Jake & Sophie LOVE playing outside

Just happened to be outside one day...Jake & Sophie were playing in Pa & Coco's backyard...one of their favorite places to be. And, I got all these great pictures of my two beautiful children. Here's Jake...swinging! Pretty soon, we're gonna have to move the swing set away from the wall. 

Sophie's watching her brother swing...pretty soon she'll be doing it too! When she wants to tell you something, she'll point and do this 'Ssssss" sound. That means she's talking. Who knows what she's saying...but it's cute. 

Jake was helping Pa clean out the sand box. Apparently some neighborhood cats thought it was their litter box. Ewwww...so groose. We hate cats! So, they are cleaning it out and will find something else to do with that area. 


















Jake is a working 'bo' (bo = boy). That's how he says boy and that's what he calls himself when he's working. You're cute Jake! 

HANDSOME! Told you Jake loves John Deere! Sporting his JD shirt and driving his JD truck. 

Sophie decided she could get up the climbing wall...

Still trying...come on Sophie you can do it! 

 

Yeah...She made it! Knew you could do it girl. 

I love capturing all these moments. Just because the things you both do are so cute and when you're older you can see all these pictures. I love you both so much. Thanks for always making me smile. Love your Mom! 

It's all good...

CHANGE OF PLANS -- In my previous post: I told you that Deon got this great job and left SWLP. I also wrote how hard it was going be for our family. Well, I guess it wasn't meant to be and God was REALLY watching over us because he knew it wasn't a good idea. 


Deon went to Sweetwater, TX for 3 days...and, the more time he spent getting to know how the company worked...he kept thinking, "something's just not right". So he went with his instinct and and he was right. They are a very unorganized company, in over their heads, passing the urgency onto Deon. He would have started his job with insufficient training and on terms that were different from what he was told during the interview process. But, the biggest thing: They said HE WOULD NOT be able to come home every weekend. He would have to stay at the sight for 6 weeks straight and only come home for 3-4 days at at time. Not good for our marriage or family. 


So, the plan is for Deon to start his Safety Consultant business. Deon ran the safety program at SWLP for the past 3 years and he was a natural. He implemented all these programs and procedures...and got the company to Bronze status (in OSHA terms, that's really good). During that time, he made a lot of connections in the business. So, I'm very confident it's something he can do.  
Now, we'll have to come up with a company name, get a tax ID and get started. I think this is going to be a good thing for Deon. He says there's a market for this type of business because most construction companies outsource their safety needs. 


So, with lots of dedication, perseverance and prayer we will get through this! I really feel like this all happened for a reason...as most things in life do. It was very disappointing for Deon that the job with Banda didn't pan out. But, the upside is...he'll be safe at home instead of on the road. 


And, Deon will be here next week for Jake's 1st day of preschool at Hope Christian. Yeah! We are all so excited about that. 

Santillanes Family

Congrats to Deon!

Today we (Deon, Jake, Sophie & I) embarked on a new journey. Deon took a new job with a company called, Banda Group International. He will be a Safety Consultant. His first assignment is working on a wind turbine farm in Idaho. But, first he had to travel to Sweetwater, TX this week. Next week he will be in Cheyenne, WY and the following week he will be at his assignment in Idaho. Now, we plan for him to come home every weekend if he can and just pray this will work out for us. The opportunity was too good to pass up...and it was time for him to leave Southwest Lath & Plaster and move on to bigger and better things. It's going to be a sacrifice for all of us...but we can get through it. So, for now...we will just talk, text, email, skype and do what we can to communicate and keep in touch. Deon is such a smart, ambitious, industrious man...I am totally confident that he will be successful at this job. Since I met Deon...he's been good at everything he touches. So, for now...I will continue living the dream, taking care of our kids and being here for my husband at all times and all costs. Like I told him, wherever the 4 of us are, is HOME! I don't think the kids actually get it. Sophie for sure! But Jake keeps asking where Dad is? Why isn't Dad coming home? But, I'm sure after a couple weeks and once we get on a routine...we'll all get used to it. But, it's my job to keep them grounded and happy here at home. We love you Deon...you are the best husband and Dad EVER! 

Thank you God! Thanks for always taking care of us and blessing our family. 

Summer Fun!

We had fun at Layla's 1st birthday party. 
They had little swimming pools and water toys.
 Jake & Sophie had a blast! 




Sophie took over this little pool...except for a few minutes to hang out with her friends, Layla & Memphis. It looks like her & Layla are carrying a conversation...who know maybe they were. 

Jake was hanging in with the big kids, his friend Alana (Layla's big sister) and some other kids. What a great idea for a birthday party...kept the kids busy all afternoon. 










Here's Jake, enjoying his favorite fruit, MANGO! Mmmmmm....

And here's Sophie hanging with the birthday girl, Layla! They had to take a break for some food. 

Love these pictures of Jake...my precious son...he's such a big boy...almost 4. 

Gotta love him! 

Thanks to the Chimenti family for including us in such a fun party for the kids. 

Glad we could share this special day with you guys. Happy Birthday to Layla! 

