Spring Break!!

Awwwww!!! I had to start this blog post with my sweet babies 2 years ago with our very first Sea World visit after we moved here. Oh how that feels like yesterday. Hard to believe my sweet baby girl in the picture above is the exact age as her fun, wild, and crazy big brother in the picture above. Really, where does this time go??

This Spring Break has been fantastic. One I will never forget and always treasure. Our very special friends from Lubbock came (are still in town) in town for their Spring Break. Vince and Jaclyn came to see us over Christmas and we spoke with them about coming to see us over Spring Break or Summer. We were thrilled when they took us up on the offer.

They have a really special situation. They have one biological child, Vance. He is almost 8. Vince and Jaclyn have hearts bigger than Texas and are so loving and generous. (They would die if they knew I was bragging on them like this because they are so humble, and seek no pat on the back from anyone). There has been a special family in their lives that they have loved and cared for over the years. They have offered financial help, bought the children in this family new clothes, taken the children on vacations, kept them on weekends, and mostly just loved this family and shown this special family the love of Jesus over the years. Sadly, this past October due to some unfortunate circumstances the 4 children needed permanent foster care and Vince and Jaclyn graciously opened up their home and their lives to all 4 children. So they went from a family of 3 to an instant family of 7.

It has been pure JOY having these children in our home this past week. This was some of the kids very first vacation out of Lubbock. I was so honored they even took us up on the offer to come stay with us, and it has been a BLAST having them here. Hudson and Harper have had more fun this week playing with their new friends, and it has been so special to me watching them interact. I have to brag again on Vince and Jaclyn because they are such amazing parents. These 5 kids being in our home has been SO EASY! They are so well behaved, so kind, and so respectful. V and J hold down a very disciplined household (I guess you have to with that many kids), but these children who never have had 'real' discipline in their lives obey and listen and are amazing. It has been such a blessing having them here.

Tuesday we loaded up and took all 7 kids to Sea World. It was the BEST day EVER because it was EMPTY! No on was there. There was a big chance of rain, and I guess everyone stayed away. Luckily it did not rain, and it turned out to be perfect. The kids had so much fun. Watching the little ones whose first time it was to ever do anything like Sea World touched my heart so much. It might just go in the books as my most favorite SW visit. Their little faces were priceless. Their joy and excitement was contagious. It was almost like what they were seeing was just too big to even be real.

My highlight was at the Shamu show. These kids did not know what to expect, and when Shamu popped out of the water for the first time their screams and squeals were so precious!! Sweet little Jaclyn (the youngest who is 5 and named after mom Jaclyn) teared up. Older Jaclyn and I were in tears watching them. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. Oh these precious children, I have fallen in love with them!!

Ready for the Pirate Show....AKA...Hudmans Fav!

London, Jaclyn, and lil' Jaclyn

Harper and Jaclyn...2 sweet little girls!

Ready for the Sesame Street Show.

Part of our crew. We were constantly counting making sure we were all together.

Hudson, Luke, London, Vance, Landon

Hud, Jaclyn, and Vance saying HI to Elmo.

Getting ready for Shamu! (one of my favorite pictures of the day).

Hud, Jac, Luke, and Vance

They got swords!

Even this sweet thang got a sword!

Right after seeing Shamu for the first time. Sweet Landon.

Luke...just saw Shamu. Oh he is so sweet!! He and Hud are good friends.

Harp loving Shamu!

Our buddy Shamu!

The new baby Shamu!! So CUTE!!!

The boys watching. I love it!

The Vasquez Family.

Jaclyn, lil Jac, Landon, Luke, Vince, Vance, London

This sweet family has my heart!

Cotton candy mess. We brushed REALLY good that night!!

Mommy and my lil' luv!

Seeing the dolphins.

Jac and Harp

Before The Vasquez Crew came to visit Jaclyn told me their visit was going to fall on Luke's 8th bday. Well, you had better bet I was ALL OVER that one. So I got details of what this sweet boy was into. He loves SPACE! So a SPACE party it was. Yesterday they left for Fiesta Texas, so Hudson, Harper, and I planned a BIG SURPRISE PARTY for LUKE! They loved it and totally got into it. We decorated the table and got a cake and ice cream. We had pizza for everyone when they got here. It was a BIG success. Come to find out this was his first bday party. When they got back from Fiesta Texas they sent in all the kids and I went out and blind folded him. Everyone hid and yelled "SURPRISE" when he came in. We had noise makers and everything. It was great!! He was very surprised, and the kids had so much fun. It was so special making this little man's birthday memorable. He was the star of the night that is for sure!!

Luke just taking off the blind fold.

Everyone yelling SURPRISE!!! Notice Matt with the space helmet on. HILARIOUS! Anyone wonder why my son loves to dress up??? I'm still laughing over that one!

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

Getting sung to!!!

We gave him "a Moon in my Room". It's really cool!!

We let the kids play like crazy until 10!!! It was a fun, fun night!

Crazy Harper. Her apron is her cape. She was having a blast!

2 sweet friends!!!

It has been a fantastic week, and it's not over yet! We have loved having our dear friends here. It has been a joy loving on these precious children this week too. I pray that they are in the Lord's hand and His plan for their life is good. I am confident that seeds of goodness are being planted in their hearts, and I pray that the cycle of their past will be broken and that God does amazing things in their precious little lives!

One sweet story before I close....Lil' Jaclyn last night was in the kitchen with me and we were talking as I was getting her some water before bed. She asked me what we were to her. I asked her what she meant by that. And she said, "well, Vince and Jaclyn are my angel mommy and daddy, and I think y'all are my angel family too. I think we are just one big happy family."

Oh I just hugged that sweet girl, and told her that we sure are a one big angel family!! MELT-MY-HEART!!!!