Thanksgiving at the Montoyas

We made a trip to Arizona for Thanksgiving where we spent most of the weekend with Sarah's uncle and his family (the Montoya's). We had a wonderful time, and enjoyed some amazing food. We enjoyed wonderful 70 degree weather, we even enjoyed a fire outside with a vwonderful view of the city. The day after Thanksgiving we got to enjoy some soccer and we also made a visit to my grandparents (see the post above). In all it was a fun packed weekend. Thank you Montoya family for your hospitality!!

Bye, Bye Swensons

Our good friends the Swensons moved to Albuquerque, we had them over the night before they left town to say goodbye. Sarah made one of her signature penguin cakes for the occasion. Adrianna has enjoyed playing with their children Tyler and Ashlyn. We will certaintly miss them!

Great Grandma Belen

We visited with Adrianna and Alicia's great grandmother Belen this week. She was in town visiting Sarah's aunt and so we got to visit and introduce her to Alicia, whom she hadn't met yet. It was a nice visit and we were glad to get some pictures of the girls and their great grandmother.

Backyard Playground

We recently had our backyard redone. We never put sprinklers back there and with the drought and Mulder our grass was pretty ugly back there. It is a small yard so we decided to make it a playground for the girls and we filled the whole thing with playground mulch. Now Adrianna can enjoy her play sets and we can reclaim our deck.

A day in the life of Alicia Lynn

Alicia has got it very rough, at 5 months going on 6 months, she has a lot to do. Here is a glimpse of what a typical day in her life may entail.

• Breakfast - usually an early morning bottle between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. depending on when she chooses to wake up.
• Bath time - usually with her sister, but sometimes on her own.
• Play time - swinging, riding the roller coaster, toys, etc..
• Lunch - After a bottle mixed with Rice cereal, Alicia enjoys a variety of entertainment provided by her big sister Adrianna.
• Nap Time - Alicia sneeks a nap whenever she gets a chance. In her high chair, in the car seat, anywhere.
• Dinner & Bed Time - Yet another bottle, afterwhich Alicia enjoys a variety of mashed cuisine (yams, sweet potatoes, rice cereal, apples, pears, peaches, peas, prunes, etc.) Alicia ends her night with some relaxing time with mommy and daddy before a night of beauty sleep.

Halloween Costumes

 

 

Here are two last pictures of the girls in their Halloween Costumes, they are just so cute in them! Adrianna loves her Pooh outfit, and I must say Alicia is pretty happy as a penguin. Adrianna wore the Pooh costume to preschool on Halloween day, she said she was a scarry Pooh bear! Alicia was especially cute when she would kick and move her arms, it really looked like she was flapping her little wings. We had a wonderful Halloween, and we are now looking forward to the rest of the year and the upcoming holidays.

Dance Class

We signed up Adrianna for dance classes, she has been dancing since we got her, so this should be right up her alley. She loved dressing up in her leotard and tights. We look forward to the fun, noise, and craziness that she will enjoy.

Our Little Pumpkin

Sarah found a cute picture online of a baby in a pumpkin. We have a baby, and a pumpkin, so we decided to put the two together and take some cute pictures. Our first attempt wasn't so successful:

Maybe it was the wrong time of the day, wrong lighting, whatever; it wasn't going to work. The next day we chose to get her in the morning when she is typically at her best. With some persuasion (a bottle) and a scene we were able to capture some very cute images of our little pumpkin girl!

Click here or on the image below to link to more pictures.

Our Little Pumpkin

It's a match!

 

While on business in Cincinnati I stoped by a mall after dinner for a stroll. I couldn't resist but stop in the Children's Place store where I found the perfect set of matching outfits for Adrianna and Alicia (plum skirts, with ivory onesie tops). We tried them on this Sunday and realized that Sarah and I had clothes that went with the new outfits as well. Though we couldn't find the moment to get everyone together for a picture, Sarah did capture this one of Alicia and me.

Sushi Dinner

I was on a business trip this week in Cincinnati. Upon my return I took all my girls out to dinner for some sushi. Adrianna loves sushi, she especially loves the miso soup. It was Alicia's first time sitting in a high chair, she is becoming such a big girl. Sarah decided to have Alicia try some miso soup and, would you know, she liked it just like her sister.

Visiting Amy

After the Zoo we met up with Amy, who is going to school in Denver to become a pharmacist! We went out to PeiWei, and then we visited at her apartment. Adrianna loved meeting her hamsters. We hadn't seen Amy since she moved up to Denver from the Springs, and it was nice to catch up. It was great to see her, and we are very proud of her accomplishments toward finishing her degree.

