The Greatest Gift

Fun in the Sun for Memmorial Day.

2011-05-31T06:14:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and we are so excited about it.
On Monday, Memorial day, we took the kids to the pool and treated them to a nice buffet lunch at Golden Corral to celebrate that they've done so good in this school year and we are so very proud of them for working so hard, it was nice to have a family day and just enjoy the sun and the water. Leire was like a little fish that had discover the ocean for the first time..she loved it.

Mobile Home Adventures

2011-05-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

Lifes turns are a funny thing.
To think that one and half years ago I didn't know what a mobile home was seams funny now that I've learned so very much about them.
It's been an interesting ride.
If all goes well by January we will have bought our very own first home. It's whats called a manufactured home and it's got 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It's been an investment of time and lots of work to say the least, but it definitely beats renting if you can go without the comfort of a nice set up for a few months with the reward that in the end you have your own four walls to call home.
When we first moved in it was in quite bad shape and needed a lot of tender loving care but slowly it's looking a lot better. I'll have to dig up some pictures so I can do a before and after post.
I felt inspired about writing this when it dawn on me that in our first year in the US we've managed to pay off pretty much all of our debts and in the second year, which is only half way, we will have finished paying off our first home. I know it's not anything huge or fancy and most definitely not my forever home but it's a start. It's something.
Every queen want a palace and I'm no exception:-) I want the palace, the jewels and...ohh,... the shoes.
They say it's not where you start but where you finish... so dream big girls:-)
and in the process learn lots of cool new things.
Till next time.

Graduation!

2011-05-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud of my son Benji. This morning we went to school for his graduation.Daddy couldn't come because he's at work, But Ayleen, Leire and I went to cheer for him and to show how very proud we are that he worked so hard this year. I love you Benji.

Updates ...sort of:-)

2011-05-20T09:25:00.001-07:00

Recent pictures and the sorts...

2010-05-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

My room... is a mess, hah!! This is what it looks like right now, Nate ripped out the bathtub, and double sink and is gonna redo the whole bathroom, walls and flooring. Bless his heart, my baby was working on this all day.

Last night there was a scorpion on Ayleen's bed, which is on the floor,dad decided she needed her bunk bed up so he started taking down the old walls, and this is the room in the morning, the sink was still in there, it's gonna be gorgeous when it's done..can't wait to decorate!!

My sweet Benny let me use his face once more.

And this little one is finally back to her normal happy self, she has a total of three teeth and can stand on her own, she is just into everything, one of her favorite things to do is open the drawers and pull out everything, one thing at a time ..what a rascal!!

This is Ayleen today, of all the things I had her choose from, she wanted to be a tiger, no princess, no butterflies ...tiger it is!.

Dinner with Grandpa and Grandma is always fun, it's so nice to be closer and I'm so happy summer is just around the corner...school is out tomorrow, and we're hopping to go to California for aunt Angelica's Graduation. Fun stuff.

Why is it that Grandmas have so much wisdom and good advice?.

And this is my "childolescent", the picture was taken at school a few days ago when they had a "Texas Folk Dance" event. This morning when I was getting him ready for school he asked me if I could not refer to him as a "kid" anymore because it sounded "childish", curious I asked him how should I refer to him, and he promptly replied: you can just call me adolescent. Boy, do they grow fast!!

Volviendo a Casa.

2010-05-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

A mi blog... y a todos vosotros mis amigos, los extrane muchisimo!!
Me siento bien de volver a estar aqui contigo disfrutando el calido abrazo de tu compania, te he echado de menos y en verdad necesitaba volver a esta, mi casa querida.
Me encanta como me escuchas y puedo compartir contigo pedacitos de mi historia, de mi viaje por este mundo, de memorias y sentimientos.

Ya no voy a alejarme tanto.

Estoy en un momento de mi vida en el que han surgido muchos cambios, mi tendencia ante tales es, naturalmente, alejarme, cerrarme a todo y todos.

Cambiaron rutinas, costumbres, ideas, suenos, ideales y ..que mas digo, todo mi universo. Lentamente voy adaptandome aunque a veces no es facil, doy pasos uno a uno para no tropezar.

La vida es bella,llena de pequenos momentos que ensenan grandes principios.

Hoy levanto la mirada y pongo voluntad y esfuerzo,fe y esperanza en un brillante futuro que Dios me ha preparado, entiendo que los tiempos de Dios no son los nuestros y aunque yo desearia que fuera "ya", me hare de paciencia, todo a su tiempo.

Y mientras, aqui sigo en esta mi casita, con alegria sabiendo que ustedes, mis amigos me estan esperando y que en este viaje de mi vida, Dios esta al mando y asi...escribo mi historia.

Queda Prohibido

2010-05-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

Queda prohibido llorar sin aprender,
levabantarte un día sin saber que hacer,
tener miedo a tus recuerdos.

Queda prohibido no sonreir a los problemas,
no luchar por lo que quieres,
abandonarlo todo por miedo,
no convertir en realidad tus sueños.

Queda prohibido no demostrar tu amor,
hacer que alguien pague tus deudas y el mal humor.

Queda prohibido dejar a tus amigos,
no intentar comprender lo que vivieron juntos,
llamarles solo cuando los necesitas.

Queda prohibido no ser tú ante la gente,
fingir ante las personas que no te importan,
hacerte el gradioso con tal que te recuerden,
olvidar a toda la gente que te quiere.

Queda prohibido no hacer las cosas por ti mismo,
tener miedo a la vida y a sus compromisos,
no vivir cada día como si fuera un ultimo suspiro.

Queda prohibido echar a alguien de menos sin
alegrarte, olvidar sus ojos, su risa,
todo porque sus caminos han dejado de abrazarse,
olvidar su pasado y pagarlo con su presente.

Queda prohibido no intentar comprender a las personas,
pensar que sus vidas valen más que la tuya,
no saber que cada uno tiene su camino y su dicha.

Queda prohibido no crear tu historia,
no tener un moemnto para la gente que te necesita,
no comprender que lo que la vida te da, también te lo quita.

Queda prohibido no buscar tu felicidad,
no vivir tu vida con una actitud positiva,
no pensar en que podemos ser mejores,
no sentir que sin ti este mundo no sería igual.

(Pablo Neruda)

Este poema tan bonito lo puso en su FB mi hermana,Estrella, pero como a mi me gusta tanto se lo copie... de esos poemas inolvidables que tocan lo mas profundo de mi ser.

