Every year, in the month of November, I try to think of at least one thing I am thankful for every day. It gets harder toward the end and I have to get creative about my blessings. It also helps me to remember how much I truly have in this life, even if it's small. Sometimes the small things are really the greatest blessings.
1.I am thankful for the family I was born into, the family I married into, and the family I have created. They all bring me joy and happiness...most of the time.
2.I am thankful for a husband that works so hard so I can stay home with our kids.
3.I am thankful for the strong and loving supportive friends that take such good care of me. Friends like that are rare and I'm glad to have them.
4.I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace it gives me to know I will be with my family forever.
5.I am thankful for facebook because my friends make me feel so special and loved on my birthday.
6.I am thankful for blankets that keep me warm on cold nights.
7.I am thankful that I have a Granny that loves to babysit. I don't know what I'd do without her!
8.I am thankful my husband has a job so that we can pay our bills.
9.I am thankful for my mom that still takes such good care of me. My mom is the best!
10.I am thankful for men and women brave enough to defend my country so my family and I can live fearless lives and be free to choose without punishment.
11. I am thankful for a mostly health body. I could have so many more things wrong with me, but I am blessed that it's all minor stuff that won't affect my life.
12. I am thankful my dad got me into photography. It's so nice to see the world's beauty through different eyes.
13. I am thankful that I live in a country where I can freely worship God however I want to without consequence.
14. I am thankful that I have a car that can take me places. It would be hard to get around without one, especially with two little kids.
15. I am thankful for the little things that bring such great blessings.
16. I am thankful for the sunlight that warms the earth. I wouldn't know what to do if I lived some where without sun and warmth.
17. I am thankful for prayer. It's nice to know that someone cares about me and is listening.
18. I am thankful for rain. It means I don't have to water my lawn and I can spend the afternoon cuddled up with a book and blanket and take a little time out for me.
19. I am thankful for friends who take us to Disneyland for a day of fun.
20. I am thankful for a helpful four year old who decided to pour a bowl of cereal and milk for her and her sister so I could lay in bed a few more minutes.
21. I am thankful for laughter. It brings happiness and smiles, it lightens your load, and is truly the best medicine for any type of ailment.
22. I am thankful for the gift of hearing and sound. Because tonight I've enjoyed hearing two little girls laughing with their daddy and it's a wonderful sound.
23. I am thankful for the gift of sight. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to see my husbands loving eyes, my kids beautiful smiles, and a world full of fascinating colors and wonders.
24. I am thankful for the gift of touch. Without it, I wouldn't be able to feel hugs and kisses, soft blankets, warm fires, or the rain on my face.
25. I am thankful to live another day to be thankful.
Here are the latest pictures of the girls. Pictures of the whole family will come soon.
This Summer has brought big changes for our family. I can't say that I was ready for them, although most were on my list of goals to accomplish. I feel good that I was able to get so many things done in one summer. And really, it was all the kids doing. They changed a ton. And I wasn't expecting that either.
This summer, Azure moved from a toddler bed to a twin bed. It makes me sad to see how big she's gotten just in a few weeks. She's grown two to three inches this summer, which sent her out of the baby toddler section and into the big girls section. She also grew a whole shoe size! One of my favorite changes about her is that she is learning to read words, tell time, and is really good at telling me directions and the places we are going to and the things that are next to it.
Azure has also taken it upon herself to remind me to clean her ears. She had her ears pierced just after mother's day and she has been pretty responsible about making sure I remember to clean them and she leaves them alone. She has gotten really independent about getting her own snacks out of the fridge for her and Claire and she is sleeping in her room more often than not now. I am really excited for that. She learned to do some back floats in swim lessons and is less afraid of the water now. She is looking forward to school in the fall.
Claire has had some major changes this summer. She is now potty trained and has no more diapers or pull ups! I think this was my favorite one. We are now living in a diaper free home! Because she was potty training, we also took down the crib and put it away and she inherited Azure's toddler bed. That was a sad moment because I realized I had no baby anymore and it broke my heart. To top that off, we decided to sell the toddler bed since we had gotten bunk beds from my parents and got the bottom bunk ready for her. Claire is thrilled though and she adjusted really well to her new bed. She loves that she can get in and out by herself and that her bed is now like sisters big bed. She also enjoyed her swim lessons and learned to not be afraid of the water and swimming with other people. She was a bit scared at first, but soon was used to the teachers. She loved singing songs in the water.
One of the biggest changes is our new puppy Molly! Molly is a 3 month old Chihuahua terrier mix. She is really sweet and playful. She still has a lot of training to do, because she listens just about as well as the girls( which is almost never...)and she is a puppy. But as a dog owner starting out, I can definitely say that I am relieved that it has been as easy as bringing a new toy home for the kids.
