Los Donados

Milestone Alert!

2011-02-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

Sonja lost her first tooth on Valentine's Day! She got a visit from the Ms.Toothfairy that night and still has the prettiest smile ever.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

This year, we let Sonja pick out her own Valentine gift, and she chose LEGGOS! Big girl Leggos, as she calls them. She and daddy already built a pretty sweet little ice cream shop.

We put together her box with Grandma and Grandpa last weekend, and yesterday afternoon the three of us formed a little assembly line and whipped out these Valentine treats for her friends at school.

Unfortunately, I'll be spending V-day in class until late tonight, but Angel is going to help Sonja make some Valentine brownies tonight, and I'll be anxiously waiting to partake as soon as I can get home.

Happy Valentine's Day to all our family and friends!

A Day on the Slopes

2011-02-11T16:36:00.002-07:00

Tenille recently reminded me that she’s been wanting me to go skiing with her for years, and I just couldn’t let another year come and go without making it happen. Thanks to my Deer Valley hook-up (thank you, Chris) I was able to score 2 passes for her birthday. As I hadn’t skied a day in my life, I had no idea what to expect. Thankfully, my mom and dad gave Angel and I two season passes to Park City Mountain Resort, so I was able to get some practice in before our big day. Turns out, I have a considerable fear of careening down a steep hill and not being able to stop, which would surely result in either severe injury or sudden death. It took some tears and a lot of patience, but Angel was able to give me quite the first lesson and I felt somewhat confident that I wouldn’t completely spoil my day with Tenille.

Melanie, who is quite the skilled skier, joined us and I have to say, it was a day to remember. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and we had the best time laughing, catching up and enjoying some BFF-QT. The fear was definitely still there, but it got milder and milder as the day went on and by the end I was feeling like I had a decent handle on the whole skiing, and more importantly, stopping thing. But the day wasn’t about my being able to ski, or even about me overcoming my crazy anxieties. It was about sharing an experience with my friend that meant a lot to her, and it was so great. Happy Birthday, Tenille!

Incredible Christmas

2011-01-06T10:49:00.001-07:00

Christmas was very special this year. Angel asked that we spend one Christmas at home instead of going to my parents’. He had a very specific vision of us camped out on the living room floor, him and I sneaking around the house playing Santa, and Sonja waking up surrounded by gifts and the magic of Christmas morning. And that’s exactly what he got. We made cookies on Christmas Eve, and Sonja wrote her letter to Santa. Then, when Sonja was knocked-out asleep, Angel and I scurried around the house, tip-toeing up the stairs, and gently placing the gifts under the tree, careful not to wake her up. We choked down Santa’s cookies, wrote a thank-you note from Santa, and went to sleep. At around 6:30am Sonja sat straight up, took one look at the tree, and loudly whispered, “Santa came! He really came!” We made her wait for coffee, hot chocolate, and cinnamon rolls to go into the oven before we opened gifts. We incorporated the traditions I had with my parents (that will always mean so much to me), and made it our own. It was incredible.

Me in Review

2011-01-06T07:58:00.003-07:00

Instead of reflecting on another year gone by, especially one that was such a whirlwind, I decided to reflect on... me. Self-indulgent? Maybe. But, I got to thinking... There are a lot of things some of the people I’m closest to don’t even know about me. I guess I'm just in a sharing mood.

I have a weird fascination with gore lately. 30 Days of Night, SO COOL! Zombieland, I watch over and over. The Walking Dead, I watched the whole season in 2 days. I have recurring dreams about zombies now, but what do ya do?

I love anything Judd Apatow does. I’m a major fan of every actor in his movies too! Jason Segal, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Paul Rudd, Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, I can’t get enough. And James Franco... I adore him! Even as a stoner in Pinapple Express, he managed to move me. Spiderman, not so much.

Lately, I’m loving me some British humor. I love Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand. I like them so much that I’ve started watching the original BBC version of The Office, and I’m anxious to read Russell Brand’s autobiography.

I have a special place in my heart for The Muppets. I grew up watching Sesame Street, and have memories of Kermit’s breaking news report, “Little Bo Peep’s Sheep Have Gone Missing” and pretending like I was a sophisticated grown-up watching the news. My favorite muppet is Grover, and my favorite Christmas movie is The Muppet’s Christmas Carol (I cry every time). Jason Segal is filming a new Muppet movie that will be out next fall! That’s almost as cool as Seth Rogen dressed up like Frida Kahlo in Vanity Fair Magazine. Which brings me to my next favorite thing…

Frida Kahlo. A lot of people know this about me, but they don’t know why. Same with peacocks. I love the peacock feather, but I can’t really tell you why. Of course they’re beautiful, but so are a lot of things that I’m not particularly drawn to. I once read that peacock feathers represent accepting one’s own beauty. I like that. But, is that where the connection lies? Eh... Same with Frida Kahlo. I can go on and on about how amazing she was, both as a woman and an artist, but again, there a lot of exceptional women that I don’t quite have the same fascination with. Like Trekkies or weird adults who like unicorns. It’s just a part of me I guess.

I have dreams of becoming a Wasatch Derby Girl. I started out just being curious about it and wanted to check out a game… That is until I saw Whip It, with Kristin Wiig (Another one of my favorites). It was then that I started to fantasize about inflicting pain and coming up with a kick-ass derby name. Frida Kill-O? Penelope Pain? Don't laugh. Just wait, one day I'll be black and blue, grinning from ear to ear.

I love everything coconut. Except coconut milk.

I don’t like curry, or most Thai and Indian food. But, I love Pad Thai.

I’ve mentioned on my blog before my interest in the Tudor era and King Henry XIII. That’s random enough to mention twice.

Music I’m listening to now. KINGS OF LEON, KINGS OF LEON, KINGS OF LEON, B.O.B, Chiddy Bang, Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi, Foo Fighters, The Black Crows. MGMT, Swell Season, Talking Heads, always the Stones... My favorite song right now, (this week anyway) is Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi.

That’s enough for now. I’m anxious to see what I’ll be into in 2012. Stay tuned...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

2010-06-23T09:02:00.002-06:00

These are some cards I made for Daddy and Grandpa. Angel, you are an incredible father. Thank you for making her laugh, and helping her to become the sweet, smart, funny, and beautiful little girl she is. And Dad, I love you with all my heart! I'll always be Daddy's Girl.

Good-bye Preschool, Hello Kindergarten

2010-06-22T16:24:00.001-06:00

Sonja graduated from preschool last Friday. I didn’t expect to be so emotional, but there I was, tearing up as she marched to the podium in her little cap and gown. As they called the names of each graduate, the school director read what they want to be when they grow up. Sonja’s response was, “A doctor, because I want to help everyone.” Doctor, Scientist, Dancer, Artist, Architect, whatever… she is destined for greatness. We are so, so very proud!

Grandma is so proud of her babitas!

My Birthday... So far.

2010-06-16T16:27:00.000-06:00

(Card designed by Christy Baugh. I want to be her when I grow up! I am truly and forever your no. 1 fan!)

I love my birthday! So far I've been spoiled with...

•    A sweet card from my sweet Sonja

•    An EXTRA LARGE coconut latte (my favorite)

•    Homemade éclairs courtesy of Anna Burks (work homie)

•    Bagels also courtesy of my co-workers

•    Lunch at Sawadee (I <3 Pad Thai)! Again, thank you Advertising Dept.

•    Tons of phone calls, texts, emails, and a Facebook page packed with happy birthdays.

