Author Archives: Amanda

Cousins

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My blog has been put on the back burner with the refried beans lately. I’ve been spending lots of time with family. My cousin, Sydni, is up from Colorado visiting me and we’ve been have SO much fun! It’s so amazing to see the evidence of genes in her. We are so much alike…. and the funny thing is, it’s probably because we’re both like her mom (my aunt).

I’m enjoying every given moment with her. At times it makes me sad that we don’t live by each other.

I took her to a Shakespear play Much Ado About Nothing… and this picture I snuck of us before getting told NO PICTURES ALLOWED. She’s helped me out so much with the kids, the house, my sanity. Her crafty side reminds me so much of myself, as does the things she gets frustrated at. She’s such a sweet, sweet girl.

We took a trip to Yuba City where she got to spend time with her biological sister (my biological cousin) heck…. her sister, my cousin 🙂 We both had so much fun visiting, laughing, and bonding. Here’s a picture of all 3 of us girls.Jenna and I have become close over these past couple of years that she has found “us” her biological family. I know that we both consider eachother cousins…. we’re family and I have grown to love her and appreciate her. She’s a great friend that I can talk to you, I’m here when she’s bothered or upset and listen to her. I thought that the cousin that was out there in the world somewhere would someday be a very close cousin of mine. I hope that we can continue our relationship all throughout our lives.

Sydni I am just now getting to know. She’s always there, but I’ve never had the priveledge to get to know her and her amazing personality. She’s the daughter of an aunt that is like a second mother to me. I love her mom so much, and at one point she played mom with me. I hate how she lives so far away and our kids can’t grow up together. Even more than that, I just hate that we don’t know each other’s kids. So, this special time with Sydni was just what I think we both needed.

My Testimony… Mine.

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I have been working on building my testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I struggle with many things, but what this church believes in is definitely not one of them. There are things I don’t understand completely, or seem a little extreme to me, but I just accept it and never question it.

On Testimony Sunday I hear of people bearing their testimony and I think it’s so neat that they can feel so strong about basically everything in the church. I’m beginning to realize that I can’t base my testimony on the testimony of others. I need to develop my own testimony and I need it to be through my own experiences, through my own scripture study and because I felt it on my own.

I have a very strong testimony of the Holy Ghost. I believe that the Holy Ghost will come to you in times of need no matter where you’re at in your life. I believe that the Holy Ghost will comfort you through times of trial even when you’re not being the most perfect person. I’ve talked a few times before about my baby girl, Mya. Halfway through my pregnancy her heart stopped and for a while after we lost her I kept feeling this feeling inside of me that I couldn’t explain. It was a feeling of comfort that I had never felt before. I told myself that it was Mya. Her spirit was staying behind with me to comfort me. As much as I wish that were the case I now believe that it was the Holy Ghost. I believe that I was wrapped up in its arms and stayed that way until it knew that I was okay. I remember waking up one day to not feeling that feeling anymore. I was sad, because in my heart I thought she’s gone but that wasn’t the case. She was gone the whole time….. the Holy Ghost had been there to do its job and it did…. and that is one blessing I am grateful to have in my life.

I have a VERY strong testimony of prayer. I believe that if you pray sincerely that what is to be will be. I also believe that we can make our lives what we want, and we can do this through prayer. It says in the bible in both Matthew & Luke that if you ask and believe that you have already received it you will receive it. This is hard for some people, but it’s not hard for me. You just have to have faith, and while faith is a hard thing to grasp and walk with – it’s what we need to have.

I haven’t had an opportunity to learn a lot about the things I should know. During church I have the privilege of chasing my busy toddler around the halls. Sometimes I wish she’d just cooperate and go into nursery, but the fact that she still wants her mommy is soothing to my soul, so it’s okay. It’s okay to miss out on all of the stuff I need to know for now, because for now she needs me.

I have a strong testimony of Family Home Evening. Having that one night that is a guarantee in our home every Monday is vital. It’s vital for me as a mom and it is vital for my children. They need to know that they have a strong family, and every week that we hold this for them, our family will only grow more and more stronger.

