Little TuTu Princess

Here in the Sanchez house, we love to dress up....Cate that is.  On those days when i've run out of creative ideas to do with our time, dressing cate up in fun cute outfits seems to bring me the most joy.  Enjoy these pictures

Cate visits O-town!

So Cate and I decided to pack up our day bag and head to Oakland to see Angel. She's been pregnant, sick and busy so we thought it would be nice to pay her a little visit. We fed Cate, fed ourselves and went for a walk around the lake. Cate got to play on the swing for a bi but it gt super cold and we decided to head out. She wasn't happy about that! All in all it was a fun day.

Here are some photos of Cate at lunch time!

What a little goober!

Christmas 2008

The Christmas season to me this year was more about receiving than giving...sounds selfish but i promise its not...not this year at least.  First and foremost my number one wish came true (thanks santa and the military) Daniel came home for two weeks!! whoo hoo...yes i acutally said that!  He came back to his family on December 20th at 5:30pm, mind you which was 2 whole hours late!!!  I kept my cool although i was actually 2 hours early to Sacramento just in case....so i ended up being 4 hours early....ick ick when you have a VERY actively crazy kid like mine.   

I laid my eyes on my soldier boy for the 1st time in 2 months and i hardly recognized him.  He was 20lbs lighter with a shaved head...oh yeah and he was wearing those fatigues the army issues.  Everyone around us "oohhed and awweed" and this family of three hugged and kissed eachother.  I dont know when i've ever been more happy and proud to see him.  tear.  We went home and went to bed.

Everyday after we spent morning and nite together and loved every minute.  I prepared my friends and family to expect me dropping off the planet during those 2 weeks because i couldnt promise them any time that i devoted to my own family.  

Christmas was great..and expensive.  So besides my husband coming home, we also bought a new car for us and he bought me a new diamond band (for my right finger).  His intention was to show his appreciation for my as his wife and the mother of his daughter and all that i do while he's away.  I love it. 

New Years we had the luxury of my in laws baby sitting for the night, so we went out!  We rounded up family/friends and went out for dinner drinks and dancing...the triple D threat!  I danced the night away and rang in the new year with my lovey.  

Now Daniel is gone, again, but we will see him in Georiga for his BCT graduation on January 29th. 

i love my family!

Daniel is a Solider Boy

So my husband is now in the army. He is UCLA educated and was a teacher for 7 years until one day joining the military sounded like a good idea. He has always been a patrioitc person(like most) but he felt a voice tugging inside that screamed "serve in the military before you get too old!!!" Even before he left for college, serving in our nations armed forces was a possibility...but of course college was the logical choice for him and his family. After surving in the professional world for 7 years, 2008 was the year to make the big change. With my support and reassurance that it would be "ok" if he left us for a while to train and become a strong solider, away he went. He left just a few days after Cates 1st birthday to Ft. Benning Georgia for basic training and then OCS(officer canidate school). Because he has a Bachelors degree, he will hold rank as an Officer as opposed to Enlisted when he is done. I am so proud of Daniel and the courage and strength he has displayed being away from his family and enduring long days and cold nights. We will see him this christmas or "exodus"(the army calls it) for 2 weeks, then he goes back to GA for 3 more weeks until he graduates January 28th from Basic Training.

I will be taking Cate on her first plane trip to see him graduate and also enjoy all that the area has to offer. I'm hoping to see Atlanta, Savannah and tour the base. There is a major possibility that Daniel will be going to school at Ft. Benning for his job training after he completes OCS in April and Cate and I will join him to live. Where he goes to school depends solely on what job or field they put him in. Im crossing my fingers to goes Military Intell. so we can be stationed in AZ for his schooling. Until then, Cate and I are w/o our daddy living in a small apartment looking forward to our daily letters.