And it’s only 3 o’ clock!

Happy Ammavrsry!

2010-06-03T16:36:00.004-06:00

How, funny, sweet, thoughtful, tender, precious, and adorable is this? Sonja did this at school, and her teacher couldn’t wait to tell Angel how fascinated she was that she did it completely on her own, without anyone giving her the idea or asking for help. We were also blown away by her attempt to sound out such a big word, and that she thought to do something special for mommy and daddy in the midst of her fun school day. We love our mamacitas!

Back to School

2010-06-01T16:22:00.002-06:00

It’s official! I’ve registered for classes and will be returning to school next fall. I’ll start with SLCC to get my Associates in Visual Art & Design, and see what happens after that. I’ll still be working full-time, so life might be a little rough for a while. I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous… Ok, I’m A LOT nervous. Classrooms? Homework? Teachers? Grades? Ahhhh!! But, this is something I’ve wanted for a long time, and didn’t think I’d ever get the opportunity to go back. Now it’s all happening, and I’m just going to dive in. I guess I better live it up this summer, and prepare to kiss my 9 o’clock bedtime good-bye. No sacrifice, no victory, right? Thanks for the inspiration Transformers! Wow, I’m a nerd.

Aloha

2010-05-28T16:20:00.001-06:00

Sonja learned about different cultures at school last month, and had to dress up one day to show what a particular culture wears. We chose Hawaii.We spent an evening together on the computer learning all about the Hawaiian culture. We watched hula videos looked at all the different islands, and even learned some Hawaiian words. A hui hou! (Until we meet again)

She also came home one day with her face painted and said, "Mommy, today I learned about Aberigians!" (Aborigines)

3 Years

2010-05-26T20:09:00.010-06:00

Angel and I were married 3 years ago today.

He had a sweet card for me right as I woke up this morning, and beautiful roses and lilies were delivered this afternoon.

Angel, I'm so in love with you. You still make my heart pound just like the first time we met on the dance floor. I love you forever too!

Race for the Cure

2010-04-22T14:46:00.003-06:00

For our annual Christmas charity, Maggie Sottero proudly raised $15,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. In an effort to continue in the fight against breast cancer throughout the year, we have decided to participate in Race for the Cure on May 8th . The department that has the highest ratio of people signed up gets lunch, dress down days, and their cars washed. The people with the lowest ratio of people signed up have to WASH THE CARS! Don’t let me end up like this…

Sonja and I will be there, and we'd love for you to join us!

Here's how you register:

1. Follow this link: http://www.komenslc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=501

2. Click on Register Now!

3. Enter in your personal information and then click continue to the next page.

4. On this page you will be prompted to select your participant type, your fundraising goal, and then your role. Under role you will need to select Join a Team. From there you will be able to select Maggie Sottero under the corporate section. Please note that in order for me to get credit for this event, you and whomever you sign up will need to join the Maggie Sottero team.

5. Once you have selected Maggie Sottero as your team, please continue on to the next step and follow the prompts.

If you want to pass this on to anyone else that might be interested, please do. Email me back (jessica.donado@gmail.com) so I know who is signing up for our department.

For more information about the Susan G. Komen foundation, visit www.komen.org.

Frida Bistro

2010-04-22T12:56:00.014-06:00

I can’t believe I am just finding out about this! For those of you that don’t know, I had always been curious about Frida Kahlo, but fell in love with her and her work after reading her biography in college. Last week, Tenille saw a billboard downtown and asked me if I’d heard about this restaurant. I was moved to tears to see something dedicated to Frida right here in Salt Lake, the last place I would ever expect. The owner is Jorge Fierro, also the owner of RICO Mexican foods. I haven’t been yet, only because I think I’d like to save it for a special occasion. I especially love their slogan, “Make Love to Our Food”. Very sexy… just as Frida would have wanted it.

Easter 2010

2010-04-22T11:39:00.009-06:00

Here are some pictures from Easter, FINALLY! Saturday morning we went to an Easter Egg hunt at my Grandma Alice’s place. Then, we went to my aunt Marie’s for another Easter egg hunt/birthday party for Greenlie. Jill had cutest little activities for all the kids! That night, we laid out Sonja’s presents from the Easter Bunny, then hid some eggs around the house for her to find when she woke up (a tradition from when I was little until I was probably 16). She got some outdoor toys, spring clothes, Princess and the Frog, and a couple other little things. On Sunday, we colored eggs and had a nice brunch. Hope everyone had a great Easter!

Enright Escapades

2010-04-16T16:03:00.012-06:00

Check out my cousin Lindsey's blog! (www.myeverydayescapades.blogspot.com)

If you're looking for someone to vicariously share an adventure with, she's your gal. She’s so fun and inspiring, and it will be great for her to share her thoughts and journeys with the rest of the world.

She just spent a week in New York, and now she's in Costa Rica for the rest of the month. Love you, Linds!

Revelry

2010-03-29T21:56:00.007-06:00

Kings of Leon are coming to SLC July 19th. Oh, I’ll be there! Finally, redemption from missing out on Swell Season when they came last year.

This is one of my favorites…

I CAN'T WAIT!

Meet Milo

2010-02-15T11:29:00.003-07:00

This was Sonja’s valentine from mommy and daddy. Now she has a kitty of her very own. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY everyone!

Homemade Valentines

2010-02-15T11:26:00.006-07:00

As I browsed for Valentine cards and treats for Sonja’s first Valentine exchange at school, I couldn’t believe my choices! Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, Mickey Mouse, etc. There had to be something that wasn’t a blatant and cheesy advertisement for Disney! I thought, Sonja and I can sit down and make something ourselves. It couldn’t be that hard, right? We bought construction paper, glitter glue, Tootsie pops, and pencils. The idea was to make a little heart flower using the sucker as a stem, and the pencil as a little bonus gift I guess. Not so easy, and not as cute as I thought they would turn out, but it was a fun little project for us to do together.

Late Nights

2010-02-15T11:26:00.002-07:00

Working late is tough for so many reasons, but it turns into heartbreak when I have to tell Sonja. I made my co-workers feel a lump in their throat when I told her that although she would already be fast asleep, I would be sure to give her a kiss goodnight when I got home. She was so sweet and simply told me that she would be a good girl for daddy, and that she missed me. When I finally got home and trudged up to my room very tired and grumpy, I found this on my pillow. Very moved, I rushed into her room to give her a kiss goodnight just like I promised. I stayed for a long time, just holding her as I shed a very grateful and joyous tear or two. Needless to say, all thoughts of work melted away and I was simply a very happy mommy.

Snow Angels

2010-02-05T14:44:00.002-07:00

Sonja's Big Catch!

2010-02-05T14:30:00.002-07:00

Fish Lake 2010

2010-02-04T15:10:00.005-07:00

We took our annual trip to Fish Lake last week, and it was incredible! First of all, we all stayed healthy this year. Second, I was definitely more prepared with actual winter gear. And third, it was BEAUTIFUL! The clear blue skies were paralleled with endless pristine white snow, and the sky-high mountains were decorated with rows and rows of frosted pine trees. It was quiet and peaceful… Well, besides our talk and laughter while the fishermen (and women) fished, and the occasional, “I got one!” and “Wow, that’s a beauty!” hollered all across the ice. Sonja reeled in two fish and Angel caught quite a few that he was pretty proud of. And, we spared no time chowing them down. They were filleted and fried by lunchtime. Nights were spent eating, hanging out in our cozy cabins, eating, and playing games... and eating. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Well maybe for me, the summer heat, a nice beach, and an ice cold Corona would be about the only thing that could top it.

