Spring Break 2012

My sister in law called me Friday wondering what I was up to the following week and before I knew it, we had plans to meet in Vegas for a little getaway.

It was so much fun and an adventure for me since I had never cared for the girls by myself.  I LOVED seeing my family and was so excited to get away for a little while.

Enjoy pictures from our Spring Break 2012. 

Checking out the trucks at our lunch stop...

At a gas stop

Playing with the cousins

MB learned to sit up on her own

lots of hugging and kissing...

spending some quality time with my nieces at DQ...

souvenir shopping...

playing at the park

Lenora Daye

hanging out in our sweet condo... on the balcony

the balcony where a couple of Rapunzels ate multiple meals...

couple of cousins playing together...

fun family time!!

I completely felt like I was "cheating" on the Cars characters as I drove to Vegas and back.  Sorry guys but the interstate is faster!

a fan

So I recently joined pinterest... I know, I'm sooo behind the times.  I'm not even sure now why I took the plunge.  I knew that if I ever joined I would be crazy about being on it.

And I have been.

To a certain extent.  But I think it has been great to gather ideas and projects for my home and life.  Where else would I have seen these?

photo credit

I had some time during one of the Love Bugs' naps and so I thought I would throw together something similar.

I think I'm in love.

I had everything pictured here including the flowers which needed to be trimmed anyway.

Yarn, mason jars and bright fun colors?

I'm a fan!

eight months

eight whole months old.  a not a day shy. :)

Belle and Li Li are growing up so fast and changing before my very eyes.  I love this stage of life as they explore the world around them.  They are starting to say more; Annalie was the first Love Bug to say two sounds together to make up a word and what was that word?

Da Da.

I don't think it counts as the first official word because they aren't associating "da da" with their dada but Hubs does not care. He is one proud papa!

He is thrilled.

Belle also started saying "Baby" and even though she doesn't know what it means, it's still horribly adorable that she says "baby".

cute little pants they received embroidered from a church friend

They are eating solids.  They love squash, avocado and prunes.  They eat just about anything though.  Belle is doing an army crawl and getting around to just about anywhere she pleases.  I can not leave her on the floor for very long. Li Li, on the other hand, has little interest in crawling or moving about.  She's content where she's at and plays with the toys around her.

The girls have started "fighting" over toys.  I use that term very loosely because I know it's not even close to fighting but they just take the toys from each other. Back and forth.  Once in awhile and very rarely will it cause the baby who has lost the toy to screech because for now they aren't understanding that it's a struggle.  They just do it without much fuss.  I have a feeling I'm going to be refereeing a lot in the future.  Or maybe they'll be really good at sharing? (cross my fingers)

For now they are just good little girls and wonderful sweethearts.  They are a delight and a joy to mother and I am so thankful that they are mine.  They are too much fun!!

Enjoy the "outtakes" from the photo session this morning.

Happy 8 Months Love Bugs!!

Belle trying to escape.

Belle.  Both girls love the exersaucer!

What's over here, mama?

Li Li and Mr. Pickles the penguin both girls love to play with.

oh, what's in a word

In January I chose a word... you can read about it here.  It's been interesting to talk to my sweet friend C every week about the words we chose and how God is cultivating them in our lives.  We both laugh as we struggle with our words and said we should have chosen "ice cream" for 2012... who doesn't want more ice cream in their lives? Am I right or am I right?

That's what I thought. But although contentment has been a learning process and often times challenging word for me, it has also brought many deep soulful sighs and heart smiles into my life.