Azure loves her and loves to take her out and play with her and always wants to put the leash on her to walk her. She will scold Molly if she sees her doing something she shouldn't. She has also gotten better at picking up her toys so the dog doesn't chew on them and that is a big difference because my house has stayed cleaner longer.
Claire is still adjusting. She is a bit jealous of the dog at times because Molly likes to sit in my lap. She is still a baby and Claire still thinks she is one too. But she is gradually warming up to the idea of having a little dog in the house.
I think the biggest surprise for me is Fernando. He was very opposed to the idea of having a dog for a long time until this summer. He started warming up to the idea and then just decided it was okay for us to get one. Of course, I had to find one right away because I was afraid he would change his mind. I found Molly on craigslist and was able to get her right away. It's been a challenge to have a new baby in the house, but there are times when she is just so cute it makes me smile.
One of our new favorite excursions is hiking to the lake. Both girls are big enough to walk without the stroller. We park the car at Brackett airport and walk the path to the lake and let the girls feed the ducks. The girls get excited when we take them and we love taking them because it wears them out. It's a great family activity for us.
I can now say that I have accomplished my summer goal of getting Claire potty trained and organizing the house a bit more. I've been making it a goal to throw out a box of junk once a month. Watching the TV show Hoarders is really helping me with that because I don't want to be like those people who have tons of junk and can't walk anywhere. I'm a very claustrophobic person and I can't stand tight spaces. I've also been trying to continue working on my New Years resolutions of learning to cook better, working on starting a photography business, and learn to play guitar. I've done well on the first two, not so good on the last one.
Fernando and I are really excited that we are getting a new sister in law, Tricia. Fernando's brother Danny recently became engaged and the wedding is set for the end of October. We are looking forward to the many fun events that will be happening in the fall and I've already decided that losing ten pounds before the wedding is my fall goal.
1. Hubby made me French toast. At least, he tried to. I woke up to a smoke filled house, windows open, and a plate full of a sloppy, yet burnt pile of what was supposed to be toast. He told me, “I am totally messing this up. I give up.” And he turned it off.
2. After giving the girl’s regular cups to drink their milk out of, Claire of course dropped hers. In her saddened voice, with a sad, sad face, she told me, “Mommy, I sorry.” She helped me clean it up with paper towels. I had to hug her for that.
3. Azure got to sing with the Primary. It is her first year and even though she didn’t really sing, it made me feel special to see her up there in honor of me. And to top that, Claire wanted to sing even though nursery kids don’t go up, she went anyway. I loved every second.
4. Azure gave her very first talk in Primary. I helped her. It was about Mothers. I must admit, I talked myself up a bit. Wouldn’t you?
5. I received a Tulip from the Primary kids. Actually, it was half a tulip because some of the petals were missing. But at least I can say I got a flower today. They also made the cutest cards shaped like purses for me. I love them.
6. While the kids were napping, I sat and read. I have been so busy lately that I haven’t had to time to just sit and indulge in a good book. It was bliss.
7. I took the cutest interview video of Azure who talked the whole time about her upcoming wedding to a certain little boy. Apparently she has every detail planned out down to the name of their firstborn daughter, (no, it can’t be a boy) Cinderella. I don’t know if this boy will agree to that, or any of her plans, but it gave me a good laugh.
8. Family dinner at mom’s. Always an adventure there, but when you get to spend time with your mom and sister in law on Mother’s day and chat about random things, it’s even better.
9. Strawberry shortcake. Need I say more?
10. The kids reminded me about family prayer before they went to bed. Not only that, but they went to bed without complaint and I was able to finish the last bit of my book.
Although these are small and simple things, they are great things to me. One thing I did notice was that my girls were so sweet and it was nice to just have a peaceful day with no arguing, whining, fighting, screaming, hitting and so forth. It was a great day and I’m grateful to all who made it special for me. I am honored to be a Wife and Mother. It’s days like this that make it worth it all.
so my neighbor( thanks Caitlin) is such a doll and shared this really easy dinner recipe. Even Fernando commented that he liked it. And if he likes it, it must be good. So I just wanted to pass on the good stuff to you!
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine Ritz crackers, cheese and garlic salt.
2. Dip the chicken in the butter making sure to cover both sides in butter, then dip it into the crumb mixture making sure to cover both sides, press down gently so it is sure to adhere. Place breaded chicken on a foil lined baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle any remaining cracker mixture on top of the chicken and drizzle any reaming butter on top as well. Bake until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, 25-30 minutes.
*The original recipe suggests you serve with rice pilaf and green beans. It was good with those!
I think I may be in denial about how old you really are. The older you get, the older I get. I have to say, though, that the last four years have been quite an adventure.
