Sea Turtles and Penguins....oh my and a mouse

We have an annual pass to The Living Planet Aquarium....so I never take pictures when we go as we go all the time. But our great friends with us and we had to take some photos. We had so much fun with Annie, Hannah, Sophie and Jonah. We looked at all the animals and spent a lot of time watching the Sea Turtle and Pengiuns. The Sea Turtle is a girl and she was hit by a boat and was bitten by a shark and developed 'bubble butt" which makes it so she cannot dive. They had to put a weight on her butt so that she can dive for food. She is only 5 years old and she is not even full grown yet and can get to 500lbs. She is so amazing to watch swim around.

Warning: some photos are blury as it was hard to get all 5 kids to hold still for just a second...but we take what we can get.

After the Aquarium we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese. The kids were so excited to play the games. We ordered our pizza and let the kids play while we waited...and did we ever wait...I waited over an hour for our pizza. I was really upset and more upset the my girls were starving. But Annie shared her pizza with the girls so that was awesome. They won a lot of tickets and then we cashed them in. Victoria got candy and a Tinkerbell Pencil, Elizabeth got candy and a bracelet. All the girls had so much fun with each other and really enjoy being together. Annie and I got some girl time and that was GREAT!!! I love hanging out with great friends.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work we go....

My girls love Princess' and love to dig in the dirt. So, one nice winter day...Mr.Sun came out and I decided that we should go outside too. I put the slide up for the girls to play on and I started to rake leaves that have been under snow and killing the grass...along with Hercules peeing on them. I was done raking the leaves and the girls were done sliding down the slide. I was putting my things away when I heard a familiar song. My two girls were in the rocks with stakes singing Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work we go. They were the seven dwarfs and were digging for jewels. They brought the jewels to me and then said they had to go home, which was the shed. I just loved to hear them singing and playing. Victoria was Grumpy and Elizabeth was Sneezy and she kept sneezing. I just love my girls so much and love the role playing that they do.

Las Vegas!!!

Louis' Aunt passed away and we headed to Las Vegas to the Funeral. This would be the first trip for Elizabeth to Vegas but the 2nd for Victoria. This was the first LOOOOOONG trip for both the girls traveling in a car. My girls HATE to be in the car for a long time but this was pushing it. My Sister-in-law, Jody came with us and brought her grandson, Albert. We left our house really late and got to Vegas at 11:30pm, which is 12:30pm our time. My girls were cranky and tired...tried to sleep in the car but that is not fun. We got to our room and I just put the 3 of us to bed in our clothes. The next morning the girls and I went swimming at 7am and it was so much fun. The pool was heated and then the really warm hot tub. We got ready and all of us went to the store to pick up some food. Our place or residence for the time was a resort which had a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, living room and 5 pools and hot tubs. We went to the Funeral and it was a great service, great to see family but sad for the reason. Victoria kept going up to the coffin to see her Great Aunt. Afterwards we went to our Cousin Robbie's house for a buffet dinner. The food was excellent. We got back to our room late and I had to wake the girls up to give them showers...they were not happy and each cried the whole time. We woke up on our last day and again went swimming at 6:30am. We took the kids to the Aquarium and that was awesome to see the animals. They had a "sunken ship" and you could look out and see the animals swimming in the water. We got back in the car and headed for home...the LOOOOOOONG ride back. The girls did really good on the trip back. Started to get tired when we got to Provo. We hit some bad weather in some spots and that slowed us down. We got home at about 9pm and I just put the girls to bed in their clothes again. I felt like I neglected my girls...they never go to bed in their clothes and never without brushing or flossing their teeth...ok well I can count on 1 hand how many times they have without brushing. They were just so off their schedule and it makes for grumpy kids...but in all they were great. I do know that any long trip will be done in an airplane...I just hate the driving part and just want to be there and spend more time on vacation and not driving. We were glad to be home in our own beds, with Papa and back on our schedule.

Kids eating breakfast

Kids in front of New York New York

Girls in front of Luxor

The cute kiddos

Small World Days

At Victoria's school they were learning about different countries in their Small World Days. She learned about Hawaii, China and Mexico. The kids could wear traditional clothes from their culture, bring pictures and stories. I felt like a bad Mom because I did not get anything for her to take or wear. I was sick all week and just got out of the hospital the day before she needed everything. I was as a loss but family and a freind cam through for me at the last minute. I was desperately looking for an outfit for Victoria and a friend here in Tooele had one and her size. I picked it up like around 10pm. Victoria's Aunt Jody sent me a picture of her Great Grandfather and Auntie Teeda and Uncle Ferd gave us stories. I was so grateful that I had family and friends to help out in my time of need. She loved wearing the dress and still likes to wear it and twirl around in it.

