Part 3 - The 1/2 mile run

SUPERBOYS!!

David and Andrew before the race
David coming toward me and Andrew in the background
Andrew from behind

And wouldn't you know that as they crossed the finish line my camera died??? AAAHHHH!! But, at least I got these shots. David had a fun run at his school one of the nights we were visiting and Judy asked if Andrew could participate as well. Boy, did she earn brownie points with Andrew! Andrew had such a great time with David. David was such a good sport and so sweet with Andrew. He kept running back to keep Andrew going and said he tried to stay with him because he didn't know anyone there. So, now Andrew has moments of being excited about running. That is an interest I would love to cultivate in him.

It was fun to introduce Makenna to her (one of her names!) namesake, Aunt Judy. Samuel flirts shamelessly with Judy and totally got into trying to play with the big boys. Alas, we didn't get to visit for very long, but hopefully on our next trip we'll get to remedy that.

Just a sidenote, Makenna rolled over for the first time this morning and up onto her elbows! She knew she had done something!

Part 2

Andrew's very first time in the snow in Winter Park, CO. He was all bent out of shape because the snow was cold!
Andrew, Sam, Wendy, Makenna, Adam, and James. I love this picture! Made me really miss ATC!
Makenna and James in cahoots already!! James is 52 days older than his Aunt Makenna...
Uncle Herb (George) with his great-nephew, James, niece Makenna, and nephew Andrew
Son-in-law, Adam Paulukaitis, with his sister-in-law, Makenna Camarena!!

Referring to the first picture of Andrew, he was a bit bewildered when his hands started that burning/hurting/itchy/ache from the snow. Then he got downright angry! His comment: "I'm angry about it!" I took him on a walk later and it began to snow big, fluffy flakes. It was beautiful. We were both soaking wet by the time we went back to the room.

It is always fascinating to me to witness the power of "blood" or perhaps a more appropriate phrase is "family". Evokes warmer thoughts, I think. Wendy had left the nest around the same time I had Andrew. Then she served her mission and returned when he was 2 1/2. All of the boys think she is the "bee's knees"! It was so cool to see her with Makenna. Even though she has her own child now, I think she will serve as a fantastic sisterly example to all of her siblings. Andrew and Sam adored James! He's such a cuddly little baby. Of course, I snatched him up first, but nothing compared to seeing his Grandpa hold him. James just leaned right into his face; he KNEW who this man was. Grandpa affectionately refers to him as "Jimmy A". There are so many examples of that family connection. It was fun to see Wendy and Adam in their new roles as parents, they are both good at it and work together well. I appreciated having time to just spend with them without having to be anywhere.

Uncle Herb (my brother, obviously!) was kind enough to invite all of us over for dinner. He treated us to BBQ'd steak. It was wonderful. My favorite part of the visit was piling my children on him and taking pictures. I think he enjoyed it too. The little ones just look at him in total awe (that'll change when they get to know him better! ;-)) Herb's son Mykel came over for a bit. He is such a handsome young man. It was great to see him.

I wanted to make a comment about my son-in-law, Adam. I love the picture of him and Makenna. It was fun to watch him with all of the kids. I think Andrew would have used him for a jungle gym if he could have arranged it! He and Wendy have been doing a lot of Family History research on the Camarena line. Just watching him ask knowledgeable questions about it of my DH and the shuttered, but secretly pleased expression on said DH's face, endeared him to us even more. How's this for a deep thought...Wendy's younger siblings will never remember her without him...anyway, I just wanted to let Adam know how much we love him too!

More to come....

Road Traveled Too Long! Part 1

Well, we finally made it back! It kinda went a little like this over the past 17 days:

*Shocks went out in Vegas...must repair
*Rotator cuff injury for Suzanne was a nightmare...intense pain, could not lift babies!
*Okay, who ordered the winter weather? Nothing like watching a 4 year old catch snowflakes in his mouth for the first time.
*Note to self: must buy stock in the ibuprofen industry...love whoever invented it!
*9450 foot summit at Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado...AWESOME! Never saw so much snow in my life and more started falling as we were going through. Did anyone tell the weather god it's the end of MAY??
* Notice DH has golf-ball sized lump on his face...bad-tooth abscessed...no whining from him...REALLY! Refer to ibuprofen comment above!
*Meet my nieces girls and visit with her hubby, see a happy, healthy, beautiful Candice.
*Get to see Wendy, Adam, and meet little James (what a cute, cuddly grandson I have!) FINALLY! Introduce Makenna to her awesome, beautiful big sister.
*Load my kids and grandkid on Uncle Herb and take TONS of pictures. He BBQ'd us some yummy steak too!
*Visit with Aunt Judy, Uncle Mike and David...Andrew ran his first official 1/2 mile fun run and loved it!
*Drive down US 89 in UT and encounter more of the fluffy white stuff...what the heck???

More details will follow over the next few days. I really wanted to share some of my favorite pictures so far...so here they are!

Andrew admiring the Welcome to Colorado sign
My handsome 4 year old experiencing unabashed joy in the snow!
I love pictures like this! My DH shares his warmth with our babies!
Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs
My beautiful niece, Candice, with my little Baby Mak!

I will share more in the days to follow, like watching James snuggle with Grandpa the first time, Wendy seeing Makenna and watching the two younger boys go NUTZ seeing she and Adam, witnessing hero-worship blossom in Andrew for his "cousin" David. Watching my children climb all over Uncle Herb and I think he really liked it!