still no new pictures...

i have been quite the procrastinator this week. not only haven't i installed my camera software onto my new computer, but i haven't even been taking new pictures! now THAT'S unsual for me...

we have had a lot going on this week. natalie and russell, and russ and i , have been swapping colds back and forth, although the kids had it the worst. little russell is pretty much over his but natalie's turned into something worse and she's been feverish, congested and uncomfortable for the past couple of days. we just started the antibiotic today so hopefully things will start to get better for us here, Natalie in particular. it's so sad seeing her so miserable; any mother can relate to that i'm sure.

we found out this week that my dad's cousin, Sarita, passed away. we just saw her at my dad's retirement party and she looked great, so everything is very surreal. i pray for the family during this time of sadness and will always keep her memories alive in my heart. she was a sweet, loving person and i will miss her.

my titi nancy flew in to be with the family and stayed with us last night. it was a treat to have her company, even though it was such a short time and on such sad terms. she is one of my avid blog readers, quite possibly my biggest fan! it was so funny how we were able to talk about things that were going on, like she's been right here with us the entire time, just because she reads all of my blog entries! it made me feel good to know that this blog reaches and touches the hearts of my family and friends who do not live close by. so i'm sending a big *SHOT OUT* to my titi nancy!!!!!! this one's for you ;)

now on to someone else who means a lot to me...

my dear friend heather has a birthday on saturday and i wanted to wish her the very best birthday imaginable. they are spending the day at disney, so i'm sure it will be magical!

love you girl!

xoxo

update

last monday we [FINALLY] purchased a new computer! our old computer was a hand-me-down from celena and was considered old when she gave it to us. so needless to say, i am in heaven now! the only thing i've yet to do is download my camera program on the computer which is why i haven't posted any new pictures lately. i hope to get to that this week.

russ's birthday was great -- we thouroughly enjoyed the patsy cline show at the Alhambra on Thursday night and i'd like to go back with natalie when Annie is playing in June.

the kids are feeling better although russell can't seem to shake his nasty cough. i hear that this "cough" is going around and it seems to be lingering...

this past weekend was very low-key for us which couldn't have been any more appreciated. i hate to jinx myself but starting tonight, i'm feeling like i might possibly be coming down with something. i hope i'm wrong about that!

i hope everyone enjoyed superbowl sunday! we didn't do anything exciting. russ watched the last minutes of the game when it looked like for a second the cardinals might win... better luck next time! lol

tis the season for COLDS

everywhere i turn, some one is sick so wouldn't you know the kids picked up whatever it is that's going around! i took russell to the doc yesterday because his cough was so bad i was worried about bronchitis. luckily it is just a cough with chest congestion. so we gots meds for that, and for natalie's cough that was keeping her awake at night. can you believe that russell slept through all of his heavy, deep coughing?! today was even worse for russell: his cough changed but it lasted all through the day, when before it was just at night. i had to run to the grocery store and with his chronic cough everyone kept staring at me like they were wondering WHY ON EARTH I BROUGHT HIM AROUND OTHER PEOPLE. look, i know what they're thinking... i think the same way myself. i just wanted to put a sign on him that said "doc says he is not contagious, so back off!" but you better believe i ran through that store like i was running a marathon (not like that would ever happen...) just so i could hurry up and get out of there. AND wouldn't you know russell decided to poop while in the shopping cart 5 minutes into my shopping, when i had about 20 things on my list! so not only was he attracting (or DETRACTING i should say) people with his cough, but also his nasty smelly pull-up as well! we ended up missing natalie's gymnastic class again (this was a make-up for yesterday's class) because i think they would have thrown me out with the way russell sounded and there are other little babies in the waiting area with us. hopefully i'll be able to get her in before the week ends, i know how much she loves to go :(

well that was a boring post... i think i just spent 1/2 hour talking about my kids' cough and poop-- sorry :/

i hope all my friends and family who are under the weather start to feel better soon! and i hope this one passes right by me!