I have to tell you, I knew from the beginning, when you were in my belly, what kind of a person you would be. When I would poke at you, you kicked back. When I read to you and then stopped, you would go crazy in my belly until I started to read to you again. You always knew what you wanted and how to get it. You don't mess around with nonsense. You see what you want and you go after it.
Every time I watch you with people, I notice how you are a leader. You show people what to do and how to do it your way. I know this will come in handy for you when you are older. I can see how your leadership will influence those around you because you lead with kindness. I see how you behave with you sister most times and how you treat your friends. I watched you once, running with your friends at preschool. When Claire tripped and fell, you stopped to help her up and give her a hug. All of your friends stopped running and watched you. All of the moms were impressed and wanted to know how I had taught you to love your sister and the truth is- I didn't. You are a naturally loving person. You love and you lead. And you always do it by example. You have taught me so much just by your loving and kind soul. I couldn't have asked for a better first child.
I want you to know that even when there is a lot of drama going on between us and we are butting heads all the time, I still love you. I love you even when you don't listen or follow directions. I am trying to listen to you because I know that you understand things as a child that sometimes and adult can't understand. Because you are my first child, I feel like I am learning with you and I hope that I don't fail you as a mother and make mistakes. I want you to stick with your education and expand your knowledge of the world and everything in it. I want the Gospel to be a huge part of your life and I hope that you will always stick with your values and morals and be an example to everyone with them.
I promise that I will do my best to be the best mom you could ask for, even if it means that I have to tell you no to keep you safe, or if I tell you to do something that I want you to finish, or even if it means not going out with that yucky guy. Remember, I am doing it all out of love.
Azure wanted a Princess and the Frog theme for her birthday. I was excited to add in a few Mardi Gras decorations since that is the setting of the movie. I was a bit disappointed that it had rained the day before and the outside was wet so I had to move it inside. I decorated as best I could with streamers, beads, foil stars, lily pads and gold coins. Each girl got a tiny tiara to wear and the kids had a choice of decorating a mask or a sword. I also bought an inflatable alligator "Louis" just like the movie had. I think that was the one thing that the kids enjoyed the most. Despite being stuck indoors, Azure had a great time playing with her friends and celebrating her birthday.
How time flies. I can't believe you are already two years old. It really seems like yesterday that you were just born. I can still remember fresh in my memory how you smiled as you were placed on my chest, how I cried and covered you in kisses. You had quite a struggle those first few months, being fussy and colicky. You were always so demanding at times; always wanting to be held and bounced and rocked. I never thought I would make it through, but I did. I truly believe that it has brought us closer together and at a better understanding with each other. I can still see the demand in your personality as you try to grow and become more independent and the frustration that comes over you when you realize it's harder than you thought. I admire your perseverance through the struggles you have faced thus far and I hope you never lose that quality because it will take you far in life. I love you quirkiness, your silliness, your coy little smile. I love how you love to share with people, and learn, and try new things. I love that you love fruits and vegetables and I don't have to fight with you to brush your teeth. I love that you love your sister and are best friends. I love that you listen( most of the time) and that you follow directions to the best of your ability. I love that when I look into your eyes, I see Heaven; a window to your soul; Eternity. What a blessing you are in my life. My daughter, I am grateful for you and the joy you bring to my life every day. I am also grateful for the turmoil you bring because it teaches me patience, tolerance, and love. I can already see the fun you and your sister will have wreaking havoc on me when you are teenagers. I can't wait to see what kind of adventures we go on together. Claire, I want you to know that I love you. Even on the worst of days, when I can't just live one more minute with your whining, crying, screaming, demanding self, I still love you. I love who you are and what you will someday become. Please stay true to yourself. Don't listen to other people or let them make decisions for you. You know who you are and what is best for you. Sometimes the right choice may be the hardest choice, but in the end you will grow with the experience if you choose right. Follow your dreams and goals in life because I know, just from being with you for the last two years, that you will go far and succeed if you stay focused on what is important in life and fight for your right to have it. Know that I will try my best to help you along the way and that I am here for you and that I will do anything in my power to help you reach the stars. I will do it. For you a thousand times over, Mom
Claire's birthday was celebrated last Friday. Since she loves Mickey Mouse, we decided to do a Mickey Mouse picnic in the front yard. I like to make everything as easy as possible for myself, so I bought a lot of outdoor toys and got the kiddie pool from my moms for water play. I made mac and cheese, hot dogs, fruit, pretzels and juice for lunch. The kids were really happy with the choice of lunch and most all of the kids went straight to water play. The moms were able to visit.
