Playing Catch Up

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...long overdue ;)
This blog has been too long neglected...I apologize!

We're just now kicking back and relaxing from the long and busy holidays! We had a wonderful time though...ate way too much, laughed a lot and just had a lovely time building memories. My siblings were here for two weeks and we really had a blast. The prince got sooo spoiled :) During the two weeks they were here, we shopped together, sang together, had a totally awesome photo shoot and really just enjoyed being together!

Here are my siblings and I ...

And we got family pictures...which are definitely going to get framed sometime soon :)

My siblings are back in the States now, and we're slowly returning to normal schedules... the hubby still has the rest of the week off work, so we're enjoying having him around :) The prince is off his sugar over-load...finally ;) His aunts and uncles spoiled him with candy...way too much candy! He was super hyper...so it's nice to have him back to "normal" again (grin)...

As to New Years resolutions, there are many...just don't know for how long I'll be able to keep 'em up ;) I hope to share some of them with you in the near future, so stay tuned!

Blessings,

This is the life

I am loving this business of being home more often, having my honey home in the evenings and just really getting to be a home-maker...I feel settled, finally...and right at home.

There really is no sweeter word than HOME!

It may be simple, yet it's home..and this week I have been busy making it cozier..
I "spring cleaned" the entire house, went through every item of clothing, every drawer, had a ton of stuff thrown out, given away...and it feels so awesome to have everything clean and organized!

I made my own version of coffee filters wreaths for our bedroom...

It was a quick craft and super cheap...and we're loving it ;)

I've also been enjoying making meals for my little family, now that we can sit down and eat dinner together every evening...loving this, I really am!!
I am looking forward to trying out new recipes on my two favorite people in the world (contented sigh)..

The hubs started on his new job position this week, it's been hectic and crazy busy for him as he tries to get a hang of the whole business of managing the company's finances, but it's just great that he gets to come home and relax after such a busy day! And...I am just so proud of him :) He's the best!

The prince is growing way too fast... he is talking a lot now, and surprises us with new words every day. It is so much fun to have a small conversation with him, and actually understand what he's saying. I just love being a mommy...

And.. my sibling arrive from the US to spend Christmas with us in just two day...so much to do before then, and we're just getting so excited! I haven't seen them for a year and a half...and I can hardly sleep..because I am sooooooo excited!

This is really the life!

Week in pictures

This is a crazy, crazy life...the days and weeks are just flying...I am having a hard time believing Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas will be here soon!

Our life just doesn't slow down either, hubby is as busy as ever finishing up school. He's got a ton of papers to turn in as he finishes in less than a month! I'm just so excited! It's going to be GREAT having him around more. The official graduation ceremony is on January 26th, so we still have a ton of stuff to do in order to be ready for it :)

I am so in the mood to decorate for Christmas! I'm counting the days for Thanksgiving, so I can get all the fall decor out and in with the Christmas ones :) Yes, I am impatient at times!

I made a wreath and just put it out to test the lights...ah, so excited and can't wait to hang it up on my door :) I bought a inexpensive green garland and just decided to make my own wreath, I saw some for sale, but the prices were outrageous and I really didn't want to spend that much. This one came out quite cheap, so I'm happy about that :)

We had some wonderful rainy days lately...I generally love rainy days, that is,until we have some unexpected company trying to get away from the rain, and wanting IN the house :( I'm thankful the hubby was home and took care of killing gently removing the tarantula from our porch. We've found 5 of these just during the last 2 weeks :( Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

And...this is not the worse....On Friday, there was a snake in the prince's room....and there are no pictures of that, I was too busy screaming and running for my life (shivers).


Oh the joys of country life!

We're all still alive and well, though ;)

Then there was family picture day....sigh 


Why is it so hard to get a good picture, where everyone at least looks decent?!?


And I only have one kid ... what are we going to do when there's more? It will sure be chaos!

Any one else have the same problem? We had a ton of fun though, and I'm thankful for a sweet friend who was willing to come out at take our pictures :)

I have to add one of my super handsome guys, of course! I am so blessed ;)

Life is just grand...

Family

Thankful for family and family pictures :)

A Grandma is

A Grandma is someone who spoils you

and takes care of you when mama's not near.

She's always happy to see you

and brings plenty of hugs and kisses to share.

Helps you when you're down.

Catches you when you fall.

