Shaver World

My favorite photos from the last trip - Photoshopped!

2012-02-11T12:42:00.000-06:00

Last time that I wrote about photography, I said that my goal would be to work on FOCUS. I do love editing and putting warmer colors and textures on the pictures. But, with such great lighting at the beach, I was able to really focus on FOCUSING - ha! On the plus side, pictures that are better focused are easier to edit. What do you think?

Our secret to traveling with kids

2012-02-11T12:32:00.002-06:00

Instead of selling our old iPhones, we gave them to the kids. Now, it functions as an iTouch. It is great for their movies, kid apps, and their favorite photos :) Thank you Steve Jobs.

Playa del Carmen Part 2

2012-02-11T12:26:00.000-06:00

We had a mild winter in Texas, but it was still nice to get out of town and get some 80 degree weather! The water was a bit cold for me, but the kids didn't mind at all! We had some pool time...

Beach time...

Caden really enjoyed playing in the sand this time. We brought his trucks - why I didn't think of that before I don't know why. The sand is really soft there, which also helped.

The monkey at the beach ;)

Playa del Carmen

2012-02-11T09:06:00.000-06:00

Our first family trip this year took us to Playa del Carmen. I debated over taking my new camera or just using my point and shoot. I wasn't sure if I wanted to carry the camera while traveling with the kids. But, I am so glad I toughed it out because I LOVED all the pics and couldn't wait to blog about it. Getting there was a bit tiring. We had to fly into Cozumel because all the flights to Cancun were full. Flying standby requires a lot of flexibility. It really allows me to learn to let go of bring to plan and control everything. I tell my husband I don't mind planned spontaneity - ha! We flew into Cozumel and took a ferry across the ocean to Playa...

Then, we had to take a cab to our final destination.

Caden enjoyed being pushed on this cart!

Needless to say, we were all tired by the time we got to the hotel. The kids did great though. Kenzie got a little motion sickness from the boat ride. Usually, this happens with Caden but, he did great - with a little help from some Dramamine!

Finally asleep!

Long day! Where's the beach?

Sometimes, the thought of traveling with kids holds me back, but I always just recall a friend of mine saying - Just go! Kids are so adaptable and in the end, it makes for a great FAMILY time :). More pics to come later!

Santa Videos

2012-02-02T21:53:00.000-06:00

Found these videos in my archive and had to post it. We used portablenorthpole.com and the kids loved their Santa Video :)

Instagram

2012-01-27T10:50:00.001-06:00

I just got this app and am in love!

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2012 Goals

2012-01-20T09:12:00.001-06:00

Here are a few goals, I would like to accomplish in 2012. I like to break it down and focus on specific areas of my life that I feel is a top priority.

****I realize that I need to review my goals monthly and quarterly to keep me focused.*****

Spiritual - Read the Bible daily. Spend time in the MORNING with the word. (So far, so good)
Small group

Health - Incorporate Pilates and/or Yoga once a week - SUNDAYS. This is really a priority for me and at this point, exercise and healthy living is ingrained in our lives that it is a lifestyle. So, I want to add new exercises to challenge my body.

Relationships - Family: 2 Family getaways

Spouse: Date nights at least 2X/month
2 Getaways with no kids, at least one by ourselves

Kids: Speak to them in tagalog
One on one time
Caden: Read at least 15-30 minutes a day; Numbers 1-30; Write his name
Kenzie: Read at least 15-30 minutes a day; POTTY TRAIN

Family & Friends: Spend time with family and friends weekly (even if it's just a phone call to catch up)

Recreational - Read/Listen 1 book a month; Improve photography skills - take LOTS of pictures!!!!

Organize/Declutter

Finance - Dave Ramsey; SAVE SAVE SAVE!

One on one time

2012-01-18T22:59:00.001-06:00

Casey and I have made it a point that as the kids grow up, we will spend a date day with each kid. This will really give us a chance to bond and not have to share the attention of the other child. Caden and I had our first "Mommy and Son days" :) He came to work with me and then we went out to eat some pancakes at Mimi's. We had so much fun and can't wait for the next one!

Christmas Pics

2012-01-18T22:49:00.001-06:00

We are so fortunate to be able to spend Christmas with so many people, from our neighbors, to my family, and to Casey's family. Here are the pics...

Playing Catch-up

2012-01-18T22:27:00.001-06:00

I was in such a roll with blog writing. Then, all of a sudden, life happened and it came to a screeching HALT. So, here I am, in the middle of January posting Christmas pics. To my credit, though, we did take down the Christmas decorations already - yay!

Due to the fact that I am having to play catch up, the next few posts will be dedicated to our Christmas happenings. Oh well, I wasn't ready for Christmas to end anyways ;)

The week before Christmas, we went down to Houston to visit my cousins. It was so much fun to get together with them. The older I get, the more important it is for me to spend time with family. I really want our kids to be close to their cousins. Caden absolutely adored his big cousin, Christian, and followed him around everywhere he went. Kenzie and Mahlia followed the boys around! It was so cute to see them all interact.

We also ordered lechon, which is a roasted pig! Of course, Casey had to test out eating the pig tongue after he saw how easy it was for my youngest cousin, Alyssa to eat it.

We were also able to have some adult time and go dancing. The girls even had time to play with makeup and have fun with glamour shots!

She's Crafty!

2012-01-04T22:56:00.003-06:00

People who are crafty always amazes me because I do not have the patience to work crafty projects. I've mentioned before how I love Pinterest BUT definitely NOT for the DIY projects. They look really awesome but I never pin it! For the simple fact, that it gives me a headache just thinking about it! It's amazing, though, how God wires us so differently. My sister, on the other hand, loves to do or bake anything and everything. Thank goodness for this talent of hers because we sure do put it to good use!

My mom's birthday - her cake :)

Our homemade ornament from my sister

Mahlia's handprint

My mom's salted caramel birthday cupcakes

Of course, we recruited her help in putting up the frame for our Gingerbread house on Christmas Eve. The kids enjoyed decorating and eating it!

Icing the rooftop while Caden stuffs his face with candy - eek!

Kenzie LOVED it!

Jesus' birthday cake! Red velvet cheesecake - yummmm!

December birthday extravaganzas

2012-01-03T09:33:00.001-06:00

With all the hoopla of Christmas, it is easy to forget the true reason for the season - Jesus' birthday! One of my favorite traditions that we started is blowing out the candle on Jesus' birthday. The kids love it.

But December, for me, is also a special time for birthdays because it is both my mom and my dad's birthday. I always thought it was really cool that they are only 1 day apart - my mom, December 12th and my dad, December 10th. This year, my sister and I decided to throw my mom a birthday party. She said that it will be her first birthday party EVER. She did recall having one when she was a toddler but that was it. At first, she was real hesitant to do it but in the end, she had a BLAST! It was a great time of celebration and remembering my dad's birthday, as well. He was a wonderful man and an even better father. We all miss him so much! But, I know he was looking down on our celebration and smiling :)

Here are some pics from the party and mom's great friends! Such lovely ladies!

Alma, Joy, Mom, Rowena

Derlina and her lovely daughter :)

Mom and Cynthia

Judith and Mom

MaryAnne and Mom

Opening presents

Enjoying her wonderful gifts :) Thanks everyone!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T09:53:00.001-06:00

2011 was a great year! Making room for more love, peace, and joy in the New Year :). Happy New Years everyone!

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Snow

2011-12-26T22:28:00.000-06:00

Since I got my new camera, I've realized that I have a lot to learn. It's a shame for me to have this awesome camera and not use it to it's full capabilities. I am a slow learner but I am persistent so I will keep learning.

In the meantime, thank goodness for photoshop. It is such a fun post editing tool that I am starting to grow accustomed to. Here are some pictures that I have taken with my OLD camera and edited with photoshop.

SOOC

Here's some added snow textures - ha! I made it snow in our house :)

I have to give credit to Pinterest on this tutorial. I wish I could find the website, but I did this awhile back and now, I have to go back and review just to do it again. Practice makes perfect :)

Here's a few more of one of my favorite little subject.

