This month our family went to Sedona for some much needed relaxation. While our trip was not filled with beach trips and amusement parks we did really enjoy our time as a family.

Saturday July 3rd

We left Saturday morning after dropping Abbie off at the pet resort and saying good bye to Mark’s dad who was leaving for a work trip to India that evening.

The nice thing about going to Sedona is the short car ride up there. After checking in to our resort and renaming our room to the RV, since that was about the size of it, we went to Talquepaque for some shopping and Fourth festivities. After we were done there it was back to the RV where we played a round of mini golf before going to the pool. We enjoyed dinner on the patio that evening.

Sunday July 4th

We had breakfast on the resort and listened to all the different vendors present their fun Sedona activities. After that we suited up and head for the pool. The water was refreshing and wonderful. The boys had a lot of fun with some of the other kids there as well. In the early evening we drove down to Cottonwood to view the fireworks with about 5000 other people. The boys played around, Camden flew his kite and we all people watched. The fireworks were nice and we had a good evening.

Monday July 5th

We decided to take the boys fishing. We got some information from the locals about Dead Horse Ranch. They have a little fishing lagoon there. While we didn’t catch anything we did have fun!

Tuesday July 6th

We had a quiet breakfast on the patio after Mark and I both used the workout room at the resort. It was small facility, but it worked. We all participated in the Mini-golf tournament and while no of us won we all had fun! The rest of the day we completed activities offered at the resort and went for a swim. Later that night we took the boys to see Karate Kid. They both really liked it!

Wednesday July 7th

It was a very hot day! We had planned to go to Out of Africa. The boys had a good time but after the tiger splash show we were all hot and tired. We headed back to the resort and went….swimming!

Thursday July 8th

We really wanted to spend some time in the beauty of Sedona and thought Red Rock Crossing would be a perfect place. We hike back in along oak creek for quite a while until we found a place to play. The boys dug in the dirt and played in the water. The scenery was beautiful! We spent the hole morning there and really enjoyed ourselves. We decided to head uptown for lunch and shopping. Camden loved the fudge from the local shop there and he needed a second fix. We noticed a trolley tour that was very affordable for a family of 4 and went all over Sedona. We bought tickets and enjoyed visiting Boyton Canyon and The Chapel of the Holy Cross.

That evening the resort was showing Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakel by the pool, so we headed down after another round of mini-golf.

Friday July 9th

Camden had been wanting to visit a vortex so the Airport Vortex was the choice. We purchased a Red Rock pass and found a spot to park. The Airport Vortex is located between two hills along the road to the airport. The boys decided to hike up one hill, I trotted after them, but they chose to climb a steep way and I chose the easier climb. Once to the top the views were great! I, however, had my fear of heights/anxieties kicking in full gear and headed back down. I was very happy that I made it to the top to share that with the boys and Mark. The rest of the day we spent at the Fish Hatchery and I did a little wine tasting. Then it was back for more swimming. We got LOTS of use out of the pool! We went out to dinner at a very fancy Italian restaurant and enjoyed a very nice meal.

Saturday July 10th

It was finally time to head home. We packed the car and played one more round of mini-golf. On our way out of town we stopped at the outlet stores, but there wasn’t much there. We did pick up a few new shirts for school clothes. The drive home went well, we picked up Abbie and had a swim at Mark’s parents.

Additional pictures can be found in my photo gallery.

Camden celebrated his 7th birthday this weekend and boy did we have fun! Friday afternoon, Nathan came over for a play date which turned into a sleep over. The boys had fun sleeping in the living room!

Saturday morning daddy went to get the boys donuts for breakfast. After some play time we were off to Camden’s big birthday bash at Brunswick Bowling. Camden’s friends joined him and they all had a ton of fun! There was Carsten, Nathan, Colton, Brayden, Allie, Brody, Sinjan, Emilio and Anna.


This is Camden and Allie. (Allie was mentioned in a previous post about the end of first grade.)

Sunday morning Camden built legos with Dad then we went to church. After church we went to lunch with Gran and Granpa at Garcia’s.


We played a Lego board game after lunch then went for a swim! Camden had a really great birthday weekend!!

The boys have been taking swimming lessons and they did great! Camden learned some new strokes including the butterfly. Carsten became more comfortable in the water. He can now submerge his face and swim and come up for air when needed.

Carsten floating on his back.

Camden just coming up for a breath after swimming underwater.

We are driving in the van and the following dialog transpires:
Carsten: “Mommy, why I not have force?”
Me: “Force to do what?”
Carsten: “Force. Why I not have force get motorcycle.”
Thoroughly confused I look back at him and he has his hand tensed with fingers apart about 6 inches above a hot wheel motorcycle. Then the light went off.
Me: “Because the force is not with you my son. You are not a Jedi Knight.”
Carsten: “I want be Jedi.”

Oh my! My sweet Camden is done with first grade. His strength was in reading. He did well in all other subjects, but did struggle a little with writing. I am very proud of him and can’t believe 2nd grade is right around the corner!

