After two months.

I been of the grid for a couple of months, to be honest when you thinking about writing a journal, a blog or a diary becomes an effort, it means that you need to take a break. Thing going amazing, move to a new house, we still working on fill it up with furniture, but I am waiting to buy the right pieces; just finish making arrangements to go for the first time to Comic-Con (awesome), I have to say is been a very stressful process, from buying badges to hotel reservations, is just crazy, I hope the experience in July worth all the headaches.

When we move to a new house, kids had to be move also to a different schools, Hallie love her new school, the oldest had a little hard time to adjust, thank God she is doing better, Cole also had been sign up for the fall, that means more free time for me, which has make me think I want to go back to school. We taking one day at the time to recover from the awful past year, but overall Life is good, and I hope stays like that for a while.

The older they get, the harder to gift on Christmas

Image via Wikipedia

I am falling apart, this is becoming a hard year to buy for Christmas, Cassie is now 11 and in 6th grade, and not a kid anymore so is not like I can get her a Barbie and is going to be super thankful, don't get me wrong I have amazing kids, and they would never complain because they didn't receive something, but not only the older they get, the harder to gift, but also the older they are, the expensive the presents become. From a Barbie to a Tablet is a huge difference of price, and what? now the presents also become more clothes, but in there is no wow factor, unless our kids are in to fashion.....now....If we would be talking about Hallie it would be excitement, but Cassie is more a farm girl kid that Fashionista.

Also, there is no blame it to Santa cause you didn't get what you want it, is more like sorry that mom and dad didn't have enough budget for Christmas, or, mom got a horrible outfit for you. I really don't enjoy much Holidays, Birthdays or any celebration that involves presents, I kinda forget them very often, including mine ( who wants to remember that I'm getting old).  I cant wait to finish Christmas shopping and stop stressing on what to get.

Kids = English first, Spanish second.

                                  Image via Wikipedia

For those that dont know, I am originally from Mexico,  is a difference between how you are raise in the south of the country and where I was born and raise, I was born in the Northwest part of the country, Baja California, on one side of the border. In this part of the country we are more expose to the US and the mexican culture is not that strong, I dont want to get into this, and explain it cause can be confusing, and I just want it to give you a back story for my post.

I am proud of who I am and my culture, but since I marry a wonderful man in the US, I move here, embrace this country as mine and love it. My hubby doesn't talk any Spanish, and he only understand a few words, like llantas, chichis, and cerveza (lol fyi you can Google this); because of this, inside my household we only speak English.

When I meet people from a Latin America country and leaving in this country, I always been ask "do your kids know Spanish" and my answer is always "the oldest knows and understand some and can speak with an accent but not the two youngest yet", with this they answer back, "oh!!!, are you going to teach them?", I know I will, but really offends me the way I been ask this, I most politely will answer back "of course I will, but not now, for one, I am in America, were everyone talk of course English, I don't want them to grab an accent and to be honest like I said before we only speak English (even with my accent) at my home, I find it offended if I would speak Spanish in front of my husband and he cant understand what is been told, I just find it disrespectful; two , why make my teachers a nightmare because my child doesn't know what is been said on the classroom, three, they get there fair share of Spanish when they visit they grandparents and last, in Junior High they will have classes of Spanish to speed them up.

I don't like the fact that I been judge for not teach them Spanish, they will, as soon they actually can handle the one they suppose to know now, I also believe in teach them not only Spanish but also maybe Japanese, Italian and others, this will help them in their future professions and languages are a wonderful thing.

 I just feel that people look at me like I am betraying my culture or something, like I said before, I embrace who I am and where I came from, but also embrace this wonderful country and what stands for like my own, so deal with it and stop the OHs!!!!!!

Spending quality time with the family

Sometimes stress of life make us forget what is important, daily life becomes a routine and we forget paying attention to the ones close to us. Since last weekend me and my hubby start taking the kids to a nature preserve to have a small BBQ and today we took them to church (with the move back to Las Vegas, we haven't been going to any service) and BBQ after that, I guess we need it some preaching, I must say that the message hit us hard, like meant to be for us, and to be honest I am not a very religious person, but feeling like the sermon was meant to you, just freaks me out; the kids really enjoy themselves and they definitely enjoy the walking paths and have all the area to ride their scooters.

Hubby and I really start to understand to not forget enjoying our kids, even in this time of hardship we been going trough, like the song says "You going miss this".

Like I say, sometime stress of life make us forget what is important, I just remind you that, so stop forgetting and get out there and enjoy your family.

Renaissance Fair 2011

For the last 3 years I been taking my kids to the Renaissance Fair, every year knights, Wenches, Maids, Kings and Queens come out to have a 3 day Fair that takes you back in time. To be honest is pretty much the same shows of every year, sword fights, etc but is just fun taking out the kids, Cole just loves it.

