Qui Que's 4th birthday party

Qui Que has been talking about his birthday for the last 6 months.  I knew I couldn't just slide by with cake and ice cream for this guy.  We had to do a party for him.  We decided to do his party El Paso style and rent a brinca-brinca for him and have a piñata. We invited some friends over, grilled and let the kids run wild with squirt guns and the brinca-brinca.

 Qui Que said he wanted a shark cake.   I decided to attempt a fondant cake for the first time.  I was pretty proud of how it turned out.

 We LOVE having family close by!

 When the candy from the piñata fell all the kids scrambled to grab as much as they could.  Valentina just went and picked up one dum dum that was on the ground and ate it.

Uncle Jace and Aunt Jenne gave Jace this cool fish.  He named it Cannon for his 1st and long lost friend from Iowa City.  Later that night he changed the name to Nemo.  Sorry Cannon. 

4th of July

I made matching dresses for the girls for the 4th of July this year.  

Happy 2nd birthday Valentina

 We moved to El Paso just a few days before Valentina's birthday.  I didn't have time to put together a big party but we did have cake a ice cream and some family over.  Uncle Jace and Aunt Jenne, Tia Blanca and Tia Niana all came over to celebrate with us.

Happy Birthday crazy girl Valentina Jellybeana.  We love you!

Brown Street Block Party farewell

We look forward to the Brown Street Block Party every year.  This year it was the night before we left.  We were so happy we could go one more time and say to goodbye to all our friends.

 Whitney and me.  We had a lot of fun craft shows together and many fun play dates with our kids.

 Sweet little Harper and Viviana.

 Roy and Anne

 The beautiful Brown Street Inn.

 Doug and Natalie

 Whitney, Katie, me and Lindsey.  The "gourmet group" girls except for Brooke.

 I met Lindsey exactly 4 years ago at the Brown Street Block party.  She is probably one of the coolest people I have ever known.  I will miss her!

 The Collins.  One of the most down to earth, loving families we met.  These people are what makes the mid-west so cool.

 5 years ago when we rolled into town it was just the two of us.  Now we are a family of 5 and consider Iowa City our home.  A part of our heart will always be with our Ronalds Street home and the memories we made there.  So long old friend!

El Paso here we come!

Graduation!

Hip, hip, hooray!  Enrique is a dentist!  What a long road.  I remember our second year watching him study late into the night and then hearing him wake up early to walk to the bus stop when it was -20 degrees.  I thought the end would never come.  It did and now I don't want it to end....although I am sure he does :).  We are so proud of you Enrique!