Sonja catching a good size perch.

This is our "Spruce" cabin.

See my dad in the reflection?

This is Angel's proud catch for the day.

Who gets "Yugoslavia" playing Pictionary? AMAZING!

More Christmas and New Year Pictures

2010-01-08T14:05:00.002-07:00

2009: It was a good year.

2010-01-06T11:43:00.001-07:00

I can definitely say that we had a wonderful Christmas and a fun New Year. Santa knew just what Sonja wanted. She got a Disney Princess dollhouse, and instead of a “real Barbie make-up set” he was wise enough to get her a Kaboodle with her very own nail polish, lip smackers, and hair pretties. Oh, that Santa. He does know what’s best. Angel got his coveted Snuggie, so he can stay nice and cuddled up while he blasts the heads off of war enemies and alien soldiers in the man-cave. I got lots of jammies , movies, and… wait for it… I finally got a Wii!! It was from Sonja to mommy, so I guess she had one full piggy bank! It was my last gift, and as she excitedly put the wrapped box in my hands, “It’s a Wii!” burst out of her mouth. She just couldn’t hold the surprise in any longer.

On New Year’s Eve, we went to Clucker’s house for a bit, then brang in the New Year at home, just the 3 of us. We spent the rest of the week sledding, hanging out with family and friends, and reminiscing about the fun year we had. Here are some of our favorite moments in 2009!

Thank You Tia Carolina, Abuelita and Kids!

2009-12-16T16:12:00.004-07:00

Maybe Someday...

2009-11-17T16:49:00.004-07:00

On my list of things to do before I die: See Swell Season perform live. I was so close... They're performing here in SLC at the Jeanne Wagner Theater on November 28th, but sadly I will not be crossing it off my list this year. The show sold out so quickly, I never even had a chance. Someday...

Playing in the Leaves

2009-11-13T12:15:00.004-07:00

This was just a random day during the week after work. Who could resist a big pile of freshly fallen leaves to jump into?

Random Obession: King Henry VIII and The Tudor Era

2009-11-11T16:25:00.004-07:00

I know this sounds crazy, but I’ll explain… For a while I’ve been curious about Showtime’s “The Tudors”, secretly because I have a large crush on the actor that plays Henry (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). I’ve heard it was “just ok”, but I decided to give it an episode or two to see for myself. I was immediately hooked. I watched episodes whenever I could, which wasn’t very often. Angel had no interest, and it’s definitely not a show for Sonja. It got to a point where I just couldn’t wait between episodes anymore. I finally stayed up all night watching practically the entire 2nd season! By the time it was over, I was completely mesmerized. I continued to look online for more about King Henry and his six wives. Then I got into Queen Elizabeth, and now I want to learn all about her! My Netflix account is full of movies and documentaries about the Tudor era. It kind of spoiled the story as far as the show is concerned, but I couldn’t help myself. I’ve had dreams about it and everything. Obsess much? What will be next, Daniel Boone? Make a movie about him starring a hot actor and I’ll be all over it.

Los Donado's 2009

2009-11-06T10:21:00.002-07:00

For those of you that didn't see this on Facebook, here's our family pictures taken this September. Stacy, you amaze me! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for capturing our family in such a beautiful way.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-03T17:53:00.010-07:00

We had a very busy Halloween...

Thursday, we carved pumpkins.

Friday, Sonja had a Halloween parade at school. This is what she probably had been doing throughout her whole march, until she got to us and we told her to use a different finger. Nice.

Then, we zoomed out to Tooele for Devenee's Halloween party.

Saturday afternoon, it was back to Sonja's school for a Halloween Carnival. They had storytelling, arts & crafts, a magic show, treats, and best of all... Cotton candy!!

Then, for the grand finale, we went to Chris and Breanna's for some trick-or-treating, and more festivities. Needless to say, Sunday we were couch potatoes! Happy Halloween!!

P.S. Thank you aunt Carolina for the Halloween gift card for Sonja. She used it to buy the decorations for her pumpkin and a new Halloween bag. We love you!!

Ruby's 2nd Chance

2009-09-13T12:23:00.004-06:00

Sonja’s fish tank has been making a loud humming sound, so we decided it was time for a new one. Angel was in the process of transferring Ruby from his old tank and accidentally dropped him in the disposal side of the sink. “Jess, come quick!” Angel yelled, and I quickly ran into the kitchen. “I lost Ruby!” he said in panic. “Stick your hand down there and get him out!” I just couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t know what I was grabbing and I thought I would squish him and his guts would be dripping between my fingers. So, he got a pair of tongs tried his best to get him out, intravenously running water to try to keep him alive. After a while passed by, I told him that he was most likely gone, and we had to tell Sonja. I explained to her what happened and said, “I’m sure he found his way through the pipes and found a nice new home. You can pick a new baby fish all by yourself this weekend.” I thought that would distract her a little and she wouldn’t be too upset. Well, I was WRONG! She immediately started sobbing, “I want my fishy, he was MY red fishy!” We tried to console her by telling her Ruby was fine, and offering her some cookies. That just created a new concern, “Ruby will need food, we need to get him food!” Our hearts broke. Angel couldn’t hold it in after that and tears welled up in his eyes. He felt so awful and seeing Sonja so upset was too much to bear. All he could do was hold her and tell her he was so sorry. Then, I started to cry. Can you imagine a little beta causing so much grief? But Ruby was a gift from her Abuelita, so he was special. She finally calmed down, ate her cookies, and went to bed. An hour or two later, I was just falling asleep when Angel came upstairs to say, “Guess what… Ruby is alive!” After putting Sonja to bed, he heard Ruby flopping down the sink and decided to keep trying. He pulled out the rubber stopper and was able to reach in and grab him. Other than some damage to his long, feathery fin, he seemed to be fine. I can’t believe he was still alive after that long! I told him to wake Sonja up and tell her, but when she’s asleep, she’s ASLEEP and couldn’t care less. He took her down to see, and all she said was, "Can I go back to bed now?" The next morning she woke up so happy and excited to see Ruby at her bedside in his shiny, new tank. Daddy, you're our hero!

And Isa was very happy to have Ruby back too.

Photoshop Skillz

2009-09-10T16:12:00.004-06:00

My mom has given me some photos to experiment with, and it has been great practice for working with color. I still don't feel like I have an eye for it. Next, I'm going to try restoring some old damaged photos.

Before

After

Before

After

How could I forget?

2009-08-27T16:36:00.004-06:00

These are just some cute pics I forgot to include in my last post.

These are from the 24th of July at Chris and Breanna’s house. Rock on, Sonja!

This is Sonja with AJ and Leona’s girls at Yvonne’s wedding. Oh so pretty... They have a few years on Sonja, but she has no trouble keeping up. They always have a great time together.

Again with the Recaps

2009-08-21T14:54:00.009-06:00

Sorry! Digital season at work was no picnic! But, it’s over now and back to normal 9-hour days, and finally, an updated blog.

Tyson and Kayla were married a few weeks ago, and Kayla looked gorgeous in her Sottero & Midgley gown! (Tyson, you looked so handsome too.) Junior Herrera was the DJ (same DJ at our wedding) and he is, hands-down, THE BEST! Awesome music, dancing, and such a great time!

