And AWAY we go!

I can't even begin to tell you guys how excited I am to finally be geting away, even though its only for a short 4 day long weekend. Robert and I are going to Washington, DC. Yay!!! I've never been. He's been but it was a long time ago!

Oh and did I mention we aren't taking the girls with us?! Yep, a trip without the girls. I'm not sure how to react to that. The last time Robert and I went alone on a trip was when Arianna was 2 1/2 months (she really didn't have a personality then, but both have them now) and we went to Florida for 3 short days. Since then, we've taken Arianna and now Avonlea everywhere we go. Well any ways, Robert and I are so ready for this much needed break away. I will miss the girls, but we need some 'us' time.

We've been married 7 years peoples and we haven't even taken a trip alone. We've gone on our dates and have left them overnight at my mom's or in-laws, but never more than then an overnighter. It's almost a test for me...good thing it's only 4 days I guess. I may get emotional.

So things we are looking forward to doing:

*Holocaust Museum-wierd I know, but I've dreamed of going to this place foreva! I have a crazy facination with this story and the history of it all.
*Tour of capitol and all the monuments
*Food and Dining-if you know of a place we've just got to go too, please let me know.
*Restoring Hope Rally-At first I was a little unsure about this, but I'm actually looking forward to hearing speakers such as Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. This is an all day event at the mall. I'm sure it will be all over the news.
*Shopping-Saks Fifth Avenue (which I know I can't afford, but I want to see it anyways), and all the local shops
*Friends-Meeting some friends for lunch/dinner at Old Towne Alexandria and just walking around the cute shops.

Now we only get so many days so we'll be trying to pack a lot of stuff in. Please tell me though, if you've been, and what places we've just got to see. Any suggestions??? We've never been so we have no clue where to go. I did some research and know of only certain places.

Life with your Spouse-good or bad!

For the past several weeks, our connect group class (a.k.a sunday school class) has focused on a marriage study called "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage", by Mark Gungor. I was a bit hesitant about it at first because we've all heard "church sermons or studies' on marriages and it always goes back to how communication is always key and that couples just need to talk. Well pooey on talking! Yes, communication is great, but you have to know WHY spouses do what they do that upsets you. Communication is very important but it's not just about communication. It's about knowing your spouse, their thoughts behind their actions, why they did what they did, why they said what they said, etc.

Well, this study went beyond communication, we spoke about everything! Her brain, his brain. I recommend it for all couples going through good or bad. I have to admit, this study has opened my eyes!! I honestly believe my marriage will be so much better if I apply to my marriage what I've learned through this study. Divorce is not an option for us. I meant my vows and I know he meant his. We are partners for life. It's our job to work with each other to make marriage work. People make mistakes yeah, but who doesn't!

It's never really just your spouses fault (of course there are always special cases). It has to do with both of you. It all starts with something that leads to something else. Sometimes the dumbest littlest things. It's so sad when I hear people saying, 'if it doesn't work, we'll just get a divorce" as if it's a game. We should not try to mimick celebrities who play marriage or marry for 3 months and then divorce. That's just sad. Marriage is not a game. It's sacred. We need to understand each other and help improve our marriages. We should not sit in silence and suffer alone, but have other couples to look to and to mentor us. People, please talk about what you're going through rather than bottle it up. It's not healthy for you nor your spouse. Seek advice and don't think you know it all already. Don't hold grudges or resentment, don't say the words always and never. It only hurts your marriage.

Robert and myself go through a lot. I think people look at us and automically assume we don't ever have problems or that we are this happy little couple because we go to church. Yes, we are happy lots of times, but we go through difficulties like any other marriage. We have our struggles too. In the past, prior to this study we've just gone through, we didn't know how to fix the problem. We still don't and are learning! We aren't perfect. However, we know now how to go about making it better before the problem starts. We are working towards a better marriage. And I'm not saying we won't be arguing any more, because regardless, we are human and we won't always see eye to eye. We are working through things though that cause us to argue continually like not listening when I'm talking, not giving him enough credit for things he does around the house or out, not enough encouragment, focusing too much time on distractions rather than me or not giving enough of my attention to him, not meeting each other's love language ect...

