Christmas

As you know Christmas started out with seeing Santa a few days before Christmas Eve. Here are the pictures my friend took with her awesome Camera!

I don't know why Benjamin didn't smile. Oh well. He did in the one he took with Abby (below)

These pics crack me up!
I recently saw the movie "Dispicable Me" and one of the little girls when talking about Mr. Gru says, "I like him, he's nice." And the other little girl says, "And scary." To which the other little girl respones, "Like Santa!" So true.... so true.

Christmas Eve we headed over to my Brother-in-laws house where EVERYONE spent the night, we ate Tamales (Mexican Tradition), sang karaoke, danced, played games and stayed up way to late. It was fun but, very chaotic. But definitely more on the fun side. It was fun for all the cousins to be together and wake up Christmas morning together. However is was so crazy that I was not able to take very many pictures. I totally forgot to on Christmas eve and on Christmas morning this is all I was able to get. Overall it was a wonderful Christmas filled with family. My only regret was that there were so many people, and craziness, that is was a little un-organized which lead to us not being able to take time to focus on the Savior. I think next year we will have to make it a little more simple and thus be able to spend time to teach our kids more about the Savior's birth and less about presents. But for this time, it worked and it was so fun to be surrounded by family.

This kids tearing into their stockings. Benjamin doesn't look to thrilled because he was wondering where that garbage truck was that he had asked Santa for. ;)

This was hard to get them to pose for a picture when all they wanted to do was tear into the presents. :)

There's the garbage truck! Yea! He LOVED it!

Abby got a life sized Doggie! She loves Dogs!

Jacob opening some of his presents

Diego got a Karaoke machine! (Do you like the fun Santa hat I edited into the picture?)

Benjamin got this awesome grooming set from Dad, his favorite part is the shaving cream and toy shaver! He has wanted one for so long so that he could "shave" just like Daddy.

He also loves playing "grocery store," so he got a cash register toy too!

There were many, many more presents though out the family, but alas, there was just too much going on for me to get all the pictures I wanted. Oh well. It was so much fun and unforgettable.

Twas the Week before Christmas.....

And all through my house, I SAW MY FUTURE!, forget the mouse! Ahh! It was crazy! but oh so fun!. So about a week ago Isaac's sister re-married and then headed to Utah for Christmas. We just love her and her 7 children (6 living at home). I offered to watch her kids so that she and her new hubby could go on a honeymoon! Her teenagers stayed with my mother-in-law and the 4 youngest stayed with me. So yes, I had 6 children for 5 days! (I saw my future). But my nieces and nephews behaved very well, and my kids just LOVED having them for so long. We did a lot of fun things, including lots of Christmas shopping. You should have seen the looks I got at the store with "my 6 children," it was hilarious! Here are some of the highlights...

We made a gingerbread house and Gingerbread cookies!

Close up

We went to McDonald's

Where I met up with two of my old roommates for lunch! It was so fun to see them and their beautiful kids!

Bath Time! Can you believe that Benjamin and his cousin Jacob are only 9 months apart?!

We went to a ward Primary activity, here they are waiting in line to visit with Santa

Paty's kids with Santa

My kids with Santa (Don't you just love this pic?) I think it is the age. (See next pic.)

Here is Benjamin around that same age. Hilarious!

Christmas Card & Letter

Here is our annual Christmas card and letter. I got the card done a couple of weeks before Christmas but they didn't go out until after New Year's. Oh well, better late than never. If you are reading this and haven't got your card, it is either in the mail, or I don't have your Address.

Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Well, I got my Christmas cards done before Christmas, but was unable to get them out in time. But, better late than never right! Well, this year has been another year of many blessings for us. We really feel blessed and we know it is because the Lord has truly been good to us.

In February Abby celebrated her 1 year birthday and it is hard to think that her 2 year is right around the corner. She is so much fun to have around, she is so smart and has quite the little vocabulary. She talks up a storm and is 100% girl! She loves her Mommy & Me Class/Play group. She also loves Disney princesses, high heals, and has such a little spunky attitude! She adores Benjamin and wants to do everything that he does.

In late April early May Isaac and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary! And we had always said we wanted to do another cruise (like our honeymoon) for it. We feel so lucky that we were able to do so. We went on a small one out of California, that stopped in Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. And we also did a day at Disneyland (yes, without our kids). It was sooo fun! 5 years of marriage has flown by! And we are even more in love that we were when we were newlyweds.

In May, Benjamin celebrated his 3 year birthday. It was a Train themed party with lots of friends and cousins! He is such a good boy. He is super patient and kind to his little sister and loves all things boy, trains, trucks, sports, and dancing! He also loves his friends, and pre-school and is doing really well in his little pre-school.

