Pumpkin Patch fun

This week has been absolutely amazing I know I've said that so many times before but this time I'm serious, really I am. I got to go with Nathan on a field trip out to a local farm. It was an absolute priceless morning. The weather was gorgeous but the company was the best part. My grama who is visiting from Santa Fe also came along. There were hay rides, a petting zoo, a cute little carousel, sack lunches, a train, corn maze and of course the best part, picking a pumpkin to take home.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Halloween!

Short and Sweet

My bunko group...aw what
witches they are!

Luis & Nicolas with their awards

Nicolas & his school principal

Mr. Moore

This week was just amazing, we have had so much fun. I hosted bunko on Tuesday and grama got to play with us which just made it that much more fun. I hope she had as much fun as I did, although neither of us won, oh well, the food was good, the drinks even better and the company the best.

Nicolas and Luis were also awarded by the districts superintendent. Huge award since only one child from each grade level from each school were chosen. I felt so blessed that two of the Briseno boys were chosen. I figure Manuel and I must be doing something right, just kidding I can't take credit for all of their hard work. While Mr. Moore (Nick's principal) read why he was chosen my eyes watered to the point I thought I would need to grab some Kleenex out of my pocket. It's so nice to know that when your child leaves the house each day that the morals we teach are seen. I'm so proud to the point words can't even express. This made my day because so many times I feel like I'm rushing around and we are all so busy, busy that I feel I'm not teaching those important lessons and so many times I have cried in my husband's arms feeling like a failure of a mother. Today I feel so lucky to be my children's mother they are amazing little human beings, have a wonderful day all

Papa

Miss you Papa

During fall break we went to Santa Fe and then onto Buyeros New Mexico to bury our Papa. I wasn't looking forward to this at all, I thought of it like pulling a band-aid off of a wound that was starting to heal. I was sooooo wrong, we had such an amazing and beautiful day. We spent a hard but equally wonderful day in a place where Papa spent some of his happiest days. I think these pics say it all. Have a great day everyone.

feeling a little more like fall

Nana & Pa with their grandkiddos
so sweet, I love having them close

Isaac "accidentally" fell in

the lake

trying to catch some fish

I must say that Prescott is just beautiful in the fall, and with all the cooler temps lately it is so gorgeous here. I did what I promised, the first chance I had with the kids out of school we went on a great hike up into the mountains and to the lake to play. The leaves look gorgeous so many shades of deep red, orange and gold. I love fall, love it love it love it!! Here are some pics to prove it.

The kiddos are staying healthy so far, thank God. I'm constantly putting sanitizer all over their hands, I wish they would make something I could put all over them, keep the germies away. We are trying to eat healthy, take vitamins routinely and wash hands (often). I'm really proud of Nathan, he has been a thumb sucker for the last few years and this whole flu thing may just be the thing that breaks him of this nasty habit. We had a talk about germs and the flu the other day and how yucky it is for him to go to the grocery store and then put his germy thumb in his mouth. Wouldn't that be nice, learn to keep the thumb out of the mouth thus germs out, woohoo I would be super excited about that.

Manuel took the whole day off yesterday, boy I had missed him. Although he had a honey do list a mile long we still had a fantastic day, we managed to get almost everyone a haircut to boot, great day.

Today is a day filled with laundry, cleaning and packing. We are gearing up to head to Santa Fe. I wasn't planning on going again so soon but it's time to bury Papa up at the ranch. Well have a wonderful rest of the week.

counting down...

Luis won the game

(he beat me by one

point!)

Either I'm really excited

or this ball is way heavy!

Happy Monday all, hope today starts the beginning of a wonderful week for all of your households. Today marks the official countdown to fall break, our house is literally buzzing right now. The boys are really excited to get a break for their routine, and Luis is going home to visit with his mom and sisters so he is really excited. I'm excited too, the weather has changed so much in the past week, I am eager to get out and take the boys hiking to see all the leaves changing colors. I love fall I think it is my favorite of the seasons. I love the colors and can't beat the temp, although the wind I could do without. I love taking out all the warm soft clothes and bulky sweaters and boots, can't forget the boots!! I love staying home and making warm yummy things for the family to eat, yummy soups, thick hearty stews, sweet and savoury breads. I'm so excited for this season to arrive, to say goodbye to our long hot summer and look ahead to all this time of year brings.
We had a wonderful weekend, a few weeks ago I mentioned the new chore chart our family is using, well it is paying off big time. I am no longer the nag of the bunch. Chores get done or they don't and it's all up to them, if they want a reward they work together to get things accomplished and if they want a frowny face on the chart and no reward well that is up to them too. I love that I am no longer a nag but I love even more that they are working together on things but most of all I love that they are beginging to feel a sense of pride in their work and a sense of responsiblilty, I should of done this years ago. Here are some pics of the boys enjoying their reward:) Have a great week!

happy Saturday

Nicolas with his
school principal Mr. Moore
Nicolas beat him in the race

Poor Nicolas, notice his chin

he fell during his run:(
For the past month or so Nicolas has been running every evening with Luis. He is running well over a mile at time now. He was training for the race that took place this past week. The race included all the 4th & 5th grade students from all the local elementary schools. He was super excited he came in 15th out of 250 fourth graders and 77th out of 450 or so students overall. His hard work paid off big time, we are so proud of him. He is a little bummed he fell kinda hard during the race (it was bumpy terrain) and scraped his chin, he says the fall really slowed him down. We are proud of him regardless if it was first, fifteenth of fourhundreth place. He set a goal for himself, practiced and accomplished it without stopping. Have a happy Saturday everyone:)