Love the Summer...

I love summer time! The pool, sleeping late, hot sunny days, late nights watching movies, and so much more. This summer we are adding football practices 3 times a week to the list. Next week Jaden starts football practices for the sophmore squad of the Atascocita Titans. Edgar and I are as excited as he is, I think. Gabby is going to spend the summer learning how to serve the volleyball overhanded. She can do it, just needs a little practice. Not a whole lot of new stuff going on in our house though.

I have been reading a book called "Jesus Mean and Wild", and I am loving it. The idea that Jesus confronted stuff and didn't shy away from it -EVER, makes me happy. I guess watching different things go on around me, I'm seeing how many things we as the body of Christ have shyed away from dealing with for one reason or another. Wonder what would happen if we started calling sin what it is -SIN. That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't decide what to address based on how many people or who might be offended, he just spoke the truth in love. Hoping I can start to do a little more of that! May this be the summer of truth and renewed passion for just more of Him.

SOOOO PROUD!

For the Ayala family, the 2008-2009 school year is officially over. Edgar and I are no longer living with 1st and 5th graders. We now share living space with 2nd and 6th graders. The awards assembly was this morning and both kids won awards. Now, as all parents often do, i had a feeling that they would be getting "A" or "A B" honor roll certificates. And sure enough they did. But the next one was a shocker for mom and dad. Gabby and Jaden both won the Christian Leadership Award for their class. That award is given to the student who most consistently displays a Christlike character in the classroom and on the playground. Do you know what that means?! It means they don't act like they do at home when they are in public! I dare anyone to tell me that there is not a God in Heaven. I actually could have cried. It makes everyday that we feel like the worst parents ever, because we say no, worth it. We could not be more proud of both of them. And to top it all off, as Jaden's teacher commented that the students in her classroom were going somewhere, he hollered "yeah college". So now we know he's even looking into his future. It's been a good day!

After school we took them to see the new Night at the Museum movie at the Imax downtown. It was a fantastic movie and we all enjoyed it! Edgar did pick up on the Jonas Brother's vocals in the movie long before anyone else did though. (a little strange perhaps?!) What an appropriate end to an almost perfect day!

End of School

Well it's our last week of school, can you believe that? It's crazy to me that another year has come and gone and all I have to prove it are a couple of art projects and some report cards. And speaking of report cards, I am living with 2 straight A students! Both kids have had fantastic school years and are very excited for the summer to finally be here. It's warming up and they are ready to ride bikes, swim, go to the park, and just sleep in each morning. Hope your house is as ready for summer as ours is!

I wanted to post just a few more vacation pictures then I promise to quit talking about it.

This is us at Epcot Center. It was beautiful during the flower and garden show

Me and my Brother! I love him very much!

Me and my honey. Nothing more romantic!

The Rockin' Roller Coaster was Jaden's favorite ride. (Mom and Dad liked it too)

Mother's Day

Mother's Day in the Ayala house is always quite the show. Normally, my family plans and surprises me with sweet cards and presents. This year was a little different. Since we were just on vacation, all of my Mother's Day fun stuff was given ahead of time. They got me some great new kitchen things, like a new tea kettle, towels, & measuring cups. THe best part was we got to spend the entire day with family. All of Edgar's family came over and we had a blast. Edgar grilled pork chops (covered in his new honey lime glaze he made). Let me just say no one ever leaves hungry after an Ayala get together. Here are our Mother's Day pictures.

More Vacation

Justin and I took this exact picture about 20 years ago on our first family trip. Gotta love the pose!

So here is a little more about our vacation. Spending the week with our family and friends was so much fun. The hard part was going home after being with them for a week, and having "anytime access" to them. If you are a person that takes family for granted, move 8 hours away from them and try seeing them only a couple times a year for 4 years, and then see how you feel. The time I get to spend with my nieces and nephews (Burke boy's included) is so precious to me, and this trip was no exception!

Disney 2009

(Sigh) Well, after months of planning and saving the Ayala/Graves/Burke/Gomez vacation to Disneyworld is officially in the history books. We had a blast! I can assure you that Edgar and I soaked in every single moment we spent in the "happiest place on earth". Watching the kids interact with each other, listening to them laugh, feeling those little hands grab hold of ours was absolutely priceless to us. Here are a few of my favorite moments:

Walking into the room and my kids finding the Mickey Mouse towel formation on the bed

Playing with the kids in the middle of Main Street USA waiting on the parade to begin

Riding It's a Small World just me and Chloe

Charli spending the night with us

Taking "matching" 80's pic's with Justin

Laughing with Deb when I almost flipped mom out of her wheelchair

Test Track with the Gomez boys

Rockin Roller Coaster with Debbie

Swimming with the Burke boys

Gabby singing karaoke at the pool

Jaden's smile after he got off Expedition Everest and Rockin Roller Coaster

Kissing Edgar in front of Cinderella's Castle at night

Riding Soarin with my daddy

Watching mom hold the kids in her lap as they both rode in the wheelchair

This will forever go down as one of my all time favorite vacation's ever! I will be posting lots of pictures in the next few weeks, but here are just a couple of my favorites for now.