Happy Birthday, Sophia!

Happy Birthday, Sophia! We wish we could be there with you, and try out that lovely looking cake your Mom got you. But since we can't, we are sending you this silly Princess cake. It makes us think of you, because you are lovely like a princess, and funny too!

God bless you today! We hope you have a wonderful day!

May God grant you many years, and Our Lady, Star of the Sea, intercede for you.

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

Happy Birthday, Daniel!

We wish we could be with you on your birthday building Legos and eating cake. Most of all, we wish this was like last year when we were on our way over to see you all.

So enjoy this virtual birthday cake that looks like a Lego pyramid.

May God bless you, and grant you many more years. We love you very much!

Hey! I Grew Some Sunflowers!

Our little gardener wanted to grow some sunflowers, so this summer she got the chance.

Here are some pictures to show the progress over the summer.

In April, we planted the seeds in pots. By the beginning of May, they were ready to be planted in the garden.
Right above, early June...

Right below, late June....
Right below, we are into very late July....

Finally in late August, they surpassed her in height!

She commented that the leaves were as big as her head. Here's proof.

Here they are even taller than she is.

The sunflower head. It was really large.

Our yard is now safe from Zombie attacks, and none have been seen on our lawn.

Great job Lizzie!

Happy 18th Birthday, Ramon!

Ah, it was Labor Day, 1993. The fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation had aired three months before, and we were going to find out what the deal was with Mark Twain and Data's head. David Letterman had jumped to CBS, and his show was going to start that night, along with Dennis Miller. The top song in the country was "Can't Help Falling In Love," by UB40. A young Internet was all abuzz about a new sci-fi show called "The X-Files," or something or another, about some FBI agents who hunt monsters and weird phenomena. Probably won't waste all that much time on a show like that.

Your mom started having her labor pains on Sunday the 5th. We were not sure what to expect, but we were told that once her contractions were at a certain point, we were to go to the hospital, which was about 5 minutes a way.

We got to the hospital, and labor was about 4 hours. Your regular doctor was not around, so some things were unfamiliar, but we all managed.

Finally, at 2:05 AM on Labor Day 1993, you made your appearance in the world, and we had waited our whole lives to met you.

And here is your first picture! You are about 20 minutes old here. Dr. Cepeda and nurses. Then they made us take you home. Without instructions.

Your first Halloween costume.
Your first portrait.
Boy, sofas were ugly back then.
Your first time eating at (or near) the table.
And another portrait.
How did 18 years go by so quickly?

Happy Birthday, Ramón Jesús, We all love you very much!