Mona's Moment

On birthdays past and present

2017-02-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

So far, two birthdays have passed that I have not written about, my Jonas' and my Paloma's. There is one coming up in April, my little Angus'.

I used to write them each a letter letting them know what was happening at that time in their life. Lately, I have found it so hard just to write...in general. I have found it harder and harder to find time. Although the time is there. I just have to make room for it.

My children are older and it should be easier but for some reason I put it off.

So here goes. I'm combining all three letters, that way no one feels left out and I don't forget one child, because I love all three of you.

Dear Jonas, Angus and Paloma,

This last year, 2015, has been so busy, but also so much fun.

National Parks All The Way

2016-10-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

We recently traveled to Utah for five days and visited three national parks: the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. Our trip started with all fivebof us in ol' white and motorcycle in the back.

We were going to follow Jeremiah while he rode the bike as acpart of an antique motorcycle club ride. I was a little worried, thinking id get lost. It ended being a great trip in the truck with the kids and I.

Jonas was my co-pilot, sitting passenger. Angus and Paloma sat in the back seat and fought and played and napped and fought and played again and again.

We met jeremiah at each destination, had lunch, did some sight seeing and were back on the road.

random moments in january

2016-02-01T21:22:00.001-08:00

Angus' new year's resolutions

2016-01-11T20:53:00.001-08:00

"My New Years Resolutions is to

Do more landray,

workout more,

and pet my dog more."

Yes, yes and yes, my little Angy!

What the hail is going on here?

2016-01-07T19:29:00.001-08:00

a day at aunt debbies ~ jan. 2

2016-01-04T22:38:00.001-08:00

the first day of the year

2016-01-04T22:35:00.001-08:00

Our first day of 2016 took place in Laguna Beach, CA. I slept in because of a sleepless night, while my family got up early, ate their complimentary breakfast and headed for the beach.

When I reached them, they had explored the area finding cool sea life all morning. Some perfecting climbing, while the other seek and find, touch and feel, what the small pools of water hold.

They always have a great time, never wanting to leave the ocean, the sand, the fun. We bring them because we want that love for nature to always be in their minds. Video games, T.V., toys are not missed, at least while our bodies are out on the beach.

They play happily together. Running toward the parting wave and away the crashing tide. They make up games as they jump up, not letting the water touch their little feet. The water always wins. It reachs out for them, as the run away, heads turned back to see how close or how far it is from them.

At first, Jonas hesitates to get in. When we turn to look at him, a few minutes have passed, he is halfway in the water.

They dance, jump, skip, bend at their waist and run the water through their hands, splash it up in the air or at each other. It is amusing to watch.

We sit on our blanket, watching our beautiful babes loving the simple things.

New Year's Eve ~ Dec. 31

2016-01-04T19:51:00.001-08:00

The things that make them

2015-09-10T21:42:00.001-07:00

I watched Angus walk up to his backpack hanging by the door, walk back to the couch with his lunch bag in hand. Whatever leftovers he had, he pulls out to eat. Orange slices and goldfish.
I like that he remembers his uneaten food. He is thrifty. He never longs for toys as I've seen other children in this household wish for more. He is happy and content with the minimal. He is my smart little mathematician. When we work on homework, math is the subject where he excels.

Our days are funny like this. I watch them everyday do or say funny things.

Wild haired Paloma, with child friendly scissors in hand, cuts and pastes, colors and draws, and cuts again. She creates everyday. She gets ideas and makes them come to light. Albeit four-year-old ideas, but ideas that come to fruition nonetheless. I am amazed at her energy and her imagination.

I am here for this reason; to observe and encourage. To love and apreciate.

All while Jonas gets me out of trying to figure out what to make for dinner, because he thought tacos would be perfect for tonight. He does this often, which I appreciate, because I can get stuck in meal planning ruts. He loves cooking and wants to learn by creating as much as he can. Even when it means the kitchen will end in a mess, I allow his creativity to work.

the everyday

2015-08-27T22:08:00.001-07:00

*angus asking me how many hours he will sleep if he he goes to bed at 6, 7, or 8 p.m. he then wants to go to bed to get enough sleep for the next day of school.

