Na Na Na Na...Na Na Na Na...Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye

Can you believe it has been 5 years since I started this blog? FIVE years. Wow. Time sure does go by in a hurry. And now that we, in just a few days, will no longer be Tres Alejandros, it is time for one blog to close and another to continue on with the journey.

Thanks for joining us in our daily adventures as a family of three. We hope you will COME AND LISTEN to what will be happening in the future of our family!

**Be sure to add http://come-and-listen-to-what-hes-done.blogspot.com to your blog reader or bookmark for easy access!**

The Last as a Mother of One

In K4 the last big hoorah of the year is the Mother's Day Brunch. The room was decorated in pretty pastels. Tables made up with table cloths, hand printed placemats, and homemade flowers. It was perfect! (And didn't think to take a picture to show you. Sorry.)
The kids were so excited to have all the mommies come. They started with a little presentation of all they had learned this year--Psalm 23, Nursery Rhymes, the days of creation, and a cutesie little song about mother's. The program ended with a slide show of the kids throughout the year. It was super sweet.

We then got to sit down with our crowns on and have our lemonade and cookies. So yummy!

The kids did such a great job making us feel so special!

On Sunday, we had our typical morning at church. Well, kinda. I started the morning off in the nursery full of newborns who had been dedicated that morning. So glad I am not having 14! One I think I can handle! As I was leaving the nursery, I had several people stop me and tell me what a great job LilE did. Thanks? JD had said I was going to get one of my gifts at church, but I assumed it was a picture or something in a video. Oh. My. Instead it was an ENTIRE video of my daughter dancing and playing in her room. She was the video! I just about melted right there. And yes, I was the mom sobbing in church! My heart was so full of love for that girl! She was only a teeny bit confused at why I was crying.
If you have not already seen it, take a minute and enjoy my precious first born!



Isn't she beautiful? I sure think so!

After church we headed to Olive Garden with everyone else in town. We actually went with some friends and which made the hour and a half wait more bearable. We had the best conversations which made the hour and a half go by quickly.

Can you believe I didn't take a single picture on Mother's Day? Who am I? BUT I did take a picture with my girl the day before, so it will just have to do for this year.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Or maybe not.
But it is Easter weekend!

We took it easy on Saturday morning, baking and preparing for Sunday.

Saturday afternoon we had a couple of Life Group (aka Sunday School) parties at one of the lakes around here. It was a perfect day to be outside. We got to catch up with some old friends as well as meet some new ones.

Once home, I had put the final touches on LilE's Easter Dress (that will be another post in itself!) and gathered all the goodies for her Easter basket. It wasn't too exciting, lots of candy and a pillow pet--the Purple Unicorn. She is in love with Maggie. She goes everywhere with us now.

But the real celebration was on Sunday! What an amazing day of WORSHIPPING the LORD! I am so thankful to have the freedom to openly worship the Savior! I think I take that for granted just about every day. I shouldn't!

After church we got together with the "framily" for lunch. Ham, green beans, mac n cheese, biscuits, strawberry salad, and Kentucky pie. ALL so delicious! And yes, we put the kids in front of a movie so the adults could talk. Don't judge. They weren't getting into trouble!

After a nap, we went to hunt some eggs in the front yard. The egg hunts this year just weren't working out as planned. The first go-round we made it hard--because LilE is now a big girl and has to hunt with the big kids. And we learned at one hunt that she doesn't run and fight after the eggs. Therefore, we made it a big of a challenge. And she wasn't really up for it. So we did it again a little more on her level and she had fun.

 And she did just about eat her weight in sugar on Sunday. But didn't we all?

Out of Town Guests

Mimi and Pop were ready to come out...and we were ready to have them! It has been 3 full months since we have seen them and 10 months since they have been out here. (We enjoyed LOTS of trips to Texas last year!)

Due to ticket prices, we got to have them for an extra day! Woot!! They flew out Thursday afternoon. We picked them up and then Mimi and I went grocery shopping. Sounds like your idea of a grand weekend, right? Next time hopefully I will be better prepared, but I do enjoy that one on one time with my mom. Usually LilE has her undivided attention.

