Category Archives: Children

Toy hangover

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  Christmas has come and gone and now we’re dealing with a massive toy hangover.  My daughters got so many presents toys that they’re walking around the house now dazed and confused.  It’s so overwhelming, even for me.  They’re jumping from one toy to the other while I’m running after them to clean up after each toy they dumped on the carpet before they move on to the next.  It’s crazy over here and I’m not even innocent to the crime of toy overload.  I’m guilty as heck.  I wanted to firmly stay at a two present limit per child, but I went completely over that limit.  I went totally mad, with happiness of course, when I saw this at www.walmart.com:

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Set of 5 plush dolls of Mario and company

My oldest daughter just got introduced to Mario, so when I saw this I knew she would love these little plush guys and boy did she ever.  I almost bought them individually until I spotted the set, which saved me a lot of money.  I simply couldn’t resist myself and when I told my husband, he certainly didn’t put a stop to my craziness.  In fact, he said, “I’m not going to deny them anything,” so we’re both guilty.

I’m seeking a new plan and some major will power for next year.  Also, I need to include books in their wish list, which I did this year, but nobody gifted.  I’m going to have to emphasize this to family members that books are great gifts as well.  Yes, most kids don’t want to unwrap clothes and other stuff that’s not toys, but we have to try to change that.  I’m trying to teach my girls to appreciate any gift that’s given and not to compare how many each one gets or if one is better than the other.  It really bothers me when I see kids not being appreciative or whining that they want more gifts.  I also understand that I do create this sort of attitude by supplying all of these gifts so I’m definitely going to scale back for next year.

So no more crazy, toy madness.  I’m going to take some inventory and try to place my children in an environment that’s not over stimulating, even though I created it.  Ouch, that reality does hurt me.  My solution for now is going to be to put away some old toys while they’re playing with the new ones, give away toys they’ve out grown, for example the baby puzzles with the pegs on them (I have a stack of those that need to be given to new babies) and read, read, read a lot of books.

Take good care all.

Until next time…

Merry Christmas Eve!

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well and having a great Christmas Eve.  My children placed a gingerbread cookie and a small cup of milk out for Santa.  They’re nicely tucked into bed and my husband and I are going to enjoy a DVD, the Avengers, before Santa comes with the Mercado gifts.

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Wishing you a great and safe night.

Take good care all.

Until next time…

Winter Assembly Show

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  Today was another first for my husband and me.  OUR DAUGHTER SANG IN HER FIRST SCHOOL SHOW!  Teachers, faculty members, and volunteer parents did a fantastic job in making sure that everyone, who came to see the show, signed in with their identification cards.  You could sense the anticipation and joy in the air.  Once the lights were dimmed, it was show time.  Two classes were brought into the auditorium, while the other classes waited out in the hallway.   A student from each class was chosen to announce their respected classes and the song they were going to sing.  As soon as the first class started singing, I immediately thought of the Sandy Hook tragedy and my eyes started welling up.  I took a deep breath and composed myself.  After the students finished singing, we clapped for them and they got escorted back out into the hallway as the next classes made their way in.  Olivia’s class was last and they were singing the songs, “Mamacita, Donde esta Santa Claus?” and “All I Want for Christmas”.  When her class finally came in, we waved like mad so she could see exactly where we were seated.  As they positioned all the kids into their places, my daughter’s teacher guided her to the front and I was so surprised to see that she was going to be one of the announcers.  I was so excited and nervous for my little girl, but she did a great job in announcing her class and the name of the song.   I was so proud of her.  We had a wonderful time hearing and seeing her perform.  All of the kids did a great job and I made sure to clap extra hard for each class because I believe it made them smile more to hear how much we were enjoying their performance.  We can’t wait for more moments like this and we’re definitely going to treasure it for the rest of our lives.

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My beautiful star, Olivia, before going to school this morning.

Take good care all.

Until next time…

Sadness

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R.I.P.

