June 9th 2007 Graduation and Birthday!! Michael way to go!

MICHAEL GRADUATED ON HIS 20TH BIRTHDAY! Don't know what was more important on his mind...graduation or his birthday. The day started like Christmas morning..Mommy, Dad, it's morning and it's MY birthday, is all we heard at 6:00 a.m. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michael, go back to sleep it is early, three of us answered... no can do, we got back... SO, up we got and started a very emotional day!

Your cake: from your first birthday picture to your Senior picture. How handsome you've grown.

The asthma of his youth is well controlled as Michael starts his second decade. The candles all go out with one breath! We are all happy that this has been under control for many years now.Happy birthday son!
Some teenagers would most likely be out doing other things..Michael, well he thought that going under his GRADUATION sign would signify water under a bridge or passing through a tunnel to the other side of life... interesting thinker our son!

He is starting to get tired...

I need my rest, mom...I have a big evening coming up.

Daddy always helps with the tie..Getting ready for the BIG WALK.

Michael headed for the stage. We were right in front of him, yet he only saw our old friends behind us and greeted them. He was so focused on where he was going and what he was about to do that nothing else mattered.

I DID IT! Daddy, mommy I DID IT! YEA When do we eat?????

The teacher with the MOST..Ms. Melissa Tucker..One of the best teachers that Michael has had. Ms. Tucker was Michael's case manager for the past 3 years. She taught English, Math, and Science pluse many daily things that we all appreciate.

Her staff of one aid and student teachers have been great. She kept us informed of every detail of his education way beyond what was expected. Against all odds she does wonders with her students and all of their special needs. We are very grateful to her and all that she has done and continues to do in her career.

It was a beautiful day at the Germain Amphitheatre. Michael looks pooped...it's hard work graduating...

Josue' thanks for the help, You're next, now we go to eat...yes!!

!Michael's traditional dinner for the last 12 years has been at the Fujiyama Steak House of Japan. He loves the fanfare and atmosphere. He would love to work here.

What a great day.

You only GRADUATE ONCE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU ONLY TURN 20 ONCE... and MOST DEFINITELY AND RARELY ONCE ON THE SAME DAY.

CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL!

Remember Me

This was made by a young girl from Central Ohio. She is still in High School. This is very moving.

Congratulations Michael your Graduating

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Bowling with Josue'

Josue' was on Easter Week break. We had the week to ourselves. That is something we don't normally have. He has wanted to return to the Bowling Alley since he was 6 years old. So off we went! He didn't want the bumpers to be used or any help from me, he said " I know how to bowl mom!" He knows all! I have a set of Encyclopedia to sell real cheap if anybody is interested!!! :-)

He was very happy each time he knocked the pins down. He said I was a pro when I rolled a strike on the first frame. What a way to impress my son! Too bad I didn't keep it going!!!!
Josue' kept checking his score, just couldn't believe he was get so many gutter balls, after all HE knew how to bowl. His first game was a 56 pretty good for the second time in a Bowling Alley.

Aah, but by the second game that ball was getting heavy! The ball just liked the gutter a little too much for Josue's liking... But as you all can see he rolled a spare and a strike in the 10th frame and pulled a 55 to my 97 not bad!

Way to go Josue' It was a GREAT 2 hours with you my youngest son.

Our Spring

Spring in Central Ohio is always interesting! This past weekend and on Monday and Tuesday we had absolutely beautiful weather. The temperature remained in the mid 70 an inched toward the 80 degree mark, with a hint of a breeze. Yesterday was another story... the cold air came in and the temperature went down....this morning Thursday...we woke up to 27 degrees and snow blowing around! The saying goes "Stick around, the weather will CHANGE any minute here in Ohio" Boy are they right...who ever "they" are.

I took these photos of the moon Tuesday evening, Michael and Josue' thought it was a sign...


These were taken before the complete temperature change took over. I hope the quick freeze won't ruin the blossoms on the flowering cherry.The wind was quite strong.
This is my favorite time of year in Westerville. Our cul-de-sac is just beautiful with all the blooming trees and flowers.

HUNTING FOR R2D2 THE MAILBOX

Make your own Click to play

WE HAD FUN LOOKING FOR THIS MAILBOX THIS PAST SATURDAY.

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick
(415?-493?)