Snakes..

2010-05-26T14:47:00.001-07:00

They found this snake on the back yard. Brave little kids posed with it for a picture, I couldn't even get close to the thing.

Besos...

2010-05-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hay besos que pronuncian por sí solos
la sentencia de amor condenatoria,
hay besos que se dan con la mirada
hay besos que se dan con la memoria.

Hay besos silenciosos, besos nobles
hay besos enigmáticos, sinceros
hay besos que se dan sólo las almas
hay besos por prohibidos, verdaderos.

Hay besos que calcinan y que hieren,
hay besos que arrebatan los sentidos,
hay besos misteriosos que han dejado
mil sueños errantes y perdidos.

Hay besos problemáticos que encierran
una clave que nadie ha descifrado,
hay besos que engendran la tragedia
cuantas rosas en broche han deshojado.

Hay besos perfumados, besos tibios
que palpitan en íntimos anhelos,
hay besos que en los labios dejan huellas
como un campo de sol entre dos hielos.

Hay besos que parecen azucenas
por sublimes, ingenuos y por puros,
hay besos traicioneros y cobardes,
hay besos maldecidos y perjuros.

Judas besa a Jesús y deja impresa
en su rostro de Dios, la felonía,
mientras la Magdalena con sus besos
fortifica piadosa su agonía.

Desde entonces en los besos palpita
el amor, la traición y los dolores,
en las bodas humanas se parecen
a la brisa que juega con las flores.

Hay besos que producen desvaríos
de amorosa pasión ardiente y loca,
tú los conoces bien son besos míos
inventados por mí, para tu boca.

Besos de llama que en rastro impreso
llevan los surcos de un amor vedado,
besos de tempestad, salvajes besos
que solo nuestros labios han probado.

¿Te acuerdas del primero...? Indefinible;
cubrió tu faz de cárdenos sonrojos
y en los espasmos de emoción terrible,
llenaron sé de lágrimas tus ojos.

¿Te acuerdas que una tarde en loco exceso
te vi celoso imaginando agravios,
te suspendí en mis brazos... vibró un beso,
y qué viste después...? Sangre en mis labios.

Yo te enseñe a besar: los besos fríos
son de impasible corazón de roca,
yo te enseñé a besar con besos míos
inventados por mí, para tu boca.

Just Because.

2010-05-18T21:46:00.001-07:00

...I have two beautiful little girls.
Leire got her second tooth on the 17th of May..she's getting so big!!

MI guerita!!

Mi hermosa morena.

Learning

2010-05-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

So life is a school and you can always learn something knew even when you feel you know a lot, or most everything there is to now about one subject.
I bought me a parenting book the other day and as I started flipping the pages of this one book I ended up buying and other ones in the book store I realized how much there is to know and how little I do now about kids... yeah big revelation!!
In the end, the more I think about it I realize that I want to empower and prepare my children to be able to embrace and live rich full lives and I want them to have integrity and values, principles that will govern and reign supreme in their lives.
I only get one chance at parenting, one chance to be their mother, and I certainly want to give them as little baggage as possible for their journey in life. In reality we play a short part in our kid's life compare to all the years they go on to live on their own yet, as mothers we have the ability to mark them for life, to play a huge role in who they are and who they become. So I bought me a book and I will share here what I learn in the journey of reading through it. I must change habits in the way I interact with my children if I am to guide them and empower them to make good decisions in this cold hard world, and you little blog are coming with me. Till we meet again...

Por que eres tan bonita?...Y por que te quiero tanto?

2010-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day.

2010-05-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

Te quiero mami.
Eres todo un ejemplo de fortaleza, confianza y amor... y ademas siempre me haces reir con tu manera de ser.... eres una gran mujer.

Al Partir...

2010-05-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

Al partir un beso y una flor,
un te kiero, una caricia y un adios.

Es ligero equipaje para tan largo viaje,
lo que nos es querido siempre quedara.

Mas alla del mar habra un lugar,
donde el sol cada manana brille mas,

forjaran mi destino las piedras del camino,
lo que nos es querido, siempre quedara.

Parentheses.

2010-04-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

I think I'm done with my little few months of parentheses in this little place. I hope to post more, I hope to do a lot more of a lot of things.

And life goes on...

2010-02-04T21:55:00.000-08:00

We left Mexico on the 22th of December, 2009.
We spend Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma in Houston, TX.
We left Grandpa and Grandma and got sep up the 1st of January, 2010.
What a great way to kick of the New Year!!!.

Growing...

2009-12-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

Leire,3 mths
While our future seams uncertain and we aren't sure of what it holds for us, there one things that's constant ..these little things just keep on growing.

Moving and Packing.

2009-12-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Moving and having to pack or some of the most unfun things, specially when I have to fit the enormous task of packing six people's things in little undefined brackets of time. It's exhausting!. The rooms are a mess. Laundry piles. Toys are everywhere. Papers stack. Nick Nacks are too many. Forsake-all grows. Who knew I could collect so much stuff in 5 years!!.I'm sure you can do without a visual image of my messy mess right now. Quick sleep kids ... so mommy can do a bit more of that unfun stuff called packing. The good news .. we are spending Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma..the kids are so excited!!

Sisters

2009-12-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

Ayleen just wants to kiss,hug and carry her baby sister.
Poor Leire....it's often a little too much love.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-29T19:25:00.001-08:00

Leire

2009-11-10T20:42:00.000-08:00

I'm two months old. I'm such an alert baby, I follow everything with my eyes. I don't like loud noises and I get so relaxed after bath time that I sleep for two hours or more.Everyone says I look just like Benji when he was little. Mommy thinks I'm the most difficult baby of my bothers and sisters, but she also says that because I'm cute it's alright and also cause I smile and "talk" when I'm talked to.

Everything that matters.

2009-11-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

These past weeks have been some of the hardest in my life, it seamed the whole world crumbled around me, at least my world, my little bubble of a world; my dreams, expectations, years of sacrifices, when all was said and done, it was worth nothing.

It’s an indescribable feeling to see your dreams shatter into a thousand peaces and an even worse one to realize that you’ve wasted time on something that was a mistake even if the Lord tries to recycle the situation to bring some good out of it . It’s a form of death which comes along with a grieving process while you bury your dreams and dare to hope that one day soon you’ll have the strength to dream new dreams.

