Adoption anyone?

Mike and I use this online service where we merged our pictures and came up with "an idea" of how our future children would look like...The results...well ..I'll let you decide.. This is our baby girl

and our baby boy

Aren't they...hmmm Breathtaking?? For the sake of humanity.. maybe we should adopt! *This post is just for fun! We both would feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be parents.

more Wedding videos. Poco a poco llegan los videos

What a wonderful night that was! made by my wonderful brother! Alex

Nylene is here!!! yay!! Our first Christmas tree!

My little sister is here for a couple of months! Yes, MONTHS! Every time I say that, people widen their eyes and say: "wow!! MONTHS! How does Mike feel about that?" Maybe it's a cultural thing?? Who knows! You see, for us Peruvians (or maybe it's just my family), family is never a burden; the more the merrier. And there are never bounderies...we talk about everything. And when Mike and I want time for ourselves we simply leave or Nylene leaves. I really don't see what the big deal is. I love that Mike gets along with her so well. He calls her "his little sister" and is very protective of her. As for me...I'm loving it! We are having so much fun! We took her to get our first Christmas tree! She kept smelling the trees as if that was the determinating factor to pick one. We decorated it on a Monday night, we had Christmas music in the background and then, of course, Peruvian Christmas music that made me want to dance. Mike always laughs and says that no matter what the festivity is, our music is always meant to make you dance. I love being all Christmassy! I love Christmas time, mainly because it's Christ birthday! but also because you can feel His spirit on the earth.

Nylene and I saying HI! What A great blessing to have her with us!

los tres hermanos! faltan dos mas

Christmas tree day!!! Nylene smelling the tree.

Our tree!

Last August when Mike and I were in Peru we went to shop for some Peruvian crafts at a local craft market. We, I should say "I", were looking at some jewerly and were talking with the sales lady. We told her we had just gotten married and she gave us this Peruvian Nativity Scene inside a Chullo (typical Peruvian hat). It is one of our most favorite wedding gifts and we love it!!! It was our first Christmas tree ornament and means a lot to us.

Things I'm loving lately loving lately

*Cuddling with Mike before falling asleep.
*Buying presents for loved ones. (Christmas shopping)
* Mango Wafers
* Home-made soups
*Christmas music
*Long baths
*Mike seeing me off to work very early in the morning ( and knowing he goes right back to bed after)
*Funny videos of babies and cats
*Writing
*Beautiful Pennsylvania in the Fall

Boy! I love a lot of things!

Mi hermana

When I left Peru, my sister was 15 years old. To me, she was still a little girl. We were really close growing up, but because there is a gap of 5 years between us, I was closer to my brother who is only a year older than me. When my brother left for his mision, Nylene and I grew even closer! We started hanging out and just spending more time with each other. Our family went through a lot of changes through those years and we always kept together, supporting and loving each other. We shared the same room and most of my favorite memories come from those times; Praying together, singing together, talking until very late at night or me getting upset at her because she would be soooo loud at night when I was trying to sleep.
In my time here in America I've met many friends, a couple of which are LIKE sisters to me. But certainly no one can take my sister's place. Being away from home has helped me appreciate my relantionship with her. I missed her every single night. There was no one to talk to until late, or even be mad at!
I went through a phase where I remembered all of the things I did as a big sister. Some good, some not so good. I remember when she was little she would try to copy me in EVERY WAY!!! And this used to drive me nuts! I remembered trying to take advantage of her innocence and her never letting me!!! Pondering about those moments and the ones I lived in those past 5 years, I felt we got even closer than when we were sharing a bedroom. After 5 years without seeing her I got to see her again. She was the first one who I saw and hugged. I could not believe how grown up she looked! How much prettier she'd gotten. It broke my heart a little, but I remembered that even though we were apart for a while we had still spent time together! I and knew her even though I couldn't recognize her. It was soooo great to have her close again and after a couple of minutes it seemed like we were never apart.
Last August, we went to Peru for our Sealing. My mom and sister had planned our wedding and were pretty much in charge of everything. When we got there it was a little crazy with all of the last minutes details! I saw my mom taking care of the whole wedding like a pro! And I saw my sister helping her and being in charge, too. I saw her sooo grown up and independent it blew my mind. I still think about her like my LITTLE sister; the one who always followed me around. On the day of the reception, at one point I realized that for the last couple of months it had been all about me. When I was dancing the waltz with someone ( I can't remember who it was) while I was dancing I started looking around at the big place; the decorations, the tables, the people- and for some reason I started to think about my sister. I wondered if with all the fuss about that day, and all the planning for months she had felt left out, or even jealous. At that moment I looked at her, she was holding my bouqet, and also looking at me. She said, mouthing all of the words so clearly to make sure I knew what she was saying : "I LOVE YOU!" Her eyes were sparkling and she had a big smile that allowed me to see all of her teeth!!! I felt her love and joy for me. I realized that she was happy for me, always happy. How grateful I am to have a little sister so sweet and wonderful as mine. I think it's funny that from all of the waltzs I danced that night, that one, is one of the most special ones (even thought I don't remember who I was dancing with!). Love between sisters is sweet, is forgiving, is unconditional. I am so grateful to have a sister who teaches me everyday how to be a sister! I love you mugre!