***

russ's birthday is tomorrow--- we are going to the Alhambra Dinner Theater with both parents to see the Patsy Cline show. more on that later!

recent random pictures

the kids at isaac's mcdonald's birthday party:

the birthday boy

isabella

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eating lunch with daddy on friday, downtown jax -- a rare treat all around

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at the walter jones historic park, jacksonville on sunday

got stuck driving behind this really cool antique car

my big birthday

i had a good day today. all the attention was on ME and it was GREAT! in the morning we went to this cool place called PUMP IT UP where they have bounces houses and inflatable slides... i was in heaven. my buddies logan and isaac, and his sister isabella even came too. oh yeah and my daddy left work to hang out with us for a little bit. that was cool because we went down all the big slides together! afterwards we went to the mall so mommy could get my buzz lightyear shirt that i was going to wear today. (she bought the wrong size the day before.) while we were at the mall, me and natalie got to ride the carousel, one of my favorite things to do there! and we got to go up and down the elevator a few times too -- mommy lets me press the button and its great! we ate lunch at the chik-fil-a in at the mall, which is one of my favorite places to eat. before we got home we stopped off at publix to pick up my birthday cake. YAY! mommy even let me pick out a birthday balloon too -- i liked the spiderman one!

later, titi celena came over and ate dinner with us, and then before i knew it nana & papa and grandma & grandma were all here and there were a bunch of presents waiting on the table for me. i was so excited! but first we ate some yummy cake. everyone sang *happy birthday* to me and i couldn't stop smiling -- it was all for ME! i blew out my candles then dug in to my cake! it was GOOOOD!


finally, presents time! i loved everything i got and can't stop playing with all my new and cool toys!

thanks to everyone for sharing my 3rd birthday with me! mommy says i'm a big boy now, not a baby :)

luv,
russell

happy birthday sweet russell!!!

my baby boy... you're not so much a baby anymore. this past year you have grown and developed so much, especially with your speech. although you are still significantly "behind" [according to standards], i remember just a few months ago thinking i'd never hear you call me "mommy," tell me what you wanted, or tell me what was wrong, for that matter. you've come a long way buddy! we are so proud of you. there are times when i feel like i can't take another minute of your whining, or your rough housing with natalie, or the times when i have to tell you to put away your legos 100 times before you actually start moving... but when you look at me with those dreamy eyes and precious smile, my heart just melts. time-outs are so hard with you!



i hope your birthday is as fun as you imagined it would be and more. mommy, daddy and natalie love you so much. thank you for bringing such joy to our lives!



hugs & kisses!

a weekend of "obligations"

to be honest the above title references to an inside joke; although we do have several things planned [practically] every weekend, i wouldn't necessarily call them "obligations". lol

friday night i took the kids to eat at brooklyn's pizza with grandma, grandpa and uncle alex. russ had to work late and celena had plans so it was just us for our weekly ritual. i don't know whether there was something in the pizza or if we were just REALLY HUNGRY but for some reason, me and kids couldn't stop eating! it was slice after slice after slice! i don't mind the kids eating so much, but as for myself, i have GOT to watch my pizza cosumption next time...

***

saturday we spent the morning and afternoon in st. augustine for the MARCH FOR LIFE procession in the honor of the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. We went last year and this year was just as cold! no worries -- we just bundled up the kids and with the sun shining nice and bright you couldn't even tell the temperature was in the 30's and 40's. it was a beautiful afternoon all around!

beautiful st. augustine

Cemetery of Innocence

These 4,000 crosses represent the numher of babies aborted each day in the U.S.

we had to leave a little early because we had a birthday party to go to at 4:00. so we drove straight home, ate lunch on the way, did the whole potty thing with the kids when we got home, re-packed the "diaper" bag, grabbed the birthday gift and got right back in the car to head to the party. it was at a cute little gym center and the theme was dinosaurs! the kids had lots of fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHTON!

what a horrible picture but it was the only one i got of russell and then my battery died :(

while we were at the party, russ received a text from our friends emily and charlie asking if we had any "obligations" that night ;) we made a quick call to russ's mom and after she so wonderfully agreed to hang out at the house while the kids slept, we we were able to join our friends for a fun night of catching up, eating, drinking and playing games. those nights are so few and far between for us!

lovebirds at Emily and Charlie's house

feels like just yesterday we were dating...haha

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sunday morning we went to mass while the kids went to "sunday school".

that afternoon, we had yet ANOTHER birthday party to go to! isaac turned 3 years old and was having his party at mcdonalds. i brought my camera but decided not to take it out because brittani had hers and i know she always getst the good pictures! besides, when i got home, i discovered that my camera was missing my battery pack! so i wouldn't have been able to take pics even if i wanted to! pics of the party to come (i'll have to steal these whenever brittani uploads them).