Life lesson , the ones that mark your life, your thinking and behavior usually come at a pretty high personal cost, maybe that’s what it takes to make them stick . I’ve learned the hard way that trust is earned not handed to anyone, and that seeing the good in people even when there’s none is not a virtue. Real friends are few and it’s in the difficult times that you find out who they are.

We’ve had to make some of the most difficult decision in our lives, and let me tell you, having four little kids makes me desperate in praying to get it right

There’s nothing left to do but to start over, so we’re starting over, the winds of change are moving and so are we. After being in Mexico for ten years it’s hard to say goodbye, it’s felt like home for a long time now. I may not have much and I’m certainly leaving behind a lot, I may have lost some things but I have Him and everything that truly matters …..if you don't believe me , check it out for yourself:

A wonderful husband

Bright kid 1

Bright kid 2

Bright kid 3

Bright kid 4.

I told you so.

Dreams...

2009-11-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.

Leire Emilly

2009-09-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

...and she's here.

2009-09-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Little Princess arrived on the 11 th of September of 2009. The birth-delivery took about an hour from start to finish, TTL . She weighted 3 kg, (6.6 pounds) my smallest baby so far. She looks just like the female version of Benji, with dark hair and dark eyes, although I venture say she's white. Thank you to all those who prayed for this sweet angel's arrival.

Summer Storms

2009-08-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

The kids enjoyed this a lot. They each put away two cups of ice balls in the freezer... don't ask what for.

The aftermath: this tarp didn't quite make it.
I was just thankful that the van's windshield wasn't broken and the hood dented. :D

That's our back patio full of half melted ice balls.

Back to School!!

2009-08-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

The official Mexican school year started on the 24th of August. One of the changes for this year is that Alex will be going to a nice private, christian, bilingual school for first grade. My baby is all grown up!!
He's been very excited about it and today he did his first homework. Today I met his teacher and it turned out I had already worked with her a few years ago, so that was really nice.
I will continue to home school Benji, which will have a mixed bilingual curriculum and Ayleen, and take care of the "new arrival" ready to pop out at any time now at an official 37 weeks old.
I haven't gotten a picture of Alex in his uniform yet but I'll post one, once I get the chance, here is a few of all of them doing some painting on Sunday on some coloring books Grandma Heidi sent them a while back. Thank you grandma!!
And on a side note: I'm driving almost everyday ... so good to be out of the house!!

My big girl.

2009-08-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

Ayleen is growing so much.
She talks a lot and I'm really enjoying watching her develop her own personality.
She is very different then the boys, she is already very concerned that her hair looks nice in the morning, that she is wearing the right shoes and she makes an enormous effort to get dressed (mostly unsuccessfully) by her self, she changes her shirt at least twice a day... and tried to get away with picking her clothes. Her imagination is starting to take off and now she talks to her little stuffies, babies and the little people in the Playmobil that her brothers have. She loves whispering "secrets" that make no sense in my ear.
She has two dolls she puts to sleep every night and tonight she got out of her bed after I had turned the lights out with both her " babies" in hand, I threaten to spank her, and her babies, if she didn't get back in bed intermediately, her reply was a simple: -Please don 't spank my babies!, as she made her way back into her bed and prayed with them.
Silly little girl; she was more concerned about her babies getting a spanking than herself!!.

In a few words...

2009-08-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I met someone I didn't know, as it happens a lot in the small circle of the family, it turns out we had a common friend and they use to live in the same home together not too long ago.
What got me thinking was the way he described in one small sentence our discovered common friend. It went something like this ...
-Yes, I know him, he 's very good at soccer and making babies.
Which got me thinking, if someone had to describe me in one small sentence, what would it be?

Goodbye.

2009-08-13T19:25:00.001-07:00

Phil, Angie, Ashley and Sarah left today for Leon, Gto. after almost five years of working together.... and thus starts a new chapter in our lives..... exciting!!
We love you and will definitely be missing those two cutie pies. Praying that everything works out great for you guys.

Change

2009-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Change...
It can be a scary word or sweet relief to ones ears. It really is a matter of perspective.
Change...
It comes into our life, sometimes invited but mostly like an uninvited and unexpected guest that turns out to have the answer to a problem and impeccable timing.
Change...
Difficult to face but in the end so much happier for it.

Here is to change... Cheers!!

Watermelon and Land

2009-08-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

Bits of Summer.

2009-08-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

Little Friends

2009-08-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

PGness- 7months

2009-07-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Got around to taking some pg pics at seven months ... or 32 weeks along .... I'm dreading the last 8 weeks of pregnancy; back pains and rib kicks are everyday things, I could never get use to this kind of body abuse.

Family Play Day with Mommy

2009-06-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

My Boy Scout.

2009-06-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

So these pictures are from the week before last, but I promised daddy I would put them up so; here the are, Alex looks forward to this every Saturday afternoon, and he finally got his shirt and all his gear to be a real Boy Scout.

Empathy.

2009-06-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

It seams lately, Mexico is just making headlines on the news. I don't normally post news but I felt really saddened when I heard about this. I can't beggin to imagine how the parents of all the todlers that died feel, I'm sure nothing can compare to loosing your baby, so for all those little ones and the parents they left behind if you read this today say a prayer for them.
(In the bottom excerps of news reports)

Mexico day care fire kills 38 children
HERMOSILLO, Mexico (AP) — Sobbing relatives waited outside a morgue Saturday to claim the bodies of 38 children killed in a day care fire in northern Mexico despite desperate attempts to evacuate babies and toddlers through the building's only working exit. A father crashed his pickup truck through the wall in an effort to rescue his child.

The family of 2-year-old Maria Magdalena Millan held a funeral for her, dropping white roses onto her tiny coffin and attaching a Dora the Explorer balloon to the cross marking her grave. One woman held a framed picture of her.

"I love you and I don't want to leave you here!" her mother screamed.

Delfina Ruelas, 60, said her grandchild German Leon died of his burns Saturday morning, three days after his fourth birthday. She and her husband saw television news reports that the ABC day care was on fire Friday and rushed over that evening.

"I thought he wasn't that burned and that we would find him OK, but he was very burned," said Ruelas, dissolving into tears outside the morgue in the northern city of Hermosillo, where she waited along with 30 other relatives. "They operated on him yesterday, and he held on, but today he couldn't hold on."

