First day of school. 6th grade, Middle School

Today was the first day of school for Conner. It is hard to believe he is in Middle school now! Where has the time gone!! He was nervous this morning but when I picked him up this afternoon he said he had a great day!!!

Aunt Lippy's funeral

My aunt Lydia Quintana, is married to my uncle (my mom's brother) Rafael Sotomayor. She was born December 21, 1923 in Puerto Rico and died in Kendall, Florida in their home on August 11, 2015. When I was a child we used to visit their home in Guaynabo. I always enjoyed having lunch at her house. She made what I thought was the best bocadillos (grilled cheese and ham sandwiches). She always asked me if I wanted lunch and I would ask for a bocadillo and orange juice. She was very kind and loving and very patient. She had been very sick, a few years ago she had a stroke while in Puerto Rico and from then on her health declined. She could not travel back to Florida until she was good enough to go on the plane.  They own a house in Guaynabo and a house in Kendall.

These flowers were sent by my aunt Sandra and she wasn't able to travel to Kissimmee from Miami and asked me to send her a picture of her flowers so she could see them.

My cousin Alberto (Kiki) Sotomayor

My cousins Kiki , Esther Sotomayor and their mom, my aunt Rosael (my uncle Victor Sotomayor's wife, my mom's brother)

 My cousins carrying the casket

 Brent and Conner throwing dirt in the grave

My aunt and uncle's great-grandkids

My cousins. Left to right, Tony Vargas (my cousin Lily Sotomayor's son), Rafael Sotomayor, Elaine Lopez (my cousin Wildin Sotomayor's daughter), Lydia Esther Sotomayor, Me, Carmen Fortier and Kiki Sotomayor

My cousins,Left to right, back row, Lydia Sotomayor (Lily), Iliana Fortier, Lydia Esther Sotomayor, front row, Me, Wildin Sotomayor, Carmen Fortier, Kiki Sotomayor

With my uncle Rafael

With my uncle Rafael Sotomayor

My uncle and his grandchildren

Conner at the temple

I have seen other missionaries on facebook who had pictures taken at the temple when they were little and then as they were going on their mission. Alison and Parker had theirs taken in front of the temple. With Alison we did it when she came back from her mission because I had no idea people did that sort of thing until after she left. For Parker I already knew so we had his before he left. Conner and I thought it would be fun to take his pictures now and he wanted to pose like Ali and Parker. In a few years when he goes on his mission we can compare these pictures to his mission pictures :)

Pictures from our friends in Santa Fe

Hermano y Hermana Chiapello are awesome. They own a small bakery in Santa Fe and they love the missionaries. The way we became friends is an interesting one. I was on facebook a few months ago and I noticed that sister Chiapello was friends with another mom who had a son serving in the Rosario mission. I made the bold move to ask sister Chiapello to be my friend without knowing what a blessing this friendship would be for me. It was shortly after Parker was transferred to Parana. Sister Chiapello messaged me and wondered who I was. We started talking and I said that Parker was serving in Parana and had just been transferred. Sister Chiapello lives in Santa Fe which is about 30 minutes and over the bridge from Parana. We started talking and I found out she is from Chiclayo, Peru (part of Brent's Trujillo mission). She was so excited to know that Brent served there. She was so nice and gracious and offered to take Parker a Birthday cake, and in April they made the trip by bus to Parana to deliver Parker's birthday cake. I was so happy!! Parker was transferred to the Rosario mission office to be trained and then he was transferred to the Santa Fe mission office. The office is in the Stake Center building, of the Chiapello's Stake. I was talking to Sister Chiapello the other day and she told me that her husband had seen Parker at the church and had found out the times that he was working at the office so that they could go and visit him and bring him a treat. These pictures are of when they visited him at the office. They are so incredibly nice!!

I asked brother Chiapello to give Parker a hug and here he is giving him my hug!

I found out that on Monday they went to lunch to the Chiapello's. Sister Chiapello sent me these pictures.

Summer 2015

Picking up Hamilton from the pet sitter after our trip to Peru

Disney World fourth of July fireworks

Decorating the guest bedroom

Conner and dad swimming in our pool

Going to the beach at Ponce Inlet. We definitely have to go there again 

Conner with Brother David Cole and his kids David Joseph and Ethan. Brother Cole is Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's grandson and his son David is named after David and his grandfather.

Conner loves Ethan

My friends Lily Rivas and Katty Cole, they are sisters and they are the best Zumba teachers too!

With Lily

 Brent teaching Conner to tie his tie

A mini High School reunion with my friends that live in the Orlando area. Some I had not seen since graduation in 1983!

Conner being silly with his body sock or therapy blanket on the way to occupational and speech therapy.

 Conner saying goodbye to his friends James and Andrew Tillotson. They moved to Colorado. Conner was very sad. It was hard for him and he cried. :(

My sweet Grandkids in front of James and Ashley's house. So cute!!

Tennis tournament. I am so proud of Conner. It has not been easy for him, it is hot and humid and he much rather be inside playing video games but he continues to take lessons and he is improving a lot and playing great.

Cleaning the church building. Conner really enjoys going to clean the church when is our turn. 

Making jello desert