Sunday, July 24, 2011

We are a HAPPY Family!

This summer we have been so blessed to be able to spend time with so much immediate and extended family...especially those who we rarely get to see.  So prepare for picture overload on these next few posts as I try to capture the memories we made for our family journal.

Washington Trip

Kind of at last minute, the boys and I had the opportunity to go with my parents on a trip to Washington.  I was kind of apprehensive because we'd have to leave Tyrel home for a week by himself to work.  But we went and had a great time.  The LONG car drive was not awesome but you have to get there somehow right?  We stayed with Jon and Chelsy who are stationed there at Fort Lewis.  It was so great to see them and my nephews who are growing up SO fast!  We also were able to see many other family members who we hardly ever get to see.   
 Logie was in LOVE with his cousin Andrew.  He always wanted to be in his face and handing him his binky.


 We went to Port Orchard and spent 2 days at my cousin Geri's house with her sweet family and Aunt Betty and her family.






 When the tide went out, we went down in the muck and dug for clams.  We also found some crabs and collected sea shells.  My boys were not in love with the muck and didn't last as long as the others.  Luckily Geri's house is just a walk across the street from the water.

Daniel was SO intrigued by that worm. I sure LOVE that little nephew of mine!



 

 Pa, Logie, and I went on the transit ferry.  It was a 7 minute ride there and 7 minutes back.  The ferry is like a bus that people ride to get to the other side of the water.  Pa was absolutely in Heaven to be out on the water (even just in a transit ferry).  Being in Port Orchard and seeing the boats and the water made him feel like he was at home in Mexico.
 Jon took us out to McChord Air Force base where we looked around at the "plane museum".  We took lots of pictures so Tyrel could see them and not feel to sad about missing it.
"See dad, this is where the bullets come from."
 "See Dad, this is us pretending to jump out of the air plane!"
 This is what it would look like if I had three kids in car seats next to each other!

 We went to American Lake on base and threw rocks in the water.  Then we walked along a path and heard a helicopter over head.  All of a sudden there were parachuters falling from the sky before our very eyes.  They were doing some training.  So we saw the helicoter right up close and saw people juming int the water from the helicopter.  The boys (and I) were very impressed!

 We also got to see my cousin Jessie and her family who are stationed at Ft. Lewis.  We had a picnic lunch together (inside of course because it was raining) and went bowling on base.  Jessie also had us over to play at her house and have yummy dinner!
 On the way home from our trip we drove through Mt. Ranier National Park and the view was beautiful!
 What trooper in the car (for the most part).  Needless to say, we had a great time and we were HAPPY to be home at the end of the week!





We are a HAPPY Family: Vargas Family Reunion

Nearly 10 years ago, we had a little Vargas family reunion where we met for the first time my Tia Nelly, Tio Alberto, and their kids who came from Mexico.  It was quite a challenge because they mostly spoke only Spanish and we mostly spoke only English.  Still, we had a great time and could feel the bond we had as family. 

In June, we had another great opportunity!  Tia Nelly and her family came for another visit.  It was so fun that we are all grown up now.  This time we were meeting for the first time, our cousins' spouses and their children.  And the bonus was that their English has become almost fluent (good thing since our Spanish is about the same :(  And we were able to communicate and get to know each other. 

Once again, I can't describe the bond I feel to my family from Mexico each time I am around them.  Family ties are a literal thing.  We were sad to be missing so many members of the Vargas family at our little reunion but enjoyed the ones who were there.  Now we need to plan our own trip to Mexico in a few years!!! 



 Silas pulls on the rope to give Abuelito and Abuelita a ride on their swing.
 Helping Aunt Izzy and Uncle Scott to fill the pinata!

 Silas is in pixie stix Heaven!
 LOVED watching Pa dance with his mama!
 Abuelitos:  What a great posterity they started! 


 Logan dancing with Tia Ery

 Logan dancing with Tia Nelly

 Tyrel and I have decided we need to have a little girl that looks just like Yeuri!  She is darling!
 I had explained to Silas that his cousins speak a different language called Spanish.  They were playing in the garage riding bikes at one point and yelling at each other.  When Yosai yelled at Silas, he yelled back, "No!  I speak English!"  We had a good laugh about that, especially because Yosai speaks Spanish and English!

We are a HAPPY Family: Fathers and the Farm

Part of the reason our family is so HAPPY is because my kids have the BEST BEST Daddy!  For Father's Day he got his grill!  Yay!  And we've been enjoyig lots of BBQs.
In June we were able to visit the farm to see Keslin, fresh off his misison and to share Father's Day as well.  As the boys get older, they love more and more to go visit the farm.   Everytime we get close to the farm, Silas says, "Mom, Dad!  Tell me when we're getting close because I have to pull out my comnoculars so I can see the farm!!!"   
We had fun playin with our neice Zaylie who is going to be a BIG sister in January!  We are so excited! 

 Keslin brought home custom King Football Jersies from the Philippeans.  They are AWESOME!







 It was so fun to see Silas and Logan eating at the "Kid Table".  Silas LOVES playing with his big cousins!