February 2016

Feb. 4th, Luciana making sure her baby doll's okay

Feb. 12th, getting ready for school with big smiles

Feb. 13th, so proud that she can get into the blue chair all by herself!

Mariela excited to open the box from G.G. and Baba!

Feb. 15h, Lela having fun playing with all her loot from the Valentines Day party at her daycare

My Mom always told me that my older brother used to walk around the house holding a potato but it looks like magazines are Luciana's style.

Feb. 20th, dinner time!

Feb. 27th, helping with diapers

January 2016

Jan, 1st, Suz and Mariela getting serious about decorating cupcakes.

Having fun at the kid's table

A chilly outing to the park. Who cares how cold it is when there are swings!

Luciana trying to join the ladies as they lounge

Peek-a-boo!

Jan. 2nd, showing off the cute pj's they got from Scotland. Thank you Matt, Tara, Liam, and Daragh the girls love their pj's!

Saying a final goodbye to G.G. and Baba. Obviously Mariela was not thrilled to have to take another picture

Jan. 3rd, there's snow in Portland!  It's just a dusting but underneath a good amount of ice so everything is closed and . . .

it's time to explore ;-)

Being a good "teacher" and patting two babies to sleep

 

Jan. 16th, laundry baskets have multiple uses in our house that's for sure! Luciana took her first independent steps on December 27th but the laundry basket sure is a big help ;-)

Luz definitely thinks swim goggles are the yummiest thing around

Jan. 17th, saying hi and goodbye to Seattle friends. L to R: Luciana, Ruben, Mariela, and June

Mariela trying to see how fast she can make June's wagon go

Jan. 18th, taking care of her baby. I'm sure glad Luz will have many many more years before she will have a baby of her own so she can learn how to be gentle.

Jan 19th, Luciana's 1 year old!!!

Jan. 23rd, having fun in their "boat"

Jan. 24th, Luciana's belated birthday celebration (actual birthday January 19th).

Opening gifts and  . . .

 . . . getting help from her big sister

Digging into the "healthy 1st birthday cake" I made her

At least Luz didn't mind the taste. I don't think anyone else had more than a taste, blah.

A smiley mess!

December 2016

Dec. 4th, "reading" books in her "special spot"

Dec. 6th, "reading" time with Luz

Dec. 7th, coloring with GG/Baba markers

Dec. 19th, 11 months old!

Enjoying the lights at The Grotto

All tuckered out after the light show at The Grotto

Dec. 20th, showing off her food pouch

Luz was NOT happy to be sitting on Santa's lap

Lela checking out the play house at the food carts as far away from Santa as possible

Dec. 23rd, Luz eating with her classmates at her schools Christmas party

Checking out the tree and trying to see what her sister's class was doing at their party

Mariela knew every word at home but would have nothing to do with 

singing in front of all the parents

She did have fun wearing her antlers

So did I

Posing at the photo booth with "Santa Dad"

Dec. 24th, Santa came a day early to our house because he knew we would be on a plane heading
to visit everyone in St. Louis on the 25th. The girls were all smiles when they saw all the gifts!

Lela being a helper and luckily Luz didn't mind

Who needs a hippo when you have a fun bow to play with?

 Santa brought Mariela a train! 

Dec. 26th, Luz, Graham, and Suz playing with the new gifts from Anma and Pop-pop

Mariela and Graham checking out the fun new stove, thank you Anma and Pop-pop!

Graham and Aunt Lana being goofy

Woohoo, Luz taking a ride on Graham's ATV and loving it!

Music parade with Suz. What were we thinking when we suggested metal pots and pans to 

Anma and Pop-pop, ugh!

Dec. 28th, checking out all the lights and flowers at the Missouri Botanical garden

This is what we get when we say 'smile.' Maybe we should just give up ;-)

Getting excited to open gifts with G.G. and Baba

But Mariela was not excited to stop handing out gifts in order for her Mom to take a picture

The girls

Making gingerbread men with G.G.

Wearing matching white bows in their hair was Mariela's request ;-)

Dec. 29th, Mariela doing what she loves to do the most, help!

Dec. 30th, it was a it chilly but a great time to see the penguins at the zoo.

You can't go wrong with shoulder rides!

or rides on a merry-go-round

Oh and when Anma lets you pick out a stuffed animal in the gift shop, there is no question, you have to get the same giraffe as your older cousin

Luz was very happy that she got to open her birthday present from Anma and Pop-pop a few weeks early