If Trying to Prepare a 1065 Is A Sign...

...Luis and I will never participate in the Amazing Race together.  Unfortunately for us, it costs a lot of money to prepare a 1065 on Turbo Tax, and we're certainly not going to pay someone to do it, so that leaves us having to fill in the form manually.  It's the ultimate tax Detour (to use Amazing Race terminology).  We'd be better off putting together another basketball hoop.

Despite what the calendar says, spring decided to grace Portland with its presence yesterday.  As true Portlanders will, we loaded up the family and went to Saturday Market.

The China Town entrance was looking cool from our parking spot so I couldn't resist snapping this shot.

Our favorite stand at Saturday Market - Spoonman!  Siena is displaying some glasses made from strainers.

Mason liked the snake made from a bike chain with a spoon head.

Taking a break from a lot of walking and people.

The kidos wanted to get their faces painted.  Siena went for a lovely butterfly.

Mason had to get the cool skull to match the one on his shirt.

After Saturday Market and a detour to Voo Doo donuts, we went to dinner at my parents house. They made some great ribs and, at Luis' request, potato salad.

Yesterday was so busy between gymnastics, running, Sat Market, and my parents, that we decided today was our lazy day to stay home.  I'm now hoping my Blazers can pull out a W.

Fingers crossed that Luis and I can get this 1065 completed correctly and with our marriage in tact. :-)

February Stuff

It's been a while since I've posted, to be sure, but we don't always do interesting or blogworthy things.

Siena and Mason got new hats last weekend.  Siena dressed up in hers before going to a friend's birthday party last weekend.  Mason got a fedora.  He is truly a smooth criminal now.  Siena is still doing gymnastics and loving it.  Mason is thinking about trying gymnastics too now that basketball is over.

We went downtown to have a family style happy hour (root beer and bread sticks) with a coworker of Luis. Luis is officially an employee of Springbrook now - woo hoo!

Mason's been struggling a bit the last few months with some insomnia and nervousness.  We're working on helping him out, though there's been some rough nights in the process.  He's a good kid though and we'll get it figured out.

Siena's got her favorite peace sweater and sparkly Twinkle Toe shoes.  Mason, of course, has his awesome leather jacket.

Me and my favorite kids!  After a busy year end reporting period, it's fun to spend some time with these guys.

Strolling the waterfront...

Channeling her inner Vanna...

Dang!  He should have worn the fedora!  Still a cool dude.

We've had a few nice weekends of late.  Well, nice by Oregon in February standards that is.  Mason and Siena went outside for quite a while today. Siena did some jump roping and they both played some hoops.  I caught Mason teaching Siena how to shoot a basketball.  It was so cute that I had to take this surreptitious picture (if they had seen me, nice moment would have ended). 

I also caught this other cute picture of the kids petting our kitty Halley together.  It just goes to prove that they don't hate each other ALL the time.

A Plague Upon Our House!

We went to the beach last weekend with the Cruzes.  Mason started to feel sick Friday night before we left but was still feeling good enough on Saturday to go down.  Luis' parents were also down for the weekend so we got to enjoy some time with them.

We did a little shopping at the outlet stores and around the Newport bayfront.  Siena scored a new Hello Kitty!!

Mason was up for a little walk before the rains came.

By Saturday night both kids were feeling lousy.  We came home Sunday after breakfast and they both ended up missing the week of school.  I finally succumbed in the middle of the week.  So far Luis is still hanging on to health...

Luis took the kids to a toy store yesterday to let them get out of the house.  They came home with one of my childhood favorites, the Snoopy Snowcone Maker!  That definitely made them happy.

All of our weekend plans ended up being cancelled as no one wanted us near them with our germs.  I think we'll all be ready to brave the general public again tomorrow though without face masks and latex gloves though.

Ringing it in.

I'm not a big fan of staying up late just to watch the clock change, but we had a great New Years Eve with dinner and a comedy show with our friends the DeCiccos.  The kids also had a great New Years Eve with Yaya and Papa Ron.

