The moon.

Mr. Braden has been driving me completely nuts these last few days! He has been in time-out like one hundred times today...(he put half a roll of TP in the toilet today among other naughty things)...but he has been saying the cutest things lately...

Every time we go to the store and the kids start asking for stuff (it seems like these advertisers do such a "coincidental" job at the marketing their stuff right at my kids' eye level)...I usually say, "may be we'll get it for Christmas, or your birthday..." they are usually comforted by this statement and they say: "okay mommy, I'll get it for Christmas."

Yesterday, Braden saw the moon and said to me: "Mom! Look at the moon!" I said, "yeah, it's pretty isn't it?" and he innocently said: "I get the moon for Christmas, mommy."

I laughed. He said it so matter of factly, like I could really give him the moon for Christmas. Then. It got me to think about how much these children need me and depend on me. He thinks I can give him the moon. I wish I could.

I love this little guy even when drives me crazy!

Busy Girl...

Brielle started preschool last week. She had been on the waiting list all summer long and we were all crossing our fingers that she would get in. When last Monday came around, I figured she probably hadn't gotten in...but then I got a phone call on Tuesday and the lady said that she was in to start the next day! This little preshool is really cute, fairly affordable, and we felt that Brielle needed to have this experience. She's 3 and a half going on 15. She's such a social butterfly, she's so outgoing, she can make friends with anyone. She needs more than anything the social interaction and also reinforcement of rules.

These two are inseparable! Braden was very sad to say goodbye to Brielle when we dropped her off at preschool...:(

So last Wednesday we all got ready to go drop her off at her preschool... when I was walking with her to her classroom...the realization sunk in that I was leaving her for 3 hours with people she had NEVER met in her life before! I got scared that they wouldn't take care of my little girl the way that I do. I was just about to leave my little girl with these strangers hoping that she will be safe with them...it's one thing to leave your child with someone who you know loves them...I guess in a way I was having separation anxiety for a second!...Brielle kept telling me that I needed to stay with her...when we got to the classroom she clung to my pants and then started to cry. It broke my heart...but the teacher was so wonderful and took full control of the situation. I said goodbye to my little girl and her teacher held her and took her in the classroom. I could hear her crying as I was walking next door to the office to fill out some paperwork.

When I went to pick her up she was so excited to see Braden! She gave Braden a big hug and said "I missed you little brother!" and Braden answered, "I missed you too Bwielle!" Her teacher had only good things to say about her...she asked me if she had ever been in school before because she was so cooperative during clean up time, she sang all the songs and was really friendly to everyone. The only complaint she had was that she took her shoes off at the playground...knowing Brielle...I'm glad it was just her shoes and I'm glad she didn't start taking her pants off...that's the first thing she does when she gets home is take her pants or skirt off...anyway, she cried again on Friday but stopped crying 30 seconds after I left...so I'm hoping that this Wednesday she will go in happily!

Last week she also started her ballet class with her good friend Bella. I have to say that it went okay...just okay...she had a hard time concentrating for some reason and was all over the place. Her teacher is VERY strict and I think she can sense that...She had a hard time at the beginning of the class but towards the end she was doing a lot better and was listening to the teacher.

They were both so excited about their first day of dance class.

My little ballerina...:)

This video is so funny...she was really into it!!!:)

I can't believe she's already in preschool...next thing I know I will be with her in the Bride's Room getting ready to give her away to get married...to me, though she will always be my little Bri bri...

Gonzalo & Susie's Visit...

One of my favorite childhood friends, Gonzalo, came to visit us for a week with cute wife Susie. Gonzalo's parents and my parents have known each other since their 20's in Perú. They were in the same ward for years. Gonzalo, my brother and I have pretty much have known each other since we were in our mom's bellies! I love the fact that we have kept in touch through the years...Gonzalo moved to Portland about the same time that we moved to Miami. We've seen each other quite a few times since we moved to the U.S.

I have such wonderful memories with Gonzalo and his family. We are so blessed to have him as a friend! I'm so happy that he married such an amazing girl like Susie! She is so kind and just a gem! Oh and...she is an AMAZING cook!!! Man! She makes the BEST fish tacos! We loved her and were so glad to get to know her during their visit here.