Charlotte Bacon, Feb. 22, 2006

Daniel Barden, Sept. 25, 2005

Rachel Davino, July 17, 1983

Olivia Engel, July 18, 2006

Josephine Gay, Dec. 11, 2005

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, April 4, 2006

Dylan Hockley, March 8, 2006

Dawn Hochsprung, June 28, 1965

Madeleine F. Hsu, July 10, 2006

Catherine V. Hubbard, June 8, 2006

Chase Kowalski, Oct. 31, 2005

Jesse Lewis, June 30, 2006

James Mattioli, March 22, 2006

Grace McDonnell, Nov. 4, 2005

Anne Marie Murphy, July 25, 1960

Emilie Parker, May 12, 2006

Jack Pinto, May 6, 2006

Noah Pozner, Nov. 20, 2006

Caroline Previdi, Sept. 7, 2006

Jessica Rekos, May 10, 2006

Avielle Richman, Oct. 17, 2006

Lauren Rousseau, June of 1982

Mary Sherlach, Feb. 11, 1956

Victoria Soto, Nov. 4, 1985

Benjamin Wheeler, Sept. 12, 2006

Allison N. Wyatt, July 3, 2006

http://newtown.patch.com/articles/police-release-the-names-of-20-children-six-adults-killed-in-newtown?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D246363

I have no words.  Just sadness in my heart and mind.  Can’t stop thinking about this.  Can’t stop reading every article, every last detail.  Makes no sense at all.  Rest in peace.

Please take good care.
Until next time…

Something is better than nothing

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  It’s a fact that exercising is great for your health, mind and body, but let’s be honest, some of us (I’m raising my hand right now, way up high), just don’t want to do it.  Why?  Well, for me it’s quite simple, I’m lazy.  There I said it.  It’s the plain truth, but I do try my best to look for ways to incorporate some type of exercise in my life.  For example, on my way home after dropping off my daughter at school, I either speed walk or do some light jogging.  People do look at me with a confused/weird look on their faces like they’re wondering, “why is she jogging?”  Um, hello people it’s called exercising.  You can do it whenever or wherever you want.

At home, I love to just drop on my floor, anywhere in the house, and do push-ups, military style.  It was my favorite at boot camp because whenever the drill sergeants made everyone drop to do push-ups, most females couldn’t do them or had bad form (butts in the air).  Not me.  I busted them out with great form, shocking most drill sergeants and loving every single second of it.  I also love doing jumping jacks and when my daughters see me, they start doing their versions, which is cute and we have a blast.

During the summer, I got more exercise in by walking to the playground with my daughters and running around with them.  Since it’s cold now we’re homebound, so in order to incorporate some type of activity at least for my oldest, I’ve started taking her scooter with me when I pick her up from school.

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Olivia kicks and glides her way home, while I speed walk after her with Sophia in the carriage.  By the time we’re at our front door she’s usually huffing and puffing, but with a smile on her face because she loves her scooter.  I love the fact that she’s getting some type of exercise almost every day.

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Her sister, Sophia, desperately wants to learn how to maneuver the scooter.  She has the concept down, but she’s too small.  🙂

I’m definitely going to work on my lazy attitude, but for now something is absolutely better than nothing.

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

A pin about motherhood and a lasting marriage

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  I came across a couple of pins on Pinterest that completely resonate with the way I think and feel about motherhood and marriage.  I wanted to share them with you and see how you feel.

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I have two little girls, ages five and two, and we have a night time routine implemented since they were babies and we do our very best never to break it, even on vacation.  They are so used to the routine that if we don’t keep up with it, they get very CRANKY!  Bath time starts at 8 PM and by 8:30 – 8:45, the girls are in their beds and mommy is very happy!  🙂

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I completely agree with this pin and have always thought this way.  Hence why I’m happily married to my high school sweetheart.  It takes two to build and keep a lasting relationship.

