Oh Christmas Tree...

We have a great big Christmas tree, but we also have a very curious and adventurous toddler (and zero extra space).  Although we have two Christmas trees in storage, we went out and bought a new one - a small one - that could fit on our desk.  We also decided not to bring out the ornaments and bought some of those too.

Starbucks baby!

The very nice baristas at the Starbucks a few feet away have watched Valentina grow from a lump on a log to a walking, almost talking kiddo.  They are very kind to her and love when she walks in.  Sometimes we feel a little bad for those behind us because they take their time to say hello to her and see how she's doing.  Sometimes she even goes behind the counter with them and is "rewarded" for her hard work with a fruit pouch.

Thanksgiving Adventures at the Beach

For the second year in a row we spent our Thanksgiving with the Iudicello Family  at their beach house in Bethany Beach, Delaware. While it is much colder than our August visit, it was just as fun and relaxing.

We arrived Wednesday afternoon and were treated to dinner by Adrian and Michael. It was delicious!!  Adrian also made a special shoefly pie for Fay. We had never heard of it until last Thanksgiving but it is a pie she ate a lot as a kid, so Adrian made it for her as a thank you. 

Thanksgiving Day was cold but not freezing, so we took advantage of the milder temperature to visit the beach and let the puppies run around. 

During the day we did some puzzles, played some games and relaxed before our Thanksgiving dinner. 

We visited the beach just before sunset and dinner to burn some calories.

And now our feast...

It was such a hard day that Valentina just had to relax and help Ms. Fay with her crossword puzzle. 

We stayed at the beach until Saturday afternoon and enjoyed more puzzles, some beach time, played more games and watched some football. It was a wonderful weekend!! 

My last days in Congress

In July 2003 I walked into the Capitol building for the first time ever. I arrived an hour before my office opened and couldn’t believe I was fulfilling my dream. I marveled at how great the cafeteria was, the CSPAN personalities I was able to see and loved EVERYTHING, even the confusing Rayburn building. 

In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined the journey I’ve been on. While I may not arrive early anymore and the awe of the cafeteria has definitely gone away, I am still amazed with this place, the opportunities I have had, the Members of Congress I have been privileged to work for and the amazing friends who have become family. As I transition to the next chapter in my career, I cannot be more thankful to my colleagues and all the people that make Capitol Hill operate. 

I was also very humbled by the kind words of the Members of Congress I have worked for the last almost 6 years... This was the post they did for me.

CHC Executive Director Patricia Tamez is leaving Congress after 11 years of public service. Throughout her tenure, she worked for CHC Members - for Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, Congressman Solomon Ortiz, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Congressman Charlie Gonzales and Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15). Patricia has played an integral role in advancing the priorities of the Latino community in Congress, and we thank her greatly for her service.

Wake up smiles

We are the proud parents of a seriously happy child. This was her "I just woke up from a nap" happy face..

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And the next morning this was her "I just woke up and have messy hair" face...

Beautiful Fall Days

We've had some amazingly warm days this fall which is nice for Valentina and Adrian because they're able to go to the park.

A Veterans Day recap

I've been really delayed in posting but vow to get better. On Veterans Day this year Adrian received a special gift from Valentina and an invitation to be Maddie Thompson's guest for her Veterans Day lunch. She called to invite him herself and Adrian was so proud to join her. Here are some pictures.