Savannah's Luau

Our niece Savannah turned 10! I can't believe I met her when she was only 5. She is growing up into such a beautiful girl, and I love seeing how sweet she is with Aubriella.

For her 10th birthday, Savannah wanted a Hawaiian Luau/pool party. It was the perfect HOT day. Silvia just went to Hawaii and brought back outfits for all the kids (and adults but we didn't dress up!).

We didn't get to many pictures of Savannah because she was too busy having fun! They were running back and forth between the pool and dunk tank.

Savannah helped make and decorate her cake.

Someday we will get a picture of all the little kids looking!

Gulliana had on the cutest swim suit and matching sandals!

"My kids"

It is so easy to post a ton of pictures of Aubri (I took 672 last month!) and write quick little updates, but I've realized that I have not talked much about my other children. In fact I don't even know if I've mentioned that I have about 50-60 additional kids.

It's true. Since May, Jose and I have been serving as the Children's pastors at Five Cities Vineyard. While we aren't responsible for their physical care, we do have a responsibility (in addition to their parents) to teach them and lead them to the Lord. How humbling! Just the other day I was reflecting on my past experience of Sunday school and youth group, and I realized I can name many Sunday School teachers and all my Children's pastors. I can even remember lessons they taught, activities we did, and things they said. It hit me all over again what a huge responsibility-and great privilege- it is to be entrusted with this position!

In the few months we've been the Children's pastors, I've been rewarded with witnessing so much growth and understanding in the children. I've shared with several people already how amazing it has been to hear the children excitedly recite to me week after week the Fruit of the Spirit or the books of the Bible, or be able to tell me what they learned the previous week. I've even been blessed to see new teachers join our ministry team, and to witness the effort they put in to preparing their lessons.

I'm reminded right now of Matthew 18:1-5.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

WOW! What a picture of Jesus' heart for the children! It is tempting for me to stop there, but I got to share the next important verse.

Verse 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

YIKES! Not much could be worse than drowning to death, yet that is considered a better option than what is in store for someone who leads His children astray. Again what an eye opening responsibility.

Being the Children's pastor is a dream come true. It has been a passion burning in my heart for years. I honestly never knew if it would happen for me, but years ago I received a prophetic word about teaching and serving children. To see that playing out in my life is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit. The story of how we were led to this position is long, but to sum it up Jose and I had nothing to do with it! God ordained every little step so that in the end I can look back and see how the position came to us at the perfect time.

So now for the best part...a look at a few of "my kids".

Pre-K kids were learning about Joseph. What a creative project the teacher planned! They colored coffee filters, sprayed them with water, and made Joseph's colorful robe!

Kindergartners also learned about Joseph- in jail! They LOVED getting locked up in jail and handcuffed!

Good looking kids, huh?

8 month old Snuggle Puppy

Aubriella turned 8 months this week, and this past month has been a blast! She has so much personality, and I say it in the most humble way I can, my daughter is smart! She is a little copy cat and we have had fun teaching her to mimic us.

At the risk that I may sound like I'm training a puppy, I've got to update you on Aubriella's latest "tricks"- I don't call her snuggle puppy for nothing!

When she wants to make us laugh or clap she performs one trick after another. She sticks her hands in the air for "Touchdown!" then claps, waves, makes farting noises with her lips (or blows her mouth against her hand or Mommy's shoulder), then makes her signature sound of blowing her lips and making a car noise (I don't know how else to explain it), and lately blows kisses. She also loves to dance by tapping her foot and shaking her bottom, and loves to sing. She knows to clap when we sing "If you're happy and you know it", play paticake, peekaboo, and knows what an owl says. She says "mama", "dada" , "papa", baby "baabe", and bye bye "baa buh".

Of course Daddy's favorite is "Touchdown!" which she learned just in time for the first Sunday of the NFL season. The two of them have fun doing this while watching football or going to cousin Eddie's games.

She LOVES football games! She has no problem staying up 2 hours past her bedtime every Friday night. She claps and cheers with the cheerleaders, and is so entertained by all that is going on!

Since we are on the subject of football, check out how our little cheerleader has grown! Good thing we have a bigger cheer leading outfit for her to grow into. At 3 1/2 months old

And at 7 1/2 months

Aubri is always on the move! We finally got the stair gate up which will be a lot less stressful for me- even though she thinks it is a new toy!

She walks all over with her baby stroller, stands up for a few seconds unassisted, and will climb on anything she can.

A couple of days ago she pushed her Buzz Lightyear car to the couch, stood on it and climbed onto the couch. I really think she is going to be an early walker!

I lost almost 2 pounds this month even though I've had very poor eating habits...I blame and thank Aubriella for the extra boost in physical activity. Chasing around an 8 month old is hard work!

Cousins

We are so fortunate to live close to all our relatives. Aubriella is one lucky girl to not only be doted on by her older cousins, but to have so many second cousins her age!

Someone just asked us at the most recent family party why we are always taking pictures of the babies together. It is because they are growing up so fast and it will be so awesome to look back on when they are older!

Look how little Gulliana and Aubriella were the first time they met!

And them last month.

Guiliana is 2 1/2 months older than Aubriella, and Aubriella is 3 months older than little Jesse! The crazy thing is Veronica is 2 months older than Gizelle, who is 2 months older than Jose.

Little Jesse and Aubriella both talk and smile at each other. It is too cute!

It is really hard to get a good picture of 3 babies. Event though they aren't smiling I LOVE this picture!

Though we mostly have pictures of these three, they aren't the only new cousins! Little Amelia is a month old and will soon be keeping up with these three.

Baby Unger

Our dear friends the Ungers are expecting another miracle baby! We were invited to their "Reveal Party" when they would disclose the sex on their baby. Earlier in the day, Joy had her doctors appointment and ultrasound. She had the doctor write the sex of the baby on a paper, and seal it in an envelope. That night their closest friends and family met at Klondikes.



I asked everyone to make a prediction on the sex of the baby by posing for the camera with a sign language B or G.

Canaan is thinking "Baby? What baby??"

And the verdict is......