Recently, contentment has looked like....

continuing to put down roots and reach out to those around me even though my dreamer mind says, "You won't be here anymore." And although my heart is planning what to pack and what to throw away, what to buy and how to decorate a new home (seriously, i could get carried away) I just stop and go out to talk to my neighbor.  Cause you never know.  I may not be her neighbor for very long but then again, I might be.  And for today, all that matters is that I am her neighbor. Right. Now.

changing rooms with my Love Bugs so that they can have more space to play and sleep, grow and learn while Hubs and I shuffle our way sideways into bed at night. And yes, I had a day (or two) of grieving that they were no longer in the room which I had painstakingly prepared for them.  The room I daydreamed rocking them to sleep in.  And Hubs and I were no longer in the room where I came home to as a new bride.  The room that never, *sigh* never, got decorated or painted or "finished"... *sigh*.  And yes, that can of paint that I swore to use still sits on my shelves.  And I guess my *gulp* step wasn't such a step after all. You can find that smaller than I thought it would be step here.  And contentment is being okay with using the paint or not using the paint.

using my china more and throwing more parties.  It means using "evite" for events that I could have just sent out an email to.  And calling getting together with friends, "events". Celebrating friends who visit and making pies that Hubs and I don't really need to eat but making them just because. 

swinging on the swing set with my Love Bugs.  And yes, I'm bigger than everyone at this park and yes, I'm the only mother using the equipment and yes, I'm giggling like my Love Bugs but this is contentment to me.

letting the Love Bugs play longer in the bath, practice feeding themselves though it's messier, and taking time to really enjoy them.  I did this last night while Hubs was out.  I filled the bathtub with water and let the Love Bugs chase their duckies around the suds.  I sat there and didn't worry if letting them sit in the cool air would lead to them catching colds.  I sat there and watched the joy on their faces as they splashed and didn't worry about getting splashed myself.  I sat there and even on the edge of the tub while I let my feet soak and didn't worry that I wasn't washing them thoroughly enough.  I sat there... and I sighed. With contentment and deep joy in my heart.

This is what contentment looks like for me. Right. Now.

How about you? Did you choose a word? If not, why don't you? It doesn't have to be a January thing, it can be a Spring Thing! :)  How is your word being acted out in your life?

is integrity dead?

Integrity... is integrity dead? Is integrity still important?  I've been wrestling with these thoughts because I overheard a conversation between believers that made me feel uncomfortable.  I wondered, "Is integrity still important?" 
Integrity, according to my handy dictionary, is "the adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty".  And in my humble opinion it is still very important and not only that but also pertinent for our generation to uphold.
Hubs and I were discussing integrity and how we had seen recent situations that were less than integritious. (I know that's not a word but I like the sound of it. May I use it? Of course I can, this is my blog.)  As I was pondering that I was driving around and accidentally parked too close to the car in front of me, and when I turned off the car, I lurched forward hitting the car.  A smaller than small scratch was left on the bumper but I had this thought of, "integrity" in my mind and i knew that if I was going to hold others to such a standard I needed to do so myself.
So I left a note.
Why am I telling you this? Why am I wasting precious baby-napping time to blog about it?  Because I want to challenge us all to think more on integrity and to be accountable to each other.  Readers, beloved friends, be full of integrity. Wasn't Jesus full of integrity? Don't we want to be more like him? Don't we want the world to stop and ask us why we're different?
Integrity is still important because it sets us apart from the world.  It says that we will not use less than honest ways to get ahead, to save a few bucks, or to entertain friends.  I don't care if you are stealing pencils from your company or littering or asking for a water cup then getting soda or using your college i.d. to get into movies for a cheaper rate~ it's still wrong.  Let's stop calling what is black or white, "grey" and live more honestly. 
And yes, I do things that are less than integritious but I really want to be accountable too.  So the next time you see me do something that smears the lines of right and wrong, let me know.  Let's call what is wrong, "wrong" and live lives set apart or holy.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9

love bugs

Happy Valentine's Day from the Love Bugs!

seven months

I know I always say this but can't believe it's been seven months.
It's been hard work but it's also had its joyous triumphs and wonderful moments.
We are moving quickly into the crawling stage. Belle moves around pretty easily while Li Li just doesn't seem interested at this point. They both love squash, chewing on books, talking and being outdoors!
I love my little Love Bugs!!

practices: kissing, reminders and pet names

Through J's post (again, inspiring me!!) about her parenting practices I found out that Sarah over at Emerging Mother is hosting a carnival.  Her carnival is a unique celebration of the "practices" that we parents have to love and instruct our children.  Practices that we think are important for our children as we nurture and love their little souls.  I have loved reading some of these practices and have come to be encouraged, inspired, or even challenged by some of the practices.  Click to find out more about what each Mama said about their own practices.

