Georgetown.

I've never really actually stopped and gotten down to walk the streets of Georgetown where they have so many shops, and delicious places to eat. We drove through there one time like seven years ago I think. I remember the first time I watched this movie, and how my dream was to fulfill a "college life" just like the characters in the film...without the partying of course. Now that I have a kid heading to college in the fall, and a thirteen year old whose mind is so focused on anything that has words in it or strings on it motivates me to continue to go out and take them out to explore our surrounding areas in the tristates, and tour different universities. Hey...it's never too early to start them out young right?

Alexandra already has two colleges she'll be applying to in five years...Harvard, and now Georgetown. Just as Sierra fell in love with Julliard when we first took her to New York city when she was five, Lexie fell in love with Harvard when we first went by the university. She was eight years old. Her goal...medical school. Since we moved to the east she has had a fixation on colleges. What eight year old has a focus on wanting to go one of the most competitive Ivy league schools in the country! Now that I have seen how focused Lexie is on her academics, and in just being a beautiful example to everyone she meets I believe that she can do it. Just as I believed that Sierra can also attend one of the greatest art schools in the country.

On our way home from picking up Sierra from EFY we decided to stop at Georgetown, and have a taste of this quaint, old college town.

I absolutely loved it! We absolutely loved it! The minute we drove through the university, and got down to walk inside Lexie was like, "I'm applying here." Sierra said, "Mom, I'm going to be visiting Lexie when she attends here." I tell you hearing words like that coming out of my children's mouth makes me one happy mom. Makes me realize that I am doing something right with these girls, and that I'm not screwing it up!

So on this day we had too much fun. Way too much. With so little time on our hands to cover this past weekend in D.C. and driving to and from Virginia was worth all those hours sitting in the van. And all the depictions of photos that your about to see was so needed after spending those endless hours in the car...without air condition! 

The first thing we did was stop by the university, and it is gorgeous!

We didn't care how hot it was. We managed to walk through the town, and I just love the architecture of the shops on M street as well as the row houses. Those row houses are to die for! When I watched St. Elmo's Fire for the first time I always imagined what it would be like to live in those. They are dreamy! 

Although I've heard that Georgetown cupcake is the greatest I didn't feel like standing in line for hours! So instead we decided to have... 

This...

We cooled off with some yogurt from Pinkberry. Gotta have those toppings, and it was delicious!

The fountains! 

This is every kids happiness, and so many of them dominated the area...including my daughter. Just see watch them here.

She made a friend too...Camilla from Venezuela.

This is the part where I thank mother nature for heat and humidity because without her we wouldn't have these glorious fountains to cool ourselves off with! We had too much fun! Too bad we didn't bring our bathing suits. I only packed the littles theirs.

Watching all these kids having fun made me want to get in there with them. I didn't care if I didn't have a suit. When the heat index in D.C. is 100 degrees I don't think it matters whether your clothed or naked, but...we kept our clothes on! I had so much fun running under the fountains with my Noah. At first he was a little timid of the water, but after looking at his sisters being brave jumping and running through the fountains he went for it...with me! 

And we had the best time of our lives! 

Now...This was the icing on the cake, and the perfect end to our day in Georgetown...especially for the kids. 

There were so many other things I wanted to explore in this old college town, but exploring the streets & shops of Georgetown, and playing in the fountains was good enough for our family. 

Good enough.

national zoo in D.C.

Life certaintly keeps us busy with four kids, and although school is out...when summer comes it gets even busier! The first week of July is now a part of history. I can't believe how quick that one flew by! I haven't had time to document our adventures in my handwritten journal, and I will just as soon as I post about the weekend we had on our way to pick Sierra up from EFY. 

Rather than waking up early in the morning to drive six hours to Virginia to pick up Sierra at 7am we decided to spend the day in D.C. and actually take our time to do the things we love the most. Living in the center of three great cities (Philly, New York, & D.C.) spoils us because there is so much to do and see. We certainly need  more than one day to see all the sights. Luckily Sierra going to EFY again this year gave us a reason to venture out yet again. 

