We took a much needed break from the Valley heat wave this past weekend. My cousin invited us to go visit her in Oxnard. It was so nice and cool there, it was unbelievable. My cousin even took us to the local police department so Gerardo could get an application!! They did have a heat wave of their own, one of the days we were there it actually got up to 80 degrees!! I really would move there in a minute!!
My cousin Stephanie lives in Oxnard with her husband & her two boys Matthew & Tyler but her husband and her boys were in Illinois for the week visiting her husband's parents. It was so nice she lives really close to the beach and Port Hueneme, we just did a lot of relaxing and cooling off!!
It was perfect.
First time Aaron has been on the beach. Port Hueneme, I don't know the name of the beach. He was fine here with his Daddy.
I actually lived here while I went to college, I would sit right on this beach and study!! But, I haven't been here in about 2 years, so it was nice to come back & be jealous of all the great weather!!
I love this picture because you can see Lilly playing in the water in the background!! So cute!! But Aaron did NOT like the wet sand or the water on his feet, he totally cried when I put his toes in the water!
Jacob loves the beach and the water. One of his favorite things to do is to dig up sand crabs. Then he would show them to Lilly and she would run off screaming...funny!
It was also Spike's first time at the beach. We didn't have any one to watch him so he went on our mini vacation with us. It was good because he kept the kids entertained!

Click here if you want to see all the pics of Aaron's first time on the beach & how much fun we all had!!

And The Survey Says...

A few weeks ago I told some of you about the surveys that I have been doing on line & getting paid for. I was just wondering how everyone was doing with them? Did anyone sign up and have you earned anything?
I have been doing good with it, I am averaging about $40 or so per week now, which pays for my gas, there are some weeks that I don't get any checks & then some weeks I get a bunch. I have been using a lot of gas running my kids around and going back and forth to my mom's house helping her re cooperate from her surgery.
Last week I got $45 worth of checks. The first pic is of all the checks I got yesterday, they totaled $30 plus a $25 gift card to Red Lobster. The next pic is 2 $5 checks that I received in today's mail. So here's the proof that it really works and you can get a few extra bucks cash.
I have learned how to get through a survey quickly, which surveys to do, and a few other tricks. Email me if you have any questions.
Anyway, if you did sign up, I hope your having fun & earning $$$

Lilly's obsessed! Don't read if your easily offended!

So, my 3 year old is obsessed with showing people her butt. It started out cute, but now she won't stop. Any time she sees anyone she knows, she tells them to look at her butt. Yes, that's my Lilly, the exhibitionist in training...oh no, what do I have to look forward to??

Will this lead to flashing guys on spring break?...Will this lead her to a life on the pole?...omg...Gerardo & I were just speculating last night....I don't even want to think about it..LOL

I guess it's natural for kids to be curious about their anatomy, but Lilly's taken it to the next level..LOL

Okay, I have to admit, I laugh every time she does it...I guess that's why she keeps on doing it!

At least she's not naked when she does it, it's pretty much just like this picture. And she hasn't done this to any strangers, although she has done it in front of strangers!

If anyone has any advice...let me know!!

And for those of you that are easily offended...please try not to get to bent out of shape the next time you see my princess and she asks you if you want to see her butt....

Aaron bloggin'....

I can't keep Aaron away from the computer!! He loves to get the mouse and start clicking away!!

He also loves the blue power button on the tower of the computer.

He loves to push it and turn it on and off!!

I know one of these days my computer is gonna crash and it's gonna be all Aaron's fault!!

Today I heard some clicking noises and I KNEW that he was messing with the computer.

I came into the room and there he was....BLOGGING!! LOL

I don't know how he did it, but he clicked on the link to Tia Mimi's blog!!!

I guess he just wanted to check out his cousin Ollin!! So funny!! I had to take a picture before he got in trouble!!

**HAPPY 4TH OF JULY**

Happy 4Th of July from The Chavoya-Flores Family!!
Trying to get a good pic of my kiddos...is NOT easy!!
Fireworks!! Yeah, Aaron & Lilly loved them. Aaron fell asleep during the 'show'!
We had a quiet 4Th of July at my mom & dad's house. We swam, ate BBQ tri-tip & had some fireworks in the front yard. It was a lot of fun.

Let's Go Swimming...

