Some holiday singing and a 3rd birthday!!

Esmeralda's preschool held a family feast and the kids sang some

Christmas songs. My favorite is the "Merry Hula" song, but the

video was too big to upload so I've loaded "Jingle Bells" instead.

Then we celebrated Esmeralda's 3rd birthday with family, I think

everyone had a good time. And last is Esmeralda helping me

wrap some Christmas presents.

los tres amigas: Kate, Natalia, Esmeralda

Just some cute moments before the holiday season

Riding the horsey at preschool

Helping me get ready to sew blankets to sell at the holiday bazaar I taught her how to scoop and throw leaves...so much fun


Helping Momo with her lost and found tupperware and WSU hat

Gramma giving the cousins a horsey ride at Thanksgiving

School Picture!!

I couldn't resist the opportunity to get school pictures taken...even though she's only in preschool. LOVE IT!!

One BIG art project!!

The cousins got to spend the night this weekend and ended up staying the WHOLE day on Sunday. So we set up an art project!! Esmeralda painted "a train", Aly painted "a flower in a box", and Blake painted "a chocolate elk".

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

OH MY GOODNESS

CAN YOU SAY CUTE!!

The Beach and The Rain

A day at the beach in Lincoln City during the fall kite festival.

looking too cool and overjoyed to be there

finally finding her groove and running away from the waves, notice the hands

the audio portion to go with the above picture

flying a kite

finally putting her toes in the water

and, of course, picking up rocks

teaching her to jump in mud puddles

she finally gets how cool rain boots and a rain coat can be, she HAD to go out and play in the rain, in pajamas, while I cooked breakfast

The new preschooler!!

I have been talking about enrolling Esmeralda in preschool for the last couple of weeks/months and we finally got the ball rolling. Last week we went and observed in the class she would be attending and I fell in love with the place, her teacher and the art based "play" they have planned for this young group. Yesterday I called to see how soon she could start and they said as soon as I had the paperwork filled out. I promptly went home, filled out her paperwork, and called the school this morning to see if she could go TODAY and they said of course!! So...I took her at 12:45p, Miguel met us there, and we got the official tour and introductions to some parent helpers. Once she was all signed in, Papa and I watched from a distance and she just ran off to be with the other kids and played! We snuck out and when I came back to get her at 3:30p she just looked at me and said, "Hi Mama!" and walked over casually is if I'd been there all the time. When she got a bit closer, she launched into full speed and just about knocked me over in her excitement to give me a hug. The best part was that she was COVERED in orange tempera paint and smelled of shaving cream...I LOVE IT!! I think this will be a GREAT experience for her...we both need the time and space from each other to better appreciate our time together. Enjoy a couple of pictures from today's exciting day!!

Outdoor play at the water table.

A view of the play yard.

Check in and dramatic play area behind.

Art area and "kitchen" area.

"Mama!"

This is the orange tempera...literally from head to toe!

Random from the last two weeks

Esmeralda and I cleaning out the flower bed under the Asian pear tree.

Our close up.

Esmeralda hiding under her kitchen sink with her two babies telling them "no be scarwed, it a big nossy a-pane" during the Thunderbirds portion of the Hillsboro Airshow. (they flew right over our house for about 30mins)

Getting dressed for family quilting Esmeralda picked out all her own clothes and accessories. "Aly dress, Aly shoes, Aly hair band. I a pwincess mommy! You take my piture?" How could I resist?!

A just because picture that goes nicely with the next two. Before...

after! Nice hair cut!

Look at all those curls on the floor!

" Gwapa Pee-yo" and the cousins having tea.

Crazy Aly...I don't know who took this picture but it was on my camera so I thought I would put it out here.

Dragonfly & PJs!! (and now praying mantises)

This is the GIANT dragonfly that was on our porch for about 3hrs on Sunday.

Miguel and Esmeralda getting a closer look...and a touch!

Tuesday morning heading to work...not wanting to get dressed!

"Office Appropriate Attire"...I think not...not with PJs, rain boots and tousled hair! Very cute though!!

So this dragonfly was outside on one of our patio chairs this morning. I'm beginning to think that we have become the dragonfly safe-house.

And at work today we had not only one...

but two praying mantises!!