ROAD TRIP Before and after July 1,2014

We started our road trip on a beautiful Friday morning by the time we left the house it was around 9:30...at around 10:25 we already had experienced our first adventure compliments of Abbie. She expressed that her tummy hurt which usually means she needs to have privacy, at this point I leaned over to Alin and said "When you see somewhere to pull over we need to stop and change her" So the next stop which happened to be Prestcott, I hop out if the vehicle to change her only to discover she has decorated her cute little skirt/short outfit and her car seat.  I thought blow outs were behind us but as luck would have it... honestly sometimes there is nothing you can do about the adventures of motherhood but shake your head and laugh:)  thankfully the rest of trip was uneventful.
Our first stop if the trip was Sandbanks, love it, love the beach and that it's so shallow for so long and fairly warm. We spent the day there and then headed to Toronto.

SANDBANKS PROVINCIAL PARK

Dani and Mason chilling before beach

 Abbie

 Daniela

 Me, Abbie, Daniela and Mason

 Alin and Mason

 Mason, Daniela

Me and my Premium Romanian

Our next stop was a hotel close to the zoo in Toronto.  Where according to my husband he had the best muffins he's ever had in his life.  Then the next morning to the zoo, I think one of our favorite animals there is the polar bear.  He swims on his front then flips over onto his back at the same spot every time.  Huge hit with our family.  The day was HOT!!!  Other hits were the flamingo's, tigers, snakes, and actually everything.  Our little family loves the Toronto Zoo

 And of course Popsicles are also are favorite thing

 Rhino in background

Then off to Niagara Falls to the hubbies favorite get away...Great wolf lodge

 Since it was Canada Day they had a lot of fun celebrations going on at the Lodge.  This huge cake was one of the things along with the usual storytime and this time they had a dance party.  Which the kids loved

 Then for July 1 we stayed in a hotel in Niagara looking over the falls, we assumed that the fireworks would be amazing, we were disappointed but it led to one of the funniest nights me and my love had.  Through our big picture windows we could see people trying to leave the parking lot which was in no way user friendly.  We gave names to people and laughed at the little rat race below us.  I know it doesn't sound like much to write but honestly hilarious to be there:)

 In our Canada Day gear

 Our suite was amazing!!!

 In the fallsview casino

 Fabulous trip and here's to when we do it again.  Cheers

HAPPY NEW YEAR, WELCOME 2015

So Alin's parents came yesterday and we had a mini family New Years party. We had supper then I sent them downstairs so I could decorate a bit.  We had glow stick necklaces, noise makers, hats, leis and noise makers...I know I already said that but it bears mentioning again as they were a huge hit! Especially with Mr. M as he blew and blew and blew some more.  We played a round of Dr. Seuss game and then I had everyone write on a paper what a wish was for the New Year and then Alin had found a countdown for the kids (I don't think they need to know it was from you tube and last years celebrations:) and for the grand finale we had confetti tubes and cranberry sparkling juice aka cranberry juice and ginger ale.  All in all a fun night.

I wrote 2014 on the board but we were welcoming 2015:)

Grama and Grampa Ivanita

Our crew, kinda a awkward mom photo but all of us never the less

Christmas week in Dominican!! Dec 20-27, 2014

So we spent our first Christmas just with our little family in the Dominican Republican on the beach basking in the sun. Alin surprised us by buying tickets one day on his lunch break, he is definitely the impulse shopper in this duo:)  we've been sick since Oct so I was really excited to get somewhere warm. Our flight left at 6 in the morning so we left our cozy home at about 4 in the morning in jeans, hoodies and chattering teeth and by noon we were sweating and putting our toes in the sand. The week started a little rough as we had 2 very sick little girls and then one sick fevery momma. We were all troopers and made the best of it... I mean we are in the sun, surf and sand. So other than being fans of advil, Tylenol and antibiotics and praying for our little family this is what fun we had. 

