Holiday Traveling and Family Time

Since Papa had to work, the kids and I went to my parents' on Friday morning to celebrate Christmas. We were so excited that my younger brother and sister were able to be there as well although we missed my older brother and his new wife. The kids got to have some much needed quality time with Tio C since they haven't seen him (other than through Skype) in months. 

This is what happens when we try to get a good picture with all three kids....

Tio C and Pequeño 

After a little while, we walked next door to visit Mema & Pop-Pop. The kids were so excited to get to see them and they had brought them a special photo book that we had made for them.

 Once Abuelo came home from work, we did our gift exchange with Abuelo, Abuela, Tio C, and Titi.(In the words of my mom, Mama Mia! They certainly spoil the kids (and my husband and me). In all honesty, the kids receive more from relatives than they do from Santa Claus around here.

Opening gifts

A cute lion hat for Pequeño that roars when you push a button

Little Bear got an Innotab 3 from Titi and her boyfriend

When he first opened it, he said "E likes video games so he's going to want to play this with me
and Titi likes the color orange"(The case is orange.)

Pudge and his new dinosaurs!

 The kids also loved spending time with the dogs and constantly ask us if we can get one. Not happening anytime soon, Kiddos!

On Saturday, Papa drove up and we received an amazing gift (picture to be posted later!). 

 Then we went to his mom's house to celebrate with their family as well. While we were waiting for Papa's sister Aunt J to come over, the older kids were able to open their birthday presents. 

Little Bear was really excited to get an art set and journal and began making pictures as soon as he could.

 Pudge got a cool truck which you can put together and take apart with the giant tool that comes with it. (Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it on my phone)

Pequeño spent a lot of the time playing with the dog.

 We were also able to get a picture of 4 generations!

 A little while later, we sat down to eat. Aunt J and Uncle B arrived soon after and joined in. 

Pequeño licking his face for any remnants of squash or applesauce! He loved it!

 After dinner, it was time to open gifts. The kids were so excited about everything and especially about their gift from Aunt J and Uncle B- Moose Poop and Bear Poop!  They thought that it was hilarious and wanted everyone to try some.

Pudge was tuckered out from all of the excitement and took a snooze on the couch 

 Later that night, We drove back to my parent's house and put the kids to sleep there. My mom had agreed to watch the kids for us while my siblings, Papa, and I went cosmic bowling.

Saying goodnight to Titi

Tio C sneaking food to Pudge before bed!

Once the younger kids were in bed, my mom said that she was going to let Little Bear stay up for a little while so we headed out. We decided to go cosmic bowling but weren't sure if we were going to go anywhere else afterwards. Unfortunately, there's not too much to do in the area that we're from so we didn't end up doing anything else.

Love you guys!

Although we didn't get to see all of our relatives, I'm so glad that we got to see as many as we did. Our family (Siblings, Cousins, Aunts/Uncles, Grandparents) has always been so incredibly close that it's really hard for me to have everyone so spread out now. I'm so grateful for all of the times that we get to be together and that the kids are able to have so many people in their lives who care about them so much.

Christmas!

Due to Papa's work schedule, we needed to have our family Christmas a little early. Our Christmas Eve was on Dec. 23rd. The kids were so excited knowing that Santa would be coming that it took them all a really long time to go to sleep. Pequeño ended up being removed from his shared room because he wouldn't let Pudge go to sleep. So he had to sleep in our room in his pack and play.

 In the morning, the older kids woke up extremely excited and they came into our room to wake Papa and I. Then we all brushed our teeth and got ready to go downstairs. Papa went down first so that he could plug in all of the Christmas lights and get a picture of the kids coming down the stairs.

 The first thing that the kids saw was their filled stockings which were hanging on the playroom gate.

Pequeño got a much desired Pluto which he almost tore his stocking apart to get out. He was beyond happy to have his very own Pluto and kept hugging him!

Pudge found a Jake and the Neverland pirates spinning tooth brush and lots of candy which he promptly started eating!

Little Bear was most excited about the two different types of flashlights that were in his stocking as well as a toothbrush that sings "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction while you brush.

