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!

194th Semiannual General Conference

 General Conference is my favorite weekend of the year. I get excited to just be with my family, under the blankets, listening to beautiful messages of love and hope.

I have always thought it is important to get my girls excited for General Conference as well, so I would always plan something fun for them. For years I made them Conference bags, but this year I wanted to try something different.

This year I set up a General Conference store where they could earn money throughout the two days of conference by being reverent, actively participating, taking notes, singing, etc. They could visit the store and spend their “money” right after each session. It was so fun and the kids loved the idea! I might do this again next year.

After the last session of General Conference we had our traditional Ice Cream Sunday.

Halloween Parade 2024

Today was Timpanogos Halloween Parade, and it was very weird (and sad) not to see Giovi there. After Bianca’s turn I would always wait for Giovi’s class to come out. It makes me even more sad when I think in a few year I won’t have Halloween Parades to attend to anymore. 

After the parade I checked Giovanna out from school so she could come to Timp and help with a class activity I volunteered for. Bianca was so happy to see her there! She is very luck to have a sister like Giovi who likes to be involved in her life.

I planned a craft for the kids- a witch’s broom made out of pretzels. It turned out really cute and the kids loved it. 

Crazy Hair

 For this year’s crazy hair I did an easy Ghost buns on Bianca’s hair. She looked so cute! She told me three other friends had the same hair and they had a lot of fun together as three little ghosts.

By the end of the day the ghosts were gone and she had only the buns left (well… quite). But who cares, right? It is crazy hair after all! 

Welcome back

 Dad is back from Italy and we are so so happy! 

Classic Skating- Layton

One more trip to Classic Fun with the Brito girls just because that’s what they’ve been loving to do lately.

 Cute girls!

In the meantime

While Ale is in Italy, us girls have been:

Playing games

Running errands

Eating out

Sleeping over at Mindy’s while mom works- Boo!

Lindon Temple

 Just a quick update about the Lindon Temple just because I drive by it everyday (I am bragging and I am not ashamed). Jokes aside, I feel so lucky!

In the temple we face the sunlight of truth. The light of the temple, that understanding, shines upon us as does the light of the sun. And the shadows of sin and ignorance and error, of disappointment and failure, fall behind us. Nowhere quite equals the temple.

-Body K. Packer