Seven Years

Another snow day for my kiddos today! Today makes their weekend a four day weekend and they’re ecstatic. I can’t blame them; if I remember correctly, for kids snow days are the best :)! Me in the other hand, had to get up early and come to work *sigh*.  

After arriving at work I was sitting on my desk sort of complaining to my coworker about how Worcester has it all backwards, cancelling school when the roads are clean and having school on the worse days, when the conversation sort of drifted towards graduations…

Co-worker: “Well at least you won’t have to deal with that after they graduate!”

Me: “Yup, I’ll be able to relax in like seven years up the road!”

My brain: No kidding!

And then it dawned on me that there was some truth in that statement! To make sure my brain wasn’t playing any tricks on me I decided to come up with a timeline. Here it is…

2017 – Abdiel & Adrian’s 8^th Grade Graduation

2018 – Jovan’s High School Graduation

2019 – Julissa’s 8^th Grade Graduation

2020 – Julissa’s Quince

          Our 20^th Wedding Anniversary

2021 – Abdiel & Adrian’s HS Graduation

2022 – Jovan’s College Graduation

2023 – Julissa’s High School Graduation

WOAH!…it looks like Kiki and I will need a side gig just to cover the costs of life’s biggest milestones lol! But really though, the diaper era has nothing on our future budget! ;)

BRING ON the next seven years and beyond! We're not ready but we'll make 'em happen!

Yamilka <3

Thrifty Holiday Fun Around New England

I'm always looking for fun things to do with the kids around the holidays, but due to the fact that they're getting older - hello teen years *sigh* - that task is becoming a challenge; gosh, I really miss those days when it was easy to please them and when I decided where and when we were going somewhere lol! But I'm thankfull that some of the holiday things that they enjoyed when they were younger are still ejoyable for them today :). 

Having a large family I always looked for thrifty fun around my area, and while looking up things to do today, I decided to make a little compilation of such things to share with all of you that are interested! I have actually done some of these in the past and they're still family favorites. Here's the list, I hope you all enjoy it and take advantage Of everything on the list...

1. Town of Worcester Festival of Lights/Christmas Tree Lighting

When: December 2ND, 6-8pm

Where: Worcester Commons, behind City Hall

Cost: Free, unless you want to skate

2. Mesa Farm’s “The Living Nativity” Live Performance

When: December 10 & 11, 4 & 5:30p, each day

Where: 67 Muschopauge Road, Rutland, MA

Notes: *Bring cookies or brownies to share with everyone!* Donations are welcome and appreciated.

3. La Salette Festival of Lights

When: November 24^th – January 1^st, 5 – 9:00 pm daily

Where: 947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA

Notes: This is a walk-though light display

4. Bright Nights at Forest Park

When: November 23 – January 1^st, 5-9pm Sat-Thu, 5-11p Fri-Sun & Holidays

Where: Forest Park, Springfield, MA

Cost: $18 Mon-Thur, $21 Fri-Sun & Holidays. There is a $3.00p off coupon on their website to print. $10- Tuesday, Dec 6 & 13. November 23, opening night is only $6-.

Notes: Drive Through light displays.

5. The Enchanted Village

When: November 19^th – January 1^st, Mon-Frid 11a-8p; Sat 10a-9pm; 11a-5pm

Where: Jordan’s Furniture, Avon, MA

Notes: Check Jordan’s Furniture website for full details

Enjoy!

Yamilka <3

When it's Gloomy Out, Puerto Ricans Make Sancocho

It's been raining out for a couple of days here in Massachusetts, which is completely welcome, especially after the intense drought that we had over the summer!

But with the rain comes also the frigid weather and that is not welcome for sure lol.

Our leaves are definitely enjoying the wet stuff outside. I thought that our foliage was not happening this year due to lack of rain, but looking at my maple tree that doesn't seem to be the case. This tree and it's majestic colors make me so happy! :) <3

My husband and I were lounging under our blankets on the sofa, watching the Patriots game (Go Pats! Welcome back Brady!), when we looked at each other and blurted out almost at the same exact time; 'this weather is perfect for some sancocho!'

