Count our Blessings

On our long drive to church tonight (40+ min) our kids read the bible and quoted scriptures...WOW! We are blessed to have children that have a desire to learn about GOD and HIS Word! The boys also wanted to prepare for tonight's message and asked what scriptures the Preacher would preach on :-) (Don't get me wrong, they're not always angels on the long drive to church!

They also decided they now want to be called by their middle names... So, we have Nicole, Jenae, Nicholas, Drew & Chase :-)


Meagan Nicole & cousin Brooklynn Jenae Ryan Nicholas with cousin Tristan Drew, and Korbin Chase

Date Night

Last night we enjoyed a "date night" with our friends, Leroy & Lupe. Leroy is Jason's co-worker, and they were a blast to hang out with.

It was my first time at Joe's Crab Shack. Thank you Mimi & The Diaz's for babysitting for us :-)

World's Scariest License Plate Number‏

E-Mail forward from a friend ...

Baking Time

A few days ago we had baking time with the kids... We made their favorite, chocolate cake & cupcakes...basically, chocolate anything is their favorite!

Living in Faith

Ok, it's hard not to "stress" over stuff. But a few months ago I decided if things are out of my control I need to stop stressing over it and start believing that God's hand is in control and allow HIM to bless us as we put our Trust & Faith in HIM. We started trusting God for all our financial needs and yes, I have been worrying less.

Along these lines, I have a praise report... last week we were blessed with a financial miracle. I believe it came from prayer and putting our trust in HIM.

Kodak Moment

Every Moment is a Kodak Moment



Real biker boys eat chocolate chip cookies and hot cheetos

Baby Shower

This past Saturday we had a family baby shower for Baby London. There was pink everywhere! It was so cute. Our Mom made the cutest diaper cakes, used as the centerpieces for the tables.

London Bree.... The cute diaper cakes .... Mamaw's gift...the dedication dress from LouAnn's baby store

Auntie Jodi's gift...a cute pink dress from Bergstroms ... Auntie Nicole's gift from Baby Gap

& a cute handmade lilac blanket from Great, great, great Aunt Oma (she's really not that old :-)

And from us, a keepsake box & a cute memory book, which I made at Walmart.com of London Bree's birth & hospital pictures. It's really cute ;-)

And a lot more presents from family & friends!!

A Historical Day...Our 44th President

I couldn't pass up commenting and acknowledging the switching of Presidents, making Barack Obama our 44th President. I do have to say, I didn't vote for him, but he's now the President of the United State.

I didn't realize he's only 47-year-old? Wow, that's a young President. How many 47 yrs olds do we know who are ready to take on such a job as becoming "The President."

Here are a few pictures, courtesy of MSN, on President Obama's Inauguration.

People fill the National Mall in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, as they wait for the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

Barack Obama, center, is sworn in as President of the United States, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington. 2:08 p.m. ET, 1/20/09

President Barack Obama waves alongside his wife, Michelle, and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, as the presidential helicopter carrying former President George W. Bush leaves the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.

The Joys of Life

With the start of a new year, I hope to make time (and effort) for a few things that I use to enjoy doing ... some things that I enjoyed when I had a lot of free time (that's before kids and college homework, and all the other things in life that come with being a wife and mother of 3). These "use to enjoy" things became less enjoyable as I felt I no longer had the time for or even cared to enjoy. Well, it's a new year and it's time to make changes!

One thing that I use to enjoy sooo much was scrapbooking. If any of you have ever scrapbooked, it takes time and 1 page can take a few hours to finish, since it has to turn out " just right." The last time I scrapbooked was when Korbin was born (that was over 2 years ago). Well, last week Meg & I went to Big Lots and picked up a few supplies; she's also into scrapbooking. I also picked up a Wedding Scrapbook a few days ago...for what you may ask? Well, when Jason and I got married, almost 16 yrs ago, I never really did anything with my pictures (and they've been in storage for the last year). Mind you, we only paid a few hundred dollars for our photographer (that's all we could afford at the time :-) and it took me a few years to even get my pictures..and now 16 yrs later I'm going to put them in a cute scrapbook album. Pictures to come once I get started :-)

Here's a list, which may grow as I remember of the things I "use to enjoy."

-Relaxing hot baths

-Reading for pleasure (books, home magazines, mysteries)

-Scrapbooking

-Taking pictures, printing, and organizing them!...As I use to say "Every moment should be a Kodak moment"

-Cooking and Baking for my family (Don't get me wrong, we eat every night! I just need new recipes and passion ... I know my children will love the baking part of it!)

And I want to Create more beautiful memories with my husband and children ... going out, going to the park, going to the library, reading story books to the boys, taking trips out of town, going to Disneyland, going to visit Grandma and letting the boys play & dig in the dirt ...those kinds of things. Sometime we get so busy that all we have time for is work, bills, school, homework, and starting the day over again the next morning.

Just one more thought...every day I ask the Lord to give me patience....yet I seem to fail miserably in every test!...I need patience to be the loving mother that my children need. Lord please don't give up on me!!

USA Track & Field, Junior Olympics

A few weeks ago I did a quick post on my 10 yr old niece, Sonia Holguin, who went all the way to Virgina for a track competition. Here are a few more details. She actually was part of the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics and placed 14th out of about 250 girls! She's one of the best runners in California and travels for the competition! Way to go Sonia!!!

