Wow, it is getting harder and harder to keep up with this journal of our lives! I try to make it a priority because it is so fun to look back on for the whole family. Here's where I left off on December 30 2024!
Ice skating over Christmas break. Caroline loved it the most and is now talking about being on an ice hockey team. She is so hilarious.
Queen Ana on her throne.
We turned on the pool heater for a New Years Eve party. We had fun frying all the food and playing games until midnight with our friends.
She is getting better at pedaling her bike, it is so cute to watch because she usually lifts up her whole leg each time she steps down to pedal.
Baby and animal tea party. These two are really patient with Ana and often fight over who Ana loves the most and who can play with her. No wonder Ana is soo spoiled!
Meal prepping muffins for school breakfasts!
Some things change, some things stay the same!
Russell was ordained a deacon in January. His uncle came for it and it was nice to have him there supporting Russell! Russell was really excited for this day and Ricardo prepared him well.
Playing with Tommy's newest pets that he got for Christmas.
We had some really really cold days in January! Baby still needs to go for a walk though.
Visiting dad's office and practicing our brushing skills!
Ricardo planned a really amazing trip for the boys in January to Pennsylvania! Russell and his cousin from Washington DC were both getting the priesthood this year so Ricardo had the idea to meet my brother-in-law there and take them to the Priesthood Restoration site. Ricardo's dad also joined and they had so much fun doing some Philly things too. I felt so much nostalgia missing the trip and getting the pictures from him! Can't believe we moved from there 8.5 years ago!
They love their Temple U swag.
Fun times at the US Mint.
Meanwhile, back home, I tried to make it fun for Caroline with her major FOMO, so we got ice cream after school and enjoyed Moana 2 at the movie theater!
They met up with their cousins at Independence Hall and loved the tour. Russell is really interested in American history so absolutely loved this.
On Friday night they were also able to take the older boys to the Philadelphia temple for their first time doing baptisms there. We believe that we can do baptisms on behalf of those who died without having a chance to be baptized. Russell researched some family members who had not been baptized while they were alive and brought their names to the temple to be baptized for them. He had a great experience and we love the Philly temple since we were living there while it was getting built. My awesome friend babysat the younger 2 boys for a few hours so the rest of them could go that night. So grateful!
On Saturday they went tubing in the snow with their cousins!
Then they drove a few hours to the Priesthood Restoration site and loved their experience there too.
Sunday was actually Ana's 3rd birthday, which the boys were sad to miss. But, I made sure we threw her a party after they were back in town. Caroline and I enjoyed a low-key bday with Ana going to church, playing outside, and lighting up candles and blowing them out over and over and over again. She is obsessed with birthdays ever since and she can often be found in the back seat of the car singing "happy birthday to Ana!"
Meanwhile on Sunday, the boys had a wonderful time going to our old church congregation and seeing old friends there! They also went by our old house which hasn't changed too much.
Also got some Philly cheesesteaks and did some last minute Philly touring before heading home.
They have a fun video of them running down the Rocky steps in their suits.
Back to the temple so Thomas could visit. Both est. 2016!
Prepping for Ana's little birthday party!
Makeovers by Caroline
PJ day at school.
And getting ready for Valentine's day with the matching outfits!
Thomas also had a birthday in January and turned 9! He loves Percy Jackson so we had a Percy Jackson party. Lots of fun activities and of course, blue food.
Happy Birthday Thomas!!
Helping Thomas unwrap his gifts!
His actual bday was on a Sunday and he enjoyed a church picnic after church and the boys played in a piano recital that afternoon. They did a great job! Thomas wore a ribbon that said "Birthday Boy" all day and loved the acknowledgments wherever we went! Finished the day with steak and ice cream cake per his request.
Thomas and Caroline played soccer this winter. One day I was working for their game and my friend picked them up from school and took them to the game for me. She snapped this nice photo of Thomas helping Caroline. They often butt heads so I always love seeing sweet moments between them.
Color Run! Thomas' teacher always sends me fun photos too.
He made it to the district competition for the science fair! He was excited to go to Russell's middle school to present his project about capturing Burmese pythons in the Everglades using drones.
Just a girl and her chicken. He is the best rooster ever. So fluffy and easy to pick up :)
Percy Jackson themed Valentine's box! My kids are all about the themes.
We had a little Valentine's Party at our house since the kids were off school. It was going to be at a park but my allergies were so terrible this spring I volunteered to host it at my house so I didn't have to go outside. So glad that is over now and hoping next year isn't so bad!
Watching Ana do the 3 legged race was the best!
Also had to squeeze in Odyssey of the Mind practice on V-Day since their competition was on Saturday.
Russell and Thomas both competed this year on their school teams and had lots of fun. Ricardo was a trooper for staying at the all-day competition with them.
Daddy Daughter Dance-cowboys and aliens!
Ricardo has been using his rare free time to work on a cool outdoor fireplace. It's coming along and the kids are enjoying helping him!
Thomas loves getting an IOU for a sushi date with Mom and Dad every year for his birthday. We finally cashed it in a month after his bday!
Ana lost her "Happy" bear for awhile and it was the best day when she found it again!
Annual strawberry picking!
Ricardo's mom gave Thomas this tiny hamster for his birthday. He has been loving it. Ana has only lost it a few times.
Bring your stuffed animal to school day, so of course he made it a leash.
Russell's history group project advanced to the state competition. They did a play on the American Revolution and had so much fun working on it. They'll be traveling to Tallahassee soon to compete again.
Field Day! I was able to volunteer this year.
Last soccer game of the season!
We had a fun spring break! Mostly lots of playdates with friends, not all pictured here.
Birthday party for Caroline's friend at the park on St Patrick's Day
Mini golf!
We traveled to Jacksonville toward the end of the week and had fun hanging with these good friends. Lots of board games were played.
We went to Caroline's namesake, Fort Caroline.
The kids were playing soccer in the fort, it was really cute.
These two have been friends for almost a decade!
We headed to Tallahassee afterward for a temple trip. We traded off babysitting with friends at this beautiful park.
My parents came home from their mission to Germany in March! The kids had fun picking them up at the airport. They stayed with us for a few days before they left for Utah to visit other family.
That same weekend we had some good friends who had moved away come back to visit. Caroline had fun skipping school one day and going to the beach.
Also that same crazy busy weekend was the Lamb of God performance. It was great to be a part of it again. The shows went beautifully and were a great way to prepare for Easter.
Church Easter Egg hunt. I was in charge and you can see Ana at my feet happily opening all of her eggs!
Nail party:
Ana and her little buddy.
Blueberry time!
Russell's team got to go to the state competition for Odyssey of the Mind this year. They had a fun day!
We love having fish for Easter dinner so Ricardo planned a fishing trip for us the week of Easter. Caroline's first time!
Unfortunately we didn't catch anything edible for Easter! But we did catch a few fun things including a baby shark not pictured.
Fun Easter times for Ana with her babysitter while I was working.
Last weekend we had some good friends come stay with us for the weekend. On Saturday morning we were all up bright and early for the kids to do a triathlon at the local water park. They all had a great time and then we enjoyed hanging at the water park afterward!
That night we enjoyed going to a local Broadway dinner theater with some other friends and enjoyed seeing My Fair Lady there. It was really well done! Then up again bright and early again for Easter Sunday church. Russell and I both played the piano in church. It is fun to see him improving and getting more confident.
Happy Easter! He is risen!
Everyone had fun dying eggs after church and then we had our big feast of loaves and fishes.
We got to visit for school lunch this week!
Hooray, we are caught up for now! Best of luck to all with the end of the school year.
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