A BUSY SPRING

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over 2 months! Never a dull moment in the Rojas house...obviously!!! We have been busy! Now that summer is here, we will be even busier! I can't say that i love losing my husband to karate camp all summer long, but it's part of his job so...we deal!

I really don't want to write a novel...and believe me I could! Instead here are some photos to show what we have been up to!

EASTER IN EL PASO!

We drove to El Paso, TX for the kids' Spring Break and Easter! Joe was so excited, he drove the whole way and we made it there in 26 hrs w/out stopping! I KNOW I KNOW...he's crazy! He might be 36 yrs old, but when he is excited, he has the energy of a little boy! Of course we took a few short breaks, but getting to our destination in 26 hrs when it's supposed to take 24 hrs is pretty good timing! Now coming home...that was a different story! We stopped in Grapevine, TX and had a great 24 hr break!
We had a BLAST in El Paso visiting family and friends! Easter was so incredibly fun! The kids came home w/ about 9 baskets EACH full of gifts and candy! The Easter Egg hunt and confetti eggs were super fun...and messy! I don't know that we will ever be able to live up to Easter in El Paso! We just might have to go back every year @ Easter!

Filling Confetti Eggs at Grandma's house!

AJ and his cousin Julian - such cool little dudes! :)

Pizza night with cousins and friends!

Two 2 year olds trying to hide under the table = TROUBLE!

Ansley loves Uncle Chuck! She often says "Wanna see Chuck! Chuck funny mommy! hahahaha!"

The girl cousins in their Easter dresses

Aleigh and Abby! Can you tell their related?! They had no idea they were standing the same way!

I love this photo! Joe isn't too good for nothin! Such a good daddy!

Most of the cousins before hunting for Easter/Confetti Eggs!

CONFETTI TIME! I love this tradition! They save egg shells throughout the year, clean them out, color them, fill them w/ confetti, glue tissue paper at the opening, and hide them! Once the eggs are all found, the cracking begins! SO FUN!





Kids opening all of their baskets! It's like Christmas!!!

Uncle Adam with his little guy, Aden and Austin

Emma (our goddaughter), Aden, Ansley and Austin

Grandma had ansley in stitches! She was just giggling and lovin on her grandma!

Ale and Ansley - Two Peas in A Pod!

Emma and Aleigh playing dress up!

Grandma and Austin

Ansley and her sweet cousin Isaac!

These 2 little cuties are already trying to be sneaky! Always hiding under the table!



On our way back from El Paso we stopped in Grapevine, TX (right outside of Dallas Ft. Worth)and stayed at the Gaylord Texan Resort! What an amazing place!!! All of the photos were taken INSIDE the resort! It was amazing! The food, the pool, the shops, and the service was incredible! We hope to make that stop when we go back next year! Across the street they had another resort with an indoor water park...maybe we'll try that one! The key is to go in the middle of the week when it's half the price!












AJ'S 9th BIRTHDAY

AJ got Roller Blades from Nana and Papa for his birthday! He is slowly getting used to them! At his request, I made him a triple chocolate chunk Brownie cake w/ homemade chocolate frosting! Talk about death by chocolate! I can't believe our first born is 9 already! He is such a blessing! We love him so so much and are so proud of him!

Quick Update On Our Crazy Life

Oh boy...TIME...there's just not enough in a day!!! I hate that it has been so long since I last blogged! Here is a brief update in photos!

March 6th, Joe's 36th Birthday (He's going to love that I put his age out there)!

Don't you love his "Princess" birthday hat! It was on the floor because Ansley had been playing w/ it earlier. He agreed to wear it for the picture - my goofy husband!

AJ directed how everyone should pose for this picture! He's so funny!

Without us even knowing that Ansley was capable of climbing into a crib, she couldn't resist climbing in to hang w/ her little brother! Poor little Austin doesn't get any space when Ansley is around! She just smothers him w/ love! Although it is very sweet to see her love her baby brother so much, she gets a little carried away at times! The other day she thought it was cute to just lay across his face! When I told her that she couldn't do that she said "K momma!"

Home...for the next 2-3 years! 4 bdrms, 3 baths, basement, sidewalk community with community pool 7 doors down, playground, and tennis courts...not that we play or anything! It's been nice being here! We moved in Valentines weekend and the kids love it! There are several kids on our street for them to play with and with the sidewalks I feel a lot safer letting them ride their bikes/scooters out front! We are also a lot closer to everything...other than my parents unfortunately! :(

Foyer

Kitchen and Living Room

Kids Bathroom w/ double sinks - HUGE problem solver in the mornings w/ AJ and Aleigh!

Master Bedroom - Love all the windows!

My Little Valentine!

Ansley's playdate with Tessa!


ANSLEY IS 2!!! I can't believe it!!! Our little Valentine baby is growing up way too fast! She is so sweet, funny, confident, never meets a stranger and just so full of life! She is so incredibly adored by all of us! We LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH "Ansley Pansley!"

We originally planned to have Ansley's birthday at home w/ our close friends and their kids. Then, when we realized we were going to be in the middle of packing/moving, we decided to move the party to Joe's studio for the party! It was so nice to not have to worry about cleaning the house! We just brought a few decorations for her "Abby Caddaby" party and ordered pizza! It turned out perfect!

While I was out doing my christmas shopping one night (@ Toys R Us) I saw someone scan the rose petal cottage at the price check and it said $14.99!!! I wanted to get it for Aleigh when it first came out a few years back but it was $90. It's still around $80 normally, but that day Toys R Us was having a HUGE sale and I was able to get the rose petal cottage, the nursery set, the market, and some accessories for under $40! The photo below shows Aleigh and Ansley in the the market.



Madrina (the kids godmother) came and we got to meet her new man, Mike! He's an awesome guy and liked by all! He is very good to our Madrina and makes her very happy!

Feeding daddy her cake!

Ansley and two of her sweet little friends, Casey and Tessa! Their so cute together! We were missing Hayley...she must have been eating cake or something! :)

Ansley adores her papa!

"CHEESE!"

She was so excited to get her gift from Aleigh - Buzz and Woody Colorwonders book! She LOVES Buzz and Woody...a little tomboy! At least she still lets me dress her the way I want to! All too soon she will have an opinion just like her sister and won't like anything I pick out!

Bryson and his sweet girlfriend Elizabeth!

Tammy and sweet little Hayley! Tammy gave birth to another baby girl just a week prior! Baby Camden stayed home w/ her grams!

More presents!


We have a couple of Daddy's Girls!

AJ and Aleigh showing their donations for Haiti! Their school gave out these bags titled "Pennies for the Poor"

Sweet Austin @ 2 1/2 months, ready for bed!

Ansley hitchin a ride on AJ's plasma car!

I can't help but kiss on those cheeks all the time!


Aleigh is such a great big sister! She tries to be so helpful by holding Austin, but it only lasts about 30 seconds because he gets too heavy for her! Ansley got this adorable tricycle from Uncle James and Aunt Amy for Christmas, but since Ansley can't quite reach the pedals, Aleigh helped find a way for Ansley to be able to enjoy her gift! Yes....Aleigh is wearing boots with her pajamas! She's so funny!

Austin! I can't believe this was just 2 months ago! He has grown a TON since then...but not vertically! ;)

The girls trying to stay up to ring in the new year w/ us! We let the kids camp out in the living room. Ansley was the only one that made it until midnight and then had to go to bed in her crib!