The Trumpeteer

Angel had his first Band Concert last night at Seaside High School. He's in his last year of elementary school and his first year of band. He plays the trumpet. The pic to the left is of Angel and his friend JT, a fellow trumpeteer :) The band consisted of over 100 fifth grade students - all first year band and orchestra. Before the evening commenced I wanted to meet Angel's music teacher. I asked him if she was nice and he said, "Uh, she's pregnant!" I guess that says it all. LOL The band kicked off the hour of music playing "Mexican Hat Dance" which sounded NOTHING like it should have, but it gave all of us parents a good laugh. The rest of the songs that followed were pretty good. There were violins, cellos, bassoons, clarinets, tubas, flutes and more. Made for some interesting sounds I might add. We ended the evening meeting up with Larry at Home Depot. He still had a few minutes until he got off work so the kids ran around the Garden Department choosing vegetables for a new garden they plan on planting. Afterwards, we headed to El Torito's for dinner. It was a great evening of fun, music, and really good mexican food. Who needs the Mexican Hat dance when you got really good chips and salsa?

New Balance

Meet my new running partner(s). These are top of the line (in my price range) running shoes by New Balance that I fell in love with the moment I put them on my feet. I've been running between 3-4 miles a day and totally wore out my old shoes. A new Sports Authority opened in Sand City last weekend so I took advantage of the "Grand Opening" sale. I got ten bucks off.

Nevermind

Everday at about 5 o'clock I leave the office, head straight to Gracie's daycare and we head home. The drive is ususally a quiet one, except the occassional, "What color is that car, Gracie?" or "Look Mommy, a BUS!" Yes, the girl knows her colors and some makes of cars :) Anyways, we were driving home and Grace began to talk, talk, talk away and then would wait for a response from me. We were looking at eachother through the rearview mirror. I didn't understand what she was trying to say so I said, "What'd you say?" She made the exact same sounds, and again I told her I didn't understand. She repeated herself again....and again I said, "What, Gracie? Mommy doesn't understand." Then as clear as day as she turned to look out the window, let out a frustrating sigh and she said, "Nevermind." LOL

Can Anybody say 'ZUMBA!'

I did my first ZUMBA! class today and I totally LOVED it! My little sister, Nicole, went with me since it was my first time and we had a blast! The instructor, Erin, is hilarious and totally made me feel comfortable with shaking some things that hadn't been shaken in some time - or ever! ;) They music is crazy and loud, lots of rhythms that I love. It was so fun, yet I was working out at the same time. I was laughing while pouring out sweat. I know, it sounds icky, but it was so fun. I think I'm gonna be addicted. . .

Meet Cousin Sielly

This weekend me and the kids went to visit Larry's side of the family in Clovis. It'd been a really long time since we've visited so I decided to take a day trip to Clovis. We tried to wait until Larry's work schedule opened up, but it was taking just too long. The kids were so excited to see everyone, especially their new baby cousin, Sielly Ixchell Figueroa. You can tell by the pictures that they were overjoyed to see her. We spent the whole day with all of the family at Bicentenniel Park: picnicing, playing baseball, relaxing on blankets and blowing bubbles! :) I'm so glad we decided to make the trip. It was a long day, but to see the joy in everyone's eyes made it all worth-while. I praise God for such a amazing, loving family.

Facebook Post

At 4:24am I was awakened by laughter...Grace got up by herself, went downstairs, and turned on the tv. She was sitting back on the couch watching, 'Little Bear.' O.o of course, mommy made her go back to bed. Lol

Computer Savvy

Today we visited Tia Liz's new house. Grace loves her Tia Liz and all the lovely tea sets Tia Liz has at her house. Aside from setting up the table for a tea party, and exploring in every room, Grace climbed up on Tia Liz's lap and got a computer lesson today! Yes, Liz is now convinced that Gracie will do great things :)