Thanks to my mom who decorated the cake, it was a huge hit. The sand is made of graham cracker crumbs and the mickey and minnie figurines were given to me by my sister in law( Thanks Adriana!!) The bigger kids chose whether they wanted a brown or blue piece of cake. Claire enjoyed her gifts and everything ended right in time for nap! It was a great success for a friday morning!
On Saturday I went with Fernando's mom and sister to his cousins house. All the girls were meeting together and having lunch. It was a fun afternoon and I enjoyed visiting with them. Azure and Claire were able to play with their cousin Natalie which they enjoyed. They can't wait to see her again.
Yesterday, Azure had her first field trip. She didn't leave the school, but did get to go outside. It was safety week and they were learning about fire safety. One of the parents happened to work for the La Verne Fire Dept and so they came and talked to the class. The Captain saw their stop drop and roll hats and reviewed that.
One of the firefighters dressed up in his gear so the kids could see. Some of the kids cried and were scared. Azure was a little wide eyed, but she remained calm. Claire hid in her sisters lap, but she didn't cry. The firefighters assured them that it was a regular person and after demonstrating what each piece of gear did, the kids were more relaxed. Afterward, we took the kids out to see the truck. It was cold and windy outside and a lot of the kids were shivering. The Captain showed them how the ladder moved up and down on the truck and the how the hose was packed on the truck, all the gears, and then they let the kids walk through the cab of the truck. About half the kids refused and some started to cry again. But I was able to watch as Azure and even Claire volunteered to go through. I think Uncle Ben would be proud. I was really happy that the girls were able to be a part of the day. They learned new things and showed Azure's class how brave they were. And they didn't forget to mention that Uncle Ben's fire truck isn't red, it's yellow!
I started a blog for my photography. I finally decided to just take the plunge and make something of myself as much as I can. I'm not to worried about it because if people like what they see and are interested then they will make a point of using me. I put images that I've been taking on the blog for them to see my work. I've had people ask, but I've always uploaded my images to facebook and not everyone has a facebook account. I also ordered business cards for those who are really interested. I don't think I will be doing weddings any time soon, but I am feeling pretty comfortable with portraits and family pictures, which is what I originally wanted to do. The problem is that I've noticed that a lot of my local friends and peers have been taking up photography as well and it almost feels like a competition. This motivates me to practice and become better, but it does instill a little bit of fear that I will never be good enough. For now, I will keep on snapping pictures and learn from my mistakes.
Well so far the New Year has been productive. My brother Tama came home from his mission. It was so exciting to see him walking up the arrival ramp with my mom and dad. The three nieces had matching I love Uncle Tama shirts and it was an emotional moment for me to hug him. After he was released, we went to Islands for his first meal home. The cheddar fries were amazing. I know he loved them.
In February, I started a diet. It's been a long road, but I am determined to lose 20 lbs by summer. I started off by doing a 1200 calorie diet. I did lose three lbs in four days, but I was starving all the time. So I switched over to a high protein, low carb low sugar diet. This diet was great at first and I was really motivated to do it, but now I've begun to lose my drive. I've lost 7lbs in the last four weeks and I feel great. I have more energy and I feel lighter. I haven't really started exercising and that is my next goal to add to the diet. I think if I had been more strict with the diet I would be losing more. But I have cheated a little here and a little there and so the losing process is slow. But I'm 1/3 of the way done and hopefully I can get past my goal of 20 lbs and get all the way to 30. But I am hopeful that incorporating exercise will help a lot.
We have also been working on getting Azure into modeling and acting. We have met with a company that scouted us out at the LA county fair. They seem legitimate and we are excited to see what comes of this experience. Azure is also excited, though I don't think she understands what it really means. I hope it works out for a while. I really would like for her to be able to earn money for college.
Fernando and I had take the girls to the mall where we found some Christmas dresses on sale. So he let them pick out a dress for the upcoming holiday. Claire absolutely insisted on the green dress even though I tried to convince her to take a deep royal blue. Azure picked out a "Cinderella" dress. It was absolutely gorgeous. I loved it even more because the sale made it affordable. I took an afternoon and set up the equipment to take some pictures of them in their dresses. They loved to pose for the camera and spin and dance with each other. Allie came over later and we had fun getting all three of them to cooperate. It was no easy task, but we were happy that they looked so so cute!
I know it's past Christmas, but I wanted to share. I took these pictures on Christmas Eve. The girls were sitting outside looking for Santa's sleigh in the sky. They were so excited for him to come. The sun was nearly set and I went to grab the camera to get a couple pictures of them. Sometimes, when I have a hard day or I find it hard to go on with my life, I look at these pictures and remember my two little girls that believed in someone that night. I think about how their eyes twinkled and they laughed and were so excited. And in those few minutes on the front porch of our house, all was peaceful. Peace and love are the greatest of all gifts. And they were mine that night. I believe in Santa Claus.