Back in August of this year, we celebrated 19 years together since the day he asked me to be his girlfriend.  In 1993, Angel came over to my house and presented me with a rose and we declared that day to be our dating anniversary.  My mother suggested I place the rose in a book so I can keep it forever.  Always listen to your mom, because I have that rose, from 19 years ago, framed on my wall today.  From the beginning of our relationship, we told each other what we expected from one another and we respected that.  Respect and acknowledgement of each other’s importance in the relationship are key to a lasting union.

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

Personalized Jigsaw Puzzles

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.

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Here’s the countdown at my house.

My cousin, Janice, sent this little Santa chalkboard to my oldest daughter when she was about 1 or 2 years old, but she wasn’t old enough to grasp the concept so I stored it away.  I found it the other day when we brought out all of our Christmas decorations.  I showed it to Olivia, who’s five now, and explained what it was.  She absolutely loved the chalkboard and the fact that it was going to show her how many days until Christmas.  Thanks cuz!

As for gift ideas for children I absolutely love jigsaw puzzles, especially personalized ones because they can teach your child how to spell their own name.  There are many places where you can get a personalized jigsaw puzzle, but I like the web site www.frecklebox.com.  They have many personalized items (I also love their story books) and I have given many gifts from this website.  Sign up to receive emails so you can get discounts on their merchandise, which is very helpful if you’re on a budget.  Here’s a couple of their puzzles with my daughter’s first and middle name, which I got a long time ago.  They have a glossy finish to them and currently my youngest daughter is having fun putting these together.  I will be getting one with her name soon for Christmas.

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Once my girls are done playing with these I’m going to tape the puzzle together and frame them.

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

We saw Santa…Yay!!

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  Yesterday, we did it.  We got dressed up and quickly made our way to the mall so we could take our annual family photo with Santa.  I say family because we have to sit down with the girls since they refuse to sit with Santa alone.  It’s our third time going to the same mall with the same Santa.  He’s kind and sweet, but my oldest is shy, while my youngest is not warming up to Santa yet.  Not even a tiny bit.  I don’t mind taking the picture, but sometimes I wonder if it’s cheesy.  I suppose it might be to some, but I really like going to see Santa with the girls.  I like dressing them in their Christmas dresses.  I might not get a smile from both girls, but I do get a sweet memory.  After taking the photo, I went to pick out the best shot and Santa gave the girls a choice of either a small plush kitten or unicorn as a gift.  My girls chose the unicorn and they thanked Santa.  It was cute watching them skip around the mall in their dresses while holding their little unicorns.  Before we left they hopped on a mini carousel.  With no meltdowns, I say the mission to get a picture with Santa was accomplished.  Whew!

     

Our picture with Santa will be posted on Christmas!

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

playing with grandma rose is always fun!

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Hello everybody!  I hope you guys are well.  I almost lost my mother to sepsis (blood infection) about a year and a half ago.  She survived and one day I hope to write about the whole ordeal and how brave and strong she was then and still is now.  Every single time my parents come over to visit, it’s wonderful because we’re lucky to have her still with us and my girls love their Grandma.  My mother’s name is Rosa, but the girls call her Grandma Rose.  Rose is the English translation of Rosa.  My oldest daughter’s middle name is Rose, after my mother, and my youngest daughter’s middle name is Luz, after my mother-in-law.  These ladies are strong women, but upon hearing that their grandchildren were going to be given their names, they turned into giggling school girls.  It was pretty funny and I was grateful to have made them both happy.  My girls have a unique relationship with each grandparent.  It’s great to see and I love photographing every single moment I can.

      

Grandma Rose and Sophia playing picnic and standing up and knocking down CARS dominos.

Stay alert, stay alive.

Until next time…

P.S.  We’re in the process of building the girls a playhouse.  We’re trying to house their play kitchen, table, books, and stuff animals into one area.  Grandma Rose is doing the curtains! 🙂