Firefighters carried injured children through the front door — the building's only working exit — and through large holes that a civilian knocked into the walls before rescue crews arrived, according to a fire department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the fire.

Noe Velasquez, an employee at a nearby auto parts store who helped pull out five toddlers, said the father of one of the children rammed his pickup truck through a wall. Velasquez did not know if the man's child survived.

"I didn't sleep last night. I've never gone through anything like that in all my life," he said.

There were an estimated 142 children in the day care at the time of the fire, their ages ranging from 6 months to 5 years, and six staffers to look after them, Bours said at a news conference Saturday.

"As a doctor I have confronted death on many occasions," Lopez said, his voice cracking. "But I'm seeing so much misfortune and suffering now, it breaks my heart."

Thirty-three children remain hospitalized, 23 of them in Hermosillo, including 15 who are in critical condition, Lopez said, adding that one of them is brain dead.

Nine children have been transferred to other Mexican hospitals, eight of them to the western Mexican city of Guadalajara, and one to Ciudad Obregon in Sonora, he said.

A 3-year-old girl with burns over 80 percent of her body was sent by military transport to be treated at Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Consul General for Mexico based in Sacramento, California.

Photographs showed the sidewalk outside the day care strewn with upturned, slightly blackened baby seats and cribs in the immediate aftermath of the blaze. Cribs also could been seen through huge holes punched through the walls.

Cuteness.

2009-06-05T20:50:00.001-07:00

I'm sure all mothers think their daughters are beautiful and cute...but mine is just the cutest.:D

It's a .....

2009-06-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

So it's a... girl!!!A couple days ago I did a nice ultrasound with the main purpose being finding out what I was having , the Lord loves me ... it's a girl, just what I wanted and prayed for, she looks strong and healthy ..oh and she does have 10 fingers and 10 toes...I think!!

Those good old Gipsy Nights...

2009-06-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone that has been in The Family during their childhood years has at least one picture of a gypsy night, I'm no exception, I clearly remember a childhood picture in which my dad had a painted mustache and we were dancing around a campfire dressed like gypsies .... big deja vu ... for activity night we had a gypsy night!!! The kids were really excited about it for days in advanced and the best custom got a price ... well, they all did really!.

Micks dancing with little girls.

My little gypsy girl , at 2yrs and 2mts. She's quite the character!!.

Our neighbour and friend doing the honors of cooking the chicken.

A group shot with some friends and Micks, Mari, Cris ...

The cutest gypsyes, Ayleen, Alex, Janine and Benji.

Benni Boy(4)
Ayleen and Alex(5)

The only family picture that came out half decent ..even though Ayleen has something green in her mouth ... I tried .

First...

2009-05-20T13:11:00.001-07:00

Ayleen en su salsa, disfrutando sin ataduras.

The boys
The first construction in our land.

A few weeks ago, during the vacations the kids had, we made a few trips to our land and cleaned it out, bought some machetes, and even build the first building on it!! A little cabin daddy made for the boys. The place is so peaceful and quite, daddy went camping with the boys there, they came back telling stories of stargazing, freezing cold nights and bread robber raccoons .

Tying the knot

2009-05-19T19:38:00.001-07:00

Long time friends and supporters of our work here got married on the 16th of May, 2009... The wedding was gorgeous down to the last detail .
and one picture of me , sporting my 5months of pregnancy..enjoy.!!

Camping. Semana Santa

2009-05-17T08:42:00.001-07:00

Los Azufres. Semana Santa

2009-05-17T08:33:00.001-07:00

Waterpark. Semana Santa

2009-05-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Zoo. Semana Santa.

2009-05-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

Princess

2009-04-02T10:16:00.001-07:00

Little princess is growing so much.

At two years old she talks my ear off, specially when we go anywhere in the car.
She loves coloring and painting, and is starting to learn her vowels, colors, shapes and numbers.
Yesterday after nap I asked her to pray for me since I had a real bad headache, and this was her prayer:

- Jesus... mama.. Owie...no, no, no!!
-Amen.

Sweetest prayer anyone has prayed for me. :D

Family day at La Cascada.

2009-04-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Kate and Nathan

Kate, Alex, Janine and Kristen. First swim on the year.

Very scenic place.

Benji being an explorer.

La la and Lulu.

Double batch

2009-03-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Double happiness for Ayleen( turned 2) and Benji( turned 4)

Kids

2009-02-21T12:18:00.001-08:00

My pre adolescente.

Making her pretty face on a dress up night.

Making her mean face.

Playing with friend Ashley.

Bennie.

The farmer.

2009-02-15T19:08:00.001-08:00

Conversation with Benji (4).

Mom: Benji, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Benji: I want to be a farmer.
Benji: does God supply what we want?
Mom: He always supplies what we need.
Benji: .... I need a farm.

Happy Valentines!

2009-02-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

To my sweetheart Happy Valentines and I love you so so much.!! I'm so lucky!!

We celebrated this day with a Special Breakfast that I made. If I could pick between a special dinner and breakfast, I'd pick the second probably every time.
I made some Cinnamon rolls with the kids the previous day and baked them in the morning, the whole kitchen smelled oh so nice!, I also made some good ol pancakes for the kids and the kids at heart. The big guys decorated by writing love and friendship quotes on paper hearts that they cut out and pasted on the walls.

Every one got a chocolate gift from Cristal. Ayleen was so excited about her 5 chocolates she barely ate any breakfast.
Later on we took the kids to a park close by and Mari and Micks invited us to eat out, I was feeling rather sick so they took the kids anyways,( thank you guys!!) and I got to be the party pooper and go home. Hopefully some pictures of the park coming soon, since I forgot my camera I need to get them from Mari. I'm such a space case these days!!.

Oh and this is a good article I read which is a lot of how I feel about this day-just worded so much better then I could, heh. Enjoy!!

By The Rev. Patricia L. Hunter

Special to The Seattle Times

Today is Valentine's Day. Few women ever forget this holiday. We like romance, being held by that special someone and being told we are loved. Many partners have gotten in big trouble on this day because they forgot to give the gift that says, I love you.

If you are reading this on Valentine's morning and have forgotten to get that special something, or find this column taped to the bathroom mirror, you still have time to redeem the day.

They say Valentine's Day is the day for lovers. That is all well and good if you have a lover you like. Otherwise, the day can be a bust. Too often the expectations of flowers, chocolate and a romantic dinner go unfulfilled. A day that celebrates love should not be a disappointment for so many. Perhaps we need to reframe what Valentine's Day is all about.

