I'm back from my blogging vacation.

If only it was a vacation. I've been so insanely buisy that it's not even funny. Between my kids, pageant prep, finishing a major project, and everything else a Mom does. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it. Here's a little taste of what we've been up too.

Here we have Picasso and Monet. This is my attempt at giving my children an opportunity to express their creative side. I think Sophia's into modern art, because she had more paint on her than she did on the paper.

Here are some of my sweet students at the Daily Dose program. They are from Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. I love these ladies.

Oh, and somebody had a birthday. Thanks to all who sent out such nice birthday wishes to me. Gabriela through me a party once we got home from dinner. I usually just get one really yummy piece of cake from a restraunt to share with everyone. I of course get the biggest piece and all the leftovers.

Happy Halloween!

The 1st annual Ruiz family Halloween Party was held at our house. Everyone came over and some of us took the kids out trick o treating. I couldn't have asked for better weather. It was so nice and warm. If we would have let them, I think they would have went on for hours, but after an hour or so, we decided their bags were full enough. Earlier in the day, I took the girls to Macy's our local grocery store and they had trick o treating in the store. Sophia was impossible. I thought that she would just put the candy in her bag since she couldn't open them, but oh no, paper or not, she was going for it. She would bite staight through the wrappers until she got what she wanted. Same went with trick o treating. She wanted to eat it as soon as she got her hands on it. All the cousins together. They all did a great job with their costumes.
Miss Raquel (Dorothy) and Miss Gabriela (Tinkerbell)

Because of the weather, Julianne was able to go with us and was a perfect angel in the stroller. She was our little cavewoman.

I dressed up as a Rodeo Queen and Miguel...Michael Phelps.

I love this guy for his bravery and willingness to just let go and have some fun. I've been anticipating this costume for a month and it was well worth the wait. Everyone couldn't stop laughing at him and his bare chest. He even shaved his chest for the event. Way to go Amor!

Julianne and her cousin Julieta. Julianne is crying because I sat her down. Typical


Happy Halloween 2008!

Our leopard wearing gals. Julianne and Annabelle

Tinkerbell goes to Preschool!

So here it is folks...my tinkerbell creation. This is the costume I sewed all on my own. Not bad huh, for a first try anyway. It was fun getting her ready for school this morning. I even put makeup on the little munchkin. I think I was just as excited as she was. I felt like a real mom last night at 9:00 trying to finish her treats to give away and finishing the last finishing touches on the costume. This is her with her long time buddy Blake. She gave him a big hug when she saw him. She then proceeded to give everyone else in the class a hug. What a loving child I have. This is her friend Lilly she keeps talking about. I'm glad I finally have a face to put with the name.

These are our wonderful treats. We made monster hands with popcorn and candy corn. We're trying folks. I think this kid is so darn cute!

Our Week in Review

Okay, these pictures are in reverse order, but oh well. Yesterday we got a nice surprise from my dear mother. She sent us these Halloween Cookies from Cookies by Design. She did this last year too, so now she's made it a tradition. They are so huge. Miguel was excited and dove right in. The girls have yet to earn one, because they don't finish their meals. Thanks Mom, we really enjoy them and it makes us feel special.

Nothing's better than a cookie and a glass of milk. It does a body good or at least the love handles!

Julianne has become quite the eater and is downing cereal and a fruit or vegetable twice a day. She also really loves her teething biscuits. Can you tell? She always has to be changed after one of them and her face must be soaked in warm water to remove the leftovers.

Last Saturday, Miguel and I got to go on a date to the BYU football game. It was a noon game and the weather was amazing so we asked his sister to watch the girls. We are so thankful that they did and we bought tickets there at the stadium. It was so nice and I love watching the game, especially in the stadium. Thank goodness they won. We love our Cougars.

You are only a kid once.

I remember crying last year around Halloween because I felt like I was the only one around here who cared anything about the holidays. Miguel could care less whether or not I decorated or anything else. He may quietly appreciate deep down, but he's not going to initiate anything. My children were too young to know the difference and I was so bummed about it. I realized that my mom and dad ruined me. They were so good about doing so much fun stuff for the holidays. Our house was always decked out and we did lots of fun activities. Now I'm the mom! It was so much more fun when I wasn't in charge. I realize that my mom created that Christmas spirit in our home. If I don't work hard at, there will not be a Christmas spirit in our home for my kids to experience. This is another one of those mother appreciation posts. The insight I'm gaining this year is that "you are only a kid once". Santa only visits for so many years, you can only go trick or treating for so many years, you get the idea. As Pres. Monson mentioned in his conference talk, these years will pass all too soon, so I'm out to live it up the best I can with my kids and help them have the best holidays possible, even if that means I have to plan every family party or activity. Maybe one day my kids will write nice things about me and say "Thanks Mom."
As a side note. I think that they should teach in those marriage prep courses at the Y that you should look at how your spouse's family celebrated the holidays. I think you would have a whole lot more fun if you traditions and expectations were similar. Don't worry, I still love my husband, I'll just have to drap him along for the ride!

Family Photo

Princess Julianne

After looking at prices online for photo sessions, I decided I better give it my best effort first. Here is the result. Luckily, Julianne is the most photogenic of the bunch.