Category Archives: Family

Cousins

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My blog has been put on the back burner with the refried beans lately. I’ve been spending lots of time with family. My cousin, Sydni, is up from Colorado visiting me and we’ve been have SO much fun! It’s so amazing to see the evidence of genes in her. We are so much alike…. and the funny thing is, it’s probably because we’re both like her mom (my aunt).

I’m enjoying every given moment with her. At times it makes me sad that we don’t live by each other.

I took her to a Shakespear play Much Ado About Nothing… and this picture I snuck of us before getting told NO PICTURES ALLOWED. She’s helped me out so much with the kids, the house, my sanity. Her crafty side reminds me so much of myself, as does the things she gets frustrated at. She’s such a sweet, sweet girl.

We took a trip to Yuba City where she got to spend time with her biological sister (my biological cousin) heck…. her sister, my cousin 🙂 We both had so much fun visiting, laughing, and bonding. Here’s a picture of all 3 of us girls.Jenna and I have become close over these past couple of years that she has found “us” her biological family. I know that we both consider eachother cousins…. we’re family and I have grown to love her and appreciate her. She’s a great friend that I can talk to you, I’m here when she’s bothered or upset and listen to her. I thought that the cousin that was out there in the world somewhere would someday be a very close cousin of mine. I hope that we can continue our relationship all throughout our lives.

Sydni I am just now getting to know. She’s always there, but I’ve never had the priveledge to get to know her and her amazing personality. She’s the daughter of an aunt that is like a second mother to me. I love her mom so much, and at one point she played mom with me. I hate how she lives so far away and our kids can’t grow up together. Even more than that, I just hate that we don’t know each other’s kids. So, this special time with Sydni was just what I think we both needed.

I love Garibay Soup

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I started this blog back in November of 2007 for the sole purpose of updating family members on our life away from them. I was reflecting back on how much bigger it has become. What new purposes it serves, and how I’ve grown from it.

I have had the most amazing privilege of getting to know other bloggers out there, and learning things I never thought I’d learn in bloggity world.

I am making my family’s history. I consider this my version of my family’s life, and one day my kids, their kids and possibly even their kids’ kids will get read about the things I feel, the things I love, the things that anger me, but the main thing is they’ll get to know me.

Sometimes I post meaningful things to me that I know my readers don’t care about, but when it comes down to it, this blog is for me. It’s for my family, and it doesn’t matter if I have a million readers or none…. this blog will always remain, and I will always try and keep in perspective the purpose of this blog.

I don’t always have joyous things to write about. I’m not hesitant to write about the trials in my life. I like to focus more on positive things, but let’s face it…. life isn’t always rosy and cheery. I’m happy that I have this blog to turn to and record the things I have failed to write in baby books, that I can talk about the things that frustrate me, the things I’ve discovered that work for me, and a place to just ramble about whatever my crazy mind has on it.

I’m extremely grateful for so many things in my life, and I find it kindof funny that Garibay Soup is definitely one thing I am grateful for. I love that my life is right here, that I have a record of the things that I have accomplished, the things my children and accomplished and the monuments in our life.

I love Garibay Soup.

My Mother’s Day…

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Mother’s Day…. HEAVEN! I absolutely love being at the coast. It’s gorgeous, peaceful, and it’s a place I’d honestly like to see myself living at one day. I don’t know, it may happen… it may not. That’s the beauty of life. The only thing truly stopping me from packing up and picking my new home is the fact that there’s no Home Depot on the Oregon coast…. and Home Depot is a necessity in our life, because that is our source of health insurance… cardiac baby MUST have health insurance.

We camped literally right in front of the beach. We were in my Grandma’s RV and I’d sit in the passenger seat and watch the whales blow the water up and flip their tails (or fins… whatever) out of the water. It was absolutely amazing to me!! I can’t believe how close those whales actually get to the shore! What a great experience!!

So, here’s a picture of the view from the RV

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures with my Grandma, but she was there. It was a nice little get away for us all… much needed! We really don’t live too far away from the coast, but we rarely go… usually just once a year. I want to start going more often. I want to take advantage of the beauty that’s just around the corner. I’d LOVE to take a trip up 101 for a couple of weeks and get to see all of the Oregon coast… it’s just so beautiful.

