Livin' the Florida life ...

FAREWELL....

2008-12-19T18:08:00.010-05:00

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(I'll do my farewell at the end of this post.)

First, we went to see the Orlando Magic VS San Antonio Spurs basketball game last nite at the Amway Arena. What a game! WHAT LOUDNESS! I had never experienced such loudness in my 34 (almost 35) yrs of life! The kids were SUPER-amazed at how huge the arena is & about our seats. The game was off to a shaky start. Spurs scored 2 in a row. Orlando missed their 1st shot (what an embarrassment). Nevertheless, in the end, Orlando won roughly by 20 points!!!
We were able to partake of this cool, special event thanks to my daughter who made the all A-Honor Roll & got the free ticket. They were giving out free T-shirts!!!
What a great way to spend time w/one's family.
Life has been quite busy. Angelice is taking Religious Education classes every Wednesday to complete her 1st Communion!!
2 days ago Angelice came out in a small Christmas performance @ school. She did really good & I am proud of her talents!(See 1st pic above)

Tomorrow we're off to her BFF'S bday party. Next week is X-MAS and so on & so on.....
Next mo I begin working frm home! (Yes, I'm still a State Employee doing the same job now for what, almost 10 yrs?)..
I hardly ever have any time to write in here so that's why I've decided to end my blog on this day.
Farewell to all of you.
But, u can still catch me now & then on Facebook to see what I'm up to.

crazy Florida weather ...

2008-12-08T19:50:00.002-05:00

So last week it was in the 40s and 50's during the daytime with lows in the 30s @ night - time.
Well, this week has been in the upper 70s & tomorrow will be 85 degrees and by Wednesday it will be almost 90 degrees.
Last week, my kids were wearing winter hats & coats and sweaters. Today, Angelice had her Hannah Montana flip-flops, shorts and tee-shirt. Angel was chillin' as well. I even washed my car.
This is another reason why we live in Florida.
The weather's Kra-zee, it changes alot, but it's all good.
It's all part of livin' the Florida life .............
By the way, just 17 more dayz till Xmas. !!!!!!
I'm still not done shopping for presents.
But, hey, I still have time. They're still throwing some good deals out there. You know the ones, 75% off, 65% off etc, etc...

Happy Birthday, Angelice!

2008-11-22T20:36:00.001-05:00

We had a blast at Chuck E.Cheese's again. Angelice is now 7 yrs old. Her best friend, Tiana, was there as usual just like cousin Mickey & Eggie's sister with her 3kids. I had a total of 10 kids which is exactly what my budget was. A great time was had by all!
The "holidays" have now officially begun for my family. Next week, we put up our Xmas tree as well as our Xmas lights outside. Hard to believe 1 year has gone by!

All "A" Honor Roll ...

2008-11-16T14:43:00.002-05:00

Guess what!
Angelice made the Honor Roll. Because of her achievements, she was awarded a free game ticket to see the Orlando Magic vs. the San Antonio Spurs for next month! Plus, she got a free smoothie @ a famous restaurant here in Kissimmee, plus a free entry to go ice-skating among other little things. Way to go, Angelice!
She has made us very proud and that's why she deserves to have her birthday party where ever she chooses. And, she chose Chuck E. Cheese. (Rather than the roller dome which is where we had it last year.)
Her birthday's this Saturday. I still have to buy the goodie bags & some chocolates. I have her bday gift, but for me, it's not enough. I need to get her something extra since she's so wonderful, dont'cha think?
Well, I guess I'll be posting pics later this week then!

I early voted!

2008-11-01T14:38:00.005-04:00

So, today was the last day for "early voting".
I got up at 6am & went to vote at 7am at the library & then on to work overtime.
I proudly wore my "I voted!" sticker.
I was pissed that Obama & Bill Clinton were only 5 mins away frm my house on Wednesday night for their rally! They gave a speech at 11pm at the Osceola Heritage Center which is where I always take my daughter for special concerts & outings. I couldn't believe how packed it got. I passed by at 8pm that night on my way home from my daughter's 1st Communion Religious Education class & boy was the parking starting to get full! Not only that, traffic was slow.
Trust me, I would've gone if my husband was off that day!
Anyway, hopefully this year things will go right on Voting Day November 4th.
Cause it seems like Florida's alwayz in the newz for something or other. If it's not a hurricane, it's the Caylee case or so on & so on. You know what I mean? Something interesting always happens down in Florida!
Well, what was interesting for us was Halloween! We went to the mall as we usually do cuz every year from 6pm - 8pm it's trick or treating time! They were giving out free food samples at the Food Court! Plus, we walk around the whole, entire mall & go to every store for candy. This is a popular thing down in Florida on every Halloween. There were lots & lots of cute costumes there! Let me tell u about 1 that I particularly liked & may get for my son for next Halloween!
It's not really a big deal but I had never seen 1 like it! A batman costume where you press a button & his wings pop out! BIG PLASTIC WINGS! The parents told me they got it at Walmart. (I still have it on my mind)...
So by the time all the stores have been visited, it has been 2 hrs & all the stores are outta candy. We then head to my sister-in-law's neighborhood in Orlando which I like to call "ghetto" cause every Halloween it reminds me a bit of my old neighborhood in Chicago. And it's funny cause, this is a nice neighborhood. Throughout the year, and we visit her quite often, you hardly see many people out. But once Halloween comes around, BAM! Where did all these kids come from? It's like they come out of their caves only once a year. Here are some pics of my kids out in front of my house & at the mall.
Hope your Halloween was happy & safe!

Picnic time ...

2008-10-25T18:12:00.007-04:00

AND HERE'S MR. BROOKLYN (MY HUSBAND & FATHER OF MY CHILDREN, OF COURSE!)

It was funny cuz when we were in the food line, he says some African-American girl behind him said "Okay, Brooklyn, you're in my way". Que estupida, MIJA.

So, here are sum pics I took @ my job picnic @ Barnett Park. I couldn't help but open my big mouth with sum good suggestions for next year's picnic. One of the supervisors now wants me to be in the picnic committee next year. Duh. As if I have time.
But, we'll see.

22 more days ...

2008-10-14T21:28:00.002-04:00

I can hardly believe it! Just 22 days left to vote for a new president of the USA.
I am, sadly, still undecided. Although McCain seems to have more political experience, Obama's plan has me going: " Hmmm..." (in a good, likeable tone).
Either way, we need a new president. period.
On a better note, there are 10 days left till "the picnic".
I have been a Florida "State employee" now for 8 yrs & it will be my 1st time going to our annual State Employee & their familiez picnic!! I figured I'd go this year since now the kids are bigger and will be able to participate in the games, contests & stuff.
Also, 17 more days till: HALLOWEEN! The kidz already have their costumes. Angel's costume (he'll be Mr. Incredible from the Incredibles, of course) was actually over $24.00, but I got it for $7.00. Angelice's Cinderella silver costume was priced over $50.00. I got it for 1/2 off plus 10% off with Eggie's Disney discount (since he's a WDW employee).

I guess this means, more pix coming soon .............

