the skiing family

we have had the BEST time skiing this year.  i'm so glad we got ski passes for the whole family.  the kids seem to be really enjoying it and it's so fun to have an activity that everyone loves to do together.  they hardly ever complain about the early morning and long drive.  it's been a winter i will cherish forever...watching my babies learn, grow and excel.  could a mother ask for more?  can't wait for spring skiing!!

here are a couple videos of eli - the first was his very first attempt down the slopes alone.  i LOVE how he laughs all the way down.  after the second video we spent the rest of the afternoon on the green runs with him skiing independently.  very cool!

she's here!!

after three amazing little dudes, my sister finally had a girl! we are so thrilled to hear her little one had made her arrival safe and sound.

Rosario Nancy Rae Fernandez

i'm thrilled to have another namesake (my bff julie named her little sweetie natalie rae too!) it's such an  honor!!  i can't wait to meet her in person.  she's just a little piece of heaven!

it's her birthday

today is my sister's birthday.  

she is one of the most important people in the entire universe to me.  

she was my maid of honor...

she was there when i delivered marissa...

and i was lucky to be there when her sweet bruno was born...

we've bonded over our boys...

(this is one of my all-time favorite pics by the way)

 and our hair...

 ...and she's just the best sister a gal could have. 

 happy birthday nan!!  

love you and miss you!

see you soon!!

eli's trick

voila!  eli's new trick.

welcome spring

like many of you, we had spring come very early this year.  after a very warm winter with no snow and hardly any cold temps, we seemed to skip right over spring and dive right into summer.  the kids had a friday off and we went to check out a park we'd never been to.  they had a great time and i loved how clean it was and there was something for every age.

 doesn't dylan look so old here?

marissa just fell in love with this puppy

 oh i love this picture!  i love how eli is just clamped onto marissa's arm

 here is trouble - you can see his evil plan hatching...

 ...knowing that is what his expression means, i said, "don't even think about it."  he knew he was busted.  what a rascal...

 marissa took these cute shots of eli, love the lashes!

a special birthday

i have the best mom in the whole wide world.

she is so special to me.  everything, EVERYTHING i know about being a mother, wife, woman and friend i've learned from her.  i would be completely lost without her!

this year she celebrated her 60th birthday.  i wasn't lucky enough to be there to celebrate with her but like a woman after my own heart, she took off to the beach for some r&r.

i  made this little movie for her and thought i'd share it with you.

mom - i love you - happy birthday.  love you always, forever!!

on the move

our home is for sale.  we have colorado in our sights and can't wait to be relocated as a family.  we will miss our NC friends dearly.  such great memories here...

krista took these amazing photos of the house.  they will definitely help us sell it and it will be nice to have them when this home is no longer ours.  we've already had one showing - their feedback was that they didn't like the floor plan.  i don't understand that because i love this floor plan.  oh well...crossing fingers that the right buyers will come along.

just call him 'master p'

HE DID IT!!!  

philip graduated from wake forest university with an MBA in mid-december.  we celebrated his graduation last weekend with family.  it was a special occasion for several reasons:

1) our marriage survived.  i didn't think there was anything worse than a husband who traveled 90% of the year...but there is.  it's called a "working professionals masters program" and it was brutal.  but we knew the end result would be worth it!

2) this was the first time the jimenez family siblings had all been together in 4 years.  between philip's work schedule and just time and distance, it was time for a reunion.  phil's sister flew out from utah to complete the group.  thanks for coming lisa!!  it was so great to see you again.

3) it was a chance to put philip in the spotlight for much a much deserved "pat on the back".  he has literally killed himself over the last two years to complete this education.  he doesn't get the recognition very often of his accomplishments - and that's because there just isn't time...he's too busy!  but a well earned weekend where he was recognized for his achievement (and a victim of our "for he's a jolly good fellow" rendition) was over due.  so proud of you babe!!

the graduating class

 this was phil's group - awesome people!!

the jimenez gang together again!

proud parents...

 and the glenn's made the trip down too...

 um...this is physically impossible, but i did like seeing my little family in the slideshow!

 we had a family dinner together saturday night - panini bar - so yummy!

we are looking forward to our move to denver and the chance to be together as a family more often.  a huge thank you to everyone who made the trip to NC and made the weekend so special!