Yvonne was married last weekend, and… SONJA CAUGHT THE BOUQUET! It was hilarious! At the last minute, I shuffled the girls over towards the commotion, and told them to go see if they could catch it, not thinking in a million years any of them would, let alone Sonja. Sure enough, it went right to her and she caught it like it was a football and she was the quarterback!! She was so proud, going up to complete strangers and raising it in the air like the Statue of Liberty saying, “I caught the bouquet-ay, I caught the bouquet-ay!” Uh-oh…

That Sunday, we took Sonja to ride her “birthday bike” at Liberty Park, and ended up visiting Tracy Aviary. Sonja saw the peacocks through the fence, and just HAD to go!! (She loves peacocks because mommy does.)

My mom came to stay with me last weekend and we situated my tornado of a basement. It took ALL DAY to go through everything. The amount of Sonja’s clothes was unbelievable! That night we had a Dexter marathon because, yes, I got my mom hooked! We could only stay awake for 4 episodes, but hopefully I can get her to stay with me again to watch more before season 4 starts. I CAN’T WAIT!! It’s gonna be another fall full of our favorite shows. Dexter, So You Think You Can Dance, Heroes, Big Love… And to add to the list, I recently got myself hooked on Californication and Project Runway. We better break down and get DVR so we don’t neglect our child!

The Big 3-0

2009-07-24T17:27:00.006-06:00

The big Wendover Bash was a big hit! Angel and Chris didn’t suspect a thing! For those of you that don’t know, for their 30th birthday party the 4 of us were going out to Wendover to gamble and relax in a nice suite at the Peppermill. What they didn’t know was that all their homies were going to be there to party with them! And the BIGGEST surprise of the night was that Zach and Nikki came all the way from Kansas! When we showed up (almost 2 hours late) Wes and Casey had the room all decorated and everyone was waiting. Angel and Chris took off to the liquor store, so Breanna and I had time to greet everyone and get ready for the big SURPRISE! When the boys got up to the room, everyone hid, and as Chris rounded the corner, they all jumped out. They were a little confused and shocked at first, but then Zach came out from way in the back and they were jumping around and screaming like little boys. It was so great! Breanna and I hooked up a pretty unforgettable night I think.

Again, thank you to Wes, Casey, and everyone that helped out and to everyone that came. And a very special thank you to Zach and Nikki for coming all that way to celebrate with your boys.

MORE PICTURES COMING SOON!!

Sunday BBQ

2009-07-24T17:11:00.002-06:00

AJ and Leona had us over for a BBQ on Sunday afternoon. It was so nice to just chill and relax after the craziness from Sonja’s party the day before. Thanks for having us guys!

Our Sweet Sonja Turns 4!

2009-07-24T16:49:00.003-06:00

Sonja has wanted a Little Mermaid birthday party since last year’s My Little Pony party, and that’s what she got! She was dressed as Little Mermaid, had Little Mermaid decorations, a Little Mermaid cake, and got lots and lots of Little Mermaid presents! We are always humbled by how many amazing friends and family we have, and we would like to thank everyone for coming and a special thank you to those of you that helped me put it all together. I couldn’t have done it without you.

We love you Sonja, our Mamacitas, Monkey-loos, Lu-Lees! You are our beating heart, and you delight and amaze us everyday!

Happy 4th!

2009-07-10T16:22:00.003-06:00

We had a great time at “Beam Boulevard” for the 4th this year! Even though Sonja didn’t have Greenlie to play with, she stayed her little busy-bee self and had a great time! She danced the Robot and made my dad laugh non-stop! Angel and Jason developed quite the bro-mance (he’s totally cheating on Wes and Chris). We rode Tyson’s quad, played horseshoes, threw the football, golfed (not me), etc. The night of the 4th we had a little fireworks show and went to bed early.

My Birthday Month is over :(

2009-07-10T16:15:00.005-06:00

It’s officially over, but it was definitely one to remember! Kate and I had a joint birth-DAY starting at Lagoon, and ending at Gracie’s/Sandbar for a night of dancing (and drinking). SO MUCH FUN!! Lagoon was a blast, and the bar… let’s just say it was totally and completely worth the hangover. Thank you everyone for making turning 28 such an amazing time!

All the pics are on Facebook, but here are a few of my favorites...

Logan with the Enright's

2009-07-10T16:08:00.004-06:00

Sonja and I (Angel had an eye infection) made a trip up to Logan to camp with the Enright’s, but the only camping we did was on Sadie’s floor due to the rain. It was still a great time! We went to the Farmer’s Market where Sadie and Laurie have a booth for their delicious treats, adorable bags, etc. Sonja and Laurie’s kids, Dylan and Wren, hit it off right away. Then, we had a little tasting party with some delicious beer Elaine and Lindsey brought back from Portland. Of course, we had an incredible meal, and then cuddled on the floor to watch a movie. Now, that’s what I call camping!

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-22T09:21:00.007-06:00

This was Angel's Father's Day gift. Baby, you are an incredible father, and it shows in how amazing our daughter is. As Sonja says, "We love you all the way to the stars!"

And to my dad, I hope you had a wonderful Father's Day! We love you!

Sunday Hike

2009-06-16T16:06:00.005-06:00

Here are some pictures from Angel and Sonja’s hike on Sunday while I had brunch with the girls. He took her up Millcreek Canyon, on a trail that overlooked the whole city.

Happy Birthday Breanna!

2009-06-12T16:39:00.003-06:00

Last weekend was busy, busy! Dinner at Chris and Breanna’s Friday, coffee with the girls Saturday morning, Wii with the girls Saturday evening, then Keys on Main for Breanna’s birthday on Saturday night. We were so busy that we slept in and missed Sonja’s dance class Sunday morning. Oops! We did make it to Liberty Park for a picnic. Did you know they had carnival rides there? I didn't!

Keys on Main was so much fun! Happy Birthday Breanna!!

It's Summa Time!

2009-06-03T15:55:00.014-06:00

May is over, and June is here. It's finally time for BBQ’s, swimming pools, camping, and birthdays for all of us Donado’s. So, before I have tons of stuff to post for June, here’s a quick recap of May…

Angel participated in "A Race for the Cure" along with his kickball teammates. So proud of you!

I had a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Angel’s mom has come and gone.

Broke out the BBQ with Chris, Breanna and the kids and we watched them splash around in this awesome pool.

Sonja ended her days at Marie’s and began pre-school full-time.

We participated in a 1k marathon to raise money for Sonja’s school library. Sonja ran the whole thing! There was an AWESOME kids rock band called School of Rock that performed, a climbing wall, and more! It is an amazing school, worth every penny!

And for the grand finale, Angel and I celebrated our 2-year anniversary! We had an amazing time at the Bed & Breakfast we stayed in on our wedding night. Angel, thank you for making me laugh everyday. I couldn’t be happier!

Hot Mama

2009-05-18T21:22:00.003-06:00

Angel asked Sonja, “What would you like to get mommy for Mother’s Day?” She replied, “Let’s cut out hearts and decorate them!” So, Angel bought construction paper and finger-paints and helped her decorate the wall in the kitchen. Then, he asked, “What else would mommy like?” She replied, “COFFEE!” So in the middle of the wall, there was a gift card for Starbucks, so I could enjoy a coffee every morning that week. She knows her mama!

Then, I opened a sweet card from my darling husband. On the outside it read “Hot Mama” and on the inside, “…Daddy Like”. It just doesn’t get any sweeter than that. Of course his tender sentiment was still hand-written inside. I love you both, my sweethearts!

