"It's Friday! Field-trip Day"

OK Here are the pics from Joshua Tree National Park. Some from our field trip, others from a day with daddy. It is so wonderful to have this park 10 minutes away! I was worried about having nature walks we would really enjoy. Not anymore! They could climb all day! God is Good!

Announcing our first Junior Ranger in the Martinez Family! You have to fill out a guide book and go on a guided tour and then pledge to take care of the park to the best of her ability. Very Serious stuff. Then she had a little fun and added a few perks for mom. Like Always obey my parents, get along with my brothers, always finish my schoolwork.... She is so excited she wears her badge even on her pj's! So proud of our Junior Ranger!

From the mouths of babes

OK. we were just getting ready for the day and #4 asks me to tie his shoes.

it's field trip day so we're all excited.

as I'm helping him he says,"mom, do you know another way to say I love you?"

I'm guessing he's going to sign it to me with his fingers, but to my surprise he says...

"Grace."

Now I dig deeper, "who taught you that?"

"Jesus"

Enough said.

Go tell somebody you love them!

Our New Home

Here we are in California!

As you can probably guess the backyard was the selling point for the kids.

Here is a view of J's work in the "field".... it's beautiful!

E helping daddy, and boys being boys...

A warrior by day,

Bubble bear by night!

The younger 2's room
This is our room and master bath.

Here is me and Oliver. He melts my heart...and as promised, the cups that made me giggle. (still do) I call the green floral one "testify" because it's still alive and kickin after all these years. The orange one I call a cup o' sunshine. If anyone should come over needing a cup of cheer, I feel totally prepared! Cups in a thrift shop:79c .....giggles for a lonely friend in a new town: priceless

A New Beginning:part 2

Ok. We are officially "moved in." I apologize ahead of time for the lack of photos for this post. Our main computer is not accepting our wireless connection so I can't download any new pics for you. I amusing the fun little notebook my dad got me for an early b-day present. 32........I am about to be 32.......sorry I'm back.



SO, summary of the last couple weeks goes something like this: I went to the library yesterday thinking we had until 8 because they are open till 8 on Tuesday's....unfortunately,it was Friday. That was a humbling conversation with the librarian closing the doors promptly at 5. J comes home for a few hours at night then leaves for couple days only to leave the very next morning for another few days. I can hardly remember what day it is. Went out for a sanity check for the first time this morning. Itwas so hard to leave becasue he was only home untill 3. but I'mreading this book for mom's. And we decided if I didn't make myself take one I'd get to the breaking point againwhen I am crying and HAVE to get out. I guess we'll call it "mommy maintenance". I had a great time slowly shopping at the thrift shops. purchased 2 coffee cups older than me by 15 years because they made me laugh(pics to follow soon) Tried on some CA clothes. Only to find out their size 3 is not I repeat not a Tx 3. None he less i learned if a pair of Capri's are hard to get on, the are way harder to get off! Pretty sure you're not supposed to break a sweat trying on clothes. 32.......

When I got home 2 hours later he had the kids down for a nap and we got our home time: it was wonderful. Then we dropped him off and i had to try and not cry! ???? I feel so wimpy. I miss him terribly (he just says that's a good thing).

Anywho. Some of our favorite quotes our our trip to CA was one at a Denny's. We were thinking about fun places we should go and see on the way in CA and Alex shout's excitedly "I know, let's go to the Holy Land!" Without skipping a beat, Eric replies confidently,"No. We can't go there, that's in Florida."



I can n hardly type I'm still laughing that one through.



Since then they have both held 2 snakes, plenty of mice at the local desert pet store down the street. They are saving desperately for their first lizard. We adopted a little kitten they named Oliver. We are all smitten. one meow,and we all come a running. he is such a blessing. the kids are smiling and laughing with a freedom and sincerity I have enjoyed. the house we found is just lovely. tile floors(important for me), carpeted bedrooms(important for J), the bonus room doubles as school room and guest room(important for you) the backyard is divide in the middle with plenty of space for our new gator mobile,(important for #3 and 4) the other side has an in ground pool, "complete with a water slide"( important for all of us!) A large covered patio set up with a misting system. God was so good and gracious to us. We knew j would be gone a lot and we needed to find a home we enjoyed while we were apart. CHECK! Don't even get me started on the kitchen. love it.
#1 has learned how to make coffee for us. He even knows how cream and sugar! I am so spoiled!!!


We did make it to the library on time today, every one got books and a movie, which gives this mom a quiet dinner and a chance to blog. I have had the blues the last 2 days. so getting out today was important to prepare me for another week. I am so grateful to be here. With my loving husband, under the care of a loving Father. We know His great love brought us here, and His great love will keep us here. Every morning I wake up and see this big mountain out my window reminding me God does BIG things. I am ready for Him to work in my heart and home.

We miss and love you all. I pray and hope you know God is in the business of doing Big things. So if you're weary and slow of heart to believe He is there and willing to do something...He is

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

We couldn't ask for better weather for our last Christmas home for a few years. I loved using the fireplace.

Christmas was wonderful! We stayed with Papa Smith. As soon as we got home #4 asked if "we could go back to Papa's tomorrow?"

I can't believe we didn't stop and get pics inside with Papa....but many memories are stored in our hearts. Like Sunday morning we had church at home. We brought our guitars, so we played a few worship songs, read from Luke to follow Christ without apologies. Then we all shared our hearts and prayed together. There is nothing like home fellowship. The kids woke up to Papa's pancakes every morning he had off. We all played a round of pictionary after Christmas dinner with all the cousins. It was so much fun.

Daddy made Snow Ice Cream and it was really good!

At papa Martinez's's's' we played a vicious round of hand and foot, ate more than should be humanly possible, and found some huge ice cycles! A few family members couldn't come, I think that was the only thing keeping this from being a perfect Christmas. We missed all who couldn't make it and love you all!

Double Digits!

The new tradition in our home was dad's growing up: As soon as the birthday boy/girl gets up, they get their presents accompanied with the Happy Birthday song. I love this one.
And fittingly he opened legos and more legos....

He ate Legos for breakfast!

I love this shot, dad cancelled his morning to put this together :)

GG and Gramps came!

Booger was played....

This birthday boy likes Brownies ala mode. He wanted to make footballs but settled on stars.

2 days old