Happy Birthday At Camp!

No, it's not my birthday, and no, I am not camping!

I am wishing my eldest a Happy 15th Birthday!!!

But, he is at our church's high school camp, so I had to give him his birthday hug yesterday!

I know he's having a great time, and I pray that he will come back on fire for the Lord!

He's a wonderful son, and he will always be my "baby." He is turning into a fine young man! He's big and strong, but yet still so sensitive. He's a wonderful friend, and has such a witty sense of humor (kinda like me)..lol. I still can't believe my one month premature baby is now a Freshman in high school!!!!!

Here is the high school group that went! He is the one with the green shirt!!!

HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY, ISAIAH!

I'm still in shock that I have a 14 year old! Well, not really in "shock," but I guess knowing that I will now have a child in high school makes me feel like I should be a mom with experience. However, I'm still learning something new everyday.

When I look at videos or pictures of Isaiah when he was a baby, it brings back memories of how I was so protective of him, yet also expected so much from him. I think so many of us do that with our firstborn's. It's almost like I feel I missed him just being a "child" and subconsciously expected him to be "older" just because he is the eldest.

So, on this day, I just want to reflect on how my "baby" is now a young man.

Physically, he's built like one, and also has the voice to match.

But, he's still sensitive on the inside. He's like a gentle giant. All 5"9 of him! He's still not embarrassed to hug or kiss me goodbye in front of his friends, or even just hug me goodbye if I'm going to the grocery store.

He's strong, yet doesn't realize it. He's a good friend, and is very loyal. He's hilarious, and can make any of us crack up at the drop of a hat. He's mellow, and easy going. He loves to just chill out. He's never been one of those obnoxious boys. He loves the Lord, and he has wonderful friends.

He's an amazing son, and I'm so blessed to be his mom.

I love you, Isaiah. We love you!

Happy 14th Birthday!!!

GIFTS & MORE GIFTS!

My sister in-law wasn't able to see Isaiah for his birthday, so she planned to take the kids out to lunch and the movies this past Saturday. Since it's Danny's birthday coming up (on Wednesday), she decided to give him his gift now also.

It was a nice quiet break for me because she took them out for a few hours, and my husband went to shoot some hoops with his friend. They wanted to practice for the 3 on 3 basketball tournament that our church's outreach is having this Saturday.

Anyway, here is my sis in-law with the kids before the boys opened their gifts. Danny already knew what he was getting. He was excited to open it up!

Yay...a Nintendo DSi! He already had a DS, but unfortunately it got stolen! I felt so bad for him, but assured him we would get him a new one for his birthday. Well, in the meantime, he already asked my sister in-law for one, so she ended up getting it for him! Doesn't he look so happy? We're happy for him too!!

And she bought him so games to go along with it!

Look at Isaiah's cheesy grin! He still looks half asleep! Well, I don't know how he could be. She gave him $100 for his birthday!

She took them to lunch at Casa Azteca, and then they went to see Ice Age 3! They had a great time with her!!

GUITAR HERO

Except this is the real deal...not the video game.

My youngest son, Daniel is taking an interest in playing the guitar! It reminds me so much of Isaiah when he was around his age. He (Isaiah) asked and asked and asked for a guitar until we finally decided to buy him one for his birthday. Little did we know that the Lord would totally bless him with that talent! Anywho..Daniel started playing around with a guitar we have in the living room and we asked Isaiah to teach him a couple of chords so he can practice with that! It was such a blessing to see Isaiah helping him!!

Showing him where to put his fingers!

Look at that concentration!

Love it!

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY, ISAIAH!

I actually have an official "teenager" now!

When did that happen?

Today, Isaiah, my eldest, turns 13!! Wow!!!! I'm still in shock over that! Where did the time go? I can recall the night so vividly when I woke up to use the restroom and discovered I had blood EVERYWHERE! Surprisingly, with this being my first baby, I was pretty calm! Somehow I knew everything was going to be okay!

To make a long story short, my placenta had detached, I had to be induced, and he was born one month premature! He weighed 6lbs. & 13 ounces! Not bad for a preemie!

If you look at him now, he's taller than me and practically has a "man" voice! But, if you were to spend even five minutes with him, you will see that he has the most gentlest way about him.

