Wow!  Time flies when you're working full time and parenting three busy boys!  I have no excuse for not keeping up with our blog, except that life has stolen my attention and most weekends I spend in my pajamas, snuggling with the kiddos or watching Neftali at his soccer games.  Kudos to bloggers who are able to keep up with regular posting while balancing motherhood and a career.  Apparently I have a thing or two to learn!


Okay, in an attempt to catch up at lightning speed, Nefty is a second grader and doing an amazing job in all things academic and otherwise.  He's reading above grade level and loves math.  He's also been playing indoor soccer and REALLY growing as a disciplined player.  I am amazed - and almost brought to tear - when I watch him play.  I barely recognize him on the field!  Wow!!  Such a treat!  (The adult conversation time with other players' moms is also pretty special as we root for our boys!)  To date, they have played 3 seasons and are undefeated.  Diligent coach + disciplined players = a powerhouse of a team!

This pic is about a year old, but it's a great example of how Nefty is really owning the ball!

Solomon is in kindergarten and also doing splendidly.  He is in a first grade reading group and catches on to everything so quickly.  His sense of humor and goofiness always keep up laughing.  He loves jumping off the couch and doing other crazy parkour moves in the living room.  We think he's going to be our gymnast.  Or a wrestler.

Ready for his first day of Kinder, Sept 2013

Mr. London

The Menéndez Brothers

Mrs. Menéndez and her boys are taking over Sarah J!

Liam turned four a month ago and is keeping us on our toes!  He is our sleeper and doesn't want to get out of bed in the morning (too bad his brothers can't take a hint!  LOL!)  He is vibrant and energetic and says the darndest things.  He keeps us laughing and his joy and enthusiasm is absolutely contagious.  We SO blessed with our beautiful boys!

The hardest adjustment we've had to make in the last threeyears is accepting some medical diagnosis that we weren't expecting.  Both Solomon and Liam have been diagnosed with asthma, though Solomon's is much more severe and wasn't even on the map until he became ill in July 2011 and ended up in the hospital - by ambulance to the PICU - for several days.  After two more visits, I think we've finally grasped the seriousness of his asthma.  We are praising God that he has been much healthier post diagnosis, but every time he sneezes, we're on guard!

Ah, the dreaded dragon mask

Getting an EEG.  Liam is a little worried for Nefty.

Neftali also received a shocking diagnosis.  After his first full week of first grade, he had a seizure in his bed as he dozed off to sleep.  We were terrified and shocked.  He also got a ride to the hospital in an ambulance, though by the time the EMTs arrived he had recovered.  We arrived at the hospital and the ER doctor ordered an MRI - but nothing else.  To make a long story short, it has been about a year and a half since that first seizure, and he has continued to battle them regularly.  His diagnosis is benign rolandic epilepsy.  We have seen several specialists, tried some dietary changes, and recently began seeing an osteopath. Through much prayer and persistence to not accept this diagnosis to be something he'll face until puberty or perhaps longer, we are feeling as though we are close to holding the seizures at bay, or at least lengthening the break in between. God is faithful and we won't give up.  We are grateful that the seizures have not interfered with his academic success or his athletic activities.  He is our strong warrior and daily living out his name, which means "I have wrestled greatly and overcome!"  Hallelujah!

Dr. Coryell @ OHSU as he confirms Nefty's diagnosis

As for Emilio and I, he recently turned 40 yrs old in January, and we celebrated our 11 year wedding anniversary in February!  What a whirlwind!  We praise the Lord every day that we have each other to walk this journey with.  Whether it's starting a small business, buying a house, selling that house and moving internationally, migrating from Oregon to Washington, or leading the worship team for our Hispanic brothers and sisters, we look eagerly forward to many more unforgettable moments in the years that await us!

Date Night 

"Look Mom!  I'm an astronaut!"

Nothing like a good book with your big brother

Snow day!

Losing teeth

Our family

Clark County All-Church Picnic, Pearson Air Museum

For the second year in a row, we attended the Clark County All-Church Picnic at Pearson Air Museum. It is put on by Detour Ministries, and was a huge success! We barely knew anyone last year, as we had just moved to Vancouver. But this year, we were able to meet up with our friends the Paces and the Ritchies, and fellowship together as we ate a picnic lunch and the kids played. There was live music, a hilarious Christian comedian, a bazillion games and activities for the kids, and beautiful sunshine. A perfect day!

An amazing turnout! Over 3,000 people!

Dogpile!

Taking a breather

Worn out

Nefty and his friend Hudson

Solomon and Sam (behind Nefty)

Who wants to play with me?

Setting up for a picnic

Zoo Adventures

We have been blessed to make several visits to the Oregon Zoo this summer. We went with our friends Pete & Jennifer Geloff and their two boys in early summer. We also were able to meet our friends from Springfield, Jason & Melanie Brown and their two boys, earlier this week. What a blessing! We are fortunate to have wonderful friends, both for ourselves and for our boys. The Geloffs have shown us the "ropes" of the zoo (believe it or not, I had never been there all of my 20 yrs in Oregon!!), and we had a very sweet reunion with the Browns. We love our zoo membership!

Solomon, Tyrannosaurus Rex tamer

Being silly

Scaling its back like a pro!

Waiting for our friends, the Geloffs, to arrive

Photo op

The real thing

Pete and the boys exploring the sounds of the creatures of the

Great Northwest

Testing the water

Short cut

Turtles!

Pete feeding the Lorakeets

Having a good time!

Snack time

Playing in the dirt after lunch. Boys will be boys!

Abrams Park, Ridgefield

Another attempt at a family pose

Enjoying a yummy sandwich - all by himself!

Emilio had to sprint to make it into the picture. He even had a split

second to cross his legs! :)

Old school play structure - we LOVED it!

Sliding down with daddy!

Eyes wide with delight! (or is it terror?)

Solomon found a dead bee on the way to the car.

Ridgefield countryside. Gorgeous.