First Christmas....

Christmas was a success this year.. Not only did my husband and I get to attend church and worship the Lord, we also received gifts we were looking forward to!! We had the opportunity to purchase our first tree, our first ornaments, our first tree topper, wrap gifts. I was proud of how our First Christmas tree turned out. The picture attached was taken after we purchased the first set of gifts. You can't really tell but our tree was a bit crooked. Gabe wasn't pleased with the way I held it up, as a result it was a bit bent over. Still looks good though, right?

I would like to also share this picture of some presents!!

If you cant tell, I took the initiative and picked red and gold to be our theme color for our Christmas tree! :) I thought it looked great. It was fun picking out a tree, setting it up (not so much), buying gifts, making gifts, listening to Christmas music, spending time with our loved ones, watching Home Alone 1 & 2 over and over again, opening gifts, & saying Merry Christmas!! But then, it all comes to an end.... sad.sad.sad... time to take down the Christmas tree, put up the ornaments, store them for a year and it all repeats again!! Whats your favorite part of Christmas??

These 2010 Holidays with the help of my wonderful husband, I had to remember to keep a positive attitude and make it a great one. There was no reason to be upset over ANYTHING, we have been blessed with so many things it would be ridiculous to pout over something uncalled for. How was your attitude towards others and yourself these past days? Confession, Christmas Eve I was upset at myself over something dumb as what am I going to wear? What does it matter right?? It sounds so stupid now that I think about it, but that night it was a serious deal. Of course, Gabe told me it didn't matter but as stubborn as I am I chose to be negative about it .. ;/ After I put on clothes I wanted to wear from the beginning I was happy!! Its crazy how something like that can affect me, because I let it.. Booo!

Its easy to say I will change my attitude towards myself, and life... but for one reason or the other I manage to find a way and not be happy.. (Not all times)... I know it will take time but I will continue to work on it until I feel like I am a better person.. With my husband's reminders and help I know I will accomplish it ....

For today

Level Ten
Everyday
Everytime
Without Fail
And with
No Exceptions

Wow!

My Thanksgiving Day was great. How about yours?  My husband and I got to sleep in, get ready just in time to make it over to the Canals for lunch. The food, like always, was to delicious. Bro Joe made some ribs to die for. I understand that you are "supposed" to eat Turkey on Thanksgiving but why not change it every other year or so. Or do like Bro Joe, add a new meal besides the turkey. Gabe and I didn't eat turkey. Not that we dont like it but it gets old. I understand we only get it once a year, but still. I have not had a turkey that I can say " Man, that sure was good." Nope, not me, have you? If so, let me know where did you get it, or what exactly did you do to make it so good. Gabe and I actually had a conversation about the turkey as a meal. We think you're plate is supposed to be 75% turkey, and the rest some good o veggie sides/casseroles. Well when your plate does not have that turkey percentage I think there is something wrong. Why not change the meal every once in a while, and make it something different so at the end of the day you dont have so much leftover turkey?
Since we had  a late lunch, we hardly ate when it was time to eat at my parents house. Once again, we have the same o stuff. Turkey, ham, corn, rolls, stuffing/filling, I'm not sure what else. Point:: SAME FOOD AS EVERY YEAR. Believe it or not it gets old. Remember I'm talking on my behalf only!!! Don't get offended if you think otherwise. :)
Gabe and I bought the game Guesstures, ever heard of it? Let me tell you its such a fun game to play with family. I had a feeling some people were going to say, "No, no yo no juego," meaning no, no, I dont want to play. I have to say there was a moment where it did upset me, but I chose to have a positive attitude and play with those that were up to some fun! My dad, of course is always the number one person to sign up for something without knowing exactly what it is he is signing up for! Yes, that is him. Its so much fun being around him. (Especially when he starts sharing jokes with you)
Anyways, back to Guesstures, we played boys against girls. You are supposed to act the word to your team players as fast as you can and move on to the next word until time is up or until you act all 4 words. The guys got too competitive and TOO picky. Of course! We played for a good two hours. After those two hours of laughs, giggling, arguing, yelling the winners were.............

Score ended up being Boys 57 and Girls 54! Team players were, Diego (my brother), Hugo (my uncle), Mayo (my dad), Gabriel (my husband), Armando (my uncle), and Edgar (my cousin) representing Marco, my uncle not photographed. At then end, those that did not want to play, had a great time and I am glad as well. They got to laugh at those who were acting and help keep us in order when we all got too loud! IF you can, play this game with your friends, family members, or even co-workers. You will have a blast. Really!

It was such a memorable Thanksgiving for my family and I because everyone had such a good time. Its little things like this that helps your day/week/life be so valuable. When you think back, you are going to remember those Fun moments you spent with your family members and be so grateful for being part of that one day. I wasn't able to get everything to play but I did get everyone to laugh and have a good time! Thats what I'm talking about!! :) 

Thanksgiving day was FANTASTIC!

Thankful for....

So far this year,  I have received many blessings from the Lord. Started out with planning the wedding I had dreamed for, buying my first home with my husband (at the time my fiance), being announced as Mrs. Canal for the first time on July 10,2010, during a moment of stress an opportunity came up with a new employer, have a wonderful husband who loves me and is mature in so many ways. I need him to balance myself out every single day. Even if I dont admit it, I need him to tell me no when I need it. Im sure the rest of the year will be as great as it has been till this day.

Im looking forward to Thanksgiving this year with both sides of my family. First, we are going to spend some time with the Canal's and then with the De Luna's and the extended side as well. I am so thankful I have my in laws- who I consider my parents.
At first, when I heard Emilee (my sister in law) call them mom and dad, I though "Am I going to call them mom and dad too?" Hispanics have nicknames or simply call their in laws by their first name but not mom and dad, so to me it was something out of the ordinary. However, the more time I spent with them I realized they are like my parents.
I dont remember ever calling my dad, dad. I call my dad, "Mayo". Thats his nickname. Gabriel calls him Mayo as well. From what my mom has told me, he has never wanted to feel "old" so when I was born he told/trained me to call him mayo and not dad. There isnt anything wrong with it. Im not the only one who calls him by that name. Just about every single person in our family calls him Mayo.
So it feels nice to be able to call someone dad, and thats Bro Joe. Of course, I call my mom, mom in spanish mami. :) So again, having a woman to call mom feels great!!! By the way, I can not explain how wonderful it is to be able to eat two different types of meals. With my parents, I always get some delicious mexican food. With my in laws, we get some traditional Italian/Cajun/American food. I enjoy them all!!!!

We shall see how my 2010 Thanksgiving goes!