Michigan Trip 2012

Last week, I took a brief trip over to Michigan with the boys and my parents. My mom is from there and all of my extended family lives over there. It was the first time my dear, sweet grandmother got to meet my boys, as well as the rest of the family. It was such a sweet, but short trip. But definitely well worth the trek over.

My mom went over there for two weeks, and my AMAZING dad flew over with me and the boys for just a quick 4 day weekend visit. I'm not sure I would have made it through the airport/flight without him! (Nathan had 4, yes 4, blowouts on the plane ride alone, plus one on the 2 hour car ride from the airport to my grandma's house ... AND Owen decided that he needed to also poo 4 times in 4 hours as well. AHH!) Shad unfortunately couldn't make it... because not only was it crazy expensive for us all to fly, but he is also taking next week off for our trip to Utah and it was just too much time off all at once. 

Owen did great meeting all of the family. He is finally starting to be a little bit more social and open to playing and meeting new people. It was a little overwhelming at first to step into a house full of LOUD Mexicans! But he quickly warmed up to everyone and loved all the attention. And Oh boy, did they SPOIL him rotten! The boys both came home with triple the amount of clothes I had even packed for the trip! Plus Owen added a whole bunch of new items to his growing Thomas the Train paraphernalia collection! (More Thomas books, trains, clothes, puzzles, etc!) Lucky Duck.

The only time I got to hold or even see Nathan during the 4 days was when he needed to eat or had a messy diaper! He was passed around constantly between family members and older girl cousins who just loved to dote on him and make him smile and laugh! He also loved all the attention and is at the PERFECT age to be so social and smiley without the "Stranger Danger" kicking in yet. He is just too sweet. Love that baby boy.

The main purpose for this trip, besides my boys meeting the family, was my cousin, Joaquin, graduated from high school and my aunt threw him a HUGE graduation party! It was so fun to see so many familiar faces of family and friends at the party.

It was just a lot of spending time together with the family and my grandma. But here are some fun pictures from our trip over there. 

(Blogger is being weird and won't let me rearrange the pictures, so they are slightly out of order. And its not letting me add captions to some... Lame.)

During the Graduation Party I took the boys outside because it was so HOT in the hall and the music was a little too loud for these two little kiddos. (They are not yet ready for loud Mexican parties!) But it gave Owen a chance to run around, he loved it!

Nathan with Grandpa

Joaquin at his party!

Me with my sweet boys.

My mom, my Aunt Lisa, me, my Uncle Junior, and my dad:

On Sunday, we decided to all go to the park to let Owen run around, he just loves being outside. The park had a HUGE 'O' and a "Water Mountain" as Owen says. Oh man, he was in love! He was so excited about the 'O for Owen!' This picture is me and my dad trying to get Owen to look at the camera instead of the O... No luck!

 

Making a big 'O' with grandpa... so cute!

Nathan and Joaquin, everyone just loved to hold Nathan! Who could blame them!?

We also decided to take some family pictures while there. Here is my Aunt Lisa with her husband and 5 kiddos!

(Above: My cousins Joaquin and Santiago, they are good buddies and so handsome!)

My Uncle Junior and his 3 kids.

My aunt Kika (who is just 6 years older than me) with her two daughters.

(Above: Me, the boys, and my parents. I love, love, LOVE that Owen and my dad are making the same face!)

Me with my sweet grandma.

(Above: I know I already posted this picture, but its so priceless. Four Generations)

Here is our attempt at getting a picture of all the grand kids, oldest to youngest. Oldest me (Age 26) to youngest (Age 6)!

Cute Bibi making the big 'O'!

Nathan with Great Grandma

Owen with his "Tia Kika," He absolutely adored her! He keeps asking me when we are going to go see her again.

We were there over Father's Day (Poor Shad was alone!). So we went to go visit my Grandpa's grave site to bring him Father's Day flowers.

All the grand kids and great grand kids.

The boys with great grandma.

Did I mention how much Nathan got passed around?! Here he is with Aunt Lisa. So sweet.

My Grandma with her four children. My mom is the oldest (by 14 years!), next is Lisa, Junior, and then Anjelica (Aka Kika).

It was a very quick trip and certainly stressful at times. Traveling with the babies is hard work! But like I said, definitely worth it!

Friday we leave for Utah!!! Yay! Wish us luck and let's pray the boys do just as well on this trip!! (13 hour drive... YIKES!)