Keeping my cool.

When I was single and without kids, I lack of a quality call 'patience', I didn't had it, I didn't need it. This days I notice that I have by far the most patience in this planet; thanks to this I learn to keep my cool, my frustrations and emotions on check.

               Image via Wikipedia

But, I realize that sometime, just sometimes, I really, really need to vent, can you relate to the moment in life when everything that can go wrong, goes wrong, well, this is it, but because I am a mom and I want  to act like nothing is going on in front of my children,and  also having a husband that needs that emotional and strong attitude from a  wife, I just try to let it go.

When I think I will fall apart Is good to find a location like the bathroom or other place were you can be by yourself tear your eyes out, but, I know if I let it out, it will be a disaster, so to keep my cool, I remember the people for whom  I have to stay strong, I guess  love is a powerful medicine to take when your feeling down.

Related articles

• Patience - A Virtue or a Gift? (brandykoenigphotogandmom.wordpress.com)
• Losing My Patience (babyccinokids.com)

Smile! Is not the end of the world.

Have you notice that if you have a two or four year old kid, most of the cases always something becomes a drama and a live and death situation?

Case and point, my son Cole (4yrs old), runs out of snacks or drink, I say "no more, you already had enough", his smile turns into wining, I keep saying no, wining turns into crying, is like he is almost having a near death experience; this will go on until I give up...or if I am lucky, he will fall sleep crying because i dont give in, you get my point?

Then, I realize that we as adults show this kinda behavior sometimes. Case and point, woman (not me) wants new pair of shoes, husband says "we cant afford it right now", woman throws a  tantrum, husband says " try to understand", woman starts dropping tears in silence but in a way to make the husband aware of them, result, he gives in.

Not getting what we want all the time should not become a fight of wills with our love ones, you will not die of hunger or thirst if you don't get that snack or drink; your feet will not get a medical mystery for the lack of that pair of shoes.

Labor Day Picnic, fun and relax time.

We had a wonderful Labor Day, nn company of some friends, hubby and our kids went to Mount Charleston not far from Las Vegas for a picnic, but the clouds all day should it be a warning that 30 minute up in the mountain start to rain and our fire was just "wet off". If we were planning to stay the night camping we would it ride the rain, but we drive to the top of the mountain for nicer weather and a picnic.

We decided to head to Spring Mountain Ranch, which is probably 1 hour away from the top of the mountain and hopefully no rain. We got there and nice much easy weather and warmer; we had tacos and hot dogs for the kids, try to do some trail hiking, but the Boy decide that he want it to go poop half way in the trail, had to run him asap back to some public bathrooms, I must say I was proud of him, since he was able to control it and got there on time with no accidents.

Overall was a good day even with all the driving, had a great time with our friends, and the kids had fun trying to use a metal detector, which Hallie want it to find gold, and fighting for the little dog that belong to our friends.

MOUNT CHARLESTON, NV

SPRING MOUNTAIN RANCH, NV

 

They're Back!

My kids are back, after a few weeks gone with grandma and grandpa, I went to pick them up; it takes 5 hours to get there and 5 back, on a 116 degree weather you start to be thankful of the wonderful invention call Air Conditioning.

I must confess that 48 hour having them back, make you rethink that 3 weeks is a short time to be visiting, they came back acting wild, so they going to need a couple of weeks to be decompress from grandma and grandpa.

Nobody had anytime to rest cause next we wake up early to go and do late back to school shopping (they start school on Monday). As much as I enjoy time alone, I learn it, that I am nobody with out my kids around me. Love those kids.

Moving is so hard.

 For those that don't know me that well, I marry to a wonderful man, but the industry he works, like many others is hurting, works more hours that any human can do, but now, hours are the same but salary has go down. Compare to other families, we don't stand and wait for other jobs to come falling from the sky, we take the serious decision of moving if that is necessary, we had struggle, we been lucky and for some reason God has been there in the last minute when we need him most.

Since 2 years ago we been waiting for we call it "the dream job", why dream job? because it would mean not work 60+ hours for him....yes I said 60, also means be able to spend more time with us as a family, it would be outside the industry he works now, and the most important, it will give us that stability we need.

The downside is to move again to the East Coast and start all over in a new town, don't get me wrong, if you add all the benefits of getting that job, in a blink of an eye will move, its just this is taking a toll in my kids, and I don't know how i can tell them with straight face that it will be the last time. I don't want my kids grow been gypsy's. At first it was so easy cause my oldest was 3 years old and so well behave in a road trip, but is no fun travel across country, stress out, thinking of the future, counting your budget, and not be able to stop to see some attraction in the middle of the trip cause you cant afford it.