Sancocho is a hearty stew made with red meat, chicken or pork, green plantains, potatoes and several varieties of spanish root vegetables. This dish is to Puertoricans what beef stew is to Americans, but with a lot more sazón - literally and figuratively lol ;). It's usually accompanied with a plate of white rice on the side and some avocado. It's an understatement to say that it is the perfect comfort food for gloomy weather like today's!

So off went my hubby and I to the Spanish bodega to buy all the yummy ingredients for some sancocho.

The prep work is a little tedious and time consuming...

  ...but the final product is always finger-licking-good!

I took the opportunity to practice my photography lighting, hope the above pictures do this delicious dish justice!

Hope everyone has an amazing week.

~ Yamilka <3 ~

A Peek of Sergeant Center Through Class Dojo

From my post the other night, I’m sure many of you already know that Julissa is at an overnight, 6^th grade nature camp problem at Sergeant Center in New Hampshire. If not, you can read all about it here. We miss her a whole lot but are happy that she’s having all sorts of fun! How do we know? Read on…

While away on this overnight camp, communication with parents is virtually non-existent (unless an emergency comes up; of course), because the point of this trip is for kids to disconnect from home and engage with their classmates and have fun. This was true when Jovan attended Sergeant Center a few years ago. I literally dropped off my firstborn and didn’t hear from him until the day he got back!

But technology evolves and fast forward five years comes Class Dojo into the classrooms. With this app, teachers can share class activities, announcements and pictures of the students with parents and/or guardians in the classroom setting. It’s a great tool for educators and parents alike. It’s nice to see your kids interacting in class with classmates and seeing them engage in the classroom. There’s even a very nice perk, which I’m not going to lie, is my favorite part :) – and that is being able to see sneak peeks of the kids enjoying themselves and having fun on field trips or class trips like Sergeant Center!  

My husband is an even bigger fan of Class Dojo than me, so he checks it constantly, scanning for pictures of our kids. In fact he’s been snooping a lot this week lol! 

Here’s what he’s found…

Well that's all! I just wanted to share with you all a little bit of Julissa's world away from home. Can't wait to see what she has in store in the disposable camera that she took with her so I can share some more :)!

Yamilka <3 

Julissa 6th Grade Trip to Sargent Center

It's finally here - the 6th grade trip to Sargent Center! Julissa just couldn't wait, she's been talking about this trip for what feels like forever! Quite literally, for the past three years. She was so excited that she packed her suitcase on Friday although the trip was scheduled for the Tuesday after Labor Day lol.

Being the youngest in our house, Julissa gets to experience everything last, which only make her more and more impatient when it comes to exciting things such as this trip. But for Kiki and me it's whole a different experience because we are more relaxed due to the fact that we know what to expect on such adventures. By the time it's Julissa's turn we are pros! 

I remember when it was time for Jovan to take this very same trip; I went crazy sorting his luggage, making sure everything was labeled in his suitcase and I even went as far as sorting each day's outfit into a gallon sized Ziploc bag *For any of you wondering, yah, that didn't really work - he's a boy after all!*. When I dropped him off at school I got all emotional (in the car, of course. I wouldn't dare embarrass him in front of his friends lol). Then I just sat home the entire four days worrying that rain was in the forecast, that he would be cold, that he wouldn't eat right, and everything else in between. 

By the time it was time for Abdiel and Adrian to go, they packed most of their bags but I supervised. I dropped them off at school and they were happily on their way and I was excited for them. It was a more relaxing and low key experience - they had each other, I shrugged. 

This time around for Julissa is a lot different; I am at ease and happy she gets to experience this and we get to enjoy the experience along with her. I'm not rushing or worrying too much - I get to stop and smell the roses, per say, but I won't lie, because this is the last time I'll be sending one of my kiddos to Sargent Center for this trip, it feels a little bittersweet.

Here are some pictures of the send off of my baby to explore some of the beauty God has created for the world to enjoy...

Off she goes with the luggage she packed all on her own!

