The Noriega Family

So I love garage sales.  I found this baseball set for a dollar.  Natalia loves it and we needed some more toys for our backyard.  Natalia does not really get the concept of swinging at the ball.  She likes to put the ball on the tee and then she takes the bat and pushes the ball off with the end of the bat.  She smiles like she has accomplished something magnificent. 

Sienna enjoys the sunny weather as well.  She was really cranky after getting her shots on Monday, but if I took her outside then she was happy.  Hector started working at a new job site on Monday and his hours are so much better.  He has been home before 3:00 the last two days so he gets to enjoy the fun in the sun with us.  I just love my little family.

Hector got me a great cake decorating set for mother's day (I know; this is on top of the gift of my mom).  I needed to practice using my tips, so I made this fun castle cake.  Natalia is my little helper.  She loves to use the measuring cups and dump the ingredients into the mixing bowl.  I am exciting to make more fun cakes.

My Aunt Marianne sent Natalia a package in the mail.  We got the package yesterday and Natalia was excited to see what was inside.  Read the captions under the pictures and look at the pictures carefully and you will see why she had a love/hate relationship with the package.

My Aunt Marianne also sent these cute shirts for the girls.  Natalia's reads, "Big Sister" and Sienna's, "Little Sister."  They look so cute, but Natalia was not in the mood to take pictures as evidenced by her grumpy face.  I will have to try again next time. 

So Hector is amazing!  That is to say the least.  He pulled off the best Mother's Day surprise/gift for me.  I am still dumbfounded at his secret keeping abilities (this has not been a strength of his in the past; he tends to get to excited about surprises and lets the cat out of the bag).  At 9:30 Sunday night I hear my doorbell ring.  All I can think is who on earth is ringing my doorbell at 9:30?  I go to open the door and my mother is standing there.  We all wish someone would have had a camera to take a picture of my face.  I just staired at her and tried to process what I was seeing.  I knew I was looking at my mother, but my brain was trying to convince me that I was not.  Mom lives across the country and she is not able to travel yet because she just finished her Chemo treatments a few weeks ago.  Finally my mother got me out of my trance by proclaiming, "Happy Mother's Day, I am your gift!"  Hector had planned the whole thing without me knowing.  He flew her out, arranged for Krystale to pick her up, and then kept the secret for a couple of weeks.  He even got me another gift so I would not suspect anything.  It was so much fun.  My mom just left to go back home today.  We had the nicest week with her and we were all sad to drop her off at the airport.  I know it was a little difficult for my mom to travel out here and I am sure she will feel a little worn out when she gets home, but I love her so much for coming and I love my husband so much for getting her out here. 

We had so much fun spending the week with Grandma.  Sienna loves to be held, so she was in heaven having an extra set of arms around.  Natalia loves to play with her Legos.  Grandma got down on the floor with her and built countless Lego houses.  Natalia would grab Grandma's hand, "coming, house, sit, please."  Natalia also loved reading books with Grandma. 

We had the best time with my mom.  We went out to Frozen Custard a couple of times, played with the girls, spent some time soaking up the sun in the back yard (my mom got a nice tan while she was here...pretty easy to get a little sun when you have spent an entire winter curled up under blankets), went to the movies and out to eat, and mostly just enjoyed her company and good conversation. 

I love my mom immensely.  I love her even more now that I am a mother myself.  I know that she loves me and I am grateful to have such a caring understanding woman to call my mom.  I am eternally grateful for all of the lessons that she taught me and continues to teach me.  She is a shining example to my children.  She is a fantastic grandmother, mother, and friend.  I cannot imagine my life without her.  I know that her influence has shaped me into the woman that I am.  I hope that I will always be able to make her proud.  I know that I am proud to call her my mom.  Mom I love you.  Thank you for coming to spend the week with us.

Sometimes when we play outside Natalia will come up to me and pronounce,"I want to drive!"  It has taken me a minute to figure out what she wants, because this is not a request I expect from an almost two year old, but once I realize what she is saying I figure, "why not".  Seriously, Natalia would play in the front of the car for hours if I let her.  Do not worry;  I role down the windows and I turn down her request to have the keys and keep the car off.  She loves it though!  Now I have to work on her not crying when it is time to be done. 

We had such a lovely Easter this year.  I am really discovering that holidays with children are so joyful and filled with enthusiasm.  We started to notice how exciting the child centered holiday was at Halloween time.  Each holiday that has followed has been catered to Natalia and we have enjoyed watching her participate more than I can describe in words but all you parents out there understand what I am talking about.  Up until this point our holidays were very adult centered.  I do not live close to my family so I have not even spent many holidays around nieces and nephews.  It has been awhile since I had a need to buy Easter eggs, let alone hide them...well, that all changed this year. 

Natalia went on four Easter egg hunts in total.  The Monday before Easter, we hide just a couple of eggs in the house to teach her what hunting for eggs was.  This is easy to teach a child because as soon as they find out there is candy inside...well...need I say more.  Natalia thought it was a great FHE lesson and she was ready for the other hunts that would come later in the week.  Friday at playgroup we did a hunt with all the kids.  Natalia found her first egg all by her self, but was content to just sit down and eat the contents of the egg.  She did not grasp the concept that she should keep looking for more eggs.  The next day we had a BBQ with some friends and did another egg hunt.  Natalia was really starting to understand at this point and she was so much fun to watch.  When she would find an egg a look of accomplishment and shire joy would spread across her little face.  Sunday we celebrated Easter at Hector's parents' house and of course we had to hide a few eggs so they could watch Natalia hunt for them.  That is where these pictures were taken.  We sure love our little lady.  She has really grown up these past couple of months.  She is using so many words and communicating what she wants.  Her personality is becoming much more dynamic, however, she is still very shy.  I love that children help bring joy to everyday life.  I especially love that they help us remember the little things and the importance of the simple things in life.  Even with all th egg hunting I made the real meaning of Easter more a priority this year and I have been blessed with more gratitude for the Savior in return.