SOOC

Photoshop

SOOC

Photoshop

These were taken at the Gaylord. I've realized that lighting is key to getting the perfect photo and the Gaylord had it! The background, too, was amazing with all the beautiful decorations :)

Christmas Festivities

2011-12-26T22:04:00.000-06:00

Now that Christmas is over, I have a bit of a chance to catch up on my blogging. Every year, we try to go to the Gaylord just to see the amazing Christmas display that they have. This year, we decided to go see Ice. The kids may have been a bit too young this year but they still had a lot of fun. It is an amazing sight to see. They fly over 50 artists from China to carve out the ice sculptures. It is FREEZING inside but they do provide a big coat for everyone.

Casey in the big ICE toilet, which explains the expression on his face!

The kids really loved the slides, especially my hubby :)

Shrek was the theme this year!

Advent Calendar

2011-12-19T22:47:00.000-06:00

This year, I decided to do an advent calendar for the kids. Caden is at a great age (4 years) where he is learning about the concept of time. I wanted to find the perfect one so that we can keep it for years to come. I came across this beautiful hand painted one at Marshalls - I love that place! Each day has a beautiful little door that Caden and Kenzie can open.

Here's Caden opening the first door with his Optimus Prime Mask - too cute!

I really want them to grasp the true meaning of Christmas. I know that it may take a LOT of repetition but in the end, it will be worth it. The first day, I gave them the Little People Nativity Set. Caden, Kenzie, and Mahlia all loved it. And, everyday we emphasize that we are getting closer to Jesus' birthday! (Of course, we do have to throw in that Santa will also be coming on the 24th day. It's always great when you can add that to your arsenal when the kids start acting bad.)

So far, it has been filled with fun activities and also, some yummy goodies. Here's the list so far:
1) Nativity Set
2) Read the Christmas Story
3) Hot chocolate night
4) Bake cookies
5) Make a craft

Caden colored a wooden picture frame

Kenzie colored a Christmas ornament. They both gave it to their teacher. Caden chose her to be the recipient.

6) Give the craft to someone special
7) Gaylord Texan - ICE :)
8) Give neighbors their Christmas present
9) Movie night
10) Portable Northpole (all parents must do this - it is too cute! Santa sends each child a personalized video and it's FREE) Caden and Kenzie already watched their message and they loved it!
11) Color a Christmas picture
12) Make a gingerbread house
13) Make smores

And the other half are filled with yummy goodies like M&Ms! They hardly ever get sweets so they really enjoy that treat :)

I realize that it really is important to work on INSTILLING the important messages that you want your kids to learn. Unfortunately, it is not something that they just instinctively learn to do, like having peace, thanksgiving, and the gift of giving. The most important things I want them to take away about the Christmas season are:
1) The true meaning is about Jesus, the birth of our Savior.
2) That we need to be a light to others, just like Jesus is a light to us. We do this by having peace, joy, thanksgiving and most importantly, the spirit of giving. Caden chose an Angel from the Angel tree this year. It was a little boy, age 7. By coincidence, he wanted the same thing that Caden wanted this Christmas - HOT WHEELS. It was so difficult for Caden to buy that gift and then to have to give it someone else. I must have had to explain it to him a million times that the little boy did not have any toys. So, it was good for him to give to the little boy. And, in return, he can be blessed with more. In the end, he reluctantly succumbed to giving up the toy. Or as he put it, "Santa will give him a bigger hot wheels toy." Oh well, it's a start.

Maybe he isn't far from the truth, though. Sometimes when we do give up what we hold on to the most, God offers up something better. I guess the lessons goes both ways. I love my son and his BIG BIG heart!

Christmas Photos

2011-12-19T22:11:00.000-06:00

I absolutely loved the pics this year. Thanks to Katie and Matt at http://www.katieandmattphotography.com.

My favorite

Mail

2011-12-19T15:34:00.003-06:00

Opening up the mailbox during this time of year is so much fun! I enjoy looking at everyone's photos and Christmas cards. With the advent of technology, letters have become a lost art! Yay for this time of year. Here's our card for this year...Merry Christmas!

I wish I could send one to everyone. Our friends Katie and Matt did such a great job on our cards. They captured the cutest moment with the kids covering their eyes :). Love it!!

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Early Christmas Present

2011-12-14T15:02:00.001-06:00

From my wonderful hubby - a brand new camera :). I went from a Canon rebel xt to an EOS 60D. It even does video! Now, I am soaking up all things photography and I am enjoying every minute of it.

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It's beginning to look like Christmas!

2011-12-12T22:18:00.000-06:00

This time of year brings out the little kid in me. Call me crazy...but I find it relaxing to put on Christmas music, open up each Christmas box and start decorating! It's even more fun when the kids help. Sometimes, I can even talk hubby into putting up an ornament or two.

Our front foyer

Putting the final touches

Our tree: Caden chose blue :). LOVE it!

In the family room, I decide on white :)

Texas weather

2011-12-11T10:39:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love the mild winters here in Texas. It gives the kids an opportunity to play outside even longer. When we moved into our neighborhood, I prayed that we would have good neighbors. And, I know that the Bible states, "Ask, and you shall receive." But, every time it happens, I am still amazed. We have the BEST neighbors, not one but pretty much all of them. We have really become a small community.

I love this pic of Caden. He's getting so big!

My hubby: Such a hottie :)

Yes, the theme for the day was COWBOYS :)

Caden and his bestie from across the street

Our other neighbor, Natalie - such a sweet little girl

Who wore it better?

2011-12-06T21:35:00.000-06:00

These two cutie-pa-toties are soooo adorable, even more so when they are twinkles :)

LOVE it!

Imagination

2011-12-05T14:29:00.000-06:00

First off, looking back in our blog, I realize that I need to take more videos of the kids. They are so cute and they say the cutest things!

Second, here's a little update on my little girl. Kenzie's personality has really blossomed this year. Her vocabulary has exploded and she speaks with such clarity! One thing that she started doing this year, as well, is singing. She LOVES to sing. Some of the words may not make sense but she sings a tune everywhere we go. She also started to learn how to play on her own and use her imagination. Caden never really had a problem with that. But, I think because Kenzie has always been with Caden, she never really had the need to play on her own. She always had her brother. She enjoyed what he enjoyed, which is playing with cars. After Disney though, she really took a liking to princesses. So, here she is, utilizing her imagination, playing, and singing on her own!

Say Cheese!

2011-12-04T16:53:00.000-06:00

The place where we went to for Thanksgiving was a Rock Barn. It was a beautiful place with lots of character. Towards the end of the day, all the kids went outside to play. It was a great opportunity to take pics of the kids. We couldn't have asked for better weather outside... it was a nice 76 degrees!

These past few years, I've really enjoyed taking pictures. I find it really enjoyable to learn more and more about it as well. I think it helps as my creative outlet but also, I feel closer to my dad. He passed away about 3 years ago and I still miss him. He was such a creative guy and he loved photography. It's a passion that we both shared and it really helps me to feel connected with him still.

Here's a few takes this past Thanksgiving:

It was fun taking pics of Kaitlyn - she actually would be still :)

So cute!

I was trying to get the backlight here. But I need to learn on getting better exposure.

I took all of this with a 35mm lens. I am in LOVE with this lens. But, as you can see I still have some work to do. I really want to work on 1) SHARP FOCUS. That's all I am going to focus on right now...haha! There's lots more to learn but I figure I have time. The kids are FAST and FOCUS is really hard to get. Although, the more pictures I take, the better they get at smiling in front of the camera!

Thanksgiving

2011-12-03T15:13:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is such a great time to reflect on the many blessings in our life. We always go to Casey's family on Thanksgiving day. They have their reunion/Thanksgiving! It is a 2 hour drive to West Texas and we come back that same day. It was so much fun this year because there were lots of fun things for the kids to do. And, as always, there's great food and camaraderie.

Kenzie with her aunt Kaitlyn

Caden, Paw-paw, and Aunt Kaitlyn

At home, we celebrated with my mom and sis. We also invited a few friends over for the festivities. Casey fried two turkeys this year. Each one got better and better - so proud of him!

Yum!

My sis and her hubby Nathan - she made the best cornbread and dressing!

Our dearest friends who just got engaged!

The gang!

Guess who carved the turkey? My super talented sis!

Disney World Part 5

2011-12-01T15:10:00.000-06:00

Last stop...Magic Kingdom. This park was the BEST park for toddlers. There were so many things to see. We ended up going there two days in order to see everything. I tried to plan out our itinerary, thinking that would be best with the two kids. But, there are so many things to see in every turn that we didn't really follow a particular plan. We just knew which area we were going to go and we went with whatever had the shortest line. And, to throw more of a kink in planning, there's characters galore at Magic Kingdom. With toddlers, getting the characters autographs was the best part. It sounds boring, but the smile and amazement on our kids faces was priceless. So, expect those delays :) Luckily, we didn't stand in line longer than 10 minutes - even with Mickey, Minnie, and the Princesses!