Angel’s mom is here visiting, so we took her to Tooele for a BBQ at my parent’s house. My Uncle Anthony and Aunt Janet rode their Harley’s out, and we had fun using them as props in a few pictures. Angel even got to take a couple rides around the block. He looked pretty hot on that Harley! It was a fabulous day!!

And this is what Sonja made for me at school. She colored the little picture all by herself, and her teacher asked her the questions and recorded her responses. Oh, my little mamacitas! I’ll treasure it forever!!

Hardballerz Update

2009-05-18T21:18:00.002-06:00

The Hardballers have had 5 games with 3 wins and 2 losses. Both losses occurred when Sonja wasn’t there, so I think she might be their good luck charm. They had a great time last weekend, participating as a team in Race for the Cure and later that night celebrating at the Sandbar downtown for their mid-season party.

Best of State!

2009-05-07T16:21:00.003-06:00

We were just informed that Sonja's school, Dancing Moose Montessori, has been selected as the 2009 Best of State winner in the preschool education category. We are very proud that we are able to send her to such an outstanding school and that she is experiencing the best of the best in early education. Way to go Dancing Moose!

Welcome Spring!

2009-04-21T15:50:00.002-06:00

These are some pictures from one of the few sunny days we were lucky enough to have last week. I took Sonja to Sugar House Park for a stroll and a bike ride with a few stops at the playground.

Go Hardballerz!

2009-04-20T17:01:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Lindsey, el cap-i-tan, Angel is now a member of the Hardballerz kickball team! Yes, grown-ups playing good, old-fashioned, elementary school kickball. And no, they don’t resemble the smokin’ hot fox in the picture above. But, there is plenty of booze!

They had their first game last week and tied, 2-2. Sonja sure had fun cheering daddy on. Come check them out on Thursdays at Liberty Park. Go Hardballerz!

Swimming Lessons

2009-04-20T16:45:00.001-06:00

Sonja started swimming lessons again at Fairmont Aquatic Center. She is the only girl in her class of 4. Hilarious! She’s doing pretty well in Level 2, although she’s a little hesitant to put her head completely under water. She’ll start Level 3 in May.

Easter: Food, Food, and more FOOD!

2009-04-20T14:44:00.001-06:00

What an awesome Easter weekend! On Saturday we went to my Aunt Marie and Uncle Kenny’s for an egg hunt and egg decorating. For dinner we had Dutch-oven chili with the most amazing salad (it put Café Rio to shame!) and the softest, most succulent rolls. Not only did I go back for 2nds, but I had another entire plate full! Marie must have hid about 100 candy-filled eggs and with little competition, Sonja took home about half. She had so much fun decorating eggs, and some of the adults did too!

On Sunday morning, Sonja found her Easter baskets waiting for her when she woke up. She got a Princesses helmet, Princesses water bottle, Princess sandals, (do you see a theme here?) Princesses stickers, A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein, the Enchanted Soundtrack, clothes, and yes… More candy. What a spoiled little mamacitas! Then, we went to my Aunt Elaine and Uncle Mike’s for more delicious food, and yet another egg hunt. This time, Sonja had no competition and cleaned the place out. There was just enough of a breeze for my dad and Angel to get a kite up in the air, but not enough to keep us from soaking up as much sun as we could. We had fun watching Grace take some wobbly steps with her walker out in the grass, and Sonja put on a dance performance on her stage (the deck) for everyone to enjoy. It was really a perfect weekend! Happy Easter!

Obsess Much?

2009-04-15T09:37:00.004-06:00

Everytime I try to tell myself that I’m not the BIGGEST American Idol nerd out there, they go ahead and throw me a curve ball. Quentin Tarantino, the director of my favorite movie of all-time, Desperado, and also two of the coolest movies of all-time, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2, was the guest… critic I guess you could say, as the theme of the night was “Songs from the Movies”. THEN, one of the contestants, Kris Allen, went and sang “Falling Slowly”, the Oscar winning song from the movie Once that I’ve been obsessed with since my dear friends at work introduced me, (thank you Maeve and Christy!). I mean, it’s to the point that one of things I have to do before I die is see them perform live. Yes, I was gasping and almost in tears. I have also become more and more fascinated by Ryan Seacrest. Not in a “He’s so sexy” kind of way, but in an “I’d love to have a beer with him” kind of way. (Kind of like Mick Jagger. I am entertained, but not turned on by Mick, although my boss insists on the contrary.) He’s surprisingly hilarious and just so freakin’ charming. And, he probably emerged from the womb with a microphone and a tie. At least I’m not the only poor sap that has fallen for the savvy marketing and evil ploys of the show. Katie Couric was in the audience last night! Katie Couric! Stevie Wonder was on the show a couple weeks ago. Smokey Robinson was a guest for cryin’ out loud! I bet even the President is nestled at home with the wifey and kids throwing popcorn at Paula with the rest of us.

I know there is definitely a “fanatical” side to my personality and I become a little sentimental about things, but American Idol? What tha?!

Sweet Nostalgia

2009-04-14T13:13:00.006-06:00

I'm taking a trip down memory lane, going through Sonja's old pictures, and am finding little video clips from our camera. There's no sound, but still oh so cute!

2009-04-03T16:40:00.004-06:00

Some of your first reactions to this photo will most likely be, “What tha!” To me, however, when I saw this in the recent issue of Vanity Fair, it was nothing short of miraculous!

For those of you who don’t know, I have adored Frida Kahlo since I read her biography in college. Some of you also may not know that I am a huge fan of Seth Rogen (well, the whole Judd Apatow crew). Not only did I love him in the obvious 40-year Old Virgin, Superbad, and Pinapple Express, but I read an interview he did in GQ and was surprisingly intrigued. Then, that intrigue turned into fascination when I finally saw the short-lived series, Freaks and Geeks. Now do you get it? AMAZING!

Check out this awesome photo series with Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Amy Poehler,and more in the April issue of Vanity Fair!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2009-03-24T09:36:00.003-06:00

My aunt Margie hosted her annual Girl Party last week. Margaritas, tequila shots, good food and cool chics are what it’s all about. I thought I would just be my mellow self, but that’s impossible with these ladies. Needless to say, I had a rough Saturday.

Disney on Ice

2009-03-24T09:29:00.002-06:00

We swore we’d never go again after we went last year, but Chris and Breanna wanted to take Sydney, and I thought it would be fun for the girls to see it together. We did have a lot of fun, but it is just so much money! Those damn Disney execs know what they’re doing. Not only do they charge $20 a ticket, but they have toys set-up ever so strategically, right at your 3-year olds eye-level with all the lights and sounds and Disney characters that your toddler just can’t live without. Sonja looked at us with those puppy-dog eyes and asked ever so politely, “Mommy, may I please have that Ariel wand?” Our first response was, “No, honey. You have lots of toys at home.” There was no tantrum… No tears. She was just such a sweetie and stared in awe as we walked by. A bit later she asked again, “Mommy, PLEASE may I have that Ariel wand?” I pulled the “We’ll have to ask your daddy” card. He refused to buy Sonja any more useless toys, but he was powerless against those giant brown eyes and pouty lips. $20 dollars later, Sonja got a piece of junk wand with a creepy looking Ariel that lights up and plays the tune of “Under the Sea” over and over AND OVER. Although our pockets were empty and we’ll have that $#!@ song stuck in our head until the end of time, I have to say it was all worth it just to see that look on her face.

