Ava's 1st Birthday Party!!

Happy 1st Birthday party!!!

She got these fabulous shoes from her Aunti Tisha and they light up! They are great!

She wasn't very happy to take pictures by her cupcakes. But we got a few photos before the party started.

CANDY, CUPCAKES,

PRESENTS

A $100 DOLLAR BILL

WHAT MORE DOES A 1 YEAR OLD NEED?

Stripped and ready for some cake!!

"Oh what is outside in my cute tights and shoes?"

A cute stuffed animal to cuddle with!

Brother is helping blow out the candles. She wasn't real sure about it. I thought for sure she would stick her hand in it but she didn't.
I was told that the cupcake wasn't messy enough because she didn't get it all over. She sure did like it though. She is my sweet girl, loving anything with sugar.
We had a great time and thanks to everyone who has been a part of Ava's life the last year. She is truly blessed to have so many wonderful people loving her and SPOILING her.

Ava is 1!!!

Ava turned 1 on September 29th! And thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law, Becky who is the best photographer, we got some great pictures of the little Boogs and her brother and sister.

Becky and I also made the Tutu's the girls are wearing because EVERY little girl needs a TUTU!!

She loves to play with anything that really isn't a toy. And sunglasses are one of her favorites! She is truly already a Diva!!
My little Ava I love you so much and you bring so much joy to all of us. I am so happy to have you with us and you make us laugh everyday!!!
Happy 1st Birhday!

News

Hello everyone out there! I have not forgotten how to blog and I have missed it BUT I have had a lot going on. I am sad I have not been able to post Ava's one year pictures or her first birthday pictures. Hopefully soon I can get to that. You see we are in a bit of a transition in our household and it has not been a smooth one. We sold our house about 6 weeks ago and were suppose to close on Oct. 7th. However all of that did not happen. So we are currently homeless and living with friends and family. But we are praying very hard that things will be resolved in the next week or so and we will have a home again. We really believe with all our heart that the house we are planning on moving into is where God wants us and that we are in God's will. I am also very convinced that someday I will be able to tell you all what we have learned in this process. :) Besides patience. But anyway....I will try to post some pictures has soon as I can get back online on my computer and as soon as life slows down a bit or I have an extra minute. I will leave you with this: God is so good all the time!!!

11 Months Old!

Look who is 11 Months! We will be celebrating with a BIG party very soon!

Ava loves to watch Arlee sing and clap, and she tries to join in on the fun too.

"Mom I don't want you to take my picture I want to hold the camera. And put it in my mouth."

Oh but I am a sweety when I want to be.

"Here I come to get the camera" She is a crack up!!

She loves this dog. I think it was Arlee's and one day she found it in her room and just loves to squeeze it. She loves this and her blanket. I think I have another girl who LOVES her blankie. They take after their mommy.

Baptism

On Sun., Aug. 15th marked a very big spiritual step for my kids. Caden and Arlee were both baptized. It was an amazing experience, not only for them but for me as their mom. We had been talking about it for awhile and they had asked when they could do it. Paul and I really felt like they need to be a bit older so they could understand what it all meant and why we do it. We just told them in a couple years. Well those couple of years came. The church was getting ready to do some and they both expressed that they wanted to do it. We really feel like God has His hand on our kids and we look forward to all the amazing things that God has in store for them as they open their lives fully to Him. Praise God for the big things and little things in our lives. He has promised so much to me and my family and we are clinging to Him in everything. I think this just shows even more that God has put us in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. We already LOVE Restoration Church and feel like we have been there for years. I really think that my kids are learning so much about God and really growing in Him. I praise God for that. This was a great day to celebrate new live and new beginnings for the Aragon Family.

SAD!