LilE did have her plans for what Mimi and Pop were going to do with her when they arrived--color. And color they did. Isn't it great that her idea of a grand time with the grands is coloring. I love it! (but didn't take a single picture on Thursday)

Friday morning, LilE got up and went to school. We kinda piddled around the house. Mimi and I cooked a gourmet lunch--seriously. I tried out Pastor Ryan's Pasta Carbonara (from The Pioneer Woman). It was delicious! So, I am keeping that recipe for another meal.

photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

After lunch we packed up our letterboxing gear and headed out to the Science Center here in town. They have several boxes so we went on a hunt. And then we all got tired and called it quits after we found 4 of the 10. All that means is we get to go back and enjoy the facilities again. They release the butterflies in May. That sounds like fun. And while I was there I picked up some info and registered my sweet girl for some big girl summer camps!

Saturday it decided to rain on us. All. Day. Long. Boo. But my child was in heaven. That meant she and Mimi could craft and craft and craft!

We picked up some pine cones on Friday while on the Nature Trail. Didn't they turn out cute? It is our family in Pine Cone Bunnies. Awww.

Sunday we headed to church and then came home and rested the rainy afternoon away. My parents were able to rock it out in our new Modern service. It wasn't so bad, they said, but they will stick with the contemporary at home. :)

Monday was a laid back morning and day of packing and picking up and playing and picture taking. 

After lunch, we headed to the airport. Back track a bit. LilE was out of sorts all morning. Nothing going her way. And we realized she understood Mimi and Pop were heading home in the afternoon. After we hugged and waved and blew kisses, LilE just buried her head in my leg. And as we walked away, she began to cry. This is the first time she has cried when company has left. It broke my heart. She is finally old enough to understand and it hurts her heart not to be with family.

But to our rescue came the TSA guy. (I know...out of character for those guys!) He gave us a website to watch Mimi and Pop's plane fly back to Texas! How neat! After their flight took off we headed on over to FLIGHT AWARE and put in our airline and flight number. This is what it showed us (click to see the detail):

How fun! Then we snuggled and watched a movie and she was good to go.

We are super-dy duper-dy excited that the next time we see them we will have a new baby in our house!! We can't wait!!

Family Photos

Are you liking Sporty Wee's dressed up look? Isn't he handsome in a tux?

We couldn't pass up a bit of a photo shoot with JD looking a little edgy.

LilE was trying...

A little Momma/Daughter action

And our new photo to go in our living room. Or maybe it will just stay right here.

Other Texas Stuff

While in Texas we did some other non-Christmasy things.

1. High School Friends. JD had lunch with some HS buddies. He took the camera, but forgot to take a picture.

2. College Friends. We had dinner with one of my college buddies. Heckler and family met us for dinner one night. We loved catching up with them. We had not seen them since their oldest was born. She is now 9. Too long.

3. Speaking of dinner, we had lots and lots and lots of Mexican food. And that craving was satisfied. Two Christmas dinners, Mexican pork and bean burritos by Nonnie, tortilla soup by Mimi, Mexican Inn, El Chico, and Abeulos. Plus leftovers. I was loving life!

4. Catching up with sister friends. You know the girls who are you sisters, even if you don't share genetics. Oh how I LOVE these girls. Friends you haven't seen for years and you can sit down and talk as if you just saw them yesterday.

J (on the left) is expecting her first baby in May and C (on the right) has 3 girls of her own. The four girls have grown so much since THE LAST TIME we saw them. LilE named her new Baby Sarah Cate after one of her friends. Guess they hit it off!

5. Home school. LilE played some school with Mimi. Lots of book reading and some worksheets she got in her stocking were on the list of assignments.

6. Game time. Pop got a new set of dominoes and Mexican train set for Christmas. We sat down several nights after to play. All aboard!

7. Letterboxing. You know we can't travel and not do some boxing! We traveled to the big city, where Brother and Elle live, one day and found 7 or so! A good day for us! Have you ever seen a cemetery in the parking lot of a Best Buy? Well, we have now. Interesting things you find while LBing.

8. Uneventful travel home. After a crazy trip out to Texas, the trip home was boring. PRAISE THE LORD! We were able to stop and eat lunch with some friends from Pine Cove, do some letter boxing along the way, and just enjoy each other. Such a GREAT 17 days in the Lone Star State!!

Christmas with the Smiths

Hmm...didn't know that was my maiden name, did you? You can say you learned something new today.

The night we arrived in C-town, we had a Mexican dinner with Mimi's family. I just love the little cousins. The girls, ages 5, 4, and 3, just played and played and played.