BEACH

These kiddos love the beach, the sand, seashells. They can and did play for hours in the sand, with their sand toys. 

LEMONADE/PINA COLADA

The kids loved getting their little drinks and sipping them on the beach, Mason is our little lemonade monster. Daniela for show but generally likes her bottle of water like her momma. Alin is a fan of the pina colada experience

THE WATER/OCEAN/SWIMMING POOL/BATHTUB
Our kids love the water and it's only fitting I mean even I love the water and my years as a lifeguard only make that love stronger.  So here's to my bathing beauties.

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES, CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY!

We walked around the resort one night and I was really wanting to have a special night to celebrate the real reason of Christmas we walked to a church on the resort and I found what I was looking for.  The had a huge nativity set up so we walked up to the front of the church and the kids pet all the animals (which were fake) and then we played "Picture a Christmas" on our iphones.  A song that Mason is learning in Primary and Daniela loves.  I'll print the words here because it's Christmas

                     "Picture a Christmas"

1.  Picture a stable in Judea.

Picture a sacred, silent night.

And can you hear

The angels near

And see the star so bright?  

Picture the little baby Jesus

Think of his life and words so dear.

Sing praise to him;

remember him, 

As you picture Christmas this year.

2.  Picture the kind and gentle Joseph.

Picture the mother, Mary, fair.

And can you see

So rev'rently

The shepherds kneeling there?

Chorus again

On Christmas Eve I laid out there traditional Christmas pj's and then we went to the main lobby to watch a living nativity.  It was nice and Abbie was captivated by the sparkly wings on the angel.  They told the story while the actors acted it out and walked to the stable.  Alin looked over to me at this point and said "The weather was a lot more realistic and correct than when we do our Canadian nativities:)" Poor hubby and Mason they do not like being cold and the beach is really their element.  Then they sang a few Christmas carols but our crew was done.  So after getting back to the room we put out peanuts for the reindeer and treats for Santa and the kids crashed.  

Christmas Day arrived and the kids ran outside and were so excited that the reindeer ate their peanuts.  Opened their gifts, Mason his blade (helicopter) he was so pleased.  We bought the girls books (Frozen) and hubby his t shirt.  Hubby bought me a massage that I enjoyed the day before and it was wonderful.  We hit the beach and the pool, since the girls were starting to feel a little better it was a great day.  When we were at the pool Santa came and was delivering presents to the girls and boys.  The buffet was decorated incredibly with ice sculptures, chocolate trains, every inch was decorated.  They put on a real feast, lobster,crab, roast pig, roast beef, chickens had I been feeling better I may have put on 2 lbs just at dinner.

A truly different experience spending Christmas with just our little family and on the beach.  I am so grateful for our Savior at this time and all thru the year.  I am thankful for a loving family that when I was worried sick about our little girls just sent a message to my parents saying please keep us in your prayers and how I instantly felt better knowing that they would be thinking and praying for us.  For the example they are to me of unconditional love, and how to do this parenting thing.  For answered prayers, I prayed so fervently to watch over our little ones that they would be better and that we would know the best way to care for them while they struggled thru their fevers.  On a not as important note but one that let me know that my Heavenly Father hears and is aware of my needs was I lost my diamond earring and I had looked all over our room for it, under beds shaken clothes out, scoured the shower and could not find it.  Alin told me to forget about it but it was a special to me (Alin bought it for me when I had Abbie) so as I prayed for something as frivolous as finding my earring after praying so intently for our kids to be healthy, I apologized but said it was a special thing for me.  The next morning when I got up I walked into the room where Mason and Dani were sleeping and it was laying smack dab in the middle of the floor.  Honestly it just reinforced my belief that I am important to him that while I had been praying for our girls and he was busy watching over them he also showed me that I was important as well. I am so thankful for all my siblings and their spouses and children, how do you effectively let them know how much I truly love each and every one of them.  That I want the best for them that I miss them.  I am so proud of the people they are and the choices they are making while we all are raising families.  I am thankful for my husbands family and the struggles they went thru to make sure Caius had a good life.  For their love of our children and the kind people that they are.  I am thankful for my Premium Romanian I may not tell him all the time in the busyness and craziness that surrounds us but he is the love of my life.  He is such a good father and a great husband.  He is kind, loving, funny and cute to boot:) He is the best decision I ever made and I can't see myself doing this with anyone else but him.  Plus I wouldn't even want to.  Thankful for good friends, that help our little family and for all our many blessings.   May this New Year be kind to us, may we be a little kinder, gentler, and know the things our little family stands in need of.  MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY OF MINE.  "I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH" and "SWEET DREAMS" 