I think Valentine's Day can be expanded to embrace all those who love life and hope that our tomorrows will be better than today. Why not tell that special girlfriend, brother or neighbor that you love them and give thanks for them being in your life? An unexpected gift on this day will express just how much you value friendships. It is no surprise that friendships often outlast our romantic relationships.

I remember in elementary school giving Valentine's Day cards to everyone in my class. In those days, we could not give cards just to those we liked. We had to give cards to everyone. I did not like half the boys in my classes, but I gave them cards, too. They did not get the prettiest cards, but they got cards nonetheless. I think there is a lesson in giving gifts to those we are not that fond of.

Jesus said the best way to get back at our enemies is to love them and give them what they need. Hearts of stone can turn to hearts of flesh with the smallest gesture of kindness. Our detractors do not expect us to be kind or really listen to them. Yet when we hear stories from those who bristle at us, we often hear words of pain, sorrow and fear that have nothing to do with us. Love can win over our staunchest enemy.

While loving others on this day, remember to love yourself. Loving oneself is a sign of wisdom. When we love ourselves into wholeness, there is more of ourselves to give away. If you would love to receive a bouquet of flowers today, buy one. Be kind to yourself by treating yourself to a good book, a bubble bath and a fabulous cup of tea.

While tangible signs of affection from others are hoped for today, let us remember that the greatest love we can experience is from God. These days, marriage vows have only a 50 percent success rate, even when they include "til death us do part." But the love that comes from our creator is with us before birth and even beyond death. What confidence to know that love will be with us in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in times of wealth and in poverty.

In these stressful economic times, with the stock market still sinking and unemployment at a 30-year high, we must cling to those values that are rock solid. Love is simple — not jealous, envious or rude.

Real love has nothing to do with dress size, quantity of hair on one's head, or the value of one's 401(k). Love desires us to be our best selves and for us to be happy.

I am fortunate to know what real love looks like and feels like. I am also holding out for dark chocolate today. Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Birthday Benji!!

2009-02-13T20:28:00.001-08:00

My sweet Benji turned four. He got a special breakfast in bed, with his favorite; pancakes!
These pictures are taken on the morning of his birthday. Ayleen was very excited about it and thought we were singing Happy Birthday to her.!!
As a present he got a nice lunch bag and water bottle which he's very happy about and now he's running out of places to hide it from his little sister. She's such a little "Scott the Puppy".
My prayer for you, my boy.
That you will love the Lord more this year than the last.
That you'll keep growing, learning and discovering more about the beautiful world we live in.
That you never loose those dreamy eyes... I know they are going far.
I love you, little man.

Family Day

2009-02-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

She insisted on taking a picture, it didn't quite come out.:D

Specially for you daddy.

Announcing number 4!!

2009-02-07T13:20:00.001-08:00

It's official!!!Our growing family will soon be six. The kids are very excited and they are hopping for a brother and not a sister. We'll be happy with either. Prayers for the first months of pregnancy are very much welcome.XOXOXO!!

A beautiful story.

2009-02-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

My sister sent me this story, since I really liked it , I'd thought I'd share it with you.

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly.
So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went on the winter, the second on the spring, the third on the summer and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and returned, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted.
The second son said it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them , he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained that you cannot judge a tree, or a person by only one season.
That the essence of who they are, and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life, can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer and the fulfillment of your fall.

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come in time.
Aspire to inspire ...before you expire.

Live simply. Love greatly. Care deeply speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.
Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong, sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble , success keeps you growing... but only God keeps you going.

Art

2009-01-31T15:45:00.000-08:00

Cintas. Acrilico sobre tela

Here are a couple more painting I did for my mom's place while I was in Spain.

Nenufares. Acrilico sobre tela.

New Year Resolutions...

2009-01-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

The New Year rolls around, it doesn't feel like it was that long ago that I was thinking of my goals for the year that we've left behind.

I'm happy to see that I did reach some of those goals I put for last year, others like , "This year I'm really going to exercise and get back in shape" ..well... I stayed faithful a few months but for one reason or another I let lethargy and discouragement beat me. I'm not cutting myself any slack in that department because I'm a firm believer that if you want to do something, it doesn't matter the odds, you can and will do it. It's very easy to find excuses for myself , but in the end, they are just that , excuses.
I'm happy to say though that one of my goals for this past year was to become more profesional and organized and methodical in my job/ ministry, and I have.

Back to the goals for this year,I've been thinking a lot about my personal goals for this year.

When I think about goals almost the first thing that comes to mind is that quote that says that if you have none, you are sure to reach them. I don't want to be like that.
I have goals , there's things I want to do this year and other things I want to see change in.

The truth is I see people embarking in exciting, ambitious new projects for this new year, while I feel I'm basically going to do the same I've done for the past few years, I would love to do something showy and exciting like that but after praying and thinking about it I've reached the conclusion that, for this year, kids are gonna be my mission, and their hearts my mission field.

I've dedicated the past few years to teaching, it's a rewarding job, monotonus sometimes too.

I know, not very showy, a kind of behind the scenes job maybe, perhaps when my kids are older I'll have time to do gardening, art, more witnessing, set up a business ... who knows...for now I'll keep whashing their dirty hands, changing their diappers, teaching them to read and then write, showing them algebra and the amazing world we live in.

Thank You!

2009-01-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

This year, Christmas was made special by Grandpa and Grandma, which sent a cargo of gifts and needs for the kids and mommy too. I want to dedicate this post to Grandma Heidi and Grandpa Christian for making our Christmas so special. We are so thankful and deeply touched by your sweet deeds of kindness. You really made Christmas this year, for that, from the bottom of our hearts, we want to say ... THANK YOU!!.

Bennie loves puzzles, he really enjoyed making this one.

Ayleen loves her puppie and calls it gua-gua, every morning when she wakes up she asks for it ... it's usually tangled in between her blankets. Yesterday I took it down the night before, to put it in the washing machine cause it had gotten a little dirtie from all the walks she has with it. She couldn't find it so she asked me with her big interrogating eyes where was her gua-gua I tried explaining to her that it was taking a "bath" cause it was very dirty, so she went to the bathroom, opened the shower door and had the most dissapointing look in her face when the puppie wasn't there. ha !! so cute!!.

