Eden's 10th Birthday Bash

Birthday Girl!

Lola and Eden's friend Jessica

Uncle Usiel and Eden (her hair has jewels in it!)

Me and my Boo

Nana and Edie Pie

Lola skating with her dad

Eden and best friend Catherine

Joey just before a skate

Eden with best buds Mimi, Iris and Molly winning tickets

Iris and Eden (BFF's)

Eden in the ticket booth. Because the girls screamed so loudly they added more seconds to her time! What great friends!

Monster high theme...the skull!

Roman and Adrian with Enrique

So sweet the babies are!

Auntie Alice, babies and Enrique

Eden makes an announcement. "Thank you to you all for coming. You all are awesome!" Her friends thought that was so very sweet of her to say. All you hear is "Awe how sweet!"

Eden's 10th Birthday was January 15. She had a birthday party on her actual birthday with a Monster High pink skull theme at Golden Skate skating rink in San Ramon. She had such an incredibly fun time with her friends. Though she didn't do much skating, rather mostly played arcade games with her friends, she said it was the best party yet. She had about 12 of her closest friends there. Nana, Abuelita, Uncle Usi, Auntie Alice, Joey, Pumpkin and baby Adrian were among the guests.
Eden is changing every day and turning into a little lady. Her interests include clothes shopping (this is very very new!), playing games on her DS 3d, and now her Kindle Fire which is one of the gifts Nana gave her for her big birthday. She also loves her brand new bike. She doesn't play with toys anymore (gone are the barbies. Gone are the teddy bears...)
The day after her party she asked if just the two of us could go shopping. Are you kidding me say no to shopping?! We had such a good time just the two of us. These are rare occasions! It's really hard finding one on one time with either of the girls but when I do get a chance, I so treasure these moments. We shopped til we dropped, well, I have more experience with shopping so I could have gone for at least 4 more hours, but she was quite done and terribly tired after 4 hours of shopping. Justice is one of her favorite clothing stores so we went there, Claire's, Old Navy, etc. In between all that we had smoothies, pretzels, and yogurt. I can't wait to do that again with her! It was really very special and so much fun. Felt like bursting.
Well, it's a joy watching Eden grow up into such a sweet, kind, smart young lady. But it is really hard for me, too. She's growing up and becoming independent. That's hard. I just keep thinking that in no time, she'll be looking into colleges to attend. These 10 years have gone by in a flash. How about the next 8 to 10 years? I'm so proud of her and who she is and has become. She's got really wonderful friends, she's going incredibly well at school. Her teacher said that because her reading level is at an advanced level, she is working with her and a very small group of kids on a more advanced level of reading. They critique books and work on writing advanced pieces. Also, her math is at a 98% average. I'm so so proud!
I think it's so hard watching her grow older each year because she is such a joy to be around! Each year brings us closer to her growing up and becoming independent of us. I'll stop now before I start with the tears.
Happy Birthday Eden!!!!

We Wish You an Awesome Christmas

Christmas morning

Santa has come!

The kids anxiously wait in the hallway to see what Santa has brought (yes, that's my childs name on the wall. In chapstick and not removeable unless you paint over it! But, that's another story)

Their first look at the surprises Santa left...priceless!!

A telescope for Eden...

A crib set for Lola

A Rody horse for Roman

books, too (his favorite thing)

A boy baby doll

Roller skates for Miss Eden

Turtle Bounce for Roman

Eden showing off her skates

Oops we forgot one stocking stuffer!

Roman attackin his sis as usual

The girls show off their mermaid fins for swimming

My two guys!

Ahh! Christmas in California! We wake up to a bright, full sunny day and Mt. Diablo! So majestic! It's a beautiful crisp morning. The kids are nestled all snug in their beds with individual trees under their loft beds all aglow. Santa has visited their tiny Christmas trees first before having to unload a whole sleigh full of presents under and around our Christmas tree in the living room. Not to mention the collossal stockings hanging near the fireplace. Yes, there must have been some very very good girls and boy that live here (of course!). Or, they have been blessed with a very sweet, loving generous Nana who loves loves loves her grand kids so and a couple of doting parents, too! Or a combination of all thee above.
 Eden got a telescope, roller skates, swimming fins, Fijit Friends...you name it! Lola got a doll house, crib and highchair set, dolls, etc! Roman a Rody horse, Bouncing Turtle fun, Talking Zoo, scooter, etc! They were beyond thrilled! The looks on their faces was priceless! Next, off to Nana's house for more presents and dinner!

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After opening our presents and getting all dressed and pretty we visit Roman's "adopted grandma," Gladine. She was alone this Christmas so we wanted to visit with her and bring her a little present. She was most grateful and sursprised to see us. She just loves Roman so much! He always talks about her, too. Calls her Adine. She spoils the kids with some chocolates and candy canes and off we go to Nana's house...

I think the picture's say it all. We all had such a wonderful time at Nana's house! The kids ripped through their presents here, too! And yes, Santa was very good to the kids and all of us, too. The kids got their Pillow Pets, Eden got her DS 3D, Lola and Roman were very happy with their gifts, too.
This Christmas was very special and memorable! I just feel so happy and complete with my little family. We all love our home and feel so blessed to have each other. We are so very lucky to have family so close to us and so very supportive. The kids love their family so much (both near and far)and they want to be around them all the time.
Santa was quite good to me, too. Did I mention that Enrique bought me a candy apple red Kitchen Aid mixer from Williams and Sonoma?  And My mom bought me a set of my formal china and tons more! It was a good Christmas for all of us. And being together made it even more special. Here is to a very happy and healthy New Year to come.

Nana's Birthday, Christmas Eve and Everything in Between

Nana's Birthday!

And here is to Great G as the girls called Grandma

Gingerbread house decorating

Lola on Christmas Eve

Abuelita's house Christmas Eve

Roman... not so happy about picture taking

Loves his elmo rock toy!

Nana's birthday was December 15. Me and Roman spent the day with Nana. We started off with breakfast and did some shopping, too. After the girls got out of school we had cake and openned presents. This year we made a green cake for Nana in honor of my grandma (the girls called her Great G) who passed away last year. There is a reason for the green cake that only we know about. We also made sure to have a bunch of hard candies and fruit cake around the house which was Grandma's favorite things for Christmas. Just a way to remember her and to let her know we are thinking of her. We celebrated Nana's birthday after Eden's ballet class at La Fogata. The food was good and we had a wonderful day together! As always...
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Eden had her annual ballet Christmas Show at the Lesher Arts Center Theater in Walnut Creek. She was a Country Girl and was in front most of the time! It was so exciting seeing her in front! She's usually in back all the time because she is so tall but she was dancing with a lot of teenagers so she was actually shorter than some! I felt like crying when I saw her on stage! She has really blossomed into a beautiful dancer! And at such a young age. It's always so thrilling seeing her up on stage! I felt so proud. I thought I would burst!

This was after the last show

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Christmas Eve was celebrated at Abuelita's house in Pittsburg. We had tamales and my favorite dessert corn bread cake. So good! The kids ripped through their presents (I mean they tore through those things so fast it was embarrassing!). Enrique was terribly sick with a stomach bug that he caught from Lola (and my mom, too who was terribly sick a few days before...sorry MOM!!) so he spent most of the time on the couch. Poor guy! We had a couple of weeks of sick sick sick and then finally it passed! Christmas was coming...