so i end my night with my normal sunday [legal] work... and a nice long blog just for you guys!

hope your weekend was just as eventful, exciting or as happy as ours!

a day of fun

on wednesday we went to the park for a playdate with heather and logan. it was the same park in which natalie fell into the little pond while trying to feed the ducks a while back, so i was a little nervous. but we weren't eating lunch there which meant we didn't have to go out to the picnic table/pond area, so that was a relief! it was funny because at one point while the kids were playing, natalie approached me to remind me of the time she fell into the water -- that girl doesn't miss a beat...

later that night it was "free play" at the gym the kids are enrolled in which means the gym is open to all members for one hour of play on whatever they want. this was russell's first time playing inside because normally he is forced to sit in the waiting area with mommy while we watch his big sister play in her structred class on tuesday afternoons, so he was REALLY EXCITED! (you should have seen him at the house when i said it was time to get ready to go -- i've never seen him move so fast!)

it was pretty crowded, but the whole place was extremely kid friendly and safe so russ and i just sat and watched as they ran around, exhausting their little selves. finally i decided to take a couple of pictures:

natalie's 4 year check up!

Natalie had her 4 year well visit at the doctor's on Tuesday. Here is a quick recap of the "event":

This year, everything was different. Natalie got to take off her clothes and wear a [princess] gown, she had to give a urine sample, they did a hearing test and even tested her vision by making her read a chart with pictures on it across the room!

At 4 years old, she weighs 35 lbs (in the 50th percentile), and is 41.25 inches tall (75th percentile).

Natalie got 4 shots on this day and was soooooo brave. She flinched with each of them and cried for a minute after the last one (which was the one that actually burned). But she was absolutely thrilled when she got her sticker and lollipop for being so good! Her and I both just adore her doctor, who is so loving with her, and attentive to all of my questions, which i admit are listed on paper that i bring with me, because if i don't write them down i will forget to ask...

my little girl is growing up -- and i am so proud of her!

happy retirement dad!

so after 36 years of working with the united states postal service, my dad had paid his dues and was ready to take time off -- permanently! his job took us from queens, NY, to charlotte, NC, all the way down to where we are today, jacksonville, FL. my mom and dad met while working at the post office so this retirement had a lot of of meaning to us all. it was only natural that we would throw him a huge retirement party to celebrate this special once in a lifetime achievement! somehow or another, the party turned into a family reunion and before we knew it we had friends and family flying and driving in just for this [past] weekend. the most special part of it all was that my abuela was able to come too. it's very difficult for her to travel, in more ways then one, so it was such a joy to be able to see her, let russ meet her, have the kids play with her, and just talk to her - a rare treat indeed.

the party itself on saturday night was a hit. despite a little music blurb in the beginning (the dj was having technical difficulties), we still managed to tear up the dance floor -- all the way to the end! i had a blast and like i predicted, my body was a little sore the next day...

here are some pics from the party and the "soto family reunion" weekend as well.

your hostesses

THE MAN OF THE HOUR

last picture of the night

(click on the mosaic to enlarge)

We're so proud of you dad! Enjoy your new life of relaxation (after you finish your "honey-do list, that is...) -- Oh yeah -- let me know when you're ready to babysit the kids :)

Love to my family - can't wait to see you all again!

busy bees...

we have been keeping very busy this week with preparing for dad's retirement party. 36 years with the united states postal service - man that is some dedication! his party is tomorrow night and it is going to be SOMETHING. lots of food, dancing, family, friends and more dancing :) i'm sure i will be sore the next day but it will be worth it! we have lots of family and friends coming for this party -- all of my dad's family, with the exception of one sister who lives in venezuela, will be here soon. even my abuela! we are very excited.

just wanted to say hello to everyone! i can't wait for things to settle down and next week to be "normal" but til then, i am soaking in every second of this rare soto/gonzalez family time! and i can't WAIT for tomorrow night!!!
pictures to come...

pics from grandma

(fingers-in-the-face shot)

(lounging after her bath)

"this is the closest i'm going to get to smiling, GRANDMA."

