Thanksgiving Weekend in San Francisco

I know it's a little late but I thought I'd post pictures from our Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco. We had such a wonderful time. It's always good to see family. Also, I finally actually felt and experienced true Fall! It was such a change from our weather in Los Angeles, which was mid-70's today.

While there, we decided to go to the Palace of Fine Arts with all of my brothers and sisters, mom and all of our kids! It was so much fun! This place holds a special place in my heart because this is where Leo brought me after he proposed to me. When we arrived, there was a bride getting her bridal portraits done. I'm sure she's going to have beautiful pictures. The homes surrounding this area are just spectacular--can I say gorgeous! I can only dream of waking up and seeing the Palace of Fine Arts and the Golden Gate Bridge as I eat breakfast!




Here's some pictures of LJ. I can't believe how much my little boy has grown! I catch myself still calling him my baby boy but, oh when I look at him, he has grown so much.

What's new with him? Lately, Leo and I find ourselves reminding him that his baby brother is just that, a baby. He treats Lucas like he's the same age as him. He has attempted multiple times to wrestle with the baby. To our amazement, Lucas just looks at his big brother with a big grin.

LJ is also learning how to be a big brother. This child has about 100 (okay maybe 200) hot wheels among tons of other toys. If his baby brother so much attempts to touch any of his toys, he yells, "MINE"! We've had to lovingly remind him that baby brother is a baby and doesn't really know what he is doing. He needs to be patient with him and be gentle.

The one thing I adore about my Super LJ (what I call him) is his sensitive heart. He has so much compassion for others, especially when they're sad. It's amazing to me how observant my little boy is. There are times when he'll come up to me and say, "Mama, I'm sad". I'll ask him why and he will tell me either he saw a person with a sad face or he sees someone crying. He also "gets sad" when Dad is at work.




What else does LJ like? While he continues to love sticks and rocks, he also developed a love for leaves. This child of mine, will collect leaves, different sizes, shapes, and colors but most important to him, THE BIGGER, THE BETTER! He also is developing a love for animals and insects. One time, I was about to cut open a fruit when I noticed lady bugs tucked inside the leaves. He begged and pleaded for me to give him the lady bugs. I had to open a jar of spaghetti sauce so we can put the lady bugs in the jar and poke holes on the lid. Everyday, he would get a leaf for his friends, the lady bugs, and put it in the jar. Eventually, he allowed the lady bugs to be freed after watching a TV show where insects were flying up in the air. I guess my sensitive boy felt sorry for them.

NOTE: Notice that on these following pictures my big boy is holding sticks and leaves!












What's new with Lucas? Well, the day after Thanksgiving, Lucas' 2 bottom teeth erupted. He kept licking and playing with those things in his mouth the whole weekend. He was sooo curious about them that he learned to blow and play weird noises with his tongue in the process. He is so active. He continues to do the military crawl SO FAST. We call him Speedy Gonzales, Lightning Speed, Speedster. He can sit up on his own. He can get on all 4's and move around but he still ends up doing the military crawl.

He loves to follow his big brother. It doesn't matter if LJ is rough or taking back a toy, he just adores his big brother! Wherever LJ is, Lucas will crawl there. Whatever big brother is working on, Lucas is sure to try to help out by destroying whatever it is big brother is working on.

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Oh but how I love watching you two! I am so looking forward to when the two of you are able to really play together. I pray that you will be best friends, that you both will learn to be there for each other and to depend on each other. I pray that you will encourage one another and protect each other's hearts and interests. I pray that you both will develop a love for Jesus so deep that it will be ingrained in your hearts and minds.

NOTE: The following pictures were taken while LJ was trying to put Lucas' socks back on. Lucas kept kicking his socks and shoes off but big brother said, "Mama, brother will get cold. I have to put his socks on".








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