* Ortiz Family Grinchmas *

Today was the day to get Grinchy!  Our family started this tradition last year when we realized how much we all loved The Grinch story. 

This year our Grinchmas party became an all day event complete with Grinchy slime, fun crafts, games and writing activities. Our day started off with a yummy breakfast with none other than some green Grinchy toppings and green milk.   Here are the kids ready to start their day. 

We dove right in to our morning work since this was a home study day for us.   We began first by discussing some Grinch characteristics and facts that we know about him.  Here are the children working on their ideas. 

Then we had a little bit of fun and practiced some spelling with how the Grinch stole words! 

We then moved on to one of my favorite activities of the day.  We talked about being a friend to the Grinch and how that would make him feel.  The kids each wrote about how they could be a friend to the Grinch and how being kind is important. 

They then got to decorate their written note about the Grinch to make it look like he was hugging their letter.   So sweet!

We love making flubber!  Today we used a little bit of green food coloring to make it a bit more Grinchy.  We practiced measuring and mixing and following a recipe.  Here's our bouncy, sticky, slimy and green Grinchy flubber. 

It's not a complete party for us if we don't throw in a craft or two.  Today we tried painting ornaments for the first time and they came out so adorable.   We made them green of course with a red sparkly heart to show our love for the Grinch and to remind us that his heart grew when he chose to be kind. 

 

 We decided that while our ornaments dried we would play a game of pin the heart on the Grinch.  Sam won and his prize was kisses (as in Hershey kisses and we all really ate some anyway).  

 

Later when dad got home we enjoyed our tradition of a Grinch themed dinner.  Here is a copy of the menu I made last year. 

Here are the kids ready to eat their Who Hash, Roast Beast and Who Pudding for dessert!   We ended our night by watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  

 

This is such a fun family tradition and we had a fun home study day as well.  Most of my activities I found on Pinterest.  I did make my own worksheets using Publisher and a free Grinched font.  I also made the large Grinch for the game and had it laminated so that we could use it again and again.  The cups I found at Ross and our Grinch shirts were from Christmas last year.  (Shop after Christmas for the best deals and buy a size or two larger for the kids)   From our family to yours.   MERRY GRINCHMAS!

 

* Sandy Toes *

It's mid year and it is completely unacceptable!  I am not ready to begin thinking about going back to school.  (We got our supply list request already)

Last weekend we spent Father's day at the beach.  We took a little train ride to San Clemente Pier with the kids and some of our friends and it was quite the adventure.  It was nice to not have to worry about traffic and just relax and talk the whole ride there and back.  Although the kids mostly ate as usual. 

It's funny because while at the beach they were too busy playing so the train ride home really consisted of them devouring whatever food we had left over.  They had a great time and I hope they always remember their first train ride adventure.

The beach was beautiful, it wasn't too hot nor was it too cold.  The kids had a blast except for the pesky little rocks.  (That beach has a ton!) 

The kids only got out of the water when we told them to come walk with us on the boardwalk.  Seriously these kids played the entire time in the ocean and they loved every second.  I got a few adorable pictures of them while going on our boardwalk adventure.  Aren't the adorable?

I know the daddies had a great time with their kiddies too.  It was a gorgeous and fun family day for all of us.   We are so blessed to have such wonderful husbands and dads for our children.   

 

I love summer time and hanging at the beach.  Father's day 2015 was surely a great one.

 

* Adventure is out there *

Rather than the normal walk around the neighborhood I usually try to take advantage of our location.  We don't live in a major city and we are blessed to be surrounded by mountains and nature galore.  We often go seek adventure near my mom's house at the Santa Rosa Plateau. 

Our recent visit there we brought my brother in law Nick and his fiancé Carrie along.  Needless to say the kids enjoyed the talks, laughs and jokes along the way. 

Aren't they adorable?

Samuel has become quite the trail leader and he never leaves home without his walking stick that he made in Rangers a few years back.  

Our most recent hike took us to Sandia Creek (we found no watermelons there).  This trail is very close to Camp Pendleton so Carlos met up with us after work as we all set off for a new adventure.  This time we had my other brother in law and sister in law join us.  

What a lovely crew this is right?

 

Carlos, the kids and I have gone on quite a few hikes this year but it's always so much fun to bring family along.  Some of our hikes have included;  Tenaja falls, Santa Rosa (twice now), the Meadow, Cabrillo trails and Sandia Creek.

 

I would really like to hike up to the Hollywood sign (that's totally on my bucket list) and I would also like to venture out to potato chip rock.  I think those hikes will be more like date hikes because they are probably not as easy for little feet and small legs. 

 

 

Alrighty....get up, get out! Adventure is out there!  

 



* Pause to Listen *

I knew the minute the doorknob wouldn’t turn that I was in big trouble. 

You see, my then 1 ½ year old son had locked me out of the house completely.  I was stranded in our garage with no cell phone or keys and apparently no common sense.  I was ready to kick down that door!  I was going to save my toddler! I heard him through the door and I kept calling out to him tapping the door fervently and saying “Sammy, can you turn the lock?  Sammy, its mommy please unlock the door”.  I heard mumbles and shuffling and the door wiggled but the door remained locked. 

I did what any normal mother would do and ran to my neighbor’s house screaming!  My sweet neighbor was able to move a screen, slide the window and slip into my house in less than 10 minutes.  Why didn’t I think of that?  I saw my sweet boys face as he held his sippy cup and innocently said “Hi mama”.  I knew then that everything was alright with the world. 

Why was I so panicked? Why is it that every single bad scenario played through my mind and I visualized my toddler going into the kitchen and just taking out all the sharp things.  Why was my mind going there so quickly?  What seemed like an entire hour of my sweet toddler being alone in the house simply lasted about 20 minutes maybe even less!  Why did I let fear block my thinking capabilities?  If I would have remained calm, I would have remembered that my guest bedroom window was probably opened and if it wasn’t we usually didn’t lock the windows anyway.  I could have slid the screen and climbed through the window but instead I pounded at the door in fear and in desperation and then in just pure unashamedly insanity.  Who does that? Apparently I do!

Are we facing our fears calmly knowing that our heavenly father is giving us a solution and a way out? Or are we frantically trying to go up against them with no real plan pounding on all the wrong closed doors? 

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Does that mean that I didn’t pray on that day when Sam locked me out of the house? Of course not!  I sure did pray but it was more of the begging kind like “please, please God have him open this door”.  I did not stop long enough to listen to God’s answer, perhaps if I would have I would have stayed calm enough to find the solution.   I was thankful that nothing happened to my sweet boy and thankful that my neighbor was home and was able to help me come up with a solution for getting into my house.  I am so thankful that I am not left alone to my own devices and that in time of worry I can look to my creator who gives me the strength and wisdom to overcome difficulties. 

What do you need to overcome today?  Have you stopped worrying long enough to hear God give you the solution or answer? 

Lord I know there will be plenty more times when we will panic and react in a way that may not be pleasing to you.  Please help us to remember that you listen to our prayers and provide solutions so long as we take the time to trust in you.  Father give us the ears to hear from you and the wisdom to wait on you.  Amen