Fieldtrips, Family, & Fun

When I look at my children, I feel such a sense of fulfillment.  Reward.  Satisfaction.  Sense of purpose.  They truly bring out the best in me and in the words of Melvin Udall, from the movie 'As Good As It Gets', they make me want to be a better (wo)man.  And, I can't help but see time slipping away as I look at my eldest son, turning 18 in just 3 months.  So, this past summer and fall, I made sure to fit in many trips to the beach, fieldtrips, just time together as a family out having fun, because before you know it, Miguel will be a grown man, with a job, maybe getting married, and I want to store up as many memories in my mind, as I can.

Our beach trips were so fun...

Then there was the day we went to the air show here in San Diego, to go watch the Blue Angels.  It was on the marine base in Miramar, so we got to see lots of cool stuff like this...

DO NOT MESS WITH ME :0)

The boys got to sit inside a large cargo plane.  Seems they are eating apples in every picture, doesn't it?

Next fieldtrip was to the zoo.  FOR FREE!  All of us got in for free with our homeschool group.  God is always providing!!  This was Isabella's first trip to the zoo and she loved it.  It was so nice that Daddy took the morning off so he could join us and see the joy on Isabella's face as she discovered so many new things.  The San Diego Zoo is a must if you ever come to visit.

"Hi, Goat."  Said in the cutest little girl voice.  She was hugging and kissing every goat that she could get her hands on.

There was a goat that got tired of her, and wouldn't let her love on him.  She took it pretty hard.

Zack consoling her, after her first rejection, by a goat, no less.

Eating fruit, again.

Had the best time with the kiddos, but especially Bella.  I can't wait to take her again.



Just 2 days later we took a fieldtrip to a farm near Alpine. We were invited to attend for free, again, because we are homeschoolers!  That saved our family $70 for the entry alone.  Thank you, God!

We got to watch how the cowboys eat off an old fashioned chuck wagon, and even got to sample the beef stew.  Yum!

This is a working cattle ranch, so the boys were taught how to rope cattle.  Christian actually got his around both horns on the first try!

The boys learned how to use an old fashioned machine that would cut the corn off of the cob.  They were so fascinated.

Then they learned how to grind the corn-maiz

They really loved watching the bow and arrow part of our fieldtrip

Karizma got to his helper.

The boys learned how to stamp their names into leather bracelets

We even put Miguel to work in the cabin 

Walker didn't want to miss out

We were so blessed to have my Mom, the kids Gramita, join us for the day

How I LOVE my arrows!

And, for those of you that stuck around, the last note worthy fieldtrip was to Oma's Pumpkin Patch in early November.  We were so excited that our cousins were able to join us for this one.  

More goats!!  She is ecstatic!

My BIL and niece, Sonoma, petting the goats

My nephew, Skyler, was so impressed with his milking skills

The White kiddos:  l-r, Sonoma, Walker, Zack, Isabella, Christian, Tristan, Skler, Jacob (the honorary White kid), and Gracen

Cousin Tristan and big brother, Walker, helping Isabella through the hay maze

At the end of our day at the patch, each of the boys picked a pumpkin to take home.
See you next year!!


I know I included a kazillion pictures in this post, but  I am trying to catch up because I have fallen so far behind in posting, but we are not mentioning anything about that, remember?  Ahhh, it is so nice to be back.


I still need to post pics from my awesome visit with my biological Dad and that side of the family, and pics from the visit we got from my brother and SIL, Susan, and about Miguel and his new driving adventures, and Karizma turning sweet 16, and of course, we will post pics from our upcoming trip this weekend to the happiest place on earth, which happens to be an early SURPRISE Christmas gift to all our arrows.  I can't wait to see their faces when we tell them we got them annual passes to Disneyland!!