Strolling Down Memory Lane in my Pink Cons

These shoes are so cool that they need their own post!

Yesterday, I got these shoes at a great sale at Bancroft Clothing in Berkeley. In my previous post I said that I bought them because they were on sale. In all honesty though I bought them because they took me straight back to some good high school memories. (The sale did help though! )

When I was in High School, my dad took us to this new discount store in Stockton called Marshall's. We didn't have one in Modesto then. It was so cool. You could get all kinds of name brand stuff at better prices than the regular stores. (When you are in high school, those name brands are really important!) My folks bought all of us kids some great stuff on that shopping trip. My favorite items though were two pair of high top Converse shoes. I got a pink pair and a light purple pair. I thought that I was SO cool because I owned those shoes. I planned my outfits around those shoes. I LOVED wearing them to school and showing them off. I tried to push the fashion envelope too by wearing mixing the colors up by wearing one pink and one purple shoe. I just knew that I was styling and you couldn't tell me that I wasn't! :-)

When I saw these shoes on the sale rack yesterday, I felt like I was 16 again. I knew that I was going to buy them as soon as I saw them. I have to admit, I did look on that sale rack for a pair or purple ones too but alas, they only had neon orange and an ugly blue. Oh well ... the pink pair will work out just fine.

Counting Down the Days

I have just a few wonderful days of vacation left. Monday is back to school day for me. I have to say that I LOVE being on a year round schedule. Off track time is so refreshing and enregizing. It was also great to have the time off this month in order to be able to stay home while Sabi recovered from her tonsillectomy.
*****************
Yesterday I took my first little trip of the vacation. I went with a friend to Oakland and to Berkeley. The main purpose of the trip was to look for Kosher foods for Passover that I can't find here in the valley. In Oakland I went to The Grand Bakery and got some EXCELLENT hamantashen, borekas and challah. I then went around the corner to Oakland Kosher Foods but didn't really find anything there that I needed that I couldn't get at home. We then headed out to Berkeley to Afikomen. I am in love with that store. At Afikomen, I bought lots of Passover dessert like maccaroons, chocolate covered matzahs, and two kinds of chocolate candies. I also picked up some toy frogs for Sabi for the Seder meal as well as a new Passover book. The one treat I got for myself was a beautiful copper/jeweled mezuzah. I have been wanting one forever but just couldn't find one that I liked.

Our next stop was The Holy Land Restaurant. This restaurant serves kosher middle eastern style food. We shared a serving of malawah and then each had an order of falafel in a pita. YUM, YUM, YUM!

The last stop we made was right by the university. We strolled on Telegraph for a while window shopping and then went to Bancroft Clothing right across the street from Cal. What a great store! They have very cute clothes, lots of university gear and shoes. What we didn't know was that there was a BIG, HUGE, SHOE SALE. My friend that I went with is a HUGE shoe nut. We spent at least 45 minutes upstairs in the shoe department messing around and trying on shoes. I ended up with a pair of pink high top Converse for $24.99!!!

Just Who Is This Jesse Mc Cartney Character?

First of all ... if this is Tío Nebur... you might want to skip this installment of MsAbcMOm. You will probably not like the topic of this post. Sorry Tío but your sobrinita is growing up dude!
*****************
My daughter is 7 and 1/2 years old. Two weeks ago she asked me to buy her a CD. I naturally assumed that she would want a new Wiggles or Raffi CD. WRONG! She asked for a Jesse Mc Cartney CD.

I said "WHO?"

She just rolled her eyes and said "Mom, you know Jesse Mc Cartney." (This of course was said in a very exasperated tone.) "He is the one who sings Because You Live on the Princess Diaries CD." (Like I am supposed to know these things!) She then played it for me and I realized that I did know this song. She plays the CD every night when she goes to sleep and always starts with this song even though it isn't the first track.

