Alonso and Carol

Spring Recital!

2009-06-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

Wow...I'm behind on posting. Last month Ericka's kids had their Spring/Summer Recital. Alondra fell in love with the movie The Sound of Music a couple of months ago. Since she saw the movie she had been tinkering away at the piano trying to play the song "Do Re Mi" (without the music) all the way through. One day she came home from piano class and was so excited because Ericka had played the song for her. She said she had been telling her about the movie and Ericka played it for her. I guess from there... Ericka thought it would be cute to have Noni play that song for her recital. And so...she did. Thanks Ericka!

Happy Birthday Robert!

2009-06-14T18:40:00.003-07:00

Today is my brother Robert’s 34th birthday! I can’t believe he’s 34! Time really does fly. I remember so vividly playing race cars and marbles with him in the backyard, and now we’re both in our 30’s! Crazy! I love you Robert!

2009-06-14T17:51:00.007-07:00

Carlo Diego!

2009-05-11T20:48:00.006-07:00

Oh my goodness, I'm so exicted! I just witnessed the birth of little Carlo Diego! He is even tinier than Sophia and sooooo long awaited! Marla was in and out of the hospital in anticipation of this baby for the last month. Last night she was finally amitted and she was in labor up until an hour ago. I have 5 neices and nephews from Robert, and I love them all very much, but there was something so moving about watching my "baby brother" and his wife welcome their first child to this earth. He was all of 6 pounds! Such a tiny and sweet little thing.

Sophia Bella!

2009-05-07T18:59:00.005-07:00

My niece, Sophia Bella, was born a couple weeks ago! I hadn't blogged about it, but here she is. Robet with Kaiser and Sophia. She's so tiny and cute and we love her. Kim is so exicted to finally have a little girl, and we're excited for the new addition to our family.

Fred and Marla are do any day and then we'll have more babies than we know what to do with! I tell Alonso we're up next (to have a baby). Maybe next year!

10 Years!

2009-04-22T20:11:00.014-07:00

I wasn't able to get any pictures of us outside the temple, but it's probably best...it's so beautiful by itself.

Us at the mall...Bobby being silly...

The guys trying on funny suits...

Aww...best buddies.

I thought this was an awesome pic. Love the background!

I had to set the timer on this one and run back to place...very hard to do...

Feeling very romantic... ; )

This was the view from our front doors. Very cool.

Our 10 year anniversary was Monday the 20th! I can't believe it's been sooooo long! The years really have flown by. Being the TEN year anniversary, I thought we should do something special. For a change, I asked Alonso to decide how we should celebrate. Now, to fully understand the story...I should give a brief background...Alonso is a convert to the church and for the 8 years he's been a member he has LOVED missionary work and everything related to it. He is an awesome Ward Mission Leader and an example to me of what true dedication to the Lord's work should be.

So...for a long time, he has wanted nothing more than to do the temple work for his father who passed away when Alonso was 14. I had been hesitant to go to the temple to do baptisms because it had been so long since I'd done them that I didn't feel comfortable doing them.

Since I let him decide how we would celebrate, he thought it would be the greatest day ever if we went and did the temple work for his dad. So…that’s what we did. We picked two of our favorite people and asked them to join us on this special trip. Bobby and Sabra came with us to share the experience. We drove up Friday and did the ordinances for his dad, my aunt, and 2 members of the Lemmon family. None of us had done any baptisms since our days as youth in the church and it brought back a lot of neat memories. It was the most special thing ever to sit and watch Alonso be baptized for his dad.

We left the temple at almost 10 p.m. We drove up to Scottsdale and checked into the resort and went out for the best steak dinner I have ever had. The resort was so nice! Our rooms were like little apartments seperate from everything else with really great views. We had a really great time and couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Alonso and I were content sleeping in and ordering room service and enjoying a break from life…but our friends were anxious to “hit the town”. I only managed to get a few pictures before my battery died, but I managed to get a couple of us walking into the mall and of the guys trying on ridiculous jackets.

