Christmas already?

It's hard to believe it's already Christmas...again. How does the time fly by so fast? At least this year, we are back together as a family. It's amazing how, with each year, traditions and celebrations become more meaningful as the children grow and have a greater understanding of what goes on around them. The boys are more aware of Santa, as they are to the REAL REASON we celebrate Christmas. We purchased our tree through our church and brought it home one Sunday. When we got the box of decorations down, Nefty and Sol couldn't wait to get started with hanging the ornaments. It sure was sweet! Now that the house is ready for Santa, Solomon tells me he wants Santa to come. And of course, like any parent would, we remind him that Santa will only come if he obeys mommy and daddy and plays nice with his brothers. :) Only 12 days to go!

Wouldn't this make a great Swagger Wagon commercial?

Hanging the ornaments with great care

Trying to untangle the lights

What a team!

The finished product! Wow... and check out those 5 stockings on the mantel!
We are so blessed!

Standing

Yes, it was just yesterday that I posted about Liam's improved crawling skills. So you can imagine my surprise when I came home from work to see him crawl over to his exersaucer and pull himself to a modified standing position! He is growing up so fast - and working so hard to keep up with his big brothers! I'm pretty sure he'll be walking by Christmas. Oh, and like his brothers, he loves food! We've been adding solids little by little, and he can't get enough! He'll scream if you don't keep it coming. He's even getting his lateral incisors already - before the centrals! He can't wait to eat that Christmas prime rib!

Three teeth (and 3 more coming in)... practically standing... and only 8 months old...

New look

As I enter another year of life, I enjoyed an evening home with my boys (big and small!) after a very hectic day at work. I even was given my special request of a chocolate cake from Costco bakery (if you've had it, you know what I'm talking about!). Yum! It's hard to believe that I'm well into my 30s now. Oh, how time flies. And thanks to my grandma, I was also able to treat myself to an afternoon at the salon for a new look. I already feel a few years younger! :)

It's a layered bob (I think). Bless my new stylist, Sarah.
She did a great job, and straightened it for me too (which I'll probably
never do myself with 3 boys!)

The back is pretty short...but it really lets my wave
do it's think without being unruly.

What a blessed woman I am! My hubby surprised me
with a birthday note on our bathroom mirror and "Las mananitas"
(the birthday song in South/Central America) early in the morning. He even spoiled me
with chocolate cake and a glass of red wine. What more could a girl want?

Crawling... then and now

Here was the early crawl, which looked more like an inchworm creeping along the floor.


This is Liam crawling now, like a real pro on all fours!

Painting Fun

One of the many things that Emilio has done with the kiddos while I've been working is some fun art. Awhile back, we got a free dresser off of craigslist, and though it was a big disappointment as a dresser (I guess that's what you get when you go check out something for free!), Emilio started to demolish it with ideas of creating a bookshelf out of it. Instead, one of the pieces of wood from the back of the unit became a canvas upon which Neftali and Solomon would unleash their creativity. After several days of painting, the finished product is a beautiful mural that is now hanging above our living room couch!