Susie and Goni...

Goni is a tall guy...he's 6'4...you can tell how tall he is standing next to Brielle!

Brielle absolutely LOVED Susie! She just thought Susie was the coolest girl in the world! Braden on the other hand...was having some issues...but he LOVED Gonzalo! I don't know what was up with Braden...

Family picture on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.

Kem was their tour guide for some of the days they were here. This is at the Library of Congress.

The following is a series of photos we took at 2 in the morning, the night before they left...

I think you can tell it was 2 A.M.

Trying to get a descent picture to show our moms...it didn't work out so well...

We ended up not getting a descent picture...but I think it shows how much fun we had with Gonzalo and Susie! They are a great couple and we are soooo happy they came!

We love you Goni and Susie! Can't wait to see you again!:)

Second Year of Med School has begun...

Scott started his second year of med school about 3 weeks ago. He's already had a test and our routine has begun! The kids and I have been missing him a lot! It was so much fun having him home over the summer and it is amazing how much he helped me when he was around...

A very tired man after taking a test playing with his kids...does it get any better than this? What a hottie!

The kids attack Scott when he gets home...they LOVE him and worship the ground he walks on...

Braden LOVES it when Scott rough plays with him!

My view from the couch...

They have way too much fun with Scott!

Where is my sticker???? That's what Brielle was so exasperatingly asking...Scott and I were rolling on the ground laughing our heads off...ha ha ha!!!!

Now that it has cooled down a little bit, we've been going to the playground! Brielle gets VERY excited, she acts like a little doggy who was just let out from a cage!!!:) ha ha!

Braden on the other hand...he likes to hold my hand...I love how his little hand fits in mine...

Lately, I've been feeling so in love with my children...they are amazing little people...I'm so content being their mother...

Back from the playground...it was fun while it lasted...in Brielle's words: "Those creatures were eating us up!!!" she's scratching like crazy...those mosquitoes are NOT fun!!! They got us everywhere!

Last but not least...

One day I was frantically looking for Braden's glasses...I looked EVERY WHERE!!!

This is where I found them...I swear we go to Hour Glass once a month...this is his third pair already! He pulls the nose pieces, takes the little plastic covers for his ears...you name it...I'm sure it won't be his last pair...

This is me at the end of the day!!!! Exhausted...I miss you Scottie...:)

The National Arboretum.

My brother has been telling that we HAVE to go the the Arboretum here in D.C. for a while now...we finally made a trip. It was a super hot day and the kids were tired but it was worth it! There was a Bonsai exhibit going on when we went. It was fun for Brielle and Braden to see the "baby trees" as they called them.

There is this big pool area where they have tons and tons of fish. I don't think I've ever seen that many fish at one time....and they were all starving!!! We had some pretzels and were feeding them some until we read that we couldn't feed them anything but their fish food...

Hungry?

My brother loves to take pictures...he's pretty good at it!:)

Such beautiful water lilies...

I guess they have one of the largest collections of bonsai trees in North America at the Arboretum. This museum is just one part of the Arboretum, there are beautiful gardens all around...we didn't get to see the rest...but we will for sure be returning to see the rest this fall.

The kids were calling the trees "baby trees". Brielle was starring intently at the little man sitting under the bonsai...

One tired boy...not a happy camper...

Brielle was posing for the picture...a miracle...because that NEVER happens!!!

So much love...they just like squeezing each other a little bit too much when they are hugging...ha ha:)

Snack time...man! it was hot that day!...we were all sweaty...

Aren't they precious? Seriously...they are so amazing! So much work goes into these trees becoming bonsai trees...it's amazing that someone has that much patience, it's a tedious process! What a great hobby...some of the trees that were in the exhibit were from the 1800's!

Just beautiful!

I was wishing I could jump into that water...it looked so refreshing!

Hot and sweaty...

I wish the kids would have cooperated more...but that's the way the cookie crumbles with the kiddos...I'm just glad they were able to run around and experience looking at the bonsai trees and the fish and the beautiful nature that was there...it was a great outing...and the best part? It was FREE!!! You can't beat that! We will be going there again...:)