Lights

 I took these pictures on my way back from work. Look at how stunning these lights are! The Orem City does a great job decorating the City Hall/Public Library for Christmas. 

I LOVE lights (and candle lights). 

New Year's plans

Our plans for ringing 2025 this year:

Ale wants to lay low this year and spend the New Year's at home. But a whole new year is reason for celebration so while at work I texted Ale our New Year's party invitation.

I already have everything planned out. 

Excited for 2025!

 

Burgers!

 Who wants homemade burgers for dinner raise your hand. I love burgers but the patties have to be homemade- specially made with vovó Zete’s recipe. Yum!

Sometimes when the kids want something different from rice and beans or pasta I like making hamburgers. Everybody loves it! 

Surprise!!!

 Today I got home from work to find everyone sleeping and a beautiful surprise waiting for me. 

Ale and the girls had left chocolate, flowers, balloons, and Bath and Body Works lotions on the bed the night before. They have been celebrating me since the day my last grade was posted. They are as excited as me to close this chapter in our lives.

It was for sure a busy and stressful last two years. But we did it! And as I have mentioned before I could not have done it without  my beautiful family’s support. They’ve been champs navigating these waters with me.

I love them so much and I am so grateful for them in my life!!!

Finals- 5th and final semester

 I cannot believe two years have already passed I am graduating as a registered nurse!!! This last semester was HARD! Adding capstone hours to my schedule made life so much busier and exhausting.

I am grateful for wonderful people in my life who made it all possible: 

My husband for not only being a shoulder to cry on but also taking over the responsibilities with the house and our kids. I love you!

My children for being so patient and understanding when I couldn’t talk, play, cook, drive, or being 100% there when they needed. It hurt me more than you can imagine. 

Family and friends for cheering me up and not letting me give up with your words of encouragement.

My preceptor and capstone instructor for being so patient with me and willing to help me succeed. 

My work manager for being willing to make changes on my schedule so I could study, get things done, and still breathe. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 

Christmas dinner

 Tonight for the first time I was able to participate in one of our ward's activities. They are usually done on Wednesdays and, unfortunately, I work on Wednesdays so I am never there. But because of my school finals I am off this week and I could participate and see Bianca singing with the Primary kids.

It's been a couple of years since I felt "normal". It felt good to be there, talk, and just enjoy some time with family and with the church community. I can't wait to do this more often once I finish school... soon!

Gladiator II

In rare, rare occasions Ale and I go on a date. I feel like as the girls get older we will have more opportunities to go out just the two of us. 

Today we went to the movies to watch Gladiator II. It is such a good movie! I am still deciding if it is as good as the first one or better. After the movie we had lunch at Tsunami- my favorite place for sushi. It was a lovely morning!

14th doctor appointment

 I can't believe I am taking Giovanna for her 14th annual check up! She is growing up so fast...

She is growing beautifully and I am proud of her efforts at school, at home, and as a person in this world. There are a few things we will have to check further beginning of next year, but nothing to be too concerned about.

Christmas Concert

 Last year Bianca asked to participate in her school's choir. I promised her I would enroll her this year. For the past several weeks, she has been staying late at school to practice for the much anticipated Christmas concert. 

Tonight she sang for us along with other students from several different grades. It was so cute! I love kids and I love elementary school with all its fun parties and presentations. It is such a fun time for children and for us as parents. 

I made sure to call in sick at work so I could be there to watch her. My family will ALWAYS come first!

The best Christmas Pageant ever

 I’ve been wanting to watch The best Christmas Pageant ever since they announced it a while back. Who knows me also knows I love Christmas and a good Christmas movie. I will say the rest of the family was not as excited as me to watch it but agreed on going to the movies with me anyways.

Bianca was restless and found the movie very boring while Ale probably slept through most of it. Giovanna really enjoyed it and even laughed at some funny scenes. She thought it was a cute movie and so did I.

I can’t wait to watch it again on the TV in December. 

Halloween 2024

 One more Trick-or-treating with the Matutes for the books. I was supposed to work Halloween this year but I was able to swap my shift so I could trick-or-treat with the girls, specially because I knew Ale would be working late and probably not able to take them before the kids had already left.

I confess this year costumes were all last minute arrangements. This last semester of school has been stressful, and I didn’t have the time or energy required to pick Halloween costumes. So off we went with a Dia de Los Muertos mask from Giovi’s 10th birthday and Bianca’s costume from two years ago. 

The girls didn’t really mind. They got tons of candies and played with their friends so they were happy. We also had delicious food after the candy marathon which made them even happier. It was a cold night, so nice and hot taco soup sounded perfect!

Giovi is 4TEEN

I can't believe Giovi is FOURTEEN! Just yesterday she was my baby. But I am so proud how beautifully she's been blooming. She is kind, loving, and a good friend. I am so proud of the young adult she is becoming!

Since Giovanna turned ten she hasn’t been a fan of big parties anymore, so every year we play by ear. She usually gets excited after seeing me planning Bianca's parties. We usually go out for dinner or lunch at a restaurant of her choice. She always picks either Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory.

Last Friday we had lunch at Cheesecake Factory. She had her favorite Louisiana pasta and opened some gifts. I also told her she could have her friends over for a movie and popcorn, or just to hang out. She liked the idea so we planned a movie night with friends on Saturday.

I decorated the clubhouse with all my Halloween decoration and I prepared a “concession stand” with popcorn, pizza, and chocolate bars. Mindy surprised Giovi with a Swig station. The kids had SO MUCH fun! 

The movie night turned out to be a little bigger than what we wanted, but Giovanna was happy to be around people who love her. The kids watched Hunted Mansion and we sang happy birthday and opened gifts.

Today, her actual birthday, I prepared a special dinner and the Britos came to sing happy birthday (again) and give Giovi a hug.

Happy birthday beautiful girl. We love celebrating you. I hope you enjoyed your day!