SCHOOL PIC

2008-10-02T20:52:00.004-04:00

Here's Angelice's 1st Grade school pic.
First grade should be easy, huh?
Yea, well they have them working on Fractions, Adjectives, writing sentences in Spanish & English. Sounds more like middle school, dontcha think?
Me in first grade, I was still learning the ABCs & still didn't even know how to read.
Times sure have changed!

E.R.

2008-09-21T08:51:00.003-04:00

What a terrifying experience I had yesterday!

It began as a good day. Angelice went to a Tea Party @ her friend's apartment & had much fun. She even got to decorate her own doily. (which is like a placemat).
But that was early in the day. What was to occur in the evening hours was beyond my imagination. My husband was working & I was home alone with the kids. They were playing their usual game of "store". Which is where they take out most of the groceries from the pantry & place them on the floor to pretend they're going shopping for food to have a picnic.
Well, my back was facing them as I looked in the pantry to see what else I would let them play with. That was when it happened. My son starts crying, so I turn around & "OH MY GOD! ", I yelled, I panicked. He had blood streaming down the left side of his head non-stop & falling on the kitchen floor in big drops. I then noticed the fork he was holding! How did he get the fork? When did he get the fork? Turns out he was running (with the fork in hand) & fell on it; thereby, stabbing himself in the head with it. I ran to the bathroom & got his bath rag to clean his face, but it quickly got full of blood so I then run to my towel closet & pull out a face towel & fill it with ice. I then had my daughter hold it to his head while I ran to the room to put on my jeans & bra. My daughter was a big help in the car. She helped to calm him down by talking to him about fun stuff & good memories. That got him talking & that made me relax myself on the drive to the E.R.
The visit to the E.R., thankfully, only lasted 1 & 1/2 hrs. He was good to go once they cleaned his abrasion which, thank God, was only 1/2 a centimeter so he didnt need no stitches! Praise God.
The nurses were very friendly & gave them stickers & were very happy with Angel being such a good patient.
I read about a boy toddler who was running with a fork in hand & this one was worse. He fell face first into the fork which got stuck up his nose! Of course, the E.R. had to take out the fork. I even seen a picture of it!
I never went thru anything like this with my daughter, so I guess there is a 1st time for everything, huh?
Anyway, I just HAD to write about this. It was crazy ........
What a terrifying evening.

Lord, help me to carry my cross...

2008-09-16T19:52:00.003-04:00

I've been meaning to write since Sunday.
But, you know how it is when you're a mother.
Anyway, Sunday's theme @ Church was: "Lord, help me to carry my cross."
This one really hit home. I now find myself saying it in my mind when times are stressful and/or when I'm about to lose my patience.
(with my husband and/or the kids) *
The other day, my husband said he felt somewhat depressed due to our financial obligations.
I reminded him to say those simple words, "Lord, help me to carry my cross".
He smiled & nodded in agreement.
When that jerk cuts me off in traffic w/o putting any signal, when my kids are fighting & hitting/pushing each other & not listening to me, when work gets overwhelming (we receive over 7000 welfare applications monthly for 2 counties)and when times get tough (financially), I've learned it's best to say it:
"Lord, help me to carry my cross". Or, "Señor, ayudame a calgar mi cruz".

YIKES! IKE'S COMING!

2008-09-08T20:08:00.002-04:00

... Or is he? Hurricane Ike has downgraded frm a freakin' powerful Category 4 to a 2 so I'm cool. My husband put up our plywood since Friday just to be safe anyway....
So, don't worry about us. This is part of livin' da Florida life!
We'll be ok with God's help.
Why do I STILL choose to live in Florida, you say?
To be close to the Mouse, of course!
Just kidding. But really, there are good schools out here for my kids and best of all, no snow, & no slush to clean up, etc, etc...
There are still many things I miss about my old hometown (Chicago), of course.
Like, Bob & Jack's pizza, White Castle (the family KNOWS best to always bring me sum when they visit) and good Mexican food cuz Florida's Mexican food tastes different.
And, last but not least, we miss having more family closer, but we've gotten used to it & sacrificed much.

Anyway, GO AWAY IKE! NO MORE HURRICANES FOR THIS YEAR, PLEASE!!!

Happy Birthday Eggie & Angel *

2008-08-30T21:24:00.010-04:00

This week was special for 2 reasons: my husband celebrated his 34th & my son is now officially 3 yrs old!
We went to Chuck E. Cheese and boy was it all dat! I had memories of myself how I used to be all excited counting how many tickets I collected after using up all my tokens & then proceeding to the counter to pick out a special prize according to the amount of tickets made. The kids all had fun, even cousin Mickey was there with his son. The pizza was good, the cake was delish & now I am SO happy to be through with the terrible 2's. My son has now begun the "magic years", which is 3- 4 yrs of age.
These are my favorite stages. It's where he already know he must behave a certain way to get certain things. He even bargains with me, like, "if I pick up my toys, we go to the park?"
I miss when Angelice was this age. Such a cute time...
Well, next week I return to work. Wish me luck .......

Back-to-School (with Fay on the way)..

2008-08-18T13:33:00.002-04:00

Well, it's already that time of year!
Angelice started 1st grade today! Boy, was she excited w/her cute new rolling back pack, new uniforms & new Hannah Montana shoes.
Yea, Florida already started school. Her BFF is in the same class, so we were super excited about that. (We didnt know if they were gonna be together or not) **
We're thinkin' of sending her this school year on the bus to save gas, I guess.

Now on to Hurricane Fay. I'm not even worried about it. (For some reason, I feel amazingly calm). The last hurricanes that hit Florida I remember were in 2004 (they were 3 in a row)! That was sum KRA-ZEE SH**T! Me, my husband & daughter (she was only 2 and half at that time) were huddled up in my bedroom closet with a mattress over us. Even with that, we still felt the closet wall vibrating & that loud "WOOM" sound that just wouldnt stop!
Angelice is still tramautized to this day & can't hear the word "Hurricane" or she sort of freaks out (her eyes pop out & she'll be like "where?", are we having a hurricane?!")

Yea, just so u know.

Well, Angel's never been thru a hurricane so this will be his 1st. He's the type that hides under a big comforter when it rains/thunders/lightning. He's totally not ready for a hurricane.

I'll keep u updated.

My Treatment ...

2008-08-06T16:35:00.002-04:00

So, today I began treatment (birth control pills) for my condition, endometriosis. It isn't known why I have it (I asked my Dr. & he said because I'm a woman).
The worst part is there is no cure & it's a disease that can get more severe as you grow older. All I can do is pray that the treament I'm on will actually work & that my left ovary isnt affected. (Doctors removed my right ovary last month during my surgery as well as the ovaryan cyst which by the way was as big as a cantaloupe!)..

Life, life.
I'm not the same anymore. I now have frequent dizzyness as well as constant burping & it's all pretty much starting to get to me. I'm trying hard to control it & stay happy & positive for my children & husband; but even they notice.

For now, I leave it all in God's hands & in Him I put my trust (as alwayz) ...

MY RECOVERY ..

2008-07-25T18:28:00.004-04:00

Hey, everyone!
I feel that my recovery is going great so far (the nurses let me out a day ahead cuz of how much progress I made)... I was home on Wednesday a.m. rather than Thursday.
My aunt & uncle from Chicago are here since Tuesday helping out like crazy. Giving the kids baths & cooking & washing clothes & washing dishes.

