Holiday Fun

Last week to concluded our Christmas Decorating weekend we baked some gingerbread cookies as a family. Anyone with little ones knows that can be a bit challenging, but my superstar husband and I make a great team. We used a great recipes featured in REAL SIMPLE magazine(December 2008). The cookies came out wonderfully perfect and we all enjoyed them very much.

Hard at Work

I love the sight of my husband in my kitchen

Ready to cut

Let the decorating begin

Enjoying

the fruits of their Labor

The Zoo

Of all the things my beloved husband could have done on his birthday, he chose to take our family to the Zoo. I would have picked a day out on the town with fine dinning and lots of shopping, but not my selfless counterpart. The kind man that he is, he desired for the whole family to enjoy themselves. Well, enjoy ourselves we did. Our boys got a kick out of seeing animals they had only read about. We soaked up some sun and added some more wonderful family memories to our stash.

Another attempt at a new start...

I always make a million excuses why I can't find the time to return to blogging...

children,

functions,

housework,

the list goes on....

Well, I decided to put the reasons behind me because

my life is flying by

and I want to share it and have a

nice place to keep my memories safe.

The End of an Era

So like when any kid graduates high school, they look for a job to get on their feet. I had my eyes set on STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY. I was in LOVE with the Mocha Frappuccino, so I thought that I'd like to work there. My big brother Joel worked for the company and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. A few days after I graduated, I was hired. Thus I embarked on what would be a decade of Frappuccino making. It's hard to see my life without Starbucks. It was there when I graduated from UCLA. It was the first called I made to share the news that Erik and I got engaged. It was Starbucks I went to to take

pre-wedding pics with all my bridesmaids. Starbucks hung a banner on it's window's congratulating me on the birth of my first born. It has always been there. I love Starbucks. I love the people I met there and the friends I made. It's a part of me. It was difficult to decided to leave, but I knew it was time. I'm in such a new season in my life and am excited to see where I'm heading. Starbucks will always be a part of me, I just won't be apart of it anymore.

Here's to the next great adventure...

STAY TUNED

The 3 o'clock Crunch

Every day around 3 o'clock I get a little crazy. Why? Well...because dinner needs to be prepared. My baby get home just before 5pm and I want a warm, yummy, homemade meal for my hard working honey on the table when he arrives. This usually happens, but some days I need to jump through hoops to get there. Depending on my mornings, I sometimes have to change dinner plans at the last minute because I forgot to defrost the meat I needed for that meal or I'm off to run to the market because I forgot I didn't have an avocado. I really dislike those afternoons. So I normally try to keep in real and get dinner started early so I'm not running around like a woman with her head chopped off. Today is one of those days that I didn't get started early. Lasagna was on the menu, but it doesn't look like I'm going to have enough time to make my marinara sauce to get the lasagna on the table. Maybe I'll just do rice and beans...one of my fall back items. I guess I should get to it! Bon Appetit.

Motherhood

I have been blessed to be a mother for almost 3 years now. The experience has been so many different things at so many different times. I suppose that, just like with all things you anticipate, you have somewhat of an idea of what to expect. I've watched my own mother in action my whole life as she raised 6 children with my father, so I am aware of the basics. I have always envision myself raising a family, being an amazing mom. When Erik and I got married we knew that we wanted to start our family right away and I would be a stay-at-home mom. I never questioned it. So now, 4 years after Erik and I wed, we have two young children, and I am full filling my desires to raise my little guys full time. It is such a joy and a privilege. They are amazing little wonders and I can't believe God has entrusted them to me. That's the scary part sometimes. When I think about the weight of the responsibility, I am so humbled and feel so inadequate. I know that I need to remember that God doesn't question my abilities. He knows what I am capable of. I am encouraged to stand up to the daily challenges that motherhood brings. With all the things I thought motherhood would be, I never expected how sacrificial it would be. God knows the journey ahead of me and He faithfully equips me properly. For that my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you Lord for blessing me with these gifts and for providing the proper tools to get the job done right.

On Sabatical...

I took an unscheduled break for awhile. Many things happened all at one time and I just couldn't find the time to update my blog. Here are my series of Fortunate events...


1. I started reading the Twilight series...need I say more? Every moment I possible could pull it off, I was running to get my books and read. I just LOVE these books. No time for blogging.

2. I packed up our life in Burbank to move into our new home.

4. The Holidays happened.

3. We moved into my parents house for 38 days while we were making our new home livable. Crazy, but great at the same time!

4. We had to unpack our home and get our lives back in order. I never knew how hard that would be with two little adventurous boys.
5. Lastly, my camera broke. I have no idea when I'll get a new one either. It stinks!

