Easter is my FAVORITE holiday!!  I know most people love Christmas (and I do too!), but Easter is my favorite!!  The weather is perfect, the flowers are beautiful, oh….and then there is the whole Jesus rose from the dead part!! It’s an exciting day.  A day of rejoicing, celebrating, and yelling “alleluia.”  A PERFECT kind of day.  Enjoy my little family’s celebration of Jesus’ resurrection!!

Yikes!!  It’s been four months since I have posted!!!  I am such a bad blogger!!!  OK…..lets backtrack a little (I mean, a LOT!!).  In January, the boys started indoor soccer.  This was a new experience for us.  They have never played indoor, but we decided to give it a try..  Thankfully, they loved it.  Van continued with his same team and coach.  His coach is wonderful and he has some very talented players on the team.  Max loved it, too!  He loved playing with his friends.

After soccer season, we had a couple of weeks of a  break…..then…..outdoor started.  Max decided that he wanted to play ice hockey.  But before he can play ice hockey, he needs to learn to ice skate really well.  Ice skating lessons will begin in May so he has a couple of months break before that starts.  Van decided that he wanted to play baseball.  He is playing with his same coach from indoor soccer.  Their team name is the “Raptors.”  He has played two games and is loving it!!!

Last weekend, we took pictures in the bluebonnets.  This is a tradition every year.  My boys love looking at the bright blue flowers as we drive down the highway!!

I love Christmas!!  And even more, I love Christmas traditions!!  But when your husband is a fireman, and doesn’t have the same schedule as a normal family, you make your own Christmas traditions!!  This Christmas was different than any Christmas we have ever had.  Miguel had to work on Christmas day.  That means we had to come up with a plan for Santa’s visit and opening presents.  We decided that we would wake up on Christmas Eve and go to eat breakfast at IHOP.  While we were out, our fabulous neighbor, helped Santa unload his sleigh full of goodies.  When we returned, the boys were thrilled to find out that Santa has visited early.  He even wrote them personal notes along with dropping off presents and filling their stockings.  Both boys wanted a Nintendo D.S…..Santa hooked them up!!!  After opening Santa’s presents, we told the  boys that since Papi had to work Christmas Day, we were going to open presents a day early…..they were EXCITED!!!  After opening presents, we went to pick Uncle David up at the airport (Mommy’s present…YEAH!!!).  We then drove to Waxahachie because all of the family (Papi’s and Mommy’s) were going to get together and open presents. Papi’s grandma (Vis Lila) is in town from Puerto Rico so we got to spend the Christmas holidays with her!!  What a gift!!  After opening presents, then it was off to the Gonzalez family Christmas where we played with cousins, talked, asked like fools, and ate WAAAAY too much!!  Christmas day was more laid back.  With Papi at the fire station, we went to church and then headed to Waxahachie for Christmas lunch at Grandpa and Grandma’s house.  We spent the rest of the day playing the wii, talking, and napping!!!

As for traditions, there are lots of things we didn’t get to do this year.  We didn’t do our annual “Polar Express popcorn and hot chocolate night,” we haven’t went to look at Christmas lights, and we didn’t read The Night Before Christmas before the boys went to bed.  However, with all the things that have happened this year, there was a time when I didn’t think our family would even be together at Christmas or Christmas Eve.  So, I guess I learned a LITTLE patience this year and to cut myself a little slack.  I’ve learned that sometimes traditions are less important than actually being together.  And most importantly, I’ve learned that family is MOST important!!!

Please enjoy our little family’s photos!!  God bless you and your family!!!

Our little family took Christmas pictures this week!!  Tia Erica took them and they are great!!!  Check ‘em out!!!

Ok!!  So i’m TERRIBLE at keeping this blog updated!!  I haven’t been on here in forever!!!  Well, so much has happened since the last update, so I will start from where I left off…and include pics (just so I can prove that we really have been busy!)

Van and Max played fall soccer. Thankfully, their practices were on different days!!  So two days out of the week, we were at soccer practice after school.  This was Max’s first season of “herd ball.”  He was awesome!!!  He played for the “Wolverines.”  He was a little overwhelmed at first (15 kids all running for a tiny ball to kick it…I don’t blame him), but was soon overcome by the sheer joy of kicking the ball into the goal.  It turned out  that he really loved playing.  He scored 3 goals this season!!  His team had a end of the season party at Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate.

