Newest Addition

1 Year, 41 Weeks.


There is always something special and significant about your first time with anything:  Your first love; Your first kiss.  The first time you get your driver's license;  Getting your first speeding ticket.   Buying your first car;  Owning your first home.  The list can go on and on and on.  But nothing can come close to the rank and importance of experiencing the birth of your first child.  The capacity, and substance, of this life altering event is unparalleled.  It is, essentially and without a doubt, a game changer.

Enter Preston Michael Isidro.

The first child of my younger brother was born 2 Saturdays ago, on January 21st at 1:34 PM in Loma Linda, CA.  The newest addition to the Isidro clan, Preston is the fourth grandchild for my parents and has made me an uncle, on my side of the family, for the very first time.

We were in Sabbath school when I realized I had a missed call.  It was from my mother, in California.  I looked at the time log.  8:30 AM?  But that's 5:30 Pacific time!  Uh oh, something was up.  I quickly excused myself out of the room and called back.  No answer.  So I called my brother.  He picked up, surprised I was calling.  He confirmed that something indeed was up, as Genevieve's water had broke early that morning, and that they were now at the hospital, awaiting Preston's arrival.  I was ecstatic, but at my brother's request I kept the news to myself and Tangie, until I got the green light to share the exciting news.  Which is why I'm only able to say anything about it now.

He is a cutie, and my brother, ever the artist, meticulously captured each and every moment leading to and immediately after his arrival.

Check out their new adventure by clicking here:  www.genevieveandmichael.com

Tangie and Braelyn put together a gift basket we decided to make for them rather than purchase one already made.

The final product, complete with some gourmet ingredients and artisan cheeses,
and just for laughs, one pack of Ramen noodles.  

This last weekend was another quiet, uneventful one, but don't dismay, our weekend calendar is quickly filling up!  We did make it to a very packed Sabbath school and caught up with the other parents, followed by a quick lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.  After naps we took the kids on a drive around town to find and try out new parks.  We found a brand new, absolutely wonderful park in Winter Garden that we wanted to try out.  Unfortunately, it was situated in not the safest of neighborhoods and when we got there realized it probably wouldn't be a good idea to bring the kids out, especially with all the loitering going on.  So we pressed on, and found another one further into town.  This one wasn't so bad, so we got out and tried it out.  There were a bunch of teenagers talking by the picnic area and then another group of teens playing basketball.  We let the children play until I realized there was a kid letting his dog pee right on the mulch next to the playground, and Tangie overhearing the teenagers cursing and talking about weed.  Go figure, I guess that's what happens when parents aren't involved in their children's lives, in my personal opinion.  So we high tailed it out of there, and went to a much quieter playground, in the safer suburb of Windermere.

Maddy during story time at Sabbath School.

I think he's enjoying the snacks more than the story!

Our 2nd attempt at a park, just before we heard the teenagers' conversations.

We settled on a much smaller but safer and cleaner park in Windermere.

Taking their turns down the slide.

Trying to keep up with big sister.

Later that evening we started laundry and couldn't stop through Sunday afternoon.  We did laundry for every member of the family.  Whites, colors, darks.  About 10 loads all together.  And what else was amazing was that we got them all folded, hung up, and put away!  What a great way to start the week!  Granted, it was a beautiful day and perfect weather for a round of golf, but nevertheless, nice to get all that out of the way.  And we didn't stop there.  After Tangie and Braelyn returned from a classmate's birthday party and Kindergarten open house, we cleaned the children's rooms!  Putting toys away, organizing everything, throwing random junk away.  It was great to just clean up.  I swear, our close friends over the weekend were Tide and Clorox wipes!  The trend would continue through Monday and Tuesday, as I was able to knock out the laundry room and am currently midway through the refrigerator, all the while keeping the children entertained.  My only break from cleaning was on Tuesday evening to go vote in the Florida Primary.  Does voting for Herman Cain just because you like to eat pizza make him the best candidate for President?  Hmmm.

Sunday afternoon park outing.  Maddy was doing something with the mulch.

Monday morning, helping me clean up the house.

Messy kid's room before  (stock photo)

and after.

Messy laundry room before (stock photo)

and after.

Checking out some birdies on our walk.

Tunnel vision.

Kohl looks to be having a great time.

Brae being goofy on the slide...

and then fashionably points out the moon in the afternoon sky.

Can you say static electricity?

Here Maddy prevents her brother from playing on the electric keyboard by completely laying on top of it, much to Kohlden's frustration.

Help!  I've fallen and I can't get up!

Little sister to the rescue!  Actually, all she did was tug on his arm and shout, "Stand up!  Stand up!"

Nothing like riding barefoot!

They do enjoy eating lunch out on the porch.

I went to get the kids after their naps and found Maddy completely topless.

Enjoying her snack after we picked her up from school.

Wednesday we met up with Jared and Isabella for our weekly breakfast and library visit.  We went to our usual haunt, but what started as an event I looked forward to quickly went downhill.  So, the twins, as they continue to grow and develop, have increasingly become both independent and vocal.  I guess that it's normal at this stage, although they both have frequent periods of clinginess and possessiveness, in particular, with me (and toys).  So when one of them wants to be picked up or sit on my lap, the other will want the same, and then violence ensues, as both will start pushing/hitting the other away and whine like crazy until I have to reprimand one, or both, which will result in a Shiite wail of agony and frustration.  C'mon you guys, there's only one of me to go around!  Which was what happened at the library just before story time began.  Knowing that they want you to leave the group when your child has a temper tantrum, I quickly got up and scooped the twins under each arm, and carried them out of the library, all the while feeling the eyes of every patron follow me out.  Jared, feeling sorry for me, came out with Isabella and joined us in the van, where we decided to just take the kids to the park to let out their energy and emotions.   I'm trying to figure out a way to get them to work things out, for my sake!

Yeah, I finally get to be in a picture!

The twins in Lakeview Park next to Lake Apopka, after our episode in the library.

Braelyn shows off a nice scraped knee after she fell on the curb while she was hopping with her hands in her pockets.
Oi vey!

Thank goodness for a box of band aids in the van, purchased especially for disasters like this!

Twins sharing their weekly laugh at Costco.

A quick trip to Magnolia park before lunch, just to get their energy out.

Kohl's hair does great with the static as well!

Picking Brae up as the gymnastics team from Highlands Academy finish their routine.
She would ask me if we, meaning her and I, could do that when we got home!

Another new park!  This one was pretty neat...

complete with recliner swings!

Maddy wanted to try the rolling log.

Going on an evening stroll/bike ride before supper.

Randoms:

Yes!

I'll bet an Asian person wrote these directions!  "...until is found vague transparent?"  Yup, I'm sure of it!

Meals this week:  Week of the Chicken!

Bowtie with chicken in cream and blackberry arugula salad.

Vietnamese chicken noodle soup.

Chicken pad Thai.

Quotable quote:

• Still working on prayers, this one was particularly funny just before supper one evening:

     Brae:  "Dear Jesus, thank you for our beautiful day.  Help us to grow big and strong, just like Jesus.
                 And help me to be nice on the playground tomorrow, and not to be a nancy pansy.
                 And thank you for the food.  In Jesus' name, Amen!"

• Tangie was going through the alphabet with Braelyn, with Brae saying words that would start with the appropriate letter:

     Tangie:  "A..."
     Brae:  "Apple."
     Tangie:  "B..."
     Brae:  "Braelyn."
     Tangie:  "C..."
     Brae:  "Compound words."

     I would've gone with "C...Cat", but that's just me.  Compound words?!?  Now she's just showing
     off!

Have a great weekend!