Friday, April 18, 2008

Familia Cruz Mena

These pictures were taken on Christmas Day, but I just recently got the copies. Here is all of Eric's family, which has significantly grown in the last couple of years!


From left to right, front row: Abraham and Julie, Maria and Lewis (he is holding Isaac), Me and Eric (I'm holding Javier), back row: Sam and Annette, Samantha, Lewis, Sarai, & Talitha and Danny.


The sun was a little bright in this one, but it was the one I liked the best!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Elmo's World

Isaac adores Elmo and everything Elmo. The Elmo's World segment is his favorite part of the Sesame Street show. And if he could, he would watch Elmo DVDs all day (which is what he did when he had the flu!) In January, the Health Museum had a Sesame Street exhibit about the body. We even had a chance to meet Elmo live. We thought Isaac would love this, but as you can see, he was a little scared!


He even got to be inside Elmo's World...


In February, Eric's sister, Talitha, got us tickets to go see an Elmo musical, and Isaac really enjoyed that and was in awe at seeing all of his favorite Sesame Street character life size! (I forgot my camera that day!)


I didn't even know they made this many Elmo dolls! I didn't even buy a single one of them for him! Yep, he's spoiled by grandparents, aunts, and uncles! One doll is a backpack, one has eyes that light up and sings when you squeeze it. One talks when you pull his arms or legs, one is robotic, and one is bilingual!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Tagged, Again



10 years ago...
I had just returned from my mission--February 19, 1998 to be exact. I was working as a substitute teacher in Pasadena. This picture is me ten years ago at my last mission conference--I had just returned to Portugal after having spent six months in Cape Verde.

5 things on my "to do" list today:
-finish my defensive driving course
-hem Eric's pants
-laundry (its never ending!)
-make menu/grocery list
-clean off the desk--I can't find anything!

4 things I would do if I were a billionaire:
-open a really cool organic bakery(s)
-travel to countries that I have not been to
-build vacation homes in several countries (beachfront, preferably!)
-start an NGO to improve the schools in rural Guatemala

3 bad habits:
-not putting things back where they belong after I use them
-eating too many sweets
-staying up late

5 places I have lived:
-College Station, TX
-Fortaleza, Brasil
-Lima, Peru
-Washington, D.C.
-Lubbock, TX

5 jobs I've had:
-secretary for insurance company
-waitress
-cashier at a Book Store
-high school teacher
-test adminstrator

6 things most people don't know about me:
-Eric and I ran a marathon in January 2004--it took me almost six hours, but I did it!
-I applied to be a nanny in France upon graduating high school because I wanted to put into practice all the French I had learned, but ended up in Brazil with my best friend and her family and learned Portuguese instead!
-I am very scared of heights! I would never rock climb, sky dive, bungy jump, etc. I don't think I will ever go skiing again (I only went once).
-I read very quickly--I can finish a book in a few hours--especially a good one!
-I used to be VERY shy until I was in high school--most people don't believe that about me now.
-I love to take naps!


This is Eric ten years ago--he was on his mission in Guatemala. He returned in October of 1998...



Spring Fun and the Zoo and Easter Time