Regrets

I blew up today...

As I sit here at 11:00 at night, I can't help but ache inside for the anger I displayed at my 3 little ones. It sometimes seems like they all get the brunt of my impatience with one. It's hard when we're all together, without daddy, without a break, with demands and complaints and tugging and pulling...no chance for escape.

I wish I could take it back, the lecture. At first I thought, "they needed it, they should do things the first time I ask them to." Then I have regrets..."I shouldn't have "lost it." I should have reacted with the utmost of patience and love." Thank goodness my kids forgive me. Thank goodness God forgives me too.

Then I start thinking about what a blessing they all are to me, even though they keep me sleep deprived and demand more than I have to give. How unique they are, how special their strengths and, yes, even their weaknesses.

Tears well up as I think about the blessings each of my kids bring to our family. Mikayla's thoughtfulness in bringing back the lid of her yogurt so that I can send it in and get money for cancer research, her helpful nature as she helps her sister wash her hands and reads her favorite book to her brother.

Tyler, my loving and selfless son, who tells me that he wants to invite "Amy" to his birthday party because he knows Mikayla would want her there, not even considering who he wants to invite to his own party, helps Lynnea out of her seatbelt to be a strong big brother and wants to sit on my lap during movies just so he can feel me near him.

Lynnea's humor and independence, trying to be a big girl like her sister but nurturing her little baby doll like it's her very own baby, helps pick up Tyler and Mikayla's bikes if they fall while riding and makes sure everyone knows what they should be doing at any given time.

These are my blessings, my reasons for getting up in the morning, my gifts from God. I pray for patience daily but I failed miserably today. I know that sharing my "mistakes" on a blog isn't the norm, everything always looks so perfect but we, as people, are far from perfect. I just thank the Lord that "His mercies are new every morning...how great is His faithfulness."

Just Because...

Just because school started doesn't mean we can't have fun on the weekends. We spontaneously decided to go to Oak Glen last Saturday to break up the weekend monotony. We headed up the mountain, stopping at the raspberry picking stand. Last year we got there too late and there were no more raspberries. This year, they were drying on the vine there were so many. Of course, the stand workers took one look at our feet and said, "sandals? you'll want to be careful of the burrs out there." I shrugged it off and thought, " Doesn't everyone in California wear flip flops? Please, how bad can they be?"Um, BAD! After one minute of walking, I had this irritating feeling on my toe. Looking down, I discovered an orb of needles clinging to my toe by just one spear. The spears were so sharp that when I pulled it off, I then had to unplug it from the fingers that pulled it off. Ouch!! I thought, "these would be very effective as implements of torture." The experience almost brought tears to my eyes. After my little encounter with the burr of pain, I was focusing the entire time on the little toes of my children and wanted to pick raspberries as fast as I could. We got a lot of juicy berries (and ate several) and the kids had a great time, despite mommy's worries.

Lynnea's face got so dirty! I think it came from picking up dirty rasperries that she had dropped on the ground. She's still with us so apparently a little dirt don't hurt, right?
The kids showing me their berries. Well, Tyler was just finding another one to eat.
Feeding the deer was the highlight for Lynnea. She would squeal with delight every time deer lips touched her hand.

Pismo

I'm so far back in my blogging "diaries" but I wanted to share our pictures of Pismo from about a month back. We didn't take a long vacation this year but wanted to have a little family time away so we chose Pismo and ended up staying in the nicest hotel (thanks, Priceline!) and made so many memories during our short weekend stay. A view from the beach at night.We walked the pier at night (even though mommy got a little afraid of heights) and the kids were enthralled by the dark water and being so far out on the ocean. Yes, it's a very looong pier, and let me just tell you that there were definite "plank problems" on the way out. I don't think there should be inch-wide gaps between wooden planks on a pier...just my opinion.
In the morning, we visited Old West Cinnamon Roll bakery. Wow! These cinnamon rolls were better than any I'd ever tasted. It even beat Cinnabon, if you can believe it. I don't know, maybe it was due to...
...all of that FROSTING!!! Just looking at the photo, I think I'm gaining weight.
Playing on the beach was one of the highlights but, even though we were at the beach and the sand felt like baking flour (so soft!), Mikayla's only desire was to play in the pool all day. Every few minutes she would say, "I do like the beach but I really can't wait to go swimming."
Lynnea liked the sand.
We went shopping at their small outlet too.
Lynnea went swinging in the swings with the perfect view,
while the kids played in the sand on the last day of our trip.
Then we cruised the beach one last time in search of sand dollars. We actually found a whole one! We had a great time!

