ahhhhh memories....

For some reason all day today I've been thinking about this certain instance when Vivian was a newborn...maybe it's because she will be starting Kindergarten next year, and yesterday it finally hit me when we went to visit the elementary school she will be attending and when i physically handed over the registration papers.  I can't believe how fast time flies!!  My baby....

Speaking of babies, here's the instance I am thinking of today:

I loaded my sweet almost newborn baby in her stroller for one of our many afternoon walks we took around the neighborhood.  She was probably around 3-4 months old.  I took her to a park near our house and spread a blanket onto the the nice cool grass.  I picked her up out of the stroller and laid her on her back on the blanket, then I laid down next to her.  I was watching the huge trees that shaded us from the sun and heat sway in the cool breeze, and when i looked over at her, her huge eyes were watching them too.  She laid there so quiet, so in awe of them. Then she would kick her legs and move her arms like new babies do and I remember getting the smallest smile on my face watching her.  We laid there for quite awhile.  I'd close my eyes and every once in awhile I'd hear her coo and when i'd look at her, she'd be staring up at the trees.

I will never forget that, or at least I hope I don't.  Such a little moment made such an impression on my life.  It's like at that moment I truly realized just how much I loved this little human.  Maybe that's why I love trees so much, or at least why I love them even more than I ever did. 

Our first camping trip of 2013!

And we had a blast!!!  We went a few weeks ago, but I just now got the pictures downloaded.  We took our new camping trailer, the first time we ever camped in it.  It was amazing, comfortable, and perfect for our family.  We were going to camp with just a few other couples, but it ended up being 8 campers with a total of around 15 kids!!!  I'm not gonna lie, it was hard keeing track of my little ones...but then that's the beauty of camping, the wide open spaces allows for running around without too much stress.  ROAM FREE LITTLE ONES!! We went for rides on our 4 wheeler "or BUGGY" as we like to call it, we went fishing, played games, went on hikes, and the kids made new friends.  It was great :-)

This is the view from our trailer.  I love the forest!

Our campsite...with all our friends

Through this gate is the river.  The kids loved this spot!  And we tried fishing here but no luck :-/

Landen pushing his tractor.  This toy was a hot item among the kids!

Snack time!!  Taking some time out from our fishing trip to Fenton Lake.  We caught 3 fish this day.  This is Vivian's Friend Estivan who she's known since they were newborns.  They have the same birthday and were born within hours of eachother.

This is Mia, Estivan's sister who is a few months older than Landen.  She's trying out Vivian's fishing pole here.

Fenton Lake.  A forest fire a few years ago wiped out the trees above.  But there's signs of life coming back!

Trying to catch fish.  Here's Chris and our camping friends lined up along the shore trying too!

More fishing friends

This is our "BUGGY"  Chris took Vivian and her new friends for a ride.  They had a blast!!  They saw some deer and went through puddles!  The girls were screaming and laughing like crazy!!

On another ride with our friends.  Taking a hike in the mountains. 

Our final campfire.  The last night we were there.  We put all the wood we had left on it!  It was more like a bonfire.

Enjoying a beautiful star-filled night. 

We stopped on our way home for a final fishing trip.  This is Vivian Fishing along the river close to where we camped.

 

Vivian Fishing.  landen was asleep in the van.  No luck, but it was beautiful and relaxing. 

A Walk in the Park

Im so happy the weather is getting warmer!  Spring is tricky though, because some days it's gorgeous, then its cold again! We definately try to take advantage of the warm days.  This past week we went for a walk almost every evening before dinner.  One day we went to the park and played with our favorite neighborhood friends, Lauren and Spencer.  Another evening we went on a walk to my favorite park in the neighborhood and the kids ran around and picked dandilion seeds.  They love to make wishes on them and then blow the seeds into the wind.  I told them that means their wish is being sent out and hopefully it will come true :-)  I love this park because of how green it is, and all the trees.  I have a thing for trees though ;-)

Happy 6th birthday to Vivian!

