Barcelona la cuarta parte

I never gave the last day of pictures for Barcelona and even though this trip was in February I still want to finish these pictures and have them journaled   blogged. Our last full day in Barcelona we went to Montserrat which is a mountain about an hour from Barcelona. I am still quiet impressed at our ballsiness to make this trip. We took a bus across town to catch the rail to which was an hour ride, and then took us to a cable car which was amazing and the kids loved it. We finally reached the top and the view was gorgeous especially since it was a clear day and we could see all the way to Mallorca. Our camera died so we only had my Iphone.

On the cable car on the way up.

View from the cable car

Finally at the top we had to climb a lot of stairs but we made it.

This Basilica is beautiful and many people travel here for multiple reasons but two of them being to get a chance to hear the boys choir, unfortunately we didn't get to hear them and a pilgrimage to see the black Madonna you can read more about it here.   

All done and waiting for the cable car and our long journey back to our hotel.

We left the next day and had to wake up at 2:00 AM to catch our flight at 6:00 AM. It was brutal for all of us but originally this trip was supposed to be a girls trip with a good friend from South Africa so the kids were not included in the calculation of the best time to fly scenario. The trip didn't happen so we ended up at the last minute getting tickets for Hubby, Ladybird and Zeke Bear. Wouldn't have it any other way I am a blessed mama and wife to have had them with me. I love traveling with my little family.

Cheers.

Fathers Day Interview

I was inspired by Kate and Kahn's blog for a Fathers Day interview.

                                Ladybird and Zeke Bear ( 4.5 years old and 18 months old)

me: What's your daddy's name?
Ava: Matthew L. R.

 me: How old is he?

Ava: 8 or 7 or 18 umm maybe 14 and 12

me: He is 30

Ava: What?! He is 30?! Wow!



me: Tell me what Daddy looks like.
Ava: He has brown hair

me: Why is your daddy smart?
Ava: Because he is in the Russell family

me: What's his job?
Ava: To protect the American flag

me: What does he do when he's at home?
Ava: He sits around all day

me: What do you like to do with him?
Ava: Play with him

me: What are your favorites?
Ava: Eating sweets, playing around with Ezekiel 

me: What is your favorite thing to play with Daddy?
Ava: Everything, princess and knight, dragons and unicorns, um sleepovers, and uh and playing um watching TV. I also like when daddy reads to me.

me: What is Daddy's favorite food?
Ava: Gyros

me: What do you do that makes your daddy happy?
Ava: Color for him

me: What makes daddy sad?
Ava: If we don't keep daddy company, or if there is something he is looking for at a store and its not there. (Honestly I think this answer is for what makes Ava sad?) Oh also when me or Ezekiel are sick.

me: How do you know daddy loves you?
Ava: Because of his heart.

me: How does he show you he loves you?
Ava: That's a good question, well because he has a heart and mama that's my answer.

Ezekiel is to young for this interview but he loves his daddy immensely and it shows when Matthew walks in the door from work and Zeke drops what he is doing and runs to give hugs and kisses.

Cheers. 

Be Mine

I just want to send a shout-out to the love of my life on this very festive lovey day. Even though we have no fancy plans or fancy gifts I  want to tell you I would pick no place else on earth than to be right here in our cozy home with our little babies. I love you Valentine!

I thought it was fitting to post a throw back photo for throw back Thursday. This photo is a part of our DIY engagement photos. I look at this photo and I can't believe how much we have grown spiritually, together, emotionally, and into ourselves, this photo was taken six years ago. I love this man so much more today because he is no longer just my fiance he is now my husband, the father to my babies, my best friend and lover. I respect this man so much. 

 Cheers to my forever Valentine.

School Days

 Hubby and I are both in school and so this is how we get through most of our assignments. This was a special moment because Ladybird was taking a nap and Zeke Bear was playing with his daddy until he fell asleep in which hubby had to take advantage of some much needed reading time. We usually trade off so I will be with the kiddos while the hubby studies or vise versa. It is certainly not easy but most defiantly doable. We both have been in school as long we have known each other so we look forward to finishing off this year and hopefully never entering school again. But... until then this is how we are getting through this year of school. Anytime we have free time we take it to study.

Zeke Bear is 11 weeks 

Although you can't see Lady this is where she took her nap.

 Cheers to sleeping babies who allow us to study.

School

It's official my break from school is almost over! Oh how I have enjoyed my break from school although I was busy doing other things like growing a baby inside of me and then birthing my great bundle of joy. There is no rest for the weary I must continue ahead and finish what I started. If I don't start now who knows when I will finish because I realized there is never going to be a convenient time to start school I just have to start and sort everything out as I go. 

