Time is a Gift

These days it seems like I have no time to blog. This puppy is keeping me really busy on my off days. So far the puppy is doing great. The kids are more than ready for school to be over. I am so proud of them for doing so well this year given the transition and Renie's heavy academic caseload. They are so looking forward to our trip home. Rene will be off to Haiti next week, so hopefully our month will fly by. I will continue to stay busy with work and puppy training. It is hard to believe we have almost completed one full year here in Arizona. We are looking forward to our new neighbors Marcos and Melissa who have just purchased a home a few streets down from us. It will be nice to have them close by. Today Renie will be giving an AP History presentation. He looked so handsome this morning before heading to school. He is so confident. Love this kid to bits........

The Pampered Life

Our puppy is growing, his last shot tomorrow means we can finally go out on walks. Well reservations for Texas are done, Petsmart Hotel reserved (only the best for our puppy). I am amazed at what is available for pets now a days. Walking into the Petsmart Hotel was like walking into a luxury hotel, only for pets. There was front desk check-in, choices between pet suites and nice accommodations. A tour through this place made me feel like our pet would be taken care of while we are in Texas. He will have two daily walks, play dates, 24/7 staff attention, doggy ice cream treats, etc......It won't be cheap, but at least we will have peace of mind.

And So A Girl Enters the Picture

Brittany and Renie at Sabino Canyon.

Yesterday, Renie informed us that he has a girlfriend. Her name is Brittany. They have been friends for some time. Nevermind he took Vicky to the prom. Apparently Vicky has been encouraging them to get together. Ok! Well, they are all a good group of friends. I guess my boy had to grow up at some point. I can only remember Renie having on girlfriend about two years ago. They figured out it was best to just be friends. I am not sure where this relationship is headed, but she seems like a really nice girl. I have a feeling his senior year is going to be quite interesting.

Cienega High School Prom 2011

Well tonight is the night. The night when one day you knew would come. Your baby boy is all grown up and is headed to his first prom. What a special moment, I can hardly contain my tears. Vicki is a nice girl, top of the Junior class. She is athletic and want to go to Stanford University. I think Renie made the right choice. I wish them the best and hope they have a wonderful time tonight. Ok, now I am really crying......

The Preperations

So far Pepper is working out great for us. Aside from some already bad chewing habits, we continue to enjoy and laugh with his every move. Today was our first trip to the emergency Veterinarian Hospital. Pepper swallowed a two sided thorn and was unable to poop or eat. We were not sure if he had swallowed a rock, but we knew something was not right. After an emergency rectal exam, it was apparent he had swallowed a thorn branch. Thank goodness for no ex-rays. The doc exam was $85.00 for just about a 10 minute visit. Oh well, these are the things we expected with our new puppy. We are just happy he is happy again.

Larissa enjoying a Starbucks moment at the U of A.....

Last weekend we enjoyed the Pima County Fair. Larissa invited a friend and we had a blast on the rides. We also had the pleasure of enjoying a funnel cake and some cotton candy. Gotta luv those fair days. It was a tough weekend for us knowing we would not be home for Easter. We enjoyed a nice Easter mass and lunch.

This weekend Renie will be going to the prom. Today will be his tux fitting, the flowers have been ordered and the car is scheduled to be washed on Saturday. He seems excited. Vickie's (his prom date) parents invited him to dinner last weekend and I guess he got a thumbs up. Oh well, I hope he has a great time. He has had a busy year with his academic classes and has done so well considering starting a new school.

Hard at Work

Everyday was a busy day with a line of people waiting. The goal was to see 300 people a day.

Everywhere they went, the El Salvadorian army with their guns went.

Music and food by the water. A time for rest and relaxation after 2 weeks of work.

Rene's guard..

Rene's home away from home. The bathroom was about .25 of a mile down. Not a good thing for Rene.

Some shopping time in town.

As always Rene returned back to us safe and sound. His pictures tell an interesting story of how our troops come together to help others. This is the most rewarding part of Rene's job, only this time he was mostly involved with helping to bring the mission together. Yes, the go-to-guy for all the problems that came up. Their equipment was never released from customs, so coming up with a quick plan was vital. The mission had to be done no mater what. So many dentists were on the way. In the end, he was awarded with an army coin for doing such a good job. No nice dental office furniture or air-conditioning. here.

Pepper

On Sunday, Larissa and I made a split second decision to stop at the Pet Shop. Larissa instantly fell in love with this Japanese Chin Toy Poodle puppy. Larissa has been asking for a dog for around 3-4 years. "Mom all my friends have a pet." "Mom, I was the only student in class not to raise her hand when the teacher asked who had a pet." So after several discussions with dad, we finally decided the time was right. Larissa will take on the responsibility of feeding, early morning potty breaks and daily walks. This dog is so adorable it has even captured the heart of dad and Renie. It physically appears that it received more of the poodle trait, but this breed is a very intelligent, easy to train dog. It will grow up to weigh approx. 7 pounds. The dog had its first check-up today and all looks good. Hopefully we will enjoy this new pet for many years to come......