Dessert Has Two S's

Okay, okay...so I did it. I gave into temptation. I bit the bullet. Well, it's more like I bit the little pink, plastic spoon that you can only get at Baskin Robbins. Lately I've decided that I needed to watch my waistline a little more carefully. I've been eating smaller my portions, working out, sticking to pretty much chicken and fish, eating my veggies, drinking water, doing salads with dressing on the side, passing on the bread....you know, they things we are "supposed" to do as we are rapidly approaching 40?! Anyways, today I ate my healthy lunch (a veggie burrito wrap) but found myself c-c-c-craving ice cream! I have truly been delighting myself in Weight Watchers ice creams or Yoplait yogurts, but today they weren't going to cut it. As I pulled into the parking lot of Baskin Robbins I was telling myself, "Kristie, you're not hungry. Kristie, you just ate. Kristie, don't do this!" But, I put the car in park, opened the car door and headed straight for ice cream counter. As I carefully looked over the beautiful menu on the wall, inspected all of the flavors, asked a few questions (but no taste-tests), I decided I would silence the screaming voices in my head and just put my foot down and order a Banana Royale! A beautiful Banana Royale. I watched so intently as ice cream girl chopped the banana, scooped up one scoop of chocolate chip, then the mint chip...I thought I was going to fall over when she said the words "hot fudge or caramel??" Oh yes, I was in heaven! Then she said, "All the toppings?" How could I say no to whipped cream, nuts and a cherry? I hadn't come this far to pull out any of the stops now! I know I sound a little over dramatic, but you have to understand—it's been a looooooooong time, a really long time, since I have had a Baskin Robbins Sundae. The taste was even better than what I remembered. I enjoyed it so much. Now that that delicious sundae is making it's way to my hips, I've decided to blog about it, get it out in the open....no secrets.....(LOL) and, I will be on my elliptical machine for an extra 15 minutes every morning for a week! :) Yes, dessert has two S's. One "S" is for the Sweetness that dances on your tastebuds as you savor every bite, and the other "S" is for the Sweat you have to give to work it off!

Gettin' Better and Better

Thank God we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! We have been so sick these last few weeks but it looks like things are clearing up. Both Larry and I have an irritating cough hanging on, but that's nothing compared to what we faced last week :) My poor Angel has a cough and cold, but he never lets anything stop him. Thank you LORD we're gonna make it!

Spring Is Here!

Hallelujah! Let me say it again, Hallelujah! I am so glad spring has arrived. For the past 5 years we've spent each spring sitting on bleachers. My girlfriend, Becky, has a sign at her house that said, "This family stops for baseball." That was our life. This year, I am secretly shouting from the rooftops because we took the baseball season off! Yep, you read it right...no baseball this year. We actually get to sleep in on Saturday mornings!! It's so wonderful. My sonny-boy was having a hard time concentrating on his homework and lagging on his chores. He wouldn't finish 'til almost 6 o'clock. And my Alliah was also having a hard time with her studies, so we decided to skip baseball/softball season this year to concentrate more on academics and our responsibilities at home *not to mention saving ourselves $300+ for registrations and uniforms.* Angel enters junior high next year *can you believe it?* so we gotta make sure he's totally prepared. Alliah's will be in her last year of elementary school *(gasp)...I know...* Wow! Where has the time gone? And just yesterday I called and put Gracie's name on the preschool waiting list! For now, she's still loving her daycare and all the little friends she has there. But man, before I know it my babies will be off to college :( Okay, I can't think about that - too sad. So! Back to enjoying spring....Larry and the kids took their first "spring walk" last night. I was relaxing, cooking my son's favorite dinner (enchiladas) for when they got back. We're loving the extra light we have at the end of the day now that daylight savings has passed. I hated getting home when it was already dark. Now we're looking forward to talking walks together, playing at the park, riding our bikes, hiking some trails...Yaaaaa-aaaay Spring!

Thankful For Wontons

Here's a SHOUT OUT of gratitude for Pastor Tom and his wife Kristie for being so caring while our family was home sick. All five of us were home for about a week and half. Larry & I were all medicated up with bronchitus, Gracie was fighting a double ear infection and had a bad reaction to her meds, while Angel and Alliah were coughing and sneezing like nobody's business. Thankfully, our Pastor Tom bravely entered our virus-infested house and brought us several meals and prayed a prayer of healing for our family each time he came. We are so thankful for a caring Pastor who takes time to tend to the "sheep" and share the love of Christ. Oh, and we were really thankful for that wonton soup! Luuuuv-ed it...