When and if I ever give an acceptance speech my first thanks will go to my Hubby because none of this would be possible without him backing me up 110 percent of the time. He has had more faith in me than I have had in myself. My husband has been by my side encouraging me along the way since the beginning. 

He is the most amazing man I have ever met and I am so thankful to God everyday to have such a good and godly man leading me. When we were dating he told me that when we got married my dreams would become his dreams and it was his responsibility to see that I never lose sight of those dreams. Let me tell you he has made good on that promise and they really have become his dreams as well. I love you Matthew and thank you dove.

I dedicate this song to the love of my life. 

Cheers to beautiful blessings like having encouraging husbands. 

Blessings

Here is our Christmas card photo for 2012. We took these photos ourselves with a lot of trial and error and very patient children. 

When I look at these photos I realize how incredibly blessed I feel to have so much love in my life. 

I feel so proud that Hubby and I took these ourselves. I think I might have a promising career in photography (or not).

Cheers to your blessings. 

3rd annual DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk

For the past three years we have attended the DC Stop Modern Slavery walk at the National Mall. Its an event that raises awareness around a topic that is very close to my heart. It's a survivor lead walk so the walk starts with survivors who have escaped Human Trafficking, its an amazing moment. There are so many fantastic non-profits, ministries and NGO's that lead the fight in ending modern day slavery all over the world.

Let's start walking for those who have been rescued, those who are still waiting to be rescued and especially those who have lost the fight and are no longer with us on this green earth.

There were hundreds in attendance for the walk.

 These two have far to much fun together.

 Who says you can't have a little fun while fighting social injustice? 

Cheers to joining the fight because 27 million people are far to many people to ignore.

Ballet Dad

I love a confident man and especially a man that will dance with his baby girl with other moms and their little girls with no shame and truly be lost in the moment with his special girl. Hubby and Ava Jolie had a fantastic time in Dance this past week.

Cheers.

Birth

I mentioned in an earlier post that we have officially transitioned from home birth to now planning a hospital birth. I will not bore you with all the details as there is a long timeline of events that lead to this move. I was not happy at first but decided to follow my husband and agreed it was the best decision for our family. In the end we both agreed that when there is risk involved meaning my life or babies life why take any risk at all. I know of many successful and unsuccessful home births and none of these families wrestled with fears so big as something fatal happening. I just couldn't bear thinking that on the biggest day of the year the birth of our son hubby would be second guessing every move of the midwife and not fully supporting me in mind and body. I just couldn't make him go through that.

I still have hesitations for a hospital birth because I have learned so much valuable information about home births, midwives and natural child birth. But when I think back to Ava Jolie's birth I would not have changed anything and her birth story is perfect. Now thinking like that has made me excited about birthing our son than the experience of labor and birthing our son at home. I have decided to take the pressure off of myself to have what I think is the perfect birth and just let go and let God. So whether that means no pain meds or all the interventions in the world in the end I just want to hold our little miracle.

I have been so caught up in all the details of laboring that I have forgotten exactly why I am going through all of this. Hello Crystal... you are growing a precious, God created, God gifted miracle inside of you focus and be thankful for that.

I birthed Ava Jolie with some assistance from something I like to call the juice (epidural). Obviously during the laboring and after her birth I was clouded with guilt over the fact that I used the juice. One person said something to me and I can't even remember word for word what this amazing person said but immediately I felt so much better the guilt lifted and I was able to enjoy my newborn. My sister was God sent at that exact moment to deliver what she needed to say and even though we were hundreds of miles away it was like she was right there next to me.

I am not writing this to support the juice but I am writing this more for myself as a reminder that however baby boy's birth story plays out it will be the perfect story for him.

My guess date (due date) is November 22nd (Thanksgiving Day) so we have about 9 more weeks to showtime. I am seriously ready to meet our baby boy.

Cheers.

Our Little Ballerina

Lady bird has been dancing and calling herself a ballerina for almost a year now. So we figured if we could get into an affordable dance class we would sign her up. Fairfax Parks and Recreations has great low prices for everything from Fencing to Preschool Picasso classes. I signed our girl up about a month and a half ago as the classes fill up super fast. She was super excited to start dance class that as soon as she woke up around 6:30-7am she put her leotard on and dance shoes all by herself. 

Lady on her big purple racer right before ballet/tap class.

So I guess I will mention that our little didn't get to attend her first ballet class that she had been anticipating and was so excited for because her wonderful mama (that would be me) thought her class started at 10:45am and it actually started at 10:00am so we arrived just to see everyone leave.

So her wonderful daddy (no sarcasm this time he really is wonderful) danced with her and they played.

 

                            She had a blast practicing ballet moves. Then it was time to play.

Daddy was in on the fun as well.

Maybe missing our class was for the best it looks like these two had way to much fun doing their own thing.

Cheers.