We rode all the fun rides like Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Dumbo, Pirates of the Carribbean (a little scary), Snow White (Caden didn't want to watch this one because of the witch, so I didn't force him), and the Haunted Mansion. The lines for Space Mountain was nonexistent so Casey and I had the chance to ride it - no fast pass or spouse pass needed! We watched the show at the castle (definite must) and also the parade at the castle!

Kenzie's favorite!

To end the vacation, we spent our last night dining at Chef Mickey's with all the characters. It was a great way to end the vacation! Family time is so important to us. It wasn't just what we saw but the time we spent together. Experiences like these really bond us and help our family grow closer - which is our ultimate priority. This trip was so special to us and even more so, because we got to go with some of our BESTEST friends, the Ledbetters!

Disney World Part 4

2011-11-27T23:03:00.000-06:00

Epcot was one place we were looking forward to because it was the Food and Wine Festival. Casey and I both love to try different foods from different cultures. Here at Epcot, every type of food you could imagine was right there at walking distance. We decided to go on a Thursday instead of the weekend because it was less crowded. Again, this worked out so well...less crowd, shorter lines. The app that we downloaded was really accurate (WDW waits).

Great times with great friends :)

The day we went to Epcot, we divided the day in half. This meant we went there early that morning and left just right in time for lunch. We headed back to the hotel to rest and then went back that evening for a late evening - that way we were able to watch the fireworks.

At Epcot, there were a lot of futuristic rides that were awesome for the adults but the kids were a bit too young for most of them. The fast pass and/or the spouse pass worked out really great for us here. Some of the rides were 30 minute waits, which I understand isn't that long for Disney. But, we got spoiled by the 10 minute or less waiting times on the other days. It wasn't bad to wait with the kids, they were entertained by everything around them. We rode Soarin' and Test Track -Caden rode these and he loved it! Karen and I stayed with the kids first. Then, with the spouse pass, we were able to go right after the guys (great job, Disney). We also rode Mission to Mars - I got a little bit of motion sickness from the G-force on this ride though (yes, it was that real!). You do get a choice of whether to go the full effect or the milder version. If motion sickness is a word that is synonymous with you, take the milder version! Caden didn't ride that one nor did it even appeal to him.

The main ride for the kids was the Nemo ride. This was entertaining and there was a ZERO wait time, so we rode it twice! The kids enjoyed it and there was even an aquarium inside that you could walk around in.

That evening, we bought the kids some glow sticks from Wal-mart (saved us $$$, instead of buying it at the park). It kept them busy while we pushed them around from country to country.

Lainey got her face painted :)

The adults ate, drank, and got merry, while the kids kept themselves busy with the glowsticks. We stayed there until the Park closed and we ended the night with the fireworks show over the lake!

Disney World Part 3

2011-11-26T15:11:00.000-06:00

The tree of life. It was in the center of Animal Kingdom. The details on the tree was so intricate.

Animal Kingdom was fun! We were able to do it from 9A-2P. We scheduled a late character dinner that night at Chef Mickey's, which worked out great!

***A little side note on character dining: The character dinners are scheduled WAY ahead of time. You can do it online at Disney.com. We only did two of them so we weren't tied to a schedule. I didn't want to stress ourselves out trying to be at a certain place at a certain time. Two character dinners worked out great for us. We did try to go to a character dinner in Norway at Epcot but they were full. We had a party of 8 so that made it more difficult. They did say that if our party was smaller, they may have been able to squeeze us in. In the end, reservations worked out well for us. We didn't do the dining plan since we stayed outside the resort. Like I said before, we just brought in snacks and drinks to last us all day. They let us bring it in :) We usually just ate outside the park for lunch and dinner, which saved us a ton of $$$.***

At Animal Kingdoms, we watched a couple of shows: Finding Nemo and the Lion King. Both of which were amazing. The kids got a little bit antsy but they got through it. We also did a 3D show, A Bug's Life. They really liked this one although if your toddlers don't like a lot of noise, this would not be a good one to take them to.

Two of our favorite rides out of all 3 parks was found here: Everest and Jungle Safari! I love roller coaster rides and so does my husband. This was our favorite ride! So much fun!!!

The Jungle Safari was fun too. They did a great job in making you feel like you were really on an African Safari. The animals roamed around freely and not caged up.

But, if you ask our kids the best part...it would be meeting Pocahontas! Kenzie sleeps with her stuffed Pocahontas every night! She was enchanted by meeting her :)

Gratitude

2011-11-26T07:31:00.000-06:00

Source: iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to take the time to write down things I am thankful for (in no particular order).
1) My Savior who loves me no matter what
2) My loving husband and the fact that butterflies still flutter in my stomach when I think of him
3) Caden, my sweet, kind- hearted son
4) Kenzie, my adorable, charming daughter
5) My family
6) My friends
7) Cooper, our loyal dog
8) My job, it allows me to do what I'm passionate about (health) and the flexibility to work part-time
9) My health
10) My husband's job (the benefits are unreal and gives us so much flexibility!)
11) Our home
12) Our awesome neighbors!
13) Great childcare
14) The ability to travel
15) Our church family and small group

Disney World Part 2

2011-11-22T10:06:00.000-06:00

***Warning: A plethora of pictures are about to follow :)*****

The next day, we started out with a character breakfast. This is a great way to get autographs (If you have toddlers, you have get an autograph book ($7.99)). With the character meals, there is no need to stand in lines and the characters come to each table - no stress! Plus, they take their time, making sure that each child gets an autograph and a picture taken. At first, the kids were a bit timid about meeting the characters but at the end of the trip, they were pros! The key is to not push them. Let them go at their own pace and eventually, they will come around.

June was the favorite. They both love Little Einsteins!

Hollywood Studios offered a lot of fun things for toddlers. Caden loves Cars 2 so we got to see Lightning McQueen and Mater.

They had a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground. I took the kids here while Casey rode the Star Wars ride.

At Hollywood Studios, we also saw Voyage of the Little Mermaid and rode the Toy Story ride. We, did, miss the Cars stunt show, Muppets (we didn't think Kenzie could wear the 3D glasses) and the Beauty and the Beast show. They started a bit too late for us. Like I said earlier, when the kids started to get tired, we headed home to avoid meltdowns. If you have toddlers, though, those are great activities to do with them. At 3p, there is a Pixar Pals Parade as well, but we were OK in missing it if we could avoid the breakdowns. Next time, as well, Casey and I are going to ride the Tower of Terror - looked fun!

Disney World 2011 - PART 1

2011-11-21T23:45:00.002-06:00

This year, we made a leap of faith and decided to take the kids to Disney World. I have been dying to go ever since they were born. But, every year my hubby says that they are too young. Luckily, this year, our good friends, the Ledbetters, decided to go. This really help nudge my hubby in the direction of going. So, we checked out the prices (plus we needed to use our timeshare anyway) and we decided to go.

Most people would say that it would be a waste of $$ because they will be too young to remember. I beg to differ. The toddler age is an age of wonderment, dreams, and fairy tales. And, Disney offered all that and more. Besides, my husband has never been. I knew he would have a BLAST. He's the biggest kid I know (which is why I love him so much:)

We planned to go in the summer and I read all things Disney. I also consulted with some friends who just visited with 2 toddlers the same age as mine and also family who is a Disney connoiseur. By the time we packed up and left, I felt somewhat ready :).

The plan was to stay there for 7 days - Sun-Sun. We had to cut it one day short because of the flights. Being standby, we have to be flexible. But, our flights are free so it's worth it. We decided to split up the days in this way:
Sun night - Hollywood Studios
Monday - Hollywood Studios
Tuesday - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday - Magic Kingdom
Thursday - Epcot
Friday - Animal Kingdom

This worked out so well! We got an app that told us which parks were busy at what day and we followed it. We didn't wait in line longer than 10 min. Amazing, I know. We didn't really know how good we had it. We never felt rushed. The kids were great. We made sure they were well fed with snacks and we even went back to the hotel for naps! Casey and I both decided before getting there that we would not push ourselves or the kids. And, we stuck to that rule. So, FAMILY naps everyday were essential.

