Decorating, Dancing, & Parading the streets of Provo

O.k., so its been a little while since I last blogged. This week has been pretty good I have to say, better than most. For the first time since I've been married, I actually got to decorate my bedroom. It's also amazing because I got a great deal on a comforter set. For those of you who know me, I never get deals so I was excited to say the least. I painted my room the very next day and hung curtains. It's like my little oasis, I've been waiting for for a long time.

PAUSE...while writing this blog entry, I think the Lord tried to give me a lesson in patience and self sacrifice. My daughter comes in and tells me that she pooped her pants while she was outside. I really don't want to deal with this and I can feel my blood pressure rising. I march to the bathroom where she gets a cold shower and I'm yelling at her. It's just sick. After sending her to her room to dry off and put new underwear on, I bet it wasn't 10 seconds that she comes crying to me saying that she peed in the floor. You've got to be kidding me. Was this some kind of joke. So back to the bathroom we go for round two. Changing diapers is one thing, you usually don't have to touch it, but washing poop out of pants and soaking pee out of the carpet feels degrating. Motherhood strips you of your pride. Sorry, but I have to let the steam out and hopefully you guys will have some words of encouragement.

So back to my week. On Friday I got to do something I love to do. DANCE. I've been telling Miguel that we need to go out on dates. After all the general authorities tell us we should. So I planned a night out for us. I took us to a ballroom dance class for adults at Gabriela's dance studio. We got to do the tango...ooohhh. It was so much fun to go do something that I enjoy and am actually good at. I was surprised at how much I had forgot, but was so glad I got to remember how much I love to dance. It's also nice to dance with your husband. You can actually get close without feeling ackward, love ya Miguel. So I'm inviting all of you to come join us on Friday nights at the Dance Club. The lessons are for beginners so no need to worry. You'll have a blast!
On Saturday we took the girls with their cousins to march in the Provo Freedom Festival Children's Parade. We got them all decked out in their forth of July gear and went for it. Gabriela would march on the side of the street and wave at all the people there watching. She would practically get right in their face and wave until they waved back at her and then she proceeded to show them her fingermails. She was the only child doing this, it was so funny.

My Sweet Sophia! I think she gets more beautiful every day.

This is the sweetest little thing. Just look at those cheeks. She did really well at the parade!

Lots of Backyard Fun

On Friday, our brother in law Mike, his two girls, and our two nephews came over to help clean out our pond in the backyard. Everyone wanted to clean it, because they wanted to play in it. Miguel climbed the tree with a chainsaw in tow. He hung a rope and away we swang. Swinging over the pond is way more thrilling. Poor Sophia had to watch behind the little fence. She's naked because she found her own swimming hole earlier on and hoped in, clothes and all. We also made a balance beam to walk over. Miguel pulled out a raft and Gabriela's cousin Sam paddled them around like a gondalier (spelling?). I was actually brave enough to try the swing. Unfortunately Miguel didn't stop me coming back in and I ended up getting wet. Luckily I was able to keep holding on so only my feet got wet. If anyone wants to give it a try let us know.






Julianne turned 3 months on Friday. She's a cutie pie! She likes to suck on her hands and had started rolling onto her side.
Papi's always first.

Am I a bad mother for allowing this?
I got brave enough to try!

One more funny story...today I made lunch. Although that could be seen as funny, that's not the funny part. I made a dish that Miguel's mom makes. It's called Picadillo. Anyways, I told the girls that they had to eat their food or they couldn't go to the birthday party we were invited to. Gabriela took one look and then started whining and crying about not liking it. I told her that she likes it and that she had eaten it before. "Just try it" I kept saying. After about 15 minutes of her crying, tears and all, I got her to take a bite. With all of those tears, she whispers out,"It's kind of good." Good grief child. I couldn't help but laugh.