I’m so thankful for my husband and for what an awesome person he is. He the most wonderful father and the best friend I could ever have. I have been truly blessed and I am so excited to grow old with him and spend eternity together!

Way Overdue!

2009-03-16T10:48:00.013-07:00

I haven't posted in FOREVER! I lost the charger to my camera and I just keep forgetting to order a new one and so...I've had no pictures to post. This morning I was sitting at my computer thinking about the ton of things I need to do online today (banking, school, pay bills) and I was staring at the screensaver which is a picture of my kids and all my neice and nephews and I thought I would post about that...even though it seems like it happened forever ago.

So anyway...my mom has always wanted a picture of all her grandkids together...and in most families, that wouldn't be a big deal...but in this family...it was pretty near impossible. But to make a really long story short, I thought it would be a great Christmas present for my mom and dad to get all the kids together and get the picture taken, so I did. I had it framed and wrapped for them and when they opened it Christmas morning they were both in TEARS! They were so touched and so happy. I know it's a little hard to understand why a simple picture of grandkids would bring someone to tears, but you really need the back story to get why it was so special...and I'll get into that someday...but for now...here it is.

My two kids...Alondra and Sebastian and Robert's four kids, Priscilla, Max (the oldest), Esteban and Kaiser, (the 3 year old). I'm looking forward to doing it again this Christmas because we will soon have two additions to the picture. Fred and Marla are expecting baby Carlo in May and Robert and Kimberly are expecting baby Sophia this week!

Christmas Piano Recital!

2008-12-20T22:12:00.007-07:00

This is a bit overdue, but with so much going on, I hadn't had a chance to blog about it.

A couple weeks ago Ericka's piano and voice students had a Christmas Recital. She has been going to Ericka since August and just LOVES her to death! She has always had a love for music and is starting to love piano just as much.

She was so nervous about this recital and the thought of playing in front of so many people. She started crying when we got there and she saw how many people were there. Being a bit people phobic myself, I could totally understand her nerves! When she got up to play you could see how nervous she was. She totally forgot to smile and she looked so mad! We were so proud that she didn't make any mistakes--that I heard. After playing her song she got to play a duet with Ericka. She was so proud to be able to do that.

For the last couple of years we have been trying to help her find her talent or something she loves. She's tried all sorts of different things like soccer, gymnastics, ballet, etc.... but I think she's finally found her true love... Thank you Ericka!!!

Happy Birthday Alondra!

2008-11-22T10:24:00.009-07:00

So our little girl turned 9 yesterday! Time really does go by way too fast. I can't believe she's already 9 : ( We never really have big birthday parties, but my mom always gets her a cake and makes her dinner on her birthday. This year, she has been really into Josefina from the American Girls Collection. She wanted the doll and all her clothes for her birthday and since Josefina is an American Girl originally from Mexico, Alondra thought it would be fun to have a "Mexican Fiesta". So of course Grandma was eager to please and had fun with the decorations.

The night before her birthday, when Josefina finally came by UPS, my mom saw the doll dressed in her traditional Mexican dress and thought it would be cute to have Alondra dress up as the doll. So... she decided to MAKE her the whole outfit! To me, something like this seems impossible, but she managed not only to do it, but to do it all in about 3 hours (includes shopping for the fabric). I couldn't believe she was able to pull it off so fast!

It was so cute to see her so happy and excited. It was a really fun night. I'm so thankful for grandmothers and grandfathers and aunts and uncles. Everyone made her feel very special on her very special day.

Easy Bean Salad!

2008-11-12T14:39:00.004-07:00

So…I have got to share this recipe for this awesome bean salad! As some of you know, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple years ago, since her diagnosis, and after a lot of research and the recommendation of her oncologist, she turned to a vegan diet! That was a huge step for her because it’s a huge life change and not very common in Mexican households.

So…she made the change about 2 years ago and has been healthier and stronger for it. A couple of months ago, Dr. Myers, her wonderful oncologist, suggested we take a class his wife was going to be teaching on behalf of the Cancer Project. It’s basically and educational cooking class called Eating Right for Cancer Survival. So her and I signed up and started attending a couple of weeks ago. It’s supposed to show people how to change to a plant based diet and the wonderful benefits of doing so.

