Oh....boy! Gabriella is just growing up! She has been singing "Happy Birthday to You" as of late, asking "Quien es" when you are talking on the phone and dying to say hi, she counts to 10 in Spanish and to about 5 in English. She will tell you great stories and explain how her day went. I cannot believe that she is speaking in phrases. It seriously blows my mind. She learns so much every day.......good job, Papi for spending so much quality time with her. What a blessing that we have had that opportunity. She is mostly potty trained and doing soooo well with that adventure as well!
I have been very busy with work. Still teaching full-time, coordinating for the English dept.,and giving professional classes in the city. I really like my job, the people I work with, and my students. It has been a great year so far. I am looking forward to the summer when I can spend all day with my hubby and baby girl!
Still missing my friends and family in Utah. I sure hope we can come back one day soon. Enrique dreadfully missed SLC and is anxious to go back, see friends and family, and work a 9-5 again.
We had a great New Year and Valentine's day. Looking forward to Spring Break and seeing my mom and Mr. J! Georgie G as we like to call him down here.
XoXoXoXo
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Cupcakes
I have been reading Nienie's blog and then linked over to The Sweet Tooth Fairy's blog, which then linked me over to some other cool cupcakes sites/blogs. I am so inspired. There are sooooo many delicious and super cute cupcakes to make! My mission is to make some and sell them in a cute little cafe in Mexico City......The only problem is that I can't actually bake very well.....slight oversight. Where there's a will there's a way, right? I think I can....I think I can....I think I can....
Monday, December 21, 2009
Happy Holidays
We have had such a great 2009! We started off the new year celebrating with our good friend George and my mom! It was so great having them with us to welcome in 2009! I honestly cannot believe it is nearly 2010! We got to visit Acapulco a couple of times this year, and it is beautiful there! We also made a couple of trips to visit Enrique’s family in Puebla. Gabriella and I were lucky enough to make it back to Salt Lake City for 2 visits during 2009 and it was great to see everybody! My job title this year is full-time English teacher and I also got a promotion being the English team representative. It has been a great professional experience for me. I have also been lucky enough to be conducting some professional development workshops for other English teachers here in Mexico CIty! Enrique is looking into opening an import business, so wish us luck on that front!
"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first." Frederick B. Wilcox
This year has also been a great time for reflection. I have really been thinking about how crazy this adventure we call life is and about fate! I sure didn’t imagine my life turning out this way. I never thought I’d be living in Mexico City with my husband and daughter. On the flip side, how great it is that Gabby gets to grow up with both of her parents and in one of the largest cities in the world. Rather than weep and morn for the life I wish I had, I’d rather be thankful and appreciate all that I have been given. I am very thankful for a super supportive family, amazing friends who are always willing to listen, a fantastic husband who truly cares for his family, and a good job. We may not be in Utah right now, but we are making the most of our time abroad. Gabriella is picking up both English and Spanish with ease, and being bilingual could be the best gift we ever give her! So, I am trying to live the optimistic life and keep thinking “when life gives you lemons....make lemonade!” It tastes great!
Love and best wishes to all our family and friends. We have really appreciated the support and words of wisdom over this past year. We hope to see you all soon!
"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first." Frederick B. Wilcox
This year has also been a great time for reflection. I have really been thinking about how crazy this adventure we call life is and about fate! I sure didn’t imagine my life turning out this way. I never thought I’d be living in Mexico City with my husband and daughter. On the flip side, how great it is that Gabby gets to grow up with both of her parents and in one of the largest cities in the world. Rather than weep and morn for the life I wish I had, I’d rather be thankful and appreciate all that I have been given. I am very thankful for a super supportive family, amazing friends who are always willing to listen, a fantastic husband who truly cares for his family, and a good job. We may not be in Utah right now, but we are making the most of our time abroad. Gabriella is picking up both English and Spanish with ease, and being bilingual could be the best gift we ever give her! So, I am trying to live the optimistic life and keep thinking “when life gives you lemons....make lemonade!” It tastes great!
