Baahhhrego Springs Desert

  A couple Saturdays ago P had his daughter and I jump in his Honda and head towards the Anza Borrego Desert for a little photo trip. We got a late start and unfortunately ended up going to a totally different part of the desert than where P wanted to go take pictures.



  That's okay, we spent some time at a community festival in Borrego Springs and then had dinner driving through quaint Julian on the way back (and yes, we did buy an apple pie to take home).

Next time? I will make sure to plan exactly where our destinations are - he he he

Ciara's 10th Bday!

 

P's daughter, Ciara, turned 10 on Friday. The lucky gal got to celebrate her birthday all weekend with a half-day at school on Friday with movies and fun with her school frends; a party at Coronado Bay on Saturday AND another party all day at her tio's house in Bonita today. Whew! That's a lot of soda and junk food - :P

 

These pictures are all from Sunday as I couldn't stay long in Coronado due to my work schedule. Besides I mostly wanted to play with the kids on the jungle gym and swing and help my niece, Ariela, show off her new gymnastics moves to Ciara.

 

The party today was straight out of Ciara's favorite show, "George Lopez Show" - I joked to Patrick. Today consisted of the Mexican side of the family from Ciara's mom, Linda. Complete with Jumpee for the kids, pinata, beer for the adults (I prefer a mixed cocktail or margarita myself), flan and spicy chicken wings (no, thanks, but P loves 'em!) and background boombox playing hip hop and latin oldies - it really was like the George Lopez show hehehe!

 

Patrick even brought Fred-the-Basset who is very social and loves hanging around people, begging for food, catching any crumbs, barking loudly to demand attention and, overall, getting in everyones business... A special weekend, on a special occasion for a special girl :) I couldn't ask for a more pleasant way to top off the special week I already had with her daddy..

My Blessings Overfloweth...

Click on Slideshow below!

Ciara10bday

An Araiza 4th of July

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4th of July 2008

Patrick's daughter has been singing "Amazing Grace" off and on all day - it touches me and she doesn't even know it. We just got back spending the lovely 4th of July afternoon at my Uncle Alex and Aunt Peggy's beautiful home in Mt. Helix, La Mesa. We were there last year as well (see blog here) and had such a great time that we made it a family reunion this year. Thus, the Northern Cal Araizas all flew down and we started it off by 15 of us meeting at a lovely outdoor wine bar in Point Loma last night. I love my cousins so much and am so proud of all of them - they are truly beautiful inside and out. To see where they are now, after growing up and spending so much time with them as kids and teens really brings warmth into my heart.

 

Today, I spent the first 45 minutes of the party muddling, preparing and passing out mojitos since I announced I really know how to make them (I also don't cook much, so I opted to bring the booze - sigh). The food was as usual amazing - with scrumptious feta-cheese dips, pasta salad, green salad with fruit and for the carnivores - grilled carne and pollo asado. Ummmm....

If all the talking and laughing and eating wasn't enough we also spent a lot of time at the pool where the kids, especially, spent about 6 hours straight before they were made to come out, wrinkled as prunes.

 

Having my cousins, their spouses, my Uncle Al and Aunt Peggy who drove out from Oklahoma, not to mention my dear cousin Leslie who is 4 weeks away from having her 2nd son (and still can manage to look stylish and gorgeous) - - it was truly a happy day for me. I am always so proud to bring Patrick and Ciara to the Araiza clan, and everyone is so good to Ciara and makes sure she fits in with all the nieces and nephews.

 

That is love, ya'll. That is decency... Even in this year of religious scandal and hype present in the War and in our Presidential race it is very encouraging to me to know that God still lives in and does right by many in America. May God Bless our beautiful country, the USA. :)

Jordy Spreads the Love

  My tabby cat, Jordy - whom, on a couple occasions I thought would be the only living thing I could count on loving and staying by my side no matter what (ha ha ha) has easily transitioned to Casa Merritt.
  A cat that used to run from children, Jordy in his older age has submitted to Ciara - well not every time she wants him, but once in a while he'll actually sleep on her bed with her - giving her a thrill.
  But who he loves even more than Fred-the-Bassett is my beau, Patrick. Or rather, he loves Patrick's lap and penchant for wearing jeans. Perhaps it's also the fact that P sits a lot at home: on computer, watching his political shows (Fox news - blehh) or playing 'Halo' against my brother (also in his 40s) Gabe.
  So as you can see by the pictures, there are plenty of lap time opportunities with P - who I must admit, isn't totally thrilled with his new duty. But when Jordy is happy - I am happy. And that cat deserves so much for my dragging him around to 6 new homes in as many years.