Parent Teacher Conference

Today Ale and I went to see Giovanna's teachers, Mr. Frederickson and Sr. Grimmes. Last parent teacher conference we heard Giovanna was doing great in Spanish and math, but needed extra help on reading and sounding words in English. So we made a deal- no more games on iPad or shows on Netflix until she gets better on reading.

Unfortunately, she still needs a lot of improvement, so we will keep our deal: no iPad, no Netflix, and lots of reading. I talked to her teachers and asked them if maybe the second language (third for Giovanna) could be compromising her learning. They said next placement test Giovanna takes will be given in both languages Spanish and English to see if her difficulty is due to confusion of the languages or just a solo difficulty in reading.

A few days ago I got Giovanna's school pictures. They turned out so cute! I can't believe how big she is compared to last year's picture!!!

Giovanna is loving, sweet, and delicate. She is gracious and calm. And everyday she teaches me so much about love in every way. She is truly a special daughter of God, and I am grateful for being her mama.

Dentist appointment

Today the girls had dentist appointment. Bianca loves going there just to see the chew chew train. Their office is vintage train themed, and they have a train that runs around the ceiling. So while the kids are laying on the chair getting their teeth cleaned they can watch the train chugging along.  It’s really cool! Plus at the end of each appointment the girls always get a prize and balloons. It can’t get more fun then that!

Bianca got x-rays done, and Dr. Segura checked Giovanna’s teeth. He showed us two teeth on the bottom that have already popped out even before her baby teeth have fallen- just like mine when I was her age. But the dentist said it’s normal and Giovanna just needs to wiggle those baby teeth so the permanent ones can have space.

Then I got the girls Mc Donald’s. I remember when me and my sister were little my mom would take us to eat Mc Donald's after doctor appointments. It was the best part of the day! So I guess it does not hurt taking the girls there sometimes.

Keeping the Sabbath holy

Yesterday we had stake conference. On stake conferences brethren from different wards get together to hear from church leaders and strengthen their faith. It is a beautiful time filled with beautiful messages and beautiful music.

Unfortunately, we missed the first hour of the conference, but we got there just in time to hear from President Smith, the stake president. His message was about keeping the Sabbath day holy. He addressed  the importance to make covenants with the Lord daily- covenant to serve better, to read the scriptures, to be better parents, and so forth. He also encouraged us to sanctify the Sabbath day by seeking the Spirit during sacrament meeting and classes as well as throughout the day.

His message made me think about how we’ve been keeping the Sabbath day holy and in which ways we can improve. We discussed about it as a family during lunch and decided to avoid  turning on the TV on Sundays- which is a big deal since Ale is a huge sports' fan. But we know it is the right thing to do and we know we will be abundantly blessed as President Smith and other church leaders have promised. 

Lunch for daddy

Every day around noon Bianca and I drive to Ale's work to bring him lunch. Every time I tell her we will be taking lunch to daddy she proudly walks out of the front door holding a bag with his food, silverware, and napkins. When we get there we park the car, text him, and he comes to greet us in the parking lot.

  Bianca giggles with excitement and gives daddy a big hug. Then she handles him his lunch. Sometimes she wants to eat it- specially when we take him Mc Donald's. Then after 2 minutes, she waves bye-bye and blows kisses like a big girl she is.

I love these two with all my heart!

Giovanna loses her first tooth

Today Giovanna's first tooth finally fell out!

Around 1pm the school's office called me to inform Giovanna's mouth was bleeding and they didn't quite know why and how it had happened. So I rapidly headed to the school to find out her tooth that had been loose for a while was just hanging from her gum.

Apparently, she bit a piece of pizza and didn't realize the tooth was half way out. She got scared with the bleeding and didn't let anyone touch it.

When I got there I asked her if I could help her wiggling it out (remember my post about that?). She said yes and I did it, right on the middle of the hallway. In no time all her classmates showed up and started cheering around her all curious to see her baby tooth. She was really brave! More than me when I was her age.

At 1:00am she woke up to find a $10 bill under her pillow.

Tooth Fairy had come. 

