Montessori Moments

I'm still in awe when I watch all the little students at school move about from work to work. They are each in their own little world but somehow still very much aware of the world around them. It is as if they follow rules and procedures because they know boundaries keep them safe and are essential to growth and learning. I was able to catch my own kids "working" and enjoying their days at school. 

Cami finding a place to put her doily.

Now she's ready to place her beautiful flower arrangement. To me it's not just a some flowers in a vase. It was all the effort and intention it took to put it all together!

He loves straight lines and organizing. He's not such a great whisperer in class...yet, but "soon he will learn!"

Hand-eye coordination is essential or they quickly learn their little fingers will be sorry. David hasn't learned this work yet, but he's dying to so he can help grandpa in his shop!

She's spills the beans and the sweeps them up. Most of us avoid intentionally making messes, but she finds it fascinating! lol I watched her work in her own little concentrated work. Ideally adults would work the same way, instead of grudgingly and forcefully working because "they HAVE to!"

Small group lesson for learning numbers.

Best Cousins = David and Dominic

So close Jojo, so close!

I could be wrong but I think he's drooling a little from the concentration, lol.

He loves to show his stamped sheets.

Joseph and his little friends from class. We don't call him "Chinito" for nothin'. I love that he only has one arm folded and one leg.

Outside at recess he will stand at the top and wait for a teacher to count so he can run down. 

As sweet as these two are to each other, they usually forget the we-keep-our-hands-to-ourselves-rule. David and Joseph used to be in the same class but they recently changed classes. Their teachers told me that they give each other a big hug when they see each other at recess now.

"Normal" week--The Beauty of Motherhood

As I was looking through all of these pictures I thought of all the beautiful everyday memories that are being created with my family. In the pictures you don't see the stress of bills coming up, or the rushed mornings when I'm trying to get lunches, sweaters, my make-up, water bottles, my binders and purse and 3 children out the door. I do see three smiling (mostly smiling) children, a father, mother, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles who are enjoying each other and already looking forward to the next thing we get to do together.
Honestly, motherhood is no small task, nor for the faint of heart. But when I was talking to Nati today and her little baby girl was doing one sassy adorable thing after another I realized how individual and absolutely beautiful every child is, and how much I actually enjoy being a mother! Being a full-time mother has recently been on the attack in politics and in the media in general. As I read comments or articles I really thought about my roll as mother. Why do we do it? Why is it so rewarding? Why do we not only have one child, but two or three even!? How do you explain to someone that there really are more pros than cons, or why having a pet to avoid the hassles of raising children will never be as rewarding. Changing a diaper will never be pleasant, but seeing your baby's happy face with a clean diaper on is ALWAYS motivating enough to change another 1000 or 2000 diapers more. Waking up at 2, 4, and 6 am several times a week and putting a smile on your face the next morning is nearly impossible, but when I feel their little hands wrapped around my neck saying, "Mom today is going to be a fun day!" I just get to smile in return and hope tonight will go a lot smoother.
 The days seem long sometimes, and nights are quite short...but being a mother is definitely "the best job." Watch the video at the end of the post. I cry every time I watch it, because I'm reminded that the little things I do every day really do matter.

 I was reading through some quotes and couldn't help but laugh at these. Lets be real, motherhood isn't always rainbows and butterflies...and I think thats why it's just perfect!

"My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares. Why should you? " ~Erma Bombeck


"I know how to do anything - I'm a Mom."
 ~Roseanne Barr


"I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."
~Unknown


"There never was a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him asleep."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson


"The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."
-- William Ross Wallace

"I'm a mother with two small children, so I don't take as much crap as I used to."
— Pamela Anderson



Here's some pics of what we did these past two weeks.

David brought out clothes for him and joseph one morning (they just happen to be matching ones!) They brought out the crate and the twins told joseph they were going to get him ready. 

Jojo is definitely at their mercy now.

David was frustrated that Joseph wasn't "making his toes get in the sock!"

At last! The boot!

They were most definitely NOT cooperating for the pictures. 

Cami was sad because the boys were being silly and fell on her :(

Chanclas. Definitely my children. 

Crafts! We made butterfly magnets so they could hang their school works on the door.

"Mom, I'm ready to go out. Ok?!" How do just say, "ok!" with a straight face?

We love it when Tita and Marco come with their kids to visit. That poor bear they are sitting on has become the "couch" for movie time.

Alex and Evan playing on the swing-set, lol. 

Relaxing on a Sunday afternoon. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sunday's with our families. 

Dad, you're a genius! My kids trust you 1000%. However, Alex and I have to hold our breath sometimes ;)

Yes the wiggle car holds at least 100 lbs :) 

Laying next to their self-portraits 

Twins at Jump On It. The one place I can sit and watch them while they jump til they're tired!

Brienne, Luke and Wesley came with us. All three kids are 3 yrs old right now. 

BFF. She invited me to the Women's Conference Concert and I have to say that I came back more inspired to not only be a better wife and mother but to be a greater woman. Julie was representing some of the first pioneer women that formed the Relief Society when the Church was organized.

Julie's momma :) 

Cami's first did-it-myself-haircut. I asked her later if she got in trouble when mom found out and she said, "No I didn't. I just wanted to try it, but mom said not to do it again. Its ok, I won't." I kindly explained why Adi CAN cut hair and why Cami CAN'T...yet. 

Dad gets credit for doing the fun stuff. He had the quarters, lol

At the Hope of America program at the Marriot Center to watch my sister-in-law Alejandra dance. I went by myself with potty-training twins and a 1 year old. I sat a few rows down from the very highest rows. So the frequent bathrooms all but wore me out! However, I left more patriotic and we cheered and cheered for Tita even though we could hardly hear our own voices.

Sometimes I need a moment to breathe, shower, go to the bathroom, eat something, change...you know those simple things most people take for granted. Only a mother knows how exciting it is when all those things mentioned above actually take place in the same day!

The quality is awful but David thought he was brilliant for figuring out how to put on everyone's tie. And he announced he was all ready for church.


On the motherhood note: My friend shared this video with me and I hope it will also inspire any mother's out there who need a little encouragement in this not-so-easy calling of ours.

TTMT Family Photos

Alex made it to the quarter finals for Tengo Talento Mucho Talento. Estrella TV asked us to go up to SLC to film the family at the Great Salt Lake and the State Capitol building. They mostly filmed and interviewed Alex but it was a fun day in SLC with the kids too. They asked a few times why the guy with the camera kept following us places. They behaved beautifully! I'll post the video of what aired on the show a few days later.

Her hair looked SO cute! 

Enjoying the Great Salt Lake

These pictures were taken with my phone so they're a little fuzzy. But Alex was getting ready for the interview and I was desperately trying to keep the kids QUIET! 

Joseph could care less that his dad was being filmed. He just wanted to be held :) 

Running from the snake they almost stepped on. I was trying not to freak out so they would see how calm and collected their mother was...I didn't do very well because I also wanted to run. Yes, I know the snake wasn't even as long as my shoe, but still. A snake is a SNAKE!

Yes, I know the snake wasn't even as long as my shoe, but still. A snake is a SNAKE!

I was trying to get close enough to hear the questions and answers and at the same time trying to keep the kids close enough so they didn't fall into the lake, jaja. 

This was Alex's first time at the Capitol Building. I haven't been there since elementary school. It was beautiful and the kids found lots of pretty things to look at and comment on.

It took all three of them to open the door.