That first night, it was only Caden and I that went to the Park. Hubby and Kenzie stayed back to watch the football game. We enjoy these times when we can spend time with each kid by themselves. Casey and I both feel that it is important. I had a BLAST taking Caden. We only did one thing and to this day, he talks about it! We watched the show Fantasmic. It only comes on certain nights so this was our only opportunity. We got there early enough to sit front and center!

The show was AMAZING!!!! It's a water and light show that will amaze any 4year old! He, especially, liked the dragon. I am so thankful to one of our friends who recommended this. She took her 4 year old son and he loved this one, as well.

Source: disney.families.com via Mary on Pinterest

And, that first night, that was all I put on the agenda. It was perfect!

Pacquio vs Marquez

2011-11-20T22:43:00.004-06:00

Source: google.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Being from the Philippines, I am definitely a fan of Manny Pacquio. In honor of the fight, we hosted a small get together to watch him beat Marquez. It was, by no means, a knockout. In fact, it was a close call. But, in the end, he did win. Go Manny!

It was funny how all the girls and kids congregated downstairs while all the boys went in the media room to watch the fight. So much fun!

Mae, Angelia, and Elijah

Kenzie fascinated with the baby.

Marie and Mahlia

Ivy, Kathy, and Flory keeping an eye on baby Michael

Casey, enjoying his man cave :)

HB and Chris

I have my own little boxer...Isn't he the cutest???

This is his mean face - super cute!

Wedding Weekend

2011-11-15T21:43:00.000-06:00

My best friend from college FINALLY got married.

She asked me to be a bridesmaid and I, of course, agreed. I have 4 bridesmaids dresses in my closet, what's one more to add to my collection? Seriously, I feel blessed every time I get asked. Cheryl is like a sister to me. I have known her for so long and she has been with me through so many of my ups and downs. I love her so much and was so glad to be part of her special day.

All the girls at the rehearsal dinner

Cheryl and all the bridesmaids. I thought the color she picked was so beautiful! Most of them are from college and I was so happy to see them all!

Reminisced with old friends!

I also really enjoyed seeing my hubby in a tie. He was even more handsome than normal ;)!!!

My sis and her hubby was even able to go. Soooo much fun!!!!

If you're wondering where our kids are? Thanks goodness for wonderful grandparents!

Artwork

2011-11-14T23:15:00.000-06:00

Caden and Kenzie have been bringing home lots of artwork from their school. I'm not really a very sentimental person. I love seeing all of their work and am very proud of the work that they do. But, I have a hard time keeping track of it all.

I LOVE Pinterest because it helps me get ideas of how to display their artwork. Here's one I found that I thought was cool:

Source: honeywerehome.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

And here's another way:

Source: vintageglamorous.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

I also thought about just taking pictures of it and making a photograph book of it. Here are a few of my favorite artwork from Caden and Kenzie.

Our family by Caden

Feathers by Caden

Feathers by Kenzie

Caden & Kenzie's spider

Sneezing, coughing, and runny noses...

2011-11-14T22:20:00.001-06:00

With the cold weather, comes in the season for colds and runny noses. We, unfortunately, got it in our house early on. Kenzie got sick first and then, of course, Caden. It is not good when they get sick BUT gosh, they are so darn cute! They lay around and want to snuggle ALL the time.

Got a little smile from my two snuggle bunnies :)

There wasn't much of a Halloween this year, with the two being sick. They did, get well enough to be able to put on their costumes and pass out candy. I was glad that they were thrilled with doing that. They really enjoyed seeing all the different costumes and handing out candy. They didn't even ask for any candy - ha! Of course, I snuck in a couple of peanut M&Ms :)

Kenzie, as my lil princess. She LOVES this outfit and still wears it!

Optimus Prime - his friend, Aidan, was Bumblebee. So, he loved wearing this outfit!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

This year we decided to go to the Dallas Arboretum. I have been wanting to go there for the past year, but for some reason or another, we didn't do it. This year, they were doing a Cinderella theme. Since it went right along with the Disney theme, we decided to go. We met up with Casey's sister, Brittany, and her two kiddos. It was so much fun! They even had face painting and a petting zoo. In fact, we had so much fun, we decided to get an annual membership!

Caden's Disney Cars 2 Party

2011-10-27T22:15:00.000-05:00

Birthday season for me begins with Kenzie's birthday and ends with Caden's birthday (my birthday and Casey's falling somewhere during the year - ha!). This year, Caden decided he wanted to have a Cars birthday party. It was a perfect pick because we had planned a Disney trip right after his birthday party.

I really enjoy planning these extravaganzas. I feel that it allows me to put my creativity to use. Being in the medical field, I really don't have the opportunity to exercise that side of me. Here's fair warning that a LOT of pictures are about to follow!

For decorations, I kept it simple to balloons and printouts I got from Pinterest.

Artwork downloaded via Pinterest

Body tattoos :0 Kids LOVED it!

For food, we served Caden's favorite food - Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A Sweet tea

Cupcakes courtesy of my talented sis! ADORABLE!!!

And, for games, we had a racetrack (and actually had a race between Francisco and Lightning), a piñata, and swimming!

And, of course, lots of fun and camaraderie.

My birthday boy - 4 years old!

Cousin Andrew

Grandma and her two granddaughters

My lovely sis and niece

Love this pic!

Baby Ava

Caden got a rocketship from Tita (my sis) for his birthday

The rocketship was a hit!

It was such a beautiful day, we even got to hang out outside!

Dancing to the beat of her own tune...

2011-10-22T22:31:00.000-05:00

She follows none. She's spunky. With her AC/DC shirt on...

& her pink ruffled tutu - she dances to her own little tune!

Wouldn't change a thing. Love this little girl :)

My dearest Caden

2011-10-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

My dearest Caden,

This past year, I have watched you grow from my little baby to a little man. It's bittersweet because I love the little man that you are becoming. But, I also realize just how fast time flies. I want to hold on to you forever but I know that soon enough, you will be a grown man.

Your social skills really grew this past year. You play really well with others and you are really great at sharing. I think that is really helped that you had a sister. It helped you learn how not to be selfish and share. Although, sharing with your sister was a little trying at times. You guys were together the majority of the time. She absolutely adored you and wanted to do everything you did. You learned to be patient with her, but there were times that she would still bother you :)
Your friendships with Carson, our neighbor, really grew this year. You guys played together a lot - from swimming to jumping on the trampoline to playing basketball. You loved playing with other kids, especially your cousins, Mahlia, Analise and Andrew. Of course, Lainey and Jax were included in that bunch because they are almost like family!
You loved all your activities. You were in basketball and gymnastics. You enjoyed each one equally. What I loved about you most was that you loved what you were doing at the moment. Whenever we asked you what you liked best, you always answered whatever it was you were enrolled in.
Your manners also started to develop this past year. You learned how to say please and thank you. You even knew exactly when I needed to hear, "I love you." And you were even sensitive when you disappointed me. You would always tell me how sorry you were and made sure I was happy again.
My favorite times with you is bedtime. You loved to read books. Our night time routine always included a book, a prayer, and lots of cuddling. You were still affectionate and gave the best kisses.
Your favorite toys was still garbage trucks. But, you had a newfound LOVE for Disney Cars - Lightning McQueen. You knew ALL the characters! Just like your dad, you had a love for technology. Particularly, the APPLE products :) At four, you were already an expert in maneuvering through the different apps. Your favorite game are racing games!!!
I pray that you continue to remain as loving as you are. You have such a kind heart and so sensitive to others feelings. You have an amazing ability to adapt and you try everything once! I pray that angels surround you and guide you all your life so that you can live the BEST life that God has to offer. I love you soooooo much!

Love, Mom and Dad

Hanging out

2011-10-15T07:37:00.001-05:00

The older we get, our enjoyment has leaned more towards a night of eating good food and good conversation. It makes me realize more and more that it is the simpler thing in life that makes me happy :)

KT and Ivy - TOTALLY made for each other!

Mae and HB - such a cute couple! i.e matching outfits :)

Cheers!

Drinking the best sake we've ever had!

Great food at Sushi Ra!

Latest Travel Adventure

2011-10-14T07:56:00.000-05:00

I can't even begin to tell you how fortunate I feel that my hubby works for AA. The benefits are UNREAL. We fly FREE all over the US. It's sick, I know. First class - $20. We are so blessed! We don't take it for granted and we take FULL advantage of these benefits.