And like usual, I am not one to want to miss out on carnivals or gatherings of people of any sort. Lets be honest... we extroverts need our people time even though we have Love Bugs and they demand a lot of our attention.  And I lovingly demand that I give it.  I love loving them. But I still need adult human time (does that sound weird~ ha ha)

Anyway, I began to think of my own parenting practices, what I've learned from my own parents and what is already important to me at this point of mothering.... here goes... some things I want to put into practice...


the practice of not believing there is such thing as too many  kisses.  I am constantly kissing my Love Bugs and I don't think I can ever kiss them too much.  They need to be held, kissed and squeezed constantly.  I believe this.

the practice of telling them how blessed they are daily.  While we sit together, the three of us (two Love Bugs and one mommy) for breakfast or lunch I remind them that they are blessed to have each other.  I was inspired to do this by my good friend JK who has twinkies of her own.  She told me she reminds her twinkies how blessed they are and often says, "Other kids aren't so lucky to have a brother or sister in the same class as you..." or other words of encouragement.  So I make it a point to remind them daily how blessed they are to have each other.  And how awesome it is to have a sister.  I never had a sister till my brothers got married.

the practice of pet names.  I rarely call my children by their real names.  They are Li Li, Belle, Bellsey Belle, Belly B, Chi Chi, Monkey, Love Bugs, Lovies, and so on.  I want them to know one thing as they grow up.  that they are most ardently and unconditionally loved.  By me, by their father and most importantly by God. I can't tell them enough how much I adore them and think they are so special and so by practicing the art of nicknames or pet names I hope I am instilling in them how much I love them and how much fun we can have together.

Knowing how loved I am was something my parents gave and continue to give to my brothers and I. I grew up surrounded by love and security at all times and knew that I could never lose that with my own parents.  Oh, sure! I disappointed my parents and they disciplined me when the times called for it but I never worried I would lose their love.  Never.  I knew 100% I was loved by them.

I'm curious what your practices of parenting are or even as an Auntie or an Uncle... do you have practices you pass on to your nieces or nephews  .... take a peek over at Emerging Mother's carnival and J's blog and see what practices they are instilling in their children.  And then let me know what practices you have of your own.  I'd love to hear what you all are doing.

here's to

Awhile back my dear friend J wrote a post about "these are the days" and "these are the days take two". You can find them on her blog here.

I was inspired to do my own "these are the days" and walked around for several days making the list up in my mind.  But instead of starting my list with "these are the days" I inevitably started off with a toast.  I would raise an imaginary glass of something smooth and delicious.  Whatever it was at the time didn't matter and in my imaginary world, my daughters raise their bottles and we all, "toast" to the season we are enjoying now.

Here's to...
*not having a kleenex handy while wiping my daughters' noses, so just wiping it on my jeans.
*having two cups of coffee in the morning followed by a cup of decaf. 
*being exhausted.
*having my heart melt when I get my girls up from napping and they have the HUGEST grins on their face.
*walking out of the house and knowing that I probably have dried boogers, spit up or poop somewhere on me.  And still walking out.
*an abundance of flowers that Hubs keeps bringing home to me.  As soon as one bouquet gets withered and tossed out, he comes home with a new one.  He has never bought me so many flowers even while we were dating.  It's really sweet.
*not having a clue what I will make for dinner, even though I try to plan ahead. I still stare at my fridge and wish I had a dinner fairy.
*crock pots.
*take out.
*the rejuvenating powers of sitting out on the patio and enjoying natures with my girls.
*long naps (may they last and endure till college... or at least kindergarten.  Long naps are God's gift to mothers! Can I get an amen?).
*loving motherhood and God pulling me through a rough time.
*dirty diapers, loads and loads of laundry, and piles of dishes.
*still having fall decorations up mixed with spring decorations mixed with just my own cluttered mess of life.
*stubbing my toes on the exersaucer, the toys, the multiple cribs, boppys, bumbos, rattles, etc. that lay around my house.
*showering before noon.
*getting dressed before noon. (is it sad that I get excited if I'm out of my pjs before noon?)
*pj days.  Still.  I gotta have them.