Comic Elizabeth

So, ever since Victoria's b-day and them telling jokes, we have been telling jokes too. We had been telling jokes all day and Elizabeth keeps telling the same joke everytime. We were sitting at the table having dinner and telling jokes. We all take turns and make up jokes but again cute little Elizabeth tells the same one. By this time, Louis and I are dying with laughter because she is so dang cute. I almost peed my pants becaue of it. I finally had to get it on tape and show everyone just how cute she is.

Calling all Pirates

I cannot believe that it has been 4 years already. On January 2, 2007 at 8:15am we were blessed with a baby girl named, Victoria Eliazar Quintana. It was at that moment that I fell deeply in love with a child that we created. I was mesmerized and in shock that it finally happened.

Took her to her 4yr check up and it was great. She weighs 35lbs..50th percentile, height 41.5 inches..85th percentile and she had 3 shots but is done with shots until she is 12. I was so happy about that and so was she.

The day before her birthday we took her to Toys R Us and she got a crown and they sang Happy Birthday to her over the loud speaker. I bought her some gifts there and at Kohl's. That night I blew up 25 balloons for her wake up to on her birthday. She woke up in the middle of the night asking what the balloons were for...I told her for her birthday and to go back to bed. She LOVES balloons and was so excited when she woke up to see them.

Once her sister got up we gave her some gifts to open. Elizabeth got her some Littlest Pet Shop and we got her a Vet lab coat with a dog and instruments. Elizabeth was the nurse and Victoria the Vet.

Elizabeth and I made a surprise cake and our neighbors came over to celebrate.

She wanted meat loaf and rice for dinner. We went to Cold Stone to get her free Ice Cream creation later that week and went to Winger's for her free birthday dinner.

She wanted a Pirate Party and the planning was set in motion. I made message in a bottle invites and hand delivered them. That was a lot of work; tea staining paper, using coffee grounds, tearing edges and the baking them. But in the end they were awesome.

Bought her costume the day after Halloween. We were having a pink and black pirate party; complete with a ship, pirate's feast, treasure chest cake, treasure hunt, pin the flag on the map and real pirates. We were setting up the party to the very last second guests started to arrive. We ate chicken legs, peg legs (little smokies), fruit salad and bread sticks made into X's....there was suppose to be seaweed but time ran out (green pasta).

Victoria, McKay, Savannah, Elizabeth and Mary

The kids ate in the ship, played in the ship, opened their treasure boxes in the ship and all the while the ship was sinking and they never knew.

The Pink Pearl

After food, the pirates came to play, Captain Lefty and Mr.Brunson.

The kids were so excited but knew they were not real pirate because they drive a car and not a ship...LOL. They played pin the flag on the map, went on a treasure hunt, opened presents, showed the kids a magic trick and told jokes. The treasure chests, I made myself, had an eye patch, earring, pirate necklace, pirate ring, gold coins, chocolate gold coins and a telescope. Us adults were getting a kick out of the pirates.

Pin the flag on the map

Treasure hunt

Opening treasure chests

The pirates left and then we had cake and ice cream. My friend Leisa, who makes all my cakes, out did herself this time. She made a pink treasure chest with treasure coming out of it. It was AMAZING and soooo very good.

Victoria made out like a bandit in the gift department. She was given; a bike and helmet (Papa and Mom), bike basket, bike horn, twirllies for handle bars and a ballet princess bag (Mamaw), Baby Ah-choo (Sara Gubler), Rapunzel dress (McKay and Savannah), awesome pony on a stick (Charlee), Barbie as the Princess and The Pauper DVD and Life Like baby doll (Gracie and fam), Pots and Pans for play kitchen (Hannah & Sophie), play Dog with clothes (Brooke & Trinity), Pony play set and play Dress up set (Mary and fam) and 2 Crayola games (Nana Ann). The party was a blast and everyone had such a good time. Victoria was so excited to have her friends all come to her party and invited everyone over for play dates. All that day she kept telling me that this is going to be the best party ever and I am the best mom ever. She loved the ship which had a flag, telescope, anchor and wheel. The poor ship may not have been the best but she loved it and the kids had fun playing with it. It was such a wonderful evening spent celebrating a beautiful and bright little girl. I love her with all my heart and them some.

"We just stared and stared, wondering of the miracle of incredible you..

Because God Gave Us You."

A quote from her book that I have read to her since she was in my belly.

My Alphabet Crown

At Victoria's school, they earn their alaphabet crown and blending badges. Victoria has known all her letters and sounds and that vowels make 2 sounds. I was waiting for them to test her and then I had the idea of her just telling her teacher she knew all her letters and sounds. The week after Winter break and we were picking her up from school, I saw her come up the stairs wearing her alaphabet crown. I was SOOOO proud of her. She told her teacher Miss Adina and then they go to Miss Mandy's (the director) office and she cites them all. She thens earns her alaphabet crown and all her class mates cheer for her. I was so very proud. She was so proud of herself too and she has every right to be.