First day of Spring Break 2012

Before Spring Break started, I had planned what days I was going to do what and with who. So the first day was with the Ortiz cousin's, my brother's kids. So they came over and we just hung out. We ate, they played, watched "Puss in Boots" (and that's why they are all calmed in this picture), they played outtside some, we ate more, me and Susannah chatted, etc... We had a very good time!!

Here is Rebekah...

Here is Levi... (does he look like my brother or what?!)

And here is Caroline!

The picture doesn't do the justice, but her eyes as as beautiful as Rebekah's!

Off to the rodeo!

Here is Weston and Noah ready to go to the annual Houston rodeo with Grandma and Grandpa Parker. It will be Noah's 1st year to go, since he doesn't wear pull-ups anymore. That's the rule...you go when you are potty trained! Also, we added another "rule"... That you have to sleep in your own bed and not come to mommy and dady's bed anymore. So 2 weeks before the rodeo, we started that with Noah. We knew it would be a lot of little-sleep nights. And it was, but Noah got used to staying in his bed or at least their room all night! Yey!!!

Anyway, here they are all excited. They counted the days until today! And Noah was very excited to have cowboy boots and wear them with his jeans.

They had a lot of fun at the rodeo! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.



Volunteer at hospital

Some of you already know and some of you might not. I have been continuing my education, and last semester I took an English class online. Now, I am to the point in my classes where I need to decide what field of study I would like to follow.
I made a commitment that if I didn't register another class this semester, then I would follow an idea I had. I thought I could volunteer at a hospital, so I could be involved with different aspects of the medical field and see what I like, since that's what interests me so far.
So this March I started the process. And finally, out of 3 hospitals, St. Luke's Hospital Vintage Park emailed me and they accepted my application. I interviewed, did my health screening and I was ready to go.
So, today Apr. 3rd, I went for the orientation. We received a manual, some training, a tour of the hospital, and I bought my jacket. I was excited, and Wally is probably more excited than me! :). I start tomorrow. I offered I could go once a week and do a 4-hour shift.

Great 2nd Grade

I thought I should post our son's wonderful school achievements too, besides funny pictures. Last Friday, Weston brought home proof of academic achievement in 2nd grade. And the "B" was in Science, and all the other ones were "A"s. But Wednesday, he brought home the progress report, and he has all A plus and Science he got 100%!!! How pleased we are as parents of his great efforts! And it pays off as a parent, to put our effort at home. We love you Weston!

"Encurtido"

For Christmas, I worked on a little project, to give as a gift, to my aunts and uncles. I made "Encurtido" or pickled vegetables, in a jar. People in Honduras, or at least my family, would eat this with their meals. It is a little spicy and people like that.

I didn't get to take a picture of the final prduct, with the twine, ribbon, and card. I was happy to make this for the first time. I even sent a small jar with my parents, to my sister and fam in Miami, and the reviews are...that they ate it all fast and they wanted more, AND my sister didn't even get to taste it!

I hope the rest of the fam liked it or will like it. I know they wanted it "to age" a little, so it could be spicier!

Snuggly spot

Boys will be boys! So, I don't know how this decision was made, but I guess Weston thought it would comfy to snuggle in the clean clothes basket while watching a show...

I proceeded to take the picture and then told him to get out of the CLEAN clothes basket! And yes, I did think it was funny... I do have a sense of humor.

Rooms' switch

For Thanksgiving weekend we had already planned we were going to do a big switch of rooms, in the house. We were moving the kids room to where the office/playroom was, and that one to where the kids' room was. So we woke up early and started moving the things out from the kids room, so we could paint. So all Friday was mostly focused on leaving that room ready for Saturday. Then Saturday we moved things in to where the office is, and then by the end of the day, we quickly just put the furniture in the kids' room and left it.

We still have to paint and rearrange that one. Maybe another 2 day weekend?

As the kids where helping, I asked them to bring the puzzles to the office, where to toys will be... so the picture below shows how they were bringing in the puzzles....