Our latest travels took us to a romantic couples getaway :) West Palm Beach. I pray that we always do this. It is sooooo good for our marriage. The drudgery of everyday life makes you forget why you married each other!

The view from our room.

We did a lot of REST and RELAXATION.

A lot of eating.

Yum!

But, we also had a chance to get down and party until the sun came up! (Haha - not really until the sun came up, but close!) We haven't done that in FOREVER. I didn't know our bodies would still let us do that!

Some of our BESTIES, who came with us.

Here we go!

Random, fun people dancing the night away!

And of course, we also were able to go on a FAMILY trip to visit my cousins in New Jersey. Casey wanted to go to NYC to see the memorial. So off, we went. We went by car...

Thank goodness for 3 row seating!

By boat...

Kids were troopers. Thank you Steve Jobs :)

The view!

By land...

Two tired munckins!

Caden, on the other hand, did great! He walked the whole time and LOVED seeing all the public transportation, especially the garbage truck and the NYC fire trucks.

Me and my cousin, Johanna

I love this pic. It shows how much Kenzie adores her brother.

Finally, we made it!

It was such a solemn mood going through there and remembering all the lives lost.

Overall, it was a fun filled day - especially eating the yummy street food! In the end, we threw the kids in the tub and got them cleaned! Whew - what a day.

Super cute pic!

Birthdays and Weddings

2011-10-09T22:07:00.000-05:00

Last month was a time for celebrations - birthdays and weddings. It is always so fun to go to these things. As a mom, I find that it is easier to be out with the kids than to try to entertain them at home. I am hoping it will also help improve their social skills.

First up was Jax's birthday - he turned 2! We drove out to East Texas to celebrate. The weather was great so we took advantage of the great outdoors.

Lainey, Jax, Kenzie, and Caden

Caden enjoying the four wheeler

Kenzie playing in the sandbox

Swimming!

After being outside for most of the day, I found the kids playing in the tub! Too cute!

Next up, was Paw- paw's birthday! We all went out to Roadhouse. The kids always have so much fun with him.

Then, it was Analise's birthday party at Pump It Up. One of the best entertainment for kids and adults! We had as much fun as the kids did.

Big slides!

My hubby getting the grand prize for reaching the top!

LeighAnn (Casey's cousin), Pops, Grammy and my hubby

The birthday girl

She takes her pizza seriously

Fun times!

In between all these birthdays, we managed to fit in a wedding!

The hubby and I on a night out with no kids.

The bride and groom

One of my dearest friends, Mae :)

Overall it was a fun filled month! (which may be the reason why Kenzie is NOT yet potty trained - haha!)

First haircut

2011-10-05T18:05:00.001-05:00

I have been putting off getting Kenzie's haircut! Her hair just grew in so amazingly Perfect!!!! It even had a few layers in the end. But, it was just getting in her eyes way too much so we took her to get her first haircut! She did great - no crying!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Flippidi-do-da

2011-10-02T11:52:00.000-05:00

My husband never fails to amaze me :)

My little fishes :)

Besties

2011-10-02T11:49:00.000-05:00

This past year, Caden and Kenzie's bond has really grown. Don't get me wrong, they do have their moments. But, for the most part, they're inseparable!

LoVe BiRds

2011-09-28T22:15:00.001-05:00

Source: ponderabout.com via Mary on Pinterest

Call me CRAZY or a DREAMER but I pray that this describes my marriage FOREVER!

Some dear friends of ours started a photography business http://www.katieandmattphotography.com/. They are amazing. They asked us to do a photoshoot and we decided to take it with JUST THE TWO of US (sans kiddos). I mean, why not capture just the two of us. In the end, it will be just us. The Bible does say to keep US a priority!

In keeping our marriage a priority we pray that in the end, I pray this will be US jumping on the bed!

Source: vkontakte.ru via Mary on Pinterest

Busybody

2011-09-28T21:37:00.000-05:00

It seems like whenever you ask someone these days how they are doing, they're answer always seems to be "BUSY." I find myself also falling into that busy world of work, home, and kids. But, as hard as it is to keep from being busy, I find myself addicted to the hustle and bustle of filling my appointment book with activities. I pray that I don't become a slave to all these activities and keep what's important at the forefront of my list.

What IS important? Spending quality time with the my husband, my kids, family, and friends is what is always so important to me. And, I know that when I am feeling overwhelmed, that is when I have created too much "BUSYNESS" in my life.

Since Caden is getting older though, we have enrolled him in a couple of activities. It took some adjustment in taking him to different places at a specific time but pretty soon we got accustomed to it. We decided to ONLY enroll him in one activity at a time. I didn't want to overwhelm him or us. And, I really think that as a kid, all you should do is play! You don't really get to do that enough and pretty soon, you grow up and have responsibilities :)

He was in a basketball league - sooooo CUTE!

He had so much fun in basketball, even though it took him awhile to get going. One of his good friends and neighbor, Carson, played with him. He was the youngest in the team and also, the tallest. He grew so fast that his skills needed time to catch up. On the last game though, he scored two points! One of those points, he rebounded and then went to his own goal and made the shot! We were sooooooo PROUD!!!!

After basketball season was over, we decided to enroll him in gymnastics to help facilitate his balancing skills. It is so much fun to watch! Every week he gets better and better :)

Love and Marriage

2011-09-14T07:19:00.001-05:00

In marriage, I am learning that sometimes it's best to keep your mouth shut; Pick your battles; Choose to disagree. I am finding that the more I try to change him, the less willing he is to cooperate.

At times, I have found this to be a difficult task. Primarily, because my husband and I can be VERY different (not that one is better than the other - just different).

The other day, I finally convinced him to come get a pedicure with me - haha! He needed a good heel scrubbing. And, this is what we ended up with. Definitely, a moment I kept my mouth shut!

Break from the heat

2011-09-05T12:23:00.001-05:00

Today, we woke up to a cool 68 degrees here in Dallas.

So, we decided to take advantage of the weather. We stayed in our pajamas and had our morning coffee outside while the kids played :)

Kenzie with her favorite past time: COLORING!

Next: BUBBLES

Caden couldn't be still long enough. But, caught him here with his bubble lawn mower.

He's getting so big!

Overall, it was a fun filled morning! FUNTIMES!

Ready, Set, ACTIONS!

2011-08-31T14:23:00.000-05:00

After dabbling in the world of photoshop, I recently discovered ACTIONS! They are so awesome and can take a pic from ordinary to extraordinary.

I stumbled upon this website http://www.ohsoposhphotography.com/blog/ Lidia is AWESOME! I have learned so much from her. I purchased a set of her actions and am joining this iPad giveaway! I am a proud owner of her Bohemian Symphony Collection! Just go to her website and check it out.

Here's a photo I edited with her collection: (Isn't she the cutest???)

BEFORE

AFTER

Caden

2011-08-26T09:25:00.001-05:00

Caden will be 4 in a month! I can't believe it. He is growing up so fast! Already, I have part planning on the brain! Before I get to that party though, I still have to post pics of Andrew's birthday (Caden and Kenzie's cousin). Plus, we still have 3 more birthday parties and a wedding to go to before his birthday comes! Like, I said, before, "PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!"

Andrew's birthday party centered around a petting farm. It was so cute! The farm was there for only an hour but Caden stayed in there the whole entire time. He LOVED the animals. Both kids had a blast!

Daddy helping his little girl.

Love his face!

The birthday boy, Andrew (3)

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Photo Book

2011-08-24T21:30:00.001-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Party Party Party PART 2

2011-08-15T21:07:00.000-05:00

And now pics from the pool party...

Kenzie and Pawpaw

Pool Basketball

Julia and Kenzie

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Kenzie joining in on the festivities

Julia - pretty lady!

Mae and Angelia

Grandma and Caden

Ledbetter Family

Party Party Party!

2011-08-14T22:06:00.000-05:00

Summer is one big celebration after the other. Prior to marrying Casey, I was the only one in my family to have a summer birthday. Little did I know that as soon as I would get married, that would no longer be the case. The birthday festivities begin in May and doesn't stop until October. Then there's Thanksgiving, my mom's birthday (December) and then Christmas. It's a year long celebration! Having kids though makes the festivities even more fun. In July, we celebrated Casey's birthday. It started Friday night with a birthday dinner at Kobe Steakhouse, where he has been going to since he was 7 and he is now 33!

