My 100 Happy Days: Day #12

So many things made me smile, but I only get to post one. One of the things that made me smile was spending the afternoon at the pool. Sun was a bit shy, but it was enough to allow me to enjoy the water. It really made me smile...

My 100 Happy Days: Day #11

Today I was looking for things to decorate my desk at work and found this card from Mimi. It is from a year ago or so when her writing skills were not as good as now. It says: "To My mom, I love you a lot like a flower. You are more beautiful than my heart". It really brought a huge smile to my face...

Throwback Thursday #2

For this week's #TBT, I'm posting a picture of the First Christmas with all three girls together... This is from December 2007. One of my favorite memories ever...

My 100 Happy Days: Day #9

When I started losing weight, one of the things I had to cut down was coffee . Why? Because I don't like black coffee and I need creamer. Anyway, occasionally, I treat myself with some coffee with a low calorie creamer I buy at Amazon. Today was a rainy day, so getting my coffee with my super yummy French Vanilla creamer, made me smile...

My 100 Happy Days: Day #7

Getting a shake with my protein power mixed with a banana and 0% milk (no sugar added) made my day. It also made me smile to be able to share it and bring a smile to somebody else's face...

My 100 Happy Days: Day #6

Working as an interpreter can be very challenging. Being the impartial middle person in a conversation is not as easy as it may sound. However, when you get the chance to help a mom to keep her children after everybody else was misunderstanding her, you know your job is more than just a job. I love what I do and that makes me happy (so yes, a shameless selfie at my desk)...

My 100 Happy Days: Day 5

After a very long and exhausting day, taking a pause and simply lay in bed while reading again one of my favorites books (Succubus Blues) made me happy today (couldn't care less about my messy hair)...

My 100 Happy Days: Day #4

Regardless how many challenges I may have on my day, there is one thing I know for sure: My BFF is ALWAYS there for me. She listens without interrupting, she doesn't judge, and she will always look at me with those adoring eyes full of love...

The pets are assigned

There are 2 pups and 3 kids. I knew it was going to be an issue to determine the "sharing" system, because they are all crazy about them. However, a neighbor gave us a kitty and the problem resolved itself.

Mimi said she wanted the kitty, and that made the process easier. Mia chose the female dog, which I named Loly... and Gaby chose the male dog, which I named Luca. Mia wanted to call her dog "Angie" and I refused to because I have a friend with that name, but I have the feeling that she will still call her "Angie" when I cannot hear her.

My 100 Happy Days: Day #2

I received an email today that REALLY brought a big smile to my face! Got the 'before and after' pictures for the Body Transformation Challenge and I'm VERY pleased. I would not post full pictures here, but I can show them in private. My goal is 40% completed!

Throwback Thursday #1

Let's get on this TBT mania. After all, I LOVE looking back at pictures. This is the girls first picture together. Gaby was 3, Mia was 13 months old Mimi was 1 week old... This pictures was taken just after she was released from the NICU...

My 100 Happy Days: Day #1

After having severe pain all over my body ALL DAY LONG (especially on my back), being able to do 60 minutes of cardio at the end of the day and burn 451 calories, made me happy...

My 100 Happy Days

It’s so easy to get trapped in the everyday routine and to find ourselves so stressed to be able to enjoy the gift of life. When we put together those little things that gave us peace, or that thing that made us feel butterflies, or that thing that gave us energy, or that other that made us laugh, or that comment that made our heart race, or that thing that simply made us smile, it is when we can feel really HAPPY.

It is not one big thing that will complete our lives… It is all those tiny little things that happen every day that would let us find true happiness. I will do my best to get a picture everyday about ONE of all the little things that made me happy each single day, just because I love having excuses to SMILE and getting reminders of how blessed I am...

I won't post all the pictures on my blog, but all 100 pictures will be on my personal Facebook page.

Off to school

Today was the first official day of school and the girls were really excited. They are aware of the many challenges each one of them will face this year and they are getting ready for them.

I wanted to get a nice picture of them together, another one with me and another one with my nephew.  I'm not very happy about the picture with me, but oh well, not much I can do when I can't be behind the lens myself.

The first day of school was a total success and they all loved their new teachers. Gaby has not meet them all, but ones she met so far are great ones.

I can't wait to see how this school year is going to be.


And here are the girls with my nephew...

Gaby, the 6th Grader

Gaby is ALL ready for 6th Grade. Just like her sisters, I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up and of course she also wants to be a veterinarian (she says that since she was 3), and also a photographer like mommy.

In our local school system, instead of being the first grade of middle school, it is actually the last grade of elementary. It's unbelievable to think that I have a child that will be 11 in just a couple of months.

This school year also brings changes for her. This will be the first school year where she will get different teachers for each subject. Up to now, it was just one main teacher for the main subjects, and the only subjects with different teachers were the special subjects like computer, PE, and such.

This means more homework because each teacher will be leaving their own homework. It's the start of her teen years, and I'm not sure I'm ready for this.



And here she is with her math teacher and then with the in-charge 6th Grade teacher...

Mia, the 3rd Grader

Mia is starting 3rd Grade, and she is super happy! For the "back to school sign", I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up and she said she wants to be a veterinarian to treat dogs and cats, and a graphic designer like her mommy.

In our local education system, kids from Preschool to 2nd Grade only get check marks for "accomplished", "in progress" or "not accomplished" (or something similar). This year, Mia will start getting actual grades and it means that it is the start of her real school years. Now she will get tests, grades with numbers, and the whole 10 yards.

All the way up to 2nd Grade, kids only need to have the correct age to move up from one grade to the other, but after 3rd Grade, kids can actually fail and repeat the year. I'm 100% that it won't be Mia's case, because she is very smart and dedicated, but it will be a huge change for her.

I can't wait to see how she adapts to be treated as a big girl... Many many changes for her, and also for my oldest nephew because they are in the same classroom. He's a little rascal at home, however at school he's very dedicated and a very fast learner.




Updated to add pictures of my nephew and Mia with their teacher...

Mimi, the 2nd Grader

I have always wanted to make "back to school" signs to take pictures of the girls on their first day, and I have never done it before. I started the tradition this year.

Mimi is 7 years old and this week she will start 2nd Grade. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up and she said "I want to be a veterinarian to be able to groom horses all day long" (her words).

She would always come up with the most unexpected answer to any question you may ask her. It's amazing what goes through her mind. I'm sure she will do awesome in 2nd Grade!!



Updated to add a picture in the classroom and another one with her 2nd Grade teacher...

Gigi's lovey

Who said only kids have loveys??

Gigi has her own Jorge to cuddle with... Isn't she adorable??