2 Events in 1 Night!

Now that Isaac is at the middle school and in band, we ended having Marina's choir concert and Isaac's band conference both in the same night. Thank heavens Marina's was at 6pm and Isaac's at 7pm. Between Grandma Layne, Papa Joe, G'ma Chris and Danny & I we were able to make it all work and get to both. We sat so far in the back at Marina's...there are no pictures. But she looked beautiful and sang better than ever. She learned a lot of new songs in different languages. She has a talent for learning language. Her favorite was a Japanese snow song called, Yuki.
Isaac's first band concert was quite good. He played, Hard Rock Blues in a trio group. Yes, he plays the saxaphone. He is very good at learning to read music. He stills plays the piano also, but we're taking a break from piano lessons for a bit.

Aren't they getting big??

Marina's Special Day

Marina's baptism was this weekend. She was very excited to have so many of her family and friends attend. All of the Sandoval's were present, as well as, the Martin's that live here in Denver, and her Great Grandpa and Grandma Mortensen. Her friends the Gomez' and the Easton's from church, and Mrs. Padgett and Ms. Obermaier from school were all there on Saturday. No one let the first snowfall of the season get in their way. Marina was happy that it snowed saying, "it's white like my baptism." She looked beautiful in her new white dress, and was very happy to have made this choice. I am amazed at how spiritually smart she is. She understands the importance of this choice, and has been waiting all year for this day to come. We love her very much and know that her Father in Heaven is very proud of her too!

It was a very special day for Marina and our family as Danny was able to baptize her.

Esaias would be in this family picture, but of all days to fall asleep at church, he chose today???

Marina's Great Grandpa & Grandma Mortensen

Marina with her auntie's and her Mom. Auntie Marisa gave the talk on baptism, and Auntie Mara played the piano, and gave the closing prayer. Her Uncle Ryan and Marcus were witnesses and stood in the circle, along with Grandpa Mortensen.

Lots of cousins came for the fun, but Leilani got to stay the night for a special sleepover. What a fun day.

Sleeping Pictures

Awake and Alert at Jocelyn's

The last couple of days have given us a preview of cooler weather. I think there is something splendid about dressing warmer and watching the seasons begin to change. The cooler weather also creates better sleeping weather.

We got some pictures from Esaias's day care provider that told the story of Esaias disappearing on the stairs and moments later going silent. We then started to reminisce about how innocent sleep can be. Here are some pictures of sleep.




















Esaias alseep on the stairs at Jocelyn's

Danny and Isaac napping when we live in Grand Junction (along with the cat).

Marina asleep in her saucer, sometimes we just go until we drop.

Picture perfect of how we all should fall asleep.
















We just love his little feet tucked up.














Here's to Autumn coming, Football season, and good sleeping weather!

Little Tykes

You might think that I am referring to the brand "Little Tykes," however it's the name of my favorite consignment store. I have been going there for almost everything since I was pregnant. I just love how clean it is, and great prices. It's like garage selling anytime I want to. Early in the summer, I searched Craigs list for a small slide for Esaias. He loves being outside, and I just knew he would love having a toy to climb and slide down. I found several on Craigs list, but we just didn't have the time to hunt them down. So, you can imagine my delight when I pull up to "my" consignment shop a couple weeks later, and see what I wanted sitting right in front of the store. And what makes it even better...it's 25% off all toys that day! Marina and I had fun buying her some fun clothes and buying Esaias' new toy. We had even more fun trying it out when we got home. It was a good day!

Slide $20.00, joy of playing...priceless!

Finally, Spring Into Blogging!

Spring is going to get away from me, and summer will be here before I can blog about all the events. We've been keeping ourselves busy as usual! Never a dull moment.

This is us, playing at Murdock's! For those of you that don't know Murdock's is a "farm" store in Grand Junction. We actually have a couple here in Denver, but this one is very close to where we used to live, and so we try to visit when we take a trip to Grand Jct. We ventured over the mountains the last part of our spring break It's kind of our make-believe cowboy life resurfacing. This trip to Murdock's in the spring is so much fun, because they have their spring chicks and ducks newly hatched for sale. We had a blast introducing Esaias to all the fun. Especially his first time riding a horse.

Yes, there was a couple bunnies too. The sign said do not handle, but I guess we couldn't resist! Bad Dad!

You betcha, there really are live ones in there!

Grand Junction is all about visiting our friends! This is Esaias eating from the serving spoon, on Brooke and Brian's kitchen table. Thanks for always hanging with us, and making time for us when we come!

We planned on 2 nights in GJ. We didn't plan on the extra night in Eagle. A spring storm went through the mountains and closed I-70 for a bit. We opted to stay in Eagle versus sitting on the highway in a car with 3 kids for who knows how many hours. It was a relaxing time, even if it was a surprise.