What distinguishes Patrick is the durability of his efforts. When one considers the state of Ireland when he began his mission work, the vast extent of his labors (all of Ireland) and how the seeds he planted continued to grow and flourish, one can only admire the kind of man Patrick must have been. The holiness of a person is known only by the fruits of his or her work.

St. Patrick's Prayer

God's strength to direct me,

God's power to sustain me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's vision to light me,

God's ear to my hearing,

God's word to my speaking,

God's hand to uphold me,

God's pathway before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's legions to save me.

—from A Retreat With St. Patrick

Thought for Today

Quote of the Day

"To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the multitalented and prolific German author and scientist, is best known for the play Faust, which has been adapted into operas, films, and novels. He was born in 1749 in Frankfurt. An unhappy love affair inspired his first play; his similarly themed novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, created the prototype of the romantic hero. He also invented the color wheel concept of light and made important discoveries in plant and human biology. He died in 1832

Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.-Lou Holtz

Aaron is ALMOST A YEAR OLD!!!

Time flies!

Aaron is going to be one on the 23rd of March. He is going in for tubes tomorrow morning, the 14 of March. He has had a series of ear infections with colds and the Doctor decided enough was enough. These tubes might just get him up on those cute feet of his and make him a marathon runner by Friday. He has been slow on the walking but his uncle Michael was the same, and he had to have tubes also.... These two are the latest pictures of the best grandson ever... He doesn't look like he has a cold... Let's call mommy and tell her "We MISS her"...I think he just likes to get his daddy sick so they can stay home and have boy time together and have fun!! See, the box it's bigger than me! Is this breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner, Daddy? Where's my bowl or are we eating from the box? I won't tell mommy if you don't!

2007 AUTO SHOW

This year's auto show wasn't as exciting as last year. We didn't see any bright Ford Mustang, Shelby's like last year. The boys rather climb the rock wall and ride the motion simulators and get dizzy! So, Dad and I just walked and looked for his next car! Nothing caught our fancy. Dad did get me a Trebeca in December and I am very happy with how the Subaru functions and handles. The boys enjoy the movies and CD players with the wireless headphones.
So this is the only photo we have of our visit. Yea, my camera batteries died!!!

GOING TO THE HOME AND GARDEN SHOW

Josue' decided it was o.k. if I tagged along to the Home and Garden Show with him this past weekend. Michael was with his Youth Group. So, Josue' and I left for dreamland of warm gardens and blooming plants! What excitement the warm weather will bring to our garden this Spring and Summer. The plants were beautiful and it always amazes us how these people can set up these beautiful gardens inside these very large buildings for up to one week and everything still looks beautiful on the last day! That is when we went. On the last day.

We had a lot of fun. Josue' is a camera hog and loves to pose as you can see. We, I tried to see all of the gardens although Josue' was thinking of his stomach most of the day!

Josue' doesn't like mimes. He was scared of them when he first met one at a party at the age of three and has never gotten over it. Hey, I don't care for clowns!
So when the POT HEADS came along they became a challenge for Josue'. He finally conquered his fear long enough to touch one of their hands, even if it was for just a second!!

The Greek garden had a lot of statues...we didn't know about that one.

The USA garden had Lady Liberty. Josue' wants to go to New York City to see the real one. We had the chance to accompany Daddy on a business trip in February, but it was so cold here in Ohio that we didn't want to leave our birds alone in the house. Besides, the winds were howling in Manhattan between the buildings like in a great canyon! Maybe in the Spring.

The Caribbean garden took the cake, Josue' liked that one the best...he could play in it all day, he said..IT had PIRATES and a ship!

Ah! the Mexican or south of the boarder garden..That had a beautiful outdoor room that we all could relate to and have fun in. It was more of a southwest theme. I'm not too sure why they painted the "forno" to resemble red brick when leaving it in the adobe mud color would have looked better. But the colors in the garden were bright and beautiful! I could see papito, mami, Chucho, Esther, Chemi,Chabe and the gang hanging out in this patio!

And now for lunch on our way back home! Ah yes good ol' McD's.

The art of eating a ten piece chicken McNuggets meal in less than 5 min. including a drink! Makes you go crossed eyes and it is finger licking good!!! A good day on all accounts. Thank you son!