Of course I have a few pictures to show. I’m not going to overwhelm my blog with a million pictures, but these are a few of my favorites

I haven’t talked much about her, but this is our love Sophie…. I actually love her – shocking! I know, I know, she looks like a pit, but she’s NOT! She’s an Olde English Bulldog 🙂





Jayden FINALLY got to make smores, which is something this kid has been wanting to do for a REALLY long time. Jayden picked out a little chest for me, I’m thinking I might be keeping things he makes me in it. It’s special, because he had to get it for me…. there was no talking him out of it, and that’s the best!

I’m so thankful to be a mom, and I’m thankful to have 2 of the most special little souls I’ve ever encountered. I love my life, I love my children, and I love my husband…. I’m forever grateful for the way things have turned out for me.

Friday Favorites

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Been a while, but I want to get back into this…..

My favorites of this week are as follows:

  • Jayden finally made it to the dentist for the first time and did AMAZING! My 7 year old doesn’t even have a cavity. I’m so proud of him 🙂 I highly believe that this is because I never let him go to bed with a bottle or anything to suck on, but it might just be because he’s a super star brusher.
  • My superstar husband helped me to start clearing out the clutter out of our garage. We have one section completed and a shelving thing in its place. I love organization, even though I suck at it, and am glad we’re on an organizing mission. He also cleared off our old kitchen table and carried upstairs so that it can serve as a return on my desk. I LOVE IT!!! We were actually going to spend money on a new desk and now I really have no reason. I can even use my table as my sewing area…. THANKS WONDERFUL HUSBAND!!
  • Ella has begun potty training and to my shock and surprise is doing amazing with it! My little girl isn’t even 2 and is telling me when she needs to go potty and even held up on a 2 1/2 hour outing of the house!! WTG, Ella!!
  • We got to bring in my husband 28th year with him. Thursday was his birthday and we got to go as a family to dinner. Amazing thing is – we got together when he was 18. We’ve last almost 10 years together and 5 years of marriage. I love him. Here’s to another year of his life that will be spent with ME!!
  • Jayden tested for another belt in Karate. He got called on in Karate class to give a Code of Ethics and he said, “I will forget my mistakes and concentrate on the future.” That made me proud. He makes me proud. I sure was blessed with a special little boy. I can’t wait until we find out if he earned his belt!! I think he did a great job.

That pretty much sums up my favorite things of this week. I love my life. I know sometimes I can complain and get overwhelmed and discouraged, but at the end of the day….I love my life, and I’m so thankful for it and the many blessings that are poured on my family. I’m excited for the next week to come and to talk about my favorite things.

I really am alive…. I promise

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Hi blog, if you forgot who I am since I neglect you I’m still Amanda. I still have cute kids, hard kids, funny kids, family drama and I’m still selling food.

Life for us has been wonderful. We’ve had an extra toddler with us for now 3 weeks. I can pretty much say that I hope God never blesses us with twins…. EVER. In fact, my husband has informed me that we’re no longer having any more children.

My niece Alana from Sacramento came to stay with us a few weeks ago, because she comes from a horrible home. A party home, she’s been neglected and the whole sad sob story that you can come up in your head probably happened to her.

She’s going back to her glorious life she came from tomorrow. Sad… I know. But there’s not much I can do about it… besides informed CPS, which will be done.

Here’s where the bad part comes in. I’m relieved that she’s going to be gone and I hate to say that, but I have been going INSANE. I haven’t been able to get my work done, she’s very clingy, and I’m EXHAUSTED. I wasn’t going to let my brother know that I have her.. he lives here, but I needed a break. I needed my family back even if just for a day. I’ve realized this week as much as I want to save her, I can’t. It is a fight I don’t have in me. I wouldn’t just be fighting her mom, but I’d be fighting her mom’s horrible mom… which would get her over me. I just hope that either her mom cleans up her act or my brother does…. somebody needs to for this poor baby girl’s sake. Ella and Alana are only 6 weeks apart.

So this has all been going on with us…. which is why my blog has been neglected. Here’s a couple pics I took at Easter……….

THIS IS ALANA






Our Easter was wonderful!!! We went to my inlaws and got to see my husband’s grandparents. Definitely enjoyed myself….. as did the kids.