Hot Oil

Our family has been out of commission the last few weeks - down with bronchitis. I was upstairs sleeping when Larry and Alliah decided to make dinner. They agreed on pork chops and fried potatoes. Larry put some oil in the pork chop pan and then went over to the kitchen sink to wash the potatoes. Alliah was standing next to him watching so he asked her to check if the oil in the pan was hot. Well, my Alliah walked over to the stove and stuck her finger in the oil! She let out a scream and ran over to Larry, waving her finger around in the air. I was half-asleep when I heard Alliah yelling so I ran downstairs to find my daughter like this:

Aye, aye, aye...My Alliah!

Sickie Baby

I couldn't help myself from capturing this moment. My poor little baby Grace has been so sick. Fever, vomiting, diaherrea, cough, cold, double ear infection...all she does is sleep and drink her applejuice *her most favorite drink EVER* Get better my princess...Mommy loves you!

My Playmates

Today I went to visist a few of my most favorite little people on the planet. I was so excited to see Eli running to hug me the moment he saw me! His brother, Isaiah, was sleeping so I didn't have a chance to attack him and smother him with kisses (I'll get his pic another day). My neice, Isabella, loves when I baby her. I cuddle her up in my arms and talk to her like she was a little tiny baby. I even fed her the baby bottle that belongs to her baby doll and she smiles and coos as I serenade her with "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" LOL Whenever I'm having a hard day and need a break from the office, I take a drive down to my mom's house to visit with my little playmates. They bring such joy to my spirit and flood my heart with love. I do leave there a little more tired, but feeling the love these kids pour out is worth it. I love you Eli, Bella and Isaiah!! Tia will come to visit again soon...

We'll Bring Dessert...

Tonight we're having dinner with our good friends, Jose & Yesenia Hernandez. We've been friends with the Hernandez's for a few years now and there is nothing better in this world than friends who love you for who you are - period. We can sit and talk with them for HOURS! We talk about everything under the sun! Time flies by so fast when we're together. Tonight, Yesenia is making dinner and I'm bringing dessert. I just LOVE how this cake turned out!

Casa De Fruita?

In all the years we've travelled over Pacheco Pass, we had never stopped to play at Casa De Fruita. We were headed home from my Grandfather's Birthday party and decided to stop and let the kids walk around for a while. They were already thrilled by the trip. They love seeing family and they love staying in hotels even more! It had been YEARS since I had stopped at Casa De Fruita (other than to use the bathroom) so I was looking forward to stopping too. The kids took off running when we got there. We all rode the train, got on the double decker merry-go-round, brought some candy from the Sweet Shack and posed for all the "photo ops" :) Next time you pass it, try stopping! We had a lot of fun..

Happy Birthday Grandpa

This weekend we celebrated my Grandpa Fermin's 87th Birthday. All of the family was so excited because it had been years since we've all got together. It was a Birthday Party / Family Reunion hosted at my Uncle Larry's house in Merced. I was estatic to see all of my aunts, uncles, cousins and my cousins' spouses and kids that I hadn't seen in years. Some of the spouses and kids I had never even met! We all chat on facebook, but being face to face was supreme. The food was amazing (just like I remembered), but being together - just like old times - was priceless. My kids had the opportunity to experience the joy I felt when I was a kid when we'd all get together - almost every weekend! I also enjoyed seeing the joy in my dad's face as he was surrounded by all of his brothers and his sister, and his dad. Daddy even shed a few tears when Grandpa accredited all of the family that surrounded him to my Grandma. He said, "Mother, look what you did." Everyone got choked up at that statement. Yes, this Celebration was a celebration indeed. We celebrated my Grandpa's life, our family, and our love for one another. And you KNOW us Gonzales' sure do know how to have a good time! Our time together was memorable, cherished, and definitely unforgettable.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

She's A Girlie Girl

Oh have we got ourselves a girlie girl. Today was the first time Miss Grace tried on a pair of high heels. I had just come home from a long day at work, kicked off my shoes, and headed to the kitchen to start making dinner. I cracked up laughing when Grace walked into the kitchen wearing my heels. Just as I pulled out my camera she began to pose for me! I showed her a few moves and then she wouldn't stop! What a cutie!

