WEIRD winter.....

My sweet Kian!

gabe trying to play Rock Band

The kids playing Rock Band. I play too but I am not very good!

It has been so warm here lately. Seriously, I think it has snowed twice! This is NOT typical of Colorado weather at all. I am starting to wonder if Al Gore didn't hit the nail on the head? Today it is 56 degrees!

We got a jump start on putting up the Christmas stuff this year. Mostly because I am NOT a Christmas fan and I feel badly that my kids miss out on all the hype. Sooo, I am trying to be better about it. It gets tight with buying for 4 kids. Especially now that Jake is older. He has expensive tastes. He asked for an ipod Touch and so did Juan. Sophie is starting to want big girl stuff but she is still easy. She loves to read and draw and write stories. She reminds me of me at her age. I spent my whole summer reading Nancy Drew at age 8. She is big into the Diary of aWimpy Kid series, Junie B. Jones and the The Doll series. Kian only asked for Star Wars figures. And Gabe could care less as long as he gets to tear paper and try to eat it.

We miss our family. Especially at this time of year but, always really. It has been a hard year. Katie says I moved away to isolate myself from my family. I thought long and hard about that and I do not agree. I think I was so afraid to get stuck in Utah. I did not want to do the typical Utah thing. And I have been running from that ever since. I am PROUD that I have gotten out and lived a diverse life. I have lived and been to places I never thought I would. I have met and befriended all types of people. I met a man that is not anything like the men I dated. We have fun together and we are truly best friends. I am lucky and I am happy. I miss my family and I LOVE each of them SO much. I am proud of who they are. But I would not change my path if I could go back and do so.

Change of subject: I LOVE the Wii! My arms are killing me from playing with Juan and the kids! We had so much fun playing that my stomach hurts from laughing. Juan and I boxed and Juan kicked my butt! Gabe thought it was hilarious and now he walks around trying to box the other kids and the poor dogs! Sophie is an expert Wii tennis player and Jake is good at all of it. I also got the Wii Fit for my birthday from Juan and that is loads of fun too! Except every time I get up on the board it says "Ouch!". I have been going to the Gym and slowly I am trying to get back in shape. I feel really good and my clothes are loose on me now. Lots more to go.......

I LOVE YOU ALL!

All my little people

Gabe want to get in the picture action... Look at all his teeth!

Scarlett is old and cranky but she has been a good friend

Abby is such a sweet heart! She puts up with so much from the kids.

Kian does not want to get his picture taken. He is drawing "James Bond"

Who do you think is cuter? Sophie with her "brother" Mini

It drives jacob crazy when Gabe tries to "play" on the computer with him!

Gabe has this weird new face he does at Jacob. He loves his big brother soooo much!

Gabe is wayyyy to mobile!

Gabriel has figured out how to climb and he is using that skill ALL the time. If you turn your back on him for one minute he is up on the kitchen table. He likes to line his animals up on the chairs and then try to see if he can climb up BEHIND them without knocking them over. He is really starting to enjoy his brothers and sister. But he cries if they play to rough and he thinks someone is getting hurt. (see last pic) Abby is his other favorite playmate. All has been forgiven with her nip and he lays on her like she is an oversized pillow. She is the most gentle dog and often lets him stand on her like a step stool. She does not like when the other dogs get too close to him though.

Kian is going through a very sensitive phase right now and it bothers him that "it is all about Gabey" He makes me laugh though with the things he comes up with. He reminds me of Jake at 6 but he is a bit less devious.

Speaking of Jake, he is doing his usual. He fails all his classess and then at the end, somehow, he pulls it all together and gets good grades. it is very annoying and he has been doing it his whole illustrious school career. He drives his teachers crazy. He has also recently become a coffee fiend and now Dad has to make THREE cups of coffee in the morning. We are still waiting for the Dentist to put his bottom braces on. They are working on his top bite.

Sophie is all teeth and limbs right now. She is at that weird gangley age. And yet she is still beautiful. Seriously, I worry about Juan's sanity as she gets older.

We love you all so much and miss each and everyone of our family members. I do not think we will be able to come home any time soon with the economy the way it is now. But, I definitely plan on being there for round two with Katie. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I love you guys!

Lots to tell

Gabe got between the dogs in a scuffle and he got nipped on the eye lid. He was fine but the family (not just Mom!) was very stressed! We went for an evening visit to the ER! He is all fine though. See, no hard feelings...he is wearing his doggie outfit!

Dad went as the Golden Buddah! I am not sure he felt very comfortable but it was funny!

He did scare the dogs and Gabe though......

Halloween was fun! Jake was a Wedding Chrasher???

Sophia was a skeleton....kinda.She still had to look good!

Kian was a YELLOW clone trooper. Do you know how long it took to find a YELLOW clone trooper?

Gabe was a monkey. Not a teletubby Poppa!

We went to the Boo in the Zoo again this year. It was so gorgeous out! 77 degrees!

All the kids have to pitch in with the yard work. Gabe does his share of pooper scooping!

Gabe is still mystified by the dishwasher. He can't seem to figure out what is going on in there. Jake is in love with himself and he is not sure why everyone else isn't???? Although he has his own fan club! He is cute huh?

Update

Hi Everyone! Fall is officially here! The kids are already planning out their Christmas lists. Gabe is walking and talking. He loves to hum and dance. He still only weighs 20 pounds but he is healthy. As you can see, he looks nothing like his mom. Kian starts Cub Scouts this month and he is sooooo excited. He thinks it means he gets to shoot things. (we haven't broken the bad news to him yet) Sophia just got back from Disneyland with our good friends the Mosemans and she had a blast. This is the second time they have taken her. This time she also went to Sea World. Jake gets his braces this month and he is the hottest thing going in our neighborhood. Seriously, people are knocking on our door day and night looking for him. Girls and boys. Today, a bunch of teen girsl knocked on the door looking to see if he could "come out and play." ummmm......

Juan is still in the ER at TMCA and loving it. They call him "El Guapo". I think it is because of his head of curls. People keep asking if he has a perm! It is funny to see him with hair after all the years of the military hair cuts. It really is beautiful!

I am also still at TMCA. I am thinking about making a change but, I haven't decided yet. I just finished my Masters program application and I'm waiting to hear back.

We love you all and wish we could come home. We won't be going anywhere for the holidays either as Juan and I work opposite holidays this year.

We are all settled!

Just a quick note to let everyone know we are settled into our new house. it is beautiful, has more room and we are "familiar" with the neighborhood! It is right across the street from our old house which is weird. Ercilia has come to visit and gone home. The kids really enjoyed seeing her. Jake is home and doing well. And all the kids, except Gabe of course, start school in two weeks. We love you all!

Albalate Atencio Kids Have a Birthday!

These are our busy months with all six of us celebrating our birthdays in an 8 week period. This year we decided to celebrate at one time and we took all the kids to Six Flags! We had a great time together. Gabe and Kian did not like the water park so much because it was cold. Mom did not like the rides because she is old!!!

Sophia turned 8 on May 22nd

Jacob turnes 15 on June 5th

Gabe turned one (!!!) on June 11th

Kian will be 6 on June 18th

Mom will be 35 on July 11th

Dad will be 33 on July 20th

We are preparing for another move at the end of this month. No fun. But we will have more room and a big, landscaped yard for everyone to play in. Best of all, the kids will all stay in their same schools.

A day in the life of Gabey

Life is tough when you are almost 1! He has been such a joy this last year. He is happy and funny and he loves his brothers and sister. He teases the dogs and loves to eat. He is trying to decide if he wants to crawl or not. We have been so blessed by having him in our lives! And who could n't love that face!

Photo Dump!