Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
It's been a while since I posted anything, yet given the time of year it's only fair I share a glimpse of our home. There are so many updates that I have and I want to share here but those will come in due time. For now I hope these pictures bring you some cheer.
Did I mention we had our first snow day? Oh it was magical friends!
Only 4 more sleep till Christmas.
D
What a year it's been.
January
We welcomed 2014 with a sweet celebration of AJ's second birthday. Days later I began a new job which I though was what I always wanted 9-5 no weekends no holidays but as it turned out the heart can be deceiving and although I met amazing girls here I would only be here for the course of the year. Let's call 2014 my transition year in the career department.
February
I got baptized! It was a big commitment, and up until the night before I had my doubts on whether I was ready for that, one that I'm still working with but as it has it it has been the best decision I've ever made! I also started a no heat challenge in which I decided to discover my natural hair texture
March
I celebrated my 27th birthday home with my loved ones and did some winery hopping over the weekend with new friends.
April
After celebrating Easter we packed our bags and headed to the Dominican Republic for multiple reasons. Mainly to witness my mother become one with her long distance love. This trip was recorded as the worse vacation ever but with a blessing in disguise because little did we know it would be the last time I'd get to see my grandmother alive. Another great season of baseball for us, best season thus far.
May
We attended one of the many weddings of the year. Towards the end of the month my only living grandmother passed away. It was very sad and still unbelievable but indeed true. I started my garden again this year with great success, those zucchinis were on point! lol
June
We celebrated our three years of marriage anniversary. We didn't do anything special other than pack our bags again to head to the west coast to visit my SIL. A much needed vacation for us all. I got another big chop, the biggest yet, to get rid of damaged hair.
July
Steven turned 8. When did that happened? My baby is growing up way to fast. Pretty soon we'll be saying hello to the teen years. Oh dear. We returned from our Cali vacation which I've yet to blog about. We built a deck on our backyard and I didn't blog about it either.
August
Two more weddings were celebrated this month. I started school again with the hope of starting nursing clinical next fall. It's been a rough journey yet exciting. I have to admit that I'm proud of myself for keeping up with everything on my plate. :) a few cousins and I planned the first ever family reunion for my mom side of the family. It wasn't as big of a turn out as we had hoped but what's important is that those who truly matter were there. Let's hope next year is a better one!
September
We celebrated my hubby's 28th birthday. We're nearing the 30s! School started back up and my big boy has done great in the 3rd grade so far. Last chop got done this month, I'm officially natural oh yea! #curlyhairdontcare I never thought this would be my natural hair texture. I'm so glad I went ahead with my decision of going natural.
October
We did our annual pumpkin patch with the kiddos and once again had an amazing time. AJ had his first dentist appointment and it was a success! Baby boy impressed us all. Second annual Penn State Tailgate. It was so much fun!
November
I got elected to be MOH at my cousins destination wedding in 2016. This is so exciting! I cannot wait! We had our family photo shoot. Lots of bonding with family. Thanksgiving at MIL.
December
Stressful yet successful month. We started the search for a good daycare for AJ. I became a foster parent. I applied for a new position within my health network and got it. I start next month. Last wedding of the year. My hair has grown so much since September! There's so much happening that will follow in 2015. I have a feeling that 2015 is going to be a great year!
We decided to welcome it at home in our pjs watching tv. It may or may not had something to do with all of us getting hit with the stomach bug but honestly I don't think it could be spent any other way. Just my boys and I together as a family as I expect 2015 will be, all about my little family.
(the hubby is on the opposite side dreaming in the new year)
May you all have a wonderful night and a prosperous New Year! Be Safe.
xoxo
Pamela
(This is our Thanksgiving picture)
I never really believed in Santa from what I remember. Back in the Dominican Republic, before I came to the states, I remember the month of December was a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Family from all over the island gathered to spend time with each other. Then on January 6th we celebrated the Three Kings. I remember putting grass under our beds with some water "for the camels to eat and drink it". Then the Kings would leave us some gifts right under or on the side of the bed. As we joined the American tradition of Christmas the 6th of January was soon forgotten. I don't recall my mom ever making any "special traditions" for Christmas. We would just put up a Christmas tree and got to open gifts on the night of Christmas Eve.
Now that I have my own family and having my husbands family have many traditions we're trying to figure out what we want to do for our own kids. We make it a point to have our oldest understand the true meaning of Christmas, and I'm glad he understands it well. He stopped believing in Santa a very long time ago, even before he turned five if I recall correctly, so there's been no elf hanging around our house lately.
So what do we do?
