The Nutcracker Ballet

Last night last minute my Tia Kika scored Nutcracker tickets. Ballet Arizona puts on the Nutcracker at Symphony Hall and last night was their dress rehearsal. Every year they give out tickets where she works for the families that they help. But one family wasn't going to be able to use the tickets... and being that it was last minute they wouldn't have time to find another family to use them so they let Kika keep them!

She had went last year and told us all about it and I had told her that I would LOVE to see it! So she kept me in mind and called me up an hour before we needed to leave to see if I wanted to go. I made some quick arrangements and left Arielle with Jr so that Me, Diego, and Alayna could enjoy it in peace.

All I can say was the show was MAGICAL. I love ballet since I used to be a dancer. It was so pretty. The costumes were so beautiful... and in one number they have ballerinas in the prettiest most sparkliest white tutus, and the whole stage was glittery, and the confetti glitter "snow" fell from the sky the entire 5 minutes or so. It was amazing. I was totally mesmerized.

Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures so I only was able to get one decent image on my blackberry.



Diego liked it... because there was some humor in it. But Alayna LOVED it! I think she's more obsessed with ballet now. Even though she fell asleep for the middle of the show. She saw the best parts and loved the end the most when the Sugar Plum Fairy Queen did her dances. It was just awesome.

Afterward we took a few pictures...

The lighting was pretty cool looking!


Waiting to take a picture in front of the Christmas Tree




Kika and her Girls




Me and my babies




And as we were walking out they handed out bags with chips and happy meal coupons among other things so we decided to have dinner at McDonalds at 9:30pm on a school night. My kids thought that was awesome! Haha! And we ended up not getting them to bed until almost 11pm after picking up Jr and Arielle and going home. But it was worth it!

Thanks Kika for giving us this opportunity to join you... and to watch such an awesome show!

Oh and for those who may be wondering... the show is running from tonight to Dec. 27th and I know you can buy tickets through ticketmaser.

Candy Cane Lane

Jr and I took the kids to an event at Diego school called Candy Cane Lane. They had lots of fun activities for the kids to do!







So the first thing the kids chose to do was ride the train







Then we got in line to see Santa... and we were among the firsts!





But Arielle's first visit with Santa didn't go quite like we wanted it to...





And actually this was also Alayna's first time to meet Santa too. Sad huh? She's been afraid every year up until now... and she was still a little shy but she did it and told him she wanted a Barbie. Diego asked for an Ipod.





Then we moved on to Cookie decorating. Alayna did really good! Diego ate all the icing instead of spreading it on the cookie. And Arielle at all the candy off of hers.





And of course we wrote letters to Santa and got them mailed off









And lastly we finished by sitting outside drinking hot cocoa and eating cookies.



There was more to do but it was so packed and we didn't get to it all. But we did the most important and fun parts.

Diego Lost His First Tooth

I can't believe the little sucker finally decided to come out! he's had a loose tooth for about a month now and he wouldn't get it out. It's been there so long in fact the other tooth started growing right behind it already. And now he has another loose tooth (2nd) and I think that tooth is trying to grow in too.

Last night he was messing with it while watching TV and it just popped right out! We were at my Mom's house so they came running out of the room screaming that he lost his tooth! I immediately got my camera and while Jr made him rinse out his bloody mouth. Jr also tried talking him into pulling out the other one but Diego wasn't having it.





So after all the tooth excitement he put it in a ziplock baggie and as soon as we got home he immediately put it under his pillow. Then he showered and went right to bed! Which was a relief to me because he asked just about a million questions about the Tooth Fairy. And so I had to make up some answers quick!
"What does the Tooth Fairy look like in real life?"
"Have you ever seen her?"
"What does she do with all the teeth she collects?"
"Does she come right away or does it take her a few nights?"
"How does get in our house.... does she borrow Santa's key?"

But luckily he was pleased with my answers.

And after he went to bed the Tooth Fairy left him $2 in nickels, dimes, and quarters... because the Fairy was a little broke and wasn't carrying cash! But no worries! Diego was up at 6:45am (so not like him... he sleeps the latest) and woke me up carrying his ziplock baggie full of change.

And he was happy!

New Favorite Past-time

My girls have all of a sudden found interest in coloring. Well actually for Alayna this is not uncommon... but she doesn't own any coloring books... and for Arielle this is new. But surprisingly she has the patience to sit there and color and she doesn't draw all over the place. This is a morning ritual for us now.







And funny thing is... if she accidentally gets crayon on the table she yells, "Uh-Oh Mommy... This!" and I have to run and clean it off before she has a heart attack.





Guess who's getting coloring books for Christmas?!

Paula's 9th Birthday

After Arianna's party we went straight to Paula's... we were late but the party was a Disco theme so all the kids were dancing and having a blast.

Here's my brother and sister... disco fever!


Arielle


Paula got cool gifts and some money!




Here's a group picture of this kiddos


And Jr rested...


That is until a man came and sat on him...


And then cut the cheese.


Soon it was cake time


"Happy 9th Birthday Paula!"


My Daddy cuddles with his grandson Juanito


And Jr and I were beyond tired... but had to bail since he had to work...

Princess Arianna's 2nd Birthday!

My Goddaughter Arianna turned 2 yesterday and her Mom celebrated with a Princess party for her!

But when I arrived she still wasn't ready... what Princess is?! So I assigned myself to do her hair.


And then she was perfect!


Arielle Marie-Grace


My Prince... Charming?


Me and my other Mom Sabrina


Diego and Alayna


And after jumping awhile in the brinca brinca... the kids decided the ride on toys were funner.






Then Ari and Arie tried to re-kindle their friendship since they haven't seen eachother in months!




But mostly my God Princess just walked around letting everyone admore her cuteness!




And here's me and my BFF Jaz




Soon enough Arianna caught sight of her cake...


And she looked at Nina with these eyes of pure innocence...


And I didn't sneak her tons of tastes... no you can't ever prove it was me!


So to take her mind off of the cake we went outside to play games...






But the girls didn't allow for much of that because they kept peeling off all the stickers and re-placing them... this totally occupied them for about 30 mins!




So again we had to revert their attention to something else... like the pinata! But instead of hitting it... Ari decided that she knew EXACTLY how to get the candy out!


So she pulled out a Lollipop


And didn't even notice that my girls each had a turn to hit the pinata as well... but Arielle decided a wand was better than a stick.




And when she DID notice... she had a small melt-down...


So we gave her back the stick and she had at it...


But when Mommy said her turn was up... she had a major melt-down!






Princess Alayna Danae collecting her candy


And FINALLY it was time for cake!


And of course her Nino had to smother her pretty little face with cake... but she didn't even mind!






And last she opened all her gifts with Arielle right by her side "helping" and "testing" things out.

21 Weeks - Weekly Update - The Banana

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

How far along? 21 weeks

Total Weight Gain: I don't own a scale so I don't weigh myself weekly... Up 5lbs until my next appointment on Thirsday.

Maternity Clothes? All the time! And I am finally starting to fill them out.

Stretch Marks? None new

Sleep? Still sleeping okay but a lot more waking up in the middle of the night to pee.

Best Moment This Week: Feeling constant movement from the baby.

Movement: I feel her a lot now... just waiting for those hard kicks so the kids can feel her too!

Food Cravings: Breakfast Sandwiches

Gender: It's a Girl... Miss Atalie Belle!

Labor Signs: None yet... Way too early

Belly Button - In but wide.

What I miss: Not getting up in the middle of the night...

What I am looking forward to: Possibly going to get a 4d ultrasound done.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't have none this week!

Milestones: Over the hump and into the 2nd half of my pregnancy.