Our May, Memorialized...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/in6zw9qz2xrxit7/Skateboard%20Basketball.mov?dl=0

Our May started with a Family Pool Day.

The boys created skateboard basketball!

On the 3rd we found out Ryan fractured his foot in 2 places.

He rolled his ankle coming down after a simple layup in our driveway.

Thankfully he should be out of the boot and back to regular activity by the 1st or 2nd week of June.

On the 9th, Freddy bought our family a boat! 

So we wasted no time taking it out on the lake!

The boys enjoyed tubing...

And Evan took to wake surfing very quickly!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2tys8psqhawql4e/IMG_2093.mov?dl=0

He was up after only a few attempts!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gdsukm8r244mlyi/IMG_2195.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v5129zkna50rziv/IMG_2296.mov?dl=0

Even let go of the rope!

Since Ryan couldn't surf because of his foot he "jet ski'd"!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iuq0nh3vfkv19e3/IMG_2373.mov?dl=0

Seeing the boys laughing together warms my heart!

It was an awesome first day out!

Mother's Day was AMAZING!

We spent the day hanging out in the backyard...

Then all 3 of my boys put my new gift to use by setting me up for a bubble bath!

On the 17th, we celebrated Grace's 1 year anniversary of earning her angel wings...

By taking the boat out.  We brought some oleanders...

 And released them in her honor!

We could feel Grace smiling down on her brothers as they played the day away...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zvnf7rxim1ufa8e/IMG_2598.mov?dl=0

Evan even got creative while surfing!

For those of you who know him and his wardrobe changes you will appreciate the video above!

Then, we were able to remember our sweet girl by enjoying a beautiful sunset. 

Before the end of the 3rd quarter, Evan was asked to participate in a school photo shoot.

Some of the photos were just released on Social Media.

This is one of them. 

During the last week of school, Ryan's sweet teacher delivered a yard sign to us!

This is a picture of Ryan after we drove by school to pick up his belongings.

He held up a creation of his to commemorate the last day of 6th Grade! 

On to Junior High!

During Evan's last week of school, he had a specific time slot to clean out his locker.

He was given a certificate to celebrate his hard work this year in Drama!

Way to Go Edmund (Narnia) & Michael Banks (Mary Poppins)!

On to Sophomore Year!

We are expecting our baby girl in less than 9 weeks!

I am feeling good and looking forward to getting her nursery set up this week!

Take care and stay safe everyone!

April in Quarantine...

Hello everyone! April has come and gone...and if your family is anything like us, you have found a new normal in your everyday routine, as well as new things to do to make quarantine a little less frustrating!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oeca6m8su07wzw0/IMG_0634.mov?dl=0

Since Evan will be allowed to get his permit in October,

Freddy has been taking him out driving.  Above is a link to his first nighttime drive.

Freddy has gone on many walks around our neighborhood.

One day when he was out with Ryan, they came across this artwork!

Someone spent a lot of time being creative for others to enjoy!

Thank you Circle G resident!

Another day, Freddy and Ryan went for a nice long hike!

They were rewarded with this view once they got to the top!

Before we knew it, it was time for Easter...

So the decorations went up inside...

And outside!

Shortly before Easter, we all decorated eggs.

Each of the boys decorated their own dozen...

And I decorated some glittery ones for Grace and Baby Girl!

Easter Sunday looked very different this year as it was just the 4 of us at home.

Ryan and I made a traditional turkey dinner...

 And after a golden egg hunt for the boys...

We watched Passion of the Christ together.

I am so blessed to have all 3 of my guys in my life!

Since the Stars baseball season was cancelled,

we put together a quick "Stars Play Catch" video!

It definitely put a smile on my face when I watched it!

On the 19th, our Big Boy turned 15!

He had a drive by from Aunt Tina and Grandma Michelle...

Ate his favorite Bundtinis...

And opened gifts!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l60dcwjpkpgv0st/IMG_1161.mov?dl=0

At his birth time, we sang and he blew out his candles!

His big gift from us was his own mini fridge for his room!

Evan had been asking for one for years, so he was thrilled!