Family Pictures Dominican Style:

Date night with my Premium Romanian

Tonight we went to the show "Meet the Mormons" it was the 9:20 show and Kieren babysat. It was really good, I'm not sure what I was expecting but I was really impressed with the way it was done.
The first family they showed was a family from Georgia. Jermaine Sullivan. Young black family with 3 adorable little boys, he was a convert and a young bishop and his sister lived in a neighboring town and wasn't Mormon and he was reinforcing the fact that families develop on mutual trust and love not religion. When the wife was asked about caring and being a mom for the three young boys she said "if we are following the teachings of Christ it should make us better mothers." The other thing her husband said is "If we focus on the things that makes us one it creates a confound sense of harmony and unity"

Another family was Hawaiian and he was the head coach of the U.S Naval Academy in Maryland (inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame 2014)- Ken Niumatalolo. He was talking about when he was put in as head coach he made changes that included no organized meetings on Sundays. They looked at him in disbelief and he told them he wouldn't stop them from doing what they wanted but he would not be there to these meetings which were traditionally seen as critical to the team's success.  He choose to instead honor the Sabbath day (he was a primary teacher)  The part that struck me was he said " that meant that I went into work at 4 the next morning to do my planning and my work for the team, God expects us to do the work" Also compared football to life in that we all need to work together in order to be successful and that if "put the Lord first and everything will work out"

Carolina Munoz Marin fighter "When the bell rings you need to fight" I thought her story was great in that she took time for herself to be healthy that when she joined the church she was nervous about what her parents would think, but because they loved her unconditionally and they could see it didn't change her love for them they welcomed it.

Bishnu Adhikari the humanitarian "Continually trying for improvement is the genuine effort for a lifetime"  After leaving his village to receive a degree in Engineering, he returned to his home in Nepal with a new found faith and a determination to help improve the living conditions of the area.  He travels to remote villages in the Himalayan Mountains to build roads, schools and water systems, all while living with his faith and respecting his culture and his family's expectations.  I thought this was neat when he said he could do both.  "I'm not close to perfection, but I am perfect in trying"

Gail Halvorsen the Candy Bomber "Service is the bottom line to happiness and fulfillment"  During the 1940's Berlin Airlift, he sparked a movement when he started dropping candy tied to parachutes out of his airplane window to children below.  This small act of kindness quickly became a life-saving boost to the morale of the people of West Berllin adn soon caught worldwide attention and support.

Dawn Armstrong, the missionary mom talked about her life before the church and the miracles she's seen because of joining the church "one choice can change everything"  Her husband also has his own struggles (he has only one leg)

They also talked about the Proclamation to the Family

Nov 30th Catch up time

 Museum of Civilization

 Mason wrote me a letter, can you see the writing "Mason Mom"

 Sick day calls for making snow (baking soda and shaving cream) then when we were done playing with the snow we added vinegar and had mini volcano's.  Big hit = Big Cleanup:)

 My cutie pies

Might as well celebrate it

Santa's knee over the years

Every year we've taken pictures at Billings Bridge (Alin's work)  2010

  2011

 2012. This is one of my favorites because I made these adorable snowman shirt and I thought they were fantastic:)