Boys and Their Toys

This is what my boys do in the summertime while I think they are getting ready for bed.  Apparently the "old" gameboy has been passed down to the little brother. BUSTED!!!

Moto' Homies Do Zion

It all started about 10 years ago.  I was a new "stay-at-home" mom.  I had recently had my first son, and converted to Catholicism.  My old friends were still working full-time and had no kids.  I decided to call the Church and see if they had any kind of Moms Group where I could meet other moms and have like-minded ladies to hang out with.  Unbeknownst to me another mom had recently made the same phone call to the Church looking for the same exact group (which we were both told did not exist) You know where this is leading......

I finally met this mom (after I completely forgot to even show up the first meeting the Church had set up for us, thank goodness she understood.) We became fast friends, we had kids the same ages, we both love to cook, we both wanted more kids, our husbands liked each other....the list goes on and on. We ended up starting the first ever Moms Group at our Parish.  This particular group went strong for a number of years and had almost 100 members at one point.  As our kids got older and were off to elementary school, we (the core bunch) stopped meeting formally, though we still see each other all of the time.  The Parish Moms Group is still going strong, but if I attended I would not know a soul.  Those of us who started the group have remained friends and still see each other often.  

Our kids have grown up together and are like siblings. We have gone through and supported each other through a variety of life events.  That first mom I mentioned above and her husband are Nick's proud Godparents.  

Fast Forward to 2008. The only really organized event that we all still do together is go on a week's vacation each summer and sometimes over the New Year Holiday.  We all have acquired RV's of some sort and enjoy camping together.  We plan all of the dinners around nightly themes and have tons of fun activities for the kiddies. The parents pretty much sit around and watch the kids run wild, play games, cook fabulous meals and eat.  We have been to many places in California and have even ventured to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  This year we traveled to Zion National Park in Utah.  We had 7 families.  A grand total of 18 kids between the ages of 13 and 3.   We call our group The Moto'Homies.  Cute name-huh?? My Gymnast thought of it, she won the contest.  Some of our members can't stand the name, but they have to live with it for awhile because we made T-shirts last summer.  I think it is a hysterical name.  

Here are some photos of our trip to Zion last week.   We finished out the week stopping for a night in Las Vegas so 4 of us girls could have a night on the town to celebrate my friend's birthday.  The dads stayed in the blazing heat in the RV Resort with the kids.  It was a nice break and us moms had a blast. The last photo is the Birthday Girl and some of the little girls checking out the Limo that took us to "The Strip" this was her birthday surprise from us.  

Getting Real

Whatever that means.....

I have been reading so much lately about people getting real.  What exactly is that?  I hope that I am a real person.  I have a lot on my plate and I am trying to do my best.

I have a real husband whom I love so very much.  He has real life goals that seem so really different than those of my own.  How did we meet, fall in love, marry, give birth to 3 , adopt 1,  have a home, do all of the day to day stuff?  We are really different.  I REALLY converted to Catholicism because I wanted what he had been brought up with. I really believe that I did the right thing.  I really have questions about it all.  I think that it is okay.

 I really have 4 fantastic kids. They could not be more different than if I had picked them up off of 4 different planets. I could not be more proud of the wonderful people they are becoming.  By the way, I REALLY love being a mom.  I also really loved being a teacher before I had my own kids.  I really feel guilty for not being a home-schooling mom. I really do not think I would be good at it.  

I really want to adopt again.  Some of our family have not been supportive of our adoption and we have really felt isolated since we adopted Nick.  They really do not "get it" and we really will be on our own if we do it again.  I REALLY do not care.  I really think that we will do it. It may just be awhile.  It will be a really special kid!!!  They may be really surprised.  We will really need your prayers. 

I really am worried about the future.  My mom is really sick and I do not think she is going to be able to be a grandma for as long as she would like to.  My dad is the best grandpa ever, but he is really worried about my mom.  I am really worried about him. 

I really am getting fat.  I think I am fatter now than when I gave birth to my last kid.  Who cares?  I really think I should exercise more, eat less and drink less wine.  I have lofty goals.  I have a really good sense of humor.  If you do not believe me, you really should see me try to get into one of my older pairs of jeans. 

I have really awesome friends.  I am so thankful for them.  I could not ask for more they are so supportive and really fun.  

I am awed and inspired by the lives I have read about lately.  I am really grateful that I have been able to share the stories of people that are doing truly awesome things to change the lives of children.  I really hope to someday walk in their footsteps.    

I really am thankful for the life I have.  Sure, there are always going to be bumps in the road and I will always be striving to reach higher, but....I am blessed. THAT IS FOR REAL!!!!