*Hoping my mom got a better picture than I did. Waiting on that CD to come. Hey Mom, Can you burn a CD? Thanks.*
Elle made these super cute toboggans for the little ones. Doesn't K look like a gangsta with the toboggan and jewels?

After the extended family left, we did our traditional one gift on Christmas eve. Typically we do PJs all around, but this year we rocked the boat. For as long as I can remember, all 30 something years, my parents have purchased PJs for Christmas eve (except that one year...). I love it! And it is something that I want my children to remember that their parents also did for them. So, the torch has been passed and now the grandkids are the only ones getting PJs from now on. There you have it...I ruined Christmas (HA!). 

 But we still got a picture of the big kids.

Christmas morning LilE woke up to a plate full of cookies, just as requested. 

We played our games while opening presents.

This year, Christmas Bingo.

LilE got lots and lots of goodies. She received a new ballerina outfit in hopes of taking some lessons this year (which she immediately went to put on and wore for the rest of the day)

and a Bitty Baby of her own (since Momma will have her own come June).

Did you know newborns like to play airplane on the day they are born?

Oh, and LilE got her gangsta hat too.

On the 26th we headed to visit Pop's family. More cousins!! I really wish we lived closer to our family. Both sets of kids had the best time! Obviously, dress up was a fun time for all.

We had such a great time with our extended family!

We are so blessed with family who we also call our friends.

Happy Birthday Jesus

This year Rudy suggested we do a Happy Birthday Jesus party for the family. I thought it was an awesome idea. I looked up some ideas online, but they were for a party with lots of little ones. And we have two. Therefore, we decided to go with dinner and a birthday cake.

She had the place all decorated! I love all the fun colored balloons.

After dinner on the fine china (seriously, I was a bit nervous my girl would break something), JD told the Christmas story with the help of some Little People.

My one contribution was the cake. I found a great idea online and I ran with it. It was a 3 layer cake that tells the salvation story. The chocolate layer represents the sin we each have in our lives. The red layer stands for the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for our sins. When Jesus died on the cross he cleansed us of our sin and made us pure (white icing). We are to be in the Word every day, growing closer to him which is represented by the green layer. One day, when our life on earth is finished, those who have accepted his FREE gift will be with him in heaven, where the street are made of gold (yellow icing).  Around the top of the cake are 12 candles, one for each of us at the table. The red candle represents Jesus. The candles are lit to remind us we are to be the light of the world and to shine for Him each and every day.

The inside



We had a great evening of celebrating the gift our the Savior this Christmas and we look forward to celebrating in the years to come!

Christmas with the Alejandros

We arrived at 11:00pm on Saturday night and were up bright and early getting ready for Christmas on Sunday with JD's family. We love that everyone was able to be together again this year! (Last year the ice kept one of JD's sister's away. Boo.) We were able to enjoy a couple of meals together as well as playing with all the new toys! FYI. I did not take many pictures today. I enjoyed the view in front of the camera. 

The kids, big and small, coloring

Our beautiful nieces

JD's second sister had to head back home Sunday afternoon. We hate that we can't see her more often, but enjoy the time we do spend with her.

One night, when it was about 65 degrees after dark, we headed out to look at the Fantasy of Lights. It is a 70+ year old tradition in the town. Due to the perfect weather, we were able to walk around and look at all the displays--from the Nativity to the Three Little Pigs.

Santa's sleigh--Texas style

One night we went to Rudy's house. They have a super great backyard. And since the weather was still perfect, the kiddos got to play outside in the HUGE pile of leaves.

On another day, we headed out to do some Letterboxing. Call us crazy. We know. It was the day the cold front came through and it was 40 degrees out. But it was the only day we had free and we needed to get out. One of the boxes was located in the same park as the falls, the same falls that the city is named after. Or the man made ones. Anywho. We walked the extra 1/2 mile to see the sight since JD and I have been together for 11 years and I have yet to see them. Now all my dreams have come true! (Note: sarcasm was inserted here.)

And a trip to WF would not be complete without a trip to Green Pastures. Jess does such a great job preparing for the little ones to come out and ride. She has 4, maybe 5 horses, and she rode them all to see which one would be the best for a 2 and 4 year old. She is awesome.

Daddy even got a turn

The horses love being fed carrots. LilE is not the biggest fan of feeding the animals, but Duke LOVES to feed them. 

We had a great week with JD's family. We always love spending time with them and wish we could see them more often. But we are thankful for JD's vacation schedule that allows us time home with them each year!