VOTE NOW!

Hey all! I entered Briel in another contest and I want you to please vote for her. Go HERE and vote for #623 pretty please! Love to all! Mandee

Turkey Time!

We have been singing these fun songs about a turkey in preschool and Briel just loves them and tries to do the actions. Remember, I have never professed to be a singer so don't be too mean about my off key notes!

Zaquel actually knows all the words and does his own version of the song!

Halloween 2009

Here are the kiddos before we went to the church for table treating.
Trunk-or-Treats were outlawed a few years ago by the Stake because of liability issues...


Two cuties!
I made them go out at 8:20am before we headed off for school for these photos. Isabel kept telling me "I'm freezing!" I didn't really care! I needed to get pictures and this is where we do it every year. Never mind that is snowed two days earlier!

Isabel as Fancy Nancy!
Her favorite part of the costume was the tutu, accessories, and glasses!

Superman actually sitting still and he isn't even sleeping!

Everyone before the Halloween parade at school, which didn't start on time I might add!

Here are the vampires with all their loot! The teeth were a big hit! What a fun idea!

Here is Zaquel's Halloween Bucket from preschool. I made the buckets and the parents sent the treats to help fill them up. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Zaquel with his candy bucket from preschool.

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

1st Day of School!

Becoming a BUG!

At her desk

Here with her teacher Mrs. Barbre

Off she goes!

Looking too grown-up!

With her 1st homework assignment, a Personality Plant

She wanted a picture with her siblings...how cute! Yes, I am aware that Briel is 1/2 the size of Isabel!!

Starting the day off right by eating a nutritious breakfast of Lucky Charms!

Isabel started 2nd grade today! I can't believe it! I had been looking forward to this day since about mid JUNE! A bit early I know, but some days were just not too good!

We all got Father's Blessings last night by Marcos and that seemed to help ease a little of Isabel's nervousness.

She will have a great year with Mrs. Barbre and several of her old classmates are in her new class with her.

As I left her and was home swinging on the swings with Zaquel and Briel, I couldn't help but think and feel emotional about today. A part of me longed to be there with her and feel the excitement of the 1st day of school. Isabel is always telling me,"I wish you still taught at my school! Then I could come to your classroom after school like I used to." I sometimes wish I was still teaching there too. But, life changes. I am on a new adventure with preschool in a few weeks and I know I am doing the right thing by staying home with my little ones. They are only little once and I can go and work the rest of my life! I think I deserve a little break! She will appreciate me later for this...hopefully.

Baby Contest

For those of you that remember, back in April of this year I entered Briel in a baby contes, with this photo, in the West Valley Journal. Thanks to all of those fabulous people who voted for her, she took third place! Nice!

She won a free photoshoot and 8x10 photo from Kathryn Michaels Photography. If you want to see one of the adorable pics from the shoot, click here. Enter the site and click on galleries, then babies and Briel is the first one up.

I guess this photo has edge lighting which is very difficult to do. I am so gald we could help Kathryn out with this! Anyway, I do have to say, I think Briel is just gorgeous! No bias at all right?

Well, enjoy the picture and wish us luck for the final contest in January of 2010! We are in the running for Disneyland! I do hope we win since we have never been there! No voting this time, only professional judges...a bit more intimidating but exciting none the less!

St. George 2009

Our Little Swimmers!

Us with Karla. We stayed in her place our last year of college while she was on her mission. What a blessing that was for us! She too is a vital part of our Personal St. George history.

Our stop wouldn't be complete without a visit with Dan, one of the most generous, intelleigent, kind, and dedicated men in the world. He was one of the instrumental people who helped Marcos get to Dixie College. Amazing! And yes this is Marcos's favorite shirt.

Marcos with our old boss George.

The kids on a couch in the Gardener Center where both of us worked as college students. This is where Marcos used to check-out my hot (back-then-before-kids) legs while I was working as a catering goddess.

The kids at the fountain on Dixie's Campus.
This is where Marcos and I went to our 1st dance together...sigh. It is also adjacent to the grassy area where we had lunch together and a lovely little bird decided to drop a load right on Marcos' head. The way it seeped into his spongy curls was fascinating! I don't think I have laughed so hard in my life. He was so embarrassed! You see, we were still just in the dating stages of our romantic relationship and I think his face was bright red underneath all that blackness! Love you sweetie!

Here we all are at the Brigham Young House. This was a cozy little spot for reading or a great pic! Thanks to the sister missionary who took it!

Us at the Brigham Young Home. What industrious people those Mormon settlers were! I mean dragging all that pine down from pine valley to build this house, planting a garden complete with cotton, importing a tree from France so their silkworms could have their staple diet of Mulberry leaves, and handcrafting just about everything!! One of my favorites were the almond trees in front. I am so glad I don't have a toilet like Brigham Young's. If you've never been up to his room, all he has is a ceramic canister with a lid. Nice I know. That is why I wasn't born then. I couldn't have done it!!
Why don't I have such a nice tan like my kids? Oh yea, I'm white!

Isabel basking on a rock at the park.

Okay, Zaquel was so fast going down the paths! I am so surprised that he didn't take out one of the many walkers!

There is literally a park just a stone' s throw away from the condo's backyard. We took their scooters for them to enjoy the park's paths.

She loved the water! It was fun to see her splashing around and trying to tip herself over face first in the water! So sweet!

My Guys! How cute! I was so glad my sis-in-law let us borrow the life-jacket!
Zaquel could swim and jump-in with ease! And I didn't have to worry too much about drowning with that! Nice!

Who was this amazing photographer?

This was her favorite thing to do at the pool.
What! Is that Zaquel in the hot tub? He isn't 14 so shhhh! Don't tell!

Isabel right before she jumps in!

All the kiddos by the condo door.

Swimming fun times!

We had so much fun on our little vacation! The kids loved swimming in the pool and Marcos and I loved reminising (spelling?) of our dating days/engagement/1st year of marriage that happened at Dixie. What a fabulous place with so much history, personal and community. It was so nice to stay in the same condo with my kids that I stayed in as a girl with my family. I think it's amazing how things work out and I don't believe there are any mistakes when it comes to those things. Heavenly Father has a purpose for everything and he puts us in places where we can achieve those purposes. Anyway, what a great time it was. It is so nice to look back and see how far you have come together. (Marcos and I that is) I mean after 12 years we are faring pretty well.

We were able to reconnect with some friends of ours in Cedar City and had a great time at Discovery Park with our kids. Papa and Briel on the swing. How adorable!On the Pirate Ship Isabel and Zaquel on the sweet tire swing

Mini-Vacation

Here is just a little snipit of our excellent vacation in St. George. Isabel and Zaquel had such a blast in the pool. Zaquel is sooo friendly and he tells it like it is when he is asked what his favorite part of swimming is.

SuLynn and Alena, sorry I missed you. Maybe next time! Don't hate the vacationer!

There's nothin' like talking to the ladies!!