Isaac has been playing soccer. He has done well, and although his team never won a game, I think he learned that he wants to pursue playing in a more competitive league. He proved to us, that he can actually play. He needs to work on some fundamentals, but he hustles and seems willing to put in the work it takes to learn and improve.

Marina & Isaac both performed in the Variety Show. Marina sang "Lollipop Lollipop" with her class. And Isaac danced to "Dynamite" in the 5th grade performance. Both did an incredible job, and had lots of fun! Couldn't get it to upload....sorry!

Marina had her first practice meet. Her next one will come this weekend, and then onto the real deal. She's excited and nervous. Stay tuned for updates on how her first season goes. Take a look

Marina finally lost another tooth. And Isaac has begun round 2 of braces. He's starting with an expander again. I thought I would spare everyone the inside look at his mouth. However, he will get his braces on this summer. We'll take pictures then.

Esaias got his 1 year old check up and is still growing tall. He took the 5 very slow shots (new nurse) like a trooper! And don't forget walking has been in our spring line up. It's so hard to catch it on camera.

I wrapped up both spring classes and have just under 2 weeks before the last 2 start up again. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!

Danny's new job is going well, he seems to like it. We are very blessed that we pursued this endeavor early. Some people that he used to work with, just got the notice that they will not be continuing the program, and that they need to look for new jobs. Thank goodness, we don't have to worry about that!

Only in Colorado!

Only in Colorado could we span from -10 degrees to 65 degrees in 2 weeks time! Two weeks ago we were home for a "snow day" because it was too cold to go to school, and today we're outside soaking up the rays, on what feels like a spring day.

Here is Esaias standing tall. He pulling himself up on everything, especially my legs! I don't want to rush walking, but I will be glad when he's not hanging on me! Oh yeah, this is the gate to keep him off the stairs in case you were wondering.

Esaias and his bud Gandalf. "I love to pull those big floppy ears!"

Marina wanted a shot with her beautiful Valentine's box that won her a small tub of playdoh. She was very proud of our decorating job! And it was full of treats when she came home yesterday from school!

Out with the Old in with the New!

When we decided to do our floors, it became apparent that the old table would not do the floor justice, and would need to be replaced. We had Christmas coming up and so we also decided that we would need to wait to spend the money. We even went so far as to tell our family this is what Danny and I would be buying after Christmas, so if they wanted to contribute, we would be very grateful. So, here's a picture of the old and the new table. What an amazing difference!

THE OLD: Bought in Grand Junction from a store going out of business, the chairs were never a matching set. In fact, only 2 chairs in this picture are even the originals. We've used this well! It was time.
Marina has randomly throughout the year requested that I cut her hair shorter. I was never sure if she would regret this decision later, so I always responded with if that's what you really want, let's think about it, and you let me know. This last week or so, she had finally made up her mind. She was begging. Last weekend I promised her that I would cut her hair, when I cut Danny's. She counted down the days till the weekend. And on Saturday morning could hardly wait to get home from cleaning the church so that we could do haircuts. She was not scared in the least, and exclaimed, "I love it!" She even told me I did it exactly right, shoulder length). I should have recorded that. She especially loved it when I told her it made her look a little older. Maybe I should've kept that one to myself. Nonetheless, she is pleased as punch with her decision. It was a nice healthy cut. The hairdresser in me is happy to see that she is brave and willing to cut. It's more fun that way!

THE OLD:

5 inches later...
THE NEW:

Perfection, what a beauty!

Finally...Fall!

I tried to think of some cute snappy name for this post, "Rolltober" or "Rocktober" but since I didn't like the sound of Rolltober and Esaias has been rolling over since September, that didn't quite fit. And stealing Rocktober from the Rockies just didn't seem right, while trying to convince you that it fit because Esaias' was rocking back and forth; from front to back and back to front...I don't know it just didn't work for me. Marina would have titled it 10-10-10. She thinks that today is a great day because of that.
So instead, I am naming it after this wonderful cloudy cool morning; finally our first few days of fall weather. We have been having such warm weather, that even though the calendar said it was fall, it still felt like summer. 80 degrees everyday...come on it's time for a change. I think it's just that too. I have to have change. I would sure be sad to move somewhere they don't have all 4 seasons. And we could use some moisture. I've been hoping for cooler weather for a while now. My students usually settle in better to school when we have some cooler weather. And I just love the colors of fall, and with semi-warm days still great for a walk or a bike ride and cool nights great for sleeping and cuddling up on the coach, who can complain???

Here's my cute boy. Yes, he is wearing a hat because our house is about 65 degrees this morning. And since we've just been fighting not turning on the AC for the last week or so, I can't bear to turn on the heat either. Marina just thought this was too funny that I put a hat on him in the house. He doesn't seem to mind. Playing with his toys happy to roll over, roll over, and roll over again. Marina is evening wearing some new warm hand-me-down jammies. Just the other day she was wanting to wear nothing to bed, and having me put a fan directly on her. And she keeps asking for it to be winter. I don't know if we will see anymore 80 degree days, but I am happy that fall is finally here.

