Nichole's Baby Shower

The last of the baby showers are completed! I chose a Zebra and Hot Pink theme. It's just so "Nichole" to me. And no it's not the baby's theme but I liked it anyway. Nichole was hesitant at first about it... but I know Jen and I did a great job putting it together. It was fun!

(Oh and before my pictures start, know this... My Canon's battery died last week when I was taking pictures. I searched for my charger but haven't found it. Grr! I know it's in this house somewhere... but where that is... I am not sure. SO... I took my little P&S camera with me that is about 5 years old, has been through hell and back, is starting to die, the quality sucks, and I haven'teven turned on in more than 6 months. So know these pictures are bad quality but it's better than nothing!)

Wonderful cake made by Linda once again!






I didn't take lots of detail pictures... I forgot cuz I was so busy. But I did get this of part of my centerpieces.


Jen with one of our games...


My baby Miss Arielle


Me and my Daddy


Atalie with her Nina Tiffany


My Sister, Me, and Ducky (the soon-to-be brother)


Me and Arielle


This one came out SUPER blurry but I am glad I was able to save it a little... I like it now...


Then Nichole got pictures with all her guests but there's way too many to post... but I like these with our family...




And after games and all that we opened presents. Again way too many pictures to post.

Our sister-in-law bought her a custom carseat cover that Nichole had chosen. And we liked it online... it was even cuter in person!


My friend Tiff bought her the coolest bag to use as a diaper bag!


My gift wasn't completed but Jr picked that little dress out and he got one for Arielle and Atalie too (way back before Atalie was born) and I made her a "bow hanger" out of the letter L. It only had 2 bows on it... but I still have a few weeks before she's due so I can finish the bows. Oh and the zebra box it came in! I loved it.


Group Picture of whoever was around at the time


My Tia Elena requested a picture with her "Princess" and the princess was more than happy to do it


Oh and everyone got to meet the new babies of the family... even Tia Chely and Crystal who were here from California.




My Grandma... and she really likes Atalie!


My Princess Alayna


The Love of my Life... and The Pain in my Butt


We love our Daddy


I made us all flip flops for the party... I love them! (Don't forget I sell them! $10 for kids sizes $14 for adults. Custom made.)


L-A-I-L-A cuz we're gangsta like that...


Jen and I throw awesome parties... and we matched the theme! It's cuz we rock.

Atalie, Arielle, & Alayna

Last week I made an attempt at some newborn pictures of Atalie. I only had about 30 minutes or so to work with her so I didn't get many shots I liked. She did cooperate for the most part but the lighting sucked... my lens is going out I think because I get tons of blur now... and well we just weren't feeling the whole situation. I am gonna attempt some more like ASAP before she's no longer a "Newborn". But for now here's what I was able to somewhat salvage from that day.












The next day after we dropped Alayna off at school... Arielle and I were getting off the car and as I was taking the baby out Arielle decided to play in the grass with rocks. I quickly ran the baby inside and grabbed my camera. She was in her own little world and I had to take her picture. She saw me with the camera but was so natural and kept right on playing with the rocks. It's so hard to get anything natural from Arie... she always has this cheesy smile that makes her face scrunch up all funny. These are my new favorite pictures of her!












Then on Saturday at my Brother's house the kids were playing outside and Alayna asked me to take her picture. Who am I to turn down the opportunity? So I snapped a few but the sun was really harsh... I thought I wouldn't like them either. But when I opened them up I saw the potential. And I like them now.















Now if I could only get Diego to stop having a "life" and maybe I could get some shots of him too. I am gonna try... really I am. The kid is never home and when he is he can't be bothered with anything. Ugh 7 year olds!

Bits of Our Sunday: Atalie Meets Abuelita

I kinda love Sundays now... they've been so relaxing lately.

We got up and cleaned a little and then I decided to get the kids dressed and ready for the day.