The cousins - Kenzie (2), Andrew (3), Analise (5), Caden (3)

Brittany (Casey's sister and her kiddos)

Grammy and Caden

And then Saturday - we had a pool party, of course! Will have to post pics tomorrow...sooo tired :)

Say cheese!

2011-08-13T23:11:00.000-05:00

As Caden has grown up, it's gotten harder and harder for me to take pictures of him. He hardly ever sit still UNLESS...

he has an iPad in front of him!

He can sit still :)

Or moments when he gets to drink his favorite yogurt smoothie! He'll stop for a quick pic!

Say cheese!

Blogging

2011-08-13T14:35:00.001-05:00

I admire those people that are able to blog often. With the advent of Facebook and Twitter, there's just too much to keep up with. Besides, people live in such a fast paced world that it's easier to just "tweet" about what you're doing or give a "status update" of what's going on.

I always try to make it a goal to blog more often but when I sit down to start writing, I get distracted by reading other blogs or editing pictures (which has been one of my most relaxing outlet lately!) The other day, I was looking at a blog and they had written over 30 blogs in 1 month! I look at mine and it has only been like 37 per year. I am making a goal to start blogging more often for the simple fact that I do enjoy looking back at the kids and their milestones and how they've grown. Time goes by so fast, especially with two kids to keep up with. There's always something going on in our lives. So, hopefully I will be able to blog more often. There's just too many moments in life NOT to capture.

Speaking of capture, I have been obsessed with photos lately! I have been tinkering around with pictures for the past 15 years! My dad really inspired me to like it at a young age but there was just so much to learn. Lately, too, it's been easier to snap pictures with my smaller camera rather than taking the big one. (It's so bulky) But I realize how much I enjoy taking the kids pics and editing them with the big camera plus it helps me to learn all about focus, aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. So, I will also start utilizing the big camera more NO MATTER how bulky it is! Here's a pic I recently edited with Photoshop.

Here's the SOOC (straight out of camera) shot

And here it is after the magic of Photoshop :)

Sea World

2011-08-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; Remember that what you have now was once among the things you only hoped for." (not sure who this quote was from)

It really hit home when we went to Sea World, off all places. We went during a HOT July weekend. I was not looking forward to it. My idea of a vacation is REST and RELAXATION! I do not like to be busy the whole time - you know, the type of vacation that you'll need a vacation after the vacation, so you can recuperate. Well, this was definitely going to be one of those vacations and I was not looking forward to it.

BUT to my surprise, I had a BLAST! Why the change of heart, you ask? Well, just like the quote above states ("Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not...") I made a conscious effort to ENJOY the moment.

Because, according to my children, it was one of the best places on earth.

We went in July and Caden STILL can't stop talking about Shamu!

At one point, Elmo came and touched Kenzie's hand and she remained mesmerized for literally 5 minutes, with her mouth open!

The moments when they were mesmerized were so priceless! To them, who really cares about beaches and swimming pools - Shamu and Elmo were never at those places! To top it off, we went with our neighbors, who is Caden's BFF, Carson! So much fun! So MUCH fun that we decided that our next family trip will be DISNEY WORLD! It spells BUSY BUSY BUSY but I can't wait to capture those moments when they are absolutely mesmerized and thrilled and enchanted by all the things around them! Absolutely priceless!

Planking

2011-08-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

Planking or the lying down game is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the internet is an integral part of the game.^[1] Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play.^[1] The term planking refers to mimicking a wooden plank.

My husband caught the bug and decided to join the planking craze...

Spontaneity

2011-07-29T08:19:00.001-05:00

Every morning, I wake up and plan my day. I am a planner. As a woman, I like to be in control. BUT, I have learned through the years, that the more I try to control, the more God intervenes and SHAKES things up :) (I think that is why God put me together with my super spontaneous hubby - to shake things up in my life)

So, I am learning to plan BUT still be flexible.

Our latest plan was to go to the warm beaches of West Palm Beach - a weekend getaway with the hubby. Unfortunately, everyone else decided that's where they were going to. Because we fly standby, we ONLY go if there is AVAILABILITY. So, if everyone is going to a certain place, there is ABSOLUTELY no way we are getting on. This is where planning WITH flexibility comes in.

We planned to go. But we also planned for flexibility. We packed two sets of clothes (one for warmth and the other for cooler weather). So, while everyone else was headed south to warmer weather, we headed north to cooler weather - VANCOUVER!

We got on the plane, no agenda, and no hotel. As we went through customs, we booked the hotel on our iPhones! We were so blessed that we were able to go to the hotel and the lady upgraded us to a corner room, with view of the harbor....

and the city - it was ABSOLUTELY breathtaking!

To top it off, we went on Canada Day! With the hotel we picked being right on the harbor, all the festivities was going on right below us. And, that night we laid in our room and watched the fireworks right outside out window! It was an awesome weekend filled with great dinner dates and we even got to experience a Thai massage! One of the best weekends we've ever had.Couldn't have been more perfect, had we planned it ;) - what a God thing.

Summer Fun

2011-07-24T00:18:00.001-05:00

Having

a pool

makes life

more bearable

in this 3 digit

Texas heat!

Kenzie's 2nd party

2011-07-14T22:03:00.000-05:00

I LOVE parties! I love the planning, the festivities, the people, and the camaraderie! It is all good to me. So, with two kids. I get to have the fun of planning fun parties. Kenzie is very much into Dora. Nothing mesmerizes her more than Dora the Explorer. We decided to throw her a Dora party! I thought that it would be good to start early...that way it would end early. Instead, it ended up being an all day affair, with the last person leaving at midnight!

Birthday Letter, Kenzie @ 2 years

2011-07-11T22:46:00.000-05:00

My dearest Kenzie,

I cannot believe that you are already two. This year was a whirlwind. It was definitely hard to keep up with both you and your brother this year. You were such a precocious child. You followed your brother everywhere and imitated everything he did.

You walked right when you turned one. You loved to explore. Everywhere that Caden went, you were always right there. Although, at times, you were a little more adventurous than your brother. And, in these times, he would follow you!

It was your speaking skills that really amazed us. You were definitely a talker. Your vocabulary exploded throughout the year. It was so cute hearing you and your brother interact with each other. You loved to come up to strangers and say hi to them. You loved playing with other kids, especially Caden and Mahlia. You were always so confident with your brother by your side. With the advent of facetime, you could spend a lot of time talking on the phone already. You and Mahlia were always talking on the phone! It was too cute! You were definitely NOT a shy little girl. In fact, your personality always sparkled.

Having a little girl was definitely a treat for me. I loved being able to dress you up in all the cute little outfits. You made no secret of enjoying dressing up either. You loved to parade around in your tutu and your bows. You always had to go up to both your brother and your dad to show them just how pretty you were in ALL your outfits.

We also noticed how feisty you were. When you wanted something, you had to have it. You wouldn't take "No" as easily as your brother did. You even made him cry a couple of times because you fought back. You two always made up in the end and that's what mattered most. Caden definitely was your bestest friend!

I've enjoyed this past year with you so so much. My most fondest memories of you are when we are just face to face. You love to interact with me in that way, whether it be just talking or singing or kissing and cuddling. You had the sweetest smile. As Paw-paw always said, "Your smile is captivating." Hopefully, as you grow up, you never lose that sweet smile. I love you so much, Kenzie Ellyse. Happy happy birthday!!!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Our latest and greatest adventure...

2011-06-03T07:50:00.011-05:00

We have been to many places, but this last trip to Riviera Maya lies at the TOP of my list. I know that is a big honor but here are the reasons why...

1) KID-FRIENDLY:

* There are 3 resorts close together, each one had their own waterpark. Each one was absolutely beautiful!

* The shows at night were great for the kids, especially one called Fantasia. It was a tribute to Disney.

* Bowling, chess, basketball

2) BEACH: Absolutely gorgeous! White sands and the water was warm and calm.

3) FOOD: In an all inclusive resort, this is important. Most places, don't have everything you are looking for. For us, the essentials are guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, chips at every meal. You are, in fact in MEXICO :) And, no, not every resort has this. Plus, the buffet had an area specially for kids. It was at their eye level. Eating was easy breezy, especially in the morning. There was a caravan of young teens that made them balloons!

