Slow down, year!

January went flying. I need 2016 to calm down.

Let me update ya on a couple things...one thing I'm doing differently this year is not bringing work home with me. I tried doing that last year, but I failed. This year, so far, I've been doing good and I feel less stressed and well rested going to work the next day. Kevin and I have been cooking more home made meals, it's been lighter on our wallets, healthier for our bodies, and we treat it as a date. We're both pretty good cooks.

Another update: our fur babies are doing all right. My oldest is going through some health complications, but then again, he is 14 years old. I'm just making sure that he has the best quality of life. I love my old man, and I pray God will take him when it's time, I hope it's peaceful. 

We celebrate my little sisters 16 birthday this coming up weekend. She's growing up to be such a young lady. I'm so proud of her accomplishments with school and I love hearing her talk about her future plans, she's so ambitious. These next two years have to slow down. I plan on spending as much time with her as I can before she goes off to college. Is it me or does life feel like it's on high speed when you're an adult. I don't remember feeling this way when I was in middle school or even high school. 

Well that's what's going on with me. I hope 2016 started well for all of you. I'll try not to wait a month to post again.

Good night world. 

With love,

Ale

2015.

Blessed. What a year it has been. Thank you God for the health that you provided to our families and to us, thank you for the job opportunities, thank you for the roof over our heads, and for the love that we feel within both our families. 

2015, you were truly full of blessings and adventures. Kevin and I are ready to take on 2016 hand in hand, all the while thinking of those whom we love in mind. 

The pictures shown above are my favorite memories of 2015; the joy in my life that keep me going even during my hardest days. I love you all and Happy New Year!

With love, Alessandra

The Thankful List

Sharing what you're grateful for should be a requirement. I try to share mine as much as I can and not just around the holidays because you're thankful for those special people and things all year. Take a moment to sit down and think what brings you overwhelming amounts of happiness; it's good for your health and it's good for those around you to know how appreciative you are of them.

I'm tremendously thankful for:

1. Kevin - it's a blessing to wake up with him by my side everyday. I'm eternally grateful for you, amor. The day I met you, it felt like my heart grew three sizes bigger and it continues to grow everyday.

2. My family - my parents who I owe my life to. My mom who I can call at 7am or 11pm to ask some ridiculous questions about "adulting" and not once has she laughed or judged me for it. My dad who keeps working so hard to provide for the family and always with a smile on his face. On my toughest days, I think of you and it gives me strength. My younger brother and sister, you are the reason why I may look 20 instead of 26. The other day at work, a parent mistaken me for a high school student and that's all thanks to you two, you two keep me hip, trendy, and cool (or so I think I am, don't tell me if I'm not!). 

3. Kevin's family. For example, his grandfather from his dad's side makes me feel like I'm one of his own and I've felt that since the first day I met him. His love reminds me of the love I had with my grandfather from my mom's side. Even though, most of mine are in heaven, I'm so grateful for my husband's grandparents. They fill the empty space in my heart with their love. 

4. Friends - like that one quote says, "friends are the family you choose" and I am the luckiest woman on Earth with the special people who share their friendship with me. Some with whom I've shared memories with since pre-school, the ones who came into my life during my teenage years, and the ones who I've created memories with in the last two years. I'm so grateful for you, thank you for sticking with me, and even saying these words isn't enough to show just how appreciative I am of you.

5. Our fur babies - coming home after a long day at work and feeling their unconditional love is one of the best feelings I've experienced. A dog's love and a cat's love (even though both are extremely opposite on how they show their love) is truly one of a kind. 