and finally, for today....
Here's to the house smelling slightly like dirty diapers, food going bad in the fridge cause I can't remember what I've bought, my pajamas not wearing holes in them, my plants ridden with bugs on them (grrr you stinkin' aphids) and joy! In the midst of all my craziness, joy!

Clink!

the nursery

I've finally decided to post pictures of the nursery.  The nursery may never look like what I want to look like but i kind of feel like it's "now or never" as far as posting pictures goes.

So here it is! The nursery! Where two little darlings sleep and take their naps.

Recently the girls had to be separated (sad) in their beds because one would inevitably crowd out or corner the other one in their sleep.  We'd wake up to pitiful little cries of one of our girls calling out to us to rescue her.  After so many of those naps/nights we decided to take the plunge.  I was hoping they'd just learn to sleep together forever but alas, it was not meant to be.

And we haven't found a crib that is similar to the one we got earlier so we're putting to good use the pack n play!

Narnia inspired wardrobe

So the room is almost always a bit messy and definitely crowded now with the second crib up.

One of my favorite things about the nursery is the "art wall" where art from the girls' older cousins is on display! Thanks L, W, E, & A for your art.

notice the lamp post, another narnia themed piece

a love

I have tried to instill in my sweet babes a love for books! Coating 'em in sugar probably doesn't hurt!!

Hubs for hubs

Hubs got these yummy chocolate covered peanuts....

6 months!

 Finally!! A legitmate birthday! ha ha

Six months and going strong!

The doctor was so pleased with them at our last check-up.  Apparently they are in the 3-5 percentile for kiddos their age in height and weight but the doctor said they might always be petite since I'm petite. I didn't mention to my doctor that I come from a looong line of petite (and beautiful) women. :)

She said developmentally, though, they are right on target for their age.

Hooray!

 We celebrated the big 6 with solid foods.  We introduced bananas into their diet and the girls really loved it.  They are definitely loving solid foods and eat everything we've given them so far. 

 To celebrate her half birthday MB decided to "creep" or what is the beginning of crawling.  I thought it was pretty funny that I texted my parents and said, "Ooooo we've got a creeper"... then I felt the need to explain to them (and apparently you) that creeping is the wiggling or "army crawl" that happens before crawling.

See the picture above?  She's going for the yellow rattle at the top of the picture.

Closer....

Excuse me, sister!

 closer....

Got it!!!!

Seriously, I did not help her move. She wiggled her way up the blanket.

Happy Birthday bebes! 

I love you both!!

guess who?

 Guess who started sitting up better?

Guess who got brand new booster seats?

Guess who sits up like big girls in their booster seats?

 Guess who started solids?

Guess who loves their solids and can't get enough of them?

Looks like we got a couple of bowl lickers in the family! :) I started them this week on chocolate and chicken wings... 

just kidding.

i *gulp* took a step

 When I did the girls' nursery Hubs took one look and said, "How come their room is cooler than ours?"  And I had to agree.  I had barely touched our room while decorating the house but had spent time, effort, energy and money in all the other rooms. Seriously! I think it's because no one goes up there and we rarely spend time in our bedroom unless we're sleeping.  So it has become a hodge podge of furniture and items that have no other home except to be stacked, stored, and put in our room.

That is... until this year. I nominate 2012 to be the year of the master bedroom. And I second that motion.  All in favor, say "aye".

"Aye!"

Glad we could agree and come to that decision quickly!

(And yes, I did just do that all by myself. And no, I'm not crazy....)

;)

So here, is said room.  A blank canvas waiting to be splashed upon!

 See? Hodge podge... even the dreaded blue bookshelf is in my bedroom.  

(good memories of it being made? yes! does it work with anything else in my house? no!)

