We Love to See the Temple

I've always considered what it would be like when our children were old enough to walk the temple grounds with us. Here's a glimps at our fist experience at our Temple here in San Antonio.

Brenden LOVED hearing about the "Angel Moron-i" visiting Joseph Smith, and his special place on top of the temples.

Daddy teaching Brenden & Connor about "Baptism By Immersion." I'm not sure who enjoyed this more.

Playing in the temple fountain. The lesson? The temple is a fun place to be, even in 100 degree weather!

My boys are the reason the temple is so special to me. It was a joyous occassion to have them at the temple, learning, playing and enjoying it's beauty- and knowing that this is just the beginning of our eternity.

Eat Right- Live Better

I can still hear the words of my mother:

"You can eat that entire batch of cookies now while your fast in your youth and think it will have no effect... but you just wait. They'll catch up!"

Although I don't believe calories seek to haunt me from my childhood, I still think she had a point. My habits now are reflective of what they were in childhood. I still eat the same "junk" in hopes of finding the happiness and satisfaction it gave me so many years ago, only now I consume an entire batch of cookies longing to feel even a glimmer of the same pleasure and am left with nothing, but calories.

I've decided it's time for a change. I'm interested in learning how to eat right- the right way. Our second freezer is filled with processed, "quick meals" that are geared toward making my life better. The truth is, they don't. And my biggest fear (aside from not looking very skinny in my skinny jeans, is the habits I'm teaching my children.

Don't get me wrong, not EVERY meal I make is from the freezer aisle. Not EVERY meal I serve to my family consists of unhealthy, processed, high in fat foods. The point here is that I want to COOK- really, truly, cook.

My slate is no longer clean

I've come to the realization that I'm a terrible blogger. Truly. It's not that I don't want to write about my days accomplishments, or the comical life of raising two... no, three boys. I just sit with eager intent, and stare blankly at a white slate, and think to myself

"Why would I ever want to clutter the only thing in my house that remains clean
after a long days work?

It makes perfect sense. But then as the months go by, I'm left with exactly that- a clean slate. A memory wiped away because of my inability to sit and "blog."

Today is a new day. Today is the start of a new tomorrow. Today, I'm a story teller- and that is exactly what I have planned... Be prepared, today is the day I will catch you up on life in the Hinojosa house.

"THE BIRDS!!!!"

When I was a little girl, Phyllis loved to come wake me up in the morning. To be quite honest, I much preferred her waking me up as opposed to my Dad who "creatively" would super soaker me awake with ice cold water at 5:00am to inform me "the bacon's ready!" Phyllis would always come in singing:
"Way up in the sky- the little birds fly
and down in the nest- the little birds rest
with a wing on the left- and a wing on the right
the little birds sleep- all through the night
Shhhhh- DON'T WAKE UP THE BIRDS!!"

There is a second verse to the song, but it isn't pertinent. Anyway, while living with my parents this past year, Brenden inevitably learned "the" song and loves singing it.

On sunday afternoon we were driving home from church. It was nearly 4:30 in the afternoon, and Brenden was exhausted from Nursery. I realized, as his blinks got longer, that if we allowed him to sleep now, he certainly wouldn't be sleeping at 7:00pm. As we pulled into the driveway, I was finally able to sing him the song he so often sang to me...

...."DONT WAKE UP THE BIRDS"....

He opened his eyed quick, giggled and yelled "THE BIRDS!!"

Oooh, it truly is the simple things in life, isn't it?

My Brother and Me

Since the day he was born, Brenden and Connor have been inseperable.

Big brother Brenden is always concerned for the Connors complete and utter happiness. It's no wonder why little Connor never wants to leave Brendens side.

Sharing toys, sharing snacks, sharing brotherly love... They are truly little spirits sent from above!

They're the two peas in a pod- sweet as can be. Two peas in a pod, my brother and me.

Homemade Nannie-Bread

Our family absolutely LIVES for homemade banana bread! Occassionally I'll muster up the energy and make a loaf from scratch. This time I decided I could combat it alone, and enlisted the help of the hardest worker I know, Brenny Big Boy.

It was by far the most carefully mixed banana bread I think I've ever witnessed- and the most fun I've had making it in a long while.

He was even sure to clean up his mess! Simply sweet.

Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?

"Gampa" loves to cook, but it's pretty obvious he loves his Grandkiddos even more...

So when Brenden started singing "I looked out the window and what did I see..." Popcorn balls became an automatic must-have for the day. Brenden helped Papa carefully unwrap the caramels and pop the popcorn. He even helped form the popcorn balls! But his favorite part was none other than eating the prize.