Surprise!

  

I received a voicemail today at approximately 3:30 pm from Carmen. I thought she was in Arlington and wanted to meet at Starbucks or someplace? 

Oh no, that wasn't the message...she said Bree decided to come early! I of course had to hear that message again...trying to make out the sweet words of an exciting new mother and dear friend. Sounding GREAT for a brave woman who had a natural birth without anything to help her with the pain! Yep, Bree came early!! Wow...a whopping month and 4 days early!

Okay, Saturday at Carmen's  baby shower I said I couldn't wait until she was born! Apparently, SHE couldn't wait either! 

Congratulations to the new parents Carmen and Ian! God has blessed  you with a beautiful bundle of joy! I'm looking forward to watching her grow! 

Oh yeah, she can call me tia, if she wants! 

Brittany Amber

She wasn't always all smiles. I stole one there!

My mom is admiring the rosary that Fr. Mike gave to the family. The rosary was blessed by the Pope. 

Brittany with her mom Lisa sitting on the bed and Angie standing.

Almost two weeks ago, Brittany, my Goddaughter, was in an accident. 

Last Saturday I had a chance to visit her in the hospital. She is doing extremely better. The doctors were expecting to send her to Cooks in Fort Worth earlier this week but fortunately she is recovering quickly and she didn't need to make that flight. Thanks to all the prayers and the support of family and friends have helped the family stay strong during this difficult time. 

Great Seats

Where do you go and pay money for a seat and never sit in it?
Well, a concert!
I'm not really complaining...I'm just grateful! Antonio was kind enough to invite me to Mana's concert this past Friday! We had a wonderful time, singing along to most of the songs and we were impressed with the special effects on stage. Mana had a sold out house at the American Airline Center! Well, what do you expect from a band that is from GUADALAJARA, JALISCO MX? !!

I guess you have been wondering why I have been absent from this blog world of many of you....well, I have better things to do! Kidding, I really don't know what to write about.

I will write soon!!

Meeting up in San Angelo

Paquito

eating crackers

Waking up...

Quick trip to San Angelo as always. My friends from Tucson were driving to Mexico this morning and invited me. Well, as you know, i have just come back from two weeks in Mexico Lindo y querido. Anyway, I told them I would meet up with them so I can see Paquito! He is so cute!! Here are some pictures!

Purdue University

Bell Tower

Fountain~ the nicest one on the campus which in front of the engineering buildings.

Engineering Administration

One of the many engineering buildings.

Purdue Boilermakers

Engineering Research and Learning

Last week, I was fortunate to be accepted to an engineering research and learning conference/academy at Purdue University. The academy was for 3rd-4th grade teachers and a few science facilitators. We learned how engineering can help children become better problem solvers and functional team members. Understanding the learning, experiencing and processes of children help teachers and researchers cultivate and motivate the children's interest in engineering. We collaborated with Purdue faculty and graduate students on developing fundamental knowledge in engineering education. I had an incredible week long experience. I learned plenty of engineering thinking and how to incorporate these activities in our curriculum. Even though, I'm not quite ready to go back to school, I do look forward to use what I learned in the academy and apply it to our curriculum.

Conference

I'm here in Lafayette, Indiana at an engineering conference at Purdue University. This is my first time in Indiana. It's a pretty nice state, I did expect to have cooler weather than what were are having.

We had our first meet and greet session this afternoon at the bar of the hotel we are staying. It was a great opportunity for the group of 45+ teachers and conference presenters to get to know each other over two free drinks! How nice is that!

Fishing

Uncle D

Julian and Tevis

The expert fisherwoman

Me muero

La 5a Estacion

Coleadero en La Nopalera

Well done!!



After the run and knock down...there is the stop right in front of los musicos!!




Fixing the saddle before the next ride and of course posing for a serious picture.




Charro Mexicano


Another great successful ride by this charro who I believe had the most knock downs that day.




This past Saturday, my uncle Pancho and aunt Emilia had their monthly coleadero at their Rancho La Nopalera just north of Sweetwater. Coleadero is a forerunner to steer wrestling or known in some parts as bulldogging. The event is accomplish when the charro rides up to the steer/bull and grabs his tail. The charro then passes his tell under his right leg and somehow makes a slight turn which causes the steer/bull to fall on his back. The quicker the better!


Charro

Antonio Aguilar

The first thing I do every morning, is usually stretch, make the sign of the cross, and thank God for another day and try to get a quick prayer...but I get easily distracted as I did this morning as I turn my attention to the tv to watch Despierta America. Today, I was not really shocked but sadden by the news of Antonio Aguilar death.

El legendario cantante y actor murió ayer, martes 19 de junio. El señor Antonio Aguilar, de 88 años, fue reconocido por muchos como un importante actor del cine Mexicano con sus mas de 150 películas, el amor por la música ranchera, y un amante de los caballos. Con su gran trayectoria, el gusto por sus raíces mexicana como la charrería fue conocido por muchos países del mundo. Hace unos años el fue premiado con una estrella en Hollywood y claro muchísimo más reconocimientos durante su carrera. Perdimos un gigante de la música Mexicana.