Our Little Ballerina

2009-03-13T15:33:00.001-06:00

Sonja had her first ever dance recital on Thursday at Dancing Moose. They were given adorable hand-made green and hot pink tutus accented with a large flower and jewel and a fairytale wand with pink, white and green ribbon. It was a little chaotic and messy, but what do you expect from excited 3-year olds. They mostly jumped around and waved at their parents. But, it was still a milestone and a heart-warming experience for Angel and I to see our little girl as a beautiful little ballerina.

Happy 1st Birthday Grace!

2009-03-13T15:14:00.002-06:00

Baby Grace turned 1 year old on February 24th. We went to her birthday party at Grandma Elaine and Grandpa Mike's house and had a yummy Asian cuisine and delicious birthday cupcakes. In true Candelaria fashion, the party soon turned into margaritas and music for the adults. We had so much fun celebrating Gracie's birthday and hangin' with the Enrights.

Fish Lake 2009

2009-03-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

We were all so excited for our family trip to Fish Lake. Our bags were packed, we were ready to go, until… the day before, we received the news that Angel’s work had been impacted by our peachy economy and lay-offs were happening left and right. Angel was lucky enough to stay employed but he was forced into a demotion and pay-cut.

Well, we weren’t going to let that stop our plans for a fun-filled vacation, so Thursday morning, we all piled in the truck and made the trip to our cabin. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. The skies were the bluest blue, the snow was plentiful and glistening white, and our families were together. We took it easy the first night, knowing we would have an early morning out on the ice.

Getting a 3-year old ready for the bitter cold is no easy task, especially with grandma worrying like only a grandma does. A brisk snowmobile ride across the frozen lake, and we were finally ready for the fish. Sonja didn’t take to it at first. Whining, crying, and complaining filled the first 30 minutes. But, she soon got into it. I think reeling in her first fish did the trick. We all had some luck that first day. Angel and I caught two each, Lindsey and Mike were constantly reeling them in, but all the while my dad was suffering with a wicked bug. We decided to call it a day, and my dad was barely able to load up (not like my dad at all). He took one snow mobile with the equipment back to the cabin, and Angel took the other expecting to come back for the rest of us to take us to shore. We decided to start walking until they got there. My dad eventually made it back, but I was getting some good exercise, so I opted to walk alongside Lindsey, who was on skiis. Little did I know, that bug was just getting started on me. I thought my lungs were going to cave in by the time I made it to shore. “Man, I am out of shape,” I thought. We put my dad to bed, cleaned up, had some dinner, then went to bed preparing to do some more fishing in the morning.

The next day, my dad was done for. Fever, chills, horrendous cough, body aches, it was a nightmare. I didn’t feel so hot myself, but I decided to get out to see if some fresh air would do some good. It was another beautiful day, and we didn’t venture too far from home this time. An hour or two on the ice with no fish, and we decided to head back inside. BAM! The short walk back home just about killed me. The dry air sliced the back of my throat like a knife. I finally reached the cabin door and started ripping my layers of clothes off, sobbing in pain and worry because I couldn’t catch my breath. Insane body aches soon followed. My throat felt like I was swallowing shards of glass, I couldn’t eat and coughing was torturous. Needless to say, it was time to get the hell outta Fish Lake. Packing was rough, and it was a miracle my dad made the 4-hour drive home. I went straight to an urgent care, fearful that I had strep. I waited for two hours for the doctor to tell me it was a viral lung and ear infection and all he could give me some drugs for the pain. Finally, I was home in the normal altitude, and my throat could heal, but without eating and only mucus in my stomach, throwing up soon became my next hurdle. After an entire week at home with the plague, I’m finally feeling like myself. I was just starting to be able to eat, shower, and be on my feet as the weekend approached, and my first day back at work has been a success.

The trip was a bummer, mostly because we were so excited about having even a mini-vacation and to a place that is special to our family. But, it wasn’t a total loss. Angel now loves to ice fish, and is looking forward to doing some summer fishing with my dad. He and Sonja also had their first rides on a snowmobile, and I got to spend a little time with the Enright’s, which is always so great. Sonja learned a little lesson in patience and she’s definitely not afraid of squirming, dying fish. All in all, it will still be a treasured memory for all of us, and a tradition we’ll look forward to reliving next year.

BFF's

2009-03-03T14:19:00.003-07:00

Breanna shared these pictures of Sonja and Sydney with me. It's funny because they look so happy and lovey here, but when they're together it's more like pulling hair, snatching toys, whining and crying. Of course, all is forgiven the moment they leave each other's sight. They can't wait to see each other again. Now, that's a best friend forever.

January Come and Gone

2009-02-09T10:42:00.003-07:00

It was an exciting month, but as always... It went by too fast. Too fast in fact to blog about anything. So, here's a quick review. Two friends had babies, which instilled a major case of baby fever. (Don't worry, I'm over it.) I joined Facebook, which I still am getting used to. My favorite cuz had a birthday (Happy Birthday Linds!), and my sister too. Sonja is starting to read. What tha!!! And she started a ballet class at school. Lots of late nights at work, with still no end in sight. That pretty much sums it up.

We're going to Fish Lake at the end of the month, and I'm so excited. It used to be a New Year's tradition. However, the last time I went there was no Angel and no Sonja and I was helping my cousins sneak beer out of our parent's cooler. Good times! I'm excited to keep the tradition alive, with a few minor adjustments. Now, we have to bring our own beer. Angel is going to get his first taste of ice fishing with my pops. We'll get to ride snow mobiles, take Sonja sledding, cozy up in the cabin and play games... I can't wait!!

First Night '09

2009-01-18T17:14:00.005-07:00

We weren’t sure what we wanted to do to celebrate the New Year. It’s never really been a big deal for us. But at the last minute I decided we were going to live a little and do something fun. So, we bundled up and went to The Gallivan Center for First Night. We rode Trax and got there around 7 pm. First thing’s first… Ice skating!!! I’ve been wanting to get ice skates on Sonja for a while now, and this was the perfect opportunity. We had a blast! Angel and I whipped her around the rink, and she wiggled her little feet like she had it all figured out. After our ankles were done for, we decided to warm up with some hot chocolate and fresh fried donuts. We checked out a couple shows and people-watched for a bit, then decided to head home. We watched a flick, which put as right at the countdown to midnight. We yelled, “Happy New Year!” gave kisses, then crashed. That was definitely a New Year to remember.

Merry Christmas!!

2009-01-18T17:06:00.004-07:00

Christmas just gets better and better every year. Sonja is just so much fun! She made cookies for Santa with grandma and grandpa. In the morning, there were only crumbs left with a thank you note from Santa himself… (well, from my mom.) She thought it was the greatest thing that Santa personally left a note just for her telling her how great her cookies were. It was something my mom and dad did for me every year, until I recognized the handwriting and caught on. We woke her up early Christmas morning, and she went nuts! A sled with a giant bow, overflowing stockings, a mountain of presents, and a glowing fire… It was so exciting! And yes, she got her cupcake maker from Santa, along with a chef hat and apron (from grandma and grandpa) that she refused to take off. Mommy and daddy got her a kid’s digital camera to possibly spawn a young, talented photographer. I’ll post some of her work soon. I hope you all had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

A Romp in the Snow

2009-01-18T17:04:00.002-07:00

With all the snow, fresh and glistening in our backyard, we had to get out there and mess it all up!

