Catching up, part 1

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! We have been super busy and lots of cosas (things) have popped up that I don't even know where to start. So, here is a short lista (list) of what's been happening since our last post.

• Basketball-John's equipo (team)is doing really well-they've only lost one game. It's fun to see John play, and it's fun to get to see some of my primos (cousins) every once in a while. Olivia loves to run around and she wants to play as well. She's also loved meeting the primos (cousins) and will randomly ask if we are going to see them. I'm still trying to figure out how to take good basketball fotos (pictures), but here are a few:
  

• John's cross country team competed in the state championship. The day before we had a pre-state cena (dinner) for the entire equipo (team). They did so good! Terminaron (They finished) in Fourth place in the 5A classification and in 5th place overall in el estado (in State). Their top runner finished in the top 3 both in state and in 5A. They are currently ranked 9th in the Southwest Region, which includes the following estados (states): Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexcio. Here are a few pics:
  
  

• El mismo dia (The same day) as state, we had the funeral of our Tia Angelita. Tia Angelita was my dad's tia (aunt), she passed away at the age of 96. She was a sweet lady, she was always dressed up-no matter the occasion, in her Sunday best and pumps. The funeral was lovely, and I got to see a lot of familia (family) that I hadn't seen in mucho, mucho tiempo (a long, long time). Olivia had a good time as well meeting the familia (family), and especially Tia Norma. I took some pictures, not near as much as I would have liked, but here are my favorites:

This post ended much longer than I thought. So, este sera (this will be) the first of hopefully two updates. Y (And), I promise that It won't take another 3 semanas (weeks)!

On Hispanic Heritage Month, part 2

Today is the closing day of Hispanic Heritage Month. So, here are a few fotos of how mi familia celebrates their Mexican-ness. Enjoy!







Finally, mi Hija, dancing to the Wachi's (Mariachi's):

On Basketball

Just cuando pensé (I thought) that we would have some noches (evenings) to ourselves, John signs up for an yet other rec league sport. Can you guess what it is? BASKETBALL!!! He and his hermano (brother) are playing with some of my primos. John really loves to hang out with them play ball, not to mention it's so much fun to verlos jugar (watch them play). Here are pictures from their first game:

Nearing Completion

John's cross country season is near already near completion. I can't believe how quickly the year has gone by. The team has done so well! They were moved in to a new region this year-a much harder region. They have go to up against schools that more than double their populations, and teams that are 2-3 times larger than their own. However, last Friday, at the Region Championship, his team showed them what hard work, time, patience, dedication, perseverance and discipline do. The JV girls took 3rd place in region. The JV boys took 2nd place. The varsity girls just missed qualifying for state by 9 points (this is the closest they have ever been), but had one of the girls be All-region, and thus qualify to run in the State Championship. The varsity boys took 2nd place again this year-most likely to the eventual state champion, American Fork. Not only did they take 2nd place, but they had 4 runners in the top twenty-two of which were in the top 10. They should have had 3 in the top 10, but one of his runners collapsed just before the finish and placed 11th. Some of the kids from one of the new teams in the region approached the team and told them that they didn't think Hillcrest was any good-that they thought their school (which finished 5th out of 7 schools) would qualify for state ahead of Hillcrest.

John is such a fantastic coach and all of his hard work is paying off. John's team has been consistent in their success. In his third year of coaching, this is what he has accomplished: 3 straight years of qualifying for the State Championship (after being absent for over a decade). Two runner up standings in the Region Championship. A region Champion, 7 All-Region runners, a State Champion Runner up, one top 20 team placing in the State Championship, one top 5 placing in the State Championship, and a trip last year to the Foot Locker Invitational. Aside from numerous articles on the team in the Midvale Journal -here is the latest article on his team.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 to cheer on Hillcrest! The girls meet will start at 3:30 P.M. and the boys will start at 4:00 P.M. at Sugarhouse Park.

Zoo and Park City Pictures

The zoo:

Olivia positioning herself to.....

Trying to get a good look of this bebe (baby):

Her reaction:

Fun pictures:

El cumpleañero (birthday boy) and his friends. I love Olivia's carita (face) in this one!:

On the Carousel-love the Oli's face and this pic of Jen and "Mamu":

Leaving the Zoo with a new "amigo":

In Park City-Kind of blurry, but insitio (she insisted) on pulling her suitcase solita (all by herself):