Here are some of the things we learned and I will work on applying to my marriage:

*Know your spouses love language. Take this quiz and know your own personal love language, then have your spouse take it. Learn what each of your languages are and apply it to each other and your spouse. Works wonders!!! I loved it! www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/personal-profiles/?profiletype=wives
-The five love languages are: Acts of Service, Quality time, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, and gifts.
If your spouse's love language is words of affirmation then try to learn to give them the praise they need, the admiration, thank them for something they've done, etc...

*Pornography and Lust in marriages-the uh ohs, what no one wants to talk about. How some people feel this could spice up your marriage or in some instances save it but really only (only lies from satan-the world-celebrity magazines suggest it) can overtime destroy your marriage-your sex life. Sad but true..think about it..do you really want to invite another couple, woman/man into your personal sex life. Do you really think your man/woman should be making love to you while looking at another man/woman rather than appreciate your body/you?! This can destroy your self esteem. More so for women than a men. This also opens doors for your spouse to watch pornograhy without you because you've given permission to it. Please becareful and think about it next time you pull it out. It does not help, even if for the moment you may think it does.

*Taking interest in what your spouse does. If your spouse enjoys video games (mine for example) take time to sit with them or even play games with them. Don't make fun of them for their hobby or belittle the hobby. It's what they enjoy and take pride in doing. If your spouse enjoys fishing, painting, going on walks, etc... surprise them and go with them.

*Most importantly, making God the center of your relationship. Only God can truly fulfil your desires for a better marriage, only God has the power to restore a broken marriage, and only God can make your marriage work and be healthy. God designed marriage as an instrument to make us more like Christ. As Christ loved the church so should husbands love their wives and wives love and submit to their husbands as leaders of their households. Make God a priority and your marriage will be so much better.

Those are some of the things I've taken from the study and will apply to my marriage. My goal is to be a better wife, appreciate him more, be the lover he needs me to be, believe in his hopes and dreams, love him more than I should and lastly support him through life. I'm going to try very hard to be the wife God wants me to be for the man who is not only my best friend or husband, but the father of my children.

I hope that if anyone reads this, you will make every effort to be a better spouse. Please don't give up on your marriage. Know that there are solutions to whatever happens. Always, always, always, put God first. I would highly recommend 'Laughing Your way to a Better Marriage' and taking the 5 love languages quiz. I suggest doing it together with your spouse. It's a fun quiz and a way to learn something new about your spouse. Seriously!

And people, please, don't think for one second, that there's such a thing as a perfect marriage! Because there's not. You work towards it.

My Expensive Wish List

I thought I'd share some of the things/items I'm really wanting right now but can't have because they're so DANG expensive. We have to be cheap these days because we have only one income coming in. Any ways, I have an extensive wish list, however I'm only going to share a few of the things I want at the moment.

Outside Lanterns-Pottery Barn

I'm looking everywhere but potterybarn, hoping I can find them elsewhere for way cheaper. They range from $50 to 100 a piece. Aren't they beautiful though?!

The Cricut Machine

I have so many freakin' ideas! I'm using a friend for a special project I'm working on at the moment. So excited about it!

My own laptop

My own so I can do whatever I wish to with it (yep upside-down children peeps). We have a laptop, but Robert pretty much claims it. I haven't bought one because at the moment it's not a need, but a want. I use my work laptop that I take everywhere, but have to becareful with because of strict stupid policies.

A Vintage Bicycle
I want to go on bicycle trips up and down my road or neighboring neighborhoods imagining myself in Europe or something. :) In all seriousness...a way to get me out for an enjoyable workout.



A Nikon Digital Camera
This way I can take my very own professional pictures of my girls, family and friends rather than pay lots of $$$ to have someone else do it.

Patio Furniture

I've been wanting this forever!! Iron patio furniture. However...can't afford $1,000 right now. I want a six seater (i know this is 8 and not 6). I want a gorgeous backyard and have people over for back yard parties.

Deck seating-Iron

I want to come out in the mornings or late evenings and enjoy a nice cup of coffee and have great night conversations.

So my friends...if you find any of these items for cheap cheap..please let me know. I'm looking really hard EVERYWHERE. Just haven't found it.

Avonlea turned the big numero UNO!

It's hard to believe that my baby (no longer baby) turned 1 on July 29th. It honestly feels like I was just pregnant and that I just had her. Time has seriously flown by! She's the cutest baby EVA! Of course any mother would say that about their own child, even though there are people out there who might (lets hope not) think my child is ugly.

Here are some of the things she's doing: taking steps (not quite walking on her own yet), she's a fast crawler, blabbers non-stop, points when wanting something, eats so much (I love this about her because Arianna is extremely picky), says uh oh, ma-ma, da-da, claps, sleeps close to 12 hours straight, drinks 4 6oz bottles of formula a day, eats 2 non formula meals, and holds her own bottle. Oh and she's starting to love books.

Any ways, her birthday party was this past weekend and it was fun. I decided to go with a ladybug themed party. Ladybug themed stuff is HARD to find. I went to Target, Party City, a local party store and Wal-mart and none of them had anything ladybugish. I finally decided to go to the flea market to try and find some things there, since Kristy, a long time friend, goes all the time and buys her party stuff there. Well, I found them there and O.M.G! They have lots of party stuff and for CHEAPO! I bought 5 packets-10 each of ladybug plates for 75 cents a piece along with ladybug napkins. I was so excited. I highly recommend the flea market for anything party.

I decorated the table with ladybug colors by placing black and red party streamers, black and red balloons and a red table cloth. I placed a newborn picture of Avonlea on the table along with a 12 month photo of her dressed in her birthday ladybug clothing.

The party was fun. I had 2 ballpits, a bouncer, a piñata (which us hispanics have to have!), and several outside games that no one used (no one even stepped unto my deck b/c it was so freakin' hot outside). We had a total of 41 people in my house. Which is a lot for my not so open floor plan house. 15 people didn't show. I couldn't imagine 15 more people in my house.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Here's the before picture of the pails I bought at the dollar store

After I added the black polka dots-aren't they so cute!

Getting ready to hit the piñata!

The cake table. I added Avonlea's infant and 12month pictures. My sister made the cupcakes. Notice the cupcakes shaped into a ladybug?!

Here she is wondering what the heck she has in front of her-her very own little ladybug cake It's on now! Oh yes! yummy! Can we say sugar coma possibly?
After the fact! Poor girl. She got a bath right away!

Both families pictured above after her bath...The Ruiz familia and the Eddy clan.

We had a great time and I'm sure she won't ever remember this birthday, however I will never forget it. Happy Birthday Avonlea! We love you so much!

Cute little sayings

My oldest child, Arianna who is 3 years old is one of the funniest little people I know. She's cute and she makes me laugh so hard sometimes. This is such a fun age...really! So I thought I'd share some of her little sayings:

Me: Arianna, please put that napkin on the table and not the floor.
Arianna: Why?
Me: Because the floor is not clean.
Arianna: well CLEAN IT!
(on this one I had to turn around and laugh but get on her case because she does not speak to mommy in that tone. I have to add she waved her hands dramatically and yelled when she told me to clean the floor.)

Arianna: Are we going to church?
Daddy: No, we are going to church tomorrow.
Arianna: But I'm wearing a dress....

Arianna: A rat looks like an ugly mouse. Our mouses are beautiful, but they got hurt and needed a doctor.

Arianna: the spider was beautiful. I didn't like the legs though.

Me: Just eat 5 bites and you can get up
Arianna: How about 3?
Me: No, you eat 5 and your done.
Arianna: okay 4 then.
The little booger is a negotiator too.

Joyce (Grandma): Arianna becareful when I open this door.
Arianna: Grandma, you're going to kill me!

There's just so many more too and I wish I could remember them all, but I had to share some of these because she's a hot mess! :) I love my little bug and couldn't imagine my life without her.

My American Idol Experience

Not many people know about what I did this past weekend....soooo I'm going to-feeling a little bummed-share my true American Idol experience and all someone has to go through just to get through. I challenged myself and took my voice to the streets and prejudges of American Idol along with about 16,000 other people. Yep, I was that person, who got there at 5am, waited in line for 3 hours, marched to the Bridgestone Arena and sat and waited for another 9 hours to get the judges to hear my voice for only a 20 second period slot. 12 hours later, I'm walking out!! It was one of the longest days of my life! Truly.

Over the years, I've been told that my voice is good and that I should try to do something with it. So, I gave it a shot. I'm 28 years old and it's my last year to try. Cutting off age is 28. I truly love and enjoy singing! I don't think I'm horrible, however I would never put myself under the category of 'most amazing' singer. I would simply say, I'm good and can carry a tune.

I've done a lot of solos in church, have been backup for the Gaither Homecoming Tour and Avalon, worked on projects for Lifeway's Rickshaw CD-VBS project, winner of some karoke contests, sung at work events and am currently working on my very own never-ending Christian cd. I have enjoyed every experience thus far and everything has helped me grow a lot! So I thought, why not take it a bit further possibly?

I've watched American Idol since the infamous Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol in History. I've watched them all. From Carrie Underwood to Kris Allen to Lee DeWyze. So I thought...what if...what if I could become something bigger or for that matter make connections...so I took myself to the try outs,by myself. Everyone had their boyfriends, girlfriends, moms, dads, husbands, wives, best friends, you name it. I seroiusly talked to no one who came alone. Why didn't Robert go...someone had to keep the girls, my sisters weren't available, parents out of town, etc... everyone had something going on. In some ways, I wanted someone there with me to support me or simply to have someone there to talk to, but in other ways, I would have felt bad for someone to be there with me for that long and waste their day. I was happy I went even though. As you probably already figured, I didn't make it..not even through the first rounds.

So here's how it goes: I decided Wednesday evening to give this a shot. I went to the arena Thursday to register and get a wristband to then go back on Saturday morning. On Saturday, while patiently waiting along with everyone else, I met a group of people (pictured below). Nata wouldn't sing, Lisa sang country and was not good at all. I felt bad for her in some ways because her friend was obviously not being honest with her. Now, the bigger looking napoleon dynamite guy who looks goofy, I honestly didn't think he was going to be able to sing. Well, I was way WRONG! He was amazing-yes in that category!! He tried last year in Atlanta and didn't get through. He came back to try once more. He's only 18 years old young! He's got many years ahead of him to try if he didn't make it again. I couldn't tell you whether he made it or not because we all had assigned seating in the arena. He was in level 3 while I was in level 2.

Here I am with my wrist band, a few hours before leaving the house at 4am! Excited and pumped! I look tired and the day hadn't even started!

At 5am waiting in a huge crowd!!

Here is the 'crowd' behind me. notice how far back the line goes?!

And another.....check how far up it goes...

here are the peeps I met who were trying out as well. From left to right, Nata, Lisa, Wierdo Ben and me! I look like a shrimp next to them. Watch season 10 and you may possibly see one of them.

Once inside the arena

Check out the crowd of auditioners

okay so here is where it gets interesting...they put 24 judges on the floor, they call you by section and you go down to the arena floor in groups of 4 people.
So yes, everyone around you hears you singing. You don't get to the actual tv judges until like round 4. After this first round you sing in front of producers, then you sing to the executives, then you finally sing to the tv judges...what we actually watch on tv! No one really knows how much one has to go through just to get to them.