For the past eight years we've just gone with the flow. If my mom is in town we celebrate Christmas Eve with her and open gifts at night right before we head back home. There have been times we've waited till the next day to open them with her. On Christmas morning we go to MIL's for breakfast, exchanging gifts, movies, and dinner. We usually skip the movie part and head to my moms where my brother and his family and my sisters get together to open gifts. If my mom is not in town we just spend it at MIL's house. This year however we got invited to two houses to celebrate Christmas Eve. We went to both houses and honestly I don't think I'll ever agree to that again. For starters both celebration started after 8pm (I wanted to be home by 9pm). I get it, the point is to party and who parties at 4pm? Next year however if we get invitations for anything past 6pm we will be declining it. I would much rather be home watching movies with my boys and put them to bed at a reasonable time so that we may all be well rested for the next day.
For Christmas this year I hosted brunch at the MIL's house. All her kids (with the exception of my SIL) and my FIL and his wife were there. As brunch was cooking in the oven the kids opened gifts. After all gifts were opened we ate some delicious food and sat around relaxing. The kids played with their new toys, the husband and I napped on the couch, MIL and her husband cleaned around and organized their foster kids toys, and FIL and his wife left home to prep for Christmas dinner which they were hosting at their house later that day.
It was perfect. While at the same time I wish that my own family was as organized as my in-laws, wishful dreaming I know but alas I love them either way. Each family have their own traditions and we're just finally getting around to having our own. I look forward to a more organized holiday season next year.
xoxo
Pamela
xoxo
Pamela
What a beautiful day it was.
This time of year is very special to me because it brings back many memories from my childhood. I remember getting new outfits from our parents every year to celebrate Jesus resurrection. Along with that, as soon as the Semana Santa started they had tons of movies on TV about our savior and I got to watch them all with my brother and parents. It was the season for habichuela con Dulce, a very popular Dominican dessert made with beans. This is the type of dessert that you either love or hate. There's no in between. However, you may hate it at first and love it down the road. Take for example my darling husband.
Growing up the bunny and egg hunts didn't exist. It was all about our Jesus and what he had done for us. Raised in the catholic religion there were many events that happened during the Passover which at that age I didn't understand many of them, but now, now I get it. Too bad I changed religion.
This year it was even more special to me because I recently got baptized therefore I was determined to start new traditions to go along with the old ones with my little boys. We started with a kids devotional from the Bible App "Children's Guide to Easter" which talked about Jesus life the week before his death. Steven jr and I read it each morning and I loved how much questions and curiosity was in him. I also learned how much my child really new on this topic. This made me feel so proud, it was such an amazing feeling that is so hard to explain.
They don't give movies like back in my days but I am glad to say that I am still able to teach my kids what this season is really about. Of course that they are still kids and the Easter bunny and egg hunts are a must. We've been doing it with Steven since he was about AJ's age and this was AJ first year hunting for eggs. It was too funny watching him get the eggs. He would just open them up to see what was inside and when he tried a piece of chocolate... Oh dear, it was the end. My kid has officially became a chocolate lover.
Overall it was a very nice day with a service at church and our traditional dinner at my mother-in-law's house. I love keeping up with traditions. Looking back at the pictures is what I enjoy most! To see the change within all of us is priceless.
I believe I've said it before, I think we enjoy the holidays just a bit more after we've become parents ourselves. Don't you think?
I love shopping for the boys. Especially for AJ because I still get to buy him what I want rather then what he asks for, unlike Steven. Once they hit a certain age it gets a bit tricky. We decided to just get him a few toys because our family will be getting them both clothes. I much rather buy him things I want for him then getting a toy that's just going to be use a few times and does nothing for his learning. And being that his birthday is about a week later... yea, that's going to be interesting. I hope we get gift cards that way we can use it for things he will need in the future. I'm praying we don't get a lot of toys.
Steven is a big player so we decided to get him the X Box 360 now that the new one is out and get found an awesome deal on black Friday. Yes he might be too young for gifts like this but he knows the rules, no playing on weekdays and only a couple of hours a day. He didn't ask for this in particular because we own one that is like 8 years old. Seriously I remember having this when we first got together that the hubby was a big player. And since it's that old it lacks some features we decided to get a new one. I cannot wait to see his face! He was also in desperate need of a new scooter, the one he has now he's been having since age 3 and yea, it's a little too small now. He also loves to color and could use more crayons and color pencils. And those pajamas! I just now he'll love it. Especially because his little brother will get very similar ones and he's all about having his little brother wear the same thing he does. I'm thinking the pajamas will be the Christmas Eve gifts.
Aside the real meaning of Christmas, seeing my kids face Christmas morning while opening gifts is the the greatest feeling. Simply Priceless :)
What's on your wish lists?
Is hard to believe how much difference a year makes. Just last year around this time I was prepping myself to welcome my second baby. I had hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner. And we was in our own house that I had wished for so much on previous years.
This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law's house. Just close family, a turkey, and lots of food. That second baby will be turning 1 year old in five weeks. And I'm still thankful for having our own house.