Yo no era una fanática de el ni tenia sus discos pero lo respecto por ser una gran figura de la música ranchera y un gran orgullo para México y todo el mundo. Recientemente mi tía le regalo a mi abuelita una colección de las peliculas de Antonio Aguilar. Con más cuidado los mirare y apreciare el gran Charro de Mexico.

Que descanse en paz.

Futbol

I'm not the biggest soccer fan...but I watch it from time to time, sometimes with eyes closed. Today, I watched Mexico vs. Honduras play in CONCACAF Gold Cup. Well, I watched it...drifting in and out of a nap. I certainly watched when I heard the GOOOOOOOOOOALS from the commentators. I was certain that Mexico would win. Pero como mi amiga catracha predijo, Honduras vensio 2-1 a Mexico! Ni modo...ganaron los catrachos! Y amiguita...vos que sabe de futbol? Aparentamente mucho mas que yo!

Friday

I think I have mention this before, but just let me say it again. Friday is my favorite day of the week. Getting up extra early (something I don't do the other days of the week, I just get up on time). I guess I look forward to getting joe at Starbucks. On Fridays,I usually get coffee for my neighbors (teachers down the hall). I actually received a free one this morning. The young man made me the wrong one but he went ahead and gave it to me anyway. I thought that was a nice gesture. A free mocha, that usually doesn't happen to me. I didn't have trouble giving that one away to a teacher in dire need of some coffee!

I have to mention about this past school year, I valued having coffee every Friday morning before school with a friend of mine. Well, she decided to chase 'opportunity' to another state! I'm really going to miss our Friday mornings. Simply sitting down at Sb enjoying our coffee, having a great chat, and watching her son down his usual not so hot hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll. Let me rephrase that...I miss the Friday mornings already!

This week, for me has gone extremely fast!I guess I'm one of the few at school that believe this. I'm fortunate to have 9 students in my class- 2 second graders and 7 third graders. This group of children are certainly little characters!! Today, I had to make a belt for a student who forgot to wear one this morning. He's so funny, he asked me for a belt and I told him that usually don't need one so I don't carry one. We had to settle for doubling some orange yarn to help keep his pants up.

Okay, so...one student in my class comes in this morning with their UTA alumni shirt. I thought...What the heck are you doing in 3rd grade summer school? You see..what we are doing in summer school is to try to get these children ready for the next grade and some are here to pass the dang test! I found that hilarious!

Shopping for a new car

As you know I have been looking for a car since my accident.
Yesterday, my cousin Nena and I went to look at new cell phones. Then, I decided look at a few Ford cars at a nearby dealership. It was a little late in the evening, right before dark and closing time. We gave ourselves a tour of the place, looked into cars, walked around, and not once did anyone offer to help us. (we must have looked like we didn't have any money!- true about me) Seriously...it's usually the opposite, they won't let you just look at cars without asking you for help trying to get your business. Their goal is to let you test drive and they want to sell you a car!
After walking and looking around for 25 minutes and trying to picture myself in jet black Mustang GT, I decided...na...I'm not a teenager anymore; we decided to head on home. As we walked back to the car, I noticed that the entrance gates were closed. Jokingly I mention to Nena that were locked in and laughed about it. I thought surely the gate closest to where her vehicle was parked was open. Well, I shouldn't laughed...all entrances and exits were closed with locks. There was no one in sight inside nor outside! I knocked on the doors, went all around the dealership building just looking for someone. Nope...no luck. For pete's-sake...it was only 10 minutes past 8:00 and I know they knew we were on the premises! Earlier we went inside to use the ladies room...several salesmen saw us but didn't offer us any help (looking at the cars not going to the ladies room.)
After walking around several times around the building and tapping at every window where I had seen an office, I decided to call the dealership number. Of course I didn't have the number but thanks to the free 411 I got the number. (By the way, there is a free number to use for information 800-373-3411.) After calling, believe it or not I actually got an answer! I was upset and told him they should have said something over the loud speaker waited on us. He said he would send someone to open the gates. The gate opener showed up after 20 minutes and didn't say a word! I was mad! I let him know I was mad! Now you know I didn't get a car from there!

Oh yeah, I bought a car today...another JEEP!

Mariquita & Luis

Congratulations Angie!

First of all congratulations to my aunt Angie from graduating from Northwood University on Friday with a Business degree and a minor in Spanish. By the way, did I mention graduating Magna Cum Laude while raising 3 boys/ husband and working full time and sometimes overtime. Pretty awesome!

We, family, are extremely proud of you ANGIE!

Field Day

Three-legged race

Even the teachers participated!

Tug-o-war!!

Most awaited day of May for the students besides the last day of school...Field Day! The weather was great! Warm, but not too hot as it usually is around this time a year. I'm just glad it wasn't in the 90's! We had a great time!

Catching up

Me, Mati, Diana, Shay, and Leeon.

Leeon, Laurie, and Benjamin.

We worked at the same school last year. Now we all work for different school districts. One has gotten married, another has added a new member to the family and we all have moved on our separate ways. I enjoyed getting together for a nice catch up afternoon. I was especially delighted in meeting little Benjamin! He's such a good baby! He was great baby at the restaurant considering all the noise and that we were there for 2 hours.