6. The health of our loved ones and mine as well. The energy and appetite I have for life everyday. 

7. My job - I don't know many people who love their job and that's sad. You spend a huge chunk of your day doing whatever you call your career, it's a key factor of what can make you happy and healthy. My students may stress me out some days, especially when they come to see me a couple of days before grades are due and ask me what ELSE can they do to improve their grades. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!? That's what I want to say to them, instead I take a deep breath, help them collect any missing work and assist them on getting that work done or helping them in finally understanding a concept that they didn't get a couple weeks ago. Then, I have those special moments when a student comes barging in my class with their grade report in hand saying, "Mrs.Morris, I got a  ___ (typically A's and B's) on so and so!" with a grin from ear to ear. These moments make it all worth it and don't get me started with the people I work with. They are the best humans on this planet. Period. 

8. My faith in Him. Without him, I wouldn't have anything to be grateful for. God is so good to me. 

Now, it's your turn. Share what you're grateful for or better yet, tell them in person or by phone, it doesn't matter as long as you do it. It's an incredible feeling... I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

With love, 

Alessandra

I can't wait.

I can't wait...

For the weather to get colder.

To wipe the dust off my boots and wear my warm fuzzy socks.

To move in to our house in Turlock!

To walk our dogs around CSU Stanislaus.

For the stare downs to begin when Dexter meets the outdoor kitties that belong to our neighbors.

To start decorating for Christmas.

For Kevin and I to wear our Halloween costumes. It's a good one!

To enjoy yet another concert with my forever concert date, my baby sister. 

To feel the icy wind and then sinking my face to one of my favorite scarves. 

To feel the warmth from my hot chocolate heating my hands. 

To snuggle up with Kevin and watch his favorite Christmas movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while eating very buttery popcorn.

For Kevin to snuggle up with me and watch ALL my favorite Christmas movies. I have a list. It's going to be a month long thing.

To see the look on my student's faces when they see they got a B or A on any future tests.

For Star Wars: The Force Awakens!!!

For Inside Out to be released on DVD. 

For future family gatherings and/or game nights with friends. 

For the possible trips that Kevin and I are planning on to reunite with close family and friends. 

For next week. It's Red Ribbon Week at my school, everyday is theme day which means we can wear jeans every single day!

To chaperone the Halloween Dance and for my 6th graders to come up to me and say, "Mrs.Morris, do you like my costume!?"

For my 8th graders to act like they don't know me at the dance. Wait, ehh I'm not really excited for that part. Darn puberty. 

For the last day of school before Christmas break. One of the best feelings ever for a teacher and to find Christmas goodies in my teacher box :)

For those random Los Banos visits to visit the fam bam. There's just something about that town that I love and I'm not ashamed to say it. 

To wear layers of clothing, scarves, and beanies. 

To order my prescription glasses. It's been two years, its time for new frames. 

To change our summer comforter to our winter comforter. Kevin hates it. It's not my fault that he's warm blooded. 

For future adventures with my husband. I think he needs to visit Peru and soon.

To make our house a home.

For God to bless us with the greatest gift He can give...to be able and be lucky enough to create life. For anyone who knows me knows that I cannot wait to become a mother. God only knows when that will be.

Ending my day with happy thoughts. I hope you are too. 

Good night world.

With love, 

Ale

Hello October!

Hello!

Can I just say real quick...Hello October! I am so happy you are finally here! The start of my favorite time of the year!

(P.S. Stole this pretty pic from Pinterest)

Happy Thursday!

With love, Ale

Inside Out

I went to go see this movie when it first came out over the summer and yet, I'm still thinking about core memories and how they connect to our emotions. I especially loved the message behind the movie. I believe it was that we should embrace sadness. Sadness leads to personal growth and eventually joy with others and being happy with yourself again. You need to allow yourself to feel sad in order to move forward. This is something that I face with my husband. He becomes really uncomfortable when I start expressing sadness, I could tell from his body language. I have felt extreme happiness with him and he has seen me at my happiest, but he has also seen me at my worst like when my grandparents passed away. I lost both of them in two, quick years. I felt like I had to show him or at least make him understand that sadness is okay, that I had to go through pain to move forward and all he needed to do is hold me. He did just that and he was essential to my grieving process. With his support and with the unity of the Holy Spirit in my family, I was finally able to let go and feel joy again. Typing this and saying it out loud at this moment is a sign of relief to me, feels peaceful. 

