New Year's Eve

Tonight we went to Sean's house for our gathering.  We had french toast, eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and sausage.  After dinner we did chin puppets. The kids had SO much fun doing it.  Then all the adults got a turn too.  I hadn't done chin puppets since I was in college.  It brought back so many fun memories for Holly and I.
After the puppets, it was time to break the balloons already.....according to eastern time zone that is....  The kids, Quique and Dave blew balloons up while the rest of us were cooking (yes me stuck outside).
After the balloons we did the pinata.  We took the horse one from Isabel's b-day party.  It was only missing one leg and it's bum.  So we duct tape the holes and used it.  It was very fragile but all the kids got to hit it with candy falling out.  Only because Gaby kept giving the candy back to Quique to put back in.  It was pretty funny.  Erika made two paper ma-she balloons too and we did those like a hot potato.  The kids did one and the adults did one.  All 12 kids were still up with hardly any meltdowns.  We all ended up leaving around 11:30.  We got home and Lili and Mateo were out.  Isabel and Gaby went straight to bed too.  Quique and I stayed up for a bit to make it to midnight and went to bed shortly after.  Lots of fun to end the year!
(We videoed most everything and that is why there are hardly any photos of most of the evening.)

10th Anniversary

Today is our 10th Anniversary.  We tried to make it nice and fun.  The kids talked me in to going down to surprise Papi at work.  So we did.  However, everything we tried to do for him and get him bombed.  I couldn't find balloons or flowers or pastries or anything.  The kids run into Papi's office and tell him "Happy Anniversary" really loud.  We are there about 10 minutes and then leave.  I felt so silly even going.
We got home got the house ready and started making dinner.  Quique requested chicken roll, why I don't know but he did and that's what he got.  The kids were so excited.  We were planning on doing a candle light dinner.  However, I ran to the store and was gone not even 15 minutes.  I get home and Quique had already been home and had all the candles in place and on.  The house was dark, except the candles and I went into my room where he probably would have been changing and there are roses, candles and a gift on the bed waiting for me.  Then I do a 'coo coo' sound (we do to find someone) and Mateo does it right back to me from the floor on the other side of my bed.  It was hilarious.  So I was surprised and it was lovely.
Dinner was fun with the candles and just nice being our little family.
Thanks Love for the past 10 years.  They've been wonderful.  I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Lili & her Papi

I guess Lili feels like she has not been getting enough Papi time for some reason.  Because any time he is home she is laying on him, climbing on him, sniffing him, smiling at him in his face, hugging him, kissing him.......on and on it goes.  She loves her Papi that is for sure!

Shooting Range

Gaby and Isabel got to go to the shooting range today.  Isabel goes every time but doesn't shoot.  However 2 weeks ago she got to go with Papi by her self and got to shoot for the first time.  So today she got to shoot again.  They loved it.  They really enjoy it.  Isabel has saved her money and bought her own ear muffs & goggles.

Mateo Feeding Isabel

Mateo was feeding Isabel her 'lellow soup' tonight.  He loved it  and was so proud of himself.  He has really been stuck to Isabel the past few weeks.  She liked it too, as you can see.

BYU

Mateo got this BYU warm up suite so he can match Papi.  He LOVES it.  He took so many photos and was posing for me.  It was so funny.  Here are some great shots.

Christmas Day

The little kids were just barely waking up when the big kids came up stairs, running into our room saying, 'santa came, santa came and there are lots of presents.'  So they all were out looking at the tree and presents.  We slowly came out took some photos before they dove in.  Then they opened all their gifts and played with what they all got for the entire morning and early afternoon. 
We went to Sean and Erika's house for the evening and to have dinner.  It was nice.  Dave and Holly came and we all exchanged cousin gifts and adult gifts, played a game and the kids played.  Then it was time to come home and go to bed.  It was a wonderful day, nice and relaxing and laid back.

Christmas Eve

We rotate homes for Christmas Eve and tonight we went to Betty & Gil's house (Holly's parents).  It was a really nice evening.  We ate dinner, the kids decorated gingerbread men and sugar cookies.  We watched a portion of a devotional from the Conference Center.  Got all the kids ready in their Nativity costumes and they re-enacted the Nativity while Gil read it from the scriptures.  It was a really nice evening.  We came home and the kids got ready for bed and had a nice talk and prayer with the kids before they went to bed.  It was such a lovely day today.  I think we truly encompassed the meaning of Christmas.

Women's Domestic Violence Center

This year we chose to donate items to the Women's Domestic Violence Center here in Kaysville.   We were collecting things over the past few weeks so that each one of the kids had a full bag to give.  We went in and told them that we had donations for them, from the list they give out.  We put them by the receptionist desk and then Gaby wanted to donate some of her own money too.  So the receptionist was very sweet to Gaby and then handed her a receipt.  There was a woman in the lobby waiting to be seen and once Gaby gave the receptionist the money, this woman was really touched and it was yet another tender mercy moment.  I am grateful for my family and hope they will remember these moments and lessons we are trying to instill in them.