Thanksgiving Getaway

What a Thanksgiving! We were so blessed to go away with almost our whole family for Thanksgiving. (We missed you Tina and Raman) Christine, my sister in-law's, aunt Candy let us use a house she has in Eagle Rock Resort. Thank you aunt Candy!!! It was amazing. Had enough room for 16 of us with lots of space and we didn't kill each other! :-) The day after Thanksgiving we headed to Jim Thorpe, PA for a train ride and lots of fun.

Enjoy the pictures below. Will post more later cause we had more fun on that Saturday when Jose and Russ joined us.

I am truly thankful for the blessing of family and friends.

Introducing Mr.and Mrs. Raman and Tina Mishra

My beautiful baby sister is now a married woman. What a wonderful affair it was! We had a such a great time. So much family and love and lots of food! May the Lord bless their marriage all the days of their lives! Enjoy the pictures!

Here Comes the Bride and LOTS of Family

My baby sister Tina, gets married this Saturday! She is marrying Raman Mishra, who is a wonderful man and loves her very much. Along with wedding blessings, we are also being blessed with the arrival of many family members. My Tia Lido and Tio Manuel from Georgia, Jackie, Gilbert, Tyler and Julian from Florida, Tio Hiram and his wife Alicia from Texas to name a few. Our houses are full!

It's been so great, though, to just enjoy them as they visit. I love these occasions. The great thing is that they will all be here to celebrate my son, Garrett's 16th birthday!

I'm very excited for the wedding and for the birthday and for my family. Cheers!!

Mark My Words

One of the most exciting things that happened this summer was doing my first craft show. I've started a small business making and selling custom bookmarks and called it Mark My Words. Get it? Well I secured a space at the Giant Craft Show in Ocean Grove on the 5th and Didi and I setup shop. It was sooo much fun! We set up the displays and waited for folks to stop by. The best part was watching them mouth the words of the sign and then looking at the bookmarks and quietly saying, "Oh. Mark My Words." with a smile, like they finally got it. We did pretty well for the first time, considering I wasn't sure I'd sell any at all. I really enjoy making them and thank God for showing me another way to use what He has given me.

More Summer Fun

This summer has absolutely flown by. We did have some memorable times, though. The summer ended with many birthdays. Happy Birthday Didi! Happy Birthday Junior! Happy Birthday Cari! Russ took me to the Renaissance Fair which I had never been to but always wanted to go. Thanks honey! We had a blast! It was big and they had so many things to do. Plays, jousts, music, great food and grog, shopping and more! Garrett got ready for school which started the 3rd and was trying on some clothes. He found the shirt he wore for his first day of school in Kindergarten! You might say it was a bit small. :-) Enjoy!

Great Vacation

Summer time is coming to a close but we had a really nice vacation down in Ocean Grove. One week of relaxing was just the medicine I needed. Finishing up VBS at church the night before leaving, was a stressful but all went well. We stayed with friends at a house about a block and a half from the beach. I loved waking up and getting outside to smell and feel the sea breeze. Mmm... I'm thankful for a memorable time.

Lobster Fright Fest

Tonight we have a lobster fest with my parents. Their Friday nights are renound in our small circles for being their date night and usually surf and turf is served. Well this evening Russ, his parents and I are invited to partake with them. Each one will be putting their own lobster into the pot to cook. Well, except me of course.

Lobster bisque-delish! Grilled lobster-Yum-o! Lobster salad-Mmmm. Touch the whole lobster! No way!! When I was 17, my parents lovingly took me to Don Pepe for a my birthday dinner, in which they proceeded to order me my first lobster. When the cooked crustacean was put forth in front of me, all I thought was, "This looks like a giant roasted roach!!!" It was hands off from then on. I traded dishes with my mom and opted for Paella instead. However, the trauma continued as my loving father would, every so often, take one of the lobster claws and touch my hand with it! This was his way of helping me conquer my fear. Did it help? Not in the least.

For those of you who love to take that whole lobster, crack open every piece and take in the succulent meat, my hats are off to you. I wish I could but it's just not happening. So tonight, the lobster fest is on and Russ will just take the meat out for me to enjoy. As for my dad, I'm sitting real far away from him.

Mangia!!

Summer Lovin'

Two weddings, knee surgery for my son, vacation bible school, river trip with the ladies, a week down in Ocean Grove and weekly bible study are all part of my summer activities. I hope I didn't miss anything or anyone.

My son is recuperating nicely, although his scar is pretty funky looking. Vacation bible school is shaping up for the week of Aug. 17th and there is lots to get done. The river trip is something I look forward to every year because mom usually does some kind of water stunt. I've always wanted to stay down the shore and this year we are going to be able to do that and I can't wait! Our bible study on Monday nights, is amazing and we have some hard things to work on in our lives but what a blessing it'll be when God gets done with us.

I'm lovin' the summer no matter how busy this year. It's full of family, friends and lots of memory making that I wouldn't miss for the world.

The New Mr. and Mrs. Anibal Perez

Well there is a new Mr. and Mrs. Anibal Perez in the house. Mr. Anibal Jr. and Mrs. Christine Perez - married on June 20, 2009. What an amazing time we had. My brother looked so handsome and my new sister looked ravishing! The best man gave the best best man speech I ever heard! Great job Geraldo! I was so happy to see them say I do. May the Lord always be a part of their marriage and bless them greatly.