Sonia pictured with her mom, Olivia (my sister).

Sonia sportingg her National Championship Medallion
(and it looks like someone forgot to change the date on their camers)

Happy Birthday to Mason

Today is our nephew, Sergio Mason's, 6th birthday. Mason's Mommy & Daddy are Nancy (my sister) and Sergio Herrera. He is going to Chuck E. Cheese tomorrow to celebrate his birthday! Wish we could be there... We wish you a Happy, Happy Birthday & hope you get lots of presents!!

Pictures of the Week

My beautiful children... Korbin, Ryan & Meg

Korbin...biker boy #1

Ryan, biker boy #2

Meg.. The Princess

This afternoon my sister-in-law, Nicole Rowell, did a cute photo shoot of Meg. Her pictures turned out so cute (these two were side views that I captured with my camera). I will do a separate post with some that Nicole took, which are adorable! Thank you Nicole!

Class Medic

A few days ago Ryan was asking me for Band-Aids when he should have been getting ready for bed.

I'm like, "what do you need a band-aid for?!"

He explained to me...Mommy, I'm the Medic for my class and I pass out band-aids to the kids that need them. (His supply was gone and needed to re-stock.) I guess he's going to follow after his Daddy's footsteps since Jason has always been in the medical field.


Ryan... Class Medic

Back to School

This week Meg, Ryan and I went back to school after our nice, long, much needed winter break!

Meg was off for 2 weeks, Ryan for an entire month and I was off for 3weeks. Meg is in 8th grade, Ryan's in 3rd, and I started the first day of my 6th class of my MBA program; leaving me 3 more classes to go after this one. I should be done by the middle of summer, as long as I don't keep taking 3 week breaks in between each class :-}

For the last few days, Korbin has played with his new Lego's (that Mamaw & Papaw gave him for Christmas...and he loves his new airplane jammies too), since Ryan isn't here to entertain him (a.k.a. "bug him")

Happy Birthday Jimmy

Happy Birthday to our brother Jimmy Rowell... who also became a Daddy, again, 1 wk ago!

A Higher Calling…

For weeks now, our Pastor has spoken of Faith and God’s almighty power. He’s encouraging the People of God to believe in the good times and in the bad times! Not to give up and be discouraged! HE is a faithful God!

His message this past Sunday…”If we believe that God answers prayer why don’t we see more of it or see results?! If we are not seeing results then something is wrong! His calling to the People of God… “If we will humble ourselves to pray and fast GOD will use us and answer prayer!”

Pictures of the Week

An adorable picture of Morgan kissing her two-day-old baby sister...too sweet!














Baby Jared Timothy is very happy to be in the arms of Brooklynn. He loves to be up and around!

A New Year

The Start of 2009

My rambling thoughts... :-)

My holiday cards finally arrived... I purposely made them "New Year's cards" since I waited too long, and they wouldn't arrive in time for Christmas. I picked them up yesterday and spent about 2 hrs addressing them (while Jason entertained the boys and I enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace :-). The cards are so cute. I picked a 12-picture collage, fold-card, and made it black n white with the exception of the family picture, which was in color. I was happy with the results! Here is a picture of it...not the best, but gives you an idea of the card :( I was hoping I could email a copy to myself but that wasn't an option :-(

A little update on London Bree...

Baby London Bree came home today. Jimmy & Shelly stopped by for a few hours. She is so sweet! She slept the entire time (well, almost the entire time...she had 2 (or 3) diaper changes and a change of clothes, since her dinner didn't quite agree with her!) But she was still adorable!

Getting Organized...

I decided I needed a bit of organization, and cleaned all day today! Jason's been bringing home lots of odds and ends from storage (they are piling up in our bedroom & closet) and I was getting to the point of not knowing what to do with it!! I've organized and re-organized that closet but it doesn't seem to get any better!! A few weeks ago, I came across an awesome article on getting a closet organized. It was interesting how this article connected the closet to one's personal life...I may share some tips on a future posting on this topic!

To My Dear Husband

This post is dedicated to my dear husband, who has been working, what seems to be, 24-7 for several weeks now. Thank you for providing for us! It's so easy to say you are missing out on so much but I've stopped to realize how much this takes out of you. I'm so thankful for you and pray that GOD give you strength to get up each morning and be able to face all that you do at work. (You know I'm feeling guilty when I offer to get up at 5:30am to cook you breakfast...and I know how sweet you are in letting me sleep in anyways!) I realize how lucky I am in being able to stay home right now and take care of our children (they are a handful at times :-) but I am greatful for it!

I ♥ you!

Yours Forever

London Bree

I asked and Mommy said yes...so, here are a few pictures of sweet baby London Bree. She's adorable!

Happy NEW YEAR!!!

WOW... Another year gone by and here we are,
at the start of 2009!!

New Years Resolutions
I don't typically make New Years Resolutions; however, I do tend to reflect back at the year gone by and think about what I want & need to improve upon.

I thought this was interesting...here is a list of the Top 10 Resolutions (in no particular order) I found as I googled this topic.

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2. Get Fit
3. Lose Weight
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy Life More
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get Out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others
10. Get Organized


I can definetly relate with 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, & 10.



Here are a few pictures of us on New Years Eve, on our way to church.