I want to cry just writing about him because he is my "first born," the one baby who I carried ALL THE TIME! Sling? What sling? He slept in our bed from the time he was 6 months old till about 7 years old! LOLOLOL! I'm not ashamed to admit that! People called us crazy, but oh well, I knew he'd outgrow it one day!

Here he is around 3 years old (I had to scan this photo).We bought him everything Toy Story! He loved that cartoon!! Danny looks so much like him!

He's affectionate, caring, goofy, musically gifted, and smart, and the last thing he would ever want to do is hurt someones feelings. I'm so blessed to have a son like him, who is not embarassed to still hug me and kiss me on the cheek in front of his friends. He's literally like a big teddy bear!!

Here all my kids in May at a nearby park. Although they may bicker and get on each other's nerves at times, he would do anything to protect them.

I love you, my son! Happy Birthday!

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. -Numbers 6:24-26

WHO NEEDS SUPERCUTS?

When all you need is a pair of clippers?

My oldest sons hair grows sooooooo fast! He can have a really nice style one day, and then in two weeks it starts to take a life of it's own..literally! He's had some crazy looking hair before, and when I look at those pictures, I think, "I actually let him go out in public like that?"

Well, he knew he was in need of a haircut, and normally we would go to the same girl that's been cutting their hair for 11 years. But, he just wanted dad to shave it all off! Not completely off, like bald, but just buzzed all over. Pretty much like my other two boys! He couldn't wait for my husband to come home so he could get started!! I was nervous at first because he's NEVER had his hair this short!!

So, you know I had to take pictures of this because this was a "first" for me; seeing all his hair come off. And he had soooooo much of it too!!! I was tripping out on how much kept falling to the ground!

Let's get it started!! Bzzzzz.....

He even had an audience. My two little ones were being so obnoxious and getting on his nerves!! LOL..he kept telling them to go! For example, my daughter was saying, "Isaiah, you have big ears!" And because he couldn't move, she took advantage of that too! She was bumping into his toe with her scooter!

It's getting shorter!!

Danny trying to make Isaiah laugh!

Ta-da!! There he goes with that "pose." I don't know where in the world he got THAT from??? He's using it for his Facebook profile, and one of my friends left a comment and said, "What does that hand sign mean? Is it a gang sign or music sign?" LOLOL!! She's so cute! I assured her it was NEITHER! I said that is called the, "I'm trying to look cool, but I have no idea what this is" pose. Actually, he was being goofy, so, that should really be called his "dorky pose." Haha!

So, if you want to come over for a free haircut, come on by! My kids will even entertain you! ;)

TO HELP OR NOT TO HELP...

THAT IS THE QUESTION...

I needed to go grocery shopping last week, so after church, I took my two older kids with me to tag along. Plus, I had to get a bunch of stuff, so I wanted their help of loading and unloading the groceries.

Anyway, after the cashier rings up the mega pack of gum I got for the kids, Isaiah asked if he could just hold it. I said, "Yah, sure." So he takes it and then he and Miranda wait for me by the sliding door (which was only a few feet away). As soon as the cashier was done putting all the bags in the cart, I say, "Isaiah," and pointed to the cart.

Now, it doesn't take a brainiac to figure out what I meant, right?

Well, he looks at me innocently and says, "Oh...do you want me to put this in the cart (meaning his GUM)?" So, he starts walking toward the cart to put the gum in there. First thing I said was, "What??????"

I take my camera out of my purse and say, "Oh..hold on...I need to take a picture of this and blog about what you just did." He still didn't get it..lol. He just had that lost look in his eyes like, "What just happened???"

Oh...and after was said and done, who do you think ended up pushing the cart to car?

I'll let you guess!

Ay yi yi...gotta love 'em!!

HE'S MORE THAN JUST...

A video gamer...

My son has also been blessed with the talent of playing a guitar!

We love hearing him play his guitar...and he plays for the Lord! It's only been 3 years since he started, and he's had no formal lessons. That's totally all God! He alternates worship for our home fellowship, and in June, he and my daughter will start to lead worship for the Jr. High group at our church. I love that he's so humble when he plays. He doesn't expect praise or admiration because he knows that this is all for Gods glory!

He's still shy about singing in front of certain people, so he didn't want to sing on video. But, he does have a beautiful voice too!

"Mighty To Save"