Back Into the Swing

The first week after Spring Break is over.

And while I did get a lot accomplished including one field trip and 48 bottles of meat canned,

I still have loads of catching up to do.

Loads of laundry, loads of dishes, loads of cleaning. . .

it never ends.

But we are getting back into the swing of things and the boys are getting back into their swing.

Noodle Forests

First grade field trips.

They're awesome!

The kids are excited.

The venues are creatively educational.

And the busses are screaming loud.

That's okay though, I live in the Cesar house.

This momma is used to loud.

Luckily, there were so many parent volunteers that I only had my boys to chaperone.

Huge relief!!!

One on two time. :)

After the noodle forest, the pizzeria, the car wash and car races, the climber, the sand art and the art room we decided to take the family back to the Children's Museum in Phoenix.

Friday, April 6 is free Target night.

Love Target!  Love free!!

And absolutely LOVE my boys!!!

:)

Good-bye Cabin 18

This whole trip was last minute.  I'm not a planner.  Like the day we went skiing, I pretty much woke up that morning and thought, "We may not get another chance. We've got to go skiing today!" I forced myself not to think about the economic cost. We just went and enjoyed it.  It was fabulous!  I'm grateful my mom got the cabin for us.  She must have known we would love it.  Moms are great! And I think I have one of the best. We wouldn't have done this without her. 

On the way back to the cabin yesterday the song "Live Like You Were Dying" came on the radio. I'm not dying, at least not that I know of but it got me thinking.  It was such a beautiful wintery, sunny spring day that I decided if I only had two months to live I would spend 2 weeks of it in the snow, sledding, skiing and playing with my kids.  

Then I would drag my kids to Europe starting in the Sistine Chapel to marvel over the works of Michelangelo, track down the statue of David and visit the Lourve.  I'd make one last trip to Disneyland with my family, and I'm still trying to figure out what else I would do because I know there's more I want to do. 

So I guess I'm trying to say..

 we are going to do this again.

Maybe next time we'll be able to get Papi to ski.

Or maybe not.

By the way, what would you do if you were dying?

Two Months

I can't believe it's only been two months since we met Mikey.

It feels like it was such a long time ago.

I wanted to go see him today.

But we are four hours away from his grave.

It's okay though because we are creating beautiful memories together as a family.

And I know that is where Mikey would want us to be.

Plus, thanks to an endearing gift from a thoughtful friend Mikey has been here with us too.

He'll always be with us even if it's just in our hearts.

Today was the last day of our wintery Spring Break.  

Papi wanted to stay in the resort and explore the forests.  

Alexandria wanted to go back to the snow preferably to go skiing but sledding would work too.  

She talked her sister and her brothers into agreeing with her. 

So Papi was outnumbered.  

The kids won.

They played forever in the snow.  One of their favorite tricks was sinking unexpectedly into the snow.  It reminded them of the stories I've told them of when I was little, walking to school and losing my boots in the snow banks.  Watching them did bring back memories.

With almost every step Papi would sink right through the snow.
 I almost peed my pants laughing.  

He didn't think it was funny.

 DJ lost his boots in the snow a few too many times
They were so wet he couldn't even get them on.

Good thing it was a warm day. 

 I love little people all bundled up in snow gear.

It makes them look so cute and cuddly

even when they're coming at you with a stick and a snowball.

Do you see that look in DJ's eye?

And the stuff in DJ's hand?

I bet you're thinking, "oh no he didn't".

 But, yes he did!

Someone had to show that guy what having fun in the snow is all about.

 Alexandria was happy to have gotten her wish.

She deserved it.

She was awesome when we went skiing.
Things didn't really go her way but she didn't complain.
So I was happy to let her lead the way today.

It was the perfect ending for our wintery Spring Break.

Working Our Way Up

Yesterday we found a real hill.

Sunrise Ski Resort has a fun sledding spot.

It was a little trickier than their previous sled experience

because this was actually a hill.

Lots of tumbles down that mountain.

Although it wasn't all downhill . . .haha . . . from there.

They soon got the hang of it.

Since they had become professional sledders it was time to work our way up to the next snow sport. . .

SKIING!!!

Ski school is marvelous!

I even got a few runs down the mountain while Papi watched the kids in school.

Papi's not a real snow man. . .haha, I'm full of those tonight.

He's more of a tropical island kind of guy so no skis for him.

But have I ever mentioned how much I love snow and skiing?

I would have season passes for sure if we lived anywhere close to a ski resort.

We live four hours away and I'm already trying to figure out how to pull that off.

We all left wishing we could go again tomorrow.

Spring Break - Day 1

We found snow!!

Isabel was one the last time she played in the white fluffy stuff.

She doesn't remember it.

There were a few moments of "burr my hands" but she got over it

and had a blast.

Luckily, my snow novice children found a great place to go sledding.

It was their first adventure with a sled.

Funny it was just a little patch of snow in front of our cabin.

I loved seeing how much they were enjoying the small blob of mostly ice.

 Can you tell we had just arrived from 80 degree weather?

Flip flops.

Barefoot.

Hey, we were excited to see snow.

 Who cared about footwear at a 

moment like this?

Spring Break is here!

Yea!!

Finally I can sleep in.

In my perfect world we would go to sleep after midnight

and wake up anytime after 9.

Perfectness.

And here's these two cuties with their two missing teeth.

Adorable.

I've said it before but I'll say it again.

I love twins.

Every mom should get a set.

AJ has moved on from Lola.

She spanked his butt in school and always wants to hold his hand.

So, last week he wanted to give her a necklace

and this week "she's creepy".

DJ claims to have 20 girlfriends.

You know, any girl that says hi to him and "looks him in the eye" is in love with him.

Seven year old love, it's awesome.

*****

Papi's back too.

The Mexican team did him wrong.

Anyone have any connections to the Diamondbacks?

I know a really good lead off hitter.

Sorrow and Happiness but Mostly Joy

My soul cries when I think of the hole that losing Mikey has left in my heart.  I won't get to feel the excitement of hearing his first words or take pride in witnessing his first steps.  But, even though it was just a brief moment in time that he was here with us I still felt, not only sorrow and loss but happiness and joy.

He did bring me joy.

The joy of seeing him move his small arm.

The joy of his embrace.

The joy of knowing that we do live after this life.

The joy of sharing tender moments with my children.

The joy of watching our family become stronger.

The joy of peace.

The joy that he has given me is not of this life.

It is one far greater.
It's the joy of knowing that we will be "encircled about eternally in the arms of his love".

It's an everlasting joy that speaks to my spirit and allows me to carry on.

Making Money

Citrus time!

And that means lemonade stands for my kids.

They love selling lemonade.

When all the Hope Street kids get involved you may find more than just lemonade.

 And when it was all done DJ decided to make even more money

by selling kale salad from the garden.

2 cents a bowl.

I love having a garden!