Welcome 2026

Happy New Year!

I am looking right at my suitcases as I type this. After seventeen years since I moved to Utah I am finally flying back to Brazil to visit. I cannot believe it took me this long.

 New Year's Eve is my holiday to work so I worked until 10pm before coming to Salt Lake to enjoy some of the New Year's night with the Britos and drive to the airport the following morning.

I am so excited to start the year with sunshine, fresh veggies from the garden, and family members I haven’t seen in a long time.

Ready for 2026. It will be a great year! 

All things homemade

Today we had burger for dinner, and the girls know that for me homemade burger is the only way to go. I never buy frozen burgers. I rather make them myself using my mom's recipe. It tastes really good and everyone loves it. (Remember when I made them for 3rd of July?).

I also made pumpkin puree out of sister Murri's pumpkins. On Sunday she said I could grab them on her porch. I like using homemade pumpkin puree to make chocolate chips pumpkin cookies when I can. The girls helped me bake them and they were all gone before I could even take a picture. They were absolutely delicious!

Hair cut

 This has finally happened and after a couple of hours at the hair salon we look fresh and beautiful!

After the salon we had lunch, did some shopping, and had ice cream. 

Christmas party

 I love this picture of Bianca and I. I hope one day she will look at it and remember all the fun we had on her school class parties throughout the years. 

No matter how tired I am, overworked or sleep deprived I always find a way to volunteer at my girls school. This is something I don’t negotiate. 

This year for her class Christmas party I helped the kids craft a peppermint wreath. I should have taken pictures but I was busy helping the kids tying knots and using the hot glue gun. 

The kids had fun. I love their smiles and curiosity. And I love the warm hugs Bianca gives me every time she sees me entering her classroom. 

Zootopia 2

I wanted to wait for Ale to come back from Brazil so we could watch the new Zootopia movie together, but I was afraid by the time he was back home the movie would no longer be playing in theater. So this past Saturday the girls and I headed to the movies to watch it.

I texted Ale the picture I had taken of him and the girls in front of the Zootopia cardboard cutout from when we watched Wicked a bit ago. I told him he was there with us. lol

Zootopia 2 is a cute movie. As cute as the first one. We had a good time. I love going to the movies with the girls. Together we've watched to over twenty movies at the theaters.

After the movies we had lunch a Pizza Pie Cafe. I love their salad bar!

Lately

This past week I’ve been juggling work, kids, Christmas, and everything in between while Ale is gone to Brazil. It’s been definitely busy days. I’ve been trying to come home between patients to check on the girls, and thankfully I’ve been able to finish my patients and come back home to chart before the girls bedtime. 

Some Nights I can even watch a movie with them, which makes me happy. Time flies and soon enough I won’t have them around anymore as they will fly away from the nest to find new adventures and start building their own lives. 

Ready for Christmas

 We are finally ready for Christmas! The house is decorated, the gifts are bought, and groceries are done.

Today Mindy picked up the girls to watch Bellas’s Christmas play. Unfortunately, I was working and couldn’t make it, but after seeing my patients I was able to meet them for dinner at Texas Road House.

These kids are getting SO big! 

Glimpses from the weekend

On Friday we invited uncle Amauri to have dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. It was his first time there. We had a delicious meal and good conversation.

On Saturday we headed to Woods Cross for Brad’s birthday. Later that day we took Ale to the airport. He’s spending a couple of weeks with his family in Brazil as his dad will soon turn 80. 

Our hair dresser canceled the appointment we had scheduled for all the Bellini girls and I was very disappointed. Our hairs need a good, fresh cut ASAP. Look at how long my hair is!!!

After Brad’s birthday party and after taking Ale to the airport we headed to the Brito’s house for a sleepover. The girls had a lot of fun together. I am so happy their friendship is still going strong.

Before coming back home we stopped to have lunch at Olive Garden- our favorite. Ale texted us and he arrived in Brazil safe and sound.

Have a great week y’all! 

Indulging- Sukiya

 Because today I just want to indulge.

And here is my favorite- firecracker! Yum.

Have a great weekend.

State Fair- Bianca

Bianca worked so hard on her state report and state fair. She did everything by herself which is very typical for her. She is independent and creative, and I am so proud of her. 

Her state was Arizona and after writing a letter to them she got a package on the mail with a magazine, a map, and postcards of Arizona. She was super excited!

She did absolutely amazing explaining everything she had learned about her assigned state. She came up with a fun game and even made sure to have sweets for those who would stop at her station. I told her I could buy the Arizonan Prickly Pear Cactus Candy but she decided chocolate would be a better option. I do not blame her lol.

Good job baby girl! I love your little brain and your big ideas. You make us proud every day. 

Twinkle is back

On December first Bianca already started getting worried because Twinkle hadn’t come yet. A copule of days later she arrived with a letter explaining the delay. North Pile was caught into a blizzard and all departures were delayed. I am sure there were little girls and boys all around the world as anxious as Bianca for their dear elves arrival. 

Twinkle finally arrived with her elf sized suitcase and a beautiful Christmas outfit. She is so darling. We sure missed her and we are all very happy to see her again.

As always she will be watching behaviors and reporting naughtiness to Santa. The girls still need to write their letters to Santa and I’ve already told them if they do it last minute chances are the elves won’t have enough time to get them ready by Christmas eve.