*my paloma going to school in the morning is the cutest thing I have seen. she puts her backpack on, and carries her lunch bag.

*jonas riding the bus with his brother. the second day I overheard them in the shower, joni giving angy instructions on what to do and where to wait for him. my sweet boy is very responsible.

april 28 / a day in tucson

2015-08-24T20:33:00.001-07:00

a day for many, a day for two

2015-08-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

today was a good day. it had little ups and downs, nothing to worry about, just everyday human things. we went to the museum with my brother and my niece and nephew. we had a good time, but there were so many kids already at the museum. we kept an eye on our bunch, but then you'd blink and they'd wander away. wait, there they are or there they go. we made it out, all seven of us, all together just as we arrived. success.

getting home was tough, as i was getting so sleepy. the kids were good, they played, talked, ate and watched little t.v. i made a cup of coffee and felt awake. i dropped angus off at his best bud's house and loma fell asleep on the way to her preschool. it was joni and i awake in the car. talking.

he is a good kid, that boy. very opinionated, but good, nonetheless. it was nice to talk with him.

loma stayed asleep all evening after many attempts to awaken her. that was alright with me as i got the dishes washed and the laundry sorted.

jonas and i talked more. he made cookies. we decided to draw pictures. it was nice, just he and i. my first born. we tried to wake loma up again, but to no avail. the summer has tired her out. that is OK. sleep is good for the brain.

we talked some more and played a game of uno. his eyes tired, my eyes wide awake after that stinkin' coffee i drank too late in the afternoon.

at the end of the night, he said, "thanks for drawing with me mom, and thanks for playing uno with me. it was fun."

it was fun my sweet boy. i love you jonas.

girls who lunch / april 27

2015-08-05T21:49:00.001-07:00

Rolberto's is one of our favorite places to have lunch. the rolled taco's with guacamole on the side is their favorite with an ice cold horchata. paloma loves it. we can't drive by there without paloma asking to eat there. we don't eat there every time she asks, but we sure do enjoy the greasy mexican food on occasion. there's nothing like it.

a girl and her dad / april 24

2015-08-05T21:40:00.001-07:00

Paloma was a regular at the shop while the boys were in school. She and I would often bring breakfast over and eat there.

The day was overcast, she and her daddy decided to eat outside. With their burrito and horchata in hand they had a nice breakfast al fresco.

They talked, I can't remember what about, but they sure were sweet to look at, on that cloudy day.

afternoon in the backyard

2015-07-27T23:11:00.001-07:00

one day in april...

2015-07-21T20:38:00.001-07:00

...we found the river in secret spots

...we spotted a dam surrounded by dessert

...my photo was aligned perfectly, sometimes, life fits just right

...a little boy looks out and shows just how much he has grown

...we posed in front of a tall saguaro, hands full with our afternoon supplies

...we saw pretty wildflowers growing in heat

...woodsy owl asked us to pick up our trash

...i was photographed with my babes

...the sun was in the right spot

...my family looked cute while walking back to our blazer

...my youngest jumped on the sand, pretending to jump waves

...paloma was above water

...jonas dug a hole as deep as his knees

...angus found a tiny heart rock

...a smile was bright

...a boy attempted to start a fire with sticks

...beautiful curls blew in the wind

...miah tried to gracefully catch a goldfish in his mouth

...angy and i took a selfie

...loma did not catch the goldfish and angus thought that was funny

...angus made the cutest face

...loma turned to smile at the perfect moment

...my three babes looked so sweet sitting on the sand

...two little ones felt earth and water in their hand

...we went to the lake.

time

2015-06-07T23:08:00.001-07:00

I am trying to be better about visiting my parents. So many days go by when I stop and think that I have not really sat and talked to them in person. I am always running here and there, with school drop offs and pick ups, homework and bed times.

I think back to when my grandma was alive and in better health. I think about all of the times I could have visited her, but didn't because I was caught up in my world. Now, there is no going back. I often get a thought of wanting to visit her and I can't. Its just an empty spot that I can't fill. I don't want that to happen with my parents. I don't want to feel that again. I want to know that I did all I could and was there all I could be. That I sat there and talked to them.

