Memorial Day Weekend

A day at the ranch was more fun than I imagined. When there's family involved, I guess it always is. At first I wasn't sure if that's what I wanted to do on my Memorial Day Weekend, but on account that I was needed to help put up an electric fence I went. I can never say no when someone needs my help. Really, never! Ok, as much as I tried to get out of it now I'm so glad I did. While most of the country was at some beach somewhere soaking up the sunshine and sand, I was burning up helping put up an electric fence to keep Tuff, the bull, from getting out. As if that didn't sound like much fun, and it wasn't, the best part came after working hard. The relaxing in the beautiful summer breeze watching nature all around me that finally set in the realization of the amazing way life used to be.

A life so uncomplicated without distractions... Facebook, Blogger or Twiter. Life was nature and nature was life. I remember those days like they were yesterday. Running around, chasing one another until it got so dark we couldn't see anyone and had to go inside. That was my childhood. (Again, not too long ago) And now I'm so happy my girls get to play this way again and this weekend was another fun day to remember. Making beautiful memories is what I live for because at the end of the day, that's all we really have left

Honoring those who have made our freedom possible is best done by enjoying those freedoms to the best of our abilities. I never forget how blessed we are to live in this country of ours and on this Memorial Day and always, we remember. :) Hope you enjoyed your weekend in your own special way... Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Marina is getting a hold of this whole ranch thing. :)

Happy Birthday To Me!

My age and my weight are two things I'm not ashamed of. They are what they are and they are who I am. They are just a number but it's how you feel about yourself that matters and at this point in my life I feel amazing! As I turn one year older I like to think about all the things that I'm grateful for this year.

• My life - without it I wouldn't be here. Nuff said.
• My family - They are my foundation and reason for living. I've been blessed with a big family and love and respect every one of them. We are a very close and now that I'm growing my own members, my family is getting even bigger. You know what they say, the more the merrier! Three girls seems to be my limit but it's not the quantity but quality and I like to give them the very best of me. My own mother always did and I'm a girl of traditions. I didn't grown up with much but with a family like mine, I grew up with everything I could ever need. For this reason I treasure my family more than gold and don't understand how some people take theirs for granted. I want my girls to grow up having this same deep appreciation for family as I have because at the end of it all, it's family who will always be there for you. My new little addition to my family has been a surprise and a blessing this year to remind me again why I love family so much.
• My health - Not long ago I felt handicap. Barely able to walk and fearing I may never regain my back strength has been short of an eye opener to never take the small things of life for granted. My health has become so important to me that I am so grateful to be my energetic self again. Don't know what you got till it's gone definitely applies to me here. You may not notice it on a day to day basis but when it suddenly quits on you, it becomes your sole goal to get it back. I know I was pregnant but for 10 months my walking pains got worse and worse until I couldn't take it anymore. Feeling pain free again is something to definitely feel grateful about.

So you see, the things we sometimes take for grated are the things I am most grateful for on this day. They are the foundation of why and who I am at this very point in my life. My life may not be perfect but it's not who we are but how we feel and like I said, at this point in my life I feel amazing! :)

Thank you God for blessing me with such a fun day with my family, I could not have asked for more. I truly feel loved every day but today was far and beyond my expectations. I truly had a Happy Birthday and with my favorite lens as my birthday gift, I can't wait for maaany moooore! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

I can't complain, I woke up next to my three loves of my life this morning. These are precious moments I can never take for granted because as amazing as they are, they will not last forever. It seems like yesterday my 10 year old Sophia was born, I can only imagine the same happening with my two month old now. Time definitely flies and when it does, you have to enjoy it while you can.

This mother's day was so amazingly fulfilling. Being that I am a mom to three amazing little girls, I could not ask for more. I've always been a girl who doesn't ask for much but being blessed with my three daughters has been more than I ever imagined I would have in my lifetime. I am way more than grateful, I am honored to be their mom which to me means everything and right now my main priority in life.

I have put my life on hold for them or basically on over drive. Tackling a hundred things at once is not easy but I am getting the hang of it. Two months after my third baby girl is born, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I worried how I'm gonna do this with so much going on in my life but I guess I always find a way. When you love what you do, there's always a way. :)

My mother's day was super. Like every year I choose to go eat at Red Lobster and have a giant Sunset Passion Colatta which I have to share with everyone of course. I order it non-alcoholic so my girls can have some (or most of it) too. I ask for the shots (coconut rum) on the side which taste yummy with my lobster meal by the way.

Home made cards are my favorite thing to get and this year was no exception. I always ask for them because there's nothing more personal and special than something you made with your hands and my girls are experts at this. Camila woke up super early just to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and so I could finally open her card. Aww, These little moments mean the world to me! :)

Pancake Breakfast from Sophie was another one of my favorite surprises. I never say no when they offer because I know how amazing it feels to do something for the ones you love. I do it all the time for them and I know they enjoy having these special gestures toward me... at least twice a year - Mother's Day and my Birthday.

