Linda's Friend - Becky Stewart

Linda's great friend Becky Stewart passed away the day we got home from Puerto Rico. She had a heart attack the day we left to go to PR! They worked together at the Elementary School (even rode together every day). Becky always helped Linda with her cooking/catering. She was just a really great friend to her and all of us - we will miss her.

After the funeral, Linda had everyone over to her house. Here are a few pictures.
Nathan striking a pose.

And Doug striking a pose.

Uncle Stan and Aunt Beverly hanging out on the back porch with Jaquelyn.

And Grandmother with Jaquelyn.

Final Week of Swim Lessons

We had 1 more week of swim lessons when we got home from Puerto Rico. Sofia had to learn to swim-float-swim from anywhere in the pool. Here are 2 cool videos that show her progress/learning curve. The first video is her learning the skill and the second video is after she figured it out 3 minutes later!!! AMAZING!!!!!

Flight Home from Puerto Rico

This was my first time flying with both girls by myself. TOTAL SUCCESS!! Since Sofia is 2 years old now, we had to buy her a ticket. The Delta gate agents were also kind enough to find me a row with an empty seat, so we had a 3 seat section all to ourselves!! Jaquelyn was to my left in her car seat and Sofia was to my right in her seat. Another thing that helped with the flight was that I told Sofia that she couldn't get out of her seat without her shoes on. Since she hates to wear shoes, then she stayed in her seat 99% of the flight!!!! GOOD TIMES! We made it home safe and sound. It was so great to see everyone and I was truly rested after this trip!!

Trip to Puerto Rico - Abuelo/Abuela Part 2

Titi Ileana, Aidita's sister, lives across the street from my dad and stepmom. She is a really good cook!!! She had us over for dinner one night - filet mignon on the grill with chimichurri sauce, twice baked potatoes, salad, and a delicious ice cream with berries for dessert! YUM!! Here is a picture of my dad and stepmom drinkin' a little wine - a RARE sight :o) Look what it did to them after 1/2 a glass - TOO FUNNY!!

Here is Sofia kicked back in the Cleopatra chair at Ileana's house.

During meal prep - nice view.

And right before chowing down on the back porch. Look at the sunset too!!!

Here is a cute video of Jaquelyn (meant to put on Part 1) playing with the maraca and chains.

And here is a GREAT video of Sofia just having fun in Abuelo/a's pool!!!! This is the true benefit of the swim lessons.

We spent several evenings at Priscilla's house - it was just so much fun hanging out with her girls!! They are truly GREAT girls - I hope ours turn out as well!!!! Here is Sofia playing with Patricia.

And La-La and Denise entertaining Jaquelyn. What a super nice family - even if they are my own :o)

Cute picture of Abuela with the girls.

Sofia playing in a crate - doesn't take much to entertain them at this age - YAY!!!!

Speaking of easy to entertain - Sofia had a BLAST many days playing with Abuela's set of 3 nested tables. Check out the video of it too - and see that she's playing and then she'll sneak a peak at Barney playing on the TV in the background :o)

Trip to Puerto Rico - Abuelo/Abuela Part 1

We spent the next 10 days at Abuelo and Abuela's house (supposed to go back to Aba's house but the swine flu was going around PR and we wanted to stay put as much as possible). We had a blast with Abuelo y Abuela.
The first day we were there Papi had a party for all of his cousin's from Nana's side (Lopez).
Nathan looking cute :o) He left the next day to go back to Atlanta/work. BOOOO!! The girls and I stayed another week.

My cousin Priscilla has 5 girls!!! Here is a picture of her girls with mine - from the left, Paola (Popola - as Sofia calls her), Natalia, Denise, Jaquelyn, Patricia, Amanda (La-La), and Sofia.

Cute picture of Sofia helping Aubuelo in his shop.

Sofia helping Abuelo and Ileana make limber de limón (lime Popsicles). Check out the video too.


While we were at Papi's house we went to visit one of our family's long time friend Rafa and his wife Rosa Maria. Rafa has fought off cancer and is doing really well. He looked so good and Rosa Maria looks exactly the same as she did 15 years ago (the last time I think I saw her).

Here is their daughter Rosa Maria and Jaquelyn and their son Miguel. They both look the same too :o)

And here is Sofia with another Sofia. They are about 1 month apart.

Cute picture and video of Jaquelyn laughing while hanging out at Abuelo/a's :o).


Sofia napped so well while we were at Abuelo/a's house!! She would sleep 2.5 - 3 hours every day!! Here is a picture of her sleeping taken with my camera's nigh shot! Those days are long gone now. Naps top 1.5 hours now that we are back home :o(

Here she is chillin' in the stroller - look how long she is!!!

This is Iris - she's been helping my dad's side of the family for many years!! She took care of my grandparents when they were old and now she comes to my dad's house twice/wk and Ileana's house 1/wk and Priscilla's house 1/wk. I've known her as far back as I can remember. She was really good with Jaquelyn too - magic touch she had in getting her to take naps!!


Did I mention that it's REALLY hot and humid in Puerto Rico in July ? ! ? ! Here is Jaquelyn staying cool with just her diaper on.

And since the swine flu thing was going around - Abuelo and Sofia were practicing wearing their masks - in case we needed to wear them at the airport and airplane on the way home!


And this is a really cute video of Sofia singing a song about a frog "Sapo" with Abuela and Ileana. Apparently you can make up a silly song and put a man in a costume and everyone will run out and buy your CD. These guys that do this video/song are rich in Puerto Rico from this silly song. SOFIA LOVES SAPO!!!!!! (I think they are similar to the wiggles in US.)

Trip to Puerto Rico - Aba part

Nathan, Sofia, Jaquelyn and I went to Puerto Rico for 2 weeks. We were with my mom - Aba - for the first 4 days. She rented a house on the beach in Aguadilla for us. It was a super nice house - brand new, stainless appliances, had it's own swimming pool - AWESOME!!

Here are Sofia and I at the pool at the house.

And here is Sofia playing with the rocks at the restaurant where we ate dinner the first night.

Here are Nathan, Aba and I posing with Jaquelyn at that same restaurant. We've been here before and it's just this beautiful every time we go. The food is really good too!!!

Here is Nancy with Sofia and Jaquelyn. She's really great with them both!!!!

And Aba trying to keep Sofia from scrunching Jaquelyn.


We went horseback riding on the beach while we were with Aba too!! Nathan, Sofia and I had never done that before. It was beautiful and Sofia LOVED it!! She LOVES horses - ever since Easter when she got to ride those 2 horses at the park. However, the horses wore her out!! She fell asleep sitting in front of me on the ride back - even stayed asleep while the horse ran!!!
Here is Nathan on his horse.

Nathan's self-portrait on his horse on the beach :o)

Sofia and I on our horse.

Sofia petting our horse. She's not scared of horses - or anything for that matter. Must be her age. And here she is refueling her body before heading back to the ranch.

Here is Sofia passed out on the horse in front of me when we got back!!!!!!! :o)


Here are pictures and videos of Sofia playing in the ocean with Aba and Daddy. She liked the ocean, but didn't like the salt water in her eyes. Check out Nathan floating and relaxing in the background of the first video. Too funny!

Here are Sofia and Daddy having fun in the ocean.

Some of the delicious food we ate - mofongo con langosta (fried plantains with lobster) and chillo frito (friend whole red snapper). YYYYUUUMMMM!!!!!!!!!

And here are a couple of pictures of the really nice house. The air conditioning in it worked GREAT :o)


GRACIAS MAMI Y NANCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We really, really had a blast!