Teneessee Grandma's funeral

We planned almost one year before to visited Grandma Thomas and celebrated her 90th birthday with her in Tennessee. Unfortunately she died one day before we could get there. Doug had talked to her one week before and she has excited for our visit. I felt horrible for Doug. Grandma was for him the perfect grandma everyone would like to have. She had hard times in her lifetime but she faith was so vivid that would inspired anyone who got to know her. I still remember that first time I meet her. She was so interested in me and my family, right away I felt her acceptance and love. She did not have a lot of money, however she would never miss to send few dollars to all her great grand kids. We all miss her.
Here is Jerry, Doug and the kids after the funeral with grandma in the back.
Here is all the immediate family members: Jerry and Susan; Michel and Holly with their three children; Ann, Lauren and Megan; Doug and Dora and children.
Besides grandma lies grandpa and aunt Agnes. Also the boys put flowers to their grandpa Morty Thomas who is also there.
After the funeral, Jerry and Susan had us over to eat and the kids played in the pool. It was a great family reunion.

Alabama 09

There is a great story with this picture. Apparently Doug months ago found a lady on line who claimed that she had in her possession a painting from CCBowel, (Dougs great-great granfather) that she bought in a garage sale. Doug never had a mail back from her. At the same time Tom found the same info and bought the painting from her. She mentioned to him that another person name Thomas contacted, but she lost his e mail. Tom took Doug to the basement and showing the painting. The both have love for geneology.


Cookie and Kim drove twice that weekend to hung out with us. They are such a pleasant company. Cookie brought me back a bottle of shampoo that I left at her house five years ago that we visited them. I thought that was so thoughful and cute.
Look at the huge trees, everithing is so green and outside smells like a vegetation. I was so crazy about humidity but still beutiful scenery.
Doug with his older cousins, Tom Horton and Tommy who lives in Atlanta.
Megan and Lauren also were there, they flew from SLC and ABQ to grandmas funeral

Diann is in the middle. She is Tom's wife. Ww both liked each other. She was so kind to all of us, my kids kept telling me how much they liked her. Tom and Diann were wonderful hostes.
Noah and Josh (Tom's kids) Raley (Tommys' doughther) and my kiddos had a great time playing along. 30 min before I took this picture, there was a huge storm. I could not believe how dry the grass was. I if course sprayed all the kids with mosquito repellent.
Susi (Coockie's doughther)and Trudy (Tom's wife) hunging out with Ann. Susi looked fabulous. Trudy helped me tons with the Mexican dinner, and she complimented it the food.
I took a picture after some people have left. It was a great trip and a great introduction to our kiddos to our extended southern family.

CubScouts

Hayden worked so hard to earn his arrow of light. He is becoming a scout and so excited about his first camp out. He packed two days before.
Harrison has been waiting to become a cub scout, that is what happen to the third boy. He loves to go to his den meetings and hung out with all 8 year old boys. He brings me his book to work in requirements often. His enthusiasm overwhelms me a little. I am actually happy that he want to learn new skills.

Hayden said goodbye to Elementary

Hayden graduated from Elementary school today. He will be starting Middle school.
I am nervous for him. Peer pressure and load of homework won't be easy. He is so sweet and mellow and soon he'll be irritable. I am not sure I am ready.
He had the same teacher for three years in a row. She was perfect for him.




He gave a speech in the graduation. He wrote it, memorized and practice since he gets really nervous in front of people. He did amazing.

Cooking w/Harrison

Harrison last 2nd school project. Finally, he loved them, me I do not. This was a fun project. He cooked three dishes and made a cookbook. Here is making a Wacky cake.

Easy Parmesan chicken
Mexican Rice

Hailey 5th Bday

Hailey waited for her Bday for months. Four months before she asked me everyday if her bday was that day. She really wanted a pool party. She wanted the slipping slide, pool, water balloons and ice cones. Well Albuquerque surprised us all with rain that day. In the morning of her b'day, when the party was planned. I told Hailey about no pool party because of the weather. She got so sad, I was hoping she would not care, but she really dreamed about pool party with her friends. She run to her room sad.
Doug quickly said to me: what about Chuck E. Cheese? He presented the idea to Hailey and that fix things up. We change plans that morning and call her friends. I remember that everytime she sees this place she ask me to take her. Of course I never do. I am like most parents, we do not like those places much at all. However it wasn't as bad. But most important, she had a great time with her friends (Lizzie, Olivia, Alexi and Tamblyn)

She did not want a regular cake. She wanted pink cupcakes like in the pinkadelicious book, (her favorite one).
She asked me to read that book and it was amazing how the girls were so interested hearing the story in the middle of all the noise around us.


