Snowstorm 2010

So much has happened over the past month, that it will take me hours just to get the photos and posts up. In the meantime, here are some fun shots of the kids (including the biggest one) playing in the few inches of snow we got today. Gigi and Claire are begging to go outside to enjoy it again!

Deacon Nelson Garcia

Looking back this has been one of the fastest years of my life. I can't believe our sweet boy is already a year old. It seems like yesterday he was fighting his way out into the world and I was holding him for the first time. Having a boy in the house has added so much joy and laughter to our family. He is an adventurous and good natured boy, always smiling as he finds trouble.

Happy birthday to our sweet Deacon!

January 2009

March 2009

May 2009

August 2009

December 2009

January 2010

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to!

The first bloody lip

and he took it like a champ.

We are able to give because He first gave

And, boy, were we blessed this Christmas. Of course, it is most fun for us to give to the little ones. We all had a great time, because they were old enough to appreciate the activities. We woke early in the morning, then woke the kids and let them annihilate the living room. Later that afternoon, 20 or so of our friends came over to enjoy dinner with us. The house was full with adults and kids running around, and it was such an enjoyable Christmas.

by the chimney with care

Parisienne playhouse

finally... boy toys!

Is this the face of a future doctor?

the destruction

They'll hate me in the future, but this was too cute!

We're now slightly into our new year.

New year, new projects, new happy times.

We wish you much love and many blessings during this new year.

If you're happy now

I love these kids.

Messy Marvin

Tonight after dinner. He was so pleased with himself.

Failed Experiment

Our sweet Deacon has decided he is no longer content to just sit and watch others run and jump and play. He knows that he wants to stand up and run along with them. He has started pulling up to stand and using anything he can wrap his little fingers around to help him. One of his favorite hand grips is his Daddy's leg hair. Since it is summer here in beautiful Texas, and 105* on most days, Steve wears shorts every day. This leaves all that wonderful leg hair open and available for our enterprising boy. One of our friends, Whitney K., suggested that Steve shave it to solve the problem. I don't know why Steve decided to take Whitney's advice, but here are the results. I'm not sure if this experiment will be repeated.

Butterfly Pavilion

On our last day in Denver we decided to have fun and enjoy ourselves. So after lunch (where we got to watch Gigi perform her ballet moves for us) we went to the Butterfly Pavilion to see some "wildlife". We honestly didn't know what to expect, but we ended up having a great time! There were bugs, spiders, ocean animals and, of course, butterflies! Some of us were brave enough to hold Rosie the tarantula, and we also got to pet starfish and horseshoe crabs. The best part of the experience was the butterfly pavilion. It was an outdoor man made tropical rainforest with lush foliage and beautiful tropical flowers. Butterflies were everywhere! They would whirl around us and land on our hair. Twice a day the zookeepers would release the new butterflies that had just come out of their cocoons into the environment. What a fun experience!



pretending to be bunnies


Gigi holding Rosie


Steve holding Rosie


I'm holding Rosie!!












Deacon with his Uncle Paul and Aunt Heidi


playing with Aunt Heidi... and the crash soon after

Claire with her new butterfly wings