Baby Kenneth 1st Birthday

Happy First Birthday to our Nephew Baby Kenneth J.!

Ayla and Alexa enjoying the trampoline untill...

The big kids came and ruined the moment, until Tio Kenneth got mad at the older kids for bothering the kids and the trampoline almost touching the floor. Didn't you hate it when we were to young to be adults and yet too old for fun stuff?!

Here the boys spend some alone time. The only time I saw today where they were actually talking and not yelling at each other.


Baby Kenneth, hope you enjoyed your day gathered with family.
Ciao for now,
Arnnette

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving started at my kids school on Tuesday. There were kids who did a mini talent show. Hannah's friend Sah-Dia sang Amazing Grace. Here is Sah-Dia with her mama, Gwen.

She did a beautiful job. Emma and her little family joined us there as well.

Bayardo always works nights. This was his first annual dinner with the school, since his work traded his shifts to days for the week. Here we are with Ayla and our grandson Leo'nel.

This Thanksgiving we spent time at my Mama's and With Bayardo's Mama. My kids spent their Thanksgiving at their Dad's. Next year I get to spend it with my kids and my grandson. He'll be a year old and will enjoy Thanksgiving a little bit more. I started by making my traditional Sally Jesse Raphael French Toast Casserole for breakfast.

This is Sally Jesse Raphael, the Oprah of the 80's.

I've been making this casserole since Emma was born. I only make it for Thanksgiving. It's cubed up bread and cream cheese layered in a casserole. Then soaked all night with eggs and maple syrup mixture. In the morning, pop it in the oven, while you start the Thanksgiving fix ins, and then when its ready. Pour some maple syrup and serve it warm. It's kinda like a bread pudding. It's one of the many recipes I recorded from ABC the Home Show, which later became Home and was hosted with Rob Weller and then later with Gary Collins along with various female hosts. I loved this daytime show which showed recipes from stars (Thus the Sally Jesse Raphael French Toast), how to pick veggies and fruit with Curtis, Crafts with Dian Thomas, Carol Duvall, and Kitty Bartholomew Interior Decorator. I also remember Keely Shaye Smith with her flower/garden tips. The show aired in the late 1980's, early 1990's. If you're old enough to remember, remember them?

We first went to my Mama's. Since I was going to two homes, I made a big batch of green bean casserole and divided into 3 casseroles to share at both locations. The only this is I added cheese. I was lucky enough to find a photo that looked as nice as mine. I keep forgetting to take pictures of my creations. Only I had French's Fried Onions along the border/edge.

Looks good, huh? The men watched football, duh, that was a given. Here is my hunk of beefcake and my baby brother from my mama, Sebastian or as we call him "C-Bass".

Here is my Mama, Jinette, Pura Tica. There's little Rian wondering when Mama Jinette will ring the dinner bell.

This is my Tia Mara and Tio Juan, My Mama's brother. They live in Costa Rica and are visiting here for the holiday's.

My lovely sister Lou. Doesn't she look like my Mama?

Here's my sister's little bundle of joy, Olivia. She is 7 months old and her first Thanksgiving. Ayla loves to sing to her.

My brother's girl, Riann and Ayla and Evan my nephew by Lou and RJ.

Miss Hailey, C-Bass's girl. Hey, Steph and C-Bass didn't take a photo together. Find Steph and C-Bass Here.

Later we went to my Sister-In-Law's home. Ita, Bayardo's mom is visiting from Nicaragua. She leaves next week. Here she is with baby K.J., Kenneth's baby boy and only boy.

So we got together in the evening. Nina, my sister-in-law and Kenneth, my brother-in-law, both of whom are Bayardo's sibling, decided to make the turkey. Here you can see how the Turkey's turned out.

No, it's not the light, well actually it is. I was so much darker than it looks here. Which of the two do you think was good? Kenneths. Nina cooked her turkey with a little too much vinegar. Besides, vinegar? All in all, it was a nice evening spent. It was weird not to have tete here with us. Here is Tete with Bayardo, packing before their move to Nicaragua.

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends, family who are away, children who are away out of town(Miss Chelsea), and to anyone else I missed.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Getting to Know You

