Day 9

Can we just take a break? Good, cause I did!!! Actually, i think I got dressed into clean jammies after my morning shower!

Of course the day goes on and there were moments of Together. Some that stuck out:

1) Watching 2 CRAZY World Cup games. Seriously, does anyone else think the last 3 minutes of all these World Cup games are just incredible?

2).  Keilah went to dance teacher's class and they worked  out REALLY HARD!

3)  Picked star fruit off our tree and reminisced with Elijah about the time we bought the tree and planted it in our yard.



4). Waited in anxious expectation for the PUP Municipal Convention results.  We won!

5). Read a book out loud before bed.  (A favorite family activity in our house)

I VOTED!

I voted ... And my team won!! (Tee hee!) Congratulations to "Team Chacon"!

From Patrick Andrews desk:

"The City of Belmopan PUP Family had the opportunity yesterday to elect one Mayoral and six Counselor Candidates to contest the March 2015 Municipal Elections.  In spite of external forces hindering voter participation, over one thousand supporters cast their votes.  In the end, Team Chacon, with it's full slate, won the convention and will now represent the PUP in next year's elections.

I wish to congratulate Team Chacon for a well planned and organized campaign, and the commitment, hard work and dedication of his election Day machinery.

Team Chacon are comprised of members from all over Belmopan different ethnic races and both genders are represented.  They represent the aspirations of citizens who have been ignored for the past nine years, and have the courage and determination to transform Belmopan into a vibrant Capital City.  We must however unite our efforts to achieve this noble goad.  To all those who doubt in our determination, we invite them to dialogue, to suggest and make recommendation to move forward.

Together we can..."

Day 8

These daily entries really make me stop and reflect on the "little things" in life. Those moments of giggling together, those moments of catching-each-others-eye-in-complete-shock-at-the-World-Cup-game! You know, the MOMENTS of every day life. I'm happy I get to spend them with this crew.

Day 8 #beautiful life - Summer Vacation Edition

1)  We watched the ENTIRE Brazil/Chile World Cup game!  WOW!

2)  Keilah went to her first dance teachers class with Keri Halvorson. They are getting ready for the week long Dance camp at YWAM Belmopan's En Croix dance studio.  I'm so proud of these girls

3)  The boys watched as I did my nails (A VERY important and noteworthy event)

4)  Yoga on the veranda with Keilah again.  (I'm beginning to love this)

5)  The boys helped me make the pizza for our traditional Family Pizza night.  Yum!

Day 7

Day 7 #beautifullife Summer Vacation Edition

After running around Belmopan paying bills and running errands (not exactly our idea of fun) we went home to enjoy our Friday afternoon.  Here's what went down!

1) "Wash your hands please" turned into a giant bubble blowing festival.  (Of course!)

2) Tried to copy So You Think You Can Dance contestants with the cartwheel over the back thing.  Not as easy as it looks people!

3). Registered the boys for Skyhawks "soccer" camp in Poulsbo, WA!  Our plane leaves in 12 days!

4). Keilah and I watched the boys take penalty shots on each other in the yard, with our cool beverages.

#summervacation 

Then we came inside for a surprisingly delicious Taco soup.  While I was cooking Judah said, "Whatcha makin'?"

I replied, "Taco Soup"

He said, "Hmph.  Why don't you just make tacos?  That would be better."

Well, guess who had seconds tonight and LOVED it?!!

A hectic day turned into a day with many beautiful moments.  I'm thankful.

Day 6

Day 6 of #beautifullife Summer Vacation Edition

1). Made (another) lime pie, this time with Elijah. It will take a lot of self control to not have it for breakfast.

2). Picked up report cards from school and enroll at BCA again for next year. BTW our kids ROCKED their grades again this term! Anyone want to donate for our kids school fees? Click "donate" to the bottom right! ;)

3). Went to Formosa to celebrate! Played some fun hand game and chatted with the famous Andy Lin for a bit.

4). Went home and set up for a large gathering at our house for PUP Municipal Convention (happening this coming Sunday). Our kids were so helpful getting the yard ready (you guys are awesome!)