I am very thankful that God is giving me another chance at life. According to the Doctors, I am cancer-free. My right ovary was removed as well as the cyst & I can still have another child if God wants since I still have my left ovary.

Many thanx 2 all whose prayers made this possible. I never knew that I was so loved until having gone thru this. What a blessing it is to have family like that .....

No doubt, this experience has changed me big-time. Far as I know, everything I do is for God & to God I owe all my life forever & ever.
Praised be God!!! Que Dios nos bendiga siempre ........................

My Surgery.

2008-07-18T12:56:00.002-04:00

It's all set. I completed my pre-admission testing today @ the hospital. All is good, so far. The hardest is yet to come. That's why I am still in need of much prayers from the family as the surgery can take frm 1 and 1/2 to 2 hrs. Hospital stay is estimated at 3 days & recovery time is 6 weeks! They'll be removing my right ovary as well as the ovaryan cyst on that side via C-Section & I've had 2 of those so I pretty much know what to expect, in a way. Except with this one, they send a piece of the fatty tissue to be tested (biopsy).

My aunt & uncles will be visiting next week from Chicago & Alabama, so that makes me feel better knowing that I'll have some help. And, my mother-in-law is still with us.

I'll be at "FLORIDA HOSPITAL" on Rollins Ave. which is 35 mins away from my house.
Surgery date: Mon. 7/21/08
Time: 11:00am

Take care, everyone.
God bless us all.............

P.S. I will blog as soon as I'm able to ..

In need of your prayers ...

2008-07-15T18:39:00.002-04:00

Beginning last week , my life has been nothing but worrying. Alotta worrying, crying and feeling very sad & terrified. The question " WHAT IF.." runs like crazy thru my head day & night.
I went for my annual pap smear last Tuesday & to discuss results of my sonogram for a cyst on my right side. (I had been having heavy periods & cramping was my complaint).
I was told, after having waited more than 30 mins, that I needed to go see the OB right away (at the hospital), and that my pap would have to wait ...
So, after I get there, I had to wait 2+ hrs to see him. He looked at the results of my sonogram & said I needed surgery right away as it was a "BIG CYST". It measured the size of a 16wk old fetus! So, I scheduled the laparascopy for 2 days after (which was Thursday). I also went for a blood exam called CA-125. (cancer marker)*
THEN, on Thursday morning they call me frm the Dr.'s office to say that the surgery was postponed as the Dr. had an emergency.
The Doctor then called me himself & explained that my blood test didnt come out normal, it was twice above normal. So, now they set me up an appointment with an oncologist for tomorrow morning for additional testing.
I have been a nervous wreck like never before in my entire 34 yrs of life!
So many thoughts running thru my mind! My family in Chicago has been supportive thru this since the beginning. They call me & offer encouraging, positive words.
Especially my supervisor @ work & my co-workers. (They even had a small circle of prayer for me today). The waiting is terrible.
But like the Bible says: " don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself." I have much faith in God & know that he will help me & guide me thru it all, whatever He has in store for me.
May God have mercy on me, and on all of us....
I am in need of prayers. Thank u in advance ..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, U.S.A.

2008-07-04T22:00:00.004-04:00

It was a wonderful 4th....
We had a bar-b-q in back and Eggie's family came by & we all enjoyed the pool as well as good food.

Then, we went to see the Fireworks Show @ the lake as we usually do every year.
The kids went wild. It really was a great 4th ....

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Together as a family.

2008-07-01T18:23:00.002-04:00

Do you have a "Sacro Desco" in your home?

"Sacro Desco" is Italian for sacred table, and it's a commitment of many in Italy to share at least 1 meal all together as a family.... EVERY DAY.
Maybe that habit is one of the reasons why, statistically, families in Italy are more cohesive than those in the U.S.

Yes, I know that eating meals together provides an opportunity to talk about your day... to listen to and encourage one another. But, in today's world (at least in MY family down in Florida) it's hard to practice Sacro Desco EVERY DAY. So, since that's not feasible, we have a few days (usually my husband's days off, Thursdays & Fridays combined with my usual days off, Saturdays & Sundays) where I try to make dinner together as a family a priority. Whether we eat @ home or on the go.

Dinnertime is not just about feeding the body, but nourishing the soul.
To go into detail, my 2yr old son already gives thanks to God before & after eating. Not only that, he thanx his parents! (if I'm the cook for that specific day, he thanks me and vice versa. Yes, my husband is a GREAT cook!)

I am positive that Sacro Desco has made my children aware of the importance of having food on our table and of how much of a blessing it is to be able to savor every bite & being thankful for it considering what many families are going thru now with the gasoline prices & loss of jobs & homes. It is a sad, stressful & frustrating time for many.
Let's pray for those less fortunate....

HAPPY JULY!

que chulería ..

2008-06-27T18:41:00.003-04:00

This shows us the types of characters they are.
Truly magnificent photo.
For me, it was a wake-up call.
If only we could all forgive & forget like those two.
If only we could all just get along like that despite our differences, huh?

There would be so much more peace, love & a tremendous amount of calmness in our world.
This is what the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is & should be about .. unity....
Forever united.... United we stand ..... etc, etc...

AQUATICA ON DADDIES' DAY ..

2008-06-16T14:58:00.006-04:00

It was a great Fathers' Day. We went to Aquatica @ Seaworld!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here are my 2 papi chulos enjoying a beatiful day of almost 100 degree weather:

This waterpark tops ALL Florida waterparks. Sorry, Disney.
But anyway, why no pics of me? My hair was messy & plus, I didnt have no make-up.
And, THIS is what livin' the Florida life is all about. I live it like there's no 2morrow. We never know. So, we enjoy while we can.... and u should too ...........

Graduation 2008

2008-06-05T21:29:00.006-04:00

Congrats to our lil' Kindergarten grad, Angelice!

Mi orgullo...

Daddy' girl ...

That was her teacher, Ms. Hollenbaugh, wonderful lady..

After graduation, we had a cookout in our backyard where almost everyone, including me, went in the pool It's only 4 feet but it reminds me of when I grew up back home in Chicago. The kids have lots o'fun & that's what matters.

LATIN NIGHT TALENT SHOW

2008-05-24T18:26:00.004-04:00

In this photo, Angelice is the 3rd girl frm the left (red flor in hair) ...

This is all I could post 4 now:

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It was a fun, memorable family night. There are plenty more of those days 2 come!!

Proud moment #4

2008-05-13T13:13:00.002-04:00

duh. I forgot to brag a lil' bit about myself!
I am actually: "EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH" for May.
I was just the employee of da month, what, like 18 mos ago?
Anyway, yay me!!!
BTW, I am presently registered @ Macy's and Banana Republic, if anyone's interested.
Oh yea, and Target & Walmart.
Just kidding!!!!!!!!

Proud moments ...

2008-05-12T20:26:00.004-04:00

First of all, Happy Mother's Day 2 all! (belated) ...

