Baby Steps Towards Creating a Family Culture....

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, and we had so much fun here in the Packard house! My beloved man and I have been really thinking and praying hard about the type of family culture we would like to have. After reading this blog and doing some real soul-searching over Lent about what our family culture would be, we are finally taking baby steps towards creating it. 

ARRIBA for family culture!!

What is a family culture, you may ask? Well for us we are hoping it will be a unique blend of everything that makes us THE PACKARDS. This applies to how we live our Catholic faith within our home (Holy week, feast days, baptismal anniversaries), to what we do and do not do (Packards do not watch Barbie movies <hehe>, Packards do try new foods), to how we celebrate other special days, etc. We are excited to begin establishing meaningful traditions that truly speak to our children's hearts, forming them to become holy and happy men and women, as well as becoming memories they cherish and maybe even carry on.

As a side note this is something that I've dragged my feet on because the combination of being a perfectionist and constantly watching our budget always has me feeling as though I can't do something as well as I'd like. However, yesterday was such fun...simple but wonderful, even without fiesta coloured table clothes, balloons, and candles.

Joe wanted to add Cinco de Mayo to our list of celebratory events, because he is, of course, Texan and has a soft spot for all things Tex-Mex. 

To start off we made a pinata! I am slowly learning that to be not afraid of mess is to allow my children to learn well and grow in independence. We have set aside some clothes that are Liliana's work clothes....so whenever we do a messy project we just throw her work clothes on and she is ready to go! You will see that she is wearing it in her painting picture, as it was her job and her job alone to paint the pinata while I dashed around tidying our home for guests. 

Daddy and Liliana preparing the canvas

Creating a masterpiece

In the absence of Mexican coloured decor, we created a banner of senors and senoritas. Liliana painstakingly drew on each of their faces as Joe and I helped colour their ponchos. 

We created a fajita feast. I used this flank steak marinade, this slow cooker chicken fajita recipe, and of course we added rice, beans and all of the fixings. I marinated the fajita veggies in the flank steak marinade. They were such a hit. We finished off with chocolate cake covered in this incredible icing. On top of it all, Joe was bartender and made the most delicious blended margaritas (thanks to an old family recipe). With Cinco de Mayo radio playing on Pandora, we seemed to have found all the ingredients for a truly celebratory and relatively budget friendly fiesta. 

Nanny and Papa came dressed for the party!!

Adios!!

xoxo

My Sweet Imaginative Little Love

Sweet Liliana, what would Mama do without you? I've been captivated by your sweet self since the moment I knew you existed in my belly. Now, here you are almost 3 years old and you daily thrill me with all of your uniqueness. 

You live in costumes, all of which you creatively assemble!

I can't believe that such a creative, imaginative, empathetic, and intelligent little person has been entrusted to me to mold and care for. Your sweet little mind, as it explores this big and interesting world, sometimes scares me with its inquisitiveness and capacity for learning. Just the other day you told us that mushroom soup was a temptation for you, oh how we laughed! You used the word pensive at the dinner table a few nights ago! Today I found you ever so gently chasing ants and trying to pick them up. You just wanted to pet them, you said. Your soft heart for all creatures, and your total lack of fear when it comes to critters, astounds me!

It's finally warm enough to be outside again, and you could LIVE out there!

You are so unique with such a huge imagination, you even EAT in character :)

What really has moved me in these months since Judah joined us is your emotional intelligence. Of course, I was aware that you seemed to have a high EQ before he was born, but now I am reminded on a daily basis of just how emotionally in tune you are by your responses to me! We have to be so careful how we discipline you, because you are so intensely fearful of us being unhappy. Whenever you accidentally spill a drink or have an accident your first question is, "are you still happy?"If you think I am sad or frustrated you always propose playing what you perceive to be MY favorite game, even though it isn't yours. I am so humbled by your selfless little heart.

You beg to hold Judah every day....and he is getting so big and heavy for you!

You are a perfectionist, to be sure....and so if it is a part of a picture where you can't colour in the lines, or a physical challenge you assume you'll "fail" at, you'd rather not do it. Like a true Canadian, you say sorry far too often! We are working hard to help you be kind to yourself.

An example of your careful art work, you concentrate so deeply when you colour and paint!

Today I am so grateful that you are still innocent enough to wear your cinderella dress grocery shopping. I am thankful for your absolute joy in jumping in puddles. Most of our walks take 3 times as long because you climb over every rock, down every hill, through every puddle. I try not to mind the slow pace too much...who knows how long you'll love such things so intensely?

I love you my sweet, funny, smart, and caring little lamb. I am so grateful that you are my daughter.

Cheers!!

Gratitude

On this beautiful sunny Tuesday in February I am feeling so grateful for:

1) 5 incredible, whirlwind years with the man of my dreams! This Valentine's day was 5 years since our very first date. We fed the ducks and ate at delicious Pappasitos Restaurant in Dallas. It is a day I'll never forget, as the person I thought I'd never fall for captured my heart so quickly! Thank goodness God's plans for our lives are so much bigger and better than our own! My still romantic handsome prince snuck out of bed in the middle of the night so that when I got up with Judah at an insanely early hour I would be "showered with flowers." He continues to blow me away with his generosity and selflessness for our family. I am so grateful...

Hundreds of flowers raining down in me in the early morning

2) A sweet and intelligent little 2 year old with an immense imagination and flare for creativity. Our gorgeous Liliana Joy is SUCH a joy! She amazes me with her ability to make believe, make up songs, paint, play dough, dress up, all day long. Joe has made such an incredible effort to foster Liliana's imagination, and I am truly seeing the gift that he has given her.

Working on a painting project with Daddy

3) BioGaia Probiotic Drops. Folks, let me tell you, if your kids aren't on probiotics and seem to have low immune function, maybe give these a try. Of course, there are lots of probiotics on the market but these drops have worked so well for Liliana and Judah. I am seeing major improvements in Judah's tummy since putting them both on these, as well as overall improvement in Liliana's vitality, and it has been well worth the blow to our budget to invest in the really good ones!

4) A 3 month old baby who is full of smiles for all of us. I can't get over how Judah adores his big sister and his daddy. My heart bursts when he follows me around the room with adoring eyes. This week has brought big changes in Judah's overall demeanor and contentedness. While I am still on a severely restricted diet, and recently also cut out all caffeine, I am happy to accept the status-quo right now and let us all get our feet back under us.

Oh mommy, you are soooo funny!

5) The opportunity to work out. After Liliana was born I never worked out, as the baby weight fell right off and our lives were so upside down it never seemed to fit in. However, now it is not so much a matter of weight or fitness, and instead an hour to relax, enjoy, and have FUN. I've started doing an awesome circuit style boot camp twice a week and it is so incredibly rejuvenating (and simultaneously butt-kicking!). On that note, I am grateful for my awesome Mama who watches the wee ones while I work out.

6) The example of my incredible sister, Jocelyn, who has spent the last 6 months working for the family of a terminally ill man. Yesterday, he passed away. Jocelyn has amazed me with her devotion, compassion, courage, and strength as she has served this family above and beyond the call of duty. I know it is because she came to see this man as a dear friend whom she loved deeply. Still, I am amazed by her. On top of it, she is Judah's Godmama. He is one lucky lil boy!!

I will leave it there, as Judah is down for a nap and one very sweet pigtailed delight of a 2 year old is waiting to read stories. How blessed am I?

xoxo