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!

iphone gems

here are some more iphone gems:
this summer my sister and i were shopping when i found this lovely swim suit.  they make these because people ACTUALLY buy them.  unbelievable!

 my clean car obsession now involves help from these monkeys.

 if you know philip well, you'll see the humor in this award....hee hee

 we celebrated mario's 60th birthday sombrero style!

 dylan's allergy testing continued this fall.  he's now receiving regular allergy shots.  hoping that will do the trick.

 well it's official - marissa is a north carolina tar heel.

 i found this poor baby bird on the driveway.  his mommy bird was freaking out and clearly knew her baby was no longer in the nest.  we tried to build a little make-shift nest and put him back in there but the next morning little bird had died.  poor little buddy.

 eli has been on a hunger strike lately.  sometimes a little nutella sandwich does the trick though.

 eli thought these glasses were pretty cool...

 but these ones were cool too....so he just wore both!  while he ate a nutella sandwich.

 peanut butter chocolate cake.  one word: YUM.

 dylan finally lost is first tooth.  he was so excited!

 4th grade has been kind of tough for marissa...she just looked so peaceful sleeping one night - i had to snap a picture.

 marissa's new glasses.

 we had a little lesson about stealing things the other day.  i kept finding little round magnets around the house that i knew weren't ours.  the mystery was solved when dylan confessed.  i made him return the magnet and he wrote his teacher this letter.  i bet teachers have a great stash of funny stuff...i thought this note was particularly well written...for a thieving 6-year-old.

miss vanessa

little miss vanessa jimenez made her arrival november 1st - she's daniel (phil's younger brother) & adrienne's first baby.  she's a sweet little thing and it has been so nice to be around a newborn baby....that isn't mine!  i love being an auntie!!

i loved going to see her at the hospital.  and it was very clear right away that she knows who her mommy is.  dan and age will be great parents.  i can't wait to see how little V grows up.  a lot of things about her remind me of marissa when she was born.  oh she's just so cute!

 

 

 she came to visit us when we celebrated eli's second birthday party.  it was the first time marissa, dylan and eli got to meet her.

 

 

 sweet little hands...

 

adrienne's baby shower

september 29th we had a baby shower for my sis-in-law adrienne, who is expecting her first baby - a little girl.  krista helped me with the planning & details and we had lovely time.  

the plan to name the baby vanessa - which i love! can't wait to meet the little beauty!

phil's 34th

ok, at this point i'm fairly exhausted....all the activities in may...and poor phil comes at the end of it.  i make an effort not to combine his birthday with dylan's, but to give him a special day that is all his own.  and he was lucky enough to be able to share it with is dad and brother.  daniel & adrienne live in north carolina now, just a short drive away from us.  it is so nice after all these years to finally have relatives here!!

so i made another cake...and we had a lovely day.

i'm not sure if you were keeping a tally but in the month of may i made 24 cupcakes, 24 6-inch cakes, and 4 birthday cakes.  i was actually relieved when dylan's kindergarten teacher said she does the treats for all the class birthdays.  whew!