new layout

Well I made a layout with the pictures from the trip to the zoo right before school started. So here they are:

I also made this week two diff versions of a senior salute for the yearbook for a friends daughter using some of the pictures I took at her senior shoot:

The one above is the one they are using with some minor changes.

Benjamin's Haircut

On Wednesday we started out to get Benjamin a haircut. He really didn't want one but then I convinced him that he would get a Diego haircut and a Vanilla Frapuccino. So of we went. He did great and after we came home he wanted some pictures with Diego so here they are. I think he looks awfully cute. These are Straight out of the camera!

And since I am posting my latest pictures of Benjamin I thought I would tell you a little about this big boy. I think his teacher at MDO last year described him best in the letter she gave him at the end of the year so here it is in her words:

"What a sweet boy you are! You amaze Jill and I with your ENERGY! :) You have been such a blessing to have in class and we will miss your smiling face."

Definitely a sweet boy and definitely energetic and always a smile on his face. That is Benjamin at 3. He talks all day long but sometimes it is hard to understand him although every day gets better. He has a huge imagination and definitely uses it when he wants something. Today I was drinking some Dr Pepper (which he loves) and he had come and asked me for some and I said no. About 2 minutes later he came and said, "Mama, I need some of that for my hiccups." There were no hiccups but his creativity (and persistence) got him a sip. Afterwards one of his new Diego figurines came in with hiccups and had a pretend sip after which Benjamin needed another sip.

He is also definitely ALL BOY. To give you an idea how much here are some stories from this last week: This past week he has surprised me by beginning to wipe away his kisses. I thought I still had about a year before this happened but last week as we were snuggling in bed one morning I gave him a kiss. Immediately he turned to me and said "What did you do that for?" and proceeded to wipe it off. So much for kisses!

Last Wednesday when we were driving home from church Adreana asked him what he was eating... His answer "A moco, It's yummy." Translation of Moco: Nose discharge. I immediately turned around and told him not to eat his mocos that they were yucky. He looked at me stearnly and said no they are Yummy. So there you go I have a snot eating boy.

Then Saturday as I was running out of clean plates I gave him one of Adreana's pink ones. He would not eat off of it. He kept telling me I don't like pink. Where he got the idea that he can't use pink is beyond me. This all said he loves to play with Adreana's Barbie's.

Diego is still his favorite show to watch. He still calls himself Diego and most of his playtime consists of rescuing animals. Sometimes he even makes time to rescue me with a belt for a rope. He also loves cars and trucks and planes. His favorite are these cheap plastic airplanes and helicopter from Wal-mart. The only problem is he must have someone drive it. This is where the Barbie babies and other small dolls come into play. He has also decided counting bears are perfect for his tractors.

I hope this gives those of you not near us an idea of who Benjamin is. I know a couple of years from now this post will definitely make me smile.

We have been making layouts

I haven't had time to scrapbook lately but last week Adreana and I each got a layout done. Here they are:



Adreana's: can you tell we had party on our minds these past couple of weeks. I love her balloons. It is so fun that she enjoys this as much as I do...





Mine... Using an Alicia picture from their pictures this week. Nothing like fresh pictures for inspiration. It is for a challenge to use Laugh in the title. I found this quote and loved it.

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Benjamin's Birthday Party

We had Benjamin Birthday Party this past Saturday and boy did we have fun. We had a total of 12 kids but 4 of them were late so it didn't feel sooo crowded.

So here is what happened. Like I had mentioned before (I think) Party America had a sale so we got tons of Diego stuff for it. We had balloons and a HUGE Diego and Dora wall cling.

The Diego Balloon.

More Diego Cupcakes and a rasberry filled cake for the adults.

Everything was Diego, the hats, the cups even the napkin holders were printed out Diego.

We also printed some watches at nickjr.com and Granpa Dave helped me hide some plastic animals to be "rescued". When the kids walked in (and after we got Benjamin all dressed up like Diego), we gave them each some binoculars and a paper watch that had an animal name behind it that needed "rescuing". Off they went in search of their animal. We told them they were hidden but they all wanted to find them with the binoculars which did not make for an easy task so Grandpa Dave had to hand out clues for them to find. After they did that we were ready for the next game but I had misplaced them so we colored some Diego placemats instead.

Benjamin holding his Diego watch. This was the most succesful activity. The kids loved the binoculars and the watches and the hunt.

Adreana coloring her placemat.

When I finally found out "pin the badge on Diego" game we were all set to go. We used a blindfold and the first one was our birthday boy. So here is the story: I put the blindfold on help him walk to the Diego and he proceeds to take of the blindfold and place the badge on Diego. We decided it was fair play since he was the birthday boy!

Benjamin taking off his blindfold.

After that we headed out to the garage to hit the piñata. I wasn't able to get Benjamin to pose with Diego since he was so eager to hit him. As usual the pinata was a big hit and so was the candy inside.

A hug instead of a pose.
Swinging away.

After the pinata it was obviously time for cake. Jorge turned on the candles and before we could sing Benjamin blew them out so we had to start again. The second time he did wait for the song.

The second time I was ready with the camera but he still did it so fast I got a blurry one.

Then it was off to open presents. He got tons of great toys that he is loving. Here is a picture of what Abuela Ruth and Abuelo Leon got him (she doesn't know what she got him so I thought a picture would help). He got tons of Diego toys as can be imagined but the praise is that none of them were repeats! How cool is that! Nothing to go exchange!

The gift from abuela Ruth was a hit!

