Day 30: Date Night

Thankful that my parents watched our kids so I could take Marcelo on a date for his 32nd bday. We went to a Brazilian Churrascaria. Delicious! Not used to eating that much red meat though, so we were feeling it later. Camila was with us and was a saint as usual. As calm as she was, hopefully our next date night can be sans kids!
 

I did it! 30 days of thanks! :) I have soooooooo much to be grateful for!

Days 28 and 29

I'm thankful for the reason for the season. We're doing a lot of fun things this Christmas season, but we're also trying to help the kids understand
why we celebrate.
This picture also represents the fact that I'm also thankful for thoughtful friends! (This was a gift from one.) I feel so blessed to have great friends who can relate to pretty much everything, who I can open up to and not feel judgment. Such a blessing in my life!

Day 27: Eliana

This girl is a nut. The terrible 2s are definitely here! She is the spunkiest, funniest, smartest little thing. I'm amazed by her in so many ways. Her language skills...outrageous. Her motor skills...unbelievable. I'm not saying this stuff because she's my kid. I'm saying it because I had two kids before I had her and they were not like this at all! One still can't work buttons, and this girl buttons her own shirts, buckles her own straps on her shoes, and even puts on her own seat belt! One of the children I had before her just started putting on his own seatbelt a few months ago! So yeah. She amazes me. She also amazes me with her ENORMOUS EEEEENOOOOORRRRRMOUSSSSS tantrums. Holy Drama. Today she screamed "NO!" over and over again for 15 straight minutes. No form of discipline works. I think I'm just going to have to wait this one out. I know there is a sweet loving girl under there. She comes out to play every once in awhile. The rest of the time, we've got a Diva on our hands. A very cute diva.

Day 26: Celo

Oh this kid. He's a hoot. I'm thankful for my Celo boy. He keeps me on my toes, that's for sure. So so glad he's mine. He's tough, mischevious, and stubborn, but he's also sweet and loving. And waaay too smart for his own good! He's the king of giving me big puppy dog eyes and hugs and "I love you Mommy...you're the best!" in an attempt to stay out of trouble. He's dangerous, this one.

Day 25: My Faith

I'm thankful for my faith in God and for my knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for all the ways this knowledge has blessed my life. I'm thankful for the peace and joy it gives me.

Days 20 -24

<p>Day 20: Thankful that my kids still think helping out
With certain chores is fun. They like to dust, vacuum, use Clorox wipes, and sweep. I can use all the help I can get!














Day 21: Thankful we have enough food to eat.
Day 22: Thankful for a backyard for my kids to play.
Day 23: Thankful for the internet. Sooo many reasons why.
Day 24: Thankful for modern day appliances. What mom isn't, amiright?

Day 19: Built in Friends

<p>I'm thankful my kids have siblings. When Celo was born I was so happy for Diego because he was surrounded by girl cousins and I wanted him to have a buddy. They have their moments but they are also great friends. With Eliana I didn't worry as much because she was going to have tons of girl cousins to be her buddies. Plus, I grew up with two brothers and no sisters and didn't have girl cousins around until I was 13. I love my brothers and I think I've turned out just fine, haha. But the Lord had other plans and Camila came to be Eliana's buddy. The night before finding out I was pregnant, I was laying in bed and was hit with this strong feeling that basically said, "You're pregnant. It's going to he a girl." Two and two...I will never stop feeling grateful and blessed that the Lord had trusted me with these 4 kids.

Days 15-18

Day 15: I'm thankful my kids eat lentils, rice and beans, and at least some veggies. I do NOT want to raise picky eaters. I love trying new things and there are very few things I don't like, and I really want to raise my kids to be the same. So far Eliana is the worst eater, but I'll keep working on it till it kills me!


 














Day 16: Thankful for family time. We watched a movie together and had a sleepover in the picture below. The kids thought it was awesome. We may have cheated and gone back to our beds for most of the night. Shhhh. So glad Marcelo is able to be around enough for us to plan fun things as a family.















Day 17: Thankful for tips like 4 min manicures (2 min to paint, 2 min to dry and DONE) and overnight sock curls to help me not feel frumpy. Vain? Yes. But look...I'm Colombian. I care about my appearance. Putting my best foot forward, so to speak, is just part of how I was raised. So when I've spent too many days looking like I just rolled out of bed, it helps my state of mind to use one of these quick tips to feel cute! Is that so wrong? No. It's not. I'm not going to lie...doing laundry with lip gloss and pretty nails just feels better than doing it with my hair in a messy ponytail and my husband's old shirt. It just does!! Judge away.














Day 18: I'm thankful for Crystal Light Energy. There. I said it. I'm a mom of four and I'm tired, people.

Day 14: Generous Moms/Women

I'm thankful for smart moms everywhere who share their knowledge, creativity, tips, and ideas so generously on the Web or in person. By flat out copying them or making it my own, I'm able to bless my family, too...and then people think I'm a smart mom, too, haha. I'm so thankful that I have so many examples of awesome women all around me. Sadly, I've known women who have this need to "be the best". They learn or do something and don't want anyone else to know how to do it because they want to be the only one or the best one. Not a fan of that attitude. We all can learn so much from each other. And I'm so glad to have friends and family and strangers around the world who feel this way, too.

Here's an example of an idea I got on the Web thanks to a smart mom somewhere. My kids enjoyed our thankful tree, and i liked seeing it on our wall. Not sure if I'll do it again or go back to the turkey next year.

Day 13: Photography

I. Love. Photography. I'm thankful that Heavenly Father gave me a talent that I can use to help out my family. I'm thankful that it's a talent that, in a very small way, blesses others' families. It's a lot of fun and I hope I get to do it for a long time!

