Tag Your IT

Okay let's go to the following weekend. The date is October 25th, 2008. Since we took care of our nephew and neice, we switched kids. It's my Step-Dad's Retirement Party from GM. NO Kids allowed so our kids went to a ASU tailgate with The Flores. Nina asked that the kids wear their ASU shirts. Of course we had none, so out I went and bought shirts and football ribbons for their pony tails. Ayla wanted her face painted with "Mitchie" and "Shane" from Disney's Camp Rock. So I said I painted "Mitchie in her cheer outfit" and a guitar for "Camp Rock" She noticed that ASU didn't say Camp Rock, but when I showed her "Rocks" She was okay. "You mean like Camp Rock but since we're going to ASU then we have to put ASU Camp Rock?" Yes Ayla. She is too smart for her britches at 3 years old.

When they got there, the girls posed and Tia rushed them with, "OKAY, Get in the car or your not coming" So I didn't take the boys and Deanna, cousin, too.

Later...

Bayardo and I went to Mundo's (My stepdad) Retirement Party

Mundo's Invitation went like this. I didn't think to scan it, but it was nice with the GM logo included trust me.

He’s done his duty for 36 years,
Now it’s time to change gears.
Please join us for a Retirement Dinner Party
Honoring
Edmundo Meraz
From his dedicated service with GM Desert Proving Grounds
Saturday
October 25th, 2008
6pm
(address)
RSVP to (to my sister Luisa) by Oct. 18th
480 xxx-xxxx
Semi-Formal Attire (no jeans)
*No children, please.

The Cook who prepared the tacos, delicioso!

Here my mama and dad, Mundo.

Here I am with my sister Luisa, who did a great job planning.
My sister and my mom planned the event. It was very nice. Catered with Tacos al Pastor, then Mundo's eyes lit up like a little boy when the Mariachi's came in playing. He had no idea the Mariachi's were planned.

Here is all my Tios and Tia's from my mama side.

From the Left: Tia Laura her sister-in-law from a former marriage of my moms brother, no names mentioned. Tia Anna, Tia Lauras sister. Mundo, Tia Mara; Tio Juans wife, brother of my Mama. All Ticos from San Pablo, Costa Rica.

Here's Emmas little family, Alex & Leo'nel, Our oldest daughter.

My brother Sebastian or C-bass with Stephani.

Here I am with my brother Marco, who lives in NEW YORK CITY!... nah, the Bronx.

Gosh my legs and face were glowing and I wasn't even wearing nylons! Scary! Whats worse is reality check, I need to start walking. I'm so blessed to have a husband who loves me for me and not physically. He is truely my soul mate. I love you babe!

Bayardo and I left before it was over. We took advantage of our alone time and decided to go to the movies. Our luck, nothing good, so we went to Apple Bees for desert and went home and pulled out the romantic movies, 13th Warrior and Gabriel Iglesias...LOL. The next morning we went for a Bike Ride and went to Einsteins Bagel for breakfast. Later Nina brought our kids and our date was over. We decided to Take turns every month. So lets see for now.

FYI: Have I mentioned I have 6 brothers and 2 Sisters plus to step siblings.

• Luisa, Marco, and Sebastian are sibling from my Mama and Mundo.
• Jorge and I, are from the same parents.
• You've seen Deborah, Derik, and Daryl, they're from my Papa and the belated Belinda.
• Then Joshua is my brother from my Papa and Connie. Connie has Jill and Brit from a previous marriage.

Here my Papa and Connie.

Hope that all made sense.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Happy Anniversary Flores Family

Lets make believe its still October. It is the weekend of October 18, 2008. My sister in law and her husband plan their anniversary weekend by themselves. Ahhhh, how special. And we have Christian and Carly, our nephew and niece over so that their mom and dad can spend time and go out on a date and have Whoppie :)

Well, I don't know for sure, but wouldn't you if your married and you have kids and never get to go out??!!!

This is Carly with Dorian.

This is Christian with Devan, who by the way Devan is older by three months!

We drop off the kids when the coast was clear and they called that burgers were on the grill. My brother in laws were bored and decided to play Rock Band. They really thought they were IT.

By the expression on Nina, my sister in law, I guess that would be a NOT.

Soon it was the battle of the younger generation. Best 2 out of three, hands down the younger generation won. The guys tried to cheat by playing songs they thought the boys would know. Wrong!

Left to Right: Fabian, Bayardo, & Kenneth with his bad surgery knee, who just did a bone graft, necio!

Christian, like his dad took the "MIKE", then Devan and Dorian.

It was a nice weekend. Next time, Nina and I with the girls will do bead work or scrapbook while they battle it out again.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

NOVEMBER IS HERE

I meant to post this on Saturday, however, with my dad visiting from Kentucky, I've been side tracked. Watch for posts from the last two weeks scrunched into one.

I want to start with saying this is the time to reflect all our blessings. With Veteran's Day coming up on November 11th, who's birthday is also Grandma Maria, my step grandma, Brit my stepbrother and my baby Ayla's. There is much to be thankful with our troops out to sea and around the world.

