THIS IS OUR LIFE!

Nicky's and Ian Christmas party were a success. My friend Celest took care of Hanna and Zach so I could go and spend time with Ian at his party. Then later on that day my friend Auebrey took care of Ian and Hanna so I could go and spend time with Nicky. It was great seeing my kids so happy to see me there. 

My family is divided for birthday's moments. Ian and Hanna's  birthdays are in March and following their is Glenn at the beggining of April then we have a long pause until August for our latest baby then another pause to celebrate mine and Nicky's birthday at the end of October and beggining of November. Those months are the hardest (except Zach who is the only one that doesn't share a near month with one of us.

Let's see. My resolutions...well indispite of Glenn might think I'm going to write some resolutions, yeah I know it's March already but HEY NEVER IS TOO LATE RIGHT?
Finish the bible (at least as much as I can handle. That is one heavy book)
Be a better mom and wife.
Take naps everyday at least for 1 hour (I so need to do this one IF I want to accomplish number 2)
Go to sleep on time. (Around 10:00 p.m. I think is not too bad right?)
Stop being so lazy and start studying English again (I have gotten to comfortable of how I talk that I just stop caring about grammar, accent and vocabulary)
Try to put my foot in my mouth more often I guess wouldn't hurt. BE PRUDENT!!
Be more patients with my kids.
Keep supporting my awesome husband with out winning :S
Make moment memorable BY BEING PATIENT (good luck with that one:S)
Make activities for my family and friends once or twice per month.

So far that is all that I can come up with. So far I have been doing so so with each one of them. I have had some activities/game night/girls and couple night out with family and friends. The kids always have fun with their friends too so that is a perfect excuse to get all together and make some fun games.
This month we got ready to celebrate Ian's b-day. Unfortunately my son is starting to see the responsibility of his acts. We had to cancel his party for his poor choices. However we didn't want to let the day go by like it wasn't important because IT IS!!
5 years ago Ian came to our lives and he made us parents for the second time. He has a great spirit. He is the most colorful of my kids. He says it how he thinks it AND I LOVE IT!! He is unique for his ethusiasm. I love that he always try to see the positive of the circumstances. He is a great son, brother and student. He always makes me proud for his efforts OF NOT GIVING UP BECAUSE GIVING UP IS FOR LOOSER!! He has bring so much fun and happiness to our lives that thinking a life with out Ian makes me sad. I'm so bless that he is MY BOY!! He often gets in trouble but he recognize when he is wrong. He is my little Romeo but again HE IS MINE!! I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for the challenge and pleasure of having him in my life. Most of the time I wonder if I am failing him as a mom and I pray that the lord will help me to hold his hand (as well as the hands to my other 3) and together with Glenn will be able to guide them in the right path so someday we can all be together forever. That sounds so hard to do that I get discourage and then I try to remember what Ian says GIVING UP IS FOR LOOSER!! and that is when I keep trying. Ian love. As soon as your Dad and I knew I was pregnant I knew you were a boy. As soon as they did an ultrasound bugging your moment inside my tummy and you push back I knew you were a warrior who didn't like to be bother. We welcome you into our lives with so much love and happinest and you keep teaching us with so much love everyday how to be better people, better parents. Thank you Ian boy for being the way you are. I wouldn't change anything from you!! ANYTHING!! I know you are what we called UN DIAMANTE EN BRUTO. We are working hard on you and you make us happy and proud everyday. There are not night that your Dad and I don't talk about how bless we are to have you in our lives. Even though we didn't throw you a party we didn't want you to think the day you were born wasn't important for us. It was one of the most importants!! The cake, cupcakes, presents and the homemade presents we gave you and seeing your expression of gratitude for making your day so special made it worth it. I know you wanted another kind of party but understood you did something wrong. I know you were grateful and positive about the little celebration we threw on you honor and you were happy. The look in your eyes when you saw your cake and presents were priceless. I know you are learinig. Sometimes I wish I could stop the time to enjoy more all of you. You as your siblings are growing up so fast and I know I can't stop it but I'm glad I can be part of your grow.
Ian son HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY YOU ARE AN AWESOME KID AND YES AGAIN YOU ARE MINE!!!