Tonight, I went to investigate this Jesse Mc Cartney guy online. The first picture I found of him is with his shirt all the way open. I was none too happy about this! I did some more searching and listened to some songs, asked Sabina some more about him and came to the realization that she may not even be able to pick him out of a line up. She just likes his music and wants to have his CD.

This got me to thinking about me when I was her age. I was not boy crazy but I did like Shaun Cassidy. (a lot more than she likes this Jesse guy) Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to let her have the CD. She is starting to get to that age where music means a lot to her and at least the words aren't all that bad. They are kind of love song sappy but not inappropriate. (IF ANYONE KNOWS OTHERWISE - LET ME KNOW!)

Things could be worse I guess. She could have asked for the poster of him with his shirt open! (gag me...)

Cooking With the Girls

Yesterday Sabi and her friend Mahi came over to bake. In school they both finished reading two stories that both are centered around food. At the end of the stories recipes are included.

The girls baked Thunder Cake and Chango Bars. Check Sabi's blog out HERE for story details. Both recipes turned out to be quite delicious. I will leave them below for you to enjoy.

Thunder Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together one at a time:
1 cup shortening 1 3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs, separated

(Blend yolks in. Beat whites until they are stiff, then fold in.)

Add:
1 cup cold water 1/3 cup pureed tomatoes

Sift together:
2 1/2 cups cake flour 1/2 cup dry cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt

Mix dry mixture into creamy mixture.
Bake in two greased and floured 8 1/2 round pans at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Frost with chocolate butter frosting. Top with strawberries.

Chango Bars:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar 3 eggs
2 1/3 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt 1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup mixed nuts

Directions:

Melt butter and margarine. While this is melting, cream brown sugar and eggs, then add melted butter and margarine.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt and stir into sugar mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour mixture into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Going on A Trip!

I just booked a trip for Sabina and myself to go to Panama in July. Woo-Hoo! I spent about 3 weeks looking for the lowest available fare. It is a relief to finally buy the ticket and not have to mess with the ticket seach anymore.

It will be fun to go with Sabina. She really doesn't know her family over there too well. We will also hopefully get to meet our new friend, Melissa, Ms. Cooking Diva!

Border's LOVES Educators!

Educators:

If you like books and anything else that Border's has to offer, go NOW to the store near you and shop until you drop! Today started the Educator's Savings days at Border's. I didn't even know about it until I walked in the store. As I walked in, I was greeted by a HUGE table of goodies for teachers and a flyer reminding me that I can get the discount. Oh - get this - you can get the discount on ANYTHING you buy - not just school purchases.

I was totally not ready for this great surprise - I tried to look for a lot of books and other what nots to spend my money on but alas, I could not remember what it was that I have been wanting to buy. I was able to find a book that Sabina wanted, More Adventures of the Great Brain as well as the latest Jennifer Weiner book Good Night Nobody, and a totally trashy book that I haven't read yet by Janet Evanovich, Full Bloom.

I was disappointed at first because I just knew there was more that I wanted but then I remembered that I could come back tomorrow or the next day! I will go take a peek at my Amazon.com wishlist and make my list from there. If I go back tomorrow between 4-8, not only can I get my things that I wanted but, I can get some free food and enter a drawing too!

Now I will be the first to admit that Border's probably knows what it is doing by trying to bribe us teachers with the 25% discount. (Teachers will come in like fiends to get some free food and get any little monetary break we can get.) I am TOTALLY ok with that though. It is nice that someone thinks enough of us teachers to treat us every now and then. So what if they are trying to entice us to come in and spend money. We do so much of this for our classrooms on our own dime that we might as well get a break every now and then.

Have fun shopping ... I am off to make my list and check it twice!

Dinner Theater

Tonight we went to Dinner Theater at the Public Library. I love the Dinner Theater program. It is offered four times a year, once every season. People have to register to attend but the program is free. Tables are set up downstairs in the basement of the library and families are encouraged to bring their own dinners to enjoy during the show.

