9 Months and WALKING!

I know I just did the post about all her milestones in her 8th month.... but today Abby turned 9 months AND... took her first steps. So she is officially "walky-talky." It was at Isaac's parents house. I was walking her around and she was holding on to just one of my fingers, when all of a sudden she let go and walked strait to her daddy! Then we flipped her around and she walked to me. And of course I did not have my camera. But luckily when we got home she still wanted to do it. So here's the video. Enjoy!

8 Month Milestones

Abby is 8 months and will be 9 months on the 15th! I usually only do baby posts for 3, 6, 12 months. But I had to post for this one because she hit so many milestones! This, the 8th month, she started crawling. She also started standing on her own and cruising! She also got her first two teeth. And... she said her first word! She actually has been saying it for about 3 weeks now and she now says 3 words. So guess what her first word was??? ELMO! Blast that Elmo! But she now says Mama & Dada, so that is good. But Elmo is deffinately her favorite word and she says it all the time! At the end is some super cute video of her saying it. We had Elmo on the T.V. and that is why she is saying it.

Here's a picture where you can kind of see her new 2 front teeth

Also, a quick update on Benjamin is that he does soooo well with her. He doesn't get jeleous at all ( and I know this is not normal) and he worries about her and always is checking on her to make sure she is o.k. and they even play together now. And when that happens I feel soooo glad that I had them so close together! That is the reason I had them so close together, so they could play together and give me a few moments of time to do my own things. It is wonderful! So... below are some pictures of the kids that my friend took when we had the kids at the park on a beautiful Indian Summer day. We always have fun together because her kids are the same age as my kids.

Abby with her "eskimo" sweater. She loves the swings

Samantha

Benjamin loves the swings

His Best Buddie Aaron

On the Slide

Boys will be Boys

Happy Birthday Isaac!

Today is Isaac's 29th Birthday! One more year to enjoy his 20's!! We celebrated with a small family party on Sunday afternoon. My favorite part is that even though Benjamin knew it was Daddy's birthday he still had this priceless look on his face when we sang Happy Birthday. He had this look on his face like he thought we were singing to him. I wish I had it on tape, it was so cute! Anyway, I wanted to do something that my friend does on her blog. In honer of Isaac's Birthday here are 10 things I LOVE about Isaac...



1. His sense of humor, he comes across to most people as a serious guy, but when you get to know him, he is hilarious. One of the reasons I married him is because he knows how to crack me up.

2. He is an amazing Father. He loves his kids and despite his busy life, with school and being in the bishopric, he always finds time to play with his kids and even takes Benjamin to the pool (his favorite place) at least once a week.

3. He is an amazing husband. Despite his busy life he tries to help me with the kids and the cleaning as much as possible. Honestly I didn't think I would get any help once he started his MBA, but he still does and it makes me feel like the luckiest wife in the world.

4. He supports me and makes me want to be a better person. Whether it is going to the gym, or my calling or wanting to go be with girl friends, he supports me and encourages me to do what makes me happy.

5. He takes his responsibility of being a father and provider seriously and considers it an honor to be a father and provider. There are so many dead beat guys out there. I am so grateful that I found a good one. Not just a good one. I think I got one of the best!

6. He has the patience of Job. He never loses his cool. NEVER. It amazes me. And I am so grateful, I truly believe that is why we have never fought. Don't get me wrong. He gets upset. But I have never seen him angry and he has never lost it.

7. He strives to keep the commandments with strict obedience. It amazes me and inspires me. He is a wonderful example.

8. He loves the Lord and humbly serves him.

9. He dances. He dances with the kids and he dances with me.

10. He is one hot, sexy..., Latin Man! And I would expand on that but this is a family blog after all.

I love you Isaac Granados! You are my soul mate. My media naraja. I would be lost with out you. Happy Birthday Mi Amor!

Happy Halloween!

Well, this Halloween season was definitely an eventful one. Benjamin was Tigger (from Winnie the Pooh) and Abby was a flower. They were both sooooo cute. But I think I am a little biast. Anyway, it started with two Costume Birthday parties the week before Halloween. On Wednesday he had a Halloween party at his pre-school. Then on Friday night, we went to the Halloween Extravaganza at the Legacy Center. That was super fun! Then today we met up with Isaac's brother and his family for their Trunk-or-Treat and then Trick-or-Treating with his cousins. Benjamin just adores his cousins. He had so much fun. The funniest thing was that he was like the Energizer Bunny! He just wanted to get to the next door as quick as he could he couldn't believe that he could knock on a door and people would give him candy! He was completely amazed by it. His cousin would start to lag and he would turn around and say, "C'mon Awon... c'mon 'iego." (Aaron & Diego) It was fun and now we have way more candy than we can handle! We had a ton of fun!