SRING BREAK
DAY 1 Corpus Christi beach with the kids, our friend Cody and her son Tristan :D

It has been such a long time since last time I wrote anything here. Sometimes I feel tempted to just write things down but then I remember I have things to do and I don't do it....wait I just remember I need to check out some neighborhoods ...okay I will come back later...maybe y another 3 yrs? we will see

 2 hours before midnight we dance and sang in my Karaoke and we woke up Zach so he could receive the New Year with us.
 My little sister and I did alot of silly dances, the kids thought we were so funny and we just couldn't avoid laughing of our silliness
 We of course took some of the last pics of 2011

"Santa" had a broken sleigh this year and "sent" one of his elves to leave a letter to the kids, promising them to leave their presents later on that same Christmas Day. To do that, he asked us to leave the house for "an hour or so" so he could come and leave everything. We decided to go to earlier meetings at church for another ward (that way we could come back early, too, and Glenn could go back to sleep). Church was great and the special music was excellent, but there was one speaker that took too long and the other one didn't get the memo that sacrament meetings are supposed to last just for one hour. That being said, sacrament lasted for 1 hr and 30 minutes. Glenn and I were laughing at the situation. We felt so smart on going early so we could have a break and there we were. Glenn kept saying that he could just imagine Heavenly Father pointing and laughing about us "trying to be so smart" and he told me, "I'm sure our ward will be in sacrament meeting for 40 minutes." I talked to my friend Celest and she told me that Glenn's prediction was true. More to laugh at us anyway.
The kids were super excited to see their presents from Santa when they walked in the house after meetings were over. It was so fun to see them get what they asked for. Nicky asked for a Barbie dream house. The house was so heavy that Santa left it upstairs. :) Nicky walked in and was a little sad that she didn't see her big present in the living room, then she checked Santa's note telling her to look upstairs, letting her know that her gift was too big so he left it where she was probably going to play with it. Clever Santa.
Ian got a "General Grievous" (Star Wars) sword. Hanna got her interactive "puppy dog" and Zach got a robot that has lots of lights and rolls around. I got a vintage popcorn maker and Glenn got a cotton candy maker. Tons of movies, Wii games, and candy were in the stockings and boxes, and the kids and us got more fun stuff (collection of Junie B. Jones books, Polly Pocket toys, dolls, Barbies, Tv.'s, camera, boots, robes, clothes, shoes, crocks, collection of Star Wars toys, Transformers, cars, potty training barbies, pet shop toys, princess accessories, a tripod for my special camera, and a HUGE mask of Optimus Prime). We had a great Christmas. Yeah the gifts were great but the best of all is that we were all together. My house is a mess and we are extra exhausted, but we are enjoying this time together. I'm so grateful for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and for so much love that He feels for all of us. I really think He wants to see us all happy. I'm grateful for the wonderful family we are forming and for living in this crazy time. I truly feel the love of my Savior every day when I see the love of my kids in their eyes. Or the gentleman and wonderful husband I have. Nicky told me yesterday that she felt warm in her heart every time she hugs me. I can still see Ian's, Hanna's, and Zach's eyes sparkle with love when they see me. I'm not proud of what kind of mom I am, and every day I see an opportunity to become better. I probably fail in most of my attempts but I will keep trying my best to raise good future grown ups. I feel that I don't deserve the wonderful husband that I have and yet I feel blessed every day for having him with me, holding my hand so patiently. I try hard to be a good wife, but I know I can do better. I'm still trying.
I'm grateful for my family which by the way keeps growing every time we move. I have made so many wonderful friends, and I feel really blessed to have them.
Anyway pics and video will be posted LATERRRR!!

I haven't posted here in forever and apologize for it, but I think our "large" following will forgive me. :)

It has been an incredibly busy, but wonderful year. I thought I'd give my highlights and some resolutions. Shall we?

