Friday off

Since Ale is off on Fridays we usually go swimming. He named our Fridays pool day. Sometimes he names some days of the week. Saturdays are dine out day, Tuesdays are soccer day, and Sunday of General Conference is Sunday off (because we don't get to go to church; we can watch to it at home).

So today we packed our swim towels and a few snacks and went to the pool on our pool day. Giovanna had fun at the duck slide as always. It's definitely her favorite! Dad and mom had a good time watching her jumping in the pool and trying some kicks in the water.

Everybody (mostly daddy) got home ready to take a good nap after a yummy lunch.

I Am a Child of God

I love music. When I was younger I never missed an opportunity to sing. I used to sing on choirs, talent shows, and even weddings. I sang at my sister wedding and at a couple of friends’s weddings too. Maybe I wasn't that good, but they would still let me sing, and make me feel good about it.

My best memories involve music. I remember our family road trips to the beach back in Brazil when we used to make up silly versions of songs. Even now my favorite thing to do is singing while Ale plays his guitar.

I haven't sung as much as I would like lately, but music is still a big part of my life. I listen to my favorite songs while cooking, cleaning, driving, and also to fall asleep. I sing in the shower, in the car, and with Giovanna. She loves music too.

This video was recorded last Sunday at our sacrament meeting. Giovanna is singing I am a child of God in Portuguese. She is too cute!

And a cuddle too

Today was a long, loooong day at work. But I'm finally home, and all I want and need is... bed.

And a cuddle too.

Weekend and a new recipe

A few months ago I was diagnosed with mild depression. I've started therapy, and I’ve been taking medication to balance my hormone level. Since then I've been feeling much better, although I still have not-so-great days sometimes.

This weekend I was feeling a little down. Saturday, I talked to my family in Brazil, then later that day Ale took us to Outback for dinner. That cheered me up a bit. 

On Sunday, I slept most of the day after church. Giovanna is having a hard time transitioning from nursery to sunbeam class. She threw a tantrum at church because she didn't want to stay at Sunbeam class at all.

I also tried a new recipe this weekend. It turned out really good!

 

Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy with Herbs and Lemon Marinated Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients:

500 grams spaghetti pasta (cooked al dente)

1 pound chicken breast fillets (sliced into 1 inch chunks)

For the chicken marinade:

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped (if using dried, use half of the amount)

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of ½ a lemon

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon coarse salt (not table salt)

½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (to sauté the marinated chicken)

Add all the marinade ingredients into the chicken and marinade for 20 minutes (if making this dish in pronto) or over night (if making this dish the next day… much better). Saute the marinated chicken in extra virgin olive oil until cooked (about 4-5 minutes) then set aside.

For the garlic gravy:

½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 large cloves garlic, finely minced

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 ½ cups chicken stock

1 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup parsley, chopped (to sprinkle/finish the pasta)

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 cups whole cherry tomatoes

Place sauté pan over medium heat and add butter and olive oil.  Saute garlic until fragrant and soft.  Add the flour and cook for a minute.  Add chicken stock and simmer gravy until thickened then add the chopped basil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add the sauteed chicken in the gravy then toss the cooked spaghetti into this sauce.  Add the cherry tomatoes and finish the dish with the chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese (serve extra on the side).

Makes 5-6 servings.

Piscina and games

Today we ran some errands in the morning, and in the afternoon Giovanna, Ale, and I went swimming. Giovanna's been wearing her swimsuit every day and saying she wants to go to piscina.

She was the happiest little girl! The pool was really relaxing, and I felt so grateful Ale has Fridays off so we can spend the day together!

We got home and put our little princess to sleep. She was exhausted! We ordered some food, played games, watched a fun movie, and enjoyed each other's company.

Tracy Aviary

Yesterday, I told Giovanna we would be going to see the birds. And guess what was the first thing she asked when she woke up this morning? Never make a promise to a child if you cannot keep it. So, I kept mine and I took her to Tracy Aviary in downtown Salt Lake.

Every Wednesday- November through March- the admission will cost only $1! If you are not a big fun of winter activities you still can enjoy a story time on the visitor center education space at 10:30am.

Today at the story time  we read a book about long-beak feathered friends. Then we met Lacey, a female heron. It was really fun! We saw her flying in the room and eating some fish. Giovanna was so excited!

 

Tracy Aviary

589 E 1300 S

@ Liberty Park

9am-5pm

Mondays at our home

Mondays at our home are really fun and special. It's Family Home Evening day, and I love it! It's the time we get together as a family, learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, play games, and eat delicious treats.

This Monday we learned about the atonement of our Savior. Giovanna helped mom with the message by showing the pictures and explaining each one of them, and Ale taught us something new about the scriptures. After the message we had music time - which is my favorite part!

We sang and daddy played his guitar. We also had a piece of a mouthwatering carrot cake Giovanna helped bake. What a fun family night!

Giovanna goes to the movies

Yesterday, we took Giovi to the movies for the very first time. We watched Frozen. She had a good time and behaved very well. Most of the seats were empty, so after one hour of movie we let Giovanna walk through the rows. The movie is really cute but too long (1hr 40min) for a three year old to seat still.

2014 - Here We Go!

Things have never been easy for Ale and I since we got here in Utah six years ago. Our reality has been school, work, bills, and a beautiful daughter to raise. And although, it might sound fairly normal for newlyweds, our circumstances as international students makes everything harder.

The works restrictions, the amount of school credits, and the limited understanding of how things work in a different country makes our load considerably heavier. BUT we’ve been immensely blessed with constantly help from heavens and its angels here on earth to keep us moving forward in this new busy life.

Sometimes when things get really tough and I feel discouraged, I try to focus on the good, on our family, on the blessings, and on the learning along the way. I remember that despite my trials, I have a loving husband who brings me chocolates and doughnuts to sweeten my day, and a loving three-year old who touches my face and says: "You are so pretty", and "I love you so much".

A good friend of mine once said: "we need to stop thinking about what we don't have, and start being grateful for what we have".

Well, I spent most of 2013 thinking about "how things would've been if", so this year my goal is to count my many blessings; see what God hath done. As hard as it can be, we choose to be happy or sad. We choose how things will affect us. We can't control what other people do to us, but we can control how we will respond to it.

My goal this year is to become MORE. A more understanding wife to Ale, a more patient mother to Giovi, a more caring daughter, sister, and aunt. I want to be a better child of God.

Sooo, 2014 here we go!

Happy 2014!

This year we rang in 2014 with the multiday festival EVE in downtown Salt Lake. Three days of fun, music and games.

Day 1-

We took Giovi to Discovery Gateway and to the Planetarium. (Did you know Planetarium is actually free? They just charge for the IMAX Theater!). 

At the Planetarium we watched a cute Christmas movie. Giovanna loved it!

Day 2- 

 We visited The Leo Museum, stopped for a doughnut at Dunkin Donuts, then at night we headed to the Palace Convention Center to find tons of fun things to do. 

Day 3-

We closed our New Year's festivities with fireworks at The Gateway and more fun at the Convention Palace Center.

Happy, Happy New Year!!!