Polar Express December 2010

The Polar Express in Williams, AZ is something my family has talked about doing for a long time and last year, we actually went. All the kids and grandkids (minus Nick who was in S. Korea). We had a great time on the Polar Express and playing in the snow!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Hache came with us, too.

The boys: Tylar, Connor, Garrett and Colby

On the way to the North Pole the story was told. Kiera loved it!

My Colby. Love and miss him so much.

THE NORTH POLE, of course!

Colby wasn't singing, so he was forced to be the leader!

Grandma and Grandpa singing with the kids.

Kiera very hesitantly took her present from Santa.

We got back to the hotel just in time for the snow to start falling.

We really thought we were having fun in the snow......then came morning.

There was a lot of snow! The cousins had so much fun!

What an amazing family vacation!

Grandparent Breakfast

A few months ago there was a "Grandparent Breakfast" at school. I kind of forgot about it until the last minute, but Grandpa Ed was able to make it. Gabriel loved this for a couple of reasons.

#1 He got to eat donuts with Grandpa for breakfast!!

#2 He got to go outside for morning recess (Pre-K students aren't allowed outside in the mornings) to watch Grandpa play football with the middle schoolers.....

And so he could play basketball with some of his buddies from Before and After Care!

He loved it!

Gabriel's first "performance"

Gabriel has been taking music classes since September and he was able to play his first song on December 6th. He played "Santa's Jingle Bells" with the help of his classmates playing the bell part. Pretty cute!

Fall Break in San Diego

For Fall Break 2010 we took the kids to San Diego for the first time. We spent time with friends and enjoyed spending some quality time together. We all had such a great time, and we can't wait to go back!

Dinner in Little Italy. Ernesto met us for dinner and then hung out with us for a while.

Gabriel, Kiera, and Kami relaxing at the hotel. We stayed up pretty late and the kids enjoyed partying with us.

We went to Sea World! Here Gabriel is trying to touch the Sting Rays. He was successful one time! Kiera's arms weren't long enough, but she enjoyed trying.

Family picture in front of the penguins!

Kami and Kiera enjoyed looking at the map and telling us and each other where to go.

The finale was great as usual. The kids really enjoyed the show; except Kami who fell asleep.

Heading home! Here are the kids with Tony. We had a great day adn really enjoyed our trip to San Diego!!!

Gabriel in Pre-K

Gabriel started his second year of school in August at the school where I work! He loves school, is doing really well, and especially enjoys coming to school with me and seeing me throughout the day. There are actually 6 students in his class that are are children of staff members, so I'm sure his teacher just loves everyone dropping by. :) Half way through Pre-K and Gabriel is soaring! We are so proud of him.

One of his writing assignments displayed in the hallway outside of class. It says "The dinosaur likes to play soccer".

New York Trip: Part 2

Since we were heading to NY for Grandma Cila's funeral, we were able to spend time with family and see some places I have always dreamed of seeing.

We stayed with Ed's sister Damarie, her husband Joe, and her two boys Junior (with Gabriel)and Gianni (with his girlfriend).

Here we are on our way to Ellis Island.


A little tour inside. It was really interesting!

Gabriel and some kids from the past.

Joe was kind enough to let me take this picture. He really enjoyed seeing everything and Gabriel and I enjoyed walking through all the rooms iwth him.

Ellis Island

A picture of New York City from Ellis Island.

On our way to see Ms. Liberty

Us in front of the statue. Notice Gabriel pouting and Kiera was crying. Neither had a solid nap in days. It was not the best day, but I wouldn't have missed it and it was my last day there since I had to return to work.

Ed and his sister Damarie. It had been many years since they had seen eachother and I know they enjoyed it so much.

Since we were in NY/NJ Edward's cousin Laura came to visit (she lives in CT). She came after I had gone home, so I'm not sure where they went exactly, but Edward said it was some science center. Maybe Laura can comment and share with us. ;)

Auntie Laura and Gabriel having some fun.

Kiera in front of some fish.

Laura and the kids.

Thanks, Edward, for taking pictures! I am so proud of you, but there were none of you and Laura! (I know what you are going to say. "It's never good enough." ;))

New York: Part 1

Grandma Cila with Ed, Susan, Edward and I at our wedding in 2005

Last August Edward's Grandma Cila passed away in New York City. She had been struggling with some health issues and had been in and out of the hospital in Florida (while visiting her daughter) and after nearly losing her life there, she amazingly got better and was able to come home to New York. It was about 6 months later that she passed away in her apartment that she had lived in for nearly 45 years. Edward's dad, Edward, myself and the kids went back to New York for the services.

Grandma Cila had only met the kids once, and it was 2 years prior when Gabriel was 2 and Kiera was just 2 months old. Grandma Cila also came out for our wedding in 2005, but other than that we didn't spend much time with her. She only spoke Spanish, so aside from communicating through Ed every once in a while, we didn't speak too much to her either. I am sad that we didn't know her better, but I am so happy that we saw her in New York a couple years ago when she was healthy and she was able to spend time with the kids. Her and Kiera really bonded!

Us with one of Edward's cousins and his wife

All Hache's - It was a little interesting to meet most of the Hache's. There are a lot of them! Mostly we were just happy to be there for Ed and the rest of the family during that difficult time.