Spring Break this year was different for us Pi than Phoenix's. I've mapped out our week only to find out that all you wanted to do was bake, make fruit salad (shown below) and make crafts. You werent interested in playdates, going to museums or visiting friends. You are a true home body. Spring Break was nice and relaxing. We spent tons of time together and I loved it.

Fruit Salad you made for our boys.

Boys will be boys

When asked to pose for the camera, there was no hesitation. All of you and your superhero friends flexed your muscles and looked straight into the camera... or not. This was during our last small group meeting. The Velascos were soon departing to Idaho thus the end of our small group. You have grown with these kids and God has blessed you all with fun friendships. You have a blast each week we meet. Im not sure where God will take our family next as far as our new church family but we'll just enjoy our times now.

Sense of Style

We were all getting ready for church and Pi, we ask you to please get your clothes together. What seems like an ardous task for you became an exciting endevour for you today. We rolled with it and were just excited that you were getting ready in a speedy matter. After 5 minutes, you emerger from your room looking like a confused Laker girl. You had your cheerleading Laker outfit with a long sleeve under and tights(good following the winter rules) coupled with some dress shoes. Wow!!! The picture attached speaks a million words. We proceed to encourage your own sense of style and "fight" over who will take you to your Sunday class. You definitely have your own sense of style. We'll look back to this post and laugh. You might even blame daddy and I for letting you walk out the door looking like this but we feel strongly in letting both of you guys express yourself in your own way. But man... I dreaded walking you to your class. When I finally do, your teacher says "Ohhhh.... you're a cheerleader." God is definitely with that woman.

Big Bear 2012

We went on our annual Big Bear trip and stayed in out timeshare for 5 glorious days... or so we thought. Lets start with barren land. What used to be grounds filled with snow at least 6 inches deep is now just dirt. There was no trace of white. No worries, we can still enjoy each other's company. Until... Piper's coughing keeps us up, not to mention vomitting. Poor baby girl. We had the brilliant idea of getting a studio so Pi, you and I slept on the murphy bed. Phoenix and daddy went "camping." As if Piper's lethargy and huge desire to just vege-out was not bad enough, I get sick with unstoppable sneezing, runny nose and fever. Crazy!!! No worries, we forge on because that's how the Jovens roll. Not so fast... daddy was next to get sick. Phoenix, at this point, you were the only genki one. Then, I take you to the zoo, a long time coming for you Phoenix. Piper, you ask to sit down every five minutes. You were a trooper though.

We catch a break when it snows for a good 20 minutes. Daddy takes one for the team and pegs you with snowballs outside. Piper, you are really into just catching snowflakes with your tongue (pretty bird...) The highlight for daddy and I was going to church. The message was about not complaining and it really renewed our spirits. It was fantastic. Afterwards, we eat our lunch at Mc Donalds (Happy Meals for you of course...)

At night, we have our family movie nights. We watched Dolphin Tale and Muppet Babies another night.

Overall, it was an awesome time. Whatever may come our way, we still manage to make the most of it. We are continually blessed.

"Two Hundred Eleven"

Not sure how this came about Phoenix, but every time you want to emphazize the grandure of something you always express your thrill by using this numeric vagueness "two hundred eleven." For instance, you'll tell me, " I love you as big as 211 skies!" or "Mama, there were 211 kids there!" We find it to be quite amusing and fascinating at the same time since we have no idea where it came from. Why not 619? or 723? or 62? Who knows... all we know that it is so stinkin' cute.

How to catch a leprechaun

Both of you busied yourselves by creating the sneakiest trap for our friend the leprechaun a whole month early. Your engineering skills were put to the test. Phoenix, you built the one with the blocks stairs. You said that once the leprechaun gets to the top, it's so greedy that it will make itself fall to get the coins at the bottom leaving him trapped there. Piper, you devised the ever so intricate usage of a toilet paper roll as a tunnel with a necklace hanging from it. You also taught of the very simple tissue paper topped with a piece of jewelry gently put on top of a bowl. Simple yet genius. My two hopefuls... Phoenix, you kept asking if the leprechaun was coming that night only to be disappointed with the answer that he will not arrive for many many days.

No plans+No agenda=Perfect Saturday

This is one of the rare Saturdays where there's nothing in our calendar. We started with a very early request from Phoenix of "boingy eggs" (over easy). So boing eggs you want, boingy eggs you get. Pi, unfortunately, you are sick with a cough and a fever. After breakfast, we head back upstairs and paly with daddy in our big bed. Then you two decide to play with your toys that I so intelligently set up the night before so you can let daddy and I sleep in. You guys need to have better timing. Daddy and I decide to just lazily lay and fall asleep on and off until 10am.... 10am!! It was amazing. Thanks guys! You play with your toys some more as I went grocery shopping for our special indoor meals this weekend. Phoenix, I found water balloons (mid February???) that you've been wanting for a while. After lunch, I fill some up for you to throw onto our outside wall as your ate just watched since she was sick. You had a blast. You asked to do it again after our nap together and of course, I obliged. We followed it up with a Star Wars fight. You made me the girl bad guys with two swords and you were a Jedi. You pretended to throw water at me which was deadly because I only survive on fire. We do all this while Piper and daddy remain asleep until 5:30. We then have a dinner of homemade chicken soup with pasta stars. I give you a sponge bath Pi where you laughed uncontrollaby. I think you were delirious. You complain that you havent had bible reading yet as I put you to bed and I ask you to wait as I get your brother ready. In 3 minutes you were asleep. Phoenix, we do some more intergallactic fighting, on the bed this time. But before this, I catch you standing by your ate's doorway with your hands together saying "Dear Lord, Please help my ate feel better. Take away her sickness. In Jesus name we pray, Amen" What a way to end the day. Daddy adn I are so amazed at how you are growing with the Lord.