Thanksgiving

We didn't do anything for Thanksgiving because I had to work all day 7AM-7PM. Max went to Tucson to spend the day with his family and my dad went to Sheila's sisters house. My mom had Thanksgiving lunch with my sisters because they both went to work at 3PM. So all of our schedules were so messed up. The day after Thanksgiving I took the kids to my mom's house and they made a gingerbread house. Every time Bella would put a candy on the house she would like her frosted fingers. Anytime a candy fell off the house she picked it up and said it's dirty and would eat it. I think more candy went in her mouth than on the house. Later that day we went shopping with Steph and my mom the kids were so naughty in the store that I had to take them out and they sat in time out until my mom was done shopping. They looked so sad sitting outside people just stared at me thinking I was some horrible mother. I laughed ha ha ha. Anyways then we came back home and I took some pictures for our Christmas cards.

fall festivities

I love this time of year! It's perfect for playing outside and doing outdoor activities. Halloween was fun the kids were more into the holiday this time. They walked up to the houses and said trick or treat and thank you. I got so many compliments on how my kids were so polite and well mannered. I know one thing and that's manners and Max and I try to teach them to say please, thank you, and your welcome.
Max was a Jedi knight from Star Wars and Bella was a Bunny. Oh and Big Max was a policeman from the 70's ha ha ha.

Puert Rico

I know it's so late to post the pictures but anyways here it goes. We had so much fun the kids did great on the plane ride there they were really excited. We were so scared that it was going to rain the whole time we were there because it was the start of hurricane season but thankfully it was sunny and beautiful. I'm still amazed that a place could be so lush and tropical. I guess that's what happens when you have lived in AZ for 24yrs. The Gran Malia resort was beautiful the rooms were huge! We were close enough to the rain forest that we went twice. We heard that there was this waterfall that you can go swimming in. So we made the journey towards it and it was amazing. We jumped into the freezing water but didn't care because it was just so impressive. We stayed at the Gran Malia for 3 days and then went to the San Juan. When we arrived at the Hilton we toured San Juan at night. When you walk down the streets in old San Juan there is salsa music pouring out of every restaurant and club. I couldn't help but dance while holding my Pina Colada. The next morning we went to an island off the coast of P.R. called Culebra. It had white sandy beaches the water was so clear and warm. We did some snorkeling which was really fun to see all the different fish. While snorkeling I just kept thinking if a shark came out of the coral could I out swim it. ha ha ha! We had some good times and I was thankful that I could take the trip with my family.

Yay!

After last years family vacation and seeing how much fun it all was we decided to go BIG this year! So we are going to Puerto Rico in May. It was like a family New years resolution to travel more and take more family vacations. Maybe next year Europe? oh no watch out Europe the Soto-De La Cruz family is coming 2010! I guess I have to start saving. The picture below is the resort we are staying at and the other is a recent picture of us.

I almost forgot that I had uploaded videos on my mom's computer until the other day when I was going through her documents and stumbled upon these precious videos. The one above is Max at 9 mos playing with a balloon after his 3rd surgery for a hernia repair and reconstructive surgery of his abdomen. He is such a fighter and so cute! I remembered I cried when the nurse took him from my arms to prep him for surgery. I remember seeing him turn around and seeing the look on his face like "who's this lady and where is she taking me?". That was one of the hardest moments for me. In the video you can tell that he is still a little doped up on the drugs they gave him.
This is a video of little B (that is what we call Bella). She was so funny when she was little. Now she is such a diva!
This is Max's first Halloween!

First day of school

Today was Max's first day of pre-k. He was so excited to go to school. He would always ask to go but I had a hard time trying to find one that wasn't going to be $188 a week. Finally I found one that is a program through Mesa Public Schools. I still had to pay but at least it was 133 per month...that much I could live with. So he will be going to school Monday- Thursday from 9-11am. So that means that for those 2 hrs Bella will be with out her big brother. =( so triste! Its is insanely difficult to put kids in schools because all the good ones fill up so quickly and they have long waiting lists or because you have to pay a huge sum of money.
I also registered him for next year to start young learners kindergarten. It's a half day program and my understanding is that it fills up quickly.
When I picked Max up from class I asked the teacher how he did. She said that he did really well and she was surprised that he had never been in a classroom setting. She was even surprised that he could write his name...of course it was backwards but the letters are all correct. He even had homework today! He has to get a shoe box and decorate it for Valentine's day. It's actually homework for the family haha. I have a few shots of the kids from the other day and more will come later I promise!