Defender of the Minivan

The intention of this blog is to defend the poor minivans in the world. As I’m sure you know minivans tend to have a bad rep among moms. I would know this because I use to be one of the typical moms that would say “I will never drive a minivan, they are such mom cars or mom mobiles, I want an SUV!” Well, then the day came when we had 3 kids and wanted a bigger vehicle. For nine months we smashed all 3 kids in the backseat of our car, we actually had to take the arms off of Josiah’s car seat and Elisha’s booster just to make it fit. Somehow we even managed to go on a road trip to Arizona with all of us in our car.

Anyways, it was really cramped so we knew we had to start thinking about a getting bigger vehicle. So of course I start researching SUV’s and after lots of research I realized that they didn’t make SUV’s in our price range. Then one day it hit me! And I have to contribute it to the wise words of my second favorite Pastor (Vince being my first) Steve Wilburn! He said, “Needing a minivan is the stage of life you’re in, enjoy it!” Then I began to wonder why didn’t I want a minivan again? Oh yeah, because that’s what mom’s drive! Wait, I am a mom! A mom of 3! When did this happen? I’m 30 and a mom of 3. It’s not like I’m a teenager driving my mom’s minivan. I am now “the mom”. I’m grown up and yes I think I qualify for a minivan. Yes maybe I look like the typical 30 year old mom driving a minivan but in my defense that is what I am! I am enjoying every second of being a mom! I cook, clean, wash laundry, change dirty diapers, get spit up on, homeschool, wipe off cute dirty faces, make cookies and drive a minivan. It’s the stage of life I’m in and I LOVE it! I love driving my minivan and looking back at 3 precious happy kids in the backseats! I also know someday when I’m older, and my kids are grown, and my minivan driving days are over I will look back and miss these days! So if you need a bigger vehicle save your money and get a minivan, I promise you will enjoy it! And don’t worry if you drive an SUV we can still be friends!

by Vince Bueno:)

Stole this from my hubby's facebook:)

Daddy, look at me!
A couple evenings ago we had boy’s night. Mommy went to do one of the things she loves to do, serve at church, and we put a sign up in the window that said “No girls allowed!” We dished up our pizza and settled in flipping on a movie that, according to Elisha “WE HAD TO WATCH FOR BOYS NIGHT!” It was the completion of the Open Season trilogy (let’s just say I’m glad Red Box had it for $1). Elisha suggested another idea which is true to his form, “Daddy, let’s all sit on the green couch together.” He always wants to be together. Half way through the movie it was time for dessert so we dished up the rest of the left over chocolate cake and ice cream, threw in the last couple Oreos, sprinkled on the remaining chocolate chips and topped it all off with some chocolate syrup….improvise, adapt, and overcome! Bowl 1…Elisha. Bowl 2…Josiah. As I was crafting the daddy-bowl Josiah calls out to me wondering “Daddy, are you going to sit on the blanket with us?” (The boys aren’t allowed to eat on the couch so they have spread a blanket to prepare for the feeding frenzy.) And if I take my eyes of the screen, almost in unison the question arises “Daddy are you watching?” How could I say no?

Jedidiah is getting SO BIG! You dad’s know how fast they move from phase to phase. It is as if by the time you finish assembling the multitude of parts labeled “Ultra Swivel & Glide Rock Bounce and Raise Contraption” they have already raised themselves. But anyways…Jed’s new phase, which I have been thoroughly enjoying (check back with me in a couple weeks), involves me walking him to sleep, sometimes multiple times per night. In the midst of my prayers I approximate my paces, 160 laps…120…180. Here’s his cue, he lunges. It seems that non-verbal communication is the best way to convey your desires when you don’t know any words. So, if mommy’s holding him, he’s ready for bed and I walk in the room he turns, smiles, and luuuuunnnges for me. “Oh, hey mom”…turn…luuuunnnge… “Oh, hey mom, you’re still here?”…turn…luuuuunnnge. What he’s saying is “Daddy, let’s take a walk…a very long walk.” How could I say no?

