One year ago today

Our Little Man was born.

-This kid is FULL of expression. We could tell that from the instant he was born. He uses his eyebrows a lot to show how he is feeling - surprised, happy, scared, mad.
-He loves food. He has been known to stuff an entire piece of bread in his mouth at once.
-He LOVES, LOVES his mama. Man, that kid is such a mama's boy, but I am okay with that.
-He is fast. Fast crawler, fast talker, fast eater.
-His eyes light up when Kylie or Ashlyn enter the room. He loves snuggling with Daddy, too.
-He is a major spaz! Dinner is not known to be a quiet, peaceful experience around here.

We love him to death and can't get enough of him and his sweet personality!

6 years and counting....

...and he's still as kind, caring, gentle and sweet as he was when he didn't smashed cake all over me. Looking forward to many more wonderful years!

P.S. A big THANKS to Lisa for watching the kids so we could go out alone.

Creations

If you had a little imagination and some curiosity (oh, and you have be quiet as well), what food concoction would you come up with as a child?





This is what my children decided that they would create:

Doesn't this make you hungry???

Mistake

We gave the Little Man pizza...


and he was insulted when we then tried to give him baby food. What a stinkin' Little Man!

July 4, 2009

The Annual Church Parade that came to a halt when the ponies arrived.
We tried to get a picture of Spencer on one, but he immediately would have nothing to do with it and Ashlyn wouldn't even get out of the wagon.





We decided to see the real deal fireworks that night and brought some sparklers for the wait.

Substitute for Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons were canceled on Wednesday, for obvious reasons, but the girls were happy with the substitute.

Finally, fun in Colorado!

WE HAD IT ALL....GORGEOUS VIEWS,

LOTS OF ROCKS,

BIRDS, FLOWERS, NATURE,

COMPUTER TIME (writing out the script for the movie that was made by the children - videoed by the uncles),

A MARVELOUS CHEF AND HOSTESS (with the mostest),

FAIRLY SMOOTH PLANE RIDES,

DRESS-UP TIME,

WORK TIME (making the trail to the top of the mountain - yes, the women did the work while the men watched, but only some of the time),

LOTS OF FOOD AND CONVERSATION,



CUTE HIKERS,

MOVIE TIME,

HAIL, ICE SNOW, RAIN, COOLNESS, ETC.,

TIME WITH COUSINS,

SHARING TIME NIGHT,

ANOTHER CUTE HIKER,

LOTS OF HIKERS (they are cute, too, except the one right in the middle:)),

"BYE-BYE, MOM, I WILL BE FINE UP HERE, AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, BY MYSELF" CHILD,

AN ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING PERFORMANCE BY DAD AND GRANDPA,

AND PLAYTIME WITH A BOX BEFORE.

And other tings left out: deer, being chased by dogs, running in the morning in the beautiful canyon, lots of laughs, card games...I could go on and on. Best of all, we have the memories and strengthened our family bond. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa Astorga for the fantastic time!

Perspective

I am lame. I realized that after reading my post that I wrote on Friday. It is easy for me to be pessimistic if I let myself be. I am really good at comparing and finding ALL my weaknesses. I am also awesome at letting those weaknesses bring me down.

But, wait! Doesn't Ether12:27, in the Book of Mormon, state, "...then I will make weak things become strong unto them."? Why, yes, it does. So, I ask, why are my weaknesses bringing me down or, rather, who is allowing them to do so?

I am competitive. I don't want someone, who I am not fond of, win. In fact, I fight harder so that that does not happen. It won't happen. Ever.

"For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." Ether 12:12. (What a great chapter!)

Faith is essential for miracles to occur. Faith is what we all have to hold on to. I am grateful to have a knowledge of faith.

Don't leave the fruit basket on the floor unless you are wanting it to be attacked.

Baby Paul's binky is being held for ransom....
By the lil' man.

MIA

A computer crash, a very busy week, lots of high pitched screaming from the little man, murmuring and tantrums from Kylie, lack of work for David, Ashlyn not listening, people at the gym complaining, body exhausted, brain fried, bills to pay, companies messing up our statements, trying to stay happy and not bite everyone's head off. (Okay, I'll stop.)

I was reading on a friend's blog about faith. This concept has always been fascinating to me. So simple, yet so complex. There is much to faith. Someone mentioned that faith is not letting yourself get to the point of discouragement. Honestly, it is difficult to see others' life with much joy and not having to deal with those things we are struggling with right now. That is one thing that I dislike about blogs, why does everything have to be always so perfect? Apparently, I am almost at that point of discouragement, so here is the time to pick up and really believe that is it all the Lord's hands. Life.