I want my children to know how important it is to spend time with all of their grandparents. They are creating memories that I hope will never be lost. I want them to feel that love that only grandparents give, because it is special.

Every time we do visit them, it definitely is a fun time. The kids love them and love being at their house. Even when there is nothing to do. We find something. We do it all together.

encanto

2015-06-04T22:56:00.001-07:00

starting fires

2015-06-03T22:09:00.001-07:00

This child is drawn to fire. He is always trying to start one the old fashioned way, by rubbing two sticks together. The hard way, I should say. Or any way, really. If we are at either grandparents house, grandma Patricia's or grandma Estella's, he asks if we can have a fire.

He knows the dangers and rules about starting one on his own.

Maybe soon he'll be able to start one this way. He is very persistent. I know he will get it really soon.

grandma turns 60

2015-05-26T22:10:00.001-07:00

We celebrated my mom's birthday in april by having dinner at Oregano's. She loved it because the dishes were big and delicious. My mom's most favorite thing is to eat good food, so we were in the right place.

The kids love grandma so much. I know why. Its because my mom gives them unconditional love when she is with them. She will do anything for her grandchildren. I have to stop her at times because she can over spoil. But there will be no other person on this earth that will do that for them.

She has so much patience. She taught me how to be a good, loving mother. I love her and I love to see her happy.

Chef Jonas

2015-05-23T23:44:00.001-07:00

For his inventor report jonas chose the man who invented the potato chip, George Crum. Of all the inventors, he had to pick a chef. He loves to cook, so it made sense.

He had to dress up as his inventor. He looked so good. He borrowed from grandma Trisha a chef coat and we bought a hat, mustache and apron. He also wore pants and a button up shirt. He had his speech ready. He also had props; potato chips, of course.

He looked like a professional.

Of course, with all that clothes on my poor kid got overheated. He was sweating so much and looked like he was about to faint. He had a stomach ache. I made him take off his coat and apron. He drank some water and walked out to get fresh air.

I hate it when stuff like that happens. All that to put on a good presentations and he starts feeling sick. But he was a great George Crum.

And he was ok in the end.

we went to the 'copa count fair

2015-05-01T12:00:00.001-07:00

And all I got were these two photos of my mango.

So I would consider it a good time.

And it was on our 12 year anniversary. Spending it with the little people we love was the best.

lazy sunday

2015-04-29T21:59:00.001-07:00

Just a couple of kids watching some t.v. We lounged around the house the day after Angus' birthday. Before we headed out to the fair. We are just a non-stop family.

Mavis also needed some tube time.

angus dylan // six years old

2015-04-27T22:04:00.001-07:00

Dear angus,

It's been a few weeks since you turned six. The little boy who was the cutest chunkiest baby is now a big kindergartner. You know how to read and do math. Amazing stuff is happening in that brain of yours. You catch on quickly. You surprise me with all the big words you know.

You continue to be my sweet boy with a funny sense of humor. You are thoughtful and curious. In the mornings, I have to talk you out of sleep, reminding you that it is yet another day of school. I wish you could stay cuddled in your warm bed as much as I wish I could stay in bed. We definitely have that in common.

You have your very own friends and were so happy to see them at your party. It's neat to see you show up in the morning and walk away from me and Paloma to join your little group of friends. You run off to play and as the bell rings to line up I walk up and tell you, "I love you, Angus. Have a great day!" You give me a kiss and turn around. Confidently and comfortably you walk in to class. That is what I call growing up.

You can now cross the monkey bars from one end to the other. You read your own books. You want to do everything Jonas wants to do. You are a natural gymnast. You still love ice cream. At night you want me to tell you "Angu" stories, like the ones I told you when you were two years old.

I love you my sweetheart!

Love,
Mom

6 years old ~ angus dylan

2015-04-16T21:30:00.001-07:00

We celebrated angus ' 6th birthday. Family and friends were there to celebrate our little man's birthday. He was so happy.