We have seen many great shows at the library. We have seen a professional clown, a mime, a magician, book re-enactments and tonight we saw "Biologues." The performer, Melissa Stevenson, told the stories of four great women in honor of Women's History Month: Amelia Earhart, Sacagawea, Charlie Parkhurst and Kaahumanu. All of the performers who come are very, very good and so kid friendly. Their programs are entertaining, many times educational and they always save time at the end for the kids to ask questions.

We are so lucky to have this program here in our town! Yay for the library!

Thank You KFC!

Who would have thought that I would ever be thanking Colonel Sanders for something? Not me. However, with Sabina's recent tonsillectomy, life has changed around here. Sabina's easy breezy days right after surgery are over. The past two days have been very rough. Her throat is just miserable. She is barely getting liquid or any food in because she would rather not eat than hurt. I have tried yogurt, mac-n-cheese, jello, pudding etc... basically, if it is soft, we have gone there. The one and only thing that she really seems to want or try and eat is KFC mashed potatoes. I have driven through the drive through window many times these past few days.

Luckily, the KFC is not far from home. It is so hard to watch your child suffer and not be able to do anything about it. I have really been trying everything I can to help her get through this. I know though that the only thing that will work is for her to just eat her way through the pain. We will get there - it will just take time. In the mean time, I will just keep going through that drive through window!

Groovin' in the Produce Department

I was at the grocery store on a mission for some fruits and vegetables. I had quite a big list of items that I needed to get but hadn't actually written the list down so I had to walk carefully through the HUGE produce section at Save Mart to make sure that I got everything I needed.

Sometime in the middle of my produce shopping fest, I started singing to the piped in music. (out loud!) George Benson's "Turn Your Love Around" was playing. I can't remember when the last time I heard that song was. I LOVE that song. It is such a feel good song.

Anyway, I didn't realize that I was singing (and dancing a little) out loud until I heard someone elso singing out loud. (she was getting her groove on too!) We both noticed each other at about the same time and realized that we were making a mini spectacle of ourselves. The singing stranger broke the ice first and said "girl, they just don't make music like that anymore!" I had to agree with her.

We both then continued on our shopping quest in the produce section. Going our separate ways but happy to have heard a blast from the past and at the same time feeling a musical connection with a complete stranger.

As I was heading out of the department, the next song, "Outstanding", by The Gap Band came on - another great song. I turned around to look for my musical singing twin - she also was looking for me, I think. We both gave a thumbs up sign to each other and went on our merry ways.

When I got home I went right to iTunes and downloaded both songs.

I am DEFINITELY shopping at Save Mart more often.

Peace is Patriotic

Yesterday we went to a peace vigil/gathering at Mc Clatchey Park. It was a very nice event. The tiny little park was set up with different areas for people to either reflect, express themselves in word or song, mourn for the lives lost as well as an area for people to sign up to participate in local peace activities.

Sabina was a bit nervous to go because she is afraid of the Peace Marches that we have been on in the past. The group we are with is always quite peaceful - it is just the people who drive by and yell nasty and hateful words that scare her. This time though, the kids had their own area in the park. There was no marching this time either, just a place for people to gather together and know that there are others out there like us who think the same. There were a lot of old familiar faces that showed up but this time there were a lot of new faces too. Two Sacramento based tv channels came to cover the event as well as the Modesto Bee.

Sabina ended up having a really good time. She got to help set up the Kid Corner and composed some nice poetry (by herself) and drew some posters. She also loved helping the little kids out. She said that it gave her practice for when she is older and wants to babysit!

If you have the time, go and check out Sabi's website. She wrote about the gathering and posted her poem there. Here is her link: Bina's Blog

St. Patrick's Day Losers!

This morning Sabina and I had the surprise of seeing a leprechaun walking around our neighborhood. He was walking around to people's houses at about 7:30 and either catching them on their way to work or knocking on their doors and waking them up. Since Sabina and I were both a wee bit on the lazy side and still in our jammies we decided to stay upstairs on my bed watching Mr. Leprechaun walk around rather than go outside and welcome him to our neighborhood. That was apparently the wrong decision.