I think I was all over the place with this blog. Maybe you got a better sense of how my mind works (it's crazy flowing with thoughts and ideas at night), how I'm feeling, and know me...Ale. Someone at work recently told me, "you're always so happy" and since then, it hasn't left my mind. The truth is I'm not always happy and that's okay. I know I have the right people surrounding me with their support and enormous love. That's all I ever need.

Goodnight. 

With love, Alessandra

Got this picture off of Google :) can't wait to add this movie to my collection. November 3rd, come quick! 

The past month

I've noticed that I'm not great at keeping up with this whole blog thing. I'll try harder, but man do I have a lot to update on. I believe it's almost been a month since my last post, and it has been crazy fun. 

I've started the 2015-2016 school year and my 6th grade bunch are going to take every last ounce of energy I have. The good news is my older students (7th and 8th) are getting the hang of school and are needing less attention from me. This is great, it is every special education teaher's dream. Once they are able to do their academics independently, I slowly get out of the picture. It does make me sad because I don't see them as often, but my heart is bursting with joy whenever this happens. We are on the second week of school but I can already tell it's going to be one hectic, crazy busy year. 

Work hard, play hard. Never used that expression before and I believe it'll be the only time you'll hear it from me. Ha! Anyway, I thought that phrase went perfectly with this past month. There's been concerts, reunions with friends and family, a soccer game to the best team there is, and an anniversary that was celebrated!

My mom and I are huge fans of Dancing with the Stars and we were able to go to their summer tour! It was incredible, makes me wish I could have become a professional dancer. Maybe in my next life. 

Here's to another 10 more years!!! We are forever fans! 

We got the chance to spend some quality time with family and friends that we don't get to see on a regular basis. We love you all. Let's try to see each other more than just once a year :)

The last weekend of July we were able to attend a FC Barcelona game at Levi's stadium. We lost, partly because they didn't have their top two players because they were on vacation (who needs vacation!?)  :( but the experience was amazing. You can walk down the street and high five a total stranger just because we're wearing the same jersey. What a fun day. Also, Kevin has now fully converted to be a soccer fanatic and most importantly a true FCBarca fan. I'm such a proud wife. That jersey looked so good on him ;)

I love concerts! Did you know that about me? Now that my sister is old enough, she has become my concert buddy. I love that we (almost) have the same taste in music. I'm trying to have her like country, she'll like it eventually (I have a concert in mind). Anywho, we met Fifth Harmony about 4 days ago! This was our very first meet and greet with an artist(s). The girls of Fifth Harmony are incredibly nice and so in love with their fans. They can make a room full of people dance and sing for 2.5 hours straight. This concert is by far one of the best ones I've been to. I'm so happy I got to experience it with my little one. I think she was about to faint at one point. We love you 5H!

 

August is one of my favorite months mainly because Kevin and I have two very special dates to celebrate. August 2nd and August 19th (coming up!). Like I mentioned before on past blogs, Kevin and I became legally married on August 19th, 2011 and three years later, we had our wedding and got married through Church (August 2nd). Kevin suprised me and we left to Napa Valley for the weekend and drank wine and relaxed. Happiness is not the word that I feel when I'm with my husband. There hasn't been a word invented to express how I feel. He is my world and I am so blessed to have found him. I love you Kevin. 

You know the whole freeze your wedding cake and eat it on your first anniversary tradition. Yup, we did that and it wasn't as bad as you think. The actual cake part was still good, the frosting not so much. We took our pictures, ate a slice, and said good-bye to our cake. 

It's been a busy month and I've loved every minute of it. I can't believe we are more than halfway done with the year. My favorite season is coming up! Can't wait!

Good night to you all❤️ 

With love,

Alessandra