¡Que suerte...la mia!

My "one-eyed" Jeep

But look, I fixed it! It looks pretty good!

Albóndigas

Today was the coolest day of fall here in our neck of the woods! Well, if it wasn't it sure felt cold! Brrrrr....(as Jessica would say). This cool weather makes me want something nice and warm....like sopa de albóndigas (meatball soup). On my recent trip to Mexico, my aunt made some delicious sopa de albóndigas. I so wished I could have had that today! I guess I need to learn how to make it! ; )

Parece que va llover...

Disculpen... se que casi no escribo de mis estudiantes...tengo un infinito de cosas que contar pero se me pasa el tiempo y no escribo nada. Este año mis niños son tan cómicos que debería escribir un diario. Aquí va episodio del salón 205…


Un día, cercándose el horario de recreo, veo hacia la ventana de mi salón para afuera y digo "parece que va llover" De repente empieza cantar un niño...

"parece que va llover,
el cielo se esta nublando,
parece que va llover,
ahí mama me estoy mojando!!"


Ya no aguanta la risa!! No solamente canto un niño pero varios siguieron su corriente y cantaron juntos! No se si conozcan esa canción pero es viejísima. Los niños de seguro la conoces por Los Cumbia Kings pero me gusta mas esta versión. Espero que les gusten!

Operación Sonrisa

I know I have mention to many of you that Satcha was named an ambassador of Operation Smile a few months ago. She is part of this organization that helps children with facial deformities. Many doctors and nurses provide free surgeries for children in different countries. She is one of many volunteers that help by raising money for medication and equipment for the organization.

She recently had the awesome opportunity to fly to an OS mission in Guadalajara, Jalisco and partake in the good deed. She loves the work they (doctors/nurses) do and was deeply touched by visiting with the kids and their parents. She emailed me this picture that just melted my heart. I'm sure many others. The baby has a cleft lip and cleft palate, she will undergo several surgeries before she will be able to eat without difficulty.

State Fair

What does a Fletcher Corn dog mean? The State Fair of Texas!
This is the reason I went to the State Fair!! Tevis and I used our fair tickets today. We met up with Uncle Daniel, Chris, Kelly, Aubrey, and Meredith for a few hours of great food and fun!

State Fair of Texas

Howdy Big Tex!
Did you know Big Tex speaks Spanish?

Uncle Daniel enjoying this ride!

Meredith and Tevis trying to hang in there!

Another goat story...

This time it is one of the kids! This baby goat was born in late August I believe. What so special about her is that she is blind but so full of energy! She was born blind and the vet said she will be like that for the rest of her life. She is sooo cute, she hears everything and her ears slightly perk up when she hears our voices!

Baby, which I call her in the video, is not so skinny. My parents started bottle feeding her thinking that she wasn't getting enough milk from her mother. My mom says she is heavier than the other little goats. You might see from the video that she is limping. She has a hurt left front leg. We are assuming that one of the adult goats must have stepped on her. Fortunately, she is doing better, the huge drawback is that she runs into everything!

Nagging Nanny-Goat

One of my not so fond childhood memories was tending to the goats when they would get stuck in the fence.

At a recent visit to my parent's house, I heard an awful noise, a constant bleating balando...something I use to hate hearing when I lived at home. That usually meant something was wrong, a nanny lost her kid or a goat was stuck! Yes, that bleating was an awful sound of a goat asking for help. Yep, stupid goat...always thinking that the grass is greener on the other side, got her head stuck in between the field fence...again! No telling how long that goat was out there just waiting to be released.

I go over to lend a helping hand and have a heck of a time trying to get her to twist that neck and move her curve horns in the direction of freedom. In the task, my fingers get stuck in between that tight wire and her horns. The nanny was trying to help but only made things worse when her horns would just go through the wrong part of the fence. I said every bad word I hadn't used when I was a child. (Good thing she didn't understand!)

At this point I was sweating, lost a couple of pounds in the process of trying to maneuver her head/neck out of the square fence. I tried from both sides of the fence--goat side and the opposite side. The opposite side just made her resist even more so. I went back to her side of the fence and once again I tried to knock her off her front feet to get her to kneel but she quickly got up. Oh yeah, did I mention she stepped on me a few times! Nothing was working!

Finally, fed up with wrestling with her...I just walked away trying to think of an alternative plan of possibly cutting the fence. During the time I was catching my breath, she slowly and calmly sets herself free!! Awwwwww "pinche chiva" as my father would say!! I was ready to chase her bleating butt around so she would get tired!!

Reuniting with friends

Recently, Luis and Mary invited us to our home for an ice cream party. It was an nice opportunity to visit them in their newly built home. We had a wonderful treat, Marble Slab ice cream. I hadn't seen Luis and Mary in over a year ago and wow, I hadn't seen Ana in about 4 years! She recently moved back to the great state of Texas. It was really nice for us to reunite at least for an evening and quickly catch up where we left off.