Van’s soccer team was called the “Lions.”  It was very interesting to watch his team.  Previously, he was always played “herd ball.”  However, this year there was lots more strategy, planning, and passing.  It was very cool to watch.  Van scored 6 goals for the season.  His team celebrated their party at Chuck E. Cheese, too (by the end of the week, the manager recognized me…kinda sad…I know!!!).

We went to go see the professional soccer team FC Dallas.  Miguel knows one of the players so we got really good seats and got to “meet” him after the game.  Daniel Hernandez signed the boys’ hats and took a picture with us.  The boys really loved going to the game and meeting him.  His whole family was there and they are super nice, down to earth people.  It was a great game…and they beat a really GOOD team!!

Van had his 6th birthday on the 23rd of October!!  6th….can you believe that!?!?!? After much indecision on whether to have a sleep-over or a party, he decided that he wanted a party.  Thankfully, the rain stopped just in time for the party to start, and he had a great time with his friends.  What a wonderful 6th birthday!!

On Halloween, the boys dressed up to go trick-or-treating.  This year, Max actually understood the idea of getting candy and was excited to go!!  We trick-or-treated for about three blocks and then their buckets were too heavy for them to carry and we decide to head home to let the kids pass out candy.  I think they liked passing out candy more than trick-or-treating!!

Now we are at Thanksgiving!!  Van had a program at school.  He was chosen to say a line referring to the Indians “They helped the Pilgrims grow new food.”  They sang several songs.  He was wonderful!!  He sang (loudly)!!  He did the motions to the songs.  And he said his line beautifully!!  We were so proud of him.

Ever since I was pregnant, I have dreamed of the day that my children would go to school.  Well,  yesterday was the day!!!!  Max started Junior Pre-Kindergarten at his new “big boy school” (Children’s Courtyard) and Van started Kindergarten.  There were no tears, but tons of excitment as the day began.  Max LOVES his teachers, Ms. Tammy and Ms. Tanada.  Van’s teacher is Mrs. Brown and he is SOOOOOO excited to be in her class.  As parents, we are forever grateful for teachers that love our children almost as much as we do and for teachers that keep our precious babies safe from danger.  As a teacher, I know that my fellow teachers never get the recognition they deserve.  But as a parent, I know that my children’s teachers are in my prayers and in my heart forever.  I know that doesn’t pay the house payment or put food on the table, but my child is my greatest gift and as I hesitantly pass them into the arms of their teachers, I know that they are well taken care of and know that they will be returned into my arms better than they left!!  So to m precious boys’ teachers: you are appreciate, loved, and prayed for!!!

