Father's Day 2021

Ever swam with sting rays?  This was such a neat and unique experience. It was definitely a memorable experience for me but not the most comfortable.  The sting rays suck on your body and it feels so unusual. Everyone else felt just fine and comfortable, but I couldn't stop shrieking. Still, I highly recommend you try it.  It's a short drive away at SeaWorld Aquatica and under $30 per person.  It was truly a great opportunity that made you forget you were at a theme park.

Winnie at Barking Springs

 

I had a streak of good days and went to the Springs four days in a row.  We had a lovely time and it was so refreshing to be out and about after such a long year isolating.  If you don't know, Barking Springs is on the other side of the pool and I found it tolerably warmer.  I really don't like freezing cold water so discovering this area has given me a new found love for Barton Springs.   Our favorite day was definitely when we took Winnie. Just seeing the joy in the girl's faces was everything. 

Mini Trip

The little ones and I took a mini trip since they were out of school before the big girls and I was done working too. We went to Memphis and watched Disney on Ice, visited a Natural History Museum, a Nature Center and counted 100’s of Magnolia trees, a favorite tree we don’t see as frequently in  Texas. I loved spending this time with them and the weather was surprisingly cool which is always a plus in my book. 🙂

 

New Rooms!!

I have wanted to rearrange the rooms for a couple of years now,  but I was overwhelmed with the process and the temporary disarray that could not be avoided.  With extra time and Omar home more, (not traveling for work)  we finally found the time and bit the bullet and moved the two youngest together into the smaller room and the older girls into the bigger room.  It's accomplished what I wanted all along and I wondered why I waited so long to do it. The younger two are on more similar schedules and the two girls were finally becoming true adolescents and I wanted K, our youngest girl to continue to be a child for as long as possible with her childhood things and a whimsical room.  The pairings are perfect. M and E are loving having the choice to decorate their "more" mature room  and having less toys/clutter while En and K are playing together more than ever.  I am so happy with how their room turned out. 

The older girls' room still needs a few things, but I wanted to share the transformation of both rooms so far. 

No more "baby room," so bittersweet. 

Togetherness during quarantine

I have always wished for slower days particularly during the school year. I finally got them and I am enjoying having the kids home so much! Now if only we had more options for where to go, I would be golden.  

Father's Day 2020

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy to our four babies. We love him so!

Growing like a weed

March 2018                      May 2017

Enrique has had the biggest growth spurt within a time period by far of all the kids.  Perhaps being a boy has something to do with it.  I remember the pediatrician saying that boys and girls are on different growth curves and they can't be compared.  Despite this, he seems SO SO big to me and I'm shocked at where he reaches me when we stand side by side.  

How can this be? He's only 3 and half my height.  In all fairness he is of average height and I am obviously not.  Still,  I can't help but think about him being bigger than me while I am still raising him. So, I found the poem below to remind me to cherish this little boy whom I can still hold.

Wordless Wednesday

Blessed with a boy

We thought we wanted a 4th girl. When we learned he was a he, everyone warned us boys were different. I didn't go into parenting him expecting anything different at all but it quickly became clear he would be different. Having Enrique is like having a baby for the first time again. So many things he does are so different than what I expect that its always so new to me. He's always surprising me and I feel so blessed to experience the newness of a new baby and a new child all over again.

This picture a prime example. He intentionally set up his favorite stuffed animals in a pile and then in a line. I thought to myself, "how sweet!"  Not moments later he is hoping on his car to run them over! His favorite toys!!  He continues to do this each time experimenting which set up will cause the best bounce on his car.  Many of his actions are a different experience for me and I love it. I am in awe. I'm a new parent all over again. What a gift.

The pluses of large family

I want to remember this moment and tell you why mom's with larger families may often say it is a lot easier to have many kids than
just two kids. I didn't understand it or maybe even believe it, but every once in a while and more and more I agree and I see it.  I am in awe that it really is true and the burden of being solely responsible for each and every activity, assignment, commitment, etc., for each child suddenly feels like it doesn't only fall on my shoulders and I have these awesome little helpers who lighten the load and bring a smile to my face with pride.

I am currently editing an assigned interview report on my computer for Elena who is now in 4th grade and needs typing help.  Karina is in pre-k and needs to make her Valentine's cards but tomorrow's afternoon is already filled with violin lessons and travel time. So I've assigned Elena the task of helping Karina make her Valentine cards.  As I type, I over hear the two downstairs. 

What I hear  "what does this say Karina?"
"Good job Karina! You did it!"
 "That's a long word right?"
"put it right here."
 "Not upside down." 
Ok, now read this. "Now read it again." 

Every phrase is said in the sweetest most helping way and I feel immensely proud and grateful. I never knew or imagined this would be my life with four.  There is chaos, yes, certainly. Everyone tells you about the chaos, every one says with surprise and with an "are you crazy" behind their eyes, "FOUR KIDS!!"

yes, four kids. yes, it's hard. But life always has surprises and this time it's for the better.

Enrique is ONE!!

 

My sweet, sweet boy is one.  I love having a "big" family but I have to admit that life is flying by too fast for me.  I want to slow it down. I blinked and he is go go go now.  He is so, so cuddly though. He loves laying his head on my chest and stays there for moments at a time.  His most favorite thing to do is play with his Thomas ride on train and butt heads (literally) with his Daddy, LOL!   He is into everything especially if it isn't a toy. Just tonight he almost pulled down the living room lamp by the cord. I swear I never had to consider putting a lamp away as part of child proofing.  It is so fun having a baby around the house and the girls are delighted with him. I truly have constant help from them and now I can't even imagine how hard it was when I didn't have helpers to get his clothes, a diaper, and distract him and play with him while I clean or shower!!! I am amazed at how parenting now is so different than when I had just one or two or three! In some ways it is hard but in some ways it is easier.  I love my big, little family and we love our sweet, lovey, Enrique. We are so grateful to have him in our lives. We love you to the moon and back baby boy!