WOW. Alotta things have been goin' on. In fact, so many things that I have neglected my dear blog.
I HAVE to write abt 3 VERY proud moments that I recently experienced: Our dear Angelice scored pretty good on sum school testing (3 days of testing) which shows she's reading & doing Math @ a 3rd grade level. THIRD GRADE, GUYS!
AND, SHE'S ONLY IN KINDERGARTEN. There are 5 Kindergarten classes @ her school & she's @ the top.
2nd proud moment: Now, today, she was the winner of the Kindergarten Spelling Bee!
I am nothing but thrilled; many thanx 2 God 4 giving us such a smart child, such a blessing.
3rd moment: The Latin Night Talent show was this past Saturday *(right before Mom's Day). I truly wish ALL my family could've been here on this special night. It was truly something else. Her group each received a medal for being the "MOST EXPLOSIVE" of da nite. Meaning just that (and I'm not bragging)u will see 4 yourself as soon as I post the performance.. They were like the 7th group to perform, so u can imagine me & Eggy were ever so anxious 2 see her up there.
During & after their group performance, the place could've & probably would've come crashing down on us just cuz all the Latinos went freakin' kra-zey with the applauding & standing ovation. Oh man, I was pretty much cryin. In fact, I was so nervous that I could hardly record.
Nevertheless, the whole show was good!
They all did a great job, especially the Pre-K group. They looked so CUTE with their Brazilian outfits. The lil' girls had fruit baskets on their heads while the boys had sum tiny lil' hats on their heads. What a sight that was.
Anyway, Mom's Day was great. We took my mother-in-law to Spanish mass, then we went to a restaurant where we waited 45 mins in line. Was it worth it? HELL YEAH!
Then, I got 2 go see "Baby Mama". What a stupid a*s movie. Pffth.
Anyway, keep an i out 4 the show......

TOO FUN-EY!

2008-05-01T14:23:00.003-04:00

I dunno abt u, but I received this e-mail today from my 3rd cousin in Chicago & it had me LOL big time! READ & SEE FOR YOURSELF:

"I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year.

Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the channels.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I can't enjoy lemon slices in my tea or on my seafood anymore because lemon peels have been found to contain all kinds of nasty germs including feces.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking your nose.

I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program .

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman-Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a rapist waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

Have a wonderful day... "

If u laffed, then u KNOW exactly why. More than likely, you have received these e-mails on more than 1 occasion.

HAPPY MAY!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Art & kids ...

2008-04-27T18:52:00.002-04:00

Can art make kids smart?

According to the Americans for the Arts Campaign, "young people who regularly participate in the arts are 4xs more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. In addition to enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills, arts education can also help instill a positive work ethic and a sense of pride in a job well done."

So, that's why I encouraged my daughter to try out for the "Latin Nights Talent Show" @ her school. Sure enough, she made it & the show is 2 wks away.
Boy, are we excited!! She & a group of other Kingergarteners will be dancing to Ricky Martin's "Pegate". And if u know me well enuff, u know I ADORE that guy. He makes me proud to be 100% Rican.

Other gr8t news: My mother-in-law is visiting from Puerto Rico!
We picked her up @ the airport 4 days ago & she's doing OK, thank God.

Pics coming up later ...........

Reflection for today ...

2008-04-16T18:05:00.006-04:00

I have a little white book with 6-minute reflections for each day. The following is actually Monday's reflection, but it stood out for me. I dunno why.
Here it goes: " No one has to teach a mother that she's supposed to love her child.
This isn't something that she has to study. It's IN her.
The same is true of a child's love for its mother. A 2-day old baby is drawn to its mother. It doesn't have to be trained to do that.
This image can help us realize that God's love toward us isn't something God has to force himself to do. It's in God, just as a mother's love for her child is in her.
God made us. And God made us in his image and likeness. God is drawn toward us.
And the reverse is true.
We are drawn towards God.
Let me think about that. "

I do my reflections daily! I'll go nuts if I don't, or I feel guilty if I don't.
This, in fact, is how I spend some quiet time with the Lord (every day!) .. In addition to reading my bible daily as well. This works out perfect for me because when times get tough, I reflect on my bible readings & see how just how tough times were back then & how "tough" it was for God to get everyone to believe. And when times aren't tough, I still read to my heart's content because it makes me feel good. period.

SPRING BREAK >

2008-04-07T18:05:00.004-04:00

....My daughter was on Spring Break all last week. We did some interesting, fun things that u can view more of in my Facebook...
Among them, our long-awaited outing to DisneyQuest. I have wanted to go here for ages, but of course, I was waiting on my daughter to grow some!
Not to brag, but we got in free since Eggie's a Disney employee & all. We were able to take 2 people with us, so Eggie took his 16 yr old nephew & 8 yr old niece.
1 thing I learned (for next time), there isnt much there for a toddler. No wonder it's free for 2 & under!!!
It's mostly made up of arcade games, virtual games, rides on which u need to meet the height requiremt of 51'', etc, etc. But Angel still managed to have his share of fun.
However, not that I'm being cheap but, I WOULDNT pay $40 (adult price) to go here.
Well, spring break is over & today was back-to-school. TIME IS FLYING ............

HAPPY APRIL ..

2008-04-01T18:54:00.003-04:00

i WAS gonna pull a "joke" on my blog on behalf of it being April Fools, but then I decided not to, cuz I'm 2 nice 4 that, I guess.
Anyway, Angel Edgar actually surprised me today. After he watched me organize our kitchen cabinet, he told me 2 lay down on the sofa (he even had the pillow already there) cuz he wanted 2 give me a massage! HA! 1st time he ever said that 2 me. My eyebrows went up, like "oh---kay". And, he gave me a short, very brief massage with his hands & elbows! It felt good, even if just 4 a lil' while. But then, you guessed, he said it was HIS turn.
Eggie was receiving massage therapy for his back for some time & Angel alwayz went with. I guess this is where he learned it from...
That is why I posted this pic of him lookin' so happy. El chulito de mami ....

Felíz Easter ..

2008-03-23T17:04:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter 2 all my friendz & family who read this blog! I know it's not much, but I do the best I can 2 let u all in on my Florida life. (By the way, have u guys heard of that new black singer who calls himself "Flo-Rida", pronounced like my name: " Flo-raida". ) So crazy; people don't know what 2 call themselves anymore!

Anyway, today wasn't a good day @ Church. Angel (while I was holding him & he had his head down on my shoulder to make me think he was sleeping) got a hold of the flower arrangement that was high up on a table in front of a statue of the Virgen & he knocked it down. Of course, almost ALL the dirt came tumbling out of the flower pot & since Church was sooooo packed today that there were people left standing, some of the dirt landed on this blonde, freckled, glasses-wearing boy who by the look of astonishment on his face as he looked to his mother for support was expecting either of his parents to yell or be furious was even more astonished when his happy-go-lucky mom just laughed it off as I apologized twice & told me not to worry about it & even helped me put the dirt back in the pot.. I could feel my face burning red!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then:

Eggie tells me I should've been aware of those flowers back there & that Angel would likely grab them??? DUH!

Even though, it was & is still a happy Easter. Let's not let the Easter celebration last only for today. Make it last the whole next 50 days!

she's growin' up ...

2008-03-22T21:44:00.002-04:00

Angelice is truly growin' up.
Today was a special day: not only for her but for us as well.
She's riding her bike w/o training wheels!!!
Thank God! She's now ready 2 go shop 4 her "big girl" bike & already knows which one she wants & where she wants it from. Oh, Happy Day!