Photo Friday

A new Friday tradition- a single photo from the week, a single sweet moment. A moment to savor, cherish, and remember.

"Four Generations" :)

Brothers

Since I was out of town last weekend without my computer and without internet I didn't get a chance to post a picture for Friday, but this one would easily have been the winner! I had myself a little morning photo shoot with the boys in their cute jammies and bed head last week, and I captured this JEM. Can you tell they are brothers..???

Hilarious. I love it!

Professional Relaxer??

A story about motherhood.

A few weeks ago a young man came to the door trying to get me to sponsor/support/buy something or other. He went on about how he grew up in the ghetto part of Chicago, had a rough upbringing and was trying to create a "better life" for him and his son. He was a single dad and was working to support them.

I went along with his sell tactics for a while. (I didn't want to be rude.) He eventually went on to congratulate me on my success and home (not aware that I live with my parents...haha.) Then he asked, "Ma'm what do you do for a living??"

I was holding Nathan, and Owen was attached to me, peering out around my leg. I replied, with pride, "Well, I stay home and take care of these two boys!"

He then said...wait for it... "[Chuckle] Alright! A professional relaxer!" And then proceeded to high-five me.

Insert tire/record screech sound effect here.

Me: "Professional Relaxer!?!"

Oblivious to my obvious offense he went on with his sales pitch for a few minutes. This is where I started to doubt his story. How could a guy who claimed to be a single dad claim that raising two boys is "relaxing!?" In which I politely declined his offer and excused him from my doorway.

Lets take a look at my job description: "Mom/Professional Relaxer":

Now sure, there are definite aspects of my job title that can be construed as relaxing. For example, I don't have to take a shower everyday (now... this may not always be by choice, but more on that later). I don't have to do my hair or make-up daily. Most days, I don't have to get out of my "lounge wear." And since my kiddos are so little, there are no real time constraints on being on-time to certain places, so I don't really have to wrestle with a daily commute or traffic.

But lets take a look at how my job, is not in any way shape or form "relaxing."

 As you know, I have a 2 year-old and 4 month old. Meaning my job is 24/7, not 9 to 5 Monday-Friday. Having a 4 month old includes at LEAST 1 to 2 nightly feeding, which also means I haven't had a full nights sleep in 5+ months, because really how much sleep do you get in that last month of pregnancy ... really?

I rarely do not have a child strapped to my side. I don't often get trips to the bathroom alone. On the trips to bathroom where I manage to shut the door without a 2-year-old following me in, he is either banging on the door, OR the 4 month old is screaming because I had to set him down or because I had to leave the room. Cooking, doing dishes, and cleaning is a difficult task when a 2-year-old is hanging around your legs constantly asking to play or help.  (I mean who can blame him, I am his only playmate at home during the day. We're best buddies. I know once they both get a little older entertaining each other will be much easier...)

We have routine that keeps us pretty busy. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, naps, playtime, play dates, outings, grocery shopping, errands, etc.

I get approximately 1 to 2 hours to myself daily. And this is all dependent. Dependent on a few things: If the boys feel like napping, if they feel like taking a good long nap, and especially if they feel like napping at the same time (very key). I can usually get 45 minutes to 1 hour to myself, 1.5 hours on a good day, and 2 hours on a heaven sent rare occasion. During this hour to myself I could do a load of laundry, I almost always do dishes during this time, and I eat. Sometimes on busy days, this will be the first time I eat all day. And I always find time to catch up on my blog reading, facebooking, and people.com stalking (don't judge me).

Of course, there is much, much more to my job description... like trying to be better about getting dinner on the table every night. Cleaning up after messy kiddos, and making sure those messy kiddos are clean! And I don't even want to go into how much poo clean up I do daily!

So relaxing??....Umm, No. Worth it/rewarding?... No question!

This story/blog entry may seem like I am complaining about my role as a mom. But nothing could be further from the truth. Even though it is the hardest and most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. It is absolutely the most rewarding and best experience. Nothing has brought me so much joy, closer to my Father in Heaven, and taught me patience like motherhood. I am certainly savoring each moment of my children being this little. Because, man oh man, it does go by WAY too fast.

However, please, PLEASE do not call me a professional relaxer, especially if you are trying to sell me something. :)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these two munchkins. 

Photo Friday

A new Friday tradition- a single photo from the week, a single sweet moment. A moment to savor, cherish, and remember.

Photo Friday

A new Friday tradition- a single photo from the week, a single sweet moment. A moment to savor, cherish, and remember.