Day 12: Computer

I'm thankful for my computer!! I'm thankful for Photoshop. It's a small thing. But I love it.

Day 11: Home

I'm so thankful for my home and for the area where we are raising our kids. I love having our families close and our church family, too. I love having more space than our last home. I love looking around and seeing all the hard work my handy husband put into it. I love having a room for toys!!! Even if it looks like a tornado went through it on a daily basis. I'm thankful for this cozy roof over our heads!

Day 10: In Laws

I'm thankful for my parents-in-
law, my kids' aunts and uncles, and lots of cousins nearby. Family is so important and I'm grateful my kids are growing up with lots around. In the picture below we were roasting marshmallows in a fire pit and watching a movie outdoors. So fun!

Day 9: My husband

I'm thankful for the awesome guy I married. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. He is a wonderful husband, an amazing dad, and a great person. I love him and I'm so happy he's mine forever.

Day 8: Swing

I'm thankful for this swing. I put Mila in it when I need to use both hands but can still be close to her. I cannot leave her in the swing and be out of sight because of someone named Eliana and someone else named Celo. Celo thinks the only way to hug her is to put all his body weight on her. He doesn't do this with bad intentions. He loves her more than life. It's so cute to see how much he loves her. Eliana doesn't try to be mean either, but she leans over the swing and tries to hug her, messes with the swing settings, tries to open Mila's eyes, and just all around bugs her.

I'm also grateful that Mila will sleep anytime, anywhere. She is SO easy to put to sleep. I hope I hope I hope it lasts. She'll sleep in the swing, in her carseat, in her bassinet, in my arms...anywhere. And all with loud noise around! Such a giant blessing to me. I've never had kids who slept this easy. My other kids would pretty much only sleep in their beds, which made me a slave to their nap schedule. I'm betting I'll get to that point with Camila, too, but for now I'll enjoy her efforts to make my life a little easier!

She looks just like Celo in this picture.

Day 7: Bailey Luciana

I'm thankful for my adorable new niece! I love her! She was born at 4:40 and was 7 lbs 7 oz, and 20.5 inches. I was right on the inches but I guessed 5pm and 7 lbs 2 oz. I wish so badly that I was in AZ right now so I could hold her and kiss those newborn cheeks. I'm so happy I'll get to meet her when she's about 7 weeks old! I still can't believe my brother is a dad. I know he's going to be a great one. I'm so glad he picked such a great girl for a wife and I know she's going to be an amazing mom. I'm so so happy for their beautiful new family!

Day 6: Freedom

I'm thankful that I am raising my family in the USA. I'm thankful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country and for those who have fought for those freedoms. Here are my oldest and my youngest wearing I voted stickers.

Day 5: Health

<p>I'm thankful for the good health of my loved ones and for readily available medicine when we're not so healthy. I've had so many health issues over the last few years, so I really try not to take it for
granted when things are good. Above all I'm so grateful that my kids aren't the ones who have suffered health-wise. Diego, with all his allergies, has been healthy as a horse and growing like a weed. Aside from minor colds and seasonal allergies, we've been doing well and for that I am so so grateful. There are so many difficult health related things that people I know are going through. My prayers are with them.

Day 4: Parents

I'm oh so very grateful for my parents. They spoil me, my husband, and my kids ROTTEN. This weekend for example, they had the boys over for a sleepover, which meant we got to sleep in. It was heavenly. I know my kids will hold on to those bonding moments with Tato and Tata for years to come. I'm so grateful that I have parents who understand that these years where grandparents are the kids' favorite people on earth are short. I'd say they are taking full advantage of these years. I'd write out a million more reasons why I'm thankful for them, but my children are screaming for me to make them dinner. So I'll just say this: I love them so much!
(My dad wasn't feeling well today, which is why he's not in the first picture.)

Day 3: Publix

Publix is the best grocery store around. I'm thankful that I have one so close to me. I love their BOGO deals, the fact that they give my kids cookies and balloons, and the yummy "special day" treats they have like passion fruit gelato, sushi, Colombian soda, and more. I love that Publix can save me when I'm not feeling well and make my family a cheap dinner of rotisserie chicken with some bread and a couple of sides. (Happened this week.) It's a little, insignificant thing, but I love my neighborhood Publix! If only they carried Concord grapes...

Day 2: Camila

Day 2 goes to Mila because she was born on a 2nd. Three months old today! I'm so grateful for this sweet girl that came to us so unexpectedly. What a blessing...what a gift she is. I can't believe how little she cries. She puts up with so much noise and hugging, kissing, squishing from her siblings. And she's so easy to put to sleep. She sleeps about 9 hours straight a night during the week, 10 on the weekend. So so thankful for that! She's our happy, smiley, calm little cutie pie and we love her.

Day 1: Diego

http://instagr.am/p/RhtJOjD4Li/
Doing my 30 days of Thanksgiving via instagram because it's easy since I always have my phone. I'm already a day late, but that's pretty much my life right now. I'm not promising to keep it up for the whole month, but I'll try. It's nice to focus on what I'm thankful for.

Day 1 is for Diego because he was born on the 1st of the month, and because he's my first born. This boy made me a mom. I'm so grateful for the blessing I have of watching him grow up. It's heartbreaking to see how fast the time is going, but also amazing to see him become this sweet, thoughtful little person. I'm so impressed with his intelligence, increasing maturity, and desire to do good. I love the notes he leaves under our pillows, the way he is so willing to help Eliana, and the fact that he's always willing to pose for me when I whip out my camera. We love our Diego!