Time for a change...

We are having a BOY!!!



He looks very happy and healthy in there...and calm too. We were wondering if we would even be able to tell the gender for a while there because the little guy just wouldn't move. We are still in disbelief a little bit. Our sweet ultrasound technician checked several extra times for us just to make sure! The girls are all excited since they were hoping for a brother. A whole new world awaits us...

Gloria's new hiding place...

She fits perfectly!

"Tito and Tita"

We went this past weekend for a visit to Lito and Lita's house (Gloria called them Tito and Tita). We all had a really great time together. We took a trip to the beach, took photos at the HEB photo center, went to the neighbor's pool, attended a wedding (sort of...we got the time wrong and arrived at the end of the ceremony!) and had a shrimp boil. Whew! What a great weekend! And here are the photos...

A morning trip to the beach...the water was perfectly cool and clean. It was great!


My sand babies...








Water girl


Some father/son boogie boarding...





The girls in their Hello Kitty outfits, one of the outfits Lita had them take photos in. Aren't they cute?








The pool




To jump or not to jump? (she chose not to jump)


Cannonballs!




Allia's splash!


Learning to dive...she did a great job!


At the wedding in their dresses that Lita bought for the photos...


These pails kept Gloria entertained for about half an hour! The girls are still playing with the ones they collected before we left the reception.


Lito dancing with his girls

a small sacrifice

Yesterday at mass, we were sitting in a pew in which part of the seats are without a kneeler. Manah whispered to Allia to come over by her where there was some room on her kneeler since Allia was kneeling on the floor. Allia whispered, "No thank you. I am making a sacrifice. But don't tell anyone!"

How sweet! Manah told Austin and I but Allia doesn't know that we know. What a girl. I just pray she is rewarded greatly in Heaven!

VBS finale

The girls had their final day of VBS yesterday, and they performed all of their songs with the hand motions for us at the end of the morning. It was really cute and sweet to see all of the children so enthusiastic singing praise and worship!

A full car!

Here are our VBS'ers! Well, actually there are 2 extras. We are carpooling with our friends Blaise and Brenna. The kids think it is so exciting to all ride together! And it is nice for us mommies to only drive one way each day. Thanks, Shannon!

A subtle hint

Gloria's new way of letting me know she has a dirty diaper...

"Peee-eeeewww, tink" she says a couple of times a day. Thanks for the hint, Gloria!

My husband, Mr. Fun

(remember the zip line?)

Austin found this air hockey table really cheap on Craig's list and couldn't resist. Last time we went to Chucky Cheese the girls loved playing the game there. They were SO excited when they got up from naptime and found this. They didn't even mind the 100+ degree heat! Of course, Austin enjoys playing it with them too!

This week is VBS, so we are all really excited!

Our new puppies

Ha! Not the real kind...these are way cuter!

Puppy #1 (aka Mariana)


Puppy #2 (her friend, Autumn)


Gloria was enamored with Autumn, who is the youngest of 6, and kept following her around the house trying to say her name, which sounded more like Ana (Ah-nah). Cute!

Dressing up

Then


And now



The girls have been asking me to play classical music so they can dress up and dance around the house. This was their chosen attire today. Gloria likes the dancing but not the fluff. She asks me to put a dress on her then immediately wants it off!

1 1/2 year old Gloria

In light of her half birthday yesterday, Gloria has made some little advancements.

She now calls Allia "Ah-weee-yah" instead of "Ah-yah"
If you ask her what her name is, she will point at you first and say "nem" while smiling, then if you ask again she will usually answer "Doe-eee-yah" for Gloria

She is also eating well (like 3 meals a day plus small snacks), which is quite unusual for her (she usually only really eats one meal and some snacks!), so either she has finally developed some sort of metabolism or she is going through a growth spurt!

4th of July

We celebrated Independence Day by returning to town for some good naps at home, then heading off to the local celebration with jumpers, games and free watermelon. Then we joined the Knights of Columbus for their annual picnic. It was really hot, but we still had fun! No fireworks for us...we went home to bed!





Look at those red cheeks...the photo does not even do them justice! It was 102 degrees!

Our vacation

Packing up for our trip






Arriving at the hotel...the girls were so excited!




Jumping on the bed?!


Off to the children's museum for free family night!








Face paint crayons...how fun!






Using force to imprint pennies




The Butterfly Museum


A giant model shark


Watching the butterflies emerge from their cocoons












The new iguana...they are letting him get used to the environment, then he will roam free!


Playing after the butterfly tour


Gloria and Mariana had so much fun with these shape sorters








Lunch at the Rainforest Cafe with Tia Nana and Tia Becky




Gloria was a little skeptical at first, but by the time we left she was really enjoying it!


Austin went back to the museum with the big girls while Gloria and I napped in the hotel. They watched the Imax film, Under the Sea. The girls loved it. It was their first theater experience, and they were trying to grab the "3D" fish! Mariana kept pulling her 3D glasses down to make sure it wasn't real!

The Aquarium




A giant snake




The touching tank...they were able to touch the sting rays!








That night Austin and I snuck off for a little dinner date at PF Chang's. Thanks to Tia Nana for babysitting!

We had so much fun on this trip. It was our first real family vacation with just us! The girls were so sad to leave the hotel!