They all really like playing with the nice play dough, after an hour Ayleen still had a hard time putting it away, and I thought she wasn't gonna be interested in it. Great Gift. For now it 's become a super fun family time activity and a good barganing chip. heh!

Opening her present .And there were other things but I just haven't had the time to take pictures of everything.
We love you and pray you have the bestest New Year, 2009, full of the Lord's blessings.!!

Kings day

2009-01-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

Every King's Day ( 6 of January) for the past few years we've organiced a big CTP , in other words something for the poor.
This year we put together a lot of clothes, shoes, toys that friends sponsored, aguinaldos(sweets) and a nice puppet show with the story of Chrsitmas and a message of salvation,for the event.
All the homes in the area participated, which was nice, it can sometimes get a little confusing with so many people but that's just how it usually goes. Hah! We picked a neighborhood that had 150 single moms and worked with the coordinater of the neighbourhood. One thing that cought my atention was that there were quite a few Down Sindrome kids in the whole bunch.. which sure made me thankfull for the health our kids usually have.

Latest Artwork

2009-01-02T20:45:00.001-08:00

Santillana del Mar, Cantabria
(Acrilico sobre tela)

Merry Christmas!

2009-01-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly catching up on my posts.
From our hearts to yours a very happy Christmas Season. We love you!!

Mountain Men

2008-12-30T09:18:00.003-08:00

A couple weeks ago we took all the kids to climb a mountain. Great exercise for both little and big. Here are some pics.The little girls climbing up the mountain holding hads ..so cute!

Benji and Janine did this fire; they were very proud of their work.:D

La-La and the babies.

Little lady taking a brake from all that climbing.

Kids christmas Witnessing

2008-12-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

The little guys in the home have really been star witnesses this Christmas.
They were shinner track givers and gave out lots of tracks down town and to anybody they saw while out. They even had a lot of people come back and ask for another one of those 'beautiful papers" for a friend, cousin or other child. They take their witnessing so seriously, it makes me proud of them. Alex commented to me, after he had given a track to everyone on the bus and wished them a Merry Christmas," Mom I helped get a lot of souls into Heaven", I told him that to get saved they needed to pray the prayer in the back on the track to ask Jesus into their heart, so he went back and explained that to each person he had given the tracks to. Everyone was really happy and thanked him. Here are some pictures of a show they did in the Fiesta Inn for some very important doctors.

They had the most beautiful Christmas tree so we took a few pictures by it.

Daddy's little girl and her sour patches.

2008-12-20T20:06:00.000-08:00

When daddy got home this last time he brought this huge bag of Sour Patches, Ayleen's absolute favorite!. It's definitely the perfect coming home gift and the way to her sweet heart.

Totally thrilled with the huge sour patch bag!!

Content Smile.!
Yum... you want some?
Time to put away..so sorry about the heart break sweet little girl.!

Posada

2008-12-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

On September 7th we did a Posada all our friends and contacts, the idea was to do something nice for them in appreciation for their faithful support throughout the year, with this in mind, we made some special ¨Thank You¨diplomas to give out, put together a nice meal etc. It was a joint effort from the three homes here in our city. Lots of work to plan, GB the organizing commite made up of some home members and a few active members . The Lord really did lots of miracles and supplied above what we needed for this special event.
Between the three homes there was a puppet show with the Christmas Story, live music and face painting for all the little ones.

The little guys in our home worked hard for a few weeks to put together some songs, here they are performing "I'd like to be a Christmas tree", sang by Janine (5).
Their little singing troop is called "Campanitas".

Some of the attendees.

Singing "What can I give him"... ( sorry about the poor pic cuality)

Some more attendees

Micks and Lalo(AM) got to do all the talking.:D

The tech man. Phil did a very nice power point presentation of our work in Morelia for this year.

"Campanitas" and "Luna Azul" performing, singing "Burrito Sabanero".

Cristal, which did a big part of the organizing, and a dear friend.

Reception Committe; Liz and Ester (AM's)

Alex (5) all handsome before the show.

The beautiful girls of "Luna Azul".
Stephani, Mari and Teresa.(They are all young and pretty ...no need to put ages.:D)

Yumm........working on those manners.:D

Cosas buenas...

2008-12-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Earlier in December my little sister visited us all the way from Spain is was so nice having her around and the kids loved to go down town and give her the tour of the city, show her all the sights and walk through the artesany market. We miss you !

Tia Estrella con Alex, Ayleen y Benji

Estrella y yo sentadas encima de Frida Kalo, su esposo y la Muerte , en un banco de madera tipico labrado y pintado a mano.

Estrella, notice the detailed hand made wood work of the table and chairs tipical of this part of Mexico.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-05T13:30:00.001-08:00

We had a nice dinner for Thanksgiving and everyone was home wich was a plus , here are some bad pictures of it. I got to be in charge of the deserts and the salads. Fun, fun.

Little Miracles.

2008-12-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's easy for me to sometimes take things for granted, things like protection, health and supply, without really realizing what a true miracle it is to have good health, to not have big or small accidents and to not have to buy fruits and veggies every week, for example.

The Lord really does spoil us in so many ways that, we feel we almost deserve all of those blessings when in reality we should be a lot more thankful and praise him for all his little miracles.
Having good health and not having to take my kids regularly to the doctor is a blessing I appreciate a lot more after they've battled with a cold or fever.

Having fresh veggies every week is a blessing that not everyonce has; my kids get to eat exotic fruits every day!!, then again , it's only when we don't do the market, nad don't have it that I truly apreciate it

One of those little miracles happened just the other day.
As part of our offensive long term plan, and in order to be able to cut our expenses or generate more income the Lord showed us to ask our landlord to lower the rent. Big step of faith ! True to his promise the Lord did it and our landlord miraculously agreed to lower the rent 2000 pesos.
I gotta say that 's a first in my case cause in all my years of renting houses I've never had anyone lower the rent, to the contrary , it usually goes up every year.

So that is a little big miracle to celebrate and praise for and a kind reminder to follow the Lord even if He shows you something a bit odd or unconventional. New methods, right?

Still Alive

2008-11-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

So ..yeah... I know it's been lonely here, but just in case you are wondering I still do care about my little blog and want it to be a happy place so I went through all my link list and took out the ones that didn't work and also added some new links from cool peoples -friends in the world that have started blogs. I still care.

Uno mas.