It is with emotion that I emit these words hoping that my children never stop desiring my attention. And it is with great compassion that the Father sent forth the Word which dwelt among us and died for us striving for the same attention as myself but in a much holier pursuit. As a student of theology I know that God is omniscient and omnipresent, that He is everywhere seeing and understanding all things (Psalm 139:1-12). As a son of God I know that Jesus has opened the door for me to boldly show the Father my needs (Hebrews 4:16). Isaiah 66:2 informs me how I can gather the particular gaze of the One I love; “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” So how do I attract the special attention of God? I must be of a humble and contrite spirit, I must tremble at His word. When on the inside I am poor and broken before Him, free from any pride or worth. When I am afraid enough to respond at the sound of His voice. When I am nothing and He is everything, THEN He will look to me.

If I turn toward my children I simply displace a small amount of air but when God turns toward his child it is as if all of creation is drawn toward us in one sovereign sweeping motion being held captive to do His will in the life of the one that has been able to effectively leverage a look from Him. Is it worth it to a grown man to humble himself declaring “Daddy, look at me”? How could I say no?

Happy birthday Elisha!

Today is Elisha's 4th birthday! He is so much fun to have around and turning in to such a little kid! We spent the morning celebrating at Disneyland with our friends Steph, Hailey, & Chase. Hailey is exactly one year older then Elisha so she turned 5 today. We all have Disney passes and when it's your birthday they give you a gift card for the amount of a park ticket. So Elisha & Hailey both got $60 gift cards to use anywhere at Disneyland. Stephanie and I both agreed that it was a little overwhelming for the kids to be able to pick anything they wanted. So after walking through tons of stores Elisha picked this hat and a black mickey hat for Josiah and they both got a sucker:)

Birthday kids! Hailey (5) Elisha (4)

Blog break

I’ve been on a little blog break. I just haven’t been in a very typative mood lately. Typative is a word Allison made up. So once I get back into a typative type mood again I will resume my blogging. In the mean time I’m faithfully checking all your blogs.

But today I did have something I wanted to blog about. This Saturday is my brother’s birthday! He will be 20! We are having a party for him at my parent’s house on Saturday night at 6:00. I’m helping plan the party, which I’m not very good at because I’ve only planned little kid parties for the last 4 years. So, I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do at a 20 year old birthday party. I won’t be doing a piñata or pin the tail on the donkey or handing out little goodie bags at the end, but we will have food and cake and other fun stuff. So if you want to come and didn't get an invite you are now invited! Just ask Vince, me or my brother for info and directions!

Christmas in pictures

I'm to lazy to write about everything we did at Christmas so here's a few pictures.

We made a gingerbread house with the kids. They loved it and enjoyed eating it too!

Here are the after pictures they both handled the sugar a little differently Christmas morning, they both got light saber swords. They now just beat each other all day with them....and they love it:) I think I need a girlWe then went to my mom's. Elisha and Josiah both opened this fighting robot toy. But Vince and Jacob took over and wouldn't share with boys.

A few other random pictures. This is my grandparents they were visiting from Arizona.

And my dad and Josiah

New blogger

My brother started a blog:) You can go here and see how I slightly pressured him to start a blog. Please be sure and leave him a comment! Because if he doesn't get a lot of comments he may never blog again:)

Pizza Party

Last night I had 5 kids here! I watched my 3 cousins. We ate pizza, made cookies and played the original Mario brothers. That is the only video game I understand and yes I still have the OLD system and it works great! Plus I can beat the game and save the princess. Not to brag or anything but I'm way better then my 13 year old cousin. Now if we were playing xbox that would be another story. I don't think I can even hold the controller the right way for xbox.


Here is our dinner. Greasy peperoni pizza.

Ben & Elisha Josiah and my cousin Tiffany
Then for dessert Tiff and I made chocolate chip cookies. While we were waiting for the cookies to get done we made up this dessert which I thought are better then chocolate chip cookies. It is a graham cracker with peanut butter and chocolate chips on it. I think we ended up eating so many of these that we didn't end up wanting the chocolate chip cookies.
And Elisha is now able to run around again. The doctor said yesterday that his leg is almost all the way better but that he can walk on it now. YEAH!