Day 5

Day 5 #beautifullife Summer Vacation Edition

Had lunch all together at the market - YUM!

Judah and I made a lime pie - SUCCESS!

Watched our favorite shows together #SYTYCD and #duckdynasty

And tonight, we're having a sleepover in the AC room!  Woo hoo!!!

Day 4

Surprise "Anniversary Salbutes" from Ms Irma. (I love that he thought of this!)

Yoga on the veranda with the kids (yes the boys too!!)

Homemade zucchini and regular lasagna with "mood music" (thanks Keilah) and candles.

I love celebrating our Anniversary together as a family

14 Years and Counting

Happy 14th Anniversary My Love!

"As soon as I saw you I knew a grand adventure was about to begin." A.A Milne

Day 3

#beautifullife Day 3

Spanish Lookout for PIZZA!! 

Watched (and laughed hysterically at) a street sweeper and it's ridiculous self created dust storm!  Seriously, the guy had to stand up to get out of his own dirt!  Reminded me of Charlie Browns friend Pig-Pen!  Haha!

The kids watched the World Cup with some friends at the #ywambelmopan studio. (Thankfully I received a lovely note on the kitchen counter informing me of their whereabouts.)

Day 2

Now, may I remind you that #beautifullife has nothing to do with comparing our activities with the neighbor down the street or the BFF on Facebook. It's all about loving your life now and taking advantage of the time you have together.

Our #beautifullife Summer Vacation Edition Day 2 was perfectly ... "Andrews".

After going to church together we came home and I made the traditional Belizean Lunch: Rice & Beans with stewed chicken and coleslaw. (I didn't take a picture of this because I'm trying to cut down on the food pics!)

Then we watched a nail biting World Cup game between USA and Portugal. (Did you know they take water breaks in soccer?! Who knew!)

Beautiful Life - Summer Vacation Edition

Day 1

Bought a brand new lawn mower for Fathers Day surprise gift. (This was not as easy as it sounds people!) The 4 of us trying to load and unload it into our Toyota Corolla trunk was a sight to see! Hahaha, wish I had a video camera, too many belly laughs!

Mow the lawn together (in between World Cup games). We each took 5 minute turns (even me!) and got the yard done in one day. Thankfully my man finished the last piece for us cause THAT MOWER IS HEAVY and we got tired. :)

Beautiful Life- Summer Vacation Edition

Ok so I have an AMAZING friend, fellow Cancer Mom who inspires me with (what I call) her "Beautiful Life". She's so real and positive, curious and funny. She's truly amazing.

You see in the midst of the fear, trauma, confusion, stress and overall craziness of walking through cancer with our child we still know that we are moms. They are kids. Fun is fun. Life is life, no matter what it looks like today. The fact is, we have Today and we are not guaranteed a tomorrow.

I don't know if walking through a life threatening sickness with a child amplifies this knowledge or not, but I do know that I've learned to take advantage of the time I have with my family. It could have been taken away but... it wasn't.

Today, I have another opportunity to share LIFE with my husband and kids, to experience the beauty, joy, peace and excitement of the moments. Sure, sometimes in the hospital it was extremely difficult to find the positive, it was extremely difficult to find joy. I guess in those times we just held on to each other and cried it out then started fresh again with a gratefulness that we were walking through it together.

So, now that summer vacation is here and my kids are home from school (allllll day long) and in honor of my Cancer Mom friend, I have taken up the challenge to live a "Beautiful Life - Summer Vacation Edition". I won't compete and compare my life with others, rather I'll find the beauty in my daily life experiences and help highlight those with my kids. We will do it together and be awe struck by the little miracles, thankful for the small things, and conscious of our valuable time together.

Haha, there may be days this summer where I'd rather curl up in a ball and cry for lack of entertainment ideas! However, like those long days in the hospital I'll just stop, take a few breaths and find the joy in being together. THAT alone is a reason to celebrate! Here's to Summer Vacation 2014, go experience it together!