American Idol >

2008-03-19T18:37:00.002-04:00

I have been a fan of A.I. since the year 2004, when Fantasia won. So, it's no secret I'm watching it tonight. Today is elimination night. Who will be sent home today? I was hoping Kristy last wk & hope so again. (My i's jumped out when she told Simon Cowell that she would "blow his socks off".) WTF was that? I guess there are 2 ways to interpret that. I also think that the finale will be between Brooke & David Cook; although, the 17y old David A. is a little cutie & has a great voice. Let's see what happenz.
Anyway, today was park day. It was a beautiful day (almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit), but what made it good was the breeze. I got on the swings today while my kids played & I just started reminiscing, I guess. Just thinking about how much we've accomplished so far & what we still need to accomplish.
Thinkin' about people that have passed on (I actually dreamed last night with one of my ex-boyfriends who died in the year 2000)!! The really weird thing is, it's not the 1st dream I have of him. It's freakin me out a bit since we were only a couple for a year & that was back in 1992!
I also thought about "what if" situations. This is a result of a recent death in my husband's family which actually occured 5 mos ago. His sister's husband died from advanced cancer (they used 2 live 5 mins away from us) & he was only 42!! Father of 6( of which 3 kids are with Eggie's sister). She ended up selling the home next to us & had to move back to her old home in Orlando (which they were renting). She's actually doing pretty good, though. Anyway, life is strange sometimes; we never know what's coming & then sometimes, it's 2 late. That's why it's important to:
Remember your family first.......

skin infection

2008-03-15T20:21:00.006-04:00

Either something (like some kind of ant or insect) bit me or it's a skin infection. But, I think it's a bite. I know, it's a nasty pic, but that's what I been up to & why I haven't blogged in over a week. I'm on antibiotic & so far, that ugly thing has gotten smaller, thank God. If u think that looks bad, u should've seen it before.
Anyway, on the other hand, we are SO crazily excited about the new waterpark that has opened up just recently @ Seaworld (Aquatica). We will definitely be going there w/in the next 3 months. Prices aren'd bad, either. So, if anyone's interested, go to : http://www.aquaticabyseaworld.com....

Common Courtesy.

2008-03-02T15:09:00.005-05:00

Whatever happened to common courtesy? Let's face it, common courtesy is pretty uncommon these days. Do u hold the door open for people? Do u say "Thank You" when people hold a door open for u? Do u remember to say "Please" and "Thank You" to the sales clerk, the mechanic, or the person at the drive-thru window? Do your co-workers think of u as a courteous person?
I've been really surprised at my 2 yr old these days. He really is something else. Who or where did he learn to be so courteous from, I asked myself. Since he isnt in daycare, the answer was pretty easy. He's been learning it from US, of course. DUH! It's just that I recently noticed that not a day goes by without him saying "Sorry", "Please", "Thank You", "Be Careful, Mami", and that cute "Bless You" (when we sneeze). This is proof of how important it is to show our children (and spouse) the same level of courtesy & respect that you show to the outside world. That's why I make common courtesy a common practice cuz, who knows, you might even set off a chain reaction...
BTW, this weekend was cool (except for the fact that it was my time of the month).
My kids were invited to 2 b-day parties (Spider-Man or Hannah Montana) but I chose to go Hannah Montana. I did the Spider-Man bday last yr anyway, and boy did I made the right choice. My fave part of this party? While all the kids were either on the trampoline or jumping on the moonwalker too busy 2 notice anything, the music was pumped up VERY loud to some very danceable music & a guy jumped out from inside the house (the party was out in the backyard) wearing a blonde Hannah Montana wig & just starts shakin' that thing. (like a girl). Kinda like Shakira & Beyoncé. Angelice's fave part was the hair painting, she got cute red high-lites. Angel's fave part was the chips & candy. Eggie was working so he missed out!
Happy March, everyone!!!

concert videos...

2008-02-26T21:45:00.002-05:00

and here's my favorite, the ladybugs! love the song!!!

yei-ee! I finally learned how to youtube. But, not on my own. Kudos to my co-wrkr/ friend from work, Liz. {who doesnt have access to my blog, by the way} ..

Anyway, today was library day. I took the kids after work, they were beggin' to go.
Honestly, I LUV goin' there. Especially to their playroom on the 2nd floor that includes a wooden play kitchen (my son's favorite place to be since he learned how to walk), a firehouse, a boat, an engine no.9 to go in & out of, etc, etc... Everywhere u look, there's somethin' 2 do in there. It's the coolest library I ever been in, really. And, the kids share my love of books. Anyone that grew up with me knows that I was always locked up in the room reading a book or writing; unless, of course, I was hangin' out next door with a friend. My love for reading has taken a hold since becoming a parent(but, I read my parenting magazines monthly if u wanna call what I do reading cuz really, I mostly skip thru articles & read between the lines on anything that catches my interest). Last year was all about me saying: " I just don't have the time". (to read a book). Well, I finally realized that there's no such thing as not having time. When we say, "I dont have time", what we're really saying is that we dont choose to make certain things a priority right now, or there's something else we'd rather be doing. (bet you're nodding your head, right?)
I think about all the demands on my shedule & take a look at the things I spend the most time on. The truth is we make time for the things we want to make time for, but that isnt always necessarily what we should make time for. That's why starting this year, I've made it a priority to set aside time for things that are ultimately important.... my husband, my kids, my faith, my health.
Speaking of which, I need to get my sleep before it's 6 A.M. again (for work.) g'nite

My Little Pony concert .

2008-02-24T14:56:00.007-05:00

That was Friday nite. It was tight! Then, Saturday we had visit & today was Church day. It was a good week'n & that's how me & my family roll! I will be e-mailing everyone youtube videos of the concert since I still don't know how to post the videos on my blog. * sorry*

president

2008-02-21T19:22:00.002-05:00

Well, it's quite obvious by now {even if it's not safe to say} that our next President of the USA will most likely be Barack Obama.
Hill's definitely gone down-hill. Pobrecita. But she really tried. I wont be watching tonight's debate as I pretty much know what the result will be anyway.
Whoever does win the presidency will do a better job than Bush, hopefully.
And that's enough of politics for me as I dont wanna anger anybody nor do I yet have a preference; although, religion & religious beliefs are indeed important to me & whether the candidates are Catholics or not doesnt make a difference to me as long as they have some belief, you know? Anyway, Good luck 2 all candidates & may the BEST WIN! {AND ONLY THE BEST} .............

scary moment ....

2008-02-19T17:23:00.003-05:00

I am lucky to have 3rd cousins who are fun-loving & fun to be around period. It was weird to see my now deceased 2nd cousin's husband "alone" w/o her by his side. I mean they were married 59 yrs! Eggie says he has a feeling we will last that long as well! I pray to God we do! Ivan was in Florida for 1 week, and God bless him for being so strong & healthy!
We also went to the Fair last week, and my kids enjoyed it very much. Especially since they got on pretty much every kiddie ride available. The scary part? We lost Angel for 20 seconds! I was seriously getting ready to faint w/in a matter of seconds more & Eggie was seriously getting ready to cry. Well, what happened was that we were trying 2 decide which ride to put them on when Angel just happened to run off towards the ride of his preference & at the same time a really tall dude stood in front of him blocking him from our view. Man, talk about a scary moment! My sister-in-law said 4 us to buy him a kiddie leash. But, thank the good Lord nothing happened to our son.
Anyway, a similar scary moment happened to us w/our daughter when she was of the same age (2 yrs old) back in JCPenney. Thankfully, she popped out of her "hiding spot" (which, by the way, was inside 1 of the clothes racks). kids, kids, kids.....