Enjoy the slideshows!

Countdown to the Big Day

My little brother, Junior, is going to become someone's husband!! Well not just someone, but the husband to an amazingly beautiful and bright woman by the name of Christine. We love her very much and wish them all the best of married life. Of course we couldn't let the opportunity go by without making a special memory for my little bro, so here's what we did.

This past Saturday night we knew our brother was going to be at a local restaurant pub for a little reunion party with his friends and he thought we shouldn't be there. Of course that meant nothing to us, so my sister, Alicia decides we should "check on him" in disguise. That's right folks, wigs. My main man Russ and I secretly had dinner at this pub while waiting for Alicia and my other sister Aileen to arrive. And boy did they arrive. Alicia in a long brunette wig and Aileen wearing a long red haired wig and guess what they brought me? A short curly haired blonde wig with a head scarf!!! So with wigs on heads, we discreetly walked towared the room he was in and asked the hostess to tell him there were 3 ladies at the bar who wanted to buy him a drink.

With our backs to him, she walked him over and said, "These 3 ladies, here." We immediately turned around and said, "Aha!!!" We all busted out laughing as he realized it was us! Russ was sort of lurking near the bathrooms as he thought, "I can't believe I'm with them." Actually we were going to put the wig on him and let him wave to my brother from the bar! What a sight that would have been!

We love you brother! You too Christine!!

Birthday Celebration!

May 25th was my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Aileen! You are a special woman, mom and sister and I pray God continually blesses you with strength, peace, power and joy!

Happy Mother's Day 2009

It was a great Mother's Day. My children showered me with love and some great gifts. Russ chipped in with them and wrote me such a loving note and he started it with, "I know you're not my mother. Thank you God!!" All their love really encouraged me.

Later the family gathered at my mom's and we had a fun time as only the Perez clan can have. Thank you God for the blessing of my mom. Thank you God for the blessing of my children.

Parkinson's Unity Walk - Central Park

A Walk in the Park

We had a beautiful day for a walk in Central Park. Didi, Russ, Marcia, Alyson and myself all walked for Parkinsons last Saturday. It was my first time walking through that park and I saw Tavern on the Green, the Zoo, the Great Lawn and the baseball fields. There must have been at least a thousand plus walkers. The park was FULL of people soaking up the 80 degree weather. The trees were my favorite and I got do something I had never done before.

2009 WOH Retreat

Nothing Like Family

There is nothing so important in life than family. I cherish mine very much because of the fact that we actually like being around each other. Okay, well most of us like being around each other.:-) We laugh and make jokes and enjoy a good meal together. There's dancing and acting a fool anytime you like. You are loved for who you are, no matter how many mistakes you've made in life. At least that's how I feel when I'm with them.

There's coffee with my parents before work or videotaping my silly brother trying to break dance or my nephews singing up a storm or driving my niece crazy. Trying a new wine or dessert with my sisters or seeing who daddy loves better when we make cookies for him, always leaves a smile in my heart. Watching the love of my life and brother in-law trying to figure what the hec my dad said with his thick Spanish accent. "Hammaletta? What's a hammaletta?" Then there's playing the traditional Puerto Rican instruments at Christmas or a family barbeque for Father's day. This year we gain a new sister and brother in-law, only to add more spice to our times together.

Nothing rings more true than the fact that all of it surrounded by lots and lots of love...and food! (By the way, I make the best cookies.) Here's to you my family!

Greetings from Phoenix!

Well, I've been here since Fri. the 6th and leaving Mon. the 16th. I miss my children and family very much. The weather is very sunny when it's sunny and very rainy when it's rainy. The best thing that's happened during this busy time is that today I got flowers from Russ for Valentine's Day! They are beautiful and as they open, the will be more so. He's so thoughtful and he included a small box of Rocky Mountain chocolates which I always wanted to try! Thank you honey!!

I left a little Valentine's surprise for Didi and Garrett at home and Saturday I'll call them to let them know where I hid it. They can never find my super secret hiding places! Russ' is there too but they'll bring it to him. Just a little something until I get back. Then we're off to Gettysburg for a family field trip!

Stay tuned!......

2009 is Here Already?

Happy New Year!! I haven't posted since October which says I had way too much stuff going on but I can't say it was bad. Garrett made the basketball team for Clifton High and loves it. Didi saw family in Chicago for New Years and had a great time. We now have a Wii and having a blast with it. Thank you honey! :-) We are healthy despite these unsightly holiday pounds but they are leaving fast!! All in all the year ended great and this new year has lept onto the scene and here we are 2 weeks later into 2009.

Wish I could say I'm slowing down but this year will prove to be the busiest to date but also I think will be one of the more blessed years.

Aside from some traveling and spending time with my children away, this year I have 4 weddings to attend! One on May 30th, then June 13th, followed by another on June 20th (brother) and finally October 10th (sister). I'm going for broke but wishing all the ones getting married, God's best for their marriages!

I'll be posting some pictures of Christmas and New Years soon!