Random piles of rubbish and random pictures.  I have no room for all these treasured belongings but can't bear to see them on my dresser any longer.  

I. Need. Change.

Okay, so by now you might be wondering if I am already failing at my "word" for 2012, contentment.  But I say, no! Actually, changing my bedroom a bit and adding some homey touches here and there enables me to be more content because it is helping me make my home, a home. Instead of nagging Hubs for a new home to grow in, I am content with the one I have but am excited to spruce it up a bit.

So where am I at in the sprucing process?

Well, yesterday I did something for the very first time.  I bought paint.

And as soon as I did. I hated it.

Commitment-phobe? Yes! I've always struggled with commitment, except where it really, truly matters~ Hubs~ and then I have absolutely 100% no question about my love for him, but when it comes to things like colors and painting and decorating I can't help but question my sanity.

Especially when I had the paint chosen, mixed up, purchased and Hubs took one look and said, "Oh? Beige?!"

Beige? Seriously.  Of course Hubs would question beige because I have never ever in my whole life chosen beige.  And just saying that word sends shivers down my spine.  It's like eating plain toast for the rest of my life or living in a world of sepia tone forever. Beige?!? 

"I've changed my mind," said I to Hubs and he just laughed.

And I just paid for my beige paint.

Cue crying now.

I've never bought paint. I've never chosen my own paint. Except once when my parents let me at 711 Par Drive and I chose turqoise and purple paint to adorn my walls. I loved them and it made me so happy.  And when we sold the house my parents apologized and laughed it off to the buyers. I couldn't understand why not everyone would embrace turquoise and purple walls. 

Hello?!? It's turqiouse and purple!! What's not to love?

It's not like it's ....*shudder* beige.

Okay, I'll stop being dramatic.

To appease my need for color I'm going to do "splashes" of purple, blue and a little yellow. Like this....

Now here's the fun part.  I'm not actually painting my walls... because, I don't want to paint apartment walls just to paint them back to (even worse than beige) white when we leave.  

So I've got a plan... a fun plan.

Stay tuned for how I make white walls look cool without painting them and how I use "beige" to do it.

And by the way, Hubs, it's not beige.  It's called, "weekend in the country"...

so there!

one of those

Do you ever have "one of those day" where nothing seems to be going right and you wonder, as my good friend Sarah puts it, if you are starring in your very own Truman Show?

Where nothing seems to be going right, in fact, all the little things about your day which usually flow without a thought, suddenly come unglued and fall at your feet begging for your attention? The kind of day where you hope that you open your newspaper or homepage and read that the latest news headline is screaming about how raw cookie dough is actually a major link to fighting cancer. and losing weight. and fighting evil. And the only way to achieve all of those is by eating unheard of amounts of it. All I need is permission, spoon is ready & poised!

And yes, I said raw cookie dough.  It's about time I let you see my weaknesses and flaws.

Friends, its been "one of those days"... and I came on my computer hoping to read about raw cookie dough and instead I am blogging about the hilarity of days gone wrong.  Laundry line fell and dragged all my clean white diapers in the dark, not clean, mud. Boo.  My daughters are extra needy and want to be held. Yay but hard to clean up mud soiled laundry when holding or shall I correctly say "juggling" two little bebes!  Then Hubs comes home, walks past the plant in the hall and announces, "You've got aphids!" Seriously!?! Who has time for aphids?  Dinner has to be on the table at some point in the next 12 hours... perferrably the earlier part of those 12 hours. Diapers need to be changed. Laundry needs to be rewashed and then folded! Oh, and that's if I can get a free washer or dryer... and now I have aphids that need killing.  Ohhhh those aphids won't know the fury I will unleash on them.

But instead of complaining (I consider the above purely story telling... if I were to go on, then I could be accused of complaining) I am choosing to be thankful.

