Happy Baptism Day Angel

Today is two years now since Angelica was baptized. We are trying to come up with special ways to celebrate this special day. So far we have thought of lighting their baptismal candles and saying a rosary, reading or watching videos on their Patron saint which for Angel is Saint Rose of Lima, or trying to get to mass on this day. Any suggestions or ways that you and your family celebrate your baptism day?? Angelica we pray that your faith will always be your guide and comfort and source of strength. Saint Rose of Lima, pray for her today!!

Eat Baby Eat

Ok, so all you mom's out there...I need your help!! We have been trying to introduce foods to Emma for several weeks now. First she was so bad at refusing them that I thought she wasn't ready. Lately though she has been reaching for everything, watching us eat and waking up a lot more at night. So I figured she should be ready. But, this sweet little girl is not taking well to much at all. We try the rice cereal, mashed bananas, applesauce, cheerios....so far nothing is working. She purses her lips together and I have to try and force the food in, only for her to make horrible faces and spit it back out. At this age Angel was already eating all kinds of foods....any tips or tricks you can recommend? I keep telling myself eventually she MUST eat but this nursing mama is getting tired of being this big girl's only source of food!! (she will be 8 months on the 20th!)

Movie Time

As unrealistic as the story may be, we did really enjoy watching the movie August Rush. The music story in it was really beautiful and I love the little boy actor in it! Here is the bishop's review.

Concerts in the Park

Last night we went to our local park for the Summer Concerts in the Park series. We are sad we missed the first one last Tuesday because the Navy Band played...at least they will be back for the last one as well!! We always enjoy these nights...we bring dinner with us and just let the kiddies play and enjoy the breeze and music (although last night's duo was interesting). They had some fun activities for the kids and Angel had fun trying them out and also tried making friends with a little boy...although I think she was a little too friendly for his liking! It was fun to have my mom, Alli and friend Becca there last night...come check it out with us next Tuesday!! (Down at the Boardwalk in Bremerton, they also have Friday night concerts...maybe we will try that this week too! Next week's group Trombanga is good, we heard them last year!)

New cousin

I have more details on my cousin's baby. His name is Bryan Alexander and he weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long. So beautiful...congrats Heather, Kyle and Blake. Hope we can meet the kiddies soon!!

So sad, please pray

for THIS FAMILY...I have seen this posted a lot lately and all the prayers we can lift up for this family the better, there is also a donation account set up!

Cookies

My mom made chocolate chip cookies the other day and they were so yummy!! Check out the RECIPE and make some!!

Welcome Babies

Congrats to the O'Kray family on their new little daughter, Guadalupe "Pita" Belen Maria O'Kray, who arrived on July 1st. Can't wait to see lots of pics!!
And congrats to my cousin Heather and family on their new little son who arrived TODAY!! No name or pics yet...will keep you posted.

Meg's Bridal pics

Check out these bridal pics of my sister, Meghan....gorgeous!!

Friends

A couple weeks ago we got the chance to visit some with our friends who were in town from Australia, the Allemand family. We had a good night of chit chat and yummy wine and desserts. Wish you guys were closer so that we could hang out and let the kiddies play. Miss you and keep in touch!! (and don't forget Kate about that arranged marriage contract for Nicholas and Angel!)

From the Mouth and Minds of Babes....

...a few weeks ago, it was a crazy and rushed dinner time. I gave Angel her food and eventually sat down and we all were eating. All of a sudden, Angel starts putting her plate and bowl up on the table from her highchair. I asked her what she was doing and she responded, "Mama, Amen mama..Amen." We usually do not give her her food until after we say grace and in the rush of everything had just started eating!! Jason and I looked at each other and our hearts melted (and we felt horrible that we would have forgotten this!). It totally reminded me of two things: 1) that little kids remember EVERYTHING and 2) that it is very true that the little children will lead us to God.

...when we were in NYC last week, our friend Renata had brought over some pretty white roses for the apartment. Angel was sitting at the bar looking at them and kept telling me "Mamasan, mamasan, please mamasan." That is what we used to call my maternal grandmother that passed away in September of 2005. Angel never got to meet her but we often go and put flowers on her grave or stop by for a visit. So Angelica just naturally associated the cut flowers with going to see her Mamasan....so sweet!! (although she doesn't know yet that Mamasan was never really fond of roses, but I am sure she would accept them if they came from her great-babygrand!)

Beautiful

Listen to this National Anthem - Beautiful! (thanks Jenny for sharing)

Fourth of July Fun

Yesterday we had fun and celebrated the Fourth with family. We had dinner over at my parents house and then my dad had gotten us all tickets to the local collegiate baseball game, the Kitsap Bluejackets. It was lots of fun and we won!! Friends, John and Jenny, joined us so it was good to catch up some with them as well. I wasn't sure how the girls were going to do at the game, especially since it didn't start until 730pm but they were awesome. Angel loved getting up and down a million times from her seat and eating LOTS of peanuts that Poppy brought. Emma managed to snooze a bit with Marmee and enjoyed watching all the action around her. The fireworks after the game were very pretty, although Angel wasn't thrilled with the "scary" noises but Emma loved them. Angel woke up this morning and told her Papa, "fireworks all done, me scared, me watch like this (as she closed her eyes) and Emma watch like this (as she opened her eyes really wide)." So cute!! My mom made us Whiskey Sours, and I can't wait to have another one tomorrow....yummy!! Hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth and remembered to say thanks for the wonderful freedom we enjoy and pray for all the soldiers who work to keep it that way!!

Last Day & Goodbye NYC

Well, Tuesday was our last full day in NYC. Caitlin started the morning with doing some "Emma lifts" for her morning arm workout!! We mostly were working on organizing things and starting to hang things on walls today. Beth came over and spent some time with us again today and we had some yummy New York subs for lunch. Caitlin put together the two other bar stools and then went for a run in Central Park. Too bad I couldn't get a pic of that!! Angel went for several walks with Aunty Megs and Beth and always came back with goodies (she will miss these fun walks in the city when we leave I am sure). Of course just the day we are leaving is the day that Angel is finally used to her new bedtime routines and environment and doing quite nicely!! That night we ordered some food from a diner and took it to a park that Angel and Caitlin had found. Of course as soon as we started eating, they told us they were closing up the park for the day....so we headed to the Gardens and finished eating there and let Angel play in the water some more. A very peaceful way to end our crazy and hard working week. It was really funny while we were walking back, two girls were walking past us checking things off a list for a party or something, and when they passed me holding Emma one of them turned and said "Oh my gosh, your baby is wicked cute!" and just kept on walking. Caitlin and I were laughing, so New York!! We started packing that night to make sure we had everything ready for the morning because we were getting picked up at 930. Angel had a fun time listening to Caitlin's IPOD which kept her preoccupied while I packed their bags. Emma has been in a huge mommy separation anxiety stage, and so to keep her from screaming long enough for me to take a shower, Megs and Caitlin had to hold up a blanket so she wouldn't see me and sing every lullaby song they knew!! Quite amusing! So, I have included some before and after pics of the apartment to see the difference as well as all pics of the new apartment in the slide show and a little brief video clip. We left Wednesday morning and managed to get thru security and such with no problems. The girls slept for awhile on the flight and Caitlin and I were very ready to be off the airplane and back home, although we were very sad (yes we all cried) to leave our sister and can't wait to see her again soon. Next time she should even have a big belly to rub!! Maybe the next visit we can enjoy the apartment and do more of the NYC stuff (and hold our little niece or nephew lots!!)

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