1. Arrival of Zach Russell Walker. We were ecstatic to receive our fourth child into our family on 8/3/11. He wasn't just the biggest of the four (8 lb 7 oz), didn't just take the longest to arrive (1 day before 40 complete weeks which Claudia had never gotten to), and hasn't been the only one to somehow pull out the blue eyes from his parents' very brown eyes...but he is a very special addition to a very special family full of great kids. His older siblings have been great and have received him with love and open arms. He's a chunk and a half (18 lbs at 4 months), but he's full of smiles (along with some grunts).

2. 8th Anniversary. Yeah, this happens every year, but it's a wonderful time to remember the greatest day of my life: when I got married and sealed to my gorgeous, awesome wife Claudia in the snow-coated Salt Lake City Temple. Still don't know how I am so blessed to have her. I luckily had the day off from work and after the kids went to sleep I made a fancy dinner for the both of us which turned out pretty tasty. :)

3. Nick's Progress. She's a great reader and is making out to be a great writer...maybe someday like her Grandpa Jim. She's doing excellently in first grade and in spite of some girl-relationship drama (really? this early? who would've thought), has made some good friends and is a darling at home. She helps her little siblings out all the time (great big sister for Hanna, especially in what I'll describe below) and is full of love for her family and others.

4. Ian's Progress. He started pre-K without a hitch, and was happy to be going to his big sister's school. It's only for a few hours a day, but he loves the environment and getting to come home on the bus (which drops him off right in front of the house...nice work, babe). He's learned those essential basics from school (he already knew most of it) and continues to be his chatter-box self. :) He has a best friend at school with whom he exchanges stories about Transformers, Star Wars, and varying super heroes. He might've gotten those interests from me. :) He's a great son, and though he struggles with being consistently obedient, he is a sweet brother and son and is doing better every day.

5. Hanna's Progress. She has officially surpassed that last, insufferable barrier of toddlerhood: potty-training. My incredible wife, while still adjusting to Zach's recent arrival, put the proverbial foot down and fought through the tears and accidents and marathan bathroom days (at least she liked reading in the bathroom). I haven't been much more than a slightly involved bystander in that step in all 3 of them, so my wife gets another trophy. :) It's such a huge step. I'm always telling people that you can finally breathe a little easier (figuratively and literally) when they're potty-trained. She is a doll and our toddler princess...and a diva. :) We love all of them so much, they're all very special and we feel so blessed to have them.




7. Primos and tios (cousins and aunts/uncles). We had many great visits during the year for different occasions from Claudia's side of the family and were always happy to have them in our home and see our kids play well together. Birthdays, holidays, and long weekends were even more eventful thanks to their visits. Our kids are slowly picking up some Spanish along the way with this (they understand it but won't speak much). We're happy to have all North America in the family (Canada, U.S., Mexico) and the thorough and deep culture they all bring.

We had many other special events, but those were the most salient. Yes, I just used "salient."

Resolutions (mine). Gotta write them down somewhere to make them count, right (measurable and specific,as well if I remember correctly)? I've put some thought into them and hope to define them much better. Though a great year, as most, there were many things I'd love to improve this year and into the next. I'm not trying to impress, and some of these might be obvious or already part of your routine. I just want them to be part of mine (in many aspects, again). Here goes:

1. Temple attendance once a month.
2. 100% home teaching every month.
3. FHE every week.
4. Date night or "talk night" once a week with my wife. Get out of house for one of these at least 2x/month.
5. Night out with one of my children once a month (rotating basis)
6. Pass my mock oral and written boards for anesthesiology (did it last year, but it's supposed to get harder)
7. Study 30 minutes every day for work.
8. Go to gym 3 times a week. Regain abdominal anatomy of yester year. :)
9. Write in journal once a week.
10. Finish D&C and Book of Mormon this year.
11. Travel somewhere as a family this year that requires us to stay there at least for a few nights.
12. Be more patient and understanding (no road rage, yelling, arguing). It doesn't happen often but I want it to be pretty much never.

There you go. 12 for 2012.

Happy New Year and Feliz Año Nuevo!

