Father's day and Grad Party

Our Father's Day celebration started out with brunch at the Marriott hotel in Long Beach followed by party time in LA with Rolando's side of the family. I brought along my paints for my niece but, ended up painting the whole party LOL! I think next time I'll double check to see who's coming first. Naw, I love what I do so it was all good fun to me.

Last day of school

My little Christian had a great school year with an amazing teacher. Mr. Sakely really was an awesome teacher. He was a substitute for Christian's teacher who was pregnant and went out on maternity leave. This year was a big change from last year with Ms. Woo. yikes! That was not so good.
I'm looking forward to next year and so is Christian.

Kinder graduation

This year has flown bye so quickly. Seems like just yesterday Gracie was on her way to starting Kindergarten. Now she'll be starting school as a first grader in the fall. Oh I don't like this getting older bit!

Here she is the first month of school winning the student of the month award for citizenship.

These are the pics from her graduation ceremony and party. She has grown so much in a year.

I just love this sweet little monkey so much!

Gracies first Birthday

We are such bad parents. When it comes to throwing birthday bashes that is. My poor little princess has never had a big birthday party. I guess that's what happens when you are the third child. Josh had 5 big parties, Christian only had 1 and finally at age 6 Grace has had hers. Here are some picsa from the day in May even though her birthday is in the fall.

 

This was the best day ever is what she said to me after it was all done! I'm so happy she'll actually be able to remember it all.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Happy Birthday to daddy. He had to work on his special day so we made him a super awesome breakfast instead of taking him to dinner. The kids had so much fun helping!

Free stuff to do with the kids this week

So, this year there was no free summer Wrap at school with all of the budget cuts and all so, I needed to figure out what I was going to do with the kids. I decided I would try to plan a few fun FREE things to do with them. I'd like to plan one fun family attraction day per month as well. If you would like to join us or if you find some cool, free, fun stuff to do let me know. The more the merrier. I will be starting a facebook group for all who are interested. If we're not friends on facebook feel free to add me at Shawna Hernandez

Here are some ideas for our big family fun attraction days Some are free and some are low cost. To keep our costs even lower we can carpool and pack lunches for these events:

LA Zoo
Museum of Science and Industry
The LaBrea Tar Pits & Natural History Museum
Splash Water Park

If you know of any super fun attractions for the kids please let me know.

Here's what's happening around here this week 6/16 - 6/22.....

Tuesday and Wednesday 6/18 and 6/19 $1 movies at Edwards cinema at the Long Beach Towne Center
The Three Stooges PG @10:00am
Ice Age: Continental Drfit PG @10:00am

Thursday 6/20 FREE movie at Granada Beach (Bring mosquito repellent)
 Escape from Planet Earth @7:30pm

Friday 6/21 FREE Fridays at the Long Beach Museum of Art
Friday 6/21 (This field trip will cost) Monsters University opens

The Beach is always FREE!
FREE Sunday's at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach

The Following week 6/23 - 6/29

 Monday 6/24 The Grunion Run 
Cost is $5 for adults and $1 for kids
 

Tuesday and Wednesday 6/25 and 6/26 $1 movies at Edwards cinema at the Long Beach Towne Center
Diary of a Wimpy kid: Dog Days PG @10:00am
Parental guidance PG @10:00am

Friday 6/28 FREE Lego exhibition in Glendale

Friday 6/28 FREE Fridays at the Long Beach Museum of Art

Friday 6/28 FREE Family Movie Night at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos
Family movie night featuring "Despicable Me"!
Free admission and popcorn.
Ice cream and drinks will be sold for $1 each.

Saturday 6/29 FREE Pirate invasion at Belmont Pier

The Beach is always FREE!
FREE Sunday's at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach
The First week of July 6/30 - 7/6


Tuesday and Wednesday 7/2and 7/3 $1 movies at Edwards cinema at the Long Beach Towne Center
Mr. Popper Penguins PG @10:00am
Alvin and the Chipmunks:Chipwrecked G @10:0am

Wednesday 7/3 FREE Movie in the Park at Recreation Park
Rise of the Guardians @Dusk 7:30 (Bring mosquito repellent)

Wednesday 7/3 (This field trip will cost) Despicable Me 2 Opens!!

