Another Day in Texas

This is the view from our front window! We look directly at the park. Good thing the kiddos have already been taught to ask for things only once, or I'd be hearing, "I want to go to the park" over and over and over! They ask once a day. I haven't been able to take them yet, but I plan to get out of the house a little tomorrow.

The kiddos have been so helpul in unpacking boxes and carrying their things upstairs that we just had to take many breaks throughout the day for some serious fun! Here are some pics of our bubble wrap party!!! Crazy kids and a crazy/mama/aunt!!!! These are the tiny little moments in a day that make all the work worth it!

The house is almost set up, and I will post pics soon. I miss all of my friends and the few family members left in Cali, but I have to admit that I really like this area of Texas. We shall see how comfy I become here.

Tonight, I must admit, Zack said out of the blue, "I want Auntie Gina come here"!!!! I was like, "Little dude, I'm here." He said, "I want Mama AND Auntie Gina to play with me." I was like OMW - he sincerely misses his Auntie! Don't tell her or she'll get a big head!

Josh and Ken have been angels and are loving Texas as well. They are AWESOME kids, and all five kids including my niece Kaylie are inseparable!!!

God is so good to surround us with people we love even if sometimes it is by internet or phone! Well, it is 1:00AM here so I better get some shut eye before I get up for another day of unpacking!

Please comment! I miss you all!

The Vida Loca

Okay, so we are still unpacking and will have to store much in the garage! However, the kids have been troopers and have helped a ton with getting things to the right rooms. It has been so crazy and busy that my structured little life has gone crazy. None of the kids have even had a piece of fruit this week, and I fear the oldest drank 4 sodas. I just couldn't say no because of all the work he was doing. The youngers fell asleep in about three minutes flat after nice warm baths!!!

Here is a pic of how very busy mama has been:

Road Trip FINALLY over!!! PTL!

Okay, so the road trip finally came to an end. The kids were so good for the entire 22 hour drive! I had no incidents of melt downs due to them being over tired or anything like that. We drove through Arizona where we slept at my brother's inlaw's house. The kids had a good time there.

I found Flagstaff to be quite beautiful, but other than that Arizona did not appeal to me. New Mexico has some beautiful buttes, but it is not really my style either. Texas - well the state is so large that it is tough to have an opinion of Texas as a whole. So, I'll say that I love the Frisco/McKinney area which is where my little family has landed. Our house is just outside of the main city of Frisco. We are five miles away from a HUGE mall, but not so close that we will have to deal with the traffic.

The kids LOVE the new house and haven't even really noted having no pool. They are just glad to be in Texas and Zack is looking forward to starting school in two weeks. This kid learned his alphabet by sight and sound in a week. He also would rather flip through magazines than children's books. He picks out so many things with great detail. I could be wrong, but I think he's going to be a natural in the classroom.

When we were about 4 hours from Frisco, we had a funny experience. Mike's car and Steph's car were having a dance off as we were in the caravan. So, they would drive by each other and dance it up. The kids were rolling!!! Well at one point Drew, waved Mike over wanting him and the kids to come and see them dance. When Mike got close, Steph started dancing away somewhat "out" the window shaking it like a Polaroid picture. Jerry didn't know about the dance off so he thought they were waving him and his truck off the freeway!!!! We all ended up at a gas station in the middle of Nowhere, Texas. Drew has his stereo going with the doors open and we were all dancing a jig as my mom would say. It was fun, and also the first time I saw Stepha smile since we left CA!

For those who like to fill in blanks, nothing about the dance off was unsafe or hazardous to any body in the cars.

Here are a few pics from the trip:

OMW - I found a wireless connection!

We are on the road and here is what we miss most ALREADY:

Grandma - She is no long distance grandma. She is first class, hands on, involved, loving, kind, fun, and interactive. She is a grandma that leads her grandkids to Christ. She is one who PLAYS with them. She has slumber parties with them, sings with them, dances with them, and even pretends with them. Grandma is always willing to drive to our house to play because she knows that just where all the toys are and where the kids can have the most fun and quality time interacting. She's also the grandma that takes alone time with each and every one of her grandkids. WE MISS HER!!!! She'll be in Texas by October so for now we must suck it up. But, we definitely want her to know she's one of a kind treasured as a rare gem. We love you, Abuelita/Babushka. For some reason, she is Mexican to a couple and Russian to another couple!!! Makes no difference as she will answer to any name as long as it signifies that she loves you.

Okay, so here is the rest of the list:

Mexican Food
Rona
Mexican Food
Wanda
Mexican Food
Amy
Mexican Food
Gina
Mexican Food
Liz
Mexican Food
Home...

More at the next stop. Miss you all!!!!

Last Use of this Year's Disneyland Passes

It was super crowded, but how could we leave for Texas without visiting The Magic Kingdom once more? The kids had a ball!

