Basketball

Jonah and Josiah just wrapped up another season of basketball.  They were able to be on the same team this year and they improved tremendously just in one year.  Josiah loved shooting the basketball and whether he was near of far from the hoop he would shoot and most of the time make it. He really loves playing the sport.  

Jonah however is all about defense.  He is absolutely amazing and a total team player.  He helps his team members up when they fall and is constantly looking for someone to pass to.  It is so strange how different he and Si are.  I love it though because they possess such different qualities and it makes watching them so much fun.

Upward basketball is an amazing basketball program that offers so much to children who are beginning basketball.  They incorporate so many amazing things and the boys have enjoyed themselves so much.  It is a wonderful Christian atmosphere and if your child is just beginning I highly recommend Upward basketball to anyone.

They put on an amazing banquet for all the cheerleaders and players, they all had a wonderful time.  They also brought in a ex-Globetrotter to entertain the kiddos and he had an amazing message for everyone there, including the parents.

We are sad to see the season end, however, with wrestling beginning it brings more excitement to our lives.  The boys love wrestling and I look forward to watching them compete.

Happy Valentines Day

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 13:34

May you all be blessed today and know that you are loved.

Happy Valentines Day

Moose Sighting in Camelot

I have seen a lot of wildlife but I think this is my most memorable one yet.  Saturday Patrick, the boys and I were walking around our neighborhood when a car pulls up next to us and says "I don't know if your boys might like to see but there is a moose in the yard to your left."  Me being shocked and a little nervous could not believe that the moose was just chillin in the yard eating off the tree. The boys wanted to get closer as did I for picture reasons but we managed to keep our distance and watch her as she walked around.  At first I thought she would come after us but she just looked at us and carried on doing what she came to do-eat.  We rushed home and got my camera and here she is hanging out in the yard looking for food.  I guess she has been hanging out for the last week in the area and there have been no incidents just a hungry moose.  It was the craziest thing I have ever seen up close. 

Being a Mom

I have had many touching moments from being a mom, when the boys come up and give me a hug or a kiss.  Or when they just do what is asked of them with a yes mom. Telling you they love you to infinite or to Hawaii, or to the moon and back.  My favorite is when they all play together without fighting and include one other.  I also love in the evenings when we relax and the boys fight over who will sit or lay next to me even after a long day of being with me.  You'd think they'd had enough of me.  There are SO many moments that I am blessed by my boys in the little things they do and the big ones too.   Last night was one of those big ones.  After the boys did there usual play time after Patrick tucks them in, Jeshua came into our room and with eyes welled up says to Patrick "your a good poppa." Of course your heart melts, I know mine did.  So after a little bit of time I went to check to see if the boys finally went to bed and Jeshie still being awake says to me "I love you to God, and your a good momma."  I can't express the joy that I felt, not because I need to hear that or because he is my son, but that I truly believe the Lord uses children to speak to us in those special moments.  When we feel like our jobs go unnoticed or we just grow tired, we get that encouragement that lets us know we are doing just what God intended us to be doing.  I am constantly amazed how He uses my boys to speak love, encouragement, laughter, peace, honesty and joy into my life and I know Patrick would agree with me also.  I hope that everyone who is a parent is able to experience what I do with my wonderful boys and never takes for granted the joy of being a parent.  May all you be blessed and look for the ways the Lord blesses your life. 

Night Skiing

We decided that now that the boys are all old enough we would try to take them to do down hill skiing and snowboarding. Since Patrick and myself have never done night skiing so we thought it would be really fun.  

So we rented everyone's gear and we headed up the mountain.  At the start of our night Patrick and I thought that this might not be a sport for the Cwik's to continue. However, after lots of patience and practice, the boys took right to it and did exceptionally well.  I, on the other hand enjoyed going down the bunny hill nice and slow with Jeshua.  Patrick and Joey helped Josiah with his snowboarding and he proved to be a natural.  Jonah would rather be left alone to do his thing, that is going straight down the mountain without any poles as fast as he could.  No need to snowplow just do a 360 to stop and mostly wipeout at the end. Jeshua was either holding on to mine or Candace's poles as we went down the hill and he wanted us to just let him go down by himself too.  Not ready for that. I have never experienced more fearless boys in my life. They all loved it.

Excited Josiah was ready to go before any one else.

Here is a view from our parking spot just before it got dark, bunny hill is just above the lodge. It truly was a beautiful night.

Jonah and Mommy riding the ski lift up to the bunny hill where we spent most of the night.  I have to say that all the boys were able to get off the ski lift on there own and without it stopping.  They did so good, I truly was blown away.

Jonah at the top of the hill waiting to go down and wondering why I have to take so many stinkin pictures.  Can I go down now mom?

Joey and Candace also went with us and they were such an amazing help.  According to Jeshua, Candace was funner to ski with than me.  No hard feelings Candace. Joey managed to come away with a war wound from Josiah.  While we were waiting at the car I was going to take a picture of them and Josiah lifted up his snowboard and cut Joey in the head.  As you can see below the lovely butterfly bandage.  Joey you are such a trooper.