This one isn't too much later for her birthday, Since she turned 6 on April 5th.  I cannot believe how much she has matured and come out of her shell this past year.  Especially with her being in school I'm able to compare her personality and participation.  Last year she was so shy, only had a few friends she liked to play with, did not want to participate in many of the school programs because of loud noises and the anxiety it gives her.  This year, she comes home telling me how she makes friends everyday, she sings with the class and was not afraid to perform a Mother's Day Tea program her class put on for us.  There are also other areas that she has matured...like water on her face for example.  She HATED it and would absolutely not tollerate it last year.  This year is is OK with it (wouldn't say she loves it ;-) and has learned to wipe the water away with her hands instead of needing a towel or avoiding it all together. She has an amazing sense of humor, she has me laughing all the time too!!  The stuff she comes up with is crazy!!  She is so loving and sweet and amazing.  I see a spark in her that wasn't there before, and I'm so proud of her accomplishments and how far she's come.  I can't wait to see what this summer is going to bring and how much more she will blossom everyday.

Looking super cute for silly day at preschool

At Build a Bear Workshop for her 6th birthday.  Last year I started a tradition where we go every year on her birthday and she can make a special birthday animal.  She gets to pick it's clothes and accessories. 

Making a special wish on the heart she puts inside her stuffed animal.

This is Flower...her 6 year Build a Bear "Bunny"! 

At California Pizza Kitchen for her birthday dinner.  She made that hat at preschool and wore it for two days!!  And as you can tell her dessert was THE BEST!

At her birthday party at Nanny's house (Gramma Lawlis)  My mom hosted her party and it was mermaid and pirate themed.  This is a mermaid tail she is wearing.  It's too big for her so she made it a dress :-)

Amazing decorations!!  My mom is so creative, it looked awesome in every corner!

We had face painting and an activity outside.  Here are some kids getting their face painted.  It was a great birthday party!

She has even lost some teeth!  She is up to 4 now.  And since this picture she has lost the other top tooth!

I love you baby girl.  You made me a mommy, and i'm so thankful for you. 

Happy 2nd Birthday to Landen!

I know this post is a little late...OK 6 months late!!!  But it's never to late to remember him turning 2 and reflecting on how much he has grown this past year.  He is my little ball of energy at times, and then can be so easy going at the same time.  He loves to laugh and to make us laugh.  He is so so SO in love with big sister or "Sissy" as we all call her.  He follows her around and wants to do everything she does.  It's amazing how different he is from Viv at that age.  He is not afraid, is more outgoing, and more social with people.  He is talking so much now and really starting to put sentences together.  Im such a proud mama of my sweet boy!

This is how he ate his cupcake after we sang happy birthday. :-)

 

opening presents was quite the experience with all the kids.  They all wanted to help him!

Love that smile!

Home Alone face!  Making me laugh as usual

I love you sweet boy.  You bring so much joy and love to my heart. 

Rivera Life since Dec 2012...

Since my last post, life has been fun and hectic!!  I've been doing my best to keep my resolutions in check, and unfortunately this resolution has taken a back seat.  But i'm going to try again!!  We have been busy with school, which is almost over now!  Landen is not taking gymboree anymore, I decided I wanted to join the gym so I thought he would have his playtime at the daycare while I work out...but turns out he doesn't want anything to do with that daycare!!  I'll have to keep him busy at the park or something where he can interact with kids his age.  I'm thinking of sending him to the daycare at Viv's school next year when she starts kindergarten.  We have been camping and going to TorC alot, most weekends we are not home. we have lots of fun so it's OK :-)  Here's a few pictures of our time in T or C these past few months:

This is on one of our 4 wheeling rides in the hills behind our place in T or C.

This is the deck that Chris built with the help of some amazing friends and family.  This is right in our backyard!!  It goes over the Rio Grande River.

Working on the deck

Viv and Landen cuddling on the couch

Time out of the ride for playing and lunch later!

We also spent easter in T or C, and here is Landen finding a confetti egg and cracking it on the deck :-)

Down by the river with Gramma Rivera and Motley dog.  Now that it's low they are able to place down there and even walk across!

Landen coloring easter eggs

And Vivian coloring easter eggs

Now we are gearing up for the summer which will include many more trips to T or C, some camping trips with our new camper we got the first part of this year, and our roadtrip to San Diego for the Royster Family reunion in June!!  We are taking our camper on the roadtrip and staying on the beach.  We can't wait!!