Sunshine At Last

I was finally able to get my tomato starts in the ground this past week and was thankful I did because we had a few warm & beautiful days for them to get settled in. They seem much happier in thier new home. While they danced in the light breeze and warm sun on Saturday, our little family was out and about enjoying a bit of sunshine ourselves.

First, we went to our niece Addy's final soccer game of the season and watched her and her team kick the ball around the field. I honestly don't even know if her team won the game or not - I spent most of my time chasing Esperanza around and keeping an eye on her. I did steal a few glances of the game and even managed to take some blurry pictures.

Here's Addy chasing after the ball

Our niece Marissa with EsperanzaMando's brother Chili with Esperanza Look at that big field! She ran her heart out.Esperanza made friends with these two dogs - she loved the puppy so much, they gave each other tons of kisses

After the game, we headed downtown to the Farmers Market where Val and her family met us. It was a little bit insane there, everyone else had the same idea we did. I'm no fan of big crowds, so we strolled threw once, grabbed some food and hung out under a tree in the park for awhile. Then we took the kids to the other side of the park to cool off in the water fountains.

Armando pulled Esperanza around in her wagonEsperanza ran, danced and jumped around the park

Wearing mama's sunglassesI couldn't convince Esperanza to play in the waterBut somehow we convinced her to look at the cameraSorry Annabelle, didn't mean to cut you off Me and my little Espy
Val and Jamo's beautiful kids Annabelle and Carter

Though it had already been a long day by the time we left the market, we were headed to a party. Armando's older sister Aurelia is getting married this summer and she had a little pre-wedding party so her family and her husband to be family could meet and mingle. Esperanza took a short cat nap in the car and when she woke, she wasn't very happy. We toughed it out though and still had a great time eating some yummy food and meeting some really nice people.

Aurelia and Gary - the happy couple!Esperanza's cousin Rafael always takes the cutest pictures. It's like pulling teeth to get this kid to smile. But really - who needs a smile when you look like this? Espy and Raf playing together

In 14+ Years

We got a new used car recently. It's not my favorite since it has no AC and it's a stick shift! Yes, this summer will be hot, sweaty, sticky and uncomfortable in the car...and no, I can no longer reach in the back with a free arm to pick up the dropped toy so Esperanza will stop shrieking! Please, don't ask because I'm still kicking myself for this decision. But, it only costs $30 to fill up where the Jeep cost at least double that. And, Esperanza seems to like it. A little too much in fact. I experienced some mixed feelings when she sat in the front seat of my car, with keys and a big smile. One day this will be a very scary scene. I'm hoping that they change the legal age of driving to 30 sometime soon.

Tea

Esperanza asks for tea several times a day! It's not as quick and easy as a cup of water, but I'll usually make her some in the evenings before bed. Her favorite so far seems to be cinnamon apple spice. My mom gave me the perfect toddler size mug she had made years ago and had dug up in the move recently. Here are a few photos of Esperanza sipping tea from her cute little mug...

This post has just made me realize that I'll need to get her a little play tea set one of these days!

New Knits

I'm about half way done with The Sweater. Because it's kind of a long project, I keep myself from getting bored with it by knitting other things too. And since I'm still pretty giddy and excited about my knitting hobby, I feel like I have to share with you all that I've created lately.

A ruffled edge hat for me - or maybe it'll be a gift, haven't decidedLots of dishcloths A pretty ruffled edge washable wool hat for Esperanza...I think I'll do one in cotton too for summer. I started & finished this in 1 day!The Sweater/Cardigan - and bad picture of me
This neat purse. It took me more time to sew up a lining for it with a pocket, add a zipper and put all the pieces together than actually knitting the purse itself. I love it thow!

And a matching pink hat and scarf for Val's 30th birthday

K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1...

April Birthdays

April seems to be the beginning of the busy season for birthdays in our family and circle of friends. I think I've already forgotten to give recognition to some of the lonesome birthdays that fell in the last couple of months...but I'll try to keep up.

My best friend Val turned 30 this month! Her husband threw her a memorable 'Murder Mystery' birthday party. It was so much fun. Here is Val and I on her birthday party night. Oh, and that pink hat and scarf Vals wearing...I knit them.