4) PREMIUM SERVICE: Excellent! Barcelo offers this upgrade and it is a must! You don't have to wait in any lines to get a room. This is VERY important when you have kids. Because as soon as you get there, sometimes you have to wait for hours before getting a room. You also get a late checkout. This way, you make the most of your stay!

5) LIQUOR: Premium liquor. I like a good whiskey (preferrable Jack Daniels) and diet coke. Believe it or not, this is very difficult to find in most all inclusive resorts. They had it there. You can't really drink much when you have kids but when you do get one or two, you want it to be good.

6) LOCATION: What I mean by this is how close it is to home. It is only 3 hours away and you can fly in either to Cancun or Cozumel. Either way, you can be flexible. All in all, it was an amazing trip!

We went with one of our favorite people, the Ledbetters!

At this point, our kids are seasoned travellers. And even then, it still gets a little crazy at times...FLEXIBILITY is key :)

Photoshop

2011-06-02T23:23:00.004-05:00

There are so many things I am learning from this software and it is so much fun to engross myself in something creativity. Here is my latest edit to Kenzie's picture...I added some vignette.

Original

2nd Edit
3rd Edit with Vignette and a little more sharpening.

Photo Book

2011-06-02T17:13:00.001-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Who's so pretty?

2011-05-31T22:13:00.005-05:00

Every time I ask Kenzie that question, she enthusiastically exclaims, "MEEEEEE!" I never really taught her to do that, she just said it on her own when I asked her one day. I absolutely LOVE it. I want her to grow up knowing how beautiful she is and to be secure in herself.

I am turning 35 tomorrow. I had to take a moment and write down all the thing I was thankful for because I was getting a little down about getting older. But, after writing down the ABUNDANT blessings that is in my life, I felt a little ashamed that I was sad. I guess I was focusing too much on the wrinkles that is starting to creep in my face. The fact that the beauty of youth is starting to fade. I wish I could be just as confident and enthusiastic as my daughter when she proudly exclaims, "MEEEEE!" But, now I realize that there is a different kind of beauty that comes when you get older. One that comes from within and can't be tarnished with wrinkles and age spots.

I pray that Kenzie learns that as well. That physical beauty is fleeting and that there is a beauty within that even time can't take away.

In the meantime, thank goodness for photoshop...LOL! I received CS5 from my hubby for Christmas and I haven't really had the chance to learn it. He also bought me a tutorial that i have only able to go through every once in awhile when the kids are asleep. So far, here is my first edit.

And quite fitting my first one is of my beautiful little princess....

BEFORE

AFTER

Transitions

2011-05-25T22:18:00.005-05:00

My kids are 20 months apart. There are tough moments but sometimes it works out real well too. This really was a blessing when it came to transitions on furnishings. We were able to use the same crib set for both of them. We transitioned Caden to a big boy bed at 18 months! I was very nervous about it but he did so well. And, moved Kenzie to the crib right away.

At 20 months, I was still hesitant to transition Kenzie to a big girl bed. She seemed so content in her crib. But Casey urged me to go ahead and pick her out a big girl room. We opted to skip the twin and go right for the queen. We did the same thing to Caden and it made more sense. That way, we can utilize their room as an extra guest room and they can have a place for their friends for sleepovers. I was even more nervous with Kenzie than Caden transitioning, maybe because she's the baby. And, I want to hold on to her being a baby just a bit longer. Much to my hesitation, I enjoyed picking her out her bedroom set quite a bit. I opted for shabby chic - a little girl's dream room (At least, I'm crossing my fingers and hoping she likes it as much as I do)

BEFORE

AFTER

I got the bedding from Pottery Barn with her name engraved on the shams! Aren't those soooo adorable?

Caden loved her bed just as well!

This armoire was perfect for her room.

We added a fan to keep her cool.

Teachable Moments

2011-05-21T22:13:00.010-05:00

I love it when there are teachable moments in our lives.

Our house backs up to a pond and there are MANY creatures that find their way to our home. Today, we found a turtle! We were able to show Caden that the turtle lived in his shell. He even got brave enough to touch it. We were even able to show him how to show compassion by returning the turtle back to the pond.

Compassion- it is a character trait that I pray my kids attain, because I am still working on this trait in my old age.

Last night, Caden showed a glimpse of it. As I was reading his bedtime story to him, he heard me cough. I'm battling a little cold, and feeling under the weather. He turns to me, and says, "Mommy, you don't feel good?" "No, I'm sick." He says to me,"I'll make you feel better." And he gently kisses my cheek.

Maybe I am learning compassion. I mean kids DO learn by example.

Mother's Day

2011-05-16T22:17:00.004-05:00

A million times a day, I hear the word "mommy." Of course, it comes in different variations - sometimes it's a joyous "mommy." Other times, when they want to show me something, it's an excited "mommy." I even get sad "mommy" when there's a booboo to be kissed. All in all, I am thankful that I get to be called MOMMY - no matter what way it comes.

Since becoming a mom, every mother's day has held a VERY special meaning to me. I am even more grateful for my own mom, who has become my bestfriend and my best cheerleader. I love her so much and only hope that I can be just as good of a mom as she was to me.
For lunch, we met up with Casey's mom - who has been a wonderful mother-in-law. Here are the kids with their cousin, Analise.

And for dinner, we all met up with my mom! Here are the kids loving on each other :)

And to top it off, my hubby got me the best present EVER. Another new appliance to add to my collection. Still haven't gotten it in the mail but will post pics soon!!!!!

Easter

2011-04-28T23:01:00.006-05:00

Traditionally, we take the kids to Blue Grove, TX for Easter. This is where Casey's grandmother lives. She has plenty of land for the kids to run around in and it is so much fun.

This year the kids were so easy breezy! I loved being able to just let them go and run around in all that land. I didn't have to worry about cars passing by or any strangers snatching them up. Just a carefree day to run around and play!

I took pictures all day. At the end of the day, I looked at my camera and realized that the pics were mostly of my daughter! Gigi had bought her this cute little tutu and pink feather bows for her hair. She was sooooooo ADORABLE, I couldn't help it.

Caden_Growth Chart

2011-03-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

Variety is the spice of life

2011-03-20T13:01:00.006-05:00

We really try to make an effort in adding spice into our life and always changing things up.

A few weeks ago, we spent a Friday night with front row seats to Elmo's Superheroes. It was me, my little man, my sister, and my adorable niece, Mahlia. We had such a blast! It was the 2nd time we took Caden to watch a show. The first time was Disney on ice. He was 20 months and he couldn't sit still! This time though was a different story, he was absolutely enthralled with Elmo and all his friends.

The next day, Casey and I took the first flight out to LAX to celebrate one of my bestest friend's birthday party! I've known her since college and some of our friends from college were there as well. We went out to dinner at Katsuya and met up with them to dance the night away...proving to ourselves that we can rock it out with Elmo one night and still have enough spunk to make it past midnight the following night.

Balancing Act

2011-03-15T08:42:00.003-05:00

As a working mom, I struggle with balancing everything in my life and keeping it organized. I often get caught up reading other mom's blogs to see how others cope with this balancing act. Gwyneth Paltrow did a segment on this and found it quite interesting. I thought it might be fun to take a minute and blog about our schedule.

Of course, things do not always go by this schedule but we try to follow it. When things seem to be going awry, I go back to the biggest thing my dad ever taught me...first look at yourself. Usually, I find he is right. (I love you and miss you dad)

When I do realize that my priorities are not in order, I refresh my memory and revisit my priorities.

1) God - where am I spiritually? I find that when this is not right, nothing is right.

2) Health - am I taking care of myself?

3) Marriage - am I putting in enough effort in my marriage?

4) Kids - am I spending QUALITY time with them?

5) Family/Friends - have I invested in my relationship with others?

5) Work - am I putting in my FOCUS when I am there?

Knowing the above, I try to schedule my days that I fit all the above in. Everything else, takes a back seat (i.e. cleaning...eek!). My typical day varies. I am fortunate enough to be able to work part time (MWTh) and I STILL feel very disorganized, pulled into many different directions and not able to give 100% at any one thing! Hopefully writing this down will help me to get everything in order.

Typical Workday!

6:00A My most critical part of the day! I wake up early so I have time to myself. Here, I look at my to do for the day. Usually the list is a continuation of the prior day because I didn't get all of it done. I do my quiet time (usually I try to focus on certain parts of my life...marriage, spiritual growth, memory scripture, etc.) Figure out what's for dinner.