..or should I write Nicky's nightmare first day of school?
While I was trying to adjust I had to confess it wasn't an easy task to do. Unfortunately my kids sometimes had to pay the consequences of this transition. On Nicky's first day of school I  had to try everything ready so she wouldn't be late.
Managing 4 kids didn't look that hard after all. It was 7:00 a.m. and we all were ready. Hanna a little grumpy and poor Zach had no idea what was going on. However this was something that we all had to get used to so we start the day with tons of Patience and love. The day before I convince Nicky to use a hand me down pair of crocks that she got. She didn't want it very much but I convinced her by telling her that Daddy wears his to work and he loves them because they are super comfy. Nicky accept using the crocks for first day of school.
We left from home around 7:10 that gave us perfect timing to be there with tons of time (since Nicky's class starts at 7:45) I forgot how crazy it get to park so I decided to park as close as I could from school.  I didn't bring my double stroller and even though Zach was too little he has always been a big boy. So I held him. Then the struggle. My toddler princess was demeaning to be held and Ian was running around all those cars. Nicky was complaining about something and I look at the time IT WAS ALREADY 7:30 We weren't going to make it on time (since I had to park practically a block away from our home) I couldn't hear anymore complains since everybody was pretty much up sad. I told Nicky to pose for the picture but my tone was already about to explode. I think Nicky noticed that I was having a hard time so she immediately obeyed and stop complaing. She noticed that her siblings were all around the street  and didn't want me to get up sad. I took the picture and we ran to her school. Gosh the step mother (that is how I call my bad mother side) came out of me with in minutes. Shouting at Ian and pulling Hanna's hand. I kept yelling at Nicky like it was her fault (oh stupid step mother) My friend Celest was coming back from dropping off her girls and saw me struggling with my gang. She immediately offer to take care of my troubles makers (Ian and Hanna) while I was going to drop off Nicky. I told her that perhaps they wouldn't want. But I was being so bad that they didn't hesitance to say YES WE WILL GO WITH CELEST. I thank her a thousand times. I took a deep breath and held Nicky's hand. This should be a very good experience for kids FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. I was making it a nightmare for my cutie. So I started to talk with a soft voice. When Nicky noticed that she started sobbing. I wasn't yet in the mood to be patienct again so I rolled my eyes and asked her with a sweet voice and force smile...NOW WHAT? and with her cute voice she told me MOM YOU SAID THIS SHOES WERE COMFORTABLE AND THEY ARE MAKING ME BLEED!! (she got a blister from not wearing sucks) I felt to bad that I gave her a hug, apologise and told her that I was going to ask for a bandit..and so I did.
I'm not the best mom, I'm not super mom and I haven't found the patient that I need. However I'm trying, after all that is why we are here right? to be better :s. I love my kids with all my heart and yes I might yell too much some times...not that I'm proud about it. Adjusting wasn't easy. Little by little I'm going back to track. I do admire some of my friends and family who are so patient with out spoiling their kids. I'm hoping someday be like them. I'm trying though. I tryed to compensate the day to my kids by being super kind most of the day. Here is Nicky coming out of school.

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so many things happen during summer time:) I know we are already in fall BUT I can not start posting about Fall without our faboulous summer.
We had more visitors but some of our favorite were our good friends The Hobbs (minus Ron) Lindsay was so cute and nice to come and visit her whale friend on her way to AZ. Nicky and Jay has been friend forever. I feel like I know Lindsay forever too. She has been a lifesaver for me since I move to Tx. I guess I could go on and on. She gift us with 2 days of them. My kids and I wished It could have been more time. I think she was too worry that I was going to deliver during one of our trips to Sea World. It didnt happen though. She brought her little sister along with her. I loved meeting her too. The kids had fun at Sea World and we all get to eat yummy food made for my wonderful husband:D here are some pics.


 Jay was so good at reading that gave that little motivation that Nicky needed to start reading better everyday. Now she is officially a worm reader:D Thanks Jay! and Thanks to Lindsay to make the effort to come. I always need my Lindsay's dosis. I really wish we could live closer. Oh well at least we have this good moment to embrace :D