Sophia's Third Minnie Mouse Birthday Party

My little Sophia Abigail turned 3. My little ball of energy and sunshine is growing up so fast. She hadn't officially had a party before and I wasn't planning too this year again but in good old Sophia fashion she requested it. Or in other words, started saying her party was on Saturday without even letting me know hahaha. She's obsessed with Minnie Mouse so naturally that's what she wanted.
The funniest thing is my mom says I was exactly like her even when I was only 1. The Sunday before the party, we were walking into church when she says, " Mami are they all going to say surprise to me?" I had to remind her we were just going to Sunday service not her party. So that was my cue to start preparing a party for her. Everything was a success and believe it or not all those kids are her cousins. We had a full house with just 5 families and where missing my brother's family.

My Sophia is so bright. She can work a phone like a pro. Talks in full sentences like a 6 year old. She loved nursery at church and will now be joining us in big kid primary on Sundays. She can count pass 10 and knows most of her alphabet, just not in order. She love chocolate milk, tortillas and any type of junk food. She loves watching Minnie Mouse Boutique, Mickey Mouse Club House, Doc McStuffins and Dora and Diego. She's very girly and loves getting dressed in dresses on Sundays. Loves wearing bows and pretty shoes. She always says she loves us and that we're her BFFs. I could go on and on about how wonderful she is. I will make sure to enjoy every minute I have with her this year because soon she too will be all grown up.

1 Year Anniversary

I'm not one to visit cemeteries, because I know where my gramma's spirit is and that I can talk to her or remember her anywhere and anytime. But today on her birthday, one year after her passing, I felt the desire to go and visit her grave. As the worker cleaned her stone and the words started peeking through the snow we started to see the outline of the Salt Lake temple. My heart was full. A constant reminder of her love for.the temple. My abuela was not perfect, but one thing is true. She was a great example of a faithful latter day saint. A single mother who received and accepted the gospel. Not only accepted it but lived it and never fell away from her faith. Thanks to her generations have been and will be blessed. She knew her Heavenly Father lived, she knew Jesus was her redeemer and that the gospel was true. She valued the covenants she had made and loved the temple. She attended it even in her last days no matter how sick she was. And I hope she can see and feel the gratefulness I feel for her great example that I hope to be able to follow.

The Chicago Bull

So this bull has become a Christmas tradition with my family. It started about 2 or 3 years ago. And every year it keeps coming back to celebrate Christmas with us. It always gives us some good laughs and entertainment.

This year was Sophia's first try at it. She of course needed her brother's help.

And for a real good laugh, we have my sister Claudia hop on it. She's basically the life of the party. I do have to admit that after 3 years of the family riding this bull, many have gotten a lot better at it. Lasting a lot longer. We'll see how we do next year.

Basketball Season

Natalie finished her first basketball season in November and it was such a great experience. It filled my heart with joy because she's amazing. I've said it before, she's a very shy and nervous person, yet she continues to push herself and goes for things. She had never played basketball before and was scared to try out. Yet she made the JV team and was a starter. She is such a natural learner. She was able to take what the coach, her dad and I told her and just blossom into such a good player with major potential. They made it all the way to the finals. They lost and came in 2nd but in reality we had already won. They did such a good job and where actually tied in wins and loses with the other team. 

She's my little Dennis Rodman! She of course didn't know who that was until I showed her some youtube videos. She was always there for the rebounds just like him, even though she was one of the shorter ones. They couldn't mess with her. Looking forward to next season.