May the Force Be With You at Disney

With school out and ballet and piano done for the year, what else can one do but go join the Imperial Army. Wait, are those the bad or good guys? I'm not too savvy on my Star Wars so let me just spew out a few words I know: Jaba, May the Force be with you, Solo, Yoda, Nano-Nano. One of those may be from Mork but you get the point. We were off to Disney's Star Wars weekend. Even for the not so EXTREME lovers of the series, this is a great show. When we were walking in the bad guys with masks (it's hard to see them as bad guys because they ARE in white.) were patrolling the entrance and pointed to Mike and said they were keeping an eye one him. Nothing looks more suspicious then a man  pushing a stroller of triplets and walking next to two Tweenagers. 

     Golden got to have a cool experience. He got himself carbon frozen just like Han Solo did. They took his 360 degree picture and gave him a bracelet afterwards and told him he would be tracked from now on. And if it turned red, Darth Vader himself would be after him. 

All of the famous Star Wars characters were there and even the voices of the Star Wars cartoons showed up. Mike and Golden were very impressed. I thought the Darth Mall guy was pretty cool. 

Even Carlos got into the groove with his Star Wars gun which we got at the Darth Mall. A 10,000 square foot mall filled with everything you never knew you needed Star Wars related. 

The Guerra's joined us for the weekend and much more my style we visited the Blizzard Beach and rented a cabana. I think we got ourselves some more water babies. 

The babies were exhausted from all their play and Carlos just couldn't look cuter. Laying on uncle Juan he slept with his little hands in the shape of a heart. Thanks Juan for that image.

We made it back to Hogwarts.

And made it back to Animal Kingdom safari

Look at that long tongue

I just love giraffe markings

I made monkey noises and more man looked over. I think I might have said something vulgar the way he is looking at me.

My kids growing up before my eyes at the tree of life.

The triplets are now walking, dancing, eating machines. Gigi likes to wear crocs and gets down to the music. She can point to her hair, belly button and nose when asked in Spanish. She loves books. And when Mike get's his shoes on in the morning she will back up between his legs to watch him do it.

Beau steals everyone's milk bottles. She loves her daddy and her and Gisele love to sit in his lap whenever he comes home. If you get on the floor and scare her, her first response is to get down on her knees and drops forward head first like a possum playing dead. Actually, she uses her head as a battering ram most of the time. But she also loves to kiss and hug her stuffed animals and rubs Carlos' head (usually after she takes his toy and he is crying). 

Carlos loves his mommy and is not a morning guy until he has had his coffee (nursing). Otherwise, he is very mellow but is quick to smile and laugh with me. He likes to dance too. And with his solitary top left tooth and cool duds, he has what I call my Hillfiger Hillbilly look. 

Eva is obsessed with all things mermaid right now. So like her mother it hurts. And Golden is saying so many funny comments he keeps me and his dad in stitches. 

Can't wait for our next adventure!

Eva's Ballet Recital and Other Good Times

During the triplets birthday weekend we also had Eva's ballet recital to attend. It was her first with the Pensacola Ballet but she is an old pro at this. I am so proud of her and she was fantastic in her recital. The triplets sat through her whole recital without a peep. They are obviously cultured babies.

And everyone posed for a pic before entering the performance.

These are just a few awards my kids received at the end of this year. Golden and Eva had their first piano recital. They both got perfect attendance. Eva won a reading medal and both finished in the Honor roll again. Can a mother be prouder of her children......no.

If we weren't busy enough, Golden had to build a gum ball machine. And this is his awesome interpretation of one. He never stops amazing us. 

He also got to go to his first Blue Wahoos baseball game and said he never felt more alive than at the stadium, as you can see by this picture. 

He got his ball signed by the players and...

He got to go on the field with his dad who was asked to throw out the opening pitch. Can it get any better....

then a dad and his boy at the game....

Yes, if you get to meet a Green Bay Packer Super Bowl Champion.
In all, our first year in Pensacola is turning out to be very fun. 

Triplets first Birthday

The triplets finally made it. I thought a year was such a long time but it has been a whirlwind of activity and milestones that I could hardly keep up with. The grands came from Michigan to help celebrate and I thought the kids needed special outfits to mark the occasion. I got them all little onsies with their names on it and the girls had frilly tutus to put on for Eva's ballet recital. Unfortunately, they did not want to pose together for that. So here are the much needed first cake pictures every mother needs.

Carlos may never forgive me for this hat but it was SO worth it.

My boy had no teeth going into his first birthday but at least he and his sisters are walking, Gigi was the first, then Beau, than Carlos

Gigi has the most captivating laugh. And she is always watching you like you are a midterm she is framing for.

Everyone got their own chocolate cake.

Beau was not a fan of the hat either.

But Gigi was a gamer as usual. Note the two teeth. Beau has the most teeth at this point.

Singing a Happy Birthday to the babes.

And the babies went to town on their cakes. 

Beau finally had enough.
On the talk about teeth, I should document that we have a serious biter in our midst. We refer to her as Jaws (from the James Bond movies) or Diente Dura. Beau has had a few time outs lately.

My poor Gigi has been Beau's chew toy when she gets angry.

And Carlos is not free from her wrath either. It is a full time job watching out for Jaws.

BBut when she is nice, she is the sweetest, so we will keep her. The party was a success and we had the in laws and Jerry come in for the festivities. Here is to another great year with these kiddos.

Happy Mother's Day

It was a lovely day on Mother's Day. We got up early but I was given my breakfast in bed before we left to church. How blessed can a girl get to have such well behaved, smart, funny and good looking kids. All I was thinking about was how quickly this time will fly by and no more cuddles every morning. So, I got extra loving today and thanked Heavenly Father for the opportunity to help in the great plan of salvation. Never far from my mind is Zach and I can't wait to have him celebrating with us again.

This is what Golden wrote about me for Mother's Day. It comes with a drawing that actually came out in the front page of the newspaper. It is a picture of him next to me with a grocery cart full of groceries. If that doesn't sum up my life: Feed the masses. Or as Christ asked Peter, "If you love me, feed my lambs." Boy, do I love the Savior if it came down to that. 

Pool Time with the Family

The In-Laws are visiting and the kids love that there is almost as many adults as kids in the house. So with  ample hands we had a splash in the pool. The girls were in costume. The babies in these cute ballerina bathing suits I bought and Eva in her mermaid outfit which she uses as her only bathing suit these days. The boys were in classic board shorts and couldn't be cuter. I do not take for granted every day that I wake up in paradise with the sun shining and the breeze blowing and wonder to myself, much like Phineus and Pherb, "What am I going to do today?" It's been pretty busy but we always find time to be outside.

Gigi models the suit and her walking skills.

Gigi liked to be pushed back and forth across the pool as fast as the mermaid tail could push her.

Beau liked being pampered. She let Golden spin her around while she laid back and soaked up some rays. Later, she let grandpa hold her while she air dried.

Carlos, as usual, loved a good cuddle with grandma. And tried to eat her necklace while he was at it.

Love Gisele's Don King look.

Earlier in the month, the older bambinos had Field Day. I was so proud of them both. I see so much of Mike in their physical abilities. They are really naturals at sports. 

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And lastly, Eva had a cross country run (2miles) which we did with her. It was so cute to see her with her friends running and giving each other encouragement all the way to the finish. No walking in this group.

Eva and Casey

Eva, Casey, and Johanna

A proud daddy after running with his girl.