A good little mommy

Visiting with Grandma and Mom-mom

Mom-mom and Grandma came to visit us for an hour or so last week, before we all headed to Dad's for chinese dinner and then to Grace's concert. We had a really nice visit.

Even though this picture is a little blurry and really bright, it's one of my favorites.

Alexander was named after Mom-mom's second son, my Uncle Bart. (Alexander Bartley Rivera)
This makes me laugh....such seriousness on both of their faces.

Isabella was telling Grandma to come and get her.

Grandma is such a good sport, after chasing Isabella around, she just couldn't do it anymore.

Mom-mom and I were cracking up....Grandma and Isabella were just loving playing together (not bad for a woman who's in her 90's).

Princess (yes princess) Alexander and the blessing

This morning when we officially got out of bed, I was getting Alexander dressed when Isabella climbed up into bed with her Hello Kitty necklace and "bracelip" that her abuelita sent her. Isabella was sure that Alexander wanted to wear them, after all, he was looking at her while she was wearing them. Being the good big sister that she is, she took them off of herself, and put them onto Alexander, the best she could.

"Mami, look. Alexander is a Princess"

"No honey, he's a Prince. Boys are a prince, and girls are a princess."
"No, Mami. Alexander is a Princess....see?"
(To Alexander) "You look so pretty little boy. You's a princess"

Poor little boy. The joys of having an older sister.

This is when Isabella was giving Alexander his blessing. She did this all on his own. He coughed and Isabella said "Mami, Alexander's sick. He need a blessing. (put her hands on his head) Heavenly Father....in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." Now I have to explain to her that she can't give blessings....but it was so SO cute.

Look....he's all better!

An eventful night

Last night after watching "Prince Caspian" (which I thought was LAME-O), I went upstairs to finish putting the laundry away and then head to bed. When I got to the top of the steps, I saw Isabella's door was open. I immediately assumed that she was in my room, but she wasn't. She was in her room.....laying on her bed, sleeping......like this:











She had taken her diaper off, and brought her big girl panties into bed with her. Silly silly girl. I proceeded to put a diaper back on her.

Well, four hours later (3:30am), she woke up, CRYING. She came out of her room and into our bedroom. I took her back to her room and put her back to bed. Repeat this every 40 minutes until 7am. By this time, I was frustrated as HECK with Ronald, he insisted he was too tired to get up, and very very frustrated with Isabella. My patience was GONE. At least Alexander slept well last night.

Building a Tradition

Funny face shot #1

and #2. Did you notice how pretty Sommer looks in both of the silly pictures?

Brandon and Isabella working very hard to the candy bracelets.

Nathan kissing his reflection in the ornament.

Brandon, my favorite 2 1/2 year old boy.

Little Nathan, such a sweet boy.

When I was a little girl, we used to have the Perry family over for New Years. They would spend the night and we would stay up late....the adults would play games and watch the ball drop, and the kids would talk up a storm in our room, trying not to be too loud so we wouldn't get into trouble. Then we would get up New Year's Day and have breakfast at Willow Valley. I loved this tradition. Since becoming best friends with the Finnigan family, I thought this would be a fun tradition to share with them. Fortunately, they agreed and we got together at our house New Year's Eve. We had a lot of fun together, but it went by way too fast.

Potty training 101

Stickers for a big girl.

Look at those pretty big girl panties....and that big round belly.

Bringing the potty out in the living room....a simple reminder NOT to pee-pee on the floor.

My punkin is going potty like a big girl! We started potty training the week of Christmas, but then she got diarrhea, so we postponed it a little bit. So far, so good. I think she will be done with diapers by the end of the week. I'm so proud of her!

Sweet little people

My silly girl....I think she was trying to make a funny face.

Look at those sweet rolls, I just want to eat them all up!

I came in the kitchen to find Isabella doing this.....arranging her little people on Alexander's blankie. Notice...the little people are placed with their heads and bodies lined up with the lion on the blankie....cute, huh?

My beautiful children

haha....I love the expression on both of their faces.

Best friends....they love each other so much, and I love that.

My sweet babies.....I just adore them. What a privilege it is to be their Mami.

It must be Christmas

Daddy and Alexander

Such a sleepy boy....it was a busy day.
Uncle Grant teasing Isabella.

Auntie Beebs and Alexander

Mom-mom has a book just like the one she is reading to Isabella. Isabella LOVES this book and is talking about it all the time. So Mom-mom got her her own book for Christmas. It's from the 50's and full of children's poems and very enchanting illustrations.

Grandma reading to Isabella.

Poor Grandma....she wanted to hold both of her great-great grandbabies, but Isabella was just not interested.

The traditional yule-log. We do this every year before we eat dinner. The brothers go out and find the biggest log they can, and then the decorated it with wrapping paper. Uncle Jeffrey gives a speech of sorts (the same every year) and we all say "JOY JOY JOY" and then he splashed the log with wine and then we eat. I like this tradition, even though we always forget when our big line comes in.

Tio and Isabella. She loves her Tio.

Dragging the leaves away.

Helping Papi put the leaves on the tarp.

"When we're helping we're happy!"

Showing me the leaf on her broom.

With her new shopping cart, baby, and little people.

Alexander after having his breakfast....he was very full.

Christmas was just WONDERFUL!!! We started the day at home (with Papi and Isabella raking leaves after breakfast), and then we headed to Uncle Jeffrey's house for the traditional Christmas dinner. I absolutely LOVE Christmas time. We had a lovely day together.