Happy Birthday Dad!

We didn't have birthday candles, so Dad settled for this one

Happy Birthday Dad, we love you

Miss Personality

This is love

Sophie loves to fly on my feet

Before and After...5 inches off

Acting silly

Cooling off at the water park

Having a cool treat

my little sweethearts

Family time

AMAZING JAKE'S! 

The girl could ride the carousel all day

They were having so much fun! 

They rode this one over and over...

Gave it a thumbs up! 

We love the new splash in town

A great place to cool off

My handsome boy

I love Jake & Sophie

Happy Hour...Shirley Temples extra cherries please

He's so cool

Girls night out! 

Dad & Jake at the Diamondbacks game

Back 2 School

Jake was OVER IT...he said he wasn't excited at all (he was excited for Sophie though)

Sophie, on the other hand...she couldn't wait to go to Cambridge with her big brother. The day before school  started she said, "I wish I could go to bed so I could wake up and go to school already".

our baby girl is in Kindergarten

Mr Cool

I adore these kids

Getting settled in class

2nd GRADER!! 

Day 2- still excited

COCO

When I got married to Deon I knew I was getting a great husband but I had no idea what wonderful, loving, amazing in-laws I was getting in the deal. Both, have the biggest hearts and would do anything for us. 

Coco came out to watch Jake & Sophie for the summer (about 2 months). She went home a few times but basically was away from home, away from Pa to help us out. She took great care of the kids(as always), helped around the house and had dinner ready (most nights). The time the kids got w/ her was invaluable and will never forget her support, selflessness and love. Coco took the kids on some adventures; to different water parks in the area, lunch, shopping, the library, an indoor trampoline place and showered them with so much love. It was a huge relief to me and Deon when our daycare plans didn't work out. She came to our rescue and we will be forever grateful. 

So, it got me thinking how important grandparents are. Mine were very involved and influenced my life a lot, i think that's why I'm still missing my gramps so much these days. I'm blessed to have come from such a loving family and to have also married into one too. 

Thank you Coco! Thank you for helping us out this summer. But, for also being the kind of woman I can turn to, count on, confide in and trust. I feel so completely blessed to have such a wonderful Mom plus a Mother-in-law who treats me like her own daughter. Coco, you will always have my love, respect and friendship. 

Summertime in Albuquerque

These kids were in the pool on/off from 7am

This alligator sure got a work out

Feeling the love with the GREAT-Grandparents, Glen & Mona

Hanging out on Lulac

We love Nana Mona

Our 4th of July tradition 

Here we go....

I'm not so sure about this guys...

Jake staying close to Mom on the tram

My little Mariachi

Jake finished his Premiere English League Soccer Camp

This is Summer

Our summer was fun...but ended so quickly. It was a different kind of summer, since I was back to work, kids were out of school and Grandma's graciously came to watch the kiddos. We did lots of fun things though. 

Bowling! While watching the World Cup, doesn't get much better than that, esp. for Jake who was all about the World Cup

Sophie loves her big bro

Getting ready to watch the world cup...Go USA!! 

spending some quality time...out to dinner

Water park FUN! 

Big Surf...we had a blast there

Taking a break in the shade

COOLING OFF!