet packs on) my beautiful baby girl.

Ces and I feel so very blessed to have our children. It's so humbling to think that these children chose us as parents. That in the preexistence they knew us, better than we know them now and they saw something in us that made them say, " I want them to be my parents.".  I hope and pray that we are living up to all their expectations. I know they teach me things on a daily basis, patience, unconditional love, how to let go, spontinatey and the list goes on and on. They are beautiful children with beautiful souls and wonderfully fun personalities. I am very grateful that my dear Heavenly Father intrusted them to us. While we were in the hospital and Ces was holding her he played a song that made him think of her and all of our children really. We loved them before we came to this earth and we will continue to love them after we die.

(fingers crossed that it works)

 

Its Great to be 2!

Our little Benji turned turned 2 on Monday (November 5)! I can't believe it and neither can anyone else!  He is very petite;  21 lbs, 23 if you catch him right after a big meal :)  But he is talking up a storm and has loads of personality. He has started telling knock knock jokes which go something like this.

 He loves to give hugs and kisses. And when he wants to be really sweet his voice raises to a high squeak and then he talks to you and ooos and ahhhs as he gives hugs or rubs your cheek. He loves animals but almost anything with four legs and fur is a kitty. He calls bunnys Hop Hops. He loves to hop everywhere he goes as well and he tells you what he's doing; hop...hop...hop...hop. He loves Cat in the Hat which he calls Go Go because of the song on the cartoon he watches; Go Go Go on an adventure! His newest loves is trains. Which is what he got for his birthday; a wooden Thomas train track with plenty of trains. He will share any train but his Thomas. He hugs it and gives it kisses. 

So, its been six months since I started writing this and I'm amazed about how much he has changed! He no longer tells knock knock jokes and animals actually have names now. It made me realize how much I take all that for granted and how much more I need to stop and enjoy those moments because they are so fleeting. Even  though they are replaced by other adorable moments like when he sings louder than anyone else to "We are never ever getting back together"  or when he tells you you look like a princess on Sundays and asks you to spin and then says, "You so peetty like a pincess Mama".

Benji is for sure the most adorable 2 year around and we love him very very much.

Gabe is 4!

My sweet Gabe turned 4 last week! He has become such a fun and caring little guy; I use the word little very lightly considering he weighs more than his 6 year old brother! He is often mistaken for being a couple years older than he is based upon his size. :) Gabe loves to play with Benji. They have become best friends and have a great time together while the older ones are away at school. He is very compassionate and loving. Alot of times he surprises us with how caring and thoughtful he is. He is always asking to help and helping without even being asked. He loves to do the dishes for me. He also has a goofy side. Which I love! He enjoys dressing up as different super heros; spider man is his favorite. This year we had our 3rd Spiderman themed birthday party. Maybe next year we will venture on to something new?! Gabe has a wonderful carefree personality. He is almost always happy but when he is upset watch out because that boy has got a set of lungs and knows how to use them! 

: )  Here are some of my more recent and favorite pics of my handsome Gabriel plus a video of him being sung to.

Eating ice cream with Miguel by the pool.

At the zoo

His great Grandpa Vic teaching him how to drive the tractor. Love his face in this one.

Brothers camping

He found a catipillar while we were camping.

Ninja Gabe

Spidey moves next to his birthday drawing from Aunt Janie

At his birthday party at Grandmama's

His chalkboard birthday drawing compliments of his Aunt Janie

Sporting all of his new Spidey gear he got from his birthday.

Just love that face!

A day with Miguel...

Here are a couple videos Miguel and I took one afternoon while swimming. Apologies for the not so lovely close-up of me Miguel got but his videos are too awesome not to share :) . The first one is of him "dancing & singing" in the pool. The other is one of the many songs he makes up. He also took me on a tour of his garden at grandmama's house but I can't get it to load.:( I'll try again later.

Enjoy!

Birthdays! Birthdays! Birthdays!

We celebrated Emma ( May 31) and Miguel's (June 22) birthdays this year with pool parties. They were both tons of fun! I have a few pictures to document the festive occasions which I will post later; once I find out which camera I put them on!