We should be thankful every day for all that we have but this special day is a day where we all are conscious and make it a priority to be thankful, give thanks, and teach our children.
I, personally, am thankful for having a Heavenly Father that loves me unconditionally despite of my flaws.
I'm thankful for my health and for being alive with the ability to care for my family, grow, mature, love, and forgive.
I'm thankful for my family and friends. For their happiness and to have them be part of my life even if we don't speak often.
I am thankful for the little things in life such as warm baths, tasty coffee, big brothers, helpful firstborn, a dedicate husband, and caring mom.
More than anything I am thankful for love. True unconditional love. I know that feeling and I'm thankful I have had the opportunity to experience it.
Let us all continue to be thankful and continue with the holiday festivities!
I've been feeling this holiday season for quite sometime now. And it has taken all of me to not put up any kind of Christmas decoration around the house. However, rest assure that as soon as Thanksgiving is over I will decorate right away. Probably even that night. Inside and out.
While I wait for that day to come all I could do was plan ahead. Kind of like a Christmas bucket list. A pretty long one at that. I've been very disorganized the past years and it's about time I change that. With two boys in the house is time to give them holiday traditions to look forward too. I never had this growing up and I want to cherish every moment of every holiday with them. With my little family.
Here are 25 things I'd like to try this year. Some are simple others a bit harder. Nonetheless I will try my best at completing them (or convincing the hubby) and enjoying the most wonderful time of year with my boys. All 3 of them!
1. Go see the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and walk around Christmas City
2. Put up Christmas tree and decor
3. Display Christmas countdown blocks
4. Watch the Live Bethlehem Christmas Pageant
5. Send Christmas cards
6. Attend ugly sweater party
7. Have festive breakfast or brunch (inspired by Jessica)
8. Play Christmas Vacation drinking game (also inspired by Jessica)
9. Go ice skating and see the Christmas tree in NYC
10. Make hands ornament for tree
11. Bake and decorate cookies
12. Drive through Lights in the Parkway
13. Plan a festive date night
14. Start 12 days of Christmas
15. Pay it forward-pay for someone's coffee in line/drive thru
16. Donate food/clothes to a shelter
17. Take bake goods to ladies at work
18. Build Gingerbread house
19. Watch movies and drink hot chocolate
20. Take the boys to see Santa
21. Have couples night
22. Wrap all gifts on time
23. Stuff stocking
24. Open up Christmas Eve gift
25. Bake cookies for Santa
Movies to watch: Home Alone 1&2, Elf, Four Christmas, Love Actually, and pretty much all the movies in ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.
Lately I've been horrible at document holiday weekends and things going on in our lives lately. Lets not even get into taking pictures. I have like no recent pictures on my iPhone. What is going on with me? maybe I'm just giving everyone a break because in just a couple of weeks I'll be worse then a paparazzi! Anywho, lets recap a bit shall we.
8/30- I knew I would have a busy weekend ahead so after working a day shift I headed to my ms for dinner and then to the hair salon. Then it was home bound for some cleaning.
8/31- we had a wedding to attend this day. It was hubby's cousin and he was in the wedding so I meet up with another cousin and his fiance to ride together. What an amazing time we had. Lots of dancing and some drinking. Then it was off to start of hubby's birthday celebration...
9/1- Happy 27th Birthday my love. May God Bless you, guide you, take care of you, and grant you many many more years of life and health.
We celebrated by going to hibachi with the entire family -party of 16 please. Then we went out dancing, again, with some close friends and his brother. We haven't had such a great time in months. My feet are still hurting from all the dancing I did. I sure love me some bachata ;)
9/2- Happy Labor Day! We ended up at mother-in-law's house this day for some delicious dinner and family time.
9/3- my big boy first day of 2nd grade. What?! When did that happen?
9/4- back to reality and work :-/
I've been working days the past two weeks and I love it. They've been long days with having to wake up early and dealing with a child who refuses to sleep through the night but nothing beats being able to be home for bedtime with my boys. I've contemplated looking for a days job but I do like some perks of working nights and being home with AJ during the day among other things. Still, I got curious and looked to see what job openings were in the network and to my surprise there were 6 that caught my eyes. Not one or two. But SIX! So I applied to three of them and prayed. I prayed that if these jobs were for me I will welcome them with open arms and if not well then I'm right where I need to be for now and there must be something better coming my way. Thinking positive is so refreshing for the soul!
To an amazing father, my husband. He's more than just a great father. He
is his boys super hero. I can never thank God enough for blessing my
kids with him. We love you and appreciate you more than you realize.
Besos!
Happy Father's Day to my brother and all the amazing fathers out there.
Wow! What an end to 2012 and beginning to 2013. Lots of catching up to do. Let's see, where should I start.
