Our big boy won the spelling bee for 1st grade (along with one other classmate) and will participate in a district spelling bee at the end of February. We are so happy for him and he is absolutely thrilled!

Pre-lunch playdoh play with Tia Ale and Tio Benoit!

Date night last week...cozy and delicious!

We called Ruth up at 11 and asked if we could come over for lunch and her answer was YES!!  We had a delightful time!!

He loves the Lincoln logs Mima sent him for his bday!

A fun Salvadoran feast with family last night!

He requested a picture. Precious boy!

Finished product!

Helping to frost his carrot cake!  We're all excited for the big day tomorrow!

Morning water play while I grays carrots for Diego's birthday cake!

A favorite snack around here is popcorn drizzled with melted butter and melted chocolate chips.  This was our 2nd bowl!  I just put the chocolate chips in the bottom of the bowl and when the warm popcorn covers them, they melt and it becomes a deliciously gooey mess.

A, M and I took a treat to Diego at lunch time today to celebrate his birthday which is on Saturday.  It was so fun to be there!  The whole lunch room sang happy birthday to him and he was quite pleased and embarrassed!
The above pic is 1st grade students enjoying lunch.

Marco enjoyed being next to his big bro!

The chocolate chip cookie cake, per his request!

Can you guess what the word says below Alexia???
She sounded out Happy Birthday and that's what she came up with.  I thought it was so clever!

Diego, "I do not like having songs stuck in my head.  I like to think and the music interrupts my thoughts."
Alexia, "Why would he like to think?!?"

He was supposed to be helping me with laundry, but got distracted by a book and insisted on putting this shirt over his janmies.  Silly boy!

Alexia was in a butterfly drawing mood this evening!  How precious are these creatures!  

We just returned from a super fun playdate with one of Alexia's classmates, Meira and her little brother, Amos.  Susan and I had a great time talking and watching the "shows" the kids put on for us!

And on to ice cream!

Ricardo and Diego went out for a special dinner together to Farm Burger.  He just texted me this picture.  Sweetness!

Post-hike coffee break at a coffeehouse on a hill!

On our way to sushi lunch and hiking!

Dinomarco!

We just returned from a very special afternoon/evening with the Graham's.  Between travels and sickness, it had been over a month since we'd been together.  
The 5 big kids sat at this table all by themselves and the adults and baby Peter sat in the living room for dinner.
All of the kids played together so well and had a wonderful time!  Alexia and Oliver spent a lot of the evening holding hands. 

All the fun wore our girl out!

We had plans to have a play date at Ruth's house yesterday but Diego woke up feverish and nauseous so he stayed home from school.  Alexia was the only lucky duck who was able to continue with the plan.  I dropped her off at Ruth's at 11 and picked her up at 4. She had the best time ever!  Of course she enjoyed loving on baby Leanna!

My very own taste of heaven!  After kids went to bed last night we watched a season 2 episode of Downton Abbey.  R's flavor of choice was coffee.

Marco loves to sit on the bathroom counter while Ricardo gets ready...and swipes his breakfast.  This morning Marco showered with Ricardo and loved hanging out in his towel :)

Bro and sis are in bed, but lil M got to stay up to try the wild rice & veggie soup I made.  Thrilled he loved it!  

I've just realized I can now text pictures/texts to the blog from my phone so I just sent a few recents from my phone.
So grateful.
Grandpa and Tio D...we're back!!!!

Flashback to 2010!

Flashback to 2010!!

Self portrait.  How beautiful is that face?!
Our darling had the flu last week and was so miserable so we're very grateful to have our healthy girl back!

The boy loves his pasta...why bother with a fork?!

Yesterday was a cranky day for me so I surprised the kids and made home made scones while they were playing.  The tea and scones lifted my spirits and provided a fun treat for the kids.  We had them with freshly whipped cream and jam...DELISH!

Yesterday I let Diego stay up an hour late to read quietly in my bed.  He's reading Farmer Boy and loves it.  He is an incredible reader and it 
makes my heart happy!

Wow oh wow!!!  This amazing!  I decided to do a random test to see if it would work...and it did!  
So excited to be able to post daily pictures!
This picture was this afternoon.  An attempt at storytime in the tent...but they didn't last long.

Test

December

December was a whirlwind of a month!  I can't even remember all we did before our trip, but I know it was busy...and good.

Two days before we departed for El Salvador we hosted Ricardo's work team for a Christmas dinner.  Yes...two days before departure!  My friends thought I was crazy, but I was excited to bless my hubby and serve him by serving his team.  I cooked a full turkey dinner and we had a really special evening.  We let the kids stay up the whole time and they were a delight to have around...for which we were very thankful!

 Marco thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate desserts!

We did a secret white elephant gift exchange which was so much fun!

This little guy was quite pleased to stay up late and join the party!

OK, the slumber party is over :)
Just a quick check in to say HELLO and I will be back to writing soon.  I have a ton of pictures to share and stories to tell.
We had an amazing 12 day vacation in El Salvador over Christmas break and I can't wait to share pictures and tales from it.
Ricardo just drove in with sushi for date night so must run, but will be back soon! :)