HAPPY VALENTINES!

2008-02-14T22:01:00.002-05:00

See those 3 people up above? Those are my 3 valentines!! How's your memory these days? I still remember my 1st date with my husband back in '95. And, the 1st time we kissed. Thinking back to those early days of dating is a great way to rekindle the passion in a relationship, if u know what I mean. It's nice to spend time on the couch together talking about what we thought the 1st time we met ... or when we realized we were falling in love. Take it from me, reminiscing is a great way to bring back those feelings to put that spark back in your marriage ... and to recall why you fell in the luv in the 1st place. In light of today's special holiday, have a great time "falling in luv all over again ...." Happy 'tines day, y'all!!!!!

Priorities...

2008-02-12T17:02:00.000-05:00

What are your priorities? It's been said that we can know alot about a person's priorities just by looking at 2 things: their checkbook & their calendar. If our children were to look @ our calendar, what would they see? A schedule filled with dinner meetings, parties and dates for going out with old friends, or practices for the sport of their choice, dance rehearsals & dates for 1 on 1 with them? I like to always think about how I'm gonna be spending my time. Then, on my calendar I mark what I'll be doing with our children, one on one. I've made it a habit to take Angelice every year to a concert of her choice. Next Friday is: "My Little Pony: World's biggest Tea Party". Only 5 mins from our home @ the Stadium, where all the concerts in Kissimmee are held. Last time I took her & her cousin to see Sesame Street Live. The year after that, we went to the circus just me & her. It's always something. {The Wiggles were here just recently like 2 mos ago or so, but my kids don't like 'em, thank God.}
Eggie & Angel always have their time together as well. This only makes it all the more exciting. So as u can see, spending time with my kids is my 2nd major priority, next to spending time with GOD. Especially now that the Lenten season has begun.
I got my ashes on my forehead last Wednesday, as I usually do each year. Yep, according to my little black book: "Lent is a time to take a long look at our life." After stopping & analyzing it all, we need to ask ourselves: "How much is God a part of my life?" The answer should be, at least 90 if not 100%. If not, this is where Lent falls in. Let's make it the best Lent season ever!

in sickness & in health ...

2008-02-09T10:23:00.000-05:00

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So, obviously, I havent been blogging much for like 2 weeks, right? Well, me & the kids were sick! It started with Angelice, then Angel & then me. It's been horrible. Doctor's appointments, medicines, hardly sleeping, sponge-bathing for the high fevers, Tylenol. Oh man. But, I wouldnt trade it for nothing. I love my kids & would give my life 4 them anytime. Eggie's been pretty lucky! He hasn't been hit yet so I pray it stays that way. Anyway, he makes some good-ass "caldito de pollo" (similar to chicken soup). He brought me a cup in bed last night & I NEVER say no 2 that! So, thank God, today I feel a bit better enough to actually type in here.
Man, so Valentines is right around the corner! need some creative gift ideas for your spouse? If so, then try marriage coupons. Instead of buying the same old presents, could he/she use a coupon for a morning of sleeping in late with no interruptions? Or, for the husband, a coupon for the 5-course meal of his choice? Yea, I saw books of coupons @ Walgreens (funny ones, too). How about for a back massage, a chocolate fest, a car wash and a mystery road trip for just the 2 of you.
As for me, I know where we're going! We'll be up @ the County Fair this coming week! Cant wait! I'll put pictures then, ok? In the meantime, see the pic above? That's my Angel @ the park!

Boundaries..

2008-01-28T17:18:00.000-05:00

Do you have clear boundaries for your kids? In my household, I am seriously having this problem (as I type).. My husband told me today that I need to be "more strict with our kids". He says I let them get away with alot, and wants me to discipline more. If u watch sports at all, you've seen some incredible plays, hits or shots that ended up not counting because they went out of bounds. Well, I guess if we don't have clear boundaries with our children, they may grow up not knowing how to score big in life. Today, alot of kids are out of control because mom/dad don't love them enough to tell them what is "out of bounds". Well, I guess that just like sports, we (as parents) need to establish clear boundaries & clear penalties when our children go "out of bounds". {which by the way, happens pretty much on a daily basis in my household}....
Just like anybody else, Angelice has her up & down dayz. Some days, she feels quite content to act like the great, big, caring, generous, comprehending sister she is. But there are days, I'll admit, when she is just plain tired of having to deal with a 2 yr old brother who wants 2 always have things his way or he's not happy & also, who is almost as big as she is (she's short).. That's when she'll lock herself in her room to read a book & not want 2 be bothered.
Angel still has alot to learn about boundaries & I guess I cant put it off much longer (in fact, I think I've waited 2 long) It's time for some changes around here. Wish me luck ...

build a strong family.

2008-01-24T10:33:00.000-05:00

What's 1 of the best ways to build a strong family? You say "Respect each other?" Well, how about: "Honor your spouse and your children". How? According to an article I read, "Honor begins with a choice to place high value and importance on others...viewing them as priceless treasures. Furthermore, it goes on to state that parents who want to be honored by their children "must first honor them by treating their sons & daughters with the dignity & respect".
This week was a pretty tiring one for me (even though I took the week off for Eggie's recuperation). There is always more work @ home than @ the job. I felt like a single mom, sort of. Having to do it all pretty much on my own (the cleaning, the cooking, driving Angelice to school with Mr. Michief {my son} in tow. Eggie felt bad b/c he is always very much involved in all housework. In fact, we call him "MR. CLEAN". I have to say, it took me this long to realize how much my husband's help really means around here. We are a team. We are like milk & chocolate, I guess. And, I REALLY admire single moms who can do it all by themselves. I honestly sometimes felt like crying b/c I didnt get a chance to just sit & relax, you know. Always on my feet. Well, it got to the point where my feet started to hurt. Just like that. I seriously have to say : A BIG SHOUT-OUT 2 ALL U SINGLE MOMS OUT THERE! It's so sad to see on the news how some parents dishonor their sons & daughters by neglecting, belittling and or ridiculing them. We need to build our home on a foundation of honor! Honor your father & mother so that your kids will follow up on that as well.
Anyway, Eggie's older sis is visiting from NY. So forget it, yesterday I put together "una tremenda comida" just for them. I made my famous potato salad (which everyone absolutely can't get enuff of, for some reason), rice with gandules, cut-up pork chops in sauce, sweet potatoes & a mixture of other Puerto-Rican vegetables. Topped off with a drink of "Cola Champagne", which is a type of Puerto-Rican soda very high in sugar** Anyway, till next time........

eggie's surgery ...

