Baby tomato plants in egg shells

Looks like winter weather is finally over ( I hope) and 

today should be very warm and  the perfect day to work on my balcony garden. 

A few weeks ago I planted my tomato seeds in empty egg shells and 

I'm still amazed at how fast they grow.

Isn't mother nature amazing?

In addition to tomato plants, I would also like to have basil, oregano, jalapenos and lots of flowers,

I just think being in touch with nature makes you happier, if that makes sense?

Oh, and while we are on the topic of baby tomato plants,

I am too growing a baby.

Beli is super excited about being a Big Sister!

Actually we are all very happy about this new family

member that will be joining us this Fall.

Another reason for being Thankful!

Birthday celebration and lots of cake~

My precious Beli turns 5!

She is in such a hurry to grow up that if you ask her how old she is, 

her reply is, " I'm seven!"

But to us she is still our precious little girl.

We had two celebrations. Last month we traveled to Iowa to spend a weekend with my family.

Beli was confused if it was really her birthday.

Then we celebrated again this past Sunday.

I came across this carrot cheesecake recipe while reading my friend's blog, Loveaffair
and I thought it would be perfect for Beli's birthday.
To my dismay, Beli didn't like the carrot cheesecake, so hubby went and purchased a small cake from the grocery store. 

You can find the English version of the recipe, here

Some days, she is camera shy.

This was in Iowa. 

Showing off some of her artwork. 

Feliz Cumpleanos mi nina preciosa~ 

Happy birthday my precious girl.

awaiting springtime~ esperando la llegada de la primavera

There is always something new and wonderful to learn and absorb.

Downtown Denver~

This weekend we left the comfort of our suburb community to drive into the city. It's about a half hour drive, (not that bad ) but always fun to say "let's go into the city!" 

Beli asked where we were going and we told her the museum.

Every first Saturday of the month the Denver Art Museum has free admission for residents of Colorado.

As you can image it was a busy day.

Does your city host something similar?

She was not very happy about me taking a picture of her.

We spent most of our time in the Family Fun Center. 

Then the Cafe on the main floor. As Hubby and I  were sipping coffee,  Beli was watching some kids's show on TV of dogs cooking. ( but somehow humans were doing the cooking??) it was strangely funny! You can see a link of the video here. 

  Making a project

Beli wanted to play with the snow, it was sunny but still cold.

And the building below is where hubby is taking a night class. 

Once a week he makes the drive out here to attend a course for this MBA.

We miss him at dinner time when it's just Beli and I.

Beli thinks it's quite funny that Daddy is going to school, because he is a big person she argues.

And that was our weekend.

How was yours?

Mt Pocono, Pennsylvania

Last year I visited Pennsylvania for the first time with my older sister and two of our very good friends. As tradition goes, every year for her birthday my sister travels to New York ( and I usually tag along!) This time we planned a weekend trip to Mt Pocono before arriving to New York. Our friend Nando made all the arrangements. We rented a lodge and had a very relaxing time. We went horse back riding, cooked at home,  and we laughed. Did we laugh!

view from our kitchen~hello there

 The Fab Four!

Happy Memories!

can't wait for this year's celebration.

Las hormigas~ The story about a hero

There was once a little girl living in Mexico with her parents and Grandparents. One

summer day the little girl's Mom had to work in the field so she asked the little girl's grandfather if He could keep an eye on her. She was only one year old and very much interested in her surroundings, and how she loved nature and animals. In the blink of an eye, the little girl found herself in the middle of an ant's nest. Several ants were crawling on her legs when her Grandfather rescued her.

He rescued her from being bitten. 

----

That little girl was me. Yes my Grandfather was my hero.

Go Isabelita ! Go pick some pecans for your Mother.

That's what my Grandfather told Beli the last time we visited him in Texas. 

And now.....I close my eyes and I see him. I hear him. The endearment in his voice. How he said my daughter's name. Isabelita. Isabelita venga para aca y saludeme.  Mi Abuelito, He was a great storyteller and loved to tell me about when I was a kid living in Mexico.  And he would always tell me  the ants story. How I was sitting in the middle of an ant's nest when I was one year old, and how he rescued me. It's difficult to write this....

People grieve in different ways. He had a good fight with cancer, he was determined to do all the treatments and go to all his  doctor's visits. You see, we kept the truth about his cancer being terminal, but he knew, he knew all along.  I think he taught us a great lesson. Be strong. He never complained about being in pain. On my last visit I saw  how he wanted to us to know, his whole family ( 10 kids, and 23 grand-kids and 22 great-grand-kids) that he wanted to keep fighting.  He didn't want to give up without a good fight.

Today  January 17 is his birthday. He would have been 79 years old , we remember him with a big smile.

Mi querido Abuelito. 
Siempre me voy acordar de las hormigas.
And your Great-granddaughter will always know what a wonderful,
caring and strong man you were.