51. I have laundry.  I have multiple loads of multiple outfits for my hubs, bebes and I.  We have closets (too) full of clothes and for that I am very thankful.  I am thankful for clothes that keep us warm and decent. :)
52. My plants.  They breath life into my house and I can't help but smile whenever I water them and tend to them.  They truly do brighten up my home and I love having plants indoors.
53. A random cooking magazine arrived at my door with easy to make meals and yummy looking dishes.  Perhaps we might try one tonight.  Apparently Hubs was chosen as a "target audience" to test out this new magazine.  Don't mind if we do!
54. For $20 I received a coffee mug which enables me to "free" coffee the month of January.  Granted it was $20 but I'm pretty sure I'll be exceeding that above and beyond.
55. Good books from good friends about imaginary faraway places that I can get "caught up in". I love reading!

Do you ever have "one of those day" and what do you do when you have them?

one word (a copycat)

 I read this blog written beautifully by my friend A and I can not get her thoughts and the "challenge" out of my head. I have been inspired and challenged to focus on one word for the year!

So I chose "content" or "contentment"... it's my hope and prayer that I will exit 2012 more content than I entered it. :)  My life is so blessed and I am feeling so thankful to God for the last six months.  They were hard months, the hardest I have had in my life, but they were not without reason.  In the midst of these months I realized that I would often "escape" by dreaming of a different circumstance.

A great verse on my bedroom mirror to remind me of my theme for the year!

I love to daydream and plan for the future.  This is a gift and a blessing, a quality I love about myself but it can also be a huge endurance when I am unable (or unwilling) to live in the here and now.

I daydream, for example, of having a house with a yard that my girls can play in.  Now this is not a bad daydream or even an ungodly desire but what is bad is when I become angry with or complain to Hubs about our little home. Sure, it feels tight and even more so with two little ones. Sure, we can hardly imagine having crawlers or walkers in the rooms. And sure, we have literally no idea where we will put our second crib when the day comes....

but those are not good reasons to become discontented.  I have a house. A beautiful house within a wonderful complex.  We came home from the holidays to four brand new windows and new faucets that our maintanence guy put in for us. :)  What a guy! And how great that he did it while we were gone so we didn't have to make arrangements for the girls to go elsewhere to nap.  Way to go Patio Gardens!

Anyway, my theme for the year is "contentment" and I am excited to read through the scriptures with my word in the back of my mind.  I'm excited for where God is going to lead and what He is going to do.  I feel like 2012 is going to be a year of changes!! (not that 2011 wasn't?!?! ha ha)

and on my bathroom mirror

What is your one word?

ing & pictures

 Thanking God for this past year and for strengthening me to walk the path that was laid before me.  I pray that I may be found faithful when all is said and done. 

Cooking Chinese hot pot tonight for the second time in Denver. Hubs told me, "It makes my heart smile..." to see my brothers embrace a dish that he himself loves so much.  We also got my brother hooked on kimchee. Yum! Yum!

 Deciding whether or not I want to do "official" New Years Resolutions?

Feeling my heart is full and overflowing after this Christmas season with la familia.

Listening to the chaos that is my niece and nephew in the next room (W is "speaking" Spanish) and 

thinking that the girls will be so lonely when it's just the 3 (4) of us back at home again.  They've been surrounded by children and not just children but lovelies who want to include them in all the games, hold them constantly and share toys with them. 

Daydreaming about changing around my house a bit and planning on decluttering when I get home.  I just have to decide if I want to save the boxes (emphases on the pural) for a garage sale or just drop them off at a thrift store. Hmmm??? But I am very excited to make some changes and prepare our home for little crawlers.  They're not quite there ...yet. But before I know it they'll be moving like crazy!!

And now for your viewing pleasure... our "Schwang Olympics" team pictures... I just luh-ve these! Some of us got the memo to have "warrior faces" and some of us did not!!

 Team Yellow was pretty fierce if I do say so myself!!!

 Team Red was a tough competitor! Leni Daye's face makes me laugh! What a sweetie!

 Team Green (minus a team member) was a force to be reckoning with!

 

 Team Blue ... well, they were pretty darn cute!

Team Black was ferocious and definitely gave us a run for our money!!

I love my family. We're pretty crazy!