Nylene and I way back in the day! Sharing a room! ALWAYS sharing a room!!

Nylene and I celebrating the night away!

Nylene and I hoarding all of the candies from the piñata.

My brother, me, sister-in-law and little sister!

My sister always by my side and my brother always has my back! I love you guys!

The rest doesn't matter!

I came home last week after a VERY long day at work, I was crabby, exhausted and SUPER hungry! I had spent all morning arguing with a costumer service rep ( a company had been charging our credit card without authorization, I complained, they told me they were going to give the money back, 2 months later nothing, I called, asked and they said they had already refunded the money, oh surprise! they gave the money to someone else, there is nothing they could do, back to the story)who told me I was lying and the card that the money was refunded was my card and I wanted more money...I was soooo mad I wanted to cry!!! It wasn't a great day...Things at work were crazy and I couldn't wait to go home. I went to my door complaining why there were TWO locks for a door inside an Apartment building. Dropped my keys. Dropped my bag. Spilled juice on my new suede booties. FINALLY managed to open the door. Hang my keys and I found a note from Mike written on a ripped paper that looked like it came from my notebook in which I write my stories. Rememberd I didn't have much paper left. Complained I had to go buy more notebooks. Complained why didn't he use paper from the notepad where notes are supposed to be written on. Wonder if he had forgotten something and I had to drive to his work and save the day. Turned on the light and read : "even a blind man could see the love between us".

The note put a huge smile on my face =], but I was still feeling upset! I went to the kitchen, opened the fridge and grab a bottle of water, how sweet was my surprise to find another note, I walked around the house and found more and more notes. I felt so silly for a minute.I let circumstances get to me and be mad! I realized I have everything I need to be happy and the rest doesn't matter!
Here are some of the notes Mike wrote

And this one is my personal favorite!

more Wedding stuff

So we got Sealed in the Lima Peru Temple this last August. We had to wait to see our wedding pictures (at least a couple of months) and we haven't even seen our Wedding video/album. Except a clip that my brother kindly made for us! here it is

Karen+Mike video clip from ALEX on Vimeo.

Looking back at the big wedding, the family, friends and the whole celebration I think it was everything I've always dreamed of. And even though it was a great celebration and I LOVED sharing this wonderful moment on our lives with my family and friend, what was most important to me was that I got to be Sealed for eternity to a wonderful man! I can even start to explain how much I love this guy. I wake up everyday and I'm amazed at how much I can love him. I didn't even know how much love I had inside me! I only hope it gets better! I was thinkg not long ago of how much I've been through, during my little 27 years...I've had great moments where everything seemed possible and I felt like I had the world in my hands, I've also experience the opposite, great sorrow and loneliness, and lately a lot of homesickness, but oh how greatful I am for ALL of that!!!, because it has brought me here, I am happy, so happy! life is not perfect and there are a lot of circumstances that I would love to change, but that doesn't really matter, all that matters is that my heart has changed, and I find joy in the little things that Heavenly Father gives me everyday. He recently gave me Mike, what a great gift! what a great responsability! I've been so happy for a while now and I hope that doesn't change, no matter the circumstances!