And then, the picture of Wes.... He just likes those necklaces... And of course, something was really funny...

Here is how the shelves turned out. Much cleaner than before. Sorry, no more pics.

Dads and Donuts (or Grandpa)

It was Dads and Donuts at school, and Wally talked to Weston days before, explaining that he was not going to be able to be there, because of work, (and possible lays offs). We all thought of asking my dad, since his work schedule and location are convenient, were he could be able to go with Weston and not miss work or drive a long distance... SO Weston asked my dad and he agreed and picked up Weston that morning and took him to school.
(Wally was able to go last year, and maybe next year, we ask Grandpa Parker to go...)

Making bread

I wanted to try a new recipe for making bread, that I got from Wally's mom. Of course, I have 2 little helpers that most of the time want to help, or "see".

Weston is looking at what my mixer is doing, and Noah is looking at Weston to see how he reacts to what's happening....

 Noah follows his brother... So he sees that Weston is laughing at what's going on, so he laughs too!

THIS is what's going on... the dough is starting to come out of the mixer!!!

Here is the "not so good" final product. I wanted to follow the recipe exactly and so I didn't follow my common sense. The bread was inthe oven for too long, with high temperature.



My dad, Nelson Ortiz's birthday

On 11/11/11, my dad, Nelson Ortiz, turned 61 and we celebrated in a small way with his brothers and mother. We had dinner and cake.

My dad and my boys.

                          

Wally and I.

My grandma, Mama Lolita, and I.

We talked...

 We laughed...

Weston played in the computer ( Noah was tired and y mom took him to bed...)

The siblings (missing Freling, in Honduras)

With some of the spouses...

I made an Upside-down Pineapple Cake... one of my dad's favorite, OR his favorite. It might not look that delicious, but it was! I need another excuse to make it again!


                             

Singing Happy Birthday...

My dad and I (mi papi)

We had a fun and calm evening. My brother and family couldn't make it.

What markers can do

11/11/11

Noah didn't want me to take the picture and he was already starting to wipe out the marker from his face. And he has red eyebrows from crying because he scared me and himself when he saw his face like that! He had a lot of brown on his face.... It happened in a matter of seconds...

And when Weston came from school, I showed him the picture of Noah and what he had done to himself, and told him that Noah was sad because he looked scary, and so Weston didn't want his brother to be alone on this.....

He wanted Noah to feel better...

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

On Monday Oct. 31, 2011, we had planned to eat dinner with our good friends., the Wettstein's, and then we had planned on going trick or treating. So we met at their home, and ate, and then went trick or treating.
I was spooked by someone that seamed fake! I got over it after a few days! We had a great time together!


These are our superheroes: Noah, the Power Ranger, Weston is Superman, Emma is Super Emma?, and Liam is Captain America!

 Here is my good friend Claudia and I with some of the kids (Liam not in pic).

Another tooth

It is the 3rd tooth he looses. I am not a big fan of pulling them, and the 3 of them have fallen the easiest of ways! This one went like this. On a normal morning, before school, Weston was having cereal. I was talking to him and he said: "oh, there's my tooth". And that was it. It came out while eating. Oh, and have I ever mentioned that he LOVES laughing??!!!!

This picture was taken a couple of days later, and I said: "Weston, let me take a picture of you missing your tooth". And that was my joke for him! Can you see his liver and small intestine from there?!

"Trunk or Treat"

Saturday October 29, 2011. We went to the "Trunk or Treat" activity at the church. They had dinner and the kids and I went around the parking lot and got candy from the families in the cars. It was fun!



Things to remember

This is Noah pretending to fall asleep...

                                                           This is Weston laughing hard... (p.s that is yellow gum in his mouth... and you might even be able to see his intestines from there!)

The boys wanted to sit down with their bears (they got them from Wally when they were born). Those are all "the boys" we have. Weston, Noah, Bears, and Dino.