Thanksgiving!

I'm so thankful for many things! My parents are amazing! They let us stay with then between teams, Mom my is always helping me with the kids when Vic is away. My Dad will do anything for any one. I'm thankful that I get to stay home and take care of my kids. I'm thankful for the Church and the freedom to choose which one to attend. I'm thankful for my family and that we can get together and enjoy ourselves. Most of all I'm that I found such a wonderful husband who works his butt off to take care of us and makes sure we have everything we need and/or want. and sometimes has to sacrifice being alone without us. I know how hard it is for him to be away from the boys. I'm thankful for my little boys with their so sweet and unique personalities. I can not put into words how much I love them. I am so blessed to have them!

This year we had Thanksgiving at my Grandpa's house. My Mom's sister and brother were also there. Of course we had the usual...
Turkey, stuffing, corn, Dixie salad (modified to our liking), rolls, salad and more. Joined by much talking and laughter.

Before Dinner My sister got the candy for the little kids to make some turkeys. The kids loved it and they turned out really cute! I gave my sister's baby some crackers a little early and he made a HUGE mess. And of course Jiovan could not complete the night without injury. The neighbors have this little swing made of rope and a 5 gal bucket lid. It came back and hit him in the eye. The pic is when it first happened and it's getting darker.

It's not very often that we can get together as a whole family (as usual, minus victor). But we had to get a pic of just us siblings and Just us girls. It was fun to be together and I enjoyed seeing everyone again before I go...who knows when:)

* a side not I forgot to include. Crystal had Thanksgiving down the street at her in-laws house and couldn't make it until dinner was over but as we all hung around and were visiting I saw Crystal pull up through the window. I said "Crystal's here." and my Uncle Greg says, "Hurry! Everyone hide and turn out the lights!" So EVERYONE ran downstairs shut off the lights to hide. (even thoes laying down to let the food settle, AND the "old" people) When we get down there I'm like "did anyone get Corbin?" nope nobody did. S no one was upstairs and the lights were off. Just Corbin wandering around. Crystal had no idea where everone went. and then we sent Jiovan upstairs. then turned on the light so she would come down. Then when she got to the door we all screemed and scared her. It was funny!

HUBBY TAG...

1. Where did you meet? At guy's birthday party in Provo. (we were going to hang out with "the hot Mexicans"... note: NONE were from Mexico)

(this is in November 2005..the month after we started dating)

2. How long did you date? we dated for...7 months

3. How long have you you been married? 3 years and 6months! ( so much has happened in so little time...seems like FOREVER, a good forever!)

4. Favorite Feature? His height...possibly tied with his hiney.

5. What is your favorite quality of his? He puts up with me and all my madness... What a champ! (he is always smiling! I get people ask me ALL the time if he ever gets upset. very rare!)

6. Does he have a nickname for you? "Mami" or other normal pet names... He never calls me by name. I like that.

7. What is his favorite color? I would say Blue...Red....or Black? It's been a long time since I (remember) asking.

8. What is his favorite food? Here: Funeral Potatoes, and chicken chulapas Republica Dominicana: I think everything Mona (his mom) makes.... PLANTAINS AND CHEESE!

9. What is his favorite sport? Volleyball I suppose. He like Basketball too.

10. When and Where was your first kiss? Out side my door (Alta Apartments in Provo) ....I suppose in September sometime.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Go to movies...we see LOTS of movies!

12. Do you have any children? YES! the joys of our life! Jiovan 2 1/2 Corbin 1 year 4 months.

13. Does he have a hidden talent? He is a fantastic dancer... especially compared to me:)

14. How old is he? 29!!!

15. Who said, "I love you first?" He did... I think. It was mutual.

16. What is his favorite type of music? Latin music and hip hop / R & B.

17. What do you admire most about him? This is a hard one... I love everything about him! I love how he stays calm in the most stressful times. He always puts things into perspective for me. He is a hard worker. An amazing companion and even more amazing Dad. He helps a TON with the boys (even though I'm always nagging at him to do more) He has amazing patience! I love life with him!

18. Do you think he will read this? Sure...maybe not read but I know he looks at the blog.

I tag (changing in to wifey tag) MR Orrin Lemon and MR Ben Hulet and.....Its up to you Karlee and Seph tell them I say they HAVE to!

Traveling! (longest post ever..)

This weekend we took a quick trip to SLC for my Grandma's 80th B-day party put on by my Aunt Becky and Uncle Kelly. It was the first time in....well forever that my siblings and I have been in the same place at the same time. (Minus Michelle's husband Scott and of course Victor who is in Italy). It was also My sister Crystal's birthday! LOVE YOU CRYSTAL!!!!! we celebrated by having some yummy cake before going up to Grandma's house.