These are all my excuses for not blogging, but I want back in the game so keep your eyes opened so see what's new over here!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is such a nice holiday, don't you think? It's a holiday dedicated to being grateful. There is so much to be thankful for this year in the Rodriguez household. God once again has shown His faithfulness the whole year through. He surprised us by making it affordable to buy a home this year...a blessing I can't even begin to comprehend the benefits. Our children are wonderfully thriving...our marriage is fantastic...our family and friends are well...we couldn't be more thankful.

I included some pictures of our Thanksgiving. We had a great time with my mom's immediate family...1 set of Grandparents, 7 sets of aunts and uncles, 23 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way)...quite a lot of people...but so fun! It was a JOY to see everyone.

My Amazing Parents Joel & Susana Catalan

My Eldest brother Joel, My Mom, and Me, Bec

Joel, His Bride Anna, and Precious Son Caleb

Bec, My Honey Erik, and Our Sweet Lukey

My Aunt Rose, My Mommy Susana,My Grandmother Socorro, My Aunt Maria,and

My Aunt Isabella (My Nina)

My son Noah, with his second cousins,

Melissa and Mia





Family is great

Christmas Outting

We had such a nice Thanksgiving weekend. It's so great to see family and spend time enjoying lots of yummy food. I love having Erik home with me...it's the way things ought to be! To start out this Christmas season properly, Erik took us out for our Family Night to see Christmas lights at Griffith Park. We first got hot chocolate at Starbucks...such a nice treat. Then we ventured off for the two plus mile walk of Christmas lights on display at the Holiday Light Festival. Erik and I got to cuddle as we walked and enjoyed some of Southern California's occasional cold weather. It was Heaven! The boys had such a great time too. They are in love with Christmas lights. Even with our moving and all, Noah insists on having Christmas lights up in the house...which stay on all day! Oh...the season has begun!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Luke tried to hop the fence a few times.

Noah could have stayed here all night

Me and my Noah

Me and My Honey

Our New Nest

So the Rodriguez family has some good news...we are finally in escrow. Yea! The home we hope to get meets all our criteria we set up before we started looking into buying a home. It's completely God's Hand of grace and blessing at work here. We can't wait to get to work on it...we have SO much to do, but are so thankful that we'll be able to finally have a residence we can call our own. The big move will take place in mid December, so we'll have to make the best of this Christmas season as we attempt to make our home suitable for human habitation. Please keep us in prayer.

The Living Room

The Living Room from another angle

Our Bedroom

One of the bathrooms

The Boys Room

Erik's Office

My Office

Enclosed Patio

Nice Big Yard for us to play...Yea!

THE END

Purse Play

My boys really like to play with my purse. Noah is old enough to zip it open and rummage though it. So when I happen to leave it on the floor, Noah and Luke flock to it as if it were a bag filled with candies. They both LOVE opening up all the little compartments and small zippy bags that hold all the things I can't be without(namely my ipod, camera, chapstick, and phone). The boy's favorite bag is the one that has my lip glosses and chap sticks in it. They like to apply it themselves as they see me do it all the time. Luke also usually attempts to eat them as Noah likes to hide them in his pockets for later use. Most times the contents gets everywhere or I loss some of them and my boys usually smell like strawberries and I almost always wish that I hadn't let them play in my purse in the first place...but I know how much they LOVE it and I can always buy more lip glosses.

Luke

I want to eat this kid alive sometimes...he's just so cute and loveable. I can't believe he's mine.

Breakfast of Champions

What is it about being on vacation that makes one want to forgo all their traditional healthy eating habits and consume everything one normally considers off limits? Since my hubby is off this week we have been battling all the evil cravings we otherwise would victoriously over come. I have to say that it's easy to fall in battle when you are up against donuts and coffee....as we were this morning for the SECOND time this week. Breakfast of champions my friend Leisa would say. I must admit that the yummy goodness in my mouth over shadowed the dread of the vast amount of empty calories I know I consumed. I'm not really a donut person but there is nothing like freshly baked pastries...especially with coffee. So today the donuts and coffee marched off of the battlefield in glorious victory...quite a site to behold.

Dedication

My Sweet and Most Devoted husband has taken this week off of work with 1 goal in mind: To find his family a house we can call our own. Erik has been house hunting for us for the past 5 months. He has read countless books and articles on owning your first home, spent so many hours crunching numbers in our budget and visited tons of potential houses. He's carefully looked into school districts, safety and environmental issues. This man is a machine. He is so thorough, he doesn't miss a beat. I adore this man. He LOVES his family so much he has practically dedicated half of this year into finding his family a new home. We are excited to see what this week brings, but nevertheless...home or no home...I still have the most amazing husband EVER!