Love and best wishes to all our family and friends. We have really appreciated the support and words of wisdom over this past year. We hope to see you all soon!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Immigration Reform
So, we heard on the news here in Mexico yesterday that immigration reform has been introduced. If anyone of persuasion having to do with immigration reform happens upon this blog, please remember WE ARE NOT JUST CASE NUMBERS! WE ARE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WITH FACES, FEELING, EDUCATION, AND DREAMS!!!!! That is all I ask. Treat everybody like a HUMAN BEING and not just a case being processed or a quota to fill.
Thanks for your time!
Thanks for your time!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
November Already??
I cannot believe that we already in mid-November! It is so crazy how time flies by! We have been busy picking out Gabby's Christmas presents, planning her 2nd birthday party, celebrating Thanksgiving with our friends here in Mexico, putting up the Christmas tree, and enjoying each other. Gabby is working on potty training and she talks up a storm!
The holiday season really brings on the homesickness. These are the times where I wish we could at least go back to Utah for a visit as a family. I still think it is unfair that Enrique can't get his visa right now. If I just knew the right people... :) An ambassador maybe....congressman???? Consulate officer?? :) Oh well! Here we are! Hoping some of my family and friends can come down and visit us for the holiday season!
Work is going well. I had given some professional development classes to a group of English teachers down here. We started the sessions last spring and finished them up this fall. The teachers really enjoyed them and I enjoyed teaching adults! That was first for me! I learned a lot and it really pushed me to remember to incorporate the programs that I have been trained in into my everyday teaching. A different school contacted me this week hoping to take some classes from me! Yeah! I have also been thinking alot and jotting down ideas for creating a teaching handbook for Writer's Workshop. There aren't a lot of teaching aids down here, so let's see where I can go with this idea!
Enrique is still daddy of the year! He and Gabby have a blast during the days and Gabby really enjoys getting out of the house. Enrique is taking steps to start a lunch catering business down here. He loves cooking Chinese food and he's ready to do something with his cooking flair!
We have been realizing these past few months how fortunate we really are. I had a great opportunity to come down to Mexico and work, Enrique has had a chance to stay home and take a very active role in the raising of our daughter, and best of all we are all together. Things aren't going as we planned (with having to live down here), but here we are and we're going to make the best of it! We still talk regularly about trying to migrate up to Canada. Seems like it would be more like how I envisioned our life in the U.S. I don't know if it the country of Mexico that depresses me at times, or if it is being in the big city. I am certainly not used to being in such a large, congested, busy, polluted, dirty place.
Sometimes I think that if we were rich life would be much better down here. Then I think about the children I teach. Most of them are rich and I have already had two conferences this year with parents who are in the midst of a divorce. That hits home with me. Money isn't always the answer....it's a band-aid.
I will never stop wishing for a visa to come through. I do want to Gabby to experience life in the U.S. and I hope that our family can be there together.
Hope life is treating you well.
Hugs.
The holiday season really brings on the homesickness. These are the times where I wish we could at least go back to Utah for a visit as a family. I still think it is unfair that Enrique can't get his visa right now. If I just knew the right people... :) An ambassador maybe....congressman???? Consulate officer?? :) Oh well! Here we are! Hoping some of my family and friends can come down and visit us for the holiday season!
Work is going well. I had given some professional development classes to a group of English teachers down here. We started the sessions last spring and finished them up this fall. The teachers really enjoyed them and I enjoyed teaching adults! That was first for me! I learned a lot and it really pushed me to remember to incorporate the programs that I have been trained in into my everyday teaching. A different school contacted me this week hoping to take some classes from me! Yeah! I have also been thinking alot and jotting down ideas for creating a teaching handbook for Writer's Workshop. There aren't a lot of teaching aids down here, so let's see where I can go with this idea!