Right now, this is all I’ve got. I know it isn’t much, but it’s more than some. It’s what I know to be true in my heart. I only hope that my testimony will grow stronger and stronger. I hope that I can get back into daily scripture reading and implement a family scripture reading everyday as well.

While I’m not ready to get up and bear my testimony, I’m sharing it with my friends here. I know that in all due time it all will come to me, but for now this is what I’m holding onto.

I got my picky eater to eat asparagus

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It’s Works for me Wednesday over at Kristen’s blog. I LOVE going through all of the posts of things that work for other moms. I’m constantly changing the way I do things, because let’s face it…. I’m still learning. I think I’ll have things down a little bit more when Ella gets older since I’m using Jayden as my own personal guinea pig. Great mom… I know.

So, Jayden is EXTREMELY picky. Beyond picky. We’ve actually sought out the help of doctors and have come to the realization that there’s actually a pretty big problem here. We think he has a sensory problem, and he can’t handle certain textures, smells and all that. So, we don’t force food on him, because we like to enjoy our dinner without watching our 7 year old son throw up everything we’re eating on his plate.

I came up with a plan and all on my own this time. Well, it wasn’t rocket science, but it definitely is working, and nothing else in the past has.

I printed out a simple chart off of word. It has 25 squares, and every time he tries something new without throwing up he gets a sticker. If he actually eats it all he gets 2. Once he fills up that chart, he gets to pick out a Wii or Xbox game. That was all the motivation I’ve needed.

My kid ate asparagus, people! This is huge.

Ella & Jayden Updates

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Ella update:

She’s talking in sentences now. She’s been doing this for a while, but they’re becoming more and more clearer. My favorite so far, “Mama! Pee-pee RIGHT NOW!” Yeah, that much fun to hear. She’s still rolling her eyes at me… I’ve really gotta catch that one on video, because it definitely is classic. She’s not as into the whole potty training thing as she was before, but this is my fault. I haven’t been on her and need to try harder.

She’s had a horrible cold, which I believe has become bronchitis – poor baby girl. But she’s just as active as ever. Her cough is heart wrenching though.

She really looks up to her brother. Anytime Jayden does anything…. like riding his bike outside…. she’s right there to cheer him on. She claps and says, “YAY, JJ! Good job, JJ!” Her eyes are lit up anytime he comes around and it’s probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I love the relationship these two have with eachother, and I hope that their closeness carries on for the rest of their lives. What they have is special…. not all siblings have that strong of a connection. The patience that Jayden has with her is astounding.

JAYDEN UPDATE:

My little man only has a couple more weeks of school left. How in the world is it possible that my baby boy is going to be going into the second grade? How is my little baby growing up? I can’t even call him my baby anymore, because he’s growing into a little young man, and that’s so hard. I love the person that he is becoming and I admire him for his manners, the respect he holds for people, and the love he holds in his heart for his family. We are his everything, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than him. God blessed us with the most special little soul, and I hold so much gratitude in my heart.

My picky little guy is now “trying” new foods. This is huge. Jayden has always only eaten the same things over and over again and never given new foods a try. Well, I made a chart with 25 squares and told him every time he tries something new he’ll get a sticker and once he fills up the whole chart he gets to pick out a video game….. it’s working!! Jayden ate asparagus last night. Shocking… and he didn’t throw it up! Lovely, huh?

His current activities out of school are baseball, piano and Karate. The piano is still going amazing as ever. It’s definitely something that he just has a gift for. Baseball is almost ever, and it’s been an enjoyable season. He likes it a lot better this year than last year, but I still feel like soccer is a much better sport for him. I don’t think he really cares for Karate, but we feel like it is really important that he sticks with it.

So, there’s my brag on my 2 precious babies…even though one of them really isn’t a baby anymore *sigh*

It’s for us… and in our own way we’ll get there

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Normally on Sundays we awake early and get dressed up to attend church. It’s become a regular thing and something we feel is extremely important for our children.

Today is week 3 of no church for us. Week #1 was Mother’s Day and I was enjoying a very relaxing weekend on the Oregon Coast, Week #2 my sister was up visiting and we spent the day taking pictures at Lithia Park (still being edited) and this week I think my daughter has bronchitis… and my throat hurts.

