Summa'time!

Here are Daddy and Mark laying down some mulch around the house. Thank you boys!

This has been our home for 6 years. Both Reese and Marina were born in this house. We've built so many memories here. Can't imagine moving anytime soon.

Wow! I never realized a simple bucket of water could entertain kids like this! LOL. Here are Reese and Marina, cooking, stirring, pouring, and splashing in some water while Daddy and Mark work.

Finally done!

After powerwashing, staining, and rearranging our deck, it has finally become a beautiful extension of our home! We LOVE how it turned out! We've already spent a couple evenings out there with friends, sitting at our new table and enjoying the firepit. It only took about 6 hrs total, to refurbish the wood deck. Totally worth the effort! I know it's modest in comparison to many landscaped backyards in the Naperville area...but even still, we are so proud.

Staining the Deck...

That's how I'm spending today and tomorrow, while we have the sunny weather. We just purchased a brand new deck set (glass top table, chairs, and umbrella). And they are so pretty that now the wood deck looks crappy. It's been a few yrs since the last time we stained it, and it's looking very weathered. So, I have a brand new stain...a rich wood color. I'm excited to complete the project and have friends over for a BBQ on our freshly stained deck with our new table and chairs...and perhaps a few new potted plants to pretty it up. Till then....back to the brushes and rollers.......

KCU Snapshots!

This week has been extremely eventful! We participated in a week-long event for Kid's Connection, which is our church's children's ministry. The event is called KCU (Kid's Connection University). The children sign up for a specific class to attend throughout the week, depending on their talents and interests. And we, as "professors," spend the week cultivating those talents and interests while teaching them how to glorify God. Whether it's skateboarding, cooking, science experiments, scrapbooking, choir, music video production, etc...we believe they can use their abilities to not only bring God glory, but also to impact their world for Christ! This week, I've been teaching the photography class. What a blast! Each day my class of eight kids has completed a specific activity to teach them some of the aspects of photography.

Here is an example of one of the activities we completed. It's called 'Bird's Eye vs. Worm's Eye.' We went around the inside and outside of the building, looking for objects that they could photograph from way down low (worm's eye view) and way up high (bird's eye view). Then we studied how differently the object appears from those different perspectives.

This was my absolute favorite activity of the entire week. It's called "Blindfolded Photography." I literally blindfolded the kids one by one and they had to snap random photos without being able to see. Then, I took their snapshots home and used my software to alter the photos and ended up with masterpieces. This was to show the kids the power of technology. LOL. It also had a life-lesson...in life, we don't always see what's ahead. We have no idea how certain situations will turn out. And we often times don't have much confidence that something beautiful can come out of a situation that we have no control over. But then God steps in, if we allow Him, and He takes what seems confusing and turns it into a masterpiece. A design that only He could have foreseen. This is an example from our "Blindfolded Photography."

Each day, we had a theme that was discussed at large group time and at small group time. The topics were Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness and Patience. So, I had the kids brainstorm ideas to create motivational posters for those themes. Here's what they came up with:

So, needless to say, it's been a crazy, busy, and exciting week. Tonight is our showcase night, where the parents come to see all that the kids have been doing. The artwork will be displayed, gallery-style, and I know the kids are so proud to show their parents all the hard work they have accomplished this week.

One More Time...

My sweet hubby decided to throw me one more b-day celebration. We had family from the Brody side over last night, as well as a couple of my closest friends. So fun!

Sweet Kristi made me a cute cake with, of course, 29 candles on it! And Heather made these amazing chocolate treats on a platter that are absolutely killing my diet!

Here I am with my gooooorgeous sis-in-law, Danielley-belly, who just turned 16yrs old last week and drove herself to my party with her brand-new license...her brand-new car!

...And here I am with 2 of my very best gal-pals...Kristi and Heather. They are like sisters to me! I love them so!

Turning Twenty Nine...

OH, What a night! My mom & sisters took me out last night to celebrate my 29th bday. They took me for a special dinner @ Olive Garden. Yummay!!! Here's Mom, Marilee, Me, and Jenae.








Here is my baby sister, Marilee, and me. People often tell us that we are very alike in our mannerisms and facial expressions. We are also very similar in our tastes in food and design. She is my twin, except for her choice of clothing. LOL. She totally pulls off that 'punk/goth' look better than I ever could!



This is me with my older sister, Jenae. She has been my best friend since birth! Always protecting me, always encouraging me, and always showing me the newest styles! Now that we are both in the midst of motherhood, we need each other more than ever. I love that we talk on the phone a hundred times a day! LOL. (And yes, Pastor Michael, that is a VIRGIN strawberry daquiri in my hand! lol)

Here I am with my mommy! I love her so much! She is the most inspiring, caring, giving and loving person I have ever met! She finds sentiment in any situation, and she'll have you in tears as she tells you just about any story. She has given me my Dominican heritage, as well as so many other unique traits. I LOVE HER!!!

I even received the traditional Happy Birthday serenade from the wait staff. So funny. I'd say the only thing missing from this perfect night with my family was......my 3rd sister, Lindsey, who lives all the way down in Missouri. She would have added an entirely new element to the mix...the goofy, laugh-til-your-gut-hurts humor that we love her for. See Linz! See what you're missing?? Move home soon, darlin! We miss you terribly! xoxo

"My eyebrows hurt!"

Poor little Marina woke up with a fever this morning. She was so fussy and uncomfortable. I gave her a dose of Motrin, to bring down the fever, and then I snuggled with her on couch to watch her latest favorite movie, 101 Dalmations.

After awhile, she became fussy again. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me, "My eyebrows hurt!" After fighting laughter, I asked her, "Do you mean your head hurts?" And she said yes. When I was refilling her Dora sippy cup, she shouted from the couch, "I need tissue! My noses are running!" which I've come to know means that both nostrils are running. Too cute, Marina! Too cute!