Let All That You Do Be Done With Love – 1 Corinthians 16:14
I saw this little chef statue next to a coffee shop. The verse made me reflect on how I often say, “If you are going to do something, do it well” (I say it mostly in Spanish). I don’t know where I learned this quote, perhaps from my maternal grandmother. In writing this post I searched on Google for the quote and couldn’t find it. I did find a similar quote from Walt Disney, see that one Continue reading
This is one of the most exciting posts I have written. Jim and I are happy to share with you all that we are expecting a baby. This is our first baby! We feel excited, happy, and blessed! We are in the Continue reading
Hi friends,
Last Saturday, my sister and brother-in-law had a commitment to attend during the day, and I offered to watch both of my nephews. I love those two little boys so much and enjoy spending time with them! They decided to leave Andrew with us and took their younger son with them.
I was excited to spend the day with my nephew! During the week my hubby and I started to look for options of fun places to take him. My hubby has been wanting to take the boys to Boomers, to play mini-golf, ride the go-carts, and play in the arcade. We had also recently discovered an in-door jungle gym close to our home. So, we decided we’d ask Andrew which he preferred. I had also purchased some juice and snacks, in preparation for his visit.
The day before, I went on a walk to Coronado with Lola and we stopped by The Blue Octopus, a children’s educational toy store at the Hotel Del, because I wanted to buy something for the boys. I bought them some coloring and activity books.
I woke up early on Saturday and started doing things around the house. When they dropped off Andrew, all of my attention was on him! We sat in the family room and colored in his books, and he made a drawing for us. When I offered him food, he told me he had already had breakfast, but asked if we could go to IHOP. To which I chuckled and said yes, of course! I asked my husband if we could go and knew he would say yes because he likes their breakfast, even though we rarely eat there. Andrew and I watched the movie Up, on the Disney Channel. We drew, colored, and he played on the IPad. Later, my hubby came downstairs to spend time with Andrew and I went upstairs to shower and get ready.
On our way to IHOP, my sister called to tell me they were going to be done in about two hours and would pick up Andrew. We realized that wasn’t going to be enough time to go to Boomer’s. Instead, we took Andrew to the San Diego Air Show (formerly Wings Over Gillespie). I knew the event was going on because I had included it on the Community Calendar segments which I host and produce for Azteca at work.
Andrew enjoyed looking at the planes and I enjoyed spending time with him and my hubby! I wasn’t planning on going to the Air Show, so I didn’t have a hat or my parasol. I had sunblock on because I apply it daily on my face and neck, and use a moisturizer with sunblock on my arms. Luckily, my hubby had a hat in the car, which I ended up wearing to try to get some protection from the sun. It was a warm and beautiful day, and we had fun!
After the Air Show, we met my sister at the house and they stayed to visit for a little while. They stayed enough for me to share some of the snacks with them and heat some soft pretzels for the boys.
I am not a mother yet, but the day I do become a mother, I hope my son or daughter are as good of a child as Andrew is! He is a normal boy, playful, smart, and curious, but he is also well behaved and sweet! I may seem biased because he is my nephew, but others who have had an opportunity to interact with him have said that he is a sweet boy, who has a special welcoming, kind, and warm spirit!
Do you have any favorite places to go on weekends with your children or nephews? Do you have a favorite breakfast restaurant? Have you been to the Wings Over Gillespie Air Show?
Hugs,
Paola
Here’s Andrew’s play section in our television room, with a small fold-out table, coloring books, drawing paper, colors, I-Pad, and Disney Channel.
These are the coloring and activity books I bought for Andrew. I gave my younger nephew his coloring book when they dropped off Andrew in the morning.
Andrew brought his Build-A-Bear penguin, Pancho, to brunch with us. My hubby asked why he was a penguin and not a bear? My hubby has never been to Build-A-Bear store, I have. Andrew explained to his uncle how he selected and made Pancho 🙂
This was next to the flight line displays.