Taking a trip for Easter

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We’re taking a trip to the inlaws tonight!! We’re heading to California to go and spend Easter with my inlaws and my husband’s grandparents. We won’t be going all the way to Sacramento ~ they only live about 3 1/2 hours from us… which is nice. We actually were planning on just leaving in the morning, but decided it would give us a little bit more time with everybody if we came tonight… we will be home tomorrow night.

Ella’s Easter dress is adorable. I actually bought 2 and haven’t decided which one to put her in. Pictures will definitely be coming when we return. The property that Gino’s parents live on is beautiful and I can get some great pics there… they even have an old barn!!

I talked a while back about changes happening in our lives here and they’re still going on. I wish I could talk in detail on here about it, but for the safety of others it’s best I don’t. Just keep us and our family in your prayers…. you can contact me via email if you’re really curious LOL. I do talk about it on Facebook since Facebook is private.

I hope everyone has a very beautiful and wonderful Easter!! Don’t forget that it’s not just about bunnies and eggs… but it’s about Jesus and what he did for us, his ressurection, and that one day we will have the opportunity to have eternal life thanks to what he did for us. I’m sad that we won’t be able to attend church this Easter, but he definitely will be in our thoughts throughout the day…. I’m still trying to figure out something I can do with the kids so they remember (well, Jayden at least LOL)

Life for us….

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Life in the Garibay home has been a bit different lately. There are things that have happened that I can’t yet discuss on my blog due to privacy issues (I’m not sure who reads it!!)

I will say this… I’m exhausted, sad and I just hope that everything turns out the way God intends it too. This doesn’t have much to do with our immediate family, but is effecting it. Not in a bad way 🙂 So… basically, life has changed a bit and will remained changed for probably a couple of weeks… maybe longer who knows.

Today is General Conference and I’m anxiously awaiting to see what guidance is passed down to us today. I know a lot of people will gather at the church today to watch the words of our prophet and advisers, but I will happily be watching at home with a pause button…. something much needed with kids!!!

Our Family’s New Addition…. and I need advice :)

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Here’s Sophie!! She’s such a sweet addition 🙂

What a Sunday. It started for me at 5am waking up to Sophie pooping in her crate…. me not knowing, because it’s dark and letting her walk out of the crate instead of carrying her. It was gross, and made me want to cry, but we dealt with it.

She’s honestly done pretty well today on going to the bathroom outside…. I’m pretty proud! I must say though that dogs have HORRIFIC GAS! EWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! The kids have been having an absolute ball with her. They all run around the house chasing each other and having fun. Ella is hilarious and Jayden is so happy.

So, I’m funny in a way that I don’t like change. I hate it actually, and when you throw something new in the mix I feel kinda down. I’m feeling that way today and I’m not sure if it’s Sophie or if it’s a decision that I think we’re going to make. It actually could be a mixture of the 2.

A while ago I talked about an opportunity that my Grandma had offered us, which you can read about HERE. Basically I just never talked about it with her and made up my mind that it’s not doable. There’s no way in hell that I’m going to live in a *&it hole like Ely for 2 years. Just not happening. Well, she called today saying that she really needs our help, and I know this. I am the manager of this mobile home park there that is her’s, and I know that there are many things that need to get done. Things that I can’t make sure are getting done from Oregon. So, her new proposal is that we come for 6 months. This is a lot better than 2 years and is actually doable. If we leave when Jayden gets out of school then 3 months of that will be summer, in which we can take lots of little vacations with him. I won’t need to actually be in Ely for the entire 6 months, we can do 3 weeks there, 1 week on the road…. or something like that. The next 3 months after his summer break I’ll home school him until we return to Talent.

So, what’s my husband to do about work when this is all over? What are we going to do about insurance since I do have a Cardiac baby? This is why 6 months just might be okay. Gino can take a leave of absence from Home Depot for up to 6 months (I believe this is the max he’s going to check into this). At the end of our journey he will be guaranteed his job back at Home Depot, with no change in position or pay. Nice huh? For insurance we just pay Cobra and we will all remained medically insured.

The Perks?