russell swinging and uncle alex texting

night out

natalie and russell spent the night at grandma and grandpa's house last friday (as a make-up for new years eve). the special thing about this day was that it was russell's first sleepover! (since he was a baby). they went to brooklyn's pizza for dinner and then went back to the house to play before bedtime. grandma said russell did really well and the kids both had a blast! when i went to pick the kids up the next day, russell gave me the biggest and longest hug ever (i think he missed his mommy just a little bit...).

grandma took some pics and i'll post them once she sends them to me (*hint*hint* mom)


since russ and i had the night to ourselves we decided to meet up with friends jack and b.j. and their daughter alex for some japanese-- habachi style--dinner. it had been a long time since we had seen them AND since we had eaten japanese, and we were grateful for both :) that night we had our first taste of what the nintendo "Wii" is all about. they had to pry me away from the bowling game. i guess they got scared i would beat their records since i kept scoring in the 200s... lol. let me just add the Wii to our long Wish List! Thanks for all the fun Jack and B.J.!

*update on russell's tooth*
the tooth is miraculously still there. it almost looks like it's back to normal except it's sitting a little lower than before. i'm guessing it has tightened up a bit like the dr. said it might but i am still cutting up his foods - not like it matters because he just ends up stuffing 50 pieces in his mouth anyway... russell continues to play rough which always has me a little worried but really, what can i do? i can't stop the inevitable!

playing games on the computer with daddy

close-up of russell's smile. tooth still loose, but still there.

(i check his mouth after every meal! lol)

nuevo ano

our night was supposed to be fun and exciting as the grandparents offered to keep the kids for us, but we were reminded today how in the blink of eye, things quickly become out of your control.

late this afternoon as the kids were horseplaying (as they do about 50,000 times a day) natalie's head collided with russell's front tooth (yes, the same one that he fell on in the bath tub about 6 mos ago). when they both came running to me screaming and i noticed the blood coming from russell's mouth, i knew it was serious. when i went to feel his tooth, my worst fear became true -- it was extremely loose. i am normally very calm in emergency situations but this time i began to lose my cool and called russ. he told me to call the dentist office (DUH!) which is what i did and we drove straight there 10 min. before they closed for the holiday. (big *shout-out* to Drs. Setzer and Cochran, the best pediatric dentists in Jax!). well the damage had been done the FIRST time he fell on his front teeth and 90% the of root of one of them was resorbed (GONE), and 70% of the other tooth. doc advised to leave the tooth in for as long as possible until it falls out on its own, which it will do soon, probably while he's biting into something. the other front tooth might last longer - who knows -- but in the end i will have a pre-mature front-tooth-less kid. that makes me sad. but the dr. said it won't affect his speech or anything else for that matter. my baby boy is doing great. in fact he only cried for the first minute after the collision and the whole drive to the dentist office he played with his loose tooth like it was a toy. he is in no pain whatsoever and requires no medicine, thanks be to God. he will just have to get used to a loose tooth, and eventually, NO TOOTH :(

so instead, the kids stayed home tonight and russ and i broke into one of our christmas gifts, a bottle of CROWN ROYAL (no, we are not alcoholics...) and had a couple of nice drinks while we snacked on some chips, listened to some really obnoxious fireworks, and watched BATMAN BEGINS. don't you wish you were here? ;) actually russ even deserted me and fell asleep! well as i watched the ball drop in times square with good ol' dick clark still ringing in the new year on TV, tears started to well up in my eyes. new years eve in my family is huge, always has been. i'll never forget the huge parties my family would throw with all of us cousins running around or trying to dance around the adults who actually KNEW how to dance. and it never failed, come midnight all of the adults would start to cry and kiss wishing each other a "Happy New Year; I love you" while i thought "what's to be sad about?!" i guess i'm getting old - because now i get it.

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so, welcome to 2009. just like that we have entered another year - boy how time flies when you don't want it to!

well i can't stop the hands of time - but i can look back at this past year and reflect on the good and the bad, all of which i am thankful for. we have our health, our faith, our family -- what else matters?

i continue to learn things about my self and about my faith, a never ending struggle to reach an unattainable goal: to be pure and holy. i will never get there, that i accept; but as the new year comes upon me i promise to continue to do my best to be a good person, with a good heart and humble soul. i am in no way perfect -- and i know i will make mistakes -- but i will never let go of my good intent to please Him, most Holy.

thank you for reading this, and i pray for many beautiful moments for you to share with your families this new year!

CHEERS to 2009!