With the school year just ended, we started our engines and raced full speed ahead into summer. A recap so far, Mike started his new business Performance and Regenerative Medicine of Pensacola on May 1st. I'm so proud of him on this endeavor. The triplets finished kindergarten and Golden is no longer a freshman. The girls finished their ballet performances the same day they had their last t-ball game and the coach announced Carlos as the fastest, Gigi as the best at everything, and Beau as the one who is always happy with a smile on her face. I think he nailed it. And lest we forget, Eva got her braces off just in time for final exams.
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| Big sister takes a bow with her minions |
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| Last day of 9th grade and Kindergarten |
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| Gigi:Mom, I can carry Eva on my shoulders. |
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| Ready for Summer |
Immediately following the end of the school year, we headed to Miami to wish my mother a happy 91st birthday. I am not surprised as I write this to tell you that she has managed to find herself yet another boyfriend. She seems happy in her new living arrangements and better cared for than on her own. She is thrilled when her grandchildren come to visit and declares Golden is a movie star and that Eva looks like her (abuela's) sister in law who won several beauty pageants.
We stayed at my sister's beach condo and had a series of visits with friends and family. The week went by in a flash but what amazed me most was to see my nieces and nephews with their kids. I am a great aunt of eighteen kids. I guess that's what you get being part of a big family. I was an aunt at birth so it seems like no surprise to me.
The Guerra Family
No vacation to Miami is complete without them. I think I mentioned a little bit of the U2 experience in my last blog. Who better to be my sidekicks than these guys. This visit we had some pool time too and my little Nico was more than happy to swim, kick and even dive to uncle Juan. (the little jerk wouldn't do it with me)
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| View from the room of our gang |
We ate at Bocas House with the Guerras, my niece Susan and the our friends Ruben and Lourdes. The food was spectacular but my favorite was my tres leeches shake. It did not disappoint.
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| Dessert drove Bert and Lourdes crazy |
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| Gigi got hers with a chocolate infusion. |
Did I mention U2 Concert?
Tia Maria's House with Marinello, Korvick, Harris clans
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The gang keeps growing
TopL:L to R: Troy, Kyle,Golden,Carlos,Eva,Kate,Gigi
Bottom:LtoR: Gavin,Isabella,Beau,Nico, Oden
Beau and Izzy were two peas in a pod. This picture was taken about a second after they met for the first time.
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The cousins caught lizards, swam in the pool, ate cake and pasta and made a whole lot of noise while getting to hang out with each other.
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| Kate only had eyes for Eva tonight |
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Yes, it was this chaotic but we had fun despite that.
Here are some of my original nieces and nephews. Between them now they have eight beautiful children.
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| L to R: Tony, John, Jessica, Susan |
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| The nephew born before me with his oldest son and youngest nephew |
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| Golden and Troy chilling |
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| The fact that my nephew John was in charge of a pool of children made me laugh and squirm at the same time. Notice Gigi thought Oden was a toy she could carry around all night. (No children were harmed in the making of this photo) |
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| Kyle is a swimming phenom. Watch out for this one. |
There were so many other fun things but the highlights may also have been Eva getting her first facial with Lillian, donuts at the Salty Donut , and seeing my friend Alicia with her kids at the beach.
I always pass by the first house I grew up in, 125st is what it's always been called. Since living here, the house has been painted every color in the Crayola box and the grass has grown in. It was small when we lived in it. Seven kids, two adults in a three bedroom, one bath. The present tenent tells me that the house is now divided into two efficiencies. I guess size is subjective. I used to think it was huge growing up and now I don't know how we did it.
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