Night at the Museums

Last Friday night Ale and I took the girls to the BYU Night at the Museums where we can visit all five museums- Monte L. Bean Life Science, Museum of Art, Museum of Peoples and Cultures, Education in Zion, and Museum of Paleontology- in one night. 

It is a free event for the whole family. At each museum they offer different activities, challenges, and refreshments for all ages. They also offer free shuttles to take us between museums.

It was a cold night with lots of rain and snow. But it was really fun! The kids learned about how the ancient people used bones to create games and tools, and how current people use materials to recreate ancient tools. We also learned about rocks, seeds, and dinosaurs! 

Giovanna loved the refreshments at the end of each tour, and Bianca talked to everybody in the shuttles about "scary dinosaurs".

FamilySearch Center

Tonight we visited the new FamilySearch Center in Lehi, UT. It is a huge building close to Thanksgiving Point. We had a great time.

The center offers research assistance on how to start on familysearch.org, how to find ancestors, and everything you need to engage in family history. They also built a Discovery area with large interactive screens where we can login into our family search account and discover many fun things about ourselves, our family, and our ancestors.

We found out the meaning of our names and interesting facts that occurred during the year we were born, we discovered where our ancestors came from by exploring photos, stories, and immigration maps. Plus everything we do there are sent directly to our e-mail.

We can also discover how we are related to church leaders, political leaders, inventors, and celebrities. Ale found out he is related to Elder Tom Perry! In the meantime I took pictures of myself in different cultural clothing around the world.

Something really cool they have it's a group or individual recording studios where you can record memories of yourself or your family. We answer to some question while everything is recorded and sent to your email. We tried to make one but we stopped when Bianca started a tantrum. We are definitely going back for that!

We finished our tour capturing pictures of our family in Brazil, Italy, and Utah.

-Plan your visit-

If you already have a FamilySearch account, be sure to remember your username and password when you visit the center. If you do not have an account, you can set up one here. It would be good to have a least one connection to a deceased family member. Assistance is available at the center to help you set up an account and to build your family tree.

Have fun!

Loose baby tooth

Giovanna's front tooth has been loose for a few weeks now and she can't wait for it to fall. She keeps wiggling it and talking about it every day. Actually, she's been talking about it since the teeth of her friends from school started to fall out. She would say: "Elsie's tooth fell out. When mine is going to fall out too?", and every few days she would talk about a different friend who had lost a tooth.

Honestly, I don't know how it is going to fall out by itself, because mine NEVER did. The dentist always had to pull it out and I was frighten to let him touch it. Because of that by age 12 my teeth were completely crooked, and I had to wear braces for long eight years. Even now going to the dentist is not my favorite thing.

I just hope I don't have to pull any of Giovanna's teeth. I don't think I could do it.

Snuggling

Last night Giovanna climbed into our bed, and short after Ale had left for work Bianca showed up with her pillow and blanket, then before I knew it everybody was on my bed. I can't complain though. I love snuggling with my girls (and also staying extra minutes in bed).  Plus, I know I won’t have them in my bed forever and I’ll sure miss it, so I get to enjoy it while I can.

Have a good weekend!

Faces

Happy face, sad face, mad face, silly face... and I absolutely love them all! I am ALWAYS taking pictures of her because she is just too cute!!! And I can't help myself.

She is also loving, smart, funny, energetic, outgoing, independent, persistent, friendly, and beautiful.

Love you baby girl!

Prophets of God

I became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1998. The President of the church at that time was Gordon B. Hinckley. He is the prophet who spoke directly to my heart and who guided me through my first years of church. I will never forget his words one year after I was baptized:

"With the ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the good word of God. It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things". (Every Convert is Precious, February 1999)

I also remember my excitement when it was announced he would be going to Brazil to rededicate the Sao Paulo Temple. In no time members of the church all over the country gathered in a beautiful celebration to welcome our dear prophet.

The dancers were divided into four groups- green, yellow, blue, and red. I was part of the green group. This event happened in 2002 and I still have a vivid memory of all the rehearsals- so many hours and energy was put into this event! On the presentation day it was pouring rain the WHOLE time, but it was wonderful. Definitely a day to remember! 