Cousin Shay's Halloween Birthday party

All the kids at the party (Shay is holding Abby)

Playing Duck, duck, goose. Benjamin loved this game and did very well at it!

Tigger loves cake!

Later that day the Huerta boys from our ward had a combined Birthday party. Benjamin was in heaven! Two Birthday parties in one day!

Hitting the Pinata

Playing the Basketball game at the Halloween Extravaganza

He shoots....

He Scores!

Trick-or-Treating with his Cousins Diego & Aaron

Abby stayed with Daddy at Nena's house, but had lots of fun too!

Mmmm, a Dots box!

Benjamin with his spoils.... that pumpkin is totally full and there is more in the bag! Craziness!

Family Portraits 2009

Well a couple of weeks ago we had family portraits done. Yes, once again by Kate. (BTW, she has a new photography blog up called Kate's Candids) I recomend her to anyone, she is so talented and her prices are unbeatable. Especially her family discount. (Hint, hint to all my cousins out there). I had a hard time choosing my favorites so I just put a bunch on this Post. Enjoy!

Trip to Idaho

Last week I had the chance to visit Marie at her new home in Nampa, ID. Her husband was on a business trip so I took the chance to go visit her and it was just us and four little ones for 4 days. It was crazy but we had so much fun! We managed to take the kids to McDonald's to play, we hauled them to Wal-mart and Costco for shopping, we stayed up way to late laughing our heads off and I think our kids got a little spoiled along the way, but we did get to the gym once for Zumba class. So I would say it was a successful visit. Mostly we just hung out at her house and reminisced about the past and how much our lives have changed and grown. And it was so fun to see her beautiful new home. So... we had so much fun taking pictures of our little ones that we forgot to take a pic of us. Oh well. Here are some highlights and a cute video of the boys playing some "one on one." Marie I love you! I had so much fun! It was like old times except with four little ones in tow, of course. ;)

Yum!! McDonalds!

The girls looking so cute in their Mc D's high chairs

Ice Cream at Costco

Sharing a Costco Cart (So cute!)

I love this pic, Jane really was NOT bothering Abby

Abby was just being onry (but it's a funny pic)

After Costco we had an "un-birthday" party for the boys With cupcakes, balloons, and a present (the cowboy stuff) They loved it!

What a cute cowboy

After the boys went to bed the girls got a bath

"What's that thing you keep pointing at me?"

A September Afternoon

Last Saturday was such a beautiful warm sunny day! Maybe the last. After we got some chores done we made lunch together and then went to the park. First I wanted to tell everyone about our lunch. Not because it was sooo amazing, but because it was so fun and I thought maybe some of you out there would like to try this with you own kids. So... we made... Mini Pizzas! It's such a fun little activity for the kids, and it's pizza, and it's mini, so they feel soooo cool eating them. Anyway they are really easy. You buy some English Muffins, cut them in half and toast them in the toaster. Then put a little margarin (or butter) on them. Then put them on a cookie sheet, let your kids add the sauce, cheese, and toppings. Pop them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 6 minutes, or under the broiler just until the cheese melts and that's it! There done!
So after lunch we went to the park and layed in the shade while Benjamin ran around the park. It was just beautiful! Such a fun relaxing day.

Such a pretty girl!

So Happy!

Benjamin coming off the slide (his favorite thing)

Arlen's Baptism

On Saturday, Sept. 19 Arlen was baptized! She started taking the discussions when she stayed with us and was very interested. But then when she went back to Logan they were put on hold while we finished all the wedding plans. But once the wedding was over she jumped right back into the discussions with the missionaries and just loves the church and all she is learning. We are so happy for her and he decision to be baptized by one holding authority to do so. Her baptism was very beautiful and the Spirit was felt very strongly. The next sunday Isaac confirmed he a member of the church and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. He also gave her a beautiful blessing and again the Spirit was felt very strong. We are so happy for Arlen and pray that the Lord will continue to bless her. We love you Arlen!

The Elder's that taught her, Fred, & Arlen

The imediate family that was there

Afterward we had a small BBQ, and when Gary decided to lay down and take a nap in the shade, Benjamin decided to go lean up against his knees and have a conversation. He, He, it was too cute!

Say "cheese" grampa Gary!

