Out for fresh air

My boys and my sister went out for some fresh air while walking down memory lane. I took all of them to my old lunch spot. When pregnant with the first boy, my coworkers and I would bring our lunch, and sit at a grassy knoll that overlooked the ocean. Well, now there is a playground and community park at that same spot!
We met at my sister's bussiness office...and the boys got to see where people come to get facials and such. This picture was taken of a candlelit room with no flash and high ISO. can't tell though, huh? i clearly am not taking this picture correctly!

The boys had more fun in the courtyard of Engaged Beauty than at the park! probably cuz there was such a cool brisk ocean wind at the playground.

trying to catch some jumping action (Susie-inspiration), with a point and shoot camera, doesn't work

see how far i am from the ground? watch me jump off!

no.more.pictures.please.

Six On Saturday - Easter

I'm "thinking aloud"..and now, all these borrowed ideas are collected in one place! I am excited about adding new traditions this year - New Preparations for Easter! Some of our favorites have been "resurrection egg" hunt, story books about forgiveness, Friday story time at Berean, a resurrection cake.

My friend Jenn shared an encouraging blog with me - Monday Motivation and More - written by her colleague, Beth Lambdin. Pete and I enjoy sharing our faith with our children through the holidays; and Beth has GREAT ways to put this in practice!

So, this year, I hope to add:1. Make Hot Cross Buns to enjoy on Good Friday!

http://bethlambdin.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/pictures-from-good-friday/

2. Re-enacting Jesus' Triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. http://bethlambdin.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/holy-week-begins-celebrating-palm-sunday/

3. On Thursday, we may have a Last Supper snack (a tray of apples • pita bread • cheese • grapes).

4. On Good Friday, reading an account of Jesus death on the cross, then blowing out candles and being in darkness.

http://bethlambdin.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/good-friday/

5. Family Baking - Easter Sugar Cookies.
6. Sunrise Service this year for the first time! I like this bright spring table decor for Easter.

http://bethlambdin.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/happy-easter/

Oooh, I am excited! this is fun :) I love the idea of these traditions continuing as a way to honor our relationship with Jesus, even after the kids move onto the next season in their lives (on their own & raising families) maybe they'll come back to join us or start their own traditions.

Five on Friday

1. Aidon woke up, ran to me, and excitedly said "Wake up MOM!", we need to work on Lolo and Lola's artwork!!". He's been preparing something for them, and anticipated their arrival tonight after our home fellowship.
2. Then we received the voicemail, that my parents return to San Diego has been cancelled, because my father is too ill to travel. He's now on antibiotics, and if don't work, the doctor will admit him to the hospital to administer dextrose. It's been diagnosed as an "amoeba"; however, the medical terminology may be different or translate differently. I'm not sure what that is. We prayed with the kids when sharing the news...and I continue to pray for peace and healing. About mid-morning, Aidon said, "it's okay mom. we already prayed. don't panic".
3. We sure to miss Lolo and Lola, are excited for their return, and were already preparing the way. At least Lolo can heal there, without his kids and grandkids, waiting outside the bedroom door to hang out with him.
4. Josh has a little dry cough that became more frequent today. He'll take liquids, pureed frozen strawberries (we call it "sorbet"), plain bread,and wet fruit - but isn't into eating much else. maybe just a cold coming on?
5. I get to try a recipe that is new to me while the kids nap right now.

I've had it before and it's yummy:

5 cups angel food cake cubes

3 oz pkg vanilla instant pudding mix

1 cup cold milk

1 pint vanilla ice cream

3 oz pkg strawberry jello

1.5 cup boiling water

10 oz pkg frozen strawberries

Place cake cubes in 9x13 glass baking dish.

In mixing bowl, combine pudding and milk, add ice cream, beat at low speed until well blended. Pour over cake cubes and put dish in fridge

Disolve jello in boiling water and then add frozen strawberries. Stir until mixtures is well blended. Put this in refrigerator until it begins to thicken and then pour over pudding mixture- do not stir. Chill to set and enjoy.

Improvisational

After a typical weekday morning, we had an opportunity to turn our family day into impromptu fun for the 4 of us:)

The beluga whale's white color reflects sunlight so brightly

carrying this tiggerpack in hug position :
c-c-old water
Sea Star explorers

3 down. 1 to go!

oats. check.
dairy. check.
squash.check!
Got a phone call from the allergist today that the blood test results regarding ouryounger son's squash allergy finally came in. He is NO longer allergic!!
Welcome back pumpkin pie, zucchini muffins, Trader Joe's butternut squash soup, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, Tuscan Sausage Tart, pasta with squash, sauteed squash, roasted acorn squash.
THREE DOWN. EGGS TO GO.
He still has an allergy to egg. Since the egg allergy is Class One, we can re-introduce it. We're just waiting til his language has grown enough so he can describe any physical reaction he undergoes.

