Happy Birthday Raulito!

Raulito (jr) turned 2 on June 26th! We had a fun party for him up at Timpanogos Park in Provo Canyon. It's a really nice park and we were really lucky to get a pavillion. The weather was great and we had a fun group of friends and family that came to celebrate with us. Let's see, at 2 years old, Raulito LOVES CARS!!! and he doesn't like sharing them with his sister...He is learning how to speak pretty well and will repeat just about anything you say. He is not too picky about food so far. Most days he wakes me up and wants his hot chocolate...Thanks Daddy...He loves to go to nursery and playing outside or in the water. He's pretty careful and doesn't fall down too often, but he's adventurous as well. He wants to do anything Rakel can do...He is definately a Mommy's boy. We love him and feel so priviledged to have his sweet spirit in our home! Here's a few pictures from his Photo Session at Kiddie Kandids (he DOESN'T like getting professional pictures taken...but we got a couple of smiles) and from his party.

The girls decided they were going to play tricks on the adults by taking the croquet hoops...haha

Most of the goup...(some had already left) My mom and dad, Sister Shanise, Grandma, and my aunt and uncle, And our little group of friends!

Water balloon anyone?

Raul and Shanise...He is like a big brother to her.

Raulito's Train Cake We converted his crib into a toddler bed, but we haven't ever bought rails for it...He didn't seem to mind. We never heard him cry when he fell out of bed...but the first week or so we found him like this...Poor thing. Oh, his bed is to the right of the photo...

Seeing Stars!

Here are a couple of videos of the kids' musical ability. ;-)

Random fun pictures!

There really is no method to my madness today...I wanted to get some recent pictures up. We have been having fun at Seven Peaks Water Park lately. We bought the season pass and the kids really have been enjoying it. We have gotten Rakel to go on some of the tube rides with us...Under some protest, but she ended up liking it. This week the weather hasn't cooperated, however. Also this week Rakel had her last day of preschool. She was sad to leave and I don't think that it has really sunk in for her, but she really did have a good year! Enjoy the pictures! Not sure exaclty what he's thinking in this one, but he really did enjoy playing outside at Rakel's school. Rakel with the only other girl in her class, Michelle.

He makes a cute little clown!

Putting on her makeup...

Rakel's teachers: Miss Gil and Miss Patty

Raulito's favorite part of Rakel's school. He pointed it out every day...

He really was sleeping like this!

Daddy did her hair! Not bad!

We went to the Bean Museum, and Rakel thought she would make a better photographer than me...

Good News!

I have a ton to write, but I wanted to share this for now, and I'll write the rest later and post pics. I just wanted to let everyone know that my mother-in-law finally had her interview at the US Embassy in Colombia and they gave her a visa!!! That means that in less than six months she will come and live with us! We are so excited...It's been something we have been planning on since we got married!

Haircut

Well, it's about time, I guess, Raulito needed a haircut. I was procrastinating so much because I love his long hair. And it's a little curly in the back, so that was really hard to let go. But, Raul decided that it was time, so I let him do it. And, to my surprise, he's even cuter than before we cut his hair!!! I can't get over it. He looks so grown up. My baby is not a baby anymore! Here's the pics!

BEFORE:

DURING: AFTER:

Idaho trip

We went to Idaho last week after classes were over so that we could have some "family time" and get away from life for a few days. While we were there we visited Shoshone Falls. They call it the "Niagra of the West." It really was spectacular. I have been there before, but there has rarely been this much water going over the falls. Raulito just kept looking and saying "Agua, Agua, Agua." Rakel liked the rainbows too. We did a little bit of hiking around, which was fun. Rakel is very independent and wanted to go on her own, and of course Raulito wants to do everything his big sister does, so it was an adventure. To give you some perspective, this is the same falls 6 years ago, after we were married. BTW, don't pay much attention to us in this picture...Not much sleep after a wedding...And here's the falls now!

We also got to spend some time just being together. My brother and sisters were around, so it was kind of like a mini family reunion. No pictures of us all together, though, no one thought they were looking good enough for a picture...

With a free babysitter, we got to go to the Twin Falls Temple. It was Raulito's first time there, because he was in California last summer when they did the open house. We had a great time.

Me and my sister Monica.

In other family news, it's been a hard week for the extended family. My grandma's husband (she remarried after grandpa died) died this week. He comitted suicide. Yeah, I never thought it would happen in our family... It's not really clear what pushed him over the edge, but I think it had to do with a lot of changes with grandma's health (she has lung cancer) and decisions being made quickly without much imput from him. It was really unexpected and it is has been really hard on grandma. I am just glad for the knowledge that I have that I was sealed to my family in the temple for eternity, and that if something were to happen, I would still get to be with them after this life. I am grateful for all the prayers and thoughts in our behalf. Thank you....

6 Years and Counting

Hi Everyone. I hadn't realized that it has been a month since my last post...But better late than never! Today is our 6 year anniversary!!! Yep, 6 years and 2 kids. It has really been great. Raul and I were talking last night and noticed that the biggest things in our life we have shared together (getting married, becoming parents, graduation, etc.). If you're wondering what we did to celebrate....we haven't yet. We both worked today, so as of now we have seen each other for a total of about 2 hours today...But he did bring me a dozen red roses to work! He can be romantic! And it gave me a chance to show off a little at work. Here's some pics from the past few weeks. Enjoy!

Us on our wedding day!!!

Rakel and Raulito with their balloons. There was a balloon artist at our Head Start Parent meeting this month. I tried to convince Rakel to get a butterfly or a flower or something, but no, she wanted a sword...

Easter dinner. Both kids loved the ham. Can you tell?

They're always cuter when the're asleep!