Mr. Leprechaun was here with his friend from KWIN 98.3 radio. Apparently, today, if one was to catch "Loser Leprechaun" in their neghborhood and ask tell him "I want your pot of gold" you would receive tickets to go and see the Black Eyed Peas.

Who's the loser now!

:-(

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Translated Songs Are Dangerous For Your Health

Why oh why do Latino singers translate their songs into English? It is just not right. In my opinion, the songs lose all of their meaning and are just not interesting or exciting to me. Not only that, today, I found out that listening to translated songs can be hazardous to your health.

I was at the gym this evening, minding my own business. I was listening to my iPod that I had loaded with some new tunes. I was right in the middle of the high impact cardio section of my workout. I just left Elvis Crespo with "Suavemente" and was moving on to Chayanne with "Caprichosa." My normal speed is around 3.6 miles per hour when I walk but when I got to Chayanne, I knew the song was going to be faster so I was busy cranking the treadmill up to 4.2 miles per hour. I was ready to MOVE.

Anyway, in the middle of my button pushing frenzy, something WEIRD happened. Chayanne started singing in English. WHAT? I was so alarmed and surprised at this that I lost my groove on the treadmill and went flying off the machine. There were not a lot of people there at the time but enough to see me make a fool of myself. The worst part is that I was not so worried about making a fool of myself as I was about the song on my iTunes. When I got home I realized that when I downloaded the song, I apparently chose the English version of the song.

Stupid translated song!
************
Here is Chayanne. He is not singing Caprichosa BUT the song IS in Spanish! This one is for you Mary - you know why!!! :-)

Chayanne - Torero


Provided by VideoCodes4U.com

Provided by VideoCodes4U.com

I am still amazed at Sabina's attitude and disposition after her surgery. She has been such a trooper. One of the things I have come to realize about my little Sabi is that she has quite a high tolerance for pain. She still hasn't asked for the pain medication. Sabi hasn't even complained about not feeling well. It is amazing.

Today she doesn't want to talk so much. I suspect that it must hurt when she talks even though she doesn't want to tell me this. I again made her take the pain medicine because I saw her squinting when she tried to swallow several times. The whole not talking thing is really funny. On most occasions I can't get the girl to be quiet. She has so much to say. So much that at times I have to just tune her out because it is just too much overload for me. Now, that she is SO quiet, I am missing her constant babble. I have been asking one question after another trying to figure out her state of mind and if she is in pain. Finally I asked her if I was talking too much and if she wanted me to shut up. She just smiled and sheepishly nodded. Poor baby - I am overloading her now!

Aside from the quietness, Sabina and I have been enjoying watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If she is up to it, we will work on painting a stained glass picture frame later today. We will see.

Bye Bye Tonsils

Today Sabina had a tonsillectomy.

For the months leading up to this operation Sabina refused to discuss the surgery. She didn't want to think about it. I tried to talk it over with her to help her to ease into but she really wasn't having it.

Yesterday:
We had her two pre-op appointments. The first appointment was with the doctor performing the surgery. Sabina had a BIG list of questions for him. Here are a few:

* Have you done many tonsillectomies?
* Are other kids scared about surgery and if so, what do they do to not be scared?
* Will you have to draw blood today?
* How much school will I have to miss?

I was kind of worried that her list of questions was very long but the doctor was very accomodating to her and welcomed her questions and answered them very well for her. He took a lot of time to make sure that she was quite comfortable.

We then went to Manteca to the hospital to get her registered at the hospital for today and to meet the anesthesiologist. He was a nice man but I was a bit worried about the anesthesiologist because he spoke fast, moved fast and I was worried that he might make Sabina nervous. She seemed ok though and that was the end of the appointment. Sabina was on cloud 9 at that point because not only did she not have to do any blood work but she was told that there would be no invasive stuff done on her like putting in the IV tube or anything else while she was awake. They would simply put her to sleep and take care of it all then.