I was off work again this week which was awesome.  Since most of the holiday festivities are now over, it was a quiet week.  Luis and I saw Lincoln on New Years Day since we were still kidless and enjoyed a nice dinner afterward.  We had Heidi and her kids over for some playing on Thursday and had dinner that night at the Spaghetti Factory with my parents, Lucinda & Deb, and Aunt Annette.  Uncle Walt is still at the rehab facility.

On Friday the kids and I thought it was tie to check out the new Portland Aquarium which is all of 4 minutes from our house.  There are still a couple of exhibits under construction but in all, it was good.  There are a lot of hands on attractions which we all liked.

Yup, that's a big nasty moray eel behind Mason.

There are sharks and rays in one of the hands on tanks.  We didn't get to touch the sharks but did get to touch the rays.  It was definitely cool.

The kids most enjoyed the aviary where they got to hold some parrots.

They were a little unsure when the birds tried to use their beaks to climb up onto their shoulders but definitely enjoyed being able to hold the birds.

It almost looks like we're on a tropical beach and it isn't 40 degrees outside!

Picture out of order!  Oh well - Mason and cute bird.

That night we went to Red Robin for dinner (thanks Lettuce for the gift card).  Because the camera was still in my purse, we took pictures.

Just cause we're in a restaurant, no reason to not cuddle while waiting for dessert.

Siena and I went to see Mandi yesterday for a much needed haircut (for both of us).

And yup, since the camera was still in my purse, more pictures were taken.  Siena especially kept herself entertained during my haircut by taking pictures.

Another out of order picture but it's from the same day so oh well.  Mason had 2 basketball games yesterday.  The first against this team from Gladstone.  I'd say Gladstone's lineup had a bit of a height advantage over our boys.

Siena's self portrait of her new doo!

The leftovers from my trim.  I think I lost 2 pounds!!

Before I head off to watch Les Mis (again) with my mom, just wanted to leave y'all with this message:

A Very Cruz Christmas 2012 Edition

I've been saving up posting the last couple of weekends since I knew this would be a long one. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in.  I promise, I really didn't post every picture I took...

We spent Christmas Eve celebrating with the Cruz family at Jose and Gloria's house.  Luis got off work early that day and did some ancestry research that he's showing to his dad.

Cruz family friends Carmen and Leo Guzman.

Another Cruz family friend Melinda Cook with Gloria and Kendra.

Bros Joel and Luis.

And the cousins - Mason, Siena, Tristyn, Kendra, and Andre.

Siena is a little excited.

Happy kids getting ready to open presents.

And in they go!

Legos!!!!

Her very own video camera!!!  Siena was so excited about this.  She's always making, starring, directing, and watching films featuring herself.  Now maybe they don't all have to be on my phone.

Kendra wanted money...not sure she needed a bunch of one's in a Kleenex box...

Andre got his cash in the form of a fan.

Monster High doll!

Gloria and Jose had fun too I think.

X-wing fighters for the boys.

Santa Mason.

Santa Mama.

This is Christmas morning - bright and early.  We held the kids off until 7 am but then it was more present time!  Mason got the Lego White House set from Santa.  He had it put together by the end of the day.  Perfect gift for the kid who wants to be President.

Furby!!!

After opening presents, we went to Auntie Jo's to celebrate Christmas with the Torland side of the family.  Here's the morning spread:

Here's Rory looking adorable.

Heidi and Dan.  And coffee.

The big girls - Siena, Ellia, and Jocelyn.

Mason scored a new Nerf shooter.

Auntie Jo explains the rules of the gift exchange...no cheating, no collusion...

Siena displays a Monster High art set.

Heidi got a Timbers mug.  Of course this ended up at our house with Luis.

I'm going in!  Must choose wisely.

Dan photo bomb.

Papa Ron and some bungee cords.

Family picture with Grandpa Art who is now 95.

Mom, Siena, and I check out the 2012 book Auntie Lou gave to my parents.

We're having fun, right ladies?

Mom and her pal Rookie.

After that party, it was back to our house to open presents with my parents.  Mason was so pleased with his new black leather jacket.  Cool dude.

Out with the old wisk, in with the new.

Our little chemist.

We had a wonderful holiday and hope you did too!!