Baby Jelly Bean is Here

Baby Jelly Bean was born last night. How exciting is that? I can't wait to go home to see here. I know she will be perfect. Just like her mommy and daddy. Congratulations Tia Jelly and Tio Joe! Love you lots! :) C

Praying for Sarita and Adelita

My friend Sarita's little sister was born last night. We're all super excited! And we can't wait to meet Adelita. My tio Juan told us that she has so much hair! They already put some of her bows in her hair. :)

We're all excited, but also scared. We are all praying for Sarita. She had her surgery a little bit after Adelita was born. We're all hoping that her surgery helps her. And that her cancer will be gone soon. For good.

I can't wait until they get to move back. Please pray for them both. And their mom and dad. They need all the prayers that they can get. They are so special. Gifts from God. :) C

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day. But I don't have a mom. Instead, I have lots of ladies who love me. Starting with my abuelitas and my Nana! I hope they all have a nice day. I've made them each a special present. And I've gotten to see everyone but my Nana today. She's visiting her mom in a different city. But I can't wait to see her! She really is like my mom. I LOVE her so much! And I know that she does a lot of things for me that she doesn't have to.

I don't think you have to be a mom today to celebrate. And you don't need to have a mom. All you need are women that love you. I never miss the love of my mom. Because my Dad loves me so much! He makes up for my mom. And my Nana is so special to me. Happy Mother's Day! :) C

A New Baby

My tio Jose and tia Gabi had a new baby. Lilianna was born on Cinco de Mayo! Isn't that neat? They're really excited! My Dad and I got to go see Liliana yesterday after school. She is so beautiful! I always wanted a little sister. But I'm excited that I get to spend time with all of my tio and tias ninitos. :) C

Family

We had everyone over for dinner last night. We went to mass, then my Dad made dinner for all of us. We came back to our house. And we had lots and lots of fun!

I'm starting to think, family is not just the people who are related by blood. My sister doesn't talk to my Dad or me. And I've never gotten to see my baby brother. My mom is not really a mom. It's hard to talk about that. But she just chose to not be a part of our family.

My only real family is my Dad and my abuelitas. We all live together. And I really do LOVE it! We're very close. And we all get along really well.

But I think family is about more people that love you. Like my Nana and Nono. My Nana is a lot like a mom to me. She is always here for me when I need her. She told me to call her whenever I need or want to talk. We have lots of friends who are really close. They're my tios and tias. All of their kids are close to me too.

Family is about people that love you. No matter what, they are always there for you. I like that. I like the family that we have made. It feels nice to have so many people around me that really do love me. They don't expect me to lie for them, or to give them money. They just love me, and I love them. :) C

Holy Week

This week is Holy Week. And our 2nd week off of school. Last week we were on Spring Break. This week we don't have school because it's Holy Week and I go to a Catholic School. But my Dad had to go back to work. He has to work until Wednesday.

We've been going to church almost every day during Lent. We go Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. And on Sundays. I go every morning for school. My Dad and my Nana go on Wednesdays at lunch time too!

But we all enjoy going to church. This week, we are going every day. I wish my Nana was going to be here for Easter. But she is going to visit her family. We're going to miss her. I'm going to miss her a lot. Because I don't have school this week. Last week, she came over a few times. We cooked and baked. And she helped me with my sewing. We had a lot of fun! :) C

Birthday Party

Yesterday we had a big birthday party at our house. It was for Maribel, Lauren, my Nana, and me. All of our birthdays are close together. And Lauren and Maribel's moms just had babies. Their birthday parties were supposed to be last weekend. But my Nana and my Tio Berto asked us if we could make them all at the same time. Since that is when the babies started to come. I was really excited! And my Dad said it was OK to have all the parties together.

Maribel and Lauren turned 3. I turned 12. I'm not sure how old my Nana is. But she is 20 something. Tio Berto asked me to keep the secret. We surprised my Nana. She thought the party was just for us 3 girls. But Tio Berto bought my Nana a big birthday cake, her own pinata, and lots of presents. :)

Our birthday parties are always Matanzas too. That's when you kill a pig and cook it. Early yesterday morning, all my tios and my Dad killed 3 pigs. And then they started to cook. They're really good at it. 2 of the pigs had been at my Tio Berto's house. And 1 had been here. We fatten them up until the day they kill them. My favorite part, are the chicharrones. It's pretty much fried pork fat. But it tastes good in fresh tortillas. :)

Everyone had a lot of fun! My tios played too! They're mariachis. And my Nana sang with them. They even got Maribel to sing a song. She's getting really good! There was a lot of dancing and eating. And we got to see both sets of twins. They came for a little while on their way home.

This was my best birthday ever! I got to spend it with a lot of people I love. And I got to share my birthday party with my 2 friends and my Nana! :) C

My Nono

My Nono is leaving tomorrow. That makes me sad. He's been here for a while. But it has been nice for him to be here. Yesterday, he had to pick me up from school. Because my Dad got stuck in traffic. We went for ice cream after school. And he went with me to my dance practice. I think he had a good time.