First, they went on Thunder Mountain which is always fun, and the line moves fast! After this, we went to the line for Nemo. It was 2 hours long!!!!!!!! But, again, how could we leave for Texas and not ride the new ride first???? I waited with Sophia for most of the time while Steph and the three boys went on a couple other rides. It worked out well.

Sophia LOVED the Nemo ride! She was very excited and kept saying, "This is funny"!!! Honestly though, it wasn't worth the wait. However, the kids liked it so it was a memory made.

So cute while waiting in line. The kids climbed a bit here and there. They were all super well behaved (as usual). This bunch of kids LOVE each other! It is especially fun to watch Ken with Sophia. He is very loving, and she melts and kisses him on the nose so much. What an awesome experience for Kenny (12) to experience. I think God has really shown Gina's kids what it means to love with all your heart when someone can give nothing in return.

Here the kiddos are posing as they love to do!

This pic of me with the kiddos is for Heather and Allie who always ask me to take pics with me in them. I kindly refuse, but today, I had a weak moment!!!!

Be on the lookout in coming days for pics of the road trip to Texas!!!! I am not sure when I will have internet connection, but I will attempt everything in order to blog.

Thanks for reading!!!

Departing Soon

I am not sure if we will leave on Wed or Thurs, but I know it is all too soon, my friends. I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all of you who have embraced Zack and Sophia in their journey to their forever home. It has been such an awesome thing to watch this miracle unfold, and many of you readers have helped make it happen.

I think of so many of you that Zack and Sophia have gotten to know personally. You have enriched their lives, and I thank you for that. I thank you for being a part of our first months as a family. I thank you for thinking outside the box and realizing that God's calling doesn't always fit into what many people would expect. I am so glad that God is so much greater than human understanding.

When I think about my life up until this time, I realize that it has all led me to this point of taking my little family to Texas. It is scary, nerve racking, and down right sad at times, but I have perfect peace about it because I know it is God's leading. He has never led me astray.

I count myself fortunate to be surrounded by so many people that know how to LOVE from the bottom of their toes to the tops of their heads. I pray some more genuine people such as yourselves come my way in Texas although they could never replace any of you.

And, lastly, thanks to my wonderful family. You know who you are. You are not defined by blood, but rather by loyalty and by the unconditional love we have shared in such rich give and take relationships. Thanks for making the long drives out to our house to see the kids in their own environment as home is truly where kids are themselves. Thanks for coming to the many get togethers we've had here at the Bluebell abode. Thanks for forgiving my short comings and for opening your arms wide to me, my little family, and to the others I call family. You have blessed us all. My wish is to land in Texas and find some others to bless as you have blessed me.

I'll be back to visit CA much as my dad, sis, and many of you who love Zack and Sophia will still be living here!

A Day in the Park

Today we went to the park to meet new friends. Crazy, huh, since we're just about to leave for Texas? But, I don't think it was too crazy because I am a very loyal and sentimental friend. I still keep in touch with friends I've had for more than 20 years. I know I'll fly back here a couple of times a year which is when I'll see Stephanie, Emma, Austin and Ammy. And, I know I'll see Sweet Pea as well because well she's another new friend that's a keeper.

So, today, Rona was kind enough to buy enough KFC to feed the bunch of us as we visited and played. Sophia and Austin played super well together. It was sweet to watch them because while she was a dare devil, Austin was looking out for her. Even though he's a year younger, he was very much protecting her. Just check out the pics of Sophia climbing and him helping her. He was so sweet. He kept saying, "You can do it." "Try again."





Emma (10) and Kenny (12) were climbin' the trees as well and had a good time although they are much more mature than the youngers. They even had lunch at the adult table! LOL

It was a precious time today. I know I sound very treacle again, but I have to admit I am SUPER sad to leave my friends both old and new.

A Day at the Beach

I forgot our swimsuits!!!! We had fun anyhow 'cause we're a spontaneous bunch!

This was Zack and Sophia's first time to the beach, and they LOVED it!!! When Sophia first saw the ocean from the car, she yelled out, "Mama, swimming pool"!! Considering how close the beach is to home, I am surprised it took me this long to get there.

Zack enjoyed writing his letters in the sand, and we made lots of words! So, I had to take a pic of the cousins all together. These four get along GREAT!!!!

Texas? Who came up with that idea? Oh, what the heck let's get our hands dirty!

Sophia did not have a scared bone in her body! She was in that water lickity split!

Stepha thinking I will never see this sand again...okay, I'll smile for the camera...seriously do we have to move to Texas? And, her final thought, "Who does that"?

Josh and Ken were teaching Zack to body surf. Sophia wanted to so badly, but this mama is still a little frightened by the waves for such a light weight as Sophia Joy.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our day in a nutshell. We'll be busy doing California things each day up until the moment we move! Then, I fear, we'll choose to vacation here each year!