Kemah Fun

Finally on a sunny off day, Elias and I went to Kemah. I'm craving sunshine! They've really done the place up nicely after the hurricane. I'll have to scope out Galveston soon. Although it is NOTHING in comparison to the dirtiest part of the ocean in Italy, but oh well.

Enjoy the few pics that we took...I'm still waiting on pics from Elias' camera.

Elias aka Colombian Hottie

Don't you think that the lady in the background looks like Oprah?!?!

What am I grabbing? Did I think the shark has some cajones or something? Maybe it was an attempted hug. Gosh, I dont remember.

Elias, you have horns!!!

Afternoon Fun

Corey and the fam came over today. We practiced cartwheels, learned from Phaedra that a giraffe's neck is as long as her daddy is tall and decorated the driveway with our chalk art!








Corey and the fam came over today. We practiced cartwheels, learned from Phaedra that a giraffe's neck is as long as her daddy is tall and decorated the driveway with our chalk art!

LASIK

Ode to Lasik Surgery!

Oh Lasik.
I'm so glad that I found you.
You didn't cause me pain.
You held me tight and mended me.
My life finally has clarity.
Thank you to the Mann!

Colombian in Dallas Fort Worth!

I let a Colombian loose in DFW and this is what happens...

















Ok...maybe I was a bit influential as well!!

MRS Vicky Slinkman Van Buren

My sweet Vicky got married last weekend. Vicky and I met at Baylor and during nursing school we were suite mates. I love Vicky. She has so much energy and vivaciousness! She's an intelligent and easy going woman whom I adore. Peter or better yet Dr Van Buren is a sweetie pie to match. I'm so happy for them both and wish them absolute happiness in their marriage and life together.

The dance floor was kicking! Thanks to the Slinkmans and the new Van Buren family!

Karaoke

Ok, some of you know that I can hold a tune or two. Well up until this past Valentine's day, I was a karaoke virgin! Yes, I'd never done karaoke before. The Gem record player and microphone set doesn't count! My sweet friend Misty was gifted recently by her husband an awesome sound system/karaoke center. Valentine's day we spent singing and dancing! What a perfect way to spend the day! Right?!?! One of my best friends Margie and her adorable husband Tom were there as well. I brought along my new friend Elias who thought that us white folk weren't too bad. He busted out the salsa towards the end and we got everyone moving!!!

Here are a few pics of our evening....

New Adventures

So many new adventures personally and spiritually. I'm excited and intrigued. I've grown so much because of these adventures. The more recent adventures have been eye opening about the real me, the me in the now. I like to say that although I am a planner, I live day by day. The Serenity Prayer comes into my head.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Wish me luck on the next adventure!!!! Here I go...

January Passes Us By!

I can't believe how fast the month has been flying by. I've been busy non stop! Work has taken a good chunk of that time. There was a couple weeks where I worked 12 of the 14 days. Nut job is a new adjective for myself. I've also had the opportunity to meet some very interesting (and attractive) people. The nurses that I am working with or have worked with are such sweethearts. Nurses rock!! I've been trying to visit friends as well. It's been so nice to walk into open arms and embraced by the greatest of friendships. I'm truly blessed. And what is most amazing is that I feel fantastic!!! Violetta even says that she hears it in my voice!


The girls are adjusting wonderfully and are slowly warming up to Mom. Well at least Idra is. Ciccio is keeping her distance. It's so nice to come home to their love. If you don't have a pet, something is seriously wrong with you!!!

I am having difficulty with food here. There is no taste! To anything!! God, please teleport some real Italian/ Mediterranean food my way please!!! Hahaha, if only!

I watched the inauguration from the computer lab at Houston Northwest Medical Center as I was midway through my orientation for my new contract job. I'm enjoying the ICU there. Really nice nurses.

This weekend I'm heading to Fort Worth for one of my dear friend's bachelorette party! Trouble will be made!!! I'll post what pictures I can! ;)

What was so cute is that I found some childhood pics! Aren't I a cutie?? My brothers are adorable as well.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

Year 2009. What a great time with the family. Here's a little sample of the fun times. Warning...some pictures include adorable and flexible children and women without makeup!!













Thanks guys for driving all the way from Vegas. We loved seeing you and getting in our well needed hugs and kisses.

Christmas Time

Wow! What a month! I've moved back to Houston Texas and jumped right back into working again. Christmas was a sweet evening with the family. It got better when my younger brother gave the best gift by showing up at our doorstep! He and his family left Christmas day to drive from Las Vegas. God bless him. My mom cried so hard! She didn't think she'd see her grandbabies for a while. We decided it would be best to go ahead and get family portraits done as well. So all 14 of us stuffed ourselves in this small photo studio and the results were spectacular. I'm so excited! My family was very blessed this Christmas as we were all together which is sometimes quite the feat.

My thoughts and prayers are with Vance, Marcy and their family who had a little scare over the holidays and we hope that Grandma Smith feels better soon. And also the friends of Renee and Daniel's friend who experienced tragedy. To Chuck, you are in our prayers. God works in mysterious ways indeed and we know what the power of prayer can do so know that we are here for you!

Love you all. God bless.



Per i miei amici italiani:
Appena sono arrivata a Houston, ho cominciato lavorare. Il Natale
era una sera carinissima, ma i giorni dopo sono meravigliosi. Mio fratello ci ha dato una sopresa grande. Lui e sua famiglia guidavano a Houston da Las Vegas sul giorno di Natale. Quando Mama lo vedeva, piangeva. Infatti, tutti piangevano. Come un regalo a tutti, oggi abbiamo fatto una foto professionale tutti quanti! Che fantastico! La mia famiglia e' fortunata.

Vi voglio bene! Dio vi benedica.

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo.