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.

The Rose In My Garden

Spirited kids are like roses in the garden.

They need more attention. Throw a little water on the other flowers and they grow. 

Not the rose-it needs special treatment. It has to be pruned and guided in its growth.

If you treat a rose roughly, it will wilt in your hands or stab you, make you bleed.

But there is not another flower like the rose in my garden. Its rich perfume fragrance titillates my senses. Its satin soft petals tickle my fingers. Its blooms are so vibrant they stir my soul. 

Spirited kids are like roses-they need special care. And sometimes you have to get past the thorns to truly enjoy their beauty.

As you learn about your spirited child, learn about yourself. Become aware of how stimulation, transitions, and new situations affect you. Be more cognizant of your energy level, your own need for routine, your joy in change.

Do not fear intensity. Don't let it scare you. Intensity is passion, zest, and vitality. 

Love your spirited child for who she is.

Let her make you laugh. Let her share with you how she sees, hears, and experiences the things around her. Allow her to enrich your life. Because she is more, she will make you more.~(Mary Sheedy Kurcinka from her book, " raising your spirited child")

My precious, strong willed, independent, joyful, energetic little girl whom I admire and love, 

she is my Rose.

Watercolors~ Thank you pictures

For Christmas our sweet neighbors gave Beli a teddy bear that sings Feliz Navidad

as a way to say thank you I asked Beli if she would draw something for them.

this is her painting.

2 snowmen

trees and

a rainbow.

Baki would be proud.

Have a great weekend!