Tamales, Tamales! 12/19/09

When I was little making tamales seemed like a lot of work. My Tita would instruct us making the rounds, yelling at us should we make a mistake. We had stations. The lowest job was separating the shells, the highest would put the meat in the tamales. I would usually do the lowest job with Kristina. There was one time we actually made it to the top... I'm not sure if there was anyone else there, so we snuck in. We were doing good until I was caught violating the 2 piece of meat rule. Faster than you could say tamale, we were done.

Now as an adult I realize there is a lot more work than I thought. I still refuse to do the shells... and the rest of the family refuses to let me do the meat. I can't say I've moved up, but made a lateral move. Anyhow we decided to make tamales. At first we got a very slow start... Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

We were so bored that some people started eating Kristina's cookies from the night before. Aunt Sonia was eating them when Kristina picked up the plate and announced, "Eww... there's a trail of ants!" Aunt Sonia could not toss her cookies quick enough.

Once the recipe was perfect the tamale making went quick. Red chile, green chicken chile, and sweet tamales. Tita was still directing from her wheelchair. I am like 5th in line to be in charge, so I have a while before I have to pay attention to the recipe.

My kids did not want to partake in the tamale making and I'm sure the whole family was fine with that. They chose to play and hang out.

After tamales, we met up with my friend Vanessa's family to see the Christmas lights in FV. We got some hot chocolate and walked around. Everyone had a good time. Jeffrey had too much hot chocolate and had to make a pit stop... in someone else's yard. The kids all 6 of them, had fun running around and looking at the lights.

The Borboa/Butt & Ponce/Kavanagh kids... In no particular order Trevor, Corey, Jacob, Mackenzie, Jeffrey, and Alexis

This was one of my favorite houses. Loved that idea! Maybe we'l try it next year.

It was a great weekend ~ thanks for the memories!

EHS Softball Party

I am venturing back onto the softball field once again. I've not done this since 2007, right after I had Jeffrey. I'm a head coach once more and so far I'm having a good time.

I have some of my girls in 6th period. I've never done this before, and I'm really enjoying getting to know the girls and build some unity.

Anyhow the day of finals I was to have them for 2 hours. It's been freezing, so we decided to have a little feast.

The girls were awesome. They brought all kinds of food, and set it up. They really enjoyed it, as did I. It was a nice way to start the break... on a full stomach : >

Javi's Birthday 12/5/09

Yes, I realize it's been a while, but I'm back. I've been on vacation and truly wanted to relax and that's what I've done.

With a family as big as ours it's inevitable that we have multiple people with the same birthday. Javi and Alyssa are two of those... a year apart, but same day. Javi celebrated his birthday with a sports themed birthday.

It was a lot of fun and that meant we all had to wear jerseys. Jeff and I wore my school jerseys, while Lexi wore a Ponce favorite... a Dodger's t-shirt that Aaron has yet to find ; >

It was a lot of fun. Jeffrey had a blast in the jumper and Lexi had fun making it a game of

avoiding family.

The kids had a blast with the pinata. As always there are some risks with pinatas. Most people think they are fun and games, but true Mexicans know the risks in the pinata world. Case in point.... Michael on the roof so some kids can have some candy. I didn't take a picture of my dad, but he was on a ladder as well. Luckily, no one was hurt ~ except Jeffrey ~ and a good time was had by all.

The party was great and the kids had a blast. Thanks Reyes family for a fun time!

Wordless Wednesday

Thanksgiving Break

Jeffrey the Indian (Alexis was a Pilgrim. She put the pill in Pilgrim and didn't let me photograph her in costume)

It's been a long while, and in all honesty, I haven't had much time. I'll talk about our time in HB for Thanksgiving.

We were able to go down on Tuesday and prepare for Kristina's 24th Birthday. The plan was to head to Disneyland and have a good time. Bear, Kris, Jeff, and I went early so we could have breakfast at the park.

*Bear*Oscar the Chef*Kris

We amazingly got there about 8:30AM and we had a good time. My mom and dad met us later. Aaron and Lexi had to join us later as Miss Lexi had her 15 month appointment... boy 15 months, where does the time go?

We really enjoyed Disneyland. It had been a long time that we had been able to go.

*(Me) Kathy*Jeff*Aaron*Lexi*Kris*Bear*(m0m) Emma*(daddy) Jim*

We all enjoyed Small World, the tram, and perhaps that was it. Jeffrey expanded his horizons and went on Haunted Mansion Holiday (Nightmare Before Christmas)

*Kris*Jeff*Me

and went on Star Tours. He wasn't too fond of HM, Oogie Boogie scared him. But loved Star Tours, which I'm really happy about. Aaron and I are Star Wars geeks so perhaps we'll have a new fan. Lexi was very content to hang out in her stroller and eat. She loved the tortilla factory and came out double fisting a flour tortilla... perhaps she is a Mexican ; ) After we went to Cortina's, a little Italian food joint, and we had a great lunch. After, Aaron and the kids left, and the rest of us went back. We had a good time walking around, and only rode a few rides.

Kris with Gary the cupcake thing

On Thursday we took the kids to visit my Grandma & Grandpa Ponce. We took them flowers. And although I know that they don't understand that they once existed, it's important to me that they know about them. I'm sure that my grandparents would love them...

Thanksgiving dinner came and went. Nothing too exciting. All of us getting together to eat... could be just a normal Sunday ; ) The only difference is that we played Partini. Now if you've never played Partini, and you're in a committed relationship... this is not the game for you! Almost all of us that played we either married, or engaged, and that was tested. Couples were aruing, etc. It was hilarious to watch, I know, but I still say that Aaron cannot do math.

Friday was all about the park... and leftovers. We took the kids to the park to run around with Nick, Avery, Michael, and Elena. We had a lot of fun, probably just as much as the kids. Aaron and I shared our almost divorce stories with Michael and Elena.

Friday night we went to Bella Terra. I remember that they did a tree lighting and snow at night. I thought a handful of people would go. I must have been crazy. It was packed. But it was a lot of fun. The kids had fun singing and seeing Santa.

We left on Saturday morning, and I was kinda sad to go. We seem to have so much fun when we're down there. I often wonder what it'd be like if we lived down there. Maybe I will one day know...

Wordless Wednesday