A week of bonding....

10 Grandchildren and 1 Great-grandchild

Desperate measures....

We just returned from a week of vacationing with our entire family.  When I say entire, I mean all of us.  As in both my sisters and their respective families, and the head of it all, my mom.  We've been doing this now for three years.  This is the first year that we were all able to make it, although my oldest sister and her oldest son left midweek because of work commitments.  We chose Marco Island as our destination.  We try to go to different places in Florida every year, as to make it more exciting.  We rented a 5 bedroom 3 bath home for the week.  Each family unit was assigned a night to cook, plus they also had to bring breakfast and lunch items.  Suffice it is to say that we ended up doing 3 grocery runs.  The food just disappeared.  We also had a toilet paper shortage which was remedied by assigning each family a roll of toilet paper to be used the last three days.  Now that was funny!  (See pics)  We typically woke up around 9, had breakfast and then headed to the beach.  We were steps away from Tigertail Beach which has an inlet that needs to be crossed before you get to the actual "beach".  Not everyone was happy about walking through that inlet, especially Marlene my oldest sister.  She was grossed out and horrified.  But the rest of us did fairly well.  Upon our return, we usually went into the pool and then kept eating.  It was really an eating fest.  But the point of this vacation is for all of us to enjoy each other's company for a week.  With work and school commitments and such a gap in ages with our kids, it's difficult to get everyone together.  Well, this does it.  I am so glad we were all there.  I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed it because I got to hang out with the people I love most in this world.  These are the folks who have been there during the good, the bad, the pretty and the ugly.  We, as a family unit have endured what every family has - joyous births of children, losses of loved ones, illnesses, unemployment, crisis, financial hardships and uncertainties.  But the one thing that has remained a constant is our love for one another.  I think each of  the people you see in the family picture below knows that.  We may disagree, and have different opinions on a variety of topics, but we all agree that we are one.  We are what two people, Luis and Ofelia Alvero (my mom and dad)  started, and now have become a group of 20+ individuals that are grateful, humbled and blessed to have each other.  I dare speak for all of us when I say that.  WE are blessed!

The Family

Sleeping together - Finally!!!!!

Since the twins were born, I've put them to sleep together in the same room maybe a handful of times.  Ania (blue eyes) is a light sleeper.  She often wakes up in the middle of the night, cries for about 5-7 minutes and then soothes herself to sleep. Aila, on the other hand, sleeps profoundly and much longer than Ania.  Since they were infants, I've interchanged them.  One sleeps in their room, the other sleeps in a pack and play, either in the playroom or in H's office, which I might add, they love.  So I figured, why mess with something that works?  One day, they'll sleep in the same room.  For now, I can take advantage of the fact that Aila wakes up later, naps longer, and I can just get Ania when she starts crying and/or yelling "MAMA!"

Well, Aila changed my plans.  She climbed out of her pack and play and bumped her forehead and nose.  So, what to do?  Place in her crib in her room and have them sleep together.  Ania already has a crib tent.  What's a crib tent you might ask?  Google it, the best invention ever created....  So two nights ago, I went for it.  I was terrified.  It's not the same having one baby wake up in the middle of the night than having one baby wake up another in the middle of the night and have two crying babies in the middle of the night.  You get my drift....Herman was traveling, this was my chance.  So..... it worked!  Ania didn't cry and they both sleep soundly through the night. What was I so scared of?  Having my precious sleep interrupted, I guess.  Well, last night, second night of this experiment, Ania did cry at 2:29 a.m.  I cringed.  I thought, this is it.  Well, guess what?  Aila tunes her out!  As in, throws a blankie over her head, tunes her out.  I love it!  This is what we have been working towards.  And guess what?  I think they love it too.  They are sisters, connected, in ways than only sisters can be. They've been together for a very long time, since they were created.  They love being together.  They share a special bond.  And I adore them with all of me.  All four.  My girls.  I am blessed.

Getting into a summer routine....

Well, we are back from our VA vacation, settling into somewhat of a summer routine.  I really do love summer.  I don't feel the pressure of putting the kids to bed early, assisting with homework, driving to dance and piano practice and so on. The girls love going to bed late, (what kid doesn't) and I love the fact that they do wake up a bit later, including the twins.  I guess they sense it's summer!

I am so glad we had a pool built.  That is instant entertainment.  It was worth every single penny.  Once the twins are older and can swim independently, I'm going to love it even more.  They literally spend hours there.  But to get the little ones in is another story.  Ania, (blue eyes) really stays calm, but Aila goes nuts. She wants to go!  So it takes a couple of adults for all of them to be in there at the same time.

Speaking of pool, last week we had four major things break in our home within a 3 day period.  Water heater had to be replaced, salt chlorinator in pool needs to be replaced, sprinkler box is dead and the compressor in one of our ac units died. Talk about a bad rut.  I see it like this.... as long as my kids are healthy,
everything else we can fix.  Not happy about the expenses, but we can fix it.
Keeping things real.... I am blessed.

We're back!

Yay!  We made it back to Davie on Saturday, July 2nd in the evening.  We spent the previous night in Orlando, and celebrated my niece's Ciara's 9th Bday there.  Speaking of nieces, I added one more to the mix, so now I have my niece Ciara here with me for a good portion of the summer.  Hey, 4, 5, kids, no different.  Plus my girls and we LOVE her, of course, so everyone's happy!  She said she would call me "mommy" and I said to her, "No problem!"  So I temporarily have 5 girls.  FUN!

The drive back, once again, was not bad.  Funny, call it coincidence or whatever, but the twins started acting up when we were about 20 min. from home.  Did they sense we were closer? I don't know but I'm thankful it was then.

I'm glad we took this trip.  The girls enjoyed it, my husband was happy and I enjoyed reconnecting with friends.

Yesterday, July 3rd, was Anel's 11th birthday.  I know it's cliche that time passes quickly, but it does even more when you have kids.  I still remember the day she was born, vividly.  Herman was soooooo nervous.  I was too, but kept my composure, I think.  We were convinced we were having a boy, and much to everyone's surprise, out came Anel!  I remember the waiting room filled with anxious family members.  Everyone awaiting the arrival of this new baby.

She became the purpose for our lives.  Much has changed since Anel arrived, 11 years ago.  Her grandmother and grandfather are no longer physically with us.  She has new sisters and cousins.  We have new friends and have made new memories.  But the basics are still there.  Our strong family conviction, amazing friends, our love and respect for one another and our health.  Things you can't buy.

Anel was lucky to be born to us, but we are luckier we were chosen to be her parents.  And we are so fortunate to have a strong, large, extended family who has stuck with us through the good and the bad.

I am blessed.