She got a umbrella as a present from Harrison. She was able to use it right away after the party, yes here in ABQ!

Rafting-- Gee/Thomas

The kids were anxious to get in the river.The three boys paddled when told by Dan Gee, our friend and expert guide. It took only like 15 min to inflated the boat.
The four grow ups doing he job.

Harrison and Brookie were behind the leaders, they had so much fun. The girls talked almost all the time while the boys were entertained by all the talking. Emma and Will were in front until a big wage from the rapids soaked them. They did not liked that.
Hunter did great and hopes to do this activity again.

Me and Hailey enjoy the ride and scream our lungs out when the rapids came. The last half of the trip, I held Jenie who fall sleep in the middle of the rapid while everyone screamed. Honey helped in the front paddle.

Hayden our other helper.
We stopped twice, one for lunch and another in the pee island, that is how Dan called it.
This was a totally new for me but sure love it, especially because my family had a memorable experience together. We are sad our friends the Gees' moving, they are so good people and fun.

Our first fishing family trip

I grow up in Mexico City, where cement is everywhere. I still love clouds because is one think I could enjoyed easy, no much nature around. Doug only had outdoor trips with scouts growing up. Both of us are a totally ignorant about fishing. We head it to a fishing trip and we did not catch anything. What makes more pathetic is that we fished in a fish hatchery. I was happy that after spending 30 min, we were able to set up our fishing lines. We all dress for a hot day and end it being cold, no jackets at all. We all want to do was to get in the car to get warm.
Me and Doug felt bad for our kids, who absolutely love outdoors. We have decided to became more out dory to the sake of our kiddos. This is are our first steps and we are planning more camping, fishing and rafting. We are open to ideas and tips. We had a great picnic in a beautiful place.
Overall we had a great time spending time together. I guess that is what really matters, right?

Boys, boys!

What is with boys that they think being disgusting is funny? In the future either they will be embarrassed or they'll continue laughing about it. We'll see.

Hailey- Mother's day

Hailey/Lizzie and Dora/Jenny. We both share best friends.
She made me a pot with a hand made flower with her picture on it. Also a poem where she said: "I love my mommy because she drives me around" among others. I guess children say it how it is.
She was sweet singing sons of love to mothers with her preschool classmates. I sure like my little girl! I believe I mentioned this before and may be annoying but I just think about this everyday.

Harrison's plant

Harrison was so delight about his plant. He planted the seeds, water it everyday and put it in the sun. We talked about faith and testimony. He was able to understand better that principle from watching his plant grow. Few days after I took this picture, he decided to take it outside. I warned him about the danger of the plant but he did it anyway. Soon enough that plant could not resist the strong winds. He was sad, but he realized that my counsel is valuable. Life lessons are the best.

Doug in the News

Doug was interview by Chanel 7 news Albuquerque. UNM canceled all visits to Mexico because of the swine flu. Doug and MBA students had the plan to go to Guadalajara Mexico to visit some Mexican companies and for some courses. That was the reason of the interview at our house. He was great, except that they aired the part he hesitated his answer. He looked so hot.

Nacc performance

Harrison was so excited for this performance. He really liked the main song and it's meaning. We all know the song at home, he sings it all the time. He usually can be shy but he sure did not show that. In one song, he and JJ were singing, his friend got quiet and Harrison sing almost all by himself, he did great. I think that this performances help children to gain confidence in general.

Hayden is shy in front of an audience. It helped him that is friends were there too singing and dancing a little. We are proud of him and gaining more confidence. He had a solo line and he was so happy that he h=got the guts to do it. He look so sure of himslef to me but I knew he was
sweating.