My kids have really learned to love swimming this summer! We believe in getting the kids into the water as soon as possible so their not afraid to learn to swim. I put Jacob in the pool at 6 months old, we put Lilly in the pool for the first time in summer 2005 when she was about 7 months old, & Aaron was just too little last summer so this summer is his first time in the pool, and I would have liked to get him in earlier because he is a little more afraid than the other kids. Lilly went swimming last year, but this year she has just decided to go for it & took off swimming with floaties only! She's not afraid at all, she swims all over the pool, in the deep end & everywhere! Yesterday she started jumping off the step, it's only a matter of time until she's jumping off the diving board!! She's my little firecracker...so adventurous!!
We have been putting Aaron in the pool this year, but since he's already a year old he's got his own ideas about being in the water. He doesn't like it when it's too cold, so he'll cry until we get him out. But on a nice warm day when the water is nice and warm, he'll stay in the pool for a long time & float around in his little boat & splash the water!
Jacob has always swam in the pool, but he's always been deathly afraid to swim without floaters & he never jumps off the diving board. But this year he just got brave one day & decided to swim without his floaters. It was surprising but he just took off swimming all over the pool & the deep end without being scared. Yesterday he tried jumping from the diving board & really did a good job, before the end of the day he was doing cannonballs, twists & trying to dive!! We're proud of him.

And all of you remember, we're gonna spend a lot of time at my mom's house swimming this summer...and you're always invited to join us!!

Click here to see all the pics & to see video of Lilly swimming & Jacob doing a cannonball off the diving board for the first time!!

What The???

How do toddlers fall asleep in such crazy positions???

I only got this one pic of Lilly asleep yesterday, she woke up with the flash so I couldn't get a view of her from the other side.

But she's actually asleep STANDING UP on the couch. She's standing on the edge of the couch & leaning over on to the recliner.

My poor princess, but I guess she was comfortable enough to fall asleep!!

I have so many pics of Jacob asleep in weird positions too! I don't know how they do it!

Oh well, Sweet Dreams!!

Dracula Aaron:

Now that Aaron is teething, he's decided to start biting everything..and everyone in site! With only a few teeth, you would think that a little baby bite wouldn't hurt that much, oh no! It's SO super painful when those little choppers dig into you! He's bitten me, Jacob & Lilly...and probably Spike too, but he hasn't complained. Yesterday was the worst, he bit Lilly several times & also bit Jacob on the leg & me on my arm and knee!
The Victim: Lilly Flores wearing her 'much needed' Dora the Explorer Band-Aid to 'protect' her wound from Aaron!! She cried SO much when it first happened...but flashed a big smile for the camera...yes I have her trained to be 'camera-ready' at all times!
The Accused: Aaron Flores trying to look innocent in this pic, but he knows he's caught! Guilty of the crime of biting his sister's arm!
In his defense, he couldn't help it...he's probably just frustrated with this teething pain & doesn't know what else to do.
I'll just have to keep a closer eye on him & make sure he's got something else to chew on, besides his sister's arm!!LOL

4th of July Celebration/Program

Last night we attended the 4Th of July Celebration & Program at Madera Ranchos Assembly of God.
The kids were in the choir, they did a really good job. Lilly was supposed to be in the choir, but we did not have a good experience during rehearsal with her so we decided to pull her out...maybe next year! She was supposed to sing one song with her church group "The Rainbows" and then leave the stage & come sit with us...well Lilly had a ball on stage, she totally played it up and sang and danced...then it was time to get off the stage...she refused!! She ended up falling asleep on stage with all the big kids around her singing!! It was funny, but good thing it was during rehearsal & not the real show!!

Martina and Angelica had a solo. The did really good. We're very proud!!

Jacob had a solo narration part. I could tell that he was nervous in front of so many people, but he did really good. He's a really good reader & you could understand him well when he was on the mic!
After the program they had watermelon, corn & fireworks. Lilly & Aaron were there for this part. Aaron LOVED the fireworks, he wasn't scared at all! Lilly loved the fireworks & ate SO much corn!! Jacob had fun running around & chasing snakes with the other kids & his cousin James. It was a great night!!

Today is our 4 year Anniversary!!!!

Let me start by saying that my husband left to go to work on last Wednesday & has so far worked over 100 hours since then...let me repeat that cuz it will kinda blow your mind...he's worked over 100 hours this week....so far & the week is not even done for him!!

So with that said, I don't think I could ever have imagined or dreamed of getting a better husband than Gerardo. I sometimes can't even process the thought of how hard it must be for him to work so many hours and it's all for me and the kids.

The truth is that he complains just a little & doesn't expect a lot from me...just three meals a day when he's home & I have to make sure he's got Chelada's at all times.

I can't truly express in words the true love that I feel for him. He has made me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I am so blessed to have him as a husband, a best friend and the most wonderful father I could have ever asked for my children.

Thank you Gerardo, I hope we have many, many more years together. I love you so so so very much. I know you are always there for me when I need you, you're always by my side. You came into my life right when I needed you and you've been there ever since. You make me feel complete and I love you.