Lil' Superstar

When Marisa is comfortable she is not shy at all. At Papi and Nana's house she loved to get on her "stage" in front of the fireplace and dance for everybody. At home, she loves to wiggle her hips and sing into her microphone!

Our cute performer!

Checking herself out in front of the mirror!

Good singing Marisa!

Big Girl Cup

Marisa started learning how to drink from a "Big Girl Cup" today. Tim was in nursery in our old ward and he reminded me recently that it would be good for Marisa to learn how to drink from a cup before she goes. And that time is almost here! (I'm so going to cry that day. My baby is growing up!) Marisa is such a fast learner and she did very well!

My Baby Genius

Marisa's very first sentence (besides the simple phrases like, "Hi Daddy", or "Good job Mommy", or "Thank you Mommy", or "What's that?", etc.) was in Georgia a couple weeks ago when she said, "Take a picture!" She said it because she was just repeating what her Uncle Fernando was saying. But today Marisa said her first sentence on her own. Very clearly.

"Uh-oh! Where's the egg?"

Only a diaper please!

Marisa has figured out how to take her shirt off! I was amazed to look up and watch her slowly take off her shirt like it was no big deal. As if she has done it several times before. I decided to put her shirt back on to see if she would take it off again and sure enough she did. And I got it all in sequence! She is too funny!

Slipping the arms out!

Working on it!

Almost!

Giving it another try!

So close!

Marisa so happy she did it!

Can you put it back on for me?

Dollywood's Splash Country

You can't get more Southern than Dolly Parton. So we decided to visit her amusement park yesterday! haha It was further than we thought but we got to travel through beautiful North Carolina and Tennessee's Smokey Mountains! The park was really fun actually. They had a few cool waterslides. I'm glad we went during a time it wasn't busy though. We never really had to wait in line for any of the rides. Honestly, if we had to wait in line it would not have been worth it. The rides were good but not that good. Either way, it was fun spending time with family and enjoying the sun and water. The best part was going down the waterslides with Marisa. They actually had two waterslides for babies! Marisa loved them so much she kept saying, "Slide! Slide! Fun!" And she would grab our hands to lead us to take her again. Also, the whole way down the slide she would say, "Wheeee!" haha Too cute!

Marisa's first waterslide!

Waiting in line for the slide! She's so cute!

Mommy and Marisa!

Marisa's Little Oasis

Nana bought Marisa her own little oasis for the front yard. Marisa loves water and especially loves sprinklers. So this was perfect!

The Bahamas: Paradise Island

This past week Tim and I spent vacation with his family in the Bahamas! His parents and all of his sisters and their spouses were there too. No kids allowed!! Marisa stayed with my parents for the week and she had fun with them playing all day and learning new things. Thanks Papi and Mami for watching Marisa!
Tim and I went to the Bahamas for our honeymoon two years ago so it was really nice to go back and visit and experience new restaurants and all the new waterslides. The new tube waterslide was the best and my favorite restaurant was Chopstix. SOOO good! I highly recommened it to anyone who stays at the Atlantis. Thanks Wayne and Elaine for an amazing trip! We love you guys!

Our view from where we were laying out!

I was one happy gal!

Tim, Janna, Mike, and Sara with their cool shades!

Grand gold horses in front of the Atlantis entrance!

The Harborside Resort at Atlantis! Where we stayed for a week!

These were HUGE shells pouring out water from the HUGE columns of the Atlantis!

He was monstrous!

Too many sharks in one small area for my comfort!

Snorkeling!

Waiting for dinner outside Carmine's!

Before: A dessert at Carmine's called "The Titanic".

After: Don't worry, there were 11 of us who finished it all.

We rented scooters for a day to drive around the Bahamas!

Cool outfit?!

I got to play with dolphins for the second time!

The water was beautiful near the Blue Lagoon!



This room above cost $25,000 a night and you must stay 4 nights. I believe that is a grand total of $100,000!



The Leap of Faith!

The Atlantis at night!

Welcome Home!

WELCOME HOME ELDER LOBO!

Having a missionary back home is one of the best experiences I think any individual can have. The spirit and the light that radiates from Fernando everytime I am around him or in the same room is just humbling. I just can't deny the spirit and the truthfulness of the gospel and just by being around him has made my testimony grow 1000 times over. I am so proud of him and his decision to take out two years of his life to dedicate himself fully to the Lord and to bring His message of happiness and peace to the people of Mexico. He has really made me more determined to be a better servant of the Lord and even a better mother. I love you Ferdy and thank you for your righteous example. I love you!

The family together again!

Good to be home!

Mini First Haircut

Marisa started growing two small pigtail mullets in the back of her head so I decided to snip them so her hair was more even in the back. I wouldn't really call it her first haircut because it took me literally two seconds to do, but I would call it more like a first trim. Her hair is still a little uneven all over but I don't want to cut her hair short. I love her long thick hair! I'll decide later what I want to do with it but for now I am ok with it.

(Pictures coming soon!)

Leaving on a jet plane...

To Papi and Nana's house we go!

We finally made it to Georgia and I couldn't have asked for a better behavied daughter! It was a looong day of traveling but she was an angel!