We had a blast and of course were feeling very sore the next day.  I look forward to many more ski trips and watching the boys and myself improve.  As for Patrick he is amazing on his snowboard, even after not doing it for 8 years.  Thanks Candace and Joey for coming along and having fun with us.

Congratulations Patrick

This last Monday we were blessed with an amazing opportunity that we have been praying for a long time.  Patrick was officially sworn in with the Sheriff's Department of Spokane.  We are very excited for the opportunity he is going to have and know that the Lord is going to use Patrick to do amazing things for the Department.  We appreciate all the prayers and support we have received through the process and we know that we couldn't have done it without our amazing family.

Fun In California

Well a lot has happened since my last update.  We decided we were going to escape the cold snow here in Spokane and go to California for the holidays, and we did it road trip style. We took two days to get down there and two days to get back and we were blessed with amazing weather there and back.  We arrived there on Christmas Eve and spent the evening with Grandpa Pete, Grandma B, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Brenda made an amazing prime rib and we ate our hearts out. The boys enjoyed lots of new cool gifts and playing with their cousin Avery.   

We also got to meet Auntie Heather and Clemente's new baby Maeli.  

We spent the night at Auntie Loca's house and enjoyed Christmas at her house where we lounged, the kiddos played, mom made us Menudo(thanks mom!!), and we just relaxed and enjoyed being with one another.

A trip to California wouldn't be complete without going to the ranch with Grandpa Pete.  The boys fed the horses, road them and even help clean some of the stalls.

The boys also really enjoyed driving around the ranch.  Whether it was a golf cart or the Gator, they drove their little hearts out.  They only managed to have one little incident too. Josiah was driving the cart and Jeshua thought he would make it more exciting by standing up in the back. Josiah accelerated while going down the hill and Jeshua flew off and Josiah managed the bail out the side too.  No one got hurt, but the boys managed to scare their Uncle Jake and Grandpa Pete.  Oh the fun of going to the ranch, I love to hear all the things the boys do while they are there.   

Jeshua thought that the horse would like marshmallows but the horse just kept spitting it out.

All the boys proved to be very responsible drivers and now think that if only they were a little taller they could drive us around, NOT.

Here is the hill they went up and down on with Grandpa Pete and any other adult that would let them go for a ride.

The ocean was another place we spent a lot of time at. The boys spent the day with Patrick at Jalama Beach where they collected clams. And of course we had to cook and eat them, they were pretty good too I must say.  Jonah and Josiah also received a special gift from Patrick while at the beach, a long awaited pocket knife.  I know you all must think we are crazy to give a 7 and 6 year old knives, but they have proven themselves to be extremely responsible.  It is a total boy thing.  

  We also went to see Grandma Nana at her work in Shell Beach, and then took her to lunch at Pismo Beach where we had famous Clam Chowder at the Splash Cafe.

After lunch we walked the Pismo Pier where we watched the surfers, the kids chased seagulls, and ate lots of candy thanks to Auntie Loca. 

We were blessed with the most beautiful weather while we were down there, the boys were able to play in the ocean, swim in Grandma Nana's pool and Patrick and I were even able to go watch the sunrise one morning.  I just can't get over how beautiful the ocean is, I love where I am from.

I really enjoyed spending time with my niece Avery. Every moment we could be together we were. The boys also enjoyed her and managed to fight over who would sit by her in the car and when we ate and any other time. They sure do love there cousin. We love and miss you already. 

The boys of course wanted to be in the ocean every moment they could, and if we would have just let them they would have surfed too.  They love the water.

We decided we were also going to take the boys and show them where we got married in Cambria. It is still beautiful as ever.  Here we are standing at the gazebo where we got married, my how fast 9 years go by.

Here they are in the lodge in front of a huge fireplace. More pictures.

We then took them to the Cambria ocean where they played in the water, of course. Climbed rocks, collected rocks, shells, seaweed and played in the sand.  We took Avery and she managed to take a little dip in the water also, not by choice.  Sorry J.J. and Jesse, she had fun though.

I don't know who had more fun the kiddos or Patrick.  They all were like kids in a candy store, and we couldn't have ordered better weather if we wanted too.  God is sooo good to us.

Hiking with dad and watching the waves crash, pelicans fly by and just enjoying being with their dad.

These poor boys are so cooperative with their mom.  I couldn't resist.

On our way home we were able to spend the night with our very dear friends the Cockrums and their family.  We had a total of 9 children in one house. They all had a blast running around, wrestling and being loud as ever.  My how we miss them.

Here is the ever so cute twins, Mabel and Lola, they are getting so big.

Here is Jeshua with his future wife Lucy, and they really enjoyed one another.  

And here she is right in the middle of all the boys keeping up with them.  What a hoot they had.

Who can ever get a perfect picture with so many rough and tumbly boys.

We want to thank everyone who made our Christmas Vacation an amazing one.  We appreciate Mom, Dad and Brenda, Jesse and J.J., Uncle Casey, The Cockrums for allowing us to come and stay with you all and everything you did to make our stay amazing. You all blessed us more than we could ever tell you.  We love you all and of course miss you so much.