St. Ann's Catholic Church

The church where I was baptized, made my first communion, and confirmation.

Amiga Nadia

Bella amiguita, a los 4 meses de embarazo.

Playing the Wii

Peanut & Philip boxing

Vicki, Santos, & Peanut

my mom bowling

Uncle Daniel having fun bowling.

You think leaning will help get the last pin?

New cell phone for grandma

Mami Albina recevied her first cell phone today, at the age of 79! Angie and I got it for her earlier this week and just couldn't wait to tell her...but we had to keep it from her until this weekend! Angie put her phone on her plan and I bought her the phone. It's not an iPhone nor is it the Blackberry Storm...we just thought she might abuse of all the extras if we got the internet, music downloads, navigation, etc. ; ) We got her a basic phone for an elderly person, so she can easily see the keypad and the big numbers on the screen. I sooo wanted to see her reaction but unfortunately I didn't go to west Texas. I called her this morning and for some reason after several rings it went to voicemail. But I knew by now Angie had already given her the birthday gift. Then a couple of minutes later, Mami Albina called me back. I let her enjoy the music...the ringback tone I set of her to listen when she calls me. Yep, the theme song to her novela "Vale Mas Un Buen Amor"! I think she LOVED IT!! She was so grateful and EXCITED about her new phone!

I've been awake since 5:00. I was in the same sleeping position from when I went to sleep so I guess I didn't toss and turn. I do feel 80% better. That medicine it's doing it job! I just don't understand why I woke up so early and couldn't go back to sleep...it's a Saturday...i like to sleep in on Saturdays!

Sucks being sick!

Thursday, I went to work dragging my --- or rather my legs. I didn't call in for a sub earlier because I didn't have all my things together.
During conference period, I went to one of my teammates class and before saying hi he said "you look like shit" (no there weren't any kids in the classroom but the way he said it, I'm sure the neighbor classroom heard it through the wall.) And no it didn't really offend me since i know how this guy is, but i couldn't really laugh i guess i wasn't in the mood. I just stood there frozen with my hands in my sweater, as if I was taking a word bash in a sitcom. He then nicely said, "I can say that to you right?" "Sure" i said.
Soon there after i got a sub to come in for the afternoon. I went home to try to rest and sleep and didn't bother making an appointment because I thought the sickness would just pass. Tossing and turning wasn't really helping me sleep or rest. Thinking I would feel better by Friday morning, nope I saw just about ever hour of the morning! It was a loooong night! (When you dream about the TAKS and it has already past...you know I had a fever!!)
Yes, I know I still look like shit and i feel like shit so I made a doctors appointment. I thought it better NOT be the darn flu...you always think that when you spend your money getting the flu shot. Well it wasn't, instead I have strep throat plus a sinus infection and an ear infection. At least it's just in one ear!
I have a bone to pick with pharmacist. They told me the medicine was going to be ready at 3:30 so i went to pick up and no...it wasn't ready. The lady told me to go at 4:15 and so i did and she said no, not ready yet either and just to come in after 5:30. She should have just told me to go in after 5:30!! Ahhh!!!!
So, i text my friend that is a pharmacist and here's what I text..."I dislike pharmacists! my meds aren't' ready and they said it was going to be ready at 3:30!! damn those rich asses taking their sweet ass time...y uno muriendose aqui!!" Here's the response...."Sometimes ...people r busy and u aren't the only damn sick person in the world...that's why u should call b4 u go" She knows i was totally kidding!!
I texted a few friends/family to tell them i wasn't going to Odessa as planned for my grandmother's surprise birthday party. It's for the best that I stay, I would hate for my family and friends to get sick because of me. Anyhow, one of my reply messages was "damn!!! "you got all kinds of shit"! Another said "just drink a lot of liquids and toughen up!" In a phone call, I was told I sound like shit! (Chin....siempre me estan echando cagada mis supestamente amigos!!) I guess I'm a whiner!I feel a lot better now since I'm writing this but it's still contagious for another 24 hours.

family in town

My cousin Joni was kind enough to invite my mom and grandma to a cheerleading/dance competition in Fort Worth. Of course, that gives my mom a chance to come see us here in the area. This time I didn't take pictures of the competition. These pictures are right before they left back west.

The 3-D's
Daniel, Delia, and Dolores

JJ's
Jasmine, Jaiden, and Joni on the phone.
When Joni was little my mom use to call her JJ because of her name and middle name. Well, now Joni named her three children with the letter "J" and her husband's name is Jamie.

Jaiden

Mami Albina not sure what I was doing...I just called her name.