This is a picture of Esaias hanging out in his highchair playing (from last week). He's happy for a little while. He is eating new foods. We've started with veggies and he seems to like them so far. You know though, once you introduce those yummy sweet fruits, veggies go out the door. Oh well we'll try.

Saturday was a beautiful fall day, and Danny & I went to the temple to be a part of our friends, Mark and Tiffany's sealing of their new adopted baby Mabel to them. It was super great to see them, and be a part of this special day. Eternal families are what make this life worth it. I am so grateful to know that I have an eternal family, and that we can work together to return to live with our Father in Heaven.

"Dancing Queen"

One of Marina's favorite songs from "Mama Mia" is "Dancing Queen." So, I figured this was an appropriate name for this post. Marina did jazz dance this summer. We are trying to expose her to as much dance as possible to help her with her gymnastics performance, especially as she prepares for her first year of competition. I have also always wanted to give her a choice. I was the dancer and her auntie was the gymnast. She seems to have already chosen her path, but with many year ahead of her, we like to help her develop these talents. Danny and I wish we could afford for her to do dance year round, but we just can't quite do that yet. She really enjoyed her summer class. And it was fun to watch her mini-performance on the last day. Very cute!!

New Pets for Family Home Evening

Isaac has been asking for ...well probably years to have a pet of his own. I am adamently opposed to most reptiles, amphibians, and rodents. That doesn't leave much to choose from. So finally we negotiated a hermit crab, but we insisted that he must pay for it himself, and take care of it himself. With this he also had to have already researched all that he could about what it would take to have one. Well after a very long wait, and even longer because his sister got sick. He finally got to go get his hermit crab. He named it Quittich, as he is obsessed with Harry Potter (he will have read the entire series twice by the time school starts). And he did get pinched the very first time he tried to hold him. But he didn't freak out or drop the crab, so I suppose he's on his way to embracing this to the fullest. And I, as his mother, will try to be supportive and not rebuke the crab.
Marina had to be a part of this also, but we told her she wasn't old enough for a crab. So, we negotiated a fish. She saved and spent her money to buy a beta fish named Phineas (yes, from Phineas and Ferb, and she's having trouble with why she can't buy two, so that there can be a Ferb). She set it up and we're looking for a cute little plant stand that's sturdy so, we can put it in her room (like Isaac).

We are officially a family of 5 with 2 dogs, 1 hermit crab, and 1 beta fish. I'm glad we don't have the cats anymore. I couldn't take it all!

American Girl!

On several occasions Marina now asks, "Can we go to a mall?" "Can we go shopping today?" A true girl in the making. This is not because we frequent the mall. I think it has stemmed from the one time (the day before Esaias was born) we went to the Colorado Mills Mall to walk. She got to go with us with her money in hand and she got to shop at the very "girlie" store "Justice." She decided that was one of her favorite things to do. Yikes! Anyway getting back to her question, I usually respond, "Are you buying?" and "No!" Occasionally I will get the urge to walk a mall for fun, but because I don't have free money to spend, that's not my favorite thing to do.

Well, Marina got her wish, my mother-in-law has been wanting to take the bigger girls to the new "American Girl" doll store at Park Meadows Mall. I agreed to help her in this adventure. I have to say I wasn't very excited about going initially. However, after watching the girls (Marina and her cousin Jade - who are about 4 months apart in age) get so excited when Grandma was letting them pick out their own doll, I was glad to have been a part of such a fun "girlie" day. If you haven't been to the store and you have little girls who like dolls, this is the place. I felt like I was in a doll museum of sorts. There are dolls in display cases showcasing all the amazing scenes and accessories available to play (and buy). The history buff that I am enjoyed all the "period" scenes and accessories.

Jade quickly assessed and new exactly which doll she wanted to make her own. "Rebecca" the doll who most resembled Jade with brown hair with golden highlights and green eyes was her prize.Marina who often has difficulty deciding what to settle on for a purchase, knew that a doll with straight very long hair was a prerequisite. She frustratedly exclaimed, "I don't know which one to choose, they are all so beautiful!" After long deliberation she chose "Julie" who represents the 1970's with her bell bottom jeans, and of course straight long blonde hair. Marina had her heart set on the accessories containing a pair of crutches and casts. And Grandma Chris was sweet enough or sucker enough to indulge.When the cashiers asked the girls if they wanted their dolls out of the box, they literally jumped up and down grinning. Marina proclaiming, "This is the best day ever!" Nevertheless, we have officially met Marina's goal for the summer. "Having a girl day at the mall." The only thing left is a promised "girls night" with her other cousins watching "Mama Mia" and eating popcorn. I guess one could argue Marina is the true "American Girl!"