I have a feeling this won't be the first or last time I'll take a picture like this one...

or one of her climbing a bus like this one...

The look of excitement on her face...priceless! Ugh, but why do you have to grow up so fast though?!

Dear Julissa; we love having you as the baby of the house. We love you are the last one we get to experience everything with, but you know what we love more? - that we get to see you enjoy life to the fullest. 

You make our lives whole! :)

Love, Mom <3

Jovan Conquering Boston Roads

I took a trip to the city of Boston this past Sunday to pick up a piece of furniture and took Jovan with me to help. On the way there he asked me if he could drive back *eeek*.

Those of you that have driven in the big city know how crazy those Boston roads are, but if you don't know, here's a meme I find hilarious...

I swallowed hard and said "okay, as long as you bring us back home alive!" lol. 

Well, I'm here and I'm alive and here's a video to prove it!

Some people think I'm crazy to let Jovan drive everywhere, particularly when it includes highways. But here's my take on it; I like to consider myself a pretty safe driver, so I rather that Jovan learns what he needs to learn from me (and driver's Ed classes, of course) than by other not-so-safe people. 

There's a saying that circulates around FB that says that "How you talk to your child becomes their inner voice"...well I want that to be true when Jovan decides to speed down a freeway. Maybe that'll save his life someday!

-Yamilka <3

Why I Write About My Kids

If you follow my blog or we are "friends" on Facebook or you personally know me, you already know that I constantly write and talk about my kids. I do it daily...okay fine, hourly, actually. I enjoy talking about my kids - this is certainly not a secret or anything new to anyone who knows me! 

The other day another Mom and I were having a conversation when she pointed out that I am "...definitely that Mom that posts everything about their kids on Facebook!"...I just laughed and agreed, because really it only takes a scrolls down my FB feed to realize that yes, I am that Mom who constantly posts about her kids lol. But then I started thinking about that comment and asking myself why I enjoy writing and talking so much about my kids. So I decided to do what I do best; blog about it - HA!

So, I write about my kids because ...

...I enjoy it

Talking about my kids makes me happy! I mean, who doesn't like to brag about their kids?! I love being a Mom (reeeeally?! As if most people didn't already know that lol!) and so talking about my kids gives me the happy feels you get when, let's say...eat ice cream or you get a new outfit!  

...I want to record EVERY single milestone

If you went back and looked at some of my FB, IG or Blogspot timelines, you would see posts that are hashtaged or titled with words such as - "First Day of School" or "First Job"...keywords for milestones. I want to record every single milestone my kids accomplish; from loosing their first tooth to graduating college! I want to remember the dates when these things happened, their reactions, my reactions, who was there, who wasn't, how was the weather...I want to record everything! I want my kids, my husband and I to be able to look back at my posts and remember everything about that day. 

...I want to tell the story of an image

I am a photographer, and although a picture can speak a thousand words in itself, it makes it that much more interesting by attaching a story to it. So I write to tell a story about my child's picture.

...I am a blogger

And the main reason I started this blog was to write about my kids! 

...I'm proud and want the world to know

I want the world to see how proud I am of my kids and everything they have accomplished.

and lastly, I write because...

...I want them to know 

I want my kids to read these posts some day in the future and see how much they grew, year after year...and not just in height! I want them to read these posts in the future (maybe when they are all grown up and have formed their own families) and feel the pride I felt when they reached the honor role list, or when they hit their first home run, got their first job or got behind the wheel of a car for the very first time! 

I want to document how excited I felt every single time any one of them accomplished something new or reached a personal goal! 

I want them to know I was watching their every move and I took note - I got my eye on you, you hear?! 

I want them to know I was always there cheering them on when they took a new challenge and that I was and always will be their biggest supporter!

And so the reason I write about my kids is because I am a proud Mom that feels blessed and privileged to carry that tittle and who also happens to enjoy writing, so why not mix the best of both worlds?!

P.S.
Now I want to go for some ice cream :p - with my kids of course lol. 

Love,

~** Yamilka**~ <3