Las Vegas

We went on a week long family vacation to Las Vegas a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving.  We had a good time; it's always nice to get away from the day to day and do something new.  The weather was perfect- 70's mostly.  We went at the right time to get away from the below freezing temps that Denver was having.  We missed the first snow of the season.

The kids did good on the plane.  The boys sat on the same row with Cesar and they all watched a movie.  The flight was only a little bit more than an hour and a half.  Ruby sat on my lap and did pretty good.  The flight attendant gave her a cup full of ice and she loved it!  As soon as we sat down the man next to me said, "You've got to be kidding me"- apparently referring to having to sit next to a baby!  How rude!  On the flight back I actually had an empty seat next to me for Ruby to sit on.  I think it was the only empty seat on the flight- how lucky!  Ruby sat there for some of the time, but then she fell asleep on my lap for the rest of the flight- it was late at night.

We walked a lot in Legas and did a lot of stuff.  There is so much to see and do there.  Here are our pictures from the trip!

The highest observation wheel in the world the High Roller!  It takes you 550 feet up and takes 30 minutes to go around.  We went at the right time because it wasn't busy at all and we got the whole car to ourselves! 

the boys on the double decker bus

Ruby on the bus

So, this was one expensive picture!  Cesar only had a $5 bill to tip him with.

Eli and the wall of M and M's

the Bellagio water show

inside the High Roller

Caesar's Palace

The boys favorite day on the vacation was when we went to Circus Circus!  We spent most of the time at the indoor amusement park and they had a lot of fun riding all the rides over and over again.  

The Venetian

a small zoo with Dolphins, Lions, and Tigers

 

Fun Dates

Cesar and I have gone on some fun dates in the past few months.  We love getting out without the kids and spending time together.  We have been switching with a family from church- one night she will come over and watch our kids and another night I'll go over there and watch her 2 boys while her and her husband go out.  It has worked out really well.

We went to CU at the ZOO.  It was fun to be there without kids.

 

I guess that's all the pictures I have, but we also went to Night at the Museum where we looked around at the Mayan exhibit, saw an IMAX film, and a laser light show.  Last month we went back to the movie theatre where we had our first date 9 years ago.  We saw the movie Meet the Mormons; its a movie put out by the Church.  One month we went to Cinema Grill where you eat and watch a movie at the same time.

Eli's 7th Birthday

Eli turned seven on Oct. 10th!  I can't believe I have a 7 year old.  He had a Star Wars birthday party- eventhough we have never even seen Star Wars!  It was a bit stressful and wild with so many of his friends here, but we survived it!  Cesar filmed video staring the kids!  He is still working on the editing.  I made light sabers out of pipe insulation and colored electrical and duct tape.  They played outside for a little bit- thank goodness it was good weather!

 

We also celebrated at Eli's school and my parent's house.

 

 

Halloween 2014

We had a fun Halloween.  It was busy with a party at Eli's school in the morning, Diego's school party in the afternoon, and of course trick-or-treating!  Ruby really got the hang of trick-or-treating- she loved it!  She went to all the houses and really kept up with the boys.  Her bag got so heavy with candy towards the end, but she didn't want any help with it!  Our neighbors Betsy and Matt invited us over for some appetizers after trick-or-treating.  It was fun to hang out with friends.
The weekend before we also went to our ward's Trunk-or-Treat.  Here are some pictures.

 Diego was The Hulk, Eli was a ninja, and Ruby was a pirate at the trunk-or-treat and a zebra for trick-or-treating.  Thanks to my friend for giving us Diego and Ruby's costumes.  Cesar and Eli found his costume at Goodwill for $2!

 We carved pumpkins for FHE.

 Ruby was very brave at this scary house!  When the guy opened the door, she tried to walk in though, to get away from the scary porch!

My parents!

First Day of School 2014

Eli and Diego started school at the end of August.  Eli is in Ms. Hernandez' first grade class at Westerly Creek Elementary.  Diego is in 1/2 day preschool at Swigert Elementary.  His teacher is Ms. Atlanta. 
They both had good days and like school.

Denver Language School

The Denver Language School called a couple of Fridays ago telling me that they had a spot if Eli wanted to start school there!  We have been waiting for a call like that for 2 years.  Even before we moved to Denver we hoped that the kids could go to the language school when they were old enough.  There are a lot of people with that same hope so the wait list was pretty long. 
Eli started first grade there Monday, Sept. 21st.  He has gone a whole week and is liking it!  I'm so impressed with how he has made the transition.  He has done a great job with all the changes and I'm so proud of him.  He is in Ms. Diva class.  She teaches the whole day in Spanish- it is truly a Spanish immersion class.  She mentioned that Eli understands quite a bit and is doing great. 

Strong mothers

I have been anything but a strong mother lately.  I loose my cool way too often and too easily.  Mothering 3 young children is not easy, but so many people do it and more, so I know I can too.  I read some of my favorite scriptures today and wanted to record my thoughts.

Alma 56: 47-48
"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying:  We do not doubt that our mothers knew it."

I love reading about how the 2000 Stripling Warriors remembered what their mothers taught them.  I believe they knew their mothers had a testimony and they knew that their mothers loved God more than anything.  They knew this not only because their mothers told them, but mostly because their mothers lived it!  They learned by example.

I want my kids to know that I love Heavenly Father more than anything and that the most important things in life are my testimony and family.  I need to treat my kids with more love.  I pray that I can feel pure love for them just like Heavenly Father loves them.


I'm grateful for my own mom.  She taught by example and I do not doubt that she knows.  I know she has a strong testimony of the gospel.
I'm grateful for my grandmas and all the strong moms in my life. 

As I type this I can hear Ruby talking in her crib.  She is repeating over and over "Papa and Mama, LieLie (Eli) and GoGo (Diego).  I know that her family is the most important in her life right now.  I want her to know that I love her always.  I want her to learn good things from me and know that she can always come to me if she needs comfort and love.