Today I also got a good laugh when I found out my dad ate most of the fruit from the Edible Arrangement I sent to my mom. (I'll make sure to send him one on his day I guess) What a blessing to have my mother on this very special day. She's the best mom a girl could ever have. I only wish to be half the mother and make half she sacrifices she made for us. She truly has all my admiration for there is nothing she wouldn't do for us. I can never say it enough, I love my mother with all my heart! She's the most amazing mother ever!!!

My day was an enormous blessing and I'm so happy about everything that happened to me. So my day ended in bed with my girls and baby boy watching the chick flick, The Vow. Not bad for a day that should be celebrated more than once but luckily for me it does... Next stop for pampering: MY BIRTHDAY! :)

The Two Month Old Milestone:

At 2 months old she is as cute as can be. Even though she can now smile and coo most of the time, she actually began doing this at one month old. She seems to me progressing socially a bit earlier than my other two girls. So far Sophia has the record for talking early at 10 months! She could barely sit on her own but she was already saying cat, agua, teta and of course mama. Most of these words are in Spanish but she was saying them and more none the less. To me her early speech was nothing unusual since she was my first baby but when my second daughter was a 18 months and barely saying a word or two I began to consider 10 months pretty early. Marina seems to be right around the heels of Sophia's milestone record. We'll see how she progresses but so far she seems to be very social and babbling at one month old is the cutest baby girl ever!

Marina has her first set of shots coming up this week and of course I'm not looking forward to her enduring this horrid ritual but it's a very important part of her healthy development. I will feel safer having her vaccinated and ready for travel this Summer. I remember traveling with a baby is not exactly a fun deal but now traveling with three kids will definitely be an adventure. Looking forward to it! :)

Sophia's 10th Birthday PARTY!

I am the proudest mother to a smart, sweet and beautiful 10 year old! I can't believe it's been this long and the first little baby to come into my life to change it forever has transformed into this amazing little princess! I can still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday... I close my eyes and the feeling of amazement is still there, the feeling of fear there and most of all the feeling of complete and utter fulfilment is most definitely there. I felt my life was now complete, nothing else could compare to the joy and love that came bundled up weighing in only 6lbs, 9oz. Something so small was the biggest and most amazing thing that had ever happened to me! My life took a meaning that is indescrivable in every sense of the world. I was stunned and could not believe my life would never be the same and it never has.

My daughter's birth ten years ago also became my re-birth. The term "your life will never be the same" was something I didn't fully understand until she was born. That day my life got a whole new meaning and new goal and a new sense of direction... I became WE. I no longer saw life wondering about what I wanted or needed but what we needed and my life became that much more important. I had a responsibility unlike anything I ever had before, someone's life is precious but a little piece of me was even more so. She depended on me and I ultimately became dependent on her.

I felt strong, powerful and above all loved. A love I had never experienced before. Unconditional love is the most amazing kind of love there is and I was getting loads of it every single day! I became stronger and stronger in my own sense of self the more and more she grew. She has since become my rock, my foundation and energy to continue my journey in life. She gave me a purpose that not even I could imagine. I will forever be grateful for everything she's given me... a mother's love has been the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me and has forever changed my life! :)

10 years later we are planning her birthday party that we hoped our family would be a part of. It was so amazing and fun, memorable in every way! We knew we would have fun but fun became an understatement... we had a blast! She chose her dress, her black heel shoes (which ended up fitting small) and her theme. She has grown up so much from having a Hello Kitty theme party when she was 2 years old. Now it was just... pink and black. Yes, it was her day so the party would be her way. It was beautiful and a day she will never forget!

I don't know how I managed it all in one week with a few kinks here and there... i.e.. could not book the Mariachi band on time (due to Cinco de Mayo they were all taken) and the helium tank I bought was actually empty! So yes, those two were minor set backs but nothing that became too noticeable. My family coming togther to celebrate my daughters's special day was so significant and essential in making her birth day one to remember.

We laughed, we danced, we ate fajitas, we drank margaritas, we hit the pinata and we jumped on the moonwalk! My sisters and brother were here, my mother and friends were here... it was such a memorable day that I've only had the pleasure of hosting two of these in my life so far but hoping for a repeat soon. I am so exhausted but it was so amazingly worth it! :)

... and yes, it was also Cinco De Mayo!

and yes, that sombrero does weigh a ton. :)

Fabio Leonardo Elvis

As if I needed another excuse to photograph a cute kitty cat, this little guy gives me plenty! He not only loves to pose like his mama but is so cute too!

Fabio Leonardo Elvis (or Leo for short) has grown into our family since the day he was born. We've never had a cat from birth, most were adopted or grown but we still loved them so much. My daughters have experienced his growth with so much love and wonder and since then he's been so spoiled and loved and cared for by many!

My girls have become so attached to him that my daughter cried herslf to sleep the night he went missing. The very next morning this little guy came out from underneath Sophia's bed! He had been sleeping there all night. :)

Here's to many more adorable Pics! :)