The funny thing is that Sabina started to get a little cocky about the whole surgery deal. She started talking about all of the stuff we will be doing after her surgery and didn't dwell on the surgery at all because she thought it would be a piece of cake. She did try to manipulate her situation though. We went shopping last night with Tio Ruben at Costco. Several times Sabi turned to one of us and asked us to buy her something "because I am having surgery tomorrow." Oh ... I forgot to say that she added a pouty mouth with big eyes to try and seal the deal too!

This morning:
We arrived at the hospital at 7:30. Her procedure was scheduled for 9:20. Sabina lost it as soon as we walked into the pre-op room and was asked to change. She cried a bit but the nurses took good care of her. VERY GOOD CARE! About 1 hour later a new anesthesiologist came to check in with Sabina and tell her that she was going to take care of her. I was a bit mad that a new doctor was assigned but as it turned out - this guy was SO amazing with her. He was so kind and thoughtful of her feelings and situation. He let me come with the crew and Sabina into the OR. I got to stay with her while she was being put to sleep. He made it quite amusing for her. He told her that he was going to take her on an airplane ride to San Diego to visit Lego Land and Sea World. With one hand he held her face mask. With the other hand he played with the switches on her bed moving her up and down like she might feel on a plane ride as well as turning the knobs and switches to release the oxygen into her mask as well as the medication to put her to sleep. During all of this he did a great Sponge Bob impression. Sabina laughed her way to sleep. He then told me to give her a kiss before I left. I reached over to take her stuffed animals that she took into the OR with her and he stopped me and said that I should keep them there because she would want them when she woke up. As I left the room I was a bit teary eyed. The interesting thing was that it wasn't because I was worried about Sabi. It was because I knew that she was in great hands.

About 25 minutes later, I was called into the recovery room. I couldn't believe it - it was so fast. Sabina was sitting up and looked great! The first thing she asked for was her Care Bears coloring poster that we had in the car. I didn't even have the chance to kiss her! I ran out to get her stuff and she got to work right away coloring and talking with me. Amazing! We stayed at the hospital another 1 and 1/2 hours. During the entire time she kept refusing pain medication and managed to eat a popsicle. The nurses kept coming over to chat with her, play with her stuffed animals and watch Harry Potter with her.

Since we have been home, Sabina has still not complained about pain and has managed to eat more popsicles, some applesauce and for a special treat - KFC mashed potatoes for dinner.

I don't know how she will be tomorrow but if things keep going at this rate, she will have a great recovery.

I am so, so, so pleased that this whole ordeal went well and is just about over. I am also hoping that it will put an end to the endless sore throats, fevers and infections that she has been plagued with.

No Dentist Left Behind

I just got this in an e-mail. It is so good that I had to share.
******************
My dentist is great!
He sends me reminders so I don’t forget checkups. He uses the latest techniques based on research. He never hurts me, and I’ve got all my teeth. When I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he’d heard about the new state program. I knew he’d think it was great.

“Did you hear about the new state program to measure effectiveness of dentists with their young patients?” I said. “No,” he said. He didn’t seem too thrilled. “How will they do that?”

“It’s quite simple,” I said. “They will just count the number of cavities each patient has at age 10, 14, and 18 and average that to determine a dentist’s rating. “Dentists will be rated as excellent, good, average, below average, and unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which are the best dentists. The plan will also encourage the less effective dentists to get better,” I said. “Poor dentists who don’t improve could lose their licenses to practice.”

“That’s terrible,” he said. “What? That’s not a good attitude,” I said. “Don’t you think we should try to improve children’s dental health in this state?” “Sure I do,” he said, “but that’s not a fair way to determine who is practicing good dentistry.” “Why not?” I said. “It makes perfect sense to me.” “Well, it’s so obvious,” he said. “Don’t you see that dentists don’t all work with the same clientele, and that much depends on things we can’t control? For example, I work in a rural area with a high percentage of patients from deprived homes, while some of my colleagues work in upper middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the parents I work with don’t bring their children to see me until there is some kind of problem, and I don’t get to do much preventive work. Also many of the parents I serve let their kids eat way too much candy from an early age, unlike more educated parents who understand the relationship between sugar and decay. To top it all off, so many of my clients have well water which is untreated and has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference early use of fluoride can make?”