The Big Switch

On Labor Day we painted Ben's new room. Then this past weekend we made the big switch, we set up his new room and his "Big Boy Bed," and expecting the worst, we did his bed time routine and put him down. And he stayed!!! We couldn't believe it! No tantrum, no complaining, no getting up. We were shocked and so happy. Man we have a good kid!.... So we thought. Then at 2 A.M. we are startled awake by a little visitor. Yes, he woke up and came to find us. So we took him back, put him in bed and.... he went back to sleep. Then at 7 AM he came running into our room and exclaimed "Good Morning!" The next night, was the exact same thing. He wakes up in the middle of the night, but before he was confined in a crib, so he would just go back to sleep but now, he can get out of bed and we have to put him back to sleep. Any suggestions on how to keep him in bed?? So then the third night, Sunday night, just when we think we have a perfect child.... he proves us otherwise. Isaac put him to bed and gets out and runs into our room... what?! I guess he just wasn't sleepy last night. So Isaac puts him to bed, again, and again, and again! Benjamin thinks this is a fun game and even starts to mimic daddy's "I'm getting really frustrated" hands on his hips stance. Then daddy crosses his arms, Benjamin crosses his arms. Daddy gets tired of it and turns off all the lights and goes to bed. Benjamin stands by our bed thinking he's won. I finish nursing Abby and put her down in the crib. (Yes, she is finally out of our room! Yea!) Now it's my turn, I put him back to sleep again, and again, and again. Ahhhh! Finally I lock his door. I wasn't sure if it was the right move (I didn't want to tramatize him) but I waited as he cried at the door. But it was totally a fake cry to see if we would come. When we did not come, he realized the "game" was over and ran back to his bed, hopped in and went to sleep. The whole ordeal was about an hour. But now we know what to do. Now I just have to figure out how to keep him in bed when he wakes up in the middle of the night.

So to explain, just a bit, we turned the guest room into his new room, but because we have no where else to put the guest bed, we left it in there and set him up in the awesome little nook that is in the room!

Before

After

His awesome Sports bedding that my mom and I made!
And the cute sports pillows and wall stickers, are from the dollar store!

I also added some pink to the nursery

Pink bows to the crib and the wall stickers say, "once upon a time there was a princess"

Utah State Fair!

Yesterday, we went to the opening day of the Utah State fair! They had an opening day special, only $2 to get in... so we had to go. It was so fun! They had lots of shows, animals, exhibits and a 57 foot slide. Being 2 years old, Benjamin's favorite things are slides, so we took him on it and he laughed with joy the whole way down. I filmed it, the video is at the bottom of this post. And following are pictures of most everything we did.

Ready for the Fair!

The Alligator show. It was really cool, but Benjamin was really scared and did not want to look.

At the wildlife exhibit. Doesn't Benjamin make a cute goat?!

Daddy, makes a cute goat too!

Chickens and Ducks! These and the pigs were Benjamin's favorite animals.

They had this great farm exhibit for kids. It took them through all the processes of how we get our food. He had to "feed the cow," then milk the cow. Then "pick an apple," then "plant a seed," then pick his carrot that he "grew."

Then he "drove a tractor," (tricycles that said John Deer on them), then he grabbed an egg from the chicken coop, then sold his goods a the farmers market then got "paid" a dollar. Then used his dollar to buy cereal at the grocery store. It was actually really cool and Benjamin loved putting things in his basket.

The Shark encounter! (A dude swimming in a giant aquarium with sharks) it was actually really cool.

Waiting for the Bear show to start.

Bear photo opp. The Bear show was really neat! And these are the bears that were used to create the Disney characters for the movie Brother Bear.

One tired little King by the time we got home.

Fred & Arlen's Wedding

On Saturday, August 29th we had the opportunity to participate in Fred & Arlen's wedding. Participate?!!..... O.k. let's be honest, I planned to whole thing. But I had a lot of fun doing it. I volunteered to be there wedding planner, because Arlen just had no idea what to do or where to go, not to mention the language barrier. So I was very busy this summer planning the wedding, but I must also give credit to my wonderful mother who also did a ton to help her and me. She said that it felt like she was marrying off another daughter all over again. We were both exausted afterward. But it was a beautiful wedding and we had a lot of fun that day. I waited to do the post because I was waiting to get pictures back from Kate. She was the photographer and since I was running around all day, I did not have time to take pics myself. So, because there were so many I chose a few of my favorites and created a slideshow. Enjoy the pics.

Abby is 6 Months!

Well on August 15th Abby turned 6 months. It's amazing how time flies. When Benjamin turned 6 months we took him to JC Penny to get some professional pics done. Unfortunately that is not going to be possible for Abby. Lucky for me Kate took some pretty amazing ones (the one's in yellow) when she was 5 months. Nothing special, we were just hanging out in her back yard. But they are soo amazingly cute! So enjoy the pics and there is video of Abby at the end!

Isn't this a beautiful picture!

Abby about 5 months

So happy!

Puppy dog eyes!

First time with Solids

She finally started taking solids right at 6 months.

The first video is of her tasting carrots and peas for the first time.

So far, rice cereal is her favorite.

Cute Hat!

Even cuter Flowers!