Gardening playdate with Grammy

Like Grammy, Brianna loves to play in the garden

Not only does she run around and play, she always helps pick "momatoes" (aka tomatoes) from the garden and feed the fishies. Grammy loves to have these precious helping hands around!!

Beautiful Niagara Falls

This past weekend, Jeremy traveled to New York for a speaking engagement, and also found some precious free time to visit Niagara Falls

Breathtaking views ...

Who is this handsome guy??

Look at the "little boat" at the bottom

All in all we think that Iguazu Falls are quite more impressive, but maybe (for sure) we are biased!!! Argentina rocks!!

Aprendiendo el abecedario

Con la ayuda de Mozart y de mi mami, estoy aprendiendo todas las letras del abecedario. Como me gusta aprender!!!

Hasta ahora digo: a, k, m, n, o, p, q, u, y asi de a poquito voy agregando mas vocales y consonantes. Si me preguntas, tambien te puedo decir donde esta mi cabeza, pelo, ojos, nariz, boca, lengua, manos y pies. Estoy cada dia mas locuaz y simpatica, saludando a todo el mundo en todos lados y siempre con una sonrisa a flor de piel.

El otro dia, mi papa me dijo que traiga el librito del "tio Noni" y yo fui, busque el librito correcto, y con mi dedito senale al "Tio Noni." Hoy tambien aprendi a decir "Abu" para mi Abu Daniel y Abu Ivon. La verdad, que a mis padres tengo que regalarles un babero grandotote!!!!

Mexican Fiesta at the Cutts home

Dr. and Mrs. Cutts had the best kind of party on Saturday evening ...

a "let's have a party" party.

It was great to hang with friends and meet new ones.

And Brianna was just the life of the party, as usual.

Bible Study Blessings

On Tuesday night, I had the privilege of hosting my Bible Study friends and treating them to a Spanish style dinner to celebrate the end of our six weeks study of the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. It was such an impact full and powerful journey for all 5 of us that we wanted to celebrate the end of this particular series and the beginning of long lasting friendships and many more series to come!

Here we have a traditional cold Gazpacho soup with all the toppings, some veggies, tapas, tortilla de papa (potato fritatta), canelones de verdura (a traditional Argentinian delicacy), fruit and cookies and a delicious vegan chocolate cake to celebrate Stephanie's birthday next week... all in all, it was a very delicious and refreshing summer dinner. Kudos to Jeremy for helping me so much with food prep, and clean up!!!

A smiling Terry is ready to try a cold soup for the first time.

Terry, Stephanie, Laurienne, Delaney and Jessica (not pictured)... Bibi's Bible Study friends.

You guys are amazing!!!

Prayers for Baby Belle

On our trip back home from Sonora we stopped at the Children's Hospital in Fresno to visit baby Belle. She is doing remarkably well for battling a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. She recently turned 1 year old and is just the most content and adorable little girl.
Mommy Veronica is currently living at the hospital where Baby Belle is undergoing chemo and contemplating a bone marrow transplant in the near future.Veronica delivered a beautiful baby girl four weeks ago. She is healthy and doing well. They did test the cord blood but it was not a match for little Belle.Veronica and her family would really appreciate your prayers and support during such a trying time. She is a very strong Christian and her faith shined through and really ministered to us while we talked with her and she shared what lies ahead. If you want more info on Baby Belle, please visit: www.welovebelle.blogspot.com. Updated on 3/18/2008: This blog has been removed after the passing of Belle.

Nate & Basak's Wedding Reception

The reason we went to Sonora, originally, was to attend Nate & Basak Brunel's wedding reception. We had a lovely time getting more acquainted with Nate and his beautiful Turkish wife and many of the guests attending.

One of the highlights of the evening was catching up with Bart & Darlene Brunel and their beautiful daughter, Brienna. Brianna & Brienna played together very well and gave each other kisses. Brienna is five months older than our Bri and just an adorable and very active little girl...

It was great to see Eric & Heidi again. Here are the Gutchusses, together at last, posing for a family portrait. With Eric & Heidi gallivanting all over the world, they were not quite sure when they would be posing together as a family unit again. It was great to also see Auntie Sharon and Uncle Franklin. We all sat at the same table, and of course, ours was the noisiest crowd around!

The kiss of an angel!

Labor Day Blast

We had a terrific Labor Day weekend in Sonora with Tim, Jen & Natalie. On Sunday afternoon, we went on their boat to the New Melones Lake near their home and had an absolute blast playing in the water. It was fun to spend some time with Eric & Heidi too.

Heidi had fun playing in the water with Brianna and helping her get used to her life vest.

Jen, such a pro!

The men, resting before water skiing.
Eric did well for his first time wake boarding.

Mommy & Bri playing in the water. Bri did pretty good floating with the life vest.

What a great, relaxing day with friends!!

Our babies having breakfast

Bri enjoying her breakfast of organic rice milk, organic Cherios and bananas. All this food and love are going straight to her speech development! She's finally saying quite a few words and expanding her vocabulary daily. We'll post a detailed video soon!

Malek, pictured enjoying the same breakfast! We have come to the conclusion that this kitty is a human being trapped in a cat's body. He LOVES and WANTS our food. He favors bananas, organic cherios, tofu, rice, and absolutely any crumbs that fall from the table. He is very playful, perceptive and mischiveous!

Hanford Wonder Park

Thanks to Grammy, we can now go to this fabulous park in Hanford where Bri can find lots of things to do for a long time!

Bri playing, for two hours straight, with other kids in this water area

So cool!

Exploring the park, slides and giant Fire Engine Truck