This is a rocking chair given to my Grandma's Mother for her 4th birthday! I just had to put these pics on!

*don't mind the goober on Corbin's shirt. He seemed to get a hold of some one's drink, dump in down the front of his shirt, AND stain part of his shoes pink... oh well, oh and the chapped face from a: dry weather, still adjusting, and b: SLOBBER! something that happens when they get 4 teeth at the same time (was 8 but 4 molars came in). ANYWAYS...

While driving back home from our little vacay I was thinking how I am so thankful for portable DVD players and how my Mom and Dad would travel with all 4 kids and NO DVD player. Though kids are still hard to travel with I can't begin to imagine my life with-out them. They are so different yet I love them equally! They are the center of my world here on earth! I love them more then I could have ever imagined. I'm so thankful for them and they teach me so much! I will forever cherish the memories of the hard times and the laughter from the good! I JUST LOVE THEM! -nuff said!

GOOD BYE.....

HELLO.....

I also had to buy a new stroller :(. I love the one that I have. It has seen many games, shopping centers, and countries! Good-Bye to my dear Graco Duo glider LXI in Samba that I search for many months for before Corbin was born and hello to Combi Twin Sport Stroller! The old one was too big for our car in Italy so I had to downsize. I'm very sad about having to go with a side by side, worried about getting through doors, but at least I will no longer have to listen to Jiovan OR Corbin scream about he other one kicking them in the back. Also this one folds in half and then half again...amazing! Hopefully it will be good to me!

Jovi got his stitches out!

Jiovan got his stitches out on Sunday. . . He then got them replaces with some steri strips. Stitches looked better but we are working on having little scaring and keeping it closed. I also included some pictures I took that same day that I thought were cute and the one Corbin's eyes look SOO blue! And I love the one of Jiovan like this too!

We were past due for one of these!

Today I woke up and decided instead of showering and getting ready first thing in the morning I would clean up first. Well, I had just gotten Corbin out of the tub, laid him on the bed (didn't even get a diaper on yet) when I hear Jiovan hit the tub, a cry, then nothing.... I knew he was crying too hard to cry. So I waited for him to come to me when I saw a mouth full of blood. I picked him up to love him and noticed a cut on his chin. My mom had my car at a neighbors house so I called her to come home. He ended up with 4 stitches. He did so good! when the doctor was looking at it he held perfectly still while he spread it apart and pushed on it. Then when the doctor was giving him stitches he didn't even have to get strapped to the board like they normally do for small children!! He didn't cry either just whimpered a bit! After breaking a leg splitting his nose open falling down the stairs and getting a concussion and all the many other accidents this must have been easy. I just know there is more to come raising these two active boys!....

*oh and these pics are taken after we were home and he was in bed. I cleaned up his face, moved him around to get a good pic, took pictures, put oitment on and a band aid all without him waking up! I love how deep he sleeps. I can also change his clothes without him waking up!

SNOW!

On Sunday we got snow here in Pine Valley. . .We (Victor and I) HATE cold weather. When we were dating, living in Provo, we had to walk through this huge feild to get to eachother's apartments. As we would walk through it Vic would write stuff in the snow (with his shoes, he will not touch it) So this Sunday when the snow was falling and I was miserably cold by myself (because Vic is already in Italy) I decided to write my own message on the deck and take a pic for Vic so he could se what he's missing:) So there it is Papi... Snow! ...still sitting out there as I type! Though I must admit that it makes it feel Christmasy and I love the holidays!

Crema Italy

It is official...We are going to Crema Italy. Victor left on Friday to go to San Fransico to get his Italian visa then off to Italy. We will be joining him as soon as he gets everything ready. I'm excited to be able to go and see everything there! ....once again not so excited for the plane ride.
I will be posting plenty of pictures once I get there!

way late, I know!

Just before Halloween I took the boys up to see my sister and her two cute little kiddos. Jiovan and Corbin loved riding in Raegan's power wheel. And my sister's baby is the happiest little thing there ever was. I swear he hardly ever cried (only when being abused by Corbin.) Then for Halloween I borrowed a M & M and Whoopee Cushion costumes from my sister and we went trunk or treating at the church and then to a couple houses. Jovi didn't want to go at first then when he figured out what was going on he was totally into it. Raegan was Belle and Kyler was Squirt from Finding Nemo.

Tagged!

Steph tagged me... Go to the 4th folder and the 4th pic. Then explain....
This is Victor with his Madre when she came to visit in December of 2006. She spent Christmas with us and it was so fun! This was the first time she had seen Jiovan (8 months at the time). We were living in Provo and went up to the Salt Lake Temple to see the lights. So this is in front of the nativity scene there.