August vacation

So these pictures are in reverse order, it wasn't worth the effort to fix them. Here are highlights of our trip to California in August. We went to 5 beaches, visited a couple of temples, went hiking in Bryce Canyon, and most importantly had a good time relaxing and enjoying each others company.

Jacob and Joshua hanging out in our hotel in Las Vegas on our way home.

We got a really good deal so we stayed in the Hilton, it was nice to not have a casino in the hotel.

Huntington Beach - Surf City - with some of our really good friends from Peru

Sunset Beach - it was beautiful

Sunset Beach - hence the name, the sunset was beautiful we took tons of pics

Ben and I tried to go to a session at the L.A. temple, and Ivan was going to watch the kids, but it was closed : (

Jacob and Joshua playing on the Beach at Corona del Mar (Crown of the Sea)

This is Inspiration Point in Corona Del Mar, it is even more gorgeous in the night time. I love to sit here and listen to the waves. This was in my area in my mission for 9 months of my mission! I love this place!

my two cute boys in front of the San Diego temple

One of my favorite Beaches - Coronado - it's an island off the coast of San Diego

Jacob and Joshua being thoroughly entertained by the gorillas (who escaped the picture) at San Diego Zoo

We buried Jacob on Mission Beach in San Diego

Jacob with Ivan's great aunt

We visited Ivan's cousin and great-aunt in California

On the road again, my kind brother Ben joined us on our vacation and helped drive. So I stayed in the back to entertain the kiddos

Hiking in Bryce Canyon

July

Having a water fight at grandma and grandpa's house
Jacob with his hot wheels bike that I got at a garage sale. He loves it!

Jacob and Joshua riding the Heber Creeper with mommy and daddy

Jacob's first REAL dentist appointment

I love this picture! Heber Creeper All Aboard!

enjoying our bike ride on the Jordan River Trail

that's my bike Ivan got me for my birthday. I love it! We enjoyed a lot of fun bike rides this summer.

Jacob's soccer team - he is on the bottom second one in from the left

listening to the drills : )

GOAL!

taking a walk on the Jordan River trail

June

Here are some of the things we did during June:just hung out...

We went to the Church history museum and they have really re-done the children's area upstairs. They have a hands on area about the Book of Mormon and another area about latin America....

Jacob got dressed up and is learning how to do a Mexican dance



Jacob and Joshua driving a truck with animals in the back



Jacob collecting eggs from the hens... they make life-like hen noises it's pretty cool

going fishing in Nephi's boat.

sleeping in the bunkbeds like the ones on the ships which the pioneers took to come to America...if you haven't been there recently you should go. Now Jacob often asks if he can go play at the temple (because it's right by temple square)

who knew playing in a box could be so much fun

playing at the park on a chilly day

we love to go for bike rides. Isn't it so cute that their holding hands : ) We recently gave this bike trailor to my sister and got two front seater kids bike seats one for Ivan's bike and one for mine. We love to ride to Liberty Park, the Jordan River trail or around the neighborhood.

May events

In May we took a little trip down to Zion's and Las Vegas. Our main reason for going was to see Ivan's godmother, her son and his family. They had flown in from Peru to California so we met them in Las Vegas. We had a lot of fun spending some time with them. This picture isn't very clear but starting on the left is their son, then Ivan carrying Joshus on his back, then Ivan's godmother, her son Paco is next to her followed by his wife and Jacob and I on the end. (they have a daughter too but she was taking the picure.)

Some of Ivan's family friends from Peru. Jacob adored the little girl sitting next to him, her name is Jenny.

Ivan with his god mother she was visiting from Peru

Jacob with his M&M candies from the M&M factory

We went to an awesome aquarium at Mangdalay Bay. There were shark tunnels, aligators, tons of fish... Jacob, Joshua and I by a tank of giant Jelly fish

Ivan helping Jacob touch a sting ray

Down by the Narrow at Zion's



We love hiking: ) This was at Zion's

up dating the blog April activites

I haven't been actively blogging since about March; but we have been doing a lot of fun things, so I thought I would update you all on what we've been doing over the next few weeks : )

Here are some of our Easter pictures. My brother spent Saturday night and Sunday with us, so he got to join our Easter festivities We went to Temple Square on Easter Sunday

Dying Easter eggs

In April I participated in my first tri-athalon. It was a short one, but it was a good experience. It was a 400 meter swim, 5k (3 mile) run, and a 10 mile bike ride. Here are a few pictures of the event. The only bad part was the weather....it was very windy, and snowing

Ivan was a trooper and watched the kids during the event. Here they are cheering me on from the balcony.

Since the weather was aweful, Ivan and the kids couldn't stand outside in the blizzard the whole time, the pictures he took were all of me in the pool : ) I did the whole thing in about an hour 45 min. I hope to do another one soon : )

family pics

Here are a few of our new family pictures : )

Joshua's 1!

Ivan's mom came to visit for Joshua's birthday. I was amazed at home much more Spanish Jacob spoke after just a week of her visiting. Here are some pictures of her visit and the fun things we did for Joshua's birthday.

She was very excited to visit temple square

group hug Grandma Ines and the boys

Joshua opening presents with Jacob's help :)

Joshua's chocolate cup cake

We went to Old Spegetti Factory the night of Joshua's birthday and he LOVED the spegheti! Here he is being sung to with one candle in his dish of spamoni ice cream.

Jacob and mommy

Joshua and mommy

the after swimming picture with grandma Ines

We went swimming for Joshua's birthday. Swimming is Jacob and Joshua's favorite activty!

Happy Birthday Joshua we love you! You bring so much joy to our lives! We are so grateful that after a difficult year with surgery and many sicknesses that you are doing well and are enjoying being a happy healthy little boy!