I also volunteered at the Sao Paulo Temple Open House. I don't think I have any pictures, but it was my very first experience in the temple and I will always remember it and forever cherish it in my heart.

Six years later President Hinckley passed away. The news hit me hard. So hard I needed some time to embrace President Thomas S. Monson as the new prophet. But as I listened and learned from President Monson I fell in love with his big heart, his compassion, his example, his service, his humbleness, his testimony, and his humor. He is the prophet who taught me how crucial it is to read AND obtain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He said:

"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven's help in our lives".

My mom and I were at the Conference Center in 2015 when President Monson lost this strength on the last half of his message and had to be assisted. We were just a few rows from the pulpit. It was so sad, and we were all really concerned.

Sadly, President Monson passed away. As we keep his words alive in our hearts and strive to live his teachings, we welcome a new prophet of God- Russell M. Nelson, who I already love deeply.

In 2011, President Nelson was invited to address Ale and about four hundred other students from LDS Business College at their commencement ceremony. President Nelson attended LDSBC in 1941.

Towards the end of his remarks, he gave an apostolic blessing upon the graduates:

"I bless you with the desire to be devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. I bless you with a desire to feast upon His words and apply His teaching in your lives. I bless you with health and strength that will allow you to fulfill the measure of your creation. I bless you with ability to achieve all of your goals - great, greater, and greatest".

I am grateful for these men of God and for their guidance, and for the humble experience of learning from them, and being in their presence.

President Russell M. Nelson

Today I woke up early to drop off Giovanna at school and do some errands. On my way to the grocery store I received a text message from Ale reminding me about the First Presidency Press Conference to officially introduce the new prophet of the church after President Monson's passing.

At the parking lot I was able to listen to the first words of our new prophet President Russell M. Nelson. I love him. I have always loved him. And I sustain him and his counselors President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring with all my heart. 

I got back home just in time to hear Presid. Oaks and Presid. Eyring testimonies.

Martin Luther King Jr.

As soon as Giovanna got in the car last Friday after school she said: "Mom, today I learned about the nicest person who helped everybody in the world". She is so cute! She was talking about Martin Luther King Jr. She went on explaining how he helped the black kids to go to the same school as the white ones. She called him a hero.

We explained to her that black and white people weren't allowed to go to the same schools, eat in the same restaurants, use the same public restrooms, etc., and because of people like Martin Luther King Jr. things are now different. 

"I say to you today, my friends, so even thought we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal".

The majority of children at Giovanna's school is Hispanic. It is important for her to understand what discrimination is and learn that everyone is different but equal.

Monte L. Bean Museum

Yesterday I dropped off Giovanna at school and took Bianca to Monte L. Bean Museum. I know I have taken my girls there several times before, but this time Bianca went with a friend. With friends trips to the museum are much more fun. They have a new exhibit going on about ancient snakes.

It was a fun day as we explored the museum, had lunch, and us moms chatted while the kids played together. I love little kids- they are a constant reminder that we don't need much to be happy.

Have a good weekend!

LDS Primary

Children at our church have their own Sunday school class that we call Primary. The kids in Primary- ages 18 months through 12 years old learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how to live it. The classes are divided by ages. This year Giovanna is in CTR 7 (Choose The Right for seven-year old), and Bianca is in Nursery (for babies 18 months through 3 years old).

Giovanna and all the other kids in Primary have the opportunity to give talks, share scriptures, and say prayers on Sabbath day. Giovanna gave two talks last year. In one of them she talked about how to be a missionary. 

Have I already mentioned we go to the Spanish ward? :)

Bianca also has opportunities to say prayers. She knows how to fold her arms, close her eyes, and say "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen" by herself.

She also loves the snacks in the nursery. But every Sunday I have to stay with her, otherwise she won't stay at all.

I am grateful for the gospel in our lives and for the opportunity my girls have to learn about their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They are and always will be the center of our lives and in everything we do.