The day has finally arrived

The day has finally arrived. Gabriela went to her first dance class today. I've been waiting for this day since the day she was born. Lucky for me she is excited too. She's going to The Dance Club for a class called Fairytale Ballet. Last night we went to the dance store and picked out some clothes and some ballet slippers. She kept running all over the store telling me that everything was so beautiful. We got her this sassy little number, but I didn't know how much she would stick out in class. You can definately tell which one is mine. She was so excited about her clothes that she wore them home from the store and all night long. Her class starts out with them reading a storybook as shown. Then they get dressed up. Gabriela told me they dressed as Wendy from Peter Pan today. After that I'm not so sure what they did. Julianne started screaming so I had to leave and tend to her. A major stress, because she wouldn't stop no matter what I did. I caught the last 5 minutes probably and they were skipping and leaping. She really enjoyed herself and I was so surprised at how obedient she was. She does not act like your typical 3 year old. She's very mature. We look forward to many more days of dance.

We are raising circus performers!

Miguel created a trapeeze swing in the backyard since Sophia loves to hang from our treadmill. It's the new hit. All the kids love it. We conviently have a small hill that they launch from and go flying. Gabriela can now officially be Tarzan or a monkey. It's pretty fun to watch them. Miguel also is in the process of making a zipline. Can't wait to see that.This photo is kind of random. These are Gabriela's new ballet slippers that she is so excited about. I just think her little feet look darling. She's got great point too.

Those are some serious stomach muscles to lift your legs that far up. I'm jealous!

Icecream, Art, & a trip to the Dentist!

Gabriela had her first visit to the dentist today. She was really brave and kept her composure. I was really proud of her. These were her cool glasses she got to wear.The hygienist was speaking her language while brushing her teeth. He told her that he was making her teeth sparkle like princess teeth and that princes only like girls with white princess teeth.
She got her very own toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. When we came out she said "I'm so proud of myself. I didn't even cry!" Just look at those pearly whites.
We had Miguel's sister and her girls over for lunch the other day. The girls got icecream cones afterwards and you can tell they loved it, because it was all over their faces.
I've told most of you that Sophia yells all day because she still can't talk. She was mad at Miguel because he had some icecream left and she had already finished hers. He was sharing with her, but when he took a bite this is the discusted look she gave him. When she thinks unjustice is being done to her this is what she usually looks like.
I took the girls to the BYU Museum of Art for their family art days. The theme was Mideval Knights. They had castle building with blocks.
They got to watercolor some mideval pictures. Even Sophia got in on the action. Her mommy was so proud. Maybe oneday we can paint together.
They also had storytelling, dancing, face painting, and treats. It was fun for them. Can I just say that the worst part of going anywhere with 3 kids is the getting in and out of the car. By the time you are ready to leave, the kids are tired and ill. Trying to get everyone in the car and buckled plus throwing the stroller and all your stuff in the car is exhausting both emotionally and physically. You have to deal with it at least 4 times an outing. I'm sure, or I hope, at least some of you can relate.

Just some random happenings.

It's bedtime everyone. Gabriela discovered the computer the other day. I was actually surprised by her hand-eye coordination and her ability to follow instructions.
Yogurt anyone?
We signed up to do the summer reading program at the Provo library. We've commited to read 15 minutes a day. It usually ends up being before bedtime which explains all the nakedness.
We went to the Utah Lake Festival today. Gabriela got her face painted and Sophia won a goldfish by tossing a ping pong ball into a jar.

JUST TAKIN' IT EASY

After Julianne's baby blessing on Sunday, Papi took the girls to the new favorite spot, the hammock. Sophia just loves it.
Gabriela is the nonconformist. She thinks it's more fun to figure out how many other ways you can use the hammock.
We pulled out the Bumbo seat last night. She liked it for a little while.
This is her poker face!

Julianne's Baby Blessing

Julianne was blessed today in our ward. We want to say thank you to Miguel's family for making the sacrifice to come. We know many of you had to find substitutes for your classes. The day was beautiful and everything went great. Julianne is truly a blessing to our little family.
Look at that sweet smile!
Her Grandma GiGi made her this beautiful dress and sent it from Georgia. It even has her initial embroidered in it. You can see it if you look close. Thanks, Mom.
Here are the brethren that participated in her blessing. Miguel's brother Beto, his father, and our brother in law Mike. It's so nice to have so many priesthood holders in the family.
Me and my little Sophia. She got her first big girl haircut at the salon yesterday. I think she looks like a little angel, although her behavior might suggest otherwise, due to the lack of a nap all day.