Sonja’s 1st Sleepover

2009-01-18T17:02:00.002-07:00

Sydney, Sonja’s BFF, stayed over and… they were perfect little angels. They camped out in the living room and watched Sleeping Beauty, then went right to sleep. It helped that it was almost midnight by the time the movie was over. Hey, whatever works. Chris and Breanna, it’s your turn!

Sonja's Christmas Performance

2008-12-19T15:53:00.003-07:00

Sonja had her very first Christmas Performance at her school on Thursday. She sang three songs with her class. One of the songs was The Reindeer Hokey Pokey and she kept losing her antlers. Hilarious! Daddy, Grandma and me were beaming with pride. And, they were surprised with a special visitor... None other than Santa himself! Sonja finally got to ask him, in person, for a cupcake maker.

Candelaria Christmas Party

2008-12-19T11:56:00.005-07:00

Our Candelaria Christmas party was so much fun! So many people we haven’t seen in such a long time were there. Instead of gifts, we all brought donations for the Utah Food Bank. There were so many kids this year, and they all kept busy making decorations for the donation box. Elaine had a house full, which was surprising with the weather being so bad just a couple hours earlier. It was so great having everyone together just laughing and having a great time. That’s really what Christmas is all about. And of course, the ladies had a traditional shot (or two) of Tequila Rose.

Sushi with the Girls

2008-12-19T11:14:00.002-07:00

It was the girls of Maggie Sottero’s turn to celebrate Christmas, sushi style. This year, our party of three grew into a party of eight! We went to Mikado’s in Sandy and laughed the night away with lots of Hot Raspberry (Purple Haze) and Pomegranate (Pama) sake.

Christmas with the Homies

2008-12-15T16:47:00.005-07:00

We had our annual Friend Christmas Party at Mountain Mike’s Pizza this year. Angel and I didn’t show up in the required “ugly sweater” and we were almost tossed out on our @$$. Luckily, Angel was off the hook because he was the only guy who showed up in a black tie for Kate’s engagement party (at least that’s what he’s saying), and Tenille had an extra ugly sweater just for me to change in to. Chad won the grand prize, shoulder pads and all. I couldn’t look at him without cracking up! We did the boy/girl gift exchange, and I was envious of one of the boys’ gifts, a bucket of beer and a playboy. No, not for the playboy! Then, we played a friendly game of Cranium, boys vs. girls. Do you even need to ask who won? Of course, the girls kicked booty.

Oh Christmas Tree

2008-12-15T16:42:00.003-07:00

Here is our Christmas Tree! Angel has a gift for untangling beads and hanging lights and ornaments. And Sonja can hang decorations all by herself now! Well, on the low branches. Every year since she was 5 months old, Sonja has put the star on the tree, so we’ve decided to keep that one of our Christmas traditions. We will also choose a special ornament for the year together as a family. For 2007, we have one for our wedding, and for 2008 we have a “Santa Claws” that my mom brought back from Boston.

I Love Surprise Pics

2008-12-03T21:40:00.005-07:00

When my sister came, she had pictures from our wedding that I’ve never seen. Over a year later, it’s really fun to see different scenes from that day. There’s even a few from the bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner. If any of you still have mystery pictures from the wedding or any other get-together, stop being stingey. I wanna see!

Sista, sista!

2008-12-03T21:33:00.002-07:00

I was so happy to get to see my sister, although it was under sad circumstances. Her great-grandpa passed away, so she drove from Arizona on Thanksgiving morning. With me being in Park City, I didn’t get to see much of her, but at least Sonja got to see Haylee. They are wild together! Two kids? This week, it’s a NO!

Tenille’s Baby Shower & Birthday

2008-12-03T21:25:00.003-07:00

Yes, two dual baby shower/birthdays this month. Now it was Tenille’s turn. We went to my uncle’s condo in Park City to celebrate the anticipated arrival of Cora Michelle. We ate, played games, ate, gave gifts, ate, watched movies and… ate some more! In the morning we went to Squatters for a birthday brunch. It was another busy weekend, but such a good time. Melanie came all the way from sunny San Diego, and I couldn’t have done it without her. Carrie even surprised us, and came down one canyon and up another just to hang with the girls. Congratulations Tenille, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Black Friday

2008-12-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

WE DID IT! For the first time, I bravely participated in Black Friday madness. Angel and I were in line at Target by 5:30am. Doors opened at 6am and by 10 o’clock, we were outta there AND crossed every last person off our Christmas list. Target LOVES us! It wasn’t too crazy. People were a little pushy at first, but we weren’t there for any of the big-ticket items. Angel was great at moving me through the crowds when I was on the verge of freaking out. By the time we were done, we didn’t even have to wait to check out. Man, it feels good to be done. I’m definitely doing this again next year!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T21:06:00.005-07:00

Sonja and I spent the night in Tooele Wednesday night to spend some QT with mom and dad a.k.a grandma and grandpa. Thanksgiving morning we watched some of the parade and left for Grandma Colleen’s. I think next year I’m going to have my grandma teach me how to make her traditional Thanksgiving meal, so I can pass it down. It would be a shame for none of us to know how it’s done. The best part was watching my grandma kick Angel’s butt bowling on Wii. Ya, you heard right! She kicked Mr. Gamer King’s B-U-T-T! She’s my hero.

Family Pictures

2008-12-02T21:38:00.003-07:00

Stacy came to the rescue, as we were on a tight budget for family pictures this year. They turned out better than I could have ever hoped for. She made us a slideshow that had my mom and I sobbing. I just couldn’t thank you enough, Stacy. These mean so, so much!

Randee’s Baby Shower/Birthday

2008-12-02T21:15:00.004-07:00

We threw Randee a baby shower at my casa early in November. Sorry, that’s how late I am on the blog update. Good food, good friends, and good gifts. That’s all that matters in life, right? Kale and Sonja got to flirt a little bit. Sonja flipped her little ponytail and said, “Hey Kale.” You definitely had to be there.

The next morning we had a delicious potluck brunch at Mikala’s clubhouse to celebrate Randee’s birthday. Busy weekend, but it was a great time.

1st Day of School

2008-12-02T21:08:00.002-07:00

Sonja had her first day of pre-school at Dancing Moose Montessori on November 4th. You would all be surprised to know that I didn’t shed a single tear. Angel and I walked her into her classroom, and she took off! We had to call her back to say good-bye. We watched her from the TV monitors in the lobby, and it didn’t even faze her that we were gone and she was in an unfamiliar place with complete strangers. At the end of the day, she told us that she made a friend named Bella, and there was just one mean boy that took a chair from her (I’m keeping my eye out for that little punk). We were so proud of her!

November Birthdays

2008-12-02T12:49:00.007-07:00

Happy Birthday to Cluck, Randee, Tenille and my sweet Mamacita!

Once Upon an October

2008-11-14T16:27:00.007-07:00

I left a few good times off of the blog this month, because again… NO TIME! So, here’s a trip down memory lane…

Mikala’s Birthday
For Mikala’s birthday, we took a trip to Park City for an early lunch and saw a play at The Egyptian Theater. It was such a beautiful day in PC!

What’s the only thing better than sushi? FREE SUSHI!

The Enright’s invited us over for all the homemade sushi we could eat. It was all The Donado’s could ever ask for! I’m telling you, Lindsey was a cook in another life, or will be in the next. It was delicious!

Finger Painting

Since it’s getting a little colder outside, I decided we needed some indoor activities to keep Sonja entertained. So, we bought some finger paints, and let her go to town. After taking a couple of pictures, we made the mistake of leaving the room for 10 minutes and came back to find globs of paint EVERYWHERE! Oops!