Hangin' with cousin Mikayla

Cousin Mikayla came over to play with Jake & Sophie. It was hot out there, so the three of you were enjoying a cold drink...I think it was lemonade. Thanks for coming over Mikayla. 

We had fun! 

What's up Sophie! You had to take Jake's sippy cup...because it's better than yours? It has a flip-top thingy and you take one drink and it's all down the front of your shirt. Ay --- Sophie Mama. 

I think you guys hung out on the swings most of the time...and played some baseball too. Which Sophie had to get her hands on too. 

 

WE LOVE OUR FAMILY & FRIENDS ! 

A visit from Sadie & Eli

We had a very special visit from Sadie and Elijah. It was Eli's 1st time to New Mexico. Thank you so much for coming to spend time with us. It was nice having you both here! Hope to see you back soon! 

Jake & Sophie hanging out with Sadie & Eli. And, there's Sadie; addicted to her  I-Phone! 

     As always, we had to do a little shopping...went to Old Navy.

They had this billboard you could put your faces in...and I just happened to have my camera handy (you know me). Too cute! Jake and Sadie; you are good sports.

We had to go have some red & green.  Red enchiladas with an egg on top! Mmmm! Sadie got her fix. Sophie was not cooperating so Sadie was trying to hold her and keep her occupied. 












We are in the middle of monsoon season here in Albuquerque. I love it...because it cools down and is so comfortable to be outside. We were all hanging outside enjoying the rain and thunderstorms. 

LOVE this picture of Jake & Dad...the MOST handsome guys in the world! Love you both so much.

SISTERS! Crazy how we don't look anything alike huh? Or do we? 


Jake & Eli enjoyed playing basketball in the garage. Jake your getting so good...look at this shot you just made! 

We were on the road...Dad took us on a drive out West. We saw this big tow truck and semi and Jake said, take a picture Mom. These are the types of things we must point out while driving. 

We tried to go out the Acoma pueblo...but most of the roads were closed. Not sure if it was due to weather or what. But, we were able to see some cool stuff, like this mission and cool shots of rain clouds. 

Sara says "Howdy" 

 Mom, Jake & Sophie posing for a picture in front of the Indians. I am usually behind the camera, so I made sure to get some pictures of us. Next time we have to make sure Dad's in the pictures too. 
Look at Jake...so cool, posing for the camera. 

We went to have some Sushi before Sara & Eli left today. It was so yummy! Jake LOVES edamame, rice and teriyaki. I don't think you're ready to try sushi yet. But, I bet you will soon. 

What a blessing to have family. Family who loves you and wants to be spend time with you. Thank you to Sadie & Eli for taking time to come see us. It really means a lot to us. Hopefully we will be seeing eachother SOON. 

Some weekend pics....

Well, well, well...Sophie knows what Jake's been sipping on all this time. CHOCOLATE MILK! She got her hands on his cup and decided, hey...I want some of this too! So, here they are... both content and quiet, now I know what I have to  do get some peace and quiet around here. ;- ) 


Sophie was getting ready to eat lunch, she just woke up from a nap...I served her some Tri-Tip...Dad had just barbecued...it was so delicious. Also, some corn-on-the-cob with butter. She was all set and here comes Jake with a Popsicle. So, she had to have a 
Popsicle too! She ate her frozen treat, took a bite of meat and corn then back to the Popsicle. I LOVE love love this picture below of Sophie...her eyes, lips, skin...YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL Mama. 

Jake, please don't tell me you're going to act like Dad when I'm trying to take your picture?? You are so handsome, so photogenic...come on, let me take your picture. I think I was just bragging in the last posting how my kids are such good picture takers, always posing and ready to go. 

Here's Jake...doing one of the things he does best...playing with TRACTORS...his favorite after; semi's, tow-trucks, trash trucks, dump trucks, TRUCKS TRUCKS TRUCKS! It's a boy thing! 

His all time favorite right now is anything John Deere. 

He loves it! I think he may be having a John Deere birthday party...we'll see what Mom can come up with. I better get on it...Jake's birthday is coming up quick! 4 years old! You had no idea I was snapping pictures of you! : )

What are you doing Sophie? You had just finished eating, your clothes were a mess. So, I went to get your jammies and came back downstairs and here you were. You can't see by me, there is plastic Tupperware stuff everywhere. Ay muchacha! 

Dad & Jake were upstairs sleeping. So, it was just you and me. I guess you decided to hi-jack the remote. Take advantage Sophie, BOYS don't let you have the remote EVER! 

You finally decided to give it up. What is the fascination with that thing huh? I can hardly wait until you and Jake fight over that thing. I wanna watch this, I wanna watch that...

Arg...I know it's coming! 

We had a nice weekend. Friday night; we hung outside with our neighbors. Jake & Sophie played with the kids, Jake's new basketball court was hit. Our cousins; Renee, Uni & kids came through town and stopped to rest at our house for awhile. It was nice to see them. Sunday was church then home to enjoy some barbecue (Mmmm, thanks Dad). Pa & Coco took us to Dairy Queen for a nice refreshing treat. But the best thing was THE RAIN! It was cool all day and rained on & off. So relaxing to hear the rain outside. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!