2008-11-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

One more year together.... Happy Anniversary Baby!
You still have that amazing touch and thoughfulnes capable of sending me a love note and flowers when you are a thousand miles away. You are the best. I love you.

Quince años tiene mi amor...

2008-11-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

Quien me diera volver a tener quince años otra vez , en retrospectiva creo que haria por lo menos un par de cosas diferentes.
Stephani tuvo una linda fiestita de quince años como es la tradicion en Mexico unos dias antes de mi viaje a España .
She is so pretty and is such a beautiful person inside and outside! The whole evening was just great ! Happy sweet fifteen!!

Yellow..!!

2008-11-15T12:44:00.001-08:00

I know it's been a long time, for those of you who've been faithful to check my blog I've most likely been a terrible disappointment.
Life has been busy, the good kind of busy where I find I don't have much time for anything because so many things are going on that translate into action and progress. We all know Christmas time is one of the busiest of the year so prayers are appreciated for all the different projects that are happening.
This last month I had the wonderful opportunity and blessing to visit my folks in Spain which I hadn't seen since 2002. I'm privileged to have one of those large extended families with lots of halves in between, it would take more then a whole book to explain any and all of my family it so I won't get into that, I'll just leave you with some pictures. I didn't do all that much sight seing and all that kind of stuff that you do when you travel ..because to be honest, I didn't go there to see the sights (which are beautifull) but I went there to spend time with my loved ones.Thanks to everyone that had a part on making my trip happen; the ones that covered for me in the home and to my dear husband that went above and beyond to make it a reality. I'm truly thankful.

Picture time.
My oldest sister, Ines
My brother Juan (23) and my baby sister Vicky(15)

Grandpa and Ayleen chugging down cookies.

My brothers and sisters which insisted in us going out dancing. Night action starts at 2 am in Spain, amazing how many people party away the night.:D It was great fun though I think I'm getting old for that kind of action seeing my kids get up at the same time in the morning regardles if I got to bed at 11 pm or 5 am..

Angela(20), Estrella (25), Juan(23), Ana(17).... no drinking age restrictions.

Angela, Estrella and Ana. beautiful ladies!

"Costa Dourada", Calafell, (Catalunya), Spain
Family Portrait, the last time we took one of these was b4 they separated when I was 14. Special thanks to my dad, my brother and sister that travelled from different parts of the country so that we could all get together for this weekend family reunion.

Sisters
My dad's family in Catalunya, Spain
Alex was overjoyed that grandpa took him for a bike ride.
My dad and I.

Santander, Spain
Cousins Alan, Rebeca, Ricardo and Alex.
Alex and Rebeca on a train ride
Santander, Spain. Cousins Alex and Rebeca.

Ayleen going through a tunnel on the train.

My little sisters; Angie, Ana and Vicky.

Mom and I.

Auntie Ana with Ayleen in Laredo, Spain where my mom lives.

Airplane from Miami to Madrid.

Yummy headphones.

Benny Boy

2008-09-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

Mom: Benny, can you help pick up the toys your baby sister dumped out of the container please.

Benny: But mom, I don't want to be a slave.
( Note to self: don't let Benny watch Joseph in Egypt, Bible cartoon for a while)

Mom: hum... your not a slave , you are just a happy helper!

( Kids these days, what do they teach them!!:D)

Summer Smiles

2008-09-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Lego Night

2008-08-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Alex, showing off his super cool plane that he did all by himself.

Daddy gave permision to the kids to play with his very special legos, that he got during the renewal, :D the kids looked forward to it all day, and it turned out to be a great bargaining chip on my advantage. It's so neat to watch my kids grow, not only grow but develop their personality and particular interest that accompany each new year in their little life, see how they change and grow up so fast and are no longer content with the little simple version/explanation of something but want all the details and all the why's of it. Every once in a while they incorporate some new "cool" line or word to their vocabulary like "Yeah, right!!"... humm...son...aren't you to young to be using those kind of expressions?... and it makes me realize even more that those little ears are always listening, and those little eyes are always watching and what a big influence and roll I play in their lives; the short part of their lives I will share with them but that will mark them for a lifetime and undoubtedly turn them into the men they will be in the not so distant future.What a responsibility, what a challenge...

They came up with these "ships" all by themselves, and were pretty proud of their work.
Ayleen was just happy to fill up her cup with lego pieces and then dumping them out and starting all over again.

Moments

2008-08-19T22:49:00.001-07:00

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang up my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I LOOKED....and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Vanity

2008-08-17T00:10:00.001-07:00

Free day all by myself is just so conducive to ...vanity!

For the love of dogs...

2008-08-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

She loves puppies and dogs and anything that barks. When she's falling asleep in the highchair a bark is the only thing that will wake her up instantly.

Treats

2008-08-10T09:45:00.001-07:00

These are the days when breakfast in bed is still a treat and a bag of chips is a weekly special...oh that it could stay this way for ever.

Kids eating chips and watching a movie, Ayleen thought herself so big with her own personal bag of chips, so cute!!

The cutest polkadot.

2008-08-06T19:41:00.001-07:00

She's grown and changed so much during this month I've been away. I was expecting her not to want to want to come with me for the first while and that she sort of would forget who I was but as soon as I walked in the door she put her arms out to me and started walking towards me with a shocked expression in her face, after that she didn't want me to put her down for anything. What a relief!!

She's a happy little girl , eats really well, and says "no" for lots of things . It's rather cute really!

She has knew teeth coming in and still has no fear of stairs or falls.

She goes on the slide all by herself and gets into everything , I mean everything.
She loves brushing her teeth and at a year and 4months she's totally potty trained and asks when she needs to go.She gets upset if you take the clips of her hair and wants to put them back on, what a vain little thing!!

I love the way she posed , puts her chin on her shoulder and gives a little smile.

...well, I don't mind working at Mc Donals....

Happy Birthday Son

2008-08-06T19:26:00.001-07:00

"mordida"

This past weekend I didn't blog about something important: My son's Birthday , so here are some pictures of my little man, during his special day.

Very sober while we prayed for his new year.

Benji and Alex, bat in had to hit the pinata.

Ayleen and water, water and Ayleen.

Friends
Happy Birthday Alex, you are such a big boy!!

Pirate ship present.