Tonight we had a going away dinner for him. I'm going to miss him. I think my Nana is going to miss him too. My Nono was getting used to going to visit her at work. I know it made her feel better. Because she has been sad for a while. I wish my Nono still lived here. He lived with us for a little while. I miss him a lot!

I'm glad that my Nono came for a long visit. I'm glad that Steve gave him the time off. And that he got to come and play in the group with my tios. My Nono told me not to be sad. We're going to see each other soon. Because my Dad always takes me to Disney World for Spring break. Our Spring break starts on March 22nd. I can't wait to go visit my Nono! :) C

Sarita is Happy

My Tio Juan and my Tia Christina came home today. Sarita is very excited to see them. I think they had a good trip. Because they can't stop smiling! They brought us all back something too. I got a pretty pearl necklace.

All my tios sent them to Hawaii. I think they were gone for a month. My Nono said that they needed some time away. Because they've been taking care of Sarita since she was a baby. They spend most of their time at the hospital. My Nana, Nono, and Dad took turns watching Sarita. I know she had a good time!

It snowed here on Tuesday. We live in the desert. But this year, we have had a lot of snow. It's been fun to play in! But my Tio Juan said it was a big change for him! I think they just got used to being on the beach. :)

I'm glad they're back. We all missed them! My Nana, Nono, and I have been praying for a baby too! We're not supposed to say anything. But My Tio and Tia are trying to have another baby. It could help Sarita. I hope God sends them another angel. :) C

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. My Dad went to church with me this morning. I go to a Catholic School. We go to mass every day before school. This morning, my Dad came too! And we got our ashes. It's the beginning of Lent. Papi Rene told use not to look at it as a sad time. Or even a time to give up stuff. But a time to do better. To do nice things for people. And make a better effort to pray and meditate every day.

I decided to practice every day for an hour. And to help my Dad and abuelitas more. I'm also going to volunteer at church. I think that would be a good deed to do.

I was happy to get my ashes today. It was weird to see so many people at church. You never see that many people there. But it was nice to see them worshipping. :) C

Sarita

We're all very lucky. We have our health. But my friend Sarita, she's been sick since she was a baby. Sarita is like my little sister. She is 4 years old and has leukemia. Her mom and dad are my tio and tia. And they've been here with us. It's been really nice to have them here.

Sarita has to be in Tennessee to have her treatments. But when she isn't having her treatments, they like to come and visit. And my Dad always makes sure that they stay with us! Sarita's Nana and Nono are the same as mine. :)

I feel bad when I see her sick. But I know that she is getting better. The doctors are working hard to make her better. And we are all praying a lot to make her better. I'm not sure why God makes some of us sick and some of us healthy. But I'm glad that he is helping Sarita. :) C

Feast of the 3 Kings

Yesterday was the Feast of the 3 Kings. And after mass, we had everyone over for dinner. And to celebrate the 3 Kings. Even Papi Rene came. It was really neat. And we had Rosca de Reyes. It's a bread that they bake a baby Jesus into.

Whoever gets the baby Jesus, they have to have the party for the Candelaria. That's on February 2nd. It's also the last day of Christmas at church. My tio Jose got it! It was really funny!

But we had a fun night. It's neat to hear all the stories that my Abuelita, Dad, and Papi Rene tell. I learned a lot! And mi Tia Amelia was tell us stories about when she worked in the bakery in Mexico! I'm glad we celebrate these things. :) C

Happy New Year!

We got to go to Disney last night. We went with my Nono. It was so much fun! They had lots of beautiful fireworks. I'm so glad that we got to come. :)

This morning, my Dad and my Nono are making us breakfast. It smells really yummy! Then we're all going to Disney World today! I'm really excited. My Nono and I already have our plans for all the rides we are going to ride!

But I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! :) C

Recording

Tonight I got to go with my Nono. He was doing some recording at the studio. He got to do his singing tonight. It was so much fun to watch him work! And he has such a beautiful voice. :)

His group is recording a new CD. And it was really neat to watch them put it together. I'm glad I got to go. They even let my Nono and I record a song together. I know it wasn't as professional as the stuff they are working on. But it was fun.

And now I have a CD of my Nono and me singing! It's really special. I'm glad the other guys were there too. Because they did all the music. I had a lot of fun! I'm so glad we got to come. I'll never forget tonight. :) C

Good People

"Let anyone who comes to you go away feeling better and happier. Every one should see goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile." - Mother Teresa

Today we learned about Mother Teresa at school. We were talking about giving back to people who need your help. Mother Teresa is 1 of my favorite people to learn about. I like going to Catholic school a lot. We learn about a lot of important people. I know I wouldn't learn about them in regular school. My friends from dance class don't.

I'm asking my dad for a book about Mother Teresa for Christmas. I think it is important to learn about good people like her. I want to be a good person like. Someone who can make people smile. I want to make people happy.

My Nana does that. She takes the time to make sure we are all ok. I know that she works a lot. But she is never to busy for me. I wish that I had a mom. 1 like her. I like to spend time with her. Wednesdays are my favorite days. Because she picks me up from school. We go eat lunch and go to the library. Sometimes we go shopping too. But I like to just spend time with her. Because she makes me feel good and happy. I want to be like her when I get older. C