So…we started going and I was really skeptical. I mean…no meat, chicken or fish at all?! So the first week we learned this great recipe for this bean salad. It is full of fiber, protein and antioxidants. All guaranteed to help you live longer ; ) So we made it in class and I just loved it. I made it for my kids and Alonso and they loved it too! So, since it consists of mostly just different types of beans…I thought we loved it so much because we’re Mexican ; ) So I decided to try it on my non-Mexican friend…Sabra. She loved it too! So here’s the recipe. It’s super easy, fast, healthy, pretty to look at and yummy!

Easy Bean Salad

Serves 10 -- or 5 really hungry people ; )

½ cup low-fat Italian Salad Dressing – Paul Newman’s Light Italian
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 10-ounce frozen package lima beans, thawed completely
1 cup frozen corn, thawed completely
1 large red bell pepper, diced
½ medium purple onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Toss all ingredients together. Serve cold or at room temperature. May be covered and stored in the refrigerator for several days.

I HATE WEEDS!

2008-11-01T10:49:00.004-07:00

So hate is a very strong word and shouldn’t be used lightly, but really, I HATE weeds! I mean…why? What is their purpose in life? Why are they here? I’m taking a plant science class to fulfill one of my lab science requirements and we did a whole block on weeds and how damaging they can be, but nothing is as painful as waiting for your pretty new lawn to grow in and find it is infested with weeds. Alonso planted our winter grass about 6 weeks ago and the kids and I have been looking forward to it growing in so they can enjoy the backyard again (we have never gotten around to planting summer grass since we’ve lived here). So we’re waiting, and waiting, and waiting and then one day we start to see some green coming out of the ground, a closer look reveals they are weeds, so we figure…okay, the grass will come in and overpower these FEW weeds. Well, no, it is mostly all weeds. From a distance it looks so pretty and green, till you come closer and see it for what it is. It also feels disgusting on bare feet. They are sticky and leave a green slimy residue on your feet. Ahhh! The bright side? The dogs seem to love it.

Super Girl and The Ninja!

2008-11-01T10:18:00.006-07:00

Halloween has come and gone and I managed to take a couple of pics of the kids despite all the drama that was going on. This year Alondra finally gave in to her brother's yearly plead for her to dress as a super hero. Sebi has dressed up as a super hero every year and has always wanted to "team up" with his sister to fight crime! He had his Superman costume ready to go this year and an hour before trunk or treat, he decides he wants to wear an Old Navy ninja dress up suit I bought him last year! Ahhh! So Super Girl, who originally wanted to be a fairy but having no back up costume, was forced to go without her Superman! : ( The drama ended when we got to church they got pumpkins full of candy.

Just About Done!

2008-10-22T21:39:00.003-07:00

So...as promised...here are some pics of the finished floors. It took a little longer than expected, but I just LOVE it. That whole part of the house got a little bit of a well deserved makeover. It's not a lot, but I think it's great. It gave me a whole new motivation to clean my house (which I needed). I find myself sweeping and mopping everyday. I don't know how long that will last, by my husband and the kids are enjoying this phase. : ) My favorite part part is the cool design that separates the living room from the family room. I have to say Brother Obeso and his sons did awesome work on the job as a whole, but I especially love that border. They did it from tile pieces they cut and put together. Very cute.

Finally!!!

2008-10-07T21:50:00.006-07:00

So I've been away from the bloggin world for some months. As some of you may know...I went back to school in the late spring and that proved to be easier said than done. I was not used to homework and due dates anymore and it took some getting used to. In fact...I'm still getting used to it. So that and a couple of major medical incidents in our house have kept me away... but here we are again.

Anyway...Finally! Tile! I have been waiting FOREVER for this, but it is a huge project so we kept putting it off. One day a couple months ago we decided to replace the carpet in most of the house and opt for tile instead of having the carpet cleaned for the 100th time. After weeks of looking at tile samples all over town, we decided on this. We're happy with it, but it's a work in progress (as you can tell by the stove and fridge being in the breakfast nook). I'll post picutures of it when it's done this weekend.