7:00A Workout (This is a must!) For some people, it is tedious to get to the gym. But for me, it is my stress relief.

8:00A Get the kids ready; breakfast. My husband usually helps with this. He works out as well so there are days when I wake at 5:00A and go an hour earlier so he can go. Make the bed! I used to not be so big on this but for some reason, it has helped me to feel organized!

9:00A Off to work and the sitter

9:30A Work

12P Lunch with the hubby

1:30P Errands or sometimes, we're lucky enough to get a little siesta in. We love this time!

3:00P-6:00P Work

7:00P Dinner is ready. I rely heavily on crockpots or leftovers on workdays. I make it a point to a have a home cooked meal 5X/week. I love being able to sit with my kids, even if it is a little chaotic.

7:30P-8:30P family time, baths, story time, prayer

9:00P - Kids are in bed.

9-12P Hubby and I usually spend time together watching our shows or go out on dates or we spend time apart doing our own thing(video games and blogging). I need to sleep earlier though!

On, days when I don't work, we are not so scheduled. We do a lot of family activities, crafts, coloring, puzzles. I tend to do a lot more housework during these times. I try to focus on doing a load of laundry a day, during my off days. I find that this keeps everything from getting backed up. Having 2 kids, 20 months apart all day can be quite tiring. I find myself more tired on these days than other days. I tend to feel guilty because when naptime comes (1:00P), I want to nap myself. We finally decided to have our house cleaned every two weeks and it is the best thing EVER! Casey works at AA at different times, and tries to fit it in our schedule. But, we try to save our weekends so we can both be off. We spend a lot of our times with family and friends during the weekends.

Things I would like to work on:

1) I feel that I am not developing their little minds enough. We do a lot of freeplay and puzzles. But, in the upcoming year, I really want to focus on teaching them things. So, I am learning about child development.

2) I love photography and would like to devote some time in that. I just installed photoshop and taking some online classes. And trying to squeeze in some time on that can be quite tough at times.

3) Scripture memory

4) Organizing our paperwork

5) Grow and expand our office!

6) Save more, spend less!

There you have it...our schedule :)

Kenzie learning her animals...

2011-03-09T21:10:00.000-06:00

Snow Days

2011-02-18T14:42:00.011-06:00

We ended up getting hit with some winter storm weather here in Texas. They always say that here in Texas, "if you don't like the weather, just stay a bit longer, and it will change." For about a 2 week course, the weather went from sunny and in the 70's to dreary and brutally cold. I am talking windchill factor that I have never ever experienced before. But, of course, we managed to find some fun things to do during that time.

We had two rounds of the winter storm. The first week, we went out to play (or at least Casey and Caden did. Us, girls, decided to enjoy the snow in our PJs inside).

We had a little break from the winter storm and that weekend, we headed further south to Austin to visit Casey's mom and stepdad aka Grammy and Pops.

Caden and Kenzie slept in an inflatable bed. It was the first time they ever slept together. It was a very LONG night!

Riding the train with Grammy

My little cutie enjoying the outdoors in style!

When the weather lady said that ANOTHER winter storm was coming, we decided to head further south. We recruited some friends to come with us, packed our bags, and headed to Cabo San Lucas. (Thanks to my mom - it became a little adults only getaway! I am so thankful for her!) And, when we returned the weather was back to normal. Sunny and in the 70s. Gotta love Texas weather! Now I'm ready for the warm weather and swim season to come again.

Out with the old...

2011-02-13T17:05:00.004-06:00

You know that you are getting old, when words like "hand scraped wood" brings a huge grin to your face.

It was a long arduous process but so worth the wait.

Goodbye DUSTY OLD CARPET.
Hello wood floors!

Squeezing in some adult time

2011-01-21T21:22:00.010-06:00

With two toddlers running around, it's always a challenge to get some adult time. Thank goodness that Casey and I both try to adhere to making "adult time" a priority. It truly takes a lot of effort because at the end of everyday, all I want to do is chillax! During the holidays, we manage to...

Squeeze in a football game

(Can you say pass the pepto? But so worth it!)

Hang out with some friends...

We met a cowboys football player! - Demarcus Ware

We even managed to squeeze in one last trip to Vegas! We don't gamble BUT we love food. And Vegas has an abundance of it. So, we spent the day eating, sleeping, and shopping - a perfect little getaway.

So how do you ask do we manage all this with two kids?

1) We make our time together a priority. We understand that this relationship MUST be the strongest in order for the family to work. (Besides that's what God said in the bible, I'm just sayin')

2) This mindset helps, at least for me, to separate myself from the kids for a little while. Yes, it was very difficult at first. Guilt was there...I mean, a good mother shouldn't be having so much fun without her kids! Plus the crying when you leave is so heart breaking! Over time, though, you see that it really builds your marriage to make time for each other - wow, God was right ;). And, your kids see that and gain security from that.

3) We have an amazing family that lives close and can help - especially my mom and Casey's dad. It helps so much that our kids are so in love with their grandparents! As a mom, I love seeing that relationship. My mom is one of my dearest friends and I love that my children adore her.

4) Last but not the least, we have learned to POWER THROUGH IT! (that has become our motto). We usually go out when the kids are asleep so we are able to spend that sweet time with them before they go to bed (story time, prayer, and lots of goodnight kisses). There is that crucial moment right after they go down that your body physically does not want to do anything anymore - BUT we POWER THROUGH IT and just go! In the end, we end up having such a great time.

And that's how we do it. WE POWER THROUGH IT. It takes work. And, in the end, that's what will make it so worth it.

Last of the Christmas pics....

2011-01-14T08:24:00.015-06:00

So, I'm a little late on posting these BUT better late than never.

This year was so much fun because, at the last minute, we decided to host Christmas. My cousins came down from Houston and Casey's family came over Christmas day! Overall it was a great time with the family.

I've never really been big on traditions since growing up my parents were pretty laid back when it came to Christmas. With the exception of Christmas Eve, which was always big - we were Catholic and so "Midnight Mass" was always a big thing. Then after we got home from that, we would always open presents. That went out the door once we found a more intimate relationship with Christ Jesus ;). Although, to me, Christmas Eve has always remained special. Now that I have a family of my own, or maybe I'm just getting older, I've started to find comfort in setting traditions. Here are a few traditions, I started with my own family:

1) We get to open a present on Christmas Eve (matching PJ's)

2) Birthday Cake for Jesus

3) Read the Christmas Story

Last year, I wanted to start a Gingerbread house making tradition on Christmas Eve but, with my no baking skills, it didn't happen. This year, I got smart and recruited my sister. And

Voila!

The kids did so great!

Thanks to my mom and my cousins, we also had the best Christmas Eve meal, filled with lots of yummy Filipino food! I think I will have to add that to the list of traditions - Filipino food on Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning - we opened presents and had the best Christmas lunch EVER! (Thanks to my hubby who made his very first....

FRIED turkey...so delicious!)

No thanks to my burnt bacon...oops! Made for an interesting Christmas morning, with the fire alarm going off.

Casey's step dad carving the turkey.

My cousins, Alyssa & Dan

Kenzie using her first vacuum! (of course, vacuuming isn't going to crimp her style)

All in all...it was an absolutely great Christmas filled with the spirit of love and giving. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Besties

2011-01-12T08:01:00.007-06:00

As kids grow up, you never know who or what they will gravitate to.

BUT these two...

are like...

2 peas

in a

POD! MUAH!

Of course, Caden still has to make room in his heart for his little "sissy" ;)

(even though they get annoyed with each other at times)

Trains, trains, trains....

2011-01-09T21:00:00.005-06:00

Caden really started to get into trains this Christmas. And thanks to the North Pole Express, trains have been a staple in Christmas decorations. So we were able to do lots of fun "train" adventures.

At North Park Mall, there is always a great Train Display, complete with replicas of everything Texan - from the State Fair of Texas to the Cotton Bowl. I was amazed.

We went to the Gaylord Texan. Here, not only were the trains breathtaking, but the Christmas decorations was absolutely beautiful.

We even took our Christmas photos at a vintage railroad station. The kids had a blast! Unfortunately, it was difficult to get them to sit still.

We almost went on the North Pole Express (A fun little adventure ride provided by the city of Grapevine. But Caden decided that toy trains are way better than riding a real train. So we will stick to that for now.)

Oh and of course, Santa did not disappoint...

Even the girls snuck in some toy train fun!