Thanksgiving Moments

We had so much fun with the Leland's & Moss' over for the day. The kids had their own table in the foyer next to the dining room - so we could keep an eye on any shenanigans!

Here's a shot Marisa took of her place setting -

I love her viewpoint in photos

Pumpkin pies - the staple of the Thanksgiving dinner!

This was a new recipe I tried with a gingersnap layer and pecan streusel on the top - so yummy that it will now be served every year in our house!

Unfortunately this is the only picture of the bird (the back end!). He was a big 22 pounder and so yummy - he sat in a brine for 24 hours which I'm sure was enjoyable :o)

Trick-or-Treating

This was our very first year that all the kids went with separate friends. We took Tess around our neighborhood with her friends. Ryan & Marisa both went with a bunch of their good friends in a different neighborhood. It was strange just having our one little trick-or-treater - but she was really cute!

Pre-Halloween Fun

The older kids went to a Halloween church party tonight. Marisa went as Dorothy - complete with a real life "Toto" (for the picture only...she didn't take Lacie). Can you guess what Ryan is? (answer below)

We'll post more on our actual Trick-or-Treating costumes :o)

(He's a "Quarterback" - haha)

marisarose.

Marisa took Senior pictures of her friend, Madison. Here's just one of them - you can see others on her new photography blog here. They turned out really cute.

Cookies & Turtle Bread

I just found out last night that my mom is going into Hospice care. It seems so strange to me that my friends in our new town have never met her. She has never been able to make the trip down from Utah to our new home. Back in Kingwood, everyone we know loves her. She was always baking with my kids - specializing in bread shaped like animals and gingerbread cookies - wonderful memories for all of us. We love you Grandma Judy (aka - Mom).

A Tiny Sneak Peek

Here's a little preview (it's also up on there on the header) of the photo shoot we had in Provo this summer. The other shots (even better ones) will be showing up in our Christmas card -

so we won't unveil those just yet :)

Ryan turns 12!

Ryan had a really great group of boys over to help him celebrate his 12th birthday (can't believe it!!).

They were such goofs and a ton of fun!

Happy Birthday RyRy - we love you tons!

Count them - 7 really good ones

Here are seven GREAT reasons to LOVE the Amazing Race (in case you haven't been clued in yet!)

Could it be coming?

There's a teensy-tiny bit of Fall in the air.... granted, you can only feel it between 5:00-7:00 am - but it's there.  All things pumpkin are coming to mind. Aren't these the cutest little mini pumpkin pies from Bakerella?

I think we need to make these very soon!

It's almost here!

I'm an Amazing Race addict...and it starts again in only six days!! I'm giddy - it's always around my birthday so it feels a little like a present for me :)

They won an Emmy tonight for BEST reality show - AGAIN!!

Isn't he cute?

Marisa started playing around with the new camera and took this picture of our cute Sugar - most people don't see him because he's so shy - but he sure is a pretty kitty - we love him...look at those eyes!

(the Ragdoll breed only have blue eyes)

Our Labor Day

Hope you all had a great Labor Day - we sure did!

More of Lacie

Marisa took these pictures of Lacie today in the yard - she needed to get some action shots for her class at school. Marisa still has her little camera - the new Nikon doesn't show up until later this week. 

I still thought they were really cute & a fun perspective. 

She's just a GIANT among dogs :o)

Ryan running Lacie - she can almost catch up...I give her another month or two!

We dip her feet into the pool each day to help clean her off from her yard adventures. We want to train her to swim so she'll be safe outside with us. She's pretty fascinated by the water.

We bit the bullet...

Not only have we recently purchased a not-so-inexpensive puppy, but we also just bought one of these - (where is Santa when you need him?!)

We've been thinking of getting one for awhile - especially for sports in which our point-and-shoot camera just doesn't cut it. What pushed us over the edge is our amateur photographer, Marisa, and her new photo journalism class. Her teacher really expects them to have a DSLR camera and she's been dying for one. So, don't expect any great pictures from me but I'll let you know how it goes for her!

One year older and wiser too (hopefully!)

My blog turned ONE year old on August the 17th. I was in Destin and was celebrating my wedding anniversary on that day (not same amount of time - 20+1 years!)

Happy anniversary/birthday my little blog!

Happy Days are here again!

Back to School - this year all three kids go to different schools at different times. Hence, there aren't anymore together pictures. Once one leaves, the next one wakes up and so on. Our biggest change is that Ryan started middle school. I think that is the hardest transition for me - the middle school year - he's too young! I can't wait to hear how everything went when they all arrive home - at different times.

Destin, Florida

Here are all the Nogales cousins. Tess, Diego, Ryan, Olivia, Marisa & Leo. We had so much fun seeing them. They live in Atlanta and we don't see them but about once a year or so.

Our little gang - Marisa, Ryan, and Tess

Ryan and Diego - cutest boys ever :o)

The day after we arrived in Destin, TS Claudette hit us. It washed in tons of jellyfish for us to catch. The kids caught a bunch - but this was the biggest. 

It was about the size of a dinner plate!!

I was pretty surprised at how much time my kids spent in the ocean. They were a little freaked out by the jellyfish but got over it quickly. Ryan swam so much that he now has swimmer's ear.

I have to admit that Marisa took half of my best pictures. I love this one she took of Ryan on the shore.

How the heck did Marisa get those eyelashes?! That's WITHOUT mascara, curling, or editing - it's unfair, I tell you!

Marisa and Ryan

Tess and her cousin, Olivia, boogie boarding

Lacie in Destin

We took little Lacie to Destin with us this past week. She was such a good baby during the 10 hour car ride. This was the only time we brought her out to the beach. We didn't want to worry about getting sand out her fluffy coat - isn't she cute?!

Little Lacie

Luckily, Lacie is very tolerant of having bows tied around her neck, being pushed around in a doll stroller, and carried in all sorts of baskets and things. She has been so cute and is so fun to watch as she pounces on her toys and our toes!

Fun little pretties for Puppy :o)

This is going to be the fun part of owning a little girl puppy -

THE SHOPPING :o)

Here's the crate we're getting her - I'd almost like have my own to crawl into so I can escape!

Isn't this car seat cute? Maybe we'll ask Santa for it ;o)

She might need this plush little coat for our cold Texas winters! - jk ;o)

It is kind of cute for those doggies with no fur

We can't forget the hairbows - good heavens, what a disaster that would be! ;o)

(I'm sure she'd have them pulled out in no time!)

We Did It!!!

We are proud first time puppy owners. We went to meet this scrumptious baby tonight (she's even cuter in real life - can you believe it?!). She is the sweetest little thing ever! She will be only about four pounds at full size - perfect for us.

 It was love at first sight - even for Jose :o)

We're still deciding on a name - the front runner is Lacie...what do you think?

My Mermaids & My Dude

Marisa had cute Kylee over for the day - they wanted to try out Marisa's new camera. For her birthday, we got her a waterproof one since we practically live in our pool.

(aren't these girls super cute?!)

Marisa & Tess - let the water fun begin!

This reminds me a bit of my post here - ahhh...the joy of no gravity :o)

And here's my little Dude - he came late to the camera party but still had fun!