Here are people auditioning now in groups-once your on floor you go up to judges- sing and you either get to go to another round and go out the left side (winners door) or you go out the losers door on the right side. :)

So honestly by the time I got to the floor at close to 5pm, I had maybe seen 75 tickets given out. Out of thousands who had already volunteered. A friend told me they thought maybe only 100 tickets were given out for Nashville alone. It's hard to get through. REALLY HARD! They pass stupid people like hula hoop dancers, nerds who can't sing, people who act stupid..which maybe I should have done. Great singers are overlooked and it makes me hate the show! In the group I went with..no one got through..not even the groups in front of me. There's was a girl who I honestly thought would make it. She was cute, sang awesome and could hit some high notes! But no..instead the guy next to her who was nerdy and sang stupidly made it. All for entertainment purposes. So the world could make fun of him. That's sad! I do hope that someone in Nashville can sing. I didn't hear everyone's voices so I'm not so sure. They would have had to pick some good people. When I went up, I decided at the last minute to sing, "Eyes on the Sparrow". I thought I could show of my voice qualities good with that one. Even the crowd outside told me I should sing that one. It was that one or either 'Only Hope' by Mandy Moore (why, because everyone has forgotten that song and it's beautiful). Yes, I sang to a group of people outside the doors. So I went up to my two judges, was very personable with them, even told the one lady, that I had seen her on tv and that it was so awesome to be standing before her..well yeah, that didn't work. I sang, she said, very nice, and I moved back. After the 4 of us sang, they called us to their table and said it wasn't season 10 worth! Whatever that means! I sang my little heart out and nothing!

I'm glad however that I tried. Had I not gone, I would have regretted it and would have thought, 'what if..' So I am happy I went, even though it was a 12 hour day. I can at least now say, I've tried for American Idol.

And well..here I am back home holding my only souvenir ticket after NOT making it past those stupid judges..something I can keep to say, yep, been there done that.

That's my true American Idol Experience.

Dumbfounded

Maybe it's just me-I don't know, but I was completely astonished when I read the article. Shocked more like it. I receive a daily email from 'mamapedia' on motherly advise. Most of the time, I delete it, however this time the title 'Feeling Unappreciated' caught my eye and I had to see what it was about. Now don't go off thinking I'm feeling sorry for myself-I just wanted to read it.

Any ways, apparently there is a website dedicated to helping people have affairs and helping them conceal it from their spouse! Okay, first off, this is absolutely ridiculous and I had no idea sites like this even existed. Maybe this is old news and I'm just out of the loop, but REALLY? On an average Monday, 3,000 women sign up after not feeling appreciated from their husbands. The day after mother's day, no joke, 31,000 women signed up for this. Obviously these women aren't recieving the attention and they are looking for the comfort and love they aren't getting. I mean, I think at some point, or several times during my marriage I have felt like this. I would lie if I said i didn't. I'm sure other wifes or even mother's have felt like this before. The email I recieve talked about tips in how to improve your marriage before going to this stupid website. But it seriously blew my mind to know such a thing.

It saddens my heart that our world is already so corrupt and it continues to get worse. Satan is out to attack families and knows exactly what he's doing. He's tearing families apart! I will not let it happen to mine. Prayer is continuous. I love my husband and children dearly...there are times yes-honestly I feel unapreciated for the things I do and I would love to be put on a pedestal, but it's simply not going to happen ALL the time. I'm sure he feels the same way at times. We get caught up in our daily schedules that we forget at times to say, 'thank you.' God put Robert in my life and he's the one I'm going to honor. I know there are marriages that simply don't work and affairs happen on a daily basis. Life is hard and mistakes happen yes, but to have a website to help people find affairs kills me. Those people who created this business will one day stand before God. I pray that whoever reads this, will seek God's help rather than a website full of garbage!