Since Miguel and I were married, before we even had kids, we have always talked about taking our kids to Sea World.  We wanted to take them to see Shamu, play in the water park, and feed the dolphins.  This weekend our dream came true….but I think the parents were the only ones excited!!  As we drag out kids out of the house, they just want to watch TV.  They have no desire to “see the fish.”  I think, despite our best efforts to explain Sea World, they thought it was going to be a giant aquarium.  Once we got to the hotel, they were so excited to be there that they want to get into their pajamas and jump on the beds.  But it was only 1:00pm and we were ready to start our Sea World adventures.  With swimsuits and sunscreen on, we headed for Sea World.  First stop was the water park….it was sooooo hot!!!!!!  The spent the rest of the day playing the water, sliding down the slides, riding the waves in the wave pool, and running under the sprinklers.  It was a fantastic afternoon of family fun.  The next day we planned to spend the majority of the day at Sea World with a little surprise trip for dinner.  The first trip for the day was to see Shamu.  The boys wanted Shamu to splash them soooo bad.  We made it to the front of the stands into the “Splash Zone.”  However, after an AMAZINGLY cool show, my kids walked away very sad that they were dry!!  They loved the show.  They loved that the whales were like giant dogs that swim and do tricks.  But, still they walked away with dry clothes and wet eyes!!  At this point, it’s hot, my kids are crying, and I’m DONE!!  After a quick lunch (and still wet eyes), we head to a different section of water park.  Thankfully, after a bit of lunch and some cool water, everyone’s mood changed and were were set to see another show.  We then headed to the Azul show.  Let’s put it this way….DON”T leave Sea World without seeing this show!!!  It was amazing!!!  There were acrobats, synchronized swimmers, whales, dolphins, humor…AMAZING!!!!  They boys LOVED it!!  After Azul, and some riding the waves in the wave pool, we headed to feed the dolphins.  It was sooooo cool!!  The boys loved it some much.  After a very quick clothes changes at the hotel we headed to the Riverwalk for dinner on the river and a river boat ride.  The boys had a great time feeding the pigeons with the chips from dinner and loved the boat ride.  The next day, we headed back to Sea World for a shorter day.  From the meltdown from the day before, we realized that they kids needed to get cool in the water BEFORE was walked around.  So first things first, we headed to the sprinkler park and then a repeat performance at the Shamu show because the boys NEEDED Shamu to get them wet.  Oh course, the best laid plans go array, and the boys HATED getting wet by Shamu because the water was soooo cold!!  Next stop was the penguin aquarium.  They really liked the penguins, but next stop was the seals.  They boys got to feed the seals and they found that very funny.  Seals are very impatient and will squawk and hit the water with their flippers to get your attention!!  They boys loved that they seemed to be talking to them!!  The last stop of our Sea World adventure was to the souvenir shop.  The boys have waited very patiently for this moment.  By the end of the of our Sea World adventure, we left with a stuffed Shamu doll for Van, dolphin slippers for Max, two exhausted kids, two happy (but extremely exhausted) parents, and memories galore!!

Lila (Miguel’s mom) works at Dart Container in Waxahachie.  They had a family day and open house on Monday.  She invited us to go and the kids LOVED it!!  They ate pizza, rode the mini train, jumped in the bounce houses, and toured the plant.  It was REALLY interesting to see how the cups, plates, and bowls that we eat out of every day are made!!  We stopped at Sonic on Tuesday, and Van said, “Look, Mommy!!  Lila makes these cups at her work!!”  We had a great time and Lila was very excited to show us her job.  It was nice to meet her work friends, too!!

Our Fourth of July celebration started on the 3rd of July.  We started the celebration with the City of Arlington’s parade.  My kids loved the parade…..for the first 30 minutes.  After that, they still had another 30 minutes to watch!!!  It was the LONGEST parade I have ever seen!!  I’m used to the little Waxahachie, TX parades that are over in 30 minutes!!  Now, don’t get me wrong the parade was long…but it was good!!  Six Flags even had a float in the parade!!  After the parade, we went to the empty parking lot of the elementary school so Van could learn to ride his bike without training wheels.  It was soooo cool!!  After a couple of passes through the parking lot, he took off and needed very little help.  He even got brave enough to try some turns!!  That night we went to Waxahachie to watch the fireworks.  While we waited for the fireworks, the boys had a great time playing soccer, tennis, and riding their bikes and skateboards.  It was an of fun and memories.  On the fourth of July, Papi had to work.  After church we went to Aunt Atley’s to eat dinner and pop fireworks.  Van had a great time and loved lighting the fireworks.  He favorite part was blowing up the tanks with the black cats….yup….he’s just like his Papi!!  Max didn’t like it at all.  He didn’t mind the noise, but he HATED the fire!!  It was a great weekend of fun!!

I’m soooooo sorry!!!  I haven’t posted in a looooong time!!  Lots to go over….I try to start from the beginning of the summer and not forget anything!!

The boys started swimming lessons the week after school let out.  They lasted for two weeks.  Van loved it from the beginning.  He quickly remembered how to swim and did an amazing job!! By the end, he was swimming halfway across the pool and lifting his head to get a breath and go back into swimming.  It was awesome to watch!  Max, on the other hand, didn’t realize that Mommy was not getting into the pool with him!!  Last summer, we did Mommy and Me classes.  However, when he realized that I was not getting in….he cried the ENTIRE lesson!  We spent the rest of the day discussing how he was going to behave….somehow (probably God’s grace!!) he happily went into the pool the next day and had a great time for the rest of the two weeks!!