Birthdays, cereal, and cute kids

[ For some strange reason, this scheduled post, did not get posted. Oh well, here it is]
This is really a "part two" of my previous post .
So, earlier this month our church had it fall FIC Conference, which was held all the way up in Conroe.

This was a short stretch to drive, for all the people who live in Conroe, but not so much for all of us Spring folks. Now, it was convenient for us, cause it gave us an excuse to stay with our dear friends the Hoods, in their new house!

Which is quite lovely!

Mia and Mia, or " the Mia's"!

Nate, being a little man!

So, after the conference, we had a "surprise" party for my Dad! I say "surprise", because we had several leaks-- particularly little kids and emails-- but in the end it was all good!

You may be wondering what's the deal with the cereal, well, it Dad's idea. He had mentioned a while back that it would be a neat idea, for a party, to have everyone bring their own cereal. And that's exactly what we did! Everyone enjoyed everyone else's cereal, and we supplied the milk.
It was a hit!

Eva! Look at little yummy arms and hands!
I just had to add her in.

Sophia, showing us her acrobatic moves.

"Looking out to sea!"
or
"Watching the approaching danger!"
or, just daydreaming at the same time. :)

A sweet friend in Austin, had a surprise party that we had to go to, a couple Saturdays ago.

Happy 5th birthday!

Dear Mia,

Happy 5th birthday! Five years ago, I was blessed when God brought you into our lives. You were so small; I couldn't believe it when I saw your dark hair, eyes, and skin. Those tiny fingers, but big eyes.

I'm so thankful to have watched you grow and mature over the years. From learning to walk, to sucking your thumb, to wild stories, to cuddly times on the couch, to times when you cry, to time when you can't stop laughing, to jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler, to learning to read. 

I love to see how you love your family. How you enjoy anything related to chocolate and movies, but can't stand whipped cream; how you love to sing hymns and always wear dresses; how you like organizing cabinets, but don't like cleaning up toys.

I pray that the Lord will draw you unto Himself one day. That you would be a virtuous woman of God, one whose beauty is known by your "quiet and gentle spirit". That you would learn to fear the Lord, for this is beautiful and worthy of praise. That the gospel would be your passion and Christ would be your focus.

 Mia, I love you!

Dominic's birthday weekend

Life can be pretty busy at times...

 That is my feeble explanation for taking so long to blog about our weekend in Austin.

I know, I know... I'm late.

We spent a long weekend at the Webb home. It was filled with visits with grandma, vegan brownies, naps, cake, slip-n-slide fun, a puppet show, and a graduation of an old friend.

Mia and her monkey

One of thirty photos in a weak attempt to get a normal group shot.

Sophia and Mia after their puppet show

Us with my dear friend Rose, after her graduation

Mia

Emily

Water fun!

Everyone enjoyed my dad doing the slide

Tita with Rebecca

Beautiful Nicole with the birthday boy

Enjoying a drink

My mom and Sophia

Bubble trouble

The Marques ladies

The Marques daughters plus a granddaughter

Us with our dear friend

Aunt Amparo with Rebecca

Dom's favorite present: a motorcycle like his daddy's!

Dear Mommy

Dear Mommy,

Here are pictures from yesterday's ride home.

We talked, sang songs, and stopped at Nani's favorite store before leaving town; we also contemplated a pit stop at Krispy Kreme's but decided against it considering the vast amount of sugar and the close confines of the car.

Everyone except Elena, Carolina, and Dad slept right up until Brenham (how convenient), and we did stop for a diaper change and ice cream; you will be please to know that Dom only had six licks (chocolate, pistachio almond, cinnamon, and white chocolate almond--to all of which he said, "YUM!")

We also stopped at the Naquin's to drop off the donuts for Emily (which arrived completely intact and orderly!); Dom played with Robbie and pointed to the imaginary motorcycle in their backyard, we gave him half a nectarine to bring him back to reality.

Sophie and Mia really enjoyed playing with Jimmy and his horses.

Once we got home we unpacked, had some eggroll in a bowl, and were promptly thrown into bed. Dom had his usual 6am wake up but Nani and Grandpa didn't mind, Grandpa even stayed home later than usual this morning, just in time for some almond pancakes and eggs!

Well, we're hoping to post more pictures and some video in the next few days so keep checking back!

We love you very dearly.

Love,

Elena (for Sophie, Mia, and a wiggly Dom)

The back seat after ice cream

Before the ice cream

Dom before the ice cream

Psalm 150

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!

The Webb girls, Apodaca boys, and cousin Emily went to a music camp a few weeks ago. In addition to learning many hymns, music theory, and a love for singing, the kids also memorized Psalm 150. Here is a video of the Webbs children performing it for us.

Enjoy!

Mia singing......

When Nicole and the kids(Sophia, Mia, and Dominic) last visited, Mica got this video of Mia singing "Light of the world". Actually, now that I think of it, Mia should have been eating her food! :) Oh well, here's the video:

The Munchkins

Play'in the Rain

To Mia on her birthday

To my beautiful daughter on her birthday,

I thank God every day I am given that He has entrusted such a wonderful and special little person to me. You have grown up so much this year with your sweet smile and gremlin teeth.=)

I remember when we finally picked out your name and the first time I saw your face. I was in love. You were a screamer from the beginning but you were the toughest cookie in the whole jar. Any little bumps and scrapes you stoically took without a fuss. I remember when you discovered your beloved thumb at 3 months. I remember anxiously waiting for you to come out from hernia surgery. I love you for your funny faces and sweet heart. For your devotion to your sister and the crazy love for your father. I can't wait to see what the next year will bring for you....