Now, about the girlfriend. He has had a friend and classmate the past 2 years that he has been sweet on. The intensity has increased over the last couple of weeks. The cutest thing was Monday. There was a fundraiser for his class at Cold Stone Creamery. He kept asking if he could sit with Allie. We pulled into the parking lot and Camden said, “I hope Allie is here. Can I sit with her?” “Sure!” I said. Then he hit me with…”This will be our 2nd date.” Picking my lower jaw up off the floor I said, “Second date? When was your first?” “Today on the playground.” “What did you do?” I asked. “Oh, just walked around and looked at things.” It was so cute.

That night while running around, Allie and Camden picked out their home, decided they were going to live in San Fransisco and Camden would work as a Mythbuster. My thought…SLOW DOWN….YOU ARE STILL MY BABY!!

We have been busy doing lots of little things. The boys started karate last week and Camden loves it! I would have to say Carsten tolerates it…most of the time. We have done little things around the house and have been enjoying bike rides and walks to the park. First grade is almost done for Camden and Carsten will start preschool next year. Can’t believe how fast the kids have grown!

Check out facebook for videos. I couldn’t get them to upload here.

The weather here has been great! We have been enjoying walks in the evening, playing at the parks, and having fun in our yard!

Last weekend Mark and I took out the wall to wall carpet in the playroom. Every time it rains the carpet gets soaked and stays soaked for a long time. It was indoor/outdoor carpet so it held up and was doing a great job it just wasn’t as practical with Abbie spending so much time outside. We divided the playroom and installed a flexible gate so we can section Abbie off and allow the kids to play. Abbie has been known to eat the toys laying around so this also separates her from the toys!

Yesterday, Nathan came over to play and the boys had fun being boys! The latest fad for Camden and Carsten is Space. When we go on walks they pretend we are on the moon and cars are space shuttles. While playing with some of the goodies Gramma Tucson gave them for Easter they drew space shuttle with sidewalk chalk and used a slinky for a space belt. Here are a few pictures of the adventures!

While it was not filled with cruising and exotic destinations, we did enjoy some quiet family time. Spring break began with a Transformer themed birthday party for Carsten in the park. He had a great time with his little friends. Sunday, Mark played in a golf tournament to benefit one of his patients. Later that night we headed off to Pine, AZ. We spent the next 3 days in the woods. Our days were filled with scavenger hunts, fort building, reading and playing games. Mark and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary as well. It was such a nice trip. Once we got home we milled around the house the next 2 days. Before we knew it, Spring Break was over. I was back at work on Monday and Camden is back at school today.

My little guy is 4!! I hope my sweet angel enjoys his special day!

Mommy and daddy love you soooooo much!!

About 6 weeks ago, Mark and I found out we were pregnant. Once the shock wore off we were thrilled. In an effort to protect the boys we told very few people. On Tuesday (10 1/2 weeks along) I went on for my first real OB appointment. When the doctor could not find the heartbeat using the doppler she gave me a choice of having an ultrasound or waiting and coming back to try again in a week. I chose the ultrasound. With Mark headed out of town on Wed, we really wanted to be able to tell the boys before he left that they were going to be big brothers (again).

I went to my ultrasound and the tech was very quiet. I finally asked if she saw a heartbeat. She said she couldn’t but she would try transvaginal and see. She also asked me if I had multiples that ran in my family or if I was on fertility drugs. She was asking me this because there were 4 gestational sacs present.

Further examination revealed the same, no heartbeats, no babies. Two of the sacs measured a little over 5 weeks and two measured a little over 6 weeks. There may have been some sort of a yolk sac in the two bigger ones but nothing in the smaller ones. My doctor called them Blighted Ovum, which account for about half of all miscarriages. This is where the egg is fertilized (eggs in my case) and implant in the uterine wall. Then usually because of chromosomal defects the body stops nurturing them and the pregnancy fails.

I was in shock and very sad. Laying on the table I thought about how blessed I was to already have 2 amazing little boys and that many women have miscarriages before they are blessed with children. I was also so thankful that we saved the boys from experiencing this heart break.

So what is to come….a lot of unknown for me. We are going to wait a week and if I don’t miscarry naturally, then we will complete another ultrasound. My doctor did not have any hopes that there would be any changes in the status, I guess that it is part of the routine. Then I can choose to take a pill that will make me miscarry on my own (70-80% effective) or opt to have a D&C. I am not sure what we are going to choose.

I think we are ok. I am very saddened by the loss of this pregnancy and in awe that there was a possibility of having 4 babies. I know that God is walking this journey with me and he may even be carrying me most of the way. I am grieving the loss and because this is a part of who I am now I wanted to share it with you. Mark and I would appreciate prayer as we face an unknown experience. Specifically, for wisdom if we have to make the choice, for comfort with the pain, for our grief and our loss, and for the 4 little angels that are in the hands of God.