6.28.08 Wedding

Kaitlyn & Enrique

The beautiful St. Joseph's Church is where my cousin and his wife were married.

Dia de los Padres

Look who is eight months!

Mis primos

Edgar

Edgar y Panchito

De vez en cuando, mis primos y yo nos reunimos para cenar y platicar. Ellos viven en Mesquite, que no es tan lejos pero tenemos distintos horarios de trabajo. Mas bien, ellos trabajan mucho. Pero gracias a Dios, no nos dejamos de hablar. Siempre es un placer pasar el tiempo con ellos. Lamentablemente no tenia mi cámara para tomar fotos pero use la cámara de mi computadora. Este chiquitín es Edgar, hijo de mi primo Ernesto. Edgar es el primer hijo de mis primos que llevara el apellido Zermeño. De mis 20 primos Zermeño, este niño es el único por ahorita que llevara el apellido...que lentos somos nosotros para producir hijos!!

Ruth's Graduation

Dr. Martinez

I was fortunate to join my friends Isabel and Mati, to see their sister, Ruth, graduate from Pharmacy from Texas Tech University! I am extremely proud of all her accomplishments at her young age! She is now an official pill counter!!!

Come on Mr. Martinez, was the hooding ceremony that boring??

Happy Mother's Day

Mami,
Happy Mother's Day! Just wanted to thank you for a few things....Thank you for being my first teacher: teaching me how to tie my shoe, teaching me about our faith and always showing love. Showing me how to not be ashame of our roots and language. Especially not letting me let go our Spanish language that we inherited. Thanks for showing me to be grateful for what we did have and work hard for what we didn't. Thank you for licking your thumb and wiping my face as a child when you didn't have a wet cloth. I loved when you purposely got to much Jergen's Original scent and you would carefully apply in on my hands and one finger at a time . Thank you for showing me how to ask for forgiveness and never to go to bed upset. Thank you for loving me and giving me the those wonderful apapachos that I so much love to hear even at my young age!! The list goes on and on! But most of all thank you for loving me unconditionally!

Communion and Confirmation

Tevis pimp'n! Maybe I shouldn't say that but he was all dressed up in his little tux. 

Actually, he as awaiting his First Holy Communion and Confirmation this Sunday.

Tevis, Julio, and Alex

It was a great privilege and honor to have been chosen to be these boys sponsor for confirmation. Tevis as you know is my little cousin, although everyone thinks he's my nephew. Julio and Alex are brothers, which I met 6 years ago. Julio was in my class my first year teaching 3rd grade in Cedar Hill. Have I really been teaching that long?!

Hermenegildo Zermeño Cruz

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Easter weekend

Carmen, Diego, and Conchita

(Their names don't match do they?)

Joni and Jaron looking for Easter eggs.

So excited to get that egg!!

Jasmin

Francisco aka Peanut

Jaiden

Jaron 

Mi madre y sus hermanas: Rosa, Dolores, Mami, Ma. Auxilio.

Angie, Emilia, y Mary Grace.

Sandra expecting her first little girl in June.

Vicki, me, Carmen, Leti, and Linda

Delia and Herman

"Tu voz me alivia." 

This is what my dad said when I talked to him tonight. I thought that was really sweet! I don't have the sweetest voice but just the thought that talking to him made him feel better--- made me feel wonderful! Sweet of my dad to say that!

My mom and dad have been pretty sick the last few days. My mom has some kind of flu that was going around and I think Herman has the same thing but he's too stubborn to go to the doctor. (Okay, I just said he has a heart but also a hard head at times!) We just can't get him to go to the doctor unless he really thinks he needs to. 

My mother on the other hand feels better when she hears her cockatiel, PJ, chirp, whistle or whatever cockatiels do. I baptized him with the name PJ because of the fact that my mom kept calling him Pelón Jr. (Pelón was the name of the now deceased bald cockatiel she adored.) Well PJ, has taken over all the attention at my parents house. Even my dad! Every time I talk to my mom, she has to tell me something PJ whistled or what new trick or thing he did! Or she'll say..."did you hear that? That was PJ! ". I'm getting tired of hearing about that d--- bird! 

Do you think they need grandchildren.....?

Why This Friday is So Good

"Love is stronger than death. That is why Friday is so good. 

Love Incarnate died for each one of us and transformed the door of death into the portal of everlasting life and communion." ( Reflection: by Deacon Keith Fournier)

Happy Birthday Aidan!

Birthday boy!

Where should I wipe my finger?

Examining what he's about to devour!

I love this little guys face!!