Good Company

Angel flew off to Boston for work, so I decided to have the girls over for some dinner and a flick to keep us company. It was sort of a Sex and the City DVD release party too. I made a little dinner and Brooke surprised us with cupcakes decorated with quotes from the series and the movie. I scooted Sonja off to bed and we had a good time watching the movie and having a few laughs. Thanks girls for keeping my mind off of my far and away husband.

Pizza, Pumpkin Carving, and Cookies

Lindsey and Elaine came over to fill-up our Sunday while Angel was gone. First we gutted some pumpkins and carved some cute faces for Halloween. Lindsey’s owl was so neat! Then, Sonja helped aunt Elaine make some Halloween sugar cookies while Lindsey made killer homemade pizzas (Get it… “Killer” for Halloween… Ok, I’m a dork.). One was steak and fetta with marinara, and the other was chicken with pesto. Yum! We plopped in front of the tv with our pizza and watched Labyrinth (David Bowie is the coolest!). It was such a fun day.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-31T13:34:00.003-06:00

Have a happy and safe halloween! More pictures to come...

October Birthdays

2008-10-31T13:31:00.002-06:00

Happy birthday to two lovely ladies, Melanie and Mikala! I hope you had a great one!!

Halloween Nostalgia

2008-10-29T21:14:00.002-06:00

Just a quick look at Sonja's halloween past before she trick-or-treats as a "nice witch" this Friday. For a nice twist, grandma and grandpa are going to take her trick-or-treating while Angel and I stay in and hand out candy.

September Birthdays

2008-10-03T15:52:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to my dad, Marie, and Cody!

Kate & Nate's Engagement Party

2008-10-03T14:50:00.005-06:00

Last Friday night was good times… a little too good for me. Congratulations Kate & Nate, and thanks Tenille for throwing a fabulous party. Cause of death: Pomegranate juice, White Rum, Cointrau, and lime. Sorry to everyone that got a call from me at midnight declaring my undying love for you. I paid for it the next day with my head in the toilet and in bed until 3. I’m getting old…

By the way, have I mentioned that I have incredible friends? Yes, I have the absolute best. No matter how our lives have changed, we just seem to get closer and the good times just get better and better. Love you guys!

Love Strawberries

2008-10-03T14:40:00.003-06:00

Angel slipped these into my lunch the other day. I found them at work, and yes... I cried. How cute is that?!

Mmmm... Fish.

2008-10-03T14:32:00.003-06:00

Isa, Ruby is not on the menu. Keep dreaming!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-09-29T12:39:00.002-06:00

Happy birthday handsome man! We love you!

Donut Falls (Mmmm..... Donut.. Arghlarghargh)

2008-09-22T09:04:00.007-06:00

Early Saturday morning we got up, grabbed some bagels (as is our Saturday morning tradition), and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon for a hike to Donut Falls (thanks for the tip Stacy!). Things didn't look good at first because it was a little chilly and starting to sprinkle, but we decided to take a chance. It turned out to be an amazing hike. Once we got walking, we warmed right up, and it was a perfect trail for Sonja. We got to the falls, and decided to go all the way. It was a little slippery, but Angel slung Sonja on his back and climbed like a pro with me nervously following close behind. We made our way back down, and decided to go home and take a nap. Then, we got ready, went to Salt Lake Pizza & Pasta, made a stop at Barnes & Noble to get Sonja a new bedtime book, then went to Sugarhouse 10 for a cheap movie. Space Chimps was surprisingly hilarious in case you were dying to know. It was an amazing way to spend a Saturday!

Sonja's Random Comment of the Day

2008-09-19T09:49:00.001-06:00

Sonja said this morning as we drove to work, "Kenny told me that Grandpa picks his nose..." And after a short pause said, "But he doesn't." Nice try Kenny, but Sonja always has Grandpa's back!

Sadie’s First Foods Natural

2008-09-17T16:36:00.016-06:00

I am so proud and excited to announce the debut of First Foods Natural, Sadie’s on-line all-natural baby food biz. So far, she has been at the Farmer’s Market in Logan, selling on-line. If you have babies or toddlers, you have to check out her Baby Biscotti or Nana Sticks and more! For more info visit http://www.firstfoodsnatural.blogspot.com.

Donado TV Guide

2008-09-17T16:36:00.014-06:00

When So You Think You Can Dance ended, Angel and I were not only in mourning, but also realized, we don’t have one single show to look forward too every week. Everyone at least has one show to commit themselves to every week, right? Well, we decided to take a chance on Dexter and Heroes. What is the verdict? AMAZING! Both of them! We have successfully become obsessed and, take note, will be glued to the TV and will refuse calls on Sunday and Monday evenings. Don’t worry, we promise not to neglect our child. She will be thoroughly entertained by Sesame Street on-line while we get our fix.

Sunday Afternoon at the Fair

2008-09-17T16:36:00.013-06:00

We joined Chris, Breanna and kids at the Utah State fair last weekend. Sonja got to pet farm animals, ride a pony, and even play in a street band. She also woo-hoo’d down a big slide and up and over on the roller coaster.

We LOVE Sushi!

2008-09-17T16:36:00.012-06:00

We have an addiction, really. We found a quaint little place called Oh Sushi that, unfortunately, happens to be right up the street from our house. And to make matters worse, Sonja may have a problem too! She is getting better with her chopsticks, and insisted on having a California roll all to herself. When they get their liquor license, there’s really going to be trouble.

Dancing Moose Montessori

2008-09-17T16:36:00.011-06:00

It has finally happened! Over much turmoil, we have finally chosen a pre-school for Sonja. She will be attending Dancing Moose Montessori School on Tuesdays and Thursdays in October. It is a gorgeous facility with lots of light that they insist is vital to a learning environment. Security is top-of-the-line, with a check-in system and cameras in each room that allow parents, as they walk in the front door, to look-in on your child. As Sonja and I walked down the hall, teachers came to the door of their classrooms to greet us, and the children playfully waved at Sonja. We made our way to the playground that features a tricycle path where children can learn street signs, and teeny gardens where teachers and students grow sunflowers, lettuce, and my favorite, all the fixins for pizza (basil, tomatoes, pepperoni… just kidding) and they get to eat their fresh garden creation at the end of the season. So cute! They emphasize nutrition, with a chef preparing whole grain and organic meals and snacks throughout the day. And, they use the Montessori method, which Angel and I especially wanted for Sonja. Now, we’re preparing for her first day of school. CRAZY!

Kate and Nate Have Set a Date!

2008-09-17T16:36:00.010-06:00

Mark your calendars! May 16th 2009 is the big day. If you haven’t seen her bling yet, you better bring your sunglasses. Congratulations you two!

August Birthdays

2008-09-17T16:36:00.009-06:00

I say it’s your birthday… Da na na na na na! Happy Birthday Sadie, Mike, Kenny and Tiffany!

Good Ol’ Duchesne

2008-09-17T16:36:00.007-06:00

It was rest and relaxation as usual at Beam Boulevard. Sonja made Grandpa proud by taking an interest in trap-shooting. We took a trip to Mirror Lake to visit the Enright’s, and enjoyed a moment or two by the water. Good times!

Congratulations Angel!

2008-09-17T16:36:00.005-06:00

Angel started a new job in August! He now works along side my mamacita at Moss Inc. Congrats hubby! We’re so proud of you!!