Our niece Sarah's daughter Yareli turned 1 in April Our nephew Brandon turned 8

Armando's sister Eva had a birthday in April and my brother Tim turned 40. Hope I'm not forgetting anyone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL BABIES!

Whole World Dance

What's Cookin'?

Esperanza loves to help me cook in the kitchen. She helps me scramble eggs in the morning, mixes things in a bowl when I'm making muffins or pancakes, pours spices, adds raisins to our oatmeal...anything to help cook. And when we aren't cooking something real, Esperanza is often found cooking in her own little kitchen.
My sister Geneva gave Esperanza Anycia's wooden kitchen and all the fixins that go with it before she moved back to Ohio (Thank you, thank you, thank you Geneva and Anycia!!!) and it is by far her favorite thing to play with lately. She cooks pizza and serves it on plates to me, Armando, her dolls/stuffed animals, the neighbors, and anyone else that is around. It's so cute when she opens up the oven door, looks at me and says 'hot'. I may have to knit her some little oven mitts so she doesn't burn her hands while taking out the pizza.
I gave the other play kitchen we had to my mom so Esperanza has a kitchen over there to cook with when she visits Grandma. For now, the wooden kitchen is on our front porch until I get some Spring cleaning done inside the house. It'll be nice to have it in the real kitchen so she can 'cook' while I'm cooking.

And here she is with her stuffed friends after they helped her cook

Swimsuit Grin

Here's Esperanza giddy about going in the pool at our nephew Brandon's birthday party last Friday. This was her first time in a pool and she was so excited...as if you can't tell from her super cheesy smile. I couldn't make myself get into a pool filled with chlorine and 20+ kids, but Mando was more than happy to. They both had a great time in the pool while I sat on the other side of the window and took pictures.
I'll post more pictures of Brandon and his party later, but this one just couldn't wait...

Unknown Fan...Naomi?

Not too long ago I added a 'live traffic feed' to my blog. All this means is that I can see who is viewing my blog and when. Well, not specifically who, but it gives me a little information about the whereabouts of people who go to my blog site. Some of my other blogger friends have this same thing and/or have even made their site private because they've had some privacy issues and inappropriate comments left. I haven't had any serious problems but figured I'd add it just for fun. I'm really hoping this doesn't discourage my readers from coming to my page, I really don't care who or how often someone views my blog. And to tell you the truth, I don't get a lot of traffic anyways...most of my readers are family who receive my posts as emails.

However, I have noticed that someone from Beverly Hills, California has been visiting my site occassionally over the past several weeks. I don't know anyone in Beveryly Hills, CA but I do have a sister someplace within that vicinity of California. At least that was the last known place she was many years ago. I can't help but have this little bit of hope that maybe she found my blog and reads it...

If you are reading this Naomi, please let us know somehow and someway that you are okay. We love you and miss you more than you can imagine. I don't want to leave phone numbers or addresses on my site, since it is public. But you can email me hanukkahg@hotmail.com or even leave a comment on my blog.

If some other random person in California found by blog and just thinks it's interesting, thats fine, keep on reading I suppose. But, if you happen to cross paths with my sister while you're out and about in L.A., please tell her she is loved.

Easter Sunday

Though yesterday wasn't Esperanza's first Easter, it was her first time experiencing an Easter egg hunt. Dressed in her rubber boots, pretty dress and fuzzy sweater, Esperanza searched our little back yard Easter morning for eggs that the Easter Bunny filled with goodies and treasures. After she found all the eggs, I told her the Easter Bunny left her something in her room also. We rushed inside and went to her room where she found a little basket filled with more gifts from the Easter Bunny; a purple play silk, toddler sized garden tools, bubbles, a chocolate bunny, a lolipop and some beautiful felted eggs. She loved the bubbles so much that the candy was quickly forgotten about and hasn't been brought up since!

Really mama, you're letting me eat candy? Daddy helping her find the eggs
Mmm, yummy!While they didn't impress Esperanza as much as the candy did, these wet felted eggs I made the night before are so lovely.

Later that day we went to my moms house for dinner. She cooked a turkey and we had all kinds of other yummy food to go along with it. The only thing we were missing was George. He is in the hospital (again) and it didn't feel right without him there. We are all hoping he gets well enough to come home soon.

Mary cutting the turkey

Esperanza sitting on the island eating the dinner roll dough and waiting oh so patiently for dinner