On the kids birthdays we wake them up with presents and singing. Then I let them chose what we do that day and what we eat; within reason. Emma chose to have crepes for breakfast then we went to the library followed but a special lunch date at El Chicos with just the two of us. She loves having "dates" with Mom and Dad.  Then we swam at grandmas. I can't for the life of me decided what we had for dinner. I think I might have grilled chicken ???? OH well! I was a fun day! 

Miguel wanted donuts for breakfast,  to play video games,  pizza for lunch, swimming at grandmas, we made some videos; which I will definitely be sharing! and then we went to our friends apartment building where they have a private theater and we watched Speed Racer while we ate McDonalds and popcorn.

I can't believe how big my babies are getting. Emma is 9 and Miguel 6! I just doesn't seem possible! They are two of the sweetest kiddos you'll meet. Emma is caring, nurturing and very laid back. She has her Daddy's tendency to correct you when she knows or just thinks you are wrong. She loves to read! She got a Kindle for her birthday which she loves! She also got a lot of other awesome gifts, She was a very spoiled little girl. Emma will start the 4th grade this year. She is still playing the violin and she loves to sing (in her room alone where nobody can see her). I love my Emmy and all the joy she brings to our home.



    

Miguel is a little spitfire. He has more energy than one small boy should be allowed! His excitement for life is contagious. From the moment he wakes in the morning his little mouth is going. He's asking questions and telling you about everything he knows. He loves critters from outside; which I'd prefer he keep outside but he insists on bringing them in to show me. He loves to tell jokes and stories. He loves his little brothers and adores his big sister. He is a very affectionate and sensitive little boy. He loves to be funny and the center of attention but doesn't like it when people laugh at something he's done. It makes it quite tricky! He is small for his age but makes up for it in personality. We love our little Miguel! 

Electricity

Ces has been working on a case dealing with Electric Coops and he has found it extremely fascinating! So much so that when his client mentioned being able to get him a tour of a coal powered power plant(which is very very rare) he jumped at the opportunity; then he brought us all along to share his love and excitement for electricity. Everyone had to wear hard hats, ear plugs and safety goggles which surprisingly wasn't hard to accomplish. Our tour guide was the man over the whole operation. He was incredibly sweet and took his entire morning and afternoon to show us around. The kids found it very interesting and loved playing in the coal they found (hence the black hands!) on a "mighty machine" outside one of the buildings.

Spring Break

THe kids had spring break last week. We had a little staycation again this year. I had the kids make a list of the things they wanted to do that week and then we picked a few and attempted to do them all. We started our break off with going to the zoo to see the new Sea Lion exhibit. The kids had a blast and the seal lions were so adorable!

We also went to the Aquarium with some dear friends of ours. No matter how many times we go the kids never tire of seeing the fish.

Benji always insists on wearing a hat when we leave the house. THis one is his brothers because I couldn't find his, it's a little big but he was happy.

The turtle kept trying to eat Miguels finger through the glass. He thought it was a hoot!

Ces was able to take a day off and we went to Gilcrease Museum. It is a wonderful museum if you like artifacts, which I do so I was in heaven being able to take my kids to it for the first time. ON the bottom floor of the museum is over 5,000 indian artifacts! You can open up drawers, full of awesome stuff dating back to 2,000 BC; from arrowheards to clothing to weapons and so on. Each item has a number that you can put into the computer and it will tell you everything they know about it. Miguel is a boy after my own heart and he was in HEAVEN! He was running from drawer to drawer repeating the number to himself unitl he could type it in, look at it and move on the next. He was telling anyone who would listen everything he was learning. It was precious!

Heres all the kids (-Benji) infront of a cool statue outside the museum.

On Friday we went to Arkansas and were able to meet my new little niece and see family. Then we spent the night at a hotel and let the kids swim. On Saturday we went to Natural Falls State Park. It was beautiful!! I can't believe in all my years growing up in OK I had never been. It is about an hour from our home and a really easy hike to see the falls. We even came across a copperhead snake sunbathing on the trail. Emma was a little hestitant to continue but the boys were all for it! We are already plannig another trip there but to camp this time. :)