This past year I have also been busy with Benjamin's pre-school. A bunch of moms that I go to church with started a Co-op pre-school and the best part is that it is all in Spanish! We all take turns teaching and assisting. It's kept me really busy, but it is worth it. Over the summer, I took up couponing! I love it! I have a kitchen overflowing with food and supplies and I save anywhere from 50 – 90% on my groceries every month! And it is fun too! I am also keeping busy with my blog and last Spring I worked hard and lost about 30 lbs! It feels great! I am still not where I want to be, but I feel a lot better than I did a year ago.

I think one of the most exciting pieces of news our little family has, is that last August, Isaac graduated from his Master's program. He received a Masters in Business Administration! I am so proud of him. He set a goal that he would do it before he was 30 and he did! Just in time, he turned the big 3-0 in November.

Well, I know that in these annual letters I usually have some exciting Baby news... but not this year. This year we are taking a break! And I am really enjoying it. But don't worry, I'm sure there will be some news in next years letter. ;)

We hope you are all doing well, and are in good health. We love having you in our lives and love hearing from you as well. We are so grateful that the Lord has been so good to us and we know that this beautiful season is to remember him and what a great blessing it was for our Savior to be born into this world to give his life so that we might all live again someday. May the good Lord bless all of you!

Love,

Liz, Isaac, Benjamin, and Abigail Granados

Pre-school Christmas Party

We had another Party at Pre-school! It was super fun! Again, I stole pics from my friend Yadira (that's why her two kids are featured in this first collage). Thanks Yadi! I swear my blog would have very few pictures if it weren't for her! :) Anyway, we had Christmas stories, crafts, the kids acted out the Nativity, cookie decorating, lunch and then a gift exchange!


When the kids presented the Nativity, they broke into two groups, Benjamin (and supposedly Abby) were in the first group.

The Angel tells the Shepard (Benji) that Christ has been born.

The Shepard goes to visit Joseph & Mary and the baby Jesus

The three wise men give the baby Jesus gifts

Everyone pose for a picture!

Abby decided she wanted to be in this group instead. ;)

Two little Angels!

Living Planet Aquarium

On Monday we got to go to the Living Planet Aquarium!! Along with the rest of the State of Utah! It was their "un-advertised" free day. But man, it was soooo crowded. But it was also very, very fun! And of all the days to forget my camera! I forgot it on this day! But lucky for me, my awesome and talented friend Yadira was there with her super cool camera! So she let me steal a bunch! Several of us mom's from the pre-school were there, but it was so crowded that we all got separated and we didn't get pics with the other mom's and kids. But Yadira and I stuck together, I think it was our kids who made sure we stayed together. :) Anyway, it was a breath taking experience! I (and my kids) loved the Aquarium!

The company was good!

Very good!

Canoeing down the Amazon

Finding Nemo!

This was Abby's favorite tank! She loves Nemo! And whenever I couldn't find her she was right back here! And she cried when I forced her to move on.

I don't know what these were called, but they looked like mini crocodile's

These are Piranha's, they glow! Literally!

The Penguin's were soooo active! They made the one's at the Zoo look like statues!

This was the section about the Utah Marine life!

Behind my oh so adorable kids, there is more Utah Marine life

Waiting in line to see the Jelly fish, even while waiting in line, there was something to see!

Touching the Sting Rays! This was so fun! It was close to their feeding time so they kept jumping up right by us, so the kids even got to touch them, and they did!

Abby going back for more, even though they had blocked it off for feeding. (Get back here Abby!)

The Shark tank was also amazing! And huge!

It was a long day, but we had a blast!

A Fancy Nancy Christmas

Last Wed. we went to the Library with some friends for a "Fancy Nancy" Christmas Party. If you know Fancy Nancy you know that it is more geared toward girls, but brothers wanted to go too, so since the spirit of Fancy Nancy is dress up, the boys dressed up too. Benjamin went as a train engineer and his buddy Dillon was spider man! Abby wore her Princess Tiana dress and Amanda looked EXACTLY like Fancy Nancy herself! It was fun!

Story Time

Making "Fancy" Snowflakes
They also played a game but I forgot to take Pics

Here they are all dressed up

I had to get this shot of Amanda, she looked great! I especially love the feather in her hair!

Indian Summer

I love Indian Summer Days! And usually the latest you get one is mid November. But today we had one! I thought for sure they were over especially since the last 3 weeks we have had a blanket of snow and below freezing weather! I was 100% sure we were in full blown winter weather. But the last couple of days it started to warm up and the snow melted and today it was warm and sunny! My house was completely trashed, I had dishes up to the ceiling and was behind on everything, but I had to let it all be because today I was taking my babies to the Park! They were thrilled! They got to wear sweaters and ride their bikes and play and it was hard to believe that it was December! It was a good day... my dishes can wait.

My attempt at being artistic with my photography

I did get one good "fall" picture!