And being the sweet brother that Ryan is,

he baked his own cake for Evan!

Then our birthday boy wrapped up his big day by enjoying his FAVORITE meal from Hon Machi!

Since my usual Hallmark shopping isn't available these days,

I made a large card with a walk down memory lane for his door.

I included a picture from his birth and each of Evan's birthdays!

We hope your month of quarantine was manageable and this finds you all healthy and happy!

Spring is Here...in our Whole New World!

Our month started with the Stars boys working hard to fundraise for Cooperstown!

We split the team between two Spring Training stadiums.  It was a fun day! 

Siblings and Mommas joined in on the action too!

St Patty's Day decor went up...

We celebrated Dr Seuss' Birthday at school with an appropriate, "moving on" to Junior High book...

And Ryan qualified to participate in his school Track and Field Meet!

Throwing the javelin was all new to him.

His first attempt was 65'10" and his second was 65'3".

He didn't place, but we were proud of him for trying his best!

Then Ryan ended another successful quarter

(and school year) at school with a fun field day!

The weekend of the 6th, the Stars played in a 3 day tourney.

Teams from all over came to Arizona to participate.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xtqmj4q44w7iw4g/Ryan%27s%20Triple%20Crown%20Tourney%20Highlights.mov?dl=0

Above is a quick clip of Ryan's Highlight Reel from the weekend.

He even hit me a Birthday Homerun!!!

The 2 Arizona Teams squared off in the Championship game.

We took 2nd place, losing by just 1 run.

It is always a bummer to lose,

but we were so proud of the boys for their effort! 

To celebrate my 41st Birthday, I went to the spa for a massage and facial on the 5th.

It was soooo nice!

Then on the 8th, we celebrated with cake, gifts...

And a get together with the whole Stars team at a cool place called Social Hall!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b5aovy7gxe711dq/IMG_9420.mov?dl=0

The link above is AWESOME!

It's of Evan singing karaoke with some of the Stars as his backup dancers!

It was such a fun night!  I had a terrific birthday weekend!

Thank you to everyone who wished me well!

Then, all of sudden the world as we know it changed!

On the 13th, even Evan was tired of bring quarantined and headed outside for some fresh air!

Ryan is the type of kiddo who HAS to stay active when he is stuck at home.

He and Dad played a fun game of Safe/Out and recorded attempts in Slo-Mo one evening!

Ok everyone...in our world full of chaos and uncertainty I feel like now is finally time to share our trying last year and make you all fully aware of our happy current events!

We are so excited to announce that the Sanchez Family is growing!!!

Below you will see a few photos of our gorgeous baby GIRL that we are expecting at the beginning of August!

She is our rainbow baby...meaning, she is our rainbow after a storm.

I will explain once you enjoy her most recent ultrasound photos!

  

So, like I said, I will explain the storm.
It's a long story, but we started trying to grow our family in August of 2018...

Then last year on March 20th, we found out we were pregnant!

At week 13 our genetic testing came back with devastating news.

We would have to say goodbye to our little girl because she had a very rare genetic abnormality, Trisomy 13.

We induced, labored and delivered her instead of agreeing to a D&C.

May 17th we got to meet our baby girl, Grace RaVae.

I will share a video link below that I made in her honor.  It helped me with closure.

A little backstory on the slideshow song choices...

The Best News Ever was the first song that came on the radio when I got in the car after taking my first pregnancy test...on my way to CVS to get another one to double check.

The next song was an easy choice as well.
After the horrible news, Freddy and I got in the car,
headed to the OB's office to pick up the envelope that would tell us the baby's sex

and Amazing Grace was the first song that came on the radio.

Hence her name!

Please enjoy Gracie's video below...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7nj7irrag0nb139/Our%20Special%20Angel%2C%20Gracie.mov?dl=0

Losing Grace was the hardest thing our family has had to endure.
We feel so blessed and thankful to God that here we are expecting a healthy baby girl!

We can't WAIT to have her here with us!

Stay safe!  Stay home!
Take care all!  Freddy, Alissa, Evan, Ryan, and Baby Girl