“It sounds like you’re making excuses,” I said. “I can’t believe that you, my dentist, would be so defensive. After all, you do a great job, and you needn’t fear a little accountability.” “I am not being defensive!” he said. “My best patients are as good as anyone’s, my work is as good as anyone’s, but my average cavity count is going to be higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to work where I am needed most.” “Don’t’ get touchy,” I said.

He was clenching and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to damage his teeth. Try furious! "In a system like this, I will end up being rated average below average, or worse. The few educated patients I have who see these ratings may believe this so-called rating is an actual measure of my ability and proficiency as a dentist. They may leave me, and I’ll be left with only the most needy patients. And my cavity average score will get even worse. On top of that, how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent dentists to my practice if it is labeled below average?”

“I think you are overreacting,” I said. “Complaining, excuse-making and stonewalling won’t improve dental health’...I am quoting from a leading member of the DOC,” I noted. “What’s the DOC?” he asked. “It’s the Dental Oversight Committee,” I said, “a group made up of mostly lay persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved.” “Spare me,” he said, “I can’t believe this. Reasonable people won’t buy it,” he said hopefully. The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, “How else would you measure good dentistry?” “Come watch me work,” he said. “Observe my processes.” “That’s too complicated, expensive and time- consuming,” I said. Cavities are the bottom line, and you can’t argue with the bottom line. It’s an absolute measure."

“That’s what I’m afraid my parents and prospective patients will think. This can’t be happening,” he said despairingly. “Now, now,” I said, “don’t despair. The state will help you some.” “How?” he asked. “If you receive a poor rating, they’ll send a dentist who is rated excellent to help straighten you out,” I said brightly. “You mean,” he said, “they’ll send a dentist with a wealthy clientele to show me how to work on severe juvenile dental problems with which I have probably had much more experience? BIG HELP!”

“There you go again,” I said. “You aren’t acting professionally at all.” “You don’t get it,” he said. “Doing this would be like grading schools and progress with no regard to influences outside the school, the home, the community served and stuff like that. Why would they do something so unfair to dentists? No one would ever think of doing that to schools.” I just shook my head sadly, but he had brightened. “I’m going to write my representatives and senators,” he said. “I’ll use the school analogy. Surely they will see the point.”

He walked off with that look of hope mixed with fear and suppressed anger that I, a teacher, see in the mirror so often lately.

If you don’t understand why educators resent the recent federal NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, this may help.

If you do understand, you’ll enjoy this analogy, which was forwarded by John S. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster County, PA, School District. Be a friend to a teacher and pass this on.

YMCA Unplugged

When I was at the gym the other day I realized that many of the people who work out are plugged into some type of music listening device. (mp3 player, iPod or CD player) I looked at these different people and started to wonder what it was that they were listening to.

It then occurred to me that it would be a cool idea to have "unplugged" days at the YMCA when we are working out. I think it would be so interesting to have people plug their music listening devices into the piped in music so we could all hear what type of music our fellow gym go-ers workout to.

Hmm... an idea for the suggestion box!

Mourner's Kaddish

*************************
I went to service last night at the synagogue. I sat in front of one of our friends. Sadly, her husband of a great many years passed away this week suddenly and unexpectedly.

Several times during the course of services, the Mourner's Kaddish, or prayer, is recited. Sitting where I was, right in front of our friend, brought a whole new meaning of the prayer to me. I could hear our friend begin to chant the prayer breaking off several times through it because it was a bit much for her to take. I have to admit, it was quite hard for me to take too. I just kept thinking that just a week ago, her husband was with her. Who would have thought that so much in her life would change in the course of just 7 days?