As you all know we are trying to get our house ready to sale so we can find a house in Fountain and move there. Well today it kinda hit me that I am having to get rid of my BEAUTIFUL dream home. Okay as close to a dream home that we will have. BUT...I love my house. You see I had always dreamed of having a craft room all to myself. One that when I want to craft, scrapbook, read in or throw misc. things in and close the door for no one to see, I could. Well it was a work in progress but I still loved my little craft room/office/junk room. (oh my little Arlee loved it too) And today we took all apart and put all my "crafting" items in the storage, brought in a desk and put the book shelves in the right spot. It now looks like an official office. "It has a purpose" - quote from Paul with all of his HGTV knowledge. However, I am SAD! I had a hard time doing it and I cried. In fact as I blog here right now I am about in tears. You see this is really meaning that we are moving. I knew it was coming and I know without a doubt that this is what God had called us to do, but I am SAD!!

It just really hit me today that I will no longer live here. Funny how time flies by and your perspective changes so much. If you would have asked me 8 years ago about moving to Pueblo, I would have been soooooo against it and thinking the worst about it. My kids have grown up here the last 7-8 years and that holds a lot of memories. This house is the only house that Arlee will remember. Ava won't remember it all!! It is just a house, but it has been HOME for so many years. I know this will be a hard move in the sense of emotions for me. However, I am very thankful that God did not move us to another state or across the country or even across the state. That makes things a little bit easier.

So I had to write today of my sadness. I don't want to end on sadness and so I am going to write what I want to PRAISE the Lord for today:
Praise the Lord for waking me up to a spunky little girl opening cabinets and trying to drink her dad's mouthwash.
Praise the Lord for the shelter, food, clothes and family and friends I have today!!!
Have a blessed day everyone!!

My Daybook!

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...The sun is shining bright and it is going to be a HOT one today!

I am thinking...About nothing really! It's too early!

I am thankful for...for my family, my house and all the provisions God gives even when we are a little discouraged.

From the kitchen...Not much coming out of the kitchen this month, I'm trying to lose some weight and I would love a piece of Chocolate Cake!

I am wearing...My cute purple pajamas

I am creating...NOTHING!! Although I need to get my act together and start scrapbooking before I am so far behind it is too overwhelming.

I am going...to Springs today to play with some friends from church at the America the Beautiful park. It should be a great day for a picnic and getting wet.

I am reading..."The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls (it is a very sad but insightful memoir) and I am trying to read through the Bible. I'm on Deuteronomy.

I am hoping...to lose 25 pounds!

I am hearing...the pitter patter of little feet across my hardwood floors. Ava is everywhere.

Around the house...the kids are just getting up. My niece Katey spent the night and she was up EARLY, dressed, teeth brushed and ready to go. She finally got to wake up Arlee and so she is happy now.

One of my favorite things...sitting in bed at the end of the day with a book!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: The kids get to go to a water park with their Nana tomorrow and then we are just hanging out at home getting ready for the first day of school next week. A pretty mellow weekend, and that is great.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Ava's 10 Months

My little Blue eyed baby is 10 months old! Can you believe it? I can't. She is so much fun and so much work all in the same breath. But I am truly enjoying her. She is walking all around. The only problem with that is that she can't get herself up to do it. So she will fall and then fuss until someone comes and helps her up. And of course she has a lot of "helpers". But we are working on all of that. I just love to watch her discover things and laugh at Caden and Arlee and pick on Titus. It is too funny and I know I laugh when I should be telling her no. Something I will have to work on. :)

9 Months Old

I'm a little behind in posting these pictures, BUT here she is at 9 months!! She wants to walk so bad but still a little scared at times. She will take steps all by herself but not all the time. She is a really starting to get a personality. This is always my favorite because she is becoming her own little person. We love her soooo much and have enjoyed everything about her (ok maybe not everything, like the fussing!) :)

My Daybook!

Dad and Ava! I thought this was way cute! My picture for thought I wanted to share!!

Daybook--June 22, 2010
Outside my window...the sun is shining bright, and it is HOT!!

I am thinking...about a lot of things. Like...I wish I could blog more, my boys guitar needs to be tuned, I have a lot to do for the weekend of camping......

I am thankful for...chocolate. I have been craving chocolate a lot lately. And a good brownie and yummy double chocolate chip cookie has hit the spot. I am also thankful that God is merciful and knows my failures.