The problem here is every Sunday you spend away from church you fall more and more away from it. Truthfully, a part of me really wasn’t in the mood to attend church this morning, and that makes me feel bad. I don’t know what I should be doing to ensure that my family stays strong is something I believe to be true. Yet, I don’t want to feel guilty for not always doing everything perfect… and that’s a problem that I have. I walk into church and look at all the “perfect” forever families and almost feel intimidated. I shouldn’t, because I bet they have problems too, I bet they struggle with insecurities, I bet they’re not as perfect as they seem. But this has been their life for all of their lives… and if not all of their lives, a good part of them. This is new to us. Some Sundays I’d rather go shopping and enjoy the beautiful day that my husband has off together and not spend 3 hours in a church…. yet, that feeling right there makes me feel guilty.

I’m coming to a realization that this is for us. We have to take this at a pace that feels right for us and if that means we’re going to skip a Sunday to lay around and catch up on Desperate Housewives, I guess that’s what we have to do. I’m always too worried about what other people are thinking…’OMG the Garibays are inactive’. We’re not. Our faith is just as strong now as it ever was. We’re not out partying and drinking, we’re still following the commandments, it’s just a life changing thing for us. Sometimes we actually feel uncomfortable and I wish it wasn’t that way, but it is. I feel like the members of our ward are on one level and we’re on another. This is something I’ll have to work out on my own, but in the meantime I’m coming to the realization that this is for us. It’s not about the Bishop, it’s not about the people, it’s not even about the socialization part of it all, it’s about and for us.

If there’s a Sunday I want to go and Gino doesn’t, there’s not going to be anymore guilt trips and disappointment, because when I get home from church he’s still there, he still believes in it, he still loves me and that’s good enough for me… plus, I’m sure the next week he’ll be sitting right next to me.

Time and life

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I have not been able to find enough time in my days lately. My to do list is overwhelming, my project lists are overwhelming and I sometimes feel like I’m failing as a mom. At the end of the day I sigh and wish I had taken videos of Ella’s cuteness, of the things that come out of my precious son’s mouth and maybe more pictures.

But after rushing through the day, and not even being able to keep up my house I almost feel as if I’ve failed the day. I need to be more structured, and although I’ve been working on this, I’ve never actually succeeded here. My entire family needs structure, because things get forgotten, and that’s not supposed to happen.

I used to spend a lot of time on the computer – not working, but doing the things that I love to do. I’ve cut that time durastically, because I felt like I wasn’t doing the best I could for my family. Things weren’t getting done, and dropping my computer time has indeed helped. But there’s more that needs to be done. I sometimes feel rushed and I don’t like that. I want more special one on one time with my children. I want to have a fun project that we do at least every other day. Their childhood is flying by and I’m scared that through rushing through my days that I’m going to miss something important.

I want to see the excitment in their eyes as they dip their hand in paint and not fret about the mess that’s about to be made. I want to have set hours that I work and not work other than those hours, a set time to sit with Jayden and have him read or read to him, a set time to spend one on one time with my husband (even if it just consists on catching up on Desperate Housewives episodes). I just don’t want to forget the important things I should be getting done daily.

My kids and my husband need to know that I do have it together, I can handle it all, and they are the most important thing ever to me.

I love Garibay Soup

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I started this blog back in November of 2007 for the sole purpose of updating family members on our life away from them. I was reflecting back on how much bigger it has become. What new purposes it serves, and how I’ve grown from it.

I have had the most amazing privilege of getting to know other bloggers out there, and learning things I never thought I’d learn in bloggity world.

I am making my family’s history. I consider this my version of my family’s life, and one day my kids, their kids and possibly even their kids’ kids will get read about the things I feel, the things I love, the things that anger me, but the main thing is they’ll get to know me.

Sometimes I post meaningful things to me that I know my readers don’t care about, but when it comes down to it, this blog is for me. It’s for my family, and it doesn’t matter if I have a million readers or none…. this blog will always remain, and I will always try and keep in perspective the purpose of this blog.