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.
Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) this entire email (in this case your blog) and paste into a new e-mail (blog) that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you(Please comment that you posted this on your blog, so I can get to know you)......Tis the Season to be NICE!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift Bags
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, save the trees. (I like to free branches and make wreaths or swags from the tree stands and make my home smell fresh as if I have a live tree)
3. When do you put up the tree? Weekend after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year
5 . Do you like eggnog? Yes! Especially the ones you didn't know were made with rum, hee hee.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My tape recorder.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Mundo
8. Easiest person to buy for? Ayla
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not one, many from around the world.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email. I always buy cards and don't send them off.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I got a bunch of barbie stuff, the house, the car, the dolls, eww! I didn't like dolls especially Barbie. I played teacher with my stuffed animals, danced and sang in my room while I looked at all my Teen Beat photos on my wall of John Travolta, Rob Lowe etc., and played out side with the greenmachine, starwars with the neighborhood kids or hide and seek.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown and the dead christmas tree that I love so much, Wizard of Oz, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, White Christmas, Home Alone, The Little Drummer boy, Miracle on 34th street, and It's a wonderful life. Oh and A Christmas Carol and Frosty the snow man. Have I ever told you I don't have just one favorite of anything?
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Hmmm.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Costa Rican tamales and Bunuelos with Champurrado
16. Lights on the tree? Yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? Holy Night. Away on a Manger, Silent Night, Ave Maria, Baby it's cold outside
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? How can you forget..."Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" and lets not forget Rudolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A bird house with fairies painted on it, although I want Tinkerbell from Disney store.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is for Christ.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The meaning seems to be lost.
23. What theme or color are you using? Fairies and Nature.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Did I not say Naca/Tica Tamales
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want a gift card to Desert Book Store, Kohls, or Lowes.
Ciao for Now,
Arnnette
Please let me know if you post this or email me.

More Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Another reason to be thankful.


This reminded me of my sister, Deborah, Chillo my brother and law, and Baby Daniel.

Hmm, food for thought.

A kid favorite Thanksgiving special, like me.

Norman Rockwell, captures people and family in art the way a camera would snap a picture. I love his art.

What all kids think, stop talking and lets eat!

First the Cows says eat more Chicken, now the turkey?

And they say Turkeys are dumb.

I love this art work with the Native Americans.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

Be Thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snuggly because it means that you have enough to eat.

Be Thankful for the mess you clean up after a party because it means you have been surrounded by friends.

Be Thankful for the taxes you pay because it means you are employed.
Be Thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing because it means you have a home. I would be thankful I could walk in heals and have legs like that.

Be Thankful for your heating bill because it means you are warm

Be Thankful for your laundry because it means you have clothes to wear. Buy the looks of this photo, a washer, too.

Be Thankful for the space you found at the far end of the parking lot because it means you can walk.

Be Thankful for the lady who sings off key behind you in church because it means you can hear.
Be Thankful when people complain about the government because it means we have freedom of speech. I'm still glad this country is founded under God and we can voice our voice on those who get carried away with what this country was founded on.

Be Thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means you are alive. That's me and that's Bayardo sleeping, Hee-Hee. And he can ROAR when he gets up in a bad mood, I still love him.
Ciao for now,
Arnnette

Today we stayed home and bonded

Today, I said to myself and the family, I'm staying home. I forgot that today was Build and Grow at Lowe's, but with all the activities this week, Hannah's performance at the Mesa Arts Center, The kids had Math Night on Thursday, and the parades last week, I wanted to stay home and not go out but order my kids to do their chores. Is that mean? I washed clothes and they cleaned. That's not to much to ask for, is it? After the chores were done, I just read magazines and blogs. Meanwhile the kids made their own skits and recorded them.

Then, someone ruined the moment and said we had no milk, no oil, no bread, I had to go to the store. Ugh, I just wanted to stay home. Good new was that the kids wanted to stay home with their productions. No kids with us! Bayardo and I had lunch at Sam's Club; Jumbo shrimp, lamb with asparagus, meatballs, bonbons, pumpkin cheesecake, and egg nog. Thank goodness for samples, they filled me up!

We came home watched Wall-E and ate popcorn. Afterwards, Bayardo made spaghetti and meatballs. The kids said they had the best day in a long time. Funny how I plan activities and yet the one day we stay home and virtually did nothing, and it was the best day ever! Looking back it was. We spent time as a family and bonded:) Moral: Take a break and just spend time together. It's these moments that last a lifetime.

I loved this movie, Wall-E was so special taking care Eve. He made me laugh so much. Mr. B didn't think so, but the rest of us did. He reminded me of a cross between ET and Short Circuit.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette

Favorite Book Friday

It's Saturday, I know, Maybe I should call it Favorite Book Weekend, incase I don't have time on Friday. Hmm. However, with my love of books and movies, late or not, I love posting my books.

Well, One of my favorite collection was Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, along with his friends.

This charming shop and museum is open to the public every day where you will be served by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. The house, pictured is the original building used by Beatrix Potter in her wonderful story, The Tailor of Gloucester, in UK.

This picture was painted in 1938 when she was in her 70's.

Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English author, illustrator, mycologist, and conservationist who was best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as Peter Rabbit.

Did you know, In her will, Potter left almost all of her property to the National Trust — 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land, cottages, and 15 farms. The legacy has helped ensure that the Lake District and the practice of fell farming remain unspoiled to this day. Her properties now lie within the Lake District National Park. The Trust's 2005 Swindon headquarters are named "Heelis" in her honour.

Beatrix Potter Gallery, a gallery run by the National Trust and situated in a 17th-century Lake District townhouse in Hawkshead, Cumbria,England, now displays her original book illustrations.
Besides visting the castles in the UK, thus another reason to visit Gloucester, South Kensington, London, and Lake District.

Ciao for now,

Arnnette