Birthday Wishes

Birthdays are a big deal in our family. We stretch out the Celebration for as long as we possibly can. My parents love to host Birthday Dinners for all 6 of their birth children, 2 children in-law, and 3 grandchildren. How it usually works is that we pick our favorite dinner and Mom takes care of the rest. I have to say it's always great fun whenever we get together for these occasions. There's lots of food, laughing, and entertainment. This time around it was my baby's birthday...not either of my children...but my husband...my dear sweet Erik. He picked Mexican food as his dinner of choice...his FAVORITE and my Mom's specialty. I have to say my mother really outdid herself this year. The cake she made with my brother Gabriel's help was beautiful and really yummy. She could really give Martha Stewart a run for her money on this one. It was a fantastic night. We played some games, ate A LOT, and enjoyed each others company. Erik was showered with all sorts of fun things he can enjoy (I'll be enjoying that movie gift card with him though...babysitting WAS included). Another Birthday Party success...

Our Fine Nation

It is a privilege to be an American. Our country offers rights and freedoms unequal to any other. It is important to value that and acknowledge our responsibility to our nation. So on the morning of Nov 4th I packed my two boys, sporting their American flag T-shirts, in our car and took them to vote. Noah has come with me twice in the past, but it was Luke's first time in assisting mom as she exercised her right to vote. They were so good as we waited in line. It was as if they knew this was something not to be taken lightly. As we turned in our ballot the boys got their very own "I voted" stickers and wore them proudly.

It's an honor to be a part of a government where we can voice our opinions. Now that the Nation has spoken, let's all join in prayer for our new President. May God give him wisdom and guidance to lead our fine nation.

Halloween Happiness

Halloween was great. Costumes, candy, and crazy children. Noah refused to put his Peter Pan costume on, then by the end of the evening he didn't want to take it off. Kids are so funny like that.Luke was a wild man the whole evening. I think he only had two pieces of candy too. When he grows up let's hope that he won't be much of a drinker. Our kids had a wonderful time. We LOVED it. How was your Halloween?

Movie Night

Erik and I LOVE watching movies. Sadly we haven't been able to get out to the theater much since we've entered our babies days. Nevertheless, we are happy to catch up on the latest movies cuddled up on our own sofa at home. The only problem is that we and our children have very different ideas of what a good movie is. Erik and I have a list of movies we'd like to see, but our little ones are happy with a VHS of "Bob the Builder"...not usually how we want to spend movie night. Keeping that in mind, two weeks ago on our Family Friday, Erik decided it was time to introduce the world of Star Wars to Noah. We could enjoy an adult movie and hopefully our kids wouldn't protest too much. Win, win, right? But could a two year old handle it? We were ready to find out. I made the popcorn. Erik set up the DVD and we were ready to roll.

Noah was hooked from the first booming notes of John Williams. It's been awhile since Erik and I have watched any of the Star Wars films. We both forgot that pretty much every scene has some sort of fighting in it and wondered why we haven't thought of watching this classic sooner. Noah has now officially entered into the world of light sabers, droids, and wookies. He has become a walking Jedi always on the look out for a star trooper, even if we are just roaming the grocery aisles...I have lost him to the Dark Side...

And I didn't think he was ready.

My True Love

Shortly after I met Erik (two weeks to be extact), I knew I'd be his wife one day. How I knew? I can only attribute that to God. I was confident. Sure over the four years of dating we broke up a few times, seperated for longer then I'd of liked, but I never doubted we'd be man and wife. I simply knew that we'd raise a family together. I was going to be the one he'd come home to every day. He was the one I'd live life with, make life with, and grow old with. I just had to convince him of all this...

This month my groom and I celebrate our fourth year of marital bliss. In the four years of our marriage we have moved three times, brought two beautiful boys into the world, transitioned into our third church, traveled nicely, and without saying made countless traditions of our own. What's in store for us in this next year? A new home? A another baby? Maybe just hang out and enjoy life...definitely!

Thank Heavens Erik somehow too was convinced.

Happy Anniversary My Love!

Celebration

My baby turned one this past week. I am no longer a mother of an infant...bring on the toddler years. Luke has been so much fun to raise. He's one of those kids that's just happy. Every morning he wakes up with such joy to start his day that it's hard not to be upset that he's waking me up at 5:45am most mornings. He usually spends his days flipping through books, climbing on everything, and wrestling with his big bother. I can't get enough of this kid. I hope he grows up always aspiring to do what he loves in life. God, grant me and Erik the courage and wisdom to raise this child in Your ways.I LOVE my little Lukey. Happy Birthday Little guy!