Filling in the Gap

2008-08-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

To fill in the gap for my long absence here in this little space, I offer you some pictures.
We did some traveling up north to DC and that area for about 6 weeks, stayed with some wonderful lively people, got to meet knew friends and say hi to some old ones. It was hard being away from my little sparks of life, I terribly missed my children, I don't think I want to do that again. I got a bit more confident in my driving and I practiced a bit there, of course it's easy because the roads are so wide, driving in Mexico is a whole different story, perhaps one day I'll listen to the still small voice in my head "Just do it", it's about time.

Sexy Husband , downtown DC, 4th of July 2008

Cops in horses , truly worth a picture.

Waiting for the rain to stop.

Life has been on the rough side lately, this year has been one of the hardest ever , yet still, through it all, God is good.

Updates

2008-06-22T21:33:00.001-07:00

I'll start blogging again soon. In the last two days I've done the unthinkable and left my kids behind, as in, in another country, that's no small thing for me and definitely a first. Having to leave my little guys behind was so difficult, after being grumpy and battling with it for the last day I was home the Lord reassured me it was gonna be ok, so thanks Mari and Migs for stepping in and being willing to keep them while we are away fund raising, and to all you dear readers please pray our trip goes well . I will update soon and put pictures up but if you are really missing them check Mari's ( that is being mommy while I'm away) blog; Triky's stuff and thoughts... there on my links on the right side.

Pain in the ...

2008-05-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

Just cause you have pains .... doesn't mean you have to be one.

HBD Mari

2008-05-08T21:09:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to a wonderful girl, Mari, the other super cool mom around and my next door neighbor.
May this year be fulfilling in every way possible and full of blessings and manifestations of His love.
Thank you for caring for my little angel with such love, I'm very thankful she has someone so sweet and beautiful to look up to. You do a great job with her, I really appreciate it , I don't think I can thank you enough... I love you... muah!!

A pretty song that someone sent me...

2008-05-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

I hope you dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
Dance

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

Posing and all..

2008-04-28T19:14:00.001-07:00

This was what nap time looked like a couple weeks ago for family day.

And my little doll is making faces to the camera, I believe it's her first attempt actually posing.

Benji was feeling particularly happy this day.

And that's just plain adorable...

Coconuts

2008-04-28T13:56:00.001-07:00

The kids finally got around, last week, to opening those coconuts they got at the beach.
Here are some pictures that hadn't uploaded yet.
And there's one of Ayleen carrying around those empty buckets she loves so much. She'll be entertained for a good while just moving them from one end of the patio to the other end, or simply putting them down and lifting them up again. She's doing all these new adorable things like wave(about time), and " talking" more, she pretends she talks on the phone with her play phone and says "hola"...the cutest thing!. She absolutely adores her teacher and can just not get enough of her or her boyfriend, ha!

I like...

2008-04-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

cream cheese with crackers...
chocolate chip cookies

and this lollipop is the first one she ever got a hold of , courtesy of dear Teresa..Teens these days!!

And here she's looking all grown up and goofy, I love her sense of humor!

And this picture was just so cute I had to put it up.

Happy Birthday

2008-04-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

My little sister is turning 25! Felicidades Estrella!! I love you.

Continua loquita y hermosa como siempre, Mi Estrella.Te quiero un mundo.

Don't be depressed over your size!!.

2008-04-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

That just sounds like one of those advertisement-junk mail I get all the time but seriously, when it comes to boobs, don't be depressed about your size.
Not that I consider myself an expert at it, but I've seen too many beautiful ladies lament their small chests as if they were a curse from the Gods, when they are in fact beautiful girls inside and outside. Since I've had bigger boobs and now I'm small, that's gotta give me some points or at least something to say about it. Heh!!
Here are seven things I like about having smaller breasts, laugh if you will, but here they are:

1. Guys look at your face when they talk to you instead of checking out your rack, don't get me wrong that's flattering and all, but it can get annoying.
2. Working out and exercise is so much more comfortable, nothing gets in the way.:D
3. Nobody giggles when you run.
4. It's easier to find bras that fit.
5. You look thinner overall.
6. You can wear and fit so many more shirts.
7. No one asks if they are real.

Just like so many other things in life, it's not all about size, so don't be depressed over it, just enjoy it.

The raisins

2008-04-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

Benji . Benji. Benji.
It doesn't matter if it's been a difficult day or an extra long one when he asks me if I can please take out the raisins from his watermelon he can always make me smile.

Beach Fun

2008-04-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

Random...

2008-03-27T21:38:00.001-07:00

I never thought I'd do a post and call it that, these are just a collage of random pictures from the last couple weeks.

Having a water fight in the patio, it's such a blessing that the kids can get entertain for hours with simple things that don't cost much like splashing water around. We made a morning out of washing the stroller, highchair and muddy shoes, so after they had all "helped" with the task and were already all wet ... well the fun just went on a little longer.

Alex was sick, and Janine accompanied him for a little video watching.

Oh she was so happy that she was able to chew on that mango for a good while, undetected with all the "just arrived market hub".

Dancing.
Sleeping

Making Pizza with aunty Cristal

Looking "a la moda" during a barbecue.

More water fun...

12 months= 1 year old

2008-03-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

With this my little baby turns into a toddler, it's been fun to watch her grow from the first time she smiled to now walking everywhere. Life is such a daily miracle.
Birthday cake and party will have to wait until daddy comes back. But untill then here are a few pictures for the faithful readers that have kept visiting while my little bloggy was taking a mini vacation. A more elocuent post will have to wait..till then...remember you are loved.

Red, white and black

2008-02-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Selene, AM and her friend with Ayleen.

Alex has a new friend, Jenine that is staying for a month or so, he's so happy to have somebody to play with. They hit it off right away.

During dinner, I think the kids must have had a bit of a sugar high... they just couldn't sit still.

Dress in red, white and black, give little appreciation notes and chocolate away and have a nice dinner.
That's one way to celebrate love... and friendship.

Feliz Dia del Amor y la Amistad.

2008-02-14T20:53:00.000-08:00

Why friends are better then chocolate?

They aren't fattening.
They can hug and be hugged ,without melting.
You don't feel guilty for having to many friends.

They don't cause cavities, no matter how sweet they are.
You can stay in on a Friday night with a friend, and not feel pathetic.
Laughing with a friend is more fun then a sugar buzz.
True friends last forever.

Happy Valentine's

2008-02-14T20:42:00.000-08:00

Legends will be legends, with some elements of truth and mostly fantasies. But I was a little curious about this memorable day worldwide, and came upon this version of the history of Valentine's :

"One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death."