So Much Easier!

My New Do!!!

Nǐ Hǎo

My sister and cousin just returned from Hong Kong, which we means we just recieved a box full of chinese goodies. :) Thanks Auntie Angie! The girls were so excited! :)
(And me...I got a book mark with my name written in Chinese symbols!)

Here are some pics of our prized goodies. :)

Chopsticks from Cousin Alina




Chinese House Slippers for the girls....too cute!


Chinese Candy (& Hello Kitty Barrettes)


Hello Kitty...of course!



The girls eating with their chopsticks today! :)



Thanks Auntie Angie and Alina...we are glad you are home same and had a super fun trip! :)

Ryder Crawling

Ryder just decided he is tired of "centipeding" around, so he put one knee in front of the other and viola! He crawls. :) Just like that! What a big boy...now if he can just crawl fast enough to escape his sisters....



(nevermind the rug burn on his nose...yes...another story!)

Halle's 6th Birthday

Today my Halle is 6! I cant believe how fast time goes. It seems like yesterday we lived out in the ranches and had only one child. (OK, maybe not yesterday....) but it was VERY cold that year (2004) and my mom came to stay with Jayda while we went to the hospital to deliver Halle. Halle was born around 1pm, and who would have known she would end up with curly hair. Right when she was born I could tell she would look like me. She was the only one born that looked "cuban" from the get go. :) She was so dark headed. So cute! While we were at the hospital, Nana was back at the house teaching Jayda about Barney and Teletubbies! :) It does seem like a long time ago. I guess it is more sad than "like yesterday" that time goes so fast and there you are...she is 6 and in Kindergarten all day....now I cant get her back...she'll be in school the rest of her life! :(

Halle is such a sweet little girl. She is very sensitive and emotional. Especially when it comes to family. She hates for us to be separated and wants us to be all together all the time. She is very soft spoken and will attach easily to anyone who gives her more than 2 seconds of attention. She is just like me! I love her so much!

We had a great birthday for her. She woke up to the house decorated in her "Hannah Montana" decorations. She requested a HM party...which is Super easy. :) We used plates to decorate (the round ones have hole...like a CD) for those who are wondering! :) She took goodies to school for her class...which was fun. She had to share her day with a lot of "other things"..because not only is it Ground Hog's Day, but it was also the "100th" day of school on her birthday! So she probably got to do a lot more fun things at school than usual. She gets home from school at 4:30, so her party was at 5:30. We invited Taryn (my sister's bff) and her 3 kids (Olivia, Will, & Michael) and my friends Jamie & Greg with their 3 kids (Savannah, Kylie, McKay). With those kids, plus ours we had 9 kids.....you can imagine why I didn't invite anyone else. :) Grandma and Grandpa Cluff couldn't come, and Nana was going jet over (3 hrs :) and surprise us, but had been having car troubles! Grandpa (Martinez) came over later. We ate homemade pizza, played Hannah Montana Bingo, opened presents, then had some yummy Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake with Ice Cream. (Her request). We had a fun day. We, of course, missed all the usual family that come to our parties, but I think Halle still enjoyed her birthday.

She got some fun stuff. Grandma & Grandpa Cluff and Nana sent money (for which she bought an electronic puppy and a gumball machine.) Grandpa and Laura (clothes), Auntie Angie (microphone charm), Alina (peace charm), Taryn & company (Fancy Nancy book, Pitureka game),Jamie (jewelry kit), Mom & dad (clothes, Caboodle with gum, tic tacs, makeup, brush, fingernail polish, lip gloss).

Thanks to everyone who sent her presents and celebrated with us. (And who called at 7am!!!! (Auntie Angie and Pam) It was a special day. :)

I love you Halle Bug!

Our Day

Since the house has lots of space and plenty of tile....the girls have a good ole time riding around on there little bikes all over the house...this is what we do all day. Yes...sit in our pjs til oh, 12 or 1, then maybe get dressed...and then...make a treat. :)





Ryder content to watch
Here we are making homemade granola bars. Yum!






Granola Bar Basic Recipe

2 cups oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup of honey
add as desired: dried fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, etc.

Mix all together, press into 11 x 13 pan (greased) Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Cool completely, then cut into strips.

Ryder

Well, he is getting so big. 8 months now...and I am so sad...where has the time gone? He is such a good boy and really wants to crawl. But he isnt too worried, he still gets where he is going. He sits so well and starts to crawl, but ends ups centipeding across the floor to where he wants! He gets want he wants too! Although he isnt crawling, he can push himself back up to sit and just slides everywhere he wants! He will be crawling soon no doubt. (We arent in a hurry!)


what a big..super cute little boy! :)




He also has been saying "bubba" for awhile now....he says "mama" too, but usually when he is crying...go figure. :) He says "bubba" all the time...guess he hears the girls calling him that non stop! :)

Our New Casa

Well, we moved this weekend..yikes. Thank goodness for family and friends! Whew! We have sooooo many things! Friday, we moved all our stuff out of the garage and moved it over to the house. Saturday morning, we had people from church come help. We got it all over there in a couple of hours....and still had to move Laura (my dad's wife) over to the house we came from. We had so much help though, it was sooooo nice and appreciated. Even my visiting teachers brought us food both Sat and Sun. On Sat, one of my visiting teachers brought sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and veggies for everyone who helped. Then Sunday, my other visiting teacher brought us dinner. It was so nice and helpful! That is the way to move!

So now we are here, mostly unpacked. We put a bunch of our boxes we aren't unpacking into one room, so that room is FULL! We are hoping to move closer to wherever Nelson will work when school is out....so unfortunately we will move again after May.

The girls are sharing a room, Ryder is in his own room/ toy room, and we have a really big room also. Our table is too big to fit in the kitchen area, so it is in the front room, which works out well anyways.

Anyhow, it is an adjustment, but works out the best for the girls to stay in the same school and us to stay in our ward. In a few months or so, Nelson will know where is will be working for awhile, and then will know the best area to settle down!

We are so thankful for all who helped in so many ways! (And those who were here in spirit and not body. :)
Here are a few pics of the "almost" finished product.

A Week of Happenings....

Within the past week, we havent done too much, but try to fill the time, since Nelson is gone to Utah. We went to the Mall, where Ryder experienced his first carousel ride...and he LOVED it...you can just tell by the look on his cute face!!!


Then Jayda lost a couple of things at school...within a few days of each other!!!
She is keeping the tooth fairy busy!!!