Living with Gratitude

Over the last year and a half I have been focusing on just being grateful. This has changed the whole way I look at life.  Life is hard and there are plenty of moments not to be grateful for but when I am frustrated or grumpy I take a moment and remember all the goodness and it is easier to let go of the things I cannot control.  The funny thing about living with gratitude is I am even grateful for all the hard times, without them my life wouldn't be what it is today. Without the hurt and the mistakes I am not sure I would be the same person.

Oh and christmas was great! This is the first year that Elijah and Isaac were both excited for christmas morning! They woke up at 3 a.m, luckily we got them to go back to sleep until 7:30. 

Now Isaac is asking when the next holiday is. 

Merry Christmas Eve

I am amazed at how much goodness we have in our lives. 

And I am grateful for everything I have been given! 

I am thankful for...

1. For all the goodness in my life
2. My little family
3. the grocery store. It is full of food.
4. My brothers and sisters. They are amazing people and I am proud they are my friends.
5. running
6. my little house.

7. That I am married to my best friend.

8. Sparkling water

9. Laughter

10. Little hands reaching for me in the middle of the night.

11. all my amazing friends. 

12. My parents

13. Bananas, scones and coffee for breakfast

14. The ocean, even though I don't see it enough

15. That my boys can get an education. 

16. That I can continue my education

17. Sam's love of bikes

18. I get to babysit my niece three days a week. She likes me and that makes me happy

19. My boys are wild, smart and full of energy. 

20. That my boys are thankful for superheroes. 

21. for Thanksgiving. It is a good reminder to slow down and remember all the amazing things I have in my life. 

Happy 1st birthday Luc

I take my previous post back!

I change my mind. School is a ton of work for everyone! The back and forth, the homework and getting everyone ready in the morning.  But mostly I miss my boys, they are growing up so fast. My heart breaks a little every time Elijah walks into school without even giving me a high five because that is not cool or when Isaac tells me pre-school is the best thing to every happen. Don't get me wrong I am so happy they are having fun and I want them to grow up to be happy, healthy, whole people. It is just watching them walk away is like watching a little piece of my heart walk away.

Isaac looking like an Atencio on his first day of pre-school. 

The one picture Elijah let me take on his first day of 1st grade. 

The good news is Captain is still my baby! He is so damn cute. He has the cutest golden curls. He is thinking about walking. He signs a couple of words but is also saying mom, dad and please. He gets into everything! He will be one in a couple of days and that just shocks me. Where did a year go?

almost there!

That is right summer is almost over! Back in the olden days when I heard moms say they couldn't wait for summer to be over, I thought they were crazy! I mean seriously my kids are freaking awesome why in the hell would I want them away from me all day. Well this summer I FINALLY understand! I love these boys so much but they really need to go to school. The noise! The fighting! The endless energy!

I know soon enough I will regret wanting school to start because school comes with its own stress. But next week Isaac starts pre-school and Elijah has been in 1st grade for a week, so I am going to enjoy the almost three hours of kind of peace and quiet I will be getting four days a week. 

I often think about all the things I should be blogging and then I get busy and I forget. I really want this to be something my wild things can look at and know how much I love being their mom. But for now here are some pictures of our crazy life. 

 Elijah 4 months. I really love that hair do

Lucas 8 months old. I love those curls.

I think these boys look a lot a like and I love that I have pictures of them in the same outfit. I am sad Isaac never got to wear it.

my heart

These pictures are out of order but they show some of the fun things that happened in May. 

Isaac turned 4! He had his birthday party at Jungle Jim's and it was so much fun. He is such a smart handsome boy. 

We went to Chicago to visit Sam's family. I really like Chicago. And I really like being around Sam's family. 

Elijah loves his Hip-Hop class

Every moment

The only thing I am sure of is that we have to love the life we are living. We never know when life is going to change. One moment we are living and the next everything has changed. I am not going to live in fear and I will not teach my boys to live in fear. By living joyfully we win.  I am amazed at all the goodness I have in my life. I have the most amazing husband, three stubborn wild sons, a wonderful  family and awesome friends.
Yesterday my parents were in Boston when the bombings happened. They were a block away. One block and fifteen minutes and today would be a different day. I am so grateful fate was on their side but I mourn for everyone that was hurt and for everyone that lost their life. I also feel sad for every runner, the Boston Marathon is every runners dream and every runner that ran yesterday had that dream taken away. I will never understand.
I am even more determined to run the Boston Marathon one day. I am more determined to keep living my life with joy.  And yes today my heart hurts.

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