We didn't have any plans but I didn't want to stay in the house. SO we decided to take the kids to my Abuelita's house so she could meet Atalie. So after she got home from church we stopped by. She was surprised but very excited. She even asked me to hold and feed her. We were there a good hour and a half! It's hard to stay there a long time because with 3 older kids they get into everything. Or get bored really easily. Grandma's house is just not kid-proof you know? She lives by herself there's no need. But it was a nice afternoon. Jr and I talked with her... she made us crack up laughing as usual. And she really gushed over Miss Atalie. I love seeing my Abuelita enjoying her great-grankids! You can see all the adoration she has for them. Atalie was no different. She kept telling me how much she thinks she looks like my Mom. And then she would get kinda sad and say to Atalie, "You Grandma never got to meet you..." And I quickly told her, "No Abuelita, you have it all wrong... she got to meet her before we did." And she smiled for a minute. But then she turned to me and said, "(Sigh)... I still can't believe she isn't alive anymore. It's so hard to comprehend how SHE isn't here. SO cherish each day because you never know..." And it made me sad... sad that my Grandma is still saddened by the loss of my Mom too... and sad for us as her daughters. We had a long conversation about her. And she is sad that my Mom will never get to enjoy all her grandkids and great-grandkids like she has. My Abuelita is truly blessed. She is 80 years old and has been around for us all.



After we left there I wanted to take the kids to the park but it was a pretty hot day to have the baby out so Jr suggested we stop for some subs and set up the slip n slide in the yard for the kids. So that's just what we did. We enjoyed lunch/dinner in the shade of our driveway... well all except for Arielle who decided she didn't want to eat and then did her new "fake" cry for us. Yup she developed it after Atalie was born.



This was their first time getting wet this summer so they were all excited to wear their new swimming suits and stuff.

First came Diego who thinks he has so much muscle... I swear that kid eats so much! I just don't know where it all goes...


Then Alayna with her new Bikini. She loves it!


And of course the chunky monkey... I laughed so hard when Jr put this two-piece on her... my little 97th percentile child...


And Atalie has some bathing suits which are still too big anyway but she's not ready for the whole getting wet thing. LOL She likes to sleep instead.


So they had a really fun time. Arielle wasn't too sure at first. I had to keep telling her it was okay to get in.


But once she finally got in there was no getting her out.

The Brother Turns 32!

He's getting so old!



My brother turned 32 so my sister-in-law invited a few people over for some hot dogs and hamburgers. He wasn't supposed to know about it. It wasn't anything fancy but since he was at work all day we figured we'd just all show up and have a little gathering. Well he ended up finding out anyway. LOL And he thought it was so funny. Oh well... it wasn't that big of a deal anyway... but it sure was funny.

I didn't take many pictures because my camera died. Who does that? I don't think my camera has every run out of battery on me. But thats what I get for not making sure it was charged. Oh well.

Ramon & Daddy




Happy Birthday Time!


...You belong in a zoo... you look like a Monkey... And you smell like one too!


Cracking up cuz Juanito blew out the candles before he even got a chance too.


High Five Son! Thanks for helping!


Jr wanted to be the first to give him a gift...


Happy Birthday Brother!

Anybody Out There?

So as I did my daily rounds of blog reading I realized something... there are blogs that I have followed for over a year now and some even longer than that... mostly Mommy blogs and I feel like I know these people. Some I comment maybe once in a blue moon... and some I realized I have never commented at all. So why read their blog but not comment? So I did just that... I started commenting.

And then I wondered...

I know mostly family reads my blog and I don't usually share the link unless it's on my facebook, but do you wonder if people out there read your blog and never comment? Seriously... I do. There just might be people out there that do read what I write.

So if there's anyone out there reading... COMMENT! I write this blog mostly for family and for myself but if in case you are reading... it'll be nice to know someone else is there. So comment!

And if you have a blog as well... let me know. I am always looking for new blogs to follow. Especially you Mommies out there that can relate to what I write. I'll be sure to visit you.