Where We Live

My heart is filled with gratitude on days like today. What a beautiful place God has allowed us to live in. The sun was shining and there was a nice warm breeze, so Larry and I decided to take the kids for a walk down to the trail in Pacific Grove. The weather was picture perfect. As we walked I was thanking the Lord for my family. Sometimes life can seem so overwhelming and sometimes just straight up out of control. It's days like these that make me stop and really think about what's important to me. Who's important to me.

I am blessed to be the mommy of three beautiful children. I love being the wife of a wonderful, caring man. I am completely surrounded by family and friends who love me and who do just about anything for me. I live in one of the most beautiful places in all the world. I am truly blessed.So I thank you, Lord, for bestowing these blessings upon my life. I am not worthy; definitely not deserving. But because You love me, because of Your unmerited favor, You give. So from the bottom of my heart I say "Thank You."

It's In God's Hands Now

It is amazing to me to think about how powerful our God is. All of us have goals that we would like to see accomplished. We just rang in the New Year. It's 2011 and most, if not all, of our New Years Resolutions have already been broken - or "the new rules" we set up for ourselves have already been bent. For some people their goal may be losing weight, becoming debt free, getting more organized, to stop smoking, becoming more responsible, to be more patient, to be a better listener, a better parent and the list could go on and on. If you're like me, you start out trying to do your very best—standing so strong—but all too soon you find yourself disappointed and just giving up all together. But! I've recently discovered that when we place our dreams, our plans, and our goals into the hands of God? The Master takes over and we become His Students, ready and willing to obey HIS command. Becoming His student means admitting we don't know what He knows and believing He is wiser and fully capable of helping us. God's desire is for us to delight ourselves in Him so He could give us the desires of our hearts. We will be astounded at what HE could accomplish in us - and through us.

I've been struggling in one area of my life for YEARS! I mean Yeee-ears. My goal seemed so insignificant when compared to the struggles and hardships others around me are facing. But, nevertheless, it was important to me, thus important to God. A few days ago, I finally made the decision to put this struggle in God's hands and let Him help me and stop trying to do it on my own. It's only been a few days but what God has done in just a few days I could have, in no way, accomplished in even a month! Not only am I achieving my goal, but it is not even a struggle. I am experiencing a little discomfort, but God is doing something unbelievable in me. I can't explain it, but I can say that I've put my faith in Him. I'm admitting that I can't do it without Him and shouting that I need Him. He's honoring that. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!

God's Even In the Little Stuff

Gracie LOVES her Elmo shoes! Our little girl is growing so fast that we try to hang on to every pair of shoes as long as we can. Her poor Dora shoes had to go bye-bye because I couldn't shove her feet in them one more day. I bought these Elmo shoes about a year ago. The inside says they are a size 5 but I'm thinkin' their a 6 because they still fit her well. Yes, they fit her precious, beautifully big feet :) Anyhow, last night Grace wore her Elmo shoes to church. Unfortunatley, she only came home with one shoe on. We thought, "oh, well...there goes another pair of shoes." So, this morning we get in car, we jump on the freeway, I get her to her daycare, I then proceed to Safeway (to order her birthday cake, YAY) and when I walk back to the car I look up and I see a little orange shoe on my back bumper. There sat Elmo!


The people who were passing by me in the Safeway parking lot must have thought I was a nut-case. I was laughing so hard I almost...well, you get the picture. I was so amazed that that shoe hung on to my bumper through the drive home from church last night, on the freeway on the way to work this morning (and I wasn't going the speed limit!) and into the parking lot. When I got into the car, God reminded that He has everything under control. That little shoe, that is loved so very much, stayed outside in the cold, all night on that bumper. It survived the speeding winds on the freeway, the bumps and turns we made on the road, it was all alone. Sometimes I feel like that Elmo shoe. I feel alone, in the dark and coldness of night. I know I'm loved and wanted, so I don't understand how I could be going through what I'm going through. But God reminded me that He has me in His hands. Always. What He wants accomplished, will be done. Even when it seems like there's no way we're gonna make it, God keeps His hand in our lives and helps us to make it through the trials, through the afflictions, through the storms. Now everytime I see that Elmo shoe I've got a reminder that God loves me and He cares about me and He's with me. He does care about the little things in our lives. Yep, I hanging on to those shoes. What a great and powerful God we serve!

2011

Welcome 2011...I'm so glad you're here!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!