Both girls crashed hard on the way back home, after a long day of non-stop action it would have been nice to have a car that drove itself back home, but it was well worth the fun!

Denver Zoo

October 20th, 2007

After the Halloween festival we headed up to Denver to take advantage of the Free Day. After battling traffic we made it to the zoo at 2:30 p.m., so we were able to enjoy the animals and exhibits for a few hours. I think the most fun was watching Adrianna's reaction to the animals. She especially liked the monkeys and the giraffes. Alicia was a great trooper and slept for most of the time and was happy hanging out in the stroller. The double stroller was perfect for the zoo as it allowed Adrianna stand, sit or climb up for a better view.

A whole other point of view

What do you get when you cross a 3 year old and a digital camera? A whole lot of pictures of the sidewalk and the railings. Adrianna wants to be just like her mommy, and since our point-and-shoot is available now that Sarah has her new camera, Adrianna's chance is here. At any opportunity she asks (or exclaims): "Daddy, I take picture!" Getting her to point the camera at the subject is a bit of a trick, I think she expects to look at the subject, press the button and be done. She doesn't care much about the results, but she is very serious about the task. So add photographer to the list of future occupations, that makes: (doctor (baby doctor, mommy doctor, daddy doctor), fire fire fire fighter, soccer ball, baseball, missionary, and now photographer).

Halloween Festival

We took the girls too a halloween festival at our realtor's office. They throw this party every year and it was a fun opportunity to dress the girls up in their costumes. Adrianna is the cutest Winnie the Pooh, and Alicia makes a beautiful baby penguin. Sarah and I were convicts, it worked well because holding Alicia made us jail-birds. Adrianna had fun trick-or-treating, and enjoyed riding on a horse; we even were able to get Alicia up on the sadle for a few pictures.

Dunk Tank

My work celebrated Customer Service week with several fun events each day. Tuesday (10/16/07) was beach day, and as part of our fundraising efforts the managers volunteered to get dunked in a dunk tank. Because my manager was indisposed during the first part of the week I volunteered to take his place on the plank! Sarah and the girls brought me a change of clothes and stayed to enjoy in my humiliation. Adrianna took advantage of the opportunity to throw the ball and watch her daddy splash into the water. It was a lot of fun, a bit chilly, but for a good cause it was well worth it!

Alicia enjoyed the festivities from various coworker's arms.

Adrianna eagerly attempting to dunk her father!

In I go again!

Pool Party

October 6th, 2007

Adrianna's friend Amelia celebrated her third birthday with a wonderful pool party at their local YMCA. It was Alicia's first time in the pool and she did wonderfully. Adrianna couldn't help but show off her new found skills from swimming lessons, and spent most of the pool time bobbing up and down in the water. It is great to see how she went from being very reserved in the water and wanting to be in constant contact with Mommy or Daddy, to being her usual adventurous self.

Happy Birthday Amelia! Thank you for a wonderful time!

AmeliaMommy and her GirlsDaddy and his Girls

Picture Practice

As you can imagine, in order to get used to the new camera Sarah and I have been taking pictures of everything. Luckily we have one willing subject (Alicia, who really doesn't get a choice) and one semi-willing subject. Here are some fun pictures we have as we experiment with our fun toy.

The girls questioning the sanity of their parents!


Alicia flashing a smile for mommy!



Adrianna in action (the only way to take pictures of her willingly)


Our Apple tree (Golden Delicious!)



Adrianna loves apples!


Dad, are we done with pictures yet!

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoy taking them!

Warning! Picture Overload

I got Sarah her Christmas present a little early this year! Since this is prime picture taking season (Fall, Halloween, First Snows, Thanksgiving, Christmas, More Snow, etc.), we decided to upgrade to a digital SLR camera. With Adrianna we need a camera that can keep up with her whenever she is ready. So I got her an Olympus EVOLT E-510. So far it has been wonderful, and it simplifies shooting enough for Sarah and I to learn some of the advanced features as we go. So expect a lot of pictures from these proud parents!

Visiting Baby Kai

Joseph & Baby Kai

Sarah & Baby Kai

Alicia looking at a picture of baby Kai

Judith, Kai, Adrianna & Kurt

We went by the hospital on Wednesday to see Kurt & Judith and their new baby. Both Mom & Baby look great! Thanks for letting us come by and see your baby boy!