I don’t always have joyous things to write about. I’m not hesitant to write about the trials in my life. I like to focus more on positive things, but let’s face it…. life isn’t always rosy and cheery. I’m happy that I have this blog to turn to and record the things I have failed to write in baby books, that I can talk about the things that frustrate me, the things I’ve discovered that work for me, and a place to just ramble about whatever my crazy mind has on it.

I’m extremely grateful for so many things in my life, and I find it kindof funny that Garibay Soup is definitely one thing I am grateful for. I love that my life is right here, that I have a record of the things that I have accomplished, the things my children and accomplished and the monuments in our life.

I love Garibay Soup.

My Mother’s Day…

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Mother’s Day…. HEAVEN! I absolutely love being at the coast. It’s gorgeous, peaceful, and it’s a place I’d honestly like to see myself living at one day. I don’t know, it may happen… it may not. That’s the beauty of life. The only thing truly stopping me from packing up and picking my new home is the fact that there’s no Home Depot on the Oregon coast…. and Home Depot is a necessity in our life, because that is our source of health insurance… cardiac baby MUST have health insurance.

We camped literally right in front of the beach. We were in my Grandma’s RV and I’d sit in the passenger seat and watch the whales blow the water up and flip their tails (or fins… whatever) out of the water. It was absolutely amazing to me!! I can’t believe how close those whales actually get to the shore! What a great experience!!

So, here’s a picture of the view from the RV

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures with my Grandma, but she was there. It was a nice little get away for us all… much needed! We really don’t live too far away from the coast, but we rarely go… usually just once a year. I want to start going more often. I want to take advantage of the beauty that’s just around the corner. I’d LOVE to take a trip up 101 for a couple of weeks and get to see all of the Oregon coast… it’s just so beautiful.

Of course I have a few pictures to show. I’m not going to overwhelm my blog with a million pictures, but these are a few of my favorites

I haven’t talked much about her, but this is our love Sophie…. I actually love her – shocking! I know, I know, she looks like a pit, but she’s NOT! She’s an Olde English Bulldog 🙂





Jayden FINALLY got to make smores, which is something this kid has been wanting to do for a REALLY long time. Jayden picked out a little chest for me, I’m thinking I might be keeping things he makes me in it. It’s special, because he had to get it for me…. there was no talking him out of it, and that’s the best!

I’m so thankful to be a mom, and I’m thankful to have 2 of the most special little souls I’ve ever encountered. I love my life, I love my children, and I love my husband…. I’m forever grateful for the way things have turned out for me.

Friday Favorites

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Yesterday I was so busy I forgot to post my Friday Favorites!!! This is what’s scary… every day we wake up loving our life (well, I do) and appreciating the day and it seems like such an important day for some reason. Well, at the end of the week you sit down to think about the best parts of your week, because you didn’t write them down ~ and you can’t.

  1. I bought a new posturpedic computer chair that I’ve fallen in love with
  2. On Monday my husband and I accomplished the world in our home ~ we finished projects that we’ve been working on for a while now. We’re still on our organization mission, and are almost completed with the house….. then we move back into the garage.
  3. Ella has still been doing pretty well on her potty training, but still has her accidents – but announces them right away with an, “UH OH!!!! PEEEEEEEEEEE PEE!” Her cuteness kills me I tell you.
  4. I finally found an assistant that won’t break the bank! My little sister, Alyssa, came over on Friday and helped me out by cleaning my bathrooms and other things around the house. I decided that I’ll be paying her to come over once a week for 4 hours to clean the bathrooms (my most hated job) and then work on projects for my work for me… if needed.
  5. We bought Sophie a new crate because her small one was just plain out too small for her. I’m actually really beginning to love her. I never realized it until just recently. Last night we went to my Grandma’s hotel room and she met her dogs for the first time and dang she’s so cute!!! However, she did pee on my sister in the car on the way home LOL
  6. Jayden got his yellow belt at Karate!!!! I’m so proud of my little man!

So, next week I’ll try to do my Friday Favorites with some pictures from the week.