The Ruiz Family Blog

2010-03-08T19:45:00.004-07:00

A wonderful video Emma put together to celebrate Lincoln's 3rd birthday. Emma put a lot of love into this and it shows. We watched it Monday 8 March (his b-day) all snuggled on the couch, even Shiloh our dog with us. Made me cry like a baby. Love that boy! Here's to you Lincoln!!

Since the last blog posting we have moved to Dayton, Ohio. We are enjoying the Air Force life and look forward to finishing my residency program in August when we'll be moved to a new assignment. Still no idea where we will be going.

The kids are doing great! Taylor loves kindergarten and Mason is about 19 months old now with an attitude. Emma is expecting a baby girl in late June so all of us are very excited.

2009-06-21T17:10:00.005-06:00

Here's some updated pics of the kids. Some are from when Taylor and I went hiking to Timpanogos caves in American Fork Canyon, some are from the Air show at the local Air Force base, some are in our front yard and bath tub. Enjoy! Sorry I have not been as good about updating this blog, for anyone who looks at it. Both Emma and I are on Facebook and we are better about updating that site with new pics.

For anyone who does not know yet, I was recently commissioned into the Air Force as an officer, to be working as a social worker. I will spend a month in Alabama in training during July and then we will be moving to Ohio for a year. We will have the same email and cell phone number if you want to reach us.

2009-01-16T17:58:00.004-07:00

Here's some family pics taken by our friend Jennie McBride at the Oceanside beach after Christmas. Beautiful sunset and the sky reflected perfectly off of the glassy tide.

Baby Mason with Mom

Taylor and Lincoln

Christmas morning in American Fork, UT

Some Fall Pics

2008-12-07T19:46:00.002-07:00

Here's some pics we took after raking leaves this fall. As of yet there is still no snow on the ground, almost the middle of December. But if last year is any indication, winter will be late and very long.

Emma and Lincoln

Casey and the kids: Lincoln, Mason, and Taylor

The whole gang, even our dog Shiloh

Some newer shots of our youngest, Mason

These guys are going to be trouble in no time!

He's starting to smile more, which is so cute!

Welcome Baby Mason!!

2008-09-20T11:35:00.008-06:00

Mason Wooding Ruiz was born Thursday September 18th in American Fork, UT. 7 lbs. even, 20". Take a look!

Here's his excited older siblings, Taylor and Lincoln

Grandma Vici (Emma's mom)

Camping Trip to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole

2008-08-03T19:28:00.007-06:00

Beautiful Jenny Lake, under the Grand Tetons

Moose near our campground in Jackson Hole

Grandma swingin' with the kids

More of Jenny Lake

Some hot springs in Yellowstone

Lower Falls in Yellowstone

The Buffalo were really presumptuous with walking through the campsites, but who's going to argue?

Uncle Johnny with Lincoln

The famous Old Faithful geyser. Not sure what the hoop-la is about. Even for a geyser, it is neither the tallest, longest lasting, nor the most predictable of the geysers in the park.

Old faithful #2, worth the hoop-la

Morning in the campground next to Yellowstone Lake

Grandpa John with Lincoln

Taylor's 4th Birthday Party

2008-08-03T19:22:00.002-06:00

We invited a bunch of kids over from Taylor's church class and the neighborhood, as well as some family that was in town. They all had a great time. Funny about the cupcakes that mom made below: all of the kids who had them only licked off the frosting and took one bite of the cupcake, then left them!

Las Vegas, etc

2008-08-03T19:06:00.004-06:00

Some time in Las Vegas for Grandpa Chuck's 70th Birthday party. Here poolside at the Mirage with Casey's brother Rick and his family, and his brother Sean
We had a delicious dinner at a fancy Chinese restaurant in the Mirage hotel. Here's a group shot of everyone: Top Row: niece Allie, Casey, Emma, Sandy, Rick, Grandpa Chuck; Bottom Row: nephew William, nephew Ricky, Sean, Grandma Diane.

Here's a couple of shots at Old Cove Fort, a historical site for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located in central Utah. This fort was created as a stopping point for people traveling west during its occupied time.

On a hike with my dog Shiloh in the trails above Pleasant Grove, Utah, close to where we live. Beautiful streams, pine forests, and meadows there.

Yea Summer

2008-06-22T19:44:00.005-06:00

Dressing up at Grandma's house in San Diego.

Shiloh, the good ol' boy
the floor before...
During...and after!
Celebrating with a BBQ

Welcome Spring!!!

