Chair Climbin' and Block Stackin'

Nearing 15 months, Benicio is always keeping us on our toes, as he should be.  ;)  He LOVES playing with cars and trucks right now, just like his brother Isandro.  He likes to have two at a time and run them into each other, with sound effects!  As you see in the pictures, he can climb on Lina and Isandro's bar-height stools and get on top of the kitchen table (eeek!)  I've stuck to my guns about keeping him off the table, but I can't really stop him from the chairs!  Keeping doors closed no longer deters him from entering any room; he is JUST tall enough to pull down on door handles and open them right up!  He likes to get on the step stool by the pool table and roll the pool table balls all over the place (thanks to his dada for showing him that one)!  He knows when he has something in his  mouth that he shouldn't, because when I ask him, "What's in your mouth?!", he runs and throws whatever small toy he was hiding, then lets out shrieks of laughter.  He loves to give open mouth kisses and hugs before bedtime, and his brother and sister are his best friends.  His vocabulary is probably larger than I realize, but the unmistakable words he uses most are "ball", "mama", and most recently, "DA!" (for "dada").  It is so much fun seeing him grow, learn, and love life... I just wish he'd slow down a little.  Love you, little man!!

Pleased as punch!

He was moving up and down dancing to music.

Stacking blocks.  He got on the chair on his own, then started stacking blocks.

I couldn't believe he stacked the blocks so high!  And of course he knocked them over!

Weekend at the River

Parker, AZ.  Spent a few days with some friends at the Colorado River.  The kids had a blast, and they are definitely beach kids.  Lina's been doing great in swimming lessons (Isandro, too), and she really had fun swimming over the weekend.  She's like a little fish!

Must stay hydrated!

Loving it!

The kids had a great time driving the golf cart around.

Watch out, crazy driver!

Loving the wind-blown hair and sun-kissed cheeks.

Lina's First Day of 1st Grade!

Chandler Unified School District, Weinberg Elementary in Gilbert, AZ.  July 20, 2015.

Little Explorer

Benicio decided to wake up extra early one morning, so just he and I were having some fun outside in the backyard while we could, before we started melting (I guess you have to go outside around 6 in the morning before it gets too hot).