I want to add too that it was my cousin Beto, birthday on November 1st, since I'm mentioning birthdays, and who just recently became a proud dad.

Thanksgiving is coming up. What a wonderful holiday to reflect our blessings with friends and family. Gosh, I really need to start my diet and make room for such blessings, lol.

Thank you for being my friends and family. I came across two old friends, Valeria Ochoa and Christina Garcia. How fun it was to remember old times and still have special feelings for old friends.

Mexican Tamales Naca/CostaRican Tamal
Green Bean Casserole

Typical Food from Central America: Gallo Pinto, Platanos Maduros, Yuca Frito, Chicharones...mmm. I want to add that the drink is Cream Soda.

I would love to hear of some good family recipes to try this thanksgiving. Bayardo and I want to make traditional and cultural food this year so our children remember who we are and where we are from. Bless you all:)

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Barack Obama our new elected President

The polls were in at 9pm AZ time, Barack Obama is our new elected President.

270 electoral votes was needed to win. In the end, as of right now and still counting, Obama 306; McCain 145. A moment of silent while we pray to our Heavenly Father that Obama and his family are safe. That our country may be safe and Obama may lessen the burdens of our nation.

That we may continue to be "One Nation Under God...with Liberty and Justice for all..."

How well do you know the lyrics to Star Spangled Banner

With Elections on the way and votes being counted for, I started singing The Star Spangled Banner unknowingly, until my boys said something. I told them that I was proud to be an American. During the Olympics many of our medalists did not sing the The Star Spangeled Banner. This made me very sad as many other countries knew and sang their own national anthem. I remember in grade school having to say the pledge out loud and the national hymn playing as well in our classrooms. Now, many of are afraid to stand for the truth and for our country. I thought I would include two touching videos of our National Hymn (Click on Photos). I must confess, I only know the first Chorus and not all four. However, I included the lyrics and some facts of the Original Star Spangle Banner during this time of Elections.

Quick Facts about the Star-Spangled Banner Flag:

• Made in Baltimore, Maryland, in July-August 1813 by flagmaker Mary Pickersgill
• Commissioned by Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry
• Original size: 30 feet by 42 feet
• Current size: 30 feet by 34 feet
• Fifteen stars and fifteen stripes (one star has been cut out)
• Raised over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814, to signal American victory over the British in the Battle of Baltimore; the sight inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner”
• Preserved by the Armistead family as a memento of the battle
• First loaned to the Smithsonian Institution in 1907; converted to permanent gift in 1912
• On exhibit at the National Museum of American History since 1964
• Major, multi-year conservation effort launched in 1998
• Plans for new permanent exhibition gallery now underway

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics:

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Amen

VOTE

I voted early this morning at 6:30am and proudly wore my "I voted" sticker. I am so proud to be an American Citizen and have the right to vote. It is sad that other countries, not everyone can vote. That only a couple decades ago, blacks and women could not vote in United States. We now have the right to vote, sadly many do not vote. recently in September of 2008, 9,000 voters of 250,000 voters voted in Gilbert, AZ. How sad to here this. To know that we have soldiers fighting for our country and citizens here in US are not fighting for our voices to be heard and vote, is heart breaking.

It's AZ time and now 6:07pm, you have less than an hour to VOTE! If you don't vote, then you cannot and you do not have the right to complain for 4 years. As Helen Purcell stated, "If we stand in line for release of movies, concerts, give aways, even overnight, than should we not stay in line for our freedom?"

May God bless us all now and the future!!

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Favorite Book Friday

I know, today is Saturday, but with last minute sewing for Halloween Costumes, at least I'm still posting. In light of the holiday, I chose Clifford's Halloween and we cannot forget It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown too. That would have to be an American classic children's favorite series. Along with Bugs Bunny and the sexy witch, lol.

My favorite part of It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown was when Linus missed the whole celebration of Halloween. He convinced Sally, Charlie Browns sister, to wait for the Great Pumpkin. She was upset when the Great Pumpkin didn't show up and called him "Blockhead". Then Lucy, the bossy of the bunch, mean to Charlie Brown, and sister of Linus, shows a compassionate side of her. She wakes up at 4am and brings back Linus and tucks him in bed. My favorite part was included. (Click on Linus)

Remember when we only had Saturday morning cartoons? Or during holiday nights? Oh and let's not forget Sunday evening with Lawrence Welk show followed by the Mickey Mouse Club. Or was it the other way around? I also enjoyed watching the Munsters and the Addams Family.

I have to say out of the two mothers, Lilly was my favorite. She was a caring aunt, mother, daughter, wife, and she loved beging a housewife. She was the family's counselor and cook. Hermans kid jokes were funny, too, "My family is in the iron and steel business. My mother irons and my father steals." Did you know Lilly, played by Yvonne DeCarlo, her best remembered role in the 1950s was in The Ten Commandments (1956) as Sephora? Just thought you might like to know, another one of my favorite movies. Did you know favorite for me does not end with one item? Just thought you should know, because I have many favorite things.

I would like to end with the closing of the Mickey Mouse Club. See you really soon, why? Because I like you. (Click on Mickey Mouse Club)


Ciao for now,

Arnnette