We also gave out balloon animals but unfortunately this mom and dad could only make doggies and swords. I undoubedtly got asked for cats and fish and everything else but I had to always conclude with... do you want a dog or a sword? All of them wanted dogs. I am going to have to google and learn something new for the next party. Oh, Jorge figured out how to make a leash for Ada's dog and a flower for Jordyn and Alex. Maybe I should just let him google...

And that was the end of our busy busy day. I think Benjamin had a blast and I had a blast watching him have a blast. This is the first year he realizes all this excitement is all for him! And he sure did get a kick of having a birthday. Sunday morning he slept in with Daddy while Adreana and I went to church.

Adreana decided she wanted to spend the night in the tent. Benjamin had said he wanted to but last minute he changed his mind.

3 yr old shoot

I have been having trouble getting Benjamin to take pictures but this time I had a wonderful idea. I dressed him up like Diego (to the boots) and he was all for pretending and taking pictures. Ok so in most of them he is looking through his "binoculars" for animals in trouble but this year atleast I got a few that are awesome.

And to remind you of our 2 yr old shoot. Here is the only one I got:

And PRESENTING OUR 3 YEAR OLD! Benjamin aka: Diego...

Al rescate amigos

Hello, I am Diego

And of course a picture of Diego's sister, Alicia.

Benjamin is 3!

My baby boy is more like a big boy now. He is 3 and on his Birthday, as per our tradition, he gets to pick what he wants to do. So what did we do:
1. Got woken up with "las mañanitas" and a Diego puzzle.
2. We watched TV. Diego of course.
2. We had lunch at Wendy's.


3. We went to target and got a toy from their dollar bin and spent about an hour looking at Toys.
4. We bought a nilla (Vanilla Bean Frapuccino) to take home.
Overall a great day. To make his day even better... Grandma Nay and Granpa Dave came to pick them up around 5 to take them to play and eat and have fun. He was beat at the end of the day and was smiling. What a great day to turn 3 and be celebrated! Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Saturday fun

This past Saturday we went to the annual picnic sponsered by Jorge's work. Adreana had been asking all summer when we would get back. Last year she loved it. I don't know how many of you remember the layout with both kids going down the huge inflatable slide.

As usual for credits please go to My gallery

Well like last year it was blistering HOT! This year we were smarter and went earlier so we lasted longer and got to see everything they had. We had a great lunch of chilli, hot dogs, burgers and chips, but my favorite was the corn. Here are some pictures:

Something scary. When we were getting the food I turned around to ask Adreana and she was completely white. Her lips had NO color and she looked like she was ready to pass out. She was way over heated and hadn't had much breakfast and it was late so I think it was a combination of both. We managed to get lots of liquid in her and some food. We also wrapped her head and neck in those "hugs" that you hidrate and cool you down. She started looking better pretty quick but it still startled me. From now on I am making sure my kids get plenty of liquid when we are outside.

FELICIDADES Maria Jose

Maria Jose, my niece is 1 yr old! We prayed so much for her arrival that on her birthday I can't help but thank God for her life and be reminded of HIS wonderful provisions and loving care. Her mom asked me to make a thank you card for those who showed up to her party on Sunday but I forgot till Saturday night but somehow still managed to get a couple of cards ready for her to see last minute. Thanks mom for offering to print them! I think in my head I had to finish Benjamin and her things for the same weekend but low and behold I was wrong! Here is my favorite of the two. Mostly cause who can resist that beautiful face...

My brother, Manolo (Maria Jose's dad) also got a year older but I didn't make him a card! That is what you get when you share a birthday just 1 day away from the next generation. I kept telling him that but he wouldn't listen... He actually wanted my nephew to be born on my birthday but I got lucky. Manolo jr's bday is a whole 5 days before enough time to replan and refocus... I also moved away to be celebrated but Manolo just gets a little cake... and I say be thankful you got one... who knows a couple of years from now you probably won't get one... So like I said in the beginning FELICIDADES MARIA JOSE!

Manolo you know I am just kidding... I am thankful to God for such a wonderful brother! You are truly an inspiration for me and have always been someone to look up to. I also rest easy at night knowing you are close to my parents. You have always been the first one I call when I need help and I am so thankful that you have always been ready to help - like the time you walked me over to Tia Tete's, or the time you dropped of the keys for the car when I got locked out at Monica's or the time that you rushed over to the house when I ran over the main water hose with my car... and the many more other times you were there to help... So anyway FELICIDADES MANOLO! Hope you had a wonderful day and really did get celebrated!

Celebrating Benjamin

Benjamin is almost 3 and the celebrations have already begun! We took cupcakes to school and he was so happy that he everyone sung happy Birthday.

Something cute... He covered his face and I captured his smile while we sang. He really did love it. After we finished singing he looked at me and said "Thanks mama". How sweet was that!


And if you know me you must know that I can't just make plain old cupcakes so what did we have: DIEGO CUPCAKES with chocolate hair which the kids (and teachers especially!) loved.

It was also Adreana's last day in Mother's Day Out. It was just a gentle reminder that my kids are growing up and I have to keep hopping to enjoy these years with them. Anyway since I am feeling a little awed by how big she is here is a picture of her as a baby. She was definitely a cutie and adorable!!

Adreana 6 mo. old

And finally here are the gifts I made for their teacher for end of the year gift. I think they turned out super cute.

I should have edited this picture before posting but who has the time! Anyway they are 1$ pails from Target filled with chocolate a gift cards and some cute tags I made using my cuttlebug! They were painted chipboard that I later covered with patterned paper.
For Benjamin's teachers I also made a cute accordian album. It is so fast and easy to make but is so cute. I had hoped to take a picture of Benjamin dressed as Diego but never got around to it.