Last few days of 2007
We've had a fun filled past few days here as we count down 2007.
Joli, Mia, and Mia H. all went to see Nemo on Ice. We had great seats (thanks Lola!), bags of cotton candy, and fun with our Nemo hats.

On Dec 31st, I took Jada and Joli to Chuck E Cheese so that Jorge can get some work done. We had a crazy fun time!! Jada rode this carousel about a dozen times and refused to get off.
Joli and Jada loved the slides in the small kids area. Joli was super about helping Jada up and down the slide.
Joli was big rollin' in this hydraulics truck. She loved it!

Brief summary of 2007 in our family
January: Joli went with her cousins to the annual Pedi Oncology party and Jada got her first portrait done to be put up on Lolo's wall.
February: We said goodbye to Mari and Gavie as they returned back to California.
March: Joli hung out with Grammy, Ped and Pops in NYC during Spring Break.
April: Jada turned 1 year old! Joli had her in-office exam and was cleared for 1 year.
May: Jorge entered the Platinum Studios contest.
June: Liza presented at regional conference for an innovative program she initiated at work.
July: We are in Oregon for Jon and Jenny's wedding! Joli turned 4 years old!
August: Joli was a special guest at Sesame Place, and Jorge won Platinum Studio's challenge!
September: Liza was promoted to a new position. Jorge begins to be a featured guest at comic conventions. Joli started pre-school!
October: Jada begins singing clearly! We visit old friends in New York. Liza finds out she is BRCA1+ and begins lots of screening. We find out there will be another Vega (Andy and Marie) cousin!
November: Thanksgiving and the Vega family visits us!
December: Jada's EUA's have been pushed to 4 months! We're eagerly awaiting 2008 for even more great life events!

Feliz Navidad!

We had a great Christmas here in our house!

We started the night off at Lola's house making gingerbread houses....

Then, made our way over to church where Joli and Mia got to sit at the grand organ! They LOVED it!
Then, Jorge and Joli (Jada snuck in there for the picture) stayed up as long as possible waiting for Santa to come down the chimney. You can't tell in this picture, but they moved all the living room furniture and camped out next to the fire place! So cute!

While waiting to open gifts, the girls passed the time by beating up on Uncle Paulie.

After opening presents at our house, we then went for the flurry of presents at Lola's House. Jada got some new clothes for her American Girl doll that was given by the Dreizen gals!

But, no matter what, I think that Lolo got the best Christmas gift of all -- courtesy of Joli and Jada. Look at the smile on that man's face! What joy!
Happy Holidays! We're counting down the weeks until cousin Gavin comes to join us on the East Coast!!

Vacation Fun!
Jorge is on vacation this week and he brought the gals to the aquarium. They had tons of fun with Daddy!

We went to Lola Lucy's retirement party, and Mia Jewell was all decked out and ready to party. We took this picture because we want to compare it to her future prom/semi-formal picture in 14 years......
The two "Grace's" -- Grace is doing very well 2 1/2 weeks post surgery. She had her double mastectomy and reconstruction and is hanging out at our house while Alonso is in Kentucky. Thanks for all your well wishing to Grace!

Oh, Jada. She wouldn't give back Mia H.'s pink tutu skirt. She was soooo mad when we took it from her! When you ask Jada what her name is, she says, "Louie." How cute!

Happy Holidays!
(It's small on the web screen, but you should be able to enlarge it)


Happy Holidays! Here is our year in review!

Can YOUR 18 month old do this??
The TV was playing and Jada was not just repeating the alphabet, but she was often AHEAD of the alphabet! Go, Jada!





Also, as I add to this post (10 hours later), Jada is now singing "Who Said, Who Said, Icabesuppahmenan" - which is from Hannah Montana. Also, in addition to repeating the word "NO" all day, Jada also yells out "Ate" (which means "Big Sister") all day. Or, "Mama", "Dadddy", "Gordie", "Elmo", "Elmo wait!", "I want that", "I want book." and, I'm not lying, Jada can "recite" the entire "Goodnight Moon" book and spell all the letters on the cover.

It's snowing... again!

There is a whole lot of snow here in the East Coast! I'm sure Tita Mari is screaming while looking at these pictures ("Liza! Those girls look freezing!!") But, that's how we do it when it snows -- you don't have a choice but to go and play in it! Betcha can't wait to move to the East Coast, Mari!!! :)

Enjoy....!

Jada attempting to stay warm!

The girls... not sure what to make of all this snow!
Joli attacking Jorge!

Impromptu Sleepover

Due to the massive snow storm we're having, Mia is sleeping over! Here are some cute "monthly" pictures that Mia got in on, too! Enjoy!

Joli at 53 months old

Jada at 20 months! (egads, really????!!???)
Mia Jewell -- the honorary Vega -- at almost 42 months

Back home~

Hi everyone! Jorge and I are back home from a lovely trip to Miami. We celebrated our 7th anniversary there (7 years married, 11 years together!). We caught up with a few friends from both Conn and NYU, and enjoyed being surrounded by great Latino/Hispanic culture in Miami! Awesome food.....

Thanks to Grammy who stayed with Joli and Jada (and Lily) for a few days. Unfortunately, we don't have any pictures, but there is lots of evidence of FUN -- cookies, beaded jewelry, arts and crafts.

For the first time, Jada slept in her own bed!


Unfortunately... so did Gordon!! ( I woke up early, early Saturday morning and found him in her bed! Guess he figured, "Someone might as well use it!")

Attempting to recover from the trip, a horrible cold, and two girls who missed their Mama, I took the girls to the Children's Museum where they had a blast!

My cute girls!

Thanks to the Dreizen gals who sent Joli and Jada 2 packages of endless fun! See the evidence below.





The gals also made beautiful bags for each of the little ones AND for me and Grace! how sweet! Shout out to Liv and Jenny!

Fun Fun Fun!

This weekend we had lots of fun! We had our monthly Dim Sum outing (the girls LOVE when we go "to China")

We had Tita Grace over for dinner prior to her bilateral mastectomy this week (note that the cake says "Breast" Wishes!)

The girls got to set up the Christmas Tree

And, this morning, IT SNOWED!! HURRAY!
Jada and Jo are reaching that "friends" stage with each other. Some cool things they do:

• They both LOVE Hannah Montana songs, and even Jada can sing along with it!
• They love hiding together and playing hide-and-seek
• They both love playing Wii with Daddy
• They always want to hold each others hands when they are outside
• Joli lifts Jada up when they are finished brushing their teeth so that Jada can spit in the sink
• Joli likes to soap and shampoo Jada when they are in the tub
• In the morning, the girls 'race' to see who can get ready the fastest -- Joli always wins but she always says to Jada "I love you Jada. One day, you'll get dressed fast, too!"

The girls are so sweet to one another. Jada's favorite thing to say is "NO!" and Joli just laughs at her. Jada is talking more and more these days. She can tell you exactly what she wants (milk, book, light, eat, egg, doggie, sleep, etc) and if Joli forgets to say "good night" to Jada, Jada will sit in bed and yell "A-a-a-a-ateeee!! A-a-a-a-a-teee!! Louie nigh-night!! Aaaaateeee!!" and Joli comes running in to give Jada a hug and kiss. Then, Jada is all set for bed.