2008-01-18T23:41:00.001-05:00

Eggie is recuperating very well, thank God. He had endoscopic sinus surgery this morning & as a result, we are off work for a whole week. I havent been able to blog 2much since we had other appointments & stuff.
I will be back soon!

Xmas is over, now comes politics. politics...

2008-01-11T19:06:00.000-05:00

So it's a fact after all. That email wasn't true. I received an email the other day from a good friend of mine in Chicago {we've known each other for 27 years now} and this email was about.. yes, you guessed. A potential presidential candidate by the name of Barack Obama whom alot of people think that because he has a weird name, he must be Muslim or whatever. Well, this is what politics is about: defaming one another & trying to be on top, of course. But, once I saw this article, http://www.newsweek.com/id/91424 I put all my doubts to the side. Truth be told, I will need to follow the primaries closely & put more thought into this crucial decision of whom to vote for. (whether I like politics or not). People @ work all have interesting differing opinions. I know which ones are Obama fans or Hillary fans. I won't know who to vote for till I pay attention to those boring, long debates where they all make funny faces & pretend to care about what the other is saying. Fact is, I just want a president who will be able to run the country the way it needs to be run! We want LOVE not WAR. We want PEACE & I want it this year not in 4 more years and 10,000 dead soldiers later.
Anyway, thank God it's Friday. This week marked the official end of Christmas for us. The tree was put back in the attic, the icicle lights & all our Xmas stuff from inside & outside the house has been put away as of today. Which, in just 10 short months, will be coming out again. (We always decorate on Thanksgiving, after dinner). Out here, Christmas season isnt over till the day after "Three Kings Day" which we just observed this past Sunday the 6th. And yes, before you ask or wonder, the kids DID receive more gifts that day (toys, of course). And not to mention, we had a "Three Kings Party" in my community as well. I mean, hey, when u live in a community full of Ricans & latinos, it's all about PARTAYZ! Live music (Merengue & Salsa), lechón, arroz-con-gandules, guineitos,chicken, etc. etc.. flan, pudín. (all of it was free, as usual). The best part was, the atmosphere. It was the best place to be on such a special day with your family. It felt like being back @ the island (Puerto Rico). For real, I'm not kidding. I was wishing some of my family could've been there w/us just enjoying it all & dancing & not worrying about a thing!............. But, with all the new toys, bicycles (or in my case, scooter), and high-tech gadgets that were found under the Xmas tree, now comes the hard part.... the assembly! Do you read the instruction manual? Or, are you like my husband who will try to get it all done w/o the help of the manuals. It usually goes like this: "OK, this goes here, that goes there. What's THIS for?" and then, my favorite "Aida, can u check the manual & see what this is for?" HA! Is that all I'm good for around here?" Just kidding. But there's one area in our life that we cant afford to wing. OUR FAMILY. We all do the best we can, but sometimes we need help from the experts. No matter how many kids you have or how much experience we have or if we've gone thru it already. And that's where my aunt comes in. She raised me well & so what that she lives all the way up North in Chicago. I call her "almost" on a daily basis. Just to talk or even for yummy recipes but especially for home remedies when one of us is sick & what-not. But, just to conclude my post for today (which I'm surprised is rather long): Patience is all it takes sometimes.

Love & Marriage in the New Year ..

2008-01-06T15:13:00.000-05:00

Want a better marriage in the New Year? (Not that mine isn't great).
Co-workers have asked me (since my husband & I are now going on 13 yrs) how we've done it. Just how? Well, I won't lie. We've gotten on each others' nerves sometimes. But,here's a suggestion: Say this little phrase to your spouse, "I'm really glad I married you." Those simple words will let your mate know that you still value & cherish them. If they're feeling insecure or undesirable(I kind of did during both pregnancies), it will give them confidence in your love. And, if you & your spouse are in a "rough patch", give it a try anyway. Just say it. You can say it over candlelight @ a nice dinner,{even over a quick lunch @ your local Subway} or even in the mini on the way to the grocery store, etc.. My point is, the place isn't important, but the words are!
On a totally different note, this year has already seen some major accomplishments one of which I HAVE to mention: my son did #2 in my toilet! Why is it such a big deal you ask? Well, for some strange reason he's only been doing #1 in the toilet, but wouldn't do the other. But today he really surprised me! Let's pray he keeps it up cause I really want to put him in the Pre-K this coming school year ....

HAPPY 2008!

2008-01-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

What are your goals for 2008? This is the time of year when many people start thinking about self-improvement goals and ending bad habits. But why not do something different? This year, instead of making a list of things you want to change about yourself, think of a few goals that will help others. Like, reading nightly for @ least 15 mins to your young kids (even if they already know how to read), babysitting for a single mom, (even if just once a month) or cooking dinner for an elderly neighbor, etc.. Dont get me wrong, improving yourself is great .... but impacting the lives of others is even better! The other day, my husband told me something that stayed in my mind & warmed my heart. (I just honestly never thought of myself that way!). He notices that I give "my food" to others, even if there's just a bit left. Rather than cooking more, I just have any good ol' thing I could find. He told me "Aida, tu eres una Santa, always giving your food to others" (spanish, for "Aida, you are a saint"..) I've been raised to always give food (even when visit comes unexpectedly) even from the little bit you may have. (I sometimes wait till we have hardly nothing before I go to Walmart).
But anyway, may this year warm your hearts as well as give you health & happiness.....

Patience, Please ...

2007-12-30T20:07:00.000-05:00

Just asking for patience while I learn more about blogging since I still cant even post links & I've gotten complaints from some friends who say they cant leave a comment. Still working on that, so sorry. Also, I try 2 leave comments on some blogs I know of & I cant. ??

But anyway, we had a good weekend. My husband's relatives from PR came to visit us in Fla whom we havent since since 2003. It's amazing how big the kids have gotten. The girl is only 7 & 1/2 & the boy is 6. Pretty big for their age, right?

So, Eggy tells me he wants another baby. I'm like: "You're kidding, right?" But deep inside, I do want another, just not yet. Angel isnt even fully potty-trained; although, we are working on it. I didnt realize how hard it would be w/the boy. I mean, my daughter was pretty easy w/the potty-training & was out of diapers by 2 & 1/2. Angel, on the other hand, might take an extra year. But it's OK, I will have patience.

Angelice knew her entire alphabet by 1 & 1/2; whereas, my son isnt even half-way there. Especially with the talking. I mean, Angelice spoke very clearly @ 2yrs & in complete sentences. Angel will say things like: Me want ochlate milk, Me go Papi, I wuv u, etc. The evidence is clear... boys are slower and require more patience (in my opinion) .... But they are both, regardless, bundles of joy & pride.......

debt or no debt...

2007-12-26T21:58:00.000-05:00

Today was one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Half the fun of shopping is getting a great buy. But sometimes those great buys can get you into trouble. You know what I mean: You really cant afford it ... but you tell yourself, " I just cant resist such a great deal!" So, you charge it. Pretty soon you have a credit card bill larger than you expected. Well, starting in the NEW YEAR 2008 (or better yet, starting NOW) decide not to charge anything else. Tell someone your plan & have them check up on you. You might even have to stop shopping for a while to resist temptation. But trust me, not having debt will be an even bigger thrill than finding the next great buy. I know about this. My husband & I paid off a huge credit card bill 2 yrs ago & tore/cut-up that c.c. so as not to do it again, you know? The balance on this card was over 5k. What a great relief when we went in the bank & paid it all off. This action has actually made me smarter as a shopper {Do I REALLY need this, where can I wear it, Is it cheaper elsewhere, Are there any sales coming up? etc...} So how do you change perspective? Henry David Thoreau said: " We make ourselves rich by making our wants few."