Kinder Grad

2008-06-12T21:56:00.002-07:00

Our little baby graduated from kinder last night! It was sooooo bitter sweet! We are so proud of him and happy that he's growing up and smart and healthy, but we are sad that our little baby is a baby no more. It almost makes us want to have another.… almost, but not quite.

Sweet Reminders--Part II

2008-06-06T21:26:00.003-07:00

So…my nephews were baptized and on the right path. Now, on to my sister in law. Since she can't come over to the United States, Alonso and I decided we could go over to her. Three weeks ago we decided to start going to church in San Luis so that we could invite her with us and have her meet some of the members out there. We asked her if she would join us and she reluctantly agreed.

The first week we went we ended up going to the wrong ward. The ward we went to was having Ward Conference and they only met for Sacrament Meeting (nice). Alonso was so efficient and while the rest of us were in Sacrament Meeting in the wrong ward, he slipped out and was able to find the bishop for the correct ward. He sat with him and explained our situation. He was able to get phone numbers for the Relief Society President and the Deacon's president (for Max). He spoke to the missionaries assigned to that ward and gave them Artemisa's address and arranged for them to visit her that week. He also found out that they have mutual every Thursday night and that particular Thursday they would be having a Ward activity, to which we were invited. I was so proud of him for getting all that done!

So after Sacrament Meeting we slipped out and went home. We asked Artemisa if she would join us on Thursday if we came back down for the Ward activity. She said she would. So on Thursday, we went back. I took advantage of the trip and had my truck washed. It doesn't seem that important only I saved a lot of money!!! I pay $30 to have it cleaned here, there…only $8! I was so excited. Anyway…that's neither here nor there. So, we went to the activity and we felt SO welcomed. Every person, young and old, in the building shook our hands and introduced themselves to us. They made us feel like we were wanted there. It was great. They didn't know who we were or why we were there, and it didn't matter. We were welcome with open arms. I tried to imagine myself as someone new to the church and I was so pleased to see how loving these people were and how easy it would be for someone learning about the church to want to know more. We stayed for the activity and were speechless the whole time. It ended up being a celebration of Mom's and Dad's. Everyone's kids sang songs, did skits, told jokes, and danced. They show cased everyone's talent.

Sunday, we went back. This time, to the right ward. Again, we were received lovingly. This time, it was Fast and Testimony meeting. There wasn't a shortage of people willing to bear their testimonies. Each one had a story about how they overcame huge obstacles to join the church. These people were so humble! They literally had close to nothing, yet they were so grateful for their lives and for The Gospel. They were truly an inspiration for us. It was a sweet reminder of how blessed we are to have all we have. The beautiful buildings we get to meet in, our clothes, our cars, our homes. Throughout our classes we got to meet a lot of the people there and we heard their stories through their testimonies. We learned of so many that had walked to church from far away, in the heat. We heard from people that were disowned by their families for joining the church. We heard of people with hardly anything to eat, yet they were so grateful to be alive and to be in church. By the end of the day we were in tears. And the best thing is that these people are truly happy! They were not complaining, they were sharing their happiness for being able to, in the midst of all of their tribulations, have the gospel in their lives.

I was truly amazed. So many times me or my kids complain about not finding the right thing to wear to church, or because the air conditioner isn't set cool enough at church, or because testimony meeting takes too long. I have to say I will try to never complain about anything again. This whole experience has allowed me to see things through different eyes. I really urge everyone to look around you next time you are at church. If there is a new face, take the time to introduce yourself and offer a friendly smile. It will truly make a difference.

The trip was a complete success! Artemisa loved it and loved the people. She said she felt so welcome and loved. She said that after going to so many different churches over the years, she was finally in the right place! (pictures coming soon!)

