SUMMER'S HERE!

We took the kids to the park today...unfortunately, it was about 1-2 pm when we went and it was H.O.T. to the max...and it's not even June yet!
Luckily, there was a van parked selling snacks (i.e. candies, fritos, and of course popsicles) and some other stuff...the lady even offered me a watermelon for $5.... I guess I'll pass huh...;)
Which one has gives the best 'feel' for summer? And tell me if none of them do... or what I could've done differently... TIA & TFL!

MORE PRACTICE

Here's a few shots of two of my girls (i.e. students) who graciously allowed me to take their pics. Actually, I was practicing my one-point focusing techniques with the 50mm 1.8 lens (which by the way, is my worst lens and I hate it!).
What do you think? Did it work? Where do you see the focus?
Also, the two versions of the shots are the SOOC and the PP'ed shot.

TFL!

TEACHER'S PET

Four years ago, a little kid walked into my Geometry Pre-AP class as a freshman. I met his mom during open house and I spoke to her (in Spanish of course) about the importance of getting him an education. After speaking to her for some time, she asked me if I would please guide her son through his high school years...of course I said yes...That was four years ago...and the time has come...and I think too quickly for in less than a week, that same little kid (although no longer little) will be graduating #3 in his class of 487 students.

That's my boy Jorge. And he's just a great kid. And even though he's not my son, he knows I love him as one. He's truly my OTHER pride and joy (aside from Christopher of course). He's a humble kiddo who doesn't like to show off his accomplishments... but there's one particular accomplishment that cannot be overlooked: He's the receipient of the BILL GATES MILLENIUM SCHOLARSHIP (which pays all of his schooling through his PhD or MD whichever he chooses).


Jorge will be the first one in his family to attend college. He has chosen to go to Wabash University and major in Biology since he wants to study medicine... I don't like to think about that day in August, but I know that seeing him graduate next week will for sure bring tears to my eyes...tears of pride and joy but at the same time, tears of sadness at the realization that my little boy is no longer a boy...he's already a young adult who will soon face a very different world that he's never seen...

May God bless you always my boy...

BUBBLES

Meet our newest family member: Bubbles. She's a mutt that my students found at the school's cafeteria one day and I decided (against Jaime's wishes) to adopt her. The kids had been wanting a puppy for the longest time and Jaime and I kept saying no since we didn't (still don't)have time to take care of it...Well that changed when I saw this puppy...and yes, I'm like that, change my mind from one minute to the next w/o thinking of the consequences...


Needless to say poor Bubbles has already gotten lost twice around our street...
but luckily enough twice we've found her...
I guess it's meant to be isn't ?

And really, what does Jaime know? It's for the kids, and the kids love her... ;)

TFL!

CYBER CHICKS

Hmmm, I wonder who they take after ??? It's not like Jaime or I are at the computer THAT long is it? At any rate, the girls have their own 'favorites' listed on the laptops...and that makes it sooo easy for me at times...of course, with 3 girls and 2 laptops, one of them is bound to be left out, but it's no big deal...Lorely usually helps out Andy (since she doesn't maneouver that well yet) and they take turns...so at the end, it all works out well...

PS - I metered the girls' face since I had wayy too much light coming from the window behind them, but in turn, the window light is all blown...any tips on how to do this right?

TFL!

CONFIRMATION OF FAITH.

Yesterday (Wednesday) Christopher (ds) was confirmed at Christ the King CC. It was a beautiful ceremony to say the least. And though it never dawn on me to ask him why he had chosen my BIL to be his Godfather, my BIL asked himself as they waited for mass to start:

****This conversation was told to me by Pepe my BIL ***

Pepe (BIL): Why did you choose me for your Godfather Chris?

Chris: Because I know you love me like a son. Because I know you can guide me in case my parents aren't with me anymore. Because you're a good Christian. And because I know I can count on you.

Pepe: Trying to hold back his tears...yes Chris I love you and know that I'll be here to listen to you, to talk to you, to give you advice, and to help you in anything I can. You are like a son to me.

Pepe: So Chris, are you in love? You seem thinner now, are you on a diet or something?

Chris: Yeah, I've been running a few days of the week. And I am in love.

Pepe: So you are huh? Who's the lucky one?

Chris: I'm in love with God...

All my life I've always thought that my Chris was a very religious child. I really did. I just didn't know the extent of his committment to the Lord...

TFL!

PROM 2007

I just realized that I don't have ANY pics of Jaime (dh) on my blog....so I decided to share this one with ya'll. So here we are at this year's prom. It was truly a fun night where we got to hang out with our 'older' students and coworkers who 'chaperoned' the event. FUN. FUN. FUN.

BTW - I think I over did the skin softening on these shots...We look like...hmmm...I don't know....weird I guess...can't really think of a word to describe this 'skin look'....maybe 'bad' is the word I'm looking for...gotta stop that....but I'm too lazy to redo them now...next time...

TFL!

****and obviously the preceeding pic was taken by my comadre Minnie, who also attended with her hubby...so I'm posting a shot of the 4 of us together ;) ****

MI MAMA.

Ana.
My mother.
The pillar of our family.
Our fountain of strength.
The one who carried twelve pregnancies always full of love.
The one who sang to us in bed even after a long day of work.
The one who fought so hard to give us everything we needed.
The one who never gave up.
The one who believes and sees the best in us.
The one who stood by dad's side through thick and thin.
The one who's seen two of her young ones pass away.
The one who cried with us during our failures, and rejoice in our accomplishments.
The one who forgives and loves more than I've ever known.
The one who always trusts in God and instilled her faith in us.
That's my mother.
My friend.
And I love her.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS...

(in order from eldest to youngest )

Isabel - (Chabe)

Jesus (Chuy)

Lilia - (Lila)

Beatriz - (Betty)
Laura

Gloria - (Camay)

Enrique - (Quique)

Cristina - (Me)

Nancy - (Nany)

* *Not pictured - Rafael and Patricia (RIP), and Ana because she hasn't let me take her pic.* *

TESTING AGAIN

Ok, so here's test #3 on the sizing saga.... i ended up deleting test #1 by mistake and i'm just too lazy to re-post...so here's my try just to test if it works...again... this one is sized at 4x6 @ 250ppi

OK, so it worked for vertical shots...but it doesn't work for horizontal shots....wonder what I need to do to make it BIG ?????? Anyone????




************************** ETA: I DID IT!!!!! *************************

I found out how to make the horizontal shots bigger...all I had to do was change the width of the image on the HTML section of the post...Oh I'm so happy!!!! *****************************************************************************

Testing for size

OK, so here's my 2nd try at Lauren's size of pics. Hope this one works!