Happy 33 Art!!

Today was Art's Birthday. We celebrated mostly in Idaho when we were there, where we got him a Boise State Golf Bag! He was so excited. And Grace got him an awesome Tigger card.
But today at home Grace and I made him his favorite Lemon Cake. We sang (Grace did very good-until we tried to record her) and had Fettuccine with home made alfredo sauce for dinner. It was a very relaxing evening at home. Happy Birthday Honey!! I look forward to many more to come and I love you!!!!

Broken Nose

Our Sun Valley Vacation was nearly ruined and it definately was difficult and hard for me-mixed in with all of the good times. Grace fell our first night there. She was sitting on a trike when her cousin Art rode by. She fell toward him off of the trike and hit her nose on the back of it. I was panicked when it turned a little blue. I took her to the doctor and they said it could be broken, but to wait, and it would probably bleed if it was truly broken. So later that night when we were at the nice dinner. Grace fell face first in the bathroom onto the hard floor. She just tripped (which she does about every 15 seconds) and landed on her nose. It was the final straw. We ended up in the ER again. Yep-broken. I have since been trying so hard to keep her calm and from falling down which is so hard with a toddler. My heart is broken for her and I just keep crying every time I think of her telling me that her nose hurts.

The next day-it is still very swollen and more black and blue.

One more day.

I am still just so sad about this and I can't believe she has to go through this. We go to her surgeon tomorrow to see what we need to be doing. She is such good spirits for what has happened you wouldn't know by her actions that she is even hurt. She is such a tough lady!

40 Years and Counting!!!

We have been in Sun Valley for the last week celebrating Art's parents 40 year anniversary. Isn't that such an amazing accomplishment and a great example to me. We ate at a really nice restaurant one night called Trail Creek Lodge. The kids rode in the wagon and fed carrots to the horses. We flew kites one afternoon. It was hilarious to see all of the men trying to get them going. We got them to fly for a minute. Grace ran with hers.

Tori got hers to go into the air. She was the most consistent for sure. We took the kids to play in the sand box and swing. Grace tried all of the color of swings but liked the blue one best (it was funny, she had me move her so she could try them all)We fed bread to the swans. One of the swans pecked my leg when I was trying to get pictures-rude thing.

We blew bubbles.

I took a family picture while we were there and that is what Art and I gave them for their present. They loved it.

Grace teased papa with her sucker.

We did a lot of swimming in the amazing pool there.

Grace liked relaxing in the pool.And flying....

What an amazing trip. We had so much fun and it was really hard to come back home.

I need a vacation!

Okay really bad-ugly-etc. etc. etc. picture but it proves the point that I really need a vacation. Four times last night I put Grace back into bed. Art took this picture this morning because he thought it was funny that I was entirely on the edge of the bed with a care bear in my face and a child on my shoulder. Needless to say-I could really use a vacation a little break with some sunshine-maybe a good nights sleep (but I have to admit I would miss Grace-so she has to come on vacation too-even though I would prefer her to sleep in her own bed). Isn't she cute though!!!

Baby Hinkle

We are expecting a new baby Hinkle. We currently refer to this baby as baby Bada. I got to see this new little one on Saturday. What to expect I can never tell (as Michael wants to be surprised) But I am so excited for this new edition expected around Thanksgiving.

Fathers Day

We had a wonderful day for Fathers Day. The girls got Art some really cute cards, pictures, and a gift card for Sun Valley. This was a perfect day for Art because he had both of his girls here.

They are all so funny together.

I am so lucky to have him for my husband and father of my children. I love him very much. We also got to see my Dad on Fathers Day which was a nice treat. Happy Fathers day to all of the fathers in my life. Art, Dad, and Bob! My brothers in Law and all others. Thanks for all you do!

Long Overdue

We have had so much going on that I am long overdue on an update post. Grace fell last Wednesday and put her tooth into her bottom lip. Tori practiced her Clarinet and has some songs planned to play in Sun Valley Next week. I can't believe how far she has come in just the year that she has been playing. Josafat turned 18. He had a little get together. This is Aubrey one of my tutors. My mom made this cute hat for Grace that she actually likes. The girls spent a couple of days at Lonni's last week. They did lots of swimming in their pool. Grace loved it. Art got his braces off and his teeth are all fixed. He can now bite into an Apple after 15 years-he is so excited. Grace got sick over the weekend. She has a double ear infection. I knew something was wrong so I took her in. Later that day she spent some time like this. Poor lady.I took pictures and then I picked her up to hold her. My sisters came up for Michele's bridal shower. Getting ready for the bath-we had to fight to get them out of bed. Grace was very helpful in the bath with Leah. Leah hated all of the help. Grace had her first sleepover. Miles and Grace slept all night in her room. They wanted to. It was so cute. Kyle did some exercising with the kids. They loved it. We barbequed and made smores. Then Grace fell again and put her tooth in her lip again (same place) and hit her nose. She falls all of the time. She looks horrible. She is so tough though.

Wayne County

We went to Wayne for the weekend. I got a lot of great pictures, but they are on my other camera. We went to the park where I pulled hammy in a competative game of kickball. Then we went swimming at the pool.

Where Miss Tori took a jump off of the high dive (it is super high so I am very proud of her) She wasn't so sure at first-trying to get a little closer.

But she did it! She is a brave girl and so much fun!

We had a great time. We came home and I shed a few tears when we sold our trailer-another story-another day-maybe when I am up to it!

High School Graduation

All of my kids graduated last night. I have been working with them for four years. It is exciting to see them accomplish this goal, but also hard to see them leave. We will have to start with all new students next year. I got some pictures of some of my favorites (because yes I do have them) Daniel Catalan.

Who created this video to apply for a scholarship and trip to San Francisco: He was selected. I am so proud of him.

Fatuma Sheikh: She is so sweet and loves Grace.

Gaby Rodriguez: so willing to work hard She applied for every scholarship I gave her, no matter what.

Clara Simbe (hands down the saddest history-but she is so strong) and Nancy Santino. These are amazing ladies!Amy Novoa: Loves her culuture and sharing it with others.

Emmanual Quiah who taught himself guitar and played and sang daily outside my office-I will miss that! He wants to go to college, but also wants to be famous-he cracks me up!Glesier Escarate: So determined and hard working! Very committed to his family.

Diego Sanchez and Juan Echeveste. They spoke at the graduation. Sometimes they were a challenge (espcially Deigo) but this was a huge accomplishment for them to be here!

Some of my others that I didn't catch afterwards: Preston, Soni, Nancy, Lizbeth, Michael and Baqir. I am so proud of them all and it was great to see them finally accomplish what they have worked so hard for. Congrats class of 2011 and thanks for letting me a part of your life!