Sweet Reminders--Part I

2008-06-01T23:46:00.005-07:00

For years Alonso and I have been trying to get my ex sister in law, Artemisa, to go back to church. She was baptized 12 years ago when she married Robert, but she was never really active. She lives in Mexico and so for a long time we figured all we could do was talk to her about the church and have the missionaries visit her and my nephews and pray for them. This last Christmas, when my nephews came to stay with us, it suddenly hit me that there was a whole lot more we could do for them than just send the missionaries their way. Alonso and I prayed and decided to invite the boys to church with us every Sunday. We weren't able to invite her because her passport was stolen last year and she hasn't been able to renew it, so she can't cross the border. So if we were going to bring the boys over, it would involve driving to and from Mexico every weekend to pick them up and drop them off. It was a big commitment, but we decided it would be worth it. And so we did it. There were days when the last thing we wanted to do was drive over there, wait in the long lines and come back and have a houseful of kids for the weekend and turn around and do it again after church on Sunday. But it was all worth it after a few weeks when we started to see a huge change in the boys. They were gaining testimonies at warp speed. So… this all began in December. In March, they were ready to be baptized. We are so proud of them and of the progress they've made. It was amazing and a sweet reminder of how one person (or two in this case) can make such a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes I stop and think of the path that their lives were on and where they're at now and I realize how different it could have been. Max now has the Aaronic Priesthood and Esteban is well on his way to do the same. Their lives have truly changed.

Boating with the Lemmons

2008-06-01T20:13:00.003-07:00

We went boating yesterday! It was very exciting because it was our first time going out this season. We started going late in the season last year and in October, when it got too cold to go, we were left wanting more. We didn't make it out on Memorial Day weekend like most people, so we were excited to finally do it. It was also our first time going with our friends and neighbors, Bobby, Sabra, her sister Joan and the Lemmon kids. I have to say it was great fun! Sabra, like Tiny, was a little afraid of the water, but for entirely different reasons. At one point she said she wished the water was chlorinated. She was joking, but it was funny nonetheless. The kids had a blast! They thought they were so cool with their new life jackets and sunglasses. It was cute. It was nice to just sit and do nothing. I hope it will be the first of many weekends to come.

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T21:18:00.001-07:00

My mother in law had to go back to Mexico today and of course Alonso had to drive her to the airport in Mexicali. That ruined my chances of having a breakfast in bed (other than cheerios from the kids). He left pretty early, like at six. Before he left he woke me up with a kiss and a present. A card and a digital picture frame I've been wanting. I went back to sleep and when I woke up, the day got off to a pretty lousy start because I woke up with a migraine. After lunch, things picked up. We stopped by my mom's house for lunch with all the kids. It's nice to see her enjoy life so much. Since the cancer, every gathering is extra special for her, and you can see it in her face. Robert of course went all out as usual...putting the rest of us to shame. Me and the kids got her a hydrangea plant, her favorite and a couple of ceramic vases shes been wanting. Fred and Marla got her some stuff from bath and body works. I had planned to get her a picture of ALL the grandkids, but that is proving easier said than done. Kaiser is finally here and I've been trying to get his mom to get him his birth certificate so I can take him down to San Luis so I can get a picture of all the kids together. I'm still working on that. It'll be at least a couple more weeks. I know she'll be thrilled when she gets that. Anyway, it was a nice day, we had a nice time.

And so I hopped on the blogging band wagon

2008-05-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

After a couple of weeks of reading everyones blogs, my friend/confidante/neighbor, Sabra, convinced me to start my own. I was very reluctant at first, just the thought of putting my life out on cyberspace freaked me out. But after a few weeks of gentle nudging, she managed to convice me, like she does with everything else. I'm glad I did. She told me about her own plans of printing out her blog once a year and having it bound for "historical" purposes. It, like everything else she suggests, sounded like a good idea, and so....it begins.

This is our life...

2008-05-10T23:11:00.004-07:00

Alonso and I met on a blind date. I know...what are the chances those ever work out. Anyway, his brother set us up and after a little pursuing...we ended up together. Three short months later, we were married. A year, later came Alondra....3 years later came Sebastian. And so, 2 houses, 2 dogs, and 2 turtles later, here we are.