From the kitchen...Last night I made one of my favorite salads, thanks to my buddy Melissa. A Chicken Taco Salad. I'm pretty sure I could eat multiple bowls of this at one sitting. The other thing that has been in my kitchen this week is a pepper (green, red, and yellow), cucumber, onion, tomatoe, balsamic dressing, and feta cheese salad. Love that one!! Strange coming from a girl who use to hate veggies.

I am wearing...some comfy gray capris, and a t-shirt. I love comfy clothes.

I am creating...I have been working on my digital scrapbooking program the last few nights and building my selection of items to use on the pages. It is exciting, I just hope I actually create a page soon.

I am going...to hopefully sit down and read my book today.

I am reading...The Twilight Book :Eclipse. I have already read this but am reading it again because my book club wants to go see it on opening night. Which I am not going to go b/c they are going at midnight and it is best for all those around me if I don't do that to myself. :)

I am hoping...to go to Target and Hobby Lobby today. I know that is a crazy hope but I sure would like a new pair of shorts. :)

I am hearing...Caden mess around on his guitar and Arlee read books to her sister in between playing the piano.

Around the house...I need to start going through EVERYTHING!!! In order to put our house up for sale I need to get busy, but of course the motivation is a problem for me.

One of my favorite things...Is when my kids make me giggle. Sometimes they say or do the funniest things. I also LOVE to hear Ava giggle.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Going to go to a park with some great ladies from church and get to know them more. I can't wait for that. I am also going to meet up with my Bible Study ladies whom I have missed a lot. Get a hair cut and go Camping!!!

This idea was taken from http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

8 Months Old

My little Ava Grace is 8 Months old. I am pretty sure time just is gone in a blink. I can't believe all she is doing. She wants to walk so bad, she is standing at the couch and the tables. She is sitting all by herself and eating some table food all by herself. She is also very vocal. She likes to hear herself talk a lot. Her and Arlee will be a great team when she gets bigger. I am sure they will sing together one day. Mom give me that camera!!

New Things coming our way!

So....after months of prayer, trusting, patience, and believing the best is coming, it came!!!! Paul got hired on as the Senior Pastor at Restoration Church in Fountain, CO. We are sooooo excited and really feel like this is where God wants us. It has been a journey and not an easy one. About 2 years ago, Paul really felt like it was time to go back into full time ministry. Where? We had no idea. We began to pray and seek God and see what would happen. A couple different opportunities came along but after really praying about those it just wasn't the right fit. Then back in Aug. we heard that the pastor of Restoration had resigned and moved. At the very first news of this we knew we should apply. I say we b/c it is kind of a partner thing, although he will do most of the work. :) So Paul applied in Nov. and 7 months later he made it through to the top of 250 applicants. Can you believe it? 250 people applied for this position and God saw from the beginning that we would be that one!!!! Amazing how our God works, and that is just the beginning of my amazement. Our God is awesome and the last 7 months he has worked on me and pulled at me in all directions.

God has taught me patience when I had none. Trust when I wanted to run. Love when I felt alone. Believing when I felt no hope. Laughter when I wanted to cry. And an abundance amount of Faith he has instilled in me. I wouldn't even know where to begin to explain to you all He has done for my family the past couple of years. Through our hardships and disappoinments He has shown up, holding my hand, and loving on me. Rocking me in His arms and telling me it will all be ok. And today I wanted to reflect on that and share on my blog all the amazing things He has done for me and Paul. I love the Lord My God with all My heart, soul, and mind. All praise to Him. I am looking forward to so much more that He will do in my heart, my mind and my family as I rely fully on Him.

Accomplishments

This week has been a week of Accomplishments. In many ways, but let me start with the kids!!
Arlee graduated from Kindergarten! It was a very special day and she was so excited to be moving onto 1st grade!!

Arlee with her Kindergarten Diploma!!

We also had awards this week and Arlee got the award for "Personal Best". This award was only given to one child out of her class and she got it. She is an awesome student!!

Caden looks a little crazy here but he also got an award. He got the "Presidental Fitness Award". Only 5 student out of the whole school got this award and he was ONE of them. Way to go!!! I am so proud of my kids and all their accomplishments. They are such good students, even when they fight me and tell me they don't want to go to school, they are bright, smart, creative, athletic, and I love them to pieces.