This is the area with the static displays.
Another person observing this small plane started to explain to us how it works. There was a brochure holder with information sheets next to the plane and Andrew got some info.
Andrew is such a sweetheart, you see the papers in his hands? He got two, one for his mom and one for my hubby, so he could explain how the small plane worked and give each one of the the sheet! Too cute!
That’s my husband’s cap I am wearing! At least it kind of matched with my outfit, haha!
After viewing all the planes, we decided this one was our favorite. Impressive!
We got to see this plane start up, drive right in front of us, and take-off! Pretty cool for an impromptu Saturday outing!
Hi friends,
Before I got married, I lived alone for about five years and prior to that I lived with my sister for about ten years, we were roommates. We each had our bedroom, with individual closet, and full bathroom. Neither of us cooked much, we are both organized and clean, so the house was clean all of the time. My sister moved out when she got married, after she moved, I rarely used the kitchen and turned her bedroom into a guest room/home office. I had never lived with anyone else, apart from our parents and siblings.
After I got married, my husband and I decided I would move into his house since it was larger. I wanted us to live in my home because I really like the Eastlake area and my family and friends live just minutes away. He said it was too small (it is about half the size of the home we live in now) and so, I moved into his house, which is now our home. As many of you that have lived with someone and/or are married can relate, there are many changes that come with living with someone, particularly if you are sharing a bedroom. We each have our own office, so we have our own spaces, but we pretty much spend most of our time in the kitchen, family room, and bedroom. My husband does spend lots of time working in his office on weeknights.
When we first got married, I would notice little things that were not in order, like papers on the kitchen island or clothes stacked on the chair on his side of the bedroom. Now, I just shrug them off or don’t notice them at all. The reason I changed was because of “love.” There are very few things that my husband does that bother me. I also acknowledge that we each lived alone for a long time prior to getting married. So, we were both somewhat set in or ways. Acknowledging that and accepting that has helped me “let go of the little things.” Those little things that could bother me or that I could nag my husband about, but now realize that in the large scheme of things and our life as a couple are really not that important.
This is a simple examples of what I am referring to. Like many other people, he for some reason does not change the empty roll of paper towels or toilet paper. Why? I have no idea. I have never even asked him. He probably changed it when he lived alone, but doesn’t change it now. Every time I see an empty paper towel roll, I just chuckle. Then, I simply walk over to the pantry, grab another roll, change it, and put the empty roll in the recycle bin. As easy as that, no nagging, no getting upset, just a chuckle and in seconds there is a new roll of paper towels ready to be used. I don’t even think he notices that its been changed, and honestly it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we have peace in our home and if I can do little things to help create that peace, we will both benefit from it. In the overall scheme of things, my husband does so many other large and little, and wonderful things, that I appreciate, so this little thing does not bother me. It is funny because years ago, this may have bothered me, but now I realize that it really is better to not sweat the little things, to just let them go. I will surely write future posts with samples of little other things I just let go and how that has contributed to my happiness and that of our marriage 🙂
This may seem like a silly example, but it is a little observation I made of something that I just let go.
Do you have little things that you let go or pass? Has it helped you live a happier and more relaxing life? Have you started to let go of the little things now that you are older? I’d love to hear from you.
Hugs,
Paola
The empty role.
The pantry is just a few feet away, so I can easily get another roll.
In just a few seconds, I replace the role and voila!
Then, I recycle the empty role.
The empty role in the bathroom in our bedroom.
Luckily, we keep additional roles in the bathroom area.
This is our guest bathroom…..notice the empty role?
Fortunately, we keep this storage bin in the bathroom, which makes it easy and convenient to replace the role.
And, just like that…..we continue to keep peace in our household 🙂
Many of us are still celebrating the holidays….some of us are back to work and some people are on vacation until January 6 this year because that is when the first Monday falls after New Year’s Day. Many of us keep celebrating until January 6 every year because Continue reading