 Then they moved on to the Christmas tree

 In front of each of our spots there were different Nerf guns. We also received a family gift of Disney Eye Found It which I can't wait to play on a family night!

Little Bear received a lot of science related items such as experiments and inventions, a spy alarm, books and a large kite.

Pudge received a furreal cat, Jake and the Neverland Pirate themed items, a large kite, and books.

Pequeño received a bike (his big present) that changes to have pedals, a puzzle, and tag along ducks.

This was Pudge's big present was a big helicopter from the Disney movie Planes which also came with a small plane.

Little Bear's big present was a briefcase. It was the only thing that he asked Santa for and was VERY excited to find that it has number locks on it to keep spying eyes out!

 Once the kids were done opening their gifts and were playing, Papa and I opened ours. Little Bear had gotten Papa a big bar of soap because he said that it looks like Army man soap.

I got him a sweater, work pants and shoes, work gloves, a few other things. 

He went above and beyond with my gifts and gave me two of my favorite candle, new Reebok sneakers, an Adidas sweatshirt (which matches most of my current workout clothes and both pairs of my sneakers now), dumbells, Olymic Rings for the basement (we'll both use these), a jump rope, resistance bands and the greatest gift....He registered me for my first half marathon which he is going to run with me!

Pequeño taking his ducks for a walk

Pudge trying out some of my weights

Happy Birthday Pudge!

Our little Pudge is 3!

Last night we decorated his door with balloons and party banners so that when he oped the door this morning he would have a balloon avalanche. The whole time that we were decorating it, Papa was saying "I hope that Pequeño doesn't wake up in the night needing something!".

 

Luckily, they slept through the night and in the morning it was a big hit. Pudge always bangs on his door when he wants to get out so as soon as we heard him, we ran to the hallway (Little Bear too) and said "Come on out buddy. You can open the door." It took a few second but he finally opened it and was so surprised when the balloons started falling around him. It was so sweet because as soon as he realized what it was, he started yelling "BaWoons!"  He decided that he wanted to bring all of the balloons downstairs so one by one he pushed them all through to the other side. We tried to convince him to run through the ribbons and told him that it's just like running through a finish line. He didn't want to ruin it and kept saying "NO, no ruin my finishline!". Then he tried to climb out without ripping any of the paper ribbons.

 

Eventually, he agreed to rip just the bottom ones and came out. Pequeño was awake and really excited at this point because he knew something was going on so we got him out of his crib and he ran to play will the balloons as well. 

 

 Downstairs, the dining room had been decorated in pirate theme since Pudge loved Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

We spent the morning at a playgroup event and brought a monster shaped cake there to celebrate. Then in the evening, we had dinner, his Jake and the Neverland Pirate cake, and he opened his presents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUDGE!

Trick or Treat!

This year the boys decide to be a ninja, a giraffe, and a scarecrow. 

(Ok, really I decided that Pequeño would be a scarecrow again because the costume still fit him from last year and I thought that it'd be a waste to spend money on a new one when he doesn't care yet.)

We walked around the development for about an hour before the kids decided that they wanted to come back inside. Little Bear told me that he wanted to go home because it was cold and they were going to have to earn their candy back anyways. (He's right. They can (and did) have a few pieces of candy tonight but the rest gets put away and they can earn it back as treats throughout the year. There was still candy left in each of their bags when we pulled them down from last year!)

Father's Day 2013

 

 This year the older kids each made their own Father's Day cards. Pudge made a picture of Daddy, Daddy's motorcycle, and Daddy's helmet.

 Little Bear made a picture of himself and Daddy and also decorated the envelope. He also wrote "To Daddy From Jorge" and had me write "Happy Father's Day".

 Once the cards were done, we made a chocolate cake and some peanut butter icing. Little Bear decided that he didn't like the icing that we made (although he later ended up eating it)so we only put it on 2/3 of it. Then the older kids each got to put rainbow sprinkles on it.

Since Pequeño wasn't able to make his own gifts this year, he gave daddy a store bought card and a dark chocolate bar with almonds.