  1. We get a 6 month vacation from life with guaranteed jobs after we’re done.
  2. Get to live for free
  3. All money I get paid just gets saved up
  4. We get to travel
  5. I get to spend time with my Great-grandma before she passes away
  6. Did I mention we get to travel????
  7. We will get to help my Grandma out in ensuring that the park is running smoothly and looking it’s best.
  8. We’d get to take the kids to the Salt Lake Temple…. Gino definitley needs to see that!
  9. All the above isn’t too bad right?

The Downfalls?

  1. Well, first off I’d be leaving all my friends that I’ve learned to love so much.
  2. I’d be leaving the beauty of Southern Oregon
  3. I would miss out on the first 2 1/2-3 months of my nephew’s life
  4. I’d be in the miserable town of Ely
  5. We’d have to change wards, which is something I really don’t want to do, but I think we’d be okay here. We are a very strong family, we’ve been through it all…. literally, and I know that we can make it through about anything. I know that we can stay strong in the church, and if Gino has issues with it I’ll just stay strong and set the best example I can.
  6. Jayden would miss out on the first month of school…. luckily here they don’t start school until September, so if we came back in October I’d only be homeschooling him for a month.

I think we might do it. We’ve been planning on moving out of this place anyways, since we’re growing out of it. So, in June we can leave and come back in October to a new home…. maybe even one we’ll own 🙂

I had amazing feedback on my last post regarding this topic, and I appreciate it all so much, so I’m begging for some here! Looking at the perks and downfalls, would we be dumb not to do this?

On Ella…. and our new addition

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Ella turned 19 months yesterday. It’s shocking to me, and I really can’t fathom the idea that my baby now speaks to me in sentences. She’s so smart and everyday she shocks me with something new. Her new phrases that come to mind right now are:

Help me
Let me see
To go to go… meaning let’s go
Where’s JJ – her brother
Pretty… she likes to tell me that she’s pretty
What’s that?
Where’d it go?
Cartoons?
My shoes
MOM! NEED HELP!

There’s more, but I can’t think of them. I need to upload an updated pic of both of these kids of mine, which I will soon.

Ella’s just becoming more and more independent. She doesn’t like to be fed, but has to do it on her own. If Jayden has cereal, she has to have cereal. This morning she was at the table with her cereal and was yelling for Jayden to come eat his nummies…. she said, “JAY!!! NUMMIES!!!”

She’s such a joy to be around. I love her personality, even though at times it drives me CRAZY!!

On a different note…..we’ll be having an addition to our family, which I will give details on next week 🙂 Got ya thinking didn’t I?

Peace – It has to start with me

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I had a wonderful day at church today. It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve gone thanks to our trip and the flu. Even before all that, we were going off and on due to illnesses and another trip to Sacramento, and I’m so relieved that I have nothing planned and will be attending as far as I know every Sunday.

Ella went to nursery. She still isn’t doing very well in there, but she was in there for most of the time. I got a good 20 minutes of sitting in Relief Society and I am so thankful for the 20 minutes that I did get in there. I have no idea what the lesson was on, but I got a message that touched me. It’s a song, I believe, and it goes like this…..

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be
As God is our father
Children all are we.
Let us walk with each other
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

I’m not at peace. I have anxiety, at times I feel my temper is short, and this is something I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to work on. Having peace in my life, and having it start with me. This is a very difficult thing for me, because I don’t think I’m in any way a peaceful person, but I want to be.

I want to be that person that people look at and say… wow, what makes her so peaceful and graceful. It can’t happen over night, but I definitely want to work on having peace within myself.

Here is how I think I can accomplish having peace:

Get my home in perfect order. Perfect is a very strong word, but I need it to be darn close to it. I worked a lot on this today and am very pleased with what I accomplished. I have a goal of having the entire house in perfect order by Friday… excluding the garage. This is a very easy goal to accomplish… it might not be PERFECT, but it will be in order and I need that.

Reading my scriptures every single day. I am TERRIBLE at this. I want to start my day out by reading a message through scripture reading and I want to end my day by reading a message through scripture reading.

I need to get routines and schedules going in my home. Sometimes it’s chaotic and stressful, and it shouldn’t be. We need set bedtimes, set homework times, set bath times… I think it would bring peace in our home.

For me, I’m going to start doing Yoga once a week and make it a point to set aside time every evening to take a relaxing bath with a good book. Ever mom needs time away.

So, this all starts with me.

If you have ideas of things that could bring peace within yourself, please let me know.