Enrique is still daddy of the year! He and Gabby have a blast during the days and Gabby really enjoys getting out of the house. Enrique is taking steps to start a lunch catering business down here. He loves cooking Chinese food and he's ready to do something with his cooking flair!
We have been realizing these past few months how fortunate we really are. I had a great opportunity to come down to Mexico and work, Enrique has had a chance to stay home and take a very active role in the raising of our daughter, and best of all we are all together. Things aren't going as we planned (with having to live down here), but here we are and we're going to make the best of it! We still talk regularly about trying to migrate up to Canada. Seems like it would be more like how I envisioned our life in the U.S. I don't know if it the country of Mexico that depresses me at times, or if it is being in the big city. I am certainly not used to being in such a large, congested, busy, polluted, dirty place.
Sometimes I think that if we were rich life would be much better down here. Then I think about the children I teach. Most of them are rich and I have already had two conferences this year with parents who are in the midst of a divorce. That hits home with me. Money isn't always the answer....it's a band-aid.
I will never stop wishing for a visa to come through. I do want to Gabby to experience life in the U.S. and I hope that our family can be there together.
Hope life is treating you well.
Hugs.
Friday, November 6, 2009
And These Are The Days of Our Lives...
Wow! Time has FLOWN by and we haven't been blogging! Facebook has been consuming my life....so easy to put up pics and video that I've forgotten all about our blog!
Since it's November and the time of year where we heavily reflect on that for which we are grateful, I thought I'd take a minute and blog about what I am grateful for.
First, I am SO grateful for my awesome husband and spirited daughter. They are the highlight of my life and make me want to work as hard as possible so we have a great life. Enrique is my partner and I couldn't accomplish all that I do professionally, without him. He takes such good care of our baby girl and I can't imagine anyone else who would be so great to me! Gabriella is a total delight and joy. She has the best smile and laugh and is so social! She loves talking to people and making them laugh! I cannot believe everything she learns and how quickly she learns it!
As much as I have had a difficult time this year being away from family and friends, I really am grateful for the opportunity we've had to live in one of the largest cities in the world! I have really come to appreciate the diversity here and the cultural experiences. I now highly enjoy sushi, tacos al pastor, and Chai tea. Weird how I had to move to a new country to step out and try some new things!
I am also very grateful for my family and friends back in Utah. Being able to keep in touch with them via the internet really makes the distance seem less vast. I love catching up and hearing from everybody!
My job is another thing I am thankful for. I really do enjoy where I work and my students are awesome! I have been given quite a few extra opportunities this year to teach English teachers and develop myself professionally. It's kind of exciting to think of what could come in the next year or two....
You know back when Enrique's visa was denied I thought my world was over. I couldn't imagine moving away from Utah..even less to Mexico City! I didn't know how we could make ends meet and keep our house in Utah, but here we are! It hasn't been easy, but it has been an eventful, fun, eye-opening year. The best is yet to come!
Since it's November and the time of year where we heavily reflect on that for which we are grateful, I thought I'd take a minute and blog about what I am grateful for.
First, I am SO grateful for my awesome husband and spirited daughter. They are the highlight of my life and make me want to work as hard as possible so we have a great life. Enrique is my partner and I couldn't accomplish all that I do professionally, without him. He takes such good care of our baby girl and I can't imagine anyone else who would be so great to me! Gabriella is a total delight and joy. She has the best smile and laugh and is so social! She loves talking to people and making them laugh! I cannot believe everything she learns and how quickly she learns it!
As much as I have had a difficult time this year being away from family and friends, I really am grateful for the opportunity we've had to live in one of the largest cities in the world! I have really come to appreciate the diversity here and the cultural experiences. I now highly enjoy sushi, tacos al pastor, and Chai tea. Weird how I had to move to a new country to step out and try some new things!
I am also very grateful for my family and friends back in Utah. Being able to keep in touch with them via the internet really makes the distance seem less vast. I love catching up and hearing from everybody!