The last time we went to the National Zoo was four years ago before Noah was born. I have always wanted to take him, but every time we come to D.C. we end up going to the LDS temple (which is my favorite), our favorite bookstore as well as eating at one of our favorite restaurants that are not local in Philly, or Jersey. 

If we're lucky with extra time on our hands we will go to the National Mall and see some of the sights. Luckily we have already seen, and documented most of the nations capitol, but there are still more places I would like to go to such as the Holocaust Museum, Mount Vernon, and take a tour inside the White House.  

Luckily my love for Abe was fulfilled when we saw the Lincoln Memorial as well as the veterans memorial. My favorite! 

So this time we decided to go to the National Zoo, and spend our afternoon there. Now Noah can scratch this off his little bucket list. I love this zoo because it's free, and the fact that there is so much to see! All you pay for is parking, and the rest is up to you to make the best of it. 

Most of the animals were indoors because of the heat, and I don't blame them! It's been hotter than blazes this whole week! Be prepared to do a whole lot of walking too. I seriously think I lost five pounds walking around in this humidity! 

The kids all had a grand time. I don't get how little kids can tolerate the heat better than the adults. Noah  and Chelsea were good sports with walking, and as long as they all had their water bottles they were in good spirits. 

There were moments when Jon carried Noah on his shoulders. As a dad should I might add.

I really loved this day. Even if I didn't take a lot of pictures of the animals because they were hiding and sleeping in shaded areas where you couldn't see them. Noah and Chelsea tip toed, looked through the telescopes, and Jon even picked up Noah to help him spot a fishing cat. 

Even though we couldn't see the entire anatomy of some of the animals that was fine by me. I'd rather take pictures of my kids anyway. Then again it was fall when we experienced the zoo for the first time,  and there were more animals to see. 

For now...I have more photos of three great kids, and tomorrow there will be more pictures, and another documentation of four great kids. 

So enjoy, and I hope you stay cool and don't roast out there in this beast of a hot humid climate! Happy Monday, and have a great week! 

happy independence day!

I couldn't let this day go by without wishing everyone, and the land that i love a happy independence day! It sure has been a crazy, busy week with a lot of rain...sort of. Drops of rain here and there, some drizzle, along with some little thunderstorms. Still...the rain doesn't stop us from venturing outdoors.

This past Monday on our way to Virginia to drop Sierra off for the EFY program we got caught in a massive rainstorm that lasted about ten minutes on the freeway. Most of the cars on the freeway pulled over to the side on the median, and most of us stayed driving with our hazards on. Us...we're pretty brave. Since we had a schedule to keep we kept on driving, and very carefully.

Now the sun seems to be shining brightly and by looking at the forecast it looks like the next three days will be high in the 90's with a lot of humidity. No rain which is good, but that humidity! I feel like I'm literally cooking while walking outside. I thank my lucky stars for nearby beaches, and lots of H2O!!

Every day is blank page, and we never know what the day will bring. With it being the fourth today, and a sure sign that tells me summer is so officially here we plan on being super busy with family things which means I probably won't be blogging as much.

Then again I love this little blog too much to neglect it. So I will do my best to keep it updated.

Besides, this all american boy is just too cute to not document his silliness.

Just look at him...

and adorableness!

Happy Independence Day!

the graduation party.

Although sunny, and a bit humid the weather for Sierra's graduation party cooperated with us, and it was perfect! We couldn't have been more relieved as to how this celebration turned out! It had been raining all week, and when Friday finally came I was praying that the 30% chance of rain we were expecting would pass us by, and it did! 

This was her day, and it was all about her. I was so pleased as to how many friends showed up to her party. The love of friendship that I saw on this day towards Sierra was overwhelming...even for her. 

Some of these kids she's only known for less than two years!

and some for five years...

They were all here to support, love, and send out one last hurrah with good luck wishes before she departs for college. She was such a good hostess, mingled, and laughed until the sun literally went down. 

We love our heritage, and the fact that we are Hispanic gave us the opportunity to do a Mexican theme. 

Jon cooked up beef & chicken fajitas with all the fixings, Spanish rice, homemade bean dip, and we even had Mexican Coca-Cola for  everyone! 

