April and Michael's wedding

Isabel is a flowergirl in Michael's wedding in two weeks. Of course, as usual, we waited until the last minute to get the dress in. Here are a couple of pictures of her.

"No, Don't take my picture!"

"Okay, I'll smile for the pitcture"

Here are the cute shoes she found at Nordstroms. She asked me if Christian Louboutin made shoes for girls too....oh boy are we in trouble.

Halloween - our second favorite holiday

Scandalous news straight from Hollywood.

McDreamy is dating the very young Hannah Montana!

Isabel aka Hannah Montana

more Family Reunion pics

Ramirez Family Reunion

Wow, how about gathering 154 Ramirez kin in a town of about 800. It was quite a site and thanks to my Mom and Dad, a huge success. Here is where Rankin is in Texas:

We stayed in a budget motel, the only one available. There are probably only 20 units in this place and we took 4 rooms. My family squeezed into 1. Isa and Antonio slept with Michael, April and Danyse both nights so it wasn't bad.

There were two main topics this weekend: why did we agree to do this? and tell me more about Michael's wedding. It looks like a lot of these folks want to come, but I don't know.......we don't have that much room.

Here are some pictures of our visit to the cemetery. I told the kids who everyone is and what I remember when they died. The cemetery is just the way I remember it, from 2 years ago, 5, 10 and even 32 years ago, my first time there when my grandfather died.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was wearing a yellow dress and sandals. My grandfather had died and i was stomping around on the dirt away from the crowd. I had started crying because fire ants had bitten my feet. My other grandfather, who I had the pleasure of knowing for many years, Popy, had picked me up and taken me to an air conditioned car. I miss him so much. He was always there when I was a little girl. He and my grandmother were there again, when I was 12 when my grandmother Ramirez died. I had a terrible headache and at the cemetery, I sat in a black air conditioned car again and they both just held me as I cried. All I could was cry because my father was so sad. I loved her, but didn't know her well enough to miss her until I was well in my 20s.

It was nice that my Grandmother was here this past weekend, we talked about what it was like those many years ago when the Abalos' and Ramirez's were so entwined - it was crazy trying to explain it to Jaz. The kids just laughed.

These deaths were hard on my father. He loves coming to Rankin, so do I......He has lost 3 brothers, one sister and both parents. It fills his heart when he asked them to come and they do...so even though it is a long drive and a big hassle to travel with 5 kids, if he cooks it (brisket), then we will come.

I have lost touch with Roy and George's kids....we used to be so close. I guess I better track them down.

This is my mom's youngest brother. He only lived a couple of months. A long time ago, it was thought to be a curse to name your son Michael or Michael Ray, they all seemed to die as babies, I guess my brother finally broke that curse..............those crazy old tias and their wives tales.

From left to right:

Antonio, Diego, Danyse (Michael's daughter come November), Frank and Isabel. Alex stayed in the car, teenagers, he had already heard all this........he was bored.

Frank graduates from Elementary school

Frank receiving his diploma.

He goes to middle school next year with Alex...land of uniforms....much easier on the pocketbook than regular clothes. It is hard for us to believe that our oldest are so old!!! Only 6 more years and Alex is off to college-aargh!

1st Summer Vacation 2007

Anyone who know us, knows we like the beach and go as often as possible. We are not cold weather friendly. So when school let out late last week, off we went to Port Aransas, Texas. Port A is a nice little community with a nice little beach. We had so much fun we didn't take any pictures except one day for about 10 minutes. Here you go:

Antonio and Isa acting like pelicans.

Isa in the early supermodel stages.

Clearly, she takes after her dad.

Alex

Frank - looking his best.

Lastly, for your viewing pleasure, our youngest, Diego, dancing to barbie girl. How in the heck did he find this song? The internet.

More vacation pictures

Diego, Isa and Antonio

Diego playing frisbee again - sans the bikini clad college girls (it was before noon). Isa with her Audrey Hepburn do, all buried in the sand.

Vacation pictures

Hey everyone! We are on Okaloosa Island. Jaz is visiting his brother and sister working on their condo doing something. We are enjoying the great weather and beautiful beaches. Here is how the kids and I spent this morning until about 2pm. No pressures. No worries. Hope the neighbor is checking my mail and feeding the fish and guinea pigs.

This is the view from my chair.
Frank digging a hole so he can finally get rid of Alex once and for all.

Deigo throwing a frisbee to the college girls to the left of his.

He is already a ladies man.

This is the view from my chair of the "Diego" and "My Little Pony" kites.

Kites from Wal-Mart: $1.87 each

Memories: priceless

Frank finally buried Alex. Check back later to see if we dug him out.

Family Photos - late 2006?

I can't remember when we took these photos. My mother commissioned these as a present for my father for Christmas and I let her down by not picking up the CD in time. In truth, they were ready the next day....I know, I am such a bad eldest daughter!

I am posting these to share with all the family that doesn't get to see us very often. We are so blessed that Mom and Dad are close and we see them often. The kids long to connect with everyone else and I hope they do very soon.

Enjoy!