3.9.2013 Abuelito's 90th Birthday Party

 On Saturday we celebrated Edgar's Grandfather's 90th Birthday.  Around here we call him Abuelito :)

 

 The kids all had a blast together.  Landon and Brayden were there too, so they had lots of little buddies to play with.  Katie caught this significantly injured butterfly, and that was the focus of much of the play.  She carried that thing around all day.  I couldn't believe it stayed alive for as long as it did with all of the handling done to it.  It entertained the kids though!

 

 Eli snugglin' up to Sean :)

 

 A special prayer time for Abuelito.

 

 This lady sang a beautiful song for Abuelito and then told about how he and Abuelita had helped her so much when she came to the States.  A beautiful testimony.

 

 Leah making new friends...

 

 Abuelito and his pastor.

 

Some of my favorite people.

 

 The whole family!

 

 Some close friends.

 

 Abuelo hanging out with his youngest grandson.

 

 Look at all those grandkids!

 

 Time to open presents!

 

Uncle David teaching the kids how to ride roller coasters :)  Leah has got it down!

 

All the cousins playing with David.

It was a gorgeous day.  Mom and Dad worked very hard and pulled off a wonderful party.  Abuelito had a very nice time as well.  What a priviledge to be there to celebrate 90 years with him!

3.8.2013 The Park

 There have been many, many posts about visits to this little park.  It's our favorite.  It's close.  Okay...maybe it's just close.  But we love going.  So enjoy some pictures of my kids being cute...and growing up way too fast!

 

 One evidence of them growing up is finally being done with baby swings...unless Leah decides to push an imaginary baby...which she did for a while...

 

 They are now all about the 'big swings'.  I actually am glad about this.  I hate those baby swings.  I cannot seem to get a child out of them without loosing a shoe, or killing myself trying to get them out.  These are much easier.  Now they just need to learn to pump, and I'll be able to take a book to the park and relax while they swing.  Cuz they would swing the entire time if I let them.

 

 Eli also really enjoys the monkey bars.  He makes me SO nervous, but I no longer help him up.  I figure if he wants to play on them, he needs to figure out how to do it himself.  I am always very close by, though...in case he plummets to the ground.  Leah, on the other hand, is not allowed up there.  Yet...

 

 The sea saw.  Don't you miss the good 'ol days of teeter totters?  When you could get someone way high in the air, jump off and watch them crash to the ground?  Good times.  Everything is so safe now...For entertainment, click on the picture to see a close-up of Eli's face.  He looks like the sea saw is serious business!

 

We went over to climb trees.  I couldn't decide which picture of Eli I liked better...so I posted them all.  Cuz he's so cute.

 

 

 

 See what I mean?  The kid rarely smiles for pictures anymore, but shots of him are still amazing.  Such a cutie :)

 

A few trips down the slide...

 

 A little exercise...

 

 And last but not least, the tire swing.  I always save this until last.  Otherwise we will never leave.  The kids love it.

Good times at the park!

3.4.2013 My little princess...

I wonder how much longer this little princess will BEG to do the dishes...

3.3.2013 Our Weekend

 Our weekend was a busy one.  We had gymnastics on Saturday (Eli walked across the balance beam all by himself!  First time!) came running home and got ready to go to a birthday party.  It was a bit of a drive away, but worth it!

 

 The blurry birthday boy!  Brayden turned 2!  He had a Mickey Mouse birthday party, and had Cars playing on the TV.  It was a dream birthday party for Eli...

 

 Eli (and daddy) trying to help Brayden blow out the candles...from very far away. 

 

Delicious cake!

 

Eli spent a lot of time in Landon's bedroom...I wonder why...I think I need to hire Chrissy (Landon & Braydon's mom) to paint Eli's room. 
We had a really nice time at the party.  The food was delicious, as usual, and the company was great.  We always enjoy going over there!

 

Today we got up and went to church, came home for a quick lunch, then headed to the park.

 

Leah looking for Lions...

 

If she finds one Eli will defend her :)

 

Happy boy!

 

It was actually a pretty cool day today-Edgar would say it was downright cold.  We walked to the top of a tower and it was really windy up there...and with the wind, 55 degrees DID feel quite cold.  I regretted not putting on their Mickey and Minnie hats that my mom made for them...hoods just don't work as well...

 

A random squirrel eating a tree.

 

Leah looking for flowers.  At least that's what she said she was doing.

 

Climbing in some kayaks.

 

Eli thought he would join.  Then we thought that might not be a very good idea.  We'll have to go back sometime and rent a canoe and go for a real ride.

 

It really was a nice day if you could stay out of the wind.

 

That little smile makes ME smile :)

 

 Cutie pie!

 

 After our walk we played on the playground for a while.

 

Swings are always a favorite.

 

Especially when you get a ride with mommy and go 'as high as the trees!'

Fun weekend.  And now it's time to get the kids ready for bed, get school clothes laid out, and prepare for the week. 

3.1.2013 Because it's March...

So, it has been a while...to say the least.  But I decided I had to start again sometime, otherwise I will never have a place where I can look back on all these thousands of pictures that I take.  Do you ever worry you will forget the moments that make life wonderful?  I do...and that's part of the reason I take pictures...and the main reason I post them here.  So I can look back and not forget.  SO, since it's March, and the sky looked like this:

 I decided it was time once again to attempt to post my memories here once again.  We'll see how I do.  BUT, today my kids were being especially cute, so I grabbed the camera I begged my husband for almost 2 years ago, dusted it off, and took some pictures of their cuteness.

 

Initially I couldn't find the camera, so I looked in the back of the van.  Eli discovered where he wanted to play.  He played back there for a long time.  I think he needs a tree house :)

 



Leah rarely stays in one place for very long.  She seems to always get this serious look on her face when she's about to get her picture taken.  She really isn't all that serious of a kid.  Dramatic is the word I'd use for her...

 



There's her smile :)

 





Eli enjoyed running in the fresh air.  He's been running around.  A lot.  In the house.  A lot. I think he needs more exercise...or a running partner.  Maybe a dog...cuz his mommy ain't runnin' lately...

 

Happy boy!  He's been in such a good mood the past few days-he's been so silly lately.  He's started making little jokes, which are so funny to me.  They really aren't that funny, but when Eli says 'It's so cold outside!' when it's 80 degrees, and then snickers cuz he knows it's really not cold, it strikes me as funny.  Maybe to no one else, but to me it is!

 



 He has definitely gotten the hang of his tricycle.  We need to get him a bigger bike with training wheels.  Daddy's going to have a riding buddy soon!!

 

 Leah is actually catching on to the tricycle pretty quickly too.  She can't be left behind!

 

Just cuz he's cute...

 



She looks a little sassy in this picture...hmmm...

 



So...Eli was really into the whole picture thing today.  Most pictures I took he instantly wanted to see the picture on the screen.  So I thought it would be fun to let him try taking pictures.  This is the first picture Eli has ever taken...and I gotta say, I think it's one of my favorite pictures of Leah ever.  The boy's got talent :)  I didn't crop it or anything.  Perfect picture!  He apparently needs a camera of his own.

 



Of course...this was his second picture ever.  He's gotta work on his consistency... ;)

 

Until tomorrow!