Whose turn is it now?

Okay, again, this is not one of my favorite pictures of Luke, but I just had to take it so that you can see what I have to go through.  I know, it's hard to believe that sweet little Luke looks like this from time to time.

On my way home from work, I was just thinking about how I've really enjoyed Luke lately. He is just a fun little fellow...not this evening.  He probably had, oh I don't know, between 3 - 4 tantrums within 2 1/2 hours.  He got a spanking, he got put in his room and I don't know what else, and nothing seemed to work.

Thank God Carson was a little angel tonight - he even ate all his peas.  God knows how much I can handle and so does Carson!  

Oh boy!

So, as soon as Natalia wakes up in the morning, she starts talking. And she will not be quiet, not even for a second, until she goes down for the night. This is not one of my favorite pictures of her, but I had to take it this morning because, to be honest with you, I almost lost it!

So, this is how a morning normally goes for us. I wake up and get ready. Then I wake up Natalia. Sometimes she is okay and some days she just doesn't want to get out of bed. So, that would be fight #1. After cuddling for a while, we either have our short devotional (with the boys too) or we go into the kitchen to eat breakfast. Sometimes she does fine but sometimes, like today, she sits at the table for a very long time until she finishes drinking her milk. Okay, so this is fight #2. You might be thinking, "oh, not a big deal." The problem though is that she doesn't only sit there. She complains and cries and says things like "why do you always make me drink my milk," "you put so much milk in here," "I don't want anymore milk," "why are you always so mean to me." To top it all of, all these little phrases are being said in a whine little voice, which by the way, drives me off the wall. --Now, before you start feeling sorry for her, let me tell you that the cup wasn't even half way full and the cups are not that big either. I really wasn't being unreasonable here. Okay so, finally she finishes all of her milk. After eating, she knows she is to go to the bathroom and brush her teeth. Alright, so we are doing good...she goes to the bathroom and I can hear her washing her hands and singing and laughing and talking-I mean - screaming and so on as so forth. Finally, after 10 minutes of this, I go into the bathroom and I see water all over the mirror and the counter top. And the toothbrush is just sitting there staring at her. So, I'm sorry but, this is fight #3. Wow, what a morning. So after all that, I just had to breath deep, count to 100 (backwards) and take this picture of her. I have to remind myself on mornings like this that she, one day, will grow up and I will not have any of this anymore. And to be honest with you....I'll miss it (believe it or not.)

Off to work they go!

Oh boy, Carson was so excited to go with Papi to work on Saturday morning. He couldn't wait! Since the moment Carson woke up, he wanted to get ready. Carson was afraid Papi would leave without him if he wasn't ready to go. Papi informed me that Carson talked all the way to the Market and was so excited to get some alone time with him. And, of course, while at the Market Carson got a guitar, popcorn and I don't know what else. You know how it goes whenever one of the grandparents is around, "whatever they want - they get."



He had such a sad look on his face when he saw us coming. I guess, he wanted to be alone with Papi for a little bit longer.

Look at what my wonderful husband has been up to for the last several months...

Dave has been working so hard on the house, for a while now, and he is still going full force. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that one day this project will be 100% completed, but look at the kitchen now...what an improvement! Day in and day out he diligently works on the house and sometimes it seems as if it will never end. I can't imagine working as hard as he has been. He works at his practice all day long, eats dinner, and somehow, gets motivated enough to go to the house to work all alone. Then, every other weekend, while he is not working on the house, he drives all the way to San Antonio to see the kids and me. He never stops. And though all this, I've never heard him complain. On the contrary, he find the good in every situation. Wow, he amazes me!

In two weeks, the granite will be installed and the stainless steel microwave will go up and the kitchen will be pretty much completed! Then, it will be time to move into the hallway bathroom...

Ahhh...how sweet!

Lately, Natalia can't go outside without getting me a little gift. The thing about it is that she wants me to keep my gift right where she can see it.  I decided that the car would be the best place to put my gift.  Seriously, we desperately need a garden so that Natalia, at least, can cut flowers for me, instead of weeds.  You should see her little face when she so sweetly says: "Mama look, these are just for you." No matter how many times I tell her that we are running late, she insists in taking the time to cut these "just for me." ~Now, isn't she sweet!

Happy Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter, but we definitely missed Daddy. The easter bunny brought the kids a chocolate bunny (which they ate a little bit for breakfast) and some easter eggs with money in them. Then, Natalia, Carson and Luke had to go and pick up all the easter eggs that the bunny dropped through out the yard as he was leaving.



Later, my dad's side of the family came over and it was crazy from there on out! The kids, as always, had a blast. Natalia played with everyone none stop. Carson finally got comfortable enough and started playing with Victor and the other kids. Luke had a lot of fun playing with Madeline. And I, as always, loved visiting with everyone.

At Last

For those of you who have seen my mom's living room before, you understand how a make over was so necessary. Well, it finally happened! After 18 years, you know, things go out of style. Don't get me wrong, everything still looked in good shape and, I think, that's why it was so hard for my dad to see the need to replace the perfectly fine furniture they had. I don't think he understands or cares about what's in or out. He is a man, he is practical! But, thanks to my cousin who decided to buy new leather couches, my mom was able to redo her living room.