Family picture coming soon ...

Merry Xmas!

2007-12-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

Do you believe in Santa Claus? Here's the story I learned: In 4th century Turkey, a wealthy teenager heard about a poor & starving family. If the family didnt get some money fast, the children would have to be sold into slavery. So late one night, the teen went to the family's house & tossed a bag of gold coins thru a window. The kind boy eventually became a priest known for his generosity to the poor and needy. As he aged, he grew a long white beard & had a big belly beneath his red robes. Ring a bell? His name was Saint Nicholas -- better known as Saint Nick. Cool, huh?
But, do the holidays @ your house have to be perfect? The gifts have to be wrapped just so, the decorations have to be hung on the tree like this. The Xmas cookies should have this color icing. To avoid that intensity, I let our traditions turn out a little differently this year, and that's OK. I let my kids decorate the tree this time (it's OK they didnt hang the ornaments just right; you should seriously see our tree this year! Luckily, I only let them put on 1/2 of our ornaments. The tree is now only decorated from the top to the middle. The bottom part is pretty much plain since the little man of the house decided to accidentally break some of the ornaments. AND, the frosting on the sugar cookies wasnt the way I would've wanted. but .... I just let it go. In our celebration, I forgot perfection and remembered my family first.

3 birthdays, 2 parties, 1 tired parent...

2007-12-23T19:07:00.000-05:00

So, it's official. I am now 34 yrs old. Today is my birthday, yes it is. Yesterday was Angelice's best friend's bday & of course we attended her party. Then, after that we came home, ate a little, changed clothes & went to 1 of my good friend's 50th bday (see above pic) ...

Today, tired as I was, we attended Church, as usual. BUT, it was a different morning for a change. My spouse gave me the gift of service (in addition to cute, sexy PJ's frm VS (Victoria's Secret), I was also able to sleep in late with hardly no interruptions along w/breakfast in bed. I also received gift cards to go out to eat & go shop (from my supervisor). It was a good bday.

On another note, my daughter is now on "winter" break for 2 weeks. What is she supposed 2 do all these days now? {besides fight w/her little brother} . She's not happy about having to be out of school 4 this long. She absolutely loves school! They had a fundraiser selling chocolates & misc.. well, she was actually the top seller in the WHOLE school! (Thanks to my job); as a result, she won a free limo ride to Downtown where they took her out for pizza as well & received a bag of other prizes. Awesome, huh?

I want that ...

2007-12-18T23:10:00.000-05:00

Is your family's motto "I want that" ? The lists of I wants can go on & on. For my kids, it's "I want that scooter, I want that game", etc. For us, it's "I want that car, I want that bigger house." It seems that no matter what we have, there's always more. I always try to teach my older child the old "being content with what you have" lesson. It's true, most of us already have what we need ... it's just a matter of controlling what we want & WHY.
But now that Xmas is around the corner, talk about extra pressure. We still haven't even gotten our kids' presents yet; however, we have shopped for everyone else. I don't even know what to get the man of the house! He actually wanted a Wii, but yes they are indeed sold out . I promised him I'd get it for his bday in August.
On another note, I am so tired of my kids bickering. It seems that's all they do lately. It takes alot of my energy. I try to make sure the rules are clear along w/consequences. I even include a rule on keeping their hands to themselves, but I've learned that rules & consequences are worthless if we arent consistent & quick in responding to their constant bickering. So I stop what I'm doing to find out who broke the rules & then I apply the discipline. I heard that once kids see that rules are & will be enforced, the problem with bickering should @ least get better. But this is an every day thing in my case. My husband's family says it's normal & just let them be.
Dont get me wrong, my kids luv each other dearly! They have their happy times & their "crappy" times. I just wish they were hardly ever fighting over nothing! But, I also heard that this is good 4 them b/c once they're bigger, it means they will be closer as brother & sister. I'll let it go.... Instead, I will focus on enjoying my family & friends in the spirit of the season!!

we got 'munked....

2007-12-16T20:44:00.000-05:00

Yep, we went last nite 2 see "Alvin & the Chipmunks". funny, funny, fun-nay! Anyone with toddlers will be sure 2 luv this & will absolutely wanna see it again 4 sure! Another good thing about living out here: the theater we go to only costs $4.50 for kids & adults so we attend almost weekly. The last movie we saw, "Bee Movie" didnt have the kids' attention for long. It lacked something.
Anyway, we have got some pretty crazy weather. After weeks of 80+ degree temperatures, tomorrow it's supposed to drop to the 50's & 40's, which isnt so bad and I look forward to it actually. yea, we need sum good ol' cold Northern air for just a coupla days to cool us off for a while so I can let the A/C rest a little.
So, I can't wait till Thursday when hopefully my treadmill will be fixed. (my wonderfully built 242 lbs husband was on it when it stopped just like that). and i can tell u that the pounds are piling on already, I can feel it.
well, aside from that, I have some news! I actually spoke 2 my father for the 1st time in more than 10 yrs! yep, it felt so weird; especially since I didnt grow up w/him. For the 1st time in our 12 yrs together, my husband actually spoke to his father-in-law. W e i r d* I felt. I guess the past is the past & I feel that now is the time 2 establish a relationship w/the man known as my "father" b/c he's not getting any younger & neither are we. Plus, my daughter is actually excited about "having a grandfather". she said "I thought I only had a grandma" (which is my mother-in-law") I never met my husband's dad since he passed away in 1988 which happens 2 be the same yr my mother passed on. Well, life is short so one of my mottos has always been to forgive & forget or let bygones be bygones....

It's all about the kids..

2007-12-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

So today I took my kids to my friend's son's bday party. Angelice is now 6 & being a girl, didn't care for dressing up as a pirate. My son, Angel, who's only 2 didn't care much for it either. They just had a blast jumping on the Moonwalker & runnin' around@ the playground {the party was @ the park} .. All together, they collected 4 goodie bags of candy from the Pirate piñata which I've already carefully sorted out: the ones i'll be taking 2 work to put on my desk & the one's they're allowed to keep (which are actually very limited) ... I do this after every party we go to, especially on Halloween ....

Yesterday was all about the kids, too. My husband & I took them to our annual neighborhood "Christmas activities" party. Free gifts, free photos w/Santa Claus & a Bounce House, not to mention the free goodies AND BEST OF ALL, 87' degree weather? Who would wanna miss this? I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD! I love being a Floridian!

Yes, I've been livin' in the South now for 7 yrs & they have been nuttin' but awesome, fun-filled & exciting. Always something 2 do, somewhere 2 go. Quite Frankly, we havent even traveled in 4 yrs because really, why travel when we've got it all so close? We live by the Mouse , Seaworld, Universal, Downtown Disney (all of which we've visited in the past 6 months) not to brag, of course, but u see my point, don't u ??

More Florida life coming up later on .............