My job is another thing I am thankful for. I really do enjoy where I work and my students are awesome! I have been given quite a few extra opportunities this year to teach English teachers and develop myself professionally. It's kind of exciting to think of what could come in the next year or two....
You know back when Enrique's visa was denied I thought my world was over. I couldn't imagine moving away from Utah..even less to Mexico City! I didn't know how we could make ends meet and keep our house in Utah, but here we are! It hasn't been easy, but it has been an eventful, fun, eye-opening year. The best is yet to come!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Home Again Home Again...Jiggety Jig
Gabby and I are back from a fantastic visit to the states. We spent 3 weeks catching up with family and friends, enjoying the summer heat, and of course eating at my favorite places! The time FLEW by so quickly! We had such a great time, but really missed Enrique so we are happy to be back in Mexico once again.
Gabriella is growing up so quickly! She can say many single words like: up, down, out, off, hi, hola, hello, bye, papa, dada, daddy, mom, mama, mommy, cat, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth. She knows most Spanish and English forms of the words and will literally "gab" for a good length of time with you (even though most of it is jibberish right now). It is so amazing to watch her grow and to see how influential we as parents are. She really looks to us as role models...which is a good reminder for Enrique and I to watch what we eat and how we talk to each other and other people.
Being back in Mexico, I really miss being in Utah! I just want to have my cake and eat it, too! I want to be able to be with Enrique while raising Gabby in a clean, safe environment. To me, that would be in SLC, but that is not what is in store for us right now. We have to be strong and roll with the punches. Who knows what's in store for us and where life will take us! I am content here in Mexico, but I wouldn't say I'm super happy. Nor is Enrique. He misses being in the states--working, seeing his friends, our house, my family, etc... It has been awesome getting to know his family which probably would never have happened if we were still in SLC. Gotta keep looking at the positives....
We are thinking of trying to head to to Canada next year. Enrique would love to go to a culinary arts school and perhaps I could teach up there. That idea is complicated by Canada requiring visas for Mexicans now, but I think it could work out for us if we can get him a student visa. We'll see...... We are also thinking that maybe we just need to get out of the big city. Maybe we'll end up closer to the ocean. You just never know! We don't give up hope that Obama may pass legislation to help our immigration situation...again...you never know!
Hope all is well with one and all.
Hugs,
LFG
Gabriella is growing up so quickly! She can say many single words like: up, down, out, off, hi, hola, hello, bye, papa, dada, daddy, mom, mama, mommy, cat, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth. She knows most Spanish and English forms of the words and will literally "gab" for a good length of time with you (even though most of it is jibberish right now). It is so amazing to watch her grow and to see how influential we as parents are. She really looks to us as role models...which is a good reminder for Enrique and I to watch what we eat and how we talk to each other and other people.
Being back in Mexico, I really miss being in Utah! I just want to have my cake and eat it, too! I want to be able to be with Enrique while raising Gabby in a clean, safe environment. To me, that would be in SLC, but that is not what is in store for us right now. We have to be strong and roll with the punches. Who knows what's in store for us and where life will take us! I am content here in Mexico, but I wouldn't say I'm super happy. Nor is Enrique. He misses being in the states--working, seeing his friends, our house, my family, etc... It has been awesome getting to know his family which probably would never have happened if we were still in SLC. Gotta keep looking at the positives....
We are thinking of trying to head to to Canada next year. Enrique would love to go to a culinary arts school and perhaps I could teach up there. That idea is complicated by Canada requiring visas for Mexicans now, but I think it could work out for us if we can get him a student visa. We'll see...... We are also thinking that maybe we just need to get out of the big city. Maybe we'll end up closer to the ocean. You just never know! We don't give up hope that Obama may pass legislation to help our immigration situation...again...you never know!
Hope all is well with one and all.
Hugs,
LFG
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