pieces of our week

I would say it's more like pieces of our last two weeks...

I'm determined to have more pictures of Joe and I together, he's not much of a fan of getting his picture taken but I would like to look back at those pictures and embrace those moments we shared together. Here we were at the Crosby Stills Nash concert. It was a really good show and it was also pretty neat to see that 90% of the crowd were older people, you know, sort like the first generation of hippies? :) Great energy, great show and great company.

I made Joe this painting for our anniversary. Even though he probably is the easiest guy to get a present to, it's also the hardest one, does that make sense? See, he rather choose his own present, so a gift card is the perfect gift, BUT I don't always wanna get him that, so this time I risked it and made him something.  The name of the painting is Heartbeats and is pretty much finished in this picture. I had now idea what to make but little by little I began to apply the color and then I just let go and this is what it turned out. 

I was sort of self conscious about giving it to him because a couple of years ago - pre art classes - I made him a very ugly paining. It sort of looked like doo doo balls falling down the sky. It was really bad. So you can imagine how nervous I was to give it to him. But I'm actually happy in how it turned out. It has been the first painting I've made ever since I finished school and the feeling I had grabbing those brushes and smelling the paint was amazing. 

Starbucks treat, banana chocolate smoothie. 

They were checking out a Diving magazine and they thought Nemo was on the cover. They were fascinated. 

At the fish market. 

David says they are cheeseburgers and it aggravates Anthony like crazy. David on the other hand, laughs and giggles. This is how it went down.


D:" They are cheeseburgers"
A:" NO THEY ARE NOT! They are those little thingies from my dad's music tables" a.k.a turn tables.
D:" NOOO, they are cheeseburgers!
A:" MOMMMM! David says they are cheeseburgers but they are not! ! URG! "
D:" he he he" 
Me:" He is just pretending Anthony, it's ok"
A:" But..."
Me:" It's alright, here, stand there and we'll take a picture and then you can go play"
A:" okay..."

A:" Mom, can we hide under here?"
Me:" Sure "
D:" YAY! ! ! ! ! "

I got these beautiful Native American Indian handmade bracelets as anniversary gift. Aren't they pretty? I love them.

We finally did the tie-dye shirts. My first time ever trying it. More on that on another post.

On my way to dinner with some friends last week, at a stop light I caught these clouds, are they just beautiful? I have this crazy love for clouds, their different forms and colors just amazes me. Such beauty.

I've been trying to use our juicer more often. I always thought it was broken so I didn't even get it out but it turned out it wasn't. My first one was carrots, yellow cucumbers, spinach and watermelon. Yummy and refreshing.

 He woke up in the middle of his nap to go to the bathroom. After all business were taken care of, he went back to sleep in my arms. We love snuggles :)

Safety first amigos! 

Cuties! Check her out, she posed like that all by herself :) 

A:" Let me look in the mirror mom... yeah, I'm smooth and fancy" :)

I LOVE LOVE this picture! It melts me...

Sunday treat at TCBY. My fave, cheesecake and strawberry, the boys got chocolate and Joe got berry smoothie. I think...

 Best blanket ever! A friend of our grandparents sew this blanket for them. It's so soft and comfy.

 
Joe found a tiny frog outside, the boys loved holding it. I, wanted to take it home ha! 

And I finally was able to make the fishtail braid. You can see I don't have much hair. Now, working on the waterfall braid, and that one is a little more complicated.

Have a good Monday! 

Preserving memories

I feel like every time I write about me visiting my family in Atlanta, I begin with the same sentence, "The boys and I went to see my family in Atlanta for a couple of days" But how else should I write it? That is exactly what I did you know? The boys and I went to see my family in Atlanta for a couple of days. Ha! 

Anyway, as always it is really one of my favorite things to do, and I like it even more now that the boys like going and actually remember the visit. The last couple of years I was feeling bad because every time we went to see the family, the boys could not really connect my mom much (their grandma for goodness sake!), and they would be kinda cold to her. There is no coldness in  our family. There is lots of love and affection. But now, they love going to see her and they never want to leave. It just took time. 

We make the effort to see each other once a month and so far we are doing a good job. I also think that our commitment has a lot to do with the boys remembering and preserving the moments they spend with her. 

We are also trying to make the effort to take pictures together. Nothing like pictures and videos to have as memories of special or maybe just mundane moments. Nothing like recreating those moments in your head and trace back time. That's what it's all about, creating and preserving moments with your loved ones. The happier the better. 

Out in the country

One of our favorites places to go to is at Joe's grandparents' property. They live in a beautiful place. The lake view, I would say is my favorite. The kids now have a playground they love to go to, and we spend a lot of time there, specially when the weather is not so cold.

 And every once in a while I like to capture little details around the lake

Isn't beautiful? 

We love it. It is peaceful


What are some of your favorites places to go to?

Grandparents

I was always very close to my biological grandparents since early age. When I moved to the United States I tried to stay in touch with all of them by phone calls. I never thought they would so happy to hear my voice, and I, to hear theirs. I missed them terribly and felt bad for the occasions I postponed visiting them because I would rather being with my friends. How foolish... 

They all passed away while I was in the U.S. 

"They left, and I didn't get to say good bye", I thought while crying for their passing. Gosh, how much I wish I would have been able to say good bye, and tell them one last time how much I loved them, and how thankful I was for all their love towards me, and to my siblings, cousins and rest of the family.

Once, back in Colombia, I cried my heart out when I went to see them in the cemetery. With my other grandmother, I couldn't do it because I was pregnant with baby David; but I did cry - a lot- listening to everything about her last days. I wanted to hear it, even though my aunt didn't want to, she didn't want to upset me. I, on the other hand, had to hear it. At the end, I felt lighter. It was like a emotional cleaning, a huge knot had been untied.

Today, I am blessed with amazing grandparents. They are Joe's grandparents actually, but I feel like they are mine as they are his. 

I could not be more grateful for all the love and support, and acceptance they've had towards me. They received me in the family with open hearts, and that to me is the most special gift. 

I try to visit them at least once a week, if not, more. They boys and I love to hang out at their house. Joe, on the other hand, is lucky to be able to hang out with his grandpa every day. He is able to chat with him every morning, and also gets involved in his grandpa's "special missions". He always has a project going on. 

Anyway, I don't know why this post today. I think is maybe because we don't have all the time of the world, and I want to make the most of the time there is. I also want the boys to be able to enjoy and know their great- grandparents. How lucky they are, I didn't have great-grandparents...