Praise God! We can't say enough what a huge blessing this is for our family :)

Oh, i've been M.I.A. from blogging this month

...so here is some catch up! (there are about 3 posts)

Tiger Trails

Out of nowhere, i recently realized that I can't remember seeing the tigers at the zoo since having kids...and when I go i am usually walking out of the park through the Tiger river.
When we spent a family day there, i asked for the guys help in tracking down a tiger...and I got to enjoy the tigers for the first time in what seems like years!

they were right at the window!

Safari Walk

An after school safari walk was the agenda - the mission was to scout out mosquito fish, owls, elephants, gibbons, lemurs, walk on lily pads, and boardwalks.

Dad was a key guide to get us into the inner layer of the forest to see the owls
off the beaten path

thanks for taking us to the back country dad

milky owl (i'm sure i've mistaken the name!)

tree-climbing

couldn't find the mosquito fish on the map, so dad, guided us there too...

and Miss Heather pushed the jungle vegetation aside so we could see the fish glimmer in the sun

mission accomplished. naptime next.

"He Will Outgrow Them"

Many of you know Josh's story.
It was at 9 weeks of age when we first discovered he has anaphylactic reactions to dairy (not stomach problems, aka lactose intolerance) - hives, inflammation, swelling, deep red splotches. He was a breastfeeding baby, and that was my first time being away from him for about 3 hours, when Lolo and Lola, Aidon and Tita Marnie got to experience his first allergic reaction to enfamil formula.
Aaahh (deep exhalation)....
At our first consultation, Josh's allergist assured us that he'd likely outgrow his allergies to dairy, oats, squash, and egg..since he is not allergic to peanut, the lifetime allergen.
God couldn't have planned this whole situation any better - I enjoy baking and cooking, so parenting and cooking for a child with food allergies seemed to be a smooth adjustment. Pete and I chose that we'd all eat the same dairy free, egg free food in our home - Josh is worth the sacrifice :)

"Learn to get along happily whether you have much or little..for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us" Phil 4:11, 13
Here's his first lick of "frozen"yogurt:

On February 11, Josh's allergist called with blood test results and the great news that Josh has outgrown his dairy and oat allergy! Oh, has it been fun, to introduce seafood, yogurt, cheese, milk, peanut butter, and all the basic kid snacks (cheerios, goldfish), treats made by someone else (ice cream, donuts, cake, brownies, cookies) for the first time. Of course, he didn't know what he was missing. but Pete, Aidon and I did!!! We were more excited to eat these foods again than he was! Here's his first plate of macaroni and cheese:

Mac n cheese is his favorite. He really likes yogurt. Now, we get to have some plain yogurt, with fruit and fresh bread spread with peanut butter each morning.

Now, Pizza! Pizza is a different story. We've had pizza once a week since we reintroduced dairy to him.the rest of us are loving it..and he will NOT take a bite!! He ate broccoli and cauliflower instead at his first pizza opportunity - i can't call it his first pizza meal since he wouldn't touch it!
Here is what Josh said just after being served his first pizza (this was spontaneous, i was tickled):

Toddler Fish

Our youngest's FIRST fishing experience!

what does he have to say :"I dint catcha fish!"

the many faces of fishermen
kickin' back in the shade, "practicing" holding the top of the pole up, rather than bashing it on the ground ;/
holding the cool "fiss" (fish lure) from Seante
He enjoyed getting his fingers into the power bait....sometimes he threw it straight into the lake to feed the fish
He sometimes sat next to his pole propped against his chair, he liked to squat near the edge of the lake

Five on Friday

1. Our younger son has outgrown his dairy and oats allergy!
2. Miraculously (thanks God!) we've lived within our means even with the expected drop in income that started in february.
3. We've been enjoying after-dinner family time at the park,
4. including biking, kicking the ball around, swinging, chasing
5. just itsy bits of exercise!

March Gladness

Reunions are good times..Good times...

Friends from high school pulled together a quick reunion since one of us was visiting from Switzerland. A great chance to catch up, meet each others kids and spouses!
Here are some of the kids..

and here are some of us....20+ years after high school
We were surprised to find out that great grandma, great auntie nene and great uncle bill were in town! at Pio Pico campground in Jamul....I grew up swimming, and bbq-ing there as a teenager with extended family! small small world!
hug, squeeze, smoosh

matching hats anyone?

We got a "taste" of the RV lifestyle, and enjoyed munching on snacks, cookies, coffee during Auntie Nene & Uncle Bill's horse shoe tournament. Skilled! they came in 1st & 6th place out of 20+!

we also enjoyed home cooked filipino food - sinigang!

Being sweet to his great grandma :

Oma, Uncle Bill & Auntie Nene love to laugh . "Can't find the alligator!"

Outdoors. Dirt. Rocks. Woodchips. Fudge bars!