It's a BOY!

My new nephew NATHANIEL!

He's not even a day old in this photo and he looks huge! He was 21inches =) Big Boy!

Focusing on the Family

This year I've spent the majority of my time with my FAMILY. That's cool, they're good company. Lots of bbqs, dinners, movies, parties, games, and events. Sundays are chill; my Brother comes over with the family and we just hang.

my family at my nephew's basketball game

I took a family trip to San Francisco to check out a college for my niece.

My Uncle Frankie came to visit, from Seattle. That was a treat because I hadn't seen him in 8 years. He plays guitar, so we had a mini jam session. His daughter lives in Las Vegas and I offered to take him over there to visit. Of course, I didn't mind doing a little partying/gambling and seeing my cousin that I hadn't seen in forever.

There has been a lot of school events because my niece was a senior and she graduated from high school.

We had a nice graduation dinner at McCormick and Schmick's.

Another niece is pregnant and we had a baby shower.

My Nephew Josh was the coach of his brother's baseball team.

They were undefeated Champs!

I went to the El Sereno Independence Parade to support my family and community.

For the 4th of July, we had a little bbq at the house. My birthday passed and I'm another year old but not wiser. We've gone to the San Gabriel Canyon several times. Off Azusa, we head up the mountains, going towards Crystal Lake but not close enough to bump into Jason, find a spot to set up at and chill in the stream. It's the most relaxing thing ever!

I swear! There seems to be a birthday every other week. Even though I barely have money for a gift, I have to make sure I have enough for an 18 pack of beer.

Family is forever! Don't take them for granted.

At Last

My Father's birthday was a couple of weeks ago and his Sisters and Brother (in Texas) made his present a DVD and mailed it to him. They are too funny! They've made several before and they love doing the "face in hole" thing with music playing in the background. Anyhow, my Dad told me to keep an eye out for a package from Texas. His Sister told him to make sure we all watch it together. When we received it in the mail, I was expecting to see all these comedic pictures.....but I was in for a surprise.

We sat down and started up the DVD; At Last by Etta James was playing in the background and it said, "Dennis and Judy's Wedding 1971" and I thought it was going to be just pictures but IT was actual footage from their wedding! Something I had never seen in my entire life. I have a couple of photos from that day but I never imagined that there was a recording of the event out there, somewhere. The tears rolled down my face, as I saw the most amazing film I had ever seen. I'm still getting teary-eyed just writing about it.

After the short wedding, they showed everybody exciting the church, then cut to my Grandmother's house - the cars arriving from the church and everybody walking into the house. The reception was in my Grandparent's living room with several family members, piano playing, dancing, champagne cheers, my parents sharing a couple of kisses, and my Father feeding my Mother wedding cake =].

The film also included another day of family fun, possibly the next day? Also on the soundtrack was Sleepwalk and Angel Baby. My parents got married in El Paso, TX and I was also baptized at that same church. A few years ago, we went down there for a Family Reunion and I had my Dad give me the tour of his neighborhood and that church was one of the spots we visited.

The 3rd Was The Worst

Yesterday was the anniversary of my Mother's death. It's been 11 years without her and it still feels as if it was just yesterday. It was on a Thursday that she left this "unhappy planet" and I found out that every 11 calendar years, you end up with the same day for date. They say that time heals but it really doesn't. It only makes it bearable. I have a hole in my heart that will never close.



Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. I dream about her from time to time and it only makes me sad when I wake up. The dreams vary, sometimes we are hanging out like we used to, other times I'm confused in my dream telling her that I thought she died, and the ones, that really get to me - when I wake up, are the ones where I'm angry at her; I'm mad at her for leaving, she's not dead, it's more like she ran away. At least in my dreams I get to hug her and talk to her and I look forward to going to sleep in hopes that I will dream of my Mom.

Merry Christmas To All

And HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everybody! I hope everybody has a gleeful Christmas. Here is a Christmas photo of me & my nieces in the early '80s.
(Judy, Desiree, Stef, & Denise)

I'm spending the holidays with my family at my house. We've been listening to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on repeat and I wanted to share it. We are having a traditional Mexican Christmas dinner with tamales and posole. The kids are baking and we're listening to holiday music. We're going to watch the glee christmas episode & later 12 Men of Christmas with Kristen Chenoweth.

I'm Thankful

Here is an old photo of me with my Mother (RIP) and Father from the early 80s. I think this was actually the only time, in my life, that I was smaller than the turkey.

This was the first time I didn't have to work on Thanksgiving. Sure I'm going to miss my double time and a half pay, but it was good just staying home, having dinner and relaxing.

I'm thankful for having a loving family, a roof over my head, a job, my health, and good friends.