Camping weekend

This past weekend we went up to big bear to go camping with a bunch of people from church. We had lots of awesome fellowship with each other it was such a blessing. Both nights we "marshed" marshmallow's (that's what Elisha calls it) and made s'mores. We had a great time of bible study and worship on Saturday night and then Sunday morning had a time of devotion as a group before we headed home. On our way up I decided to just enjoy our time outdoors and as a family and not be a germ freak. So as I'm thinking about that on our way up Josiah gets car sick and throws up in the back seat. So we calmly pulled the car over, stripped of his clothes, scooped the barf (sorry to be graphic) out of the car seat, cleaned him up with baby wipes and continued on our way up. No big deal:)

I wanted the kids to enjoy being boys and get as dirty as they wanted. It didn't even bother me to get into my sleeping bag that had dirt all over it from the kids. Or to go to bed without washing my face. We did the full camping experience and we really enjoyed it. So now that I'm back at home we are sleeping in our clean beds and are clean people again! Here's a few pictures!

Time to update my blog:)

Here are a few pictures from our vacation a couple weeks ago. We spent time with family at my mother in law's time share. It was so much fun. We went swimming each day and watched movies and just hung out with family that we don't get to see often.


Elisha, Leah and Josiah (Cousins)

Josiah smiling:)

Then we drove to Arizona and visited my grandparents. They live in the mountains of Arizona. The weather was so beautiful and it was just relaxing staying with them for a couple nights.

Here is Elisha helping my grandparents make pancakes!

They have a Forrest for a backyard. My grandpa showed the boys around and they loved it.

So now we are home and getting ready for the So cal harvest crusade! I hope everyone can make it and invite people that don't know the Lord. As everyone has heard Pastor Greg's son was killed in a car accident 2 1/2 weeks ago. I think everyone has witnessed the Lord working through our Pastor and his family. They have been nothing but a pillar of strength during this time. Life is short compared to eternity. I hope many people get saved at the crusade this year and that Jesus comes back quick so that Pastor Greg, Cathe and Brittany and the entire family can see Christopher again soon. But until then praise God that they are continuing in the work that God has called them to do. I'm sure it's not easy. But our God is faithful!

Baby David

Everything is going good....I'm enjoying my boys...not wanting anymore kids at the moment (someday again)....then someone comes over to my house with a brand new baby. Ahhhhh makes me want another one! This is my precious nephew David. He is 5 weeks old and soooooo cute.

My Uncle Mike

This is my uncle Mike. He went home to be with Jesus right after Christmas last year. This is the only picture I have of him. I didn't know him that well , last Christmas was only the 2nd time I remember meeting him. Mike randomly called and said he was coming down to Riverside for christmas last year. It was Kinda odd since we had never spent a Christmas with him before but we were glad to see him. While he was here my parents brought him to the Christmas eve service at church and he gave his heart to Jesus. Although he didn't walk forward, he told us he had said the prayer in his heart and that he meant it. And Jesus heard him. A couple days later after Christmas he flew back home had some problems and was hospitalized and put in a induced coma. A couple weeks after that he died while in coma. Mike didn't live his whole life for Jesus, but we have a gracious God who loved Mike so much that he gave him another chance at eternal life. And Mike accepted it!! :) My family and I didn't get to spend much time with him here on earth. But we have an eternity to spend with him worshiping Jesus in heaven!

My Little brother graduated from High School :)

So weird. I don't think I realized until right now looking at this picture how much taller he is then me. When did that happen? Anyways....He is now an adult! Congratulations Jacob!!

Lucas James Bueno

My brother & Sister in law just had another baby! Lucas James Bueno he weighed 8lbs and 8oz and was 23in long!!! That's a record for our family! Welcome to sleepless nights again Kelly! But it's all worth it! Look at that cute face. Makes me want another baby (ha ha). My baby is a big baby now...not a little infant baby. Infants are the best. Congratulations Andy & Kelly!