Friday 7/5 FREE Fridays at the Long Beach Museum of Art

The Beach is always FREE! 
FREE Sunday's at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach

One year without Grandma

I sat behind a woman at church last night that had a hair do just like my grandmas. She was about the same size as my grandma and was wearing pink. It was no coincidence. God knew I needed to see her.

At Midnight last night a year ago she left her broken, sick body and her spirit went to be where it was meant to be..with the Lord walking and talking and being able to fellowship with our beautiful Lord God. This has been the roughest year of my life. I never knew what it was like to lose someone that meant everything to me and I have come a long way but, I know I have a long way to go. I miss her sooo much and can't wait for the day when we'll see each other again.

 I thank God for that little comfort he gave me last night. It really was a special moment for me.

Depression, Anxiety...what??

So much has happened in this past year. I haven't blogged because I was so busy with life. I have two other blogs that are work related and for  while work had taken over my life. It has only been since the end of March that my life has been put back on track.

I have learned so much about how I want to live my life and how I don't want to live my life. I now know the most important part of my life should be my walk with God. Without him I am nothing, I can do nothing. I can't lean on my own understanding. I need to lean on him everyday. I now start my morning with him before anything else or my day is just living for whatever happens and not with purpose.

 I never let myself really grieve over my grandma, instead I just dove into work and there started my downfall. It didn't happen all at once, it happened slowly and overtime. I didn't want to deal with grandma passing away, I didn't want to accept it as reality in fact writing this still makes me tear up. Talking about her sometimes makes me cry and I know that is ok now, I know I HAVE to talk about her and remember all of the wonderful, fun times we had and not focus on my own selfishness of wanting her here with me. She suffered so much in the end and no one should have to live that way. I wouldn't want her here with me that way. She is now in heaven with the Lord and is healthy and beautiful.

  I started having what I now know were anxiety attacks. I felt as if I couldn't breathe. It started in December around Christmas. I thought it was because I was sick but, I was also dealing with depression. I wanted to cry for nothing, I just didn't want to be here, I felt like I needed to go outside. I needed to be at the beach even though it was the cold of winter. I couldn't sleep, I didn't understand what was happening to me, why I was having these thoughts.
 I got better physically but, didn't know what was happening so it was never dealt with. In March I had an attack and went to the hospital. After talking to some family, I realized what was happening to me. I saw a doctor and saw a therapist. Both wanted to put me on medication but, after talking a bit more the therapist agreed that I could manage it with exercise and mental focus when I felt like I was going to have another attack. According to her anxiety is usually inherited but, I know that I am made in God's image and I rebuke that. I gave my life over to the Lord rather I re-dedicated my life and my focus.

 I had my life so upside down and it needed to be put back in order. God, My husband, My kids then, my work. I have been trying to eat right and work out everyday and I tell you after I work out I feel so good. Yes, the physical part is right in fact, doctors say that exercise is the only thing that they know works 100% and it has made such a difference.

 I know people don't always talk about this sort of thing but, I tell everyone I know because I don't want others to have to go through it. If this just helps one person then, I have done my job.
Everyday is a gift to me now. I try to make the most out of it and enjoy my family and life so much more. I am so thankful to my mom and dad who prayed for me and pray for me everyday. My husband has been so amazing and my heart has been filled with so much more love for him. He has taken such good care of me when I couldn't take care of myself. Our lives are so good right now because our love for God is first in both of our lives.

 We have never been happier. All through our marriage there have been highs and lows and now both of us have probably gone through one of the lowest places in our lives and come out of it stronger and closer then ever.

 Yes, we are happy but, we are human and we still have our struggles but, we now know that God is in control of it all. I don't worry like I use to because I know God has a plan. I listen and look to Him for the answers and stop trying to figure it all out on my own. God is so awesome, he has made these huge changes in us and in my kids in such a small amount of time. Our lives can no longer be lived for ourselves but rather they are lived for Him and His Glory.