2008-05-18T19:48:00.010-06:00

Hello again from the Ruiz fam. Yea! spring is finally here! Life is good in our neck o' the woods with the kids having fun and Emma's belly getting bigger. Baby Boy is due in the middle of September and Em is doing very well. We recently closed on our house (see below) and are very busy working on projects and getting really acquainted with Home Depot again. Just like old friends... In fact, today is our 2nd Anniversary, so we celebrated the same way we did for our first meal as a married couple... with greasy hamburgers.
Upcoming events are officially moving out of our apartment into the house (may 24), a trip back to San Diego to attend a wedding of friends and to pick up my dog (Shiloh) down there (end of May) and Papa Chuck's 70th birthday bash in Vegas (July 12th). Stay tuned!!

Lincoln is a crack-up!

Easter Time

Working on our new garden plot. Hoping for something edible to come out of these boxes!

Who was that masked man???

Taylor in our new back yard.

Casey doing some damage in the new house. Here he is tearing out a water-damaged bathroom floor in order to put in a new subfloor and eventually laminate wood flooring.

Lincoln is SOOOO big...

Yummy watermelon to celebrate our anniversary this month.

Casey and Taylor when we all went to the Hunger Banquet at BYU a while ago.

Casey's coworker Nelda teaching Taylor how to play the harp.

This is when all the international Executive Directors from our partner organizations (of Enterprise Mentors) came to Utah for a week of training. They also got to tour around a bit and meet with some BYU students. This table is at the Omniture Rock/Paper/Scissors tournament in April.

So here is our new (old) house. Built in 1909 and definitely got character. We closed on May 7th, Casey's birthday (most expensive b-day gift ever). It's got lots of projects to work on but will be a lot of fun. We love having a place of our own again and the kids enjoy playing in the back yard. Say goodbye to spare time!

Pics of the Kids!

2008-03-23T07:55:00.004-06:00

Sledding in the winter; the kids loved it.

Taylor is a thrill seeker. You should have seen her go down these big hills by herself.

Some pics up at a reservoir in American Fork Canyon

Dad and Son communicating...

Enjoying the snow in the backyard. It was fun, but we're ready for Spring to come!

Here's Lincoln having a great time with one of those See's suckers.

Emma and the kids at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego

Here's the Newest Addition!! Yep, got one in the oven, due the middle of September! Yea!!

Lincoln and Taylor trying to have indoor fun during the winter... it's just not the same. Please hurry Spring!

Business trip to the Philippines...

2008-02-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

In January i went to the Philippines for two weeks to visit with the partner organizations that my NGO works with. I spent time in Manila, Davao, and Cebu. It was beautiful and green there and the people are very kind and hospitable. The beach picture was taken on an island off the coast of Davao where i went snorkeling for a day off. Amazing! We spent time meeting with clients who work with the organizations to receive business training and small loans. You can see some of their products here, such as small brooms and pottery. These people are very adaptive; this man made this pottery wheel out of an old tire and wood.

Hiking various trails in the fall...

2008-01-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

A beautiful waterfall just up a small canyon from Pleasant Grove. In the winter this was almost completely frozen over, beautiful, though we didn't have a camera with us then!

These are taken from a trail that goes up American Fork canyon to the backside of Mt. Timpanogos. No we didn't go the whole way, really only a couple of miles.

These are taken up American Fork also. Beautiful mountains, reservoirs, and forests.

Casey's trips to Mexico and Peru

2008-01-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

I (Casey) have been travelling a lot with my work. In November I spent a week in Mexico City. In this foto I am eating a delicious lunch of Huaraches (stuffed tortilla topped with a slab of meat and other toppings) with some of our partners in Mexico City. It was nice to get out of the office!

This guy works with his family to create these articles of clothing, which he sells out of his shop. He uses small loans from our partner in Mexico City to purchase fabrics and other materials to make the clothing.

Here I am with my partner Adriano at the Lima, Peru temple. We spent a week there in December doing training and support, interviewing of potential directors for our partner organization down there, and visiting clients. One lady that i visited makes earrings like these in the picture, out of large fish scales from an enormous fish found in the jungle rivers called a "paiche". She is very creative and makes all of these by hand.

Next Stop: The Philippines!

It's About Time!

2008-01-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

So now it's our turn, i suppose, to put together a family blog, as we have admired those that we have seen our friends create to update everyone on their lives. This was one of our family goals set on New Year's, so here goes!