It is hard to get a picture of Aunt Chris. I don't think she knew I snapped this one! ; )

Sunset

I loved watching the sunset in Puerto Vallarta.

Edgar

Edgar

This kid thought i was funny!

Pancho, Marisol, Ernesto, Edgar, and Alejandra

I had dinner the other night with my cousins. I was anxious to see Edgar since the last time I saw him was four months ago. He is now 14 months and a running little one! My cousin said he loves those old black shoes he has on. He mention and the takes the other shoes off and hands them those little black shoes. I think it quite cute... but i must say he is a Zermeño all right! (A little set in their ways!) My parents also have a similar story about me. I always wanted to wear my boots and they were old and ugly! (i saw a picture) I can't believe I was so stubborn!

Grandma is back

Mami Albina

Julian, Mami, Uncle D., Chris, and Angie

Our grandma is back from Villa Guerrero, Jal. She flew in Friday afternoon, and she was ready to eat American food! We went to one of her favorite places.

On February 7th, Mami and Papi would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. Even though Papi has been gone for 14 years we still remember their special day.

FWSSR

Ready to pet the animals!

What the heck is that...?

Maybe not...

Ahhhh.....bahh!!!!

B's thinking this is a piece of cake!

Three weeks ago we hoping to catch a rodeo event at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo but unfortunately after standing in line for a good 30 plus minutes they were sold out for that night. So we decided just go to the petting zoo and check out some of the animals at the stock show. It was a little late so we just saw a few animals before they turned the light out for the night. This is our second time to take B to the FWSSR and hopefully we can make it a yearly tradition. Who knows, she might want to show sheep, pigs, or maybe a steer when she gets older! Hey, this year's grand champion steer sold for $140,000! That was even much lower than the last two years.

Cherry vanilla soda NOT a coke float

On Saturday after lunch, Carmen and I went out for some quick shopping and looking around. Since we were near a Braums, I thought it would be a great idea to get dessert. Well she ordered her single scoop ice cream and I ordered a cherry vanilla coke float thinking i was getting what my friend Isabel had ordered me a couple of months ago. Uhhh, not exactly what I was expecting to get. I knew it didn't look the same... or taste the same from the last time. You can say I was disillusioned at the coke float as I watched the ice cream drift around in the coke. That didn't look to appealing to me. It wasn't what I wanted but it WAS what I ordered! I was hoping for a thicker drink. So I called Isabel to ask her what that ice cream drink was she had ordered for me and she said "NO ...NOT a coke float it's a CHERRY VANILLA SODA"! She sounded so disappointed in me! Haha! So guess what i did?..(I guess this comes from my only child syndrome!) Yep, i threw it in the trash can, we went to a couple of stores and then we went back through the drive-thru for a cherry vanilla soda! That was more like it! It was DELICIOUS...but Carmen made me walk it off...walking from store to store!

Walking out

My cousin Nena invited me to eat some mariscos at La Reyna in Dallas. We watched part of the novela that i am currently hooked on. Then we chatted away for another hour. I didn't notice that time went by so I went to the restroom to wash up and stop my annoying runny nose that the spicy salsa had caused. I walked back to the table to get one last drink of horchata. Leading the way out, I pretty much opened the door out of the restaurant when Nena says wait... "we haven't paid"! I didn't realize that we had not paid for the food. I guess we were sitting there a little too long and thought we had paid for our meal. I don't know, I just went blank!! Come to think of it, the waitress never gave us the bill. I kept excusing myself to the waitress and cashier. The cashier I'm sure, thought i was crazy and probably thinking I really was trying to walk out.
Boy was i embarrassed!

Nombres comunes

Otra ocurrencia del salón 205.

Estaba revisando la tarea y un niño puso su nombre y sus DOS apellidos. Fuera de lo normal para el. El siempre pone su nombre y su apellido de su padre nomás.

Yo: ¿Oye "L" tu otro apellido es Verastegui?

El niño: Si, mi mamá se apellida Verastegui.

Yo: (pensando que no me había oído) Me encanta el apellido. Así se apellida el hombre de mi sueños, Eduardo Verastegui.

El niño: (sorprendio con sus ojos muy abiertos) ¿MI ABUELO?!!?!?

Yo: Así se llama tu Abuelo?

El niño: Si, Ms. Zermeño, así se llama mi abuelo!

Yo: Oh, NO…yo hablaba de un actor que tambien se llama Eduardo V. !

El niño: Ahi...es que yo pensé que usted decía de mi abuelo!


Y con eso me dio muchisima vergüenza. Talvez tengo que guardar mis pensamientos en silencio!

¡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!