I believe the life of the party (besides Sierra) was the fact that we even had a piñata! The kids had a ball trying to smash it! 

Sierra let her little sister go first.

Good thing she went first, because out of 30 people it only took five to bring that star to the ground!

Look at my cute husband on the deck holding the piñata because there were no trees to hold it...SO MEXICAN!!!

Sierra's turn...

Trent used his ninja moves to break the pinata, and he succeeded! You can watch him here.

One of my dear friends bought her cake, and it was so beautiful, and most of all delicious. 

They all gathered around the dessert table for a quick pic. We tried to get everyone in, and I hope we weren't missing anyone.

Her dear friend Emily gave her a gift that she will remember forever. 

A collage of five years of photos! It was great!

It's hard to believe that in less than two months our firstborn will be in college! Time flies, and we are so proud of our daughter. She has been blessed with such great friends! I give thanks each day that she is surrounded with greatness, and love from wonderful people! 

As friends were starting to leave everyone was telling Sierra to play one more time for them on the piano, and she obliged. Here she is singing "Warrior"  by Demi Lovato.

*****

Everything on this day was a success, and we couldn't have been more pleased. It looks like everyone had a good time, and I want to especially thank everyone who came to support her on this day, and to Suzie who lent me her house because she has a big backyard! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving her, and being our daughter's friend for all these years. She'll never forget you so please, even though y'all are going to different universities please stay in touch with her.

Bye for now, and good luck to those of you who are heading off to college! 

child, thank you for teaching me patience.

God knew exactly what he was doing when he brought Chelsea down into the world to join our family eight years ago. She is full of spunk, wittiness, and a lot of sassiness. She's 100 % dad, and 100% me, and I wouldn't exchange her for anything in the world.

The fact that she is the youngest girl in the family helps her get away with things...sometimes. Being the only one in the family (besides her dad) with naturally straight hair and a double crown on the top makes her even more unique.

And very special.

The minute we found out Chelsea was a girl I immediately knew that she was going to be unlike her sisters. The way my moods were when I carried her, the fact that she was one day overdue, a breeched baby who flipped in my uterus at the last minute which resulted in an emergency c-section, and born on her sister Alexandra's birthday meant that she wanted to be the center of attention.

Because she always wants to be the center of attention.

But this girl, she is awesome in her own right.

Frankly because she speaks her mind in the most polite way possible. She is very caring, and helpful and every teacher that she has had since preschool tells me she is their cheerleader, and 'mom' of the class. Always looking out for the smaller kids, protective, and extra helpful.

Sometimes I wonder, and I'll joke around with her present teacher and say, "really?" 

Then again I know how my daughter is. She may be a little sassy, and demanding at home because she is in her comfort zone, but in public she is the complete opposite. She can be quite the samaritan. Very kind, respectful, and mindful towards others. If she wasn't like that outside of the home then there would be some issues of concern, and I would have to find a way to change that..or at least try. 

Sometimes I wonder if I gave birth to her first would I have had more. Honestly...probably not. The way my patience was 18 years ago I probably would have gone into major depression. Who knows. Luckily my first two daughters had a talent of obedience the minute they came out of my womb. The Lord definitely knew what He was doing, and I thank him for giving me two children to teach me how to be patient, and to have somewhat mastered it when Chelsea was born...somewhat meaning I'm still working on it!  

She's just like her sisters in the aspect of being sociable, and she'll be the first one to say hello to another child, or adult. She is fearless when it comes to making new friends, and will say the funniest things.

She is gifted when it comes to piano. She obviously takes after her older sisters, and even though she and her baby brother Noah have a love/hate relationship...there's a lot more love involved.

Her generation is pretty awesome, and I actually look forward to this girl growing up, (and more gray hairs), and it'll be interesting to see what she'll be like ten years from now. 

Very interesting.

I have a feeling she's going to do wonderful things in this life, and become someone great! 

Because she already is. 

*****

Chelsea,  

Thank you for your tantrums, loud cries, and the little things you do that you know will push my buttons, because child...they are teaching me to be patient! 

You are amazing, and I'm so glad I had you! 

xo-

mom