Second Quarter

“When I grow up I want to be a doctor- missionary who cuts hair” –Carissa Villalovos

After a much needed break off school we were back full force with a visitor and all. Having this classroom has been beyond a blessing. We are so grateful to our church and the support they have given us to home school. On the first Mon of the year we were so excited to have a dear friend come and speak to Carissa about her missionary work. She impacted both of us so much that even Carissa has consistently said she wants to be a missionary without loosing her dream to become a doctor. I am so proud of my daughter and son for the progress they are both making in school and it continues to motivate me to learn more ways to teach with creativity and help challenge them every day. This year our curriculum has consisted of a book called making the grade and all the supplemental resources I can get my hands on. So far my favorite has been our music Monday songs that my sweet sister the music teacher gave us, and a book called Learn to write for authors. Carissa is my little story teller and is almost too good at making a fiction story sound very real ;-) To the point that we have had to limit her to one “trick” a day. But in class she is encouraged to write her own stories and with all her practice she has developed great hand writing and is reading very well. As for the week we also include going to the Library,  the park, Friday school and Ballet lessons to keep cabin fever at bay. I’ve had many challenges home schooling and many times I thought no way could I continue but with the encouragement of many other home school moms, my close friends and family and mostly God showing me His will and being my strength and stay our year has been a great success and I know it will continue to be!

Rewind to Christmas

 

Our last hurrah with Hebert's and it still didn’t feel like enough time spent with them! Although we have a goal to make it out to Denver this year we’d be lying if we said we didn’t wish to have them much closer to us! Ideally we’d buy a piece of land where all our family in AZ, Las Vegas, Co and even those who live in Cali but are just way too far would live in one culdisack and meet for dinner every Sunday evening, but God has a much bigger plan and I am definitely not one to question His sovereignty. (well maybe sometimes)

Trying to let go……..

It’s very hard when you’ve already seen your little girls baby years pass before your eyes and now seeing the baby of the family also move to new milestones is almost near to impossible. Carissa was a great baby and I also cherished the moments but I really found myself so excited for every year she got older. I loved experiencing all her milestones and even now I can’t wait to see the next stage, however with Nathan, my “baby” (ok not baby he’s beyond 24 months size clothes I know) my feeling are different. Don’t get me wrong I love experiencing all his stages too, but I think seeing how fast Carissa’s first 5 yrs went I worry his will fly right by me….But despite my trying to hold on unless I learn to let go I won’t get to cherish both worlds the memories past and the moments to come and most importantly what I get to hold on to right now. So I present to you my big boy in his big boy bed. I can honestly say Nathan’s transition was a breeze! night one he stayed in bed the whole night with no fuss and although we had our reservations thinking it was just a fluke it has been a month of mostly peaceful bed times (hey he’s not perfect). Then recently we got a bunk bed for the kids and with his new thomas the engine blankets and sheets he has even decided to no longer fall asleep to Rachel ray 30 minute meals and cozy in bed all by himself. ahhhhhh… and yet WAAAAAAA… All of this is sweetly bitter and I’m sure with every stone they jump I’ll watch with amazement and praise to the Father who guides them across!

 

They are GREAT!

Yes these young looking adults are GREAT grandparents! And they are great as in wonderful! It has amazed me the love they have for us and for Carissa and Nathan. Anytime I call even when it is last minute (which is 90% of the time) to come be apart of our family celebrations they are right there for us! I really don’t know many people who can say they knew their greatgrandparents let alone have a close and loving relationship with them and for the few that can they have to consider themselves completely blessed. And Carissa and Nathan are beyond blessed to have 3 Great grandmas and a great grandpa whom love them dearly and show it in soooo many ways! This year as I thought about goals I wanted to accomplish, one very important one is to visit my grandma and grandpa much more often and give the kids a chance to grow even closer to them! And what better way to accomplish that goal than my grandma teaching me how to sew. She is an amazing seamstress and when I was a little girl she began to teach me but as I got older and started to rebel I took my relationship with my grandma for granted. I Praise the Lord that I have another chance to show her how much her guidance and love means to me and to my family as well. Life is too short to miss these opportunities. I hope to document and savor these special moments we’ll share!

 

I also got to see my Aunt Sheri whom I haven’t seen in years. So many great memories come back when you get  back in touch with family. I hope to see her more often as well!

 

Getting to open more presents even after the new year! ;-)

The boys! We sure gave them a run for their money grandma don’t worry we’ll beat them next time!

 

At the end of the night they refused to leave!

Trains in Paris

Paris, California that is! Our children have been greatly blessed with a grandpa who although wise in the Lord and knows his theology is the biggest kid I know. Papa has instilled a love for trains in both Carissa and Nathan and all his grand children in fact! What better way to spend a day getting to see and ride real trains! It was a short day for us having to leave early but a great time with Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Philip, “MaMa” Olga, Kevin and Sophia!

Jesus is the reason for the Season

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

So if you did notice we are missing two very important family members! Which are represented by the awesome pictures they took! Michelle and David are behind the scenes!