I know some day me and my hubby will look back and smile and laugh together on all the time we travel like this, like the cheap menu drive thru, the pee stops in the rest areas, and hotels that start looking the same very fast. Also, I know that when we get older, and the kids are gone from home, we will be in a motor-home and travel to really stop and those places we always want it to stop. Cross your fingers and lets hope that in this days we get the anwser we be waiting for for two years.

Bored out of my mind without my kids.

Image by riebschlager via Flickr

My husband and me sent our kids to their grandparents a week ago, you would think that sounds great, but sadly we are tight on money, so there goes the idea of doing anything while they're gone. Since my hubby is at work all day, the first couple of days without my kids fell like heaven, blogging, eating junk food, sleeping late, but now after a full week of my kids gone, is am just bored. 

The relax feeling is gone, junk food is really affecting my digestive system and sleeping late just make me feel more tired at noon....yes, noon, I realize that I was in trouble the first time I saw the time and it show 12:00 PM, not good. I cant even blog anymore cause my mind keep wondering around and can focus thinking if Cole (my 4 yr old) had any potty accidents, or the fact Hallie (my 6 year old) get emotional every time we skype, thank God Cassie is 11 and knows how to deal been away.

The worst part of my mind wondering around is that I can become depress or stress because of the problems we are facing in this moment in time will cross my mind often. I should try to stay positive and be less selfish, I mean, my parents are the only grandparents of my kids since my husband parents already pass away, my brother and sister dont have children so my kids are the only grandchildren, and since we move so much they dont get to see the kids so often.

Sorry, I need it to vent before I start seeing ufo's or ghosts out of my head, again sorry, to much syfy channel.

Tough Conversations with my kids.

     As a parent I try to shield my kids as much as I can from hard issues that are happening around them, you really want them to have their childhood as happy as possible, but sometimes the problems around you had to be explain to your children in a way the can maybe understand.

     In some point in our life I had to explain to my kids why daddy was at home every day when they come from school, and not working like normally he was; or what we were doing in a big office full of people waiting room for hours to ask for help until things are better. Thank God things got back to normal soon and life is good. But this make me thing how many time I gave my parents a hard time, or why until I got marry I realize in how much financial stress they were, I don't even what to mention their fail marriage.

     Recently in the beginning of the year I have to explain my kids why we have to visit their grandparents, actually since I had 3 kids, it was like this, for the 11 year old was "Honey, grandpa is in the hospital, he is really not good, I need you to be a big girl for me and keep it cool for your brother and sister"; the conversation with the 6 year old was "Honey, granpa doesn't feel good, so we need to see him and make sure he is doing better"; and with the 4 year, well, there was no conversation cause he is in a bliss full childhood and he would forget as soon I would say anything.

     This days the tough conversations come with my 11 yr old girl,  the issues are different, more when you talking to a girl that is growing up, they are conversations that I realize my mother never had with me, I think I am doing different approach and sometimes I feel like a coach instead a of mom, I know this conversations will not stop ever, but the oldest they get the harder it gets, and there is no manual to help me out. I just hope my judgment makes me say the right things.

A hug for a Parent

Image via Wikipedia

When was the last time you say I Love you to your parents? I will be honest, in my case is been a while, not only because I live so far from them, but because I come from a family were my dad was the one that show love and mom was the cold one that didn't show any emotion.  

Our Splashing Weekend

This Saturday we plan to go to the park and we found a nice park were the kids cool down from the 100 degree temperatures, kids had a blast, but after that we had all a sunburn after that lol. Not so funny was that me personally fell like I had a little sun stroke, feeling better, but I will make sure this doesn't happen again.

Changes

With changes coming my way, sometimes I just question myself if we doing the right thing, and how much will affect my children. The only thing I know for sure is that the changes we do is to find a happier life that the one we have now.

Renaissance Festival 2010

This is the 2nd year we took the kids to the Renaissance Festival here in Las Vegas, every year come and set up, but this year we went all the way and everyone dress up for it (except hubby). Fun times. Theis website www.lvrenfair.com/ . Can wait for next year.

Splish, Splash

Camel Ride

Introduction

Well after so many moving, I figure that start a blog again of all adventures would be a good therapy for this mom, I am Patty and this is the story of my life with my hubby and the kids…Fathead (a.k.a Hallie), Twig (a.k.a. Cassie), and the Boy (a.k.a. Cole)

I am not a writer, I am not a photographer, but I do have a brain full of memories to share.

Little by little I will tell some of the stories of our travels, some daily life stories, etc, etc.
Anyways, hope you can relate to my stories, or some of you find them cute or sometimes funny.

Grandma Fight

Grandma is hard to fight, she will not let 2 little girl to beat her up. Fun times