She'll brighten up your day,

even on the stormiest nights.

She'll tuck you in and read you a book,

till your eyes grow heavy and tired. 

But soon enough you'll see her again,

with bright eyes and smiles.

(Poem by Valerie Dupont)

Thankful for such a sweet grandma :)

Thankful Tuesday 2/10

Today I am thankful for My Sweet FAMILY....


I am so thankful for my amazing husband and for the four wonderful years we've had together! I'm thankful that he's patient with me and takes me shopping even though he doesn't enjoy shopping much :)

I am thankful for our precious prince and for the joy he's brought to our lives! He brings so much laughter and smiles to our home! And...being a mommy is just the greatest gift ever.....

Thank-you, Lord for my family!

What are you thankful for today?!?!

Happy 25th Anniversary to my parents!!!

Today is my parent's 25 wedding anniversary! I just want to say, I am so thankful for the Godly parents I have! I thank the Lord they were dedicated to their marriage and for the blessing they are to us!

Happy 25th Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

I love you both, and I'm thankful that you're my parents! I wish you many, many more happy years together. Thank-you for putting up with me and for teaching me the way that I should go...

Your grateful daughter,

Today I'm so thankful for the perfect weekend we had. Hubby was off work on Saturday so we took the day off and just had a ton of fun. We had a wonderful day just going to different places around town, relaxing, talking, playing with the prince, and eating at our favorite restaurant! Sigh...blissful, blissful...

We really needed that. Hubby hasn't had a vacation for too long and we've got quite a busy week ahead of us with VBS at our church, so it was so nice to relax a while.

Thank-you, Lord for my amazing family! You have been so good to me!!!
 Have a wonderful week!

Family

Families are just the best!! I am so thankful for my little family! There's nothing sweeter in the world than family! I am very grateful for mine...

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"

"You don't choose your family, they are God's gift to you, as you are to them." (Desmond Tutu)

I'm so thankful for God's wonderful gift to me! I'm glad I can call these two guys mine :)

Smiling a lot these days,

A trip to the zoo

On Saturday we decided to take a little trip to our city zoo. Prince had never been there and we thought he's enjoy seeing the animals! He sure loved it! It was fun to watch his reactions when he saw the different kind of animals!

We had a lovely time and I am glad we were able to do this!

Eating ice cream...

Ummmmmm

When we got to the place where the anacondas usually stay, we found one trying to escape through the fence! It was really scary! This one wasn't very big...but they had some HUGE ones in back...I tried picturing it, but I was really scared to go closer to the fence ;) Snakes aren't really my favorite pets!

Anaconda...(shivers)

Prince also enjoyed seeing the caimen. This one was really close to the fencing... mommy wasnt' too thrilled about being this close ;) They had a enormous one way in back, but again, I could not get a picture of it!

Daddy & Josh

My boys!!!

He loved the macaws too...they were soooo noisy...but beautiful :)

Mommy & Daddy also enjoyed being together :)

It was such a lovely afternoon :)

Hope you have a wonderful day today!!!

Family fun

 Last Saturday our family took the day off and decided to go up to the Chapada Mountains, about an hour away from our house...

Daddy and the prince

 We had such a lovely time up on the mountains. We enjoyed being able to spend some time together and relax. The scenery was breathtaking. We got to bathe in the gorgeous waterfalls and had a picnic lunch.

It was such a wonderful day!

The prince enjoying the cold mountain water and fresh air :)

Mommy & prince...

The family in front of the gorgeous falls!

I climbed up on this cavern right next to the falls...it was so pretty up there!

The Maribundo falls

The falls again

Our happy & relaxed family on our way back to  the car for the trip home :)

I'm so thankful we were able to do this and look forward to other times like this with my two favorite guys in the world! 

Hope you have a blessed day!

Boys...

Boys are so funny! I had the privilege of photographing my two cousins, Stanley (9) and Kevin (6) this week! It was so fun to hear them talking away...and their personalities are just so funny, and so different! It was so much fun getting these pictures of them. Stanley loved posing for pictures! Kevin, he was another story...he would not let me snap pictures of him...unless he could have his cat Lila with him on the pictures :) These boys are such sweethearts!

Hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

Stanley,  with "Joia" and "Estrelinha"...

Brothers.....

Stanley & "Estrelinha"

"Lila"

Kevin & "Lila"

Cute aren't they?!?!