We truly need to make sure that we cherish the people that we love in our life while we can. We also need to make sure that we live our lives to the fullest. We never know when our time will come.
*****************

BRR!

It is COLD today!!!

Our daily forecast is for a high of 52 degrees. Just too cold for me! To make matters worse - the wind is blowing at 10 mph making it seem even colder yet.

Today is my first "real" day of vacation. I am trying to enjoy it resting at home but it is freezing cold. Inside it is 58 degrees! I think I am going to go and turn on the heater both upstairs and downstairs and bake. That should warm this house up a bit. What to bake though? Cookies? Bread? Both?

I will post pictures later of my work in the kitchen.

Family Pictures, Family History

My Childhood House (In Panama)

***********
Recently, some blogging has been done about some of my family members in Panama. I want to share the stories with everyone.

Read the stories about my grandmother, Mamacita, and about my great grandmother, Abuelita Sabina, on my mom's blog.

My 3rd Birthday - Abuelita Sabina is on the right

Another wonderful story about my Tio Juancho can be found on Melissa, the Cooking Diva's blog.

Sitting Around Tia Yaya's house - making more family history

*****************
Reading all of these stories has reminded me that I really need to investigate more of my family history and make sure that it gets written down. (from both sides of the family) What a gift it is to be able to pass stories down to future generations.

Sabina celebrating her birthday with her cousins

Addicted

Have you tried these? I am seriously addicted to these sinful things. They are SO good.

I have really been trying to be good but when I was in the store today they just called my name and then jumped into my hands - just like that! Really!

Off Track Time

Today I tracked off. I am off for the whole month. Usually, at this time of the year I am REALLY happy because I enjoy getting a break from the kids. This year though, I will really miss my students. I have such a lovable group.

I will be quite busy this month. I will be working 3 days for my district doing primary language testing and I will be working 4 days for a neighboring county office of education. The rest of the month will be devoted to Sabina who will be having a tonsillectomy. OUCH! Hopefully she will recuperate from the surgery quickly and we can have some enjoyable moments together.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today would have been Dr. Seuss' 102nd birthday. We had a lot of fun today reading Dr. Seuss books and reading 2 biographies about Dr. Seuss.

One of the stories we read today was Yertle the Turtle. For those of you haven't read this delightful tale, it is a story about a turtle who has high regard for himself and doesn't care too much about others. King Yertle, King of the pond makes the turtles stand on top of each other so he can use them as a throne to sit on. Finally, the turtle on the bottom, Mack, decides that he has had enough and burps, causing all of the turtles to fall. Yertle ends up in the mud.

After reading Yertle the Turtle, the kids made their own turtles and then we went outside to stack them to see how high they would get without falling over.

We had to do it several times due to the wind but we were finally able to stack all 21 turtles from our room on top of each other.

Thanks to Dree for the idea!
***************

Sabina had a great day celebrating at school too. The Hermione Granger outfit came via Fed Ex yesterday aternoon. Last night, Sabina and her Bubbe made a beautiful wand to go with the outfit.

Tío Ruben helped out too by tying Sabina's Gryffindor tie since I am tie-challenged!

Sabina was thrilled with her outfit. I am glad that I went ahead and got it for her. It was a very cute ensemble.

Miércoles de cenizas

I am such a dummy.

We have a bunch of Catholic staff members here on my campus. Each year on Ash Wednesday a huge group of our staff members go to the Spanish service before school and then come to work with ashes on their foreheads.

Being the non-Catholic and good friend that I am, I always forget what day it is and attempt to wipe off the dirty spot on my friends' foreheads. I am immediately reminded when the screaming comes "¡NOOOOOOO! Ay mujer hoy es miércoles de cenizas. ¿No te acuerdas?" Translation: NO! Today is Ash Wednesday - remember?

Um....no... dummy that I am, I forgot, again! Each year, I vow to remember to not try and rub the ashes off of anyone's foreheads - I always forget!!!

I will try to do better next year...