Target Shooting in the Desert

Today we decided we wanted to do something we haven't done for a very long time: Target shooting. We are surrounded by beautiful desert and it shouldn't be hard to find a nice quiet, out of the way place to do this, right? Wrong! We didn't want to go to Usery Park, we just wanted to go to the desert and believe it or not we drove, and drove, and drove and we just kept getting signs saying: No Target Shooting Allowed. We also found lots of: State Trust Land, access allowed with a permit. Oh and yes we also found this one: U.S. Government Property, No Trespassing. I didn't want to go all the way to Maricopa and suggested to somewhere around the Superstitions Mountains for our family activity and we just kept getting this signs EVERYWHERE! We finally found this little place, don't ask me where because we were even lucky to find highway 60 after we were done, but anyway, we were so happy and Angie, Emma, Pedrito and I went exploring in the desert while Erik and Pedro got their targets ready, and guess what we found? THREE dead CoWs!!!! You'll see the picture at the end ( I had to put them at the end since Pedro still is so nauseated just by looking at them). I even told Erik we might be able to "make" him the leather jacket he wants so bad (ha,ha,ha,ha) but he didn't like the idea. We had a good time there enjoying the desert and we had a nice little lunch at the end of our adventure. THe END.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Twenty years ago when I first came to this country, I celebrated Thanksgiving Day for the first time in my life. This is an strictly American holiday. It has become one of my most favorite holidays of all ( Christmas is still number one) because of the profound meaning it has. I don't know of any other country that sets apart one day a year as a NATIONAL holiday to give thanks for all the blessings we have, as far as I know there is no other. I am an immigrant and I know there are SO many things I am thankful for, one of them is living in this wonderful country that has allowed me to do so many things I never thought of doing before because it just wasn't affordable. Traveling to Hawaii, not once but twice, buying a brand new car, buying a brand new house, visiting Disneyland and Universal Studios, vacationing in Yellowstone and Seattle, WA.... and then the most important event in my life, accepting the gospel and becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many, many blessings have come to my life just for this single decision I made when I was fifteen years old. I have an eternal family, four beautiful children that both enrich and challenge my life everyday, a husband who loves me and I love him no matter what, a mother, a sister and three nieces and a nephew who are always there for me when I need them, and REALLY good friends that have welcomed me and my family with open arms. Thanksgiving Day helps me count my blessings.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

Erik Turns Fourteen! / Erik cumple catorce anos!

It's hard to believe fourteen years ago, I was supposed to have a baby on October 30th. That baby boy decided he wasn't ready yet and waited 9 more days to make a grand entrance into this world... 9 days... It seemed like forever back then, but now 14 years have passed and I didn't even notice... It's been quite an experience having Erik as my first child. He has always been so sweet and kind; I should also mention patient since I have learned how to be a loving mom with him. I say loving because for those of you who know me very well, you know I never liked children, that motherly instinct that is supposed to be inside every little girl didn't wake up until I had my first baby. Then I realized how much I loved this little boy, I had never thought I could love somebody so much without asking for anything in return... Erik you have been such a blessing in my life and I actually am a better person because of you. Do you know why? Because I don't want to be a bad example to you so I strive to be better everyday. I love you with all my heart. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

Halloween 2009

I feel so grateful to be a mom and watch how my children learn something new everyday. It helps me see the world through the eyes of a child and know we shouldn't take things for granted. I like to see how Emma is becoming an older girl who loves to protect her brother and try new things she has seen mom do like:Show our love for each other by hugging and kissing everytime we have a chance, because life is too short and you never know what's going to happen the next day...

or becoming more self-sufficient by preparing her own snacks because mommy is busy and she is a big girl now who can take all the ingredients out and even if she doesn't do it perfectly, she has accomplished something she didn't know how to do yesterday...

or seeing your house as a "your very own " castle, playground, battlefield, spaceship, or whatever her imagination is up to on any particular day...

or cherish the friendships we have been able to acquire through the years and know they are, sometimes, when family is not close by, the support that helps us not feel sad or discouraged and make our lives richer and brighter...

or enjoy the pleasure of having something, anything, that is homemade and therefore was made with love as one of the main ingredients...

Yes, I am so lucky to be a mother and enjoy this journey with my husband and our children.... :D