Well at 38 weeks I had my appointment and was 3cm dilated with 50-60% effaced. I asked my doctor to strip my membrane and she did slightly. I was positive that that was going to be THE weekend. I kept contracting day and night but unfortunately not in a pattern well enough to send us to the hospital. So the weekend came and left and nada.
Christmas Eve we had a very nice time at my mothers. We had a delicious diner surrounded by family and some friends. Then we opened some gifts and headed home right before midnight.
Christmas Day we spent it at my mother-in-law's. Again we opened presents and had another delicious diner. I had to work that night so I headed to work around 6:30pm. That night I started with a cough that only got nastier by the end of my shift. I made it home with chest pain, a cough, and feeling awful. It was my only day to work until the weekend so I had planned to stay up. Yeah, that didn't happened. I hit the covers and slept till 1pm at which point I had another appointment. I remember it snowed that day and it had just started as I left.
Merry Christmas!
At my appointment I felt awful and couldn't wait to get home. I called my OB and asked what I could take for my symptoms and I napped. I woke up feeling worse and with a fever. I called in again and my doc was convinced I had the flu so she called flu meds for me and asked to see my family doctor the next day. I started my meds and had a horrible night.
The next day I made it to my family doctor with my mothers help. I was officially diagnosed with the flu and shortly after started having contractions. I was sent to the ER but on our way over the transporter got a call to take me straight to L&D. There they measured my contractions and concluded that they were due to me being dehydrated. Go figured. It wasn't all that bad though because as much as I wanted my baby boy to come out I surely didn't want to welcome him with the flu. And after day 3 of meds I felt so much better. I Also had to miss work for the weekend which had its good and not so good perks.
New Years Eve we spent it at my moms and then we went home and were in bed by midnight. For the record lets just say that being 39 weeks pregnant over NYE and being pregnant and that far along for the holidays is no fun at all. Note to self, plan next pregnancy to be as far away from the holidays as possible.
January first rolled in and I couldn't stop thinking that this baby was as stubborn as they get. I just new I was going to go past my due date and I was going to have to skip out on this school semester which would put me behind a full year for graduating nursing school. So the next day I called the doc again and tried to convinced them to induce me by Friday. Ha! Who was I kidding. It was not going to happen. Not at least until the 11th. Omg, mini heart attack going on at that point (school starts on the 14th).
Happy New Year!!!
So that night I went to bed a bit sad and sorta depress. Yet, little did I know that the next day was going to be full of unprepared adventures, long waited excitement, and so much happiness.
And so I continue to believe that everything has a purpose and things always happens for a reason.
To be continue....
There are many things that are not the way I want them to be but one thing I can say is that I am thankful for being alive and healthy, surrounded by amazing friends and family. I am thankful for my ability as a woman to carry and birth another human. There's so much I am thankful for and so many things we often take for granted. Like being able to walk or even blink. Yes weird I know but working at the hospital I've come to see many things a little child can't do, something as simple as blinking yet she has a beating heart and working brain. Why do things like this happen to innocent people? I say it's because in one way or another we as human sinners need to be reminded of the miracle of life and the things we need to appreciate and thank god for.
So, among many of the amazing things happening in my life I am simply thankful for being alive and having a functional body.
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful day with loved ones.
xoxo
I've been pretty unsteady when it comes to posting holidays posts this year. Hopefully with all the time on my hands I'll have starting next month it'll get much better. For now let's reminisce on past Halloween outfits.
What brought the walk down memory lane? Well for starters looking for something to wear this weekend (which btw I found the cutest thing!) Then going through my Facebook pictures and seeing my baby boy's outfits through the years. 2010 was my favorite :). That outfit really inspired me to try my hands at making his costumes every year from now on until, well you know, he tells me to stop. Unfortunately last year we didn't do anything for Halloween, his choice. We did use his Superman costume from before though and took him to Dorney Park for their hallo-weekends activities etc. And this year I've been lazy, more on this year outfits later. Next year though should be fun with a new kid on the block ;)
So lets take a look shall we.
What brought the walk down memory lane? Well for starters looking for something to wear this weekend (which btw I found the cutest thing!) Then going through my Facebook pictures and seeing my baby boy's outfits through the years. 2010 was my favorite :). That outfit really inspired me to try my hands at making his costumes every year from now on until, well you know, he tells me to stop. Unfortunately last year we didn't do anything for Halloween, his choice. We did use his Superman costume from before though and took him to Dorney Park for their hallo-weekends activities etc. And this year I've been lazy, more on this year outfits later. Next year though should be fun with a new kid on the block ;)
So lets take a look shall we.
Halloween 2007
Halloween 2008
Halloween 2009
2009: He was Spiderman and Batman lol
Halloween 2010
2010
Halloween 2011
2011
2012 costumes will be coming soon! :)
xoxo
Pamela
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