Me quede con la maleta lista

Diana kept asking me why I didn't just stay a few days extra. Well, whether she meant it or not, it came true. My aunt called me at midday today to let me know that my flight for later this afternoon was cancelled and that I would have to call to get another flight. The weather in the DFW area was so bad that some 200 flights here cancelled. That was great for me! I enjoy spending time with this beautiful family and most especially be able to see Aidan for his birthday!

The Cantu's

I can't tell you how much I enjoy being with this family. The are one of the sweetest people I know. I don't even have the right words to express the gratitude I have for them. Diana has been a great inspiration, whether I take her advice or not. She is a wonderful mom, awesome- friend, outstanding cook, and fabulous interior designer. She pretty much does everything but make up her bed! Ha ha!!

From Texas to Virginia

When arriving in Richmond on Friday night, Diana picked me up from the airport. Somewhat disappointed that the boys didn't come along with her, I understood that bedtime was nearing for those young buckaroos. After talking a while Diana and trying not to wake her boys, her husband, and Tia we talked until quite a bit after midnight. I was still trying to believe i was actually in Virginia visiting the friends who so generously insisted on my visit since they moved from Texas.

Early morning, the boys were eager to wake me up. According to Diana they were up by 6 am wanting to wake me up then. It was closer to 8 in the morning when I heard a knock at my door. I opened the door waking up from a deep and so comfortable sleep, to find myself in front of 3 bright eyed & bushy tailed boys and Curry their dog. The three ran to give me hugs and practically shouting...'hello pita' ! What a wonderful feeling to be greeted by those precious boys that I had not seen in 10 months!

Isa's birthday

Today was Isabel's birthday so Tevis and I took off to Valley View (the one-horse town NOT the mall) to join in her birthday festivities. Isabel and Luis recently moved to their new home in a few months ago. I had not seen her in about five months! It was great to see her, Luis,  her parents and meet their new friends.  

Now, this is JG's doing! He took the picture and decided to put this on page.  

Rumors

A few weeks back, around early January, Diana-who lives in Virginia, called and left a voicemail and a text for me to get back to her as soon as possible.  In her voicemail, she had mention that Mrs. H had called her and told her that I was in very serious accident and if D had heard about it. Which by the way, I haven't even seen Mrs. H since, who knows when?! Her son was in my class 2 1/2 years ago but they moved early on in the school year.  They apparently moved back to CH. Anyway, I don't know how she would have known I was in an accident. (You guys do recall I was in an accident in May but fortunately I was not hurt.)

Today, I found out that I DIED!! Yeah, kind of crazy right?  I assume because of the 'accident' I had a few weeks ago!?  How did I find this out...well, another former coworker, Isabel, who lives North of Denton received an email from a former student's parent who asked if it was true that I had past away. Isabel, laughed and said I was perfectly healthly! (whatever that was suppose to mean) 

What that heck, am I just the talk of the town or do they just want to see me dead? Fortunately or unfortunately I am still kicking!! 

Moral of the story: don't keep in touch with your former students' parents...leads to rumors!! 

Visita de 'Impacto'

Mi amiguita, Satcha, was in the metroplex for few hours today. She had a layover at DFW on her way to our dear alma mater Angelo State University for a journalism conference. JG and I were fortunate to visit with her over a late lunch, estilo mexicanp- de ricos tacos al pastor, tamales, y un sope. It was a pleasure to see Satcha despite the short time.

I met Satcha during my early days at ASU many moons ago. Wow, has it been 9 years already?

You know, I was dying to tell my all students that I was going to see Satcha for a couple of hours, but i knew it would cause and uproar...I didn't want to hear suggestions, which my children are ever so generously giving them. I could just hear them...

"Why doesn't she come see us?" Por que no viene?

"Can we go too, like a field trip?" Usted nos puede llevar?

"Did you say she enjoys reading to children?"

No me conteni del secreto...le dije a una niña. She wrote a note for Satcha during recess, which by the way I forgot on my desk...I hope my student did not notice I left it!

Bree's baptism

It's such an honor to be chosen to be a godmother. It is an awesome responsibility and feeling! As we go through our journey in life, we are here to help guide the child of God to become a faithful and practicing Catholic. I honestly believe that her parents will have no problem with teaching Bree to be a wonderful Christian. But just in case they slack off, we are here to help! 

Isaiah's baptism

Congratulations Isaiah! 

Scott and Sonia, who currently live in Georgia, took this opportunity while visiting family in Texas to baptize their son Isaiah. I was fortunate to witness this special day with Sonia and her family. The last time I had visited with Sonia was during a business trip here in Texas in April of 2006.  It was great to finally meet Isaiah which will soon turn 1 year old! 

Ski Apache

Ruidoso, New Mexico

Me, my aunt Mary Grace, and my cousin Krystal

Bet you can't guess which one I am?