My own 2 hands Part Deux

Please forgive how LATE this post is. I just realzied that I never posted our second trip to Mexico. I know, you were really wondering how this came out. Well here it sat when we found it again! September 17th was a day to never forget. It was the day that my mom died. What better way to celebrate it then to head into Mexico and drown my sorrows with building a house for someone who needed it! Please stop here and see Part one if you didn't read it first. Click here.

This is the house that now sits on the empty lot I brought you in our first trip to Mexico. The first week we went down we got a lot done, but the second trip for the chruch that we did not attend, went awesome too! They were able to put up all the walls, put on the roof and get the house ready for stucco! Looks a LOT different from the last time we left it!


The day started off with sorting. The gravel we had been using to mix the concrate had to be seperated so we could use just the "sand" to mix the stucco. Again, this was an amazing expierence because I had NO idea how any of this worked before Mexico. It's hard work too!


The chicken wire was already up and after mixing stucco it had to be put on the house. I had no clue what I was getting myself into or what the heck I was doing. It was a lot of work!

In between coats of stucco the house had to dry. So we left the house as is and headed out for street taco's! I had no idea I would get so lucky and get to have them for lunch!

Back for the second coat on the house!

This is what the stucco looked like when it dried. All professional like and stuff.

Hard working boys!

I'm so glad this was something that Victor and I got to do together! It's amazing to do it and even better to do it together!

When the house had enough stucco on it and we were done, we turned over the keys to the family. It was a great feeling. I'm pretty sure I cried!

After turning over the keys we prayed with the mom and for the family. We prayed that the house would be a strong foundation for them!

This was our NOCC crew and I love them and can't wait to go back to Mexico with all of these hard working and selfless people!

The family has been blessed with a nice home to live in. I have been blessed with hands that help to make this home. I have been blessed with an amazing church who gives to people and isn't afraid to get dirty to help.

A mexico trip would not be complete without seeing a Donkey on the side of the road!

Bowling Fun!

We are super lucky to have found a great church that we love and that is full of awesome people! Last weekend our Home Group that we study the bible with each week had an outing! We planned a day at Boomers for go cart racing and some fun games, but the day brought rain so instead we went bowling! Which I believe was even more fun!

The boys.

The girls

Since Alana had been away from us all weekend we took her with us for a little fun!

This was her first time bowling EVER! She did so well, I was very impressed! She carried a 9 pound ball and threw it down the lame. Some of the times it would stop in the middle of the lane because she couldn't throw it hard enough. We got them to put up the bumpers every time it was her turn. She really enjoyed it and I'm excited to know we can take her bowling again and it will be fun for her!

Princess Kalea

My sweet little Kali is already 5 years old! I can't believe she is getting so old! She's like Alana's big sister in so many ways! Alana looks up to her and Kali is so loving and sweet, she is the best influence on Alana!

Kali decided a few months ago that she wanted a Tangled Birthday party! My cousin Chrissy spent countless hours making plans and decorations for the day! Of course a few days before the party, rain was predicted on Saturday to ruin our backyard party plans! But Chrissy was smart and rented a tent to have the party in so no rain would ruin Kali's day!

A lot of last minute stuff came together to make this plain white tent a castle for Kali's Tangled Party! Chris found an awesome scene to add to the background! Chris and my Aunt spent a lot of time making lanterns out of paper to hang! You can't tell too much in this picture but they were amazing! Each one was different and super creative!

Rapunzel joined the party as well. She was cardboard but SO real looking!

We are buds. Doesn't she look so real?!?

Chrissy didn't miss a detail!

The party was complete with these amazing braids that Chrissy made for all the kids. Crowns and all! The best idea EVER!

Yes, I've said how creative Chrissy is, but this one just shows her talent! She made the cake, tower and cupcakes! The bottom of the tower is Styrofoam with a bird house on top of it.

Amazing right?

Kali also wanted Strawberry cake so Chrissy made these awesome cupcakes!

Alana and the birthday girl.

Repunzel, Alana and Lexers

Me and my sweet Princess Kalea - I love this girl!

Chrissy had a face painter and a animal balloon artist.

When I say balloon artist, I mean ARTIST. This lady was AMAZING!! She made Ariel and Jasmine, and every other princess and animal you could think of and did it so fast! Here is Victor's Angel's hat.

Even though it was a rainey day, it was such a great birthday! Kali is a very lucky girl to have such a great mommy to do amazing things for her!

Whole New World

Alana is lovin Jasmine and a whole new world these days. She's almost got the entire song memorized and I LOVE her to hear her sing it! My favorite part: Unbelievable sights indescribable feelings... from my 3 year old!

Wordless Wednesday

Come again another day

We love the rainey weather and wish it would stay for awhile!

I heart her

Alana is the bravest girl EVER! She still has a heart murmur and her doctor continues to monitor it. Today we had an appt at the hospital to have an Echocardiography done. Super fancy term for an ultrasound on your heart! I feel that if I prepare Alana for what is coming she seems ok with is. So we talked about her heart and the doctor wants to see it and listen to it. We talked about where it is. Even then, I kind of thought she might freak out with the pulse monitors and stuff, but she seemed just fine! She listened to the doctor and did everything she asked. She even got to look at the pictures and video of her heart. We explained what she was seeing to her and she seemed not to interested in it, but good to know info for her. My child totally rocks and I'm so proud of her! She's very brave and I am glad she is! I'll post more when I find out about how the test came out. I'm praying for a clear bill of health finally.


My girls beautiful beating heart!

When I'm 64

Mom would have been 64 years old today.

When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oooo
You'll be older too, (ah ah ah ah ah)
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.

I could be handy mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride.

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck, and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

-The amazingly talented, and my moms favorite band - The Beatles