Paul Revere Rides!

There's the cutest little park in a city near us called Heritage Park. It's built after the little town that Paul Revere rode to to warn of the coming army. The whole "play area" of the park is on an island, surrounded by water. The buildings are made into slides, catwalks, poles, and other various play equipment. It is an explorer's paradise.

A few weeks ago I visited this park with my mom just to do something different and find another park to explore. There were quite a few ducks around (as well as the inevitable "guano" they produce) but it was such a fun place to play.This giant slide was Lynnea's favorite...not the slide, actually, but the stairs going up to the slide. She kept blocking the way for all of the older kids who were clamoring to climb them. The giant slide was at the top of the hill in the "church" building. So cute, I tell ya!
There were a few cement boats around the island that you could play on as well. Lynnea liked to follow her sister and brother wherever they went so, of course, she went on the boat too. She felt like such a big girl.
Here's a view from the playground outside the island. This park had it all! I wish there was something like this when I was little.
Then my mom took us to El Pollo Loco where we feasted on quesadillas, burritos and ice cream. It's always so much fun to be with my mom and my kids love it too.
Lynnea kept thinking my mom needed to wipe her face so she helped her (over and over and over again). This age is fun but exhausting, don't you agree???

Yeye turns 80!

If you enjoy exotic foods such as abalone, scallops, lobster, sea cucumber, and shark fin soup, my Father-In-Law's birthday dinner was one you couldn't miss. One of my favorite dishes is always included in these banquets, the lobster salad. Every Chinese restaurant "garnishes" it in different ways. At NBC, the lobster's eyes light up under maraschino cherries and at this one, they stick chopsticks up the tail to make it stand straight up. Lobster, fruit, and a mayonnaise sauce are what make this absolutely delicious.Oh, and just so you know, there are a few "delicacies" that I don't choose to indulge in. My lips don't touch sea cucumber or chicken feet (my daughter's favorite food). There are indeed textures that aren't right for anyone's palate.

Here's a picture of Mama, Yeye, and their grandchildren, well, most of them. It's been so much fun watching all of the kids grow up sine I've married Will. "High School" used to be so far away and now 3 of them have either graduated or are in High School. Wow...
Mama and Lynnea, her last grandchild. Big kisses!!
Tyler and his cousin, Alli, played together so well. Tyler didn't want her to leave but I seriously think she built some muscle hefting that boy off of the ground.
Mikayla with cousin Helen. Will's family has been so loving to my kids and me. I am blessed!!

Caron's Wedding!

A few weeks ago, Will and I had the privilege of attending the wedding of a dear friend of mine from High School-yes, you read right, HIGH SCHOOL! I was so happy that Caron finally found the man of her dreams and I was pretty excited that he happened to be Chinese. Love you John! Anyway, the wedding was so much fun with just the right amount of people and a delicious dinner in an adorable garden setting. Thanks, Caron, for letting us be a part of such a beautiful day! Here's a picture of the gazebo...so pretty!And here is the happy couple. Caron decorated in red roses and her bridesmaids wore a silvery/black dress that went with the red so well.
A shot of me and my hubby without kids for the night. Thanks to my parents who watched them for a few hours so that we could enjoy good conversation and a "date night."
We got to sit at the same table as another good friend of mine from High School, Kristy, and her husband, Nathan. I love these 2. We always have such a good time together but don't get together often enough in my opinion. Kristy, let's plan something soon!! I think we all overdid it on the prime rib (Nathan had the chicken) but you have to eat a little of everything if you're out, right?I also saw my friend, Mac! I haven't seen him since High School which seems like only a few years ago (it's been over a decade!). We were great friends back then and it was good to catch up on life and meet his wife.
We also enjoyed some time with a few friends of ours at the park. Through our adult fellowship at church we had a planned get together with 2 other couples for dinner and dessert and began the festivities at the park so that the kids could play. I had to include one shot of each of the kids for fairness reasons. Enjoy!
Lynnea and the bouncy car. Mommy joined in this activity but the picture was just not going to make it onto this blog...
Tyler on top of the picnic bench in the kid's area. Boys will be boys.
And Mikayla. This was about the 9th shot I took. The first 8 were silly poses no matter how many times I said, "pretty smile, look PRETTY!"
Here are the boys. We had a great time, everyone!