Disneyland!!

September 23-September 30th we went to Disneyland! Bry had a business trip in Santa Barbara September 19-22 so the kids and I drove to pick him up the 22 and enjoy the what should have been cool weather! Little did we know while we were there it was record heat at 111 degrees!! We still had so much fun enjoying all the rides and fun time with cousins, Grammy and Papa, Auntie Summer, Uncle Jared, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Connie celebrating Papa's 70th Birthday!!
I grew up in Southern California, so I was an old timer to Disneyland but let me tell you, taking my kids to Disneyland and seeing their reaction was so cool! It was like experiencing the magic for the first time all over again! The first night we went on Splash Mountain at least 7 times! For sure we picked the best dates to go, the longest line was 45 min and that was the first night for Space Mountain {which Giovanni sat next to me crying the entire time!} after that most lines while we were there were 15 minutes.
The 28th Bry had to fly back to Arizona from Santa Barbara so we took the day and went shopping in LA! Sooo much fun! We were sad Bry had to leave, we were having so much fun! And I wasn't too excited to take 3 kids back to Disneyland the next day by myself! But I survived!!
We really had a great family trip. We LOVED spending time as a family. I really loved that we had so many days there to really enjoy and take our time. We didn't set alarms, we didn't rush. We got there when we got there and that was good for us!
We all had a blast, our feet were tired, we were tired but I must say-- even I can't wait to go back!!

8 is Great!

On August 14 Natali was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was so excited to be baptized and couldn't wait for her special day!
In our new ward (and maybe this is how they do it now, it's been 3 years since Andy got baptized) they do Stake baptisms and have a ward "host" the baptisms. It was not our wards turn, but it was nice to be able to enjoy the speakers and music.
One speaker told all of the kids getting baptized to imagine they were at the carnival and that the rides were all there but they needed work. Some needed oil, some needed paint, the games needed attendants. He said that being a member of the Church was very similar to a carnival. That while you are young you get to enjoy the rides and the games, but as you are older, you still get to enjoy but you also get to enjoy "working" at the carnival as well. I really liked that analogy. It helped me to remember how important callings are in the church.
We were so excited to have so many friends and family members with us to share Natali's special day! We loved having everyone come over after for lunch, too! Thank you for everyone who shared in our sweet girls special day!
I am so proud of Natali and the testimony she is developing. She loves to write in her journal and read her scriptures. She loves going to Activity Days also! I love seeing my little sweet heart developing her testimony and seeing her share her light with others!
Congrats, Nati-do on getting baptized and becoming a member of the Church! I love you!

Alive... I think...

It has been so long since I blogged last, I just thought I'd let you all know we are still alive and I have sooo much to blog about!!

Like...

Natali's baptism
Our trip to Disneyland

BUT those are going to have to wait because my little bugs are watching The Princess and the Frog on my computer with all of my pics on it... rats!

In the mean time, you'll just have to know we had a super good August and September and you'll be updated shortly! :)

The "P" Present

For the past month the kids have been trying to get out of us what their "big" present is for their birthday's... Well, since Natali is first up in the busy birthday month we decided to be nice parents and unveil the gift on baby girl's birthday.


These were the hints they were given

1. It starts with a P
2. It lasts a year
3. It wasn't cheap
4. It could sometimes be dangerous
5. Parts of it were electronic
6. If you didn't stop asking questions you weren't getting it! :)

What would YOU have guessed?

They guessed pony (apparently it was a sickly pony that would only last a year?), pool, plane, parachute, pigs, phones, 'puters, poop, pizza (like cici's for a year lol) , Paris (temporary relocation?), pawns, peasants, and the list goes on... it was seriously so funny hearing all of the things they all came up with. BUT they NEVER guessed they were getting

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PASSPORTS to Disneyland for a whole freakin year!!!!!! {before you ask, kids, no, we can not go every day and no, we are not going today}


Happy Birthday little loves! We hope you enjoy your super fun present as much as we have enjoyed not telling you what it is! We love you more than life itself and are so glad we are a forever family! {Btw, Natali, don't feel cheated, I'll blog about you later I just thought it was cruel to make you all read 2 blog posts before finding out your "P" present! Happy Birthday, baby girl!!}

A few of my favorite things

This afternoon we decided to go to the Temple and take some pics for Natali's baptism announcements. We got some pretty great shots, but I was sad when my battery died almost right after we got there!


Am I the only one who can't believe my baby girl is turning 8 Saturday?!

What? I don't have attitude!

The boys' faces in this pic are classic!!

Giovanni was so worried Andy would fall in!

And now Natali with the crazy face!

My three little lover buggers!

My baby girl, she is so grown up and so excited to be getting baptised! Tomorrow on the agenda is getting all of the supplies for the invites she must have! I'm so lucky to be the mom to these three precious kids. I couldn't imagine a day without them {or my handsome hubby} in my life!

A post I never wanted to write

Many of you already know, but in case you didn't... I had a miscarriage on Friday July 2nd. I will just say my heart is broken. After 3 plus years of trying to have a baby the thought of actually being blessed with one was so exciting. Our kids talked about the baby on a daily basis. Giovanni kissed my belly several times every day. The thing that was so strange about everything, the whole time I was nervous. I never fully could wrap my mind around the fact that we would be having a baby. I was so excited, but very, very nervous. Not that it made miscarring any easier. My heart still hurts. I laid in bed and cried with my kids and hubby most of the day Saturday. I'm trying to be strong, and have faith that one day when the time is right we will have a baby, but it's hard. I want one now. I'm angry, sad, frustrated, and a thousand other emotions right now. I know that the Lord knows what is best, and He schedules while I plan, but, nothing is making me take comfort in that right now. Especially when we were leaving to go swimming Friday night and Giovanni said,"I wish the baby were here still" my heart broke.
I am thankful for the Priesthood blessings both Bryant and I received from my Dad. I take comfort in the words that were spoken. I am thankful for a loving family who realize that at a drop of a hat I cry. I feel so blessed to have friends who are willing to listen to me say over and over how bad this sucks. I am thankful for the many prayers that were said for my family. I'm trying to make goals for myself so I don't slide deeper into the dark, this week my goal is not to cry. Well, at least not in public or at work. Good things will happen for my family, and we have seen blessings this past week that we weren't expecting. One being Bry got {and accepted} an amazing job offer. I guess the thing is, it's so easy to just be sad. It's so easy to want to lay in bed and cry and think about how bad this sucks. It's so easy to let myself go to that dark place. But we all know just because it's easy doesn't make it right. Sorry, I'll stop my huge run on of a sentence now. Again, thank you for the calls, the stop in's, and all the prayers.

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words