Ruby is 8!

 Ruby had her 8th birthday! 

 

She got her ears pierced and said it didn't hurt much.  

She had a party with LaResa's kids and her friend from school, Gracie.

Ruby was baptized Feb. 6th.  It was so nice and sweet.  After we had a family chili lunch at our house.  It was nice to be with family again.  Cesar and my dad gave the talks and me and my mom gave the prayers at the baptism.  

Summer 2020

We have had some fun this summer even though a lot is closed and not normal because of Covid.

LaResa and her family met us at Pulpit Rock in Colorado Springs to hike.  We had a good time even though it was pretty slippery.

Eli and his 6th grade teachers at the end of school.

One of Eli's teachers has a son named Eli and had this on his car in the parking lot.

The kids have done a couple of lemonade stands at the corner of our street.  One man gave them $100!  They split it with the neighbor kids that were helping too, so they each got $20.  Pretty cool.  Most people give them a dollar for one cup.

After I put Mia to bed one night, the kids and I went over to the "little lake" and there were food trucks there.  Eli rode back home and got some money so we could buy a funnel cake and we all shared it.  It was their first funnel cake and were so excited to try it.

We ride or stroller over to the "little lake" pretty often.  The kids even go their own their own sometimes.  

Our neighborhood pool opened up in July.  It's nice to go especially when it's super hot outside.  

The girls and I met Dawn and Olivia at Garden of the Gods one day.  I used to babysit Olivia in Stapleton.  It was nice of Dawn to invite us to met them.  

We went to Rock Ledge Ranch and spent a couple of hours there.  Diego really enjoyed learning about life in the olden days and filling out his scavenger hunt sheet they gave him at the office.  It was nice to be together as a whole family doing something in Colorado Springs.  

We got memberships at Lost Island for the kids.  It's an outdoor ninja course.  It's been fun to take them there and let them get a good workout in. 

We got to eat in a restaurant for the first time in a long time.  Mia loved her huge hamburger! 

Utah- Cousins Camp 2020

My parents bought a house in Logan last year and they decided to have Cousins Camp there this year.  It was fun to go spend time there and get to see their new house.  Our drive there was good.  All the kids did well in the car, including Mia.  Cesar and I took turns driving. 
Logan is really pretty.  We went on a little hike in the canon, had ice cream at the University, had pizza at Fredrico's, saw Mark and Peggy, saw a small car show on Main Street, ate at Central Park, and saw lots of fireworks on the 3rd and 4th. 

My mom set up 3 hammocks outside and the kids loved spending time on them.  Cesar and I both enjoyed a nap on them too!

My mom taught Diego and Ruby how to knit a hat.  Diego really enjoyed it and loves wearing his hat even in the summer heat!

The view from my parent's backyard.  You can even see the temple.

The kids had a lot of fun jumping for 2 hours at a jump place. 

On our drive out we stopped by bear lake and ate a picnic lunch.  The lake was beautiful!

Mia Moore

Mia is going to come live with us on May 22nd.  She is Lorena's (Cesar's sister) youngest kid.  Lorena can't take care of her kids anymore because of drug abuse and addiction.  Mia is 2 and a half years old and we will be fostering her for now.  We are pretty excited to have her come be our 4 child. The kids seem a bit more excited than Cesar and I.  I hope her transition goes smoothly and that soon it will seem like she was meant for us. 

We visited her once when she was about 2 months old and then have seen her a handful of times at the beginning of this year since we knew she would be coming to us. 

Coronavirus

The world was hit with a pandemic- COVID-19.  It's a strange feeling to know that the whole world is going through something together.  The virus started in China in January 2020 and hit the US in February or March I believe.  These are some of the changes that we have been affected by:

• In-person school was canceled March 13th.  The kids have been doing elearning.  
• Our last day to meet at church as a ward was March 8th.  Since then we have been having home church.
• My last day babysitting was March 12th.
• Cesar and I had our last date eating out at a restaurant Feb. 28th.
• We only spent $25 on gas in April as opposed to almost $200 in March
• I go to the grocery store once a week alone and wear a mask.
• Cesar started working from home on March 23rd.

It's been a challenging time, but I think overall we are handling it okay at our house.  The kids have been playing too many video games and watching too much you-tube!  It bothers me a lot.

They miss going to school and church and seeing their friends.  I have been pretty bored and been listening to a lot of podcasts.  Cesar has kept busy with work and a lot of house work.

Here are a few pictures from our time at home.

Eli's Appendectomy- 2.14.2020

Eli had a Valentine's Day surgery this year.  Thursday he came home from school early with complaints of stomach ache and nausea.  His pain got worse and was mainly in his lower right section.  We thought maybe it could be his appendix.  Eli said it didn't seem like a bug and felt different like something was really wrong.  I called the pediatrician's office and spoke to a nurse and she suggested we go to the hospital to have them check.  Eli and I went to the Children's' Hospital Emergency room, which is only 5 minutes from our new house, at 6:30 that night.  We had to wait about 2 hours before we saw a doctor, but then everything moved pretty quickly.  They checked his urine, blood, gave him x-rays and an ultrasound. Then they came in with the surgeon nurse and told us he would need to have his appendix removed.  The surgery was scheduled for the next morning at 11:00.  They moved us to a room around midnight and we tried to sleep a little.  They gave Eli an IV to give him fluids and pain medicine.  Cesar was home with Ruby and Diego.  He had Friday off from work so he was able to take them to school and then head over to the hospital.  The surgery went well and it was indeed appendicitis. It was a laparoscopic surgery and the surgeon's name was Dr. Bliss.  Tony came to visit us at the hospital which was very nice and thoughtful.  He brought gifts for Eli too.  We got to leave just about an hour and half after surgery was over!  Eli was in quite a bit of pain, but it has gotten better every day.  He should be able to go back to school tomorrow. 

Gratitude

I am grateful for so much.  I feel very blessed in my life and am so thankful.  Here is a list of some of the top things.

1. My kids and husband- we are all healthy and happy. 
2. My parents and siblings and extended family
3. My new house
4. New neighbors
5. Temple is not too far
6. Cesar's job.
7. I get to see the mountains every day
8. The Book of Mormon
9. President Nelson and apostles
10. Cordera Ward
11. Joseph Smith and the Restoration
12. Come Follow Me
13. Youth and Children Program
14. Friends
15. Kids' Teachers at church and school