Flashback Friday

Altered Flashback Friday

Next to cows, Shamu is Alison's favorite animal. We watch the Shamu show on DVD at home religiously. She has her favorite parts as she mimics what the trainers do. It is quite hilarious to watch. Since she loves going to Sea World and we visit regularly thanks to the Fun Card, I thought it would be neat to see a picture of her each time in the same location. By chance, it turned out the be on Manatee..

Her very first visit (July 2008 with Aunt Linda, Michelle, & I)

2nd visit (November 2008 with Uncle Kevin, Aunty Dana, Bree ah {Braeden}, Kelsea, Nana, Momma, & Dadda)

and our most recent trip (May 2009 with Mommy & Daddy)


Wow it is amazing to see the change! I have started the same thing at Disneyland (except I didn't get one before she turned 1..so now I have a picture of her at 1 in front of the "A" at California Adventure).

Happy Friday!

Thankful Thursday

• What am I most thankful for??? Here they are...
  

I am thankful that the Lord has brought these two amazing people into my life

I have a husband who:
*works his tail off so I can have the priviledge of staying home
*puts up with my crazy attitude & ideas
*loves me unconditionally despite my short comings
*always seems to know what I am thinking and feeling
*the spiritual leader in our house
*allows me to chase my dreams
*thinks I'm some beauty queen when in reality we know the truth on that one!
*is a wonderful father
*is the calmningness in the middle of the storm
*a great son, brother, brother in law and friend.
*sacrifices more than I can write for me and his family
I could go on all day, but I wont (Phew..I know that's what your saying). I just want him and everyone else to know and see that I am grateful to be his wife!

Now this little girl....


Words can't even express the gratefulness I feel in being given the opportunity to be her mom. I know I am not the best, but I am trying to be all the Christ has called me to be.

I am grateful to have a daughter who:
* Has a sense of humor and personality that is amazing
*loves to sleep ;)
*loves to pray and say "AH MEN" in the middle of church when all is quiet
*loves to dance to worship music
*loves to eat
*is so interest in learning
*looks adorable when mommy dresses her up
*tries to make us laugh by being silly
*who works hard on obeying
*who loves her family
*who ALL AROUND IS MORE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR!

I love these two people with all that I am!!!

Here are some new family pictures that we took....











What an amazing journey this is!

Wordless Wednesday

Flashback & Fast Forward Friday

I am not always so good with Flashback Friday. Half of the time I forget and I can't possibly post it on Saturday or I just struggle finding a really good one. I tend to like to alter Flashback Friday so that it reflects a "then" and a "now" and since it's my blog I guess I can do that! So..with that being said....

Here is my flashback to May of last year...




and this past Mother's Day...




Happy Friday!

Happy Mother's Day

As my second Mother's Day (and I have the cutest, wittiest, smartest, and funniest sense of humor for an 18 month old laying next to me sleeping like an angel) comes to an end, I can't help but to remain in awe with how this wonderful miracle and blessing has changed my life in more ways than are expressible.


Like everyone else..I too love this poem on mothers...


Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.


Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.


Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.


Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.


Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.


Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom...
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .



As for my day..it was great! We started off by going to church, then we headed to the cemetery for a Grammie Cindy visit(pictures to follow in a later post), followed by a quick visit at Nina Linda and Auntie Laurie's house. We ate(and ate way too much might I add!) a yummy steak dinner at Grandma's. Our day finished off with a yummy strawberry shortcake dessert at Auntie Dana's house. Although it sounds quite busy, we did have a nice time. I will post pictures of today when I find my computer/camera cord. I had to use my old Nikon camera (long story) and the chord is missing. ugh! I'll get it tomorrow promise!


So what did you get from your hubby do you say??? Well on Tuesday, Alison and I got a special treat...Daddy stayed home from work (I mean was really sick....) and we headed down to Sea World for the day. What I didn't know was that Greg had arranged (thoughtfully planned out ALL on his own might I add) for me to swim with the dolphins! I know..I have THE BEST HUSBAND EVER! I was SOO excited!! We had a great day and it was definitely a wonderful and creative gift!!


Giving the dolphin a hug



Kissy..kissy

doing a dive with "Sandy"


Giving Sandy and Purina a behavior



The Elmo Ride (rode it 3 times!)














Well I am off to bed...special treat..Ali is sleeping in our bed for a little while. Better go snuggle with her before I put her back in her bed! Thanks Greg for making my Mother's Day (or shall I say 2 days) so wonderful!!

Remembering Moms...

I got this poem from Nana (one of the most awe inspiring role model of what a wonderful mother looks like). Mother's Day is always bittersweet for me. I love to celebrate the wonderful miracle and blessing I have in being a mom, yet my heart aches and misses my beautiful mom. She was truly a strong and inspiring woman. You just don't know how much you miss someone until they are gone. Happy Mother's Day Mom! I bet the celebration in heaven is far more glorious than we can ever imagine!

Your Mother Is always with You!!

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore.

She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well.

She's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.

She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep; the colors of a rainbow.

She is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. A mother shows every emotion .......... happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow... and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take.

She's your first love; your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!

PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS AND SONS YOU KNOW.....

MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED.

MMMoooooooo

As most of you know, I grew up in cow country. For 20 something years of my life, I breathed and smelled that nasty stench that comes from those oh so stinky animals. I can remeber as a child (I am guessing around 6 or 7) my Grandpa Cardona would take us on "walks." He was a strong believer that WE MUST EXERCISE. We (my sisters, cousin Erik, and I) would beg to "go see the cows." Most of the time we were successful in our convincing. Just a side note: It isn't until you move away from the area and then come back that you realize just how bad the stench is! Anywhoo...Guess who has passed on a love for "going to see the cows??" ME and take a wild guess at who I passed it too??? (and I'll give you a hint..Greg HATES THEM!) Of course...MY DAUGHTER!! When traveling between Michelle's house and G-pa's house, there are plenty of cows to see. Nina Laurie and Alison have made it a pasttime to drive through the dairies and check out the stinky things. Check out what this new obsession as turned into... Just gazing...




Well this love for cows....has um...gotten out of control (oh wait did I say that??!)...I meant to say extended to let's say some accessories! Check out what she got yesterday thanks to Nina Laurie and Target! (who knew they sold these things!)

Can you see she is so excited to get COW rainboots, a COW backpack, AND a COW chair!